"Mmm," I grumble, rolling onto my side again. I hardly slept at all last night, worried sick over Aria, all alone out there. Fighting those horrible things. It's so dark in our room I can't even see my own hands, or any of our roommates in their beds. The chill in the air has me drawing my thin blanket tight around myself, but it's more a habit than a necessity now. Ever since Aria gave me some fire mana, I don't really get cold anymore. I won't be freezing in the winter, will I?

It'll be so much better with her, someone else to sleep with at night through the long, dark winter. But she has to make it back for that... I groan, rolling over again. The anxiety is going to kill me at this rate!

Ok, fine, whatever! I shoot up in bed, giving up on sleep. It's probably not that long until the first bell, so Aria should be returning soon. I refuse to believe otherwise. She told me that Riko would come and let me know if there was a problem, and she hasn't, so Aria must be fine. She even said she has that other rail unit to help her. Not that I can trust one of those monsters...

With a quick shake of my head, I drop that line of thought. Aria's going to be fine, thinking about her getting back is more important. She'll need her clothes, since she can't walk into town in her rail unit robe. I know her bird - I think Chisa was its name - picked them up before, but our window is closed now to help with the cold, so that won't work this time.

I think about it a bit, and manage to come up with something. Quiet as I can, I slide over to her bed. I can't see anything, but I know where she keeps her things, so I feel out each piece of clothing and stuff them in a sack, then tie it closed. I tip toe over to the window and unlatch it. The shutters swing open, and I'm surprised by the faint light that comes in.

It's still incredibly dark, especially with our west facing window, but I can just barely make out the outline of my hand now. The sun must be about to rise. My guess at the time wasn't that far off, apparently. Probably since I'm so used to getting up early for work.

Climbing up on the window sill as quiet as I can manage, I lean out and gently poke along the wood. With our old house, there must be a jagged spot that'll work. If I'd thought about it before, I'd have put a nail in when I had a chance. When I manage to find a place the wood as cracked and splintered, just below the far side of the window, I wedge the edge of the sack in so it gets caught.

With a few tugs, I confirm that it's secured. The light weight of Aria's clothing shouldn't pull it out or rip the bag, I think. With that done, I slide back down to the floor and close the shutters again. I head downstairs for now. I'm not really used to being tired anymore, but the whole night up is starting to drag at me. At least I don't have to work today. When I reach the first floor, none of the housekeepers are in yet. I rub my eyes and walk through the house. I feel aimless, circling through the empty kitchen and dining room, then through the back of the house, and up to the front again.

"Ugh..." I groan, hovering around the front door. All I can do for now is fidget, pacing back and forth.

Come on, stop worrying. Remember, no news is actually good news...

I perk up when I hear something. I don't carry as much water mana as Aria normally does, so my hearing isn't like, super hearing like hers is, but I've definitely noticed an improvement there too. But what I hear... what is it? It's like a quiet buzz of activity. I can't make out anything more through our closed windows.

My heart rises into my throat at the thought that it might relate to Aria. I have to grab a chair to stand on to reach the window latch because they're higher on these windows, but when I manage to get one open and stick my head out, I sigh in relief. Whatever it is, the commotion is coming from the south, not the direction she would be coming from. Probably just people preparing for the harvest festival then.

I sit right down in the chair I used, and stare out the window, into the dark while I try to stay calm. Across the street, there's a smaller house than ours. It's two stories, a multi-family unit. And even though I can barely even see its outline in this light, it looks about ready to fall down. Behind it, the sky is just beginning to shift from black toward purple. I take a few deep breaths, and let my head fall against the back of the chair. Just have to keep myself together for one day. Aria will go to the doctor to get patched up and rest, then I'll see her later. Maybe we can go to the festival if she can move enough.

"Right!" I say, clenching my fist with determination. I stand on the chair once more and shut the window shutters. Holding onto the same determination, I go put the chair away and head back upstairs to change.

