Lee

He could recall his very first time traveling through the portals to Eiridelium. It was, to say the least, magical. Though at the time, Lee kept to himself and lived it through Karin’s eyes. How it sparkled with excitement. He asked himself how days ago their lives as they knew it ended yet she saw hope, faith, and the beginning of their lives. It goes without saying that was the same reaction he’d seen in Monique. However, unlike Karin who was awestruck by everything, Monique was exhausted. She knew she was being watched. In one moment, she had looked like a curious child, roaming down the portal. In the next, she stopped and felt everyone’s eyes and then caught Lee’s mesmerized gaze. He quickly turned to look the other way, not wanting to explain why he was caught up in her beauty. Be cool. Be cool, remember. Friends…I’m supposed to be friends with her. He thought to himself. Yet how does one become friends with someone they were so infatuated with?

Monique: Weirdo.

She turned away, continuing to walk in the direction that was splayed. Fragments of imagery began to weave together as they exited the tunnel. Gusts of wind danced around wind chimes, signaling someone arriving. Voices echoing “Welcome home” chimed in. As they stepped out of the hustle and bustle of the Dragon’s Nest soon came to fruition. They had entered in what seemed like the World Trading Center without a huge crowd circling the front counters. Holograms of screens that directed who went where was displayed up above a circular center of people rapidly typing away at computers on their desks. Some were on call while others were absorbed in on their workspace. Yet, everyone was reminded for a brief moment how they royally fucked up. You see, everyone at Dragon’s Nest had a mixture between curiosity and worry. Although this was one of four main headquarters, they prided themselves in the fact that any person or object deemed an “outsider” is immediately tagged and requested for extraction. Heck, its why they worked so hard with the techies in Technologies for Better Lives. So, how in any realm was she missed? How was it for that long had she been living under the radar?

Lee motioned to Monique to follow him as getting lost in this place of work madness was the least challenging thing. It also was not helpful having so many gawkers. He stopped by a desk to drop off some item in a peculiar bag and asked where Lilith was. He was directed to the private rooms in the back. As they began to walk towards that direction, a boy in short curly royal blue hair and azure eyes ran up to the two. It was none other than Ben.

Ben: DARLING~! How I’ve missed you~!

He ran to hug Monique, possibly mistaking her for Alexis. Instinctively, she kneed him in the stomach, causing him to crouch over. However, he was quick to recover and got back up as if nothing happened. Lee held back Monique from kneeing him again.

Lee: You’ll just encourage him. Monique, this is Ben. Ben, this isn’t your wife, Alexis. You should know that she isn’t a red head but instead a blonde by now.

Monique: That oddly makes sense.

Ben: Ahh! Sorry, I was hoping she was coming home with my other half and the rest of them

Monique: O-other half?

Lee: Did no one tell you they got reassigned?

Ben: Say what now?

Ben frantically checked his communicator, yet nothing came up.

Ben: D-did they forget about me?

Suddenly, two new notifications appeared on his screen. One from Alexis that read:

Will be home later. Don’t you dare scare the newbie!

And another from Danny”

My darling other half ♥ I will be reunited with you soon. We must delay our celebrations some other time. We have to been reassigned L Don’t forget about me~

Love, Danny

Ben: Oh, they must’ve not gotten a good enough signal to send it out to me.

He quickly changed from his sad attitude to a perkier one. He then extended his hand out to Monique.

Ben: The name’s Benjamin Ericson. But you could call me Ben. It’s nice to meet you Monique.

Monique: Likewise, sort of…

She dodged his seemingly weird greeting, making Lee chuckle. Ben’s hand went from going from a super enthusiastic handshake to a dejected sad lump.

Ben: So, whatcha up to?

Lee: Here to meet with Lilith. Care to come along?

Ben: Is it not a private meeting for the Missus?

Lee: Yeah, but I’ll still need a native to help tour her around here.

Ben: True!

Monique: By the way, where is here?

Ben: Ah, right. Lee! Where are your manners? Welcome to Eiridelium!

