I turned to Willow, hoping for something more, however, he had already vanished. I wonder how he does that. I think he is special. A special human. Maybe only the special ones can do things like that, or maybe he just drifts off. Slides into the shadows, or falls into the darkness of the trees.

The wind blows against the back of my hood, swinging parts of my hair out into the breezy air. I've done a lot of crazy things in my life, but running from home twice in two weeks was never one until now. The amount of freedom that came with abandoning home was incredible, almost incomprehensible. I was allowed to go out a bit when I was younger, it wasn't much but considering it stopped at age 10, I'm grateful I got to go out at all.

The final time I went out as a kid was with Shuko. We went to the park together. It was a warm autumn day. The leaves crunched as we jumped on them, racing each other there. We ran around, throwing ourselves down slides and jumping off swings. I had talked to some of the other kids there, and we had all agreed to play a game of tag. Everything further on gets blurry, but I have faint memories of everyone screaming. The screams of excitement quickly turned to those of horror but the reason why is lost to me. I then remember my mother cramming me into the car without a word, and we ended up at the doctors office. That was the day they changed my meds but that's all I can remember. I never got told why, and I didn't dare ask.

Looking back on it, it all seems so suspicious, but it didn't seem so weird on the day that it happened. Shuko started treating me differently since then too. He used to be so much more outgoing and carefree. However, after that day, he gradually turned more inward. It's like his personality was ran through a blender, watered down and slushed up into a gray pile of mush. He now worries about me constantly, always asking about my pills. It hurts me to have to lie to him. I told him almost every day that yes, I took my pills when I clearly didn't. I don't know if Shuko would understand. Even if he would, I would never want to put that burden onto him.

The sun is almost down now. I walked aimlessly for what had to have been hours. I observe my surroundings. Streetlights are slowly lighting up, I seem to be in the middle of a big city. A city that never rests, there are cars everywhere, people hustling along the streets. I turn 90 degrees and find myself face to face with a big light up sign.

"Hustlers Bar N' Grill"

I turn back around only to find myself face to face with a very close Willow.

"Ɏꝋᵾ ȼⱥꞥ'ⱦ ȼħⱥꞥꞡē ɏꝋᵾɍīđēꞥⱦīⱦɏ ⱥⱦ ⱥ ƀⱥɍ."

"Willow, the sun is almost down, I need a place to go"

"Ɏꝋᵾ ȼꝋᵾłđ ꝑīȼҟ ⱥꞥɏ ꝑłⱥȼē, ⱳħɏ ⱥ ƀⱥɍ?"

Sudden rage blasted through my body, leaving me speechless. Willow has questioned almost everything I do, commanded it even. I don't owe him anything. So I turn to the bar once more and storm inside, leaving him a silhouette on the pavement.

Upon entering, my senses were filled with the smell of great bar food, and the sounds of hearty laughter. I knew this was a great idea. I have some money in my bag and a hamburger sounds amazing right now.

Through the crowd, I realize I need to cover myself so people won't recognize me. My hood quickly falls over my face and my spare mask covers my mouth, muffling my breaths.

I see an empty table in the back corner, dark and lonesome. Perfect. The autumn orange lights reflect off my boots, making me look so much more glamorous than I ever could be.

I take my seat and feel the coldness of the black and red seat. The designs on the table are so beautiful, random and wild. Looking out the window on my right, the city is still bustling, even more now. It's beautiful. This city looks like one big Christmas tree, and all the cars are ornaments.

Out of pure curiosity, I shuffle my chair the other direction to face the back window, and am quickly met with a fuming Willow. I watch his breath fog up the glass, but can read his lips anyways.

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"Ȼꝋᵯē Ꝋᵾⱦꞩīđē."

I shake my head no, and turn back around, giving him no control. I wonder why he didn't just come inside?

Remembering how he mouthed those words to me, he felt so cold, mean and empty. His eyes were filled with something I've never seen them filled with before. My choices start to make their way through my head, and now I'm sitting, in a bar, in the middle of a bustling town, I don't know where I am, and I have zero plans.

"Can I get you started off with anything today?"

Shit, food.

"A water, will be fine. Do you guys have hamburgers?"

The chipper little woman smiled at me.

