Another short chapter to balance out the longer one. This isn't the end of the flashback scenes. Hannah can't avoid Armin's questions forever, you know. 3

Process: Chapters 1-7 finished.

Session 04: You and Me
The had took on a beautiful shade of gold by time our play had ended. Jacques explained to me that during sunset many of the street vendors start closing shop for the day, so it was an opportune time to search for scraps of food. It was only then that I remembered that I had a home that I needed to attend to, and a very angry eyrie waiting for me once I got there. Fear of punishment sent chills down my spine, and just as Garin started towards the boardwalk I realized that I was in over my head.

I started to cry ...

" Hannah? " Garin looked back to her when he heard the first sob. He wasn't sure what was wrong, so he guessed. " Didn't I tell you that we can all play together tomorrow after the morning rush? "

The brunette shook her head. " Bloodhook's going to kill me. " She sobbed into her hands. " I messed up bad ... "

Garin's eyes grew wide. " Bloodhook? " He gasped. " CAPTAIN Bloodhook? " Hannah nodded, choking from her hysterical crying. " He's the meanest pirate ever to roam the seas, ever! What does he want with a little girl like you? "

" He's my uncle. " She raised her pink tainted eyes to look at him directly. " He doesn't treat me like family, though. " A new trail of tears ran the tear stained path down her cheeks. " He treats me like a slave ... " She whispered.

Thinking over her situation deeply, Garin's eyes softened in a mixture of sympathy and pity. Just a few hours ago she played along with the rest of them like she's supposed to, but now she has to go back to that. She'll be beaten, or worst, and it was all his fault. If only he hadn't invited her to play ...

And for what? Just because he thought she was pretty?

Despite the clots of dirt loosened into muddy patches by exploding gormballs and her frantic state of mind, he thought her more than just pretty. He had never seen anyone with the type of hair she had, or those kind of eyes. There lay something inside of him that causes him to feel very strange when he looks at her, which only grew during the rare times she looked at him.

He made his decision.

Before Hannah could slink through the crowd and away from him, he grabbed her by the upper arm and pulled her back. Stunned, Hannah looked back into his determined eyes with her widened ones.

" If you don't like the way he treats you, don't go back. "

The ease that Garin said that almost made her retaliate, but instead she settled from her tensed stance. Oh, how she wished it was that easy. Ever since she started playing this morning she secretly yearned to stay here and become a member of their family. Here she would still have to work for her keep, but this time it'll be by choice and the pets around her would love her.

Love her ...

Love ...

Hannah's ears twitched, and she looked into the crowd of the boardwalk with horror. " They're coming for me. " She couldn't breathe! Her voice came out just enough for Garin to understand her words. Their scents, it was definitely the men from the crew!

Garin didn't think twice about it. Grabbing her hand, he'd pull her towards the elevated boardwalk. There was just enough space for them to crawl underneath while the people and pirates walked around overhead. Hannah curled up on her knees, holding her stomach as nausea from her anxiety set in. She felt like whimpering, but Garin placed his hand over her mouth to make sure she didn't give away their position.

Two pairs of blue eyes; one dark while the other light, searched the crowd as each member of the crew stalked back and forth. Dunequeen was among them, looking a bit worst for the wear. From time to time she looked between the cracks, directly at them, and then looked away. Her eyes were pleading with them ... praying to the faeries that they wouldn't get caught.

Finally, Bloodhook crossed the boardwalk. Hannah tensed, leaning against Garin for support when he stopped directly over them. It was unnatural; almost as if he could sense that they were there.

" WENCH! " The infamous eyrie roared, causing the commoners in the streets to scatter. " I know that you are here hiding like the scared little rat that you are. I will not waste the time my nor my crew's time tearing this pathetic town apart to look for a serving girl, so you may enjoy your short lived freedom. In the meantime I will return to Krawk Island and rip apart the old family mines in search for The Mermaid's Tear. "

Hushed whispers took the crowd of observers. " Once I have that there will be no need for you, and I will properly reunite you with your mother and grandfather in Hell! "

Bloodhook laughed, leaving the boardwalk and the two usul to their thoughts. Hannah was horribly confused by his words. Bloodhook could read her family's maps himself, so why did he need to wait until after he got the gem to track her down?

My uncle could read the map of the Pirate Caves, but because he is not a direct descendant of my ancestors he could not proceed through the inner chambers. I later discovered that my family is incredibly skilled in magic, and used to teach the natives there defensive magic to protect themselves from pirates. They enchanted the inner chambers so those same pirates wouldn't profit from their hard work, so Bloodhook had to wait for me to break through the seal and get the Tear ...

" And the rest is Neopian History; Bloodhook attacked me on my way out the caves, and I gave him when he had coming to him! " Hannah finished her story with emphasis, hitting her clenched fist against open palm.

Armin bobbed his head in agreement. " But that doesn't answer my question. "

Hannah looked back to him suddenly. " What question? "

" I asked you why you hate Garin and Jacques now. " He sighed. " You were pretty good friends with them as children. "

" Well ... " Hannah stood, heading to the door of the room. " People just ... grow up. " That story made her strangely hungry, so she thought she'd make the two of them a little snack.

Little did she know that it wouldn't be just the two of them much longer ...