3 days. She'd been wandering the streets for 3 days and she'd already ran out of food. Now, cold, hungry, and alone, Aelita stood outside a small sandwich shop, eyeing the happy people that sat in the warmly illuminated building. Her eyes were so drawn to the cheery faces as people chatted idly with each other that she didn't notice the odd looks she was getting from the people walking past her outside of the shop. Though many people walked by her without much thought, a man eventually stopped to find out what she was doing.

"You look a little young to be out on your own," he said to her, making her jump slightly as she turned towards him. She stared up at him owlishly without uttering a word.

"What's your name?" the man asked.

"Aelita," she mumbled.

"Are your parents around, Aelita?"

The tiny brunette fidgeted nervously, her hands playing idly with the ribbon that hung limply from her hair.

"They're dead, aren't they?"

Hesitantly, she nodded, baffled that he guessed that without much interrogation.

The man crouched down in front of her, allowing them to be at eye level. "Then you're the girl I'm looking for."

Aelita's brows furrowed as she eyed the man before her. Now that he wasn't towering over her she found it easier to take in his appearance. If she had to describe him in one word, it would probably be 'clown'. He dressed in a white suit top accompanied by poofy shorts and stripped pink pants. Around his neck he wore a pink polka dot kerchief and atop his head was a white top hat. He also wore a long cape that had a tall collar that stuck straight up as if it were trying to reach his curious hat. Though his appearance was anything but subtle, her attention was drawn to the tiniest detail of his ensemble. On the collar of his suit jacket, to the left of his polka dot kerchief, was a familiar red and blue pin that Aelita thought looked a bit like a heart that had been stretched out.

"My parents had these too," she murmured, her hand reaching absently for the pin.

"They did indeed," the man smiled.

"Why do you have one?" Aelita asked.

"Because I, like your parents, am an exorcist," he explained.

"Exorcist?" she repeated the word, as if speaking it would help her understand it.

"That's right, an exorcist. We fight to protect the world from demons and sometimes, we die doing that," the man said.

Aelita released the man's pin and looked up at his face through teary eyes. "Did a demon k-kill my parents?"

"Ah, yes," he smiled grimly. "But I think that's a story for another day." With that he stood, outstretching a hand for Aelita to take. "My name is Mephisto Pheles. I was a friend of your parents."

After wiping her tears away, Aelita took his hand, "N-nice to meet you."

Mephisto beamed, keeping the girls tiny hand in his own as he began to walk down the sidewalk. "Now, we better get you some food and a decent place to stay for the night because tomorrow you've got a long day ahead of you. I know a man in America that is very anxious to see you so we'll have to get you out there as soon as possible."

"America? Who wants to see me?" Aelita asked, allowing Mephisto to lead her down the sidewalk.

"You're uncle, Nathan," he replied, noting how the girls hand tightened slightly around his fingers.

"Uncle Nate? I'm going to see him?"

"Actually, you're going to live with him. He's an exorcist that owns a church in America, you'll be safe there," Mephisto explained.

He looked down at the girl as she went silent and found that, for the first time that night, she was smiling. Granted, it was a small smile, but it was a smile none the less.

"So what do you say about stopping to get some food here?"

Aelita looked up at the brightly lit restaurant before them and her smile grew, "That sounds awesome! Thanks Mr. Pheles!"

Mephisto frowned, "Hey now, don't call me that. It makes me sound old!"

The little girl began to tug on his hand to try and get him into the restaurant faster. "If you don't hurry I'll never stop, Mr. Pheles," she snickered.

"Fine, fine," he chuckled as he was dragged into the restaurant.

As the two sat down and ordered, Aelita couldn't stop smiling. It seemed that her life wasn't over after all. In fact, it was only just beginning.

This chapter was super short… but that's mostly because it wasn't one of the chapters I had already written. I felt like I needed to add a short little chapter to kind of show what happens to Aelita before I fast forward. Also! I'm aiming to update once a week after finals pass. I've had a lot of homework leading up to them so I apologize for the lack of updates… No school after this week though! Anyway, thanks for reading!

~Scottie