Chapter 1: Meeting.
She walked down the darkened street; her eye's darting from side to side. She was scared. She didn't know this part of town. Oh, why had she taken that side road? Was it because she had been lost in thought, or was it that she didn't really want to go home to then cold and empty apartment? Whatever it was, she wished she hadn't have done it.
Now, Gracia was lost in an unfamiliar part of town. She looked up at the sky with her pale greed eyes. She could see no stars and no moon, meaning the clouds where dark. It was going to rain. Her eye's shot forward as a cat ran out in front of her, her sandy hair falling into her eyes slightly. She brushed it aside and continued on.
This part of town seemed more dirty then the rest, less 'well kept'. There was the occasional yell or scream which made her jump. She was already scared, and the noises weren't helping.
It was cold and now it was raining. It didn't help that she was dressed lightly. It hadn't been cold or raining when she left, and she wasn't expecting to get lost. She was dressed in a fairly light, black dress. It reached her ankles, but it wasn't very poofy. She didn't even have a coat on, and she was in dress shoes, not normal shoes. She had been out at a small party with a few friends and when she had headed for home, decided she needed to take a long walk. This was much longer then she had wanted.
A sudden noise behind her. It sounded almost like a gunshot. It made her scream and run forward. She couldn't help it, gunfire on a dark night would be enough to make anyone run. She ran for a while before she faintly heard the noise again. She kept on running until she couldn't see where she was going.
The streetlights just stopped. There where still houses, but no streetlights. She was still jogging when it happened.
Thud.
Something hit her, or rather, she hit something. It was much bigger then her and caused her to fall over. It had been warm, living. She hit the ground and stopped herself from falling all the way back with her hands. She did not look up. She simply slid herself into a ball.
This is it, I'm dead. Who ever it is, isn't going to like being bumped into and... They're going to kill me.
She heard the weight in front of her shift. She curled tighter. She was soaking wet and helpless, but in a moment it wouldn't matter. Then suddenly, she wasn't getting wet anymore. She looked up, her eyes filled with tears of fear. What she saw, wasn't what she expected.
A man knelt in front of her, holding an umbrella. He was very hansom. Sort-cut black hair, a pair of square-shaped glasses that rested over a pair of almost golden eyes, complemented his very nice features and a warm smile over his unshaven face.
"Are... you alright?" The man asked offering his hand.
She wasn't sure if she should take it, but she did anyways.
"Yes... I think so..." She was suddenly pulled up by the man.
"Good... I'm sorry I ran into you." He smiled.
He, ran into me?
He was dressed in an old, black t-shirt that looked to be a little too big for him. He also wore a pair of worn blue jeans. His boots where heavy looking, almost looking like what the military men wore.
"What's a lovely girl like you, doing on this ugly side of town?" The dark haired man asked.
"I… I got lost…" She stuttered, blushing slightly at his comment.
"Hmm... well... Where is it you live?" He asked.
She was hesitant to tell him. Sure, he seemed nice enough, but was that just a ploy? She finally gave in, knowing if she didn't take the chance, she might not get home tonight.
"I live near the Central City town square." She said looking down.
"You're a long way from home." He scratched the back of his head. "I... can take you home, if you'd like?"
She nodded slightly. She wanted to be home… Badly. She only hopped this wasn't a mistake.
"What's your name" The man asked.
"Gracia…" she breathed. "And… Yours?"
"My name is Maes Hughes. Nice to meet you, Gracia."
They walked in silence for some time. She had to keep close to him to keep under the umbrella. She was weary of this man, but having a little company was nice. There was something about him that made her feel comfortable, but there was something she wanted to ask him.
"You asked me what a girl like me was doing on this side of town…" She said looking up at him.
He nodded "Yes..?"
"Well... What's a man like you doing on this side?" She asked.
He laughed a little. "Well… To honest, I was investigating something."
"Investigating?" She asked.
"Yes... I'm in the military… I'm a major in the investigations department." He said looking over and smiling.
A major in the state military?
"Oh… I see…" She said looking ahead.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"No, no, just thinking."
"I see." He looked ahead as well.
After another few moments, they reached her home. Maes walked her right to the door, making sure she didn't get anymore wet.
"There you are, try not to get lost again, ok" He smiled and turned.
"I'll try." She laughed a little. "Thank you, Mr. Hughes"
"Just Maes, if you please." He said looking back.
"Alright… Maes…"
He turned back, waved and headed down the steps disappearing into the darkness.