Lucy's POV

i couldn't stand staying at the Agency... I was too much of a danger to everyone. 4 months have past since I split up. I haven't kept in touch or seen them at all. I don't want to see Lockwood's upset face again...

That killed me inside.

Lockwood & Co. had gotten worse without me. I read the news paper recently- usually sadly as I know George reads them- to find that they have been declining most cases. Now they will soon be going out of business

Lockwood himself hadn't been seen outside, it is said all the curtains are shut and doors locked. I don't know myself, since i refuse to go back. I would be lying if I said I didn't think about him...

The hollow boy. Yes it wasn't real, just a Visitor messing with me, but what if I was the cause of his death? What if...

No. He wouldn't. George and ugh, Perfect Holly would stop him.

I have probably the worst job for an ex-agent. Rapier lessons. It was rubbish pay; but it was enough to keep me alive.

I bet everyone would think that with my amazing Talent I would have joined another agency or had a nice place to live.

Nope... I actually have no where to live. I'm on the streets relying on my job for food. My clothes are torn, hair messy, rapier half broken. Living out here is so dangerous.

On more than 4 occasions, I was almost ghost-touched. I barely get any sleep, 4 hours every 2 days is like heaven to me.

Bags are staying under my eyes, I'm getting more and more exhausted. I just want to be in a nice bed...

I only have one company. One that I regret.

The Skull.

Luckily, it's more quiet than normal. Probably because it is bored, like me...

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Rain started that night. Luckily, it's safer from Visitors due to moving water. Unluckily, it was a sleepless night for me.

My black shirt is cut and badly torn, showing skin on my torso and cuts that are mainly on my chest and stomach, which can be seen. The rain makes the said shirt cling to my rotten skin. Black skirt and leggings were in a similar state, legs are cut and leggings show it. My left hip is quite visible as well as my knees. Souls of my shoes are coming apart and the outside is all rough and scruffed. Hair is more of a tip than it ever has been...

All-in-all, I'm less beautiful. Well, I never had been.

I think Flo is more beautiful than me, and that says a LOT.

Go see Lockwood again you idiot. At least you'll look and smell better.

I was too exhausted to argue... I barely spoke due to my vocal chords being damaged a month ago from a poltergeist going to attack me. I was nearly Ghost-Touched if it wasn't for a man, whom I didn't catch his name.

I started panting when I tried to stand, my rapier was used more of a walking stick then a ghost-fighting weapon. The hilt or guard is broken, so its basically just a long thin sword than a rapier. Since the hilt is a key part of it.

Take me with you! You could easily die! please!

I didn't have a choice. My backpack, which the skull was in, had my blanket, which I needed, though it was probably wet.

When I was in Lockwood & Co. did you see me happy to go into the Archives?

If you said yes then you don't know me.

However, nowadays I am EXITED to go there. Know why? Because the people there care about the one homeless girl that looked like she was half dead.

I'm not kidding. No one cared I was dying.

I literally was. My once strong heart struggles beating as fast or strong, resulting me feeling sick and horrible most of the time. My healthy, oh how the skull laughed at this thought, lungs made me struggle breathing, half the time I couldn't. Also, on 2 occasions my lungs have failed.

2 People have had to preform CPR on me because of my failing organs.

When I go in the Archives, I sigh happily knowing I'm safe...

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When I walk inside, my body goes numb and I collapse to the wooden floor. A freezing puddle forms under me, gets soaked up, then reforms. Before I get ill, two girls pick me up gently and softly placed me on the couch near a fire place.

The girl to my left has long, blonde hair- similar to George's- that covers her right eye. Her eyes are a piercing green, which I barely look at. She quite short but really skinny. Skinny enough that you can see her bones. She was wearing a red and black shirt with a long black skirt that goes past her knees. Her name is Rose Coleman.

The second girl is different from Rose. She has short black hair that always covers her eyes. Good thing too, her eyes are a really dark grey that I thought was black. She always wears pure black clothes with fingerless, black, leather gloves. If you haven't guessed by now she is an emo. However, she is a nice emo. She is just forever bullied and hurt by others. Her name is Twilight Bishop.

Both girls was 16 years old with Twilight being oldest.

