*Chapter Eighteen: Trick-or-Treat
(October 31st, 2017, Tuesday Evening)
Lucy jumped when she heard a knock on the door. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing whoever it was would go away. When there was a second knock, she knew she wouldn't be so lucky.
'You agreed to this,' she reminded herself, shaky hands grabbing her dishes. Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned towards the door, her mind filling with the horrors that awaited her outside. The room she was in had become a safe haven, a place she felt the most comfortable in.
Her mind screamed at her to stop moving forward, her vision flashing with images she didn't want to see. She furrowed her brows as she shook her head, trying to tell herself it would be alright.
'It's just dinner... It's just dinner...'
Lucy looked at Happy, wondering if she could take him with her. Natsu never said she couldn't, but she didn't know what she would do if the cat wandered off. She wouldn't be able to go retrieve Happy, and then Natsu would be mad at her.
Her eyes pricked, fearing Natsu being upset at her. She knew deep down that it was unfair to rely on him so much, but she couldn't help it. He had helped her when she needed it the most, and she would be eternally grateful to him.
'He'll be really happy if I go with his friend.' Tears brimmed her eyes as a broken smile made its way on her face, wanting Natsu happy with her. He had done so much for her, and she owed him her life. 'Come on, Lucy. It's just dinner. You've been there before...'
Her thoughts jumbled as the corners of her vision darkened, reminding her that Natsu wouldn't be with her. She took a step away from the door, shaking her head. 'I can't leave. It's not safe.'
Going to work was one thing. All she had to do was meet with a young woman named Sonya and an older woman named Betty. They would give her daily assignment, then Lucy would be left alone until it was time to get off work. 'Maybe Levy's not bad. Maybe it's okay to go out there.'
"Lucy," Levy called from the other side of the door, her voice followed by another knock. "Are you in there?"
Panic struck Lucy as she clenched her teeth, wishing the living nightmare would end. She wanted things to go back to normal, before she went to that party. Things weren't perfect before that moment, but she had been managing.
Tears slipped down her cheeks as she suppressed a sob. 'I want to go home. I want my mom and dad back. I want Virgo back.' Lucy couldn't stop herself from dropping to her knees, her body trembling as she tried to breathe. 'They're all dead. It's my fault. I couldn't protect them. I wasn't strong enough. I wasn't smart enough. They died, and I lived. I don't deserve to live. I shouldn't be here. I should be dead like them. Why?! Why am I alive and not them?!'
Despite feeling like she shouldn't live, her stomach growled, reminding her that she was hungry. She scrubbed at her eyes, trying to make the tears stop.
"Lucy?"
"H-h-hold..." She couldn't finish her sentence, choking on a sob. She grabbed the hood of her jacket, putting it over her head to shield part of her face. She missed her hat. She wore that thing everywhere before it was taken by—
Her dishes fell to the ground as she dug her nails into her palms, refusing to picture his face again. He had haunted her dreams nearly every night, memories of what him and his friends did to her plaguing her mind.
"I'll be out here when you're ready. Take your time," Levy said.
Guilt flooded Lucy's body, knowing that one of Natsu's friends was now being inconvenienced by her. She already pissed off one of his friends, Gray. She didn't want to make more of them angry at her.
Lucy's heart fell knowing she was burdening Natsu by merely existing. She didn't want to make it worse. She picked up her dishes, ignoring the rapid beating of her heart as she marched forward. Her mind screamed at her once again, but she ignored it.
'Natsu said this girl was nice. She seems nice. She probably won't hurt me.' Lucy didn't want to give the woman a reason to hurt her. She quickly unlocked the door to go outside of her safe haven, throat tightening when she was in the hall.
Lucy avoided Levy's eyes, only glancing at the girl's face long enough to confirm it was her before she locked the door back. She held her dishes close to her body, her skin prickling with goosebumps. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end when Levy spoke, her mind telling her to go back into the room and never come out.
"It's good to see you again. How are you doing?"
Lucy didn't respond right away, her body frozen as she debated her next move. It wasn't too late to go back into the room, but she knew it would disappoint Natsu if she did that. 'I'm always disappointing him...'
"F-f—" Lucy's throat felt raw, her chest constricting in pain. She swore there were hundreds of eyes on her, but a quick glance back and forth let her know it was just her mind playing tricks on her. There was no one else in the hall besides two girls leaving their room, but they weren't looking Lucy's way.
'Breathe. You're fine. Nothing's going to get you. They won't find you here. You're more safe here than out there. It's okay...'
"I-I'm f-f-fine," Lucy managed to say, ashamed with herself. She used to be a social butterfly before that damn party, and now she could barely form a sentence without messing it up. 'I'm so pathetic. So weak. So useless.'
Before Lucy could continue mentally berating herself, Levy gestured for her to follow. "That's good. Let's go before we're late."
Lucy nodded, her stomach dropping at the thought of eating without Natsu there. She didn't understand why he had to be on watch at night. They had guards everywhere from what she saw. She didn't see a point in having one stationed on the roof, but she knew it wasn't her call.
'I should just be happy they're letting me stay. I have no voice here. I have no voice anywhere. I'm a nobody. No. I'm worse than that. I'm a parasite. Natsu would have been better off if he never found me that day. Everyone's better off without me.'
Lucy didn't stop the tears from forming, tugging on the hood to make sure it kept most of her face concealed. She hated how far she had fallen. She was destined for great things, and now she struggled to use the bathroom by herself.
'Pathetic.'
The two women walked in silence towards the arena, Lucy's eyes flitting occasionally to make sure no one was staring at her. The people around her seemed more busy talking among themselves, giving Lucy a small sense of relief. That was, until they reached the line and Levy decided she wanted to talk.
"So, Natsu tells me you like books?"
Lucy bit her inner cheek, anxiety flooding her chest. The noise in the arena got louder, deafening Lucy's ears for a moment as she tried to calm herself down. 'It's just a simple question. Just say yes and you can move on.' Instead of following her own command, Lucy nodded, too scared to speak with everyone around her.
"That's great. I love reading. What's your favorite book?"
Lucy's voice cracked as she whispered her answer, hoping Levy would hear her. She didn't think she could repeat herself. Her chest ached. Books were her escape from reality when she wanted adventure. She wanted to talk about them, but she couldn't bring herself to. When Levy asked her another question, Lucy shook her head, shutting down on the girl.
