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Tales of the Village People

Episode 20--- She Looks Familar

"Why did I drink so much soda last night?" Dan cursed as he turned around to see where the scream came from. His head was killing him... and it throbbed with every step as he ran over to the girl who was lying on the ground. Crows were pulling at her hair and nipping at her face as she frantically tried to make them get away. Dan ran to her pulling her up off the ground as the crows started nipping at him too.

"Come on!" He yelled as he swatted one away from his ear feeling the adrenalin suddenly rush through his body. He grabbed her hand and they ran down the path. They could hear the crows calling behind them.

"They're chasing us!" She screamed as Dan started to run faster pulling her with him.

"Almost there!" Dan could see the Cafe in the distance and hoped that Duke hadn't locked the front door. They ran into the door when it didn't open and they started banging on it.

"Duke open up!" Dan yelled as he banged on the door. The girl screamed again and Dan didn't want to see how close the crows were to them.

"Come on! Open the door!" Suddenly the door flew open and Dan fell through the doorway onto the floor hurting his knee. He quickly moved out of the way as the girl ran inside pushing Carl away from the door as she slammed it shut. She turned around and slid down the wall breathing heavy. Dan suddenly realized how much pain his head was in and moaned. Carl looked from the girl to Dan as he listened to the faint cries of the birds from outside.

"What's going on?" Dan looked up at Carl as he started to feel the burning pain in his knee and cursed.

"Crows.. they were chasing us.." He said deciding that his head hurt more.

"Crows? ...We have crows here? I've never seen one.."

"Neither have I.." Dan sat up feeling sick as he held his head. Carl looked back over to the girl who had tears rolling down her face which were falling into a cut she had on her cheek.

"Are you alright?" She shook her head as she put her face in her knees. Dan turned his head towards her as he finally realized who she was.

"You're... You're that girl I met last night..." Popuri didn't respond.. she was still shaken from what just happened. She tried to wipe away her tears but they still kept rolling down her face as her mind raced with thoughts of crows... and Jack...

"... I'm sorry.. I can't remember your name." She gave him a weak smile as she tasted a tear that had slid in her mouth.

"Popuri.. my name's Popuri.." She put her hand to her cheek feeling the blood from the cut.

"Let me get you something for that." Carl rushed to the back room.

"Are you okay? I mean.. the crows are gone now." She looked at Dan as she thought of what to say. Her eyes started to water up again as she thought of everything that happened in the past few hours.

"Popuri?..."

"Yeah.. yeah I'm fine... I've just had a really.. rough morning.."

Jack was on his knees with his stomach in knots. He looked down and picked up the locket and it's broken chain. How could he give it to May's mom now?

"Jack? Are you alright?" Jack wasn't listening to what Gray was saying. He just sat there staring at the locket in his hands. He felt like May had just died all over again... the corners of his eyes started to burn and he closed them. Jack couldn't bring himself to move as he felt the broken locket in his hands...

"It's broken..." Jack finally said in a hushed voice.

"Jack.. It's okay... I can fix it.. well... my grandfather can.." Jack looked up at Gray feeling irritated as he shook his head, his emotions mixed.

"It won't be the same."

"Are you kidding? Saibara is the best blacksmith-"

"This is all your fault!" Gray looked taken aback by this sudden statement. He stared at Jack as he started to narrow his eyes, anger building up inside him.

"Don't blame me Jack! If you weren't arguing with me then I wouldn't have-"

"I told you! I need to go get something from Elli! I could just see Doctor there instead! Why do I have to see Alex?"

"You just blacked out Jack! You almost killed Popuri! You think you have time to go all the way to Mineral Town before you see someone about this?" Gray looked down at Jack as he sat there shaking his head.

"I didn't though did I? I stopped myself when I-"

"What if you didn't stop?"

"I did stop though."

"But what if you didn't?" Jack glared at him as he got up off the ground holding the locket in his hand tightly.

"I'm sick of everyone telling me what to do. I can take care of myself Gray." His grip of the locket loosened. Gray eyed him for awhile before rolling his eyes. "What..You think I can't?" Gray stared at him and then suddenly swiped the locket out of his hand.

"Look, if you go to the clinic, I'll go to Mineral town, I'll get this fixed.. and I'll go get whatever you need so badly from Elli too.. Alright?"

"Give that back." Jack said as he glared at his friend. He didn't feel like compromising. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and they both jumped as their heads turned in the door's direction. Slowly, Gray went over to the door glancing back at Jack before opening it.

"Maria?..." Gray's expression suddenly softened.

"Oh.. Hello Gray.. I didn't know you were still here." She looked past him into the house.

"Oh yeah.. I'm helping out Jack... did you need something?" She glanced down at the locket Gray still had in his hand.

"Oh.. I just thought.. maybe.. I'd give Jack another chance. Although... I still think I should be allowed to know what kind of creepy problem he has.. and.. Gray.. where is he going?" Gray quickly turned around to see the back door open... Jack was gone. Gray cursed as he threw the locket on the ground and went to the back door.

"What do I do now?" Gray said irritably as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. Curiously Maria bent down on the floor and picked up the locket Gray had tossed and studied it closely...

"Hey Gray... this baby picture in this locket... I've seen this photo before.. but.. this is Jack's locket... right?.. Why would he have it?" Gray stared at Maria who sat on the floor looking at the locket's picture.

"Well.. he knew the little girl... they were friends.." He felt awkward as he watched Maria hold the locket and started to walk over to her.

"I know this baby.. at least I think I do.. her face seems so familiar.."

End of Episode 20--- She Looks Familar
...hmm... don't you wonder? Lol. What do you think is going on? Still confused? ...