Stitem, the once piece of barren land turned into a lushful paradise, is used to hide and protect those who are seen as different or outcasts by the world around them. It took months to make the land fertile and alive again. Many moved here, fearing the danger of the outside world. One of them, in particular, was Atlas and his family. After the birth of their first daughter and the greedy intentions of her grandfather, the family hid away.

Asking their friends Tony and Tom for a place to hide and raise their daughter away from harm, they set out to Stitem, the place rumored to be a safe haven for people like them. Mothers took turns watching the children, and fathers often worked in the fields or carpentry to help supply people with food and homes. It was no easy feat starting from scratch, but the refugees of Stitem managed.

Most of the children in Stitem were friends, but a select group of children was Stitem's troublemakers whom the refugees had to watch out for.

"Ready, Ein!?"

"Ready, Charles!" The two boys opened a pen full of chickens to start their distraction.

"Ein come on, we won't have much time!" Jennette grabbed her brother Ein's hand, trying to get out of sight as the town flooded with feathers. People quickly scrambled to gather up the feathery accomplices before they got too far. Jennette took this opportunity and motioned for Charles to sneak into the candy shop.

"Grab everything you can carry!" Nicolette sat back and watched the action, wanting to avoid getting involved.

"Ein," she called him over, and the two snuck out together through the floor of chickens and panicking citizens.

"Where did they go?" Charles looked around the store, trying to catch a glimpse of Ein or Nicolette.

"They probably left together knowing those two. He totally has a crush on her," Jennette said with a hint of annoyance. Nicolette and Ein made it to their usual hang-out on the river bank.

"You know you don't have to participate if you don't want to," Ein told Nicolette.

"Yeah, I know, but I feel like Jennette will scold me if I don't do at least a bit. She's quite scary."

"My sister can scare just about anybody."

"So that means you're afraid of her," Nicolette teased.

"I am not! S-she never scared me, not even once!"

"Uh-huh, sure," she smiled as he crossed his arms.

"Nothing scares me. My mom says I'm going to grow up to be the strongest and bravest man ever!"

"If you get past the little boy stage," he shot her a glare that made her laugh.

"I will get past that stage, and when I get past that stage, you'll be mine" Nicolette blushed, startled by his sudden confession. She thought he was joking, but he was serious, not even looking away once.

"Ok," she smiled, "when we grow up, I'll marry you and be yours" She kissed him on the cheek. Ein blushed, touching his cheek.

"Nicolette, let's go!" Atlas called for her. Nicolette smiled at Ein and went to her father, leaving Ein to feel his embarrassment build up slowly.

"She's so pretty," he sighed, looking longingly at the flowers "My pretty little flower." Nicolette ran into her father's arms with a smile on her face.

"You weren't kissing any boys, were you?" Atlas asked, ready to murder anyone and everyone.

"No, Dad, I didn't kiss anyone! Maybe" Atlas didn't like the answer. It was vague.

"Nicolette, did you or did you not kiss that Wolfier boy?"

"It was only on the cheek. Besides, he promised he would marry me when we're older," Atlas scowled.

"You will never marry that boy. Wolfier's aren't a trustworthy bunch" Just as Atlas turned around to go inside, he had a stick thrown at his head. "Oww, what the fuck!?" Thomas Wolfier stood there glaring at Atlas like he was going to kill him.

"My son is perfectly trustworthy!" He exclaimed

"Your son is not good enough for my daughter!"

"Says who!?" Tom said offended

"Says me! You Wolfier's can't keep it in your pants for a mere week!" Atlas shot back.

"Don't you dare insult my family we are not that horny!"

"Tell that to your wife, who you got pregnant at the age of fifteen!"

"BOYS," Tony stood to the side, arms crossed, fed up with their bickering. "That is enough. There are children present for Myenna's sake" The two men looked at the ground, clearly ashamed of their behavior. "Ein, come on now" Tony led Ein back inside before glancing back at Tom. "Thomas Andrew Wolfier."

"Coming!" Tom didn't hesitate to head inside the house. He didn't like it when his wife was mad. It scared him. Atlas watched with a slight grin on his face witnessing Tom being a coward in the presence of his wife. Nicolette rushed inside the house, excited to help her mother bake pastries which they usually did together at this time.

"Mama!" Nicolette said happily, going to her mother's side.

"Nicolette, just in time!" Nora placed the little apron on her and tied it in the back. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as always, mama!" Nora got the ingredients as Atlas helped Nicolette grab the supplies.

"Hey, guys, has anybody seen my brush?" Zayne asked as he came down the stairs.

"Did you check your room?"

"No, but I found this purple one. I might use it."

"Don't you dare!" Nicolette glared at her brother. "That's my hairbrush. I don't need you ruining it!"

"Oh please, like I would ruin it. We have the same hair color, idiot."

"Zayne, I'm not joking. Give me my brush!" Nicolette tried to grab it out of her brother's hand, but he was just a few inches too tall for her.

"Quit it, Nicolette. You can always buy a new brush!" Zayne kept the brush just barely out of reach.

"Mama!"

