Indecisive and unmotivated, that is how Kurapika felt. He'd gotten no leads that would bring him to another pair of scarlet eyes. Not to mention that, although he'd just taken down two more Spiders, he'd been pushed so close to death from the fight that it made him doubt his power. Admittedly, he noticed that he had grown a bit prideful after he managed to take down one of the strongest of the Spiders, the one who called himself Uvogin. He truly believed he could take all of the Spiders just as easily- his pride blinded him and he forgot his strategy. It was an unwise decision to take down two Spiders at once, and although in the end he got to feel the ultimate gratification of victory over the ones who took away everything he loved… he also felt incredibly stupid. Pride was not a trait he felt represented who and what he was. Frankly, he disgusted himself.

He hardly slept or ate and his body ached, but he had run out of money now and could no longer pay for the hotel room that he had himself cooped in. So, after taking advantage of the amenities an hour before checkout time, he left the hotel into the Lakeside City's streets, freshly showered, broke, and with nowhere to go. He wandered to the outskirts of the city with his shoulder bag clutched to his side. As he made his way toward the railroad, his surroundings became more desolate. The streets became quiet. From time to time, he'd see disheveled and shady passerbys and the occasional homeless camp in the alleyways of the old buildings. Suddenly, the world around him became very dim as the sun was covered by thick and heavy looking grey clouds. Then, there was a booming clap of thunder once he reached the train station. As a result, droplets of rain began to fall rather mercilessly. He quickly took refuge beneath a wooden structure nearby where benches were lined, clearly meant for travellers waiting to board the upcoming train. He sat and set his bag beside him, shivering as mist and cold air grazed his skin. Despite the miserable conditions, he actually felt comforted by the sound of the splattering raindrops hitting the ground. And that was when he suddenly remembered words from a good friend.

'The pitter patter of rain appeals to us humans because it reaches us primally. Unlike the sun, the moon, the stars… rain isn't always there. But, it'll always return- it'll always return to water our crops, quench our thirst and cool us in the most brutal temperatures. But also, to sing to us its song of melancholy and remind us that it is perfectly okay to cry.'

Melody, somehow, always knew what to say to make him feel just a little better about things. About himself. He remembered her speaking these words at a time where he was feeling particularly grim. And, although words couldn't solve his problems, it did make him look at things differently. Sometimes when Melody would talk, his foggy mind would clear and he knew exactly what needed to be done.

He wondered: If he called her now, would she pick up?

He rifled through his bag and pulled out his cellphone. He tapped the power button and dialed her number. For just a second, it rang. However, a moment later, he hung up.

He'd forgotten that she was in an entirely different continent and, wherever she was, it was probably very late at night. He'd hate to be a burden.

So, what now?

He grit his teeth and clenched his fists. Why did his heart have to feel so heavy and distract him from his goals? Why did his brain have to constantly taunt him- why did his memories have to constantly haunt him? The Spiders, the Auction, the scarlet eyes… They were all so important, but the thoughts were so consuming that he couldn't decide what needed to be done next. He closed his eyes and held his head in his hands.

He was just so tired.

He wanted to sprawl onto the bench and sleep, but there was a sudden presence in front of him that wasn't there before. His eyes snapped open and he gasped. As he stood in surprise, his phone slipped from his hand to the ground and shattered. The hooded figure shuffled backward and looked up to him with wide brown eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

Kurapika hardly felt any threatening aura from the figure, who spoke in a whisper of an adolescent voice. But, still, he followed him with his eyes as he bent to pick up the scattered remains of his cellphone. He stood and looked at the figure quizzically. Something was certainly off about the boy. He was short and skinny, yet did not shiver in the rain. And, the way that he suddenly appeared implied that the child knew how to hide his presence proficiently. But, he was a child nonetheless. Kurapika offered him a weak smile.

"Can I help you?" Kurapika asked hesitantly, pulling his bag toward his backside and stepping back. The boy's features were shadowed by the hood of his ragged cloak and Kurapika simply could not see what he looked like. He looked around in effort to see if anyone was with him- A parent perhaps? But, no. Besides the two of them, the station was otherwise vacant. "...Are you lost?"