Monique

They walked into an office where a beautiful woman sat. Monique had assumed that was Lilith. She had wavy strawberry blonde hair, pale green eyes with freckles sprouting over her cheeks like stars across the sky. She gave no notice that anyone had actually walked into her office. Her attentions were all over the screen in front of her where she frantically was typing away.

Lee grabbed a chair nearby, inviting Monique to take the one and only seat. Before she could even reject, she was being pushed to sit by Ben.

Lee: Got a minute Lil?

She had continued typing away.

Ben: Guess she’s too busy for us?

Lee: Wait, I have an idea. Hey, Lilith, Alexis punched someone to death yesterday.

Lilith slammed her hands on the keyboard, taking a moment to let that sink in.

Lilith: LEE!! THAT’S NOT FUNNY IT HAPPENED ONCE AND ONLY ONCE AND HE DIDN’T DIE.

Monique: He didn’t?

Ben: No, but we’ve all learned a valuable lesson that day. Never insinuate that the reason she’s mad is due to that time of the month.

Monique: I could’ve told you that.

Lilith blankly stared at Monique, trying really hard to concentrate on why she was there and what was it she needed to do. Then, as if a lightbulb produced over her head, she was ecstatic to finally meet her, the infamous person who she was hastily typing about on a report to the head of the entire department.

Lilith: You must be Monique!! The anomaly!! The talk of the whole town, practically.

Monique: The what now?

Lilith: An anomaly such as yourself is exceedingly rare to hear of. Almost always, whenever someone or something such as yourself has appeared in any world, we get word of it and try our hardest to determine the situation in which we will proceed in. Yet, you…

Monique: I somehow went under the radar, haven’t I?

Lilith: Yes! And it’s quite interesting. However, no one’s mad at you or anything. None of it is your fault.

Monique: But why does it feel like it is? I heard the voices…I heard the screeching. Why was I stuck there?

Lee: That’s exactly what they are going to find out.

Lilith: Exactly. It’s such a fascinating situation that we must dig further into it. However, I assume that you’ve had quite a long day so may I ask to see you tomorrow for some tests and health checkups tomorrow around half past noon?

Monique: I don’t suppose I have the option to say no.

Lilith: Don’t worry, no one will do anything you aren’t comfortable with.

Monique’s entire body trembled with fear.

Monique: I-is it the only way I can stay here?

Lee took a hold of it.

Lee: Like she said, you won’t be doing anything you’re uncomfortable with. And I’ll be right there with you.

Monique nodded, with a tad bit of relief.

Lilith: Besides, as I’ve said before, none of this is your fault. These are just procedural steps everyone has to take when they’ve made this their home. Even if you choose to live in a different world that has the same synchronization as your wavelength, we still have to go through this.

Monique: Can I ask something?

Lilith: Certainly!

Monique: Even if there’s another world I could live in, can I just stay here? I…I’ve traveled to so many worlds against my own will and this is the only place where I haven’t heard the screeching. Like everything’s —

Ben: A perfect melody?

Monique: Something like that.

Lilith: Of course! It is absolutely your choice to make this your home.

Lilith’s smile was the brightest in the entire room. It caused an inner turmoil in Monique’s stomach. Should she trust them, or should she just run? Tit was so instinctual of he to distrust anyone. Don’t trust them. Just come home. Like a siren that calls out to her.Thoughts of worry and fear swirled around in her head, yet she felt someone hold on tight. Like ensuring she wasn’t lost in a sea of her own mind, Lee took a hold of her hand, guiding her back to the reality of it all.

Lilith: Now that that’s settled, Ben, Lee, will you take her around and show her the city? Seeing the entire world might take too long.

Ben: Will do.

Lee: What about her living situations? Where will she go at the end of the night?

Lilith: Oh shoot! You’re right!

Monique: I can always camp outside.

Ben gasped as if he’d heard something horrendous.

Ben: We don’t do that here.

Lilith: He’s correct, we always intend to give someone a roof over their head. Karin would kill me if anything.

Ben: Hey, Lee, don’t you have a spare guest room?

Lee & Monique: What?

