It wasn't as late as I had hoped it would be, when I returned. Most kids were still out, meaning the Andrews would definitely still be up, likely sitting on the front porch with a bowl of candy. Which also meant I'd have to use the window, again.

     I received a deep frown from a certain judgemental fairy, as I half crawled, half walked to the side of the yellow house. I couldn't climb trees on a regular day, so Clara Molino climbing a tree with a half-opened foot? It wasn't pretty. My already bruised skin was littered with scratches from branches smacking me on my way up.

     Finally, just as I feared my muscles might give out, I collapsed on my bedroom floor. I pretended the trail of blood that followed me didn't exist.

     "Breathe," someone advised me. "Don't panic, it only make it worse."

     "Don't panic?" I asked incredulously. "If I were to force it, my toes could probably touch my heel!" That may have been a slight exaggeration, but the cut was almost that deep.

      "Best not to think about that," Mimpi said. Easier said than done. "Go to the bathroom and wash the wound. Once that's done come back with a wet towel and sewing kit."

     "Sewing kit?" I croaked, bile rising to the back of my throat. I eyed my room for a trash can or bag, I had a sinking feeling (in my gut), that I would need it.

    "The cut is deep. It need to be stitched back together... I imagine a sewing kit is best you'll be able to get."

    I whined, the panic rising in my chest left no room for breath. My foot was going to be sewn together like a Build a Bear.

     "No think about it," Mimpi ordered. "Just do it." If it weren't for the nauseating pain and fear, I may have made a wry suggestion that she quite her warrior job to film Nike commercials.

     I nodded mindlessly. Just do it. I did have the tendency to over think things. Freaking out as I sat on the floor, wouldn't help. I forced myself to stand, and shakily made my way towards the door, most of my weight kept on my left leg.

     "Um, Clara?"

     "Yes?" I asked.

     "Unless you alone, I advise you to get changed."

     I groaned. I couldn't prance around the house in the dress. That'd be sure to make it into Andrews' notebook. Not caring that Mimpi was in the room, I tore the dress off, and threw on a pink robe that I had had since I was twelve.

     Luckily, I didn't have far to walk. The third floor was smaller than the others, it only consisted of a bathroom and my bedroom. Which also meant the others had no reason to be up here, though, lately Andrews had been great at contradicting that statement.

     I did as Mimpi told me and did a quick job of wrapping a bandage around the wound. I threw a fluffy pair of purple slippers a top the bandage, in case I met a snooping Andrews. He wouldn't take a bloody sock lightly. I had a good couple of minutes before the blood passed through the thick slipper.

     "Why are you back so early?" Speak of the devil. Andrews popped his head in the hallway with a bowl of popcorn in hands. Discretely I titled my head to the right, hiding the side of my face. I didn't know how bad I looked, but I could barely open my eye. Surely the injury was noticeable.

    "Mom's meeting finished early. Emma called to inform us that Laine would be checking up with the kids," I lied, rummaging through my second closet of the night. Still no sewing kit. The Andrews didn't own tape, I really wouldn't be surprised if they didn't own a sewing set either. God, I'd probably have to walk to the corner store, to find one.

    "That sucks." He spoke through a mouthful of popcorn. "What are you looking for?"

     "A sewing set."

     "Why?"

     "I ripped my favourite pants." That was the best answer I could do for him.

     "How'd you manage that?" he laughed.

    "They got caught in some rich kid's fence. So, do you—"

    "What's with your hair?" he interrupted. Oops. How'd I manage to forget that tiny golden flowers were essential to complete the perfect warrior look?

    "Bella wasn't fond of my costume. She decided to glam it up." I shut the closet door with a defeated huff. I didn't need anything complicated, just a thread and needle. Surely with three boys in the house Anna had had to fix a few ripped items of clothing.

    "So, do you have one?" I tried again, before Andrews could further question me. I continued to angle the right side of my face out his line of sight. The darkness was a blessing. He still hadn't noticed anything.

    "My dad has one in his room." Much to my relief, he headed for said room, no hesitation to retrieve what I needed.

