Emery took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He imagined that his kitchen was not still piled with bills, debt notices, junk mail that he just had to keep, letters from Sister, Annie and Kathy that he had yet to open, not to mention the pizza boxes from a few weeks ago still stacked on his greased over counter tops, but was really all clean, the tile floors shining with a new soap, and the smell of rotting food was only the garbage truck passing by outside. A thought came to his mind, it made him chuckle slightly, since he knew what the outcome of this experiment would be, but to him, if he cast away evil spirits from ripping him to shreds, surely he could make all the mess disappear as well. He concentrated on his fantasy room.

"Not there, not there, not there!"

He didn't know why he tried, it seemed that the smell and bills only grew larger every time he did attempt to make his troubles vanish. Most likely because karma had him screwed.

His hand shuffled through the disaster of a table. He didn't even have to look at them anymore without already knowing what the slip of neatly folded paper would say. Debts up to his ass. He opened his eyes again, gazing about his kitchen. And yet the word seemed so odd to say. His kitchen. His food. His house. Obvious to say it automatically became his responsibility after his mother was killed. It still scared him shitless what happened, but all in all, he felt better knowing his dearest mama wasn't mooching off his money anymore. That and he finally could get away with leaving and not having to worry about what she would say or worse, do. It was nice in its own way, yet he couldn't help but feel like she was hovering over him, her face contorted in some odd fashion of discipline at how he kept her house.

His wandering eyes soon came to meet his "souvenir" he had so unwillingly received a good year and a half ago. He couldn't use his finger-less hand for jack crap, unless scaring the neighborhood children was one of them. If that were true then he used that hand everyday. God forbid.

Emery sat up from his slouched over position above his bills, shoving the chair back with a rather loud screech. It wasn't often he got out anymore, let alone walked through the house although he wished he could get out more. The way he saw it, after staying in a house that wanted to murder you in some of the worst ways possible, you get a sense of uneasiness from staying in any house even if it was your own.

His stride was slow, yet took him far into the next room before he knew it. He knew where he was going, it was something he had become accustomed to over the year or so of returning back. In his filthy yet much cleaner living room, he strode past the couches and TV to halt at a broad dresser table. It was one of the few prides of his home since it was the only piece of furniture that had not been touched. Glass shudders, which contained his mother's finest china and silverware. The outside oak was still wondrously shined compared to his computer desk upstairs and he planned on keeping it that way. The only thing he had changed about it was a small wooden box securely locked by metal latches. He had saved it from a garage sale a few years back and had kept it ever since, looking for something worth while to place in it. And finally, a year and a half ago, he found the item that would have the worth to be kept in it.

A piece of wood from Rose Red.

It seemed that whenever he took the time to stop at this box, that same memory would always return to him, never once a fragment missing from the time it had occurred. He took a deep breath as it came flooding back.

It was dark outside, a very cold, eerie night. Down a hallway out of anyone's vision, a clock struck its chorus for the final hour of the day. It was exactly twelve o'clock midnight. It would seem fitting in its own way that the breeze had picked up significantly during their short time being there. Or at least that's what most of them wanted to think. Really it had been a whole day which, at the rate the study was going, was more then enough time at Rose Red. Ironically though, the entrance doors had a habit of changing places with the inner courtyard, which made leaving a little more then hazardous. And to add to the dilemma, Joyce wasn't anywhere near wanting to leave yet.

Annie had been sweet enough to lighten the mood of the morbid group, turning on an old record player on the upper floor. The house must've liked the music at that time considering every single note filtered through the lower level like an oversized stereo. And to add simply, everyone was taking advantage of it. Either random couples were swinging to the music, the clacks of their shoes tapping along with the beat and oddly some swingers had no sound to their shoes...And some just pigged out on the newly delivered pizza. Whichever seemed to float their boat at the time.

Emery sat eating a slice of cheese pizza at the edge of his seat. In literacy, he was near to face planting in the half-full pizza box in front of him had he not been careful enough. He had been watching the others dance the night away, knowing better then to get comfortable with Rose Red's moment of enjoyment. He sneered at his group, hearing them laugh and sing to songs they knew and switching partners constantly. Soon though, one of them swung by his seat and flung himself into the chair next to the skittish man. Emery rolled his eyes with a hidden sigh. It was Nick.

"Hey, why aren't out there with the rest of us?" Nick asked with a slight pant, giving the guy a strangely happy smile.

"Maybe it's because I know the moment we lay our happy little heads down, the house will screw us over again?" Emery scoffed in strong sarcasm.

He hadn't really liked many of the people he was forced to live with, Nick being one of them. The statement made the man grimace. The change of attitude seemed quick in Emery's eyes, even for Nick. He was usually so suave and uncaring about hard situations and yet it seemed as though for at least a couple hours, Nick knew something that he wasn't letting on. Emery glared when he realized this.

"Okay, what is it?! I'm sick of having people stare at me like that. If you have something to say, just say it!" the snarl escaped Emery's mouth before he had a chance to rethink his statement. It was how he felt though, so in moderation, he didn't feel too guilty about it. Nick somehow expected this, leaning forward with a new look of seriousness written across his demeanor.

