Not waiting for an invitation. The woman began to kneel and rest down in the sand before the two children. The boys body was on alert, ready to spring up at a moments notice, but his sister had been so enticed by the woman's long golden hair that she was innocent to what could come. "Sure! You can be a princess too, okay"!" The small girl giggled out and inched closer to the woman, but her brother stopped her with another reach of his hand. "...Stop it, May...We should go home." Only to get a pout in return. "...but I want to play..! Stop being a meanie!"

This fight was ignored by the tall woman. All ready busy with the task of adding onto the sand castle. Long, thin fingers curled about the sand to gather it up before palms pushed it against the large sand structure that had all ready been made. The children continued to fight. "May! We're going home!" The big brother had enough of this. Tugging the girl along who flailed and cried in response. Many I hate you!'s followed, but the boy knew what he did was right. He had to protect his little sister, he told his Mother he'd watch after her. She was his responsibility.

His head turned and a look was given over a shoulder. The woman was still there in the sand box. Her palms patting away at the top of that castle and giving a few brushing motions to push away unneeded sand. Another tug was given to his whining sisters arm, causing the girl to take a few quick steps forward so that she wouldn't lose balance and trip. "I wanna play..! I'm gunna tell mom!" That instant he let go of her hand and turned around. "Tell her wha—.." He'd be looking at nothing. "...May..?" He looked around. She couldn't be gone...His eyes took him to the sandbox. The woman had disappeared, the only thing left being the now destroyed sand castle.

"MAY!!?" He'd scream.

Off in the distance a light Ring, ring was heard.

You know those parks that had those little play places" The one with the tubes for children to crawl through and hide inside" They made the best places to sleep. And even better cover when the pitter patter of rain tapped down onto the large red tube from above.

Shifting uncomfortably within that zipped sleeping bag. Her back found the hard, curving surface of the tube while eyes stared up at nothing in particular. It was cold...the chilling wind of night mixed well with the rain. It caused her to grip at the sleeping bag tightly in some vein attempt to warm herself even more.

Warmth wouldn't be something she'd get easily.

Teeth grit to stop their chattering. What she wouldn't do for a cigarette right about now...No, really — if a guy walked by, any guy, she'd probably go crawling out from that tube like a bat out of hell and offer any sort of service for a few bucks. Then it'd be off to the corner store...but, alas, she wouldn't have that kind of luck. The young woman knew sleep wouldn't come easily, but she had something to help with that..

She couldn't read the bottle that was now in front of her face, but she sure could hear the rattle it gave when she gave it a shake. It was like a gift from the Gods. Taking one would be enough to send her into a state of bliss...but two' That's exactly what she wanted to be going for. She didn't want to wake, she wanted to be dead to the world, unable to move a muscle and just relax in the confines of sleep.

Ring, ring

Her body gave a twist then. Instinctively pressing the pill bottle to her chest while she turned about to look out from that tube and into the rain. Clouds blocked most light, and the only illuminating help came from the clock a few yards away. Even in the rain it's brightness was enough so that she could clearly read it. 11:24. As for the sound...she could see nothing in the direction it came, only the slightest detail of the rain while it continued to fall.

A tricycle slowly cruised down the deserted street. It's rider peddling with one easy push after another, simply allowing herself to glide. She was in no hurry. Hand pressed to the tip top of that hat and kept it in place atop her head as she gave a look up to a clock in passing. Far in the distance, but still readable by her skilled eyes. 4:03 in the AM.

"Ssoonn...Sshh, sshhh...Mmy darlingg.."

Lengthy appendage reached back and gave a gentle pat at the young girl who laid trapped within the basket. Just missing her head, those swipes would instead come to awkwardly pat at her arm instead. Bound, gagged, and wiggling only so lightly in a weak attempt. Beaten and bruised with two days lacking of food and water...it was a miracle that she was even conscious right now.

But everything would be coming to an end. Her days of darkness and pain all lead up to this. The oily...beautiful locks of blonde hair. They will be hers in due time.

