It was hard, even now, for Red to pack up his things -- a lousy duffel bag full of his whole life -- and make ready to leave the only home he had ever known. When the whole mess had started, he'd known it could happen, but it wasn't until the moment his sister pressed a coach ticket into his hands and begged him to, please, just go, that the consequences had become real.

He hadn't been officially convicted yet, but everyone in The City already acted as though he was banished and gone -- no one spoke to him, looked at him, acknowledged his existence.

It hurt. He didn't regret his choices, had done only what he believed was right, but it still hurt to be so completely ostracised from everything he'd ever known.

When he shouldered the bag and turned to go, he found his sister standing in the doorway. "Sera?" Red hesitated, surprised to see her, having expected to make a quiet, ignored retreat.

"I couldn't... just let you go without saying goodbye." Sera looked away, picking at a loose sliver of wood on the door frame.

Unsure again, Red reached for his sister, then pulled his hand back and sighed. What could say?

"Oh, Red… Why would you get involved with these people?" She was clearly about to cry, and Red had to just shake his head.

"Because they're right, Sera. The City can't stay isolated forever. The outside world will get in, someday." Every time he said it, knowing his words fell on deaf ears, Red got just a little angrier.

Maybe eventually he'd be angry enough that he'd stop feeling so hurt, so lost.

Sera said nothing, looking uncomfortable, giving Red a quick, unconvincing hug, and then running off.

So Red was left alone -- something he'd have to get used to in the coming days, weeks, months to come.

He was leaving his home, already branded a traitor in the minds of his people. He was going to see the Outside World that he had fought to let into his home.