I'm back with chapter 19. Hope your week was good and may this week be even greater. Please R&R and I shall see you at the bottom of the page.

POV: Lucy, Natsu, Lucy

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

A noise somewhere to my left catches my attention, freeing my mind from the thoughts of flying freely like a bird, and when I turn toward the source of noise I barely catch the glimpse of a leg disappearing around a corner. With one last glance toward the distant ocean I rush behind the figure that is quickly getting away from my sight down the long cobblestone path.

It's like we're playing a game of tag, and I'm the one who's it.

But who am I chasing?

"Luuuucy ~" a voice drifts in through the thick haze of sleep, "Come on, wake up" I feel a pressure on my left shoulder and something soft shakes me lightly, "Lu, wake up already," I slowly crack my eyes open to find a blob of blue, "Seriously Lu, we're going to be at the station soon," the blob, which has started to take shape now, complains and the shaking has gotten harder.

Blinking a few times, I look around trying to orient myself as I take in my surroundings. It takes me a good minute to fully wake up and another two minutes to understand what is happening before I realize that we're on a train. That's right, we're going to Balsam Village, also known as Spa Town Hosenka, to hang out with the girls. It's a way to celebrate Levy's return from Akane beach.

"Well good morning sleeping beauty," Cana snorts, her cheeks flushed pink, probably having something to do with the weird canister in her hand, "D'you have a good nap," she cackles even though there's nothing funny on what she asked.

Ignoring her, I turn and look out my window to my right and sure enough not so far away I can spot the train station that partially hides the all too famous Balsam village. I've heard that it's a really nice village with an endless amount of Spas, Bath houses, and restaurants including some Inns and a few casinos. People say it's the perfect place to go and relax where you can let the cleansing warm water clear away your bad aura rejuvenating your mind and body, which is really what I need.

It's been a week since I ran into that strange ominous trio and I haven't once been able to keep them out of my mind. Just when I feel that I've forgotten about them they reappear almost as if warning me, possibly even threatening me. It gets stressful and takes so much out of me especially since no matter where I go I always feel a pair of eyes on me, even when I'm around my family. It keeps me alert 24/7 to the point where it's hard to focus on anything else and because of this I've been losing sleep causing me to always be sleepy.

Ever since Erza told me about this trip I've done nothing but look forward to it, even when the eyes on me seemed to get even more intense. I've tried talking to Natsu about it, who has now made it a thing to sneak into my room through my bedroom window whenever the hell he wants, but he simply shook his head before I could mention anything to him.

He puts up five fingers at me, his recognizable stern expression snuffing out all the joy that had not a second ago been there, and looks at me seriously, "Rule number five, Keep your secrets to yourself,"

Up until then I hadn't known that the mysterious trio had even been a secret until the warning bells began to ring before I started confessing my discomfort to the only person I can actually confide in my thoughts with. So after hearing the fifth rule I kept my mouth shut and tried to keep it in, but it's been getting harder with every passing minute to not say anything.

What on earth am I supposed to do with my ranting brain?

The clacking of heels makes us all look up to see who is approaching. Juvia's stern gaze scans around the room from the doorway and it isn't long before she spots us at the back of the room playing cards. We all look up at her and from the look on her face I know what's coming, and I definitely know we're not going to like what's within the peach colored manila folder tucked under Juvia's arm.

"We found another one," she says throwing a file onto the table scattering our cards everywhere, though this time she doesn't sound indifferent as she usually does and her expression is a mournful one.

"Where is our unlucky soul at," Gray asks picking up the file lazily and resting back in his chair while opening the manila folder and almost instantly sits up in his seat staring into the folder with wide stricken eyes almost ripping the folder in half, "WHAT? It can't be." Gajeel rips the folder away from Gray reading the information and his expression grows cold as he stares down at the paper in front of him.

"She's on her way to Balsam Village," Juvia informs us while crossing her arms across her chest and closing her eyes, "You should hurry unless you want things to get worse.

She?

I turn and take the file from Gajeel's shaking hands and look up at both males who are staring into space, probably wondering how this could have happened. I pull the closed file away from Gajeel and stare at the peach colored folder wondering who it is that we'll be hunting down now. Taking in a deep nervous breath, I clutch the folder and slowly open the folder to reveal the picture and information inside. I let out all the air from my lungs feeling my head slowly hang in defeat. It can't be her, how could this have happened?

Swallowing hard, I look up at the others feeling my mouth dry, "It's…"

"Lucy!" I turn and watch the girls catch up to me after grabbing their luggage and dragging it behind them, "Are you ready to head over to the Inn?" Lisanna asks linking her arm with my own before leading me away from the station with the others following close behind.

I nod allowing her to drag me along as I look around completely amazed at how over the top everything around here is. So many colorful buildings, their oriental architecture style decorated with strange old fashioned carvings and vender carts litter the street as far as the eye can see. It's almost as if I stepped into a fictional universe with crazy buildings and people dressed in kimonos walking down the streets buying food and or souvenirs to take home once their trip ended. The feeling of relaxation was definitely in the air and I couldn't wait to be completely a part of it.