Lilith: Oh, that’s right! You, Karin, Danny, Alexis, Ben, Terra, and Ken all live together since you’ve bought that big old house.

Benn: And most of it hasn’t been explored yet so why not have her take the unused guest room?

Lee: Would you be alright with that? Or would that be too much?

Monique’s face flushed, ears burning with embarrassment.

Lee: Maybe not such a good idea.

Ben: Why not?

Lee motioned to Monique’s face as she was too flustered to say anything.

Lilith: I’d offer my place, but it’s currently being fumigated.

Monique: N-n-no i-it’s o-o-okay.

Lee: You sure?

Monique: As long as you d-don’t mind. You’re the only person I actually know here.

I’d be a lot closer to new friends too…

Lee silently celebrated to which Monique responded by kneeing him.

Lee: Why??

Ben: Seems fair.

Monique: Only fair.

Lilith: Well, that settles it. You three enjoy your time roaming about the city, and Monique, I will see you tomorrow in the afternoon.

Lee

As the three of them stepped out to in the open, Ben immediately began his role as a tourist. They started with the plaza outside of the Dragon’s Nest. The building had towered over them, casting a shadow of a gothic like building with pointy rooves. It had felt so out of place considering the insides were filled with

Ben: There, you have the Dragon’s Nest.

Monique: Why do they call it that.

Ben: Believe it or not, dragons did exist for a time or two.

Lee: Well, they still exist. According to history, they were the first to teach us the ways of teleportation. They can also sense who or what doesn’t belong.

Monique: Why is that?

Ben: They were the closest species to the Celestials. The original beings who crossed the barriers between realms.

Lee: It was said they passed down the teachings of ancient magic to them.

Monique: Do they still exist?

Ben: Most certainly. Some corps members can apply to be their disciples.

Monique: Really?

Lee: Every year applications are sent to a specific being who would make an excellent candidate, from then on you are tested by that being who will eventually give the title.

Ben: Rumor has it that some individuals are so powerful or strong that they just straight up make you a disciple.

Lee: And, there are only four specific individuals who haven’t declared any disciple in centuries.

Monique: Who are they?

Lee: They’re dragons, specifically: Solomon the Dragon God of Wisdom and Calamity, Ryuuske the Dragon God of War and Rage, Seraphine the Dragon God of Light and Life and Erembour, the Dragon God of Death.

Monique: Why is that?

Ben: No one’s seen them the first three in centuries. And Erembour –––

Lee: Erembour is an asshole.

Ben whispered to Monique.

Ben: He’s applied to be his disciple for years and hasn’t been accepted.

Monique: Oh.

Lee, who overheard shouted

Lee: Word on the street is he’s also responsible for their disappearance.

Ben: Oy! You know there’s no proof to back it up! Besides the final report that Kingdra had documented was that the Celestial Queen Farrah soon disappeared right after the three’s disappearance.

Monique had stopped in her tracks as they were talking a way about the logistics of what happened to those the people who went away. When Lee had noticed, he saw her astonished by the area all around. In all fairness, she stepped away from what seemed like a plain boring old city built on the bay to a futuristic city built upon plain. A few city structures stood as high as 50 stories. Some of these were libraries where people went to read up on the knowledge that’s taught in different worlds while others were nothing but bureaucratic buildings where people went to figure out their living situations to their passports to travel to and from galaxies. People were scattered all around the place. Signs directing people to shopping, eating, and residential areas were strung about. There were even flyers for this year’s Founder’s Festival plastered all over walls that weren’t already decorated on. Lee took a hold of her hand once more.

Lee: I know, it’s a lot to take in. Anywhere you want to go in specific?

Monique: Where do you all hang out?

Ben: H-hang out?

Monique: Yeah, like where do you go after a hard day’s at work or whatever…like what do you kids do?

Ben stared at her like she said another horrendous, or at this point illegal, thing.

Ben: How old do you think we are?

Monique: I assume Lee’s somewhere around 18? And you’re like mid-teens? Like everyone else?

Lee laughed.

