White illumination confronts bottomless fathoms of ebony swirling together like that of an angry vortex as if battling for dominance. Lids heavy with grief close, tears still lingering within long dark lashes before the inescapable vision of my mother’s lifeless body returns to haunt me while easily forcing my lids back apart. Darkness greeted my sight before the exquisite display of cerulean tinted irises superseded its horrifying image.

Everything appeared blurry as if someone had taken to liquefying my view as Andrea’s panicked image appeared distorted as she bent before me.

“Anna, I need you to breathe,” she pleaded, her words coming out barely coherent to my bewildered mind. It was only as I focused in on the movement of her lips that I became aware of the exaggerated rise and fall of my chest, the trembling of my limbs, the terrible wheezing sound erupting from my lips.

Gabe stood at attention behind her, his eyes scanning the darkness. “Andrea”, he warned.

I watched through a tear stained gaze as my sister twisted angrily up towards my other fierce protector, unafraid of his thunderously livid expression. “Don’t you think I know that!”

In muted confusion I watched their exchange wondering what it was I remained clueless to while too devastated to truly care.

Andrea turned back to focus on my distraught features, her expression stern and yet beseeching, “Anna we don’t have time to break down. I know that what we saw-.”

“Mom… she,” I managed to whisper, the words forever trapped, clogged within the confines of my throat, choking and robbing me of the ability to release even the simplest of words.

Tears like droplets of memories trickled over the rims of my eyes as recollections flooded my brain. Only they too seemed riddled with hellish distortions as a vision of my mother’s embrace altered into that of Rick’s arms wrapping around her neck. A past reminiscence of my mother tickling me warped into that complete look of devastation Rick’s confession produced. Every joyous occasion remembered now seemed tainted by darkness’s evil touch as if ruining any semblance of a future I once foolishly believed I would have had wasn’t enough.

“Anna, don’t think about what happened. I know it’s hard but I need you to focus on me, on what I’m telling you, “Andrea ordered, her voice breaking through my barrier of desolation. “Baby sister, I need you to be stronger than this.”

My eyebrows furrowed, “you need me to be strong after watching our Mother’s murder?”

I watched as dribbles of unwanted emotion clouded her own vision before indomitably Andrea blinked them away, “No. I need you to be strong after watching how determined they are to capture you. Anna, we barely got out of there. If Gabe hadn’t come for us when he-.”

My eyes rose to his as he interrupted, “Andrea, it’s not safe here.”

Bleak didn’t even began to describe the feeling of emptiness I felt inside as I miserably whispered, “it’s not safe anywhere.”

Andrea turned back to me, her stubborn nature demolishing the internal misery I knew she had to be withholding in order to protect me. And once again I wished I could be more like her.

“Anna, we have to go.”

My eyes trance like as if drugged by dejection, “he just killed her. Rick broke her apart and tossed her aside as if she was nothing.”

Strong fingers took hold of my slumped shoulders before ferociously shaking my despondent form, “we don’t have time for this!” Andrea yanked me roughly to my feet, no longer playing gentle to my despair. “We have to go!”

A semblance of my former self flared back to life as I viciously snatched my arms from within her reach while yelling, “We should have done something!

“There was nothing we could-.”

“You didn’t even try. You wouldn’t let me try!”

Her hands ripped into her blond hair in quiet frustration, her body pacing in a small circle before she confronted my exaggerated accusation, “and what, Marie? In your head what do see that would have happened differently?”

Stumped into silence I eventually stuttered before falling into depressed silence, “I- I co-could have...”

“Could have what? There was nothing we could have done. You saw how much power Rick has! That room was full of demons just waiting for your arrival not to mention the others he summoned with a simple snap of his fingers!”

“But-.”

“But nothing. My job is to keep you safe-.”

“Because you hated her,” I whispered bitterly knowing that it wasn’t Andrea I truly blamed, but that I just didn’t want to hurt alone. “You hated her for not saving you!”

Tears at last tumbled down my sister’s cheeks as she gazed upon me intently, but instead of reveling in the sight that chasm of pain inside me only seemed to widen as guilt ate further at the black cavity’s edges.

“I don’t hate her for taking us from our own father. I don’t hate her for uprooting our lives only to move us into a pedophile’s home. Hell, I don’t even hate her for never noticing every damn sign that something was seriously wrong in that house. The only thing I detest is that in her foolish lapse in judgment she almost let everything that happened to me happen to you.

Crying seemed pointless, a meaningless endeavor to liberate an insurmountable magnitude of agony, and even while knowing this liquid anguish still trickled silently down into my trembling lips before my head fell into my hands, my shoulders visibly shaking.

There was a moment of complete silence, my sobs clearly heard before gentle fingers slid along my soft tresses before delicately repeating, “Baby doll, we have to go.”

“I know,” I admitted hoarsely, my head still in my hands, my breathing still labored as I tried to halt my intense feelings of loss. Quivering fingers wiped away the moisture that streaked my skin before I squared my shoulders confronting my guardian’s concerned face. “I’m ready.”

Instantly they began to usher me towards the alit doorway, my eyes squinting against the unexpected harsh lighting, our surroundings momentarily stunning me enough to force me to halt in my tracks.

Hazel orbs took in the night sky; so endless, so dark beyond the glass while glaring florescent lights touched every inch of space as shop after shop crammed with useless objects sat temptingly upon shelves just waiting to be purchased. People of all sizes, races, and age held colorful bags while making irrelevant chatter to whoever would listen. Their voices suddenly seemed too loud, the annoying elevator music suddenly too much, their laughter suddenly inappropriate in the wake of my grief.

They swirled in a contorted blend of perplexity within my traumatized mentality my eyes squeezing shut, my palms rising to cover my ears to the clamor just as Andrea’s hands took hold of my own forcing me back to reality.

“Anna, it’s okay. You’re safe. I’m safe.”

Blinking away the mental turmoil I found myself laughing hysterically. “A mall? The world is going to hell, demons are pursuing our every step and your idea of protection is to bring us to the mall?”

I felt Gabe’s arm wrap around my shoulders enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth while seamlessly forcing me to continue onwards. “Yes, I brought here. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but demons don’t particularly like brightly lit populated areas.”

My thoughts went back to Dr. Whitley and her ridicule of my once ridiculous belief that they only remained in shadows. “Darkness won’t contain them. If they want me as badly as they seemed to back at the house do you really think avid shoppers will stop their arrival?”

Gabe’s sight remained on the swarming crowd around us, his arm keeping me close, “They’re not meant to stop it, just simply delay it.”

A group of teens my age playfully shoved one another as they came out of Spencer’s; their arms bag-less, their clothing grunge as they happily clowned around, irrational resentment clouding my view. To live a life so carefree, so devoid of any serious worries would seem to always be something I ached to possess.

Our speed never decreased as Gabe steered me towards the unknown, our bodies weaving in and out of clusters of crowds as we continued our determined sprint from an enemy that remained indistinguishable to our discernment. My eyes remained fixated on all who surrounded us until my anxious lenses settled on Gabe’s face. He lost his sister tonight, his mother unjustly blamed him for it and yet to look upon him nothing seemed to matter. Nothing else seemed more imperative than getting me to safety.