Levy must have taken the hint, no longer trying to talk to her. Lucy wished she was stronger, but she was too scared. Being surrounded by strangers didn't help her either. For the smallest moment, Lucy thought about asking if Levy would want to talk to her back in Natsu's room, but she kept her mouth shut. She didn't want to inconvenience Levy more than she already had.
"S-sorry," Lucy mumbled a few minutes later, startling Levy.
The girl shook her head, giving Lucy a soft smile. "You're alright. Don't worry about it. I'm here if you want to talk."
Lucy nodded, her eyes stinging with fresh tears. She wanted to be stronger, but most days, she didn't think it was possible.
Lucy kept her head down while she received her food. She followed Levy to the table where Natsu's friends sat, taking her normal seat. There was a space next to her where Natsu usually sat, thankfully left vacant while she ate. She listened off and on to the conversation the group was having, not understanding most of it. She guessed they were talking about their jobs and people she didn't know, not knowing if it was before or after the outbreak.
Lucy ate in silence, her taste buds singing from the flavorful meal. She wished she was brave enough to tell the kitchen staff they made a good meal, but that was too scary.
The food at Fairy Tail was better than what she received before she escaped. On the rare days that she ate, she often ended up throwing it up.
Her lower jaw trembled as she clenched her fist around her fork, swearing she could feel the hands holding her down again, dirty fingers forcing her mouth open so they could shove the disgusting, vile meat down her throat. Lucy felt her mouth watering, recognizing the signs of her getting sick to her stomach. If she didn't take her mind off her memories, she was sure to throw up.
That would surely make Natsu's friends hate her more.
She downed her glass of water, silently crying. She hated the girl she was during that time. 'I fought like hell,' she told herself, remembering clawing at her attackers. She scratched, bit, punched, and kicked. She had screamed too, so hard she swore her throat would bleed.
Lucy squeezed her eyes shut, lowering her head more. 'It didn't work. No matter how hard I tried... It didn't help. And then I... I just gave up.'
"—want Nerds so bad!"
Lucy jolted as her eyes flitted to the side, seeing one of Natsu's friends groaning. She remembered Natsu introduced her as Cana, Lucy's skin tingly just thinking about the girl's hands on her breasts. Lucy had forgiven Cana for groping her, but she was still nervous around her.
Well, Lucy was nervous around everyone, but some she was more scared of than others.
The guy Lucy remembered Natsu introducing as Jellal shook his head while chuckling. "What did you get?" He was shaking a small box of candy. Lucy strained her eyes, recognizing it as grape Nerds.
"What do you want?" Cana asked, holding up a piece of chocolate.
Lucy looked down at her own plate, seeing she was given a similar piece of chocolate for her dessert. She swallowed, shaking fingers plucking the chocolate to bring to her lips. She held it there for a moment, letting the stale scent fill her nose. For the longest time she thought she would never taste anything sweet again, but Fairy Tail had proven her wrong.
Tuning out the conversations around her, Lucy ate her chocolate, letting it melt on her tongue before chewing. It hurt going down her throat, her guilt coming back as she tried to swallow. Everyone she ever loved was dead, and everyone she knew before was probably dead as well.
'That's not true,' Lucy reminded herself, struggling to get the food down. 'You kind of knew Natsu before... and he's still alive.'
The corner of her lip quirked, her heart warming despite the aching feeling. He had been so kind to her, and she was no one to him. She was just a stranger in a gas station, but he still made her feel better than she had in so long. He didn't fix her problems, but he allowed her to forget about them for a few minutes, and she was grateful for that as well.
Her hands shook as she scooped a bite of her food, remembering how she held onto that memory during the dark times. When she was allowed a moment of rest, she would think about good memories, and that moment in the gas station always came up.
'I really am pathetic,' she thought, wiping away her tears with her jacket's sleeve. 'He didn't even remember me.'
"Who didn't remember you?"
Lucy flinched hard as her head snapped to the side, seeing a few pairs of eyes on her. Her instincts told her to flee, to escape the moment and go seek the comfort she found in Natsu's room. However, she couldn't move, frozen in place.
She didn't know who it was who spoke, the voice in her head screaming at her to run. When Erza -the woman Lucy thought was someone else at first- opened her mouth, Lucy tensed.
"You just said he didn't remember you. Who?"
Lucy's teeth chattered when she parted her lips, her hands falling to her lap so she could fist the sweatpants she wore. She took a deep breath, then another. 'They won't hurt you,' she reminded herself, her anxiety calming a little. 'Natsu wouldn't be friends with bad people.'
Her eyes flashed to Gray's, immediately regretting her action. His stare was cold, her veins feeling like they were iced over from a single look. 'He isn't bad,' Lucy tried telling herself, but her mind refused to believe her. 'He was just looking after Natsu. I started working, so he shouldn't be mad at me anymore...' Lucy's mind didn't believed that last part, and judging by the look in his eyes, it was stupid to think otherwise. 'He hates me. I'm still a parasite.'
Lucy's eyes fell to Levy, the empty seat separating the two of them. Her eyes were kind, something Lucy needed to see more of. 'She seems nice. Natsu said she's nice. Maybe... maybe it's okay.'
She cleared her throat, the action hurting. Lucy took another shaky breath, her hands clutching tighter at the sweatpants. "N-N—" She mentally berated herself. 'I should be able to say his name. It's not that hard! Why can't I just talk to them?!' She didn't have an answer for herself or for them, but luck was on her side.
"Natsu?" Levy asked, causing Lucy to nod. "What do you mean he didn't remember you?"
The question was fair. Lucy doubted they remembered him telling them about their first encounter. It was so brief he even forgot. Despite that, Lucy pulled as much strength as she could to speak. "I-I met h-h—" It wasn't enough strength, her voice dying in her throat.
'So pathetic. Why do I even try?'
"Hang on," Levy said, getting up to walk away.
Lucy panicked, her head falling to the table to let her bangs and hood hide her face. It was foolish thinking, but Lucy wanted to believe that if she couldn't see anyone, they couldn't hurt her. Her scars tingled on her body, reminding her of the pain she endured while taken prisoner. No matter how hard she fought, it was never good enough.
'They broke me. I'm nothing.'
Lucy jolted when her plate was pushed away, replaced by a scrap of paper and a blue colored pencil. When she looked up, Levy explained. "I borrowed it from one of the kids. I'm not saying you have to, but if you want to tell us, you can write it down instead. It might be easier?"
