~Prologue~

Night was beginning to make its way across the sky, the orange of the fading sun giving way to the indigo that would soon turn into black. Traffic was still lighting up the streets but most people where making their way indoors, as if trying to escape the darkness that would embrace the city, but there was one that continued to walk, as if lost to time. Sandals slapping against the concrete sidewalk, a bag occasionally being shifted from one side to the next; brown hair cascaded over the bag's strap and shielded green eyes which remained glued on the path ahead. If someone were to cross paths with a wanderer, the small voice would only give an 'Excuse me' before tilting to the side, as if recoiling from people.

Soon the sky was filled with stars, car headlights giving way to the woman who was still trying making her way to some unknown destination. She didn't know if she would be accepted, but she knew that she could not go back to where she came from. There was too much destruction that she herself caused and she was now unable to face it. She told herself she needed a break, perhaps she knew at that time that the path she was venturing on would eventually give way to nothing, but maybe both parties would be better off that way.

The woman soon found herself at a doorstep, her finger hovering over a doorbell. Her slender finger stopped before pushing the button, trying to muster up some resolve. She was upset that this is where she had come, that she had to stoop so low due to her own actions. Finally she pressed the glowing button, the buzzing resounding in her soul, as if letting her know that her time was up.

A voice called from inside the building "I'll be right there!" Her hand fell back to her side as her gaze fell slowly to her feet. Overhead, a light turned on. Thumping came from inside accompanied by clicking of multiple locks and then finally the latch being turned.

"Bella?!" The voice rang out in surprise. Looking up to the women who called to her, Bella gave a small half heart smile.

"Evening Roxie.. Sorry I didn't let you know beforehand.. but I need a place to crash for the night." Bella's voice was small, almost empty of any signs of humanity. Roxie leaned against the doorframe, running a hand through her short auburn hair both women stood there for a while, before one finally broke the silence.

"Sure.. come on in." Roxie pushed herself off the doorframe before turning and making her way back into the house. Bella stepped in as well and slowly closed the door behind her.

The two women sat in silence for the most part; Bella wasn't willing to give up what brought her to her estranged friends housed. The two use to be like sisters, many even joked they held separate halves of the same brain, but something took place that tore the two apart. But, like sisters, they would never turn their back if one needed help.

Bella broke the silence this time. "Thanks Roxie, it's just for a few days. I don't need anything special, just a blanket."

Roxie nodded, getting up and making her way to a closet. Bella removed her sandals, lining them up with the couch by the time Roxie had some back with a throw blanket. Running her fingers through her hair she made quick work of pulling the hair into a bun before taking the blanket from Roxie.

"Thanks," she uttered, Roxie just nodded before heading to bed. Neither of them said good night there was no room for formalities when it was clear that the once blossoming friendship no longer existed. Bella got up, running her hand down the wall to find the light switch. The light, even though artificial was suffocating to the women who wanted nothing more than to hide.

Inside the bag she carried was a laptop; it was the only thing she brought with her outside of a cell phone, which she had turned off the moment she ran away from the her situation. Her eyes fell on the device and lingered there before opening up the laptop and powering it up. She glided her finger across the mouse pad, clicking on programs before tapping away at the keyboard and soon her game was open. It was a world she felt she could get lost in since she could not get lost in the real world. Time slipped by while Bella clicked and tapped away, mindlessly running through and completing personal goals. Even as her eyes grew heavy and her yawning increased she refused to close the computer to sleep. She felt that if she slept that she would only have to wake back up into the world she wished she could just disappear from. As long as she remained enthralled in a game could she block out the destruction she had left behind.

Eventually the room grew quiet, and despite Bella's best efforts she fell asleep, leaning up against the couch, laptop sitting on the floor next to her. The slumber was short lived though, the sound of a door opening awoke her, causing her to sit up and look around. Looking over her shoulder she could see the kitchen light was on, knowing she had turned it off it only made sense to her that Roxie had gotten up for something. "Sorry Roxie, I'll try to be quieter.." Bella knew very well that she hadn't made a noise since Roxie had gone to bed, but she was in no place to say otherwise.

"Sleeping beauty has awoken finally. Did you know, you make the cutest faces when you sleep?" The voice belonged to a male. Bella's face dropped and all the blood in her body ran cold. Roxie had never mentioned a man living here.

"I'm sorry.. Roxie didn't mention someone else living here.." Bella glanced around for something to use to defend herself; the only thing close by was the glass she had used. The man came into view; he was tall, slender and had long blonde hair that was casually tossed over one shoulder and held loosely by a thin band.

"I don't live here darling. I came here looking for something." His voice was deep but melodious as he spoke to Bella. She went to go stand but the man simply wagged a finger at her he took a few more steps, coming into full view. His robes looked like something from royalty or the renascence faire, deep royal purple with gold trim, his eyes seemed to glow and they were fixated on Bella. She also noticed his ears, the long slender form of them made her brow furrow.

"What do you want.." She sat back, sitting on her knees as the man sat on the arm of the couch.

He leaned forward and rested his arms on his legs. "I want to help you. You seem, lost, my dear... and I don't have much time. I will be running late soon."

Bella couldn't help but laugh, "Lost.. I wish.."

Her response caused the man to smile, curling a finger as if drawing Bella towards him. Sitting up on her knees she leaned forward, as if not in control of her own body, but something about the man made her forget any sense of danger.

"I will help you to become removed from this world; all you have to do is follow me." His voice was barely a whisper and before Bella knew it her face hovered only inched from his own.

"Re-moved.." Bella mimicked him, her eyes blank and starting to glow like the man's.

"Yes, my darling lady. Just come with me." He stood, his hand reaching out behind him clutching the air like he held on to something. Bella stood as well, she wanted to run away and this man was offering her a way to do so. Somewhere in the back of her mind a voice screamed it was nonsense, it was dangerous and that she shouldn't go. None of that mattered, there was a sense of warmth and familiarity that she could not shake and thus is followed along behind him.

That was the last anyone had seen of Bella, Roxie awoke to Bella's laptop and phone still sitting on the living room floor. Everything still in the spot Bella had left them and every lock on the door still locked.