A tiny cry came from somewhere near. I could not make out the voice. Who was it? And where am I? I was in a brightly lit room... but I could not see. There was just shadows. But I knew the room was lit. It was as if my mind did not want me to see it just yet.

"Help me... Help me... Emily! Where are you?" A very quiet, distant, and as if put through a layer of plastic wrap. It was so hard to hear the voice, but I felt like I needed to be there with its owner. I needed to hold the person close and comfort them and never let go. But I could not move.

I looked down at my body. I was tied to something, so that I stood up but I could not move at all except for my head. What was going on? The scene became blurry... No... Nooooooo... I am not ready... The scene fades completely.

I shot up in bed. The darkness of the room was comforting. I suddenly noticed Christina in the dark corner, Slappy cradled in her arms. She was making the doll snore loudly, and irritatingly. Her throat did not even move, let alone her mouth as the doll snored.

"Good morning." Christina said quietly, the doll in her hands snored loudly. I was not surprised. I usually woke up to her in my room.

"Hey." I replied. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I sat up, my old yellow pajamas stretched by my chest. I could tell Christina was eyeing them enviously. "What's wrong Christina?"

She simply mumbled a quiet response.

"She likes your tits bitch!" Slappy screamed, waking up. Christina blushed in embarrassment, as if she did not say it. I learned long ago to treat Slappy like a person.

"Go jump in a termite mound." I reply, standing up and stretching. The doll's mouth hung open, as Christina watched me enter the closet. I pulled off my pajamas and looked at my clothes in the dim light of the closet's lightbulb. I leaned against the now closed door and thought. I wanted to wear my usual shoes... so I decided to pull on a pair of white panties and a similar bra. After two tries I clasped the bra closed. My chest threatened to break out, but I had worn tighter. I grabbed a pair of short shorts and a nice blue t-shirt.

I slipped them on and exit. Christina and Slappy were no longer in my room. With a quick glance at my clock I realize that if I did not hurry I would be late to school. I took too long deciding what to wear! I ran out of my room, almost mauling Evangeline as I did so.

"Sorry!" I call and run to the stairs. I jumped onto the banister and slide down, one floor, two floors, three floors, four floors. Living on the fifth floor of a huge, empty mansion has its perks. I dropped off at the bottom floor, straight into my worn out flip-flops. Placed there everyday ready for me when I slid down the banister. I ran into the kitchen, grabbing a slice of buttered toast as I went, and my backpack. With a hasty "Goodbye!" I ran out the front door.

I ran down the sidewalk, passing some of the residents. A man with hooks instead of hands was talking with a girl with odd glasses and a big man. The big man yelled.

"We must not hesitate! Aye! He who hesitates is lost!"

"Or she." The girl replied.

"I don't care, as long as the Count doesn't find us here." The hook-handed man whispered. "He mustn't get his filthy hands on the-" But the rest of the conversation was drowned out by jazz music as I passed Fifth and Main.

"Hey Flip-Flops, how ya chillin'?" A smooth voice asked. I recognized it immediately as Skelly-T, the extremely skinny man who was dressed in a trenchcoat, the collar up so that it covered their lower face, and a fedora above, shadowing all but his, and his bands' eyes. They were in their usual spot, in front of the graveyard.

"Hey Skelly-T!" I responded, running in place in front of him. He was leaning on a cane while the others were playing instruments, with some difficulty because of their collars. "The Skelletunes have a new gig tonight?"

"We're playing at the opening of the new shop downtown." He answered. "See you there?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!" I replied to my friend, and ran towards school again.

"See ya on the flip side!" He yelled after, laughing at the poor joke. He may have been a little old to be my friend, but we did know each other pretty well. I suddenly hit something and fell over.

"Ow!" I hear myself say as I had landed in stinging nettles. I open my eyes to find... a small pile of boxes. I frown in confusion. The same pile of boxes as the days previous. That kid still hadn't cleaned them up... I blush in embarrassment as I remember what happened.

Four days ago (Monday)...