Lucy found herself nodding, blinking back the tears that tried forming. She slowly released one of her hands from the sweatpants, stretching out her fingers so the blood would flow better. She grabbed the colored pencil, her handwriting sloppy as she wrote two words.
When she finished, she dropped the pencil, sliding the paper over towards Levy. She didn't wait to see if the girl took it or not, her eyes returning to her plate. Pulling it closer, Lucy scooped up another forkful of food, shoving it in her mouth to take her mind off what she just wrote.
"Oh," Levy started, but Lucy didn't look up.
"What?" Erza asked, sounding too curious. It made Lucy wonder if it was a bad idea to tell them.
"I guess Natsu didn't remember that he met Lucy at that gas station. Did you have to remind him or something?"
Lucy didn't need to look over to know the question was directed at her. She nodded, chewing her food. She couldn't taste anything, her mind flooding with the memory from that day. She had savored every last drop of her drink, thinking about the pink haired man who had helped her when he didn't have to.
'So fucking pathetic.'
"Does that bother you?" Levy asked, causing Lucy to still.
Despite thinking she was pathetic, Lucy didn't want other people thinking that. She knew there wasn't much she could do to change their opinions, but she could try. "N-no... It... it's f-fine." She wished Natsu was there. He was easier to talk to.
Lucy didn't know if they lost interest in the conversation or decided to give her a break. Either way, they stopped talking to her. She was grateful, welcoming the lack of attention. She closed her eyes, remembering smiling when she was in high school, waving her stupid pom poms to get the crowd to cheer louder for their team.
'I used to like the attention.' But that wasn't her now. Lucy didn't recognize herself anymore, but she didn't like what she had become. She used to be fierce and strong, but now—
She didn't want to think about it.
Soon after Lucy finished eating, Levy asked if she was ready to leave. She nodded before grabbing her stuff, ready to go back to the room and wait until morning. Natsu and her had the day off tomorrow, meaning she didn't have to leave the room aside from bathroom breaks. She was looking forward to the comfort of being left alone for the most part.
Before they left the arena, they heard a bell ringing towards the center of the room. Lucy turned, seeing their leader, Makarov, standing on a chair.
"Trick-or-treating will be happening in one hour in the first floor hall closer to the office. If anyone wants to participate, make sure you're there in your costume. Everyone is allowed to participate, but keep in mind the treats are limited. We shouldn't run out, but if we do, I apologize in advance. Carry on, and I hope to see you there!"
With that, Levy was walking towards the exit, Lucy following behind her. Natsu's other friends were still in the cafeteria. Lucy wondered why Levy didn't wait for them, but she was glad they weren't all coming. She wasn't good in crowds.
"Do you want to go trick-or-treating?" Levy asked when they entered the school.
Lucy quickly shook her head, thinking that wasn't a good idea. "N-no."
"Oh, bummer."
It wasn't Lucy's business, but she was curious. Levy sounded disappointed by her answer. Taking a risk, she asked, "W-why?" Being away from people helped ease the tension built inside her.
Levy shrugged, her voice nonchalant. "I was just thinking it'd be cool if you went with us. Natsu can't go, but I'm sure he'd be happy if you participated."
Lucy swallowed, her mind filling with conflicting thoughts. "He... he w-would?"
Levy nodded, a smile gracing her pale face. "Pretty sure. Halloween is his favorite holiday. Or maybe it was the Fourth of July? He does like when things explode..." Her voice trailed off, saying something about him being obsessed with fire, but Lucy wasn't listening anymore. She was too busy stuck in her head.
'Should I go? Do I even want to go?' Lucy thought over her past Halloweens. She loved the holiday, and she only had good memories associated with the day. However, being surrounded by so many people frightened her. If Natsu was there she would be more willing to go, but he wouldn't be. 'Levy will be there... Maybe I can stay with her. She hasn't hurt me. She's probably not going to hurt me.'
The darker thoughts appeared again, telling Lucy she was being naive. 'It's a way to lower my guard. I'll be vulnerable.' Lucy furrowed her brows, resisting the urge to shake her head. 'I'm already vulnerable with my guard up... What should I do?'
She wouldn't see Natsu again until morning. He didn't come back for his break the last time he had overnight watch, so she doubted he would do it tonight. 'What am I afraid of?' she asked herself, listing off the possible dangers that were associated with being surrounded by people.
However, none of them seemed likely. Natsu told her the only people allowed to carry weapons on base were the guards, and so far she hadn't seen any of them abusing their power. Of course, she didn't see much of them, but Natsu seemed to trust them.
'Natsu also trusts Levy, and I kind of trust Natsu...' She remembered when she thought he was going to attack her. The devastated look in his eyes when he found out what happened to her told her he didn't have it in him. She didn't completely trust him, but she didn't think he was going to assault her.
Lucy knew it was stupid to even trust him that much, but he had been good to her, and that was what she needed. She needed stability, and Natsu was providing it in his own way.
When Lucy came out of her thoughts, she realized they were at the stairs. She looked over at Levy, seeing the girl was still smiling. Lucy wondered what kind of person Levy was before everything happened. Natsu told her tidbits about his friends, but he didn't go into too much detail.
"Well, here we are," Levy said as they walked up to the room Lucy shared with Natsu. She turned, trying to meet Lucy's gaze. "I'm glad you came with me. Was it okay?"
Lucy nodded as she chewed on her bottom lip. It was a nervous tic that she had never been able to break. Her father told her it was something she needed to grow out of, but it stuck around despite her efforts to stop. "Th-thank... thank y-you." Lucy cleared her throat, but it didn't soothe the roughness.
Levy's lip twitched before her smile started to falter, replaced by a look Lucy could only describe as concerned. "I just want you to know, we're not going to hurt you."
Lucy's eyes widened as she took a step back, her hands shaking as she held her dishes tighter. "He... he t-told you?"
Levy's brows furrowed as she cocked her head. "What?"
Lucy lowered her head, her teeth clenching. 'Natsu told them. He lied to me. He promised he wouldn't tell, but he did.'
As if reading Lucy's mind, Levy said, "Natsu didn't tell us anything. At least he hasn't told me anything." When Lucy shot her a glare, Levy sighed. "I can tell you've been though a hard time. I knew it the moment I first saw you."
Levy looked over Lucy's covered arms, a frown etching its way onto her face. "All those cuts... They weren't a coincidence. Someone did that to you, or maybe you did? I don't know, but I know it was no accident."
