"Claire... Claaaiiiiirrreee...." I heard the boy call, but I was too afraid to respond to him as the Thin Man's dress shoes clicked down a tile hallway. He was looking for me.... HUNTING for me... "Claaaaaaiiiiiirrrrreeee..." he called again through the lips of the old man, and I slowly sunk to the floor in fear as I stifled the urge to respond to the facade! "Claire, don't you love me anymore? It's so cold here, and lonely." The Thin Man wept, mimicking the boy's voice. My blood began to boil the closer he got, and I hid myself under a desk low to the floor as I yelled, "STOP TOYING WITH ME! I KNOW YOU'RE NOT WHO I'M LOOKING FOR, AND I'LL DESTROY YOU ONCE I FIND HIM!" "Claire! Come to me, please! I'm sorry I hurt you so; devastated that I hurt you, even. Let me make it up to you. Join my side and I'll give you the world!" "YOU ONLY WISH TO SEE MY WORLD BURN! I'LL DIE BEFORE I WILLINGLY TAKE YOUR SIDE DÉMONE!" I heard a loud thud, splintering what sounded like wood as the mimic continued in a sorry attempt of a calm voice, "I only want the best for you. I want to treat you like the royalty you deserve to be! Join me, and nobody will EVER tell you no again." "Not if it means you'll turn me into someone like YOU." I spat, and I heard a frustrated scream as he altered back to his original, gutteral tone, "YOU CAN'T RUN FROM ME, LABOUVIER! YOU WERE MEANT TO COME HERE, AND CLAIMED BY ME SINCE THE DAY YOU FIRST TOOK YOUR BREATH!" "YOU DID NOT "CLAIM ME"! NO BODY HAS EVER "CLAIMED ME"! You are a sad, sorry remnant of the darkness within all humans, and I'll blot you out with my light if it costs me." "But my girl," he began with a dark chuckle, "You fail to ask the bigger question!" "Oh REALLY? And that is?" I asked out into the darkness, only to find silence. No footsteps..... No voices..... I continued to strain my eyes, hoping to find him when out of my right ear, I heard menacingly, "What is light without DARKNESS!" I turned my head, and screamed in fear as a pair of glowing, purple eyes stared at me in an animalistic glower, and a bright set of fangs gnashed at me when I shot up from the floor with a gasp! I felt weak.... Too weak to hold my own upper half up as a voice said, "Claire!" I jumped as I turned in the direction of footsteps, and Leo took me into his embrace as I asked, "What happened....? Where.... ARE we....?" "You passed out after taiming a mob of viewers, and the Thin Man let out this horrific wail! We managed to escape, and we decided to wait here until you recouperated. Speaking of, how're you feeling kiddo?" "I ache all over..... it hurts to talk and hold myself up like this!" I winced, collapsing myself back to the ground before letting out a small whimper, and Leo gently placed myself against his chest for support. "Do you know what causing you to get sick suddenly?" He asked, and I shook my head as I replied, "It's on and off! I think the Thin Man may be feeding off my powers..." "How so?" "Because I feel weak, and in pain only when I run away from him! When he's near, I feel on top of the world..... It's strange to say, but that's how it's been since we first encountered him, and I turned into a bird to fly us away!" I replied, coughing a bit, and sending a small splatter of blood from my lips. Leo gasped before knitting his brows in a worried manner as he gently wiped my mouth. "Leo...? Am I dying...?" I asked, eyes full of tears as I weakly squeezed his arm. "No, of COURSE you're not.... You're only tired! A little rest will do us wonders, especially you, so you just get some rest alright?" He said, moving my wet hair from my face before planting a peck on my frozen forehead. "Leo, we need to find our way out! We don't have time to worry about the sick!" Six scolded, looking around as Leo rolled his eyes. "She's froze! Can't you show just a smidgen of compassion to her?" Leo begged, as Six emerged from the shadows, looking more evil than ever as she pinned her gaze on me. "Sorry that I wish to LIVE!" She remarked callously, and Leo replied, "Well then live! I'm not leaving her behind, and I refuse to leave her side." "Then you'll die with her! I'm shocked you hadn't yet." "And that means what, dare I ask?" "It means you're an IDIOT!" Six shouted, kicking a shelf as she took a deep breath to calm her. "Leo, PLEASE hear me! She's just dead weight now, and it's dead weight we cannot support." "Then I'll carry her like I've been! She weighs only a pebble, so I shall have no problem with lugging her around." Leo finalized stubbornly, and I felt grateful that he's standing up to her as she slowly shows her true colors. Six opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again before turning her back to him, and finding a way to reach a blade that was stuck deep into the wall. "You can at least help me find us a way out." She muttered, throwing what objects she could at the object as he placed me gently back onto the floor. "You do what I say now, alright? Get some beauty sleep and whatnot, and leave it up to us!" He ran to her side to help her dislodge the axe when a loud, familiar buzz filled the room again, and my eyes widened fearfully as I yelled, "H-He's coming!" "Bust that