CONTRACT

The ride home was silent. I couldn't figure out what to say. On the road, Ozario had his eyes fixed. His mind in deep thought. Onyx appeared to have almost shed a tear. He swiftly shook his head and brushed away his angry face. He sighed; his hand slipping down to the bottom of the steering wheel. He glanced quickly at me.

"What? Just staring at me again, beautiful," Ozario questioned with a slight smile. The smile faded immediately after.

Because of his expression a second ago, I was scared to inquire about Ozario's story earlier. Knowing me, I was going to be pushing myself to... I suppose. I conveyed a little tenderness, "Ozario, that story… I just want to say that… um... It was pretty sad. Not really scary." Stupid, stupid, Cati, stupid.

Ozario chuckled a little. "I'm worrying you, aren't I," he asked, sounding amused? He said, "Cat, it isn't the story that makes me sad. It's the way you might perceive me if you knew."

"Perceive," I queried? "Ozario, I remember you told me that you had killed people before. The story doesn't come as a surprise to me... Okay. Maybe a little … Okay. Yea. A ton. But I've also never been able to see you differently from who you are now. That's not who you are today, that's a past person. You were just hurt, and angry, and didn't know how to cope. You've stopped hurting people... for years. You killed murderers, that's it! I mean, at least they were murderers, right? They have taken innocent people out of their homes, out of their lives. You shouldn't care about that anymore. All is in the past."

With his fist, Ozario touched his cheek. "Eh…" He stated, "I don't think it's that easy, Catalina. Even they were human. Better ways were possible. All because for the first time I killed that clan, to avenge my parents and neighbors, I obtained a major issue. Ugh. I didn't listen to Henry when I was supposed to listen. I became a contract executioner for some fucked up agency because of me and my crazy addiction. Out of sheer lunacy, resentment in self, and psychological distortion regarding my trauma, I ended up becoming a serial killer; some... thing that had taken everything from me, except my brother. If I really considered Henry's feelings then, I don't even know."

"So… Last year – when you told me I coped with losing my parents a million times better than you…"

"Yes, Cati. After our town was buried into nothing but ashes and rubble, I searched for that clan who did it and killed them all." He sighed, "First time I had ever tasted blood… and, worse, blood from werewolves. Who knew the blood from wolves doesn't satisfy vampires or hybrids. But remember, I was seven. I didn't know anything in a small town of I think over 500 people? Funny. A hybrid's blood no matter type can satisfy vampire with a simple a few drips so what's the difference?"

I groaned, thinking that it was a great thing he didn't mention that in his story. "…"

"Cat, I'm not exactly like the Cullens. Yes, some of them committed crimes, but Jasper does not even match the things I've done and the things I can do. I've tested. I killed predators because I was having fun doing it. I liked sucking blood from my criminals and listening to their nervous heartbeats when they knew I was coming. I liked the adrenaline that came to me through them. I was lying and trying to pretend that I wasn't a murderer, myself, just to keep my only family safe. Edgar, Henry, Cavina, and a good number of others. I should've taken Edgar's warning seriously... he'd still be alive for his second wedding. He told me that I would feel guilty, so much so that I would just dismember the floorboards to expose all my morbid secrets, inspired the story. The horrible part is that after I stopped, I found Astrid, and she tricked me into killing a lot of men in her little game. I didn't realize that until after the day she cheated on me." He sighed and confided, "Catalina, I learned 40,000 ways to kill a human in my first century, and that's only using my bare right hand. Using the same rip apart and burn method, I learned only 100 ways of killing a vampire. There is plenty more just by burning. That doesn't even count how many ways I can torture people alive or to death."

I blinked, frightfully comprehending.

Onyx saddened his eyes as he admitted, "I hate myself every day and, to try to forget, I cover up with current social media events to repay my brother for putting him through all my ugly mess. For the sake of all the other people I love, too. I'm trying to live a childhood that I might have had if I had only listened to Henry and my late friend long ago. And the Volturi knows this... I would never be so disrespectful in front of them. I don't want to be used again."

A contract killer? The label punched through my chest with a sharp pang. Ozario knows more than 40,000 ways to kill a human being with only his right hand... Used… I don't know how to respond to something like this. That wasn't the real Ozario. It couldn't be. I looked down at my hands.

