Shadow Falls

[Airen]

Logan grabbed the man's forearm, confirming the deal. "Sounds good," he said with a smile. He turned back to Ora and looked at her with his steel blue eyes. Telling her it really would be alright, without opening his mouth.

He stepped out of the way as Havick grabbed her by the arm and began dragging her to his office. Logan took a giant gulp of his beer. "And I think I'll take that rope," He said with a gruff laugh.

[Emora Deen]

When they reached the office Havick grabbed Ora by her hair and pulled her close so she could get to her collar. She glanced to the man who was buying her for the night. He had seemed very nice, and she had felt that he was nice, but now she was unsure. Maybe she was wrong? She had to be right? He wouldn't do this if he was nice. Buying someone for that... it was wrong.

Havick unlocked the latch and grabbed the collar, pulling it off. He set it on the desk top, and shoved Ora by her hair towards the man who'd paid for her. Havick sat down in his chair, propping his feet up on the desk. "Take your time with her," he said as he reached into the drawer to his left. He pulled a small tightly coiled rope from it and tossed it to the man standing in the doorway.

His eyes met Ora's cold crystal gaze. "Have fun Ora," he told her, his voice raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

She was on the verge of hyperventilating now as she turned her frightened gaze to Logan.

[Airen]

Logan gripped her firmly but made sure not to hurt her. He pushed her forward and shewed her up the stairs. "Move along," he said. His voice was now soft and kind again.

Once they made it to the door of the room, he unlocked the door and ushered her in. He made his way to the window and looked out. The alleyway was empty. He noticed that the girl didn't move. She just stood just inside the doorway where he had left her.

"You're going to be alright," He assured her. The room they stood in wasn't much but Logan didn't plan on spending much time here.

He walked gracefully back towards her and gently pushed a strand of hair from her face. There was a slight cut on her cheek where the man had punched her. Logan rubbed over it with his thumb and the wound vanished. He lifted her face to him and their eyes met. "You're going to be alright." He smiled at her kindly.

[Emora Deen]

Ora nearly flenched from his touch, but the expression on her face made her stay very still. It wasn't the same expression he had given her earlier. He told her she was going to be alright, and as she looked at him there was some small part of her that was slowly growing, slowly beleiving him.

"You're not going to..." Her eyes watered with tears, and she exhaled the breath she had been holding in a single ragged sigh. She nearly collapsed with relief and she had to reach up and grab hold of his arms to keep from doing so.

[Airen]

Logan caught her with ease and helped her to the bed. A pearly white smile was upon his face as he sat and stared at her. Her fragility intrigued him. Yet her heart and will were strong. "So, what did you do to get in this place?" He asked. "What debt are you having to pay?"

A light breeze came in through the window and cooled the room. The gloomy, dim lit room. A brawl seemed to have broken out downstairs, judging by the noises that came from beyond the closed door.

[Emora Deen]

Ora wiped the happy tears from her eyes and took a calming breath. "I used to help my brother smuggle people out of Arken and into Ighten through the sea... But, he was arrested. I worked for Havick before, and knew that he knew the captain of the guard. I asked if he would get my brother out. He agreed if I worked for him for 3 years. Three years turned into five, and then six... and then I tried to leave with the help of a friend. But, he disappeared. And another man tried to save me, but I assume he is dead now. And here I am, insured never to leave again by the thing... that was around my neck." She rubbed the soft skin of her neck, where the collar had been for three weeks. She felt lighter without it, and she could stretch and tilt her head comfortably.

"Why did you pay so much if you didn't want to..." She was trying to think of a less vulgar way of expressing it. "Not that I am ungrateful. I am grateful... really I am."

[Airen]

Logan chuckled a little as he stood up and walked back to the window. "You still haven't figured it out?" he said. He scanned the room for something that was bolted down or built into the building. There was nothing.

He pondered a moment and then walked back to the bed. "Get up," he ordered. He tossed the mattress from the bed and lifted the frame from the floor. He carried to the the window and laid back down.

He tied the rope and one of the legs and dropped the other end out the window. He could easily fly her out of here, but he didn't want to reveal himself to her quite yet.

"C'mon," he told her. The rope would hold and the bed wouldn't come through the window.

[Emora Deen]

Ora stared at him for a moment and then at the rope. "You're helping me escape," she said more to herself, as if she were assuring herself that she was actually seeing this.

Ora wasted no time. She went to the window and crawled into a sitting position. She glanced to him, giving him a soft smile as she slid out, holding onto the rope and slowly climbing down.

[Airen]

Logan returned the smile. "For the price to get that necklace off, I practically paid for your freedom." he corrected.

He followed her down quickly then turned down the alley. "This way," he said offering his hand. It also amused him at how she didn't hesitate in her decision to escape, despite her past failed attempts.

[Emora Deen]

She took his hand when he offered it. "I'm sorry, I'll help you get your money back," she assured him as she followed his every movement. This was her chance. If it went wrong, it went wrong... but she could not turn it down. She would not turn it down. Even if she had to owe him, he was a far better choice to be with than Havick.

"Where are we going to go?" She wondered if he was just helping her escape, or if he wanted to take her someplace specific. She wonder why he chose to help her at all.