The Stardrop Saloon was no Tourniquet, but Lilah could see the appeal it had for the little town. Everyone had their assigned spot on the old barstools, tables, and dance floor near the retro jukebox in the corner. The hardwood floors and dark wood paneling on the walls were warm and welcoming, reminiscent of a lodge at some (albeit small) vacation spot. The food was divine, the alcohol strong, and she regretted that she hadn't stopped in sooner.

Abigail and Sam were fine company, as well. Several rounds of Prairie King and Pool, laughing and cheering, had Lilah feeling as though they were already good friends. She'd been invited back next week to join them, though she wondered how Sebastian would feel about the idea.

Bleeding all over someone did not make a stellar first impression but she didn't realize he'd grown to dislike her so much as to leave when she walked into a room. She hoped he'd at least appreciated the sentiment of the gift even if he wanted nothing to do with her. She thought they got along well when they spoke last but maybe he was just being polite. The idea churned her up inside more than she thought appropriate.

"So, how's the farming coming along?" Abigail popped up beside her, chin rested against her knuckles and elbow propped on the counter. Sam leaned on the bar, drinking another cola and eyeing a dainty redhead sitting by the jukebox.

"It's not really," Lilah admitted, "though I have to get started soon so I can afford to have more repairs done. I'm surprised that old house is still standing."

"Even then, it takes a long time for stuff to grow doesn't it?" Abigail mused out loud.

"A few weeks at the quickest," Lilah agreed. "Maybe I can get a part time job. I used to be a bartender a couple years ago." She eyed the bar thoughtfully.

"Gus and Emily barely keep busy as it is most nights," Sam chimed in. "Friday's are good but only a couple of us come here on the regular since the place is only open during the later half of the day."

"I see," Lilah's shoulders deflated. Of course this place wouldn't be as bustling as the city. Not to mention, everyone that needed jobs already had them.

"There's always Joja Mart…" Sam said, drumming his fingers on his can of cola. "They pay about average, I work there part-time when I can remember to go in. But you have to decide if average pay is worth looking like Shane over there."

He nodded towards a man in the corner. An old partially unzipped hoodie concealed most of his form, his dark hair stuck up in some odd places, accenting the dark circles under his eyes and the 5 o'clock shadow that must have formed several 5 o'clock's ago. He hadn't spoken to anyone since Lilah had arrived, only downed beer after beer until he began to sway in his seat.

"I guess it'd be something," Lilah grimaced, looking into her own drink with a sudden apprehension before gently pushing it away. Abigail didn't seem convinced.

"There's got to be something else. I'd say my dad's place but he can be pretty hard to work with. I'm his blood and even I can't stand him as a boss." Abigail's nose scrunched up, pouting as she thought. Lilah smiled but shook her head.

"I'll figure it out. I'm a big girl," she promised, "but thank you. I'll do whatever I can and get the farm up and running in no time."

"Well, I'll be the first one to buy from you!" Abigail vowed.

"You'll have to fight my mom off," Sam interjected. "She's done nothing but talk about the farm since you showed up. She's nuts for fresh veggies."

"So, no pressure," Lilah laughed. As daunting as the task was, a new resolve settled in her gut. The people of Pelican Town really were happy to have a local farmer, even one as inexperienced as she. It was an odd idea to her but inspiring nonetheless.

They moved on to other topics about nothing in particular, more getting a better feel for each other until the night came to a close. Sam was the first to duck out, scrawling his number on a napkin and handing it to Lilah. Abigail flushed and hurried to write hers down too, all but demanding that Lilah text her first as it was only fair. Lilah couldn't contain her smile as she reached for her left pocket to retrieve her cell...and felt flat denim. The image of her shattered cellphone resting in the middle of the bus depot, the burn of her last defiance raw in her throat, came flooding back to her. For the first time, she had two new contacts to put into her phone...but it was gone. Her countenance fell.

"What's up? Forget your phone?" Abigail tilted her head. "I can text you instead so you can put it in when you get home. What's your number?"

"It's not that," Lilah tried to bring some pep back into her voice. "My phone broke when I was moving. I haven't been able to replace it yet."

"Sounds like a City trip is in order," Sam grinned. "I'll see if Seb wants to tag along."

Lilah paled.

"That'd be awesome! Lilah, what's your favorite spot? We should definitely hit it up while we're there!" Abigail grinned.

"Right…that's..." Nausea rolled in her stomach. Going back to the city so soon was as good as suicide, but there was no way she could tell them that. She opened her mouth, lips trembling, then bit them and swallowed against the sudden dryness in her throat. "I'll have to think about it. I can't afford to get a new phone yet, anyway."

