The road to Caliborn's bar was just a quick drive through the center of town, but the trip seemed to go on for what felt like an eternity. Cronus gripped onto the steering wheel with more force than necessary, feeling his previous emotions of unsatisfied and unreturned endearment begin bubbling up inside his stomach. It was beginning to eat at his insides relentlessly. In that moment, he was thankful Mituna wasn't around to witness his desperation as he sped up, switching lanes and passing cars with fluidity, but at an alarming rate. He needed to distract himself. Remember he needed to be thankful and understanding towards the boy that made him want to scream his lungs out. He needed to accept, that Mituna was someone he couldn't have and it was time he made peace with himself and moved on. All Cronus needed was his company; to know Mituna was there for him to keep himself from losing his sanity. Hopefully, Mituna wanted to be friends with him as much as he did and it would honestly make Cronus the happiest person alive if that was all he could ask for to stay with him.

Cronus glanced down at the clock on his phone and turned towards the familiar street leading into the alleyway. The bar seemed empty and the dark street ominous without the numerous cars occupying the walls of the gray building surrounding the area. Red and green lights were flashing from the cracks of the large iron doors as did the single lamps that illuminated the entrance, beckoning for people to enter the eerie basement. Cronus parked his car in the parking lot, looking out towards the city across the open water of the lake and made his way towards the back entrance that was secretly always open for access. The loud, blearing music flooded his ears and foggy smoke covered his vision in the blink of an eye and he was immediately consumed by the atmosphere of the bar, washing away a bit of his longing. Walking across the empty halls that were once filled with sweaty, drunk people calling out their names last time he was there, was oddly relaxing. That was one of the many charms of Caliborn's place; it gave you energy and serenity at the same time. Passing the stage, the bar was finally in view with a large group of people seated by the closest table and seemed to by having a good time, judging by the roaring laughter that emitted from the large, burly man with green suspenders and a black button down. Rufioh was standing by the bar when he noticed Cronus' presence and yelled out his name immediately. The group turned to face him, one of which was the familiar face Cronus came to see. A tall, thin woman with the widest and happiest smile you could ever witness in your life glanced in his direction and her eyes lit up with joy and excitement. The dimples on her cheeks became more prominent the more her lips stretched away from the center of her mouth reveling perfect white teeth that illuminated the darkness like lampions. She stood up from the chair and ran towards the man, throwing herself into his embrace, laughing and giggling from Cronus grabbing her by the waist and swinging her around in a circle. Putting her down, the woman squinted at Cronus and pinched his cheek like an older sister would her younger sibling.

"You grew so much since the last time I saw you, Ponyboy." she said; voice low and smooth, yet feminine and sweet.

"And you become so much more beautiful than before, Cally."

The woman laughed, booming like church bells on a Sunday morning making Cronus grin from ear to ear in a genuinely delighted smile and she reached a slim hand to ruffle his dark locks.

"You were always such a charmer. I hope that will never change."

Caliborn waddled over towards the pair with two drinks in hand and slammed a large palm against Cronus' back, making the taller male slightly sway from the sudden impact.

"Good to see you made it. The boys here were talking about rehearsing a bit before your next and to demonstrate my sister your new material."

"I heard you guys have a new sound. I'm eager to hear." added Calliope.

"It would be an honor to sing for you." said Cronus and dramatically bowed in front of the woman, forcing another burst of laughter from her parted lips.

As if on cue, Cronus and the gang walked over the stage to set up their equipment for the short demonstration in honor of Calliope's return. She was always a great enthusiast of theirs and an avid supporter of the local rock bands that would circulate in and out of the bar, courtesy of her pure generosity and bona fide need to help others get the spotlight they deserved and worked hard for. Caliborn volunteered to help them out arrange the lights and Cronus took a moment to step down the stage and walk over towards the table where his desired drink resided. He glanced down at Calliope, who was looking over at the working men, smiling to herself and sighed.

"They've all changed so much. It's like I've been gone for a few good years."

It's probably what jail does to you, Cronus thought. Many months of misery and despair, having to watch your own back in fear of being stabbed to death at night could leave a person on the edge of time and unattached from reality.

While the men were busy and didn't seem like they needed another pair of arms, Cronus allowed himself to settle into the seat next to Calliope.

"I guess asking how it was like serving time would be inappropriate." chuckled Cronus.

The woman looked at him with a raised brow and smirked at him. No matter the circumstances, she always found something to laugh about whether it being good or bad. She was the post positive person Cronus had ever known.

Calliope laughed, but Cronus noticed there was something she didn't seem to have mentioned judging by the way her body twitched as she wiped her brow. She wasn't drinking alcohol, so she couldn't have been drunk. There was something else to her story.

"You were in jail, right? That's what Caliborn said." he blurted out and the question mildly caught her by surprise.

She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath, while fiddling with the straw in her tall glass of water.

"I was for a short period of time. Then they took me to court and while I was there, looking at the people who lied to my face and deceived me when I thought I could trust them with everything I had, the judge declared I needed alternative medical attention and I was gone. No one was able to do anything then. I knew it was all fixed the moment I stepped into that court room and felt that my fate was sealed."

