I’m ready to go. Jared turns in his sleep, his bedhead sticking out like he’s been electrocuted. His pain will become a bit more intense when I leave but it will be bearable. He only needs my presence now. That’s why he’s in my room.

Upon his discharge from the infirmary, Jared's claims that he couldn't sleep without me were a sure scam as far as I believed. After slamming the door in his face, I woke up a few hours later to the tortured cries of a anguishd man to find him sprawled on the floor, his hands clutching at his stomach.

The guilt ate away at me to the extent I’ve allowed him to stay in my room. I slept on the couch as he tossed and writhed on the bed. That was the second time he persuaded me into sleeping in the same bed. It was also the second time I awoke snuggled into his chest. Today however, I managed to get away with staying on the couch. He’s slowly getting better, he doesn’t need as much of my pain relief.

I perch on the couch and tie up my black high heeled boots. Grabbing my coat, I creep to the door. Taking one more look at his peaceful form, I close the door gently so I don’t disturb him.

 My boots click against the shiny white floor as I stroll down the hallway to the rendezvous spot Ally and I agreed upon. Tonight is the first ball and I need to acquire a dress.

"Lara" Ally calls as I round the corner. She’s dressed in the typical Leto colours with white Capri trousers and a white t shirt. Her blond hair, hangs in a messy ponytail. That’s the only noticeable human part of her; the only peccadillo. 

"Hey" I smile. She gives me a swift hug before tugging at my hand.

"Let's go, the tubes are this way" she beams.

"What are the tubes?" I ask.

"They're transportation tubes. You step in them, activate the control pad and instruct it of your desired location. That's how we'll get to the the village" Ally remarks, skipping joyously along beside me. 

"Can you go anywhere in them?" I ask, instantly intrigued. 

"Basically" 

My pulse quickens, I could see my mother. My mind opens to a wide span of possbilities; I don't have to stay here, I could leave.  If everything goes wrong, I can be with my mother for our last moments.

 "Lara, what are you thinking?" Ally asks, concern etched on her distressed features. I shake my head in response. I don't want to inform her of anything; I love Ally but I know I can whole put my trust in her half-heartedly. I'm no Leto Rex.

We carry on walking down the identical hallways. Though the corridors are voiceless, I'm still smiling. It's cordial to know I have options; the thought sets me at ease. As I glance around the monotonously alabaster corridors, The idea that Jared knows his way around here as well as any of the Leto’s amazes me.

"Are you thinking about Jared?" She asks. "How is he by the way?"

"He's recuperating" I sigh. "He sleeps the majority of the time though. It's odd, whenever he wakes up, he's actually pleasant".

"That's fairly hard to imagine" Ally mutters.

"Ally, I'm really sorry about what he said to you. I hate that he spoke to you in that way" I trail off sadly.

"It's alright, it's not your fault. He really wanted you to be there"

"He didn't want me there Ally" I can't help but sound despondent.

"Then why was he so insistent on not allowing you to leave?" Ally smirks triumphantly.

"I-I don't know" I falter. "Do you have any idea when he'll be completely better?"

She bites her lip uneasily as she thinks. ‘I can tell you this much before my mind hits the barrier. He’s almost healed. By tomorrow he'll be able to get up and walk around" She smiles.

Her words relieve me. We can finally get back to the irritating smirks and rude comments. I practically jump for joy at the thought of his double-standard speeches.

 "Lara?" Ally asks drawing me out of my sarcastic stupor. "You seem very distant today"

"Sorry, I was just thinking. I don't want to return to our original relationship" My lacklustre tone displays my lethargy.

"He could surprise you"  

"He'll surprise me if he doesn't tease me about allowing him to stay in my bed" I sigh, twiddling the ends of my hair with my fingers. 

"Give him a chance, you may find he's different"

"Illnesses don't change people Ally" I shrug my shoulders. Jared will never change, its dubitable.

"No they don't, other people change them" Ally says. I open my mouth to reply but I find myself to be tongue-tied. I don't know how to answer her because I know she's right.

