A young girl with brilliant red hair, dressed in a somewhat baggy, long-sleeved black sweater, the sleeves pulled slightly over her hands and jeans, walks through the gardens of the Phantomhive Estate. Her eyes took in her surroundings carefully; she turned her gaze to the mansion, her eyes passing over the windows quickly. Her eyes stop, resting on one window in particular. The second floor, middle window, a small balcony set in front of the floor-length window. The curtains on this particular window are pulled back and a boy of about eighteen is standing in the window, leaning against the wall. He is dressed in brown pants that are tucked carefully into calf-high, laced-up, black boots, with a white long-sleeved button-up shirt tucked into his pants, and under a form-fitting black vest. The top two buttons on the shirt are undone with a red tie tied loosely around his neck; black gloves covered his slender hands. His short, shaggy and messy brownish black hair barely covered his brown eyes as he looked out over the gardens. A lonely and sad look in his eyes; as if he felt her gaze the boy turned his head just enough to lock eyes with her.

As he locks eyes with her, she turns quickly, running out of the garden. I shouldn't have been seen by him, I just know it. I just hope that he doesn't say anything about seeing me here, she thought as she ran. How could I let myself be so careless? As she reaches the estate's gates, she looks back one more time before exiting the grounds. As she looked back at the window, the boy was no longer there. She shakes her head lightly. I was sure there was someone there. Did he go to tell someone about me? She turns running back to town, a mile down the mountain. She runs to her house, running past her parents, not stopping to answer their question, going straight to her room. As she sits quietly in her room, she wonders quietly about the look the boy seemed to have in his eyes. Should I go back? She shakes her head, her thoughts taking over. I'll wait until night to fall before I go back. I don't want to get caught again. This way I can use the darkness to get away if I do get caught.

The boy pushes himself off of the wall he was leaning against and peeks his head around the corner of the wall, looking out the window to see if the girl was still there. Noticing that she was gone, he steps back into the window, leaning against the wall once more. He looks out at the gardens, a hand pressed gently against the window, seeming as though he wished to leave the room, to be part of something else. As night falls the boy, pushes open the window and steps onto the balcony quietly. He looks around for a second, before jumping off and landing on the ground, his steps making a soft clack as he lands. He wanders the gardens quietly, looking at the flowers, he stops in front of a wilting rose and cups a hand around it. His eyes turned a faint blood-red as the flower bloomed back to a lovely, blood-red color.

The boy straightens and walks over to a fountain of an angel and a demon, his hands in his pockets, smirking slightly, closing his eyes, taking in the fresh, clean, night air. The girl walks into the garden again, looking around at the plants and ornaments scattered throughout the garden. She walks up to the fountain, not paying quite enough attention to notice that the boy is standing there, still as a statue, eyes closed. As he feels a new presence nearby, he opens his eyes slowly, looking towards the presence. He watches the girl as she sits down on a stone bench near the fountain, just looking at it.

The boy moves his head towards her, not saying a word. The girl notices the movement and stands up quickly, eyes widening as she steps away, scared. The boy turns around quietly, walking away, each step clacking against the stone path of the garden. The girl watches for a second too scared to speak. "Wh-who are you?" her voice was shaky and weak.

The boy stopped and turned his upper body towards her slightly, his head turned completely so that he could see her. He inclined his head slightly in a sort of bow. "Michael," his voice was soft and gentle.

The girl recovered herself slightly. "Why is that no one who lives here leaves the grounds?"

"They do, I don't however," Michael said, a faraway look passing over his eyes.

The girl looks at his eyes, "Your eyes seem so sad." She blushes slightly as she looks away. "S-sorry."

Michael smiled slightly, "It's alright. It isn't your fault." He pauses slightly before continuing, "Did you know that this estate is haunted?"

"I've heard the stories. The son of the owner died as a young adult. He was murdered, and his spirit never left the grounds," the girl said as though she didn't believe what she said.

"It's true. At least, it is in a way," a knowing glint in his eyes as he smiled.

The girl blinks as a door to the mansion opens, letting light flow out. "I should go."

"You can stay if you want. They're just going to come look for me," turn back around, walking towards the mansion.

"Why would they be looking for you," she says confused.

