In the little antique store, the owner was preparing to close his shop for the evening, when a tall, pale skin stranger that wears a since of dread around him, walks in. The owner was starting to put stuff on a shelf when he heard the bell go off from the door. He jolted to a stop and looked over at the man and said, "Oh, hello. I'm sorry but we're about to close for the night. I knew I forgot something. Freddy would kill me for this." He hit himself in the head, closing his eyes. He took a breath and said, "Look you're more than welcome to take your time and look around. Unless, are you looking something specific?"

"No, just browsing." The stranger stated coldly.

"Oh, ok." The young man said, while turning back around to finish putting items up on the shelves. While the pale man walked through the shop, slowly making his way, to the ignorant owner that kept on going about his business.

"Do you like antiques?" The owner tried to make conversation.

"I guess you could say, I'm a collector of sorts." The pale man stated with a small grin. His own inner joke got to him a bit. He never faltered in his movement toward the owner. His gaze like that of a predator about to pounce on its pray.

"Me too I guess." the owner said as he reached up to the top shelf to place a, thick and dimly colored, ceramic bowel upon it. He had to sand on was his tip toes in order to reach the top shelf. He had tried twice already, but he was determined to put this ceramic bowel up there for display. Now as he tried again, almost making it this time, the pale man had come up closer to the young man without him noticing.

The pale man was now towering over the young man, who has still not noticed that he was right behind him.

"Ok..." the young man whispered to himself as he took another go at placing the bowel on the shelf. He bit his lip as if that would give him extra height as he what and stretched out his arms. One holding and pushing the bowel, and the other holding on the tip of the shelf he could reach, in order to keep his balance. The pale man's eye caught something on the young boy`s arm as he lifted the bowel, in his wave of movements.

The pale man moved his gaze up the young man's arm and waited for it to twist or move just right, so he could see if he saw what he thought he saw. The young man lost his grip and fell back a little bit. He still tried to keep the bowel from falling and when he moved his other arm to help, that's when the pale gentleman was able to see the mark on the young man’s arm. His eyes widen with shock of what he had seen. At this moment the young boy lost his grip on the bowel, that now is coming straight at him. He closed his eyes as he braced for the impact of the huge object that was sure to bring pain with it. But it never came, the boy slowly opened one and brought his hands down from his head, that where meant to be his shield from the object that raced toward him, and saw a huge hand catch and raise the bowel to its intended place on the shelf and push it back with two fingers.

The young man looked up at his savor and said softly, "Thanks for the save."

"Don't mention it." The pale man said coldly. He barely made eye contact with the owner at this moment.

The owner had looked down, not knowing what else to really say, when all of a sudden, he was stricken with an idea.

"Ok, I think I might have something you might like." the owner sang with excitement. He darted to the back, earning a look from the pale man that just saved him from taking any damage, though at this point the pale stranger was wondering if something else may have dealt damage to the young man that he did not witness.

Shaking this thought he asked, "Why not use a step stole or a small latter?" he genuinely wondered why.

"Oh, Ha, I haven't got around to getting one yet" the owner laughed slightly out of embarrassment.

"You really should, it`s a safety hazarded." The stranger commented.

The owner`s face had flashed a bit at the comment. "Yeah I know." He admitted to the stranger.

The stranger looked up, then down and around at the shop, now taking the time to actually scan the shop, until they fell back on the area the young owner went in, when the owner shouted:

"FOUND IT!" He came out with a square like object in his hands. It appeared to be wrapped in a dark velvet like fabric. The stranger began to walk closer to the counter that the owner was walking toward.

The owner set the square and velvet wrapped object down on the counter and place his hands on both sides of the square. He then gestured, with his eyes and a big smile, for the stranger to come closer and look at the newly placed object. Against the stranger's better judgement he walked toward the counter.

"So, what is it?" The stranger asked.

"Well. You said that you wear a collector. So, I thought you might like this." The owner gestured to the square by waving his hand over it.

"Ok, so again what is it?" the stranger questioned again.

The owner just smiled and pulled off velvet cloth that covered the object.

