When Reyn made it to her first stop on the list, she stopped to take a look at the store.

Gordon's Dye Shop was particularly well hidden if someone was passing by. But if someone knew where to go, it was easy to find. Lodged between two massive buildings, Gordon's was small and squished, being taller than it was wide. It was an ugly faded brown color, and the sign was hanging by one chain. Reyn smiled; just the place she wanted to see.

The old bell dinged as she opened the door. Reyn strolled towards the counter while looking around. She would never get used to the place. The walls were lined with shelves of blond dye locked up in glass containers. Mikel Gordon was the only one in the world with the keys to those glass boxes. A person had to qualify and have an account for Gordon's dye; only the elderly could buy his dye. Since Reyn's grandparents signed up for dye from Gordon, Reyn came twice a week to get their dye. People weren't supposed to get dye for other's, usually the elderly had to get it themselves, but since Gordon and her grandparents were such great friends, Gordon bent a few rules to allow Reyn to take it to them.

Gordon was behind the counter selling his dye to an elderly woman. She finished purchasing it and turned towards the exit. She walked past Reyn, giving her an inquiring look.

"Ah, hello, Reyn!" Gordon boomed, his large voice carrying and echoing off the glass boxes. His smile was infectious, Reyn could feel herself grinning as well. She really liked Gordon and the fact that he was caring and stood up for what he believed in. Gordon appeared to be about forty, with receding dirty blond hair and a pot belly. His pale skin brought out his light brown eyes and pearly white teeth. He was jovial and had a twinkle in his eye like he always thought something was funny. "You've come a little earlier this week," he observed carefully. He began shining one of the boxes with a rag, showing off his large collection. "Your grandparent's dye hasn't come in yet. It's supposed to arrive in three days. The post's been rather slow lately."

Reyn inwardly groaned. Her grandparents could do without dye for another three days, but she couldn't. She still had to go out in public, unlike her grandparents. Still, she plastered a smile on her face to show that it was alright. "Oh, well, that's okay. But I'm afraid my grandparents need dye today. They are going to a party tomorrow, so they'd like to freshen up before going out." A convincing lie. Her grandparents did like to go out before Reyn was born and she made them stay inside so she could use their dye. She felt a pang of guilt at the thought. "Is there anywhere else I can get dye on such a short notice?" She asked politely. She'd come back to Gordon's when their expected dye came in.

Gordon scratched his head. "Hm, well, there's Wasyon's." He answered, setting his rag down. "Just tell him that Gordon sent you. That lad will let you get some even though you're not registered for his store. Just show him your grandparents' Dye Registration licenses and he's bound to let you buy from him. His store is on Ulturne Avenue, behind SeeCee's." His smile returned and he continued his polishing job with another container. "And I'm sorry it hasn't come in yet, but I'll keep it reserved for you when you come back." He added, waving a hand at Reyn when she turned to leave.

"Thanks a lot, Gordon," Reyn called behind her shoulder, lifting a hand in acknowledgement. Too bad Gordon was out. Her mother would be furious that she showed her face to another store. Though the prospect of making her mother mad was enticing, she really couldn't afford being seen by too many other people. They would turn her in for the reward money for finding a non-blond. That's why protecting Reyn was so important to her family. They're only child would be killed for no reason. And her parents felt responsible for it.

Ulturne Avenue was not a safe place. It was a place that was turned a blind eye by the government because they didn't want to fund its repairs. There were so many empty and run-down buildings that it was perfect for shady deals and homeless people. Reyn was sure the people on Ulturne Avenue would love to make extra money, and the best way to do that was to turn in a non-blond.

Reyn hurried down the street, avoiding prying eyes and questioning looks. She kept her eyes on the ground and her hands clutched tightly on her bag. If she did nothing to stand out, no one would look twice at her.

The way Gordon spoke of Wasyon's store, he sounded pretty wealthy. Why would he have a shop on Ulturne? People try to avoid going down Ulturne Avenue; how would he get any business? Whatever the answer, Reyn really didn't care. As long as she got the dye she needed, it didn't bother her.