    I stayed back, walking a few feet behind him, further hiding my swollen eye. While he wasn't looking, I pulled a few strands of hair out of my braid, fully covering the right side of my face.

    "Your dad has a sewing set?" I couldn't imagine, clumsy and as awkward as his son, Jim holding a needle and thread.

     "Don't sound so surprised." He sounded slightly offended. "It's not an unmanly thing to do. Men can sew too." Of course, men could sew, my cousin from dad's side was in his second year of fashion school. Maybe I could ask him to make me a better suit.

    "You know how to sew," I concluded in a tone of surprise, holding back a small laugh at his so rapid state of defence. Andrews sewing? That was surprising. I could picture it less than I could Jim.

    "Shut up," he complained. "If you're nice, maybe I'll fix your pants for you."

    "Thanks, but I'll try it on my own first." I would consider handing them to him. I loved those pants, wherever they had gone. But I couldn't do so that night, I needed the kit for other reasons.

    Once he handed me the kit, I thanked him and rushed the conversation to an end. The blood was pooling in my slipper, it was only a matter of time before it passed through the purple fluff.

    I limped back to my third story bedroom, and for once was relieved to find Mimpi waiting for me. I was afraid she'd have left, interpreting the long amount of time I had been gone for as a lack of interest in her help. She didn't even complain about it, she was calm. It was almost unsettling to see her act in such a humane fashion.

    "I can't do this," I admitted, shaking my head as I removed the blood-soaked bandage.

    "Yes, you can."

     "I hate blood. It makes me nauseous," I maintained, certain that my face was turning green. "I can't repetitively stick a needle in my already sliced foot."

     "You don't have choice. The Sphere change you. Your body no longer like one of normal person and anyone who studied medicine will see that."

     "Then send Xander, he must be nearby... Just send someone," I begged. The mere thought of thinking about doing it myself, was turning my stomach upside down. My mind flickered to Andrews, who was probably bored downstairs. I shook my head. I couldn't go there.

    "Xander no good for this, and he already gone."

     "You spoke to him?" I asked urgently. "Did he make sure the kids got home?"

    "Yes, he left them with the red head."

     The red head was Emma. I suppose Xander wasn't as big of an ass as I had first believed. Knowing they were safe; I could finally relax. Well, as relaxed as one could be when you were about to sew your own foot.

     I washed and disinfected the wound and needle, much slower than needed be, dreading the actual sewing. The mere act of looking at the gash had my head spinning; I knew if I didn't do it soon, I'd lose conscious, and as I've already painfully concluded, it wasn't going to fix itself. Just do it.

     Listening to Mimpi's instructions, I forced the threaded needle into my skin, swallowing the urge to hurl.

    "You need to breathe," Mimpi informed me, halfway through my procedure.

     "Shut up," I forced out, still holding my breath. There was no time for breathing, the foot needed my full attention, all I need was to accidentally sew the Andrews', now, bloody carpet, to my foot. I had to get this done without messing up and breathing was a distraction I couldn't afford. Plus, holding my breath was helping me refrain from shouting, because holy mother cracker did this hurt.

     After what felt like eternity, I knotted the last stich. It ached like no injury I had had before, wasn't well done, and was quite crocked. Nevertheless, it was done.

     "You did good, Clara," Mimpi complimented. "Now get some food and rest. I'll be back soon." She disappeared, without waiting for my response.

     Food did sound good, but I was tired and going downstairs would be way too much work, especially with Andrews in the house. I settled for the small chocolate bars Tyler had given me.

     Of course, I couldn't simply go to bed. A sudden light flashed across my room, just as I began to lift my bed covers. I was a fool for ever thinking I'd catch a break. So much for getting rest. Two small pieces emerged from the Sphere. It really had to be two, didn't it? Just to piss me off... It was angry about my throwing the sword, wasn't it? This was the Sphere's revenge. As if it wasn't already enough of a pain.

     Whether it was angry or just a prick, the first piece attached itself to the vein in the crease of my arm, and the second to my foot. It injected itself right into wound. For once, I didn't dwell on the upcoming consequences of the injection. It was too tired to care. Just barely making it to my bed, I was asleep before my head fully hit the pillow.