We stop outside a door. Ally activates the control pad and the door opens. I gasp in wonder as we enter the room. The white floor and walls appear blue as a cause of the 4 fluorescent blue tubes at the other end of the room. They are tall enough so that even Jared would fit in one. I stare in wonder at this high tech equipment.

"Are you ready?" Ally asks. I nod my head and we proceed forward. "All you have to do is open the door and climb in. Once you’re inside, it’s completely soundproof and the door locks; so I won't be able to help you. Then you just activate the control pad and tell it to go the Leto village"

I nod my head, enraptured with the enormous portals in front of me. The blue light shimmers around the room and I'm transfixed. 

"Great, I’ll see you there". She chirps. Her capri trousers flare out as she marches forward and steps into the tube. The door locks and I see her mouthing her command. She waves and the tube flashes blue. The next second she’s gone.

I take a deep breath to steady myself; nothing can go wrong. Timidly, I place one foot inside the tube and then the other. This technology is overwhelming and frightening; it’s all so new to me. I pull the door shut and activate the control pad. The machine begins to whir as it comes to life.

‘Leto village’ I order. The tube begins to flash and my breath quicken. Every possible scenario that ends up with me dead at the cause of this tube races through my mind. I feel almost as if my body is dissolving just as the door bursts open and Jared charges in. His face absolutely is ghostly white, displaying an expression of terror. My fingers press lightly against the glass as he clutches at his stomach.

And then I’m gone.

My eyes squint at the bright light. My brain begins to warp the claustrophobic tube until it slowly starts to close in on me. I scream as I think of Jared lying on the floor, wracked with pain. I feel my body forming it's true figure and wait until my feet make contact with the firm ground. I've arrived in the Leto Village.

Minute beadlets of perspiration form on my brow and my mouth goes dry as I panic and fumble with the door.  It clicks and I force my transparent escape open and leap out. Placing my hands on my knees I hastily exhale the fresh air and my worry subsides.

"Its fun isn't it?" I hear Ally laugh. My chin trembles as I think of Jared's She hauls my arm up so I stand straight. 

"Yea" I say shakily. "Just a bit claustrophobic".

I lean a little more on her. I glance around and see the alien village, the Leto call ‘home’. Sky-scraping towers fill the streets, stretching as far as the eye can see. The pavement Ally and I stand upon ends the enormous avenue I stare down. Small shops fringe the cobbled street with not a speck of dirt in sight. Like everything the Leto have made, its white; white buildings, white cobbles, white Leto’s. It’s perfect. What shocks me though is how familiar it appears; its almost as if I've been here before.

 "Are we still on the same ship?" I ask, my head spinning with enormity of the 'village'.

"No, we were transported to Ship 38, 'The Village' vessel" Ally gazes around.

I squint as the glaring bright light gleams off the pearly buildings. The vast concrete landscape that encloses me is clearly a white replica of my old city corruptio.

On Earth there were 10 prominent cities; Gemma, Res, Simplex, Spirit, Nox, Vera, Menda, Cael, Ferna and Corruptio. They were the main bases of civilisation. The idea of living outside the urban resorts was considered madness; a very rare disease. Gemma, Spirit and Cael were considered to be the most prestigious of all the cities; they were the safest and the most spacious. Only the rich lived there. My family and I lived in Corruptio; the City of Torpens. An unwise move for a Caritas family.

I shudder. 

"Lara, are you sure you're alright?" Ally huffs irritably. "You keep spacing out"

"Are you sure Jared will be alright?" I sigh.

"Lara, he’ll be fine" Ally places her small hand on my face and compels me to look at her. "Lara look at me".

I turn my once averted eyes to stare straight into her’s. "This is Jared’s last day of recovery, by the time we get back I have no doubt that he will be better. You've been with him for the past three days, you deserve to have a day off". She speaks candidly, not once breaking eye contact.

 "I guess you're right" I reply half-heartedly. She smiles back at me.

 "Now can we go?" She beams.

One moment I’m nodding my head and the next I’m being driven down the avenue by the Dimidium.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What about this one?"

