A Small Break

At home, I sit on the couch and listen to a lecture about my recklessness. It's Amber and Alice, yelling at me. Turning to the nun, that's treating my wound, I just see her shrug her shoulders.

"Don't look at me dumbass, if you used the big brain of yours you wouldn't be having this lecture." Chuckling about it, she stabs her fingers into my wound. Jumping up, I hear.

*Snap-Snap* "You listening Raven? This is Important! What do you think will happen once the public will learn about your stunt at the police station!" Waving my hand, I tell her that they can't afford to let that be leaked to the public. Otherwise, trust in the police would hit rock bottom.

"Oh, so you planned this from the start huh?" Hearing Alice join, I try to signal her to calm down, but when grabs the nun's hands and digs it into my wound. "AUH! STOP!"

Turnign to Gabriel and Edward I try to as for help, but Edward has found a very interesting wall tile, while Gabrile seems to be praying. Hearing the sounds of the radio static everyone hushes down.

"Good evening listeners, We're back with a new hot topic."

"That's right John, Today around 17:30 An accident occurred on the Capital River. Police investigators believe that this might be a case of a new terrorist organization."

"As for the loss of colors, it's believed the be an artifact that assists users of Shadows. Now the real question who were the armed individuals on the ship?"

"By former police captain Theresa's report, she and a Criminal nicknamed Raven, have infiltrated the ship."

Starting to recap what I already know, I decide to close my eyes to get some sleep, but the sudden movement of the nun pulling her hand out of my wound brings me wide awake.

"Stop moving!" Hitting me over the head, she puts her hand over my wound and it begins to close. "Thank you." Not saying anything, the nun gets up and joins the group around the radio.

Finally shutting my eyes, I fall asleep....

Waking up in the middle of the night, I stretch my body. "Wow, it's been a long time since I last slept in the night." Getting off the couch, I found the house empty, everyone has already left, Amber is back in that place, and Gabriel and the nun, are back in their forest mansion.

Meanwhile me? I'm stuck in the small apartment with Edward. Walking to my room, I open the door only to see Alice sitting at the table. "Alice?" Almost falling off the chair, she turns to me.

"Raven, what are you doing here?" Looking around, I tell her that it's my room, "Right, sorry, I'll sleep on the couch. Trying to walk past me, I caught her arm. "You don't plan to sleep do you?" Not saying anything, she turns to me and laughs.

"What do you mean? Haha! Of course, I'm going to sleep, I'm tired like a newborn baby!"

Letting go of her arm, I say. "Fine, but sleep in my room, it's more comfortable to sleep in a bed than a couch. Nodding her head, she sits down on the bed and waves me off.

Closing the door to her room, I look at the time. [5:30]

"It's practically morning already. Looking at the door to my room, I decided to leave Alice be. Taking my cane, I choose to go for an early morning walk. Making sure that my scarf is placed securely around my neck, I leave the apartment.

Walking the streets, I see many people hiding in the alleys, people that have lost their homes during the criminal uprising. Stopping in front of one of these alleys, I see a boy, huddled in the newspaper.

Walking over, I see him shake like crazy. "M-mister? Is that you?" Nodding my head, I offered the boy my hand. "You must be cold, you lived in one of the affected buildings didn't you?"

Nodding his head, I ask him where his parents are. "I-i don't have any..... I lived on my own for a long time." Closing my eyes, the boy finally takes my hand. "You'r-r-re not cold?"

Shaking my head, I see the ball of newspaper twitch next to him. "Is there another one of you?" Letting go of my hand he stands in between the ball of newspaper and me.

"I'm sorry mister, there's no one here. I think it'd be better if you leave us alone now." Chuckling a bit, I flick my finger into his head. "Learn how to lie first, you said [US], which means there's someone else."

His eyes go wide so he pushes me on my back. Hitting my head on a dumpster, I roll in pain, but I see it. It was a small girl. holding her by the hand the newspaper kid pulls her away from me.

"He's smart, but I'm not a bad-" Thinking about all the things I did, I wave my hand. "Maybe I am a bad person, it's for the better that he ran away." Getting weird looks from some of the adults, I tell them to mind their own business.

Walking into the wide street I see the newspaper kid, holding a pipe to some thugs that cornered him. "That fool!"

Running over to help, I kick the first guy in between the legs and punch the other one.

Getting hit by the pipe, I grab it and see the newspaper kid with his eyes close swinging his pipe. "Stop it! It's me"

Opening his eyes, he smiles. "Mister! I've just-" Telling him that I don't mind. I see a little black-haired girl with him. "If I remember correctly, you're Billy, and this young lady?"

Hiding behind the boy and his big hat, she whispers. "Iris..... I'm Iris....."

"Billy and Iris, one of you have a very beautiful name and the other has an acceptable one.

"Hey!" Billy argues, laughing about it, I put my hands on their heads. "How would you like to become my neighbors?"

Taking them into the apartment building. We walk up the stairs to the top floor. Walking to my door, I say. "My friends and I live here, you can live in the free apparent opposite to us."

Giving the door a good push, I reveal a spacious but dusty apartment.

"Use it as your new home, the old neighbors..... yeah they moved out." Kicking into a black trash bag, I laugh. "I forgot to take out the trash, haha... Make yourself at home." Closing the door behind them, I pull two large trash bags out of the apartment.

"What are you doing Raven?" Getting stopped by Alice, I reply. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking out the trash."

"Oh really? Then let me help you." Grabbing me by the hand, she pulls me outside. "No, not me! Alice, I'm not a trash bag." Smiling she apologizes and lifts one of the black bags only for an arm to stick out.

"I already knew." Carrying it to the burner, we throw them in and empty a whole dumpster along with it to hide the smell. Lighting it, I close the dumpster. "Wanna watch the sunrise with me?" Surprised by the question, Alice just nods her head.

Sitting on the edge of the building, we watch as the sun rises over the city. "So, why didn't you sleep?" Not saying anything, I ask Alice again. "Why didn't you sleep?"

Seeing her hands form fists, I put my hand on her hand. "Are you scared?"

Nodding her head slightly, I ask her what she's scared of. "Forgetting, I forgot even though you gave me a feather to remember...... I barely even realized who you were when I saw you dead on the floor, so how can I not be scared?"

Wrapping my hand around her, I pat her on the back. "It's fine, even if you forget.... I'll make you remember..... I promise." Slightly sobbing into my shoulder, she slowly stops and falls asleep.

God knows how scared she had to be to be awake the whole night. Lifting her up, I carry her back to bed. Pulling the blanket over her, I whisper. "Rest well, Alice."