"God this is taking forever." I mumble to myself, folding my arms across my chest, and leaning my weight onto my other, less tired, leg.

'I can't wait to setup my bank account. Having a card means that it'll be way easier to buy snacks and drinks for sleepovers at Armin's house… Am I too old for sleepovers…? I am seventeen now after all…'

I shake my head and continue to begrudgingly wait in the line that I'm stuck in. I glance around the admittedly beautiful room I'm in, the lobby of a bank just outside the shopping centre near my house. I can see past the counter there is a number of neat desks and there are large windows surrounding the lobby letting in the midday light.

'It's a beautiful day today, but damn this is taking a while. The card is not even going to be useful for a while since I haven't even gotten a job yet. Then again… I am going to college two months from now and I'll be studying full-time, so I suppose that will have to do.'

I let out a frustrated sigh and continue to stare down at the clean carpeted floor below me in silent contempt. Not nearly soon enough the line moved up, now I was only a few spaces away from being able to setup my bank account and finally leaving to go about my day. I start to think of random what-if scenarios to pass the time.

'…I've got ideas wondering through my head that I have yet to write down… Something I can turn into a story perhaps… I wonder… What if during the best moment of your life you heard your favourite song…? That would be weird. I can't imagine spending the day with Armin and Mikasa at an amusement park only to hear music when we go on a rollercoaster or something…'

I chuckle at the ridiculous thought. I check again to see that the person in front of me still has a while to go. Then, thankfully, it would be my turn and I would get directed from the counter to somebody's office to get my card setup.

'Eh, I guess that what-if is just the thoughts of a yet-to-be busy college student anyways. I can hardly turn that into a writing idea… I hope college won't be too tough… I've done all the preparation I can, I'm lucky I get to study at the same place as my two best friends at least—'

"—Take my hand." I hear a resolute whisper right by my ear.

Before I can react and turn around, I feel my hand softly grabbed by a stranger, the stranger walks past me swiftly, leading me with him. My eyes instantly snap onto this unidentifiable person, I'm silently stunned, letting this stranger lead me through the bank the same way you would lead a child across a road when crossing traffic. We pass the counter and start walking past rows of desks and busy people. Time seems to slow and with it so do my thoughts.

'…This person… They look familiar… the same way you can't really see people's faces in dreams, but you can recognize them…'

I glance down to where his hand is gently holding mine and when I looks up to the mysterious stranger again, I find that I can't bring myself to tear my gaze. I see in my peripheral vision that he is walking towards the back of the bank, but I can't bring myself to stop walking or resist in any meaningful way.

'…Short black hair, neatly styled in an undercut… I wonder what your face looks like… have I ever met you before? Ever in my dreams?'

I hear the back door to the bank get unlocked and I'm about to speak up in protest, but I find myself hesitating, the words die on my lips, I realise I'm mute. Even with time feeling slow I soon find myself standing out in an alleyway with this strange man, wielding such a calm demeanour.

I watch as the man lets go off my hand and turns around to face me. I feel myself stop breathing for a moment. The man's narrow, intimidating, dull, grey eyes, the dark circles under them, are mesmerising. It feels like a minute has passed before I finally speak up.

"How do I know yo—"

-Gun shots fill the air.

By instinct I duck down into a crouching position, with my hands over my sensitive ears and my eyes firmly shut. My body shakes with anxiety as I rapidly look around the alleyway before my eyes snap to the door I came through.

'A-A gun was fired off in there.'

My mind fills with dread.

'It's lucky that I'm out here. I need to call the police.'

I turn to where the man was standing before, he is nowhere to be seen. I look again to either side of the alleyway and I run up to the bank door to find it locked.

'What the hell? Where did he go then?'

I pant, feeling the stress build up in my system. With shaky hands I whip out my cell phone. I flinch, my heart begins to race, as I back away from the bank's back entrance when I hears more shots being fired, followed by screams. Lots of screams.

'Oh god.'

I bite my lip and wait in trepidation as my cell phone begins to ring the police department. The eyes of that man, the details, are all engrained in my mind. I find my mind drifting to how those eyes looked back at me without even realising. I get snapped from my reverie.

"911."

I begin to talk, almost automatically, filling in the police about the situation. My thoughts are preoccupied, however. With visions and phantasms, I can't shake.

'There's no way that person could have run fast enough down this alleyway to disappear on me… Even so, why? …W-Was he a guardian angel…? Would I have been shot if I wasn't lured here?'

"Stay on the line in the meantime—" The person on the other end of the phone call's voice fades away.

I feel sombre. My eyes are draw down to my hand, that's so suddenly empty.

"Maybe I'll see that familiar face again someday."

Author's notes -

Heya everyone! Thank you very much for reading the story. Seeing all the views has made my day ^-^.