Ringlets of blonde bounced as the young child skipped her merry way outside. Mother had finished with work, and herself with school and afternoon chores. The sun seeped through the fabric of her clothing, warming her to the core, and glittered off of her bright orbs, lit with a demure joy. Birds were chirping, the wind whistling a cheery tune, and the hotdog man down the street waved to her as usual. Everything was perfect.

Kimberly was none too close behind, azure optics scanning the pages of a textbook, paying little to no heed to the serenity around her, nearly missing the sharp turn Magdalena took as she padded along to the park. "Aren't you gonna come play?" she inquired, pausing to glance at her sister curiously. The darker haired girl shook her head and waved her away, pointing to a bench "I only came here because Mom said so. Go play. I don't want to" she snapped, lips arching in their usual scowl. Okay. Minor setback on her perfect day. No matter. Magdalena made a beeline for the swingset, taking the only empty one; the other was occupied with some man.

As heels dug into the grainy sand, and there was a small grunt of frustration as she barely moved. And it seemed the man had noticed. There was a small, mysterious smirk playing across his lips as he surveyed the child. "Need help?"

At this point, the girl was nearly crimson with the effort of properly trying to "use" the swing. She nearly flinched when he spoke--she'd forgotten all about him. Catlike orbs met with his beryl ones. There was something eerily familiar about him. From his slightly overgrown shaggy blond hair, heavily defined nose, and smirk, Magdalena was sure she'd seen him before. Maybe he was one of her Mother's friends...?

So instead of declining his offer like she would have with most, she simply nodded, still cross from her lack of success. He smiled and promptly got up from his swing, and stood behind hers, pushing her gently. She grinned and shrieked with delight as she rose higher and higher. A baby bird soaring high above others, wind tousling her hair and nipping at her cheeks and nose.

"I knew your mother.' she could barely hear him over the whistling wind. But she heard him all the same. 'Bright woman she was back then. Before she left of course.' Magdalena was painfully aware she was going too high now. There was a swooping sensation in her stomach and she felt nauseous. "Stop--!" she screamed, her hands were becoming slick with sweat and she was barely hanging on now. And with a sudden jerk, he obeyed, and she was nearly tossed off of the swing.

Trembling from head to toe, hazel green optics cast a petrified look into the now cold cerulean orbs. He stopped down to her level, eyes warming once more, face pulling back into the seemingly easy smile. His sudden change of air was scaring her more than anything else about him. Taking her dimpled digits into his own large, deft ones he leaned forward 'You can tell her I know where you are. I know who she is now and what she does. And that it's high time she come home." he finished finally.

LI Z WHY DO YOU DO DIS TO MEH

bc