I often wonder whether there are any magical ‘myths’ in this world. Do faeries truly exist but only children can see them? Or what if mermaids really did live at the bottom of the sea, in underwater kingdoms? Do deities exist? Is it that little old lady across the street really a witch?

I think I like the idea of this world hiding some form of magic behind its grey walls, out of reach of the poisonous fingers of us humans. A utopia untouched by the grey reality of humans, untouched by the corrupted, full of colour and peace...a safe haven for the broken.
...
Then I remember it exists...but only in my mind

Teddy twitched in his sleep, his eyelids flickering as long lashes withdrew from his cheeks, emerald green eyes peering up at a strange ceiling...That isn’t my ceiling...Why is everything so blurry? His vision had a foggy edge to it, as he concentrated on the ceiling trying to calm the confusion in his mind, his head was thumping. He blinked slowly trying to focus as he lifted himself up onto his elbows, his eyes trying to adjust to the low light as blurry shapes met his gaze he felt himself squint trying to see clearer. It was about this time it clicked that he wasn’t wearing his glasses..."Argh...what happened?" He groaned, pressing his palm against his temple his fingers lacing through his chocolate brown fringe as he sat up currently unaware of where he was or what was going on. What am I doing here? He queried, trying to make sense of the confusion in his own mind.

He was in that abandoned house, the one that he walked past when he went to the general store. The one he’d been devising a spooky back story for, its broken down appearance had held his curiosity for quite some time though he was rather surprised he’d actually breached its walls and surrendered to his curiosity. He lifted his other hand to his head grimacing at the idea of trying to find his glasses...why had he been unconscious? It was then he noticed a figure not far from him, memories pushing their way to the front of his mind. There had been a girl...holding a camera? He couldn’t remember! She had been attacked by a man and he of all people had valiantly saved her...he peered around trying to find the mysterious girl for confirmation of these peculiar memories, he wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d imagined the whole ordeal

Emi sat, wide eyed and... not alone? She blinked as she looked around, the familiarity of the run down building around her jogging her memories. She'd been coming in here to take pictures but had gotten attacked by the homeless man that had lived there, unknown to her. All in all, the whole thing was her fault. She shouldn't have gone snooping around. It was always like that for her.

I see the world through a camera lens and I never feel like I'm actually in it.

Large brown eyes blinked as the looked around, down at the man who had saved her. He was still passed out in front of her, his arms sprawled out in an odd way. She had to hope he was okay. She pulled out her phone to try and dial 911 but it was dead, broken in her struggle against the hobo. She stood up and paced around a bit, trying to figure out what to do. That was she noticed something glint in the corner of the room. She would have just passed it off as just another piece of broken glass but something about it told her differently.

She walked over and picked up a pair of pretty scratched up glasses. They weren't broken, but they probably weren't much help anymore. They must belong to that man. She turned to look at him and kind of jumped in surprise when she noticed him moving around, rather blindly.

I didn't even hear him wake up...

She walked over cautiously and knelt down next to the man. "It's okay. It's me, the girl you saved? I... found your glasses but..." She began holding the glass up to him. "...I'm not sure you can use them much anymore." She was bent down, looking over him, her hair falling over her face as she watched him with a worried expression.

Teddy heard movement close by, turning his head towards it he saw outline of a person moving towards him when they knelt beside him he could see it was in fact a girl as she lent over him he could see her she had long brown hair that fell to and beyond her shoulders with wide innocent chocolate eyes without his glasses the picture was blurred and he couldn’t acutely take her appearance in, she looked completely surreal to him. Oh my, I think I’ve actually progressed to full on hallucinations He thought with a mental sigh, though his eyebrow hitched up as she spoke. Wait a minute... He lifted his hands towards the blurry image of his glasses as she held them up for him to see, he took them gently from her his fingertips brushing against hers.

...I’m not dreaming Teddy wasn’t sure whether this thought petrified him or pleased him. “Thank you” He murmured, pulling the sleek lenses towards his face he peered through the damaged glass audibly sighing at the damage as he slid them back into place. He could still barely see out of them...at least he could see a little better than before, his emerald green eyes focused back on the girl hovering over him able to take in her marginally clearer appearance. “Oh dear...this could quite possibly be a disaster” He stated, shuffling his glasses on his face. “I’m going to have to crawl home, at least that way I’ll be able to avoid the lamp posts” He continued on with a small grimace.

As if being physically hit by realization he suddenly jolted backwards just enough that he could sit upright whilst still facing her. “I’m so sorry! A-are you ok? I should have asked that first! He didn’t hurt you did he?” He stumbled over his words, his expression creasing with concern as he tried to focus on her. “I can call for an ambulance if you are” He offered patting his pockets down and pulling his phone from his pocket, the thin touch screen was broken and the phone itself looked well and truly smooshed. “...Or not” He backtracked glumly, dropping the useless technology he turned his attention back to her trying to check her over but whilst keeping his distance.

