The old play yard was in sight, her grandmother's voice ringing out for her as she ventured toward the handmade piece. Heather felt young again, slipping down the slide, swinging as high as she could, even just climbing the thing, it was as if nothing was wrong anymore. For a faint second, her life flashed before her, right up to him and the knife to her chest. Was this how death really was? Sitting in limbo as your better memories played? If so, she was happy about it. She was warm. comfortable. Relaxed even. She wanted to bask in it all as she laid down in the grassy knoll, finally feeling free from everything. It was all gone, everything she endured. The warmth of the sun on her body as she felt the soft touch of the grass, the sweet scent of vanilla coming to her as a chime rang out, classical music slowly joining in with it.

Heather paused her thoughts, letting the world slip by, yet it seemed to have been on repeat. The same things happening over again, yet this time, she fully opened her eyes. The pastel lavender wall nearly screamed at her as her vision slowly came together. Where in the hell was she? Panic began to fill her as she tried to sit up, feeling the tensions of what Drake demanded from her and the man that captured her. His words echoed in her head, he said he'd keep her. Jesus God, he did just that. She looked around the bright room, almost shocked that it was so simple and sweet looking. The large canopy bed she laid within was donned with sheer purple fabric as the white furniture stood out against the walls. It was just like a fairytale really, something she only dreamed of.

The smell of cakes and treats came to her once more, realizing the madman was cooking down below her. This had to be just a ploy, to have her comfortable around him until he struck, and god she hoped he would. Panic raced through her as she looked her body over, amazed to still find her clothes on her body, nothing moved or touched from her. He didn't do anything to her, that was...strange.

Getting to her feet, she quietly ventured to the door, leaning against, wondering what she'd hear. Yet all that came was the occasional bustle of cookware and the music from her dream. Now or never. She opened the door, still awed from the room and now to the hall. It was plastered with pictures and decore like none she had seen before. Little boys on painted canvases to two young men seemingly roughhousing in a yard while a man looked unamused at them. More and more, different people and different things scattered the walls as she made her way down below. It was as if she had made it into an older woman's house, she almost was ready to see an old woman in her housecoat and slippers, baking cookies for no real reason. But turning the corner, there was no old woman.

There he stood, concentrating on something upon the shelf as he hummed lightly with the music. He did really keep her, so now what hell would she live through? She glanced around, seeing the abundance of cakes and cookies, treats and pastries of all kinds yet a large meal seemed to sit in waiting behind them all. Who was all this for? Heather tried to be quiet as she looked at everything before her, but her stomach betrayed her as it let out a low growl of hunger.

He spun around, light blue eyes looking at her, "Oh, you're awake."

Heather stood there, unable to move as he placed down his piping bag. The cheshire smile graced his face as he walked over to her, "I must say, you are a first for this."

She couldn't talk. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find her voice to even speak up about it. Those bright blues bored right into her being as he walked around her, his eyes seemed to be calculating her in an odd fashion.

"Well then, let 's sit and have a chat, shall we?" he gestured to the table next to them.

Somehow, she moved, placing herself a seat away from him as he smiled widely at her, "As I said, you're a first. Most never venture to my humble home, what do you think of it?"

Was he serious? Did he seriously ask what she thought of it, what kind of man was he?

"Cat got your tongue?" he smirked at her, "Or have I scared you?"

"Neither." she finally squeaked out.

"Oh good. I knew you could talk so can't false me there. So, tell me, why were you in Crimson Alley?"

Dear god, how could she answer that? "I wanted to just get a few more seconds."

"Of?"

"Freedom."

His eyes widened at her, "Freedom?"

Heather nodded, unsure of what else to say to him. It was the truth after all, just not what he would think it would be.

"So, freedom. That's a new one, freedom from what?"

"Hell." she barely got over a whisper.

"Hell is everywhere poppet. There's no end to it all, be more specific."

Was he kidding? "Mine differs from most. Leave it at that."

"Well, no reason to be rude. A simple question really."

"With a complex answer."

"You're smarter than most that I have seen." he grinned at her, "This is fun, you really are intriguing."

This wasn't what she thought it would be. She thought it would be done, easy with the end and no more issues but here she was, sitting in a bright kitchen with a crazed killer grinning at her like the Mad Hatter. What the hell was going on here?

"So, are you going to tell me what you were doing in Crimson Alley?"

"I already told you." she sighed, "Just gaining a few more minutes of freedom."

"Fair then, so, now that you are out of Crimson and in my humble home, don't you think you've gained even more freedom?"

Heather pondered on his statement, was she free once more? She glanced at him, sky blue eyes nearly bored right through her, reading everything she was putting out. No, it wasn't really free, just a ploy until his fun was up.

"Yet for how long?"

He chuckled at her, "Clever girl. Well, can't pull the wool over your eyes, well done."

