Gideon leads me up the metal stairs talking brightly like an overly enthusiastic tour guide. His golden brown hair shining under the dimmed lights, curling at the ends making him look girly. But God knows if anyone ever told that to his face they'd end up buried under a pile of leaves with their eyes gouged out. Or perhaps longer hair is the style here. Wherever "here" is.

All I know is that we are in some kind of forest filled with monsters and deadly trees. There are various areas of the forest that are dedicated to something. They told me that they are near a Sarin Tree area and a Shadow Forest where color lacks and the trees slant to give Shadows better hiding spots, if you manage to find one.

"This is the first level where the kitchen lies," Gideon explains dramatically gesturing to the thick door. We walk onto the small balcony before continuing up the winding stairs of the cylinder-shaped room. "Adrien likes to cook and come up with all kinds of combinations for us, I never set foot in there because last time-" he laughs, "-I set the stove on fire and Adrien nearly killed me."

"I remember that," Shiloh comments from behind, his obsidian eyes glinting like coals in the light. "You were making Reshful, weren't you?"

Gideon nods before flashing me a smile, "Never leave something to cook, it'll burn if you don't stir it all the time."

I offer him a smile, "Yeah, I feel you."

Suddenly, Gideon makes a face. Then he smirks, "Oh, so you want to feel me? Goodness Eve, you aren't en loust but I guess humans are a bit feisty when it comes to that."

I stare at him blankly. I quickly shake my head knowing he's trying to be dirty. I'm becoming a bit annoyed with these types of conversations when he's trying to make fun of me or be smug about everything. I'm exhausted from running, I'm confused, I'm stressed out, and I don't have the energy to deal with Gideon's games. "Silence yourself, Gideon. It's an expression, it means I understand and I know what you're talking about. And what does en loust mean?" My voice comes out tired as I almost stomp up the stairs, my legs heavy as lead.

Gideon watches me, unsatisfied with my dry response. He looks ahead continuing to walk, "It-It means..." He mumbles something under his breath before repeating en loust and a series of other words in their language. I noticed that the letter sounds are a bit similar to English but I can't be sure.

"It means 'my lover'," Shiloh answers for him, "lovers mean that you are in love or lusting over each other in some way or another. Lovers are the only ones who can call each other by their first given name."

"First given name?" I ask curiously before looking back at him. "Wait so Shiloh isn't your first name."

"Technically, it is," Gideon answers for him, "since he was human before. But mine isn't." He skips a step in a long stride before gesturing to a new door that is above the second level which is my way out. "This is our washing room," he explains, "it's where you wash off and wipe off." He shoots me another wicked grin, as if he were hoping for me to yell at him or laugh. But I give him a blank stare, too tired to truly react to his dirty jokes. I sigh and nod, "Alright."

Gideon frowns before looking beyond my shoulder at Shiloh. "Hey! Is she broken? What's wrong with her?" he asks bluntly.

Shiloh gives him an incredulous look, tugging his long cloak across his chest to wrap himself inside of it. "She's exhausted. She's been running from monsters all night, not to mention the stress on her body from changing back to her normal age."

He hit that right on the nail. At least Shiloh still has knowledge on what it's like to be human. Just ten minutes ago, they made me drink a tonic that restored me to my former age. I had a choice to become older or younger but I wanted to remain seventeen for the sake of familiarity. Aging didn't hurt... but my body feels like a lump of limp muscles due to running and from the change. I'd give anything for a hot shower, my warm bed, and to see Mom's face again. But I'm not sure that will happen as soon as I'd like. I just have to keep pushing on and keep quiet until I can find another opportunity to escape.

"Well I did the same thing," Gideon answers annoyed, "she should stop being so weak an-"

"If I remember correctly," Shiloh cuts him off, "you were crying like a baby the entire time and the first time you aged, Adrien said you screamed like a little girl."

Gideon scowls before waving him off, marching on ahead. "Silence yourself."

Gideon showed me the door to their weapons room claiming it was his favorite room, next to the bedroom. I found some kind of threat hiding within that but I waved it off and kept walking. We reach the final level that looks down on the entire cylinder-shaped room. I lean over the edge for a moment before looking up at the amber slabs that create a strange type of chandelier.

