Today was Christmas Eve, and with tonight and tomorrow looming over the heads of everyone. This morning I had parked in the first floor, reading from a stack I got from the library, but I was unable to mute the sounds of people. The excitement was clear, people were looking forward to Christmas.

As much as it surprised me to admit it, I was as well. I had kept Anya's suggestion in mind all through the night, and didn't realize until recently that maybe spending time with them wouldn't be so bad.

Forcing that thought to stay relevant in my mind, I could temporarily forget that seething green monster in the back of my head named jealousy, my new babysitting schedule I apparently have, and even how Claire and Kristina tried to force us to dance. The events of last night started to fade away with this new day.

However as I decided to return to 1-A, intent on asking Antoinette how last night was for her despite it all, a voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Hey, Sebast'n!"

And I instantly wanted to run.

Still, I was in a better mood than usual, so I turned around to see Greg running towards me, looking quite out of breath. I suspected he didn't run much, if at all.

"What do you want, Greg?" I asked him with less of a deadpan than I would have liked. I'd have to practice my deadpan.

Once he reached me, I stifled a laugh seeing his belly bounce with every step. "I heard yer g'nna replace Natty 'n his du'ies" He said, quickly wiping that laugh away from my system. "'m happy for ya, th're aren't much people willin' ta do some'ing like that. So I'll give ya yer schedule; 't'll arrive in yer room, so ye don' be s'rprised 'r anything."

...Riveting. I brought my hand up to my cheek, tapping it. I could definitely refuse this... but I had made that promise for Antoinette's sake, so it's not like backing out is much of an option. I'm going to take a step back and guess that this "Natty" is the kid that threw this onto me.

I sighed and nodded. I'm really doing this. "Alright, I'll see to it," I said after a while, looking back to the pathway set in front of me. I tapped on one of the stones that formed the pathway with my foot and faced Greg again. "By any chance, is it okay if I take someone with me when I go do that?"

He did look a bit surprised, gave it some thought and eventually nodded. "Th' more th' better, after 'll. Jus' don' get any weird ideas, 'kay? 'kay." He gave me a thumbs up and lifted his wrist.

I had no idea what sort of weird ideas he might have been referring to, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

Before he was able to leave, I had another question. "Before I forget-" I had said, catching his attention and his friendly smile. "What the hell is up with your accent? I've never heard it before."

His smile wavered and was replaced with a serious look I hadn't seen on him. It was so out of left field that I wasn't sure if I should take the question back or press on.

"Personal business," he said slowly and surprisingly articulate, much more serious than I've ever heard him speak before. "'s been tha' way fer as long 's I know, 'at's all," he explained to me, not looking very pleased in doing so. It made me wonder briefly why he hadn't fixed it if he didn't like it so much. You would think Paradise would help you fix these things.

I decided to drop it. We parted ways shortly after that, with Greg leaving to (hopefully) do his work and with me going to 1-A.

When I reached the first hall I happened to spot Monkey opening the door to 1-B, stepping out from it with a little box in hand. He saw me; I saw him. I knew instantly where he was going, so I picked up my pace to 1-A. So did he.

We both immediately raced to the door and upon reaching it, struggled to open it first.

"Back off, this is my dorm!" I said, pushing him away. Or, attempting to. I was once again reminded of how physically weak I was.

He pushed me back, slapping my hand from the doorknob and we continued to fight for entry. "I wanted to go in first; outta my way!"

"Fine, fine, but stop shoving me!" A growl lower than what I would have liked left me, and we both froze for a moment. Then the both of us took a step back.

"..."

"..."

Monkey lunged for the door again.

I jumped at Monkey to pull him off and away. "Move it! What are you even doing here!?"

"Tryin' to get in, numbnuts! Haven't seen my dame for a few days, so I was plannin' on giving her an early gift for Christmas, but I ain't taking the chances if a sleazebag like you might get in the way," he answered, trying to open the door again. I was quickly overpowered by his surprising strength.

"Then look through the map, I don't know, but don't just burst into my room like that, weirdo!"
But that caught my interest. Even after getting pushed away (He caught me off guard with that statement!) I could hear his words again. If Antoinette isn't here, then is she still with that Natty kid?

"Ya don't think I've tried that? Asshole." That last part was added towards himself, but I caught it. I looked at Monkey curiously and he just kinda kicked my door. I swear, if this guy left a dent...

He continued, not caring about my door.

"She ain't there, she ain't anywhere. And I should know, 'cause I've got a map of all flippin' Paradise!"

"Well, guess you're gonna have to look for her on foot."

I opened the door with more force than I'm used to and without looking at Monkey, who I heard walking away with curses of his own, I slammed the door shut.

