Chapter 2

I saw no reviews for my last chapter! Awwww! TT_TT Could someone please give me some good reviews? I would really like help to improve my writing!

And sorry this chapter is so short! But anyways, I'll stop my useless author's ramblings and get on with the story!

Falling.

Falling towards my doom.

That was all I could remember before I found myself on a soft velvety couch.

I could only manage a low groan as I sat up and fully realized how much the fall from earlier had affected me. My head was throbbing like never before, and my ankle felt like I had seriously sprained, if not, broken it.

"Oh she's awake!"

Startled by hearing someone speak behind me, I turned around to find a white haired man step out of a closet. He was quite peculiar. His eyes were a bright shade of red (well, eye. His other was covered by his long white bangs), he was wearing a deep purple shirt, a white overcoat, and white boots to match. He was also carrying a black cane.

"W-who the heck are you?" I asked staring at him wide eyed.

"He is Xerxes Break, and I am Sharon Reinsworth." To my left , a girl who looked as old as Anna was sitting at a small table across the room, sipping tea.

"You can call me Break if you want, and this kid is Emily!" Break exclaimed. He motioned to an ugly blue doll sitting atop his shoulder that I had missed seeing beforehand. Why would a grown man have a doll?

After coming back from my astonishment over Emily, I turned back to Sharon.

"Rainsworth? Isn't that one of the duke houses?" Looking around the room now, I could easily distinguish that this place is owned by someone of high power and wealth. Fine furniture, art, etc. decorated the room.

"Why yes." Sharon replied.

"Well, then why am I here? How did I get here?" These were obviously friends of the trio from before, so they should know...

"Easy! We found you with Raven, Oz-kun, and Miss Alice! You were with them in Alice's memory fragment, correct?" Break gave me a creepy smile.

"Yes..." Memory fragment? What are they talking about? "But you didn't answer my questions. How did I get here and why?"

"We found you passed out near them. But, before we can reply to any more of your questions, you have to answer ours." Break said as he took a lollipop out of his pocket and popped it into his still grinning mouth.

"Why should I tell you anything? I only just met you a minute ago!"

"True, but if you don't answer our questions, then we won't answer yours now will we?" Break had now finished his lollipop in record time. I could only stare in surprise as he started chewing on the small white stick that was left.

Humph. "Fine. What do you want to know?" I looked back at Sharon, as it felt like she was the next person to speak.

"First of all," She said, setting down her teacup. "Why did you follow Master Oz in the first place?"

"I...ummm..." Can I even trust these people? Well, somehow I have feeling I can't lie to them. So... "I need answers." I said simply as I kicked my feet up onto a coffee table in front of me.

"Answers?" Sharon had now started getting up and was and heading towards me. "What kinds of answers are you looking for, may I ask?"

"Well, you would know that if you let me ask questions, wouldn't you?" I sneered.

Break just looked at me and gave a deep sigh. "Do you know what Pandora is?"

Pandora... I've heard of it somewhere...

It took me a few seconds to figure out, but then it finally hit me.

"Isn't that the country's national security division?" Hoping I was right, I looked up at Break.

"Only on the surface. It really deals with research on the Abyss and it's weapons known as chains. But, you should already know considering your sister..." He trailed off seeing the confused look on my face. "Oh! you don't know?" His gaze shifted over to Sharon.

"So is that it?" I said, putting Break's attention back onto me. "No more questions?"

"Just one more." Break was now taking yet another piece of candy out of his pocket, "What's your name?"

"It's Ashlyn. Now can I ask my questions?"

"Sure Miss Ashlyn! What do you want to know?" That creepy grin was again making it's way onto Break's face.

"How can I get my sister back?"

"I can't tell you just yet." He said. I could swear I heard Emily snicker, but dolls couldn't talk right?

"Hey! You said you'd answer my questions after I answered yours!" I had now stood up from my chair.

"No, I said I would reply, I didn't say I'd answer. Seriously! You really need to pay attention! But, anyways, I feel it is time for me to visit a certain trio in Leverru." Break made his way to the small table that Sharon was first sitting at and disappeared underneath it.