"I am extremely sorry. I was supposed to tell you before today... I just didn't know how you would think of me. I'm a dick for not telling you," he said apologetically.

"I mean you have one, but I don't think you are one," I mumbled.

He puffed out a breathy chuckle and then peeped at me. "Cat, I look up to you. I'm looking up to my brother, too, but you ... Oh, my goodness. You're so much better and different than me. Regardless of what happened to the people you cared for, you can break through your pain and stay as this strong woman I get the honor of being next to every day. I don't think I'm as open-minded or as passionate as you. I-I'm still learning ... So, please, if you forgive me, can you be patient?"

"You open up more than you think you do," I noted out loud.

Onyx looked at me, then back at the road. "Huh?"

I smiled at him, touching his hand on the gear shift stick. "Oni, I still don't see you differently from what I saw earlier today. I love you because you've shown me who you really are. You're the reason I stay strong. I mean, I still want to go insane, sometimes, as before. However, as long as we keep each other strong, things are going to be okay, right? Ozario, let go of the past and please forgive yourself. I know you don't, but because your brother loves you, he already has. So, it's only you who must forgive you."

He smiled kindly. "How is it that I lived longer than you and you're wiser than I am," he chuckled. "Thank you, Catalina… I'll try."

"You will do or I will punch you," I assured.

Ozario smiled and grabbed my hand, holding it for the rest of the ride home. "I saw that you spoke with the pack."

"They're pretty cool." I shrugged. "Apparently, Bella is the vampire girl, Emily is the wolf girl - who funny enough has the same last name as me, and I'm the hybrid goddess."

Slowly, Ozario looked at me. "Goddess?"

I nodded. "I'm too hot for 'girl.' I'm getting my name recognized."

Surprised, Ozario's jaw dropped while he kept smiling.

I flung my free hand in the air. "What? You called me that this morning!"

"I know! I'm glad you used it," Ozario laughed. "That freakin awesome."

When we got home, Ozario opened the door for me to get out. Henry walked up to me and Ozario with a calm face. He smiled at Oni, patting his shoulder. As Ozario walked away from us, Henry gave me his thumbs up.

"Thanks, Cat. He never gets over it, especially on his birthday."

Ooohhh! That's why we didn't ride together, I acknowledged. I smiled at the two of them walking inside, and I followed. The three of us were standing in front of the stairs. Henry poked my shoulder, and I winked at him. Then Henry pushed Ozario to the floor. Hen picked me up and ran upstairs to the room with the fireplace. Ozario chased us.

"I am so going to get you guys back! I hope…you-!" Ozario became stunned all of a sudden.

Henry set me down on the floor and we joyfully shouted, "Happy Birth-Valentine-Born… DAY!"

Hen and I were standing beside a harp of gold and black that stood in the center of the room. Our family still tried to decorate it with ribbons, but stopped and posed merrily by dropping some on the ground. With an impressed expression on his face, Ozario's head slanted. As his eyes were latched onto the lovely instrument before him, Onyx was at a loss of words. By his reaction, I became super excited. Ozario, looking at everybody, gleefully walked up to the harp. The smooth edge of the column was touched by his hand and his eyes glanced down immediately at the harp with a peaceful expression conquering his face. The manner in which Onyx reacted to his gift ... It's like he had drifted into his own new world. Onyx strummed a few notes and nodded in satisfaction afterwards.

"Hey, loser! Don't just stare at it. Play something," yelled Henry!

I laughed at his enthusiasm. "Play something. Please, Onyx?"

Ozario narrowed his eyes at us. "SsssSSSsshhhhh. Let me savor this moment. I must experience this... Moment over!"

He sat down on the seat that came with the instrument and began strumming random notes. To make it sound better, Ozario tuned it carefully. While he took care of the harp, everyone became comfortable. Beyond realistic response, Henry was overly excited. To see why he was so happy, I tapped his shoulder.

"You okay," I asked, sarcastically?

