Outside Jazz's house, the screams were still growing louder, and I knew I would be deaf if they kept up. I hopped off Grell's back, and told him that we couldn't take Jazz inside like that, or else we'd be dead.  He nodded, said something, but I could only try to read his lips. I couldn't, so I shook my head, pointed to my ear, and muffled my sobs.

Grell looked at me sympathetically, and then his expression changed quickly to worried curiosity. He pointed to my wrists.

I looked at them. They had rope burns, but they were weird. They spelled out the name Phantomhive.

"I'll tell you later," I said, even though I couldn't hear it.

He nodded. The worried look never left his face, but I did my best to ignore it. He was being a big brother who was supposed to worry, and that was it. Even though he probably thinks he's acting like a good big sister, I thought, rolling my eyes.

All of the sudden, I wasn't hearing random screams anymore. The screams were talking to me. "Find Ciel Phantomhive! Find Ciel Phantomhive!"

"Alright!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, startling Grell and waking Jazz. "Alright," I said again, on the verge of tears.

And just like that, the screams stopped. It was almost like they nodded and walked off.

I looked at Grell, who was still holding Jazz. They were both looking at me curiously, Jazz weakly.

I shook my head, then opened the front door. Grell laid Jazz on the couch, and then quickly left the house.

I followed him out.

"So? Did you reap the guy? You had me worried when you didn't show. Then I got kidnapped, and-"

Grell had cut me off. "You were kidnapped? By who?"

"Whoever wants me to locate the Phantomhive," I said, showing him my wrists.

Grell examined my wrists carefully, before looking back up at my face. He didn't say anything, until after he had turned to leave.

"I reaped him for you."

"Thanks."

"Be careful."

"I will."

Grell nodded, and then left. I walked back inside and found Jazz's mother kneeling over Jazz.

When she noticed me, she stood. "What happened?"

"The person on the to die list put up a fight," I lied.

Jazz's mother nodded, and then left the room. Then she called out to me, "You hungry?"

I shook my head, then realized she couldn't see it. "No thanks!" I replied.

"Okay, well if you girls need anything, I'm going out."

"Alright."

I heard the door close, and then sat I'm a chair next to the couch.

"So what happened?" Jazz asked, sitting up.

I filled her in on everything.

"Wow."

"Yup."

"What are yo going to do?"

"I don't have a choice. I have to find the Phantomhive."

"I'll help you," Jazz said.

"You can't. Your mom won't allow it and I won't either. I don't want to drag you into this."

"Scarlet, I'm your friend. We're supposed to look out for each other."

"And I'm looking out for you by not letting you tag along this time. I'm sorry, but I'm doing this one myself."

"Fine," Jazz huffed. "But you better come back."

"I promise I will."

"Then you might want to get started." She was looking at my arms.

I looked down and saw the rope burns were glowing a brighter red, and growing bigger. Maybe that was how they would kill me if I refused. Maybe they poisoned my arms and it won't stop spreading until I found who they were looking for.

All I knew was that I couldn't afford to wait and find out.