Author's Note: Hello everyone! Here's chapter 17! I want to thank each and every one of you for reading/fav/following/reviewing! It makes me so happy that others enjoy reading this story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as well! Thanks again!

Chapter 17: Never Look Back

Myles's lips curved upwards into a warm smile, "I feel like this is some sort of a dream...I-I still can't believe you're here. I can't wait to see the look on Sidra's face when she sees you! She's missed you for so long..."

"I can't believe it, either. How is Sidra doing, anyway?" Ava inquired, waiting anxiously to hear the details of her long-forgotten kin.

"As well as she can, given her circumstances. When your parents died and you were never found, she took it pretty hard. Over time, she grew to be in better spirits, but she never really got over losing you all. None of them did, really. She and Albus are running your parents old shop now. They get by." Myles explained.

"Well, I'm glad the shop is still open..." Ava said, trying to find the positives of the situation. "I am truly happy Sidra and her family are alive and well...It does bring me comfort after what happened..." She said, visibly depressed. She felt an emptiness that still yearned to be filled, yet she felt her new circumstances restraining her from making any choices.

Myles placed his hand on Ava's, gazing at her with a look of sympathy. "Look, I know things have probably been horrible for you since you had to do what you did. I know it must hurt terribly, but don't think it makes you bad. You just did what you had to in order to survive. I just hope things have been going better for you lately...that's all..."

Actually, things had been diving to new depths of darkness and insanity every day since the attack - - especially where the Dark Brotherhood was concerned. She certainly wasn't going to expose herself or the Brotherhood, however. She had cultivated a deep obligation as leader to never reveal the Dark Brotherhood to others, and she was not going to break it. "Yeah, I'm doing alright. I'm a bit of a merchant myself...I don't make a lot, but it's enough to live comfortably..." She said as casually as possible, hoping Myles would buy into her story. The feeling of lying about herself was an unnerving one. However, if Ava was going home to her family any time soon, she'd certainly have to get used to fabricating stories about herself.

"That man that was with you in Dawnstar, is he a business partner...or...?" Myles pondered aloud.

"No, not exactly...He's more of an...entertainer, of sorts." Ava said, failing to admit that he was also a homicidal maniac to boot.

"Oh? What kind of entertainer? A bard?" Myles asked curiously.

"Actually...he's a jester." She said, thinking it better to tell him half of the truth anyway. Ava figured it was a possibility Myles would see Cicero in his jester's motley the next time around, instead of his disguise of peasant clothes.

"Heh...Well, it seems you've met some colorful characters while you've been here. Is this Cicero a friend?" Myles continued.

"Yes, he's a good friend. He travels with me occasionally on my trades. What about you? You said you're a merchant as well?" Ava asked, growing wary of being questioned herself.

"Yes. Like I said before, I'm only travelling here for a bit. I mostly do business in our homeland, though. Really the trading is an excuse for a journey to another part of Tamriel. I love to travel whenever I get the chance. Remember when we used to dream of travelling together as merchants - - expanding the business? Seems so long ago...Your father was struck on the idea, but he told me if I let you get hurt he'd send an arrow through my head! Haha! Timaeus sure was protective of you!" He chuckled. Myles was so much like Ava remembered - - charming, outgoing, and adventurous. As strange as it was, it somehow felt as if they'd never been apart all those years.

"Yeah, but he liked you. " Ava grinned, thinking fondly of her papa.

"Yeah, but Timaeus liked everyone. I sure miss him...and Rosalia. You look just like her..." Miles recalled.

"Heh...she would always keep papa in line when he'd have some big, crazy idea..." She smiled, thinking of how greatly her parents complimented each other; her mother being the ever-present voice of wisdom and reason, while her father was a merry, adventurous, and free-spirited man. "I really miss them..." Ava's tone grew more sobering. "Myles, I want to ask you something..."

"Sure, ask me anything." He reassured her.

"I know it's not the best subject, but why did your family murder them? I never really figured it out. I mean, they were all so close. I wouldn't have dreamed in a thousand lifetimes that they would do such a thing..." Ava could feel the pain flooding back as she spoke.

