When I leave the dull blonde ring, I'm leaving my protection. My only source of help. I'm venturing into the unknown, into the enemy's territory. I'm being dragged along the stone floor because of his lustrous voice, calling me, calling me...

"Ru! There you are!" his smile is something that raises you up until you're on the moon, setting a foot down on its dusty surface. It raises me and I can't help it. "Come on, let your--"

His face changes. It's something I've never seen before and I can tell you it's not a pretty sight. The horror on his face is something that wells up the salty water inside of me again. It's filling up the hole and it won't be long before they'll escape out of my eyes again.

"Ru, what happened to your hair?"

I eye the ragged golden strands to the side of my face. It looks so limp but I ignore it and face him square-on, biting my lip again and tasting the blood that I swallow. I've left the dull blonde ring now. I am in dangerous territory.

"I cut it," I reply, trying to look at him straight on but avoiding looking right into his sunshine eyes. "I cut it."

His smile is there, as white as perfect pearls. "But why?"

I'm fighting. I'm fighting to think straight. His eyes are engulfing me, melting me until I run bare along the green grass.

Don't turn. I think. Mother told me not to turn.

But I don't say anything. He's used to my silence. He's used to controlling me, just like he controls everyone else.

"Where's your mother?" he asks innocently but inside I know he's guilty. I know he's like the blonde ring in disguise. He's blocking my view to think straight. He is the obstacle.

"Not here," I say and that's all that comes out.

Again, he smiles and I'm on the moon again. "Well, Ru. Why don't you come down?"

I look at the ground, which is a very good few metres. If I jump, I will fall. I will fall just like Mother fell.

"No," I say.

His smile is still there. Unwavering. "Come on, Ru. You know you want to."

"But how?" I ask, not daring to look up. I'm afraid he will melt me again. "My hair's gone."

"Well, that's your fault, isn't it?" he replies. I catch a glimpse of the cruel man laying beneath all that. "Do you think you can jump?"

The height is wobbling. I'm fighting again, but this time fighting to not be sick.

"No," I say, again. "No jumping."

"Ru," he calls and when I don't respond, he tries again. "Ru."

Don't turn around. Mother told you to never turn around.

"Ru, look at me."

I look at him and the expression on his face is enough to make me fall off the ledge. It's enough to evaporate me into a thousand gas particles. It's enough for me to step from the dull blonde ring one last time. Do you think you can jump?

I jump.