Emerald did not stay in the house, she snuck back into Ashton’s bedroom and slipped a note underneath his glasses. Emerald knew Ash will be upset when he reads the note even though she very carefully chose how she wrote it, ‘Hey Ash, by the time you read this I will not be in the house. I'm sorry, I know you trusted me to stay until you woke up but.. There's some things I need to do alone. I'm not going to tell you where I'm going, but I will be reachable by phone. I will respond to any texts, but not calls’ after Emerald slid the note under Ashton’s glasses she grabbed what she needed and left. She hated leaving early in the morning like this, she hated breaking Ashton’s trust. At the thought of Ashton being disappointed in her it made her stomach twist into a tight knot. As she walked she slowly typed in the name Lazarus Sharp into the search bar, multiple results popped up. One of the Results was a FindMe page, it had multiple photos of What seemed to be a circus, the circus’s name seemed to be The Starfall Garden.
Emerald pulled up directions to the Starfall Garden. She needed to find Lazarus, the fact that a name she saw in her dreams belonged to an actual person was proof enough to search for an answer. By the time Emerald walked to the Starfall Circus, Ashton had woken up and read the note. He was panicking as he threw on some jeans and a jacket and rushed out of the door, phone in hand, he texted Emerald “Where are you?! Emerald? Please answer me. I'm worried, why couldn't you have just waited for me?” Ashton shook his head and he headed out of the house and down the path to the park.. He did not know where he was going. He just wanted Emerald to be safe. He sent another text to Emerald “Emmy, please don't do anything stupid.. Please tell me where you are.” Emerald was ignoring Ashton’s texts. She knew It would just be better to ignore them, she was on a mission, nothing could make her stop. She scanned her surroundings looking to see if anyone was at the circus yet, only one person was out in the open other than Emerald.
The lady was wearing a colorful mask With blues and purples and Silver, the mask’s design itself could only be explained as the night sky with a thousand shimmering stars. Her hair was Covered by a fabric that had a blue and purple color gradient. She was wearing a flowing majestic looking dress that covered most of her skin, The dress itself was a dark purple blue mix with constellation pattern on the sleeves and skirt. However, this person’s hands were uncovered, her nails were painted a plum purple, her skin looks soft but quite pale like it hadn't seen the sun in ages. The lady slowly and gracefully approached Emerald, “Hello dear! I’ve been waiting for you, why don’t we talk in my tent? Luckily nobody else is here but us!” Emerald was confused at the Lady, this- stranger seemed to have good intentions, but it was quite off-putting. How did this person know her name? Why were they waiting for her? Emerald spoke kindly and nervously “Very kind of you to offer shelter in your tent, please do forgive me, but I'm not too fond of going somewhere new with someone that I don't know. I hope this doesn't upset you.” The stranger sighed softly. “I appreciate it when people are careful about their safety, but I promise you can trust me. You have questions and I have the answers. ” Emerald was still hesitant, she crossed her arms and walked backwards away from the approaching stranger.“Please, stay back. you- don't know who i am and i don't know who you are, let alone how you know my name.” This stranger stopped approaching Emerald. “I know everyone’s name, I know the past, the future and the present. Be not afraid, I just want to give you the answers to your questions. I just want to help you have the best possible future.” There was a silence that fell between the stranger and Emerald. The only sound was cars driving by, the faint buzzing of Emerald's phone, and the early chirps of birds from the trees. Then Emerald realized something… “You're Lazarus Sharp aren't you?..” The stranger, Lazarus smiled as she adjusted her mask so it sat more comfortably on her face. “I am! How'd you know?” Lazarus said jokingly. This strange Woman stood there chuckling softly. “Now. Follow me Emerald, I have a feeling that you want those answers.”
Emerald still didn't want to go with Lazarus. She was afraid of something bad happening… or that she was going to hear some answer that she hoped was different.
