ι'м ησт qυιтє нυмαη, вυт ι'м ησт qυιтє α мα¢нιηє {Rue}

[assassinrue]

"Thank you but I should get home, Isai-" Valerie cut herself off. "Shit Isaiah! Shit shit shit!" She jumped up and began a fruitless search for her shoes all the while mumbling to herself.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Whoa, girl!" Aron said. "Slow down. Who's Isaiah? What's wrong?"

[assassinrue]

"Isaiah is my... Roommate. He's probably flipping out right now, I gotta get home before he has a conniption." Valerie stopped to run her hands over her hair and breathe deeply.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Don't you think he'll ask questions?" he asked, gesturing at her arm. "Calling the police would be a bad idea."

[assassinrue]

Valerie laughed harshly, "He won't ask too much. Don't worry, the cops definitely won't be involved." She made to leave the bedroom then stopped. "Thank you." She said solemnly, then turned to go.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron thought about going after her, offering to walk her home, but that seemed way to gentlemanly for him, even after everything. So he walked to the window and waited for her to step out the door. Would he see her again? Or would she avoid him after last night? The thought was painful, that he'd come to care about someone and now they were walking away from him. Again.

[assassinrue]

Valerie looked back at the house but didn't acknowledge that she saw Aron in the window. She waited until she was hiding behind the bushes outside the back fence before changing and limping her way inside. Isaiah was over delighted to see her and cleaned her leg up, surprised to see her already stitched up. He was mildly panicked but was even more happy to share with her that he had gotten an editor for his book. She barked and wagged in response.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron turned away from the window when he couldn't see her anymore and went about making his bed. Brushing his teeth and hair, showering. Anything to keep busy, because he didn't feel like doing what he normally did during the day. He was more of a night owl, anyway. Maybe he'd just go back to bed.

[assassinrue]

For the first time since she could remember, Isaiah took her for a walk. He brought a leash but didn't clip it to her collar, she was incredible obedient, although he had never trained her so he really couldn't figure it out.
Valerie was happy for his company, her tongue hanging out her large doberman mouth. But she couldn't quite stop thinking about Aron. Would she see him around town now?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron paused and walked over to the window again, taking in the view. Kenneth had found him, which probably meant other weren't far behind. Maybe he should move. Get a new place, somewhere off the grid. Maybe even leave New York. Something bound him here, though, kept him from leaving. He couldn't go, much as he wanted to, much as logic told him to.

[assassinrue]

Isaiah was only a block away from Aron's house and suddenly she wanted very much for Aron to know about her, just so that someone did. She began to go that way, barking at Isaiah to follow.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Without thinking about what he was doing, Aron started to pack his things. It would only take him a week or so to find a new place, and packing his stuff would probably take quite awhile. He needed to do something, make his anxiety go away.

[assassinrue]

Isaiah stopped, his hands on his knees, panting as he watched Lilah sit in front of a house. He had called her, goaded her with treats, but she refused to move.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron heard barking outside and moved to the window once more to look outside. He narrowed his eyes when he saw the dog sitting outside the building... and was it just him, or was the animal looking right at his window?

[assassinrue]

Valerie edged forward on her legs, hovering in preparation to run in the door in case Aron opened it. She barked again

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"What the hell?" Aron murmured. Being privy to the secret world underneath human noses, he knew that not all animals were as they seemed, but he'd rarely met someone who allowed themselves to be collared by a human. Was it possible that this dog, seemingly a pet, wasn't just an animal? He narrowed his eyes before turning away from the window and walking out of his apartment. He walked cautiously down the hallway and cracked the outside door open so he could peer out.

[assassinrue]

Valerie raced up the steps and sat obediently in front of the cracked door, cocking her head at Aron. Isaiah partially followed her, hovering with one foot on the bottom step.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with her, she never barks at anyone..."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron frowned and stared right into the dog's eyes, ignoring the man. There was definitely intelligence there, and something else. Something... familiar. He glanced up at Isaiah. "Is this your dog, sir?"

[assassinrue]

"Yes, sir, has been for several years." Isaiah shifted uncomfortably. "Why?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"No reason," Aron murmured as his eyes dropped back to the dog. He knelt down and cocked his head. "Do I know you?" he asked quietly.