Chapter 3

Everly honestly did not see this coming. 

The other night, she had just made the decision to flee far away from the characters in the web novel and had that goal of hers plastered on the wall in her room. To execute her plan, she needed funds which were why she continued to work hard in her job.

She did not expect to be cornered by a group of thugs who grabbed and dragged her into an alleyway. She was on her way back from the grocery store after her shift ended at the café, what could have made the thugs thought she was rich that they would rob her? Is it that expensive ice cream in her bag of groceries?

She shouldn't have caved in on her craving for that ice cream. Darn it!

But, the thugs were unforgivable.

The audacity of assaulting someone in broad daylight had Everly frozen in shock.

“Let me go!” Everly cried, finding her voice. Her grip tightened around her recycled bag of groceries. The spiky-haired thug, who seemed to be the leader of the group, eyed her up and down, taking in her figure with hungry eyes.

Even though the alley was dark, flickers of light still managed to make their way into the small space, illuminating the way. The girl before them had a pair of golden orbs that appeared to brighten due to the tears that welled in her eyes. She seemed scared but still did her best to put up a strong front, glaring at them with her glassy eyes that threatened to flow any moment. 

She had a small round face and flawless milky skin. Peach-colored hair was tied into pigtails, fastened with a flower barrette and dangly ribbons. She looked like a frightened bunny in the jaws of wolves.

The thug wouldn’t deny that she looked stunning, though he was feeling odd as to why Edward asked them to do this, now he knew. Whatever the reason, as long as he was getting paid, the thug didn’t care what Edward was after.

Honestly, the thugs had mistaken. Everly was not scared, not even a teensy bit. She was actually excited, those were tears of exhilaration. She had been going through overwhelming emotions ever since her rebirth. She needed a way to get all of those off her chest and to destress.

They were here at the perfect timing. Giving them a good beating would be a good workout for her to release all those tensions. 

Her appearance always gave people a misinterpretation of how she was truly like. Truth be told, she was a gullible little crybaby back when she was still a child but she toughened up due to her days in the orphanage. If she had continued to be a gullible weakling, she would have been left with nothing and the people in the orphanage would have sucked her dry. 

Everly’s eyes darted around the alleyway. In the eyes of the thugs, it seemed as if she was desperately searching for an escape route. Truthfully, Everly was just trying to see if there were other people that could have witness what was about to happen. She refused to let others witness her violent side. 

The thugs slowly closed in on Everly.

Everly was ready to throw her groceries at them and punch the sh*t out from them when a bark sounded from behind the group. Everly turned toward the source of the sound and her eyes went wide.

A boy stepped forward, partially disguised by the darkness of the alley. Everly’s eyes looked up and was met with an emotionless stare for a brief second before the gaze was broken. But even that moment sent a shiver down her spine. Her chest tightened, wondering how such a cold and hollow gaze could come from one so seemingly young. There was no light in them, and they were frighteningly defensive.

The stranger slowly walked toward them, a large dog at his side. He kept his eyes lowered, trying to avoid confrontation, but the feral growling beside him washed away any picture of meekness he was attempting to portray.

As he drew near, Everly noticed the contrast of his features. Aside from his frigid gaze, his features were delicate and fine. He looked like an angel; however, the stoic expression and unemotional eyes sharpened his appearance, giving him a more reserved yet aggressive look.

The gangsters had turned their attention toward the boy, mocking and scorning him. “Isn’t this our little outcast?”

“Yo, are you walking your slimy, little dog?”

The boy didn’t even cast them a glance and continued walking. Everly took this chance to take a few steps back and try to distance herself from them without notice. Silently sucking in a deep breath, she prepared to dash out from the alley when a loud thud stopped her in her tracks.

Everly looked over her shoulder and was surprised when she saw the boy on the ground, the dog trying to shield him from the blows being placed by the thugs.

“Beg us,” they laughed. “If you plead, we’ll let you go.”

Without thinking, Everly grabbed a packet of black pepper from her grocery bag and ran toward the gang. “Light globe!”

A sphere of light surrounded the boy and dog and Everly cast the packet into the air above the group. A shining arrow of light collided with the pepper and explodes. Everly grabbed the boy by the wrist and pulled him from the fray, the dog following suit.

A distance away, Everly slowed her pace. Doubling over, she looked over to check on the odd couple, one of whom was giving her an odd look and the other panting happily. The hollow eyes lowered and Everly caught her bearings enough to realize she left her groceries back in the alley. A bark sounded behind her and Everly turned, smiling at the item in the dog’s mouth. Kneeling, she rubbed the dog’s soft, snowy fur, missing the slight shock that appeared in the boy’s eyes.

Finding a bag of baby carrots, Everly opened them and tossed one to the dog who munched them lazily. She looked over to find the boy staring at her, a guarded expression etched into his fine features.

“Hi,” she said softly, giving a warm smile. “I’m Everly.”

Though she waited patiently for the boy’s response, none came. Instead, he continued to appraise her with those closed-off eyes of his, taking in her measure, assessing for what she didn’t know. The boy turned to leave and before Everly could ask if he was injured, he and the dog disappeared from her sight.

~ ♧ ~

Pluto rested on the hard bed, trying to sleep when an image flashed through his mind. A pair of golden eyes, bright as the sun. He wouldn’t deny the fact he had been a bit taken aback when she had suddenly leaped to his defense. He was also surprised his dog had warmed up to her so quickly. But her touch was warm and her smile bright. She embodied light itself.

Pluto opened his eyes and sat up, combing his fine hair with his fingers as his eyes wandered to a small glass bottle on the table. It contained a faint, light pink liquid that glittered slightly in the moonlight. His dog must have gotten it from the girl, Everly, for he definitely did not have something this…girly in his possession.

He picked up the bottle and examined it.

Delicate.

Pluto sneered.

Meek.

A dark energy began to crackle between his fingers as he gazed at the bottle in his hand.

Fragile.

The darkness exploded in his hands, cracking the glass, and turning the bottle and its contents into ash. Pluto stared coldly at the pile in his hands before it disappeared along with the dark energy.

He doesn't need any help.