You spun around and Simone dropped the lantern. The flame went out as cold smoke rose into the night and shattered glass littered the ground. Simone held you tightly.

So much for "don't touch me."

But you were frozen and too transfixed on the boy leaning against the pillar to give her any sarcasm right now.

He might as well have been a statue that was part of the pillar he leaned against, because he was so casual, with a face so serene, it couldn't have been real. His hooded silver eyes gazed at you through golden hair that rivaled Link's. But his face was youthful as Peter Pan's, with the same air of mischief.

But most telling of all was his black school uniform tailored to his athletic frame. Even in the darkness, you could see that the uniform was different from the day class students you saw earlier.

This was a night student.

"Well, aren't you going to say something?" He chastised.

"Who are you doing?" You stuttered. The phrase 'who are you' and 'what are you doing' got caught in your throat.

His intimidating smirk seamlessly transformed into an amused grin. The boy laughed.

And so did you. Probably with very red cheeks in front of this extremely cute boy, but you couldn't take it back now.

"My name is breaking rules and I am Belmont." He said with a dramatic bow, mixing his words up too. You were thankful he had a sense of humor.

"Who are you doing?" He asked, his smirk returning.

"They call me neglecting responsibility and I am y/n." You said, doing an exaggerated pirouette.

"I'm... I'm Simone." Your embarrassed roommate said with a slight wave.

"What are you doing outside the dormitory?" Simone asked shyly.

It was so out of character for her to be this subdued.

Belmont raised a playful eyebrow.

"I could ask you the same thing, Simone."

She looked positively charmed by the boy.

"We're looking for something," You said. "Actually, more like someone. You haven't seen Cadere around, have you?"

Belmont stopped relaxing and took a pace towards you. He walked with long strides, even though he wasn't much taller than you.

"Can't say I have," He said with a shrug. His silver eyes refused to leave yours. "He's probably looking for you."

A cruel smile lit up the boy's features as you took in his words with horror.

"Relax!" He said, playfully touching your shoulder. Suddenly, he froze, staring at you, as if he met some foreign realization.

"I was... just kidding." He finished softly.

"Are you okay?" You asked.

He looked from you, to Simone.

"You're in charge of the second years." He said matter of factly.

For a second you wondered if he was psychic or something, but then you saw Simone did have a small badge barely covered by her jacket that indicated her authority over second years.

Simone gaped at him with wide eyes.

"Isn't there something you're forgetting?" He said softly, his misty eyes drinking hers. "I'm positive there's somewhere you have to be."

Simone looked into his eyes, then without a word, began to walk away.

"Simone!" You called loudly. She stopped and turned around.

"Where do you think you're going?" You echoed her very words back to her.

"I'm sorry y/n," she said sympathetically. "There's something I completely forgot to do. I'll meet you back at the dorm, okay?"

Before you could protest, your friend disappeared into the fog the way you came. Had your attention not been on her, you might have seen the smirk on Belmont's porcelain face.

"Wow, talk about flaky," the Blonde said, slowly pacing around you.

"What the hell just happened?" You thought out loud.

"Come on, maybe I can help you find what you were looking for." The boy offered. "And if not, I'm sure I can give you everything you need."

You found yourself hypnotized by his silver eyes. They were two vortexes, threatening to swallow you whole. You don't know who leaned in to who, but you were suddenly much closer to Belmont than you remember.

"That's... that's alright." You said. You'd already embarrassed yourself enough for one night.

"Please-" He said, placing a casual hand on your shoulder. "I've been avoiding Cadere for years. If anyone's a pro at dodging him, it's me."

You didn't see anything to lose. But you were worried about Simone. What could have been so important that she'd leave you in an unfamiliar place with a stranger? After she said she'd help you?

Maybe this was all some elaborate prank. Maybe Belmont was in on it.

"Why do you want to help me?" You asked a bit coldly. "What do you want?"

Belmont raised his hands defensively.

"If friendship is too much to ask, I'll settle with helping another human being." He said with a happy smile.

You looked at him and decided any longer out here was just a risk to both of you.

"I'm looking for my luggage." You explained quietly. "It's missing. Two suitcases and a carry on."

Belmont seemed to ponder this.

"Sometimes things go missing around here." He said with a shrug. "But they always turn up... most of the time."

You narrowed your eyes at him and sighed.