Levy shook her head, her voice low but soft. "I don't know why the others haven't come to the same conclusion, or maybe they have but they don't want to face reality? I don't know. I just... I'm letting you know now if you ever want to talk, I'll listen. I don't know if Natsu told you or not, but I'm going to be therapist when I get older."
Lucy swallowed past the lump forming in her throat. Her vision blurred from tears, her mind telling her to run and get as far away from the conversation as possible. However, one thing Levy said stuck Lucy as odd. Despite knowing it wasn't her business, Lucy couldn't stop her curiosity.
"H-how are... are you g-going t-to... to be one n-now?"
Lucy thought Levy might say something about her horrible stutter, but the girl didn't blink an eye. "I'm not going to let this outbreak stop me. I've wanted to help people all my life. I'm still studying. It'll take me longer, but I'm going to be a therapist. Now—"
Levy cleared her throat, her shoulders straightening to appear taller. Lucy could tell she was still taller, even if it was only by a few inches. "I... I'm not saying I can solve everything, but I know talking about things can help. So, if you want that, I'm here, Lucy. I don't want to push you into anything. It's your decision."
Lucy didn't know when the tears started falling. It was a surprise she didn't drop her dishes, her grip unsteady. She didn't know what to say. She didn't think she deserved anyone helping her. She was no one to those people, and most of the time she feared they were going to bring her harm. Lucy didn't know what to do, so she cried.
Levy set her dishes on the floor before stepping closer, keeping her hands up in a mock surrender so Lucy wouldn't be startled. It didn't work, Lucy flinching with every step. "We're not going to hurt you. I know we don't know each other well, but you're a part of us now. We're all just trying to live, and I know there's a lot more to living than just surviving. I don't know if I can help you, but I can try."
Lucy nodded her head, a sob racking her body. She didn't know if she was agreeing to get help from Levy, but the action felt right in that moment. She was uncertain about her future, but the idea of getting better sounded amazing. 'Almost too good to be true.'
"Do you want to talk now?" Levy asked, causing Lucy to shake her head. She sighed, but didn't push her. "That's okay. Well, I guess I should let you go."
Lucy looked to the side, part of her not wanting whatever was happening to end. Despite her lingering fears, it was nice being in the company of someone nice like Levy. She didn't feel as comfortable as she felt around Natsu, but it was a huge improvement over the many strangers at Fairy Tail.
"Unless," Levy started, a hopeful gleam in her eyes, "you want to go trick-or-treating? It should be fun."
Lucy considered the offer, her teeth abusing her lower lip. "Will... will y-you be there?" she asked, wiping away the stray tears on her face.
Levy nodded, her smile soft and disarming. "The whole time. If you decide you want to go, then change your mind after a while, I'll bring you back. No questions asked."
Lucy looked at the floor as she thought. She didn't know if she wanted to go or not. She used to enjoy social events to a certain degree, even thriving at them from time to time, but that seemed like a lifetime ago. She was a different person now. 'Maybe... maybe it's not too late to be that person again?'
It felt like false hope, but it was all she had.
When Lucy looked up to meet Levy's gaze, her vision was blurred, new tears brimming her eyes. Despite that, Lucy cleared her throat, hating how weak she felt. "I-I want t-to... to try."
The large smile that surfaced on Levy's face stunned Lucy, causing her to wonder if she was the reason the girl looked so happy. Levy nodded before she bent down, grabbing her dishes. "That's great. Go ahead and get cleaned up. I'm going to go change, then we'll join the others."
Lucy gulped as she nodded, her chest feeling too tight. "O... okay."
Levy headed to her room, stealing a glance over her shoulder to holler at Lucy. "Don't forget your costume if you have one!"
Lucy didn't respond, instead using her energy to unlock the door so she could enter her safe space. She felt instant relief when she closed the door behind her, the only noise in the room coming from the small cat that came pattering towards her. He nudged her leg with his face before brushing his body against her, then trotted over towards his food bowl where he started meowing.
Since Natsu fed Happy earlier, Lucy ignored the cat. Natsu had mentioned pet food was rationed. He told her Happy used to be spoiled before the 'outbreak'. She assumed that was what he called whatever had happened to the world. She thought of it more as an epidemic.
After wiping her face, Lucy grabbed her roll of toilet paper and Natsu's phone, using it as a flashlight as she headed across the hall to the bathroom. She went while most people were still eating, not wanting to be around a crowd or make people wait on her to finish her business. She scurried back to the room when she finished, heading to the bookcase to grab her 'costume'.
She took off her regular jacket so she could put on the orange jacket Natsu got for her the other day. It was baggy, but she liked it. A random logo for a company Lucy didn't recognize was on the front, but she paid it no mind. The point was for her to wear as much orange as possible. 'Even if orange doesn't look good on me.'
Lucy's head fell as she held up her hands, seeing the blisters and small cuts she received from digging and mowing. She didn't dare lift her clothes to look at her bare body, too ashamed of herself. Her beauty used to be the thing people always commented on, but now she was hideous, covered in jagged scars on her too thin body.
'I'm so ugly,' she thought, swallowing past the lump growing in her throat. 'Why do I care? It's not like it matters anymore.'
Lucy pushed down her emotions, trying to clear her mind. She grabbed the pumpkin mask she made, her lower lip trembling as she put it on. It was silly, but she felt safe with it on. People couldn't see her face, only her eyes. She felt more secure, more hidden. She took it off for the time being, knowing it would be a while before she had to wear it.
She didn't have the best costume, but it was something. Before everything happened, she could have spent hundreds on a costume if she wanted to, but now she had barely anything to her name. The only thing she truly owned was her bracelet, but she didn't wear it outside of the room, scared it would get lost, damaged, or stolen.
She grabbed it, slipping it over her hand. Lucy's breath hitched when she looked at the dull gold of the bracelet. She remembered the day her mother bought it for her, then every time she got a new charm to add to it. They held so many warm and happy memories, that feeling being too distant from the person she had become.
'Is it too late to get better? Am I stuck feeling like this forever?' Lucy used to be a fighter, but now... She didn't know what she was.
Lucy's fingers brushed over the bracelet, her heart stinging when she thought about the last time she saw her mother. She could picture it perfectly in her mind, but Lucy wanted to forget that day. Hell, she wanted to forget the entire year.
Lucy pushed those bad feelings down, bottling them up. She was surprised the bottle hadn't broken after everything she kept shoving in it, but she knew it wasn't perfect. It had cracks all over it, each one representing a time she lost control of her emotions. She didn't want to look weak, but sometimes she couldn't keep herself together.