The moment I walked into the room I moved instantly to the table and gave it a mighty kick. Pain inmediately shot up my leg, but it felt good. A bit of that frustration left me, but it left me feeling stupid.

I threw myself onto the couch and slapped my cheek softly.

I shouldn't be feeling jealous. As long as she's happy, then I'm happy — that's how it's meant to go.

Antoinette must be having a great time with Natty, that has to be why she hadn't come back yet.

...

She wasn't on the map.

Monkey had said as much, but I don't like acknowledging him. His words crashed back into my head without warning, sending me into an overdrive.

I checked the map in my watch, looking for Antoinette with the strong sense of denial blinding me from accepting anything else.

The silence in 1-A used to be comforting. Now it felt suffocating.

The more time I spent fiddling with the watch, the more I realized that Monkey was telling the truth.

Antoinette wasn't here.

A heavy sensation of my insides being twisted and torn apart were all I could feel for a moment as that reality sunk in. If she wasn't on the map, then where was she?

I checked the map again, this time to locate Claire or Kristina and ask them about it. I still wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to see them, but what choice did I have?

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending) I didn't have time to dwell on that; a letter was slipped under the door and I heard a "Here's yer schedule!", which made me groan and question my life choices.

I picked up the paper, but only skimmed it with occasional grunts of disagreement. I didn't want to waste time on this anymore if Antoinette is out there missing!

That's what I thought until a word caught my eye: punishment.

It was fleeting, but I'd definitely seen it.

Suddenly much more alert, I read through the sheet again, intent on picking out the bit that glimmered from the back.

“Breaking this contract will result in severe punishment,” I muttered, scowling immediately after.

I didn't want to leave now, but I wanted to be punished even less.

I shoved the sheet into my pocket, taking out my frustration on it, and then realized I was left alone with my thoughts.

That was the last thing I wanted. I checked the map again to look for Natty, but I didn't know his full name so I was only doing that to take my mind off things.

It wasn't working.

I held my breath and ran my hands up my hair, trying to clear my head.

That didn't work either, so I turned to the screen.
“Li!” I sounded much louder than I thought I would.

The screen turned on, making me flinch even though I had caused it.

“Good afternoon, Se—”

“Can it, tin can,” I barked. His smile never wavered, not even as I continued. “How —...” I paused, realizing I should have thought this through.

Li must have seen my hesitance, because he only waited for me to finish.

“Is it possible for someone to not be on the map?” I asked slowly.

An awkward silence fell between us, as though the answer was bordering the line.

“It is possible,” he said.

“Even if they aren't being punished?”

A longer silence.

“It is not possible. They would need to be out of the designated area The System has watch over, but that is against the rules and can be punishable with the highest penalty.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“There's a designated area?”

“All you see is within it. It expands as people arrive, so going out of it is against the rules. There's nothing out there either way.”

“This sounds like some really serious stuff, are you sure its fine to tell me about this?” I narrowed my eyes. It wasn't as though I didn't believe this, but something felt off.

“Because you have already experienced our just punishments firsthand, and I suspect you mature enough to handle this information wisely.”

Something in the way he said that made me feel uneasy. Before I could answer like I meant to, he cut me off with a sense of finality.

“You wouldn't want to be late for your shift.”
And it turned off.

The sun had been on its descent for the past few hours, peeking through the clouds that formed at some point during the day.

I looked up at the sky, feeling it might start to rain soon, and felt grateful for that. I would have used my go-to coat, but Pen was likely still using it so I didn't want to take it back just yet.

Ten minutes remained until the start of my temporary shift, but I didn't plan on going in just yet, at least not until...

“Good to see you again, Sebastian!”

Wearing a sundress and a jacket on top, she didn't look prepared in the least for what was to come.
Anya noticed me the moment I did with her, and she waved at me, like I hadn't already seen her.

I waved in return, pushing myself off the wall as I did.

“I'd say the same, but you don't look ready for this at all.”

She looked down at herself, twirling to show off her dress, and smiled.

“Nonsense! The children will think I look divine.”

“Have you ever done this before?”

“Not at all,” she admitted readily. “But please, it's only taking care of children. It can't possibly be hard.”

I rolled my eyes. The facts would prove her wrong, and then I would laugh.

“Of course, your years of experience would tell you that.”

She looked mock offended, but was the first to take the initiative.

Without much waiting, my hand was gripped tightly and I found myself just like last time under a Russian influence.

“People love me, I don't see why children would be any different. Let's get this started!”

With a misplaced enthusiasm towards this new task, she led me inside as the first rain drops began to fall on the day of Christmas Eve.