Afton stood with his back to a tree. One would be easy enough to take on without a surprise attack.

His left hand was on the handle of his sword, the other fingered the pistol at his waist. He was nervous, shivering almost. And it wasn't even cold, the wind wasn't blowing.

He merged deeper into the shadows to clear his mind a little. He took a couple of deep breaths and he left it...

Someone was in the forest... no, not just one. There must have been... a dozen at the very least. But just when he was about to bust their false sense of surprise... the one person came: his target...

He had a hood on, so did Afton (it was supplied at every mission... to keep his identity hidden).

But somehow, it was weird. Afton checked his reflexes to get everything over with straightaway. He observed this person for a while.

His head was down, covering most of his facial features. Afton could only see his pursed lips. His steps were sure and confident, yet silent so as to not stir a leaf. That long blade of his caught a few rays of the moon while it was held almost perpendicular to the ground.

That sword sure looked mean...

The person looked up at the moon and sighed. Afton too traced his gaze to that pretty cresent and saw that it was red.

Stop... don't look. He's just trying to distract you.

Afton raised his pistol, but before he fired...

“Don't play that way with me. Aren't you the great Afton?” he asked in a quiet low voice.

Afton chose to stay hidden. Those with too much confidence were usually either really strong or just the opposite.

But that guy smirked under his hood when no one appeared, “So it isn't Afton,” he scoffed, “Prepare to die... no! I'll leave just enough life in you to tell them how strong a weapon Chrision has been developing for years now.”

Both of them raised their swords at the same time. Afton used trees and momentum to practically fly on the hooded figure.

He looked up while Afton looked down... he saw it... those eyes... those purple eyes.

It's not a guy.

They crossed blades.

Afton tried doing a couple more slashes midair before he touched the floor (head first) and rolled, but they weren't strong enough to fatal wound a mortal, much less, a Falconer.

“So it is you,” Kaylie laughed to herself, but there was a sadness in her eyes. Something returned... something that hurt. And she knew that however much she'd try to crush her feelings, stamp out the fire of love, or turn her heart cold, all her efforts will crumble at his face. She was madly, crazily, deeply...

Afton regained control of himself. He was on a mission.

He slashed, thrusted, whirled... almost everything in the book and more. He used momentum, kicks, and gravity all to his advantage.

Kaylie never was a good swordsman. She only had time enough to block them all when she froze time. Afton was just... fast. He was pushing her back.

The others must have sensed that, for the signal was given and Afton found himself in the middle of the trap. The death trap.

Kaylie seemed indifferent as she fell back, watching them close in on him. But the inner turmoil was another thing.

Dodge! Ok... now slash. Behind you! Go back a little. Ok, take a deep breath. Go! Just do the 360 slash. Kick that guy off and.... ok, catch your breath in the trees then. It's safe there. But... Afton... your child. (Kaylie)

She was still narrowing her eyes at the darkness that loomed above when Afton dropped and the sword went through her neck.

Nice move, Afton. (Kaylie)

The others were soon upon him and Afton kept each one at bay. None even touched Kaylie as she slowly regained her head.

In fact, by the time Kaylie had gotten to her feet, there wasn't one mortal survivor... besides Afton, that is.

“So... this is a mission impossible, I guess,” Afton said, stabbing Kaylie as he sat down beside her. He left the sword sticking out the other side of her back as he straightened his mask.

He knew that she could've killed him long ago if she really wanted to, so he wasn't afraid to just sit down and do nothing for a while

Kaylie touched the handle of the sword and looked at him.

It hurt... of course it did. But there was no way she was going to cry.

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Kaylie dared not speak lest she warn him... she couldn't bear to see him in pain, but it seems he could.

Anyway, they both had a goal, a mission to complete. Afton had killed them off too quickly and she needed to buy time.

Yes, she loved him, no way she would admit the truth, but... she was loyal to her country, her queen.

Then... she spoke. “Afton, do you remember those times?” she whispered.

“What times?”

“When we sat with our legs hanging over the lake, when we danced...” she whispered, then, looking straight into his eyes, she took out something from her girdle with her left hand --dripping with blood-- and held it up (about the heights of their faces(they were around the same height now)) she said, “When I gave you this.”

Something dropped from her hand, something in the shape of a teardrop. It hung, suspended from her hand, before him, shining in the moon with a red and silver

Afton looked at it, and then at her.

Kaylie undid the fastener on the locket and put it around his neck. She did everything slowly... to buy time... and create the perfect mood.

His eyes were still on hers when she had put the locket on him with shaking hands and looked back at him.

There was silence. For a moment, both their eyes were locked on each other. The ugly proceeding, over with just minutes ago, was forgotten for a second. They were inches from each other... now centimeters... then millimeters... soon... nothing.

They would come soon. They will kill Afton soon and it'd be my fault. (Kaylie)

A tear dropped from Kaylie's cheek to his. She shivered... and the night wasn't even cold.

Just a little longer. Afton... stay with me for a while more. (Kaylie)

Even from inside her hood, she could feel it. She was playing him into the real thing. They would soon give the signal. But...