"A jewelry box?" The stranger looked at the owner and back at the newly reviled box in front of him and back to the owner. He bit his tongue and lazily lifting his eyes up, without moving his head, at the last motion.

"Yep and No." The owner said with a big smile that spread from ear to ear.

"What do you mean; yes and no?" The stranger had thought for a moment the men before him my actually not be all there.

"I mean yes, It' a regular jewelry box at first glance but..." The young man had turned the box so it was now facing the stranger. He then continued to open the box and reach in and pulled on a small sting in the box, that looked to be lose string from the fabric stitched in it, that opened a small section on the side of the box. The owner reached in and pulled the corner of the box, that popped out, to reveal a small drawer, that he then opened, and pulled out a small comb from with in it.

"Tad Da" the owner said handing the comb to the stranger. "See, it was meant to be used to deliver small secrets to enemies or hide poisons" The owner seemed very excited at that notion. "But, I think my favorite use was to hide objects of a secret love or affair." His smile now softer then before.

The stranger had observed this and was taken back a little at the quick change of tone. "Oh, that seems romantic." he commented, his gaze brushing over the young man again.

"Yeah. To bad most people use this kind of thing to hide their weed and such." The owner said with bows lifted, eyes a little wide and a half smirk on his face.

"Ha" The stranger laughed a little at the young mans comment, but kept a smile. He did not expect that from this timid defiantly accident prone guy.

"That looks good on you." the owner complemented.

"What?" The stranger looked back at the owner after shaking his head from the previous comment.

"The smile." He stated to the stranger, who had not realized he had kept smiling.

"Hmm." The stranger cleared his throat and went to say, "Yes. Well, what do you went for it?"

He tried to straighten his self out.

"Well, it's on the house." the owner stated with a smile.

"I can't." The stranger stumbled.

"Of course you can. I mean it's the least I can do after your help with the bowel fiasco." The young mans face was now dusted over with a little bit of red that came from the embarrassing memory.

"Ok fine." The stranger caved.

"Cool, because I wasn`t taking no for an answer." he retorted.

"So, you`re saying didn`t have a choice?" the stranger said questioningly.

"Yep." The owner answered while popping the P at the end with a smile.

The stranger smiled a little out of shock. He looked back at the owner with shocked wide eyes.

"Thanks, I think... Mr.?" The stranger reached his hand out for the owner to shake and give his name.

"Oh, sorry Danny." he replied as he grabbed the out reached hand of The strangers whose face had dropped for a second time that night now.

"Really." Was all the stranger could get out. His eyes dropped back to the arm of the young man before him and looking at the mark that had once caught his attention.

"Well, actually it's Daniel. But I prefer Danny." He replied while shaking the stranger's hand. He noticed the man had fallen too quite.

"Umm, are you ok?" Danny asked.

"Hum, Yes. Sorry." the stranger snapped out of it "I was just admiring you tattoo." he managed change the subject at the same time finding out if his suspicions were right.

"Oh, this. It's not a tattoo. It's my birthmark." Danny said while pulling his arm back and rubbing his birthmark that laid upon his wrist.

"Really." The stranger gulped slightly. "That`s unique." he managed to get the words out.

"Yeah. I know. People always think it's a tattoo. So, don't worry about it." The owner said closing his eyes and smiling while still holding his wrist.

"I should go." The stranger said quickly while turning to leave.

"Wait" Danny grabbed the stranger’s wrist. "Don't forget this." he said while handing the stranger the jewelry box.

"Right." The man said nervously. Grabbing the box and tries to leave again.

"Wait" Danny said once again.

"What?" The man said trying really hard to get away.

"I didn't get your name." Danny said starring the man down.

"It's William." The stranger said without hesitation.

"Well, William hope we see each other again." Danny said with an unsure smile.

"Yes, I do as well. But I lost track of time I have some where to be. Sorry." William said and finally managed to get out the door before Danny had another chance to stop him.

Leaving Danny there once again alone in the store. He walked up to the door and locked it this time. For some reason Danny was sadden by Williams sudden absence. Maybe he just enjoyed the company and short conversation.