Unfortunately, that doesn't last long. By the time I make it back downstairs, my worries are creeping back in despite my best efforts. I go back to pacing by the door, until it opens. If the housekeepers are here, that means it's not long before first bell, maybe I should-

"Who-?" I blurt out, staring up at the strangers who just walked in. Some large men. I take a half step back. No, don't be stupid, the guards out front just let them in. So why is my intuition yelling at me to watch out? As they step across the threshold, my eyes go past them, through the doorway just before it swings closed with a loud thud.

Why aren't the guards outside? They've always been outside, every night. I saw them last night too! I fall back another step, toward the stairs, but the men are already moving toward me.

"Hey, isn't this the friend?" One says to another.

"Yeah, I think it is!" He comes right up to me, kneeling down in a way that feels like he's still looming over me, instead of coming down to my height. Then the smell hits me and I grit my teeth. Before the caretakers, I was used to living in filth everyday. Even compared to that, he still smells disgusting! He smiles thinly and with the worst fake-friendliness, asks, "Hello little girl. Where's your friend? The one with the white hair?" They're looking for Aria?!

"She never came home last night. What do you want with Aria?" I have to clamp down on the anger that spikes up, shaking, but controlling myself. I don't have the slightest idea who these men are, but I already know they're bad.

"Let's just say, we have a favor to repay," the man responds ominously. "Let's look around for her, huh?" His hand clamps down on my arm, and I flinch. The three men move in around me, the one on my arm yanking and dragging me upstairs. I wince. He's tall and wiry; he doesn't look that strong. But he's still an adult man. Even with mana and how much stronger it makes me, I can't pull away at all!

My mind races as I'm dragged upstairs. I know Aria's not here, but what about the other kids? And why are these men after Aria in the first place? I glance behind to the other men, looking them up and down closely. That's when I see the knife, when one of their ragged winter cloaks slips aside as he climbs the stairs. Even at a glance, the thing looks awful. Chipped and dirty, thrown through a patched up loop of fabric in place of a belt, no sheath.

With my breathing steadying, I hold down the surge of overpowered emotions like I've gotten used to these past months, and finally begin to calm down.

"There are kids sleeping in all the rooms," I speak up when we get to the top of the stairs, one man raising a lantern from behind to cast the whole hall in sudden orange light. "The older kids are on the second floor, the younger ones on the third floor." My thoughts and priorities rapidly start to line up. It's like when I'm working, rushing all around on the verge of panic with a ton of tasks to do, but that one calm part in the back of my head keeps everything in order.

These men are armed and dangerous. I already know Aria's not here, so they won't find her even if they don't believe me and search the whole house. But if they wake up the kids, that would put everyone else in danger. Especially if some of the older kids try to gang up on them and fight back. They're dirty and smelly and don't look strong at all, and I know at least five who would jump at them the moment their backs were turned. Especially Andy if he sees me in trouble.

So I have to get them upstairs. If they search the third floor and don't find Aria, hopefully they'll leave. I can talk to her when she gets back, maybe try to find out why dangerous men are looking for her then.

"Please, don't hurt anyone," I plead as they eye the doors lining the hall. "Aria isn't here. We share a room on the third floor. She never came home last night." I can barely tell if they're listening, they don't look down at me, and just drag me along with them. We go left, to the first turn in the hall, and one dragging me jerks his head at a nearby door.

The man with the lantern goes over, opening the door quietly, and peers inside. When he comes back, he confirms what I said, that it's just the big kids in there. Even so, they check two more rooms before one says, "Looks like the kid's telling the truth. Come on. I don't want to stick around until those guards get back."

"Sure, sure," the other grunts, and jerks me forward, walking more quickly. The way they all look back and forth, they have no idea where they're going, but the halls are just a big box, so they find the stairs soon enough.