Hen nodded, violently. He explained, "Yes! This will be the first time for everyone to see the Ozario I know. He's a Celtic god — voice and everything. It seems like he's rough around the edges, but it's just a show, because he's just... I don't know. Too careful? This is the only time that I see him at peace, except when he is with you. I think I like him closer to you, though, better than with music. You're bringing out the sides that I've never seen in all my 200 years putting up with him."

I smiled toward Ozario. "Really," I whispered?

"He becomes relaxed around you more than anyone he has ever been with. Don't you feel it too? His aura just… gets stronger," Henry reminded me of the feeling I've always had with Oni.

Since Ozario and I met, he's always had this peaceful, large aura around him. A restless classroom becomes calmer and more relaxed the second he walks in. I never felt any tension or any signs of hostility around the room when Onyx was there. When we sleep next to each other, it's not just physical peace, it's mental relaxation. Even before I moved in, the day he kissed me for the first time, my nightmares were almost completely gone by that night. When he posed as a wolf to see me at night, it felt so calming and warm that when I got to my room, all I wanted to do was sleep and never wake up. The day we got attached to the red string was the morning when he had finally relaxed and opened up to me. It made his aura stronger. He had truly let me in. It was easy to return that.

Sometimes, Ozario can be a bit ruthless, but that's not really him. He's a playful person, but he can be a tease. He tries to keep me happy at all times. Ozario has always opened up ever since he learned that he could without being judged. He was so much more than what he divulged, wasn't he? I would love seeing him play his music if it was part of the real him long ago. The side that Henry had a chance to experience before all of us.

Henry placed his hand on my shoulder. "Cat, I'm sure you helped him let go, hopefully. The asshole only listens to you now," he joked, but I knew what he meant.

"Mm!" I blinked.

Ozario paused for a moment and bit his lip. "Uh… Sorry. I don't know what to play. I guess, it will come to me."

"Go ahead." Henry waved his hand.

I moved to the floor closer to Ozario. What would happen if I did? His presence felt drastically different. Extremely happy and his aura was so much like a paradise that by the time I sat down, I felt like I was floating instead. I smiled because I was allowed to feel what he was feeling. Was he relaxed like that because of me? Onyx was smiling as he strummed some of the strings now in tune. The song he played sounded a bit familiar. I've heard this before.

Ozario was observing me. I close my eyes to hear his divine ambrosial notes dancing beautifully in my mind. I opened my eyes, seeing the side of Ozario that I had never seen since being here. I saw his hands move ever so gracefully than I thought they'd ever move. The language of Onyx's body was most manly, yet more gentle than I ever thought I would see from him. He was an entirely different person from what I could tell, than what I had grown to. I was hoping to see more of this side in our future. Hopefully!

Onyx opened his lips and his tenor voice was the most romantic blessing ever given to my ears by God, "Ten encontré... De cara al amanecer... Y sin dudar... Supe que había encontrado un hogar... Quizás, algo dentro de mi... Logre vencer El miedo de volver a caer... Mi error Si pierdo tu corazón... Pero si estás Mis dudas de pronto se van... A tu lado... Me he pasado la vida esperando y no me arrepiento de amarte tanto si la eternidad Llega antes de que salga el sol..."

To balance him and harmonize, I began singing a relaxed soprano, "Time stands still... Striking in all he is... I will be brave... I will not let anything take away... What's standing in front of me... Every breath... Every hour has come to this... One step closer..."

Ozario and I sing,

"I have died every day waiting for you. {Me he pasado la vida esperando y)

Darling, don't be afraid I have loved you. {No me arrepiento de amarte tanto)

For a thousand years, {Si la eternidad)

I'll love you for a thousand more... {Llega antes de que salga el sol)"

[By Leroy Sanchez on YT]

Everyone was watching Ozario's magic as we sang a duet together. He was truly a musical demigod. He hypnotized and tempted his audience into the embrace of paradise. Onyx grinned because he could see how pleased we felt with his performance. I could see and feel it. He really had a perfect gift and he was truly a man that any woman would adore. His voice was absolutely gorgeous and seductive; and it seemed that even the plants in the room swayed.

