-Talia-

There was nothing at that little island where I had me first encounter with…Drew. So we left somewhat promptly after we returned from scouting.

By the time we were well away from that island, it was nearly night and I wanted to return to me room so as to ponder on several things that had occurred as of late. A few hours later, I was joined by Asher, which pleased me greatly.

"Talia?" He knocked on me door and I told him that he was allowed to come in. Stepping inside, he made his way over to where I was sitting on the bed and took a seat next to me. "Talia, can I address something to you?"

"Again?" I asked, remembering the last time he asked that. The time when he had gone into a long discussion on how Pandora was disturbingly suspicious. He told me that wasn't funny and, yes, again. "Go on, then."

"Well…first of all…why do you keep asking about those flash things and voices? Is that why you just suddenly freeze at random points in time?" Right. I had almost forgotten about the time I had mentioned those to him. The boy had a right to know.

Then again, he also had a right to not be called a boy; leastways, not by me, seeing as he was three years my senior.

"…Ah. Well…yes, that is the reason I keep freezing, but I don't really know why I'm having them. According to Pandora, it's because of the past, but I don't know…" I sunk me head. I hated being ignorant on a subject. Asher seemed to notice this and awkwardly patted me on the back.

"Oh…umm…that brings me to my second topic." I looked up. He had a second topic? And, if so, how did what I just said bring him to it?

"…Oh…kay…"

"The other night, when I was coming down the stairs to ask you my last question, I heard a noise from Pandora's room." Oh. From when I had said Pandora. That was a relief…though I wasn't sure why it was. "I went to see what was up and, well…she was inside crying." Crying? Really? I said nothing, only raised me eyebrows skeptically. Asher sighed. "I can't help but wonder why."

"Rightfully so," I replied bluntly. It perplexed me, as well.

"…Talia? Should we be suspicious of her? Maybe she's telling the truth." He looked wholly sincere…and I suppose, deep down…I had a feeling she was, indeed, telling the truth, but I was nowhere near about to admit it.

"I hope not," I answered truthfully instead of grumbling about how stupid she was. "If she were telling the truth, that'd mean that freak I met today…was going to kill ye." Asher smiled.

"We wouldn't want that, now, would we?" I smiled, too, resting my face in my palm and me elbow on me leg.

"No. Wouldn't want that at all."