Three hours of sleep was not much remedy for the situation at large, and figuring out a way to conceal their wands was tricky. Dawn was close and already they were hearing people move about in the streets. Anya awoke from her third wink feeling uneasy, for reasons unknown… and she wondered if it was all from the hours before or if something was lurking… However, the morning routine they were growing accustomed to was very quick-footed, as meals were small and dressing took more time than eating. Hannah was already in town, purchasing necessities… It was very awkward on day four.

Shelly had to make due with what she had on hand while Mary had brought out a tray of freshly baked bread for the girls to eat. Her greeting was sweet though, despite how worried and unsure that she was.

Touched at this ounce of graciousness towards them, Anya had to hug the woman in thanks.

"Thank you so much~" she whispered.

"You must forgive my husband and Mr. Mann…" she began. "I do not fully understand, but if there is a dangerous individual with you as our home's current keepers… I can only pray for you."

"To be honest, we will need a lot more than prayer…" Shelly whispered, her stomach feeling much better after a bite of the hot bread.

"Just be faithful, you two~ When it comes to trust, you will find those you can trust in all walks of life."

The moment was thankfully short-lived when the side door to the barbershop quaintly opened. It was Charlot who opened the door as he was shaking on his smock over his shoulders. He hadn't locked eyes with them or anyone just yet, so that little action gave Anya this feeling that he was not in the finest of moods, considering.

Things were tense since the night before and it would seem that the whole court had lost sleep over it because of them. Anya tried to do the best way she knew how, by simply saying… "Good morning,"

"Good morning, Anya," he said with a smile, even granting a kiss to her forehead when she came to him for a hug. "… and fine morning to you, Michelle." he greeted Shelly, giving her the same.

He did notice how low they both looked, naturally. Honestly, it was the same for him… Hardly much sleep the night before.

"Come, Charlot, have a baguette, dear." Mary came along with her tray of bread. "I am about to serve the block these, I can walk you, Anya, to the milkhouse, if you would allow me~"

"You are so kind, ma'am," Anya began, entirely moved before Charlot spoke again.

"Oh Mary, thank you~ Yes, yes, yes, Michelle… Hannah and I had discussed this morning, that you, Michelle, could assist me today." he was saying, looking at Shelly, encouragingly.

She looked smacked at that suggestion. At first, she nearly swallowed her bread too soon after chewing.

"I-I-I would be delighted, sir~!" she answered much to his glee.

"Oh, wonderful!"

This was something kind coming out of something distressing. Anya smiled at this.

"Anya…?" he then addressed her, instilling some more hope in her heart. "Are you certain you feel well enough…? You look tired, dear." he spoke, modestly concerned.

"I believe I am, Charlot, don't worry so much~" Anya reassured him with a playful shove in the arm. "What about you…?" she then asked him herself.

He held this melancholic glow of a smile, however he shook his head. "Et tu, Anya? That we share this ominous shadow over our heads?"

"It seems so, sir." Anya's glow faded then, not finding it worth upholding the fake cheerfulness any longer. "But truly, I believe I am able to work. At least until noon again."

"Hm…" he hummed, eyeing her apprehensively. "Very well then, but at least take a manner of fruit with you. And once you return, please…" he then looked at Mary. "… allow her to rest upstairs come the afternoon."

"Certainly, Charlot." Mary nodded, briskly.

"I promise," Anya tried hard to fight back her tightened emotions but she felt so guilty for ruining this peace.

"I do not care what others might say or think, but I am so grateful to have you ladies."

"As we are grateful for you, sir…"

Anya was just was not sure of how to decipher this gut feeling as Charlot once more had made up her hair. Even when they were all not in the best of moods, he was still raining affection. It made her believe that their enemy had found their way in somehow, seeking to destroy all this. Charlie's own personal sorrow made that feeling grow, and she wondered if going to work was a fine idea. For whatever reason for this anxiety, work itself was distracting enough. Mary Jeakel was so sweet to walk her along the busying road, passing out baked bread to passerby workers and shoppers. Ultimately, just as Anya predicted, she too had something to say.