We reach the Inn, a modern Japanese looking building, and check into our room that we all decided to share with one another, since I hear the rooms are pretty big here. It isn't minutes after I get settled in that the girls quickly drag me out after convincing me to dress into a blue kimono with fluttering pink petals painted onto the material. The other girls wear the same clothing as me and I can't help but feel a little uncomfortable walking around the village wearing such thin clothing.

The distractions around the village help clear my mind of all embarrassment and I soon forget that I'm even wearing a kimono instead of my usual shirt and skirt. The distractions around me also help keep my mind from registering the eyes that are no doubt following my every move.

Even though the most we do is walk around stopping a few times to check out some stores and vender carts, I can't help but feel that I'm having so much fun. Every time I breathe in the warm, thankfully not humid, air around us I can't help but feel my troubles fade away like dissolving ice. I even start to wonder if I could just stay here forever and not go back to Magnolia where I know things will only get harder as the days go by, but deep down I know that I wouldn't actually have the guts to leave what little family I have left, but one can dream.

"OOH, we should try out the hot springs. I hear that Balsam Village holds the best hot spring in all of Fiore and that even the king himself goes to it whenever he gets the chance," Lisanna chirps excitedly looking up from a map she brought with her from the Inn, her large blue eyes shimmering with anticipation, "We should totally check it out,"

"It sounds good to me," Levy agrees with a wide smile and I nod along with the others.

"I'm in,"

"Me too,"

"Then I suggest we head on over there now before we go to eat," Erza suggests and without complaint we all head on toward the famous Hosenka Town Hot Springs.

"Ah, this is the life," Cana sighs while resting her elbows on the ledge behind her as she submerges her body into the warm, almost scalding, water, "You know what would be great right now?" she asks me, since I'm sitting right next to her and I look at her curiously, "Some nice Sake," she says dreamily.

I deadpan thinking back at all the alcohol she already drank on the train ride here, not including all the other alcohol she must have also had while we were touring around the village, "Uh, Cana, aren't you underage to be drinking," I ask her and she gasps as if I had just told her that she was fat.

She gazes at me almost accusingly with a small pout before closing her eyes and crossing her arms across her towel clad chest, "Age has never stopped me before," she grumbles and I chuckle at her childish antics.

My eyes slowly descend toward her wrist, where not less than a few weeks ago had been wrapped in gauze, which now is empty of any jewelry or medical band aids. Instead, reaching from the tip of her wrist to the middle of her forearm a thin pale line, which is no doubt a fading scar, marks her raising many unanswerable questions within my head causing the warning bells to lightly chime.

"How are you enjoying yourself Lu?" Levy asks as she wads through the warm water to sit next to me and I can't help but feel the question I've been dying to ask her for the past three weeks bubble up to my lips. Instead I tighten my mouth into a tight smile knowing that right now isn't the best time to mention something like that, especially with Lisanna nearby. In the short amount of time I've known the white haired teen I've learned how her sister loves to match make anyone she hears that has even the most remote chance at liking each other and I would never do such a thing to Levy, unless of course she failed to mention anything to me in the upcoming days.

"I'm having a lot of fun," I say with a content sigh and she smiles looking glad before settling back down into the water.

For an hour, or probably more, I watch the steam of the water rise up toward the uncovered sky and I watch the stars twinkle over us along with a huge gorgeous full moon. The winking stars remind me of my mother and it takes me back when we used to sit on the large balcony at our home before we moved to Crocus where the stars were much brighter away from the light pollution of the city. I remember we would sit on one lawn chair, both of us wrapped up in blankets and a warm cup of hot chocolate wrapped between our hands as we searched for shooting stars and pointing out the various constellations I've learned to recognize by heart.

Looking down at my hands, which have begun to prune, I wonder what it would be like to watch the stars from Magnolia. I've lived there for almost two months already and I haven't had the chance to find a decent spot to go star gazing. I make myself a mental note that once we get back to Magnolia I would do everything I could to find a decent star gazing spot so I could look up at the stars like when I used to with my mom. Maybe I'd feel even closer to her than I already did while sleeping in her former room.

I continue to think about it an hour after that as I follow the others toward the Super Express Restaurant ordering a bowl of their world famous noodles, which are really good I even got seconds. It isn't I notice that Levy is missing that I snap out of my constellation searching reverie.

"Hey Erza, where's Levy?" I ask the red haired beauty, who is apparently blushing due to both Cana's and Lisanna's endless amount of questions pertaining to Jellal and her relationship, which will no doubt end up zooming toward the ears of Mirajane.

"She said she was heading back to the Inn, said something about wanting to read before going to bed," Erza says, her cheeks blazing scarlet like her hair as the other girl's laughter increases.