A blunt force crashed blindly into us, its abrupt weight causing me to falter as I watched those same kids literally collide into us, one guy falling disastrously to the ground.

“Hey, man,” he yelled irately from the floor, his friends helping him back to his feet, their livid expressions glaring holes into our moving forms. “Watch where you’re going!”

I glanced with worried eyes over my shoulder as I attempted to keep up with Gabe’s relentless pace while finally noticing the absence of his compassion, quite frankly the absence of any emotion at all. His beautiful eyes remained focused, his body tense, his mouth as if permanently etched into a slight grimace.

But then who was I to judge how a person deals with grief?

His voice still resolutely detached while completely ignoring everything but his goal, he stated, “They won’t attack here. There are too many witnesses. They won’t create havoc somewhere that would need too much of a cover-up to conceal their existence.”

The sound of heels pounding quickly against tile revealed my sister’s restless features, “So that’s your plan, stay here?” Her brows furrowed vehemently in frustration, “I mean I don’t want to make waves but I’m trusting you with my sister’s life!”

Instant fury consumed brown irises as Gabe twisted towards her while never breaking stride, “and I’m doing everything I can to ensure that her life remains safe from harm!”

Andrea quickly bypassed a mother pushing a screaming baby with a stroller before quickly rejoining my side, “And what happens when the crowd thins out and the shops begin to close?” She waves her hands out gesturing to the stores lining our sides, before staring up at the clock lining a far away wall “Which by the way won’t be too far from now.”

Gabe halted suddenly, his expression so livid that I wondered if I should be protecting Andrea instead of the other way around before my eyes awkwardly wandered upon the food court we had stopped in front of.

“I know its hard giving up control, Drea-.”

She smirked humorlessly, “I am not giving you-.”

He pushed me slightly further beside him to discreetly stare into Andrea’s blue eyes before half turning towards me responding clearly and unarguably absolute in his intolerance of her continued questioning, “I’m only going to say this once so listen up. I am Anna’s guardian, and so I will always have her wellbeing in the forefront of my mind. You don’t have to question every decision I make because quite frankly every choice I settle on I have already questioned it myself. I calculate every risk, every angle. I don’t allow myself to blindly be led into the fire with no chance of escape!”

Andrea’s face flushed mortified whilst knowing that his comment was aimed at the fact that we had just been dragged from the one place we never should have been. “That was not my fault! I never-.”

He cut her off, “that’s not the point. The point is you need to start trusting in the fact that I can keep her safe. You’d think me saving your asses back at Rick’s house would given you some confidence in my ability to look out for Marie, but apparently not.”

Andrea actually allowed a semblance of remorse to enter her features, “It’s just that she’s-.”

He walked on forcing her to follow through the threshold of the food court; his gaze scanning over the booths lining the back wall, the endless tables full of people shoving cheap food into their mouths before he retorted. “I get it. She’s your sister and you want to keep her protected. Trust me, I know what it feels like to fail in that aspect, and it sure as hell is not something I want you to have to endure.”

This had been the first reference he had made towards Abby’s death since he had appeared and I glanced up waiting anxiously for his moment of surrender to his emotions. His moment of release from the determined façade concealing his true feelings, but it seemed I’d be waiting a lifetime, fore his expression remained unchanged as he guided us easily to a table. It made me wonder if the pain I glimpsed back at his house was an abnormal crack in his armor and now what stood before me would be his customary manner. Untouchable, remote, composed, and in complete control.

And for some reason this stranger that had taken over my gentle Gabe only seemed to dishearten me even more.

I eased gently into a slightly sticky lime green chair, my eyes falling despondently upon the table’s white surface listening as my sister slumped into the seat opposite me while Gabe remained standing over us. “And to answer your question, yes I realize this solution is merely temporary.” He glanced towards the rows of restaurants, “I’m hoping that by the time the shops close reinforcements will be here.”

Andrea, never too good at placing total trust in one person interrogated, “Hoping?”

Ignoring her query, “stay with her. I’ll be right back.”

Watching his abrupt departure with clearly annoyed eyes Andrea muttered, “Someone really needs to inform him that he is not in charge.”

The voices of oblivious happiness from the excited children chatting animatedly with their indulgent parents beside us caused me to anxiously glance towards the exit. An elderly couple remained a few tables across from us sweetly sharing a plate of fries; a young chubby girl discreetly wiped a tear from her cheek while cautiously glancing around her hoping no one would notice while two teens obviously on their first date playfully traded jokes whilst holding hands.

We shouldn’t be here.

If being around Abby taught me anything it was this…

Death surrounds me, and I for one did not want to be culpable for unwittingly murdering all of these innocent people.

“Then who is?” I asked impassively.

Andrea swung sapphire tinted lenses back to my expressionless features as if she forgot I was even listening, “what do you mean?”

“I mean if not Gabe, who is in charge?

“Anna-.”

“Don’t you think it’s funny that we are fighting a cause for a council we’ve never even seen? People are dying right and left, and yet we are still an army of three.”

“Anna-.”

“Rick heard me scream. He heard me scream, and I couldn’t even begin to count the number of demons that flocked to his side. And here we are,” I gestured erratically towards the space around me, that hysterical laugh still tumbling from my tongue. “Three pathetic soldiers hiding in a fucking mall!”

I never even noticed the spike in my volume until several eyes including those of my angry protector swung towards our table at the sound of my voice.

“Could you keep it down? We need to keep our shit together.”

“Why?” I questioned no longer caring who watched as my eyes fell back towards the plastic table that separated us. “We can’t escape them.”

Andrea’s hand captured my own, my gaze traveling up to collide with hers, “Because you’re all I have left, and I for one refuse to watch another person I love die at their evil hands.”

I forced a smile through my unstoppable haze of tears, the determination within her tone oddly uplifting me.

“Anna, as long as we’re together that’s all that matters.”

A tray’s sudden slam against the table made us jump as with startled eyes I took in Gabriel’s furious appearance. Silently he passed us each a cup before taking a seat beside Andrea. I stared at the soda in confusion for a moment before I had to ask, “The world’s ending and you think its time for a burger and coke?”

Brown eyes met mine and held intensely for endless seconds before at last he responded, “The reality of everything we’ve warned you about is coming to a head, and quite frankly Marie, I get why you’re freaking out. The food is simply to keep up appearances. We need to behave normally, stay under the radar, and not draw unneeded attention our way.”

My gaze descended miserably to the cup before me while trying to come to terms with everything that had happened in the meager amount of hours since I woke up.

Gabe took a calculated sip from his cup, his eyes glued to my form, “and by the way you’re not exactly helping.”

Glaring up at his calm demeanor I cruelly spat, “I’m sorry if my emotions are getting in the way of your plans.”

He smirked un-amused, “it’s not your emotions I’m averse to. You do realize that Andrea’s dead, right?”

Annoyance caused my brows to cease in confusion to the reasoning behind his question.

I observed him make the effort to unworriedly take a bite of his burger before clarifying his inquiry, “I’m just saying that the next time you want to appear normal maybe you shouldn’t continue screaming at an empty chair.”

Staring blankly up at him as I allowed coke to fill my mouth I curiously altered my gaze to take in the busy food court. Noticing the way customers now warily snuck uneasy glances at our table, the family of loud kids had actually moved to the other side of the room.

