July 15th 8:52 PM:

That awful sense of nostalgia raveled me when the car rolled to a stop in front of the gloomy, old house. How did the time seem so long yet be so short? In retrospect, it had not been a full month since I have known Vio... But, then again... it was still summer. Autumn had its ways to go... ways to cease summer.

I shifted the car to park and leaned over towards the steering wheel to peer over Zelda's shoulder, and there it was: the familiar, ominous house I have known for so, so long. As I have only seen the front because... the backyard hardly existed, it was the same one-story house. Most notably of the front that mesmerized me was the brick porch, its golden, outdoor light attached to the wall, and the green... green plant that hugged. It was not long ago when Vio, my friend, was standing there.

"Are you not worried?" Zelda popped suddenly.

I blinked and turned to her. "What?" My head fell to tilt—genuinely concerned. "About what...?"

"Well..." Her eyebrows jumped, rolling her sapphires. "Doing this. Helping Shadow? Trusting him? I mean... he could just be trying to play you as a fool, Link."

I sighed and began to round my hands on the steering wheel to keep my composure. "I've never trusted Shadow. I will never trust him. I know to... not... but, I am aware that this is all... very not in my control."

She scoffed. "But, agreeing to do this... you're allowing yourself to give in to..."

I interrupted. "This is the only way to get Dark back, Zelda. If Dark is just in... some other world... 'some other dimension', we HAVE to do this! We need supernatural assistance, and since Vio is a liar and completely out of his mind..." I stopped myself and stole my breath back. I have no choice.... Either I die by the hands of Vaati, or I listen to Shadow... What choice did I have?

I watched as a smirk tugged at her as she began to speak, reeling in my eyes. "But, despite what you saw... I mean, seeing Dark go into a portal... what if Vio is right—"

"No..." I jutted, shaking my head to change the subject in my mind. Definitely not. "He is completely wrong. All he is is a manipulative liar. I mean... he tried to make me look crazy. He tried to MANIPULATE me into thinking that Dark was never at the wedding. He tried to PROVE to me that seeing Dark zap himself away with a portal was a hallucination because in my crazed mind, I imagined Dark because I was shot... I mean, sometimes I wonder how manipulative he is to RAY! Vio preys on the weak, Zelda! This is completely justified." I shook my head again and sighed. "I know what I saw... Vio is just... he's paranoid. He saw it, too..." He WAS there... He was there... there to stop ME from stopping Dark.

"Well, I..." She froze, releasing her tense breath through her nose. "I believe you... I mean... after what you told me you saw, and what Shadow said... I believe you are telling the truth. You told me this a few times, and it seems to be true... But... could Dark have really gone to another dimension? What if he just... 'teleported'? Maybe Shadow is wrong... and Vio is just..."

My lips firmed in frustration. How many times, Zelda? "No... That's not right... I've seen this before... The portal. I've seen Dark use these portals before." I unbuckled my seatbelt. "Dark can't teleport like Vaati... Dark just..." I groaned and massaged my head to its ache. "It doesn't make sense... That's why we have to do this tonight. Do this tonight and help Shadow." I put my words to a close and jumped out of the car. I already wanted to dismiss the conversation. This had to be done tonight. This should not have been a conversation. Coming to Vio's house as a need was a matter of fact... It was necessary... But, she still questioned it... Why?

Although, once I opened the backseat door to get my drawstring bag, Zelda's voice sprung up. "But, you're still agitated by something. The whole drive here... you've been agitated. Are you worried? Is it your arm? I mean, you got out of the hospital just yesterday... are you sure you want to do this today...?"

My expression weakened, freezing me as I grasped her words. I thought for a moment, but I shook my head numbly as soon as possible. No... "Dark has been gone for a week... It's been a week... It's been a week since he shot me, but it's fine... It's..." I swallowed... I swallowed the pain and clutched the drawstring, closing the backseat door with it. "The only thing I'm worried about right now... at this moment... is Vio." I assured to her and to myself.

Zelda checked her nails and leaned back in the passenger seat. "What's there to be afraid of, then? You shouldn't run into him when you go in there. Avoid him."

I glowered towards her, firming my lips with a frown. "Yeah... That's the part. Avoid him." I rolled my eyes with a rough sigh. "One thing I've learned about Vio is that... he's meticulous. He takes extensive notes and makes a plan, and when he's paranoid about something... he's stronger and sharper with his intents... Whether that being mental or physical." I bobbed my head and slung the drawstring on my back. "I've experienced his strength a few ways... Especially his physical strength... He's part of the reason why I wasn't able to prevent Dark from leaving... Vio literally held me back... and... I know he drugged me."