"I guess that's true. Scratch that idea," Sam conceded, but he smiled. "Don't worry, once you get some money coming in we'll make a day of it."

Lilah forced a thin smile and nodded, standing from her stool and taking the number-inscribed napkin with her. She followed the pair out of the Saloon, gave her goodbye's and promised to stop by next week, attempting to smile despite the anxious thundering in her chest. She watched them split up and forced herself to head for home. She could only move slowly, at first.

The night was deafening in its silence when compared to the jovial atmosphere of the Saloon, and every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig shot through her nerves like lightning, as if the source of her fear would poke his head around every corner. Her pace quickened, her bandaged calf burned from the effort but it paled in comparison to the tension that traveled up her spine like needles.

"You're being stupid," she told herself. Rationally, she knew that the idea of returning to the city was the only reason her anxiety was running rampant—and now her imagination was too. She took a deep breath and covered her face. She was safe here, and she wasn't being forced to go back anyway. She could always come up with some excuse. She tried to focus on the fun she had, the rounds of arcade games, the laughter and serenity she hadn't felt in too long, and it calmed her enough to get her feet to slow.

Past the bus stop, it was only a short way to Haven, and her mind wandered to the idea of farming. Should she grow fruits, flowers, vegetables, or a combination? Should she keep animals? By the time she reached her cabin, the fear that plagued her was nearly completely dissipated.

Until she noticed her front door wide open.

Terror gripped her at full force as she stared into her home from the bottom of the steps. Had she not shut it properly? She wracked her brain, but she didn't recall if she had locked it. If she did, someone busted the door down and could be waiting for her, and there was only one person she could think of that would be so brazen. Her mind couldn't be controlled. It rolled through every terrible scenario it could conjure, both real and imagined, until it settled on one memory and wouldn't let go.

Emery sat on the sofa, watching the flames lick and devour the old canvas wallet. Cash, cards, and coins curled and melted, only visible through the small peephole burned through the side. He tapped his fingers against the arm of the sofa. The same beat.

one-two...three...four...one-two...three...four...

"Li~lah~," he sang. He beckoned her over with one finger, not even having to look at her to know she stood in the doorway, watching with wide frightened eyes. She stepped forward, eyes focused on his fingers as they continued to tap out a beat. When they stopped, so did her heart.

"That's a lot of money you've been keeping from me. What were you doing to get all of it?" His tone was terrifyingly conversational. Lilah's tongue felt thick, dry like styrofoam. She couldn't open her mouth to answer, but she knew it wouldn't matter what she said. Emery had already decided the truth for himself.

"Who were you doing to get all of it?" He asked.

"No one," she swore. Emery leapt off the couch, the fire reflecting in his dim green eyes. He gripped her hair in his fist and slammed her to the floor. Lilah bit her lip, copper exploding in her mouth but it stopped her from crying out.

"Don't lie to me!"

He dragged her by her hair, knocking her into the coffee table, until he held her face barely a few inches away from the dancing flames. She couldn't breathe without inhaling smoke, the heat seared her skin so painfully that she feared it would melt off.

"You worked so hard for it all, didn't you? You're going to let all that money go to waste? How many people did you fuck, you bitch?"

"I didn't," She choked out through smoke and tears. Emery pushed at her head and she screamed out a sob, bracing her hands on the floor to keep her face away from the fire. "Three!" She lied, and the pressure lessened.

"See? Was that so hard?" He released his grip and stroked her hair, but kept the pressure on the base of her neck. A loose strand fluttered down in front of her only to be reduced to ash. "Did you bring them back here? Did you whore yourself out in my bed?"

"No. I...I did it while I was out shopping." Each lie had bile rising in her throat.

"I knew it. Well, since you can't even bother to keep your legs shut in public, I guess you can't be trusted to even do something as simple as shopping. I'm afraid you're grounded, Sweetheart."

Lilah whimpered as he pulled her away from the flames and cupped her face in his hands. It hurt and Lilah dreaded what her face must look like. Maybe her skin had already melted off, leaving nothing but muscle and sinew. Maybe throwing herself into the fire was better than whatever would come next.

Emery gently shushed her, mockingly soft kisses searing her scorched face.

"I know how upsetting it is to lose all your hard earned money. And since you were such a good and honest girl for me, I'll let you keep it," he grinned. "Go on, kitten. Reach in and grab it." When Lilah didn't move, he laughed. "Don't you want it? You still might be able to save some of it." His face nuzzled against her neck, his coarse brown stubble pricking her like tiny thorns. "You just have to grab it...or you can earn it all back with me. What do you say?"