blasted picture box!" Leo ordered to Six, but she remained frozen in feat as a response. "FINE!" Leo said, taking a solid looking toy, and making his way to the T.V. as I squealed, "LEO, NO!" as soon as he went to smash the screen, an invisible force sent him flying, and the axe dislodge itself from impact just as Six leapt from the line of fire! Everything was in slow motion again, and I could see a pair of large hands take form as Leo quickly worked to wedge the axe out of the floor. Six rushed to his side to help him just as the Thin Man came out half way, and said "Suprise kiddies! The man on the T.V.'s come to plaaaaayyyyy." He made his way slowly toward me, and I fearfully began to push myself back as Leo and Six managed to pull the axe from the floor. "CLAIRE! I'M COMING!" I heard him yell faintly, shaking off Six as she tried desperately to hold him back. "Finally.... You're mine...!" Thin Man seethed maniacly, reaching his hand out to grab me when Leo sunk his dagger into the elders hand, causing him to writhe back in pain as he cradled his new wound. Leo snatched me up as Six got to work on the door, and began to run as the enraged Thin Man squawked, "I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS YOU BRAT!" and thew the tiny makeshift dagger to the side as he gave chase. Once we were through the door, Leo placed me on his back before acending a wall, all the while the Thin Man screamed curses, and called out foul names as we escaped through a hole in the upper wall, and into a hollowed out alcove. "ARE YOU DUMB?! HE COULD'VE KILLED US BECAUSE OF YOU!" Six shouted, punching Leo across the face. "Like I said sheila, there's not a bat's chance in oblivion that I'm gonna leave her for that thing to just snatch up." He said, catching himself before he fell back on me, and held his face as he smiled wide to her. "Besides! I think I made our statement clear, what with my dagger going pretty deep, and leaving quite a nasty cut." "But...... Didn't you work hard on that..?" I asked, panting. "Nah, don't worry yourself about it. There's plenty of shattered glass in this world, and I can always make another!" He assured, placing a gentle hand on my arm. "Well at LEAST you didn't go back for THAT." Six fumed, turning to continue upward as Leo followed behind. We found ourselves beneath floor boards, and Leo placed me beside him so that he didn't squish me between his back and the planks, keeping a firm hold on my waist to keep me up when a loud bang came from above. "Claaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrreeee. Where arrrrre you Claaaiiirre?" He called in a sing-song voice, and I placed a hand over my mouth to keep myself from screaming. "Come on! This way!" Six whispered quietly, and the two of us followed behind her as the elderly man continued, "Really, child, didn't your dear mommy ever tell you that it wasn't nice to hide from your elders? Come on out for me, hon. No need to be shy!" "He has..... No right to talk about my mother like that....!" I hissed quietly through gritted teeth, angry that he'd use my mother's teachings as a ploy. "He's just trying to trigger a response. Don't listen to him!" Leo replied, continuing to carry me alongside him. "You think I haven't walked this road before? I know what it is you seek, and I can help you find it if you let me. Oh, how many secrets have been kept, and souls lost, and yet you still do have no idea why you are here! So..... Tragic....... Poetic...... Senseless...." he offered sweetly, and Six held out her arm to stop us as a pair of fingers wrapped over the edge of a huge, gaping hole overhead, and his breathing became prominent as he looked in. "Poor, sweet thing. You're being mislead, and you're too naive to see it for yourself! There is no love in this loveless world." He stood back up, and continued his steady stride as he went on, "You live in a dream of peace, and rebirth, but you do not understand what the stake is. You are bound to so many fates, and yet you still refuse the offer to be cut from them! Poor..... Tired thing...." we pressed on ahead until we found another hole, and we left to the floor to enter a hallway. Looking around, Leo gave a thumbs up to say that the coast was clear, and he set me down to go over to a step stool. Once he had the stool in place, Six and him clambered up to a boarded, window, and began to tug on the planks when the door at the far end ofvthe darkened hallway opened, and the Thin Man made his entrance before shouting "THERE you are! You won't escape me NOW you little mouse!" the room fell into a state of slow motion, and the two began to panic as they continued to tug desperately on the boards, hoping they would give way as the panicked and cried in fear. There, from the floor, I could see him flicker in and out of existence, bringing him closer, and closer to us! I couldn't let him get to them..... I REFUSED to sit by while my friend struggled....! Forcing down the pain and tiredness, I stood from the floor, and held up my hand as I focused all my power that I could muster to my chest, deafening me as I kept my eyes glued to the board the two tugged on. "Claire, NOOOOOOO!" Leo