'At least Natsu's never laughed at me for freaking out.' She could forever hear the laughs and taunts coming from her captors, the ones who made her life a living hell. She wanted to forget the time she was a prisoner to them, but she knew she wasn't that lucky.
It would haunt her until she took her last breath.
It scared Lucy how tempting that last part sounded, but she didn't want to give up, even if there were times death sounded like the best option. Death was an escape from the horrid world around her.
There was nothing she could do to change the past, but she could try to get better for the future. Even if her family was gone, she could live on for them, even if the idea of that struck her with too much guilt, enough to make her suffocate sometimes.
Lucy jumped when she heard a knock on the door, her heart racing when she registered what the sound was. Pressing a hand to her chest, Lucy took deep breaths, wanting to calm herself down. She heard Levy ask if she was ready, to which Lucy said, "In a m-minute." Lucy didn't know if the girl heard her or not, but she at least made an honest attempt at talking back.
Lucy clenched her fists as she inhaled slowly, waiting until she was better before padding over to the door. She hesitated before unlocking it, opening it a few inches to peer outside.
Levy waved, her blue hair pulled back into a bun with a pair of glasses resting on her face. Lucy furrowed her brows, knowing the girl hadn't worn them before, at least not when Lucy was present. She looked at her outfit, seeing Levy was wearing a women's business suit that was two sizes too big.
Lucy's eyes flitted around to make sure the coast was clear before slipping out of Natsu's room, locking it behind her. She eyed a couple walking down the hall, but they didn't look her way, so she deemed the hall as safe. Her eyes fell to Levy again, her voice working better as she asked, "Wh-what... what are you?"
Levy gestured to the three books tucked by her side as she said, "A librarian." She looked over Lucy's outfit, then focused on the mask in the girl's hand. "And you're a pumpkin?"
Lucy nodded, gulping before she lifted the mask. When Levy encouraged her to put it on, she slipped it over her face, making sure the string didn't get caught in her hair. A soft blush tinted her cheeks when Levy said, "You look cute."
"Come on," Levy said, beckoning for Lucy to follow her. "Let's go."
Lucy felt her heart beating out of control, but she moved one foot in front of the other, following Levy down the hall. She was terrified something bad would happen, but she kept moving regardless, hoping she was wrong and that everything would go well.
Lucy found herself in another line. It was different from being in the line to get food, most of the people around her filling the space with conversations. The kids were bouncing in place, all excited to get some treats. Lucy tried to convince herself it wasn't so bad, but she was struggling to act normal, her mind telling her to bolt down the hall and get back to Natsu's room where it was safe.
However, her feet remained planted on the ground until it was their turn to walk forward.
The leader of the base had a brief announcement before. Everyone was broken into small groups to venture down the decorated hall to collect their treats. There was gap between each group lasting a few minutes to give everyone time to enjoy the 'Holiday'.
Overall, Lucy thought they did a great job at making the hallway look scary. And by that, she meant they succeeded in making it terrifying. She flinched more times than she cared for, whether it was a kid who ran by or a person dressed up as a monster getting a jump scare. She couldn't count how many times she bit her inner cheek or dug her nails into her palms, trying to keep her small shred of sanity intact.
Lucy kept to the back of her group, whispering the words while the others yelled them. "Trick-or-treat!" She always hesitated before holding out her bag, her stomach twisting at the idea of her being rewarded. She didn't feel like she deserved any treats, but she took them anyway, a hidden motive behind her actions.
There were ten classrooms handing out treats, giving one thing to each person that came to their door. In other words, Lucy received ten things, most of them edible. Her bag was filled with half pieces of candy bars, some sticks of gum, and a paper filled with random temporary tattoos. Despite the odd collection, Lucy liked it, allowing herself a small smile behind her mask since no one could see it.
Just as their group finished, Levy led Lucy to the end of the hall where other people were gathered. She recognized Natsu's friends, but she didn't make eye contact with any of them, too afraid of their expressions. Her pocket felt heavier when she remembered who was missing all the 'fun'. She bet Natsu would be enjoying himself if he were there.
Gulping, Lucy used her free hand to dig into the pocket of the sweatpants she wore, pulling out Natsu's phone. She tapped on the device until she reached the picture app, her throat tight as she looked at Levy. The girl was in the middle of talking with Erza. Lucy decided not to interrupt them, but that plan didn't work out when another woman stepped closer to her, peering over her shoulder.
"Whatcha got there?"
Lucy jolted, her head snapping to the side to see Cana. Her skin crawled when she remembered getting touched without her permission, wishing yet again that she could erase another memory from her mind.
Lucy was at a loss for words, her chest constricting when Erza and Levy, as well as Natsu's other friends, turned their gaze on her. Her hand tightened around the phone, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
"I—" Lucy closed her mouth, her body on the verge of hyperventilating. It was one thing to ask Levy, but Lucy wasn't prepared to speak in front of everyone. She hoped her trembling wasn't visible, a deep flush spreading over her chest and neck as anxiety flared inside her. "I-I w-wanted to... to t-take a..."
Lucy gulped, unable to finish her sentence. 'I'm so stupid. They're not going to want me to take a picture of them. I'm nobody to them. I'm just a parasite. A stupid, useless parasite that hurt their friend. I should just go and leave them alone.'
"Do you want to take a picture?" Levy asked, looking down at the phone's screen.
It took Lucy a tremendous amount of willpower to nod, her mind screaming for her to run.
"What do you want to take a picture of?" Cana asked, taking a step away.
Lucy bit her tongue, summoning all the courage she had. It proved ineffective, her voice cutting out every time she opened her mouth. Instead, Lucy slid the bag of treats on her arm before holding out her hand, palm up. She gestured towards the group in front of her, thankful when Jellal asked, "Us?"
She nodded, surprised when some of them smiled. They agreed, something she didn't think would happen. Levy told her friends to stand against the wall, taking the spot in the middle before looking back at Lucy. "Whenever you're ready."
Lucy's hands shook too much as she lifted the phone, her eyes focusing on the screen instead of the people in front of her. She had taken many pictures in her past, some of other people and some of herself. It used to be easy, but now she was struggling to hold the camera still enough to take a shot.
She couldn't give them a countdown, hoping they wouldn't be mad when she snapped the picture. The flash was blinding, but Cana was the only one to complain, saying she should have kept her eyes closed instead.
