I am no coward.

But I'm also not an idiot.

And only an idiot would not run from Hisoka.

But there I was. Trapped. Between a murderous magician and a very, very hard place. I don't think I'd ever been more afraid than I was that moment. We were caught. By Hisoka.

If I'd ever looked down on clown-phobias, I never did again after the day I met him. He leaned against the wall, his aura whipping about him excitedly.

The room was small, containing only a round table, which Killua and I were huddled beneath. We can't run from him... Killua can barely breathe... my legs are shaking...

I squeezed Killua's trembling shoulders. Damn it... You were supposed to be an asset not a liability, Fluffy...

Every inch of me screamed to run. To leave him. To claw a new exit through another wall. Or go out kicking and screaming... but we're so close to the Hunter Exam... I got him into this, I have to get him out... I gulped.

Hisoka's excitement was palpable as he smiled down at us, it stirred my aura like hackles.

"My, my, you're a brave one aren't you, Middle-Schooler-Chan?" He said silkily as he kneeled down to my level; it was like watching a tiger crouching before it pounced. I cringed as his unwelcome aroma overwhelmed my nose. His smell was hot, thick and disgustingly sweet. "You're rudely interrupting my lunch date."

I tried to back away from him, but the stand in the center of the table stopped me. Oh god... he's so close, he could reach out and... I ignored my senses and steeled my resolve. He has no reason to hurt me... I'm not interesting to him. I'll be fine...

"D-don't call me that." I said fiercely as possible. He cocked his head to the side, ignoring my scolding, curious as a cat playing with its food.

"Did you think I wouldn't recognize that you were trailing after me? Yours is a very peculiar aura." He spoke with a smile, but his eyes glinted dangerously. Did he really notice, after all of my effort...? I gulped and he gave a wicked grin. "Or did you imagine I wouldn't see through your clever disguise...?"

I clenched my teeth, feeling sick. I was ashamed... did I really think he wouldn't recognize me? That I'd make it through the entire exam without being noticed? This man is a monster. I'm nothing in comparison...

"Is that why you changed your look, Middle-Schooler-Chan?" He asked smoothly, inspecting my hair. Then he reached for it. With those claw like hands. My heart stopped and I panicked. I slapped away his hand. Hard. He quirked a brow.

"M-my name is Clearian! Stop c-calling me that!" I blurted, unable to stop myself. My heart was hammering frantically in my chest. It took a physical effort to stop my Ten from switching into Ren. It would only excite him... You could use your Hatsu... you might be able to escape if you do it fast enough... Killua is coming to his senses...

"Ohhh, how amusing... Is that what you're going by now?" Hisoka gave me a dark grin and I glanced quickly at the Needle-Man leaning against the door. He stared intently down at us over Hisoka's shoulder. I couldn't get out that way. My heart was pounding in my ears.

"I'm n-not here to play with you, you insane clown... J-just tell me where the exam is being held and we'll go!" I demanded weakly. This was my last hope before I gave up and tried to run. I can't take this anymore. The jester gave me an indulgent look.

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can tell you about the exam." He said breezily, I squeezed Killua. "And leaving isn't an option." He added with a frown.

Cold gripped my heart. What have we done...?

Killua stirred then, taking a deep breath and shaking his head. Thank goodness. My hope was smashed flat, and I felt empty inside, but Killua didn't need to know that. "... you alright now, Fluffy?" I whispered in a quavering voice.

He put a hand on his forehead and winced up at me. Apparently what he saw in my expression scared him. His eyes widened as he realized where he was, glancing aside at the kneeling joker and freezing.

"Oh, good he's not dead!" Hisoka said clapping. He rose in one fluid motion. His height reminded me how easily he could crush me, cold sweat dripped down my neck. The weight of his aura pushed on mine as he held out his hand to me. "Let's all have a seat then, shall we?"

His hand could crush mine. And I valued my hands. I ignored his offer, awkwardly helping Killua to his feet but he was on edge, batting my hands away when I tried to help him to a chair at the table. He moved like a skittish cat, claws out and shoulders tense.