"I'll make sure Adrien's cooled off before you go in," Gideon says before slipping through the thick door and disappearing into the darkness. I watch it close before I look back Shiloh with a worried expression. "So... what am I supposed to do here? Do I just-?"

"I don't know what we're going to do with you," he interrupts, looking down at his bare feet. "That's usually up to Adrien, or Gideon. I'm just along for the ride."

"If you were human, what are you now?" I ask directly, in hopes of an answer.

He continues to avoid eye contact. His pale fingers slide across the smooth dark metal railing. "That's not important."

"It is if I'm going to try escaping from you guys soon," I whisper, almost silently praying the other two don't hear me. "If I don't know what I'm running from, then I'll never get away."

Shiloh finally looks up. "In all honesty, we're not too different from humans. We eat food, we talk, we sleep, we look the same, it's nothing really. Just a matter of where you're born."

"But they're not the same," I argue, "Gideon and Adrien are..." I search for the correct words before I bite my lip. "They... they don't... the way they act is off. Their emotions are detached and they have no problem in threatening my life. Are you guys stronger? What do you even call yourselves? Are we still on Earth? I just can't figure it out." I gesture widely to him, "And then you seem like a weird in between. So I can't figure it out. If you're vampires, if you're monsters that lure humans away, if you're cannibals, if you're aliens, I wouldn't know because I can't figure you out!"

"Cannibals," Adrien draws out, darkly curious. I gasp and whip around to find him leaning up against the door. He smirks, "Now there's an idea. You're smarter than you look, Eve-rac. Trying to put together all the pieces..."

Shiloh scowls at him, "Don't be rude, she's not your lower so don't call her that," he snaps.

Adrien raises an eyebrow, his arm rested above his head to lean on the doorway. "She's not our guest, she's our prisoner. We're using her, Shiloh. This is her title."

I watch him nervously, remembering his recent outburst when I mentioned Tressa. Tread lightly... I stand up straight saying nothing, but I frown at him anyways.

"Just call her Eve-ras if you want to get technical," Shiloh scoffs, rubbing his head. "But to be honest, the entire title system is stupid."

Adrien frowns, "It's formal. It's literally the only thing civilized about this place." His voice tight and defensive. He flicks his wrist at me, "If she's staying here then she needs to understand her place."

"I didn't ask to stay here," I cut in, flashing him an annoyed look. "You are keeping me here against my will. If I try leaving, you'll kill me so what else am I supposed to do?"

Adrien glares at me, "Keep your mouth shut-"

"I'm dead anyways!" I yell at him, losing all patience. "You'll kill me now or later, the timing is the only thing different! If you let me go back to my house then I'll be gone and you don't have to worry about me anymore! Remind me, why do you need me here? You boys seem perfectly capable of holding your own against a Masser so why do you need me?"

In my normal body, I feel a bit braver than earlier but I can finally look him directly in the eyes. I tense as I stand up straighter, "Just show me the way out and I'll leave you guys alone."

"We need her because she can tame a Masser," Shiloh snaps. But to my surprise, he's looking at Adrien. "If she could hone her power, then we could use the Masser against the Guard."

I throw my hands up, turning to Shiloh trying to figure out why he switched sides. Shouldn't he be trying to help me escape? "I can't possibly 'hone' a power I didn't know existed! And what if it was just a fluke? What if I was able to just cheat death? I don't want to face another Masser if it means nearly dying-"

"We need you," Shiloh growls, suddenly glaring at me. "And you can't leave now, not alone."

Adrien glances at Shiloh before flashing me a cruel smile. "So you're not going anywhere, Eve-rac." He emphasizes "rac" making a show of the spit-inducing accent.

I glare at him, "You know, people who insult others are self-conceited jerks who are horribly insecure about themselves. I'm not going to sit back and let you insult me, I'm not some stupid animal you can control." I huff loudly after my rant before shooting Shiloh an angered look. I thought he'd be trying to get me out of here! Guess he just said that to shut me up. I can't trust anyone here.

To my surprise, Adrien only smiles wider reminding me of Gideon's twisted sense of humor. "Too bad I'm not human."

"Then what are you? You sure love to brag about it so tell me." I ask directly, narrowing my eyes. Then I repeat in a dramatized tone, "What are you, oh great and powerful Adrien?" I put on a mock smile realizing that I'm digging my own grave. But so far... this seems to be working.