"So what do you suggest we do?"

Belmont began to pace around like at detective.

"You know, I never quite figured it out? Here you was, and here he was, and you almost got away wit stealin the goods, but I knew what to do," he rambled with an accent. It wasn't a very good Columbo impression.

"Seriously?" You said.

He shook his hands 'no' and jumped in front of you.

"No no, we can go to the train," He suggested. "There's a chance something got left behind."

Your heart rate picked up.

"And how far away is that again?" You asked quickly.

"The train normally stays the night in the station, it's down all those fancy steps." He said.

You remembered the way you came and made to speed walk in that direction. But someone grabbed your arm.

"No no, y/n." He whispered. "I know a short cut."

He let go. You raised an eyebrow.

"The last time someone knew a shortcut, I'm pretty sure they forgot about me." You said, remembering Simone.

"Don't worry y/n, I won't forget about you." He said.

You gave him a good humored look of skepticism, but he only grinned.

"Cross my heart." He sang, marking an x over his chest.

"Now come on, let's go, before the big bad Cadere shows up." He said, taking your hand like Simone did and rushing through one of the archways.

Ferns and pines zoomed past your field of vision as you dashed off the pathway without any idea as to where you were going.

"Where are we going?!" You whisper yelled.

"Almost there!" He replied.

You didn't have any reason to doubt him, but you didn't really have a reason to trust him, either. But low and behold- there was the train.

"If you want, I can just leave you here while I go in-" He began.

"NO." You cut him off.

"I was kidding again!" He said playfully.

The train hadn't been touched since you stepped off it.

"Do you remember where you were sitting?" Belmont asked.

But you were already on the train.

Belmont followed, even though he really wasn't looking for anything at all. He had never been on this train so he took his time taking it all in.

Your heart sank.

"It's not here." You said as Belmont joined you.

There was nothing in your seat, atop, nor below. How defeated you felt to have come all this way for nothing. And according to Simone, you'd be in BIG trouble if you didn't have your uniform tomorrow.

And Simone- she'd be in trouble for not taking responsibility for the second years.

At the same time, maybe she shouldn't have left you. Some roommate she was.

"It's okay y/n," Belmont said, trying to cheer you up. "Maybe someone found it and returned it?"

"We came all this way," you said sadly.

"Don't worry!" He said a bit loudly. You were trying to be discreet, after all. "I'll walk you back to your dorm. And if Cadere shows up, well, I take full responsibility."

You gave him a slight smile.
"Well, my name is 'neglected responsibility,' after all."

Belmont smiled like an adorable child. A rather reckless child.

"And my name's 'breaking rules,' so let's get out of here before you have class tomorrow."

Reality sunk in.
"Shoot!" You cried. "It's late! We have to get to sleep!"

"Roger dodger." He said with a salute, and suddenly you were off again. You were really thankful to Belmont for going so out of his way to help a stranger. He didn't have to do that.

Within no time, amidst giggles and excited whispering, you were at the bridge divide. One end was to your dormitory, the other was to his.

"Here we are," Belmont said quietly. "Your slumber awaits."

"Thank you Sir Belmont," you said with a bow like the one he gave you.

"It was my pleasure." He said, bowing even lower. You both giggled like school children. "And please, call me Bel."

"Bel..." You tried out the nickname. "I'll see you. Sweet dreams."

And with that, you walked across the once frightening bridge back to your dormitory in a silent haste.

"Sweet dreams," Bel replied.

You turned around halfway across the bridge to wave, but Bel was gone.

At least the hardest part was over. You tiptoed up the stairs, wondering why your room was farthest.

You couldn't wait to tell Eleanor all about your adventure before class had even started for the first day. It sounded like his brother Maurice would be proud. And even Simone- she was probably asleep by now. You'd have to find out where she went and then tell her all about your adventure.

When you stepped inside the room, you were ecstatic to discover both your suitcases and your carry on. Your teddy was sitting on your bed awaiting your return. But no one else was.

While you had found your things, it seemed you had lost Simone. Maybe it was true that her roommate last year disappeared before school even started. But Simone was just joking, right?

You drifted off into pleasant sleep. Only happy dreams ironed out the wrinkles left by the day's events. Not a single worry filled your thoughts.

Not until you woke up the next morning, and Simone's bed was still untouched.