I looked at my watch and sighed.

8 o'clock. Shinichi wasn't coming after all.

The pain inside my chest was unbearable. He's moved on. Forgot all about me.

Just as I was about to walk away, my phone rang and I pulled it out of my jacket pocket.

Shinichi.

"Where are you?" I demanded, putting as much anger in my voice as I can, though I was really happy that he didn't completey forget about me.

"I'm sorry," he said in that unforgettable voice, "I tried to tell you, but I'm still in that big case, so I can't make it. But if I could, I would be there."

I didn't answer him.

"Hello? Ran?" his voice rang out into my ears.

When I finally found my voice, it came out uneven. "Is that case really more important than me, Shinichi? So important that you couldn't come and celebrate my birthday?"

"You're birthday?" he asked, suprise filling his voice.

"You forgot didn't you?"

"No-no. It's just, that. Um...I'm...busy right now?" he said, making it sound like a question.

I felt something cold on my cheek and realized that I was crying. "Good-bye."

"No, wait! Ran! Pl-" he begged, but I hung up on him.

I ran away from the bustling restaurant and into a dark alley.

Everything now seemed useless and unimportant. All my life, Shinichi was the one that I needed the most. The one who could wash away my sorrow just by being there. But he's gone now. And I'm sure he's never coming back.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and I gasped.

"Don't move," a deep but rough voice said, "and follow me quietly or you die. And don't try to use your karate skills on me. It's not going to work."

I froze and slowly turned around to see who it was.

A man with long blonde hair that almost reached his knees with black clothing.

Something about him makes me uncomfortable.

Then I realized what Shinichi once told me.

If you ever see a man with long blonde hair, run away. Don't stop and talk to him, don't hesitate. Just run.

The man leaned down so close that his face was only a couple inches from mine's. "Thinking of running? I don't think so. If you do, we're going have to kill Kudou."

"S-Shinichi?" I asked, forcing the words to come out of my mouth.

"Ah, so you know him. All the better," he said, then turned to another man that was shorter than him and is wearing a hat with sunglasses, "Hey, take her to the house."

Before I could realize what they were doing, they had already sedated me with some kind of medicine.

S-Shinichi...

***

I sighed again and put the phone on the bed.

Ran. I'm so sorry.

My heart was broken into a million pieces, and no one can glue them back together.

I tried to call her back 20 times, but she never picked up.

One more time, I thought, picking up the phone and dialing her number.

After the 2 ring, someone picked up.

"Ran?" I asked in Shinichi's voice with the bow-tie.

"Kudou at last," a familiar voice said from the phone.

No. This was not Ran.

"Vodka!" I shouted, "What did you do? Where's Ran?!"

"Oh, is that the girl's name? Well, we didn't do anything yet. But if you don't come here at 12 o'clock sharp, your little girlfriend dies," he said casually.

I threw the phone at the wall.

Dammit!

Ran was in danger, and it's all my fault!

I needed to take the pill again.

Ai. Please tell me you have some left.

I ran out into the rain, not caring about a jacket.

The only thing I could think about is Ran.

Ran, wait for me.