"My husband and I believe you, by the way…" the old lady began in a whisper as soon as there was a lull in their walk. "That entire reprimanding of you and Michelle was all to pacify Mr. Mann. You must understand that he means well. I was strictly told to not say anything to keep you tested, but, I simply could not — after seeing Charlot,"

That was a lot to think about with just her by her side, all the way. The truth just had to come out somehow, which would lessen the wound up tension that was building already. Especially the change happening in Charlie, as everyone was noticing by now. People were naturally protective of him.

"Thank you ever so, Mrs. Jeakel. But, that was not at all how I imagined it. Michelle and I, we never intended to make a whole mess of things. We truly are travelers… Friends more like…"

"A tender thought, that is~" Mary warmly replied. "Perhaps, it is the world itself that brought you both… Same has been done for both Hannah and Charlot. They came with the wind one day. Strange though. My memory isn't what it used to be… since the war."

Anya looked worriedly at her as they walked, not feeling so well.

"Well, them making home here, it was all because of you." Anya replied as they came before the milkers again.

"Oh, dear~ You come straight back, after, all right?" Mary maternally told her, looking her over.

It was slow, but they both went their separate ways when Mary had a mind to get to the fish market early before it would get too crowded. How people managed their time was so different here that right when the sky was just brightening (first light, as it was so called) people were naturally awake, just as the rooster would crow at the crack of it. Thus another mundane day was just about to begin…

Charlot began, before opening those doors, by washing his face in the basin in his quarters, rushing water over his face before drying his dampened brow in the towel that he had over his shoulder. With the water from the basin, he swept back and slightly combed it aside so his curling bangs wouldn't hang over his brow too much, and got the chance to see himself in the mirror.

Now he was not so sure of what he was seeing was true, or a hoax… because when he thought he saw a shadow by his window, he turned to look only to find it gone.

Something was prodding him to go the window. As he did so, there was a cart approaching their side of the street. A cart full of plums and the vendor sang his offers as he went… There was nothing of primary interest here, the Barber was thinking to himself, at first. As this cart was closing in, he honestly began to feel a fear try to dig into his very heart… Something in the air felt wrong today. He did not feel right in his own mind and body, even as his loved ones were near… He could not pin-point it.

All the while, Shelly had seen that there was no fruit left in the kitchen and surely Mary was to return any minute with a fish. However, she could not shake off this strangeness in the air this morning either. She could brood even further in, but Hannah had entered with an empty hamper.

"Good morning, Michelle~" the brunette sweetly greeted. "Has Anya gone yet?"

"Good morning~" Michelle replied. "Unfortunately, you missed her. How is Charlot?"

"Oh, yes~" Hannah began, as she sorted an array of towels folded into the hamper, so she could deliver them. "He was a little out of sorts, but… the darnest thing — After you and Anya departed the room, he seemed to remember the time when we first met…"

Michelle blinked and stopped what she was knitting and looked at Hannah. "… really?"

The last moment they had last night with the couple, seeing Charlot so upset was hurtful to have to witness. Hannah nodded, so touched still by the moment that she had to bite hard on her lip to keep herself together.

"I never thought it could be ever true~ Perhaps there is hope in this sad world, after all…" she emotionally said.

Shelly was almost too broken up herself to even speak, with all her worries wanting to just flush out like a flood. "That is so wonderful~ Hope has always survived…"

"So you really believe it too?" Hannah smiled before the vendor of the plum cart sang out. "Oh! The plum man~ Do pardon me, I shall be right back!"

Seeing Hannah run out to go purchase more plums for the day, Charlot shook off this feeling before going his way down to the shop… Unbeknownst was this shadowy presence that leaked like a mass on the floor as he left the room. Like a looming fog, it took the shape and form of one gnarled hand… before it vanished.

"Five please!" Hannah told the vendor and he stopped. She gave him a two pence and she found five plump plums in the nook of her apron. "Thank you!"

Meanwhile, Anya was restless, even avoiding small talk with the other women as she worked. Bertha moved from one squeeze that was honestly too tight for her liking, prompting an apology from her tender's lips. A part of her was screaming from within for her to have rested in, staying with the Elden's, despite not being able to sleep the whole night. For a good sum of the morning, she solely believed that she was just sleep deprived. Trying to keep herself occupied, the hours seem to go drawn on, and linger.

It was then when the work was becoming more tedius and less thought provoking this time around, her worries growing worse with each movement she made to fill the damned bucket. Her thoughts went so haywire that she failed to recognize her own name being called. Only a few hours had gone by before there was some kind of donnybrook going on right outside. It confused the entire lot, especially Anya.