Squeeze on those breaks and that tricycle gave a sudden jolt. They were at their destination. A small library on the outskirts of town. The perfect spot to dump the body. The spot lacked any sort of crowd. She had studied it throughout the past few weeks...Only a handful of people ever came at a time, and that was on a day they'd consider busy.

That's why it was perfect.

No, it couldn't be that easy. She took a knee but it wasn't to strike the final blow. It wasn't to rip into her flesh and stare as she bled out onto the side walk. No, it was to do away with the gag. It was to allow that weak, dry voice to be heard...and what did it say"

"...M...Mommy.."

That's all it said. Constantly. Over and over. It's been saying that the whole time. The same word; Mommy. The tall figure moved closer then and gave the girl her ear. It came weak again, the same voice.

"..Mommy..."

Large palm covered her mouth. The girl gave a weak sort of squeak, something that wouldn't have been much of a muffled noise when it left her lips and met that palm. Index finger curled from her knife and rose to her own thinned lips. They'd pucker. "Sshh...Mmommyy will be with you ssoonn...DDo you not have anything else to sayy.."" She kept her palm in place even after her question. Their eyes found one another...the girls broken browns meeting with wide, alert greens.

Long digits curled and gripped down onto the girls face. A rough twitching of her wrist came after, forcing her head to twist and turn about left and right. Silently speaking some sort of unknown language...she wanted the girl to say something other than what she had been for the past two days. So she'd lift up her palm and give a tilt of that head to offer her ear once more.

"...Mom..—"

Blade found the girls stomach in that instant. Causing her body to contort and twist in pain. Even more so when her fingers worked about the handle and forced it to give the slowest of twists. She'd pull free then and watch as the shadowed crimson spilled from her gutted bowels. Moving every which way...finding the best route so that gravity could do it's work and slowly create that pool of blood about the young girls dying body.

"..............."

Palm found the girls lifeless face. Pressing to close her eyes to darken them to what would come next.

A slow dip of her knife came...and razor sharp edge found the flesh of that neck.

It was just a dream.

Another flash. The blade twisting and the rush of blood that followed.

Brows furrowed and teeth began to grit tight. Wet sand squeezed from between fingers as they curled.

It was just a dream but why did it feel so real" She could still feel the lingering breath of the girl against her very cheek...The girl. The girl. It was the girl from the news papers, from the television. The child who went missing a few days ago. That's why her face was so familiar. But what did this even mean' Lips parted and she took in a deep, shaken breath.

Another look to the light in the distance. 3:10. "....What the f*ck..!" Crying out. Her voice echoing about her desolate surroundings.

It was a dream. It was a dream.

Then why was she standing" Why did she shuffle forward with uneven steps. She nearly collapsed against the large tube and took another deep wheeze of a breath. A shaken arm reached inside and felt about. Vomit...her vomit, the warmth of her sleeping bag, and finally the feeling of the strap of her backpack. Digits curled about and gave a weak grasp. She had to psyche herself up for what came next. Her arm didn't want to move, so she had to force it...and it came with a sudden pull of that bag. She'd drag the backpack free and stumble back while doing so. Butt found the ground and she let out a quick gasp of air.

What the f*ck..

Eyes fluttered closed. Only to snap open. It felt like only a few seconds, but in reality that wasn't the case. Stay awake, stay awake.. Fingers reaffirmed their grip on that weapon. She couldn't see the parks clock tower from here, so she had no idea what time it was...but there was no sight of a bloody corpse, no sign of that silver tricycle and it's rider.

Tongue ran over her dry lips before slipping within her mouth so that she could grit her teeth. Her chest felt terrible, and she'd heave forward and let out a few coughs.

Cough...Ring, ring...cough!

Her eyes grew wide. The sound of those rings grew near. Stop coughing..! Lips sealed themselves, but she continued to cough out. She swallowed back roughly and tried her best to keep it in. Sweat, not from the fever she felt, but from the fear of being discovered. A pained groan pressed to sealed lips while she began to grind herself against the nearby wall. Vision dizzied, fluttering between complete darkness and the vision of that sidewalk.

Please, God...just stop it.

Light coughs continued, but with one last swallow she'd feel the end of it. Lips parted to allow a soft, shaken sigh to leave them.

