Sorry about the fake alert y'all, I forgot to add in some stuff. So yay! Enjoy and reviews are loove.

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I skip down the road, whistling a tune to keep myself company. My pocket is filled with candies, Melchior's treat. He said Frau Gabor wouldn't mind, and I hope he was right.

After a while, I get tired of skipping and my mouth is dry from whistling. I turn a corner. I can see nothing, except trees on either side of the road. I wish I had let Melchior walk me home. I seriously underestimated how dark it had gotten.

I continue walking. All I can hear is crickets chirping in the distance. Every footfall sounds louder than it actually is. Every rustle in the trees beside me is a bandit, waiting to ambush me. I almost laugh. What would a bandit take, my candy?

There's another bend in the road just ahead. It leads to an intersection, where it breaks off into different paths. When I reach that, I know I'm only ten minutes from home. I start to walk faster, eyes on my feet. Left, right, left, don't look up, don't look beside, don't look behind, left, right. Suddenly, I crash into something solid. I'm pushed to the ground by rough hands. I hit the dirt, hard.

"Watch where you're going, damn it!"

Wait… I know that voice. I raise my head, and sure enough, Hanschen Rilow is staring back at me.

"Ernst Robel?!"

I'm equally surprised. "Hanschen?"

I've fallen on my wrist. I try to move it, but a stabbing pain stops me. I cry out.

"Shit," he says. "Did I hurt you?"

I bite my lip, fighting back tears. "Maybe."

He kneels down, nearly level with me. "I wasn't expecting to see you."

I notice that he doesn't apologize.

"What are you doing out here, anyway?" he asks.

"I was with with Melchior, actually."

Hanschen gestures to my wrist. "I'll have a look. Melchior Gabor?"

I whimper as I lift my arm. "D-do you know of any other Melchi-ow!"

He grabbed my wrist. He rolls his eyes. "It can't be that bad. And no, I don't know any other Melchiors. But you could." He stands up. "Come on, I'll take you back to your house."

I get up slowly and carefully, not wanting to hurt my wrist. I ignore the impatient noises coming from Hanschen. I cradle my wrist in my other arm and begin to walk.

"So what are you doing out here?" I ask him.

He doesn't answer. We say nothing the entire walk. We reach my street.

"I must go, but I trust you can find your way back to your house without killing yourself?" He smirks. Without giving me a chance to answer, he turns and starts jogging in the opposite direction. I watch him go, brow furrowed. I guess I was wrong about him. He's unpleasant all the way through. And he broke my wrist!

I've finally made it home. Mama is waiting for me on the porch, hands on her hips.

"Ernst Robel, I should have you grounded for life. Look at the hour! What's your excuse?"

Still cradling my arm, I look at Mama's feet. "I think I've broken my wrist, Mama."

Her demeanor changes in an instant. "Broken your wrist? Good God, child! How?" She rushes to my side, helping me into the house.

"I just… Fell." It wasn't a complete lie.

"Where was Melchior? Oh, if he did this to you, I swear to God I will-"

"Mama, please!" I exclaim. "He wasn't with me. I just fell."

She seemed to be out of threats for the time being. "We should get you to a doctor, but it's much too late. Sleep in this armchair tonight. Try not to move your wrist, darling." After much fussing and a cup of tea, Mama goes to bed.

I can't sleep. The armchair is uncomfortable. Images of the day flit through my head like a slideshow. Herr Sonnenstich screaming at me. Melchior on the horse. Melchior holding my wrist. Hanschen's face in the moonlight…

I sigh. It's going to be a long night.