A small smile formed on her face at his words. Slowly, she shook her head. "No, I'm fine. I'm a tough girl anyway." She told him, her smile warm and calming. She chuckled when he pulled out his phone only to find it broken. "Mine's dead too. Though, not damaged... just dead. My charge is at my house too. I kind of... walked here." She explained, motioning toward her back-pack nearby. It had all of her camera supplies and a few drawing supplies. "I was planning on making a painting of this place later on but... I don't know. I guess I've learned my lesson now. No going in to strange abandoned houses, huh?" She asked, laughing a bit.

"What about you?" She asked, holding out her hand to help him up. "Are you okay? I mean, you fended him off for me. You took most of the blows..." She continued, looking at him with warm, worried eyes.

I'd feel so bad if he got hurt for me...

"I'd even be willing to pay for you to get another phone. I mean, I owe you my life." She told him, wringing her hands after she helped him up.

Not sure I could get him the same exact phone though... With my salary? The book store doesn't pay much.

"I'm Emi, by the way. You are?" She introduced herself and held out her hand for him to shake.

Teddy looked visibly relieved when she confirmed she wasn’t hurt, he tilted his head as he realized she was smiling at him in a warm manner. He blinked as he heard her chuckle, puffing his cheeks out in exasperation as she mentioned her own phone was dead, he turned his head in the direction she motioned squinting at the shape she had indicated, possibly a bag of some kind...Walked here? So she lives close by... His attention was pulled back to her as she continued talking, mentioning painting which piqued his interest, he felt his mouth curve up into a smile as his brow creased in a thoughtful manner achieving a perplexed yet amused expression. “Perhaps, or maybe no going into strange abandoned houses unless accompanied by a valiant knight” He pointed out to her with a small smile, though he couldn’t bring warmth to his smile as much as he wanted to.

Valiant knight? Why didn’t you just say ‘person’ “...person even” He changed his mind, before clearing his throat. “So are you a painter then?” He asked curiously, listening to her question he took the hand offered to him thankful for the assistance, he was about 5'9 in height so he probably didn’t tower over her as he got to his feet. The movement however made his head spin dangerously he stumbled back a few steps slamming a hand down onto a cabinet as he waited for the room to stop spinning as he focused back onto her.

He frowned at her trying to understand why she was so concerned for his well being. She’s being so kind...am I sure I’m not hallucinating? He queried, he was still pretty blind at the moment with his scuffed up glasses so he very well could be he put a hand to his stomach grimacing as he stretched now she mentioned it he did feel a bit sore. “I think I’m okay, might have taken a knock to the head...but I doubt its serious” He answered her. “Thank you for your concern though” He quickly added.

That’s it, manners Theodore! Why would a hallucination care about manners? He pushed the mad thoughts aside, he was sure again that she wasn’t a hallucination as he had touched her hand and she’d helped him to his feet. He looked at her blankly for a second as she mentioned paying for a new phone, what was wrong with the one he had? It took him a moment to catch up with her. “Oh! No, no that won’t be necessary I think it was insured anyway for just an occasion...I wrote it in myself, ‘To be replaced in the likely event that I save a beautiful damsel from an angry homeless man and break my phone in process’ I put it in the small print” He tried to make light of the situation noticing her wring her hands in a worried fashion despite his effort it was probably painfully obvious he wasn’t used to socializing.

He smiled at her as she introduced herself. Emi? Peculiar name...I like it. Emi the fearless pirate captain of the Ruby Ravine, Emi and the knights of Kalar, Lady Emi of...damn it Theodore focus! He realized he’d taken her hand and shook it but having slid off into his own mind he was still looking at her with a smile on his face and holding her hand at least 30 seconds longer than was necessary. “Sorry!” He apologized releasing her hand and retracting his own. “I’m Theodore, Teddy for short” He smiled at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Emi” He extended his arm to the side bowing courteously to her though the movement made the room spin a second time causing him to clutch the cabinet he was stood next to.

“Oh...that is not good...I’m definitely crawling home” He murmured as he swayed for a moment longer. “In normal circumstances I would offer to walk you home, all in the name of chivalry” He smiled at her. “But...I find myself in a very awkward situation where I must ask if you would be able to help me” He murmured, his cheeks tinting a pale pink color he looked genuinely pained to be asking this of her. “I can barely see and every time I move I feel like I’m on Captain Swashbuckle’s boat” He added in explanation for his rude request.

“Perhaps, or maybe no going into strange abandoned houses unless accompanied by a valiant knight” He pointed out to her with a small smile. Emi chuckled and nodded her head. Indeed, a valiant knight. “...person even” He added quickly, procuring a puff of Emi's cheeks. She'd rather he be her valiant knight. The thought of it gave her ideas to draw.