When a few of them asked to see the picture, Lucy thrust out her hand, letting someone take the phone away from her. She didn't want a crowd around her, caging her in.
There were a few complaints, but it was all about superficial things, nothing to do with the actual picture itself. Lucy was thankful, not knowing how she would handle it if they were mad at her for taking a bad photo.
When Levy asked if Lucy wanted a picture of herself, she shook her head. She wanted pictures for Natsu, and she doubted he'd want a picture of her.
Upon seeing the flash, more people showed up. Lucy recognized the kids by their faces, forgetting most of their names. The girl Natsu babysat asked if she could get her picture taken, Levy agreeing without a second thought. Lucy watched as Levy took a few pictures of different people, giving them a sense of normalcy they had missed.
One year ago, Lucy was hanging out with her friends, taking shots -despite not being the legal age to do so- and snacking on all the candy she could eat. She remembered most of that night, her lips quirking into a small smile at the memories. That was, until Lucy wondered where her friends were now, realizing they were likely dead.
There was no reason to dwell on it, Lucy pushing it down with all her other unpleasant emotions. Besides, she hadn't talked to her friends in months before the 'outbreak' happened. Even if they did survive, she doubted they would still consider her a friend.
Lucy slowly moved away from the crowd growing around Levy and the phone. She pressed her back against some lockers, watching from a distance as conversations floated around. Part of her felt left out, but she knew it was better for her to keep her distance.
Ten minutes later, Levy broke away from the crowd to walk up to Lucy, handing her the device. "There's more than you asked for. Hope that's okay?"
Lucy nodded, her voice rough from lack of use. "Y-yeah."
"Are you ready to go or do you want to hang out here?"
Lucy looked back at the other people, already knowing her answer. She nodded towards the stairs, hoping Levy understood what she meant. Levy was intelligent, picking up on Lucy's silent request. The two walked to the stairs, but instead of going up, Lucy stopped in front of the first step.
"Is something wrong?" Levy asked, cocking her head.
Lucy opened her mouth, feeling her lips brush against the construction paper of her mask. She felt ridiculous wearing it, especially now that the Halloween event was over. Pulling it off, Lucy swallowed, hoping it would soothe her throat.
"Wh-where's N-Natsu?"
"Natsu?" Levy repeated, blinking twice. "He's probably on the roof. Why?"
Lucy lifted the bag of treats as she whispered, "I wanted t-to give... give h-him these."
"That's sweet of you," Levy said, her lips pulling into a smile as she pointing past the main office. "Just follow me. I'll take you to him."
Lucy took a deep breath as she did as she was told, hoping she wouldn't be inconveniencing Natsu with a visit.
Natsu had just returned from his patrol around the base when he heard feet shuffling across the roof. He received his dinner a while ago, so he knew it wasn't one of the people on kitchen duty. His eyes widened when he looked behind him, surprised to see Lucy walking towards him.
Moonlight served as her guide, reflecting off the tan roof. He didn't move from his spot, comfy sitting on the edge with his legs dangling. His brow raised when she walked closer, his eyes flitting over her features to check for any signs of distress. He found none, but he still worried something went wrong.
"What are you doing here?" Natsu asked when she got close enough to hear him, her body tensing at his voice.
He saw her eyes flash with fear and something else he couldn't place, one of her hands wrapping around her stomach while the other stayed by her side, a plastic shopping bag held in her tight grip.
"I-I can leave," Lucy said, giving him no explanation for her presence.
He shook his head, gesturing for her to come closer. "You don't have to go. I was just wonderin' if something was wrong? You okay?"
Lucy nodded, pausing before she stepped forward. He watched as she took a seat near him, keeping a decent gap between them. She brought the bag to her lap, her other hand pressing against it before she gulped. He was about to ask what she was doing there, but she answered his unspoken question when she set the bag on the roof, right next to his thigh.
"I brought some... some stuff for y-you."
"For me?" Natsu chuckled, finding that statement odd. So far, he had been the one bringing her things, not the other way around. Curiosity got the better of him, his hands setting his binoculars to the side before he grabbed the plastic bag. He looked inside, his brows furrowing when he saw the assorted treats.
"Did... you go trick-or-treating or something?" He recognized most of the items. Him and a few others sorted the treats earlier that day in preparation for the Halloween event. If she didn't go trick-or-treating, then she had to have stolen them, and he didn't think that fit Lucy's character. She was a little weird, but she didn't strike him as a thief.
Lucy nodded, causing him a grin. "Really?" He didn't give her a chance to respond before he was looking at the bag again, inspecting the treats she ended up with. "That's awesome! Did you have fun?"
Lucy held out a hand, wobbling it a few times before putting it back on her lap. He took that as her saying 'kind of', which was better than he expected. "You're okay with sharing?"
"Yeah," she whispered, keeping her eyes ahead, staring at the front gate to the base.
Natsu was about to reach for a piece of candy, but stopped to ask, "Which ones can I have?" He didn't want to take one if she already had her eyes on it.
"I don't care. You can... you can have all if you w-want."
"I'd rather share," he said, snatching a piece of chocolate before popping it into his mouth. He let out a soft moan at the flavor. He looked over at her, happy she was dressed in warm clothes. It was a chilly night, the temperature dropping every day as they approached winter.
Natsu pulled out the paper of temporary tattoos, giving Lucy a grin. "These are pretty cool. You should put some on."
Lucy raised a brow, causing Natsu to hold back a laugh. He hadn't seen her look so... quizzical before. It was refreshing.
She turned away from him, eyes falling to her lap. "Maybe."
His lips parted as his smile widened. "Do you have any tattoos?"
Lucy shook her head, playing with her hands as she sighed. "No."
"Do you want any?"
She shrugged, her shoulders tense and her breathing slightly labored. He wondered if she was panicking, but he didn't ask, knowing it would cause the very thing he wanted to avoid.
"I think this one would look cool," Natsu said, pointing at a fire design. He saw Lucy glance over before she nodded.
"It's cool."
He put the page into the bag. He pulled out a piece of gum, unwrapping it before slipping it past his lips. As he chewed, he realized it was a minty flavor. He preferred candy with some cinnamon, but he wasn't about to complain, especially since he didn't think he would get anything since he was stuck on watch.
Natsu took a breath in, the air feeling colder because of his gum. He did his best to ignore it, wondering if he could send Lucy back to their room to grab him a jacket. He decided against it, counting himself lucky she showed up at all. He was getting bored, welcoming the company, even if Lucy wasn't much of a talker.
