Manchester, New Hampshire, some cold dark night or another.

It was damn cold like usual after dark, the air chill enough that vapor clouds should have left the mouth of the heavily jacketed figure trudging along the roadside. The fact they did not, while a garing inconsistancy, rarely caught the eye of anyone. Either they were oblivious or the fact they were racing by in a car so they barely saw the dark form moving along the road side.

The figure with short dark hair paused as she saw the lights of a city in the distance, her eye critically judged the distance and how far she had already walked, /Another Hour/ she thought to herself as she paused on the roadside, hands shoved into deep pockets in her parka. She continued to stand, drawing in a deep breath of the chill air, not that she needed it, but it felt comforting to do so, almost like she was alive. Her thoughts drifted back over the events prior to leaving the place she had called home the last three years.

Flashback to several hours before

Renny had walked into Heather's room, the darkness just gathering after sunset having woken them only moments ago. She glanced over from where she sat on the bed, fingers running through her short hair settling it easily into place. from the look on his face she knew something was up, her curiosity got the better of her as she stood from the bed.

"What is it Renny?", was all she asked, the excitement held inside, only barely tinging the soft voice of the woman.

He replied in a gruffer, deeper voice, "You're done. It is time for you to go, hell I should have left ya on your own more'n a year ago... but...", and his voice trailed off and he smiled, "Aw hell just go, I need my space."

"Leave... to where?", was the quiet question offered in return, her eyes meeting Renny's.

"I'll drop you off on the outskirts of Manchester... I think you'll be accepted there... its as good a spot as any to live for a while. I mean hell you go where you want. I suggest Manchester.", his voice again trailed off as he zipped up a jacket he had slipped on as he spoke, "slip on your jacket, we are leaving."

The pair left the cozy house into the dark cold of the New Hampshire night, climbing into a battered red Chevy pickup. The starter whined in complaint as the engine turned over coming to life the second try. Easing the old pickup into gear, Renny drove along in the darkeness, the truck bouncing over the rough asphalt of the ill maintained road. After about 35 minutes the were on the highway, the only sound the soft drawl of the local AM news station, and the repetitive thunk-thunk of the seams in the slab highway.

The truck slowed pulling to the side near a emergency vehicle turn-around. Renny looked to Heather, no words were spoken as she slipped out of the warmed truck cab and onto the side of the highway.

Renny called out, "It is about an 8 mile walk to Manchester. Should be there in under 2 hours."

Heather nodded, shutting the door with a loud 'thunk'. The old pickup pulled away and crossed two lanes to turn around in the crossover to head back southward, the red tail lights dissappearing into obscurity as the truck drove away.

Back to the present time

Heather was jarred from her reverie by the roar of a tractor trailer rig racing by her, the wind of its passage buffeting her body and sending a spray of icy cold droplets of water cascading around her. She glanced at her watch, noting the time, /10 hours until dawn/, she thought to herself as she again began to walk.

Under an hour later found Heather walking beside the simple sign proclaiming 'Welcome to Manchester' her feet carrying her through the darkened streets. The first place she looked for was a holiday inn, finding such a place was fairly easy, and she spent the next hour insuring the bed would be untouched by the light of the rising sun. After her preperations she insured that she was payed in advance for a full week and left instructions the room was not to be disturbed.

Heather then went back outside, exploring a little in the evening darkness. her walk soon found her in front of The Black Squirrel Tavern, the lights and the sounds within bespoke of a place open for business. She stepped through the door to the tinkling of piano keys and a smooth voiced man at the Piano. She sat at a table and shoved a five dollar bill into his tip jar as she listened and watched the people in the bar.

The man soon took a break and came over, her mind not really on the man's pattering conversation, she nodded and responded with small talk, her mind not really focused on what the man said, though he seemed gracious enough. She suggested a song to the man as he returned to the Piano, and was pleased in the back of her mind when he played it, though forefront were her thoughts on how to find the Prince.

Her eyes followed all who entered the establishment for about an hour, but things seemed to be winding down and it was late as a bumbling man walked over with some wine and a pair of glasses. The man said something about sharing the wine. Heather looked up at the man, and while he was cute in a bumbling sort of way, this would not help her one little bit.

She did her best to ditch the man, finally, though the tavern was not closing, she left into the cold evening air, dissappearing into the safety of the night. She quickly made her way back to the Holiday Inn and after double checking her preparation of the room, she placed the do not disturb sign on the door, locked the locks, all of them including the slide bolt and chain before watching a little news on the TV and finally drifting off to the sleep of the dead as the predawn light began to tinge the cold grey skies.