Lee: Ouch, that’s gotta hurt dude.

Ben: HOW DARE YOU! I’m the same age as Lee!! I’m only four months younger than him!!

Ben pouted.

Monique: You sure don’t act like it.

Lee: Hahahaha. It's quite hard to point out ages here. Time flows differently, but you’re not wrong. I’m turning 20 soon, so is Ben and Danny. Ken should be 19 by now. What about you?

Monique: I think I turned 18 today.

Ben and Lee stopped in their tracks so harsh that it caused Monique to bump into Lee.

Stolen novel; please report.

Monique: What?

Lee: It’s your birthday today?

Ben: Like today, today!?

Monique: Yeah, it should be October 19th on the world I came from. So, I think it would be my birthday today. Why?

Lee let go of Monique’s hand to converse secretly with Ben. Or at least secretly as they thought they were conversing with each other.

Lee: Did literally no one know this!?

Ben: Lilith never produced a report. She must’ve been looking all over for her profile!

Lee: So, what the fuck do we do?? Alexis is going to kill us if we celebrate without her.

Monique: You don’t have to.

Monique chimed in.

Monique: It’s not super important anyway.

Ben: HOW DARE YOU! BIRTHDAYS ARE SUPER IMPORTANT!

He grabbed both Monique and Lee by the forearm, yanking the both of them towards, what he knew, were the best bars and restaurants in the area.

Ben: I don’t care if my head comes off cause Alexis found out. We’re going to celebrate your arrival today. Besides, if my wife found out we didn’t celebrate she would kill me. Either way I’m a dead man!

Monique: But it doesn’t matter to me. It’s just a day.

Ben: A very special day.

Monique: Why’s it so special?

Ben: Because you’re here and you’re alive to celebrate it.

Monique: But I –

Lee smiled at her.

Lee: Just think of it this way: You’re being reborn. Call it a rebirthday. We’re celebrating that you’re here now. You’re home.

Monique

Home. A four-letter word used to manipulate her at every turn. A four-letter word used to keep her chained somewhere. She never had a celebration for anything. October 19th was the same as it always was every year before it. She either celebrated by doing what she normally did, dumpster diving for survival, or she was constantly reminded how little her life meant to the people who birthed her. Constantly reminded where she belonged and where her place was. Yet today was different. Ben urged her to tell him what foods she liked, what drinks she could down in one pour. She shrugged, not really knowing what she really liked.

Ben: Well do you want sweets? Do you like chocolate? Like all girls do?

Monique: I don’t know, did all girls go dumpster diving like I did?

Ben: OH!!! I’VE GOT AN IDEA!

Lee: Please don’t let it be a bad one. And let us go, we are capable of walking.

Ben: GOOD IDEA!!

He proceeded to send him a location to his communication device.

Ben: GO THERE IN LIKE ONE HOUR. THAT’S ALL I NEED.

He then disappeared. Like a flash of a hurricane.

Monique: How do you keep up with a person like him?

Lee: In really small dosages. To be honest, I’m glad he ran away.

Lee glanced at his communicator, then at Monique giving a slight nod.

Monique: So where are we going?

Lee: Well, let’s first find you something…more appropriate than what you’re wearing.

Monique: What they have a dress code?

Lee: Kind of, but I figure you’re not good with short sleeved stuff. So, come with me.

Monique: You sure? I thought we had to be somewhere in an hour?

Lee: He’d probably like it if we showed up in three hours.

She sighed. To her, this wasn’t worth the extravagant detour. She just wanted to know how to relate to people, how to converse with them, how to acclimate to a whole new society. She didn’t ask for celebrations. But, maybe this is how they did things here. Maybe this entire place was just one big fiesta that she had to get used to. As they walked towards the clothing outlets, Lee began apologizing.

Lee: I’m sorry if this is all too much for you.

Monique: I figure this is just something I have to get used to.

Lee: Believe me, you don’t have to. I’ve lived here for years and I still haven’t gotten used to it. Besides, you’ve never gave your own birthday a proper celebration. Why would you be okay with a bunch of strangers do celebrating with you?

