-3-

"Get up! Get up, Elkie!" Poppy shrieks as loudly as possible, causing me to open my eyes wide. Does she have to be so loud in the morning? She is always so bubbly and positive while I'm here with the others.

I pop my head up from the pillow it was just on and look over at Poppy. "What time is it?" I ask, my voice coming out a bit hoarse.

"It is near ten in the morning, which is pretty late for someone to sleep into." She holds out a bag towards me. "Hiiro got you these. He told me to take you to one of the many wash rooms in this hospital so you can clean up."

"Where?"

"I'll help you get everything you need to do today done," Poppy says, smiling brightly with her red lips. "Let's go and get you ready for today!"

I sit up fully and look around. "Where is Hiiro at?"

Hiiro usually lurks around the CR because of the chances a Bugster will randomly show up. Or Kuroto. They sometimes are probably looking for him. But I'm sure the phone rings for Kuroto doing stupid crap around here.

"He'll be here once he finishes up work in the surgical department. He had to do a surgery today, which is actually quite minor," Poppy answers.

"Oh, I see." I should have figured that they do stuff like we do in the normal world because they live their lives off-screen.

"Elkie, are you okay? Are you safe still?" Emu?

I look over at the entrance of the room as Emu steps into it, wearing his usual green shirt and red pants. He doesn't dress like someone would at the hospital. He is so laidback and casual compared to a lot of people. Hospitals in America wouldn't be approving of that kind of dress code.

I nod my head. "Yeah, I'm alright. I just woke up so my day just started. So, what is up? Do you need something from me? Not like I have much to offer you, right?"

"I just wanted to check on you before I get to work. I'm glad you're alright. Poppy, keep your eyes on her," Emu orders, looking over at Poppy with a smile on his face. "I don't want anyone else getting their hands on here. It'll be bad if that happens."

I can't imagine someone getting their hands on me while here. Actually, I can picture it. Someone evil would be standing above me before eliminating me from the world. And that someone evil would definitely be Kuroto or Parad.

"I will make sure that no one sneaks her away from us," Poppy tells him. "Have fun at work, Emu! Make sure that you behave, okay?" She sounds so bossy yet peppy!

Emu laughs and he nods his head, smiling widely. "Okay, bye!" he exclaims, turning to leave the room. He is leaving me alone with someone with pink hair and a peppy voice. How am I going to survive being around her all day long?

"Poppy, I need to shower, remember?" I should probably get some time away from her right now. I don't want to spend every second of the day with her.

"Hm? Oh, right!" She laughs. "I almost forgot about your shower."

"That is fine."

"Okay, you should follow me."

"Alright. I won't leave your side."

~.~

I stop, looking around the corner. I have officially gotten away from Poppy by tricking her into getting something for me. So, she left me without attendance. I need some space and being stuck in the CR all day is freaking boring as heck!

"Elkie!" Poppy shouts. "Where are you?"

I move behind the corner and lean against the wall, closing my eyes. I seriously hope she doesn't find me right now. Going back to the CR with her is the last thing I want to do at the moment.

"Ah, it's a human," a deep voice says, sounding like they're going to laugh. "What are you doing here alone? Especially in this alley."

I open my eyes and turn my head a bit, gasping. "Parad!" I didn't expect to meet him here like this! Is he going to kill me now or take me to Kuroto?

He looks me in the eyes, smiling widely. "You know my name? Is that because...no, we've never met until now. I saw you appear though. You came right out of the sky," he tells me. "You are human, right?"

"If I give you an answer, you won't harm me, right?" I am not in the mood to be messed around with in the way he likes messing with people. He's dangerously good looking.

"I take that as my answer," he says, chuckling a bit. "How did you come from the sky? I was amazed because it looked like you had abilities that are like mine. However, you don't have the same thing go on." He steps closer to me and I slide over a bit.

"You're working with Kuroto so I can't give you answers," I state. I hope he doesn't come any closer to me because I don't need him in my personal little air bubble.

He stops, looking away from me and sighing a bit. "Do you think I tell Kuroto everything I do? If I did that, he would get really annoyed by me. He would probably tell me to get lost and that he'll take away everything I ever want in life."

"No, I don't think you do that, Parad. However, I don't trust you enough to not speak to him about me."

He looks back at me. "How come you know about me even though we haven't met? You don't seemed surprised that I came into this alley without you knowing. You seemed more surprised when you saw me. Is that because of those Riders?"

I look away. "I can't say how I know all about you, Parad."

"Are you...a Goddess?" What? Is he just messing around with me?

"No, I'm for sure a human," I answer. "H-U-M-A-N! Human!"

"Human for sure, huh? That means you're from another world, correct?" I look back at him as he smirks. "I see. You are from another world then. Don't worry, I won't tell Kuroto."

"Parad..."

"Don't try running away from, Elkie," he orders, his eyes narrowing.

I look down at his black jacket like thing, staring at the usb cords on it. "You're...why don't you want me to go, Parad? Shouldn't you want me away from you so you can hunt me down and hurt me? Shouldn't that be what you want to do?"

"I want to know if you know because of the other world. Tell me what you know about me in your world," he says, bossing me around. He is really demanding!

I look back up at his face. "I guess I can answer you now since you're being so bossy about this. Okay, Parad, I know you because I am from another world. Your world...." I can't tell him that his world is fictional in my world. That could crush him and his dreams and I can't do that. I don't want to see his face fall. "You exist in my world, which is different from this world."