She turned her head, viewing me over her shoulder. "So? You know what he is capable of. Surely you can control him if you have to. Not manipulate, but handle him... Like with Dark." Her head rolled back to the house for her eyes to scope it once more. "You know Dark's moody patterns... and compared to Vio... Vio is more down-to-earth." Her sapphires gravitated back to me. "You learned and communicated with Vio one way or another. I think you have nothing to fear." Before she stared too long, however, her attention transitioned back to her nails. "Besides, you shouldn't take too long."

I sighed to release my tension and gave into her words a bit, dropping my shoulders. I can communicate with Vio. Vio understands... But, he's a little... little... I felt drained... Drained of power... restricted of what I used to be capable of. I took a deep breath and clenched my teeth. I tried to change my wave of thought. "But, when I go in... keep track of time... It shouldn't take long, but... if I'm in there for too long..."

A small smile peeped on her. "I'll give you thirty minutes... If you're not here in thirty minutes..." Her smile pursed, and her fingers twiddled. "I'll go in—"

"No, you're not." I insisted, sharpening my gaze as I met her sudden eyes. "You're driving away. I won't let you."

Her forehead wrinkled to her brows, and her disgust unveiled. "But, Link...!"

Her exclamation skidded. "No! Definitely not! Besides, I don't want violence... I mean, if you're worried... the worse he'll probably do is drug me."

She scoffed, and her sapphires seared. "Yes, drug you... Hurt you while you're unconscious, or overdose and kill you! And, if you don't show up in thirty minutes... you're dealing with him, or—"

No more... I twitched and threw the car door to a close, shutting her voice behind it. My anger boiled inside me—marking a deep crevasse on my face—but as I walked to the other side of the car... I tried to redeem it and simmer it. I can't. I can't. The house stood in front of me like a threat. A house attached to the other houses... all the same... but this one—indifferent. The street was tamed by the menacing shadow and vibe of the house. The entity, the will of the house... posed by a madman full of delusions. Tangles of stress it evoked... How could I, Zelda? I know... I know... He will try to kill me... I've seen his will... But, you... you're so... I have to... I have to... because Vaati... Vaati will kill me. I promised... I would... deal with this on my own...

Her car door flew open, and out she came, stepping foot on the street. "Link...! I'm serious... I mean... you can't...! Listen to me... you can't do this all alone even if..."

I dropped my gaze, plunging my head toward the ground. Vio has always been this way... I've seen it... since the day we "met"... "Thirty minutes. It shouldn't take long, but... if it's been more than thirty minutes... leave." I massaged my hand and swallowed my pride. I do want your help, but... Vio... he's... Since the day I have met Vio... Ever since he offered his help... when he stood there on that porch... Something was always wrong... Something always had him on edge, and it might have been plucked by Dark.

I turned to face her, but instead of wild anger plastered on her, her eyes were wide of anxiety, fear... Her lips—parted—not sure what to say. She searched her words in those sapphire eyes—scrambling—but nothing played the part. All I could do was look away. There was... I had to... I had to go...

I... My mind slipped. "I'm sorry... I..."

How could Vio know more about me?

My eyes glazed. "I promise... Just... listen... If I'm not back here, leave, call Malon, and—"

"No..." She shook her head, removing her glass eyes from me—stomping them to the ground.

My lips firmed. "No?" I repeated openly.

How could he know more about me when I know very little on "who" he is? Why does he keep that hidden from me?

She could not hide it. Her breath heaved, and a sniffle came. "I... I didn't tell my parents about you... about... us. Not entirely, but..."

My eyes transfixed. "What? Well... I..." My thoughts pulled but became jumbled. "I thought..."

She stirred once more, though. "I still have so many questions, Link... Questions I want to ask you, so if you..." She tried to chuckle it out, but it hiccupped. "So, I..."

I sighed, dropping my gaze to stare at the ground. I can't. What was there to reason? What was there to justify? I have to... I have to... today. Today is the only day... And, it has to be me. I have to be the one... the one...

I took a deep breath and met her glistening eyes. "Fifteen minutes. It will take me fifteen minutes. I promise you!"

Fifteen minutes. I promise. I promise it will only take fifteen minutes. You will see, Vio. You will see... you were wrong. Completely wrong. For you to even prejudge Dark's powers... for you to lie... to present something false to me... How could anyone believe you? You cherish everything. You know everything, don't you?

Those red stones have enabled you to last so long. You believe in the power, but you won't believe me? This is justified. Justified on the accords on how you have treated me.

If Vaati is going to kill me... If Vio... if you leave me no choice and refuse to help me, I am done. Shadow is less than a coward than you are.

And, out from her behind her, she revealed the concealed weapon. A pistol gripped tightly in her hands... presented clearly to me, collecting my eyes... She meant something more... and as of more... ...

No...