Chapter the Tenth

"Last question-"

"Hm. I didn't know we're playing questions."

"-why are you here?" Her voice was so soft and smooth and so gentle.

Marceline blinked. "Is that your first question?"

Bonnibel didn't answer anymore.

Marceline was thinking about what she would say when she saw far in the distance that there was a cul de sac. She was confused for the slightest bit until she caught something on the corner of her eyes. There she saw the signage for the Capitol Avenue Bubblegum had been saying.

Wew! I thought I got lost. Again. She added, frowning when she remembered her unfortunate day. So I'll walk this street again, no?

She crossed the street and as she walked, she was thinking the pros and cons of saying all of it to Bubblegum.

If I tell her I had an accident two months ago, which I really should tell... I might as well tell her about how I have amnesia, as much as how it sounds so cliché... She can also help me in my problems. And then she could tell me the story of what I've been doing here two months ago and why am I banished because of that...

Marceline sharply inhaled a breath.

"I don't know how this looks to you. But I had a memory loss two months ago." She started bluntly.

No use in beating around the bush. She thought.

She told her how she was caught up in an accident, how she couldn't remember what was the cause of it, how the doctor told her there had been a large blow on her head that caused her not to remember some memories, and after weeks she thought she remembered everything but realized that she was just assuming because it was not back, the memories inside her head weren't back in its right places...

"So I travelled north to go central, after I told my friends of course. At first, I was just seeking some peace, to have a simple vacation and then after here, I'll travel around north again to continue my adventures but as it turned out you told me that I had been here two months ago.

"If you still remember me saying it, I had an accident two months ago too. That only means that I've been here before my accident. Anyway, I'll just listen to your side of story... after you got enough rest of course.

"That's the reason why I'm here. Happy?" She scoffed, "19 questions left Bubblegum."

Marceline kept on walking. She kept on walking until she noticed that there were fewer buildings in this part. Not residential ones but the kind of shopping district. And then you could also notice that there were a lot of vacant spaces, as well as trees planted on the sidewalks, lined - of course - with the yellow-lit streetlamps.

"By the way, thanks." Marceline sighed sadly. "I know you're sick of me saying thank you now but really, thank you. I bet that if other people saw me, they'll just run away and leave me" She lightly laughed. "- or you know, call the CE to strap me and send me to the nearest enforcement station."

Marceline noticed there were bright lights and a tall wall at the end of the road. Like an arena or something inside the tall wall. There were no gates so she was not sure. Her vampire eyes still couldn't make it out.

"Were you crying earlier?" She asked when another minute of silence fell on them. She got so curious that she couldn't help but ask. What answered her was total silence.

She looked beside her but she still couldn't see the face of Bubblegum.

"Hey, Bubs. Still there?" She nudged her by moving her shoulders slightly. She angled her head to her side and saw that Bonnibel's eyes were closed. That was when she noticed the even and slow breathings Bubblegum emitted. She was sleeping. How didn't she notice this immediately? She didn't know too. Maybe she was busy telling and recapping her story that she muted all the things around her.

And then reality hit her hard. Wait! You mean she's not listening to me all this time? When did she start dozing off?

She was kind of frustrated since her effort were clearly wasted but still, she couldn't help but be relieved that Bubblegum was just sleeping and didn't hear her crappy story. She was thinking that maybe it was not the time. Though she really needs to tell her situation. ASAP.

Just not at this moment. Bubblegum looks like a freaking zombie and she definitely needs a rest.

She looked at the road ahead of her. What she saw made her stop dead in her tracks. The reason was that there was a bunch of enforcement, all wearing their yellow tops and black pants with their insignia on their left chests, circling around, carrying their batons and patrolling whatever needed protection.

Marceline looked around her, trying to find a place to hide herself - and probably the girl with her too since her invisibility wouldn't affect anyone but herself. She remembered that Bubblegum told her that she was banned in the city and getting caught by the Central Enforcement was not a good thing to do if she wanted to go home now and take a rest assured sleep. If it isn't for her vampire eyes, she was sure that she would just continue walking until the enforcement would notice them.

There! She thought when she saw a narrow path, large enough for them to hide to. She tried to run but still tried not to run fast, fearing that the girl taking a nap on her back would wake up from the sudden movements but then she remembered that she could float.

Now both camouflaged in the darkness, she turned her back to the wall and slowly hunched down. Keeping Bubblegum's back pressed against the wall, she allowed Bubblegum's body to slide down to the concrete ground. Then she turned around to face her just to find that she was still slumped down, falling asleep and not even stirred up from the action Marceline made.