"Yeah it’s nice". I say jadedly.  I don't even bother to open my eyes as my fingers fumble with my loose braid. I unravel the band from my hair and begin to re-tie twiddle the ends of my hair. 

"Lara, you’ve said that for the last 6 dresses". Ally exclaims hot-headedly. "Have you got your eye closed?" she stutters, stunned by my disinterest.

My eyes immediately snap open from their short-lived nap. Ally stands above me on the changing podium. Her crossed arms confirm that she’s not impressed.

 "Ally, you’ve tried on 9 blue dresses that all look exactly the same, just pick one’". I sigh.

"Lara, I don't want just any old 'nice' dress. I want an astounding dress" She laments before rambling off on a scolding digress about the little knowledge I have of being different.

What she doesn’t remember is that I’m one of the only two humans on this ship; you don’t get more different than that. She’s at least part Leto.

 "Ally, I thought you didn't even want to come out?" I drawl lazily, flicking my hair behind my shoulders.

 "I never said I didn't want to be noticed though. Although standing with you is going to make it rather difficult to stay within the shadows" She informs me as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

 "What are you talking about?" I ask tiredly.

"Like you said, you’ll be one of the only two humans there. Leto’s are going to staring at you all night along with asking you to dance and attempting to get your attention in some way’ She sighs with envy. ‘Most of them have never seen a Human before. You're going to be under constant scrutiny. You’re so lucky to get that kind of notice. Not to mention, they all want to see the love you and Jared share".

Her last words throw me. "Wait what? Ally it doesn’t happen that fast." A panicked lump forms in my throat as I try and contain my anxiety.

‘Lara, even you can’t be that dense. Watching you two the other night, it was so obvious that you've already developed feelings for one another" Ally smiles. She takes another twirl in her dress.

"I only feel something for him because I’m a Caritas. We argue for the majority of the time". I reply bitterly.

 "People only argue if there is something to fight for" Ally steps off the pedestal and a concerned look plays upon her features. "Are you sure it’s just the Caritas thing Lara?"

"Yes, now I like that dress". I quickly switch the topic onto her azure dress. It sparkles and reaches just above her knee. She shimmers whenever she moves. It’s the perfect dress for her. "It highlights your eyes" I say tactfully studying its complimenting features.

"Fine, but I know you’re trying to change the subject" She sighs before her normal beaming smile returns. The dress materializes off her and she’s back in her white Capri trousers and t-shirt.

"Your turn". She squeals.

I climb up wearily, my head aches at the thought of trying on dress after dress. I stand on the podium as Ally plops herself down on the chair, her new dress laying in her arms. I wait a few seconds but nothing happens. My brow wrinkles in confusion.

"What do I have to do?" I ask.

"‘Close your eyes and picture the dress you want to wear." Ally gives me a thumbs up. I close my eyes and try and picture a dress. I reopen my eyes and look down and see I’m still in my black jeans.

"Why haven’t you got the dress you want to wear on?" Ally asks.

"Probably because I don’t want to wear a dress" I mutter under my breath.

I sigh and close my eyes again. I think back to my childhood days; the days I wanted to be a princess. I picture the storybooks my mother used to read me; the ones filled with the beautiful golden haired princess and her prince.  My eyes flutter open.

"Lara, you look incredible" Ally gasps. Her mouth hangs open in shock and I spin round immediately to look in the mirror.

The girl standing in front of me wears a gorgeous lilac dress that drapes gracefully around her body. The front has a feathered corset top with a simple embellishment wrapping around the waist. It flows into a feather patterned skirt that cuts off just above her knee. The back trails down to her ankles. It’s beautiful; too beautiful.

"It’s perfect" I whisper, softly stroking the fabric.

"Thats the dress". Ally smiles. I  twirl clumsily and the bottom of the dress flutters round. 

 'I think you're right' I turn back the mirror for another look. I appear as an innocent 19 year old girl, it might even convince the Rex and the Guard. All I need to do now is play the part.