When she got to Wasyon's, she quickly walked inside before taking a look at her surroundings. There was no bell on the door. Reyn swallowed tersely and cut her eyes across the store. The walls were lined with books. An odd thing for a dye shop to have, Reyn thought, but who am I to judge? She continued walking towards the front.

There was a desk covered in books and papers. There was an unoccupied chair behind the desk. Reyn could see that there was a back to the place because there was a doorway leading to behind the store.

"Um," Reyn cleared her throat, "Is anyone here? I- I came from Gordon's. He told me to come here since his dye was running a little late." She explained into empty air. She peered curiously into the backroom, trying to get a glimpse inside.

"Ah, hello!" Someone called from the back just as a head popped out from behind the wall. Reyn jumped back in surprise. It was a man about Gordon's age, with tan skin and darker blond hair. He was lanky with little muscles, and yet no extra fat. He was short. Reyn could look into his eyes, which were a dark shade of brown. There was a certain aura that surrounded him, covering him in unspoken secrets. Maybe it was just Reyn being paranoid, but she knew a lot about keeping secrets, and she knew something was up with this man. She immediately decided to keep her eye on him.

"Hi." She smiled and held her hand up in an awkward wave. "I'm Reyn. Gordon sent me. Mikel Gordon–"

"Yes, yes, I heard you, my dear. I'm Loous Wasyon. Now, let's see... what color?" He asked, walking behind his desk and into the backroom. "Like more of a honey blonde or a dirty blonde?" His voice came from behind the wall, along with the sound of heavy objects being moved around. Reyn smiled at the man. He seemed very scatterbrained.

"Um, caramel and dirty blonde, please," Reyn called back while suddenly realizing something. "Do you want to see my grandparents' Dye Registration licenses? You didn't ask, so–"

A hand poked out from behind the wall and waved her words away. "No, no, that won't be necessary. You sound like a responsible and honest young woman." The hand retracted behind the wall and the sound of moving boxes resumed.

Reyn bit her lip, and couldn't help but feel a little guilty at Wasyon's words. Honest, yeah, she internally scoffed. If he really knew–

"Pater, do I need to go get dinner?" A voice joined the noise in the back. It sounded like a boy. Reyn stiffened, being on alert. The more people that saw her, the more chance of her discovery.

"Puer, habeo Lorem!" Wasyon's voice answered back tersely. There was more whispering after his words. Reyn tried to listen, straining, as she tried to make sense of the language they were speaking.

"Quae est unus ex vobis!" Wasyon interrupted the whispers and the boy sucked in a gasp.

"Vere?!" He exclaimed, and Reyn swallowed nervously. It sounded intense. "Videre possum?"

"Minime!" Wasyon answered icily, the boy silencing. Reyn tried to peer around the corner, to no avail. She rocked back on her heels, blowing a breath out through her teeth. She kinda needed to go. The other stores would be closing soon and she couldn't afford not making it in time.

"Filius, subsisto!!" Wasyon yelled and a head popped out from behind the wall. Reyn gasped, dropping her bag and taking a step back. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Cacas!" Came Wasyon's voice and the head disappeared. Wasyon's replaced it. "Reyn! You cannot tell anyone!" He rushed out and grabbed her arms tightly, shaking her gently. "Please! If anyone outside of this store knew–" he broke off, releasing her and letting out a shuddering breath. "Actually," he resumed, looking resigned, "you could tell. He's already to be executed anyway. But if you do, they will come to collect him sooner, and I can't let them take away my boy!" Wasyon's voice turned desperate.

Reyn stood there, still thinking about the brown haired boy she just stared at.

Eventually, she blinked, returning out of her daze. "I- I won't tell," she whispered. She couldn't let them see how knowing she was like him affected her. "I promise. Your secret is safe with me, Wasyon." She turned to face the boy who was staring at her from behind the wall. She caught a glimpse of his brown, tangly hair. "And whoever you are, I won't tell anyone about you."