"That's our room," I point out the one on end as soon as we get to the third floor. "My bed is the second on the left, Aria's is the third on the right, by the window," I tell them. Like before, one cracks the door and slants the light in to see.

"Bed's empty," he says.

"Is that really her bed though?" the one holding me questions, squeezing tighter, and suddenly lifting me right off my feet. My legs flail as I dangle by my arm, and he stares down into my face. "If you're lying..." he growls, his disgusting breath blowing in my face, like rotten meat. I grimace, fighting the urge to gag. My whole body cringes and I tear up. I bite my lip. Come on, stay calm, Emily!

"I am, she didn't come home! Why do you think I was waiting by the door?" I throw on at the end, just because I think it'll sound convincing.

Ignoring me, he jerks his head at the door again. "Grab another one, see if they say the same thing."

"W-wait!" I start to panic, but they don't listen, and one of them goes into our room. There's a little rustling as he grabs one of the girls, and he comes back out with Jannette slung over his arm. She's starting to rouse, getting picked up and shaken, her head bobbing and eyes beginning to squint open as she's placed on her feet, pushed up against a wall.

Her eyes wander, bleary with sleep, then suddenly snap into focus. She gasps, sucking in a breath before one of the men clamps a hand over her mouth and tuts at her. "Uh uh uh, no screaming now," he chuckles.

I see the moment Jannette freezes in terror, muscles taut, fingers digging into the wood behind her. Her eyes - it's nothing like I've seen before. It's like she doesn't even see the men. Like she's looking at something else as her entire face goes white as snow.

That just makes the sick man grin. "Quiet now, or else." There's a metal shiver, and his blade comes out, to press against her throat. Then he removes his hand from her mouth. "Just have a few questions. We're looking for a little girl. White hair. You know her?"

Jannette stares. Blinks. Sputters. "Wh- A- Aria?" Her whole body shudders. Then she looks around, seeing the three men for the first time, before her eyes find me. "You're looking for Aria?" Despite the situation, she visibly relaxes.

"Yeah. You know where we can find her?"

"Umm..." She squints in thought. "She- well, she didn't come home last night, so..." She trails off, unsure what else to say, but that's all the men need to hear.

"Guess the kid was telling the truth. Damn." Then he addresses Jannette again. "Well, when she comes back, tell her that if she ever wants to see her friend again, she'll come to the building near the west gate, the door with the yellow handle. And she'll come alone."

I gasp when I realize what he means. "Wha-?" but I'm cut short when I'm pulled up off my feet, thrown over the man's shoulder.

"Come on, let's get out of here," the man advises as he's settling me on his shoulder like a sack of flour. One mutters a threat at Jannette to stay quiet, before the three men quickly start back downstairs.

My breath comes fast. Because they can't find Aria, they're kidnapping me?! When I struggle, it just makes the man grip tighter at my back, and I stop. Come on, Emily, calm down! I shout at myself, shutting my eyes and clenching my jaw to beat down the fear.

This will get them out of the house like I wanted. And even if they're adults and they're stronger than me, I know I can outrun them. I just have to wait for my chance, when they aren't paying attention, and run. I have literal magic on my side, I'm not helpless. I keep telling myself that as they head downstairs, and slip outside.

The men move quickly, around the corner from the front of the house, and into the winding streets of the northwest district where they won't be spotted. It's dark and they keep making confusing turns, but I focus hard and keep track of where we are anyway. We're definitely heading south, the sky above beginning to brighten as sunrise comes near, and the sound of the festival preparations to the south grow louder.

...

Wait, why is it so loud? We're deep in the streets of the western district, buildings all up and around us that should block it. Either it's a lot louder, or a lot closer than I thought before. I don't remember previous years being this loud, what are they up to?

We're continue a while further, and it's loud enough for me to make out a little more, before the men finally notice and one speaks up about how loud they're being. But... that's not it. I hear voices, but it's wrong somehow. And what's the weird kind of... metal sound mixed in?