"How could you, you're the Mad Baker that the TVs talk about."

The wicked laugh that left him gave way to what she was up against. He was playing with her, toying and ringing around his finger as much as he wanted until he got what he wanted.

"Mad Baker, I do like that." he finally got out, "Has a nice ring to it. But it's not my name."

Heather scoffed, "Didn't think so, no parent would name their kid that."

He smiled, "You haven't seen the world like I have. Why not this, you tell me yours and I tell you mine."

Was he serious, he was crazier than a shit house rat with what he was spilling out, but what would it hurt, she was going to die anyway, "Heather Byrd."

"Oliver Kirkland, at your service." he replied, giving a small bow.

"Didn't do as you said or as I asked." Heather mumbled to herself.

"What was that, poppet?"

"Nothing."

"Now, now, I know it isn't nothing. It never is with women, such fickle creatures you all are." he shook his finger at her, "Now instead of asking why, let me try this, who do you work for?"

Work for? "Pardon?"

"Yes, work for. Do you have to have a job to survive in the city? So, what's your job, who's your boss? Do you have family or friends that are looking for you now? Must be worried."

Her memories flooded in, everything she had been through with her past and present, it was too dark and ugly to constantly sit in, "No family or friends, hard to have them when you are isolated and yet they don't want anything to do with you. Job...well, not what most would see as a job. More like a personal hell."

Silence fell over the little space as her mind picked out memories here and there, showing her why she wanted death and to just escape the world she knew so well. Glancing back over at him, she was stunned to see him actually wondering at her. His eyes narrow as his mouth twitched with thoughts. He seemed to try and gather himself just as he folded his hands together.

"Heather, you aren't in the dark underbelly of the city by your own choice, are you?"

Well shit, that was unexpected, "No."

"Oh fruits, you really are innocent."

What was he expecting, some drug king or...she thought for a moment as the TV from earlier spoke of the crimes. He wasn't looking for people like her, no, he was looking for people like Drake and Luis, the five other houses on her street as well. Those men and women that were using people for their own gains with drugs and money. And with that realization, the door to death began to disappear.

"Well then, it seems I made a terrible mistake." he said getting up and walking toward the counter.

Heather watched as he pulled something out of a drawer, looking at it with sharp eyes just to nod and make his way towards her. Within his hand laid a vial full of a clear liquid, small and narrow yet there was something dark about it.

"Thank you, Xiao." he muttered lightly before looking at her, "Right, since I messed up and pulled a completely innocent woman into this nightmare, I want you to drink the contents of the vial here and then things will be back to normal for you."

Normal, what did he mean by that, "How do you mean?"

"This was made by a friend of mine who dabbles in a bit of the drug world but is a little cleaner than what's out there. This here will erase your memories of this place and the last twelve hours that you have experienced." he explained, "And once you've drank it, I'm taking you to the main drag of New London."

No. He couldn't mean..."What are you saying?"

He moved himself to the back door of his home, "I'm taking you back home before more issues arise here."

Jesus god he couldn't be serious, but the more she looked at him, the more real it became and her dark fears rising back up, "No."

"What?"

"No. I can't go back."

"Look poppet, you've witnessed enough today, why not go home and-"

"There is no real home, don't you get that?" she nearly screamed at him as she stood from her chair, "There is nothing more but hell and pain there."

"Heather darling, you need to-"

"No, no I won't. You asked in that place if I wanted something else and I gave it to you, but you didn't do it. Instead, you have me here trying to send me out on my merry way back to the hell I tried to escape from!"

"Poppet that's enough-"

"The hell it's not!"

She watched him twitch lightly, "You will take that vile and I drag you home or I'll force it down your throat and knock you out and leave you for dead outside Crimson."

"But that's what I want!" she felt the tears of anguish leave her, "I wanted death and yet you still won't give it to me!"

"Now you are being silly, get over here and drink that thing before I have to make you."

He wasn't backing down, his eyes seemed to gain a small pink tint around the blues as his eyes pierced right through her. But as much as he held his ground, so was she. Looking around quickly, she saw the large kitchen knife, waiting to be touched by her. If he wasn't going to do it, then she was. Darting over, she felt the heavy wooden handle in her hand, determination and happiness filled her as she pressed it to her chest. That was until his hands came over hers, pulling the thing away.

"Drop it!" he demanded from her.

"No, you promised me death and lied!"

"Enough out of you girl, drop the bloody knife!"

"I want this! God, don't send me to them, just let me end it!"

"Enough!" was all she heard as a strange sting came to her neck.

Heather felt her body grow weak, the knife finally pulled away from her as she saw the blood stains on his hand and shirt, eyes full of curiosity and worry just as the needle came to sight. Shit, he just drugged her. He still didn't keep his word from the hall. As her body grew heavy and her vision began to blur, she saw him look at her once more, mumbling something about others and herself, just for her to finally sink into the familiar darkness.