He smiled and walked out from the backroom. "Gratias tibi." He replied, standing next to his father. He was tall and had tan skin, like the color of golden honey. His eyes were brown like his hair, a deep chocolate color. He was lanky with muscle and was at least four inches taller than her. "I'm Tahnson." He stuck out his hand, a grin tugging at his lips. He looked like he would accidentally burn down an orphanage and laugh it off, but not in the evil way. Just the "oops– I'm sorry, I'll pay for the damage" type of way. It was kinda cute. "I appreciate the fact that you won't speak about me. I'm grateful, despite the fact I'm to be executed in a week." Tahnson winked, as his father elbowed him. "What? I'm just saying. She deserved to know." He pointed out indignantly.

"Wait," Reyn started, picking up her bag again. "You're one of the kids to be executed in a week?" She gasped. "How old are you? Are you even eighteen? I swear, I'm going to kick the government's a–"

"Reyn." Wasyon warned. Treason could get you sentenced to death just as much as non-blond hair.

"I am eighteen, actually." Tahnson laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Now I don't know about the other ones; they might not be eighteen yet. Maybe we'll be friends when I meet them. I hope they have books I can read before I'm killed." He looked wistfully into the distance. "Do you love to read, Reyn? Because I do."

Reyn smiled. He was charming and adorable, but seemed a little awkward talking to her. "I do sometimes." She answered, tracing her fingers along the seam of her bag. "But I prefer swimming over reading any day." She really needed to go, but he was so intriguing. She'd never met someone like herself before. "You look like a reader. Have you ever really met anyone else before?"

Tahnson shook his head, his curls flying around like brown bees. "Nope. You're the first. I've never been allowed outside because of my hair color. Dad doesn't think it's a good idea. So that's why I read so much to pass the time." He shrugged helplessly and looked at his father, who was smiling thinly. Maybe he didn't appreciate them talking so much, but Reyn didn't mind.

She suddenly remembered something from earlier. "Oh, I have a question." At Tahnson's nod, she continued. "What language were you guys speaking a minute ago? It sounds very cool."

Tahnson perked up. "It was Latin." He told her. "I had plenty of time to study my ancestors' tongue, and my father already knew it from his father. Now I enjoy speaking it for fun. It does sound cool, doesn't it?" His eyes were twinkling and Reyn was sure hers were too, perhaps for a different reason.

His father cleared his throat. "Here, Reyn." He responded after a moment. "Let me get you the dye, free of charge for keeping this secret." Rushing to the back, he returned with two packages of dye, dirty and honey blonde, just the ones she asked for.

"Wait, I don't have to pay?" She asked with concern. That didn't seem fair. It seemed like a bribe to keep her mouth shut about the secret. "I- I'll pay it and keep the secret, I don't mind–"

"No, no, I insist," Wasyon interrupted, pulling her hands away from her bag carefully. "Thank you for stopping by. I'm sure Tahnson has enjoyed the company." He smiled, his eyes wrinkling at the corners.

"Of course, no problem," Reyn replied, genuinely happy. This was different and nice. Talking with a person her age was something she'd never enjoyed in the past, but maybe that was starting to change because of Tahnson and her being so alike. They were both not supposed to be alive, but Tahnson was going to die for it and she wasn't. It wasn't right, and something had to give. "Let me know if I can help in any way." She walked towards the door waving her hand in a goodbye.

"Thank you, Reyn!" Tahnson yelled after her. "It was incredibly nice meeting you! Please come back whenever you want! I'll be here– er, well only for a week, so come back soon, preferably!"

Right before the door closed, Reyn heard an exchange between Tahnson and his father. "Fuit pulchellus." The old man said, and immediately after, Tahnson gasped, "Pater!". Reyn laughed to herself, closing the door and wondering about the strange encounter she just had.

She wouldn't let Tahnson die. She couldn't. She just had to figure out a way to save them all.

A/N: hey y'all here's another chapter! Hope y'all like it so far- and I'm not going to translate the Latin, just to be mean <3 but I still love y'all