Closing the door to her apartment, Robin pressed her back against it and slid slowly down to the floor. She could feel the air filling her lungs as she took what felt like her first breath in hours. She closed her eyes lightly; only for a moment, but it felt as if the image of Amon's face had been permanently burned into her vision.
Robin stood up feverishly, swaying slightly, and walked slowly over to her bed. She undressed silently; not bothering to dry her drenched hair or clothes, and drew the covers up to her neck, quickly falling into a restless sleep.
* * *
Unable to stop her eyes fluttering open, Robin found herself in the darkness which was sickeningly familiar by now. Even though she was fully aware of the nightmare's events, it didn't prepare Robin for the sound of a gunshot, piercing the eerie silence as it echoed from somewhere in the distance. Acting out of instinct, Robin started to frantically search this hellish place for any sign of life.
And that's when she came across Amon, lying face down on the ground, eyes closed and breathing ragged. Throwing herself down on the ground, Robin tried with a quiet desperation to get him to open his eyes, but the situation couldn't be helped now.
None of this is real, Robin tried to convince herself. All I have to do is wake up, and it will all be over. Then everything will go back to the way it was. Before….
Shaking her head, she attempted to stand, only to be seemingly pulled back down. One instant she was clawing at her surroundings, trying to find any way to escape; the next, she felt as if she was falling into an even deeper, more consuming darkness, trying desperately to get a hold of anything that could save her. But nothing seemed to be real anymore…
* * *
Robin's eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright, clutching her sheets to her. Shaking in a cold sweat, she acted without thinking. Grabbing her communicator from off of her nightstand, she began to frantically dial the number.
* * *
Amon had been pacing relentlessly around his apartment when he heard the faint ringing coming from the inside of his coat. Bringing it up to his face, he could barely make out the trembling voice on the other line.
"Robin?" he said, concerned and confused. As he listened to her frail voice, wracked with sobs, all of the pretenses that he had held onto so religiously were lost to him. The only thing that mattered to him now was Robin, and that she needed him. "I'll be right there," he said gently, yet with an edge of firmness.
Without any hesitation, Amon threw his coat on and very nearly ran out of the door, slamming it behind him.
* * *
When Amon arrived at Robin's apartment, he opened the door in a dreamlike fashion, stepping inside quietly. Guided by the distant sounds of crying, he found his way to Robin's room. And there she was, sitting up in her bed, clutching her knees to her chest; tears falling slowly from her eyes, traveling down her cheeks in pale rivulets that gently caught the dim light.
He walked over to her slowly, cautiously. As she lifted her head slightly to see him, her face flushed slightly and she wrapped the sheets more tightly around her chest. Feeling as if he were possessed, Amon knelt down beside her and drew her lips to his. Robin leant into him, feeling the warmth of his body filling her; but once again he broke away. Only this time, his eyes were not blank and coldly emotionless, they were filled with pain and, could it be, regret?
"I'm sorry, Robin," he said in a hushed whisper. "I should never have let this happen, and it can't happen again." He stood up and started to back away from her, and it looked as though it took him all the strength he had. Closing his eyes to block out the sight of Robin sitting there, her face filled with more pain and confusion than he could ever forgive himself for, he said in a voice so low she could barely hear him, "There can never be anything between us."
* * *
Sitting pensively staring at his computer screen, Michael was jolted out of his musings when Karasuma came hurriedly into the office; Sakaki entering momentarily after her with a confused look on his face.
"Miss Karasuma, what's going on? What did the police say?" He tried to catch up to her, but by the time he reached her she was already talking briskly to Michael.
"Michael, I want you to contact Amon immediately. The police have just informed me that they've found the witch and they need us to get there right away."
Already calling Amon's communicator, Michael began in a puzzled voice, "But Miss Karasuma, what about Robin?"
Staring at Michael as though he were completely oblivious, Karasuma replied, "Robin's had a rough day. I think it would be best to keep her out of the hunt today."
"But Miss Karasuma," Sakaki began, "All Robin did today was investigate a body with Amon-" With a look of dawning comprehension, he looked conspicuously around the room. "Oh."
Karasuma rolled her eyes exasperatedly at him. Then she rounded on Michael. "Well?" she demanded, "Why haven't you called Amon?!"
"I already did." Michael said in a tight voice. "Twice," he added for good measure. His voice faded into anxiousness. "He hasn't been answering."
They all looked at each other with uneasy glances, then back at the communicator which was still ringing helplessly.
* * *
Somewhere in the dark folds of Amon's coat, the communicator was casting a dim greenish glow as it continued to ring, unanswered.
Neither Amon nor Robin could hear the toneless ringing; both lost in the others arms, the moonlight flooding into the open window causing their skin to glow with an eerily beautiful light.
* * *