Marceline peeked if there were still guards patrolling around but it seems that was there post and their duty. Having nothing in her mind to do, Marceline placed the plastic bags away and completely sat down beside Bonnibel.

She looked at the girl beside her and sighed. She didn't want the girl waking up with a stiff neck and Marceline didn't want Bubblegum to experience that painful sensation - she always knew that feeling from sleeping on her hard couch.

She considered laying the girl on the ground but the thought that the girl would be lying on the cold hard ground made her uneasy. Even with her jacket around it was still not enough for padding and covering Bubblegum.

But she thought of another idea, she guided that pink head to slump down on her right shoulder. The whole situation made her more uneasy but at least Bonnibel wouldn't be uncomfortable. That assured her.

Now that she was sitting down and not walking anymore, Marceline clearly felt the exhaustion of the night. The reds helped her to keep her sane but the exhaustion was still there. Just thinking about what the day had brought her made her more tired. Her long nap earlier didn't also last its effect to her.

And then there was the occasional throbbing on her head.

Which she was currently suffering through the moment.

The pain was there but it was not that irritating. It just the kind of throb that made her aware how her head felt like crap. Maybe she needed a rest too. She still hadn't got a good night's sleep for all she knew. For now, she simply closed her eyes and tried to get a grip on her current situation.

Since she didn't know what to do next...

How about Bubblegum? What'll I do to her? I don't even see any house here so where is her house?

Marceline was trying so hard not to move (which was difficult in her part). She just didn't want to wake up Bonnibel in her sleep. It was obvious that the girl was truly tired. But the problem was she still needed to check where the guards were and she needed to look it out. It was just weird to think that the CE were clustered in groups, walking around when this place looked so abandoned in this kind of hour.

Suddenly, Bonnibel fell off from her shoulder into her lap. She might have moved when Marceline was craning her head trying to see the guards outside their little hideout.

Dangglobbit! She cursed.

She immediately checked if Bubblegum was still sleeping. Thankfully, she still was. She realized that their position now was far better than her cradling her head before.

Marceline then let her head rest on the wall. It was that point when she remembered something she learned during her younger years. Though she was not good at it, it still saved her life in many occasions and proved to be useful to her when she needed to check out her surroundings.

Closing her eyes and focusing her attention to her surroundings, she opened her senses a little bit clearer and tried to imagine where the guards were. At first, she could hear the beating heart of Bubblegum, her smell, and some scurrying sounds at the other end of the path but she pushed this all away to let her senses detect what she'd been finding - the guards.

Seconds later, after Marceline heard and smell distinct things, she tracked the group of guards.

Four groups, I think, are clustered She could smell the faint but still distinctive odor of the guards.

...with more or less three guards on each group. She stopped, concentrating hard. First two are on standby while the rest are on patrol, circling around the perimeter

She opened her eyes, a little bit satisfied with her predictions. She was still not good at tracking using her own vampire abilities though she was surprised that she could do the tracking thingy.

It was about a year ago when I tried that again. I thought I'm already becoming dull.

Looking down to see the sleeping form of Bubblegum, she debated whether to wake her up or not.

I need to wake her up. She needs to go home now. Her parents might be worried if they checked out she isn't home.

Look at her! She looks so peaceful, right? Then, don't wake her up. The poor girl might be having good dreams.

But I need to tell her our situation. Plus, I don't know where her house is so I don't know where I'll be dumping this body out... Okay, the way I said it... that's creepy. Anyway, I don't want to be stuck here until the sun rises when all I've been doing is staring at her beautiful and angelic face.

Stop being creepy, Marcy! Bubblegum is right. You're creepy.

Whatever stupid head. I'll just wake her up coz that's the most sensible thing to do.

Well, are you sure you don't want to stare at her 'beautiful and angelic face' all night long?

Marceline shook her head to stop her mind from thinking these ridiculous things. She tried her best to remind herself what she needed to do at the moment.

Waking Bubblegum up.

That was what her mind was thinking but it seems her hand had its own will because the next thing she knew her left hand was tucking some loose strands of pink hair behind her ears, letting her fingers linger a little longer until she was brushing Bubblegum's pink hair, feeling the soft and smooth strands that slowly runs through her fingers.

She smiled when Bubblegum breathed out loudly in satisfaction, like she's liking the fact that Marceline's fingers were running through her locks.

Bonnibel was still asleep, not even bothered by the vampire's act. A muffled sound came from her mouth and Marceline couldn't help but think if the girl was dreaming a good or a bad dream.