“Well, its seems even without my reputation everyone eventually realizes that I’m crazy.”

Andrea completely disregarding our current unsettling of an entire room full of customers continued with her ritual of glancing agitatedly over our shoulders, her expression perturbed. “Shouldn’t we go somewhere …I don’t know …more secure? A safe house, something? I mean I feel like we’re sitting ducks here.”

“My orders were simple. If ever I came into a situation I couldn’t contain myself I was to wait and regroup.”

“And what, you guys all voted the mall as your meeting place?” she asked absurdly.

He turned towards my sister exasperatedly until twisting back towards me he at last bothered to address her question, “no, I needed to send out a distress signal. Marie, your grandmother told you watchers are everywhere, did she not?”

I snorted thinking back to how that conversation felt like a lifetime ago. “She told me a lot of things.”

“Well, it’s true. They are in many different forms just waiting to take action. Demons use human appearance as a disguise and so do we… only we don’t feel the need to kill our host.”

“So, then who did you spea-,” Andrea asked only to be silenced by the sudden look in Gabe’s eye.

His whole body simply immobilized, his sight engrossed upon the mall cop having an intense conversation with an obviously distressed woman. Gabe slowly placed his cup back onto the table before calmly inserting, “it appears those working for Rick are cleverer than I originally thought.”

Blond hair swung around Drea’s startled features as she surveyed the immense crowd around us. “What? Are they about to attack?”

“Anna, Drea I want you to slowly rise from the table and follow me towards the entrance. Act normal as if we’re just going to check out another store.”

Alarm steals over my features as for once I do as I’m told without arguments. “Gabe, what’s going on?”

His palm falls to grace the small of my back as he guides me towards the entry, his other hand steady as he calmly dumps his tray of uneaten food into the trash. We made it as far as the last row of tables when at last a woman’s voice screeched loudly to be undoubtedly heard over the congested throng, “That’s them! Those two are the ones who were stealing from my store!”

Standing within the aisle I froze like everyone else, peering around the crowd looking for the guilty culprits until I shifted my gaze back towards that voice realizing quickly that the blameworthy party the store owner was pointing at was none other than myself.

I watched in stunned wonder as the guard radioed something indecipherable to his co-worker before coming our way, “hey, you two stop right where you are!”

Distress alters quickly into satisfaction as I glimpsed a flash of pure hatred within the shopkeeper’s gaze, a gaze that easily flickers from green to that unspeakable scarlet before altering back, those lips tilted upward into a repellent smirk.

“Rick…” I whisper only for my guardian’s eyes to swing towards the sight of the overweight mall cop trying to squeeze his way through the eatery, his rotund figure bumping into tables and knocking over food.

Shifting towards me Gabriel asked calmly and yet insistently, “Anna, are you okay to run?”

My gaze fell back to the guard’s slow progression towards our stationary forms, “yeah… but shouldn’t we-.”

He barely waited for my answer before he ordered sternly, “Then don’t leave my side.”

Gabe took off sprinting towards the entrance, his figure moving seamlessly through the traffic of bodies while my sister and I remained hot on his trail. I could hear the angry shouts from the guard erupting from behind us as figures barely budged to aid our getaway, the overwhelming feeling of enclosure almost verging on claustrophobic. My breathing altered into that of short panicked spurts as fear of capture forced my alarmed eyes to remain on the royal blue of Gabe’s shirt other than the grey tint of the uniform yearning to entrap us. We at last burst from within the crowd now running ceaselessly through the open passageway. Our arduous flight from our pursuer was accelerated once out in uncluttered space, only having the feat of dodging the sporadic clusters of people as the wind blew through my curls. Ducking into a darkened alcove we rested along a wall, our chests heaving, our widened eyes peering out behind us.

Breathlessly I asked, “What the hell was that? You said they wouldn’t attack us in a crowd.”

“No, I said they wouldn’t expose themselves to a crowd,” he easily corrected, his appearance barely winded.

Andrea pushed back her heavy fall of golden strands, her eyes incensed, her skin flushed from our escape, “and what now? We hide until help arrives? What’s your clever plan our oh so brilliant Gabriel?”

Two guards stilled on the opposite side of the passageway, their radio’s rising quickly towards their lips. Grabbing my hand crushingly into his Gabe turned to confront my sister’s fury, “Now… we run.”

Pulling my struggling form back into the corridor of shoppers we raced towards the hall’s conclusion. The blur of brightly lit shops almost making me dizzy, eyes followed our quickened path, concerned parents pulling their children out the way just in the nick of time.

“Would you like to try some-,” was all I heard as Gabe uncaringly pushed a guy into a lady trying to advertise whatever was on her tray. I glanced back with stunned eyes as the stranger heatedly glowered at our running shapes. He moved to help the flustered woman back to her feet whilst a surge of concerned bystanders squeezed in closer to see if they could be of assistance. I was about to question Gabriel’s callous move until I saw that their chaotic tumble and the swarm it had created had brilliantly halted the two guards that had been tailing us.

“We need to blend in, and we need to do it quick,” Gabe said anxiously, our pace slowing as we entered another throng of bodies coming out of Aeropostale.

Peeking beyond the endless sea of faces I frantically searched for our next hunter just as the unbreakable grip on my palm steered me quickly into the coolness of the arcade. The illumination instantly dimmed once inside the confines of the huge game room. The only source of light came from the dim bulbs along the ceiling and the brightly lit machines lined along the walls. Here, we blended in effortlessly; the kids ignored our appearance either out of clear indifference or the fact that their attention remained consumed by video games similar to that of a gambler at a casino. We walked amongst the horde in search of an exit, Gabriel’s fingers easily taking the baseball cap lying next to a guy avidly shooting a screen full of zombies.

“I’m sure the other angels would frown upon that Gabriel,” I couldn’t help but tease as he shoved it against his curls.

He looked back towards me, a ghost of smile barely touching his lips, “does this look like heaven to you?”

A guy who looked to be in his early forties burst into a loud scream of excitement as a massive amount of tokens spilled out into his open palms. Dimples creased my cheeks before I muttered, “I guess it depends on who you ask.”

“As cute as this little thing is that you two have going on right now, Gabe you should really take a look at the doorway,” Andrea interrupted fervently.

Three uniformed guards entered the arcade before quickly moving to the front desk intent to speak to the manager. My heart dropped swiftly as the worker clearly irritated cut off the music, his voice ringing out through the speakers. “Sorry guys, we got a little trouble here. We’re gonna have to crank up the lights for a sec.”

“Just great, we’re trapped. You might as well call this place our new four walled cell. Awesome plan, Gabe,” Andrea remarked sarcastically.

“Well, I didn’t see you coming up with anything.”

“I,” Andrea began only for me to cut in.

“This is ridiculous. Who cares whose fault this is! What do we do?”

The lights began to flicker back to life one by one earning groans from its patrons as blinding illumination slowly began to fill the room and that old familiar sense of dread filled the pit of my stomach.

We were running out of time.

My fingers slipped from Gabe’s as I quickly moved to other side of the room while knowing he’d follow me anywhere if only to scold me. Hastily moving back black curtains I sighed in relief at finding the space empty before swiftly sliding inside, my protectors mimicking my movements. Strong fingers lifted me easily onto his lap as Andrea squeezed into our side.