"I do actually have something to tell you--well really I'm demanding it of you. I need you to take something for me and for the love of Rose Red's SOUL don't you lose it!" Nick threatened, joking aside. The icy glare that filled his eyes was enough to freeze Emery to the bone, his only response to him a slow nod in acknowledgment. It was all he could manage at the time.

"Fine, fine! But, why me? Give whatever the thing is to Joyce or Kathy. I'm not interested with carrying more then my load." Emery snapped back in return, finally gaining his courage to speak for himself. Nick, had he not kept his self-control so well could've sent the whole house into silence.

"NO!! This is between me and you, Emery! I had a vision earlier and I know for a fact that you should keep it. I know it's going to come in handy someday and I have to give whatever that may be a chance! So, take it! Please just take it and keep it somewhere safe," Nick barked, keeping his composure to most if not all his words.

The minor speech seemed to strike a cord with the frightened Emery, considering he had dropped his pizza in his moment of shock. Emery first sat back in his seat, letting the moment sink in, the bouncing music in the background giving him peace of mind. His mind seemed to play Ping-Pong with his options, first being sent in the direction of declining the offer, but was soon hit by the hard paddle of self-respect and responsibility, then back again. Moments passed and he suddenly sat up, leaning forward to enclose their conversation since Kathy and Sister had noticed their heated discussion. Clearing his throat to finalize his decision, Emery locked eyes with his colleague.

"I don't know why I'm trusting you, and I'm not sure why the hell you want to give something to me in the middle of this freak of a house, but what is it?" he whispered to the man who still had the same expression on his face. The question brought forth yet another cold stare.

"Yes or no, Emery." This time his voice began to soften again, slowly returning his cool, calm demeanor. Nick crossed his arms over his chest, impatiently awaiting his answer.

Emery growled in displeasure, "Fine. I'll see what I can do about it and I promise to take good care of this whatever-it-is, okay?!"

Nick's brows rose and a light smile returned to his lips as well as a certain glow in his eyes. He let out a thankful sigh as anyone could tell and reached into a bag he had brought with him at his feet. He pulled the item carefully out of the little bag, taking great care as if it were something sacred. Nick reached out his other hand and grasped Emery's wrist to pull out and open palm. He placed it in the man's hand, grasping both the item and the outstretched palm in a thankful handshake.

"I'm putting my trust in you, Emery. Thank you." Nick finished. Without another word he stood from his seat and was soon skipping next to the girls in another upbeat tune.

Emery watched him leave, then opened his palm to gaze in shock at what he was given, its cold, smooth surface and brown color unmistakable.

A piece of Rose Red's wood.

Now he stood, the memory fading. He only did start to listen to Nick until after he was killed, which was a shame. Even if the guy was a ladies man. He didn't deserve that kind of ending. Another heavy sigh escaped his throat, turning to go back to the dreaded Bill-n-Debt Mountains, which resided in and throughout the kitchen. His one-track mind was soon interrupted when a knock came at his door. Inwardly he growled, assuming it must be Annie or Kathy come to annoy him. He liked them well enough, but today he wasn't in the best of moods to chat.

Making his way to the door, Emery stopped in front of it, debating whether or not he should pretend he wasn't there. That thought was soon abandoned when he realized his car was parked outside and his lights were on in most of the rooms. Even though it was against his moral of the day, Emery finally grabbed the door handle and threw the oak door open, ready to cast away his expected company when his mouth stopped short. He stared in disbelief at what or rather who was on his front porch.

A girl that looked about seventeen or eighteen stood in front of him. She was a girl he had never seen before with long red hair about down to her knees which where tied in two separate braids, her bangs thick and messy, the color a bright red. He would've guessed it was dyed by where he stood. She wore a sweater that was also trimmed in the same reddish pigment, a darker red shall hanging around her neck with a white flimsy bow tied in the center. A skirt following the same bright color pattern fell down to her knees with a bow tied to the back of it, long leg warmers filling in the rest of her leg space. To finish off this rather awkward outfit (and the strangest part of it he had to say) was a rose that hung from a fabric necklace just below her chin. He blinked in more confusion when he noticed a trail of what looked like vines wrapped around her right sweater arm. He backed up in his surprise.

"Um, hello Miss... Can I help...!!!" He suddenly was struck when his eyes met hers. A blazing red, just like the rest of her outfit, which immediately labeled her as a weirdo in Emery's book. He struggled to continue where he left off, which almost seemed ridiculous at this point.

"C-c-can I h-help you M-miss?" he mentally kicked himself in the ass for that one.

The strange red-obsessed girl gave a small smile in her greeting.

"Yes, could you please sir?" her voice was high-pitched, almost childish for her apparent age, but carried a sweet tone nonetheless. It could have made him puke at how sugar sweet it was, but her looks seemed to suffice for a balance. It wasn't as if she LOOKED like a child!

"Okaaay...I've never seen you before but I'll help in any way I can... What's your name and what have you lost?" Emery asked after a moment, unsure of this girl's presence. She seemed familiar and he wasn't sure why. She held out her hand to him as if asking for him to give whatever it was she wanted to her. A brighter smile lit up her face.

"My name's Rosey. I believe you have my wood. Would you be so kind as to give it back to me?"

((A/N: Well, well, my first non-anime related fic! Please tell me what you think! Reviews are always appreciated!))