She was about to touch her face to assure her when Bubblegum moved slightly. Marceline stopped herself from touching her face. Red warnings flashed in her mind because of what she's doing. She completely pulled her hand away from her.

What are you doing, you dinger?! She scolded herself.

She breathed out a shaky sigh, thinking that she needed to get a hold of herself before composing herself once again.

"Bubblegum," she started. It was not loud but it was also not soft. It was just enough to call her out from her slumber. "Hey. Bubblegum. Wake up."

Bonnibel opened her eyes with alert but still without focus. Marceline could now see her blue eyes. She could see how her eyes were trying to focus on her. Even in the dark it was still bright as the sky.

"W-wha-"

"Guards -" Just that one word and Bonnibel was wide awake, making Marceline stopped in her explanation. Bonnibel, fast as a rabbit, suddenly sat up straight, almost bumping heads with Marceline.

"Oh glob! I'm dead." Bonnibel told her with wide eyes open, clearly wide awake now. Those were the first words her mind first thought - which she said out loud.

"...I'm dead too. I mean, of course, but I'll be deader if they see me." Marceline stood up and brushed some dust from her pants. She didn't know what Bubblegum meant by her 'I'm dead' comment.

"Wait," Bonnibel cradled her head. Her head aching from the sudden movement of sitting up. Did I fell asleep?

"Did I fell asleep?" She asked aloud, facing the vampire girl.

"Yeah, sorry about waking you up by the way but there are guards at the end of the street and I don't want them to find me since I'm still banned like what you said."

Bonnibel nodded slowly. She stood up and kept one of her hand steady on the wall so she could support herself. Her vision was still spinning. She realized that she fell asleep which meant...

"Did I said something?" She blurted out, looking up to meet the eyes she couldn't see in the dark.

"Uhm. What do you mean?" Marceline's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion

"Nothing. Never mind me." Bonnibel brushed away.

The last thing she remembered was riding at the back of Marceline, asking her why she was here. She didn't know what happened next but that didn't worry her. What made her worried was if she did something when she was falling asleep, something like crying and screaming or groaning in pain because of her occasional nightmares.

Even in her naps, Bonnibel always had nightmares. She always wakes up covered in cold sweat or screaming. That was when she realized that she couldn't remember anything in her dream this time. For the first time in eight months, she slept peacefully.

She wanted to weep in relief and joy. She didn't felt the cold, didn't saw dark visions like every passing night. And even though she couldn't see anything and make out what her nightmares were about just like the other past nights, she was pleased to know that this time she didn't feel so scared and alone and afraid.

Was it because someone is with me?

She looked at Marceline and saw that she was also looking at her, concern written all over her face. "Are you really okay?"

"Ah. Yes. Yes, I'm okay." She tried to reassure the vampire girl. She looked around them. Obviously, Marceline took shelter in some alley. She took a few steps at the end of the alley to look around for the guards Marceline was talking about. She sighed in relief when she saw that the guards were just doing their usual duty, protecting the surroundings of the city hall - in this case, the back part of the hall - and not in some mission to find a lost - and sneaking - mayor.

On the other hand, Marceline was still confused about what Bubblegum was talking about.

Did she talks in her sleeps? She thought.

Marceline conjured some images of Bubblegum mumbling her crushes' names and sleep talking about some deep dark secrets. She wanted to snicker aloud but she knew this was not the time to be playing around since she was in a deep mess if she was ever found out.

"So, what are the guards doing here? Is that even normal? And by the way, where is your house?" Marceline asked.

Bonnibel didn't know how to tell her that she was living in some big house in which a city hall was interconnected and probably the reason why there were so many guards since that's where she lives.

Marceline then mumbled something Bonnibel didn't catch though she heard something about Dunamis City having the tightest security in all of Ooo and that the vampire was wrong to think of that. She then heard mumblings about why the central have so many guards.

Bonnibel thought about what she would answer to all the questions Marceline threw. The first and second question... no problem. What she couldn't answer was the last question. She couldn't tell her where her house was not if she wanted Marceline to know she was the city mayor, the same one who banished her from this city.

Another problem she was thinking about was that she couldn't go home if Marceline wouldn't go away because if she would still be here by the time she would be creeping her way inside of the manor then she would knew that Bonnibel is the mayor. And that's not a good thing. Most of all, she didn't want Marceline know about the fact that she sneaked out late in the night.

Becket! This is not sneaking out. You bought something in the store right? Her mind defied.