Cronus was beginning to put the puzzle pieces together, as shocking as her statement made him feel. How could someone as loving and caring as Calliope be seen as mentally unstable in any way? It's disgusting what people will do to get rid of someone by any means necessary, and it was even more appalling how society was easily bribed with a single dollar bill. Everything about her arrest was arranged, as well as the judge and the people witnessing her false conviction. Like a carefully planned play or chess game. But what's frightening was, even thought Calliope knew her pawns were rigged from the start, she kept playing anyway as a silent protest and proclamation that her will could not be broken by the likes of them. She was truly a strong and independent woman.

"Of course I don't remember the place fondly. There were many nights when I felt even more in danger than I was prison. It's a different kind of purgatory that I wouldn't wish unto my worst enemy. You couldn't be sure if the person you were talking to was there. If they didn't she you as a threat or not, cause they will not verbalize it. You will realize it the moment you are lying on the floor in your own blood."

She took a moment to tilt her head and look out into the distance. Even though her eyes were directed at the stage, she was looking was beyond that. It's a miracle she wasn't harmed, or at least physically. Who knows what damage had been done to her tranquility and peaceful nature; how many scars that will never heal for as long as she lived.

Sensing Cronus' apathy she turned to glance at him and smile, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I remember this one patient, though. She was a very odd one. Every single day, she would sit by the table and look out the window, gazing at the stretch of green hills and trees. But also, out that window was a view of the road to the hospital and gates that were always closed. It was like, she was waiting for someone. But no one ever came to visit her. None of the patients ever approached her or spoke to her. And when I tried, she just looked at me with wide eyes like a deer in headlights and went back to looking out into the distance again."

"Now, you know I like my big, burly men." she teased with a grin. "But this woman was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen."

Cronus felt a hunch at that moment. An undeniably, illogical and unexplainable hunch that this woman was somehow relevant in his life. He couldn't explain why. It was one of those moments, when you feel like fate is calling out to you from a distance, but you can't seem to figure out what it is it's trying to tell you. It was like a gravitational pull controlling you at it's will and all you could do was abide by its commands.

Hunching in his seat, Cronus looked at Calliope with an expression so serious, she even hesitated to breath.

"Do you remember how she looked like?"

Calliope noticed the sudden change in Cronus' behavior and took note of it, but wasn't sure what to make of it. Regardless, she seemed to understand the force that was taking hold of him and knew she had a part to play in it all. Putting her drink on the table she leaned forward, closer to Cronus and spoke softly like she was talking about a person she loved and wanted to conceal from the rest of the world.

"Her eyes were an astonishing golden yellow; they captivated you like a witch's curse. She had long, curly locks like a porcelain doll and the darkest onyx color you could ever see. And all the woman envied her beauty."

Cronus felt like this woman was so familiar to him, so close to him and he couldn't really grasp the understanding of why she seemed to be so relevant to him at the moment. The strong urge to find out everything humanly possible about her was overwhelming at that moment, like an unstoppable side affect from a drug. If he had to explain it to Calliope on why he was asking such peculiar questions, he wouldn't be able to answer. He just smiled to himself and sat back into his chair as he gazed off at the stage being assembled with Rufioh already yelling at Kurloz for doing such a sloppy job, with Horuss nervously attaching the microphone to the stand and trying to settle down his boyfriend with reassuring words.

As the stage was set and ready, the boys stood on their marked places and began a quick warm up before playing their new songs to the smiling woman looking up at them in awe. Cronus sang his heart out and strummed his guitar with all the strength he had in his fingers. Even if it wasn't a performance live in front of a crowd of people, just one person listening intently to his words with half lidded eyes, swaying to the melody was enough for him to give every bit of energy he had. As soon as their song came to an end, with one final strum Cronus fell to his knees, feeling the burn on his skin through his jeans from the sudden impact, receiving a standing ovation from Calliope as she clapped her loudest and yelled at the top of her lungs. If there's one thing the boys knew how to do, is throw one hell of a show.

They spent some time in each other's company after their little concert session, drinking, laughing and reminiscing about the good old days and where they have gone. Cronus realized the time for him to leave was creeping close and he got up from the table to grab his jacket from the bar. He bid the group farewell and walked off towards the exit, when he heard footsteps run in his direction and a hand fall onto his shoulder. Calliope was looking up at him in a very suspicious manner to him. She was just so chipper and full of joy, and the expression she was wearing only for his eyes to see was making him feel quite uneasy and apprehensive. She silently reached into the breast pocket of her black, button down and handed him a plain, white business card with the blank side reveled to him. Unconsciously holding his breath, he took the card from her fingers and turned it over to see a name and address in silver letters written on the soft, cardboard.

Apiary Mental Healthcare Center

Four, little words were enough to make Cronus feel like he was short of breath. Calliope didn't say a word and simply smiled at him reassuringly, but there was a hint of pity and sorrow in her eyes. She may not know what he was looking for, but she knew he wouldn't be the same when he finally did.