"Only the best in town! Will that be all for you today?"

"Yes, thank you!"

"No problem hun."

She scribbled on her clipboard and scurried away.

I take a few deep breaths, this is not the place to freak out.

"Hey aren't you a little young to be here all by yourself?"

Not knowing where that came from, my eyes drift aimlessly.

"Right here."

He was at a table adjacent to me. The man strolled over to my table, to sit across from me. The strong scent of crisp pinewood followed him. His eyes were intense, reflecting the autumn light. This man didn't belong here. His appearance was dark, cold, intense, rich, but the atmosphere was light-hearted and bubbly. He stuck out like a misplaced puzzle piece.

"You never answered my question." He chuckled. His voice was like smoke, calm and controlled, but foggy, and dangerous.

"I'm allowed to go where I want." Shifting in my seat, I once again see a steaming Willow outside, this time out the window to my right.

My eyes dart and become erratic as I try to keep my focus.

"Watcha lookin at?" He leans towards me to try to see what I see, but per usual, to no avail.

I look to the table to lie. "Nothing, just the bustling city. Do you need something or..." Trailing off, the same cheery waitress from before appears almost out of thin air.

"Oh! I see you met a friend!" She smiled, something in her eyes seemed cautious. Like a warning, or maybe it wasn't because she quickly followed with:

"We do that a lot in this town! Here's your burger hunny," her eyes jump to the man with a sparkle, "and I'll go get your pasta!"

Her heels clicked away on the floor, then returned once more with a big plate of alfredo.

"Why, thank you."

She nodded and clicked away again.

The man started eating, like he has known me for years.

I nibble on my fries and watch the man carefully, then repeat myself.

"So, did you need something?"

The man quickly swallows his pasta.

"Oh oh right! Sorry, I've had a long day. I'm hungry. You heard the waitress. People talk to each other all the time in this town. You okay with that?" He smiled a warm smile, but his eyes remained cold.

"Well you don't look like you're from here" I replied, still holding caution near.

"Bold of you to assume that. I like bold," He grins, grabbing another spoonful of pasta.

"So where are you from then?"

He looks up from his pasta, finally making deep eye contact. It gives me chills.

"I'm from here. If a girl like you can go where she wants, then a man like me can dress how he wants."

"Oh, sorry." I look down feeling embarassed. This man was just trying to be nice, and I was being an ass.

He accepts the apology, and continues eating, as I continue to watch him and nibble my fries. I reach down to grab another fry, until I realize they're gone.

"Need a refill?" His eyebrow raised at me.

I feel my face grow hot.

"N-no! It's fine, really!! You don't need to-"

He chuckles and interrupts, "It's free, don't sweat it."

"O-oh. Do you have a name?"

"Doesn't everyone? It's Zavier. Zavier Ray."

"I see, my name is Hayami."

"How cute! So where are you from?"

I look down at the table to lie once more. "Here."

"Oh, well maybe" his speech becomes slower, "Maybe I can take you home after this, Hayami."

I stutter horribly, what do I tell him? I don't have a home, damnit make up an excuse!!

"Oh, uhm, sorry I'd love that but I can't."

"How come?"

"U-um"

"More fries hun?"

I want to scream, to ask the waitress for help, but I can't.

He speaks for me, "Yes, she'd love more fries, thank you."

She exits on a quest for more fries, and I feel my chest tense.

I can't breathe, the room is spinning, I feel tears.

"Can you stand up?" Zavier asks kindly

I stand and grab the table for support, until he pulls me into a hug.

I feel myself untense, until his mouth meets my ear in a whisper.

"I know you're lying. I know you're not from here. You WILL come home with me, and you will not mention this to anyone, is that understood? I have a knife in my pocket and I know how to make your lifeless body look like an accident. Tap once if you understand."

I shakily tap on him, I don't have a choice, he continues.

"Good. Now after I release you, you will sit down, and act like nothing has happened, and we will have a nice discussion. Tap once if you understand."

I lightly tap once more.

"Harder than that, do you understand?"

I tap harder.

"Good girl. Now remember what I told you, and sit."

I sit down, my knees bounce under the table in absolute fear. The fear turns to terror as Zavier sits down and continues eating his pasta with a smile on his face.