Just as the two figures disappeared, standing on a nearby hill, was a dark shadowy form. They seemed to have witnessed everything.

“So… Finis managed it, huh? Good for him.” The shadowy form turned its head to look up at the stars. “She would be so proud to be back together again… However….” The shadowy form seemed to tilt their head. “I wonder where the other one is lurking.” 

With a little smile, the shadowy form retreated back into the shadows, like it had never even been there.

I felt something wet hit my face, before I even realised where I was. As my eyes adjusted to the new surroundings, I realised I was no longer in that meadow or even back at school. In fact, it was nowhere near, it honestly looked like a beach. Ichthys himself was standing in front of her, looking a bit frazzled.

“Why aren’t we back at college grounds?” I poked him.

“It may be because this travelling stuff is actually new for me? I admit that I’m glad that we got to that meadow A ok.”

He said that with such a straight face that I was just momentarily taken back. Is he basically saying that we could’ve ended up anywhere? 

“So you’re telling me that we could perhaps land in the middle of the ocean?”

“Maybe?”

His lack of… Well, anything right now, was astonishing. I didn’t know what to even say, so I let out a sigh.

“Well…. I’m going to look around to see where we even are. You look in that direction.” I pointed behind him, which was the opposite way to where I was going to go.”

“If you want me to.” 

With a carefree smile, he turned on his heel and headed off in the direction I said. It left me a little bit shocked that he just did that but, somehow, I wasn’t even surprised anymore. Shaking my head, I turned on my own heel and headed off.

I walked for a bit, before I stopped to survey my surroundings. It was most definitely a beach, but there was no sand, just grass and pebbles. So at least I knew I wasn’t back home, since the only beaches near me were all sand. As I rummaged through my pockets, I realised that the object of my desire, which was my phone, wasn’t there. I sadly left it in my locker. As I looked over the sea, I saw that the sun was getting low, which meant it was getting later in the day. Which, in truth, didn't really help much either. As I walked ahead a little more, I noticed that a path leading up a hill started to appear. 

“That must be an exit.” I mumbled out loud, as I jogged over to it.

As I walked up that hill, I noticed that it didn't take me long to reach a road. Looking up and down the road, I could sadly see no sign that could indicate where I could be. With no luck, it was time to continue walking along the road, which I quickly gathered was a country road. It was getting much chillier now so, as I walked, I had to hug myself. However, it then dawned on me that maybe I should’ve told Ichthys where I was going, and maybe if he could ‘teleport’ us again. Maybe walking off in an unfamiliar place really wasn’t the best of ideas. But it’s too late now. Then I saw a group of four people just up ahead.

PEOPLE!

Maybe they could tell me where I was. If I could find out where I am, then things can go much smoother. My pace quickened to catch up to them, I didn’t want them leaving without giving me any information at least.

“Erm, excuse me?” I called out to them, and, with that, they all turned to face me. I quickly noticed that they were a group of four middle aged men.

“Mon, mon qu'avons-nous ici?” My, my what do we have here?

Wait, was that French? Darn it… French wasn’t my strong suit…This was gonna be hard.

“Errr… Bonjour… Je suis…. Lost?”

I tried my best to convey what I knew in French to them. It was probably really bad and I sure hope I didn’t insult them in the meantime.

“Le petit agneau est perdu.” The little lamb is lost.

Wait, ‘petit’ means ‘small’, right? Why were they saying ‘small’?

The one man, who was speaking, turned to his other three comrades.

“Tu crois qu'on devrait s'amuser avec elle?” You think we should have fun with her?

Ok… That was definitely out of my range of understanding, but it didn’t seem like they were speaking to me. It was more like they were speaking to each other.

“Je pense que nous devrions.” This time, it was another man who spoke up and placed a hand on my shoulder. The ick factor is really kicking in now. “J'aime les petites vierges étrangères douces.”  I think we should - I love sweet little foreign virgins.

Yeah, no. I heard that ‘small’ word again, and that last word didn’t sit right with me either. I think it was time to leave, and maybe I should leave quickly. As I took a few steps back, one of the men took some steps forward.

