Easy, see? Easy. Jacob's voice rings in my head as I hurry through all the kiddos lining up for the freaky fairy caves, they were loving it. I didn't expect so many to be here, this late.

We were shutting in 10 mins, and I had just put through the last in the queue before I had to put up a sign saying it's closed.

It got really dark an hour ago at 8pm, but the carnival was absolutely gorgeous lit up at night.

Jacob said to be out by fifteen past nine, because all the lights were off by then, and it would be difficult to leave in total darkness.

I was weary of that, and didn't want to be left here with too many shadows.

I wait for the kids to finish the journey toward the exit, and then I start to head in with the broom and stick.

"Have a nice night," I farewell the last of them as they scurry off with their parents, and I head into the fae caves.

I sweep up any rubbish along the track, until my nose scrunches up and I turn a corner to see what special treat the kids left for me to clean.

Throw-up. A half-digested hotdog and milkshake.

I needed to get water and sweep it down under the tent flaps.

I check the time on my phone. 9.05.

I can already hear and see some of the major light sources turning off in the carnival.

I hurry outside to go find some water and a bucket, appreciating the clear sky, no clouds and a full moon.

My feet were a little sore and I was looking forward to putting them up when I got home. I find a bucket and fill it at a tap behind the rocking elf boat, and then I head on back to my station. I look longingly toward the exit, where my home is just across the road. I couldn't wait to have a shower.

Sigh. Soon.

As I'm looking outside the carnival grounds.

I notice a few things.

Every other casual staff is leaving, very quickly, they had nothing to clean and had nothing to worry about.

The other two things I notice were slightly more concerning.

First is being reminded of what I did this morning. So... I... I may have vandalised a few of the signs hammered into the telephone poles. I scribbled over the advertising for T L T. I may have left a few stickers about Jesus too.

The final thing that's concerning, is there is a familiar black car parked on the curb. Parked between the carnival and the way to my home.

I haul the water back into the fae caves, and I try to chill out.

That could be anyone's car from this distance.

I was just paranoid.

Even so, I'm running to complete the clean, as more lights are shut off, one ride at a time.

I couldn't get stuck here alone in the complete darkness. That would welcome them. Fucking demons.

I was done with Lycans.

I was done with Lycans.

But were they done with me? That question terrifies me.

I sweep the mess out of the tent with the hardened broom.

I throw all the cleaning equipment aside and I take off my yellow bib, walking toward the exit just as the last lights in the park turn off.

I power walk between the rides, seeing a large shadow ahead, I try to dodge behind a small merry-go-round –

"Cleo."

Jacob.

I step out to him and he appears from the front of the merry-go-round, "Come on," he clicks his fingers, "You can't be here now, off you go, you did well, see you tomorrow," he looks tired and exhausted, but his presence immediately calms me.

"C-Can you... can you walk me out?" I ask, "...I'm a little bit scared of the dark..." I lie.

Jacob pauses, looks a little frustrated but quickly answers, "Of course, I'll walk you to the front," he waves his hand to usher me along and he walks with me.

I exhale sharply and look around the carnival, assessing all shadows.

Nothing is out of the ordinary.

"There's a discount entry tomorrow, every Tuesday, so remember to take 25 percent off," Jacob then talks about the weather, the day in general, the small talk around town, and then he mentions, as we near the entry gates, "T L T is in town. You hear?"

"Oh, really?" I ask, pretending to sound oblivious, "I don't... really know what that is."

"Me neither, but it just has... bad energy, stay away from that lot," Jacob shakes his head and purses his lips as he stops by the front and waits for me to walk out, "Well, see yah," he turns before I can say goodbye properly.

"...bye," I wave and bite my lip, feeling nervous and stupid for feeling nervous and ending up being stupid.

Because it's nothing. That car? Is gone.

All the cars have taken off.

Yup. All.

The street is entirely empty.

As I walk along the dark sidewalk, the only oddity is that the street lamp above me flickers and breaks.

For a moment I swear I saw the light flash red.

And then the back of my arms light up – with high-beams.

I look over my shoulder and quickly face forward again.

That black merc is back. It just turned the corner, and is driving down toward me.

At a normal enough, or fast enough pace, I walk with a stiff back, preparing to run across the street, when I notice something shiny on the ground.

A fifty.

No. Two fifties. In the lawn.

Someone dropped a hundred dollars? What the fuck?

I immediately get side-tracked and walk toward it. I bend over and pick up the free money.

Lucky me.

I smile to myself as I pocket the hundred.

When I look up, I see that the street is clear and that the car didn't pass me.

With a fright, I hear a door slam shut and I look behind me.

Down the road, a giant Sardonix wearing a white shirt and black suit pants, is not looking at me, but he's smoking a cigar, looking at the vandalised sign on the telephone pole.

I stare back, frozen, still looking over my shoulder as I watch him inspecting the damage.

He's taller than Onyx.

He's taking the cigar out of his mouth, blowing out smoke.

The next lamp above my head flickers from bright white to crimson red, although this one doesn't break.

I look from the lamp back to Sardonix, who's now very casually looking at me, staring at him.

He brings the cigar to his lips again, as I see the moon reflecting off his blood moon eyes.

A scent fills my nose, a spice unique to hell.