Monique: Have you mastered the art of reading me like a book?

Lee: Well? It’s a fair point isn’t it?

Monique: Very fair. So, why did you guys get all uppity like that?

Lee: It’s our motto on this world. When you choose to live here, you keep all the memories of your past life. So, we tell people, that when you choose to live here, you choose to leave that behind. All of it.

Monique: And what if you can’t?

Lee: And what if you can?

Monique stopped to ponder that thought.

Lee: See? Can’t go about doubting yourself now. Just give yourself time.

He took her inside of a store that sold nothing but plaid. Plaid shirts, plaid pants, plaid dresses. God some were just so tacky. But she came across a dark red and black plaid dress she grew quite fond of every time they passed it by.

Lee: Try it on.

Monique: But the length’s so short!

Lee: Then get, I don’t know? Black leggings??? Do they even sell that here?

He pushed her to try on the dress, offering to hold all the stuff she had carried with her.

Lee: I’m assuming you’re a medium.

Monique: I-I think?

He threw over the pair of black leggings when he finally found one. She once again, found herself in a dressing room. But this time it was different. The scars on her arms were mostly gone. Damn, that ointment did really work. She put on the dress and leggings, noticing no price tag came with them. What you don’t even pay anything in this world?

Retailer: Thank you for your purchase!

Lee: Can I also get a bag for the clothes she had on previously?

Retailer: Of course!

GOD DAMNIT. Now I owe him.

Lee: You done in there?

He threw the bag over the dressing room door.

Lee: Put your old clothes in there as well!

Monique: Ugh! Fine. But you have to tell me a place I can get you things too…after…I get a job…

Lee: Pfft. It’s a birthday gift, dumbass. Just take it.

She walked out of the dressing room, fully face flushed.

Monique: Y-you sure?

Lee: Y-yeah.

He swiftly grabbed her clothes. As he was about to take off, trying to seem like he wasn’t blushing as well, the retailer stopped him in his tracks.

Retailer: Would you like me to send those to your home, Mr. Solari?

Lee: S-sure!

The retailer grabbed all the items he carried as he grabbed Monique by the hand.

Lee: Come on, let’s go!

He proceeded to take her to a salon where they spent what felt like hours washing and styling her hair. Her face was riddled with annoyance and frustration. Though she thoroughly enjoyed the fact that her scalp got a massage. When the stylist was done, her hair was silky smooth with curly ends.

Lee

Shit fuck shit fuck. I didn’t think she’d look that fucking cute in a goddamned plaid dress. His thoughts constantly screamed at him as he walked in a haste towards the direction where they were supposed to go. At this point, he was literally dragging Monique all over the city.

Monique: Hey, whoa wait!

Lee: What?

Monique: Don’t you need to get into some form of a dress code too?

He pondered that thought for a moment. Please dear god, don’t tell me he’s setting us up for a fucking date. Did literally no one tell him about the memo? About the me being friends with her first!?! He gave a defeated sigh.

Lee: Promise you won’t run off anywhere?

Monique: Hard to run anywhere when everything seems so new. I don’t even think I can go through this city in a lifetime no less a whole fucking day.

Lee: Hey, you can still surprise me by up and running away.

Monique: Look, I’ll stand guard or watch or whatever, but you’re not about to get out of this without dressing the part.

Lee: But I –––

Monique: It is my birthday.

Lee: Fine. Only because I slightly trust the merchants around here to keep an eye on you.

She chuckled a bit.

Monique: Okay, okay. Get going.

Lee: I’ll be right back.

Monique: Counting on it.

~

An hour and a half passed on by. He left her with some money in case she wanted to snack on something. But, dear gods of another world, was he panicking. What to wear, how to style his hair. Why should he care at all? Did he really want to impress her? Or was he just trying really hard to make sure he could put off this whole “Be friends” thing. God, that was stupid too. How can you be friends? How do you even try? Do friends hold hands the way they did? Or offer a room to stay in within a day of knowing each other? Were they setting him up for failure? Or was this their rightful method of pushing him to get over her? He walked out of a gentlemen’s store. He wore what he could to match her style, a button up casual dress shirt tucked into his black jeans. He saw her, feeding the doves with bird seeds she probably purchased from the nearby pet store. Her hair was so close to the color of sunsets it was awe-strikingly beautiful. If that was even a word to him. He smiled as he saw her delight in feeding small creatures. When she finally noticed him staring, she blushed at the sight of him. Hah. I win.