Worst came to worst when someone came into the back shed of the milker's shop.
It was Hannah!

The woman did not even greet anyone, she was in such a frazzled hurry, and her cheeks were doused.

"Anya!" Hannah wept, coming right to her with the other maidens all parting like the Red Sea.

She was so out of sorts in Anya's eyes that she felt that she had to catch her tight by the arms. Hannah grasped hers, clearly in a fit.

"Hannah! Whatever!? What is it!?"

"Anya! You have to come~ Charlot and Michelle are gone!"

Anya had to take a second to process that. " . . . what?" she stated in hardly a whisper.

"They are gone! They just … disappeared —"

Seeing the poor brunette being too upset to explain further, a panicked Anya pressed her to take her back home. They ran down the road as fast as their legs could take them despite onlookers~ It was not far away but Anya seriously thought that they were booking a mile long with the street stretching before their eyes like taffy. All this going down in her mind that there had been an attack and a silent and deadly one at that! The entire night until this point was pure silence setting to leave terror in its wake — and now they were fallen right into it. The horror did not set in right away, not like how it was this very minute as they were running. It grew ever more so when they turned the corner, arriving at the abandoned Barber shop. Anya skid to a paused stance as Hannah went right into the ajar doorway. All looked almost ready as Charlot would make it so~ The chair empty, the window binds were up and tied, and upon the hooks by the courtside door hung a bowler, a bamboo cane and one tailored ebony jacket.

Those were the three things their Charlot would NEVER leave behind, under ANY circumstance.

"… he would never just — I don't understand…" Hannah despaired, taking his jacket into her clamped hands. "He never leaves without these…"

Anya softly felt the pattern along the bamboo cane, with tears threatening her eyes. There were tears, yes, but the panic was forming into an anger — at herself. He worried for her, he wanted her to stay… Why did she say she could work? If only she stayed…

"Hannah~ hey-hey…" she hushed, coming to the frightened maiden. "We will find him, but-but you have to explain to me — was there a reason? Was he acting strange…?"

Hannah's face fell from despair to almost horror. "Y-yes. H-he tore from the Jeakel's kitchen so quick~ The way he looked at me — I couldn't recognize him anymore… He ran from me. Michelle, she— she followed him and she told me to go to you~ Anya —"

"… no." Anya then fully got hit with the truth that a curse was sent in. Despite all their efforts for this bloodline to be kept sacred… "Why didn't I stay, oh my god, why didn't I stay…?"

She had to take a moment to collect herself before spying what was going on outside… There was an indication that whatever fell over their new home, there were witnesses. Not only Hannah~ This was the moment when their act had to stop, fully. Shelly had gone as well, and was of a sound mind by what she was just told… If worst comes to worst, at least Charlot was not alone. Going to the kitchen, amidst the horrified hens around Mary outside, Anya went inside and scanned the place. Broken glass, a dropped bowl of plums but one thing stood out — A diabolical stain of raven black was spewed like a paint mark on the wood floor. It was no ordinary spill of oil or food… It could be mistaken for dried blood.

"What IS that!?" Hannah wept, disgusted.

Anya was frozen. Quickly, she took Hannah's hand…

"… Let's — let's not panic, and you know, I am scared for him too, but he's not alone. So that accounts for something, right?" Anya tried to talk her into calming down, and so herself. "But you need to listen to me, even if it seems very unbelievable — but I've told him some things that he figured that we weren't modest about. You may have suspected too…"

"… we trusted you…"

"I know."

"Above all, he trusted you. You lied…"

"For honest reasons, please believe me~"

"What have you done…? What - Have - You - Done…?" Hannah wept, pushing Anya away from her.

"Please! We came here to protect him~!" Anya reasoned. "I swear to God," her voice broke finally. "It is not what you think~ It is not what you believe we are… We love him~ We would never do anything like this. There is someone out there, there really is and they tricked him, all of us~ Hannah, please, he needs you, not me, not Michelle, he needs You. You can hate us for this, trust me, you can hate us to the end of time, but please, you must stay with me, if we are to find him~ he will need you, he will need to hear your voice…"

"What has happened to him?" Hannah was dark at this point, truly hurt and angry.