"So, how'd the night go? Did everyone dress up?"
Instead of answering his question, Lucy pulled out his phone, his eyes widening when she brought up his photos. The first one was a picture of his friends, followed by random ones of people from the base, all dressed in something related to the holiday. The pictures weren't the best quality since the lighting was off, but he appreciated them regardless, happy he could see everyone's smiling faces.
'Well, most of their faces anyways.'
"No pictures of you?" he asked, not surprised when she shook her head.
"I didn't want any," she whispered, sucking in a sharp breath. Her fingers laced together before tightening, but other than that, she seemed unaffected by the question.
"Did you take these?"
Once again, she shook her head. "L-Levy did."
"Oh yeah?" Natsu asked, smiling down at Lucy as he set his phone on his lap. He remembered the short conversation he had with Mira when she dropped off his dinner. "Mira told me you went to dinner with Levy. How'd that go?"
Lucy didn't answer right away, leading Natsu to believe she was done talking. He didn't mind the silence too much. Mira told him Lucy got her food and sat at the table to eat. She didn't hear how it went since she was too far away, but she said Lucy seemed fine from what she could tell.
As long as Lucy didn't freak out or cry, he was happy. Not only that, he was proud of her for going to dinner without him. He was going to keep that to himself, but decided it wouldn't hurt if she heard it.
"You did great, by the way," he whispered, seeing her eyes flit to his for a second before returning to her lap. "I'm proud of you. You're doing a really good job, Lucy. Just keep it up, okay?"
Her lower lip trembled as she nodded, her brown eyes growing watery before she blinked away the unshed tears. He had no idea if she was on the verge of crying from happiness or sadness, but he decided to change the subject either way, not wanting to risk upsetting her.
"What'd you think of Levy?"
"Sh-she's um," Lucy swallowed, "she's nice."
Natsu nodded, liking that answer. Levy was one of the most level-headed people he knew. If anyone could make a good impression, it was her. "Glad you went to dinner." It showed she was improving, one step at a time.
He thought she might say something about it, but instead, she sniffled before whispering under her breath. "I'm s-sorry you couldn't," she cleared her throat, "couldn't be there."
Natsu was about to say it was okay, that he was used to missing dinner on Tuesdays because of his job, but it turned out that Lucy was talking about something else.
"I-I think you would have liked... would have liked the trick-or-tr-treating."
His eyes widened, realizing what she meant. He gave her a soft smile, assuring her he would be fine. "Don't be. As long as everyone had fun, I'm happy." He paused, looking down at her lap where her hands were fiddling with each other. "Did you have fun?"
Lucy's hands stopped for a moment as she tensed, her mouth opening and closing twice before she nodded. "It... it wasn't bad."
He had to hold back a laugh, not wanting to offend her. Figuring that was a decent enough answer, Natsu whispered, "That's good."
"How's your night?" Lucy asked, startling him for a second. He didn't expect her to ask him a question, usually waiting for him to initiate the conversation.
"Eh," he shrugged, thinking tonight was just like any other, "it's okay I guess. This job's kinda boring."
Lucy turned her head slightly so she could meet his gaze. "It is?"
He nodded. "The most action I've seen is one random ass zombie walking around, but it was taken care of fast."
"T-tonight?" she asked, causing him to shake his head.
"Nah. It was a month ago I think. Been quiet ever since."
Lucy paused as she let out a sigh. "What... what do you do if you see... see a—" Her brows pinched together as her lips curled back, almost like a grimace.
Natsu waited, letting her work through it on her own. He could guess what she was trying to say, but he wanted to see if she could do it herself. Helping her was good, but it was also good to sit back and see how she did at talking. If she struggled more, he would intervene.
"Those, those things... What... what do you do if you see one?"
Natsu grabbed the necklace from under his shirt, letting her see the whistle attached. "I gotta blow this if I see anything coming. It'll attract the zombie, but it'll also give the guards a heads up until they find the bastard. That doesn't happen a lot. This job is boring." He smiled to himself as he put the whistle back into his shirt, feeling the cool metal graze against his chest. "I like boring though. Means it's safer."
"What—" Lucy started, immediately shutting her mouth and shaking her head.
Natsu raised a brow as he cocked his head, curious over her unfinished question. "What is it?"
She didn't look like she wanted to ask, but she pried her mouth open anyway, her voice low and harsh, as if the words physically hurt. "What do you do... if... if people, come?"
Natsu's eyes widened as his jaw went slack, not expecting that. "Um... It hasn't happened to me before..." He scratched his head, his brows furrowing as he thought. "But I guess I'd blow the whistle? The guards gotta be alerted of any threats. The more notice they have, the better."
His lips twisted as he looked towards the gates, making out the few guards at their posts. "Gramps would probably talk to them, see if they were safe or not. If they were, he'd probably let them in. If not, well, he'd send them on their way. Why?"
Lucy gulped, her jaw tight and shoulders tense. "N-no reason."
Natsu knew it was a lie, but he didn't press for more information. "Oh, okay," he said, keeping his voice nonchalant.
Minutes passed, Natsu picking up his binoculars to look around. He told Lucy he would be back, that he had to walk around the roof to check in all directions. She stayed put, waiting for him to return. When he came back, he sat himself on the edge of the school again, breathing in the crisp night air.
"I hate the cold, but it's still kinda nice out," he said, more to himself than Lucy. His lips quirked into a smile when she spoke, showing she was willing to continue talking.
"The stars are, are beautiful," she murmured, looking up at the sky.
"You like stars?"
She nodded. "I love them."
Natsu's eyes rounded at the information, but before he could breathe a word, she added, "They're just so... magical."
His chest softened upon hearing the wonder in her voice. He wanted to ask more, but she surprised him yet again.
She whispered, her eyes lidded as the moonlight washed over her face. "You can't see them in—"
Natsu looked over when her voice cut out, wondering why she stopped. "In what?"
Lucy swallowed before taking a deep breath. "In Cr-Crocus."
Natsu blinked, surprised she admitted she had been to Crocus. He figured she had since she slipped up before and basically gave it away. He didn't bring it up, wanting her to feel safe talking to him without worrying about him making accusations. "Oh okay."
The sounds of crickets filled their silence, Natsu having to hold back a laugh at the situation. He smiled, once again happy for the company, even if Lucy should have been in bed by that hour. "Were you going to school in Crocus?"
She chewed on her bottom lips, her fingers fisting at the sweatpants. "Yes."