“Petit agneau où tu vas?” Little lamb, where you're going?

“Erm… I left my oven on…” I walked further back, but my back hit something and, as I turned around, I saw that one of the men had broken off from the group and held my shoulders.

“Restez avec nous!” One of the others tried to grab for my arm, but something else grabbed his arm. Stay with us!

“Ce n’est pas la façon de traiter une dame..” This is not the way to treat a lady..

The other man, who was holding my shoulders, let me go. As that happened, all the strength in my legs gave way, and I crumpled to the floor.

“Qui es-tu?” Who are you?

“Votre pire cauchemar.” Your worst nightmare.

Before I even realised anything, there was a sudden darkness, and I instantly shielded my eyes with my hands. In all honesty, I should be running. But, in truth? I couldn’t. After what seemed like forever, a kind voice called out to me.

“Are you ok?”

This was in English, I could understand that. As I slowly removed my hands from my eyes, I could finally make out who just spoke to me. However, I could not make out much, since he honestly looked like an angel, with the setting sun illuminating his shape. But I knew for a fact that this man was none of the four that I just sadly met. However, since I never answered him, a hand reached out to me. Not in a grabbing way, but a helping way.

“I’m fine, thank you…”

I took his hand, and I was gracefully lifted up. This time, I could clearly make out my saviour, a smart black shirt under a striking red jacket, his smiling handsome naturally tanned face was framed by dark armpit length hair that was, for lack of a better word, BOTH messy and neat. But there was one thing I really couldn’t help but notice, and that was his eyes. They were the prettiest green I ever had laid my eyes on, they were honestly like jewels.

“I thank you again.” I bowed slightly to him and, as I stood up straight again, I noticed that the four men from before were nowhere to be seen. “Did those guys leave?”

The man gave her another smile.

“Something like that, they were late for a meeting with a friend of mine.”

“Ah, that must’ve been my fault.”

The handsome man raised an eyebrow at her. “You’re a bit naive, aren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing…” He shook his head. “But, where are my manners?” Moving ever so slightly, he took my hand and, bowing ever so slightly, he kissed the back of my hand. “You can call me Nocte.” He moved away from me, and his mannerism made me feel awfully flushed, I thought stuff like this was only in movies? I guess some men are still like this? But it would be rude if I didn’t introduce myself. So, making sure I was back on Earth, I gave him a smile.

“I’m Lucette.”

For a moment, he looked like he was confused or shocked, but it really only lasted a second, and he gave me another smile.

“Ah, beautiful. French for ‘light’, if I’m not mistaken?”

“I… I never knew its meaning.”

“Oh, really? Well, I guess now you do.” He let go of my hand, and looked around him. “So why is a lass like you wandering on the road?”

“Ah… Well, I am a bit lost.”

“I, somehow, I kinda guessed that.”

The man, who called himself Nocte, looked towards a bush, and the movement interested me, so I turned to see where he was looking. It was then that I couldn’t help but notice a hat, I vaguely remember one of the men wearing a hat.

“Oh… That hat.”

I don’t know why, but I started to walk towards the hat but, before I could get anywhere near it, something grabbed hold of my arm, and I swung back to see Nocte shaking his head.

“Nevermind that. He lost it, he lost it.” I got pulled back and Nocte used his other hand to guide me away. “Perhaps we should leave.”

I didn’t really argue with him, and walked with him. Unlike the men from before? I actually felt safe, I actually honestly and truly felt like I was going to get home if I kept up with this man. Which was odd, but stranger things have happened.

“Ok… So…” Nocte suddenly stopped, and turned to face me. “I, Nocte, will help you get home. Unlike those men.”

“What do you mean?”

Nocte sighed and rummaged through his jacket pocket before producing something. It was a piece of paper, and he handed it to me. 

WANTED

FOUR WELL KNOWN KILLERS ON THE LOOSE, PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH AND IF YOU SEE THEM PLEASE CALL

There was even a picture, and my eyes grew wide, it was most definitely the four men I had just met earlier.