Our eyes met, amusement hidden behind worry as I quickly realized how intimately close we were.

“Okay, so now that we’re in here Gabe transports elsewhere?” Andrea whispered hysterically while easily breaking our silence. “I mean it won’t take long for them to search this room.” She peeled back the drapery of the photo booth to gaze out at the guards slowly making their way towards us. “With the way their looking for you two you’d think you murdered somebody. How did they find us so quickly, anyway?”

Gabe back into full on protector mode gazed out around Andrea before retorting, “Its Anna’s scent. They can smell her fear.” His gaze focused on two mall cops cruelly harassing a couple that fit our descriptions, “those two over there would do anything to capture her.”

Andrea looked at the average looking guys slowly coming closer, “how do you know that?”

“Because they aren’t human.”

I felt Gabe’s arms tighten around me as my body failed to suppress the shudder traveling down my spine. The idea of being handed over to the sadistic bastard who had ruined my life, who had forced me to fear my own shadow, who had tortured my sister; the fiend… who had sadistically killed my mother was more than I could stand. The tears the thought produced hardened instantly as I watched one demon actually sniff the air to better hunt my scent.

“You’re sure that backup is coming?” I asked Gabe, my sight still glued to the horde.

“Yes, of course. Why do you as-.”

“Because to leave here… I believe we’re gonna need a little distraction,” I said calmly my mind already zeroing in on my newly formed plan. “I’d suggest you follow my lead.”

The machine furthest away from us began to flash chaotically; its music growing louder as the kid who was once playing it obviously confused slowly backed away from its seat. The bang of a gun sounded sharply as the walking dead video game started to pierce the air around us as slowly but surely every machine lining the wall activated on its own. The ceiling’s lights began to blink as if we had somehow been transported into the center of a rave as what was once blinding illumination eclipsed into darkness only to flash back into startling brilliance.

A net holding a bulky series of stuffed bears snapped dropping its load on whoever was unfortunate to stand behind the counter as screams fed the air. Coins spilled freely from change machinery just as the games in the furthest back corner tilted dangerously before crashing into its neighboring gaming system. I waited until the first shrieks of panic sounded and the stampede of footsteps rang out before I pushed open the curtain and joined the terrified crowd. Bodies surged towards the entrance, alarm causing people to push unwisely into others as video games continued to crash disastrously towards the ground. My eyes caught sight of the guards obliviously searching for my face while dimples formed into my cheeks knowing that within the chaos I had just cloaked my scent.

We instantly found our way to the edge of the throng, our movements quick in our need to disappear from the arcade’s doorway. Gabe’s expression distorted into infuriation as he furiously reprimanded my spontaneous actions, “We do not use our abilities in front of humans.”

Humbled from my power high I remorsefully retorted, “I know that, but we were trapped. We had no way of esc-.”

His shoulders stiffened in denial to my defense as his stride never lessened, people pryingly intent to watch the chaos of what occurred in the arcade pushed into our moving forms. “That is no excuse for what you did back there.”

“Gabe, chill out,” Andrea indifferently inserted causing his irate figure to cease his enraged sprint in order to confront her unapologetic lenses. “What’s the big deal? We’re free. Besides no one but us even knows what she did.”

He snorted, his lips grimacing in clear distaste, “Oh and that makes breaking our laws okay? Those people back there could have been seriously injured, or worse. We don’t put our needs first over the lives we’ve sworn to protect.”

Stepping between them I appealed to his heart, “Gabe, I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. I was only attempting to cause enough of a distraction for us to evade the guards. You said it yourself that reinforcements are on the way, what help will they be to you two if I’m already seized?”

He shook his head regrettably before continuing his angry march ahead of us, “you just don’t get it.”

I glanced at my sister in confusion watching as she shrugged in defeat before following his lead.

We walked on in silence, our bodies as always shifting around enthusiastic consumers, Gabe now at my side while Andrea sauntered before us. We came into an open clearing, my eyes trained on the swarm of people below the railing on the bottom level instead of what awaited us up ahead. It wasn’t until we began to round the corner that I froze in horror while quickly pulling Gabe back towards me. Four guards stood in front of the entrance of Dillards’; their attention solely focused on the crowd, their goal obviously intent on obtaining us. Clueless to our abrupt halt Andrea walked within the horde to the center of the opening. As if suddenly sensing our desertion she glanced around puzzled only to finally catch sight of exactly what hindered our movement. Her skin paled as she hastily moved on while attempting to appear as if she belonged to the family beside her.

“She’s leaving us?” I whispered devastatingly.

“No, she’s blending in.”

My brows creased in furious bafflement, “why would she do that? She can’t even be seen.”

“Marie, look closer,” Gabe instructed, his gaze on the complete immobility of one of the guards. “Don’t you think it’s weird that the other three are still frantically searching the crowd while that one has completely frozen?”

I observed the men from my concealed location finally noticing every detail my protector indicated.

“He can sense your fright, taste it on his tongue, and it infuriates him not to be able to detect your position. Humans don’t see the dead, but that one… One look at Andrea would have been all he needed to endeavor to catch us all.”

I watched hopelessly as my sister made it to the nearest shop, her body pausing as if interested in the display of lotions, her blue eyes intent on our location, on that one guard absorbedly exploring every inch of the area around him.

“We gotta go,” Gabe instructed, his arm taking hold of mine.

My curls hit the center of my cheek as I swiftly turned back to him, “go? You want to just leave her there?”

“She’s safe-.”

“For now,” I argued. “What happens if one of these undercover demons catches her?”

“What happens if they catch you?”

My orbs wandered back to my sister watching as she silently mouthed for me to leave as her earlier words came back to haunt me…

“As long as we’re together that’s all that matters.”

Without thought I wrenched my limb from his unyielding grip and ran full speed towards my horror-struck sister. The sound of my sneakers squeaking against polished tile rang out around us, the current of air thrusting the fabric of my tee to my skin as my hands pumped furiously at my sides, the muttered curses beside me my only evidence to the fact that Gabe remained fastened to my shadow. We heard distant shouts of people being carelessly shoved, bellows of our pursuers commanding us to stop as we reached Andrea, her body already prepared to join our sprint.

Two unnoticed guards came in towards us from the right causing us to veer off en route for the staircase. Gabe’s hand found mine, holding my fingers within his grip crushingly as our feet hustled down the never-ending series of steps. A family of four appeared around the corner of the curved staircase; their gaze that of bewildered deers petrified, motionless in place. We barely managed to prevent our hurried figures from plowing into them as we darted from their path just in the last seconds, our bodies so close I could smell the scent of candy coming off the breath of their youngest child. The little girl’s gaze; a hazel shade so similar to my own for some reason stood out to me. Her expression akin to curiosity more than fear. My eyes as if fixated to her small form remained upon her chubby face as we jogged away from the inexorable miniature army behind us. My mouth fell agape as the demon who led the guards viciously slammed into the defenseless kid, her body tumbling dangerously down the steps blood lingering on the tile surrounding her be-stilled form while easily staining her once pretty yellow dress.