"It's okay...you deserve to know the truth." Myles nodded, closing his eyes as if he were bracing himself for what he was about to tell her. He opened them, throwing back his tankard and taking in a large gulp of ale. He breathed deeply, and began to speak. " I was staying with my uncle's wife learning the smithing trade when it happened. I wasn't there, but I still know why...Ava, it was sheer greed. You're parent's shop was faring much better than my father's. They were both in the same area, and father was suffering to make coin. I feel no sympathy for the man...he and my uncle were crooked merchants. Your parents took business away from them because they were honest, and the people noticed that. Instead of doing honest trading or simply relocating, my kin chose the dark path. They disguised themselves and killed your parents so they could make a good profit again. Of course, they ended themselves in the end...You had every right to murder them. Then Sidra and Albus stepped up, taking over the shop. I-I'm sorry all this happened over something as stupid as coin..." Myles said with a deeply apologetic expression. He took another drink, as if he were numbing his own pain.

Ava sat silently taking it all in. She'd finally learned the truth - - that to these people who had befriended her good-natured family, she and her parents lives were worth less than some coin. The disturbing information stung her insides, making her both deeply hurt and angry. It all seemed to make sense now. At least Myles wasn't like them - - he still seemed to be the same Myles she knew ten years ago.

"I stayed with my aunt long enough to learn the trade well, and I decided not to be a burden to her anymore and go out on my own. I've been doing just that ever since. Haha...Then I ran into you. It feels good to reunite with an old friend. You know, I'll be going to Windhelm pretty soon. I'm gonna catch a boat ride back to Cyrodiil if I can - - I mean, it would probably be more direct to go by foot, but I enjoy the stops along the way. You know, seeing all of Tamriel like we used to dream of. You should come with me...You could see Sidra again - - maybe even help out in the old shop. You could travel with me, like we wanted to do so long ago..." He smiled warmly at Ava.

"I mean it all sounds great...I...I just don't know..." Ava was certainly tempted to go away from Skyrim and forget all her troubles. Her childhood dreams of travel and adventure came to mind. Ava wondered how that would be possible, given her duties to Sithis and the Night Mother. The worst part of it all would be leaving her dark family behind. They knew who she really was, and seemed to have little issue with it. Her old family would probably never accept her for who she had become. Ava rubbed her forehead, wondering why she couldn't come any closer to an answer.

"Myles...I've just done so many bad things - - things I'm not proud of. I don't know if I can go back..." Ava said, feeling a flood of shame and despair. The truth was the truth - - she may have been that person years ago, but part of who she was now was a killer. There was no way around it.

Myles leaned toward her, looking into her eyes. "I know you've been through a lot, Ava. But...whatever you had to do to survive out here...Sidra will understand. She and her family care for you. I care for you, and that will never change..."

Ava could feel something welling up inside her from hearing his words. Her longing only grew deeper. She could remember the love she felt as a youth - - the unending, unconditional love that she thought had been a long faded memory. His words, though encouraging and much needed, were making her head foggier by the minute. She could feel herself being pulled in deeper than ever.

"You know, all these years I never really quit thinking about you..." Myles admitted, slightly smiling and averting his eyes from her own. "I mean, we did everything together. When I thought you were gone, I felt as if someone had severed my own limb. And now here we are. It was as if fate brought us together again..." His serious expression suddenly lightened, "Hehe...To tell you the truth, I was a bit worried when I saw you with that Cicero friend of yours..."

"Why?" Ava wondered aloud, her brow furrowing.

"Because I was afraid you were already taken. I mean, I wasn't much for settling down in my younger years, but I'm a bit different now. Hehe, I know we just ran into each other a short while ago. It sounds crazy, but when you dissappeared, my deepest regret was that I never got to tell you how I really felt about you..."

"I..I..." Ava stammered, caught completely off-guard by his confession.

In all her years, she never realized that Myles had feelings for her. A strange feeling of intrigue began to drift through her body. She and Myles had many fond memories together. They had so much history, and it seemed to be rapidly overshadowing the present. When Ava was young, she had felt quite the same way toward the young man - - though she was far too shy to ever admit it. Over time, feelings like those had been long burried under a mountain of trauma. Now that she'd been face to face with the man once more, those old, familiar feelings began to creep back in. Ava wasn't sure what to think, feeling both surprised and overwhelmed by these resurfacing emotions.

"Haha...Yeah, I guess that was a bit much, eh?" Myles said, scratching his head awkwardly. "You don't have to say anything back...I just needed to get that off my chest...Heh.."