Wait! Hmm, you're right!

Told you.

And so I just needed to tell her to go home now. Hope that wouldn't raise any suspicion.

In the back of her mind, Bonnibel already knew that it would but thinking of nothing else anymore she answered Marceline's questions.

"Pssh. You know the central enforcement right? That's them doing their job precisely. And yes, that's normal in Ooo." Bonnibel rolled her eyes. "And don't you worry about me and my house anymore. I can manage here already so you can leave me now."

Marceline looked at her with incredulous eyes. "Oh freaking glob! Don't tell me you're one of those kids living under bridges, stealing firearms from the Enforcement? And I don't know, maybe you're starting a rebellion now."

Bonnibel looked at her, her face aghast. "Whaat?! No! No way in nighthosphere I'd be doing that and could please look around. There are no bridges around here!" Bonnibel hissed, stretching her arms to point out what she had said. "And oh! Another thing you should know about is that there are no beggars or any orphans in the main central."

Marceline wasn't listening anymore. What took her notice was that Bubblegum used her country as a swear. Did she just say 'no way in nighthosphere'? Hmmph. I should say that in front of Dad every time. Oh, the face he'd make.

She stifled a laugh and just shook her head, her head lowered down. When her laugh died down, she looked up to see that Bubblegum was frowning at her. "Err. Whatever Bubs. But you see you don't have to kick me out. I just came here earlier, last night I mean."

"Yeah, but you don't have to be so kind and polite as to walk me home."

Bonnibel then remembered what Marceline just said. She realized that the vampire just came here a little while ago from her country - probably for a vacation - which meant there was still a big possibility that she would stay here a little longer.

Bonnibel subconsciously groaned, And let's not forget the deals Bon! So she will really stay here a little bit longer than a simple vacation since you need her!

And if she stays here, any time she'll knew you're the mayor. You're popular. There is no one in the central that clearly doesn't know you.

She subconsciously face palmed herself for not thinking this immediately.

So, it's better to tell the truth than lying my way out of this, she concluded.

She sighed and looked at Marceline. She saw that the vampire was sitting by the edge of the alley, probably on the lookout for the guards.

Bonnibel sat down beside her. "Don't worry about the guards. They will not see us here. They just have a specific route they need to trail and guard over."

Marceline nodded her head and looked ahead. "What's with that wall over there?" She pointed it out with her chin.

She looked where Marceline pointed even though she knew what the wall was for. She then squinted her eyes since she couldn't see the wall. It might be too far for her eyes to see - or maybe it's just too dark to see. She looked back again at the vampire.

"Marceline, you need to know something."

Marceline looked at her. "Oh please don't tell me you're a terrorist now."

"You know, I don't know what's with you thinking about weird, ridiculous and obnoxious things."

Marceline shrugged, "At least, I don't have to expect the unexpected things... just you know the normal things. And also that's what'll you think after living in Nigthosphere."

Bonnibel scoffed, "Yeah, 'Nigthosphere'. I heard horrible creatures could be seen there."

"Thank you very much. That's my place." Sarcasm was lacing through Marceline's word.

Bonnibel shook her head, smiling.

"So, you were saying?" Marceline asked.

"Oh, well I was saying that that wall over there is er-. Well, this is back part of the city hall." Bonnibel simply said. She was still thinking of a better way how to tell that she is the Mayor.

"The Capitol Avenue, this street, is a shopping district. Like a public market or something. When it's the day, you'll see many people here. And those guards-" Bonnibel pointed the guards standing. "-are on the lookout for bad guys. It's on their job description. The guards' numbers here are nothing compared to the guards at the entryway."

"So, you're telling me that the central's city hall is full of riches and gold that it needs to be guarded 24/7 even though there's no one there when it's past the work time?"

Bonnibel smiled, amused by the vampire's remarks. "Who said there's no one there?"

"Oh glob! Oooians are surely workaholics! You people work overnight?!"

"What? No." Bonnibel shook her head. "Do you know the history of Ooo?"

Marceline shook her head. "No. I don't. Why?"

"Well, Ooo had a monarchial government. So back then, monarchs lived in palaces but there had been a change. The Houses wanted a change in the government-"

Marceline interrupted her, "Is this going to be long?" She feigned an exaggerated yawn. "I hate history you know. I don't even know Nighthosphere's history, much less Ooo"

Bonnibel looked at her with exasperated eyes before rolling her eyes. "I promise you. This will be important."

"Fine. Fine continue. Just wake me up when you're done okay?"

