Chapter Three:

A/N: This third chapter is LONG overdue. I've been having some issues with the writer's block but I've been doing some writing and getting over it slowly. I hope this chapter is satisfying. Enjoy reading o/

When Doma stated that he would dispatch them to Magnolia, Erza's face fell flat though she tried to hide her displeasure behind an impassive gaze. Earlier when Laxus had informed her of this, all that had registered was that they would be in each other's company. Now, she had to face the fact that she would be returning to that place. She swallowed and beneath the table, her hands cushioned between her thighs, she laced her fingers together and squeezed in an attempt to calm herself down. She had had enough years to come to terms with her past and bury it beneath all the good experience and life she had come to have in Crocus. Closure was the only thing missing and returning to Magnolia was not going to provide that for her; staying away would, where the scars would not reopen.

The files that Doma dropped unceremoniously on the table made Erza jump, pulling her from reverie and she blinked up at him. He was studying her, with hard and scrutinizing dark eyes that were enough to make her visibly squirm. She lowered her eyes, as if feeling some unknown guilt for being distracted and pulled the spiral bound folder to her.

"The details of the cases are inside. Makarov has already been briefed that you'll be coming to the department. I'm counting on you both to find that buy and bring him down before he starts on the move again, and more people get hurt."

"Yes sir," Laxus responded, his tone matched the seriousness of his face. Erza's response didn't come as quickly as his. She flipped through the pages, a profile of each missing girl was documented, detailed descriptions of how they were found but on each page, there were no clues on who could have murdered them. Not a fingerprint, not a strand of hair found on the bodies. This person was smart and meticulous, and could have them running in circles if he so desired. All they had as a lead to something – anything – was his trail, and what if that too was just to play with them? It was a challenge that discouraged, rather than encouraged, Erza.

She closed the folder and finally looked up at Gran. "Is that all sir?"

He nodded and folded his hands on his table, "Scarlet, you are okay with this?" It wasn't an actual question.

"Yes sir," she replied, a lie that slipped easily from her lips while the honest answer remained locked within her mind. How could she speak the truth and face ridicule for her arbitrary reason to justify why she didn't want to set foot in Magnolia. It was petty. She was an officer, a soldier to them and herself. She had years to develop and to heal; to become fearless and strong. But her demons in Magnolia were not faced head-on, instead she had ran at the first opportunity. It made her a coward and that was something she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge.

"I'm fine sir," she assured, this time with an unwavering confidence to her tone that had been missing before.

Their eyes clashed, studied and silently argued, with Erza's assuring while Gran's were unbelieving, until finally he nodded and pushed back his chair; the wooden legs scraped against the polished, hardwood floor. "Alright then, you're free to go." He turned his back to them and went to help himself to a cup of coffee. Both Laxus and Erza stood at the same time, bowed to his turned back then walked out; Erza following behind Laxus.

She clutched the folder to her chest and for Laxus, that was his only sign that something bothered her. Her face was a stoic mask that gave away nothing and asked for nothing. Her lips were a tight line and her shoulders squared as though she were braced for something terrible. It was a scary look and she didn't spare him a glance, but kept her eyes forward. The atmosphere she created was palpable enough for Laxus and left him to only speculate if what caused her change in mood was the case or something more personal. He knew that asking her questions would only get him vague and annoyed responses.

When they got in the car and Laxus pulled out the garage and onto the road, en route to her house, he decided to ask if she would like anything to eat. It was just after five and the sky was still clear, though the sun was absent.

"Would you like to get something to eat?"

"I'm not really hungry."

Her tone was sharp and noncommittal, as he expected. "Alright then, so I should just take you home."

"Yes."

"Erza, if something-"

"Dreyar, just drive."

He glanced over at her. Her back was turned as much as possible to him, her face angled to the window and her eyes were fixed on the trees they drove by. When she was like this, he knew he wasn't to bother her and normally he wouldn't care about whatever affected her mood, but recently his concern for her grew. And it wasn't as easy to brush aside as it would have been had it been someone else.

"Okay."

When Laxus dropped her home, Erza went straight to her room to pack. She moved about mechanically, uncaring of how much she packed or of the things she threw into the travel bag. There was no music in her room to distract her thoughts and occupy her mind with its rhythm.

Her windows were shut, blocking out the sounds of distant traffic and the rustling of tree branches, tormented by the occasional winds; of frogs that croaked as if in conversation with the crickets. The only sound in her room was the ticking clock, its sound inordinately loud within the walled confines of her room.

Its stoic face and rigid hands provided her no comfort that the time she had now was a luxury, instead it mocked her without sympathy and refused to soften its tone.

Turning her gaze away, she sat on the edge of her bed and pulled her travel bag closer to check the contents within. She wasn't sure how long she would be in Magnolia but felt that she was probably packing too much. Sucking her bottom lip into her mouth, she looked down at the bag then pushed herself off the bed, leaving her room where the clock's taunts got to her.

She went to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and took out a left over slice of strawberry shortcake. Its consistency was still fluffy and light; and the cream melted against her tongue. She chewed slowly and stared out the single kitchen window absentmindedly. The cake wasn't enough to distract her but it was still good enough to calm her nerves. She had nothing to be afraid of now. Her days at Paradise Tower were long over; they couldn't trap her there anymore or abuse her. She bit her lip and lowered the fork from her lips.

There was no time to fret about any of this. The past was to remain as it was, and she needed to keep moving forward. The case and finding the killer were her first and only priorities. Wrapping the cake back in the plastic, she placed it in the fridge and went to finish packing. After she was done, she switched off her bedside table lamp and rolled over in her bed, bringing the sheets up to her shoulders.

But she didn't sleep.

His face flashed across her memory, and she wondered if he was still there or if he had escaped? And if she saw him, she wondered if he would ever forgive her for leaving him behind?

O.o.O.o

A/N2: You can tell me what you thought of the chapter and can also help with ideas along the way, I do take suggestions.

XxxJerza4EverxxX: This is a Jerza fanfiction, don't worry. The action between them will come soon, so I hope you keep reading :)