Even back then, she knew the decision shouldn't have been so hard to make.

She pictured her small shoebox being tossed into the fireplace, Emery grinning as it collapsed and burned in front of him. He'd tell her she had no choice, she couldn't survive without money so she'd have to come home. He'd drag her out kicking and screaming if he had to.

Lilah shook her head. There didn't seem to be a fire lit inside, her thoughts were just racing. Despite the terror gripping her every cell, she tried to reassure herself that it was merely a bad lock up. There was really no sign of anyone inside...

...then, something glass shattered in her kitchen.

Lilah turned on her heel and ran. She scrambled to keep her footing, survival instinct overpowering the pain, and fled towards town as fast as her legs would take her. She couldn't tell if there were footsteps following her, the pounding in her ears drowning out everything else, but she didn't dare look back until she passed Harvey's clinic.

Behind her, the trail was empty.

"Ooph!"

Lilah screamed and stumbled at the sudden collision, face-planting into a chest covered by thick cotton and infused with the scent of tobacco and sawdust. An arm caught her around the waist and stabilized her to keep them from tumbling down to the cobblestone street. She looked up, chest heaving with exerted breaths and the thundering of her heart.

Sebastian stared down at her, his dark brows raised in shock. A lit cigarette dangled precariously between his lips and he quickly caught it with his fingers before it fell on her, his other arm still secure around her back.

"Jeez, are you alright?" He looked towards the direction of the farm with a frown.

"It's you…" Lilah panted, anxiety and relief warring inside her. She hiccuped, trying to catch her breath and keep herself from dissolving into a blubbering emotional wreck.

"Shit, you're shaking," Sebastian led her over to a bench and tried to help her sit, but Lilah shook her head. Her thin fingers clutched at his hoodie, trembling against his chest.

"There's someone in my house. I mean, I didn't see them, but my door was open and—Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit , what if he followed me...what do I do if he...if he…?" Her voice was growing hysterical, higher pitched, Lilah distantly thought she might start screaming at any moment but she couldn't calm herself down.

"Hold on, hey!" Sebastian tossed his cigarette aside and tilted her face up with both hands, forcing her to look at him. His eyes were as dark as his hair, almost pitch black and solid. She felt as though she had been floating higher and higher away from herself in hysteria, only to come crashing back into her body when their eyes locked. "Breathe, okay? You're alright. No one followed you."

Lilah took a shuddering breath, then a second more solid one. The smoke smell still clinging to his hands wafted into her nose, oddly calming in a way she couldn't describe. It was a smell so opposite than what she expected. By the third and fourth breath, she had relaxed into Sebastian's hands and dared to close her eyes to further collect herself. When she opened them, Sebastian took a hard look at her face.

"You good?"

"Yeah." Lilah took a step back, her cheeks freezing when the warmth of his hands disappeared. "Sorry."

Sebastian shook his head and stomped out his discarded cigarette.

"Tell me what happened."

Lilah took another breath to steel herself.

"I walked home from the Saloon and my front door was open. I didn't see anyone but I heard something break inside so...so I ran."

Sebastian frowned.

"I can't think of anyone that would just break into your place. Well, not now that you're moved in anyway."

Abigail immediately came to mind and had she been in better spirits, Lilah might've laughed. As it stood, she was even more terrified that there were no local suspects. Her fears felt more realistic by the second.

"Alright. You want to wait here?" Sebastian asked. He nodded once towards the bench when she did nothing but furrow her brows in confusion. "You can sit there. I'll go check things out."

"No, I...I'll go with you." At Sebastian's arched eyebrow, she added, "I'll feel better seeing it for myself. I don't want you to go alone."

"I'm not the one running like a dragon was chasing me, but alright," Sebastian paused, then offered a hand, "Don't get separated. Whoever is there, there are a lot of places besides the house they could have run off to. Besides, seems like every time we meet, you end up bleeding. You shouldn't push it anymore."

Lilah looked down at her reddening bandage. If she ripped the stitches, it'd be brutal. Sheepish, she placed her hand in his. Bravery warmed between their palms and coursed through her skin, steadying her heart and mind. Sebastian's grip was firm, a reassuring heat that she wasn't alone. He walked at her pace, checking their surroundings every so often until they arrived at the cabin.

Sebastian retrieved his phone from his hoodie pocket and flipped on the flashlight. He scanned the area immediately surrounding the house before slowly making his way up the steps and inside. Lilah stuck close by, checking behind them for any signs of an ambush. So far, it was quiet.

"You have your electricity on yet?" He asked. Lilah nodded and found the switch on the wall. One flick and the whole of her residence was bathed in artificial light.