For once on this wild journey, Anya felt trapped, hoping to not lose anyone's faith just yet… Hannah's apparent grief, especially after earning back a lost love, was a means for harsher determination. Looking from that stain, back to her, she had to explain later.

"In order to find that out, you have to come with me…" Anya told her. "It is better that… th-that we show you."

It was time though, to first go out to find Mary, almost frightened to silence… Anya led Hannah out, the others all backing up from them as if Anya was diseased…

"You." Mrs. Morris hissed.

"What are you doing here?" Mr. Jeakel stood up and Anya stood her ground. "The gall you have after what you've let in here." he spoke in defense of his wife.

"Nothing I do or say will ever be enough," Anya stated, outright. "But I need to talk to your wife…"

"You somehow drove Charlot mad," the elder stated. "… as if I would let you near my wife, witch!"

That word rang true to her, yet the way it was spat from his mouth burned her like a whip.

"We have no time to explain… but in order to bring the Barber home, I need to know what she saw…"

"Get. Out. This is my final warning to you. You slithered in here, ate our hard labored food, poisoned the mind of our adopted son? GET OUT~"

This was getting awfully heated and Anya had to do something. She shut her eyes just as he was nearing to grab her arm to throw her out, her body felt hot and her skin prickled… and she flapped and swung her arms as they formed into wings and she took to the air, having the group gasp and cry. Hannah backed against the wall in shock as the golden-brown beauty flew away from the angry grasp of Mr. Jeakel, leaving him with a fist full of feathers.

Seeing the form disappear over the rooftops, Hannah had a choice. She still held Charlot's jacket, tight. The women panicked at the younger woman's sudden change, Mr. Jeakel shuddered as he threw the feathers aside.

"I knew it!" Mr. Mann came in, forcefully. "I knew there was a plot! Did you just see that!?"

"Of course, I saw it, you pompous windbag!" Mr. Jeakel growled, his anger silencing the whole court before Mary began to snivel and shake, while burying her face deep into her apron…

"Mary, please, tell us what ails you~ What has happened!?" came the questions of the frightened group and the poor old woman kept shaking her head, indicating that she was a sole witness.

"We all have been tricked. Used. Imprisoned by that heinous siren and her mysterious confidant." Jeakel began. "Stole from right under our noses, and now this deep… horrible loss…?"

Hannah was as silent as the grave as she listened, studying Mary with intensity as Anya's final words kept repeating in her memory… She shook her head at that statement.

"No."

"Hannah~ you do realize that he may never~"

"No!" the woman became fiery. "I refuse to believe that!" she brokenly stated before them before throwing her headband aside and then her shoes and apron. "Charlie's coming back home."

"Hannah, don't!" she heard the crowd go against her as she bolted out of the gate and down the street.

Anya was transformed into a great hawk in front of them all, breaking everything that they thought of them down to smithereens. A great hawk, the very same one perhaps that stayed around their street the week beforehand. Mary's inability to speak was another clue that this may have been a physical attack of some kind~ It was so incompatible to the poor cook's morals and belief that she could not speak of it, just as Charlot couldn't. Hannah saw him run out. The expression he wore did not belong to him at all, it did not match who he was at all~ as if the entire world was thrust off its hinges in front of his eyes as if there was no hope left… Charlot always clung to hope, like a lifeline. He never thought so cynically, for all the years she had known him. His green eyes were wide and haunted, yet that loving glow they held vanished or was torn away from them so violently.

Hannah kept looking around, upward, searching for the massive bird or some kind of sign of which way she should go… With Charlot's jacket, she draped it over herself beginning to weep, having this to be the closest to hugging him.

"I found you only to lose you again… Where did you go…? A-Anya?"

She heard the angry jeers of the neighbors behind her though and Hannah had to keep running. Barefoot as she did best like the life she once led… She had to find her bearings yet soon enough she witnessed the stunning beauty lightly land at the top of one of the chimneys. Those sharp eyes were full of sadness and regret as there was an odd-looking instrument or stick held in its talons. Before Hannah got a good look at it, it began to fly away again… Desperate she began to run after it…

"No- no! Please, wait! Don't leave me!"

'Just follow me, Hannah! Keep following me~ We'll find them together!' the hawk prayed, leading from the skies to the city's gate and boundery line…