"That's actually what I wanted to ask you, sir." Said the whispering boy. "You see, this railroad is no longer in use."

"...Oh."

He looked down at his feet and clenched his fists again. He wanted to curse and scream but he just couldn't do such a thing in front of some random child on the street. He cleared his throat and avoided the boy's empty eyes.

"Um, if you want, there's someone I know who would offer you a warm place for the night." Said the boy in a more upbeat whisper. From his pocket, the boy pulled a little white business card and offered it to Kurapika, who took it and examined it. In elegant black cursive, it read:

White Witch Oracle

202 Beverly Ave

Let light shine on your path

"Real nice lady." Said the whispering boy. "She likes to take care of people. She's a psychic, too."

Kurapika blinked and looked at the boy skeptically. He had no reason to believe this kid was dangerous, but he also couldn't prove that he was telling the truth. He couldn't sense anyone else besides the boy so he knew, at the very least, he wouldn't be ambushed. He needed shelter, that much was certain. He thought perhaps he could be worth listening to. Certainly nothing horrible could happen so long as he kept his guard up, right?

He wouldn't usually do this, but he decided he'd make an exception. There was something about the boy that felt familiar to him. And, as eerie as the boy was, Kurapika felt safety radiating from his aura.

"...Would you take me there? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with this place… clearly." he glanced sideways at the abandoned discontinued railroad. "And, I don't know where Beverly Avenue is."

The boy laughed innocently. It was a familiar laugh. Kurapika couldn't put a finger on it, but this boy reminded him of someone he knows. "Of course I can. It's just a block away. I could bring you now if you don't mind the rain."

Kurapika nodded while smiling genuinely. His gut told him to be hesitant and cautious, and he was. But, his heart told him something different that he didn't quite understand. He followed the boy out into the heavy rain, exiting the station towards the empty brick road. He watched the boy as they walked together silently, making sure to watch his movements carefully. That was when Kurapika noticed something odd. His arms, which were the only exposed part of his body that could be seen, were just so pale; not stark white, but a greyish and sickly tone. Kurapika could even see his blue veins that trailed from the boy's elbows to his fingertips which were uncurled and relaxed at his sides. He wondered if the boy could have cloaked himself to hide his sickly appearance. Then, suddenly, the boy stopped in front of Kurapika so abruptly that he nearly ran into him. Kurapika looked around.

It was the only building with any lights on, and it certainly stood out beside the rest of the decaying buildings of the abandoned city district. Unlike those buildings, this one had its glass perfectly intact, and showcased what looked like dried flowers that hung from the ceiling, herbs in round shaped bottles and crystals that glittered. There was also strange symbolic imagery that featured triangles, angels and humanoids with hooved feet. It was elegant and mysterious at the same time. He leaned in and squinted through the glass door to see if anyone was inside. He couldn't see any movement.

"Hey, are you sure-"

But, when Kurapika turned, the boy was simply no longer there.

He blinked and spun around, droplets of rain flying from his wet hair. He couldn't believe it. The boy just up and vanished. His presence- Kurapika could no longer sense it. He was absolutely certain that there was no one around now besides himself and the aura of a stranger inside of the strange building. How could he let that happen? How could he let himself become so distracted?

It seemed to him now that he had no other option, the rain fell harder now and it almost pinched his skin as it shot down at him from the sky. A jingle from a bell above the door was heard as he pushed it open. His wet shoes squeaked on the hardwood floor as he entered. He looked out into the rain from the warmth of the building, expecting the boy to turn up any minute… but he just didn't.

Everything, if not mostly everything, was colored stark white. In front of him in the small boho-styled room was a long dark table covered in a white lacy cloth, detailed with a decorated pentacle in the center. On top of which sat a huge pearlescent and clear crystal ball that reflected the light from the hanging jeweled chandelier above. On the other side of the table was a large and deep wicker chair with a white blanket folded neatly over its rose colored cushion. Behind that was stairs that lead to the upper part of the building, decorated with mirrors that were cut to resemble stars and crescent moons. Bookcases lined the walls filled with books, crystals, plants and what seemed to be religious idols. A lot of items in the room seemed old and worn, yet recently placed- as in, not a single speck of dust could be seen.