Lee: Ready to go?

Monique: I’ve been ready an hour ago, princess!

They walked together in the direction Ben had set out for them. Through a massive garden of flowers and fall like trees. He told her how they transform to cherry-blossom trees in the spring and how they look the way they do in the fall, just in time for Founder’s Festival. He explained how the festival is meant to bring everyone together and how restaurants give it their all to try to win best of the year. Their pace matched as they kept walking in windy paths. The orange and yellow leaves danced in the wind. A few had slowly waltzed to Monique’s hair. Lee laughed, trying to pry them out. Dearest mother of all fairies; make this day last forever Lee had thought.

They then arrived at the destination. A beach side restaurant with an unusual amount of customers for this time of the day (which was literally no one around). Monique had walked on in as Lee gestured for her to go first. Ben came from seemingly nowhere, dressed in, what he called, his Sunday best. A suit with a red bowtie.

Ben: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MONIQUE!!!

The wait staff, the chefs, the hosts, and the guests all came out from different areas of the restaurant, yelling out surprise to Monique. No one, coordinated. Not a single one at all. It almost seemed like Monique was going to have a panic attack, but Lee was right behind her. Motioning her to slowly stroll inside. He knew she wasn’t used to this.

Lee: Just go along and try to have fun.

Monique: How can I when I’ve never experienced that in my life.

Lee: First time for everything.

An arrangement of food and sweets were all produced, setting themselves on the tables put together for the smorgasbord.

Monique: So much food.

Ben: I had to tell Alexis, everyone chipped in. She says they’ll truly celebrate when they return. But for now, think of it as a gift from them. The guests here are also going to celebrate with you.

Most of them were either people from the Corps or just regular citizens. Most of them just basked in the fact that there was an excuse to party while others attempted to lure her away from Lee with food and beer.

Monique: I don’t think I’ll like beer.

Lee: Then here.

He handed her hard ciders and hard lemonade. She took a few swigs at the hard ciders and perked up a bit.

Monique: So good. So sweet…

Ben: So, you are a person who likes sweets! Bring out some more!!

Monique: Is…is this even legal?

Ben: Legal drinking age around these parts is 18.

Lee: Isn’t it dependent on what species you are?

Ben: Right! A human with an affinity for magic, the legal drinking age is then set at 18 where as a fairy with a life expectancy of what, five to seven hudreed years I think the legal drinking age for them is maybe a hundred? Not too sure.

Drinks were producing left and right as the night raged on. She gorged herself in food and sweet alcoholic drinks. The bartender found it a challenge as she claimed that most of them tasted like bitter medicine. Lee watched carefully, ensuring nothing funny was going on, he only drank enough to get a buzz. He saw that Ben challenged her to drinking competition after drinking competition till he managed to make himself pass out. She ate happily, drank ecstatically. This was probably the most she’s lived. At least, the most she’s ever gotten to have fun in her life. Liquid courage carried through her veins. A band made up of fairies and orcs and the Norse showed up to play some tunes and she looked so fucking clumsy. So clumsy that Lee couldn’t help but notice how bad of a dancer she was. Many people joined her. Especially guys who were trying to prey on her. He stepped in between them, offering himself to dance with her (even though he too was called a sloppy dancer). He tried, amazingly successfully, leading by spinning her around a few times, dipping her at every possible chance. He took too many notes on how Danny would dance with Karin. When the slow songs came, as paid for by Ben who miraculously woke up to party some more, she fell right into his arms. Lee glared at Ben as Ben had his thumbs up, smiling like a complete goof. Ben knew most of Lee’s weaknesses, and by all means this was it. Getting to slow dance with a beautiful woman such as her to songs he would sing to himself while working or after a drunken night. By the time the end of the party came, she was a drunk staggering. Lee carried her home as Ben tried to stagger behind. It was not how he had wanted things to turn out, but he was also glad she had the time of her life. Or at least was finally feeling like she was living it.