“Oh my god,” I whispered as I twisted to turn back only for Gabe’s muscular arm to sweep out around my waist and physically pull me towards his chest, his pace never decreasing. “That little girl…”

Gabe dared a quick glance behind us, his arms tightening around me, “her parents will tend to her. She’ll be fine.”

“We have to help,” I pleaded.

“He knows you too well. That’s exactly what he wants you to do.”

I was placed back onto my feet, that palm firmly taking hold of mine again only this time I no longer felt it wise to glimpse back at what hunted us nor observe the unnecessary turmoil that I now knew would always litter our trail. My gaze remained focused forward wondering just where the hell we were headed exactly.

“Gabe,” I breathlessly pleaded.

“Just run.”

We neared the entrance of the shopping center with four guards trailing us and a nagging pain entering my side.

Panting Andrea nervously asked, “How long can we jog around in circles before they capture us? They know this mall inside and out, we don’t. Besides how long do you think it’ll be before they call the real cops, if they haven’t already?”

Gabe’s sight traveled over the horde of innocents now visibly darting out of our way, “Just keep moving. We only need to shake them from our track.”

We rounded the bend towards the entrance only to welcome the sight of a sudden explosion of guards all standing in a row blocking our escape. We paused breathlessly in horrified astonishment.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I muttered in annoyed amazement, “What, is everybody working today?”

Shoving me harshly forward my protector ordered, “Keep going. I’m pretty sure most of them aren’t entirely human.”

Andrea glanced back at the massive swarm of grey uniforms now chasing us, the sight forcing her drained legs that much faster. “I hate to point out the obvious here Gabe, but there are a shit load of people after us and we are quickly running out of options. I know the rules on exposure but-.”

“We do not-,” he instantly repeated.

“Use our powers in front of humans,” Andrea finished for him, “but come on, we’re gonna have to come up with something! Those new guards aren’t as tired as we are rapidly becoming.”

My sight fell upon KB Toys up ahead, a sudden flash of brilliance quickly entering my mind. We were swiftly coming to the end of our pathway, the hallway forking off into two different directions.

“We’ll go left, try to loose them through one of the department stores,” Gabe quickly inserted, his words certain and yet I could sense the worry underneath his forced bravery.

“No, we should go right.” Already moving in that direction they had no other choice but to follow me.

“There’s nothing else down that way Marie, but the toy store and the Movie Theater.”

I grinned sinisterly as we vaulted pass the huge fountain, “exactly.”

Nearing the toy store my gaze fell to the container enclosing an assortment of colorful balls just within their entrance, my mind already piercing back its metal cage; each metal rung that snapped withdrawing an ounce of my already dwindling strength.

“So, what’s your brilliant plan?” Gabe questioned as we neared the doorway of the virtually empty shop. My speed declined to his horror as we passed its doorway just as the metal encasement yielded to my strength and balls every color and size bounded with more force than usual directly towards our pursers. I watched in fascination as people like pins at a bowling alley toppled dangerously upon the slick floors, some collapsing into others while a few even managed to plunge disastrously into the fountain.

Turning towards my guardian I simply replied, “I believe that right there is what you’d call giving us a lead.”

With a stunned Andrea and Gabe following I used our much needed gap to dash for the darkness of the movie theater. Once within its arctic chill of the air conditioned lobby we slowed our pace to match that of those around us yet again in an attempt to blend into the crowd.

“We can’t exactly walk up there and buy tickets,” Gabriel complained, “They’ll catch us before we can even get through those lines, Anna. And I don’t know if you noticed but the back exits are behind the pimply kid asking for ticket stubs. We should have gone the way I suggested.”

Ignoring his angry observation I glanced around the massive room noticing easily the truth behind every inspection Gabe made. The scattered groups of contented people swarming around us happily ordering overpriced food, standing in endless lines, and joking around before heading gleefully into their chosen film. My intellect as always churning, trying to come up with a solution to our current predicament.

“Okay, lets say we did run into Macy’s or Sears, and then what?” my sister interjected suddenly pissed. “We get surrounded in the bra and panty section?”

Without saying a word I glided towards the guy Gabe had pointed out earlier, joining the short line before him.

“Anna, did you even listen to a word I just said,” Gabe whispered anxiously into my ear.

My gaze remained on the red headed uniformed kid before us instead of confronting his enraged face, “chill out, I got this.”

The line moved along promptly. Only moments passing until we reached the front, my eyes instantly falling to the metal encased porcelain of the worker’s mouth as he quietly asked for our tickets.

Grinning easily, my dimples forming into cheeks, “no problem.” My hands reached into my jean’s pockets, my brows furrowing as I quickly checked the seat of my pants. “Where the heck did I put them?” Turning towards Gabe I agitatedly inquired, “Did you see where I put the tickets? Did I give them to you?”

At last the kid’s eyes rose to meet mine, my mind easily entering his own as he dully spouted the customary response to our situation, “I’m afraid I need to see your tickets, but if you have your receipt-.”

Staring rapt into his grey lenses while finally slipping beneath his mental hold I quickly inserted into his brain the image of me presenting to him exactly what he requested. “What do you mean? I already gave them to you.”

I felt instead of saw Andrea glance nervously over her shoulder at the line forming behind us while knowing she was really straining to see if the entrance still remained empty of grey uniformed soldiers.

Eyes the color of dull cement gaped suddenly blankly before us, his voice trance-like, “sorry,” he removed the velvet rope. “Please enjoy your movie.”

Smiling pleasantly, “thank you.” Moving in closer as to not be heard by the other waiting patrons I whispered, “And after we leave you won’t remember ever seeing us.”

He nodded his head vacantly just as we hurriedly crossed the threshold. Andrea still peeking over her shoulder mumbled, “That was cutting it close.”

A firm grip took hold of my arm twisting me harshly back towards enraged features, “what the hell was that? We don’t take away freewill!”

My sister forced her way between us while easily breaking his hold on me as she headed for the exit, “Yeah, I’ve been there and done that old lecture. You can kindly thank your new best friend the darker Anna for teaching her that great tric-.”

Snatching her back from rounding the corner I peeked out around the wall towards the doors keeping us from freedom before announcing, “New plan.”

Gabriel still pissed about my uninformed power glowered towards me, “why? What’s wrong with the old-.”

My body moved swiftly to capture his lips beneath my palm, “it went out the door when I noticed mall cops guarding the exit.”

Hastily backtracking along our path I unpredictably paused, feeling the weight of my sister’s body slamming into my halted figure. The unwelcome vision of the guards brimming through the front entrance of the theater stopping me in my tracks.

“Just great, can’t escape from the back and sure as hell won’t be getting out of the front,” Andrea whispered furiously hope dying within her sapphire irises, “anymore bright ideas?”

“Yeah, one,” my other brutish voiced protector inserted, his powerful grip already forcing me into the nearest darkened room.

My eyes adjusted to the dimly lit space, the endless rows of seats sparsely occupied, its patrons staring at the huge blank white screen patiently waiting while blessedly ignoring us. Allowing myself to be pulled up a series of stairs I asked in disbelief, “You think it’s wise to catch a movie right now?”

“I think it’s wise to attempt to disappear until they began to search elsewhere.”

