A/N: Hello- Well this is long over due. But I do hope it is sufficient for the time being.

Please, enjoy, and review. My apologies for it being so dreadfully late. Thank you for the favorites/alerts though:)

Speeding Cars

Chapter 10: I've Watched

Ariadne was plagued with questions that very same evening. She continued to relive the familiar jolt that was brought about as she saw Arthur desperately clutching his totem; the thing that connected him to the real world. Surely, her subconscious had not been too brutal on him, making him hold on to the die for near life the moment they were sent out of the dream. Surely, he had not seen something from her subconscious that was terribly personal and would make him feel that surge of emotion. She had never seen him look as vulnerable as he did in those few moments.

It was a perplexing thought. And Ariadne's head was raging with curiosity, as it normally did. She accompanied herself home that evening, as opposed to Arthur joining her in the walk to her hotel that was conveniently located near their discreet warehouse. She ventured through the comforting lobby, and it was bustling with people. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dark, looming figure... Fearing the worst, she attempted to send the man on a wild chase, as she weaved in and out of the packs of people.

Though the figure remained in her peripheral vision at all times. Following her through the thick crowds of people. Ariadne dared not to even try to go up to her room. This person, whomsoever they were, was following her. Stalking her. Ariadne attempted to remain calm, and quickened her pace as she wound to the back hallway of the hotel. The crowd of people had thinned, and the hallway was near deserted apart from a lonely member of the Janitorial Staff, who walked by her aimlessly.

Down the hall, Ariadne led herself into the woman's restroom. As she briskly walked down the hall, she noticed the absence of the live shadow. Heading in to the bathroom, Ariadne crammed herself into one of the cramped stalls. The air was filled with the harsh chemical smell of cleaning products. The toilet paper had been restocked, and the latrine that was against the wall of the stall was a pearly white color.

With a moment to spare, Ariadne realized that her heart was beating rapidly inside her chest, and that her breathing was becoming ragged and harsh. Ariadne attempted to calm her heart, but nothing she tried would cease the blood that pounded through her ears and into her head. She felt the rush, and was instantly dizzied by the fact that she was being followed, like a doe being stalked by a hunter.

Quickly after regaining some of her composure in the small bathroom compartment, Ariadne whipped out her phone. Her hands were shaking and she found it suddenly difficult to type on the small keys. Water welled in her eyes from the panic and anxiety and she quickly sent a message to Arthur.

'I think I'm being followed, I'm safe for the time being but I don't know what to do next.' The message said. After sending it, Ariadne pulled the cover down on the toilet and took a seat. She patiently waited his reply, and wondered how long it would be until the man would figure out that she was in the restroom. The panic rose back into her and Ariadne felt herself bite back more anxious tears.

'Where are you? I'm being followed as well.' His message read in reply. She could imagine his calm, cool, and collected voice saying the same thing had this been in person. She could imagine his stoic face with a twist of curiosity, and a small amount of anger. She could imagine it all so vividly. And that did nothing to ease her pounding heart.

Ariadne promptly replied her location within the hotel.

'Stay there for about two minutes, and then make your way to the back parking lot. I'll be there in three minutes.' Ariadne sent an affirmative answer, and timed the two minutes exactly using her phone. She blinked back whatever tears had formed in her eyes and waited. She exited the stall and examined her appearance in the mirror. The was fussing with her jacket, her blouse, her earrings, her hair. Her eyes were so clearly filled with anxiety, and her lips had worked their way into a nervous pout.

It was a long two minutes.

A part of her wondered what would happen if she were to barge out of that restroom immediately, though, the dominant side of her stayed put and waited. As the two minutes came to an end, Ariadne walked out of the restroom with a stealthy strut of feigned confidence. She tried to look impassive as she exited the bathroom. It was not long for the figure to regain its position in her peripheral vision. She took the immediate left that led to the back parking lot, and turned her head.

Her stalker had cropped brown hair, and tan skin. His eyes were small, and were oriental in eye shape. She could see a snarl forming on his lips, and his long legs carried him faster towards the petite brunette. Ariadne picked up her brisk walk into a run; she was almost . . . almost there. She could see the parking lot through a glass door and within a blink of an eye, a shiny black car pulled up in view of it. Ariadne willed her feet to travel as fast as they could in her suddenly uncomfortable heels, she could hear the man gaining speed behind her.

Ariadne felt her fingers brush the cool metal of the door knob, and she was ever so close to the outside, to escaping, when she felt a harsh yank on her hair. She cried out in the pain that was sent through her scalp. The pull was just powerful enough to jolt her backwards, and onto the ground. She looked around her, the hallway was empty. Ariadne attempted to get up, but the man just pushed her back to the ground once more. Ariadne thought she heard a crack emit from her body as she tried to catch herself, but paid no attention to it as a sense of pure panic flooded her system entirely.

She propped herself up on her elbows, her lower back resting gently on the ground. She could see Arthur stealthily getting out of the car so that his aid could be as discreet as possible. The man stood in front of Ariadne, his back to the door in the narrow hallway.

"So you figured out I was your little follower." The man said in an angry tone. Ariadne glared as an attempt to hide the fear that resided in her eyes.

"Perhaps you should pursue another career option," she said coldly. She resisted looking at Arthur through the glass door. She heard in open and as the hinges let out a deafening squeak, Ariadne's follower slowly turned his head to look behind him. But Arthur's fist collided with the unknown mans' face.

The man bent over in pain, his face becoming red, and his fists balling up in preparation to retaliate.

Ariadne shot up from her laying position on the ground, and backed away from the fight. The follower was ready to return Arthur's punch with one of his own before he heard a gun being cocked next to his head. The man put his balled up fist down, and slowly stood up straight.

"Who sent you?" Arthur demanded to know. He had a menacing look in his eyes, and he held the small gun with confidence. The stalker glared at Arthur, and his eyes flickered to Ariadne. She remained backed up against the wall, her clothes disheveled and her short hair was awkwardly sticking up at the back.

Arthur pressed the gun into the mans forehead. "Who sent you?" He repeated in a dark tone.

The stalkers gaze returned to Arthur. He stared at the point mans face, then the gun that was being shoved against his temple.

"Saito."