"No...I-it's fine..." Ava replied, finding herself at a near-loss for words.

Suddenly, a shrill voice rang througout the Bannered Mare. "THERE YOU ARE!" Ava's throat tightened, seeing Cicero barge in the tavern, jester's motley and all. His eye was blackened, and he seemed to be limping. The jester forcefully grabbed a chair, pulling it up to their table.

Ava looked at the jester sharply, feeling rather unhappy about the invasion of her privacy. "What are you doing here?"

"Cicero needs to have a word with you..." The jester returned the glare.

"Fine..." Ava said irritably. All she had wanted was some time to herself - - time to think about her life. Cicero wouldn't even give her that - - he was suffocating her. "I'll be right back." She said to Myles before she walked out of the tavern with the jester at her heels.

The two of them stepped off of the path and back into the shadows of the homes that dotted the city. "Cicero, what are you doing here?" Ava sighed.

"Cicero could ask Listener that very same THING! Why is Listener sneaking away from the Sanctuary to be with this STUPID fellow?!" Ava could see the deep scowl on the Keeper's face.

"Look, you don't understand. I've missed my family all these years. I thought they were all dead. Now I know part of them are alive. Maybe I just want to know how things are. Maybe I just wanted some answers." She tried to explain, hoping Cicero would understand.

"Cicero doesn't believe that's ALL Listener wanted. You want to go away, DON'T YOU?!" Cicero snapped at her.

"I never said that!" Ava grew defensive. She tried to appear differently, but she knew inside that he was right. She did want to go away, if only for a short while. She didn't want to abandon the Brotherhood - - it was far too late for that. However, she began to yearn for both worlds. Perhaps she could be the old Ava back in Cyrodiil, and be the monster she'd become in Skyrim. The idea sounded crazy even to her, but her old longing was so very deep that she'd do anything to reclaim even a tiny piece of what she'd lost.

"Listener didn't HAVE to...Cicero knows that man is trying to take her back with him. Cicero may be foolish, but he is not STUPID! Listener CANNOT leave the Dark Brotherhood!" The jester scolded, pointing a finger at her face.

"Why don't you just go back to the Sanctuary and let me speak with Myles? You weren't supposed to be here, anyway." Ava asked, frustrated with Cicero.

"Cicero isn't going ANYWHERE. He will leave when LISTENER leaves!" The jester demanded, folding his arms with a bitter look on his face.

Ava knew she'd been cornered. She couldn't be around Myles with Cicero there, or else it would only provide more evidence that the jester's suspicions rang true. Ava felt both furious and hopeless on the inside, knowing that her only option would be to leave with Cicero. She glared angrily at the jester, who returned a mutual stare of rage.

"Alright, then..." Ava sighed, feeling defeated. "Just let me go in and say goodbye to him."

Cicero's stare softened, "Good. Cicero will be waiting."

Ava walked back in the tavern. She approached Myles once more, who now wore a look of concern. "I-I'm sorry Myles. I have to leave..."

"What's the matter?" He started to wear a leary expression. "It's not Cicero, is it? I'm not trying to intrude, but he's not making you leave, is he? He looked pretty angry, barging in here like that. I don't mean to be rude, but he does seem a bit unhinged to me - - and what happened to him? He looks like someone beat him to a pulp!"

"No! It's not him. I just have to be somewhere..." Ava replied, attempting to sound believable.

Myles was right - - it was the jester. That overbearing, clingy, bossy jester who had grown very intolerable as of late. Ava thought Cicero was her friend, but by the way he was acting she wasn't so sure of it. He only seemed concerned with her duties to the Dark Brotherhood, and had little care for her actual feelings. He surely didn't trust her when she said she wouldn't leave the Brotherhood. Maybe he only followed her around because she was the Listener. Maybe he wasn't such a faithful companion, after all.

"Oh? Well, I could come with you if you'd like." Myles suggested.

"Thank you, but...It's a private matter. I hope you understand." She replied, hoping he would drop the idea.

"Sure. Just be careful." Myles said, looking a bit hurt. At least Ava didn't have to argue or plead with him like she did Cicero.

"I will..." Ava stated.

"Look, I'm still going to be in Skyrim for a bit. I realize you're probably a busy woman, so I'll leave you be. If you do decide to visit the old homestead...I'll be at the docks in Windhelm on the last week of Evening Star. I do hope you'll consider it." Myles smiled half-heartedly.