Bonnibel continued her explanation, "So, the government had been changed-" She then saw that Marceline floating in the air, a good inches above the ground. She blinked. Were her eyes playing tricks on her again? She was distracted from what she was seeing but still continued "-and someone thought that it's better if the city hall is near in the places the monarchs live so they will be more devoted on their jobs." She was still staring at Marceline, who by now was still floating.

"In other words, the city hall is also where the mayor, its family and subjects live. And it's where I live." Her words just easily came out from her mouth. She was still distracted.

Marceline opened her eyes and looked at her before sitting down "Oh! Already finished?" She took a pause. "Soo you're the daughter of the mayor huh? Why am I not surprised about hearing about that?" Marceline smirked.

"You're not surprised? Well, I am. I'm the one who should be surprised about- Were you- did you just levitate?" And wait, she thought I was the daughter and not the mayor?

"Oh. Did I?" Marceline didn't realize she had floated since she was sitting cross legged now. "I did-" She stopped speaking; an amazing thought passed through her mind. She smirked. "Hmph. I will not answer that not if you, you know use the truth questions." She raised her eyebrows, encouragingly.

"No, it's okay" Bonnibel brushed it off. "So, I was saying-"

"No!" Marceline interrupted her. "I mean..."

Bonnibel heard a whimper coming out from the vampire's mouth and it took all of her will not to make her lips curved in a smile. "Okay. Fine. Say the truth now." She feigned her very best irritated voice but it didn't go well as she planned, instead it sounded like a very restrained and serious voice.

Marceline looked at her with unbelieving eyes; she opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed it again. "Yes, I could 'levitate'," she added quotation marks on the word. "Or float, or fly or something along the lines of that" And then she smiled just like a kid was given a lollipop. "18 questions left, Bubs."

Wheels and gears were turning rapidly inside Bonnibel's mind, thinking of dozens of questions about this fantastic fact about the vampire. She was looking at her with so much wonder, a vampire with a peculiar ability. What are her other capabilities? She then realized that the questions left were not tallied correctly. "18 questions? Hey, I just asked one question."

Marceline nodded. "Yep. But you're forgetting the fact that you asked me why I'm here."

Bonnibel raised one of her eyebrows, her tone getting defensive and disputable but still soft. "Well, you're the one forgetting the fact that I slept which means I didn't hear your answer. And that makes it null and void. So, there are 19 questions left."

I just couldn't compete with her bossiness. Marceline thought. Though...

"How about this," she started suggesting something she thought. "I know that you're still going to ask me the same question over again-" she paused to see that Bonnibel was looking at her thoroughly "so, how about I will say what I said before, answer it and-" Marceline shrugged. "-that's it. 18 questions left."

"When?"

" 'When?' "

"When will you tell me?"

"Oh! Uhm. Well, I could tell you now but you said something about going home now, right?" Marceline pointed out.

Bonnibel just nodded and stood up. "Yes, I should go home now and you should go home too."

Marceline frowned but she stood up too and floated beside the girl. She forgotten how many times the girl told her she was about to go home but it was always disrupted. "I'm not leaving you." She coughed hard. Wait. That came out wrong. "I-I mean I'll walk you home. Or no. You walk, I float beside. My feet are killing me now and I can't believe I forgot to float!"

Bonnibel frowned at what Marceline said at first but ignored it. "No. Don't worry. I'll be fine. You could go home now besides it's alright with me being alone since the guards are just there."

Marceline creased her brows. She didn't want to leave the girl alone. That was not the kind of person Marceline is. What was more is she just couldn't get over the idea that she did something out of character, like barging into someone else's room, to this girl. That was not like her.

"Look. The thing is... I just can't believe I did something bad to you. Okay? That fact wouldn't still drive into my head and it seems, it just seems... not me." She lowered her head, her voice sounding downhearted.

Bonnibel wanted to pat her back and say something soothing but she was afraid that would make the vampire uncomfortable. She kind of forgave Marceline already but of course there were still a few things she couldn't forgive though over time it could be. So she didn't say anything, making both of them be drowned in the sea of silence of the early morning.

Marceline sighed when she was sure the pink-haired wouldn't say anything and said, "I just really want to be civil with you. Okay? I don't know what happened between the two of us two months ago but I promise you, I never knew a thing." Because I don't really have any memories of what happened!

Bonnibel sighed. It seems that both of them have been sighing a lot lately. "So is this 'walking with me" supposed to compensate for what you did?" She wrapped her arms around herself not to intimidate the raven-haired girl but to warm herself from the cold morning wind.

