Winter’s first snowfall coated a large estate, a middle-aged man shivering slightly while blowing into his red hands before reequipping a pair of green gardening gloves.


    Tending to the Holton estate’s garden was no easy task. That’s why there was a whole team of gardeners that were constantly on rotation, five of them in total.


    Trimming the edges of a large snow-covered hedge, Evan thought back to the commotion that he had seen just earlier today.


    <hr>


    In order to start his long day of work, Evan first has to reach the gardening hall, where equipment was stored, located at the back of the mansion.


    Now, usually he would take the long trip of circling around the estate to enter the gardening hall through the back door, but today was different.


    “By the gods, it’s cold!” He sighed inwardly, quickly deciding to walk through the mansion rather than brave the cold outside.


    Scanning his badge in front of the large metallic gates, the Holton’s family name engraved in bold letters atop the monstrously large barrier, he slowly shuffled towards the doors of the mansion before entering.


    Letting out a sigh of relief as he entered the heated building, Evan made quick work of navigating through the mansion, using every shortcut and secret passage he knew to traverse throughout the mansion.


    Getting to work late was heavily frowned upon, and considering that he was currently five minutes behind his usual schedule, Evan kicked it up another gear until he heard a familiar voice, one that he had yet to hear using such a distressed tone.


    Backing up towards the area where he had just scuttled past, Evan slowly crouched down and moved his eye closer to the keyhole of the mahogany door.


    “Where is that girl, for God sakes?” A feminine voice shrilly croaked, a loud sigh erupting from another larger person, the female pacing back and forth within the wide room.


    Searching his mind, Evan realised that this room was the owner of the estate’s study, Mr. Holton.


    Green orbs peered towards the woman who frantically jostled about in front of him, a hand stroking his black beard as he thought about how to calm the woman down.


    “Anastacia dear… Lea… That girl has always been a rebel. This latest... stunt... of hers is just a fruitless threat towards us in order to barter more freedom.” He coolly summed up, his fingers harmonically drumming against his black-oak desk.


    The tall black-haired woman paused in place, lifting up a delicate and slender hand up towards her flawless countenance before sitting down on a comfortable chair, gold embroidered into the edges of the seat.


    “But Andrew! It has been two whole weeks since she was last seen! The last time she tried to do something like this, she only lasted three days!” The woman distressfully pointed out.


    Andrew let out a heavy hum in agreement, pausing to ponder over their next actions before speaking with his usual stable tone.


    “Alright. If you are worried about the girl so much, then we shall hire a private investigator. I knew of just the right person. She’ll be back within our grasp very soon.”


    A graceful smile bloomed upon Anastacia’s face as she slowly danced her way over to the refined man.


    Putting both her hands upon his well-built shoulders, a small giggle fell from her mouth before she spoke once again.


    “Good. Very good. I knew I could rely on you to solve the problem, my dear Andrew! With her, we’ll always live in great comfort!”


    The tall woman seductively winked at the black-haired man, leaning in for a kiss as Evan threw himself away from the door’s keyhole.


    “Nope, nope, nope, nope, I ain’ seen nothin,” He inwardly screamed, scuttling away towards the gardening hall.


    Evan craned his neck as he groomed a round-shaped piece of shrubbery, pondering to himself over the meaning of his employer’s words.


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    “I’d heard about the missing person report they filled for the young lady, but why are they hiring a private investigator? They said something about her running away before...”


    A frown enveloped his worn face, wrinkles starting to form as the years went by.


    “Best to stop thinking bout it. Nothin but trouble to be had.”


    <hr>


    Warmth radiated from a small coffee shop located on a quiet high street. A small layer of snow coated the whole area, turning the red hare that was the shop’s mascot into a white one.


    A small girl with long orange hip-length hair moved from table to table with drinks upon a tray she was holding, a brown apron covering the white T-shirt that she wore to work from getting dirt.


    Chloe had always liked working in the Red Hare. It was a quaint establishment, surviving due to its uniquely brewed coffee and friendly employees.


    The workload was also quite manageable, something the orange-haired girl had always appreciated. Back when she had always feared returning to that ghastly apartment, working here was always a good way to escape from reality and earn the money to feed herself.


    A loud ring erupted from the front of the store, prompting Chloe’s orb to make its way over to see who had come inside.