That's when she'd see it...the vision of that tricycle rolling down the road.

Another shuddered breath left her while body tensed. Brain did it's best to tell her body to move, but it just wouldn't listen. Everything felt like rubber. Move, dammit...move! Something did listen, or maybe it was of her own will, but she began to slide up that brick wall and hoist herself up into a leaning stand.

It was then that the bike came to stop in front of the library...and the tall figure began to dismount.

Nostrils flared. A deep intake of breath followed, along with the sound of that mucus being sucked right on down her throat. She kept the weapon aimed and at ready...but the figure wasn't moving. No. She was moving. Twitching was a better word for it. Finger squeezed and one last shot rung out, meeting right under one of those green eyes...she'd stand there, swaying gently from the feeling of fatigue, watching as blood slowly ran down the murders face.

Arm became dead weight at her right. That gun slapping down against her thigh while she turned away. Another shudder of a breath. Thump...thump...her heart was going crazy, or felt that way. She couldn't catch her breath for some reason. She'd collapse back just then. Butt hitting the hardness of the sidewalk. Dizziness. Everything spinning...but the point that pulled her back to a steady sort of reality had been the girl who laid somewhat behind her.

Body began to twist around then. Arms and knees pressing her slowly forward in a crawl as she moved closer to the girl. "...H...hey....Don't be scared...You'll...you'll see your Mommy again.." Tears filling her eyes. Her voice crackling with emotion. She'd now be leaning over the young child...she didn't know how much of this she could take, everything felt terrible - but at the same time everything felt so right..

"...I...I don't think...I can stand up...but...I'll wait here...okay?"

and that's when the knife pierced her back.

"What do you mean she's alive?" The detective perked a brow in confusion.

"Alive and well. It's some sort of miracle. But this IS Rhy'Din, Detective." The doctor said with a relieved laugh.

...

Inside the hospital room. White walls...the smell of sterilization. The girl would awaken to just that. Her eyes quickly squeezing closed the moment the bright light of the room hit her pupils. Face began to contort in annoyance while lids gently parted ever so lightly...only allowing the smallest bit of light so she could grow accustom to it.

"It's nice to see you're awake.."

A voice came from beside her. Her squinting eyes directed to the right, over to the blurry figure. Few blinks followed before she'd finally be able to make him out. A man...looked to be old, or at least old to her point of view. Stubble on his chin, dark bags under his eyes. Guy needs some sleep.. She thought. Then she'd be forced to take on a look of confusion the moment that pill bottle came to rest upright on the hospital bedside table.

"Doris Flynn. You sure don't look like a sixty four year old.."

She could tell he was trying to crack a joke. The way his lips curled into a smile and how a chuckle left his lips seconds after he spoke those words...but she'd look to the pill bottle, and then to him.

"...Look...I don't know what you're talking about...but if you're offering those." The detective looked on with his own brand of confusion. The girls hand made it's way to grab at the bottle, but he pulled it away and gave it a little shake. "Usually it'd be against my beliefs to leave this with you...but you did save that little girl. I guess a reward is in order."

Save a little girl" What the hell was he talking about' The man read her confused face while placing the bottle back down. "...You really have no idea, huh' How about you just start with your name. You can at least give me that much."

"...Vice.." She began while pressing a palm to her forehead. "My name is Vice.."

Drowsy. She had been left alone for the rest of the day. Never mind the nurses who checked in every now and then, they didn't spare her many words...Instead they had given her smiles. She saved a child from a killer, she was some sort of hero — or at least that's how she believed they put it. Vice closed her eyes again and took in a deep breath.

When she opened them she'd be greeted to the sight of a flickering television. The signal must have been going crazy, the way the picture began to loop diagonally before the screen itself went blue with the words of Lost Signal in white appearing. This was no bother...it caused no alarm, if she couldn't watch television she'd just go to sleep.

Vision trailed to the foot of her bed. Down at her legs. Giving her toes a curl just so she could watch them move about under the blanket.