"I'll be right down!"

Fumbling could be heard from upstairs, footsteps that paced around until there was a sudden thud ("Ouch!") Then finally, they circled around and approached the stairs. A short and small structured girl descended the stairs slowly. Kurapika was a bit taken aback, he expected- or assumed- to find a kooky old lady cooped up in such a place. Not such a young and pretty girl.

She couldn't have been much older than himself. Her facial features were almost fairy-like, with high rosy cheeks and a little pointed nose. She had milky white hair that reached the base of her hip and pale white skin to match. She would have blended in into her surroundings had it not been for the brown knit shawl that she wore. Her skirt was long and stopped just above her ankles, made clearly from a lacy off-white fabric. "Oh, dear." She said with a dreamy voice that reminded him of Melody. "You're shivering." She walked to him quickly, snatching the blanket from the wicker chair and extended it out to him with a smile and worried eyes. Kurapika hesitated, he found himself lost in her eyes for a moment. Instead of color in her iris, she had circular discs that resembled mirrors. Her eyes were literally reflective, as in, Kurapika could literally see his own face in her eyes.

"Go on, take it."

He snapped out of his trance and accepted the blanket. The girl circled the table and pulled up a second chair to the table, motioning for him to sit. Instead, Kurapika looked back out the window. What just happened? He slowly sat into the chair. The girl furrowed her brow and stood next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Sir? Let me help you."

"There was a boy…"

"Huh? You'll have to speak up. Goodness, you're shaking." She took the blanket from his hands and wrapped it around his shoulders. Her touch felt motherly and tender. He felt safe. But what about the boy? Was he safe? He cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, but there was a child who brought me here. He said he knew you. He said that you'd might-"

"Oh, yes. I have a bed all made up for you. I expected you today." She stood and smiled brightly at him.

Kurapika stared out the window. "But, he's still out there. I thought he would come with me…"

There was another clap of thunder.

"Really? that's no good. It's raining cats and dogs. What did he look like?"

"Well, I didn't actually see what he looked like, He was wearing this big ragged cloak. But, he looked ill. He wanted to help me… I should go look."

"He wore a cloak?"

"Yes." Kurapika began to stand from his spot. "I have to go find him, make sure he's safe." But, before his legs could fully extend, she put a hand on his shoulder and gently pushed him back into his seat.

"No, no, no. Don't stand, please. There's nothing you can do now."

"What?!" Kurapika snapped. "There's a kid out there freezing-"

"Oh, honey. You don't understand what just happened, do you?" She looked at him with what seemed like pity in her eyes. She circled around the table and sat across from him. She attempted a smile. "It might come as a shock to you, sir. But, there was no child with you today."

"What the hell is wrong with you?! You'll let me in but keep a suffering child out in the cold? No, I don't want your help." He stood and turned toward the door.

But that was when she said something that gave him a visceral, full body experience.

"Blood red eyes. What does that mean to you?"

He froze where he stood. Who was this girl? Who was that boy? What was he doing here? How did she even know about the scarlet eyes? She couldn't have even seen his own with his contacts in. She sat at her spot in front of the glistening crystal ball, looking at him with sincere eyes. That was right. The boy outside said that she was a psychic. Was that true? Did this girl have powers like Neon Nostrade? Or was this some huge orchestrated gimmick to get a hold of his valuable eyes of scarlet?

"You're paranoid." Said the girl with such confidence that probably would have frightened him to some extent if it weren't for the fact that he sensed no hostility on her part. "Your name starts with a K, ends with an A… He told me before but he whispers. He's so quiet…" She pushed a strand of silvery hair from her eyes and pondered a moment.

