Your first mistake was letting the phone ring through on that clear night of star speckled solitude — a shudder wracking your spine as the familiar voice whispering vague gestures of threat held no jest.

"All alone..." his dead tone murmured and your gaze shifted to the blinking red dot on the landline waiting upon the kitchen counter. Time paused — a testament to the blood that ran like ice through veins.

Two...simple...words...

Two words and you were stopped dead in your bubble of normality, the last piece of shelter slipping like sand and knowing eyes snapped to the home phone awaiting your hand in a tormented reality that hit you harder than stone. "You'd be wise to pick up, petite lapine, or do you truly believe those dingy walls of apartment B19 will keep you secure? Perhaps that friend you're oh-so close with-" a brief pause, a mocking hum, then a sigh. "Shenji was it?"

The world felt hollow — each breath was lost in the thorns lining a dry throat.

You wanted to pick up, to yell at him until your voice ran raw. Shenji. Your chest fell and you drop what task once held your attention in favor for looking upon the kitchen entrance.

He was late. Shenji was never late.

A hum berated knives. "Did my little lapine just now notice? Oh...how precious- yes, your dear bastard is late...and for his own little birthday celebration with you. Pity. I guess you'll have to blame me- see, my own little 'friends' picked him up for me. If you want him back in one piece you'll have to play along."

Teeth grit. Heart pounds. "No..." you whisper, eyes flicking back to the phone and you rush for it — stopping moments before picking it up. You wanted proof but didn't dare face him, confront your loving terror.

"Pick up bunny." A taunted coo and you pull your hand back as if burned. "Pick up- pick up- pick up-" he growled teasingly. "Why hide from me?" You swore he chuckled. A soft, dangerous echo. "For you, there's no knight, no happy ending. No way out...only hell. You have only one choice. Will he suffer for you~"