Hans swept the floor with a sad look on his face. He removed his glove and snapped his fingers. Venn appeared and ran up to him.
"So?" she asked. "Tell me what happened."
He sighed. "I don't want to talk about it."
"That bad, huh?"
He said nothing.
"Talking will make you feel better." she pressed.
He sighed. "I can't go, Venn. I really don't want to-"
"He said you can't go? Those exact words?"
"Well, he-"
"Haven't you ever thought of...sneaking out?" she smiled.
His head shot her direction. "That's not funny."
"Oh, come on, Hans! You can't look me in the eyes and tell me you haven't thought about it."
He leaned into her face and said, "I haven't thought about it."
She pushed out her lower lip and folded her arms.
"Don't you want to go outside?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He threw his hands up and groaned. "Of course I want to go! But, if father finds out he'll-"
"No one ever said he had to find out, Hans."
He paused.
"You just go out, watch the festival, and sneak back in. He'll never know."
Hans bit his lip.
"Everyone loves a rebel, fireboy." she smiled.
Hans shook his head. "No, no, I can't! Stop talking about it!"
Venn rolled her eyes and sighed. "I give up."
Suddenly, there was a thud from downstairs. Hans gasped and slipped his gloves on.
"What was that?" he whispered to Venn.
She shrugged. "Is it your dad?"
Hans shook his head. "I don't think so."
Hans grabbed a broom and quietly hid behind a pillar. Venn stood behind his leg and trembled. Footsteps approached and the floor creaked. Then, Hans stepped out and swung the broom.
A young woman's body fell to the floor, unconscious.
Venn's jaw dropped. "Nice going, Hans. You just knocked out a girl!"
Hans tossed the broom aside and knelt down beside the woman's body. "Is she dead?"
"Just knocked out. You can't kill someone with a broom...can you?"
The woman had platinum blonde hair and wore a simple blue gown. Her hair was in a braid, which slumped over her shoulder.
"What do I do? What if father comes and finds her here?" Hans asked, panicking.
"Just pray that he doesn't come back." Venn said.
Hans lifted the woman in his arms and walked over to a wardrobe in his room. He placed her inside and closed it.
"Okay, relax, Hans. Venn?"
"Mmm?"
"Did this really just happen?"
"Did you just knock out a woman you don't even know? Yes, it really happened, Hans."
Hans thought he might go insane, and he laughed. "There's a person...in my closet. I've got a person in my closet!"
"Just calm down."
The redhead looked at himself in mirror by his bed and ran a hand through his hair. He chuckled and stared at his reflection.
"Can't handle my powers out there, father? Well, you can tell that to my broom and my hands of fiery fury." he said, pretending to shoot fire from his hands.
"Okay, don't get your ego too excited. We've gotta-"
"Hans? Where are you?" a voice asked.
Hans gasped and Venn hid. "I'm in my room, father. Coming!"
Hans hurried to the door, but Peter met him there. He eyed him suspiciously.
"What were you doing?" he asked.
"Nothing, father. Just thinking on what you said earlier. Actually, I've been thinking a lot about what you said."
"I hope you're not going to bring up that miserable festival again."
"No, father, I'm just saying-well, you think the world is dangerous and I can't handle my powers out there-"
Peter chuckled as he paced around the room. "No, Hans, I know you can't handle yousef out there."
Hans shut his eyes and felt the words pierce his heart. "But, father, if you just let me-"
"Hans, we are done discussing this." Peter said, with a fake smile.
"But, if you'd just listen, I-"
"Hans."
"Father, I know what I'm-"
"Hans."
"Please, I want-"
"Enough!" Peter yelled. "You are not going to leave this belltower! Do you understand? I don't want to hear another bloody word about going out, is that clear?"
Hans was taken back.
Peter approached him and grabbed some of the hair behind his head. Hans hissed from the pain, but said nothing.
"Not. One. Is that such an extraordinary request?" Peter sneered.
Hans shook his head. "No, sir."
Peter released Hans and cleared his throat. "You know that I love you, don't you? You're my son and I only want to protect you."
Hans only nodded.
Peter lifted his chin with his finger. "The festival is tomorrow. Perhaps I'll bring a souvenir for you, if you behave. Good evening."
Peter turned and left Hans alone in his room. Venn came out from hiding, having heard everything. Hans walked over to his bed and threw his gloves onto the bed. Then, he placed his hand on one of the poles and it singed from his anger.
"Hans?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
"Shouldn't you check on the girl?"
Hans' eyes widened. "I forgot all about that."
