Summer watched her charm glow, along with the others, followed by another trio. Her eyebrows furrowed, eyes narrowing as she watched them seem to point in certain directions.

"What does that mean- ah!"

She covered her hands over her ears as she heard the voice in her head, clear as day. It wasn't something she was thinking. Rather, it was like someone was talking to her using her own voice.

What did it mean.

Ruin all?

The voice seemed to dissipate soon, and Summer felt herself relax, though she was clearly still tense. She looked between the group, wondering if the others had heard it too.

Then Mars seemed to act strange.

"Mars...?"

Summer fell in step with him, delicately picking at the skewered meat with her fingers instead of eating it savagely. Call it her preference. However, her fingers grew greasy, and she was quick to find something to wipe them on.

In the midst of her cleaning the grease from her fingertips, she looked over as Barnaby complimented her. It was surprising, that he'd find her attractive with the little amount of makeup she wore so the kimono took the spotlight.

It made Summer's heart flutter for a moment before she quelled it.

"I... Barnaby..."

She cut herself off with a sigh, tossing the stick and her napkin away in the nearest trash disposal. She looked back at him, brows furrowed.

"This was a mistake. Everything was... a mistake," Summer said, though her words were shaky and rather unconvincing.

"We shouldn't be alone together."

Though her eyes, wandering away from his face to look at anything but, betrayed her true feelings, as did the heat on her cheeks.

A few of those running children nearly trampled Summer's foot. Yet, for some reason, she held her tongue, though her eyes certainly betrayed the annoyance she held for them.

Why did she hold her tongue? Was it some effect Barnaby was emitting off onto her? His sweet kindness, hospitality.

Disgusting. Soft.

And yet, she followed him like a lost puppy desperate for attention, waiting a few feet from his side as he ordered from the stall. He handed one skewer over to her, which she took with an interested face that could certainly be made out for as disgust. Never had Summer Prescott eaten food off of a stick.

"For my father. And you?" she countered.

Summer felt her stomach growl, though it wasn't completely audible. It would be quite embarrassing should it be heard in an upscale place like this.

"I'm thinking the seafood bisque tonight. Something rather simple and warm," she said with a nod of finality.

She rested the menu on the table, sipping from her flute.

"Would you mind if I snuck a bite from your plate? It sounds delicious."

So Ana had heard of her. Summer didn't find herself surprised.

"He's quite alright."

Honestly, she wasn't entirely sure of her father's state. She had been avoiding him as much as she could, given the circumstances occurring in their family.

"Oh? I'd be delighted to join."

Summer couldn't help the chills that ran down her spine as the melody grew, this time from a different direction. It almost felt like whispers around her, tingling close to her ears. Her hands held tighter to Remy, though she'd refuse to admit she was truly afraid.

"What is it, then?"

Of course she wouldn't take his hints. She was too much in her drunken state to fully grasp everything. All she knew, right then, was that she wanted to stay by Remiel, and go no where else unless he came with her.

Slam!

The doors closed, startling Summer as they became trapped. She felt her back push against the wall, Remy pushing her behind him as though he were a shield. Protecting her from all things evil.

"Remy... is that... is that painting looking at us?"

The excitement and upbeat nature Barnaby held as he suggested they take in the sights of the festival together did something to her. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but since she had become more in touch with her feelings, she recognized these flares.

This wasn't good. Summer felt a pit of dread following the hope and excitement that had built up in her chest. She needed to say no and leave.

"I guess that wouldn't hurt."

That was as close to a yes that she'd willingly give Barnaby. She went against all of her inner thoughts and caved. Of course she cursed herself.

If she noticed his eyes wander, she made no comment about it. Her own were busy looking elsewhere after a moment, as though she was desperate not to stare.

"Lead the way."

For a moment, Summer was pinned against her couch again, clinging onto Barnaby as if her life depended on it. She was sweating, panting, chasing her high as he-

His voice snapped her out of her daydream. Summer felt restricted and unbelievably warm in her kimono as he talked casually to her.

"I... suppose so."

Summer typically strayed away from home for jobs, getting tasks done that her father wanted her to take over or didn't want to do himself. Really, it was quite rare she stayed in Mauville Hills for a long period of time.

Though for her to dress up like this was an oddity. She usually never strayed from her usual style, Kalosian flares and touched with glimmers of highlighter on her cheek. Anything to enhance her beauty.

Really, she felt out of place.

"I came on business. But it's over now, so I suppose I am... are you?"

And, Summer usually didn't care about what other people did. Only herself. But something itched in her stomach to know why he was here. Was he with someone?

What better way to get rid of weeds than to use a poison to kill them?

Scolipede seemed practically made for the job, scurrying along on its legs to carry it between masses of weeds growing around the area.

Poison flung out here and there in accurate areas, as not to kill off the places that didn't have the weeds. It worked meticulously and perfectly, as its trainer had trained it.