Eric dropped another pile of books on his desk, Seren watched from their own desk. They’d finished working hours ago. But stuck around to answer any questions about their day which there were many, and plenty of repeated ones.

“I didn’t do anything wrong.” Seren asserted. It was partly a question and partly a statement.

“You never should have gone to that house.” Eric said sternly, not looking up from his books.

“If I don’t do everything in my power to close that account then I’m not worthy of this desk.” Seren said, only half joking.

“Mm.” Eric answered half-heartedly. Seren felt their stomach rise into their throat. They went back to their own book about the fae. It was a tough read but they came across some information to think about. Things like children not being allowed outside the city walls, and fae-touched being expressly forbidden from the city altogether.

“Eric?” Seren asked, looking up from their book. “Am I not allowed in the city?”

“What?” Eric asked, finally looking up from his books. “What does that even mean?”

“It says here that fae-touched are forbidden in the city. Does that mean me too?” Seren asked.

“No. Obviously not. You live in the city. That book’s rules are old. Full of old outdated ideas.” Eric shook his head. “That law hasn’t been enforced in decades.”

“But it’s still a law.” Seren said. Eric paused, looking blankly into the distance as he thought it through.

“Does it matter?” He asked, finally sitting down in his chair and facing Seren fully.

“I think it does. If the law still exists then it’s only a matter of time before someone enforces it.” Seren said, looking down at their hands.

“Or it becomes erased due to obsoletion.” Eric said. “Forget about the fae. They bring nothing but trouble.”

“But I’m part fae. How do I forget a part of who I am?” Seren asked. “You don’t think I bring nothing but trouble.

“No. But. Look.” Eric sighed, rubbing his eyes under his glasses. “If you go looking for trouble. You’re going to find it. If you keep looking into the fae, you might not come back. Does that make sense?”

“Why would you not want me to come back?” Seren asked, their chest felt tight.

“What?! That’s not at all what I said.”

“You do think I’m trouble, don’t you!” Seren stood up.

“I think you’re going to be in trouble if you don’t lower your voice.” Eric stood up swiftly. Towering over Seren with uncompromising authority.

“My voice is lowered!” Seren yelled. “And what about kids not being allowed out of the walls? I went out!”

“You’re not most kids! You’re fae-touched, that rule’s meant to protect the kids-”

“Why’m I not worth protecting?!”

“That is ENOUGH!” Eric’s yelling rattled the windows. Startling Seren into silence. “Go to your room right now! I don’t want to hear another word until dinner!” Seren ran to their room, leaving the library book on their desk. They slammed their door and stood in shock. It all seemed to have happened so fast. The certain things in their mind were that they were fae. At least partly. That meant they were trouble. It meant they weren’t worth protecting like the other kids. It meant they weren’t even supposed to be in the city in the first place.

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All of it was a bit much for them to process all at once. They tried focusing on one part at a time but even that seemed too overwhelming. Seren paced in their room. Trying to find a single place to even start but all they thought about was the anger, the unfairness. It all circled around in their head like a cyclone. A tornado that ripped up everything else in their head.

Then there was a lightbulb moment.

Seren stopped pacing, looking out the window at the forest in the distance. A crude plan taking shape. They didn’t have any spare shoes in their room but decided that was fine. They didn’t need them, not really. They opened their window and looked down into the backyard. The sun was just starting to go down, casting purple shadows but not creating any dark spaces. The more interesting thing for Seren, was the forgotten rose trellis just under their window. At one point there may have been a plan to put in roses, or even roses actually growing up the trellis. But those were long abandoned and only the rotting wooden trellis were left. It was a possible way down but it seemed a bit dangerous.

Instead Seren grabbed their coat, resolving that the front door was their best option. Turning off their lights and listening at their door. Hearing Eric stomp down the stairs they waited, holding their breath. But not hearing any more movement, they crept out their door. Shutting it behind them. They walked down the hall and slipped down the stairs. Listening intently for Eric’s telltale heavy steps.

“You going out too?” Mrs. Houper asked. Startling Seren to falling down the stairs. Mrs. Houper ran from the kitchen archway and helped Seren up. “I didn’t mean to surprise you dear. I heard that argument you two had up there.”

“Yeah. What do you mean going out too?” Seren asked, rubbing their back where they’d hit the steps repeatedly.

“Eric went out. Said he had to return something.” Mrs. Houper said. Seren huffed, until they remembered their library book.

“My book!” Seren snapped. “He wouldn’t!” They stomped to the door and jammed their boots on. Mrs. Houper watched them go, before returning to gossiping with the kitchen staff.

Seren ran down the road but stopped before the end of the block. What did it matter if he returned their book? They still had another. Besides that, they weren’t really reading it anyway. Seren turned swiftly and began walking the other way. There was something else they wanted to try. If Eric was right and the book was useless then they wouldn’t be out long. He was right about the laws that forbid fae-touched in the city but that didn’t mean much if the rest was still accurate. They walked between the districts to the great gates to outside the city. A pair of city guards were standing on either side as was usual and what Seren expected.

They walked toward the gate, feeling small and somewhat naked without their enforcer gear. They rubbed their arm uncomfortably, as they approached the guards.

“Hey, Serenity! What are you doing out and about this late?” One of the guards called, waving at them. Seren waved back awkwardly.

“I uh. I need to get out the gate.” Seren said. Their commanding voice wavering with uncertainty.

“Why?” The guard asked. “It’ll be dark soon. Don’t you have someone who’s going to miss you?”

“Is that going to stop you from letting me through?” Seren asked. The guards looked at each other before shrugging.

“Guess not. Go on then, try to be quick. You could get lost wandering the forest at night.” The guard said and with a pull of a cord, the gate began to open. Seren held their head high and walked through the gate and into the outer gate’s steam works. Covering their ears against the noise and emerging out the other side. In the chill of the evening forest.

They shivered at the loss of warmth, they walked down the dirt road until they heard the gates fully close behind them. Seren stopped and looked around, holding themself. They were in the forest now. The guards didn’t even warn them about the fae. Or anything. Just let them by with a warning about getting lost in the dark. Seren’s arms folded until they were tightly crossed. The anger building in their chest until they stomped off the road and into the forest. It would serve them all right if they did get lost and spend the night in the forest.

Seren angrily shouldered through the forest bushes, now actively trying to get themselves lost. Turning here and there at random gaps between trees and lush bushes and ferns. Light pouring from the canopy became darker and darker until night fully settled into the forest. Seren stomped forward. Not hindered by the lack of light to see by. Being fae-touched gave them the ability to see in the dark. Only in dark grays, blacks, and white but still they could see enough to get themselves well and truly lost.

Seren only stopped when they yawned long and hard. Feeling ready for bed. They tapped their foot in contemplation, slowly came back to their proper senses, then turned to go back home and forget all the silliness.

But after turning around a few times. Seren could only press their lips together. The realization coming over them.

They were lost. Exactly as they’d wanted to be. Exactly as they warned they’d be.