Chapter Two

          Ellie didn't get why she was freaking out. It was just a dream, for goodness' sake, and it wasn't even her dream to begin with. It had nothing to do with her life in the Outer Arc, for all she cared. It was a dream. A stupid dream. It didn't mean anything. Not to her, not to Eduard even. Ahh ... Eduard. Now she hated him for bringing up the whole thing. Couldn't he just keep his stupid dreams to himself? Why drag her into this whole thing?

          Because he's your friend, Ellie told herself. He trusts you enough to want to share his secrets with you.

          Sighing wearily, she stepped into her first class of the day. That would be stupid old Triginometry. Like she gave a damn about triangles.

          "Ah, how nice of you to join us today, Miss Poole," a familiar voice drawled. Ellie knew that voice anywhere; time and distance did nothing to erase that familiar voice from her memory. The silken tone of voice sent shivers down her spine. Even after so long, she still couldn't forget that voice, or its owner. But what was he doing here, in this present moment? Was he looking for her?

          "What are you doing here?" she hissed, suddenly feeling so cold and exposed. He had that effect on her, she supposed. Or perhaps everyone felt the same way around him. Naked, uncovered. It was as if he knew all of the secrets hidden away in her brain, that she could hide nothing from him.

          "That's no way to talk to a teacher, Miss Poole, even if said teacher is just a substitute," drawled the same voice. The man the voice belonged to leaned back in his chair, running a hand along his dark hair and regarding Ellie with his cool heterochromatic eyes. Ellie shivered, her hands trembling at her sides.

          "Sit down, Miss Poole, so we can begin the day's lesson."


          Eduard didn't see Ellie until recess. He found her loitering about in the hallways while everyone else was off to the cafeteria. She snuck around like a burglar breaking into a house, and that was enough to interest Eduard - what the hell was she doing?
          "Hey, Ellie!" he called as he tapped her shoulder.
          Surprised (or rather, shocked), she whirled around and tackled Eduard, pinning him to a locker. He uttered a cry of surprise before she covered his mouth with her hand, cutting off further noises from him. Her eyes were wild as she hissed, "Shh! What the hell are you doing here?? Get to class, or - or something!"
          "It's recess," Eduard pointed out as he peeled her fingers from his lips. "What are you doing, sneaking around like a thief?"
          "I'm-" Ellie broke off abruptly as her gaze drifted to one side. She took a brief glance at Eduard, putting her finger to her lips. She warned, "Shh!"
          She walked off, in pursuit of an unfamiliar man who was walking down the hallway. Eduard noted that both parties were behaving quite suspiciously. He followed Ellie, questions blooming in his mind like wildflowers. He watched as the man disappeared behind a door. Ellie drew closer to the door, bending down to listen to something. Eduard mimicked her, ignoring the angry looks she knifed at him.
          "Don't worry," spoke a masculine voice. "I found her. No, you shouldn't be worried about me. It's your part I'm concerned about. That idiot Friday would ruin things. Yes, well, watch over him for me ..."
          It's a telephone conversation, mused Eduard.
          "Well, I told you not to worry, my dear. Yes, yes, the girl ... I know what I should do. No, I doubt that any violence would be necessary, but if it comes down to it, I will remove anyone who gets in the way ..."
          "Cool, we've stumbled upon a conspiracy of some sort," Eduard whispered as he turned to Ellie.
          To his surprise, Ellie had bolted down the hallway, running as fast as her slender legs could carry her. Eduard, ran after her, realizing how fast she could run when he lost sight of her. He sucked in a few breaths and searched for her, finding her just as she reached the girls' toilet.
          "Hey, wait!" he called after her.
          "Dead! Dead!" she cried hysterically as she went into the toilet, slamming the door behind her.
          You wouldn't want to go in there, do you? Eduard thought to himself, and muttered, "Great."
          And what the heck was up with Ellie?

Chapter One

          He sat up; his blue eyes open wide in fear. He was drenched in cold sweat; it soaked the dark gray henley shirt he wore and matted the fringe of his too-long dark hair to his forehead. His thin lipped mouth was open in a soundless scream. His long fingered hands trembled, curling around the sheets, and finally, as the realization that it was all a dream, he relaxed. A relieved sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes. His hand went up to his narrow forehead, smoothing back his unkempt hair.

          It's all right, he told himself. Just a nightmare, Eduard. Now sleep.

          He lay down on the bed, waiting for sleep to wrap its arms around him and pull him into a deep slumber. But as he lay there, he couldn't help but wonder if the dream had any meaning to it. After all, he'd been having the same dream over and over again.
          Sleep came oh so slowly, and when he finally drifted, a similar nightmare came to him, disturbing his subconscious mind.

          Not dead.
          Even as he lay there, he was sure of that fact. He was wounded, yes, but not dead. Far from it. Well, how could he, when he could feel pain cutting into his flesh like daggers? His senses told him how far he was from death, and how vivid his surroundings felt to him! Never before had he seen the world with such clarity, felt the blood soaking his clothes drop by drop. And what was there to be happy about? Nothing, evidently.
          His blue eyes drifted in their sockets, found the two agents standing over him, their expressions unfathomable. The first agent - the one with amber colored eyes and dark hair - was staring at him intently, while his associate - the one with brown hair and had opened fire - was standing at a distance. He still had his weapon raised, as if the prisoner would attack again.
          "As you can see, Mr Hunter," drawled the first agent, "that wasn't a wise move. The Organization wouldn't want a good research subject wasted like that, but we will terminate you if we have to. And by the look of things, Mr Hunter, you are leaving us with no choice."
          Go ahead, he thought. Kill me. Would you dare to do so? I'd like to see.
          His Craft seemed to pulse within him. Every vein and artery had enchanted blood flowing through it. Could he work his Craft again? He was sure he could do it again. Forget about the drugs in his system - the magic in him could fight even that. He was stronger than that, wasn't he assured of this again and again? He was stronger than the Organization's best man; why wouldn't he go down without a fight?
          Fire flashed in his blue eyes, and in an instant, the entire cell was ablaze. Bright orange flames licked the white walls, turning them black. Flames engulfed the three men in the room as the fire alarm went off. The agents had their guns out and aimed at the man who caused it all, but what good would bullets do? He was stronger than them, even in his wounded state. And he wouldn't remain their captive for long.
          The flames swirled around him, but he felt no fear. The heat coming from them couldn't hurt him, not then. They were his flames, and no one could conquer those flames. The flames extended their arms to him; he gladly welcomed it. He wouldn't die, no. But he would escape.
          And then he was gone.

          "It means nothing," Ellie snapped. "It's just stupid, so very stupid."
          Eduard quickened his pace, trying to catch up with his friend. Michelle 'Ellie' Poole marched down the hallway quietly, refusing to listen to whatever Eduard had to say. Somehow, the mere mention of the dream had her acting strange. What was up with that? She didn't have to get all huffy on him, did she? Girls. What was up with them, anyway?
          "Are you all right?" he asked her when he finally caught up with her. "I mean ..."
          "Yes, yes," Ellie replied with a wave of her hand. "I'm fine, I could not be any better than this ... No, really ..."
          But Eduard was persistent. "You're a really bad liar, you know."
          Ellie whirled around, her gray eyes blazing. Their eyes met in a gaze so intense Eduard fell back a step. Then a slow smile curled the corners of her little pink mouth upward. She leaned closer to him and muttered quietly, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
          As she walked away, Eduard couldn't help but think, that in that moment, Ellie seemed as cold as ice. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized that he may not know his friend as well as he thought, after all. Sighing wearily, he lumbered off to his first class of the day, still thinking of the dreams he had ... and Ellie.