• It was just before 2 'o' clock in the afternoon of an autumn day. Nobles, beggars, and everyone in between were stood afoot the mahogany stage.
    "When is it starting?" A housewife whispered.
    "It won't be long now." Her husband retorted. "Besides, it's supposed to be important isn't it?"
    Suddenly, the bell tower struck.
    Once.
    Twice.
    And as if on cue, she entered. Her two light blue braids fell over her pale face, and her violet eyes sparkled in the dim sunlight. However the awe aspiring aura around this ice beauty became almost non existent, when her father entered. He shared his daughters features, but with a far more intimidating look in his eyes and an all round sharper face. The man raised his hands, and silence befell the crowd. He looked to the girl, and she stepped up to the podium.
    "Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for attending." The daughters voice wavered, and her father heard it. He gently put a hand on her shoulder, but his eyes were still as piecing as a dagger.
    "Today, I bring you alarming news. As you may know, last week our beloved shopkeeper Rhonda was murdered in the comfort of her own store."
    The girl bowed her head in mourning, then promptly raised it.
    "We have recently discovered that 5 more citizens have been murdered."
    The atmosphere became more tense, and members of the crowd gasped and shrieked in response. A few blocks away from the commotion, a brown haired boy was sleeping on a rusty garage roof. His goggles had fell from his head onto his neck, and his gloves were coated in oil (as with he rest of his clothes). Hearing, the racket, the boy jumped from this post and ran to the source.
    "But, I can assure you..." The pale skinned girl continued her speech, after the crowd has calmed. "We are doing all we can to catch this barbaric person. So far, we have deducted that the murder is still in our town of Rutubaga. We ask for your full co-operation in these times of need." And with that, the girl bowed and exited the stage along with her father.
    "That was excellent, Merui." The father praised. "You'll make a fine leader in my stead in day."
    "Thank you father. I just can't believe how many people have fallen at the hands of this butcher".
    "I know. But when we find his identity, we won't hesitate to punish him severely." Merui's father placed his hand on her back, and ushered her away from the mass of people in commotion over what they just heard.
    Meanwhile, the oil stained boy was leaning against a post near the stage. He seemed somewhat amused at the crowds feeble attempts at blaming each other for the murders.
    "Oh Lucas, you've really outdone yourself this time." The boy smiled to himself. Lucas pulled out a picture of Merui from his pocket and smiled.
    "I'm sorry to have hurt you princess, but maybe now I'll have gotten your attention at last." And before he could be noticed, Lucas slipped away before anyone could process his presence.