"What have I done?" He huddled into the corner. "I j-just killed a man. What am I going to do now?" He ran his hands through his hair.

He looked at his arms. He tugged down the sleeves to cover his missing limbs. He looked down at his jacket. It was blood-stained and dirty.

"Oh...I look terrible."

"My mommy makes clothes. You can ask her for help."

He screamed and wacked at the air. The girl screamed too and cowered behind her hands.

"I-I am so sorry!"

"Are you alright? So far, I am the only one who comes here." She revealed her face.

She had a gentle smile, her green eyes sparkling. She held out her hand.

"My name is Piper Howell. Who are you?"

"I...I have no clue. I do not know my name."

She blinked twice. "How can you not know your own name?

"I do not know, but that is how it is..."

She grabbed his arm. "Come on, I am sure my friends will like you!"

She dragged him out and let him go. He fell on his face.

"We should get you some new clothes though. Mommy can make them for you. Come on!"

"But I have no money." He got off the ground and brushed the dirt from his face.

"I am sure mommy will understand!"

She was wearing a magenta dress, with deep pink accents and wrap around her waist. Her hair held a perfect straightness to it, going to her center back. It was black.

"Mommy! I found a new friend!"

"'Found?' You cannot just find children out on the roads! What if they are diseased?"

He licked his wrist. "I do not taste diseased..."

She froze. "Piper, who is this? And what is with his strange attire?"

Piper shrugged. "But he is lost, I think. And he wishes to meet my friends!"

"I never said that..." He said.

"But he said he does not have any euros. So he will not be able to pay."

"You are without a home? I suppose I can make an exception for you."

"Euros...?" Piper shoved him forwards. "Aah!"

The outfit was simply a white shirt with a small ruff on the front, slip-on shoes, and short platoons with tights. He refused to take off his jacket until she was finished, and made sure neither of them saw his arms when he changed.

"This looks idiotic..."

"It is the latest fashion." She gently pushed his hand down. "Do not play with that."

He touched the ruff with his other hand. "But it feels strange..."

"You can get used to it!" Piper said. "Now you have to meet my friends!"

"Piper, take your brother with you." She stopped Piper from leaving. "You have left him behind many a time. Take him with you this once."

"Fine. Emerald, we are leaving!"

Emerald ran down the stairs and Piper pulled him out the house.

"Ignore my brother. He is quite the idiotic one."

"But..." He looked back at Emerald. "He looks cute."

"Sure, his looks make up for eveything else he lacks. We are just going to leave him as soon as possible anyways, so I suggest not getting too attached."

They walked in silence for a bit.

"How did you get here? What was with your strange attire?"

"I started off afraid, then a strange portal opened in front of me. Then, I woke here."

"Portal? So you are a witch?"

"What? A woman called me a 'Magic User' or something as such."

"No way! I want to see your 'magic!' Please?"

Emerald kept walking past them, as they had stopped when Piper yelled. He waited until Emerald was out of sight.

"Oh, alright. I have no idea how it works though."

"I heard magic comes from the hands. Try doing this." She trusted both of her hands into the air.

He copied her. Then, something came over him. Fear and sadness stirred in his heart. He saw a face, and they smiled kindly to him. Another unfamiliar face came to his thoughts, this one sad. The second face turned and left him behind, his hands still reaching for the skies. He felt like crying, and had no reason as to why. He saw the ends of his hands turn a deep purple and then a portal appeared above his hands.

"You did it! Does it actually work?"

He moved his hands down, the portal following. He opened another one higher above them. "Here. You can check, since you wished to see them so terribly."

She stuck her head through the one closer to the ground, and she appeared in the one above them.

"This is incredible!" She pulled her head out and stuck her hand through. "Hello there!" She waved to him with the hand in the portal. She stuck her head back through.

"Piper, I would not suggest doing that. I have no idea how this skill works. It could close at any moment!"

"Only if you make it close! Come on, my friend! You must have a little belief in yourself! Imagine how helpful this ability could be! You could stop theives, transport goods, and get around quickly without needing to walk miles to get to your destination!"

"You make a fair point..."

The purple on his hands started to vanish, and the portal began to tremble.

"What is the matter, my friend?"

"Piper, you need to get out. Now!"

"Why? Scared that you are weak? Scared that something will happen to me? You have no need to be scared, my dear friend."

"B-but Piper-!"

"What is it now? Do you not want me to have fun? Do you not want me to be your friend? Because if that is the case, you can forget about the portals. I will only leave if you promise we will be friends for eternity."

"Piper, I have no time for promises!"

"Promise, friend-of-mine. Or risk killing me, if that is what you fear."

He sighed. "Fine. I promise that we are friends until the end of time."

"Great! That was not too difficult, was it? Now I can please you, since you have pleased m-"

He fell backwards, and Piper fell as well. He rubbed his eyes and sat up. He went to Piper.

"I apologize, Piper. I could not hold it anymore." He poked her. "Piper? Are you okay?"

He spotted something in the shadows. He picked it up and moved into the light. He screamed and dropped it when he saw what it was. He crawled away, shaking.

Emerald returned. "Piper's friend? Are you alright? You seem scared." He came over to him and held out his hand. "Come on. If you are scared, we should probably go home. Mother can help you. And if she cannot, I will try. Where did Piper go? Had she rushed off without you, like she does to me?"

He couldn't speak. He had just witnessed something horrible, and it was his fault it happened.

"Piper's friend?" He moved a bit closer. "It will be alright, you will be okay. Here, allow me to help you up." He grabbed his hands, then pulled them away. "What is on your hands? They are wet and warm. Do you need a hankerchief? Here you can borrow mine." He held it out.

"Piper...is...dead..."

"Dead? That seems a bit far-fetched. Sure, she may be rude, but just because she left you behind does not mean she died."

"I killed her...I held her head...I have her blood on my hands...I am a monster..."

"You have to be playing, right? I have not even known you for long, but you do not seem like the kind of person to murder my sister."

He started to laugh. "This power can kill! Anyone who wrongs me, who lies to me, who uses me; they can all be punished!"

"Piper's friend? Are you sure you are alright?"

"We will meet again, I am sure. For now, I take my leave." He kicked Piper's head on his way out.

He heard Emerald scream.