leaving[open, Cinna]

--One Week Later--

Alex sat down in his new office, the now leader of The Untouchables. He looked out the window, thinking. He still regreted what happened that fateful day when Domino had left. He had over reacted, he knew.

And now, the kid was out there somewhere. By himself. And Deidre was in a mood like he had never seen her in before. In fact he hadn't even seen her since the meeting.

He knew he couldn't let this go on. He stood up and put on his jacket. Getting on the elevator, he pushed the button for the bottom floor. The doors opened and he walked out through the main doors, into the winter cold.

He was going to find that kid.

"Where to little kids who run away always go?" Alex muttered to himself as he walked down the street. He thought for a long time as he walked, passing by many people and buildings.

"The woods!" he exclaimed. People turned and gave him strange looks, but he didn't care. That's it! he thought. He suddenly broke into a run towards the woods.

---

Several minutes later, he had arrived. He stood at the edge of the trees, and bent down. There were no tracks, obviously, as the snow had covered them up, but he did notice one thing of interest.

A few feet into the forest, a small piece or bread was half buried in the snow. Alex smiled to himself, and began making his way slowly through the expanse of trees.

After what seemed like hours of walking, Alex stopped and smiled. Finally, Domino's tracks were visible. Right now, they were just barely so, but at least he knew which direction to travel.

He set off at a jog now, following the tracks. After about ten minutes, they were much more clear, and more imposrtantly, fresh. He slowed to a walk follwing the tracks. He was getting close, he knew it.

Alex set off at a jog again, but stopped when he noticed a change in the pattern of the tracks. They were closer together, suggesting he was now running. There was no way he could catch him while jogging, so he set off at a run.

He soon came to a clearing. He slowed down and approached cautiously. He had a feeling he was near now. He jumped as he heard someone laughing. As he listened closer, he realized it was a distorted version of Domino's laugh. And he didn't sound healthy.

He crept over to a bush and peered into the clearing. He gasped as he saw Domino. He was very thin, and he didn't look good at all. He ducked down into his bush, hoping he hadn't heard him gasp.

Alex waited a few seconds after hearing Domino leave, then stood up and began to walk behind him. After just a few steps however, he snapped a twig underfoot. The crack seemed so incredibly loud, and it was right behind Domino.

Alex looked for a bush or a tree to dive behind, but there was nothing. He just stood there, frozen like a deer in the headlights.

Alex picked up the dagger, and put it in his belt. "I'm not here to kill you. Quite the opposite. I'm here to ask you if...you'll come back. We need you. I need you. I went insane that day, and I'm sorry. Now, I understand if you just want to leave, and that's fine. Just please stop living in these woods and come back to society." he said.

"Domino, I was going to save this for when you got back, but I guess I'll use it to convince you. The old leader of The Untouchables retired. I was selected to take his spot. And I and the rest of the group decided you would be best for the position of second-in-command. Without you, I would have to do everything by myself!" he smiled.