"Okay...goodbye..." She smiled sadly at her long-forgotten companion.

Shadowmere trotted along the beaten path with the Listener at the reigns, and her Keeper perched behind her scolding her with every breath.

"Listener needs to FORGET that man! You are the great and POWERFUL Listener! The Dark Brotherhood must ALWAYS come first in ALL of your endeavors." Cicero preached, making Ava sigh with frustration.

"I know I'm the Listener. I keep telling you I'm not going to abandon the Dark Brotherhood, but you won't listen to me! Maybe I'd just like to see my family..." Ava said, defending her position.

"The Brotherhood is Listener's family NOW! Cicero sees you are TEMPTED, but if you choose to follow your desires, it will NOT end well for you..." The jester warned.

Ava pulled the reigns, stopping the powerful demon steed. She turned back to the jester. "Just what are you saying, Cicero? Are you threatening me?!" She quipped, appalled by his statement. Certainly the jester didn't think she was like Astrid. Ava had no desire to break the tenets - - she merely wanted to see her loved ones again. Why was it so hard for the jester to wrap his head around this concept?

"Cicero would NEVER choose to harm his Listener...But he sees that she is CONFUSED...If Listener thinks she can be in the Dark Brotherhood and be NORMAL again, then she is SORELY mistaken."

"It's not like I was going to tell anyone, Cicero. I was going to lie. I just miss them..." Ava said sorrowfully.

"Of COURSE Listener would lie...for a WHILE. BETRAYAL does not always happen at ONCE! What does Listener think would happen AFTER she sees her dear kin, hmm? Why, she would want to see them ONCE MORE...and AGAIN...MORE LIES...MORE DECEIT! Soon enough, one gets TANGLED in those SLIMY, CRAWLY little lies! Then Listener would be CAUGHT, like a wiggling FLY in a spider's web! She would have to FLEE back to Skyrim and HIDE!" Cicero lectured.

"Yes, but what if I don't get caught. Maybe I'm better at lying than you think, " Ava reasoned, insulted by his attitude toward her.

"OH, why didn't FOOLISH Cicero think of that?!" The jester said mockingly. "That fate would be FAR worse. If Listener is a GOOD liar, she will visit her kin more often. She will NOT want to stop, and she may choose THEM over her dark family. That is BETRAYAL! ABANDONMENT! The consequences are DIRE! The WRATH OF SITHIS would SURELY be upon you..."

"But, Cicero...I don't want to harm the Brotherhood in any way! Can't you see that?! You have no idea how terribly I wanted to see them again! I thought they were dead! Didn't you ever miss your family?" Ava asked, trying to get through to him.

"No," Cicero said dryly. "Cicero's mother was a VILE tavern STRUMPET! Cicero never had a FATHER to care about! Cicero has the Brotherhood, and that is where his LOYALTY stays!"

"You really don't care how I feel, do you?" Ava began to feel terrible arguing with the jester. Her lip began to quiver with angst.

"Cicero can do NOTHING for Listener's FEELINGS, but Listener will surely invoke the WRATH upon her, and Cicero doesn't want that to happen to her..." The jester explained, seemingly apathetic to her plight.

"Why!?" Ava burst into tears. "You don't care about my life! You don't care how I feel or what I'm going through! I know why you want me to stay...You only care about keeping a Listener! That's all I am to you, isn't it? Well if that's the way you want it, then fine! I'll stay...I'll keep the Brotherhood intact...That's all I'm good for anyway..." She wept, leaving the jester speechless.

Ava gently knocked on the door to Vottur's sleeping quarters, watching the large door glide open and feeling a bit guilty for pushing the jester off on him.

"Yes, Listener?" He stood towering over her in the doorway.

"Do you mind if I have a word with you?" Ava asked, intimidated by the Nord's sheer size.

"No, what do you need?" He asked.

"Look, I wanted to apologize for making you take Cicero along. I heard about what he said to you. I don't blame you for hitting him...I won't ever ask you to take him again. I was just trying to get him out of my hair for a while, and I feel I abused my power a bit. I'm sorry..." She explained, hoping not to anger the ominous man.

Vottur looked away from Ava, as if in thought. The hallway grew painfully quiet, with Ava waiting for the large Vampire to reply. Finally he spoke, "It is fine, Listener." He turned to go back to sleep during the day hours.