I slumped into a seat sandwiched between their apprehensive forms, my eyes on everyone around us, “and what happens if they don’t do as you’re hoping?”

Gabe relaxes into his seat or at least appears to for I knew from the way he scanned the room’s inhabitants he would always remain alert, ready. “Then we move on to plan B.”

My sister scoots to face Gabe, her blond hair falling in golden ripples towards her lap, “which is?”

Silence greeted her question for so long I assumed he wouldn’t answer only for his stony expression to finally confront us, his eyes suddenly tired before he admitted, “I haven’t figured that part out yet.”

I heard Andrea’s barely veiled groan as she settled fretfully back into her seat as the lights extinguished further and the screen suddenly broadcasted its feature film.

“Do you think your backup has arrived yet?” I murmured restlessly.

“Trust me; you’ll know it when you see it.”

A woman appeared on the screen clearly terrified, running desperately through the darkly wooded area. Her skin bruised and bloody, her eyes always on whatever pursued her.

“Great, you picked a horror film! As if we don’t have enough creatures chasing us.”

An irritated couple closest to us twisted to glare at our solitary figures, shushing us back into silence.

Furiously Gabe turned back to me quietly retorting, “what part of don’t draw attention to us don’t you understand?”

My eyes moved to linger towards the doorway seeing the two guards unexpectedly walking in, “I don’t think annoying other people will be our biggest problem.”

His sight followed mine, the uniforms turning to slowly scan the crowd just as Gabe whispered urgently, “Anna, look at me!”

Distracted by dread I blindly twisted towards him barely comprehending his motives until tender lips crashed into mine. Frozen with unforeseen amazement my eyes fluttered shut as I allowed the kiss to deepen, lips tasting my own until that inescapable fear deep inside dissipated and hormones seized the driver’s seat of my control. His mouth caught the fullness of my bottom lip gently sucking on its surface as irrepressible hands wandered up to thread through the feather soft curls at the nape of his neck. One of his palms snuck its way around my collar caressing my locks before forcibly pulling my compliant form closer, my body molding into the hardened muscles of his chest.

My breathing quickened as the tip of his tongue invaded my mouth all the while an explosion of life itself transferred into my form, easily banishing any lingering specks of exhaustion from my figure.

I openly groaned in protest as strong fingers pushed us apart, my eyes dazedly staring up into his only to find his sight still glued to the now empty entrance.

“They’re gone now, but I have a bad feeling that they’ll be back,” he murmured as Andrea maneuvered up from the floor and back into her seat.

Easing into the cushions of my chair I attempted to block out the foolishly girlish emotions suddenly taking hold of my heart, tired to ignore the hurt initiated by the idea of our first kiss being nothing more than a diversion tactic.

My sister blind to anything but my safety immediately countered, “How do you know that? I mean if they checked every movie maybe they’ll just go look somewhere else.”

He shook his head in denial, “no, even if they do look elsewhere these are Rick’s minions we’re talking about here. They’ll at least leave a few of them guarding the exits and entryway to make sure we don’t walk out of here.”

Shoving my useless idiotic dreams of love into the dark space that contained my youthful yearnings for normalcy I spoke up finally, my voice deadened of all emotion, “then we’ll just have to outsmart them.”

I rose while hastily hopping over Gabe’s legs before he could stop me. I got as far as the small corridor of the room’s entrance directly before the double doors leading out into the hallway that corresponded to the lobby before he wrenched me back around.

“Want to explain to me what you’re doing?”

Plainly I replied, “Initiating plan B.”

“And that would be?”

Pushing one of the black swinging doors forward to peer out at the small crowd as they dispersed into their chosen movies, my hazel irises focused in on the ticket taker and the girl in matching uniform blandly sweeping beside him. The hallway quickly became empty other than the two, and I gazed upon their visibly bored figures eagerly.

“It’s simple. Humans can’t see Andrea, so as long as no demon catches sight of her it’s safe for her to vanish from here-.”

“I’m not leaving you,” Andrea instantly raged.

Turning towards her livid expression, “I know that you’re not. You’re going to safely remain in the shadows and watch our backs while Gabe and I walk right out the entrance to whatever exit door that leads us to the parking garage.”

“You mean the parking garage exit currently located beyond the entrance, pass the lobby? A lobby that is now being patrolled by at least a half a dozen mall cops and disguised demons?” Gabe asked with obvious incredulity laced within his tone.

I smiled cunningly, my sight shifting back towards the small hallway, “exactly. That’s why they won’t be the only ones cloaked in camouflage.”

Moving boldly out into the center of the small hallway I evaded Gabriel’s outreached hand before it could snatch me back before I inwardly gathered enough courage to do what needed to be done. Collecting every ounce of fear deep within me I allowed it to transmit upon my features while intensifying it to the point of hysterics as I increased my pace towards my objective.

“You have to come quick!” I breathlessly begged the tears gathering within my distressed gaze causing both workers to turn quickly towards me. “There’s a kid in the restroom crying out for help. I think she’s really hurt!”

I watched as the girl’s face scrunched up in evident alarm as she turned towards her co-worker, her brown tangled tresses brushing the collar of her uniform, “Should we go get the manager?”

Panicking at the thought I quickly inserted, “no, I think you need to reassure her first. I don’t know where her parents are, but I’m a stranger and I think me trying to talk to her scared her even more.”

The guy, his face fully concerned now asks, “Where exactly is she?”

“This way,” I responded as I pointed further down the empty hall.

Sprinting towards the restrooms my eyes rose quickly to clash with Gabes, silently signaling for him to follow before leading my clueless cohorts into the brightly lit lavatory. The room was thankfully empty of its normal inhibitors as I paused within its entrance indicating further towards the back wall. The girl naïve in her ability to automatically trust a stranger pursed my suggestion without question, the guy following blindly behind her as Gabe reached my side.

“Is she trapped in one of the stalls?” she requested in bewilderment not even noticing the absence of the alleged cries I spoke of. I stalked their movements slowly, my steps pursing them like the hunter tracks its intended victim.

I remained soundless as they approached the last stall; her shaken hand piercing back its door to gaze upon its empty space before pausing as if realizing the full weight of their own stupidity. Twirling slowly back towards me their expressions had altered into something akin to the dismay that I assume takes over in the face of pure evil. The girl clearly frightened, fighting back tears as her skin pales further at last asks, “What do you want from us?”

My eyes connected effortlessly onto their mental control until I could literally feel the fight within their intellect die, their expressions varying from terrified to docile before I ordered calmly, “first, I’m gonna need you not to scream. Second… I’m afraid I’m going to have to require that you strip.”

…………………………………………………………………….

Adjusting the red collar of the Holloway Cinema polo shirt before smoothing it over black khakis I unraveled my disheveled curls from my messy ponytail, feeling the weight of them as they toppled over my shoulder to caress my spine. My fingers trembled as I geared myself up for what lied ahead while fixing a wayward strand in an effort to inwardly attempt to hide my fear. Beside me Gabe seemed to be doing the same although his outfit appeared snug over his muscular chest, his pants just a tad too short.

I snorted in spite of my inner worry while trying to conceal my amusement at the sight.

His expression grim, “I’m glad someone is amused because quite frankly I’m not having the best of days.”