Adrien laughs, thank God, and glances back into the dark room. Then back at me with a menacing smile, darker now which is something I saw coming. "You've got a sharp tongue, I'll give you that, girl." Suddenly he's backing me against the balcony railing, eyes gleaming like a snake's. He stares down at me as I press myself back against the cold metal. I swallow nervously as my heart begins to race. I stare directly into his eyes as I internally panic. Act in control, act in control, keep calm.

He reaches up slightly and begins to slide his cold hand along my jawline. Shivers travel up my skin. I shudder and turn my head to the side, frowning at him and wanting no part in his game. He scoffs loudly as his strange light mood fades away. His face contorting with a darkness that I somehow triggered. I lean further back, fearing I'll tip over the edge and fall to my death. Hopefully, Adrien doesn't have the same idea.

Did I go too far? I keep contradicting myself with the 'keep quiet' method but I can't just let them threaten me. I can't just sit still and let it happen.

His face tips towards mine, his breath smelling of the strange broth from earlier with extra spices. A dark laugh creeps up his throat causing his chest to brush against mine. I hold my breath as my face begins to heat up from being so close.

"So?" I ask, as strong as I can manage. "What are you?"

Adrien's lips pull into a sharp grin. "Me?" he mused. Then he grabs my wrists, his hands strong as iron and almost cutting off blood flow. I gasp and try yanking them away but he's pressing them into my chest leaning even closer. His soulless green eyes staring evilly into mine.

"I'm your worst nightmare," he growls, shaking me when he says it.

I don't break eye contact. I stand frozen against the balcony railing realizing how dire my situation has grown. I don't think they'll ever let me out of here... and if they are... then it'll be my dead body. What kind of person is able to call themselves 'your worst nightmare'? What kind of person admits to being a killer? What kind of sick person lacks hesitation in killing others?

Finally, he shoves my arms against me before stepping away leaving me ice cold. Adrien shoots a cool look over his shoulder as he begins to descend the winding staircase. "I'm going out, tell Gideon to lock up for me."

Shiloh jumps and gives him a bewildered look. "You can't! The Guard has been put on high alert ever since we crossed over! I don't care how many Guards you've killed, it's still dangerous! There's a Shadow roaming around as well! You can't just leave-"

"I'LL DO WHAT I WANT!" Adrien screams, up at him already opening the weapon's door. "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!"

Shiloh is suddenly filled with rage. He glares down at Adrien with fists clenched. "And yet," he seethes, "you can tell us what to do. What if I wanted to storm out whenever I wanted? Or if Gideon wanted to spree whenever the heck he wanted? You won't let us do that so why should you get to leave!"

Adrien growls, "Because you're huma-"

"I AM NOT HUMAN!" Shiloh screams, gripping the rail and leaning over it to yell directly at Adrien. "NOT ANYMORE! I left that life and stayed-"

"YEAH! You STAYED! This is MY HOUSE and MY RULES-"

"THIS IS GIDEON'S HOUSE AND YOU KNOW THAT!"

"YOU-"

"NO! NO! I SAID NO! YOU AND I ARE THE SAME! WE BOTH LEFT OUR LIVES AND NOW WE ARE HERE! YOU ARE SUCH DRE CREY! YOU BRERES SICLE!! YOU CAN'T JUS-"

Adrien flies up the stairs before Shiloh can truly react.

SLAP!

I gasp, quickly slapping my hands over my mouth trying to remain invisible during their heated fight. There's no way I'm stepping in on this fight.

Adrien's hand lingers in the air, glowering down at Shiloh. Shiloh stumbles back from the slap, holding his stinging cheek looking more shocked than anything. A tense moment of silence passes between them. Shiloh looks up slowly with a blank expression that looks more terrifying than if he were angry. His black eyes completely empty and void of all emotion, chilling me to the bone. As if he lacked any soul at all.

Adrien remains for a moment, anger radiating off him like a burning sun. He scoffs loudly before rubbing his hand. He takes a step back.

"You should know better than to swear," is all Adrien says.

Shiloh continues to stare at him with that empty look.