She then saw how Marceline suddenly became uneasy. She inhaled sharply. That wasn't supposed to make her uncomfortable and Bonnibel felt bad. "Fine, I'll just listen to your side of story tomorrow when I call you, okay? But you really need to go now." She lightly pushed Marceline on her back. It's not even strong enough to move the vampire on her floating position.

"Why are you so keen of getting me out of sight?" And woah. She's so weak.

"I just-" Bonnibel thought of anything she could think of. "Er. I just, you know, didn't want the CE to see you because you're banned. And they might-" she shrugged her shoulders "put you in jail." She tried her best to act not so suspicious since her pride was on the line here.

Marceline looked at her more closely. She was thinking how weird that this person wanted her to go away. Normally, people wanted her company because she's 'cool', 'awesome', and 'rad' in her own nature alone.

I know that she's probably uncomfortable with the idea of spending more time with me but still there's something fishy going on here. She thought. If she really wanted to get home, she could've let the guards walk with her, right? So why is she still here with me? I doubt that she just wanted to be with me. Unless... if she's also hiding from them.

Something clicked at her mind, now realizing what Bonnibel had been up to all this time. She smiled at her and clicked her tongue teasingly while shaking her head. "Oh. Bubs. You poor Bubblegum. I think it's you who don't want to be seen." She giggled.

Bonnibel immediately felt her face heat up. She wanted to cringe in anger because of this stupid vampire. She didn't think this through. So without any warnings, she stomped her way outside the alley until she was under a streetlight, illuminating her full stature.

But just as fast too, she was snatched back in the dark alley by none other than the vampire, leaving her eyes spinning and still adjusting in the darkness covering them.

Several metres away from them, a patrol group were talking over.

"Hey did you see something over there?"

"Huh? Where? What did you see?" a deep voice replied sheepishly.

"I'm not sure but I think I saw the mayor there."

"Uhm... the mayor? Mayor Becket?"

"Who else is our mayor?"

"Well, that's impossible." A third voice said, a more authorative voice. "She's already inside her manor at this time. And don't spout weird things. Keep your fantasy at bay, rookies."

"Yes, Cap." several voices saluted.

Now back in the dark alley, Marceline was fussing over what happened. "What the glob?! Are you out of your mind?" Marceline touched her forehead with her palm, her head pricking with slight pain. She didn't know if it was because of this girl or just the exhaustion passing by.

She sighed. "You know, every teen sneaks out. That's not a problem."

Bonnibel looked at her. "Don't act like a mother okay? It doesn't really fit you. And may I ask what made you think I'm a teenager? And how many times should I tell you that this isn't sneaking out. I bought something."

"Ah yeah! Like a can of soda? That's really something I would buy in this kind of hour and whoa! Who'd buy that when obviously, that big house that I couldn't see because of that freaking tall wall over there have more kinds of drinks than the small store you bought the soda!"

Before Bonnibel could retort back, Marceline took her hand and fly high up in the air, completely shutting her mouth down.

When Bonnibel couldn't feel the ground anymore, she instinctively closed her eyes and circled her arms around Marceline's neck, almost clawing her face in the process of clinging to it, as she held her grip tighter in the fear of falling over. She almost shrieked out but it seems her voice was stuck in her throat.

Relief washed over Bonnibel when she could feel the ground again. But the moment, she opened her eyes, her vision blurred and she felt dizzy as she realized where Marceline had dropped them off - at the top of a building near the wall, and near to the city hall.

She looked down to her right.

And that was a mistake. To her right was a sudden fall several meters above the ground. A little move to her right and she could fall dead.

Bonnibel was acrophobic. She had a fear of heights ever since she could remember. She couldn't exactly pinpoint the time when it all started but several months ago, she was invited in a party and the venue was at the very top of a skyscraper. The only way to go up is to ride a series of glass elevator to the top. Bonnibel didn't go to the party instead she spent her time talking to her doctor in the hospital.

She heard a giggle coming from the vampire she had been clinging to. And that was when she realized the hand supporting at her back - that made her assure she wouldn't fall.

"Woah. Easy there. Didn't know you're afraid of heights. Well, at least I know what to do to shut you up." Bonnibel could feel her smiling.

"Shut up." She said with eyes closed, infuriated. "Why did you bring me here?"

"Come on. Let's go down. You might faint from looking at this height"

Marceline was about to say to Bubblegum to close her eyes when she realized she already closed it. "Come on." She said again before grabbing both of her hands and led her to the other edge of the building to jump over the building ledge.