The music had come to a slow halt. Ozario stood up, held my hand, and helped me stand. Together, we bowed, giggling. We were cheered by the family, mostly for him. So, it's not just that Ozario was a butler in the past. He used to be like this all the time, naturally. He probably enjoyed doing it for many people, just like his story. That is fascinating, especially when, at the weirdest moments, he was impolite. He even lived his dream as a musician later on, right? The dream was, disappointingly, stolen away from him ... By Astrid? It was sad to think of that. But now that he's got a new harp, he could play it any time he wanted. I was curious how to piece together what actually happened to him. And why did he become so... broken? Is he ever going to let go of those old pains and regrets? In the end, I understood why he was so guarded. Ozario was more complicated than I anticipated. He smiled at me and kissed my cheek.

Sweetly, he whispered in my ear, "Thanks for joining in, Cati."

"Hey! You know how I get when you do that," I replied, wiggling the tickle in my ear.

Ozario turned to me. "How did you get this anyway," he asked? "I never told you my favorite instrument."

"Um…" I hummed.

I remembered a flashback from earlier this week. Well, it was Henry and I, sitting on the couch playing cards against humanity, and he was winning. Do you remember when I said that Henry and I talked just a few days ago, and unfortunately, we weren't really talking, talking, talking? So, in other words, I've never really heard enough of his voice before the terrifying stories? Well, this flashback was that day. We dared to see how long we could talk like chickens when everyone left the house to feed. Jacob's pack was going to Sam's house for a while that day, it was an event going on. So, it was just Hen and I. If I understood right, this is how it went.

I said, "BA! Cluck, click, cluck, BAAA!"

He said, "Baa?"

I said, "BaCoOC!"

Both of us went, "mmm…" while rubbing our chins.

Henry had an idea! "BacoOCK! Bac…"

I gave a thumbs up and he nodded. We left home to pick up the instrument, but it took a while, you see. We had a tough time telling the store clerk about the colors and the price we were looking for. Eventually and initially, I came up with a drawing solution that put our worries to rest while Henry babbled with the clerk. I lifted the notepad I had to show my chicken pictograms to the disoriented man behind the counter.

"Oh! I'm good at this." The clerk squinted his eyes at the row. "We... would like... to buy aaaaaa... harp, right?"

I nodded.

"Ah! Right this way!"

The tall man walked down to us from the stairs of one level. The clerk was sort of cool to put up with our shenanigans. He showed us a range of harps, but Henry selected the one he knew his brother would love the most by pointing it out. He tried and liked the black and gold harp. After drawing again, I raised the pictograms to the clerk.

"Hm..." The man said rubbing his chin. "Weeee... will take it?"

Yeah! Yeah! Oh! Wait! Wait! Wait! I raised my finger very quickly so I could add a few more pictures to the notepad and then lift it back up.

"I meant to say... purchase so I drew a picture of caaassh. Yeah?"

I happily nodded.

The clerk fistpumped and happily shouted, "Man, I am GOOD at this game! Nice money fold by the way. Let's let ya have it then!"

I clapped and smiled. At the register, since Henry picked, I wanted to buy it. Then we left. By the way, I WON on my way home! Oh, yeah! Henry nearly dropped the darn harp by removing it from his truck and muttered a cursed word.

"Ooooo," I yelled and pointed at him!

"Awww," he grunted.

Back to the birthday thing...

I responded to Ozario, "Let's just assume that there were a lot of chickens that crossed the rode the day we got this." I held out my praying hands, pointing them to Onyx's chest, and my head tilted to the side.

Ozario looked at Henry, who laughed really hard. Onyx glanced back at me and nodded. "Let me guess… Chicken talk."

We nodded to confirm. Oni shook his head, then simpered. "Thanks guys. I love you both and wouldn't ask for anybody better."

Astrid, batting her eyes, slid beside Ozario. She started her snide clapping for him and his performance. I raised an eyebrow to see what disturbing thing she was planning on this time. In all my days, I had never met a woman that's so odd in my life ... besides me, but that's not the point. She becomes excessively, unbearably flirty when she is around Ozario. She really lived on the edge, and I mean, at the very top of the list with all the fake girls I've come across in my life. I'm glad she came to help me find my identity, but now that I knew, I suppose things had gone back to normal for the Cullens. To me, it was hard to watch her be around Onyx.