"Alright, alright, you two, come on, this is not necessary, Atlas; help Zayne find his brush, please, and Nicolette, go put yours back in the bathroom" Nora took the brush placing it in Nicolette's hands. Zayne huffed and followed his dad to look for his brush.

"He's such a meanie, mama."

"But he's your brother. You love him regardless."

"No, I don't!" she stomped her foot. "He's an annoying bug!" Nora just smiled, finding the sibling rivalry quite adorable.

"Come on, let's bake our pastries before the customers arrive. We don't want to be late because."

"Because the customer comes first and won't wait forever."

"Correct!" Nora and Nicolette started making their most popular pastries for the day.

"I don't get what he thinks is so wrong with our family. It's not like his family is any better" Tom crossed his arms.

"Your families don't like each other, and I tell you time and time again not to engage with him if he irritates you and what do you do?"

"Engage with him," Tom mumbled under his breath.

"Exactly" Tom hated when his wife was right but couldn't deny her words either. He sat down, one small thing on his mind. "I know that look. What are you thinking, Thomas?"

"Atlas seems to be on edge lately. He hasn't been like that lately."

"Maybe he's just dealing with something personal we shouldn't get involved" 'But what could possibly have him so on edge?' Tom thought to himself.

Later that day Atlas sat in his study, staring at a letter in his hands. Atlas ran away from his childhood home when he was fourteen, but it seems his father had already found out where he was. His father was a dangerous man, and the last thing he needed was for him to come back into his life. He crumpled up the letter holding it tightly in his fist. He was trying to run from his past, but he knew he couldn't run from it forever.

"Nora" he called out.

"Yes, dear?" Atlas looked at Nora's stomach they were expecting their fourth child soon so the timing had him more on edge. "What's wrong?" She asked, growing concerned by her husband's silence. Atlas stood up and walked over to her placing his hand on her stomach. "Atlas, you're scaring me."

"If I told you we had to run away from here, would you follow me?" She was growing more concerned.

"What do you mean run away? Atlas, what's going on" he sighed.

"My father reached out to me," she froze.

"Your.... father?" He nodded. Everyone knew just how much Atlas feared his father, and for a good reason.

"We might have to find somewhere new to hide Nora."

"But our kids," Nora had grown to love the sanctuary. It was their community. She didn't want to rip her children away from their home.

"I know you don't want us to leave but if he shows up here who knows what will happen we can't hesitate to leave if need be my father has never had an ounce of concern for someone other than himself" He could see her hesitation as she ran through what he said in her mind.

"I want to protect our family, but going out there will be never-ending hide and seek. He's just going to keep finding us. We'll have to keep running. We won't be giving our children a good future. We'll never have stable footing" He knew she was right, but at this moment, they really had no choice. He took her hands in his.

"You'll have me by your side no matter what. I'll protect each of you the best I can. Just trust me, Nora" Tears streamed down her cheeks, and it was clear she had made her decision. Nicolette, having listened to her parent's conversation, was torn. She didn't want to leave her friends and Ein behind, but she heard her father's tone and knew something was scaring him. She snuck out of the house through the back door.

Despite it being night out the entire place was illuminated by the bioluminescent plant life that thrived here. It was the only time Nicolette could feel at ease watching as the ground lit up under her feet with each step. She felt so alive, like the world around her was lit up at Christmas time.

"Nicolette," Ein poked his head out from behind a tree nearby.

"Ein?" He walked up to her.

"Hey, uh, I was hoping we could hang out a little bit since earlier today was kinda cut short," she blushed.

"S-sure, I don't mind," she played with her hair. They laid down in the grass, looking at the stars.

"Do you think that anyone who dies becomes a star?" Ein looked at Nicolette

"My mom says we all become stars when we die, but my dad says we become souls that wander forever until we can finally rest."

"I don't think your dad has a very creative mind," Ein smiled.

"Nah, mum calls him a knucklehead or bean bun brain," she giggled.

"Am I a knucklehead?" Ein asked curiously

"Occasionally, you can be mum says most boys are bound to be knuckleheads" Ein could tell something was on her mind.

"What's wrong?" He asked

"Umm, I might be leaving" Ein sat up in shock.

"Just you!?"

"No, no" She sat up and faced him. "My whole family. Something spooked my dad, and I heard him and mum talking about how we might have to leave if it comes down to it" Ein couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was possibly going to lose someone he grew up with.

"Do you... want to go with them?" She shook her head.

"I want to stay. I grew up here. This place is my home, but my parents are in charge. I might not have a choice, and I'm scared" He rubbed her back, trying to comfort her.

"Well, maybe you won't have to leave. Maybe your dad will change his mind, and you'll get to stay after all."

"You think so?" She looked at him with hope in her eyes.

"It's possible, so don't think the worst right now; instead, think about good things; think about us, our friends, too" She nodded.

"You're right. Perhaps I am thinking into this a bit much."

"Tomorrow, we'll go get snowcones from the shop down the street."

"How will we get the money? We're kids."

"Oh please, mom can't resist me, her adorable little boy. I'm sure I could sweeten her up into giving me enough."

"You trickster, she's gonna catch onto you eventually," they laughed, feeling much better.