mouthed, but I had already made my mind up..... I was going to help them if it killed me....... I WILL help them, and it IS killing me...! I gritted my teeth as my entire body lit up, and with a loud scream, I threw my arm to the side, sending the board flying and the Thin Man crumpling at the sight of my awesome power! I turned to him, and boomed in an echoey voice, "Si vous désirez tant m'ajouter à votre collection d'âmes, alors n'hésitez pas à le faire, si vous souhaitez vous retrouver sous le poids de ma lumiére!" and as soon as the others had gotten out, I lifted my hand once more, and shouted again, "LAISSE-MOI! ET RETOURNEZ À VOTRE ABIME DE L'OBSCURITÉ ET DU FROID D'OÙ VOUS ÊTES VENU!" "You still don't get it, DO you..." he seethed, forcing himself to look me in the face, as he said, "It HAS to be you.... IT MUST BE YOU! YOU WERE CHOSEN FOR THIS! YOU ARE THE ONE!" He lifted himself from the floor as he pressed forward to reach me, writhing with each step he took, and wincing as he outstretched his hand to me. Looking at the man now, I felt nothing but pity for him as I looked deep into his blackened sockets. My heart felt oddly heavy, seeing a single tear of pain run down his cheek, and my hardened gaze softened as I took a few more breaths. Why did I feel so sorry for him? He was the man who ruined my life! Surely I was justified to destroy him where he stood..... Right...? I continued to look at him with pity, his hand mere inches from me when I waved my arm, and sent him flying down the hall. He may have been wounded, but at least he wasn't dead! At least that.... I dropped myself to the floor, full of vigor and energy that I've never had before, and I launched myself onto a roof, and slid down a slippery, metallic feeling slope with a squeak, and I launched myself right into something I did not expect! "Is this a-?" I breathed, looking around at the contents, and set up of nothing more than a fancy train car. "Oooooohhh...." I gasped in awe, and I slid my hand across the velvety seats beside me as I continued to walk; taking in the hauntingly enchanting scene before coming back to my senses. "Leo.... I must find Leo!" I told myself, running on ahead when a hand grabbed my shoulder. "BOO!" A voice yelled, making me scream as I whipped around to find Leo, doubled over laughing. "Oh, you lug!" I cried, happy to see him as I leapt energetically into his arms. "Hey there love! I see you're healthy and springy once again." he said, spinning around while I stayed in his embrace. "And better news, we're almost to the heartvof the Pale City! You ready to stop this world eater once and for all?" Leo asked, ruffling my hair. "But we still need to find the boy before we go destroying him, and I know Thin Man's keeping him locked away somewhere!" I said, looking around for any sign of Six, looking back up at Leo curiously when I didn't see any sign of her. "We'll keep an eye out, but first things first. COME! Six is waiting for us I the next car over." He replied, taking my hand, and breaking into a sprint before we sailed through the window of another train. "THERE you are! We thought you DIED for a second." Six exclaimed, dusting me off casually. Disgusted, I jerked myself away from her, and hid behind Leo as I glared coldly at her. She sighed, and opened her mouth to say something when a loud thump came from the other side of the door, capturing our attention. It came closer, and closer and I curiously left the group to listen closely at the sound. My jaw dropped in horror by the revelation I had deduced, and I quickly stumbled back from the door as I grabbed Leo's hand. "He's coming! We have to go NOW!" I commanded, running with my friend at my heels as the door opened behind us, and I snuck a look to find the elder had recupperated from my knock back earlier! "Man, he doesn't seem to give up, does he?!" Leo squawked fearfully, and I stopped at the exit of the train car to look back at the elder as he said, "When will you let the veil over your eyes be lifted? Don't you see you're SO much more than what you are?" "Leo? Leo, take Six and cross, NOW!" I commanded urgently, and with a nod in understanding, the two leapt their way to the second train car. I looked back at the Thin Man, who was now halfway down the aisle, and my whole body turned cold as I turned to join my friends. Leo caught me out of the air, and dragged me along, tripping me by how fast he was going before we were stopped by a blockade of luggage. "Up you are, atta girl!" Leo ushered, turning back to find the gray man approaching ever near, and I pulled him up beside me before jumping to the floor. "Claire, darling? You've come so far, and are still further from your goal! Let me help lift what is blinding you. Let me make you stronger than you had ever hoped to be, and make this world ours!" He beckoned, his voice almost in a begging tone, and I shouted, "Leave me alone, villain! You don't know my desires OR my dreams, and I'll NEVER tell you." We ran to catch up with Six, who climbed her way to the roof of the car before leaping to the next! We finally reached the exit, and Leo sent me up first; following close behind as Thin Man