*

Opening her eyes as she gasped for air, the girl quickly sat up. As she looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, her head began to spin. She quickly flopped back down on the couch. Clutching her head with her tiny hands, she let out a whimper.

"Ah, you're awake," a voice called out.

The girl's eyes widened, panicking; the girl quickly pulled the blanket over her head.

"That's no good; you'll suffocate like that." A man stepping out from another room frowned.

The girl did not respond.

"Not the talkative type, are you?" The man chuckled.

"Listen," the man began, taking a seat on the couch as he pried the blanket off of the girl's face.

The girl looked up in alarm.

It was the man she had bumped into right before she lost consciousness.

"W-what..." The girl whimpered.

"What do you want...?" She squeaked.

"Well, for starters, to make sure you don't have a concussion," the man frowned.

"Though I guess you don't, seeing as you slept for quite a bit." He paused.

"Were you in any danger?" The man's voice suddenly shifted to a more serious yet concerned tone.

"N-no..." The girl shook her head.

"But your arm..." The man narrowed his eye, holding the girl's bruised arm in his hand.

"It was from the fall..." She mumbled.

"Listen," the man began.

"I get it; you have every right not to trust me, seeing as I am a stranger and all..." The man paused.

"But I can try to get you some help if you'd let me." He said.

"Why do you care?!" The girl shrieked.

The man stared down steadily.

"Because I know the fear in your eyes all too well."

"How?!" She cried.

"Good grief..." The man chuckled, brushing his hair back with his fingers.

"Now you're yapping too damn much." He grinned.

"Hey, want to see something?" He asked, placing his fingers onto the eyepatch covering his left eye.

"I'm sure you can relate." He smirked.