His words instantly sobered my features, my thoughts going back to Abby, my mom, the demons still lying in wait. “Are you ready?”

My protector clearly more than a little bothered retorted, “for what exactly? I didn’t realize my opinion truly mattered anymore.”

Rolling my eyes at his obvious dig I at last gave into his useless need to argue, “I’m sorry for trying to find a way to escape this mess. Maybe I should have just blindly followed your every order and just prayed that reinforcements appeared out of thin air?”

His jaw hardened at my sarcastic tone as he leaned in closer to where I stood. Those brown eyes penetrating my own, “no, obviously you thought it better to alleviate two defenseless humans of their freedom to think for themselves while placing them in harms way.”

Guilt slammed into me hard as my hazel lenses wandered back to the two in question. Their figures now dressed in our clothing, standing idly by like that of the walking dead just awaiting command. Was this what demons wished to see happen to humans? To enslave the weaker race until they’re absurdly susceptible to darkness’s every whim?

Faltering visibly I admitted, “I wasn’t thinking… I-.”

“Yeah, that part has become distinctively evident. You weren’t thinking of them. You were thinking only of yourself. Anna, warriors do not fight for the glory of the win, or even just in order to selfishly ensure their own protection. They only battle evil for the good of humanity.”

Andrea’s form quickly materialized as a faded image before it gathered strength into solidified flesh within the darkened doorway, “that’s all great and everything, but let’s keep the guardian philosophy lesson to a minimum. Soon those demons out there are going to get restless, and they’re going to run out of places to search within this mall. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed but they don’t exactly deal well with failure.”

“Andrea-,” Gabe attempted to interrupt only from my sister’s pissed expression I knew his disruption was pointless.

Walking further into the room, “you think zombies are bad? Try actual dead humans! Because that’s what we’re looking at if we don’t get the hell out of here!”

Unaffected by her words Gabe argued, “They wouldn’t risk exposur-.”

Her eyes grave, connected to his, “Gabe, your problem is that you’re still stuck in the old ways. Demons of this century won’t go back to Rick empty handed.”

My mind returned to the image of Adriana’s skin melting, that crazed look in her eyes.

“Andrea, I think I should kno-.”

Stepping between them I quickly inserted, “no, Gabe Andrea is right. Failure isn’t an option for them. If they can’t capture me they would rather see me dead, and if they could do that to me; their believed coveted one, can you imagine what they would do to a mere human?”

His stare hardened beneath my pleading eyes, “well, apparently it doesn’t really matter what I think since I’m clearly outvoted.”

Inwardly groaning at my guardian’s sullen tone I finally felt my small sense of control snap, “You need to get over yourself! I know in the past with your other charges you were used to calling the shots, but this is a brand fucking new day! Fail back then a person died, fail now and hell could take control of the earth. You’re going to have to learn to work in a democracy not a dictatorship, so suck it up and put on your big boy pants. We have to go!”

His lips formed into a slight smirk at the gall behind my words and yet annoyance still lingered behind those amber tinted orbs as soundlessly he headed towards my sister. Halting in midstride he twisted back towards me before inquiring smugly, “I hate to question your leadership, but aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Like…”

“What shall you do with your… pets?”

Following his disgusted nod towards the employees I could have smacked myself for my forgetfulness under his overly watchful eyes, “right.”

Walking back towards them I allowed my hypnotic gaze to intrude upon the vast vacuity that had become their minds before easily suggesting, “I want you to go merge back within the crowd, and then when it’s safe you’ll head straight home. You will forget you ever saw us, that you ever came into this restroom. All you’ll remember is working then suddenly feeling ill and deciding to go home early.”

I waited until they both nodded their heads submissively before I quickly moved back to Gabe and Andrea’s side.

Gabe now dutifully compliant mockingly gestured ahead, “after you. Your plan, lead the way.”

With Andrea staying hidden in shadows I fearlessly stalked out into the corridor knowing that my protector mimicked my every move. Picking up the abandoned broom as I once saw an employee do I commenced with sweeping up imaginary dirt while slowly making my way towards the lobby. I stealthily observed Gabe with his head bent pilfer a discarded rag and a bottle cleaner, scrubbing down the counter tops as he discreetly followed.

The sound of chatter was deafening as the hour drew closer to the start of the next round of movies and patrons coming from darkened rooms filled the entrance. It became easy to become unnoticed as I swept up thrust aside ticket stubs, my eyes glued to the pattern on that of the stained carpeting. The sight of grey slacks falling over customary black shoes stilled my slow path towards the doors. My breath held as through my small separation of curls I became aware of the guards halt directly behind me. My sweaty palm tightened around the broom’s handle wondering if I’d have to use it as a club in my blotched attempt to break free, my panicked gaze secretly meeting Gabe’s stationary figure still rubbing continuously but now in one spot.

My heart beat quickened in a panicked procession as that voice abruptly shouted out, “Excuse me Miss, but I’m going need a few words with you.”

Determined not to go calmly my makeshift club began to rise within my slippery grip just as those black shoes bypassed me moving quickly to harass a couple remarkable resembling me and my guardian. I released my gust of halted air as relief visibly surpassed terror, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

Shifting discretely closer Gabe whispered, “That was way too close for my liking. Let’s get the heck out of here.”

Appearing calm I located the staffing area’s supply closet while it took everything within me to decrease the speed of my pace as I causally replaced my equipment inside before heading towards the front. Four guards; mixed breeds of humans and demons stood at attention just before the line of glass doors while obviously inspecting every face that left its entryway.

Gabe came up beside me, “stay close.”

My sight fell back to the comfort of the floor, my curls falling to shield my face as my protector’s arm slid around my shoulders. My eyes always searching for a solution noted the thickness of the horde surrounding us, the merging of voices within the air before it fell to the thick slip resistant mat lining the floor before us. Acting before further contemplation could deter me I focused my mind on its black surface until quickly the edge of the rug tilted upwards causing an enlarged man too occupied with his current conversation to tragically trip over it. He fell harshly to the ground his unexpected topple triggering his misguided friend’s stumble on top of him, the contents of his jumbo sized cup dribbling all over their embarrassed figures.

All eyes from the crowd feasted upon the sight just as laughter filled the room while only a few offered any real assistance.

The grip around me tightened but not with protection as one would outwardly assume but out of an ingrained exasperation at my continued disobedience. Lips moved closer into my curls as we glided pass the amused chaos right through the double doors, “what am I going to do with you?’

Dimples fashioned into slightly flushed cheeks as we at last drifted through the exit doors leading to the parking garage, “simply love me for who I am.”

Our footsteps echoed throughout the cemented parking garage, bouncing off the walls as with eyes wide with apprehension we glanced around the vast space of soulless cars. Our labored breathing once out in the coolness of night’s air came out in small puffs of white smoke as I hugged myself for warmth. Gabe’s arm remained around me but not to shield me into obscurity as before but out of his instinctive gut reaction, that embedded necessity within to defend me. We were no longer in the safety of a mob and while the absence of guards tracking our scent was an obvious stroke of good fortune the nonexistence of unconscious human cattle to merge into made me nervous. The reinforcements had never arrived and as far as I could see this place we had now been driven to escape to screamed breeding grounds for whatever lied in wait to attack us.