“So are you a painter then?” He asked curiously. She paused for a moment before looking up at him with another warm smile.

"Painter... Photographer... Sculptor... Let's just say I'm an artist." She told him, a wide smile forming on her face, a playful expression. She watched as he stood, standing a few inches above her. She was 5'4 so he was quite a bit taller than her. She put out her hands as he started to wobble, his balance shaky at best. She watched him with worried eyes as he told her he was okay and thanked her.

"I'll take you back to my house and look at you. I think you might be bleeding..." She told him, looking at a cut on his forehead.

In response to her question about his phone, he replied, “Oh! No, no that won’t be necessary I think it was insured anyway for just an occasion...I wrote it in myself, ‘To be replaced in the likely event that I save a beautiful damsel from an angry homeless man and break my phone in process’ I put it in the small print”

A small chuckle again escaped the brunette's lips. He was interesting and... worth keeping around. Well, that was what she felt anyway. More than not, she made the wrong choices but something about this... She didn't care if it was a mistake, it was a mistake she was willing to risk. After all, what was wrong with wanting to be around someone that made you smile for once in your life? It'd been so long since anyone other than her mother had been able to put a smile on her face.

“I’m Theodore, Teddy for short” He smiled at her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Emi." With this, he made a small curtsy that only made him worse as he clutched at the desk. Again, another giggle from Emi's mouth.

"That's a cute name, Teddy. I like it." She told him, her voice soft and melodic. "If you give me a moment, I'll get my stuff and take you to my house. If I remember correctly, I may have something that could fix your glasses at least for the time being." She told him, watching him for a response. She chuckled at his words. She could tell he had a way with them and that he cared for words deeply, in the same way that she might care for a beautiful and once in a life time sunset. She saw every sunset as priceless because you'd never see the same one twice and if you weren't looking for it, you'd miss it. Maybe this was a sunset... Something she just needed to enjoy...

Teddy noticed her puff out her cheeks but he wasn’t sure which comment had warranted that reaction, he felt slightly awkward as she paused after his question. I can’t be that bad at this can I? He wondered, it had been a while since he’d spoken to anyone except from Calvin. He blinked at her as she smiled at him again, he had to squint to see her properly but he felt his mouth twitch up into a smile as her smile grew. “Wow, you’re just brimming with talent” He attempted a compliment feeling it was well placed.

He could imagine it now, Emi on a safari ride camera in hand capturing the essence of the animals around them whilst he drove them through the dangerous terrain. Perhaps they’d come across a local tribe in need of assistance? A remarkably talented sculptor is needed to repair one of their statues and she’s the only one that could help...

Teddy had completely blanked out there, he hadn’t realized her hands poised and ready to help him should he take a tumble, he didn’t notice the worry in her eyes. That smile returned to his face with ease as she chuckled again he was rather surprised that he automatically liked her laugh, especially as she giggled at his shameful attempt to be a proper gentleman. He felt his cheeks warm up as she told him his name was cute with her soft melodic voice, the smile on his face grew at her kindness.

He was about to say something else when his brain locked onto something she had actually mentioned earlier. “I’m bleeding?” He backtracked lifting a hand to his face lifting his fingertips to his forehead, hissing as he jabbed the cut retracting his fingers he peered at the red liquid clinging to his fingertips. “Ah...well...” Teddy murmured. “That would be most appreciated Miss Emi” He thanked her prematurely. “If you wouldn’t mind guiding me, the least I could do is carry your things” He offered apparently not overly concerned about the warm wetness ebbing down his forehead and far more concerned about being a gentleman as he moved over to the door, subtly using every surface he could find to guide him, his feet proving to be very effective at locating broken floorboards as he moved. “Emi...if you don’t mind me asking, why were you in here?” Teddy asked as he tugged on the rotting front door, tugging it open and holding it there as he waited for her.

She nodded to him and ran over to grab her things. It was a small pastel blue book bag that held a good deal of her art supplies. It wasn't too heavy just... heavy. She lifted it with ease and walked over to Teddy to hand it to him.

“Emi...if you don’t mind me asking, why were you in here?” He asked as they walked out the door. She blinked for a moment and then turned to look at him as they walked.

"Well... I can't help but find this place interesting. It inspires a lot of stories in my head. I love history and art. I like hearing stories and I often find myself daydreaming. I guess that place just called to me. I'm sure there's some story behind that building that no one knows and that's what makes it such an interesting place. It's so mysterious... I just had to capture it's grandeur on film and paint it later. It would look really good as a water color..." She explained. Most of it towards the end was her rambling to herself but for some reason, she felt no reason to hold back. As if she'd already known this person long before now and she knew she could trust him with her mind. Then again, maybe it was just because she liked to hear herself speak.

"What about you, Teddy? Why here?" She asked him, a small smile on her face as they made their way to her home. It wasn't too far, but it was a bit of a walk. A least two or three miles.