Skips was awaken to a loud and abrupt knocking at his door, he guessed it was about two in the morning and was confused to who would be at his door this early. As the knock grew more frantic he got up and opened it only to be greeted by Lacy Todd, who was bloody and had a crazed look in her eyes. Before Skips could question what happened and why she was there she stuttered out,
"P-P-please! I-I…D-Damien…H-he," She fell to the ground in a crying mess. Skips decided to ask questions later and picked her up, taking her inside. He sat her down in a chair and tried to calm her down. "Lacy, I can't help you if I can't understand what you're saying."
Lacy looked at him with fearful eyes, "P-Please don't let him find me! I-I-I" She choked on more tears and was breathing shakily. "H-He killed…h-he tried to…oh god…" She covered her face. That's when Skips noticed something odd. Lacy was normally a well-dressed, classy, uptown girl. But her dressed was stained and the sleeves seemed ripped…or…burned? Skips grabbed her arm and inspected it more closely.
"Oh my…What happened to you?!" Lacy's shaky breath came out, "I tried…b-but there's no way out! I'm cursed! I-I…" She was unable to speak again but had stop crying. Skips knew that he wouldn't be able to get an answer out of her right now, so instead treated her wounds and sent her to his guest bedroom. He didn't understand what could've sent someone like her over the edge like that. And more importantly, where is Damien?
For the next year Skips could barely get a word out of Lacy. The only time she really spoke was when she woke up in the night screaming and crying about that he was going to get her. The yeti was confused by who she meant. As far as he knew Damien would never hurt Lacy, or anyone for that matter. There was the disappearance of her brother, which Skips later read that she had died and people assumed that Lacy herself killed him. When he confronted her about it she flipped out exclaiming that 'he' did it, that it wasn't her fault and now 'he' was after her. It was like that for a year. Then finally one night, everything fell into place.
It had happened when Lacy had woke up from another nightmare, but this time she was screaming from anger, yelling at whoever to leave her alone. When she started throwing thing Skip's decided to check on her and when he walked in was surprised to see a familiar figure. Death.
"Are you sure you want to go?" Skips asked the now forever young girl. She merely nodded and said,
"I can't stay here. He knows I'm here with you and I don't want to cause any more trouble." Skips felt compelled to tell her that she never really was trouble, but knew how stubborn she was. She continued with a sad smile,
"Besides, I've always want to go to New York…" It was sad how one man's greed could cause someone he loved to suffer. That was the last time Skips saw Lacy Todd. And as far as he knew he'd never thought he see her again.
But Skips had been wrong, for there sat Lacy Todd on the front steps of the park house looking lost in her own little world. She seemed pretty out of it these days, but he had to admit it was better than when he last saw her. He skipped over and sat beside her. It took her a moment to realized he had joined her and when she did she gave a little jump, but quickly said,
"Oh hey Skips." She didn't try to pull that fake happy smile with him like she does everyone else, she knew he was too smart for that. Skips nodded a greeting, then asked,
"How's the deal going?" Lacy huffed and crossed her arms, "About as well as it could go I guess. I haven't seen that stalker in a couple of days, though he does his best to make sure I know he's watching me." Skips felt somewhat sympathetic towards the young girl. He knew it was hard to be immortal, never being able to keep the ones you love. You out grow your kids and spouse, friends and all your family. And over time you learn to block out emotion, all emotion. That way you can't feel sadness, but there's always that sting of loneliness in the back of your heart.
Skips sat in silence for a moment, then asked, "What happened after you left anyway?" Lacy shrugged,
"Tried to make a living, failed, lived on the streets for awhile. After about fifty years turning tricks for money I managed to weasel my way into a private school. My grades were good and I got except into an art school. It was awkward though. People did noticed I never seemed to age, and questioned it. So yeah, not so great. I did eventually get an apartment and lived there for awhile and...here I am." Lacy didn't seemed to bothered about, and simply wrapped her arms around her legs.
Skips wasn't sure how to answer, he knew she had it tough, but didn't know she lived on the streets. He should've made her stay with him. But she always had been hard headed. "What made you come here?" Lacy paused,
"I'm...not sure really. I guess I wanted a change in scenery and something told me to come back here..." Skips nodded, he knew that feeling, but had to be hard to come back to a town that had so many bad memories. "To be honest," she continued, "I'm almost glad I did. Sure, I have to deal with that weirdo, but...I made some friends, and maybe by the end of next month, all this crap will be over."
She was wrong, Skips already knew that, but he didn't have the heart to tell her that.
Chad and Jeremy had been waiting somewhat patiently all day for Lacy to text or call one of them, and it was driving Jeremy insane.
"What if she doesn't call?" He asked slightly annoyed. Chad rolled his eyes and looked up from the magazine he was reading, 'She's going to call don't worry. You sound like a teenage girl." Jeremy plopped down on their couch, and grumbled,
"Yeah you would know wouldn't ya?" Chad and Jeremy were actually best friends, have been since collage, and lived together in an uptown apartment. It wasn't super fancy, but fit their tastes pretty well. Two bedrooms, a pretty big kitchen, a living room, and two bathrooms; not bad but could be better. "And for the record, even if she doesn't its not like its a loss or anything."
Jeremy sighed, "Yeah but I was looking forward to making you pay my phone bill and rubbing it in your face!" "Oh please, we both know she'll pick me."
"I bet she will, shorty." Chad put his magazine down and was about to say something when they both heard the distinctive chime of a phone that had received a text message. They both paused and looked at each other, then both ran to their phones. Chad frowned at his empty messages and looked at Jeremy,
"Was it her?" Jeremy smirked, "Duh. I told you she'd pick me first. She wants to meet me at the coffee shop later." Chad sighed and pulled out the score card they made earlier and marked Jeremy down for five points. And thus, the game began.