Adrien watches him silently for a moment, his anger beginning to dim. Adrien finally snorts and shakes his head at him. "Anyways, I'm going to the market. We need more food since we've taken on a pet." He shoots me a glare before turning back to Shiloh. "And we need proper clothes for her, I don't like her wearing Tressa's dress and she can't go anywhere in that. I'm going to disguise myself so don't worry about me being caught, honestly, it's like you think I'm some amateur."

Adrien gives Shiloh an annoyed look but Shiloh still isn't reacting.

I watch nervously wondering if Shiloh is going to get mad again. Adrien also watches, his annoyance fading for a brief moment. Then he clears his throat beginning to walk away. "And I'll grab some Swee-puffs," he adds in a bored voice, flicking his wrist as he begins to walk down the stairs. "I know that's your favorite but whatever, I've been wanting some lately."

He whips open the weapons door, looking up with a strange expression I haven't seen him make before. Slight worry tinges his poisonous eyes making it seem like... he actually cares about what Shiloh thinks. But then again, he just slapped Shiloh so I don't know what he's thinking. "Go to bed." And with that, he storms into the weapons room to put on his "disguise".

I nervously glance at Shiloh, unsure what I should say. Or maybe I shouldn't say anything. His eyes devoid of all emotion I thought he was capable of. Though this expression is oddly familiar from when we were attacked by the Masser. As well as from earlier when Gideon attacked me. He just... shut down.

The door to the dark bedroom slowly creaks open. Gideon pokes his head out with a wary expression. He glances at Shiloh then back at me. "Did Adrien leave already?"

"No..." I begin slowly, "he's in the weapons room."

Gideon nods slowly, "Alright..." He steps out of the room wearing something other than his worn black cloak. He wears baggy black pants that cuffs around his mid-shin with a thin blanket is tied around his neck like a cape. He's shirtless revealing his tan skin and hardened muscles but his lean figure makes it hard to see them normally. I pay him no mind. But why should I? It's not like I've never seen a guy without a shirt before. I see it all the time when the school's cross-country team goes running out by my house and when I go swimming. So why should Gideon's well-toned body make any impression on me?

His lion's mane of hair is a mess as a result of his attempt to tie it on top of his head. To be honest, it's a bit cute even though to others it may seem weird. I have to admit... boys with long hair is a bit of a turn on but I'm not going to focus on that. Ever. His golden eyes soft as he glides to Shiloh's side with a worried expression. "Hey Shy... you know he's upset right now. Maybe you shouldn't have pushed him about it."

But Shiloh's face remains blank. At least he lifts his head to meet Gideon's gaze confirming he's not having some kind of stroke. Gideon slightly grimaces, "Um, y-you know he's sorry... Addy has a problem telling us things. You know that," he explains in a gentle voice, "whenever Tressa gets involved he goes berserk so that isn't your fault."

I bite my lip forcing myself to simply watch. This fight seems to be a recurring one judging by how quick they were to jump into it. And it sounds like Gideon is repeating himself.

"We're all tired, it's not every day we have to cross over. We haven't slept in seventeen hours so everyone is a bit angry. So let's just go to bed," Gideon suggests, lightly guiding Shiloh to face the door. Gideon glances up at me with a kind expression that only makes my stomach twist with anxiety. "You too."

I swallow and take a nervous step towards the door, unsure what to expect. Gideon only laughs as he lightly shoves Shiloh to the door, "Don't be shy, it's not like we're going to kill you." He smirks at his own joke, "Unless you snore. Then you'll be smothered in your sleep."

I watch him edgily.

Gideon chuckles before reaching out, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the shadowed door. I stiffen but too scared to pull back and end up being choked again. So I allow him to pull me into their dark bedroom. Shiloh follows us in a dazed manner, his eyes still glazed over. I watch him sadly for a moment before I switch gears to be aware of my surroundings. Who knows what could be hiding here.

The room is pitch black rendering my sight useless. The air is tainted with the fresh smell of sweat and their own scents. I grimace at the smell, unsure if I will ever get used to this. Hopefully I won't have to. The floor is soft with spread out blankets but everything else is a mystery to me. Gideon lets go of my hand and disappears into the dark shadows of the room. I wrap my arms around my chest, still self-conscious about being in Tressa's thin white dress. I'm still wearing my normal undergarments but I pray that Shiloh didn't see anything he shouldn't