Thump. The bed rattled as that large palm came up to grasp onto the railing at the foot of the bed. Legs pulled back instinctively and she looked on with wide eyes. Another shake given by yet another hand as it took hold at the opposite side of the railing. The young woman didn't know what to think of it. Her throat squeezed tight, she couldn't make event he smallest peep. Instead she'd be forced to watch in silence as that large shadow overtook the bed. The looming figure of the blonde staring straight at her from behind shadow covered eyes.

"HHelloo."

The chilly pitter patter of cold rain drip dropping down onto that resting body. A shake, one that seemed rather violent compared to the steady shudder she had been giving ever since the drizzle started. Eyes fluttered open and gave the sight of the cloudy sky from above...the sun was setting, and it's orange glow tried it's best to peek out from the puffy darkness up above. Body began to roll and slipped from the bench it had been resting on. A rude awakening came in the form of gravity sending her slamming down onto the wet grass.

"....Where am I.." Mumbling quietly to herself. Arms, slick with mud and pieces of grass, slid and bent so that palms could press to the ground. Feet tucked in to give herself a little boost as she slowly worked herself up into a standing position. Furrowed brows and squinty eyes did their best to take in her surroundings. "...A park?" She must have fallen asleep again. But remembering nothing of what happened was a little troubling, but nothing she had time to worry about right now. Right now she needed to get out of this rain.

Turning to look back at the bench she'd spot her only possession in life. That large black and oh so ratty backpack. Reaching out to take a lazy grasp at it and drag it off from the metal bench. It hung loose at her right and came to rest down against the wet ground. "...Ugh.." Then she'd just drag it off behind her as she went to the first place that looked like good cover. The only thing even considered good in her eyes was either the covered platform that took a climb up a rope net to get too...or a large red tube.

Like hell would she waste her time trying to drag her lazy butt up that net. So with a toss that backpack of hers went sliding into the tube and she'd climb in soon after it.

With a heavy huff she'd use the bag as a pillow and press her face right into it. "...It's a five star hotel, Vice...the best of the best." Mumbling out against some of the torn black fabric. She'd then turn her face about, and in doing so feel something strange press against her cheek. Eyes opened and turned about within her skull so that she could attempt to give a peek down at the backpack...Far too lazy just to turn her head.

"...What's this." Patting at the bulge with a palm before finally unzipping the small pouch and pulling free what looked to be a pill bottle. "..........God you really do love me, don't you?"

She'd give it a shake while she read the label.

Oxycontin. That's all she cared about, nothing more of the label drew her attention. That's when she'd begin to think.

One...or two?

"Two...Definitely." and the cap came off.

End

"News Twenty Fives Maria Sora is at the scene of the horrendous crime." "Maria, can you tell us any new information?" "It's truely a sad day in the small town of West Hollow as the body of young May Grove was discovered by her Moth—" The reporters voice was cut off by the wailing of a mother in hysterics. Screaming, yelling at the crowd of people and the news reporters in front of the lawn. "LEAVE! ALL OF YOU LEAVE!" Bellowing out between loud sobs. The camera pans over to a few police officers, who in their best attempts tried to keep the woman at bay, but one of them found themselves elbowed in the face by the wailing woman and quickly had to take action. She was pulled, by force, away from the crowd and taken back inside the house. The camera returned to the news reporter who had been looking over her shoulder at the scene. Noticing the camera was back on her, she'd turn about fully and speak once more. "May Grove. You may remember the young, innocent girl, who had recently been reunited with her parents thanks to an anonymous heroine." The picture on the screen showed the photo of a woman from behind with raised gun aimed at a tall, coated woman. "Kidnapped over the weekend. Beaten and deprived of food or water. The family thought their two days of horror was over when the girl was discovered by the local watch, but that horror returned this night.." Other pictures took over the smaller screen at the side. Three shots, one of them being of a drawing while the other two had been stills taken from a libraries security camera. It showed the clearest shots possible out of the whole tape, one of the tall woman as she stood over the small childs body, and another of her on her tricycle. "Officals have stated that the woman in these pictures is their prime suspect for the childs murder. If anyone has information they are being asked to call the authorities. Even the smallest tip could help in the capture of this mysterious woman."