There was no place like home.

Cinder had pondered that quote ever since she had arrived back in Mistral. It was nothing like it used to be. As she stepped out onto the streets, the whole place felt unfamiliar. It seemed joy and peace was drained right out of the entire of Mistral, and was replaced with nothing but fear and sorrow.

Before she had left the inn, Cinder had grabbed a deep scarlet cloak. She knew that people feared her. When she had first joined Salem, she had wanted to be feared. But, now that her wish was seemingly granted, she instead felt sick and depressed inside. All along she should have known that she was meant to be on the good side, not the bad. But, that very wrong choice had led her to be known as one of the most evillest people known to date in Remnant.

She tugged on the cloak, trying to shield her identity from others. But, she kept on getting funny glances as she slowly and timidly walked down the street behind an over protective Hazel Rainart, along with Mercury and Emerald closely following her. She heard the hushed voices as she passed:

"Who the hell is she?!"

"I don't know but I have a bad feeling about her!"

"Do you think she could be connected to what happened at Beacon only just a few months ago?!"

Cinder shook her head. She didn't want to be reminded of the fall of Beacon. She knew that Beacon had been rebuilt, but she still felt guilty inside. She had expected everybody to just, well, forget about the fall of Beacon, move on, not worry about a thing, act if nothing. ever. happened. But really, how could they forget? It was all other the news! Fall of Beacon this, Fall of Beacon that. Who was she kidding? No one would ever forget the horrible things she had done.

"Where exactly are we going Cinder?" Hazel grunted as they walked.

"Anywhere but here." Cinder whispered, while looking down at her feet. She no longer wore high heels like she used to. She had to admit, wearing glass heels all day long did make her feet hurt and ache, and so she had changed her shoes. She wore grubby old black high tops now, and they only just fit her, but it was a change from the slightly intimidating glass heels.

"Cinder-" Hazel began, but was cut off by a women who had started screaming. She happened to have been there at the night of the Fall of Beacon (for unknown reasons), and she instantly recognised Cinder.

"IT'S HER!" She screamed, while pointing to a startled Cinder. "IT'S CINDER FALL! THE GIRL WHO USED TO WORK FOR SALEM!"

Gasps echoed throughout the street. Shopping bags dropped to the floor, and children began crying. Cinder took a step back in fear as the women pointed in her direction.

Faces turned to take a look at Cinder's burning amber eyes which were overflowing with fear, and the crying of the children intensified.

Suddenly, everybody began to run. The ran in all different directions, everything seemed like a large blur to Cinder. All she could hear was screaming, shouting and crying.

"WHAT A MONSTER!" A man cried as he ran past Cinder, a little baby held in his arms as he retreated back to his house.

"N-No..." Cinder whispered. "I can explain! I don't work for Salem anymore! I'm on the good-"

"HIDE YOUR CHILDREN! SHE'LL HURT THEM!" A voice cut her off.

A saddened Emerald looked around at the burst of incredible fear which had encased the street, and clenched her fists. "Don't you dare talk to Cinder-!"

A crowd of people sped past her, knocking her over. She fell onto the ground, grazing her arms and legs.

"EMERALD!" Mercury cried, and bent down to help her up.

"I'm fine." Emerald said, her expression showing her shaking she was. "We need to get out of here! Cinder isn't safe here!"

"RIGHT!" Hazel yelled, and grabbed Cinder's hand.

Yet, Cinder stood frozen in fear as people rushed past her. "COME ON CINDER!" Emerald screamed. "WE NEED TO LEAVE!"

Cinder nodded, and took off with Hazel and Mercury. Emerald stayed behind for a few seconds, and suddenly there was a shatter of glass. She ran into one of the few jewellery shops in the street, and came out a few seconds later, her pockets filled with precious gems, bracelets, necklaces and all types of jewellery.

She ran after Cinder, Hazel and Mercury, and they ran into the woods, far away from the screaming villagers.

Finally, when all for of them thought they were safe, they stopping running. They panted, out of breath, and sat down on the grass.

Cinder began to cry.

"Why does everybody hate me?!" She asked through her tears.

"Cinder, you don't deserve to be hated." Emerald said calmly, while wrapping her arm around her. "Everybody who hates you are just idiots."

"And shitheads." Mercury added.

Cinder wiped the tears from her eyes. "I just want to go back and change what I did. I wish I didn't hurt Pyrrha! I wish I didn't cause Beacon to fall!"

"Hey, Beacon is rebuilt now." Emerald stated. "Everything is getting better, isn't it?"

"Worse." Cinder whispered. "Everything is getting worse. I just wish I could see my family again!"

Emerald sighed and hugged Cinder. "Don't worry Cinder. We'll make sure everything will get better for you."

Cinder nodded and hugged Emerald back.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" A voice asked. A psychopathic laugh sounded from behind them.

Cinder got to her feet and turned, and came face to face with none other than Tyrian and Ivy...

...