"I'm in your world?" Why did I just tell him that he is in my world when he's not? Now I have to lie to cover up my lie!

"Uh..." Man, what do I do now? "Well, it is a bit of a difficult thing to talk about due to the circumstances going on in that world. But yes, Parad, you're in my world. You were someone close to me in that world. You know, like a friend?"

"Prove it, Elkie."

"I know who your host is," I state.

"..."

"Do you believe me now?" I tilt my head a bit, staring at him innocently. I have to look like I'm not lying and I have to make sure I keep my story straight so he doesn't suspect that I'm lying. Parad is really smart and I would hate to see how he'll react to a lie.

"Fine, I believe you but only because you know my host."

I sigh with relief. "I am glad you believe me, Parad. Anyways, I need to go for a bit because of Poppy. If she doesn't find me soon, the others will have to hunt me down and I don't want them to see me with you."

"I'm curious about something, Elkie. You're treating me like a friend here," Parad points out. "Do you expect me to be your friend here? If you do, you're expecting a bit too much. I'll never be your friend here."

"I don't need you as my friend, Parad. I already have enough friends and I already know you. I had you already as my friend so you can just kindly back off and not worry about a thing!" I shout at him, raising my arm up a bit.

"Had?"

"That is just bad wording, sorry," I apologize, dropping my hand to the side.

"What is your name? Full name."

"You don't need it because you should know it. Poppy has been shouting it all over town so I am sure you know it by now."

"If I'm going to kill you down the road, I'm going to need to know it so I can say a proper goodbye to you. We're friends in another world so it'll make sense that I at least know your name." Is he acting like this is some game right now? What is his problem?

"Okay, I'll tell you my name since you want it so badly. My name is Elkie Winters. You can just call me by my first name, Elkie."

"Why does Kuroto want you so badly?" Parad is changing the subject for some reason. "Elkie, can you answer that? He asked me about you after I saw you come into this world. He doesn't seem to know your name like I do and I'll be sure that stay between us. If he wants your name, he'll have to learn it himself."

"Such a good friend you are."

"I am not his friend."

"You're working together, right?"

"We have the same goal right now. So, can you answer the question now?"

I look away, clearing my throat a bit. "Emu and Hiiro told me that I shouldn't go out. They said Kuroto would try to get me to figure something out. Whether he is trying to get into my world or not isn't something I know of Parad. You should know what he is up to, not me."

The two have been working together for a while. I don't know how long the two have been working together and I don't want to find out. It is scary enough that they even associate with each other. Both of them are dangerous and quite deadly.

"He wants to know who you are," Parad states.

I look at him. "He does? Well, I'm not from this world. It is a problem and I hope he never finds out I'm from another world. I do think he has an idea that I'm not from this world, Parad. If he does find out about what world I came from, I'm sure he'll go to it."

"So, do Bugsters exist? Am I not the only one?" Here he goes changing the subject again. He's so curious about my made-up world with him in it.

"Yes, of course you guys do! You have slaves that are Humans, Parad. I tested out something for you and came here. All for you, the King of the Bugsters." Okay, I should really learn how to shut the heck up and not give him more bull-crap.

"The King of Bugsters?" He steps a bit closer, smiling. "I like the sound of that."

"You're the king in that world and I was your servant. You kept me as that due to our friendship, which was forged through a bunch of things that I don't need to get into at the moment."

"Why haven't I come for you yet? If you're my friend in that world, shouldn't I want you back?" Now, how do I answer his question?

I shrug. "Because...you were told not to come for me at all. I didn't want you to come for me, Parad. You belonged there, leading those people. They needed you more than I needed you." Now, this is all sounding like some cheesy movie.

"I can't save you here, Elkie. You know that, right? I want a world where Bugster rule over everything and I get whatever I want."

"And you have that in that world."

"But I don't have it here," he says softly, getting closer.

"True..." I'm a bit intimated right now by him.

He laughs. "Afraid?"

"Yeah, I can't trust you here. You're not like your other self despite having his face and his voice. Everything else about you is different pretty much." I should shut up on this and quit entertaining it. If this passes around, I'm going to be in one huge mess!

"Did you...no!"

"Did I what now?" I am so lost.

"Did you love me in that world?" Where is he getting that from?

"Oh..." I look away, thinking for a moment. "Oh, I did! Yes, I loved you there."

"I guess I can't kill you myself, Elkie. That is a bit cruel to do when you love someone and I'm not that cruel to people who haven't done me wrong. I'll just have someone else end you down the road," he says, sounding a bit disappointed. "I have plans and I'll let those plans handle you."

I look at him, swallowing hard. He is so good looking thanks to his actor. I love his actor because of his acting and how he portrays Parad. He has convinced me Parad is cold and fun loving at times. I can really feel the emotions Parad has when I watch him on my laptop.

"Elkie, we'll meet again," Parad tells me, looking me in the eyes. "That is a fact, not something that is a lie. We will meet again in the future." He smirks, disappearing. He just left instantly! Freaking Bugsters are so lucky they can just leave whenever they pretty much want!

Why did I just lie to him about all of that? How could I do that to him? Sure, he's fictional in my world but this is their world and I just am messing with everyone in it! What if he finds out that I lied?

I'm screwed!

A/n: Sorry for getting this out late everyone. I will be working to finish this and update it whenever I can. I'm like halfway through the story in my notebook that I write in. I may come back and rewrite some of the parts in here later to add a bit more details. 

I'll try and get chapter four up in a few days, okay? Please enjoy! Thank you for the read even if you don't like this story. :)