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Chapter 2 - I'm Closer Than You Think

(Evergreen's POV)

The ride back to Magnolia was somber.

Once all of us had come to our senses, Freed had gone to tell the authorities about the violation of the graves of Layla and Jude Heartfilia. They'd questioned all of us, sending Lucy over the edge again. All the guys looked uncomfortable at the thought of having to take care of a crying girl, so I took Lucy by the hand and took her to a quieter spot in the cemetery. We sat on a bench and she managed to get herself mostly under control. After the authorities finished the questioning, it was almost time for our train's departure.

We had to hustle back, and Laxus picked up an exhausted Lucy to carry as we all ran to the station. Freed got stuck with her suitcase. Despite the situation, it was funny to see him dragging a hot pink suitcase behind him.

We thankfully made it to the train on time, and collapsed into the seats. All three of the guys sat on one side, and Lucy and I on the other. After only a few minutes, Lucy lay down and put her head in my lap, facing the guys. She cried a little more before falling asleep in my lap. All I could think to do was stroke her hair as she slept.

Bixlow sighed. "'Your luck's run out...'" he said. "Who could possibly be after Lucy?"

Freed shrugged. "Someone who hates the Heartfilias. Someone who hates that she's part of Fairy Tail. Someone who thinks she still has the Heartfilia fortune...there are many possibilities."

Laxus stared down at the paper in his hand. "Whoever it is has no right to threaten our nakama. We'll protect her from this 'A' and find out who the sicko is."

Bixlow tried and failed to smile, and half heartedly said, "He liiiikes her." No one smiled.

When we arrived in Magnolia, it was close to midnight. Laxus thought that the Master and Mira might still be there, so that's where we headed. If worst came to worst, Laxus, Freed, and Bixlow could sleep in Laxus's office that he earned with the title S-class, and Lucy and myself could raid the closet for pillows and blankets and make ourselves comfortable behind the bar.

We were very lucky. Master and Mira were still there, although Mira was in the process of locking up. The guild was spotless, totally different from the day-time. Mira really was amazing.

Master and Mira looked up from what they were doing to greet us warmly, but their welcomes died on their lips when they saw our faces. Lucy, still asleep, was on Laxus's back, and her tearstained face was visible.

Master took one glance at all of us and said, "Maybe you should sit down."

(Freed's POV)

I think explaining what had happened in Acalypha was one of the hardest things Laxus had ever done. Not just becuase of the emotional toll it took on us all, despite the lack of blood relation to Layla, Jude, and Lucy Heartfilia, but also because he was trembling in anger most of the time.

We'd all thought for a long time that Laxus's eyes had been locked on the Celestial Mage too much for it to be casual, but we hadn't started teasing him about it until recently. Now, in light of everything, how much he cared was so obvious.

I could not tell anything about Lucy from her body language or expression. She'd woken when Laxus had sat her down, but ever since then, she'd slumped in her chair, staring at nothing with blank eyes. It was a far cry from her normal, bubbly self, and it was unnerving.

When Laxus finished his explanation, both Makarov and Mirajane looked equally horrified, angry, and confused. "Someone's after Lucy...but why?" Mira asked nervously, twisting the rag in her hands nervously.

The Master frowned. "I don't know." he said heavily. "But I want someone with her at all times. I don't know who this 'A' is, or what he or she wants, but I don't want to take any chances. Since all of you know what's happening," - he looked at Laxus, Freed, Bixlow, and Evergreen pointedly - "I want one of you four to be with her. Evergreen, I think that you'd better stay with her tonight. Here, take this communication lacrima." the Master reached behind him and handed Ever said object. "It will connect to the one that I have, the one that Laxus has, and the guild's. Just say who you want to talk to. 'Makarov,' 'Laxus,' or 'Guild.'"

Ever looked a little concerned, but she nodded. "Yes, Master." she mumbled. "Please, go on ahead with Lucy." the Master said, waving his hand toward the blond.

(Makarov's POV)

Watching Evergreen try and interact with Lucy was excruciating. The older woman had to say the younger's name almost ten times, and wave her hand in front of the blonde's face. Lucy's expression - or, lack of expression - tugged at my heart. Her eyes were empty, as if she was hollow.

Gently, Evergreen grabbed Lucy's hand and pulled her to her feet. As Evergreen slowly walked, Lucy trailed behind, stumbling. Once they were out of sight, Laxus groaned, running his fingers through his hair and collapsing into a chair that Mira hastily pulled out.

His face was shadowed by his hands on his forehead. Freed and Bixlow also had looks of distress. "She's so...broken." Freed said, forcing out the last word. "You would be too, if someone violated your parents' graves, stole their stuff, and their bodies, then threatened to come and get you, too."

I noticed the expression on Laxus' face darkened. So did Mira. In the gentlest way possible, she said, "Shut up, you two."

(Evergreen's POV)

It was hard to get Lucy back to her apartment. She was disoriented from exhaustion, and all the emotional stress from today was on her shoulders, weighing her down. She staggered and stumbled like a drunk. And that presented a problem. I couldn't carry her, and if things went on this way, it would take us forever to get to her apartment, or she would fall and get hurt. So I stopped, and turned to her. She didn't realize, and ran straight into me.