"Wow! Happy Birthday and Valentine's Day, Ozzi! Bravo, Ozario, Bravo," she calmly cheered.

Ozario lowered his eyelids and turned his head a little away from her. "Umm… thanks," He mumbled dully. "Where have you been lurking?"

"The shadows of love, my dear..." She touches Oni's ear, and I started twitching a little.

Onyx pulled her hand a little rough from his face. "Are you alright," he asked?

"Yea! I just miss what happened long years ago on this-."

"Don't ever…" Ozario cut her off. His voice was harsh until he sighed and said, "I don't want to be reminded."

Henry whispered just too low in my ear and it barely reached me, "On this day, Ozario proposed to her years ago. He hadn't celebrated his birthday because of our parents at first. She made an even worse reason why."

My brows bent in sadness. He's never celebrated his birthday until now?

"Aww…" Astrid turned to me and perked up. She asked, "Cat, when is your birthday?"

"…Uuuuh~" For a second, I looked around to think. I, honestly, do not remember. That's why my birthday has never been celebrated. That's why it was special when mom got me a car for that day, a year ago. I truly don't know. "U-um."

Astrid stared at me and waited, her mouth hanging open. I knew she was judging like, "how does one not know?" Henry pulled her gently to the side to talk. Astrid was so confused, and Henry was, too. Ozario raised my chin and pecked his lips on mine. I blushed at the feeling that I had, and smiled. I looked at Astrid, noticing that she was also looking at my direction. To answer her question, I shrugged in confusion. With a sign of sympathy on her face, she nodded.

Alice joined in the conversation, "That's right... You didn't even know your proper age until that video. It seems as though you haven't changed since then either. You must have stopped aging too. You are one of us… so it is likely. So, why don't we celebrate your birthday this year? You can pick any day you want!"

While I was thinking of a day, I shook my head and made a funny face. "Uhhh… Nn… Umm…"

Skuld, giggling at me, touched my shoulder. "Or, why don't you ask Urdur when your birthday is, Cat? She remember every single past."

I glanced at Urdur. I had totally forgotten that she knew all the events of the past. Since she has been here, she had never once used her ability, so it would be helpful right now. She conversed with Edward. So, I went to them to ask. She ran and hugged me tightly before I got any closer. I was tense, but, strangely enough, I felt refreshed and then she let me go.

Slowly, a smile appeared on my face as she began to clap and jump excessively. "Yay!" She shouted, "You finally asked me something!"

My smile dropped. "But, I-I didn't… even..."

"It's June 20th! You're a Gemini, Cati! Aren't you glad you're almost 100% compatible to Aquarius!" Urdur pressed her hands to her right cheek. She seemed so thrilled about it. But, why did it matter?

Verdandi, in a spectacular giggle, looked at Ozario. She exclaimed delightedly,"Aw! You imprinted on your compatible sign!"

The three fates shouted in unison, "Sooo, cute!"

I looked at Ozario, who once again palmed his face. Onyx's face had gone so red that his laughter could not be held back. I smiled too. Because of him, my cheeks burned almost contentedly. Oh! Aquarius. Supposedly my most compatible and best marital sign. Henry joined them and began screaming about how cute we were. With the most adorable expression I had ever seen from him, Ozario started hiding behind his harp. He rubbed his top lip with his fingertips, a sideways grin of annoyance. He really isn't how he disguises himself to be, is he? I love this Onyx. In fact, he was really cute. Whenever he gets any ideas about teasing me again, I might use this. Muahaha!

Ozario spoke in a soft tone, "Ugh… Stop already. I got it. Cat and I are compatible zodiac signs. Great."

"Wait, but aren't I supposed to be a cancer? I thought my zodiac ended before the 20th," I questioned?

Urdur took a random magazine out of her back and opened it. I gaped at her. Urdur said that, "If you were three minutes late, you would've been. Catalina, you are right between the Gemini sign and the Cancer sign. This would explain why you act like a cancer sometimes."

I jerked my head back. "What?"

"Well, during the switch, you were born under the planet moon of cancer, which happens in some rare cases. You were also born one second before Gemini ended. Normally, where the two signs were touching." She gasped! "You are even a hybrid in the month of your birthday! Uh, cool! A rare Gemicanceni, you are!" When fanning herself, Urdur created a funny looking smiley face on herself.