I missed you so much that it hurt to forget you. I loved you so much that I hate you... but.. Afton, stay with me for a little while more. Kiss me... (Kaylie)

Time froze... and not because it was bliss, but because Kaylie literally froze time.

Tonight will be the first and last. I'll never see you again. Unless... Unless this works. (Kaylie)

Kaylie broke off the kiss (reluctantly) and hurriedly pressed something into his hand before time went back to normal.

It was a dagger of wood.

“If worse comes to worse,” she said as the signal played.

She stood up and Afton snatched the sword out of her. Her face contorted with pain and she gasped as she held her heart.

It was the second time she got stabbed. And it was by the same person.

“S-sorry,” Afton whispered, blushing slightly (though it was barely visible in the red glare of the moon).

Does he care? Does he really care? Does... he still like me? (Kaylie)

It was soon answered by another couple of slashes across her stomach and neck area.

Afton couldn't even see how big the group of assailants was. Whether it be the cause of night or number, he didn't know. Either way, it had to be a lot. Still, he was confident he'd make it through.

He went up to the safety of the trees along with more than just a few bullets. Thankfully, they were terrible aims.

The heads of every Chrisianon turned up, scouring the trees for any telltale shadow that would give Afton away. The tension in the air increased at every passing second. Every second lost was precious to Afton. Still, the soldiers stayed motionless (with the exception of their heads and eyes). He could either be hiding up there or moving about. They couldn't take the chance and possibly let him out through a hole in the net.

Kaylie alone sat a little way from them. She was still dwelling on the kiss... her first kiss.

Kaylie was bombarded by mixed feelings, confused. She couldn't help but feel angry at him for some reason, though she knew very well that she'd brought it upon herself. She was the only one frowning one second and then smiling so wide the next. She was the only one madly, crazily, deeply...

But she knew... it wouldn't be this easy for Afton. He'd come back. He'd return even if it meant his life. Kaylie knew Afton too well to even think for a second that he'd leave his child behind...

Sure enough, she was brought about. The little girl with honey brown hair who bit, snapped, and glared with all the might a little girl could ever produce.

For a moment, Kaylie was hit with a pang of jealousy. Her hair was just like Isolde's, so was her face and those perfect hands.

Hatred clouded Kaylie's brow and she forgot about Afton for a second. She was, after all, confused and madly, crazily, deeply...

Afton, from above, had seen her in the shadows from when the second trap first came into view. He'd watched her with a tolerably calm demeanor.

Of course, like always, he had no plan. (If he did, what turned out in the end would be so out of track from the original that it wouldn't be considered a plan.) But, he knew she'd get through it.

She is my little Annie, after all. Look at how she kicks, those guys are holding their shins... they can't even hurt her because she's my daughter. How ludicrous! Preposterous, really!

They had somewhat disarmed the little girl so that she was left to her limbs for defense... more like offense.

Now, Kaylie was rather puzzled at Afton's not showing up. She began to think that he'd really gotten away, and told the soldier nearest her so. Soon, it'd spread throughout and panic struck them.

They were told to bring Afton back to Chrision, dead or alive. Even that a hundred and twenty men could not do!

But... neither had completed their missions. Either Afton... or Kaylie would never go back to his/her land by tonight. The thought struck Kaylie only after the effects of the prior rumor had begun to take place.

It's be troublesome to say something else now... Meh! It's not their business anyway! I'll just finish this off. It'll be just him... and me. Again. (Kaylie)

“Go away! I'm gonna kick you!” Anastasia threatened with flaming eyes.

Yes, of course, being threatened by a six year old was something to laugh about... until she kicked you, that is.

Nope, she couldn't kick high... doesn't mean her low kicks aren't strong.

It meant that any region of a human's anatomy above the knee was safe... that's with the chance she doesn't land one at the back of the knees.

It's ridiculous, really, how much Anastasia did with her feet before she was suspended by them from two pairs of hands.

That was where fists and... teeth came in.

Anastasia would use her stomach muscles and hands to bring her next victim a little closer to getting a purple tattoo of teeth marks.

The uproar among them was plain absurd.

There was never such a mess as the one in that forest that night.

Chrisianons were supposed to be disciplined! However, there were two groups. One opposed hurting or killing the girl in any way, the other, stricken with frustration and anger, wished to cut off her limbs, some even wanted to end her life... their leader was nowhere to be found. Hence, a conclusion wasn't found and a trifle of a scuffle broke out. It soon turned into a rather major brawl involving at least half of those insensible Chrisionans.

At least, they came to a sort of mutual agreement to keep her in confinement for as long as their leader chose to remain uninvolved.

The next problem was where to get this... in all, it was very messy.

All this while, Afton was close to laughing at the failure. Only, being himself, not a laugh escaped his lips.

However, something slipped from him unnoticed... down to the earth. A little red drop... another... little specks of red liquid fell like rain into the very middle of the group.

One by one, the eyes turned upwards...