The weight of her collar wasn't heavy. But the weight of reality was.

And it was slowly choking the life out of her.

"1530"

The feeling of being identified by nothing but a number was the worst in the world. Numbers had no characteristics, nothing special about them. The only thing that separated them from one another was value. But there really was no real value in wonderland.

It didn't matter if you had the lowest number, or the highest.

Everyone is on deathrow.

You'd be lucky enough to live long enough to have anyone even remember your number.

"1530!"

Ales jolted as she snapped her head back to attention. She didn't bother apologizing or smiling sheepishly to the obviously annoyed women in front of her.

She was a criminal in her eyes, nothing would put her in good grace.

Ales pulled her card out of her pocket, only to have it snatched from her hand before it could be properly presented. She kept her head low as the woman behind the counter grumbled to herself as she made the transaction.

She just wanted to get this done so she could get back to her cell. It was funny how she had become to crave life behind bars. But in Deadman wonderland, that seemed to be the only safe place for her.

She was no where near the strongest, she couldn't even put up a decent fight. And she didn't have friends to defend her.

Her only option was to hide day in and day out.

It wasn't much of a life, but at least she still had hers.

Not that it was much.

She had told herself the second she was sentenced to death row that she wished her death would come soon. But that was until she arrived at Deadman Wonderland.

Here her own death was in her own hands.

And she just didn't have to strength to take it.

So she made her living doing small jobs just to earn enough cp towards her next piece of candy. It was sufficient and had kept her alive this long.

At least she could go to sleep knowing she had extended her lifespan for another threw days. It wasnt much but considering she was on death row but it still was a big difference between life and death.

"You have insuffient funds"

"W-what?"

There was no way. She checked her balance after she got paid. She hadn't worked those extra shifts for nothing.

Ales fumbled to catch the card that was tossed back to her in dismissal. But there was no way she was leaving, not until she got her candy. This was her last day. She needed it.

"The money is there. I just checked"

"Well the amount you have doesn't match the value. The price was raised"

Ales felt a sinking feeling in her chest. They changed the price?

They always altered prices on things, but never candy. They knew how hard that was to get as it was. Why would they raise it? And why hadn't they sent a warning?

"By how much?" Maybe she could earn a little cp before the day was up.

"1,000"

There was now way she could make that kind of money just like that. To earn something like that you'd have to put your life on the line, or someone else's.

And she wasn't about to play into the games of Wonderland. They had already imprisoned her body, she wouldn't let them do the same to her soul.

"Hey, if you don't have the cp move out of the way. Some people have to funds, kid"

Ales bit her lip not daring to peek back at the aggravated crowd. She didn't want to cause trouble but she couldn't just back down.

Her life depended on that piece of candy.

"Put it on my card"

Ales stared up at the green haired figure leaning causually against the counter. She didn't interact with others but she had come accustomed to seeing a few faces.

But he was new.

He was young. Most definitely still in his teens. He was a tall but he didn't look too sturdy. He definitely didn't fit in with the rest of the inmates.

Ales stared wided eyed as he handed over his card like it was nothing. She knew a few prisoners were well off then others. But she had never witnessed any of them offer it to others.

It was more of a every man for himself world. If you wanted something you earned it.

Yet here was this boy offering over his share.

A pair of gold eyes met hers

"Just candy?"

Ales couldn't find the words to speak only managing to nod silently.

The teal haired teen pocketed his card and recieved his purchase with a soft thank you. He nodded his head, inclining Aalyice to follow him.

She followed numbly, coming to a stop when they cleared the way others.

The boy held out stripped package in his pale hand.

Ales's eyes flickered to the piece of candy in his waiting hands and back to his golden gaze. Did this guys seriously just buy her candy? Did he even look at the price?

"For someone so desperate to buy this, you seem reluctant to eat it. Here let me help"

Ales vaguely registered the sound of crinkling before she felt a soft pressure against her lips. Before she could even think about it her mouth instinctively opened and took it the candy.

Bitterness wasn't the only thing she tasted as it slipped down her throat. Guilty churned in her stomach as she gazed up at her savior.

"Why would you buy this for me?"

He merely shrugged as if it was nothing.

"Its not big deal, I had one from my starter kit"

Ales blinked as she took in his words. Did he say starter kit? He just got a starter kit? That meant he was brand new. She had just taken cp from a newbie. Now he was broke and he had nothing left to get him candy.

"Are you crazy?"

The boy head up his hands in defense with a soft chuckle," Its no big deal. I'll just play that carnival corpse game and win some back"

She couldn't even form words to make a comeback. This kid was most defiantly messed up in the head.

He had just gotten here and he was already wanting to enter in the carnival corpse. Did he even know what that was? That people could die in that. And even if you were lucky to make it out alive, the consequences for the lost may as well be equivalent to death.

She could easily bet he hadn't even read the manual.

"You can't do that. You'll die" she blurted out.

But then again he'd die with out it too. She doubted he had enough time to earn enough cp to buy another candy.

She really wanted to bang her head against something.

Ales lowered her head with a sigh.

"Do you care about me?"

Her head snapped up in surprise.

What did he mean? Of course she cared if he died. It would be on her conscious forever. Even though it was without her knowing, she still had taken advantage of a newbie. And to see him die because of that would haunt her.

"Of course I'm worried I don't want you to die"

Ales chocked back a gasp as she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. Her heart pounded loudly against her chest as she sat ridged as they tightened around her form.

What was with this guy?

"Then that means you're Toto's friend!"

Ales swallowed as she leaned back far enough to meet his gaze. She wanted to believe the guy was just joking for the sake of both of their sanity but he was so sincere.

"What?"

That smile never left his face as his arms moved to grip her shoulders, "Friends care about each other. You care about Toto, so that makes us friends right?"

It sounded logical but he had to understand that more went into that. You don't just become friends with someone because you have a sudden fear for their life. A lot of trust comes in friendship. And there wasn't a lot of trust to go around in Deadman Wonderland.

Ales bit her lip completely lost for words. She wanted to just say screw it and run. But the guy did save her life.

"Look Toto-"

"So can you support me as my friend tomorrow in the Carnival Corpse?"

Ales gazed up at the boy named Toto with mixed emotions. He may seem childish and innocent. But she knew better than to think that of anyone in Deadman Wonderland.

Yet there was something in her that urged her not to let this chance pass. This meeting occurred for a reason.

Whether something good or bad was to come from it, she'd just have to wait and find out.

"I guess so"

(_)

So did you like it?

There are two ways I can take this. I can follow a plot and go in sequence or I can skip around like drabbles. It will still be on the same storyline.

The only difference is how quickly I update. With the later option the second I get an idea I can post it but the first one I have to go through all the slow and boring chapters that are dreading to write. Thus making me less motivated to get them written.

Either way I will get it done. It's up to you (:

(Hope all that made sense)