While she was running, she slipped in a puddle, and the dark figure teleported behind her and grabbed her, which scared her, and she nearly screamed, but the figure covered her mouth, she tried punching behind her, but quickly gave up because it didn't do much and couldn't hit any weak points, he then said "Do not scream. I'm going to uncover your mouth, and you will not turn around, answer my questions, and not scream." Hope nodded, and he removed his hand from her mouth, and as she agreed, did not scream."Why are you here?" He asked, Hope hesitated and said, "Bullies wanted to burn my ribbon." He looked at her ribbon and touched it with his hand. It's soft and silky and wet due to the rain and asks, "Is the ribbon you're wearable?" She nodded, and he says "you still shouldn't have run into the forest. The monster does live here." She froze, she remembered that he didn't want her to turn around, that made her shake in fear, thinking he might be the monster. He notices she's trembling and realizes she might have figured it out. "Do you want me to lead you back to your home?" He asked, and Hope hesitates but says, "My home is the church, and I'm aware you're most likely the monster, but.." She pauses, messing with the end of her ribbon, "I don't want to go back yet. They're going to start bullying me again immediately when I get back.." He thinks Hope needs a break from the church and the bullies. And he remembered when he was bullied in the demon realm. ".. You can come to my place for now." She paused at that, not expecting to hear that from the monster of the crimson forest. She started trembling more in fear, but a part of her unknowingly leaned against him, and he noticed it. He can tell even though she's afraid, she wants it. He suddenly picked her up, which scared and surprised her, and he used his magic to put her to sleep but before she fell asleep she saw a glimpse of his face, she had seen dark skin but the rest of his face was covered by his hood but she swears she saw panther yellow eyes. She fell asleep, and he used his cloak to cover her face from the rain, and he started walking to his home.