They caught a cab and drove out to the other side of the city. In the middle of a forestry area, stood a traditional style Japanese house. He struggled to get her inside the house as the driver was kind enough to lead Ben inside. Lee pointed at the direction in which Ben was to go and thanked the driver profusely after giving him a most generous tip. He struggled to keep her balance with his. She laughed and giggled so much, was this really the same girl from this morning?

Lee: Come on, I know you’ve had way too much to drink.

Monique: And you….you’ve waaaay too little to drink~

Lee: Well, someone had to keep an eye on you, you were chugging those things left and right with Ben. No wonder he passed out during the competition.

Monique: hahaha so weaaak.

She continued to stumble inside the house, falling flat on the sofa near the kitchen. Lee laughed and sighed.

Lee: Alright you stay there.

He readied her room. Opened the curtains to let the moonlight in, unfurled the bedsheets so she can get a good night’s rest. Even put out a glass of water with some aspirin on the side. Who knew if she could even get a hangover? Though, if she did, he knew deep down inside Lilith would kill him. When he walked out of her room and into the kitchen, he saw her staring blankly at the wall in front of her. There was an old painting of a fields of flowers. The fields of flowers that used to grow here. It was filled with dark colored lilies and hyacinths with black roses bordering around the edges.

Lee: You okay?

Monique: Familiar.

Lee: Excuse me?

Monique: Th-hic- this place looks so fam-hic-familiar.

Lee: Here, drink some water.

She took the glass of water from Lee’s hand, downing it as soon as she could.

Lee: Slow down there.

Monique: Th-this feels like home. Sweet home.

She stared at him, her whole body still wobbling.

Monique: You look familiar too.

Lee: Yeah, I should, I’m the guy that dragged your drunk ass in here for housing.

He took the empty cup from her hand, placing it on the white marble countertop. She tried getting up as soon as he took his eyes off her.

Lee: Jeezus, would you just sit still.

He grabbed right before she fell down again.

Lee: Alright, that’s it.

He carried her, princess style, towards her room.

Monique: No fun, no fun.

Lee: Yeah, yeah. Call me the Fun Police.

As he laid her down on the bed, she held onto him…desperately.

Monique: Please don’t leave me.

Lee: I won’t I just don’t think it’s very becoming of me to sleep in the same bed as you.

Monique: Please…don’t go…I’m sorry.

Lee: You did nothing wrong.

Monique: Ezekiel don’t go! Y…you know I’m afraid of the dark.

His smiles frowned. He couldn’t put two and two together because he had seen pictures of that Ezekiel kid. Some mismatched fellow whom had black hair and pure white eyes. His posture was dangly. He looked so scrawny. Yet, she feared him so much.

Monique: Please, don’t leave…I’m so so sorry.

Lee held onto her, squeezing her hands, trying to signify he’s here.

Lee: Hey, hey it’s me. Lee. That kid isn’t here.

Monique: Lee, please don’t go.

Lee: Are you afraid of the dark?

Monique: They always leave me alone. In a dark room. Shackled some steel framed bed. Don’t go. Please. Don’t. Go. I’m scared.

Lee: I’ll stay right here; I won’t go anywhere.

Tears swelled up in her eyes. She cried till she fell asleep. He held onto her knowing damn well her life depended on it. He told himself this wasn’t him taking advantage. But he had wondered what that kid did to her that was so bad that she felt like this? Alone. Afraid. Not even able to hold herself up for a singular night. He scanned the room, knowing that he can barely see in the moonlight. However, when his meet the mirror barely hidden by the curtain, he saw a heavy dark shadow shrouding her mind. Was this how they kept her in line? By forcing her to go back using cheap mind tricks. His thoughts plagued him till he too fell asleep.