Everyone's jaw dropped at how stupid that sound.

Skuld patted her shoulder and commented, "I'm pretty sure that's not how zodiacs work."

Urdur returned the same gesture, "For Cati it does."

"Cancer is the 22nd of June to the 22nd of July. Catalina was born on the 20th. And here I thought you knew past events." Verdandi shook her head.

"I know what I'm talking about! Before the 21st, the moon of Cancer appears, so Gemini and Cancer touch all of that day. I watch the birth of Catalina everyday like a proud mom. Don't you correct me," Urdur yelled with confidence!

My eyes widen and I cocked my head to the side.

"Okaaaay." Ozario walked up to me and took my hand.

Since everyone was busy talking about the zodiac signs, he compelled me to leave with him using his index finger. Onyx and I snuck out of the house to hang out in the woods. The creek. In white, the moon lit up brightly. It was full to the brim, and it was a little big. The forest looked brighter than usual because of the white streams. Ozario and I were walking on a water trail above the gravel. The water was low so only the soles of the shoes were wet. He held my hand for himself, swinging it like a swing in a playground. His reddish hair in the breeze. My black hair kept getting in my eyeballs.

"Thanks for the gift, Cat. I appreciate it… But you didn't have to get me that much."

"I should say the same to you. Your giftsss for me are still in the basement for goodness sake," I reminded, chuckling.

Tonight, Ozario was a little more radiant as he spoke, "Well, the Gemicanceni deserves to be spoiled today."

I looked up at him, cringing. "It's your birthday. You should be the one spoiled. Not me." It's not a matter of consideration or anything, but the fact that it was his birthday. He was born on February 14th, which was amazing.

Onyx shrugged and said, "I don't care too much about material things unless they're useful. Like birthday stuff? Whatever. I just like having fun whenever and I did today. My new Harp and ring were the best gifts I ever received in my hundreds of years."

That's what changed my mind about going to Kyle's party, knowing that I hated being in crowded places. Ozario asked me to be his date as a birthday gift. It's how I found out about his date of birth. That week, I was searching all over the place to make today as great as possible. I came up with the idea of a ring, but he beat me with more than that instead. Still, I'm glad Ozario had a great birthday and Valentine this year. He was genuinely happy. He truly deserved to be.

Ozario stopped behind me. "Catalina, the greatest gift of all was accepting me as I am. I have no idea what you thought, but you have a beautiful mind. I'm glad I've opened myself to you."

I smiled at him and placed my hand on my heart. "Aw. Somebody is being mushy," I teased.

Ozario smiled and shook his head. "Oh! I think I got the job at Blue?"

Excited, I lit up. "The place we went on our date!?"

We started walking again.

"Yeah."

I bounced up. "Cool!" Pausing the walk, I noticed, "But you sound unsure."

Onyx shrugged. "I'm sure but it's creepy because they act like I'm the manager already. What about the costume store downtown? Did you get it?"

Ozario and I began to walk again. I unfortunately answered, "No."

"Why not."

"Hellooo! Princess," I brushed off. "I don't need a job."

From the corner of his eyes, he looked down at me like an upset parent. "Cat."

"Okay, okay. They said I had the position... took it and gave it to someone else. It would've been best to have been a stock person I guess," I finally fessed up.

"Nooo. Can they do that," Ozario complained?

I shrugged. "If they forget. Oh, well. I'll just focus on school for now anyway. I'm stable enough to wait until it's over."

"Alright."

"Onyx." I tugged his sleeve. "Let's go to bed, okay?"

"Kay." He smiled back.

We headed back home. I really hope Ozario will soon let go of his past. A lot of people are not going to understand him. Those who would and would like to change like him, who would give them a second chance to do so? If no one else were to give Ozario a chance, I still would.

Ozario and I walked inside the house. Everyone was still trying to convince Urdur that a Gemicanceni did not exist as a zodiac. Sigh. Edward walked beside us, shaking his head. He laughed at the nice conversation. I stuffed my hand in the pockets of my pants, merely watching. Ozario's arms crossed his chest. Onyx seemed to be planning something. It was written in his eyes. His sideways bottom lip was twisted, eyebrows furrowed, and eventually he started rubbing his earlobe, which I had noticed was a sign of his interest or curiosity in something.

