A Sweet Escape

[Essent Rose Allison]

Out of the Nexus, Essent stumbled through the gate. What was beyond the gate was what she was looking for. Civilization. And a place to hide. Essent kept calm, though. As long as she doesn't reveal her location online, she should be safe. Unless some things happen. But she kept calm either way. She can't get worked up now. Only at the last minute she will... Or if she's told ahead of time by someone she trusts. Essent took the calm time to look around the city. It sure was bustling. Kinda like a vacation town if the palm-tree-gate is anything to go by. It was really sunny and the streets were full of sand. Up above her was a sign.

"Costa del Sol...? Sounds like a nice place."

Essent's hands were in her hand pockets as she walked down the street. She's gonna need a change of outfit. Something different than her normal clothes. As she walked, she began to focus, maybe something more... Secretive. After a couple minutes of walking, Essent's clothes changed to a nice green sleeveless hoodie (with hood up), a thin long sleeved olive-colored shirt underneath, black shorts (that reach her knees), tan sandals, and sunglasses that fit her prescriptions so she can still see. Her hair was in a low ponytail so it could be wrapped around her neck. This is the perfect outfit. Hopefully if she's found he won't recognize her facial structure. And she can't use her powers. She cannot switch back to her normal outfit until she knows she's safe.

Essent sat down on a bench, twiddling her fingers and head down. Man this really felt like she was in Assassin's Creed. Hoodie, hiding from greatest enemy, blending in... Interesting. Maybe a hint of Prototype because of her powers. Who knows? In the end, Essent was left to think for herself. Her greatest enemy is in the Omniverse. He summoned a kid. Her head is wanted on his platter. Essent has gone through several steps to hide: do not reveal location, change appearance, say nothing, remain anonymous. Change name if needed, dye hair if needed, different color eyes if needed... She's gonna have to change her physical self in order to get by without being found.

Then she began to remember the good times before the incident. Ethan... The lab... The many fist powers she was able to study... It was all a normal life. Well, somewhat normal due to her powers. Her crush on Ethan... The way he looked, sounded, his personality... He was one kind man to her. And then... He died. His charred bones left after Sun Wu Kong's explosion. She was the only survivor from her lab. All she could do... Was fight back. And move on. She finished the job, and now the past has come back to haunt her... She began to... Cry? Well, not really sobbing, just tears flowing down her face. She was silent for five whole minutes before a large orb of omnilium came out of her.

It began to take a human shape... Familiar features. Short light brown hair, tan skin, green eyes... Lab coat, brown work shirt underneath, brown badge, dark brown work pants, black boots... Essent looked up to find a long lost face...

"Ethan...?"

The young man looked at Essent with surprise and then at himself, confused. What the heck happened to him? Essent raised her sunglasses, allowing the other to recognize her face. And when he did...

"Oh goodness... Essent... You're alright- oof!"

Essent already went up to hug him, tears flowing down her face and onto his lab coat. Her sunglasses were askew on her head but after a while she let go and fixed everything on her. This... This was one happy reunion. Something to get her mind off of her problem. A smile was on her face... This... This is the greatest time to start over. In a new world. In a great place.

"I missed you..."

"What happened?"

"I'll... Give you the whole story. Just... Follow me. And remain anonymous."

"How... Come...?"

"Part of the story. C'mon..."

The two began to walk through the streets, as far from the gate as they possibly can. Essent talked about what happened after the lab was destroyed as they walked. How Ethan died, the True War Tournament, her True Fist, and the fact that his murderer is in the world... And she wasn't talking in her normal extravagant manner. She was more... Soft and right to the point. This reunion is one heck of one on her part. It was with the very person she saw die right in front of her eyes... Seeing as she brought him back... It was a miracle to her that she could. Sure, she moved on, but grief is a lingering feeling.

Eventually the two found a place to relax a bit, far away from the gate. Ethan recapped the story in questions with Essent putting out various "mmhm"s as he went along. Essent kept her head down, as if glum. Ethan put on his concerned face and patted Essent's shoulder.

"Listen... I know it may be hard for you... But at least we made it through, right? You brought me back... You survived to tell the tale... And we only come out stronger, right?"

"Yeah, but the thing is, coming here weakened my powers... I haven't done much since I've got here. I'm not sure what he's doing though or how much of his power he got back. I'm not sure if I can face him again. That's why I said to remain anonymous. So... Call me... Rose? Perhaps?"

"Alright... I understand."

Essent let out a sigh.

"C'mon... Where's the Es- Rose that cracks a joke?"

"I don't think I can after this heavy revelation..."

"Listen. Maybe after a while, we can rebuild the lab. Maybe studying this world can help cheer you up. You're always up for science, right?"

"Yeah..." Essent smiled. "Yeah! I... I guess we can do that."

Ethan pat her on the back. "Atta, girl!" Essent let out a little laugh. It was good to have Ethan back... Perhaps this isn't so bad after all...