Chapter 21:

  Feelings of Safety

  (Same Day, Same Event, Lucas POV)

  I didn't think anything of it. We were in a crowded pce with many eyes. Maya was always doing things for me, and so I felt like I should do something for her as well. While she worked for Elizabeth, she had also been a good companion during the times that Ellie was gone.

  I had to admit, I was awkward at first. I didn't know what to say or do around her, as she was always so professional, but that day we pyed games together showed me a whole other side to her. She wanted to enjoy herself, but was reluctant to do so. To drop her guard.

  I couldn't fault her for that. She was what kept me safe when Elizabeth was away. I knew how weak I was in the face of others, let alone Pyers. I wasn't exactly an athlete.

  Still, I felt like a little trip into a store and back out would be fine. Seeing her happy at the gift I got her truly made my day, and I wanted to continue riding that high. She deserved good things just as much as the next person, even if she may not believe so herself. I could see the type of person she was.

  Underneath that stoic demeanor was a person like any other, and I had connected quite well with her. Ellie was right. We must have been extremely good friends in our past lives, because I felt more and more comfortable around her the more time I spent with her. As if we had always been friends, and to be honest, I wasn't about to deny it.

  She had a past I didn't quite know, and I knew it haunted her. I was curious for sure, and felt like a pest when I kept doing things based on my assumptions about it. I could tell things bothered her, and wanted her to know that it was alright, but was that too much of a bother?

  Nothing like a little ice cream wouldn't fix. As way of apology, and so Azure and I went off to get it. I couldn't believe she also liked the same ice cream as me, though I also liked cookie dough ice cream, but strawberry cheesecake had a special pce in my heart. I always enjoyed the sweet taste of strawberry countered by the savory nature of the chunks of cheesecake. It fit so well together with the ice cream.

  It wasn't long before I had two bowls of it in my hands. Even Azure had received a small bowl, upon which he was pping up enthusiastically. The employees had practically fallen in love with the little scamp, insisting on giving him a free sample. I wasn't about to deny him, and he was certainly excited to receive it.

  I could see Maya sitting down at a table, and was about to make my way over when I felt a tug at my shirt. Looking down was a scared looking girl staring up at me. Large blue eyes full of innocence, but something more...fear. That mousy brown hair was a little disordered, though her clothes looked to be fine.

  Was she lost?

  "Hey, what's up?" I asked with a gentle smile, "Are you lost? I'm not sure I'm the right person to..."

  They looked up at me with puppy-dog eyes that were hard to ignore.

  "M-My parents...I don't know..." she began to sniffle, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

  "O-Okay, hold on," I began to frantically look around for anyone to help, but there was no one.

  Even Maya looked to be lost in thought about something, and I felt bad bothering her after telling her to rex. Yet, I knew I should stray too far from her. Though, I couldn't just leave this child alone.

  "Do you want to sit with me and my friend while we eat, and then we can..." My words trailed off as the child began to shake her head vigorously.

  She was on the verge of crying, which spiked my anxiety immediately. All these people around, and I could already feel their judging eyes on me. He's making that child cry? What a bad person. What did he do to that kid?

  "Th-They went down there, but...haven't come back," she told me, pointing down an alleyway nearby, "I-It's too scary. C-can you...come with me? Please!"

  "...Why me?" I muttered, sighing as I wished anyone else could help this kid.

  I couldn't stray too far from Maya, and yet...this kid did need help. Swallowing my anxiety about this whole situation, I knew I couldn't just leave this kid alone. It just wasn't in my nature, and so with a resigned determination, I nodded.

  "Alright, let's go," I told them with a gentle tone, "We'll find your parents in no time, alright? So, no need to cry."

  "Okay!" the child immediately grew happier, so I had no idea what I was walking into.

  She led me with her little hand holding the hem of my clothing down the alleyway. I kept an eye open for any sigh of her parents. I had no idea what they looked like, but I couldn't leave this child alone and no one else would help. I could have probably called Maya for help, but that was hindsight.

  In the moment, I simply wanted to help this child as quickly as possible without bothering Maya. I had no idea that I would be ambushed, and felt like a fool when I was. She was an alluring woman, her words like venom.

  "Oh, there you are!" her voice echoed sweetly, "You've found my child, how can I ever repay you?"

  Before I knew what was happening, arms were draped around my shoulders, and I felt a tug in my heart. I smelt upon the wind a certain type of spice. Cinnamon? It wasn't unpleasant, but it was a little unnerving. This random woman had thrown her arms around me, and try as I might, I couldn't get away.

