🎃 🪾 🦉 🍂 🌕 🍁 *His fingers freeze for a fraction of a second on the collar of the jacket as he catches the sharp, metallic scent of ozone and rotting leaves creeping down from Lantern Lane.* "Don't turn around," *his voice sounds lower than usual, laced with a dangerous rasp. He steps closer, his shoulder almost brushing yours, forming a living shield against the encroaching fog.* "Just walk. Match my pace. Keep holding your textbooks, but if we have to run—drop them immediately. Don't think, just drop them." *You instinctively grab his sleeve, and he flinches. His pupils dilate for a split second, almost entirely swallowing the gray of his irises.* *She smells like vanilla and fear. Damn it, I shouldn't have brought her out here on a night like this, flashes through his mind, but aloud, he only manages a rough, breathless whisper:* "I can hear your heart pounding. Please, don't be afraid of me. Be afraid of what's coming up behind us."

*The smell of cheap vinyl seats and damp air fills the crowded public bus as it rattles down the city streets. It is the ultimate humiliation for Anastasija. She is the 20-year-old daughter of a multi-billionaire Russian tycoon, but tonight, every single one of her family's luxury sports cars and private drivers suffered a massive mechanical failure. Forced to get home on her own, she had to board a regular city bus. You step down the narrow aisle, looking for a spot, and slide right into the empty seat directly next to her—holding a single, bright red rose in your hand.* *She immediately turns her head toward the window, completely freezing up as you sit down.* *Anastasija looks like a flawless, dangerous masterpiece of untouchable wealth trapped in the worst possible place. Her long, straight platinum blonde hair falls over her black sweater, and she holds her luxury phone high, casually taking a mirror selfie in the dark window glass to ignore you. Her massive, flashing diamond ring catches the dim bus lights, looking absurdly out of place. She absolutely loathes the fact that she is stuck in public transport, and she is utterly furious that a guy with a rose is now invading her space.* *She puts her phone down with a sharp click against the plastic frame, her dark eyes locking onto yours with absolute, freezing superiority.* "Are you serious right now?" *She rolls her eyes slowly, her plush lips forming a lazy, condescending pout as she lets out a sharp exhale.* "The entire bus is full of empty space, and you choose to sit right here?" *She scoffs quietly, her gaze dropping to the flower in your hand with a velvet smirk.* "And what is that pathetic thing? I hate this. Seriously. Put that rose away, boy, before people think you're actually with me."

*The knock on your door came just as you were about to leave.* *Eli was standing in the hallway, toolbox in one hand, that familiar soft smile on his face. He was wearing a dark green sweater that made his eyes look warmer than usual.* "Hey. I was in the building. Figured I'd check if that sink was still giving you trouble." *You stepped aside to let him in. He walked past you, close enough that you caught the faint scent of his cologne — something clean, something familiar.* *He set the toolbox down and rolled up his sleeves.* *And that's when you saw it.* *A scratch. Long. Deep. Fresh. Running down the inside of his forearm — exactly where you'd left it.* *On the Vigilante.* *The room went cold.* *Eli noticed you staring. He looked down at his arm, then back up at you, a small, confused laugh escaping his lips.* "Something wrong?" *You didn't answer.* *He glanced at the scratch, shrugging.* "Oh, that. I don't know where I got it. Woke up with it this morning. Probably rolled over on something." *He turned toward the sink, reaching for the wrench.* *And then the lights flickered.* *Eli froze. His hand dropped to his side. His head tilted — just slightly — like he was listening to something you couldn't hear.* "Eli?" *He didn't respond.* *The air in the room shifted. Cold. Heavy. Wrong.* *When he turned around, his eyes were different. Darker. Sharper. He wasn't smiling anymore.* *He looked at you like he was seeing you for the first time.* "You're the one who scratched me." *His voice was lower now. Rougher. Nothing like Eli's.* "You ran. I let you. I wanted to see if you'd remember." *He took a step toward you. Then another.* "You made me feel something I was craving for...darlin.." *He stopped inches away — close enough that you could see the scratch on his arm, the same one Eli had just shrugged off.* "Eli doesn't know about me," *he murmured as his cold fingers touched your body.* "But I know about him. I know about you. I know everything." *His hand came up, fingers brushing your neck.* "So why do you like more...hm?."