"I-I'm sorry about your wife..." She blurted out. It seemed almost involuntary. Ava had heard the details of Vottur and Cicero's run in not long after they returned to the Sanctuary and she'd calmed down enough to ask Cicero why he looked so rough. It had been a few days, and she'd felt deep regret for allowing the pesky jester to go along. She also had great sympathy for Vottur's loss. She knew better than anyone what it was like to lose someone so close. Judging from the Vampire's violent reaction to Cicero's comments, Vottur was still in a great deal of pain from the loss of his wife.

Vottur stopped dead in his tracks, his back to Ava. The Vampire said nothing, making Ava feel suddenly nervous about what she'd said. Maybe she had overstepped her boundaries. Ava began walking away from the large Nord, hoping he wouldn't attack her as well. She heard some movement behind her, glancing back to see Vottur facing her once more.

"Thank you Listener..." The Vampire replied solemnly, shutting the door behind him.

Babette stood in the shadows watching the Keeper hum to himself while fulfilling his duties to the Night Mother. She'd been organizing the new ingredients she'd collected right after her nightly meal, and noticed the jester working to meticulously oil and preserve the dead corpse of their Matron. She said nothing, simply waiting to see if the busy jester would notice her tiny frame among the shadows. How she loved it when she could stalk among the darkness unseen. She was quite good at it with so many years of practice, and she'd claimed many unsuspecting lives that way.

Observing the jester, Babette thought of how strange it was that she hadn't seen him around Ava lately. A few days back, they'd returned to the Sanctuary together, both looking rather upset. She could only reason that Cicero had found her and they had some sort of spat. At least Ava was getting some rest now, without the jester nipping at her heels. However, Babette was still rather curious about the whole thing.

"Why is the Un-child WATCHING Cicero, hmn?" The jester asked, still facing away from Babette and continuing his work.

"If you saw me standing here, why didn't you say anything?" Babette huffed. Why did Cicero have to ruin her fun? Did he have eyes in the back of that crazy head of his?

"Cicero thought it was FUNNY to see the Un-child think she was HIDING from him! Hehe!" The jester snorted, irritating Babette.

"Very funny..." Babette remarked, hands on her hips. Since the jester was already aware of her presence, she decided to ask him about Ava. "Tell me, Cicero...Why is Ava not speaking with you? What did you do to her?"

Cicero grinned devilishly at the girl, "Hehe...If Cicero wanted the nosy Un-child to KNOW, he would have TOLD her, hm?"

Babette shot him a look, "Oh, you're no fun at all..."

"AH, but you are WRONG! Cicero is ALWAYS fun!" He laughed, further annoying the child of the night. Without any juicy details, she'd just have to sit back and watch things unfold for her entertainment.

Cicero walked through the entrance of the empty torture chamber, seeing his listener sitting on the floor reading a book about the Dark Brotherhood. "Why is Listener in the torture room when there is no one in it to torture?" He asked curiously, breaking the silence. Cicero despised the silence.

"Oh, I was just reading...that's all." She said with a blank look upon her face.

The Listener hadn't been acting right since they had returned. Day after day she would crawl off to herself and keep away from the rest of the Sanctuary - - namely from Cicero himself. The fool knew he'd uspet her, but figured it was for the best. His Listener was young and hopeful, but Cicero had more experience with these matters. Why, he'd seen betrayal time and again, and it never ended well. So very much purging Cicero had been through, and he hoped to not see it again. He especially didn't want to see something terrible happen to the girl. If he had to make her hurt - - make her angry - - to keep from destroying herself and the Brotherhood, then that is what Cicero surely did! So far it had worked, but Cicero knew not for how long. He easily sensed she didn't want his company, but he had to keep an eye on his Listener...just in case she was willing to make a detrimental mistake.

"Can Cicero speak with you for a moment?" He asked, watching his Listener for any changes in her expression.

"Yes. What do you need?" Ava asked plainly.