"Kurapika of the Kurta clan. But you knew that already didn't you? You used some sick homeless boy off the street to lure me here. For what? Are you a Spider?" He circled the room angrily and stopped perhaps inches in front of her. But she looked at him with an empty expression and said nothing. He leaned in towards her with the intent to intimidate, raising his hand with a dangling chain. "Speak only the truth."

"You're paranoid, sir." She looked him in the eyes. "But, you have good reason to be." She smiled. "That was no sick homeless boy, Kurapika. I know it seems hard to believe. He was amongst the cloaked ones. A spectre. He brought you here because you need guidance. You're trapped in your head, indecisive. I can tell you what you need to do next. I can help you-"

"A spectre?" He scoffed. "You expect me to believe some ghost lead me here? What, so you could gain my trust and slaughter me in my sleep?!" He spat out his words with venom in his tone. His throat felt like it was collapsing in on itself, and his vision was red. The girl just sat and smiled. He shook his head. "I can find a bed elsewhere."

"Yes, you could." She looked down and began to trace the design in the fabric of the tablecloth with her fingertip. She gazed lazily into the crystal ball in front of her. "But, I'll tell you that if you do choose that path, you will be mugged in your sleep by a bald desperate man in a suit tie and khaki pants. You will awake at exactly 4:27am to find all of your belongings gone including…" She pointed to the bag on his hip. "The remains of your broken cell phone and the pair of scarlet eyes that you keep in a jar. And you'll lose- Oh." She stopped for a second and cocked her head as if there was someone behind her, whispering in her ear. "You're getting a call."

As if on cue, his phone vibrated in his bag. Confused, he reached inside to find that, despite nearly being shattered completely, his phone was indeed receiving a call. It was Melody. But, no matter how hard he pressed on the button to accept the call, it wouldn't work. In absolute disbelief, he looked at her again.

"I-I…" He stammered. There was no doubt in his mind that she was the real deal. There was no way that she could know about his scarlet eyes that he kept safely in his bag AND that he'd be expecting a call from Melody seconds before his phone even rang. His vision faded back to normal. Just what had gotten into him?

"I apologize." He backed away from her and slumped back into the chair. "I don't understand."

"You don't have to apologize, Kurapika." She smiled at him and hugged herself as if she was cold. "Most react far worse." She said as she reclined in her chair. "Also, I don't know what it means to be a Spider, just so we're clear."

"If you're a psychic, shouldn't you know everything?" He looked at her with exhausted eyes.

"Oh how I wish that was how it worked." She said with a laugh. "I'm sure I could figure that out with some time, and a great deal of energy. But it's much easier to ask, don't you agree?"

He didn't answer her question, instead he asked her a question of his own. "What should I call you, miss?"

"My name is Reika."

"Reika." He nodded and turned to look out the window once more. "That boy I saw couldn't possibly have been a ghost. He was flesh and bone. I could even see his veins… if you can explain that, I'm sure I'd be more inclined to trust you."

"My, you're hot and cold, aren't you? Well, I could explain but you wouldn't believe me regardless." She sighed and looked at him, her mirrored eyes reflecting the gaze of his own. "I'm not sure what else I could do to earn your trust. But, that isn't what you're here for, anyways."

"And what exactly am I here for?"

"Firstly, food." She stood from her spot. "Perhaps I can explain more over breakfast, hm?" She didn't even let him answer. "Stay here," She winked at him. "I'll bring down something to warm you up."

She sprung from her spot and hurried up the stairs and out of sight, leaving Kurapika alone in her eccentric room of oddities.

Needless to say, he was confused. But, relieved to be free from the cold storm. Could it be that the boy who led him here was truly a spectre from the other side? Kurapika just couldn't bring himself to believe that. But, there was no point going out to look at this point anyhow.

That boy was likely far away, like a whisper in the wind.

Author's notes:

Hello, I am back. Sorry about the slow buildup, but I feel like it was necessary to properly begin this story, I promise something much more interesting in the next chapter. Also, as a disclaimer, I own no characters from Hunter x Hunter besides my own original characters, Reika and Winona. Although I feel that goes without saying lol. Feel free to give me any feedback if necessary! I would also love if you left me some motivation 3 xoxo - Melon