I ran to lift up the table cloth, "Where did he go?" I asked Sharon as I stared at the empty space before me.

"Please do not mind him. That is his way of entering and exiting a room. Oh! and speaking of rooms," Sharon now stood up to lead me to the door, "I must now show you to yours!"

"So you really think that Miss Ashlyn is tied in with 100 years ago Xerxes?" Oscar Bezarius asked when Break returned from his meeting with Reim and Sharon later that night.

"As we have come to know, everyone from that time period has lost some amount of memory." Break had once again taken another lollipop out of his pocket.

"Yes, but Miss Ashlyn didn't say anything about lost memories did she?" After reviewing the reports on Ashlyn's sister, Oscar had become quite uncertain whether Break's hypothesis was correct.

"No, but, after extensive research, I can prove my theory. I'm sure of it! Plus even if she isn't, we could always use a new member in Pandora can't we?" With his lollipop finished, Break hopped off the table he was laying on. "And remember to finish that research Oscar-sama! Now, if you excuse me, I believe I must go to see Ojou-sama and a certain guest of ours." With that, he left the room in his usual fashion.

"What do you mean I'll be staying here for a while?" I asked as Sharon started to explain what was going to happen.

"You must stay here until Oz-sama, Miss Alice, and Raven are ready to see you. Currently they are resting after an ordeal in Leverru" She said with a smile. Seriously, how can she smile so much? "I am terribly sorry if this upsets you, but they are the ones who we think may be able to help you."

"Fine, I'll wait, but I have one question."

"Yes?"

"When will you answer my questions?"

"Soon. We can answer your questions soon. But, for now you can rest here if you wish." Something tells me she means I have to stay here even if I don't 'wish'. "Inside that wardrobe," Sharon was now pointing across the room, "you will find many suitable outfits to wear around the Reinsworth Manor. I will be back in an hour to take you to Master Oz and the others."

Now that Sharon had left the room, I was able to get a good look around. Across from my bed there was the large chestnut wardrobe that she mentioned. Next to that was a small writing desk with papers strewn about the surface. Obviously this is a well used guest room. There was also a fireplace and armchairs on the back wall.

Since I'm here I may as well get a little more shuteye...

"Miss Ashlyn! Are you ready to meet them?" Sharon had appeared in my doorway just as I had gotten out of bed. All I had on was a pair of light blue pajamas that I had found hanging in the wardrobe. "We must now hurry, before everyone leaves to go to sleep."

"But I'm only in my pajamas!"

"That is fine Miss Ashlyn! So am I!" Sharon looked down to her pink nightgown.

After rushing through many winding hallways, Sharon and I were finally able to make it to the same sitting room as before. Everything was the same, except for the room's new occupants.

"Hey! You're the people from before!" I stared at the same three people that were in the collapsing dimension with me.

"Everyone, this is Miss Ashlyn. Miss Ashlyn, this is Raven," She said, guesturing to the dark haired man. "Miss Alice," Sharon was now turning towards the girl in the red checkered outfit. "and Master Oz." Finally she was facing the blonde haired boy.

"Hi!" Oz had stood up from his seat.

"Hello Master Oz. It's nice to meet you." I gave a weak smile, and extended my hand to greet him.

"Hey! Don't go getting friendly with my manservant!" Alice had come between us and pushed my hand away.

"Ummm... Hello to you to?" What is she talking about?

"I'm sorry about Alice," Oz interjected, "but she can be-"

"She can be what?" Alice was now glaring at Oz.

"Nothing!"

"Ahem." Sharon had finally spoken up, "Miss Ashlyn is going to accompany you tomorrow, if that is alright. She can very well help you with your search for Alice's memories."

"Ok!" Oz was now back to smiling, "But, tomorrow we're going to go looking for Gil's hat. We left it back in Leverru."

"We're going all the way to the capitol just for a stupid hat?" I questioned.

"Um, ya. But, it will be a lot of fun!"

"How is searching for a hat fun?"

"Well," Sharon had stopped our riveting conversation on hat searching, "I think everyone could use some rest. And remember to get up bright and early tomorrow!" With that we all left the room, ready for a good night's sleep.