Chapter 1

Glancing yet again at the clock I bit firmly onto my bottom lip, frustrated by the mountain of paperwork that sat next to me. Of all the days to receive huge amounts of paperwork, it was today. The day where I really couldn't sit here signing documents and such. I glanced at the clock again, my heart picking up into a near frenzy. Her plane would be landing in 45 minutes. By her, I meant Franziska Von Karma, one of the most unlikely people I would be taking out for a meal tonight. She was returning from her rather long vacation just in time for her 19th birthday, in which I had suggested she celebrate. She had never cared much for parties, even when she was very young. But I managed to persuade her that an evening meal was just the right thing, a chance to catch up in important court cases. I think that was the thing that had got her the most. After the very quick-and expensive, foreign calls are not cheap- conversation I made arrangements to pick her up from the airport on the day she came back. And it was this day that I was stuck inside my office, with nothing but a stack of papers and the thumping and cracking of the fearless rain against my window.

I resisted the urge to look at the clock again, telling myself that it would only waist more time. I took my pen swiftly in my hand and grabbed the first paper on the towering pile, a clock in itself.

My hand was throbbing by the time I finished, not a big surprise. I sighed in relief as I stared at the fully completed work standing proudly on my desk. I took a deep breath and practically winced and I turned to look at the dreaded clock.

"Dammit!" I muttered under my breath, reaching for my pen again. It had taken a lot longer than I thought. I quickly scribbled on a spare piece of paper 'to be filed' and stuck it on top of my finished paperwork. I swiped my jacket off the back of the chair and, as I pulled it on, reached into the draw of my desk for a thin, black box tied in a silky blue bow. Although I was alone, I felt embarrassed, and slid it quickly into my pocket. I smoothed out my cravat and ran out of the door, slamming it as I did. I winced, praying that I hadn't just caused the paper stack to fall. I ignored it, for now, and hurried down to the prosecution parking lot.

'If I hurry, I'll make it in time" I muttered under my breath, to maintain myself. A self reassurance, if you will. The parking lot floor had turned a deeper, more blander shade of grey by the dripping water from the ceiling. As I dodged the puddles, trying to remember where I parked, I suddenly remembered something I had been needing to take. My umbrella. I moaned loudly as I glanced back at the heavily pouring rain outside, the icy wind whipping through my hair.

'I can't go back now' I thought wryly 'I'll just have to put up with it.' And with that, I threw myself into my car and sped out of the parking lot, into the fading light of the evening.

'I really didn't want to have to do this' I thought as I rested my head against the steering wheel in defeat. I had circled the airport parking lot like a hungry vulture, starving for a space. But it was packed full, like a sardine tin, and I had resulted to finding the nearest other car park, a walk away from the airport. I wouldn't have minded it, generally, after all walking was no problem. It was just in the rain. It was coming down heavily now, slamming against my car windshield. Franziska was going to kill me for making her walk in this, that's for sure. So, putting on a brave face and making sure the gift was safely away in my pocket, I stepped out into the rain and hurried towards the airport. I suppose it didn't really make a difference if I ran or not, I was still getting soaked. So I simply walked briskly, thinking that maybe I would have to change our reservations so that I would have time to go home and change. As I was headed towards the overly large airport, I spotted a small alleyway, in which I could see the planes taking off at the other side. It was a rather long alleyway, but I was pretty sure it was quicker than going to long way round. I felt another icy chill race up mine spine as I headed down the small alley, gruffly cursing the cold weather. As I continued into the alleyway, I noticed that the buildings and a lot of extra space carved in them, making it seem much wider than before, but unable to see when looking straight through. As I walked, I though ideally about what I should discuss at dinner with Franziska. Of course, I would discuss recent events and court cases, the usual. But I didn't know whether to ask about her 'vacation'. I believed she had gone there for personal reasons and I wondered if she would be offended if I asked. 'Probably, knowing Franziska' I smiled at the thought. A loud crash interrupted my thought, scattering them in the puddles. The sound seemed incredibly close, like it had happened right next to me and I recognised the sound as metal clashing together, much like a trashcan falling over. I didn't think too much of the noise at first, after all it was incredibly windy. But as I came to another opening of the alleyway, I realised that the noise was much more important than a simple trash can falling over. I saw two large figures pressed against the wall, the backs turned to me. They were tall, I noticed, about the same height as myself. I could hear them laughing, their sneers echoing along the cluttered brick walls. But as one of them moved slightly, I noticed a figure between them, around their feet. My heart froze inside my chest, my eyes wide, my jaw on a hinge. The figure was shaking violently and I recognised her clothes immediately, even though they were ripped to mere shreds.