"About what Cicero SAID that night...it was for Listener's own GOOD. For the Sanctuary, for the Night Mother - - for SITHIS, himself! Listener holds a great many things in BALANCE, and without her we are NOTHING once more...nothing but a den of murderers waiting to hear the Mother's voice again...Cicero hopes Listener UNDERSTANDS this...He does not wish you HARM..." Cicero explained once more, trying to keep his Listener on a straight path. The Keeper felt the task was his and his alone - - only Cicero knew she was growing weak with doubts. Why none of his dark siblings would listen to poor Cicero, anyway! He tried to warn the others of impending doom before, but it only made poor Cicero's life worse. Call him crazy, they would!

"...Yes, I understand now...Thank you..." She said, nodding in agreement. His Listener was too agreeable, for that matter. Why, she was gushing with tears the last time Cicero spoke of these matters. The jester had a sneaking suspicion this compliance wasn't totally honest. He would have to watch her more closely from now on.

"Very well, Cicero will leave you be..." The jester looked her over. She simply said nothing, and continued to read as if he'd never been there. His Listener wasn't herself at all. She was up to something.

It was in the dead of night, and Ava tossed and turned with another bout of insomnia. She'd taken to her old habit of continually pacing about the Sanctuary when everyone slumbered just to tire herself enough to sleep.

The month of Evening Star had barely began when Myles told her of his departure date, and now there was only a week left until her companion would leave back to her homeland without her. She tried distracting her thoughts time and again, but it was of no use. Her will had grown weak, and she found herself constantly thinking about her family - - about Myles.

The weeks had been torturous, creeping by as if to taunt her every waking hour. She had been remarkably angry and hurt by Cicero's lack of empathy for her, but as she recovered from her surge of emotions she knew there was perhaps some truth to what he'd said. It most likely was dangerous for her to want to live a double life, but for some illogical reason she felt the urge to do it anyway.

So Ava had pushed her grief aside once more, continuing her duties and informing her assassins of their contracts. She was trying her best to do what was right within the confines of the Brotherhood. On the outside she remained calm, but on the inside she felt the very life being squeezed out of her. Over a decade's worth of pain festered below, followed by disgust from her own actions, and lastly grief from Cicero's incessant scolding.

Where she had once been fond of the jester, she now seemed to be confused about what he really liked about her in the first place. He was completely smitten with the fact that he had a Listener, yet he seemed not the least bit concerned for Ava's feelings. Then again, what was she expecting? She had befriended a madman, after all.

Despite their twisted ways, her dark family was still a family. She was trying to hold on for them, but the bonds of her past were tightly woven. Ava could feel herself tire from the immense effort it took for her to stay put.

She'd think often about Sidra. Her aunt was a big part of her life as a child. Ava could remember her sunny disposition, and their days spent together when she'd help her aunt on her quaint farm back in Cyrodiil. Sidra was a joy to be around, and always there to lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on. Ava missed her intensely, wishing she could see her smiling face once more.

Seeing Myles made her temptation that much harder to refuse. He had been her dearest friend, and the fact that he felt the same way she had toward him made her giddy. She would often daydream of what it would be like to travel together, seeing all of Tamriel like they had dreamt of in their youth.

Ava prayed often to the Night Mother, asking for guidance or forgiveness - - maybe just to hear her voice. The Unholy Matron provided her with contracts, but she remained ever so silent concerning her personal affairs. Ava began to reason that if the Mother didn't see her troubles as fit to talk about, then maybe they weren't so bad after all.

Ultimately, Ava knew what she would do. The urges were too powerful. It was just a matter of time before she would give in.

"Ava, look what I found growing in with the cabbages! My that is strange...You never see one of those in the garden!" The smallish Imperial lady with brunette curls motioned the small child over.

"Wow! I'm going to show this to Mama and Papa!" Ava's tiny hand picked the glowing Nirnroot from among the vegatables. "I'll be right back Auntie Sidra!" The small girl ran bounced happily down the hill. Halting at the bottom, she caught sight of something truly disturbing.

Two figures lay in the path drenched in blood with their mouths agape in twisted horror. The young child stood before the bloodied corpses of her dead parents. A thick ocean of black, smothering clouds blanketed the sky, drowning out the shining sunlight and all that surrounded Ava. Thunder roared and lightning flashed as angered rain began to pour down. Time leaped forward, and Ava was no longer a small child, but a grown woman who stood in horror at the bodies of her beloved parents.

She began to run frantically, splashing endlessly in the deep pools of water that soon flooded the road from the trecherous storm above. The longer she ran, she began to witness a sudden change in the water. The clear liquid began taking on a crimson hue, splashing up on her dress and painting it red.