Whatever we're hearing, I don't think it's related to the festival preparations. And as it continues to grow louder, I think I hear... clicking? Kind of like when someone snaps their fingers, but different somehow. The men keep going, a quick, near-jogging pace as they work their way south. I continue to watch for my chance, while tracking where we are the best I can, having my escape planned.

Then the noise ahead suddenly grows much louder. And clearer. Rapid clicking or tapping, like someone tapping all of their fingers on a piece of wood, really fast. There's something else beyond that, but I ignore it. The men take notice though, looking back and forth between each other, disconcerted now.

"What on Loqa is that sound?" one asks, and the others shrug, all obviously concerned now that they know something weird is happening. And more importantly, distracted.

Almost...

I stay as still as possible. I can feel their attention moving away from me, to the strange sound. The one holding me is loosening his grip. The moment they stop paying attention, that will be my chance. I keep waiting, and their attention keeps slipping. Whatever's making the sound is making them nervous.

Any moment now... I steady my breathing and prepare myself to run. Just a little more...

I feel it, the moment the men come to a stop, shoulders beneath me jolting and the hand leaving my back. Without any hesitation, I push off, kicking away. Their voices raise in reflexive shouts before I even hit the ground. And when I do, the long fall from atop the man is awkward and I stumble, feeling the wind from his reflexive grab as it brushes just over my head. But I won't stop. I dash away as fast as my legs will carry me, into the nearest side-street.

I can hear them coming after me, but I don't look back. I make a hard right at the next road, kicking dirt up behind me, and bounce off one of the walls of a building. I ignore the impact and keep running. But then something happens that makes no sense.

When the road bends and twists, it suddenly opens up to the sight of spiders. Giant spiders, coming right toward us. "Aff?!" I gasp in shock, discovering that the growing clicking sounds were them. Their legs, clacking against the wooden walls of the buildings all around us. I can hear the men pull to a stop behind me, but I'm hardly listening. The huge spiders, a dozen of so of them scattered across the road and nearby buildings, spot us too, and leap down at us.

I dive to the side, into the narrow gap between two buildings. I don't even know if you could deem it an alley, but I really don't care right now. My dive lands in a painful roll into one of the walls, and I fight to get up, wedged between the buildings like I am. Beyond the gap, I can hear the spiders, their clicking legs and eerie chittering sounds they make, as they rush past. I hear the men start running. And then start screaming.

A couple spiders follow me into the narrow gap. They're almost as big as I am, so they don't fit too well, especially with their thick bodies and all their legs. They give up when I kick one right in the face. Then I quickly begin shuffling my way through the gap, toward the next street over. Now that I'm slightly more safe, my mind is spinning with questions. Why are there animals from the forest in town? And so deep in town too? Did they get in on their own, or did someone bring them in?

I make it to the next street over, stumbling out of the gap, and look up.

Monster.

That is all that registers when I see the thing. Larger than I am, with crooked legs going in all directions. Like one of those aff, but wrong. All at once, my focus, determination, and even my fear, are pushed aside by that monster in the forest, the pain of it pinning me with its claws. My hands go to my shoulders. I freeze.

The monster lunges. I have to run, but my legs won't work. I can't think over the terror and my own screaming.

Shunk.

I fall backward, landing on my butt. My eyes squeeze shut, knowing I'm going to die. My breath is so fast and shallow, I'm getting lightheaded. But then... nothing happens. I slowly squint my eyes open. They're so full of tears I can barely see. I start wiping at my face with shaking hands. Is that a spike? Like a huge spike made of rock not two meters away, which now pins the deformed spider monster to the ground. Unmoving.

Still unable to breathe right, I sniffle, and start to cry uncontrollably. Then, there's a white thing between me and the dead monster. It turns, like it's looking at me, and I try blinking away the tears to see. It's so small. And the shape is reaching out to touch me. Small and white, and it's face is... red?

...Aria...?