Frankenstein gasped for breath, clinging weakly to a large boulder.

He rested for a moment, eyes closing wearily, but he knew he couldn't rest for too long. Staying in one place, even to rest, was too risky.

The fact that he was only ten years old, a small child, was of little consequence to the Union. They would do whatever necessary to capture and squeeze every last bit of information out of him as they could.

They had already done many atrocious acts in their pursuit of him. Mass killings, destroying villages and livelihoods, spreading vicious lies that left him isolated and unable to find allies or refuge.

He had escaped from them, and the Union did not forgive easily.

At that thought a stinging prickle raced across his skin and mind. Yes, he had to keep moving: being injured or tired was no excuse for tarrying. Rest, physical or mental, was a luxury he could barely afford now.

He looked up and examined his surroundings. He had expected an island, of course. What else would one find in the middle of an ocean? He had not, however, expected such a large island. The coastline stretched to the horizon on either side of him, no end in sight.

He felt his heart sink a little. Large islands usually meant residents. People. And people often meant the Union.

Grimly, he climbed upon the boulder and began to make his way to the shoreline, allowing most of the salt water to cascade down his skin as he did. He began formulating a general plan as he went. He would stay out of contact with any residents. He would build a small and unimposing shelter where he could make a new boat without anyone knowing or interfering. Perhaps acquire some fabric to make himself some more clothes.

But first, he thought as his stomach rumbled audibly, he needed to scout to find food and a good source of fresh water.

He jumped easily to the nearest tree and moved swiftly through a large forest, his small size and agility allowing him to weave through the branches and leaves without disturbing them. He grinned as he moved effortlessly through the sky, enjoying the sensation as he had always done since he had discovered his abilities.

He found a small stream and stopped to drink before once again leaping into the nearby trees.

He eventually paused on a lower branch of a tree near the little stream, letting his eyes half close in concentration. He listened.

Rustle.

Crunch, rustle.

In an instant he was on the ground, painlessly breaking the neck of the large rabbit. He smiled proudly as he used Dark Spear to prepare it. He had only had his increased abilities for a year, but they sure did make certain tasks a lot easier.

Although they had also caused so many more problems.

He shook his head vigorously and scowled. There was no reason to dwell on the past. He should focus on the present. And presently he needed firewood.

He walked around, finding plenty of usable logs and kindling in the untouched forest, and set about making a safe area to create a fire. He had chosen a small clearing under a thick canopy, hoping that the shear amount of leaves would help prevent the smoke from escaping to some extent, or at least make it a bit harder to pinpoint his exact location.

He generated the correct amount of friction to create the fire and sat down on a rock to wait. The fire would have to reach a certain temperature before –

A panicked prickle across his mind.

Frankenstein's head shot up and to the west. No, they couldn't have found him so fast. Could they? How had they known?

But even as he thought this he swept into action, putting out his little fire. He could feel the auras of several people, spread somewhat far apart but still moving in his direction. Even if none of them passed by right next to him it was wishful thinking to think that none of them would see or smell the smoke.

Not that he didn't think he could take them. But a fight against even a few low-level minions would cause a ruckus and attract more and higher-level agents. Frankenstein had been involved with the Union for so long that he knew they would sacrifice a few humans, a few 'pawns,' just to pinpoint his location.

So he ran.

The forest ground passed beneath him at high speed as he ran almost due east. He was not fit to leave this island yet, so he would have to find a satisfactory shelter to lay low in before moving on.

Frankenstein reverted his focus back to the pursuers, and his eyes widened a bit as he glanced behind him. Shit. While he had been distracted his pursuers had obviously found his trail, zeroing in on him with increased speed. He would have to just pick a place, hide his energy, and hope that they passed over him.

A mansion loomed ahead of him, seeming almost to appear out of nowhere.

A building? A building meant people, people who would turn him away, who would turn him in. Plus, this building felt… strange. He could sense power from it. And for all its grandeur, it seemed derelict. Unkempt.

An empty mansion? Or a trap?

But he didn't have much choice right now.

He jumped down onto a windowsill and forced a window open, shutting it as quickly and quietly as he possibly could. He put his back against a nearby wall and waited. Maybe he could give these guys the slip. They would certainly come into the house to look for him – there was no other place he could have hidden in such a short amount of time. But with its enormous size and strange energy encompassing it they would likely have to search manually for him. Once he was sure they had followed him into the house he would discreetly head the same direction he had come from and leave them wondering where he had gone.

His heartrate increased as he felt the auras –four in total – race toward him.

He tensed as they drew even with the mansion.

And he frowned as he felt the pursuers turn sharply to avoid the building, a look of pure incredulousness appearing on his face as he felt them turn the corner and continue past it, as if the idea that he was in it had not even occurred to them as a possibility.

For a period of time that felt like a year, Frankenstein crouched against the wall, waiting, waiting for something to happen.

He waited.

And waited.

Nothing happened.

He stood up slowly, looking around the room.

It was spacious, several couches and chairs sitting around a wide, low table. Bookcases lined the wall nearest to him. It didn't look all that much different from the rooms he had briefly seen in the houses of the gentry, complete with silver candlesticks.

But still, he was once again struck with the thought that this place was strange. The fabric on the furniture was vibrant and showed no signs of disrepair. The books looked like they had been placed there yesterday. And all the silver candle holders were as bright and polished as a full moon. There was not a speck of dust on anything.

And yet….

And yet, everything looked so desolate, he thought as he looked sadly around the room. Like it was in stasis, waiting patiently and eternally for someone to pick a book off the shelf, sit down and read under the candlelight.

It just seemed so… lonely.

He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and felt a jolt of adrenaline go through his body as he turned toward the only other window in the room.

He was not alone.

A/N: So this is an AU where little Frankenstein is an experiment from the Union who escaped. More mysteries will be revealed and solved as the story progresses. I don't really see fanfics with child!Frankenstein and I like the concept, so I'm gonna see where it takes me :)

Please let me know what you think, and if you think I should continue it.