Edward turned to him and said, "I think that's a great idea. I could tell everyone when this dies down."

Ozario nodded with a smile. "Splendid. I'll be right back. Come on, Catalina. Let's put you to bed for school."

I glance between the two. "Huh?"

"Your birthday," Onyx whispered in my ear.

"Oh." My top lip twisted. "Aren't you going to bed with me?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. I've got a plan to pitch."

Onyx took my hand and guided me to our bedroom upstairs. We said goodnight, before he left to go back downstairs to the others. I lay in bed, hearing echoes of everyone chatting and whispering. Strange, my hearing had become stronger tonight than usual. Hm. I got up from bed to get a pen and paper to draw and distract myself a little bit. I couldn't mess up their plans, right? It seemed that the dresser in front of the mirror had plenty of pencils. I first checked to see if there were any. Like those Zelda games, I held one up and laughed at myself afterwards. Ugh. Geek.

I checked the drawer for paper inside the art desk. A notepad I could use was there. I lay sideways on the bed after collecting those items. As I opened the front page, there was Ozario's handwriting on it. The word "Reason" was the only thing written on the first page. My fingers rubbed over it. I flipped to the next page and a list was labeled "DEATH." I read a few lines, realizing that unless they were mentally deranged. This list had every morbid thing someone could never come up with. To get out of that horrifying thing, I had to flip a lot of pages. At the sight of those words, my face churned and wrinkled. The last one I saw nearly made me vomit.

I got to the page labeled "LIFE" and started reading some of it. It was so beautiful that everything listed below almost masked all those demonic things I had just read. I didn't know he fought American segregation in the 1900's. I reached the last page, not knowing until now that I had read all 14 pages in full. I was the last thing listed on the "Life" list. Why am I on the list? It was simply my name, as big as the signature of John Hancock. Nothing else. Ozario snatched the notepad from my hands. I jumped up from the action.

In a hostile, low pitch, Onyx stated, "I thought you were supposed to be going to sleep."

I lifted my hands in surrender. "Sorry, sorry!" Lowing my hand, I admitted, "I was looking for something to draw on because I could hear all of you... and I came across your notepad. What is it for?"

Ozario looked at his notepad. In his mind, I knew he was like, "Whatever..." from the shrug and then handed it back to me.

He started rubbing his forehead. "Cat… You're more intelligent than that. I know you've already figured that out by reading the titles."

I thought about the titles and all of the things I had read. "You were… giving yourself reasons to live or die… Why," I inquired?

Ozario shrugged. "Why not? Sometimes no one would give a person any reason, especially when you really need it ... so, you just have to write it down yourself – be that person. Take all the terrible things you've done in your life and all the good things you've done; live long enough until you're finally satisfied with the results on the paper. If living is more prominent, then ... you will carry on living." Ozario laid himself down on the bed and again moved the notepad from my grasp.

I scowled at him. "If you don't?"

Ozario covered his face with his arm. Nonchalantly, he replied, "You see nothing but darkness underneath six feet of dirt… If you're lucky."

I snatched up the notepad and turned some pages.

"Aye!" Sitting up, Ozario tried to figure out what the heck I was doing.

I grabbed the pencil and began to come up with 25 additional reasons why Ozario need to live. In confusion, Ozario looked down at his opened hand, then back at the notes with a smile. He grabbed the items from me and began to write his own reasons to carry on. We were talking and writing till I fell asleep.

I yawned, "You had something to tell me today?"

Ozario looked down at my eyes as he caressed my hair. He pause writing. "What?"

Shrugging, I tried to remind him, "I don't know. People kept asking us things today... (Yawn) so I thought you wanted to ask me something."

Ozario took a second to think. "Oh! Oh... Um... Just... Don't worry about it," He brushed off. "Today is not the day."

"You suuure," I drawled out

Onyx laid his nose by my left temple. "Yea. Besides, you're falling asleep."

"Goodnight," I murmured.

I felt heat on my cheek and a soft chuckle reached my ears. He was happy.