I picture my original outfit and I’m soon back in my normal boring clothes that feel so frumpy compared to my stunning dress. I uproot the hair stuck inside my collar and arrange it so it curls prettily down my front. I take the steps down from the podium and Ally stands from the chair.

"How did you think of that dress?" Ally asks, her blue eyes popping with excitement.

 "I just thought of when I was a kid." I shrug. ‘My sister and I used to pretend we were princesses all the time…" I trail off, realising my mistake.

 "I didn’t know you had a sister? What’s she like?" Ally enquires enthusiastically.

I bite my lip to stop the words tumbling out; to halt the sickening words that remind me of my betrayal. I allowed my mother to delude me into thinking that the whole incident wasn't my fault but it was.

"It's all my fault" I whisper.  Ally's eyes widen as she spots the brimming tears; the sacred messengers of sorrow and loss.

"Lara, did you hear about the ball?" She gushes, trying not to sound nervous; she knows she needs to distract me. "There is going to be a special guess attending".

The memories once again invade my mind. Broken fragments replay invade the solitude of my mind. I let out a strangled shriek and clutch to the ends of my hair in distress. 

‘Lara, I don't know what to do’ Ally says frantically. I choke back a sob as the darkness begins to decend. The gloom fogs over my mind and my rationality. 

 'Ally get Jared' I beg. She hesistates but the memories only continue to invade my mind. 

'Lara Hall, the Caritas' He snarls; his gold tooth glimmers in the sunlight. 'Looks like we found a true beauty boys'

'Ally'  I scream. She grimaces at the thought of having to ask for Jared’s help. "Please Ally" I whimper. 

She jumps to her feet; her beautiful dress crumples to the floor. Her blond curls bob as she runs off leaving me to face the nightmare alone. My blurred eyes absorb the view of the watching Letos; they appear befuddled at my crazed state.

The knife approaches closer and closer, dripping with blood. The dark alley smells musty and unpleasant. There’s no sun; no hope.

 "Get out of my head" I scream, curling into a foetal position.

‘Lara, run’ she screams. The sound sends chills through me.

 The knife draws nearer still, the sharp blade glinting evilly. The silver tongue whispers menacing threats into my ear. A gold tooth flashes in an evil grin.

‘It’s you next’ he whispers menacingly. The knife stills taunts me. The henchmen behind descend into guffaws of malevolent laughter. The bird on Gold tooth’s shoulder screeches right in my face; cackling as wickedly as its master.

"Lara". A softer voice calls. "Lara, its ok I’m here". I’m being held to a warm body. This doesn’t happen. I scream and try to push the invading hands off my body. The man isn't supposed to touch me.

 "Lara, calm down it’s just me." The voice coos. "I'm not going to hurt you"

"Jared?" I whisper shakily. My eyes regain their vision. I’m still in the Leto village; however I’m sitting on the side of the avenue, huddled in a large chest. I peek up to see his russet eyes staring softly down at me. 

"It’s okay, I’m here." He whispers.

I’m safe.

I inhale his lemony scent, not bothering to look up before bursting into tears. He pulls me into his lap and rocks me gently which succeeds in making me sob harder. I peek up and see Ally standing awkwardly to the side. She gives me a sad smile.

"Let’s get you back." He sighs. The tears continue to slip from my eyes as he begins to shift. His warm, protecting presence disappears and I begin to whimper. Seconds later, I’m back in my safe haven as he sweeps me into his arms. The gentle lull of his strides calm me despite the fact that I feel like an overgrown baby. Ally trails behind, her head ducked. Leto’s stare from all along the avenue and I begin to feel uncomfortable. I feel Jared's arms shake with the exertion of holding up both mine and his own weight.

 "Jared can you put me down?"  

 "Are you sure?" He asks and I nod my head. He gently places me down on my feet, steadying me when I sway.

"Thank you" He exclaims a little too enthusiastically, shaking out his arms. "My arms were starting to go numb".

"Are you saying I’m fat?" I ask cocking an eyebrow.

"No, I’m saying you’re heavy" He states bluntly. I roll my eyes as the tubes come into sight and I increase my walking pace. He jogs to catch up with me.