Perched at the edges of our seats, we watched the green clad needle-man chatter and twitch into a seat opposite us. Everything about him was unsettling. Hisoka in all his creepy glory leaned his chin on a bridge made of his fingers, smiling easily.

Anxious, I reached out and grabbed Killua's hand under the table. He glanced at me with a frown, tugging at his hand. I glared sternly and sent him some of my aura. He didn't know what aura was, but he felt its protecting effects. His eyes widened a moment as he recognized what I was doing. Relenting, he pouted, uneasily watching the monsters seated across from us.

Whether it's weird to hold your hand or not, I'm not letting you pass out again, loser... Deal with it.

"Now tell me." Hisoka began in that eerily smooth voice of his. The hairs stood on the back of my neck. "Why do you want to take the Exam so badly, Middle-Schooler-Chan?"

I clenched my teeth at that. "You know exactly why."

Hisoka gave a casual wave of his hand. "Remind me."

I drew my hands into fists. "I need information. Hunters have access to information." I glanced anxiously at Killua. He was focusing on the green needle-man. Good. "That's all."

Hisoka chuckled and nodded amiably. "A fair observation. And you?" He said, turning his wicked gaze on Killua. I felt his hand twitch at being addressed.

"Oh... I just... I want to try it. I want to know if it's as difficult as everyone says it is." I noticed his palm was sweaty, despite his stern expression.

"That's all?" Hisoka said, amused. He raised a brow at his creepy friend. "Interesting."

I risked a glance at the door. Even if we get the information, can we get away...?

In that brief moment, I felt Hisoka's gaze like a bullet through the temple. Sharp and piercing. I barely had enough time to fully draw on my Ten. It was like holding up a garbage lid to a flame thrower: not enough. We were frozen.

He rose from his seat with the negligent ease of a predator. I felt his steps, the click of his heels as he approached, like the vibrating toll of an enormous bell. I felt his anger reverberate in my chest. I wasn't breathing.

"I'm going to make you a deal."

Click.

Click.

He's coming for me.

"One you aren't permitted to refuse."

Click.

Click.

Click.

He's going to kill me.

"I'll tell you where the exam is."

Click.

Click.

He's behind us.

"but, both of you must pass." He stopped.

He's leaning down. His breath is tickling my ear.

"Or both of you die."

The world is on fire and I can't see anything but black. I think I'm going to die.

It's the needle-man. This is his aura as well. I can't handle both of them at the same time, not even my Ren could handle this...

If I don't let go of Killua, I'm going to pass out...

I'm... going... to...

And then suddenly it was gone. The aura vanished. I gasped and collapsed. My head hit the table, and everything was dark... and everything sounded fuzzy and thick, like there was cotton in my ears... I felt as if I was spinning.

"Sound fair?" Hisoka's sultry chuckle upset my stomach. I wrestled with my dinner. Then I realized I was panting. I opened my eyes, and Killua was in the same state. I squeezed his hand. I wanted to lay there and never get up. I wanted to cry. But to save my friend...

Come on... we can do this, Fluffy. My eyes were wet, and my aura was unwilling, but I pulled hard on it. For the Hunter Exam, we have to... Steeling my will, I brought my energy to a boil in my stomach. With difficulty, I covered us with Ren. I felt a little better. Killua's eyes went wide, he was confused but I nodded at him. We can do this.

Shaking, I pushed my body off of the table and stood, Killua rose with me. I turned and glared down at the bemused jester where he leaned over our chairs. I squeezed Killua's hand, forcing more energy into him.

"Deal." We said. Hisoka smiled an unpleasant smile. And then suddenly, the room stopped moving, like an elevator reaching the bottom floor. Killua and I share a shocked glance. When did we start moving?

"Then I can tell you that you're already in the exam."

"You bastard!" I growled as he sauntered towards the door. I could barely feel his aura through my Ren, but I knew that everyone else felt its sinister flare as the door opened. He was serious. I could be nothing but dust if he so chose. I stopped breathing.

"Don't. Disappoint me, Middle-Schooler-Chan. I won't hesitate to break you if you fail again." He murmured over his shoulder, unsmiling. I felt the chill of his glare, regardless of his dark aura. I was frozen as he turned and strode into the dimly lit exit. "I don't have time for weaklings..."