The girl lay at his feet, motionless, covered in soot, her denim overalls stained with grime, her white cap nearly black. She slept peacefully, though her face betrayed her seemingly serene slumber, tears still staining her cheeks and brimming under her lashes.

He sighed, briskly running a hand through his hair, watching her with a gentle but irritated gaze. Were she awake, he might be fuming at her for, well, falling through the floor and ruining part of this ancient landmark, but somehow he pitied her. She looked exhausted, lying still as stone. What could have possibly possessed her to enter a place such as this alone, anyway?

He shifted slightly, thinking of the possibility of another in the room with them, but shook his head. Ecruteak wasn't home to anyone he did not personally know, and all the citizens were kindly, benevolent folks, many elderly. And, even the most abhorred criminals wouldn't dare step foot into such a dark, desolate place.

So why was she here?

It was different for him. He knew every inch of this town, explored and maintained it on a day to day basis. He even gave tours of the tower, in fact, but only of a small part of the ground floor. No townsfolk dared venture any farther. Clearly, her fall had been an accident. But, why would she venture here alone? Was she just stupid, impaired, fearless? Dangerous? Morty groaned at the thought of having to deal with more of them...

Standing, brushing dirt off his white pants, he slung the girl over his shoulder, her bag grasped in his hand, he supporting her with the other. Though, she was so light, it was hardly necessary.

"Have you ever eaten once in your life?" He smiled dryly, feeling worse for the lady by the moment. Despite the damage that had been done, it was clear that she needed help. She didn't seem to want to wake anytime soon, so that would make deciding what to do easier. He could figure something out, and perhaps even have time to give the tour today as well.

Still, it was kind of funny, he thought as he scaled the stairway with ease. "This will be interesting once you wake." A real smile streaked his face for a moment. Nothing strange really happened around here, this was at least something. He spent all his time waiting, watching, managing the town, that was mostly all. As peaceful as it was, he would never be entirely opposed to a little something to talk about.

His smile vanished as a deafening CREAK! struck through the room. Covering her head as best he could, he bolted through the room, part of the remaining ceiling collapsing behind him. Coughing, his eyes strained, he only looked forward, hoping this girl had not caused both their untimely demises.

At length he cleared the stairs, as the last board fell. The next challenge would be to make it through this partway collapsed floor to the exit.

He groaned, slumping his shoulders, but only a bit from his normally erect posture. Had she been any heavier, this would be tiresome. But, he was not one to mope, and so made his way confidently and carefully through the tower he adored and knew so well. It was still early enough for the tower to be dimly lit, rays of light piercing the dark floor from the holes torn in the ceiling. Using this, he was able to make it near the door, almost.

Almost because someone was waiting for him. Or her. Or, them.

The blonde looked warily ahead at the figure for a moment, but then sighed once he realized their identity. It was only a fan girl of his, so they were called. She was of short stature and had a high, platinum and voluminous ponytail, dressed in some of the most feminine attire possible, donning a red miniskirt and tank.

The girl turned towards the sound of his footsteps, staring keenly ahead, then grinned instantly at the sight of him, running inside to meet him.

"Matsuba! Matsubaaa! I've been waiting all day!" She laughed, looking only straight ahead to him. He panicked. This girl was going to get herself killed for being so careless. There were holes all across the floor, if she was lucky she'd only leave with a twisted ankle, but at the rate she was running, she would practically jump into the hole the other reckless lass had made.

But she did not notice, continuing onward without a care, her hair bouncing along with each step she took towards them.

Realizing what must be done almost too late, the man leapt forward across the floor, knocking the running girl onto the ground, the grime covered girl falling from his shoulder beside her with a loud thud!.

As the platinum haired lass winced, rubbing her head, the other awoke immediately, her expression one of terror. She looked as if she had been pulled straight from the climax of a horror film. With a scream, she stood, bolting out of the room to the entrance.

Matsuba stood, bewildered by her actions. She had only fallen, was she really so frightened? But it didn't matter, what would the citizens think if they saw her?

He lunged forward, panting, attempting to stop her but to no avail. She wailed, such a loud sound from a tiny famished girl, fleeing from the burned tower into broad daylight.

The townspeople gazed upon her in shock and horror. Hadn't Matsuba sworn that the tower was safe, that ghosts and monsters weren't real, or at the very least not in his beloved tower?

"Wh-What the hell is-" A woman started, but was cut off by her own and the other's shrieks as Lyra ran straight at them, parting and dissolving the crowd into a frantic mess.

By the time he had made it out, the distraught lass was on her knees, holding her head, exhausted and dizzy from her sudden start.

He rubbed his temples, closing his eyes, at a loss. What was to be done now? For the moment, the tranquility of the town he so loved had been disturbed indefinitely after her stunt.

"The smart thing to do would be allow her to run. Though..." He watched her from afar, gaining on her as she sat motionless.

The girl looked up, and the next instant, he was before her, standing tall and staring her down. She gulped. This was it, she would be shipped away, not even to home. They would find out who she was. It was over.

"Are you still so terror stricken, lass?"