Life sometimes deals you a bad hand and you make a lot of mistakes along the way, but as long as you believe in yourself and walk along your chosen path with a smile, everything will be alright. -Narumi Anjo from Gankuen Alice

I was breathing hard by the time I reached fifth street. I had realized that I was being followed when I heard the footsteps grow increasingly louder as I walked faster. I finally turned determined to understand why. Sure I was just a girl but I was not about to get raped by someone. Not now and especially not without getting a good look at their face. Also one last thing... I was going to punch them in that face as well.

I froze however with my fists up in front of me. The man from my dreams stood ten feet from where I was standing. The black trench coat and suit case in hand. The glint from the metal in his other hand signaling he had a knife. One thing was different however. I heard what he said this time.

"Let's make a deal Meraina." The man growled out.

I stood there for a second before I turned and sprinted away from the man determined to get away. I turned down an alley way ground meeting my now bare feet for I had kicked my sandles off in order to run faster. However I tripped. Not because of me being clumsy or any other object but because of a hand. A pale white hand stuck out from the damp earth below me holding me by the ankle. I stared at the pale digits wrapped around my skin.

Tears were in my eyes from being so terrified. I kicked at the hand trying to get away. I heard the chuckle and I looked up slowly knowing that it was him. The fear and anguish I had been feeling was nothing like now. I breathed in trying to calm my racing heart, to stop myself from submitting to such a terrible person. I really didn't know him either but I knew enough to know this was not going to end well on my part.

"Are you going to make a deal with me now that I've caught you?" The man asked.

"What if I said no?" I said trying to sound stronger than I felt.

"That... Wouldn't be in your best interest Meraina." He said walking a couple more feet into the alley way.

"...Just tell me what this deal is then." I spat at him.

"My master has sent me here to tell you that you have a day to make you decision. He currently has Mr.Janus, Mr.Donovona, Mrs. Filoni, Ms.Ototro, Ms. Umine, and several others in his custody. He will kill them all unless you give yourself to him. Of course you will die in their place... Will you be able to live with the fact you killed everyone you ever known or would you be the savor of them. Both of them are understandable and respectable however both my Master and I have agreed that you will choose the later. Especially with the fact that you have already lost both of your parents." He told me and I stared at him my heart slamming me roughly against the ribs.

The last sentence hinted at something and I latched onto it since that was the only thing I comprehended.

"Y-you killed my parents!" I cried out realizing it.

"Not me. My Master, yes." The man answered truthfully.

"Your Master was planning this from the beginning wasn't he! He planned all of it! He killed my parents to make sure he had me in his hands! I'll kill him!" I yelled and with each passing second I grew angrier.

"He did and good luck with that Meraina. I must leave now however. My Master is calling me. I will come look for you at the same time tomorrow. Good day." The man said and he disappeared along with the hand.

I sat frozen unsure as to what to do. I sat like that for a long time just trying to sort my casatrophic mess of a brain I had at the moment. Finally I came up with three main points for me to focus on.

One, my parents were murdered.

Two, the man that murdered them wanted me.

Three, I'm going to give up my life for my friends.

I stood up gripping my hands into fists. One last thing I was punch that man before I died.

Authors note:

Yay! Two chapters in one day! I feel that this one is probably the best out of them all. So if anyone is reading this at all I hope you enjoy! Thanks and shoot me a comment as to what you think of it.

Thanks

Haruko