After a good rest, I was able to work again. It took some arguing, some fighting before they were willing to let me at it. What little time we had left quickly went by. All the while I was a lot more careful with my body.

  By the twenty-eighth day, exactly the last day of four full weeks. We stopped by noon at Terada’s command.

  “The next three days the office will be closed.” He started with. Everyone seemed unsurprised by those words, but they caught me off-guard. I know everyone mentioned we would get the next few days off, but it seemed a bit silly.

  “As you all know, the next three days tend to be dangerous. Part of the reason we haven’t eaten out in the last week was due to the rising danger of wandering at night. Which is why it’s better to close the office and come back after a good rest. I know all of you are eager to get back home to your families, so I won’t be keeping you much longer.

  Try not to wander after dark over the next few days and stay safe.”

  He finished and looked over us all. “And finally, good work!” He bowed. Everyone cheered. Excited, like prisoners released from jail. Even half dead, they moved with surprising energy. I found myself following the group and before long I was back at the station.

  The moment I arrived back home, I crashed, hard. The moment I hit my futon, I was down and out. I woke the next day at noon, then started the process of prepping for the coming month. Getting suits to the dry cleaner’s and going shopping. I ignored the fatigue as best as I could and by the end of the day I was lying in bed with a warm towel around my stomach, a hot cup of tea at the ready and a random movie playing on the television.

  The next day was much the same, with me spending it recovering and collecting my laundry.

  It was strange, but I was recovering faster than I thought possible. Not only that, but there seemed to be an ever-present chill around me. I didn’t have an answer, and it kept getting worse. I was beginning to worry, but I lacked the energy to really investigate.

  When night fell on my second day off, I felt something shift. From the core of my being. I could feel it. Like a valve opening up. Cold ice flowed through my veins. My entire room turned into an icebox in a matter of seconds. My room illuminated by the full moon peeking through the gap between the two buildings just outside.

  I stared out at the city in awe. Every night, mist had gathered in the streets when the sun fell. It grew thicker by the day, and now… it was all gone. It was crystal clear outside. I felt no danger. I only felt the moon calling out to me as I stood in my night clothes and walked out onto my balcony.

  The air was crisp and cool, yet, all I felt was power coursing through my veins.

  Just as I gained control of myself, I felt a presence. I glanced over, and at the end of the balcony was a familiar, yet, unfamiliar face.

  It was the rabbit. Their white fur reflected the moon, making the little critter seem almost holy. Like an object of worship. Its eyes gleamed silver and filled with power.

  “How’re you settling in, Prima, Pyon?”

  Usagi spoke. Calm. Calculated. Yet… the longer I stared into its eyes, the less holy it seemed, the less true it appeared. What lay before me flickered. For an instant, I could feel something well beyond my understanding bearing down on me.

  “You have good senses, Pyon. As expected of a rabbit, Pyon.” Usagi seemed happy, their ears twitching. They didn’t speak after and chose to instead watch me with a curious gaze. I knew, without a doubt, they were waiting for my answer. I caught myself, the presence fading. I took a moment to breathe, in and out…

  “Well … I’m settling in well enough. Work is hell though.”

  Usagi, laughed, chortled. “It is difficult, Pyon. But a rabbit must undergo many tribulations before they become powerful, Pyon. Much better than those nosy dogs, and frivolous foxes, Pyon! And don’t get me started on the tigers or sheep, Pyon!”

  I felt completely lost and I knew Usagi was taking great joy in that.

  “Ah, but, I came for another reason Prima, Pyon! An offer, one you shouldn’t refuse, Pyon! A chance to become more, to excel beyond your station to make your mark upon the world, Pyon! To claim what it is you seek, Pyon!”

  “To claim what I seek?” I mouthed. Usagi merely nodded and looked at me. I just knew I was going to regret this and yet… didn’t that strange girl, éclair was it warn me to take the chance? And, I could be misremembering, but… that police officer too, Grim, I think, didn’t she hint at something like this happening. I’m probably misremembering… My brain was a bit scrambled after a month of hell.

  “What happens if I don’t?”

  “Would you really pass up this chance, Pyon?” I stared at the rabbit, and I just knew, knew without a doubt, that they were right. No matter what it was, I couldn’t just pass up an opportunity like this.

  I sighed…

  “Let me get changed. Then we can go.”

  “Wonderful Pyon! You won’t regret this, Pyon!”

  I had a feeling, that wasn’t true at all.

  I scoured through my clothing options and… Mm… I realize I didn’t have casual clothing. I had sweats for walking back from the bathhouse. It gets chilly when the sun begins setting. I had shorts and a shirt for inside…

  Nothing I had was good for, just wearing. I’d planned to buy more stuff later, but never had the chance. What with the insane hours I was expected to keep. My entire life revolved around work and sleep…

  I just realized how sad that was…

  Maybe I wouldn’t regret following the strange rabbit that put me here in the first place. I mean, sure, in my old life, I had leisure time, but I never had the chance to properly enjoy it. Now, I could enjoy it, but I had no leisure time…

  Maybe this would fix that little conundrum…

  Only… all I had to wear was one of my suits. Well, whatever. Guess I’m doing that. Also, I grabbed the watch I had taken to wearing ever since Mr. Torres gifted it to me.

