Ki shifted in her seat, pulling her hands away from Darren.
"Did I do something wrong?" Darren asked, worriedly.
"No."
Ki looked outside, at Darren's balcony, and stood up.
"What is it?" Darren asked.
"We need to go." Ki replied, her eyes widened in fear.
"Why?"
Darren jumped, as something banged against the glass door that led to his balcony.
"What the hell is that?!" Darren screeched.
"Merlot." Ki grabbed Darren's hand, and ran out of the apartment building. They ran across central park, and ran into an abandoned warehouse. Darren followed Ki into a dark corner, of the warehouse.
"Who the fuck was that?!" Darren asked gasping for breath.
"Merlot," Ki whispered. "He's the one who killed my parents."
"Oh."
They each looked up as they heard a loud THUNK.
Ki put her index finger to her lips, indicating to be quiet.
Darren nodded, cold sweat running down his forehead.
Heavy breathing and loud footsteps coming closer. They heard whatever it was kick a cardboard box, causing old newsprint to scatter everywhere.
"Damn!"
Darren stood up. Ki tugged at his arm, Darren brushed her off and walked towards the noise.
"Mr. Crepsley?!"
"In the flesh. Well, you know what I mean." Mr. Crepsley grinned, and motioned for Darren to come towards him
"I thought you-"
"You thought wrong, Darren." Mr. Crepsley replied, brushing dust off of his arms. "Who is your friend?"
He hitched his chin towards Ki, who was staring wide eyed at Darren and Mr. Crepsley.
"That's Ki." Darren said, motioning for Ki to come towards them.
"Ki Von Sinisê?!" Mr. Crepsley cried, incredulously.
"Who are you?" Ki asked cautiously, standing next to Darren.
"You don't remember me? It's me! 'Uncle Crepsy'!"
Ki's eyes widened and a grin worked its way onto her face.
"It's really you, isn't it?" Ki asked, embracing her old 'Uncle Crepsy'.
"You've grown, since I saw you last. More mature, blossoming into a beautiful young woman." Mr. Crepsley looked at Ki, and smiled.
"Wait…I'm confused. How exactly do you two know each other?" Darren asked, genuinely confused.
"He used to take care of me, while I was on the road with the cirque." Ki said proudly.
"Oh." Darren replied, dumbfounded.
"Say, why are you guys hiding out in a warehouse?" Mr. Crepsley asked.
"Merlot." Darren and Ki said in unison.
"I see. Why don't we go back to Darren's, and talk more about it there?" Mr. Crepsley asked, heading for the exit.
Ki shrugged and followed, Darren stood there for a second. Then he followed his two friends. Still confused about what was going on.
