Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts.

Here is chapter 4! Yeah!

I'm in a really good mood because I went to the Japan Expo (in Paris) and I saw many cosplayers and took lots of photos of them, it was so cool! But sadly no one cosplayed Gil…

Chapter 4

I Hate the Truth my Mirror is Reflecting

Three days of work had passed. Sarah and Gil had combed through all the children and every inhabitants alibi. No particular suspect was showing out. It was like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

Around midnight, when Gil had left, Sarah was still glued to her chair, eyes never leaving her work. On the balcony, Gil shivered, surprised by the cold breeze of December. He lit up a cigarette, tobacco smell relaxing him, making him feel weak for not being able to quit smoking. The white-haired girl forbade him from smoking in the office, so he was forced to reduce his consummation, for he was afraid to catch a cold if he went outside too much. And a cold was really not what he needed now, as paperwork already tired him too much for his own good. Even coffee wasn't enough to keep him awake.

He wondered if Sarah ever left the office. He never saw her drinking or eating but maybe she was doing it in his back, when he was taking a break. If it was the case, it was really not very nice from her; making him think he was the only one to take breaks, as if he was a lazy worker. But he wasn't lazy! It was just not his thing to read and write for hours. Even at school, he had always been a bit… distracted, always day-dreaming. Finally, he wasn't really good when it came to intellectual things.

The Raven was more than annoyed by the girl's behavior. Why was she always ordering him around? He wasn't a child anymore and was surely even older than her! He avidly dragged on his cigarette, letting the thick smoke travel in his respiratory tracts and cursed as he almost suffocate, coughing the tobacco fumes away for the first time in years.

~¤O¤~

The office door opened but not revealing the man Sarah was expecting to see. The not so tall dark blond-haired man entered and carefully closed the door behind him. For the first time in a few days, the white-haired girl got up from her chair.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled, slowly coming closer to her.

"How rude, didn't you ever learn to be polite Miss Sarah?" He chuckled a bit. "But I guess it's normal since you spent a significant amount of time with the Hatter."

Sarah was puzzled. How could this man know such things? He didn't seem able to harm her, as his physical condition wasn't very impressive, but still, the atmosphere around him felt dangerous. What could he possibly want? Starring at him and always staying calm she waited for his next move.

"I'm Vincent Nightray, Gil's little brother." He continued, a hand placed on his heart. "And I came here because my brother doesn't seem very well lately…" He added pouting.

Leaning on the desk, he pointed at a pile of papers.

"And I personally think it is because of the Piper's case; a tricky one indeed, maybe too difficult for someone who just achieved his first mission like my brother."

With a swift move of the hand, he made a few files fall. They went scattering on the floor under Sarah's still expressionless gaze.

"Oops, I'm sorry; I can be very clumsy sometimes…" Vincent said smiling, not even trying to hide his ironic tone.

He came closer to the lady in front of him, making her back up against the cold glass of the window. Not that she was scared by this strange individual, but his presence in her vital space and his unclear motives were making her feel uncomfortable. I was like the atmosphere's pressure was rising, crushing her, and making it harder for her to simply breathe.

"So Miss Sarah, I'd like you to stop overworking my dear brother."

He was now in front of her, mismatched eyes fixing her pale face. One was golden like his brother's but the other was a dark crimson, a lot darker than Sarah's eyes, more like the single eye of the Hatter he hated so much; colored by the misfortune she knew too well.

"You know, I don't really like it when women come near Gil. They are just superficial, always trying to seduce with their syrupy poisoned words. Just…" His lips were now near her ear. "Just like witches..." Vincent ended in a low honeyed whisper.

Sarah's eyes widened at this last words but her expression didn't change, annoying Vincent whose smile faded. His left hand went encircling Sarah's throat, making it difficult for her to breathe. Then, he took a pair of scissors in his right hand that were previously hidden under his coat.

"I want you to stay away from Gil, just take this as a warning." He said, his dominating position making him smile again.

As the golden blades came closer to her, the lady could have tried to escape, she could at least try struggling but he was just too close, too close, dark blond hair tickling her. She stopped breathing, fear making her heart race but this angst never spreading to her face or legs. She wasn't shaking outside but inside, her body was alarmed, unable to act. She shouldn't harm her co-worker's brother but what about self defense, what was he going to do with these scissors?

Not knowing the answer, she secluded herself, waiting for this unpleasant moment to end, petrified.

~¤O¤~

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Sarah thought that maybe she liked it. Her hair was cut just under her ear, a few bangs longer or shorter as they were unequally cut.

She wondered why she never thought of cutting the white hair she hated so much. Maybe she had forgotten their existence, denying their unbearable color, never looking at a reflection she didn't recognize, until golden scissors reminded her of their undesired presence.

Last night's encounter with Vincent Nightray didn't end up that bad. She was unharmed but unfortunately didn't know what to do about his warning; everything went so fast that she didn't have time to tell him Gilbert didn't have to continue investigating with her if he didn't like it. After all, she was used to working alone and he was free to do as he pleased. Suddenly she thought that maybe the problem was the Hatter; the Raven was probably afraid of his remarks…

But still, she was puzzled by Vincent's behavior. Why would he tell her those things when her co-worker could do it himself? Maybe it was what brother did? She wasn't familiar with this kind of notions and found it a bit strange not to directly speak one's mind. But she shrugged it off.