"Kill me. Kill me, please." it echoed in his head, her little request.

Heck, the whole incident before coming here rolled in his head. Never once, did Oliver have something so strange happen to him like so, not in all his immortality. Yet she, on the other hand, would go and make him question and wonder about what was going on. Silly girl, being in Crimson Alley, but the fact she was trying to gain 'freedom' as she said, made him curious about what she was living with. She had the scent of drugs on her, the booze and blood radiated off her, pure signs of users and sellers but she seemed to be some sort of third wheel. Unknown of where to be or what to do, well, that he gathered so far.

What bothered him most was the pull he felt for her. The moment he found her in the alley, she enraptured him, the demand to keep her was overwhelming as she passed through his head again. Her dark copper hair that barely spilled over her shoulders, those hypnotic green eyes, even the sweet dusting of freckles upon those rosy cheeks of hers just captured...he paused. Good lord, he sounded like a sap thinking of her. What in heaven was she doing to him?

"Oliver!" he heard someone shout.

Looking up, he realized the whole lot of them was staring at him. How long had he been in thought during the meeting?

"You alright, Oliver?" he heard James asked as Allen leaned over his shoulder.

"Quite fine, why?"

"Pourquoi?" Francois mumbled behind him as the lingering scent of his cigarette lingered.

"Why is a good term for you." Luciano glared at him,"We've been discussing the recent actions of AlphaCom and there you sit dawdling off into god knows what. What has gotten into you?"

"Maybe he needs something new." Flavio smiled.

"Just because you're a clothes whore, doesn't mean we all are." Kuro reminded the flamboyant Italian.

"It's nothing gents, not to worry." he shooed them away, but it did nothing.

"Something failed on your end, didn't it?" Viktor spoke cooly.

Of course, it would be him that would get it right, and he wasn't one for lying, "It was just a slight hiccup."

"Define hiccup." Francois took a drag of the newly lit stick.

Well, it wouldn't go well no matter how he spoke of it or described, "I grabbed a civilian by accident and tried to send her back."

"Tried?" James and Allen questioned.

Oliver sighed, "She's still at the house."

The sudden slam of a fist brought his attention to Luciano as the knife's tip was dug into the table, "Now, was that really necessary Luc-"

"Yes it was." he gritted out at him, "You brought an innocent into this world. What will happen if she speaks of you, of what we are? Do you have any idea what hell you just created?"

He twitched lightly. Oh, how he hated cursing, but it was best not to argue with the man,"I am aware, I tried to give her the vial to wipe it all away and let her go on her merry way. Yet she didn't."

"Then you should have killed her." was all Luciano stated.

"I couldn't." it came out before he could think.

All ten of them were staring at him, he even got Gillen to react. Now he was in deeper than before, "How do you mean by that?"

"She wasn't like anyone else that I've dealt with in my entire life." he explained, "Every person I ever captured for cause or play, they begged for their lives, for mercy. Anything really. But her, well, she was completely different."

"What, she offered for free?" he could almost hear Allen smiling.

"Kill me, kill me, please. That's what she begged for."

That stunned them all. Humans were fragile creatures and they didn't realize it until life and death was before them. Centuries of killing and maiming, yet she was the first to ask for death outright. He didn't even torture her, that's when most gave in but she was right off the bat.

"When I cornered her in the building, she literally took my hand with the knife and placed it to her chest and I swear she smiled at me when she thought I would fully kill her. I couldn't though, I had so many questions to ask at that moment. I brought her to my place. Once she awoke and I questioned her, it's then I realized she was an innocent. I tried to have her drink the vial, to leave and forget all that happened, instead she grabbed a carving knife and attempted to slit her own throat. Even as I fought the knife from her, she tried to press it into her chest. Heck, I still have the cuts from it and I know she has a few too."

Silence befell the room, not a word or movement was herd. He knew it shocked them, it even shocked him. There had to be something he was missing with her and what else was going on with all of it.

"Alright. There is always a first for something." Luciano sighed, "You have at most three weeks to gain what you need from her, see what makes her wanting death and what she's dealing with. If she's apart of AlphaCom then it's your job to destroy her. Understand?"

Oliver looked at him, he knew he was serious as his magenta eyes glared at him, "I understand."

"Good, then get to it."

Giving a quick goodbye to them all, he made his way back to the little place he called home. He had to figure this all out before it got worse with them all, there had to be something he wasn't seeing. She crossed his mind once more as his bakery shop came to sight, what was it about her that intrigued him so?

Once within, he looked in the room where he left her. Laid out upon the bed, she slept soundly as her hair fanned around her. Truth be told, she was beautiful to him, almost as beautiful as his mother. Yet the more he looked down at her, the more his heart twinged and his mind swam for her.

"I'm going to figure out what is going on with you, and I'm going to take care of it. No matter what comes in my way."