"Lara remember I haven't been out of bed in a week. It's hard to walk myself" He shrugs.

My defensive attitude shuts down the walls. This is his first day out of bed and I’ve already dragged him down into the village and made him carry me when he’s weak.

"Thank you for helping me" I say quietly. He immediately turns to me and smiles. Once again, I’m shocked by its beauty. I freeze under its powerful aura of loveliness.

"Lara, you’re not blacking out again are you?"

I don’t have time to answer before a young looking Leto starts to drift towards us. His sandy mop of hair is ragged and messy. His white suit is ill-fitting and the glazed look in his too-big eyes is frighteningly surreal.

Ally is suddenly in front, holding her hand out in an attempt to stop the Leto boy.

"Leto 73829221, withdraw from your advancement towards to the Human character evidences, Lara Hall and Jared Miller. Every Leto with the exception of the Leto Rex, the Leto guard and Dimidium 1 are under specific orders from the Leto Rex to retain from laying a hand on the Humans. There are consequences of disobeying the Leto Rex" Dimidium 1 states. All traces of the fun Ally have gone and in her place the Leto half of her stands.

The boy continues press ahead, stepping closer to Jared and I every second. I cling to Jared’s tensed arm. Ally spins around suddenly.

"Get to the tubes now. He won’t be able to follow you back to the palace." She orders. Jared wastes no time in stooping me down and lifting me over his shoulder. The hard blade of his shoulder collides uncomfortably with my stomach and Jared begins to run. The Leto’s glazed expression follows us before running himself.

 "Jared, I can run. It’s faster than you carrying me" I protest from over his shoulder. The Leto is gaining on us quickly.

"Jump down, but whatever you do, don’t stop running" Jared orders, releasing his grip. I jump down and immediately race into a flat out sprint. Adrenaline spreads throughout my body. I glance over my shoulder and see the Leto a mere 6 metres from me. Terror spreads through my heart. The Leto has enhanced speed and strength.

I reach the tube and fling the door open and throw myself in quickly shutting the door. I see Jared to my left in the transparent tube. I’m distracted from Jared by a banging on my tube door. I scream at the Leto’s manic appearance as he thrashes wildly on the blue tube. Tears of fright roll down my cheeks as I activate the control pad. The Leto continues to bang until he’s suddenly torn away by three other Leto’s; sane looking Leto’s.

 I feel myself beginning to dissolve as the tube flashes blue.

I’m back in the tube room. I fall out the tube door gasping for air as I collapse on the floor. Jared climbs out of his tube and immediately rushes to my side.

"Come on Lara. We’re safe. It can’t get us here." He says soothingly offering me his hand. I take it, wiping my puffy eyes with my right hand. The fluorescent blue projects all over the room.

"What the hell was wrong with that thing?" I rasp.

"I don’t know what that was but all I can say is that is not a normal trespasser." He says seriously.

"Just call them the Leto, Jared" I sigh, opening the door to the hallway.

I check over my shoulder just to make sure that it hasn’t followed us. The crazed appearance of the Leto was so unnatural; its face sends shivers of horror down my spine. Jared shuts the Tube room door and we saunter down the marble corridor.

"What's the difference?" He rolls his eyes.

 "Ally was wrong; you're no different" I mutter.

"What has that trespasser told you?" Jared footsteps come to a halt. His seething frame begins to shake more and more vibrantly. Instead of being scared of him, I find his unnecessary anger ridiculous. The fact his eyes haven't relapsed into their exacerbated blackness causes relief to pool within my stomach.

"Calm down Jared" I chuckle and sweep my disheveled hair away from my eyes. Jared grunts in vexation and I grin as I hear his reluctant footsteps trail mine.

We round the corner of my hallway. A black figure hovers in the middle of the hallway dressed in a black suit. He’s of medium height with a wiry frame. His silver hair is by far his most striking quality. He twitches at the sound of my clicking boots and Jared’s heavy stomps. He turns around leisurely, revealing his identity. I gasp at the sight of his face.

‘Carlisle Kappor?’ I stammer.