  "I-It's alright, Ma'am," I mumbled, a bit embarrassed, "I'm gd she was returned safely. If you don't mind, I'm going to go before-"

  "Oh, no, we can't have that," she whispered, tilting my face towards her, "You'll stay, won't you?"

  She made me look into her eyes. Beautiful emeralds that shone eerily in the shadows of the alley. There was something unnerving about them.

  "Aren't my eyes just so beautiful?" she inquired, and I felt a pull to respond favorably, but instead I was simply repulsed.

  "...Sure," I stated noncommittally, wanting nothing more than to be out of this situation.

  "Sure?" she seemed a little hurt at my words, but continued to speak in that sickeningly sweet voice, "Come now, surely you've not seen eyes more beautiful than mine...right?"

  There was danger to her words as I struggled to remove myself, but nothing was working. She was surprisingly strong for such a fragile looking woman. Azure began to hiss on my shoulder, and that's when I noticed something. A man cd in lightweight looking metal armor standing behind the woman, holding the little girl firmly by her wrist.

  It was not how you would hold a child if you were their parent. At least, it's not how you should hold a child. Though, there was one thing that caught my eye and confirmed it even more. There was still fear in her eyes. An apologetic look on her face. That's when I knew I had been tricked, at no fault of the child.

  These people were Pyers, and this woman...she was definitely attempting to use a skill on me, but thanks to the clothing I wore, or perhaps something more...primal, I was able to shake it off easily. That's when I grew angry. They were shameless to bring a child into this.

  "Yes, as a matter of fact, I have," I gred back at the woman, surprising her, "Yours are nothing in comparison to my fiancé. Truth be told, I feel sick knowing you have green eyes like her."

  That's when the flip switched. The rage that woman flew into was extraordinary. I felt my life fsh before my eyes as a poisonous fog filled the area and coalesced into a whip. I hugged Azure to me, hoping to protect him. My eyes closing as I felt ashamed.

  I had failed Elizabeth. I promised not to do anything foolish as to put my life in danger, and yet...here I was, about to die. Would I see her in the next life? Would she even want to see me?

  I was so terrified. I couldn't make her sad again. What a damn fool I was. How was I to know? It was my only soce. My st act had been to properly try and help a child. Of that, I did not feel bad for.

  My only regret was Elizabeth...and Maya. I had promised not to go anywhere else, and I broke that promise. However, as I felt the whip nd, there was a resounding fsh as a prismatic barrier rebounded against it, preventing the full impact.

  That's when I found myself staring down the woman who was looking on in disbelief. Rage filled her eyes, and I saw for a brief moment a scar on the right side of her face. Turning on her heel, the woman reared back her hand at the child.

  "Hey! Leave her alone you bitch!" I screamed, but could not move, my legs were useless as they didn't listen to me.

  A resounding sp filled the area as the child was sent sprawling. I could see blood trickling down her mouth. Her legs now scraped from the fall. Three other individuals made their way out from the shadows as the woman ordered them to attack the barrier. They moved faster than I could see. Only the fshes of their attacks bouncing off the barrier was the only indication they were there.

  I felt a rising anger in myself and at myself. I was utterly useless. I had completely forgotten the major effect of this outfit that Ellie had purchased for me. It would save my life but once, and after that...it would break. I hoped it wasn't literal, and yet I could already see the fibers slowly disappearing.

  I wondered how long this barrier would hold. Thinking quickly, I tried to use my phone, only to realize that it was utterly useless. The signal was being blocked.

  I was reduced to simply gring at the group before me, especially the woman who had hit the child. They were vile to use a kid in their schemes. People who did were the worst of the worst. It made me wonder if she was an orphan or if these people had kidnapped her and her parents, forcing her to obey them on penalty of harming her parents.

  I wouldn't put it past them, and so...there was a standoff. All of this happened so quickly. Maybe a total of five or ten minutes since entering and exiting the store. Surely, Maya would notice something, right? I had to hope so. I had no other pn.

  Once this barrier was gone, I was done for. I couldn't run. I already saw how quickly they were. So, that's how I found myself holding Azure and simply waiting. Waiting until that woman discovered a fatal fw in the barrier.

  Attacks couldn't get through, but non-attacks could. She reached through, towards me with her disgusting hands. I felt repulsed at her approach. The touch of her hand upon me was vile, and her words venomous.