“But, hang on…” I looked up from the paper that he gave me. “You told me that they were friends of yours?”

Nocte laughed. I was getting ready to run, but what he said was something else.

“No they are not. Just a little humour, I guess.”

I kinda want to know WHY that was even considered a joke, but either way, it didn’t seem like he was actually friends with them, and I gave him back the piece of paper.

“So where did they go then?”

Nocte didn’t say anything, and he smiled as he folded the paper back up and stuffed it in his inside pocket again. “Anyway…” He started to speak. “You do need to be wary of people, not everything is sunshine and rainbows.”

“Well, I know that…” But I trailed off and looked down at my feet. In truth, I didn’t really expect to find people like that. “But…” I looked up at him. “How do I know you’re a good person?”

Nocte gave me a little smile and, with a finger, he poked my cheek. 

“You don’t. You just have to use common sense.”

I was about to reply to him, but the strong smell of vanilla whipped up my nose. Vanilla… Wait, VANILLA?!

“Wait, I had a friend with me!” 

The smell of vanilla reminded me of Ichthys, who I honestly had no idea where he would be. The man, surprised at my words, moved back and raised his eyebrow.

“Really, now?”

“Yes. I did actually tell him to look in the opposite direction that I went in.”

“I see… Maybe we should go and get him?”

“Ah, maybe not… That man is the reason I’m lost to begin with.”

It was as they say. Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Just as I said that? I could hear a familiar voice, shouting.

“Luna! Oh!”

As I turned towards the familiar voice, I saw that there, standing not so far from me, was Ichthys. He saw me, but he also looked behind me, and tilted his head in confusion.

“Well, now. Isn’t that something?” I heard Nocte chuckle from behind me.

I saw Ichthys make his way over to us and he stopped just a few steps away, and pointed directly behind me.

“Why are you with him?”

Wait, did they perhaps know each other?

“So, this is the ‘friend’ that you told me about. I see. I see…” Nocte kind of cheerfully stated.

“Luna?” Ikky tilted his head, he kinda looked like a kicked puppy.

“Wait… Luna?” Nocte moved forward a little, so he was standing next to me, whilst staring directly at Ikky. “Why are you referring to her as ‘Luna’?”

“That’s her name.”

Nocte rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Ai ai ai.. No. Her name is ‘Lucette’! Get it right.” And with that, Nocte flicked him on the forehead.

“Wait… What?” Ikky looked at me confused.

“I mean I did correct you when we first met, but apparently you didn’t take it in. But my name is Lucette, not Luna.”

Ichthys slumped his shoulders. “Ah, damn…”

Nocte laughed at the notion and gently patted him on the shoulders. “It happens to the best of us, but…” He turned his attention to me now. “Since you ‘came’ here with him? I shall leave you with him. You might even teach him something.” With a little wink, he turned to walk back off in the direction we originally came in. When he was far enough away, I had to know.

“So…” I started to ask Ikky, who was watching Nocte leave. “Do you know him?”

“Him?” Ikky pointed, with his thumb, to the red figure, that was Nocte. “Yeah, I do.”

“Really? Maybe I guessed that by your interactions with him, but how? Like how do you know him?”

“He’s sorta like me? Well, I say ‘sorta’… Ok… I guess it's more like he is the same.”

“Same as in…. Otherworldly?”

Ichthys nodded.

“Do you guys just live here or something?”

“Errr…” Ikky scratched his cheek. “No, but he’s kind of like a top dog, so he can come and go as he pleases. If I remember correctly? He likes to visit places a lot.”

“Oh… Wow…”

“But I will say one thing, just don’t get on his bad side.”

I stared at Ichthys in disbelief, I was struggling to understand ONE non-human magical man, but two? Now, that was pushing it.

“I swear, I’m getting a headache…” I mumbled out loud. “But we really need to get back home, can you actually get us back home, and not take us on a merry go trip?”

Ikky nervously laughed. “I’ll try not to.” 

As he said that, he took me by the shoulders and, with a little nervous smile, we both vanished.