"What were you studying to be?"
Lucy didn't answer for a full two minutes, Natsu thinking she wasn't going to answer. Her voice was soft, almost broken as she said, "I wanted to be... an... an author."
"Really?" he asked, turning so he could face her more. He kept most of his body directed towards the front of the school, needing to look around every once in a while to make sure nothing approached. "You write?"
"I did," she answered, not meeting his gaze.
"Do you wanna write now? I can get you a notebook and stuff?"
Lucy didn't answer, even when five minutes passed. He resisted the urge to sigh, knowing he was lucky to get what he already had out of her. Lucy was a secretive person, but he was slowly getting bits of information about her life. It would be easier to get to know her if she would open up more, but after what she went through, he understood her hesitancy to get close to anyone, let alone someone she didn't really know.
"You... s-said you had a... a brother... Do you h-have any other s-siblings?" Lucy asked, her voice strained, as if she was forcing herself to talk to him.
Natsu looked over, green eyes locking with her brown. "If you don't wanna talk, you don't have to. I'm okay with just sitting here if that's what you want."
She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, teeth gnawing on it. He wanted to tell her to cut it out, but he figured that was nothing compared to scratching herself. If biting her lip calmed her down, he wasn't going to stop her. "I-I want to."
"Okay," he said, giving her a warm smile. "I just have the older brother. You?"
Lucy shook her head. "Only child."
"Oh, how was that?" He gave her a moment, but she didn't respond. "My brother wasn't the best, but it was still cool having him around. It was like I had someone who was stuck with me. Hmm, maybe that's the wrong choice of words."
"It's okay," Lucy whispered, her head tilting back to look at the stars. "I... I had a cousin." Her brown eyes grew dull before they slipped shut. "She passed away."
"Was it from the zombies?" Natsu asked, but Lucy shook her head.
"It was a long, a long time ago. Car accident."
Natsu frowned, unsure what to say. "Sorry."
"Not your fault."
"Well, I'm sorry to hear it anyway. Were you two close?"
Lucy nodded before sighing, her eyes slowly drifting open. "Yeah. M-Michelle, she was my best... my best friend."
Natsu wanted to ask who her last best friend was, but he bit his tongue, preventing the question from escaping. He considered himself lucky to get that much information out of her. He knew he had to be delicate or she would shut down, especially since they were talking about her personal life.
He opened his mouth to form another question, but he didn't get it out before Lucy was speaking again, her words confusing him.
"Thank you," she whispered, earning a cocked head from Natsu.
"For what?"
Lucy paused, her eyes focused on the stars above before she glanced over, her voice soft and smooth. "For helping me."
Natsu blinked at her, his brain processing what she said. The corners of his lips twitched until he was giving her a toothy grin, his green eyes lighting up. "No problem."
It was a lie. Helping Lucy had created many problems, but he was okay with them since Lucy was safe and on her way to getting healthy, even if it was slower than he had hoped.
Lucy looked at the stars, her own version of a small smile forming on her face. She leaned back, resting her body and head on the roof as she looked up, her feet dangling off the edge. Natsu turned away, doing a quick check with the binoculars before sitting back, resting on his palms. Despite the cold, it was a beautiful night.
When Natsu looked back at Lucy a few minutes later, he found her passed out, her lips parted as she took in soft breaths. He checked his watch, seeing he had a few more hours before his break. Lucy didn't appear cold, so he let her sleep, knowing he could be there to wake her up if she had a nightmare, which was likely since she didn't take her melatonin tablet tonight.
He felt content sitting there with her, peaceful even. However, thirty minutes passed and the air grew colder, Lucy's cheeks and nose turning red from the drop in temperature. 'I need to patrol soon anyway.'
Natsu smiled at her sleeping form before he nudged at her shoulder, making sure to keep his body far away in case she jolted awake. Her brows furrowed as her face scrunched up, the sight almost making him laugh. She looked funny, but he knew better than to say anything.
"Lucy," he whispered, giving her shoulder a light push before pulling away. "You gotta get to bed."
Her dazed eyes fluttered open, blinking a few times before they cleared. She moved to a sitting position, grabbing at her head as if she had a headache. Lucy ran a hand through her hair, pushing some blonde strands out of her face.
"You ready to go to our room?" Natsu asked, earning a nod from his roommate. "Grab your stuff."
Lucy picked up the bag of treats and her mask, which thankfully hadn't blown away. She stuffed the mask into the bag before running her arm through the plastic handles.
Natsu offered a hand, more so to be polite because he didn't think she would take it. His eyes widened when her smaller, colder hand slipped into his, her grasp light as she pulled on him to help her up.
Once she was on her feet, she let go, her free hand hiding in her jacket pocket for warmth. Natsu smiled when she shook out her legs, her body looking like it was swallowed by the baggy clothes she wore.
"Let's get going," he said, gesturing for her to follow. They headed back towards the room, a peaceful silence falling between them.
.
.
.
What do you think of Lucy's pov? It'll probably be a few more chapters before we can get to Lucy's pov again. Let me know what you thought? How was the dinner? Trick-or-treating? Natsu and Lucy's interactions on the roof? (The roof scene was my favorite part) Anyone wishing this wasn't a slow burn? Anyone happy it's a slow burn? They're on their way to becoming better friends. :P
Up next, Chapter Nineteen: Checkup
By the way, didn't know if anyone else noticed, but I don't really focus on the zombie part of this story that much. Anyone want more zombies? Anyone fine with how it is? There will be parts that are centered around the zombies, but for the most part the story is about them surviving with limited resources. Let me know your thoughts!
Thank you so much for your support! Thank you for the follows, favorites, and reviews! Shout out to those amazing people who gave me feedback last time: MnMAllyn, Animeforlife1412, Cresentgenisi, MeteorWars, Tenma360Warrior, ThayetJade, Kakashi500, Saxx, FlameDragonHime, baybewes, Heartfilia777, NutEllaChocolate, Terra of Life, Sam, An Amber Pen, tinks, Sherlollylover17, ManderNaner, PrincessSarahDragneel, GothBanshee, ChasingMoonlightFire, cOokIe-MOnzTa, ElementalMiko12, Guest, Guest, BloodRedRubies, CodenameMise, Gigi-San28, Lychee101, Tohka123, Nightside14(x3), turtle3334, I'm-A-Brat, Satyrykal, gkellner00, Kitty9453, TheUniqueFangirl, Guest, Blank6, and Yoyonori!