'Poor girl...' Rose said while she took my bag away and placed it next to me.

'She hadn't had a good time...' Twilight replied. She was right. The water slowly dissolved from the fire, the smallest of smiles went on my face.

Twilight disappeared in a room next to the fireplace, it was a blue door with a 'STAFF ONLY' sign on it.

'Youth Road... Youth Road...' I heard a guy say behind me. My weak hand tugged on Rose's sleeve then I pointed at a blonde, chubby guy with glasses. She nodded and pulled some curtains across to hide me.

Quick Lucy! Bang him over the head and drag his body away!

Twilight came back with some of her spare clothes, her body is almost the exact same as mine. Just a little bigger.

The clothes I was wearing then was once hers. I rarely get clothes from her, 1 set every 3 months minimum.

The girls helped me get change into, what looked like, the exact same clothes without the cuts. They treated my cuts and gave me some tea.

It was like drinking lava, since it was just made. I didn't care. It heated me up.

After a while, I limp walked around the archives, careful not to run into the boy from before.

Bored and tired humming came from my backpack which was on my back. I could feel the ectoplasm swirling around. I noticed when the skull was bored out of it's little mind, it starts to tell really DETAILED stories... All I wanted to bleach my ears from the description...

I couldn't have survived an hour without him seeing me. I did bet an hour...

A sudden wave of drowsiness hit me, my bones turned to jelly, my rapier fell, breathing slowed.

I heard a muffled and quiet thump on the ground while the whole world went fuzzy. Meaty yet comfy arms caught me and held me close to their body.

Definitely wasn't a girl. Chest wasn't rounded and body didn't feel feminine. It felt, if i remembered correctly, like being on a huge pillow. One you had warmed up while sleeping then you re-found it. Nice and warm, squishy and comfy.

Oh no...

I didn't make it...

I tried to look at the boy, who i tried to stay away from, but i couldn't. My vision was black, the only thing I heard was a heartbeat. Not mine, too fast. The thing I felt was weight on my chest. I couldn't move...

My breathing and heart slowed. Warm hands kept pressing in the middle of my chest hard.

Nothing...

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My eyes slowly opened.

My lungs slowly caught air.

My heart started beating.

I'm alive!

Something warm and soft is pressed to my lips. It's hard to describe. It was a little moist but otherwise dry, calming warmth, silk soft. In other words it was a nice feeling.

Eventually, my brain started to process what happened.

My face and neck was wet and cold, my jacket was unzipped and my top was slightly lower on my neck. Fingers were on my neck softly while another was on my nose. Someone's lips were on mine. My stick arms were next to my body.

I saw who's lips were on mine and my face went bright red. I managed to see black glasses, blonde hair, a little chubby guy breathing into my mouth.

George Cubbins.

A small squeal escaped from my mouth which made him pull away. His eyes were red and puffy, full of worry. One of my sleeves was rolled straight up, a small smile appeared on my old friend's face.

'Oh my God, Lucy!' He shouted. He picked me up and hugged me. The same feeling as before... The pillow feeling was George...

'Geo-rge...' I struggled, at least my voice box was getting better. I was still in the Archives, but on the floor with George hugging me.

'Look at you! Your all skinny. You look like a pile of bones... Covered in scratches.' He pulled away letting me get a good look at him.

George did look different from when I last saw him. A lot fitter I'd say. The chubbiness he had before had dived down, He looked good in my opinion. His hair was like an emo length but none covered his eyes. Bright blue eyes shone in the light.

Seeing George made me remember how much I missed having a proper family. My two brothers (that's what I thought of them as in the family section).

My brown eyes filled with tears. I managed- using George to pull me- to sit up. I pulled the researcher to me and I buried my face into his warm chest. Cold, heartbroken tears fell down my skinny face.

George hugged me back, hands gently rubbed my back, almost like a massage.

'Lets go home...' George said softly, I bet he was trying to make me feel better. It didn't.

'I have no home,' I said to him weakly and muffled, 'I'm a danger. My home is out in the rain to rot.'

Only a few sounds filled the room: pages turning, humming of the light, and the upset crying coming from a meat-less, heartbroken girl.