Standing up from the table, I smile at the trio while saying, "I'm going to go give her some company so she won't be alone," and after pushing my chair back I head for the exit heading on over toward where the Inn is at, which is only two blocks away.

I look around noticing that the evening couples have begun to flood the streets and for some odd reason my thoughts go to Natsu and I wonder what he's doing right now? "Probably breaking into my room," I mutter knowing well that that could be a possibility since I never told him that I was going to be out of town for a day with the girls. Hopefully Laxus or my grandfather doesn't catch him if he does decide to sneak into my room.

Sighing, I look through the crowd feeling a little lonely when a flash of blue to my far left catches my eye and I turn to watch Levy walking away toward an alleyway. Smiling, I head on over toward the short blue haired teen wondering if she had gotten lost through this thick crowd and was still trying to find her way toward the Inn which was only a block away.

"Levy," I call waving my hand in the air once I'm certain that I'm close enough for her to hear me and almost immediately the warning bells I've grown so accustomed to blare into my ears making me cry out in pain from the force. It takes everything in me from keeling over in pain as I continue to make my way through the crowd toward Levy feeling my heart sink and my stomach churn agonizingly into tight knots, "Levy," I call out again in hopes that she will hear me, but she continues to walk deeper into the alleyway seeming to be talking happily with someone who looks just like a looming shadow to me. It's so ominous that I fear it with all of my being.

Pushing through the unknowing passerby's, I continue to call out for Levy but my voice gets droned out through the nearby music which is coming from some southern playing band. My heart is racing in my chest pounding painfully against my ribs and it's gotten a bit harder to breathe as I continue to push feeling frustrated that I can't move any faster.

Time then slows down and I watch what happens before me as if I were watching an old classic action film where the hero is racing to save their best friend from the evil villain who's getting ready to get rid of them. I'm the hero, the shadow is the villain, and Levy is the victim.

I watch in agonizing fury as Levy's bright hazel smiling eyes look up at the shadow seeming to be having a conversation with it. She laughs, her eyes closed and her cheeks blushing shyly, and when she opens her eyes her smile fades and the laughter vanishes from her eyes showing concern and then fear. She takes a step away from the shadow, terror overwhelming her innocent face, and she seems to be pleading as tears stream down her pale cheeks just as the wall behind her stops her from moving any further, she's trapped.

Finally, after what seems like a millennia, I reach the edge of the alleyway where she is at, but I'm too late. I watch as a gleaming silver knife digs into Levy's abdomen making her cry out in pain. The knife is then pulled out and with a blink of an eye the shadow disappears leaving Levy sprawled on the cold wet ground with blood blooming like an opening flower painting her kimono and making a puddle on the cold pavement below her as she clutches her stomach in pain. Her breathing has grown heavy and it seems to be slowing down and it looks like it's getting harder for her to keep her eyes open.

"LEVY!" I cry out taking a step toward her and before I know it a shooting pain blooms at the back of my head and all I can see is an endless void of darkness.

I was too late.

And the suspense continues to build! Muahahahahahaha!

I hoped you all liked the chapter. I worked hard on it all weekend and since today I didn't have to go to school I decided to post this up before I go to band practice. What? Why do I have band practice on a day off of school? Because my directors are jerks and never know when to let us rest -_-'

Shout Outs

Thanks to all of my Fabulous Followers...

- NickyDawn

- CuteFoxShade-NightShadeOwl

- JenCakeLover

And to all of my Fantabulous reviewers...

richgirl555cub - I now pronounce you story and story reader! Haha. I'm really happy to hear that you enjoy my updates and trust me, I squeal as well when I get reviews from you and my other readers. And yes, I will always expect a review from you.

FanFictionLeon - And the mystery continues. Don't worry about being confused, I'm just as confused as you and I'm the one writing the story. Hopefully when the time comes it'll make as much sense as it does in my head.

MeGustaZeref - Yes the danger has finally come and from here on out tragedy will only grow, but it won't be as bad as the actually anime Another since I only got the inspiration for it. The ending, in my opinion, should be a good classical happy ending unless otherwise I decide to change it. Probably not, but I guess we'll have to see.

Owl's Song - I'm sorry you had a bad week of school, but I'm glad my story brought a smile to your face, at least I hope it did, and to make your day today I will vaguely answer your questions...

- is it just Natsu who is dangerous in Fairy Tail?

-Yes and no. It's not that he's dangerous himself if not what he does is dangerous and must be kept from the public at all times.

- does Lucy's dad have something to do with this?

- Not really. He knows what's going on, which is why he was reluctant to leave Lucy in Magnolia when he did.

- WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

...Stuff...

Well that's all the shout outs for today and I hope some of your questions were answered and if you have any more just ask. I'd be glad to answer without giving to much away from the story.

Anywho, If you are enjoying my story so far please follow, favorite, and review - remember, reviews are a writers candy - and if you have any questions or ideas you'd like to see put into this story you can also PM me and I'll gladly add it in.

Until next time my lovelies.