    Seeing a familiar figure, a large smile grew upon her countenance as she greeted the boy.


    “Looking good today, Aaron!” She teased, giggling at his incredibly stiff posture.


    The boy who had his black hair slicked back, a red tie complementing the black suit he wore, grimaced slightly as he let out a tired sigh.


    Slumping down into a chair, he loosened his overly tightened tie and groaned out, “Chloooo... I’m so exhausted! It was so scary!”


    Aaron had been applying to a few jobs here and there in order to make some spare change, but for some reason thought that he had to wear a suit and tie for every interview he had.


    “Not that I’m going to complain... I mean... He does look good in suits…” Chloe inwardly thought, moving over to his table.


    “So what’ll it be today? Feeling adventurous, or do you want to go for the usual?”


    Aaron’s expression grew stiff, as if he were putting a strenuous amount of thought into his next words.


    Letting out a small sigh, he resigned himself from his thoughts and mumbled, “Gimmie whatever you recommend, Chlo.”


    Chloe let out a small, satisfied hum, patting his black hair before walking over to the drink-making station and whipping something up.


    Aaron watched her small figure making some sort of drink as he thought back over recent events.


    One of them in particular hung heavy within his mind.


    Something bad had happened to Lea.


    And he didn’t know what.


    Two weeks ago, he had lost contact with her and never heard back from her since.


    Her family had released a missing person report to the police, alongside a generous donation, but the girl had yet to be found.


    Aaron found it hard to believe the girl would just up and disappear without telling him and Chloe first, which left only one other likely possibility.


    Something bad had happened to Lea.


    Lost in his own world, Aaron failed to notice another employee walking up beside him and softly tapping his shoulder.


    The employee had short blonde hair and two delicate silver earrings combined with a metallic eyebrow piecing adorning her features.


    Her cheeks were a mellow shade of sakura, lips a deep crimson, making them pop out from her other features.


    She wore a cosy-looking rouge turtleneck serving as the backdrop for the golden necklace that loosely hung around her nape, two black metallic bracelets jingling upon her right wrist.


    A pair of dark black jeans clung to her frame, white converses completing her look as she leaned forward to enter Aaron’s vision and break him from the trance he was stuck in.


    Pushing back a few strands of blonde hair, she swooped into the chair opposite the emerald-orbed boy, friendly winking at the boy opposite her.


    “Hello, I’m one of Chloe’s co-workers, Ella! I’ve got a bit of an embarrassing question to ask, but would you go on a date with me? You’re really my type~! I’ve seen you come to visit Chloe sometimes, but it doesn’t exactly look like you two are dating to me,” The blonde cheerfully enquired, a large smile blooming upon her face as she finished her sentence.


    Aaron dully looked towards the vibrant girl that sat opposite him, unable to process what had happened.


    Seemingly stunned by the girl’s forwardness, Aaron’s cheeks slowly began to grow warm, his eyes lowering towards his lap while he wondered how to reply.


    But then he remembered what he was just thinking about.


    Lea.


    And her sudden absence from his life.


    Equipping a small smile, he spoke with a calm tone, “I’m sorry, I’m currently in a relationship. She’s the only one for me.”


    Seemingly a bit disheartened from his response, Ella’s smile remained constant as she let out a small sigh.


    “Ah well, at least I can say that I tried. Well, if you ever find yourself in a position where that changes, my offer will still stand.


    During the time in which the blonde had hit on Aaron, Chloe had been solemnly staring at the two, her eyes bearing a great deal of distaste for her stylish co-worker.


    “He’s in a relationship, apparently. Seems like Lea’s the only one for him.” Nathanial snickered, peering towards the small girl’s expression with intrigue as to what he would see.


    But what he saw was far from what he had expected.


    A tranquil expression had been haphazardly splayed across Chloe’s countenance as her mind darkly brooded.


    “I thought you’d never leave me again, Aaron? Lea’s gone now. She doesn’t matter anymore. Why won’t you understand such a... such a... simple fact?”


    Chloe’s eyes peered over to Ella’s figure, her teeth grinding at her audacity.


    “As you are... I can’t make you mine... That’s fine… That’s ok… I’ll just need to change you... and her… I’ll have to deal with her... That slut…”