"Put your hands behind your back, Stein," an officer told him with a weary voice.

Stein did as he was told, his hanging low as he listened to Marie's crying from the living room. Handcuffs linked his wrists. Metal so cold… His legs felt heavy as he was led from his bedroom to the living room, and his boots added weight to his calves every time he lifted his feet. He could see small drops of blood leading to the bedroom he found Marie in, which he deduced to Marie clawing herself when she was lost in madness. The officers undoubtedly questioned the scratches on her arms, and Stein, with hesitation, told them he'd hurt her when he came in and found her. Marie's protests caught on her tongue when he shook his head so slightly that only she noticed, and she nodded slowly, softly, confirming the statement.

The officers believed her without question. It was too easy, too simple. Stein was known for

"Please, don't take him!" Marie cried out as the officers led Stein out the door. He saw Spirit hold her shoulder, his strong hand almost overlapping it completely. He held the small woman at bay and kept her from walking after them. Spirit's heart ached for her when he touched her. She was shaking so much…

Stein's throat nearly closed up when the door to the police car closed. He closed his eyes and refrained accumulating tears from falling, and his chest ached deeply.

I'm never getting out of there… Am I? Thoughts of pacing his cell under the academy swirled in his head, trepidation consequently filling his body, making his muscles in his back and shoulders tense and ache. His pain nearly quadrupled as he realized the reality of Marie possibly never finding the help she needs to overcome the madness lurking within her. She had not grown from early childhood with insanity stealing her away, or her parents giving her away to an asylum at the tender age of fourteen. She did not grow with it as he had, she never learned! How could she possibly not fall into madness…?!

Stein realized that it may have been better if he allowed Marie to tell the police she had been the insane one; she would be given the help he knew she'd definitely need. The idea to tell them as they got into the car surfaced, but another realization countered it: They'd never believe him.

Marie let out heavy sobs as she buried her face in Spirit's chest. "How could he? How could he?!"

"How could he what, Marie…?" Spirit asked, quite unsure of what she was referring to. He tenderly wrapped his arms around her shoulders, attempting to comfort her.

"How could he lie for me?! Why would he?!"

"He…" his voice immediately trailed off and he sighed softly. "He knows a mental asylum isn't the right place for you. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Stein would hate himself if you were thrown in one."

Marie sniffled, then she let out a broken exhale. Her voice nearly broke in the middle of her words, "But what do I do now…? If- if I am… insane… how will I learn to control it? He barely can…"

Spirit's heart ached once more for the little blonde. God, if only he could end her pain… "I don't know, Marie…" He rested his cheek on the top of her head and stared at the wall, his mind slow to think. "I just know that he'll find a way for you. He… He loves you. I know he does. I don't know when it began or how you managed to make him fall in love with you… Stein will find a way. Trust in that. Okay?"

Marie nodded lightly. Her sobs had diluted down to soft cries, tired tears.

There were so many more to come.

Walking up the stairs of the academy were rather humiliating. Students slowly walked past him, all of them veering as far away from him as possible without falling off of the stairs. He could hear them whispering among themselves, their small words and opinions of him ignorant to truth and believing to whatever the child next to them would mutter.

"He's always going to be crazy…"

"They need better security. I can't believe they'd let him break out like that!"

"It's sad… He really was the best teacher at the school. But I guess if he's crazy he shouldn't be teaching."

Stein hung his head low, not caring if he ever tripped during his ascent. He did once near the top of the stairs, but he quickly caught himself, or the policemen guarding him did. All he really registered was four hands gripping his shoulders tightly, as if he attempted to run. A shaky breath fell from his throat.

A cold chill ran through his shoulders when he heard the loud click of the thick metal door closing. How long it would be before he stepped foot outside of his cell, he did not know. Trepidation for such a fate as never leaving again filled his heart, and he closed his eyes, roughly running his fingers through his thick, silver hair.

I'm so sorry I did this to you…

I know this was short and I apologize for that! I wanted to get another chapter out quickly, and I felt this was the best way to end the chapter.

Please review, it fuels my inspiration~