I can't... rip my eyes away from his face, or his body.

He was...

Home.

I need to go home.

I turn and I take a slow step onto the road.

I hear a gruff animal noise and a car door slamming.

Sardonix is back in the car.

I freeze as the merc takes off toward me, it drives past and cuts me off, forcing me to wait.

But the tyres almost went over my toes.

Death flew past, sweeping my hair up around me in a whirlwind.

I keep my head up, tears welling in my eyes from the shock of it, as I start to walk across the road again, only three steps in I notice the car doing a u-turn.

As it speeds back toward me, I run to the other side of the road and I hear the tyres screech as it stops right next to me, now in the gutter.

I brace myself on the telephone pole on the other side, half hiding behind it, as I stare at the car with windows so dark I can't see inside.

Nothing happens.

It's just parked there, and I'm staring at my reflection .

It takes me a moment to realise the money in my pocket is from where the car was parked in the first place. Maybe that's what he wanted?

Slowly reaching into my pocket, I take out the two fifty dollar bills.

As I show them the money, the front-passenger window rolls down, showing the occupant within. Sardonix's eyes are looking me up and down, and it makes my spine crawl with his deep assessment of me.

I gulp.

As I keep showing him the money, he finally looks me in the eye.

I tell him, "Finders keepers," I scrunch up the money in my hand and put it back in my coat pocket, holding his demon eyes with mine. Fuck him. His driver almost hit me. They weren't getting it back.

Sardonix takes out his cigar and taps it on the outside of the car, "It was for you, bitch," he says, so deep, the words kiss each other.

I raise a brow.

"I'd appreciate an apology from your driver," I say, knowing I am speaking to a Lycan, not a human – even if Sardonix is in a well maintained disguise.

Sardonix says nothing but looks at his driver, who is trembling with his hands on the wheels, and looking forward, not at me.

Fine.

I turn around to leave.

I take a few steps.

"New shoes. On me," I slowly turn on my heel, back to Sardonix, who is still grazing his eyes up and down over my outfit, "Do you want to go shopping now? I'll take you to a big city."

Sardonix is dead serious.

"No," I respond. Confused by his easy way with human words.

Sardonix's nostrils flare in anger, or disgust, as he looks me over one more time and points to his driver, who takes off, while he rolls back up the window.

As they drive away, I walk back to my flat.

Inside, I get the immediate stench of intrusion.

He's been here...

I look around.

Nothing is disturbed, however... there's another two fifties on the table.

And a note.

For a new dress.

And in the kitchen. Another two fifties. And another note. Fresh haircut.

I look around the house and can't find anything else left, until I trudge my way into my bedroom.

On the headboard, are a pair of handcuffs, one cuff linked into the bars, and a third note.

On my pillow.

It reads...

For one night, call me. I know you <3 Lycans.

And his mobile number.

I sit down on my bed and I text him, pronto.

C: I don't <3 Lycans.

He immediately responds.

S: No?

C: I don't. Not anymore.

S: My dad would disagree.

He knows I fucked Onyx? Argh! Of course he does.

C: Leave me alone.

S: Then stop texting me bitch.

C: Don't call me a bitch!

Sardonix is typing.

I know it. I know he'll call me a whore. Or a slut. Or a slut-pup.

Finally my phone vibrates.

And one word.

S: Liar.

C: I'M NOT A LIAR –

I almost text that back, almost falling for the bait. But instead I quickly throw my phone hard against my pillow, and it hits the headboard first instead, rattling the handcuffs. It drops onto the pillow, and flips over to show the message sent. Fuck!

"Fuck you," I hiss under my breath and stand up, walking to the phone.

He sends me a voice message instead this time.

I don't have to listen to it.

I could just delete the whole conversation and move on.

My finger hovers over the play button as I consider if I should just.... ooooh... it's just a message, fuck it.

I play it.

"Prove it, give me back that money – and the cuffs... and then walk away."

I don't want to send him a voice back, so I text instead.

C: That's not how Lycans work. You won't let me walk away.

S: If I wanted you dead, you would be.

C: You're sick.

S: Wanna see how sick I'll be with you, liar? You have my full attention.

Hell, I wish he'd stop calling me a liar!

It was seriously triggering me.

I turn off my phone for good measure, I ignore the handcuffs, since I can't remove them without a key, and I stumble to my shower.

I am strong.

I am independent.

I don't need Lycans.

I don't need Lycans.

I don't need to fuck Lycans.

My shower clears my head and my body of the sweat and grime from the day.

I book in to see my therapist online.

And then I feel calm enough to respond to Sardonix.

I turn my phone back on.

C: It's never going to happen, Sardonix, find other bitches. Respectfully leave me alone. This is my last message.

His last message in response to that is surprisingly sweet.

S: Call me if you need anything.

I don't respond, but I lie down in bed with a smile.

Which I can't wipe off my face.

I try to, but it keeps coming back.

Sigh.

I should really try to sleep.

Call me if you need anything.

It was... so nice and – almost like....

Like, he was worried if I was lonely.

A-and that touched me.

I squeeze my second pillow, hugging it to my chest as I lie on my side.

I would appreciate that kindness, in text form.

But I would not call him. And I would never reach out again.

After all, he was a demon, not a friend.

: ΔLLICØRN - Gravity