Waiting

『Stalker』

[Name] had insisted on getting out of the house. Olette had forced her to stay home for three days. Three. Days. She couldn't take it anymore. She ended up climbing out of the window of her house at 7:00pm. Olette had left thirty minutes ago. If [Name] had stayed there any longer, she swore she would have blown up if she didn't do something.
May I list the reasons why?
I'll do it anyway.

1) [Name] was not known for one to sit still and do nothing. If this happened, it would have had to been pretty severe. In her opinion, falling off the clock tower was a small thing. The only thing she got from it was soreness and a terrible headache. She wasn't injured at all.
2) Axel was invading her dreams whenever she fell asleep. First was when he introduced himself. [Name] could handle that. Second was when he wanted to play a game. A. Game. Why would he want to play a game?! The two ended up playing Chess. He kept winning, much to her annoyance. The third time (it was a nap) was when she had a dream about Axel and R eating sea salt ice cream on top of the clock tower. [Name] didn't know if this was the red-haired guy's doing but at least she now knew why the sun sets red. The fourth time she fell asleep, he wasn't there in the dream. [Name] was ashamed to say that she was, in fact, worried about him. Yes, it had been only three days, but she felt accustomed to his presence and needless to say, she felt lonely. Who knew she would want the company of a privacy-invader?
She snuck out to get a break from it, though.
3) [Name]. . . Actually wanted to thank him for saving her from near death. She'd feel like an ungrateful brat if she didn't, as well as  guilty.
So, she thought, why the heck not? There might be a chance that he'd be at the clock tower.

This basically sums up why [Name] felt the need to escape from her cage.

She trudges towards the direction of the clock tower and grunts as she tugs her jacket over herself more. It is a bit chilly, it being night. It is also the fact that [Name] has naturally cold skin, therefore making her shiver frequently.
As she walks to her destination, her mind is on high alert. Twilight Town isn't a place where crimes usually happen, but it is night. According to [Name], anything could happen at this time.
The scary thing is, she swears that someone is following her. She tells herself it's her imagination, but she can hear her footsteps being echoed softly and the silent laugh the breeze is carrying throughout the town.
The girl picks up her pace and winces as her foot hits an uplifted part of the ground and almost trips. She mutters an unpleasant word or two under her breath but does not stop walking.

(・ω・)ノ

By the time [Name] arrives at the clock tower, almost all light has faded from the sky and she sighs. She can see the moon and the light is reflecting off the clock tower.
When was the last time she had felt this relaxed? The last time she had witnessed this calm?
Oh, yeah. It was before "meeting" Axel. It was before falling off the clock tower. It was before finding the photos. It was before the "scavenger hunt" for him started.
It was before R disappeared and left [Name] with bits and pieces of cluesーin this maze.
[Name] picks up a pebble and chucks it over the railing near the stairs of the station.
Immediately after that, [Name]'s heart stops. A black figure begins to shoot up to her spot atop the clock tower and she scrambles as far back as she can. She looks at it fearfully and forgets to breathe.
What the hell is that thing?!
It begins to move again and wasting no time, [Name] gets up and runs down the clock tower. She's panicking and taking three steps at a time. She jumps down the remaining five to the bottom and nearly loses her footing. She sprints in some random direction. She just wants to get away.
[Name] finds herself at the Sandbox and sighs in relief. Nothing is hereー
She spoke too soon.
The thing that was chasing her before decided to bring some friends along. She is cornered and has no place left to go.
She shuts her eyes tightly. I'm going to die here, huh? Before I got to meet R?
[Name] waits to be hitーanything. She wants this to be over with. I wonder what dying feels like?
"Yo. Open your eyes, idiot." This voice is familiar and she opens her eyes slowly. Axel?
All the black creatures are gone and he's the only one in front of her. His green eyes glow in the dark and [Name] is actually glad to see them.
"...I'm alive, right?" is the first thing to come out of her mouth, causing him to chuckle. "This isn't a dream? It isn't Heaven?"
He nods. "I assure you, you're in Twilight Town."
She keeps her eyes closed for a long second before opening them. "I'm glad." She sighs. "I thought I was gonna die right there."
"You would've if he wasn't so fond of you before," he says.
She looks at him and raises an eyebrow. "Then, you must know his name? Tell me."
"There are some things that I cannot say. You will find out sooner or later, got it memorized?" He taps his temple.
The girl clicks her tongue in annoyance. "Asshole. How did you even get here in time?"
Axel rubs the back of his neck and gives [Name] a small grin. "Well, you seeeeeー"
"You were stalking me, weren't you?" she deadpans.
"...I disagree with you."
She stands up and dusts herself off. "Thank you, stalker, for saving my life. Twice." She holds out her hand for him to shake it. "Now, for a proper introduction: My name is [Name] [Last Name]. Nice to meet you for real."
The red-haired man shakes her hand and grins. "The name's Axel, got it memorized?" Once again, he taps his temple.
[Name] pulls her hand away and begins to walk with a slight limp.
"Where are you going?"
"Home. I'm not staying out here after what just happened!"
"I see. Good point."
[Name] turns around half way and calls out, "Thanks for stalking me, Stalker!"
"I am not a stalker! And you mean save! 'Thank you for saving me!'"
The girl only laughs. "Whatever you say, Stalker."
And then she pauses and turns to face the opposite direction.
"But, really. . ."
He raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms over his chest.
"Thank you. . . Axel."

(=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

Word Count: 1156 Words