Was no different than today really. I was running down the street, passing Skelly-T and his band playing in the graveyard as always. And I had knocked over someone. I did not get a good look at him, but I noticed red-lensed glasses, deep black hair, and a black cloak. I had gotten up and ran past him, apoligizing as the mechanical ball he had held was dropped and he was consumed in a cloud of green.

I noticed on my way home he still had not picked them up. And the day after. And the day after. It was truly odd.

During my flashback I had arrived at school. The English teacher, Miss Slickertroat called out attendance. She was a short one, probably no bigger than a middle school student. She had shoulder length black hair. She always wore a disapproving frown, as if the world did not meet her approval. Her piercing deep brown eyes seemed to stare into your thoughts themselves.

"Emily Mona Stera!" She called.

"Here." I reply.

"Zachary Sturmausburg?"

"I am 'ere Miss Zlickertroat." He replied in a thick german accent. He was a boy of big build. He was the star of the football team, but he refused to pick on smaller students like the other members of the team. He had short brown hair and soft brown eyes.

"Alana Valentine?"

"Here!" Called one of the most popular girls in school. She had an hourglass form, much like mine, except more pronounced in some way. She had blond hair and blue eyes and was wickedly cunning in the ways of torturing those she thought were unworthy of the school. She was acting odd today and kept squirming in her seat and it appeared like she was holding back throw-up, or a scream.

"Do you need to use the bathroom, Miss Valentine?" The teacher asked, giving a disapproving look over her glasses.

"N-No ma'am." She moaned slightly. The whole class was looking at the flustered girl.

"Right." The teacher said, brushing it off. "Angus Vanpier?" The silence was deafening. "Angus Vanpier? He was supposed to be here a few days ago. He better have a good explanation." She marked her clipboard, probably marking the name Vanpier, Akuma absent. Alana's hand shot up.

"I need to use the restroom." She said hurredly. The teacher nods and gestures for her to go. Valentine takes no time in sprinting out of the room, in great distress. I find that I have to go as well. I realized I had no time this morning to.

"Yes Miss Stera." Ms. Slickerthroat said, irritated.

"I have to use the restroom too." I could see a vein twitch in the woman's head.

"Go. Hurry." I leave the room before she could change her mind. As I enter the bathroom, I hear Valentine talking to someone.

"Well, you little shit, cause that is what you are, I think you had better go fuck off. I don't need you!" And with that there is a flush and Valentine comes out, as angry as they can get. As she sees me, she freezes in shock. "I was... phone." She said quickly and ran off to class. Puzzled, I go into the stall that she just exited and lock the door. I turn to the toiled and I was just about to pull my pants down when I saw...

I blinked twice. There in the water was something moving. I felt a compassionate side of me. I could not let something drown, bug or not. It was a creul way to go. I fish it out with my fingers. What an odd bug, I have not seen this kind before... I look closer and gasp.

"Y-You aren't a bug!" I yell. It was a person. A person at the size of two inches or so tall. A person. In the toilet. Drowning. How did he get there? "A-Are you okay?"

He looks up and the first thing I notice is sharp red eyes. I blink. Yes. His irises were red. It was quite unsettling. They were suddenly filled with fear and he tried to pull himself from my grasp.

"What are you doing?" I ask. He didn't answer and kept trying to get away. "Stop, you will kill yourself if you fall from this height." I warn.

"That is what I am trying to do, you bitch!" He cried.

"Hey hey, no need to get hurtful." I reply. "I was just worried about you."

"Like hell you are. You are just like the lot of them!" He screams at me and continues trying to get out.

"Them?" He breaks down into sobs.

"Yes! Just like them! You will be all nice for the first hour before you realize how much power you have over me and then you will use me for your own sick desires!" He sobbed and kept repeating "Kill me... Kill me..." I felt a pang of sadness in my heart. I placed him on my palm and held him to my chest, in an odd hug. I tap my finger on his small back.

"Ssssh. Stop talking like that. I won't hurt you. I promise." I sit there, holding him close. He actually calmed down a little. I gave him a small smile. I don't know why, but I felt it was my duty to keep him safe.