I grabbed her by the shoulders and stood her up straight. "Lucy." I said gently. She didn't look up. I shook her shoulders. "Lucy." It took a bit more shaking, but she finally looked up. Her eyes, empty, made me wince. "Lucy, sweetie, you need to try and walk normally...or, you know what, why don't you call out a Spirit to help you?" She stared for a few moments before seeming to understand. Slowly she pulled a key from her belt and mumbled the summoning incantation. I was impatient, waiting for an us-sized spirit that would be able to carry her. I turned around to see if it was behind me.

Suddenly, "Puu puun." Turning back around, I saw Lucy bending over to pick up a...thing. "Plue." she murmured. I put my hand on my forehead and sighed. "Oh, Lucy." Finally, I moved my hand and stepped forward, reaching to grab her keyring. She stood still and hugged Plue to her as I looked through her keys. Finally, I found one that I thought she would have called if she'd understood what I was telling her. One look at her, and I knew she wouldn't be summoning. Instead, I walked a few feet away so she couldn't hear me.

"Loke." I snapped, holding the key close to my face. "Dump whatever girl you're with right now, get your lazy butt up, or man up and learn to deal with a heartbroken girl. I don't know what you're doing right now, and I honestly don't care. Your master is standing out here, completely broken and lost, and you're not here. I'm pretty sure that the crab, goat, and mermaid told you what happened, so why are you not out here?!"

Abruptly, a blinding light surrounded the key, and I blinked and looked away, spots still in my vision. The key grew warm, then hot, and then it cooled again as the light faded. I looked back again, and saw none other than Loke standing in front of me. Without a word, he went over to Lucy and scooped her up in his arms, beginning to walk. His strides were so wide and his pace was so fast that I was half running all the way to Lucy's apartment. I managed to catch up once, and hand Loke's key to Lucy, who took it looking confused, before Loke slipped into a run. I growled under my breath and started running to keep up.

He stopped in front of Lucy's apartment and put her down. Before vanishing, he bowed to Lucy, then me. I nodded to him, and he met my eyes and he dissolved into golden light. He was soon gone, leaving us in front of her door.

I sighed as I walked closer to the door and tried the knob. It was unlocked. Lucy was too cautious for that. Instantly on alert, I pulled the fist sized communication lacrima from my bag, and clutching it in one hand. I slowly pushed opened the door.

Thankfully, Lucy and her little Spirit kept quiet as I walked slowly up the stairs. I eased her apartment door open and peered in. The first thing I noticed was that the window over her bed was not quite shut, unnoticeable from the street but obvious from here. The second was the smell. Like something had died.

I was so busy sniffing to try and find the source of the stench from the door, that I almost didn't notice when the moonlight caught something on the wall, making it glow. My heart fell as I stepped in and flipped the light switch. Almost everything was neat, nothing looked stolen. The place was untouched...almost.

I felt like I was going to be sick as I stared at the wall directly opposite us. Lucy was sick; thankfully, in the hallway and not on me. There were corpses of animals against the base of the wall. A small deer, a cat (not an Exceed), and a dog lay there, cut open.

Their blood stained the carpet willy nilly, all over the apartment. But the stains on the wall were purposeful.

'I'm closer than you think.'

-A

(Lucy's POV)

I know that everyone thought that I was...broken. And they were all but right. But not exactly. My mind was still processing everything, and normal things - walking, talking, eating - were pushed out of my mind. All I was aware of were sensations. Evergreen pulling me out of the guild. Loke carrying my to my apartment. I wish that could have continued. But the gruesome sight in front of me brought me back to reality.

I whirled around and threw up on the wood floor of the hallway. The stench of the dead creatures was overwhelming, and their blood used as paint was sickening in itself.

I heard Evergreen taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. I knew that she'd pulled the communication lacrima out of her pocket when we first arrived, and I heard it hit the floor now as she tried to turn it on with shaking hands.

I sank to the floor, putting my head between my knees to breathe. Once I had calmed myself enough, I turned my head to look at Evergreen. Her pale face reflected what I must have felt. She looked sick as she picked up the lacrima again. "G-guild." she said, as the light inside of the glass orb began to shine. Her hands trembled again, and she dropped it, just as an image appeared in it.

"Evergreen!" Mira's voice rang through my apartment. Instantly, the voices of Laxus, Freed, Bixlow, and the Master ran together as they panicked, yelling out for us. "Hang on, hang on." Evergreen said. She took a deep breath and grabbed the lacrima, holding it so that her face was visible. The voices of the mages in front of the guild lacrima silenced.

"Ever, what happened?" Laxus, voice tense, spoke first. "Where's Blondie?" I took a breath. "I'm here." I called out. Their faces relaxed. "What's happened?" Master asked, looking concerned. Silence for a moment. "The sicko apparently knows where Lucy lives." Evergreen said finally.

"What's that mean?" Laxus interjected, nearly shoving Master out of the way in his hurry to get to the lacrima. "It means," Evergreen said, "exactly what it sounds like." And she turned the lacrima so they could see the wall.