Ava's view was as dense and black as death itself. After what felt like hours of ceaseless running, Ava caught a glimpse of a faint light twinkling in the darkness. It was a farm. Desperately wanting to find help, she sprinted toward the glowing windows. A carriage began to appear in the thick, dark fog. A carriage with a busted wheel. Feeling strangely terrified, Ava approached the wagon.

"Why...hello Listener. Did you come to help foolish Cicero, perhaps?" The jester stood drenched in rain, his red hair clinging to his gaunt face. His eyes were glaring and malevolent. He held out his gloved hand to Ava, "Come, have a look girl...It seems as though Cicero's wagon is broken...Can you help poor Cicero fix it?"

Confused and frightened, Ava hesitantly examined the bottom of the carriage. Noster Eagle-Eye's lifeless corpse stuck out from under the wagon, with his eyes glazed over and his throat drenched in blood. Ava gasped, looking up to find not a soul around the defunct wagon. The jester had vanished without a trace, and she was left alone in the crimson rain.

"Ava!" A familiar voice shouted from Loreius's famhouse. She spotted Myles standing with the door wide open. "Come with me! It's safe here! Hurry before that crazy lunatic comes back!" He waved her over frantically, his eyes filled with fear.

Ava burst through the door, with Myles slamming and locking it to keep impending danger out. "I'm so sorry you had to see that, Ava...Here, let me tuck you in. He'll never find you here. You can finally be at peace." He grabbed hold of her hand, gently guiding her to a small bed. As she laid down, he pulled warm comforting blankets across her cold, shivering body.

"Now get some rest, friend..." Myles said softly, kissing her forehead. Exhaustion was hanging heavy on her eyelids, causing them to shut against her will.

The room faded to black for a brief moment, until Ava regained consciousness once more. She could hear the floorboards creaking, with the faint sound of laughter in the farmhouse. She opened her eyes, but the room was far too dark to see. Myles was nowhere to be found. She was alone.

Suddenly, candle light appeared in the corner of the bedroom as a shadowy silhouette appeared. The figure was as black as night, and it moved until it stood by her bedside. Feeling panicked, she tried desperately to move, but her body lay paralyzed. The figure laughed darkly, hovering over her.

In an instant, the candle light illuminated the being before her. It was Cicero. The flame danced and flickered, casting dark shadows along the lines of the jester's twisted features. His lips were curled in a sinister grin that shook her to the core. "Remember, Listener, you can NEVER leave the Brotherhood! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" He laughed violently, now only mere inches from her face.

Ava tried to scream, but it was as if her air supply had been cut off by an unseen force. She couldn't make a sound. Faint hisses and gasps came from her throat, which had tightened as if an unseen hand tightened its grip around her neck. She could only look into his deep glaring eyes, her face contorted in utter panic.

The jester lifted up a gloved finger to his lips, "SSSHHHHHH...Now go to sleep Listener..." He giggled, now holding the Blade of Woe in his other hand. His giggles turned into another violent fit of laughter, as he raised the jagged dagger above her very heart. Ava could do nothing but gasp for air, his darkness smothering her life away...

"Sweat dreams, Listener..." He growled in her ear. In one deadly thrust, the jester had plunged the jagged blade into her chest. A sharp stinging pain coursed throughout her body, and the world faded out...

...

Ava gasped for air, furiously fighting the blankets until she awoke. She sat straight up in her bed, feeling frantically about her face to see if she had come back to reality. Her forehead was drenched in sweat, as she scanned the room to find herself back in the Sanctuary in her dimly lit bedroom.

She bit her bottom lip, trembling from the horrendous nightmare. It was the dead of night once more, and she was trapped in this Sanctuary away from her family - - away from the light of day, and away from life itself. Panic had consumed her whole being. Ava couldn't take it anymore. She had to get out of this prison, and she had to leave now!

She jumped up from her bed, quickly dressing herself and grabbing her knapsack. She crept through the Sanctuary, moving as quiet as death itself. She only stopped when she stood facing the giant tomb of the Night Mother. Stepping over to the shiny metal sarcophagus, she placed the palm of her hand on the cold metal door.

"Mother, please...forgive my weakness..." She whispered, shivering from her anguish.

The Black Door rumbled. Ava was lost into the night, freeing herself from her prison...