Michael stops, and turns around again, smiling, "Because they don't like their ghost to be sighted."

The girl steps back a few steps, her eyes widening. "You're the…..son?" She stifles a scream as she turns and runs out of the garden. Michael looks down, and turns around quietly, walking back to the mansion, walking through the door, the door shutting behind him. The girl stops at the edge of the garden, and looks back just in time to see the door shut behind him. She turns to leave, and hesitates before running back to the fountain.

The light turns on in Michael's room, and he appears at the window, stepping out onto the balcony once again. He notices the girl standing at the fountain, looking at it, her bangs covering her eyes. She sits down on the rim of the fountain and looks up at the house, towards the lit window. Michael smiles down at her slightly, as she looks away from the window. "Of course, now she's scared," he mumbles to himself, his smile fading.

The girl looked down sadly. Who could ever be friends with a ghost? I'm so stupid, I should've just left. Michael watched her a few seconds more before he looked over his shoulder briefly, and jumped off of the balcony. As he landed on the stone path, his feet made a soft clack. The girl looked up at the sound. What was that? She thought to herself and began to walk towards the sound.

Michael quickly looked up at the house, making sure no one was awake, or saw him jump. The girl stopped a few feet away from Michael. "If you're a ghost, then how can you make noise when your feet hit the ground?"

Michael looked over at the voice, a faint smile surfacing. "You've heard of ghosts picking up objects and throwing them, correct? Well, it is something along those lines." Or because I'm alive.

The girl's eyes glow softly, and ever-so-faintly. "You don't seem dead to me," she said, placing her hands on her hips. "I don't believe you."

Michael started to walk down the path, hands in his pockets, "Is that so?"

The girl walked next to him, "Yes, that is so."

"What do I seem to you?"

She looked at him, carefully taking him in. "You seem lost and alone; but not dead."

Michael walks quietly, for a while, stopping to look at the roses. "Well, I'll let you in on a little known fact. I'm alive."

The girl nodded, a satisfied look placed on her face. "I knew it. You had me at first, but it's all in the eyes."

"I'm not often allowed out of my room, or allowed to be seen by many people for that matter; creating the illusion of the estate being haunted."

"Why do they want that?" she asked, laughing slightly.

Michael looks her directly in the eyes and bluntly says, "My father hates me."

She blinks quietly, pausing. "So why don't you leave?"

Michael begins to walk once more, " I can't. I mean I've tried but I've never gotten very far."

"Then try tonight."

He smiles slightly, "I would but I'm not in the mood to get hit again, at the moment."

"Come on, what is there to lose if you are a captive as you say?" Michael looks at her quietly, and then back at the mansion. "I've been in and out of here millions of times. I can get you out."

"They don't watch every move you make."

"If you are that scared then you should go back to your room."

Michael looks at her indignantly, "Who said I was scared. I just don't want to get hit." He looks back at the mansion. "You can get me out?"

She smiles victoriously, "Yeah, I know all the side exits; even some that shouldn't be there."

Michael smirked softly, "Then would you mind helping me escape from my personal prison of sorts?"

"I would love to help you escape."

"Thank you, by the way, may I ask your name?"

"It's Talya."

Michael smiled gently, "It is a pleasure to meet you Talya." He bowed slightly, "I am Michael Phantomhive, the mysterious and infamous ghost of the Phantomhive Estate."

"Nice to meet you, this way," she grabbed his hand and pulling him down the pathway.

Michael followed her lead calmly, steal a glance or two back at the mansion. "May I ask how long you've been sneaking in and out of here?"

"Since I was eight, why?" she reached a break in the side fence. Placing her hand on her hips, "See?"

"Just wondering, I've never seen you before."

"Just means that I'm that good," she said smiling as she went through the break.

"It does," he says slipping through the break after her.

Talya turned around to face Michael, looking over his shoulder, "The lights are on, we should run for it."

Michael turned around slightly, "Seems as though they've found out I'm not in my room."

"I can get you to the ferry boats."

"Ferry boats?"

"They can take you anywhere on the river."

"Sounds fun."

"It is," she says smiling as she walks down the mountain to town. Michael smiles gently, and follows her quietly.