Touching the cold glass of her mirror, she felt dust covering her pale index finger. She concentrated on this stain on her skin, seeming amazed by a harsh discovery. How long had it been since she last used it?

Looking more attentively, she realized she was taller than she expected, even if she was quite small for her age. And why was her skin so pale? She panicked a little, the idea that her all body was colored like her hair, the pure color insanely catching the eye as it was contrasting with her black clothes. She violently tore her clothes apart, pieces of black fabric falling disgracefully on the floor. She was struck by the view of her flat chest and visible ribs. Why was she so thin? She almost looked like a ghost. When did she become like this? How come she never realized it?

Her breathing sped up as she wondered who this person she was seeing was. It couldn't be her, it couldn't… it could just not be! Where had Sarah gone? It was like her true self had vanished, and would never come back. In shock, she clenched her fist and broke this image she despised so much in a concert of strident noises.

Her breathing calmed down as the only remaining piece of glass was reflecting deep bloody red eyes. She sighed, relieved by the sight of this living color and by the sound of the fresh blood escaping from her too pale fingers, staining the pure outrageous color.

Plic, Plic, Plic

It was like music to her ears.

~¤O¤~

Gil sneezed before he pushed open the office's door. He had finally caught a cold for he fell asleep on the cold marble of the balcony. It was Vincent who woke him up; moreover, the Raven still wondered what is brother was doing there at almost midnight. He simply deduced it was one of his insomnia or strange hobbies and didn't want to ask for he didn't wish to get implied into his little brother's "eclectic" activities.

As he entered the room, what surprised Gil wasn't the fact that his co-worker was still sitting on her chair, impassive but the white hair strewed over the floor and Sarah's new cut. What was that ? It was too much for him; this girl definitely had a problem, a BIG problem, something just wasn't right. Did women often cut their hair in their office in the middle of the night? He seriously doubted it.

Standing frozen, mouth opened like a fish out of water, he attracted Sarah's attention.

"What is it?" She asked casually.

"Y-you… you" Gil didn't know where to start, millions of words rushing to his mouth making it impossible for just one to go out.

"Please articulate a little more, I don't understand" The girl added politely, looking at Gil who blushed a little.

Was she taking him for an idiot? She made it sound like he was the strange one. The Raven felt like he was going to explode; his ears all red with anger and embarrassment. Furthermore, the headache due to his illness wasn't helping him regaining his composure. He breathed out deeply, closing his eyes before speaking again, this time with a complete sentence.

"What happened to your hair?"

"…"

His interlocutor seemed a little surprised and took a bang in her hand, starring at it intensely while caressing it slowly.

"I didn't like them in the first place so…"

She didn't finish, unable to tell a lie or to tell the truth that usually flowed from her mouth so easily. She was still destabilized by her meeting with Gil's brother and didn't know if she should tell him or not. Not that she was afraid, more like puzzled by this unusual situation.

"So why did you let them grow in the first place?" The Raven mumbled, annoyed by her lack of answer.

This was a good question and Sarah answered to herself that she had just ignore those hair she hated, letting them be, disregarding their presence.

Gil sat in front of his desk before adding:

"Having messily cut hair like this makes you look even stranger."

Sarah locked her gaze in him, getting out of her thoughts, red meeting gold.

"You think I am strange?"

Gilbert looked away, feeling embarrassed. He had voiced something he should have kept for himself.

"Well… um… a little" He was desperately searching the good words as she stared at him inquisitively. Finally, he remembered the girl's frankness and decided to let it all out.

"I mean, you're always starring at people strangely, you use unusual one word sentences and you even order me around!" Gil complained.

"Is that so?"

Sarah looked away too. So what his brother told her was true; he didn't like working on this case with her. She nonetheless continued, voicing her opinion; her gaze planted on the white hair covering the red velvet carpet.

"When you don't like something you say it; otherwise it just won't change."

"Unless your brother takes action for you" She thought absentmindedly. But was it good to rely on other people? For her, the answer was definitely no.

The Raven was speechless. He was acting like a child, not considering her feelings and she was gently lecturing him. She was right; he should just voice his opinion more often, like a real man. He realized he was being capricious. But it was somehow relieving to know he could speak without restrains.

"If you don't want to work on this case, I won't force you; this isn't my job."

Her calm voice brought him back to reality, appeasing the remaining traces of his previous anger. Clenching his fist, the Raven remembered why he was doing this mission and felt ashamed with his irresponsible behavior. For Oz's sake he should do anything, it wasn't paperwork, nor a child murdered that would stop him. He was even ready to give away his body, his soul, anything. He wasn't a crybaby anymore; he wanted to be a strong man and strong man didn't get annoyed by white-haired girls. His duty was to save his master.

"No, I won't abandon. I need to end this farce so I can see my master again. I won't let the Abyss win!" He said lowly, his teeth clenching.

Sarah observed the sudden change of attitude of her co-worker, quite amazed by this new side of him. His eyes were showing a strong, unshakeable determination; but a determination that didn't seem sane, more like a dark desire, as dark as a raven's feather.

Next time: She jumped,her body feeling light, almost floating and she disappeared as if she had never been there.

Undeniable Time Limit

So, how was it? Vincent the super brother showed up ! And was the dialogue between Sarah and Gil ok? Because it was very difficult for me to write it… This chapter showed you a creepy side of Sarah, I'm excited to know what you thought about it!^^