Once safely and the view was no longer visible, Marceline let Bubblegum sat down, arms around knees.

Marceline sighed. Shit.

Marceline was about to say sorry again when she realized that all this time, all she did was say sorry. Bubblegum might be so irritated to her now. She cleared her throat. "Uhm. Do you want to go home now?"

When nothing answered her, she sat down beside her. Guilt flooded Marceline. She knew the feeling of having fears, of being faced with it, forced with it, and nothing could ever be so frightening than being with your worst fears. The feeling sucks.

She bit her lower lip, thinking how to break the ice surrounding them. When nothing came to mind, she realized that it was cold, not she cared for herself but for Bubblegum. Losing the jacket around her, she placed it around the girl's shoulder.

"Err. I just wanted to take you home, that's all. There's just one problem. I don't where your house is."

Bonnibel finally looked up to her and chuckled.

"What?" Marceline was confused.

Bonnibel was still laughing, lightly if not hysterically. "Nothing." She sighed. "You're just an idiot for taking me home and not knowing where my house is." She realized what she had said, "Wait, you don't know my house?"

Marceline was about to answer her sarcastically but she stopped herself. "I don't know."

Bonnibel was thinking again. Finally, Bonnibel squinted her eyes, "Marceline, tell me the truth what really happened to you two months ago?"

Marceline didn't answer at first. "I thought were going to talk about this when you call me?"

Bonnibel inhaled a breath. "Yeah, I'm crazy tired now, Marceline." She stood up. "So, you're talking about getting me home right?"

Marceline smiled and stood up too. "Yeah. But - I - you're scared of heights, right?"

Bonnibel chuckled. "That's where you're wrong. I'm not afraid of heights. You just surprised me back there." She said that with so much confidence.

Marceline nodded, understanding her situation, until she realized Bubblegum's knees were shaking. She frowned. "You're a bad liar, Bubs. Ah wait, actually, you're a pretty good liar. You almost made me believe about that." Marceline smiled sadly.

Bonnibel let her back fall at the ledge. She scoffed and looked at her but she didn't answer back.

"Let's get you home." Marceline said after a while. She crouched down so she could piggyback ride the girl again. Marceline knew that Bonnibel didn't like people - especially random people - to know her secrets. Everybody does. So she tried to never talk about it.

Bonnibel realized what Marceline was doing again. She wrapped her arms around and let Marceline support her legs.

"Close your eyes," Marceline entreated.

But Bonnibel didn't, couldn't.

As Marceline floated towards the ledge, Bonnibel suddenly got a view of the town - it pleased her to see that, to see that the city she was leading was so beautiful under the light of the moon - but it was also a mistake since she looked down and saw the depth of a fall. She tightened her grip around the vampire's neck and waist and immediately closed her eyes. A curse was also heard through the thin air and Marceline knew, she knew that Bubblegum didn't close her eyes beforehand.

Even in the short amount of time they were together, Marceline knew and understand three things already about Bubblegum, the daughter of the mayor - that's what she though. First, she's stupidly smart and cunning. Second that she has an excessive pride. And third, because of that pride she is so easy to get embarrassed and afraid to be embarrassed.

She was flying above the clouds now so Bubblegum wouldn't be that afraid. After a while, Marceline could see that they already passed over the tall wall surrounding the big manor. She lowered down her flight, circling above and around the manor since she doesn't have a clue of where she's going to drop Bubblegum off.

"Where should I put you down?" Marceline angled her head sideways for Bubblegum to hear.

Bonnibel opened her eyes very slowly when she heard Marceline. She could feel that they were still in the air since the jacket she was currently wearing was flapping in with the current of the wind. She was thankful enough that Marceline was still going on in circles and not stopping in midair. She tried to gulp down that fear in the back of her mind but couldn't help but let a whimper out of her mouth when she saw how far from the ground they both were.

Marceline then couldn't take but notice that the grip around her was becoming more constricting than ever. Again, she was thankful that she didn't need air just to breathe. Suddenly, Bubblegum was pointing downwards. "There." And Marceline followed it until they landed safely outside Bubblegum's room, her balcony, actually.

Bonnibel never knew that getting back and standing on her feet on the ground would delight her so much. Never in her wildest dreams would she end up in this situation where she loved being on the ground. So much. Another thing she appreciated was how the vampire never questioned her for anything - she asked questions before but nothing about her fears. And that made Bonnibel sigh in relief.

She realized that she was still clinging onto Marceline and immediately removed her arms around her.

"I'm sorry!"