stayed a mere five feet behind us, and we leapt to the other railcar, avoiding wet patches of metal as to not slip! The rain was pounding louder than my heart, and I could do nothing but continue to pray that we would ultimately lose the old coot for good. "Claire, it is unladylike to be defiant! Why must you run from the inevitable? There's no sense in trying to stop what has been planned out from the start." "Oi! You want her so bad? Gotta pry her from my cold, icy hands you old geezer!" Leo shouted over the edge of the roof, to which the man laughed, "My boy, that can be arranged easier than you expect!" And he teleported his way to the car we stood on. Leo continued to run with me until we reached a third car, but he was slowly gaining on us the more we ran! We got to a fourth car, and only made it halfway when a sharp pain pierced my heart again, and I collapsed to the ground, unable to breath from the imaginable about of pain I was in! "Why? WHY does it hurt so bad!" I asked myself, grabbing my chest as blood flowed from my nose and mouth by drips, and suddenly, I heard it..... Like a siren on the wind.... "Claire, you will travel with many, but it must be you that stands alone against the darkness in the end! Heal his heart.... Heal what has been broken!" Bella's voice cooed softly, and the wind blew on my face like a gentle caress as I looked up in horror, shock, and revelation. Could it be..? No, IMPOSSIBLE..! I ran through all what has been said said this whole adventure, and the common theme had been only one thing..... One solution that solved ALL problems.... One person..... I didn't want to believe it, but I couldn't ignore the question any longer, and so I looked down at my reflection on the cold, black, rusted metal of the train car that the train had created, and asked one, simple question.... The question I should've been asking since I first started.... "What..... IS my destiny? Where do I go now?" I asked, trembling, and a rope of light flowed from my heart, leading the direction from which I came. Fearfully, I turned, and just as I expected, the rope had been tied to a knot in the center, and a blueish gray one leading to none other than the very evil I sought to destroy..... The one I ran from this WHOLE time.... I wasn't sick, and never WAS! It was a warning that I was straying too far from what was needed to be fulfilled.... a string that I've been refusing to pluck.... an outcome I had danced around to dodge for too long.... All this time, the ones I met were right! I WAS meant to be alone in the end, and captured by the Thin Man should I truly wish to find what had been broken! I HAD to surrender, to destroy him... Realizing this, I couldn't help but shed a few tears as I shook my head, and for the first time, I didn't know what to do! "Claire! Come on!" Leo cried out, grabbing my hand, and pulling me back along with him; causing my chest to burst with pain again as I wailed, "STOP! LEO YOU MUST STOP!" I jerked my hand back from him as I pointed behind us, and pleaded with him between sobs, "Leo, I CAN'T go with you. Look!" "What? What do you-?" He stopped mid sentence to observe the golden rope spun from my chest, and when he realized I was bound to the Thin Man, his face fell into one of disbelief as he shook his head. "No. No, I won't let you!" He took my hand, and tried to pull me along again, but I slapped it away as he begged frantically, "Claire, please! PLEASE don't do this! I can't- you must-" "Leo! Look at me." I cried, taking my hand, and setting it on his froze, blueish face as I tried to smile, and I assured him, "I'll be alright. I HAVE to do this, but I promise you I'll be okay!" "Come with me! Claire, come with me, please." Leo sobbed, holding my hand to his face. "I can't.... I've been avoiding fate for too long! I have to save that boy, and the way to do so is through the Thin Man." "Forget the boy! We'll leave here together like we should've done, and we can be together if it means I won't lose you to this monster." Leo sobbed, squeezing my hand, and I could do nothing but apologize to him as he stayed there, and cried. I hugged him quickly, and tightly as I knew that the chances of seeing him again was slim, and I told him, "Leo, live for me. Go with Six, and leave this place!" I parted from him, and I took the beloved cloak my mother crafted, and threw it over his shoulders before tying it at the ribbon. I looked up into his green eyes one last time as Six beckoned for him to go with her, and in a painful turn of events, and realizing my mind would not be changed, he turned away from me to run, sobbing lightly the further he drew from me. I turned back to the well dressed being, and decided to meet him halfway as I said, "I do not fear you.... And I will go willingly with you...!" He stopped when he was about a foot from me, and I heard him sigh before saying callously, "Now you are seeing reason. How hopeless this all is! Sleep, Claire, it's time for us to take our leave." He held his hand up to me, and an overwhelming tiredness took over my body as the world went black..... I was ready now for the truth..... I was ready now, to fight the big fight......