"Well, here's your broken object," Sebastian said, motioning to a shattered drinking glass in the middle of the kitchen floor.

"I left that on the counter to dry. How did it get knocked over?"

He hummed in thought and looked around. Everything else seemed in place from what Lilah could see. Not so much as a muddy footprint.

"Whoever was here, it looks like they're gone now. There aren't really a lot of places to hide in here," Sebastian paused with a frown. Lilah opened her mouth to ask, but then she heard it. A scratching from beneath the bed. He looked to her and motioned for her to get behind him before he approached. He flipped the flashlight back on and ducked down, cautiously lifting the sheet dangling over the edge and peeking underneath. Lilah scurried over to the fireplace to retrieve the poker, clutched it close to her body with both hands and waited.

Sebastian glanced over at her, a breath of a laugh as he shook his head.

"I don't think that's needed," he said, reaching under the bed with one arm. He pulled it back and straightened, lips quirking upwards. "Here's your burglar."

A kitten mewled in his hand, paws swinging defiantly as he held it by the scruff of its neck. All black with sleek fur, a single white tuft on its left paw. It was small and almost too skinny. Sebastian cradled his arm and supported the feline, letting go of its scruff and petting smoothly along its back. It calmed quickly enough, burrowing its face into his sleeve and purring.

"That's a relief," he sighed.

"...I'm so sorry," Lilah dropped the poker and covered her face, her cheeks burning.

"For what?" Sebastian shrugged and stepped closer, holding the kitten out for her inspection. "I think anyone would have gotten freaked out. You're fine."

Lilah hesitantly stroked the kitten's head, its large orange eyes slid shut and it craned its neck for maximum contact. She smiled, chest warming as Sebastian handed it over to her and it snuggled against her.

"Thank you," Lilah looked up, realizing how close they stood to each other. She could smell that sweet scent of tobacco with the hint of sawdust from his clothes, see the splash of brown in his dark eyes and suddenly her embarrassment hit her three-fold.

"You haven't done much besides apologize or thank me since you've been here," He said with an almost bitter laugh.

"Sor—That is, you're always helping me." She looked away from his face until her eyes landed on the chain he wore around his neck. "Oh!"

Sebastian followed her eyes. His whole body seemed to stiffen and he shifted on his feet, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh yeah...I guess it's my turn to thank you," He lifted the pendant between his fingers. He ran his thumb across the intersecting lines on its face and smiled. "I really like it. I've never seen anything like it."

"I'm so glad!" Lilah grinned, her embarrassment forgotten in the light of her gift being so well received. Sebastian's eyes widened a fraction and he cleared his throat.

"Well, it's late. After all this, I'm sure you're tired. If you're not scared anymore, I should really get going." He shoved his hands in his pockets and took a step back, looking everywhere but her. Lilah's smiled faded.

"Sure...I'll, ehm, I'll see you around, I guess."

She walked him to the door, the air between them electric with a sudden tension that she didn't understand. He offered a quick goodnight and stepped out, pulling his hood over his head against the cool spring air. Lilah watched him descend the steps and shut the door, sliding the lock and checking that it was really locked twice. She sighed and looked down at the kitten.

"Guess it's just you and me now," she muttered. She walked over to the bed and set the cat down, smiling slightly as it stretched out onto its back and stuck its tongue out.

Three quick knocks on the door made her jump and snapped her out of her thoughts. She hurried over and unlocked it, opening the door just a crack so she could see who it was. Sebastian stood on her porch with a grimace, hands still in his pockets. Lilah opened the door all the way with concern.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," Sebastian bit out. He looked up as if he had to force himself and met her eyes. "Listen, that path over there leads to my place." He nodded his head towards the northern trail.

"Oh, does it? Okay…"

"I just mean...if you need anything, or even if you don't need anything," his face was turning more scarlet by the second. "Come by tomorrow if you're not doing anything. We can hang out."

Lilah blinked. Was he embarrassed? A small smile teased at the corners of her lips and she stamped down the laugh bubbling in her chest. He had been so brave when he thought she was in danger, but it seemed like he was actually pretty shy.

"I'd like that."

"Yeah?" His eyebrows shot up. Did he think she would have laughed and sent him on his way? "Okay. Cool."

"Cool," Lilah grinned. "See you tomorrow."

He nodded, bade her goodnight again, and started walking back towards town. Lilah watched him until he was on the path to the bus stop then shut the door. She stood with her back against it, palms flat against the wood as she recalled the blush spreading across his face, how awkward he had looked as soon as the adrenaline wore off and he no longer needed to be the hero. Even as she cleaned up the broken drinking glass and got into bed, the smile didn't leave her face.