Sun shone around the room, bright and beautiful. The rays bounced through the crystal figurine hanging small and delicate from the window above the bed. Little rainbows danced around in time with the crystal dancers, mirroring their steps like little nymphs prancing all over the buttery yellow of the walls. No clothes lay on the pale wooden floor, the closet door shut tightly against the various articles of clothing, shoes, purses and a tiny wooden box, hidden in the back of a closet, known to no one but the one who slept in this room.

On the small oaken desk tucked neatly into the corner, a pink laptop lay closed, papers neatly stacked in a binder beside it, the chair of the same wood tucked neatly under the desk, just waiting for the rooms occupant to sit down and open the computer. Start to type and get lost in a world of her own making. Not just the chair, but the whole room...from the fuzzy bunny slippers to the slightly scruffy cloth backpack, the knee high boots patiently waiting neatly by the door to the curled leather whip and ring of silver and golden Celestial keys...the whole of the room waited for it's blonde mistress to rise and greet the new day.

The pink blankets flipped back to reveal white sheets with a pattern of hearts, mussed and twisted from the still half – asleep blonde woman lying in the bed. Still groggy with sleep, Lucy Heartfillia rose and stretched, a slight smile on her lips. As she gathered her outfit for the day – jean capri pants and a light blue t-shirt – the blonde made her way to the bathroom to shower for the day. Leaving the tap to run for a little bit, getting warm, she worked her way over to her closet and slid the door open. Reaching up and grabbing the little box only she knew about, the blonde teen sat on the floor of her closet and opened it carefully.

Inside this small box made of driftwood, was her most prized possessions minus her Celestial keys. At the very top of the small pile was a photo of Lucy as a child, still very young. She was standing between her mother and father, holding each of their hands, a huge grin on her face. Looking up from the picture into the mirror, for a moment Lucy could have sworn it was her mother looking back at her, once again alive, if only in memory. The moment passed all to quickly and she was met with her own saddened brown eyes, still hazy with sleep.

With a sigh, she set the picture safely aside, removing now a tiny piece of notebook paper. The second of the only two objects she kept in this box. Looking down at the two words written on the paper, the familiar confusion, fear, joy and anticipation washed over her. How she came to be in possession of this scrap of paper, now worn smooth by her gentle hands lovingly looking at it each morning, was a secret known only to her. If Lucy had a choice, it would be that way – forever. This was what some people would call a 'dark secret'. One she hoped to hold dear and cherish for the rest of her life, however long that may be. The scrap of paper with the two little words came into her possession over a year ago...the first time she had run away from home...

It was over a year ago, to the day she remembered. Her father, Jude Heartfillia, had come home from yet another failed business meeting completely wasted and beyond angry. It was Lucy's birthday that day and she'd made a special dinner – her once favourite meal – Onigiri with steamed vegetables and shrimp. When her dad came in, the first place he went to was the couch, tossing his coat aside and sipping the scotch and water he'd poured himself. Lucy usually gave her father time to cool down and relax to unwind after a hard day.

Today though, she was so excited she'd burst in the room and tossing herself on the couch beside her dad, wrapped her arms around him. Before she could so much as say a word, she was roughly pushed off of him and onto the floor. Heat flooded her face, her limbs numb as she stared up at her father. Lucy couldn't believe what had just happened. Her father had just...hit her? Disbelieving and still a little shocked, Lucy sat beside her father on the couch again. Just as she was about to speak, her father's hands reached out and gripped her upper arms, squeezing so hard it would leave bruises. Wincing at the pain, she tried to wriggle free, only to have her father toss her to the floor again. This time, so surprised, Lucy stayed where she was, shivering.

Never before had her father hit or handled her like this. More often then not, he would be gentle with her. Hugging her, kissing her cheek, scruffing her hair good naturedly. Always he would tell her how much she looked beautiful, just like her deceased mother. Hearing those words brought so much joy to her, so much happiness, often times she felt like she was so full of joy and love, she could burst! But not today...today, on her birthday, she'd gotten the worst present of all. Scratches and bruises left in places people would not see. That day and every "bad day" after her father had, she would be given her "gift". Scrapes and bruises, hidden from all the world...

After her father had gone to bed, Lucy was so afraid to make a sound, she sat there for over an hour just crying. Content to sit still, she curled in on herself, trying to make herself smaller and smaller. Like a jolt of lightening, the urge to move hit her. She mad to move. Now. Get out of here. Get away. Go, go, GO! RUN! RUN AWAY!

Breathless with urgency, Lucy packed her mothers picture – then the only contents of the driftwood box, her Celestial keys, whip, and a change of clothing. She didn't even stop for food or water. Once dressed, she opened her bedroom window as silently as she could, breathless with adrenaline and fear. Worry that she would be caught, fear at what her father would do to her if he found her trying to run away.

Once outside, the teen wondered around the city aimlessly, careful to avoid the places she was known to frequent, places where her friends would hang out. When her cellphone beeped with a text from her best friend, Levy McGarden, she quickly looked over the words, not really reading them.

8:15pm: Gajeel and I are going to see a movie! You wanna come?

Flipping her phone shut, she let it shut down, leaving Levy's text unanswered. She knew the girl would worry, but right now she didn't have the energy to explain...nor did she want her friend to see the fresh bruises and raw scrapes. It would just raise questions she'd rather not answer at this moment. She didn't even have answers for herself, let alone others. It was just safer this way...at least until she could figure things out...

Eventually Lucy's aimless wanderings brought her to an old and long abandoned warehouse. Tired and sore, physically and emotionally drained, Lucy – with the help of Loki, a.k.a Leo, one of her contracted Celestial spirits – she managed to enter the building and find a little nook she would be relatively safe and dry in. Sitting down, her head against her knees, she ignored Loki's constant questioning as to where the marks came from, finally mustering enough energy to force his gate closed. She strongly disliked doing so, but right now, she didn't have the magical energy – let alone physical, mental or emotional – to deal with her spirits right now. Curling into a ball, she lay her head on her bag and closed her eyes, asleep in a second.

The next morning when she woke, she was warm in a thick blanket – it now lay rumpled with the rest of her bed sheets – a little note within reach. On it, two words: I promise.