  I donned my suit and went out to the balcony.

  “You look a little overdressed, Pyon!”

  “It’s all I had… By the way, where are we going? I know the landlords been locking down the lobby. There’s even a metal shutter lowered over the entryway, and I don’t have a key.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “We jump, Pyon!”

  “Jump…?”

  “Yup, Pyon! You’ll be perfectly fine, Pyon! Your body has now fully assimilated to the city and adapted perfectly, Pyon, Pyon! Which means that your magic is fully active, Pyon! You just need to get control of it, and where I’m bringing you, you’ll be able to use it to your heart’s content, Pyon!”

  I stared at the overactive rabbit. I also felt the odd energy coursing through my veins. The power I could feel. Along with the chilling cold that made the air around me crackle.

  I might have truly lost it… Still, I had nothing else to lose.

  Without hesitation, I stepped up to the ledge and without even bothering to look down, I leapt forward. For a moment, I was hit with weightlessness. The power inside me, in that moment felt so incredibly fleeting.

  My mind quickly caught onto what I did and was screaming at me.

  Why did I do that? How could I so casually throw myself over?

  Yet, those emotions, were muted. As if frozen under a sheet of ice.

  I hit the ground. I could feel my entire body shake on impact, starting from my feet and up my spine. I inhaled, exhaled. A stream of frost leaving my lips.

  I was alright.

  “Wow, Pyon! As expected of an ice user, so decisive, Pyon, Pyon! Now, follow me, and don’t fall behind, Pyon!” And the rabbit, after leaping down beside me, bolted.

  I followed. We ran past familiar streets, through alleys. My mind quickly working out where it was, I was headed. Meanwhile, another part of me was screaming and yelling in terror. It didn’t break past my barriers. All too quickly we arrived at the destination.

  The central subway station. No sooner had I taken the stairs down, the rabbit I was chasing, vanished. In its place, was an entryway filled with people. The gates were all sealed, preventing people from entering the area beyond, the space was lit up and the ticket machines were all off.

  I looked over the crowd, noticing that many of them had already grouped up. There were a mix of men and women both. They also appeared to be in the same age bracket as me, being in their early twenties at best, though... that was more of a guess. I looked them over and considered my options.

  My entry hadn’t gone unnoticed. Quite a few of the people inside were looking at me. Few with pleasant gazes. I ignored the unpleasant gazes and looked over the crowd, until my eyes fell on a particular odd girl in the corner. She was leaning against an underground convenience store window.

  She was fairly normal looking, but her attire was… different. Most of the people here wore rather normal city clothes, with my outfit being a standout. The girl’s attire was similar, but different. Hiking gear, was the best I could put it. Durable pants and shirt. A heavy backpack with a number of items hanging off of it. In her hand, slightly hidden under her crossed arm, was one of those climbing picks.

  She noticed me looking and gave me an appraising glance, and I walked over.

  “Hello.” I started and she looked at me… then looked away.

  I could do better than that. Seeing that she didn’t immediately kick me away, I leaned against the wall near her and continued.

  “I’m guessing you fell down the rabbit hole too?”

  “I’m guessing you’ve heard that as well?” She replied back, and I nodded.

  She sighed. “It’s so annoying! I mean, really, it’s like they take joy out of being uselessly cryptic.”

  “I know, right?” I replied back. “I had two separate people make such a comment and I hated it so much.”

  “Right? I mean, I don’t get why they can’t just say what the hell is going on.”

  “I was told they don’t like us being given guidance. That they like us scrambling in the dark.”

  “They? You mean…” She trails off.

  I shrug. She frowns, but wisely, doesn’t press. Seeing that the conversation died off, I push at a different angle.

  “How’d you even get here? I was driving down a highway in the desert at night, when a white blur scurried across the road. I jerked the wheel and next thing I knew I was outside the city, and my car was totaled, lost everything inside in the process as well. I’m not even sure if they found it or if it’s still on the road in the desert.”

  “You might want to try the police precinct. They have an impound reserved for newcomers.”

  “Really now?”

  “Yeah, I…” She hesitates and looks at me for a moment. She had brown hair, a smattering of freckles adorned her nose. Her eyes though, were piercing green.

  “I was hiking.” She starts. “It was getting late, but I was close to finally getting off the mountain when something launched itself at me. I tripped and… I fell. Next thing I know, I’m in a forest just outside the city. Lost my pack and everything. I was a little distraught, since my hiking supplies were everything to me, so I checked at the police station and, they had it somehow.”