"Get away from her" I barked loudly, storming across the cobblestones towards them. The two figures looked at me quickly, before rushing to grab something and running in the opposite direction. I tried to chase them but as I reached her, my knees felt weak. I fell to them silently, my trousers already absorbing all nearby puddles. Franziska Von Karma, a woman I had looked at as strong, independent and willing person. Of all the times I imagined her, it was never like this. Her hands were wrapped around her knees tightly, her leather gloves nowhere to be seen, leaving her slender hands turning a pale blue. Her skirt was ripped up the side forcefully, looking like it had been torn with a knife. Her tights lay around her feet, her shoes tossed clumsily to the side. I could feel my throat closing up, as if I was choking. I was, speechless. The large bow on her chest had been ripped, her broach nowhere to be seen and her waistcoat buttons had been popped open, breaking them. She was sobbing loudly into her knees, her sobs tearing through my chest and piercing my heart. But her sobs were, weak. She was shivering in the heavy rain and her sobs were getting quieter, as if she had cried herself out.

"Franziska?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. Her head snapped up immediately her eyes painted red with tears, her cheeks painted black with makeup.

"M-Miles?" she whispered. Her voice sounder sore and weak. I saw a new wave of tears roll down her cheeks as she flung herself at me with the last of her energy. I caught her carefully in my arms, cradling her against my chest. It was only then that I realised she was bleeding. I pulled my hand up to find it covered in blood and I pulled her back slightly to see. There was a large cut down the side of her neck, too shallow to do immediate severe damage, thank god. I could also see scratches across her face and on her hands.

"Oh, god…Franziska" I whispered, pulling her back to me "What happened?" The raindrops fell from my hair and onto the top of her head as she cried against me, her body shaking against mine.

"M-Miles" She said my name again, sounding almost like a plea now.

"Come on" I said quickly "You can't stay out here." I unbuttoned my jacket and placed it over her shoulders before scooping her up into my arms. She lent quickly into my chest, cringing away from the cold and the rain, and I could see her gripping my jacket firmly. I pulled her closer to me as I stood up and quickly began picking up her strewn clothing. I headed back the way I came, up and out of the alleyway and back towards the parking lot, my eyes mainly focused on Franziska. She was still shivering and her skin was looking bluer than before, a bad sign.

'Nearly there, nearly there, nearly there' I repeated over and over again in my head. I opened the car quickly, swiftly ducking down to lay Franziska across the back seat. I grabbed a blanket from the chair and draped it over her, my hands finding it hard to let go of her.

"Miles" she whispered, her voice still shaky "W-where are we g-going?"

"Were going to the hospital" I said quickly, trying to sound a reassuring as possible "You need to go there now."

"No" She cried, gripping my shirt tightly "No, please."

"Franziska, you need to go to the hospital" I said sternly, annoyed by her stubbornness. Did she not notice the wound on her neck.

"N-No, please" She slurred, her voice fading "Don't tell anyone, please." She fell silent, her heavy breathing synchronizing with the falling rain. I sighed heavily and closed the door before getting quickly into the drivers seat. I sped out of the parking lot, headed for not the hospital, but my apartment.