"Huh?" Marceline shook her hands. "No, no, no. That's okay. Really" She said, scratching at the back of her head.

Bonnibel then remembered what she still had in hand. "Oh yeah, your jacket. Thanks about that by the way." She said while removing the jacket.

"Oh. No problem."

Marceline couldn't help but look at the doors through her room.

"Do you want to come in?" Bubblegum offered.

"Ah no. It's really late now. And I think I need to go." Marceline smiled.

Bonnibel nodded. She was thankful that Marceline declined the offer. She just asked that in the act of politeness, a virtue taught by her parents.

Marceline started to float again. "Well, goodnight, Bubblegum."

"Good morning too," Bonnibel greeted back, her lips curling in a smile she wanted to restrain but couldn't.

Marceline laughed out loud. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Good morning. Bye."

And Bonnibel was left to see the outline of Marceline floating away from her, from the balcony. Just like two months ago. But now the situation was different.

Two months ago, Marceline was fast at getting away from here so she wouldn't get caught by the guards

But now she was not even bothering to fly fast from getting away from here - like she wanted to stay more.

Bonnibel opened the doors to her room and when she remembered something she should've realized before; Marceline wasn't holding the plastic bag she bought! The thought of Marceline getting out of control again for not eating shades of red made her worry so, she texted her, trying to remind her that she find it again.

Bonnibel looked up from her phone to see her comforting and so soft pink bed. She wanted to jump in it and let her back rest on it but she still needed to take a bath.

She walked around the room until she was at her study table and emptied all her pockets. She put Starchy's blue cap, - and tried to remember to let Peppermint send it to back to him - her wallet and her phone.

She sat down at the chair and just... sit there. Thinking how this little rendezvous became so exiting and so adventurous. She let her back fall at the backrest of the chair and closed her eyes. She was tired - that she knew - and she wanted nothing but to sleep. But she still needed to take a bath before sleeping. She quickly opened her eyes and scolded herself for not disciplining herself to get up and to get ready to take a bath. She slipped off her shoes and was about to enter the bath room when she realized there was still a thing she should take off before taking a bath.

Slipping her fingers at her collar, she let out the necklace she was wearing the whole night. The blue jewel was glinting more than ever under the light. The jewel was from the crown she had been wearing when she was still a princess. The golden crown the jewel was encased was now melted for other use but the jewel was kept. Gold was easy to mine but jewels - especially rare jewels - were harder. So Bonnibel let it made to become a necklace that she could carry on always just like the crown she was wearing when she was a princess.

She took it off around her neck. She stretched her neck and sighed in relief after the stretch. She walked around the room and put inside the drawer of the bedside table. And finally, finally she entered the bathroom to clean herself. And after that she lay down on her bed.

Marceline had been flying up in the air when her phone rang in the middle of the night - day. She checked her phone and realized there were two unread messages.

She checked the first one and found out it was from Keila. When she realized it was a long message, she dared not to read it anymore and checked the other text she received.

It was from Bubblegum. She reminded her of her reds that she probably left at the dark alley.

She groaned. She wanted to go home now but the reds were more important so she backtracked and find where it was. She flew higher to see where the location to her house is. She followed that direction until she got curious at the streets below her. She still hadn't memorized the streets and this was a good time to check what street was this.

So now, Marceline was back in the road. What Marceline didn't know is that something would happen to her early that day.

She was casually floating around and eating her reds to stay her mind wide awake when she saw a beggar across the street slumping down on a dark alley in between buildings. She continued floating when she saw at the corner of her eye that the said beggar stirred up from his sleep. She looked at him, now seeing him clearly.

The beggar was wearing tattered clothes, both his shirt and pants were dirty yellow in color. His boots were both different in color; the other was purple while the other one was a darker shade. He was also wearing a short-brimmed yellow hat that had a blue ribbon tied to it.

Marceline thought that this man was another beggar living in a dark alley, begging for food. She was about turn back to continue her walk - or in her case floating - when suddenly the beggar looked up to her and his mouth formed a rather big wide smile just like in every funny cartoon show she watched when she was young.

Marceline looked around. She was the only person on this side of the street so she knew that he was smiling for her. Which is really creepy to think about. There was something about his face though. He didn't look drunk, or didn't look high like most common beggars would be. He was descent enough with the exception of the clothes of course.

And then he did the most unexpected thing Marceline could ever think of...

Marceline was not sure what was creepier about him; him being there, smiling his wide creepy smile or him saying, "Hello, Marceline" like he knew her already.

08/10/16