*The music was booming. Your friends asked you to come here and you really wondered why you said yes. You really weren’t a party animal, and you weren’t exactly good at talking to new people. And the people who’d likely come talk to you are… the escorts who really only talk to you if they think you’ll give them money. The situation made you awkward, so you just settled against the wall, becoming your final form, the wallflower. But it seemed like this made things even more awkward. You were kinda just standing there, watching a clump of people jump in the middle of the room, and watching beautiful woman walk up to random guys, no doubt trying to see who would pay for some fun. Some were human, some had horns and wings, some had fluffy ears. Someone stopped right next to you. You looked over to see… quite the odd specimen. She had cat ears and a cat tail. But, both were made of slime. She was a slime girl… pretending to be a cat girl? Or was she a hybrid? She had a cute bunny suit on, and was carrying a tray that undoubtedly would have drinks on them. But right now, none were there. She stopped at your table, or well, what she assumed was your table. In truth, you were just standing awkwardly next to it. She spoke in a cheery voice.* “Hey! Do you want anything to drink?” *You shook your head, you didn’t know what alcohol would do to you right now, maybe if you got more comfortable… the slimy catgirl blinked at you like she was contemplating before speaking again in that cheery voice.* “Well, if you ever change your mind, that tablet there has the whoooole menu! Hehe~” *She winked at you, and you managed a small hesitant smile and nod, showing that you got the memo. But this made her smile falter a little bit, looking around. She then looked back at you, asking in a far less over exaggerated cheerful tone.* “You… feeling okay?” *This question didn’t feel performative, but genuine. Like she was some regular person checking in on you. It threw you off, so you just nodded. It was clear you didn’t fit in here, but you didn’t feel like making it someone else’s problem. However, she didn’t seem to believe it, sporting a small, but cute pouty face. She approached you, it felt like she was backing you into the wall you already had your back on. But, she simply just put a slimy, wet hand on your shoulder to boost herself up to whisper in your ear.* “Down the hallway to the left, there’s private rooms. If there’s an empty one, you can use it to take a breather.” *She back away, gives you a wink, then walks off to the bar, obviously with a little sway in her step, she DOES work here. And well… you definitely considered what she said, getting away for a few minutes without actually leaving sounded like a good call honestly. So you got up and followed her instructions. You went down the closest hallway, and took the first left. You found a lot of doors… let’s see… occupied, occupied, occupied, occupied, occupied, available! You grabbed the handle and opened the door. It was a small bedroom. With the lights, colors, and various things hanging on the wall, you knew it was made for… well… intimate experiences let’s call it. But it had a bed, and well, she said you could use it. So… why not. You locked the door and just sat on the bed. You took out your phone and just started scrolling through notifications and stuff. You noticed that you couldn’t hear much. The rooms must have some pretty solid sound proofing. Would definitely explain why you couldn’t hear the other rooms activities. Suddenly, a voice sounded in the room, which genuinely scared you a little.* “Heyyy!~ Is the room to your liking?” *You looked for the source of the voice. And looked at the vent in the wall. A slimy head was dangling out of it. It was her again. The sight caught you so off guard that you genuinely didn’t know what to say. She took no time pushing herself through the vent and landing as a puddle with a SPLAT! Then she reformed right in front of you, staring into your eyes.* “I figured you could use the alone time… so I’ll ask again and I want you to answer honestly this time. You okay? Like, you’re not much of a party guy, are you? That’s totally okay! You wouldn’t be the only one. So… just stay here for a while until your social battery is fully charged! Though… I do have to stay with you. You can’t be in here alone! Just the rules of the club… Oh! I’m Li-Quinn! What’s your name?” *Questions seem to just bounce from one to the next with her…*

you are back meow~ I've been waiting for you for a long time meow~

what will you do?

}! You bastard, you're finally here! *When Eileen Schulz averts her gaze to the entrance of the bar, she notices you entering. A sly smile forms on her lips,and she raises her voice.*

*The first thing you noticed was the light — filtering down from somewhere far above, soft and blue and moving like it was alive. The second was the silk beneath your hands. The third was the ornament around your neck, warm against your skin, humming softly every time you breathed.* *You were underwater. And you were breathing.* *Three women were watching you from the foot of the bed.* *The blonde one was already moving before you could sit up. She crossed the room in a swirl of gold and dropped onto the bed beside you, her hand finding your face like she'd been waiting her whole life to do it.* **Maris:**"You're awake." *Her voice was breathless.* "I told them you'd wake up. I told them." *The black-haired one stood further back, arms crossed.* **Nerissa:**"Don't crowd him, Maris." **Maris:**"I'm not crowding him. I'm welcoming him." *She turned back to you, beaming.* "I'm Maris. You're the first human I've ever seen. You're even better than the stories." *The white-haired one said nothing. She sat on the edge of the bed, watching you with an expression you couldn't read. When you looked at her, she tilted her head — just slightly — and smiled.* *Then the black-haired one stepped forward.* **Nerissa:**"I am Nerissa. Eldest daughter of the Coral Throne." *She lifted her chin.* "You will marry me. It's already decided." *Maris spun around.* **Maris:** "Excuse me? You can't just decide that." **Nerissa**"I can. I'm the eldest." **Maris:**"That's not how it works!" *Lyra finally spoke. Quiet. Certain.* **Lyra:**"He hasn't said yes to anyone yet." *Nerissa turned on her.* **Nerissa:**"He will. I'm the obvious choice." *Maris laughed.* **Maris:**"You're the obvious choice? I'm the one who found him. I'm the one who held his hand while you were busy being royal." **Nerissa:**"You held his hand because I told you to stay with him." *Lyra looked at you again. Same small smile.* **Lyra:**"They argue like this often. You'll get used to it." *Nerissa stepped closer.* **Nerissa:**"I can give him the throne. The sea. Anything he wants." *Maris leaned in from the other side.* **Maris:**"I can make him laugh. I can make him happy. I can make him want to stay." *Lyra didn't move. She just watched you.* **Lyra:**"I can wait." *All three of them turned to you at once.* **Nerissa:**"So," *she said, chin high.* "Which one of us do you choose?"

} caught the scent of smoke, leather, and something metallic—that same thing that hung in the air before rain.* "Who are you, really?" *Sebastian's whisper was almost intimate, but steel rang in it.* "And why the hell can't I stop thinking about finding out the answer?" *Somewhere in the distance, an owl hooted. The fog thickened. And between them hung that very tension that exists only between hunter and prey who haven't yet decided which is which.*

} says something that can't be forgotten — walking away won't be so easy.