ωє'яє αℓℓ ∂уιηg - ι'м αℓяєα∂у ∂єα∂ (Locket)

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hareena stepped back, lowering the knife, though her grip remained the same, "You're going to leave us alone."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"You realize that this means I'll have to disappear. My employer will kill me for failing," they said. "Essentially, you've ruined my life."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hareena's scowl grew cold, "You just tried to kill the boy I love. I don't care."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

A smile spread on their lips, just visible beneath the shadows of the hood. "Perhaps you are more ruthless than I gave you credit for. I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other again, Hareena Skill." They stood up and held out their hand for the knife. "If you'd be so kind."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She hesitated, before passing the knife to them, "How do you know my full name?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I know a lot of things," they said. "Good luck." They took the knife and then strode toward the door, then vanished out into the hallway.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hareena turned and pressed her hand to her stomach, "Cassel," she gasped, lurching over to him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

At the sound of her voice saying his name, he stirred and groaned. "Hareena?" he murmured without opening his eyes.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hareena knelt down and cupped his cheek, her palm warm against his skin, "I'm right here, Cassel," she whispered.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Cassel's eyes opened and he stared up at her face. Though it hurt, he smiled. "Hey," he said.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hareena leaned down, her forehead resting against his, "Hi.."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Am I... in heaven?" he murmured.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Hareena stroked her fingertips over his cheek and chuckled weakly, "No, not heaven."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Mmm." Cassel blinked up at her, her head ringed in light from the illumination coming from the open door. "It could be."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"No, I promise that this is the furthest from heaven we could get right now," Hareena cupped his face, "We have to go, Cassel. Now."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Go where?" he asked, confusion crossing his face. Then he groaned. "I feel like a bowling ball hit me on the head."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Not a bowling ball. A knife, and not in the head," Hareena kissed his forehead.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Cassel blinked, and then everything returned to him... including the pain. He groaned and his hand came up to grasp his wound. "That son of a... where is he?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Gone," Hareena soothed, rubbing his hair back, "He left."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"We're safe?" Cassel murmured. Safe was a relative term, of course, since he was bleeding on the floor with a splitting headache.