I've given all I can
It's not enough
I've given all I can
But we're still on the payroll
This is what you get
This is what you get
This is what you get
When you mess with us

For a minute there
I lost myself
I lost myself

Phew, for a minute there
I lost myself
I lost myself
-Karma Police by The Dresden Dolls-

The maids wouldn't go near the library out of fear for their lives. They were accustomed to Josef's temper, but they weren't used to Jamari's yet.

She was pounding away on the piano, something she normally did when she was pissed at the world. He had rejected her last night, she practically offered herself to him and he turned her down. She hadn't been near as drunk as she made him believe she was. She acted the way she did so that if he did tell her no, she could pretend she was to drunk to remember. But she didn't know how bad his rejection would hurt her.

Her fingers were starting to cramp from the speed she was playing, but she didn't care. The best thing she could possibly do right now is play, otherwise, she would seriously hurt him...or someone in the way.

"Maybe there is a maid around that no one would miss?"

"Wow..that was a morbid thought..." She bit her lip.

She couldn't help but wonder when this attraction began, it just suddenly hit her one day...no, it had been there for a while, she had just played it off as the 'hero complex'. He saved her life, and she fell passionately in love with him.

No, she wouldn't be that girl, the girl in love with the guy who was only being nice. He wouldn't have even helped her if she wouldn't have spoken to her.

She continued to pound the keys, she didn't even notice Josef walking into the library.

"Well, I didn't know I was being visited by the Phantom of The Opera."

She stopped and rested her head on the keys. "I'm trying to keep my anger in check, you might want to leave."

He crossed his arms. "Well if you're not angry at me, what does it matter?"

She turned on the stool to glare at him. "How do you know I'm not angry at you?"

"You have no reason to be."

"Do you have any idea how bad you..."

She was cut off by one of the maids entering the room. "Sorry to interrupt, but sir, there is someone at the door..."

"Is it Mick or Beth?" The maid shook her head. "Then tell them to leave."

She sighed. "We did, they're refusing to..."

"Did they say who they were?"

She nodded. "Said you were expecting them, they said their Jamari's parents."

Josef looked back at Jamari, shock and hurt showing on her face. "You called my parents?!"

He quickly shook his head. "No, I swear to God I didn't"

"You're atheist, that means shit to me."

He walked over and grabbed her by the shoulders, she was shaking. "I swear to you, I did not call your parents..."

She pulled out of his grasp. "Don't touch me..."

"They can't make you go back...they can't, you're not a minor anymore...they can't hurt you anymore."

"I'd rather be with abusers, than a liar..."

She pushed past him and out the door. He quickly ran after her.

"Jamari, I'm not lying to you!" He grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. "That's fine, don't stay with me, you're going to be healed soon anyways, but don't go back with them, go back to your apartment."

"Don't you understand?! I have to go back with them! They'll take everything from me! All they have to do is declare me mentally unstable and they get all the money. I can't survive without that money Josef, I've never worked a day in my life, and I don't even have a high school diploma..."

"How could they do that?"

She sighed. "In my medical records it shows three attempted suicides...my mom used to warn me about running away, that she would declare me mentally unstable and get me locked up in an institution if I ever tried it..."

She pulled away from him again and started walking away. Before she got to the end of the hall, she turned back and gave him a bitter smile. "Congratulations Josef...you just signed my death certificate..."

"Please, don't say that Jamari..."

She shrugged. "What's so great about living anyway?" With that, she turned and walked out into the living room.

Josef couldn't make himself move, he was stuck.

Who had called her parents? He knew there was an outstanding reward for any tips involving her location, but who would call it in?

He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed Mick's number.

"Mick, it's me, I need your help...yea, I'm fine...it's Jamari...she's gone.."