  “Hmm…” I hummed in thought. “That’s good to know, thanks.”

  “No problem.” She gave me one last look before going back to looking over the gathered crowd.

  “I’m Prima by the way.” I said, extending my hand. She glanced back, something flickered in her gaze. She didn’t take my hand but looked at it. That was when I noticed, my hand was covered in frost…

  “Ah… sorry. I can’t seem to control whatever this is.”

  “Its fine.” She said after a slow blink. “I had a hard time too, but you need to focus on your breathing. I noticed pretty quickly; you have to regulate your breathing like you’re climbing.”

  “My breathing?” I questioned and she nodded.

  It couldn’t be that easy… right? Still, I gave it a go. Slow inhale, long, slow exhale. In… Out… I could feel the ice receding. I closed my eyes to better focus. I could feel the ice inside me thinning, loosening and… with… it…

  I fell to my knees gasping. Like I had been underwater this whole time and only now did I breach the surface. Still, I kept breathing. Each breath rattled me as I struggled to keep my cool.

  “Oh, fuck…” I swore.

  “You okay?” Her voice carried a hint of worry.

  “I… shit… yeah, I’ll be okay. Just… whatever this is, it was suppressing my emotions and was just hit with them.”

  She winced. “Ah, yeah, that can’t feel great.”

  “No, it doesn’t… Not just that, its reminding me of very painful memories.”

  I felt like I was back under the ice. Slowly drowning in that icy water. It felt so comforting to cut everything off. To be ice. Now, now that I had pulled myself out. I was gasping to get control of my raging emotions. Every part of my being was screaming out.

  “You need anything?”

  “No… No… I just… Ugh, I really want to hurl…”

  “Please don’t.”

  Her honest rebuttal had me laughing. She backed away a bit. “No, I won’t don’t, don’t worry. I got it. Just…” Another couple sets of breathing. “That’s better.” I then faced her, and I could see something on her face that I didn’t like to see… Concern.

  “Let’s try that again. Name’s Prima.” I offered a hand. She took it this time.

  “Diana.” She replied.

  “Well, Diana, what do you do? I mean, what job did you get into?”

  “Mm, I didn’t qualify for anything, so I was sent into the city women’s shelter. I’ve been doing odd jobs throughout the city for the past month. You?”

  “Working at a company called Taurus.”

  “Ah, so desk job?” She says with a sigh I know all too well.

  “Just about, but the last few weeks I’ve been living and sleeping at the office.”

  “Seriously? Isn’t that illegal?”

  “I wouldn’t know. Laws here might be different, but I’ve been working nearly non-stop the past month.” A little stretch, but…

  “Ah…” She shifts. “I’ll admit. I probably have it easier.”

  “Probably.” We shared a small laugh. We both lapsed into silence.

  “So, what do you think we’re here for?” Diana asks. I open my mouth to respond, when another voice cuts in.

  “You have room for another?” I glance up at the newcomer. She was wearing a sweater, and had a single, long French braid over her shoulder. Her hair was black, and her eyes were black as well. Most notably, were the green vines clinging to her body. That, and the tarnished gold ring on her ring finger.

  We both just stared at her. She flushed under our attention.

  “S-sorry, just, you two looked like you were having fun, and well… everyone else…” I looked out and noticed the groups had formed. We were among one of the few groups that didn’t look closed up.

  I looked over to Diana, our eyes locked. Silently communicating. Eventually she looked away, uninterested. Right.

  “Sure, we’d love to have you. The name’s Prima.” I offered my hand.

  “Ah, what a nice name. I’m Amanda.”

  “Nice to meet you Amanda, and this is Diana.” I continued and introduced Diana. In response Diana gave a lackluster wave before looking away.

  “A pleasure to meet you, Diana.” Amanda said with a full bow.

  “Ditto…” Diana said in a barely audible whisper.

  To keep Amanda occupied, I spoke up. “By the way, how’d you get here? I was in a car accident on a desert highway. Diana was hiking. What about you?”

  “Well… I was out tending my garden when I thought I saw a little rascal of a rabbit nibbling on some of my veggies. I went to go scare off the critter, but next thing I knew, I fell down a hole and here I am!”

  Ah… that… that was a very literal case of falling down a rabbit hole, wasn’t it?

  “Is that so? How about work? I’m working for a company.”

  “Ah… well…” She paused. “I’m working at a florist…”

  Ah… some people get all the luck. Diana appeared to be agreeing with me.

  “Is that so? Where are you staying?”

  “I was given a place, a small apartment.” Probably like my own.

  With that, I opened my mouth to continue keeping her occupied, when the lights suddenly dimmed. The Subway entrance shutters slammed shut with a loud crack. And in that darkness, a voice rang out.

  “WELCOME! WELCOME! WELCOME!!! TO YOUR VERY FIRST EVENT!!! BAA~ BAA~ BAA~!!!”