  It made me feel like I wanted to crawl into my own skin and shrivel up, but just as soon as she touched me, I saw a spray of crimson spsh my face. Her hand fell away from her arm, and her arm from her body. It took a moment for my mind to comprehend what had just happened.

  Before me, standing as stoic as ever, was Maya. I had never seen her look more stunning than in that moment. Even from the side, I could see the vicious look she held. The cold gaze aimed at those who had attacked me. My breath caught in my chest; I could only mutter her name breathlessly. Relief washing over me.

  She would not look at me, and was as polite as ever when she addressed me. It was strange, but...I felt like I knew why. She had always tried to hide a part of herself. Was she ashamed? Afraid? I wondered at this, but more than that...I just wanted her to be safe.

  I knew this was a foolish notion, but someone had already been hurt because of me. Maya was sure to be strong, being friends with Ellie, but I had no idea how strong. I never even heard of her as a Pyer before, though. So, Maya was a complete mystery to me.

  I watched in awe as a sense of familiarity began to encroach upon my mind. Maya was a marvel to watch. I had never really seen a Pyer fight in real life before, let alone against other pyers. The closest I came to it was when Ellie had stabbed that bastard, Bryan.

  Now, it was no-holds barred. I couldn't keep up with her, but every glimpse I got, her face was focused. Her expression calm as if she's done this thousands of times before. She was skilled, and extremely deadly. More than that, she was graceful.

  I felt a fluttering in my heart with each breath I took, worried that an attack that barely skimmed by her would nd, but they never did. I didn't realize until that moment just how much I truly cared for Maya. How much I wanted her to be safe.

  She was not only Ellie's best friend, but she had grown to become mine as well. I didn't care about the whole servant thing. It made me uncomfortable to think of her as such. She was another person, and even if she worked for us, I wanted her to be comfortable enough to break that barrier.

  That's why I was gd to see she could joke with me, and we could banter a bit. We even pyed games together. She was breaking out of her shell, and it was amazing to see.

  "Are you alright?" Maya asked, trying to hide her face from me, "I do apologize, I seem to have gotten your gift dirty. I-"

  I didn't care about any of that. I was simply happy she was safe. I acted on impulse, fueled by overwhelming emotion as I embraced her. Hugging her to me, thankful that she was unharmed.

  "I don't care about that," I told her quietly, whispering in her ear, "I'm just gd you're alright. I was worried for a while, but...I guess I didn't need to be. You're fucking badass."

  "She was right..." Maya whispered teasingly, speaking of Elizabeth, "You really are a fool. I'm stronger than I look. You're the one who was in danger."

  I could feel her tension release, an arm wrapping around me awkwardly, but it felt...nice. The only time I ever felt this safe, was with Elizabeth. I hugged Maya tighter then, knowing that everything was okay. After an awkward exchange having to do with my clothing, I heard it for the first time. Maya said my name.

  "Pfft, of course, Luke," Maya said with a ugh, pulling from her inventory the clothes I had requested.

  I couldn't believe my ears. She said my name for the first time in a way that was unique to her. Even Elizabeth didn't call me Luke, but maybe, just maybe, Ellie was holding back still. Either way, I wanted to hear it again, and after some banter, I finally got her to.

  "Come ooon,~" I pleaded, giving her my best puppy-dog eyes, "You definitely said it!"

  "I don't know what you mean, Luke," Maya smirked, pushing me into a side alcove of the alleyway, "Just hurry up and get dressed. You're being indecent."

  "Ha! I knew it!" I excimed happily, "See, you can be formal!"

  It was more than that. More than being formal. She tried to hide it from me, but I could not mistake it. I was all too familiar with it. From her appearing before me to save me, to when she was fighting, and especially when she killed the woman who had tried to kill me.

  That look in her eye, the quickening of my heart. I had only ever seen that look on one other person before. That look of possessiveness. Though I was distracted by the fact she had used my name, I couldn't get it out of my head.

  Maya was a Yandere. Different from Ellie in that Maya tried to keep herself completely reserved and stoic. Professional, and yet in times of duress, these emotions would overflow, or perhaps...they had simply awakened recently.

  Maya took her job seriously, and so I wondered if it was because of that, that she snapped. All I knew is that I felt even safer than before, knowing that she saw me as important enough to protect like that. It was a warm, comforting feeling.

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  Nikushimi