The unexpected slam of metal into cement drove us both into defensive stance; our back to each other, our fist clenched extended before us, our eyes scanning the pockets of darkness that lied in ever corner as we halted directly beneath the lamp light wondering what would slither from within ominous ebony. A kid; his arms wrapped around his stuffed bear, his beaming face stained with sugar, his small body running directly into the dangerous car park was being ruthlessly pursued by his exhausted father. Our arms dropped back to our sides watching as the child ran pass, his father smiled apologetically as they dashed for a white minivan.

My heart rate decreased to its normal tempo as clearly shaken I clung to Gabe’s side allowing him to guide us further within the seemingly vacant lot. My eyes focused in on the breathtaking view beyond the lot’s cemented barriers noticing how extremely high up we were. From this altitude the city’s lights seemed to twinkle like that of Fourth of July sparklers while trapped within night’s embrace.

“We should go.”

I jerked from within Gabe’s arms to meet his troubled gaze, “what do you mean?”

“I mean it’s not safe here.”

Trying to prevent the total melt down of my composure I calmly asked, “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about being literally chased all over this fucking mall tonight, Marie!”

Anger increased the panting of my breath along with the acceleration of my heart beat, “You were the one who said we had to stay!”

“They aren’t here! We need to face the fact that they may not be coming at all.”

Still confused by his complete about face I stuttered, “s-so… wha-what you’re telling me is that you want us to run?”

Staying composed his eyes fell before he simply stated, “I just want you to live.”

My trembling hands caught his forcing his gaze to meet mine, “but you were the one who told me that thinking only of one’s self is selfish. That a warrior does not fight for the glory of the win, or even just in order to selfishly ensure their own protection.”

Closing his eyes at the verbatim of his words, he smirked in forced amusement, “now you choose to listen.”

“No, now I choose to fight.”

His lids prized open at the determination found within my voice before easily countering, “A warrior must also choose its battles, and I don’t think it’s wise to remain in the cover of darkness waiting for fortification that may never come while demons track our every move. We have to go.”

“Andrea isn’t here yet.”

“Anna, I don’t think your hearing-.”

My hands snatching from within his clutch, repeating myself more forcibly I shrieked, “Andrea isn’t here yet!”

His gaze faltered away sadly, “Our plan was unpredictable at best. You may have to accept that Andrea-.”

I shook my head frantically in denial. The minivan’s lights illuminated our figures as it drove pass while temporary robbing me of sight.

I felt Gabe’s hands take hold of my shoulders peering deeply into my traumatized lenses, “Any demon who set sights on her knew to capture your sister is to lead you right to them. She had no disguise; no real cover. Marie, you’re going to have to realize that there’s a real possibility that Andrea-.”

“Is right here,” my sister smoothly inserted into the conversation, her sudden appearance nearly causing me to jump out of my skin. “But may I say it’s nice to see how much optimism you have in my abilities to take care of myself, Gabriel.”

Rolling his eyes at her obvious sarcasm I noticed relief tugged at the edges of his lips as he dutifully remarked, “As you’ve said, our job is to keep Marie safe.”

“Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind if ever you fall behind.”

Gabe’s mouth opened to respond only for his body to freeze as his gaze trained in on the empty darkness before us. Immediately we formed a small circle; our backs against each others, our eyes alert as we once again peered out frantically towards shadows. Swiftly I felt crimson uncontrollably slice its way around the rim of hazel lenses, a gift I knew I had my darker essence to thank for. Silent she may seem, but as always remaining stealthily concealed within the recesses of my soul she would forever be. Everything that once remained obscure became crystal-clear, my vision enhancing to that beyond human as the palm of my hand tingled with unleashed power just awaiting my will to direct it towards the sudden tiny eruption of radiance within the fathoms of darkness.

The glow began small like that of a tiny glimmer but grew quickly until it outlined that of a figure of a man. My palm rose, my curls blowing out around me as if a sudden gust blew hazardly through the parking lot, and just as the unidentified man drew perilously closer Gabe unexpectedly knocked my hand from the stranger’s path, saving this being from total evisceration. The mere force of strength pounding from my fingertips dug deeply into pavement, unearthing gravel easily while spraying small pebbles onto the surrounding cars before I could at last contain it. My orbs reverted hastily back to their customary hazel, the pain its retreat caused almost nonexistent to my brain by now.

The figure walked quickly towards us with unknown purpose, but it wasn’t until the lamp light surrounded him that I realized his body was adorned in robes similar to that of my father.

The structure of his face was strong as he thrust his palm directly before my protector, “Gabriel.”

“Thomas, at last I am relieved to see you.” I watched as Gabe took hold of his offered hand heartily, his manner trusting as my eyes glimpsed over the blond tint of this stranger’s hair shining like that of a halo around angelic, stoic features. His blue gaze intelligent and yet searing as he acknowledged my sister’s presence merely with a small nod of his head.

“We heard your distress call-.”

“We?” I questioned forcing that piercing gaze to finally collide with mine, a sudden calm washing over me as if every worry that ever plagued my mind no longer existed, an ability that strangely enough I knew he was responsible for.

“Yes, chosen one. I said we.”

As if a silent cue several flashes of luminosity surrounded us as figures materialized out of empty air; some clothed in white robes others in willowy flowing dresses of various hues like that of Katrina’s fashion while others appeared in earth’s latest trends of tees, hoodies, and jeans similar to me and my protectors.

A guy dressed completely in black leather, hair spiked, piercings lining his face stepped from within the crowd, his black painted nails boldly reaching out to caress one of my curls before speaking, “so this is the infamous Anna Marie. The anointed one we swore to die for in order to protect.”

I shifted my head back from his unwanted touch, stepping closer to Gabe’s strong figure. My protector’s tone was tolerant and yet forewarning, his hand brushing my lower back, “now, now Alexander we mustn’t touch.”

Alex’s grin became that of which sardonic was made of, “well, that’s a bit like the pot calling the kettle black,” his pale green gaze falling pointedly to the location of Gabe’s palm before I felt his hand fall away. The warmth of his touch vanishing along with it. Laughing in morbid delight, a sound I never would have associated with a guardian angel Alex retorted, “hit a nerve, oh so righteous Gabriel? Let’s just hope that somehow while even facing such …” His eyes wandered back to me before sliding back to mock my guardian, “obvious temptation… that you remember your sacred guardian guidelines.”

A woman stepped forward, a cloud of white hair brushing the shoulders of her robe, her chocolate colored skin appearing ageless, “this is not time for irrelevant squabbles.”

Gabe’s head hung in shame before he greeted her warmly, “Seraphina.” He acknowledges the sight of her eagerly, “as usual you are right.”

“Gabriel, you only send a distress call in times of great need, so tell us how may we be of service?”

Leaving my side he moved closer as he spoke quickly as I retreated further from Alex’s proximity towards my sister while hating that my need for distance caused his grin to widen.

“We eluded Rick’s fiends once tonight I do not feel overly confident that they will allow us to do it again,” Gabe announced to the throng.

As soon as the syllables left his lips scream of distress pierced the air as guardian who remained on the edges of our cluster without warning suddenly became engulfed in fervent flames, their skin melting with its hellish flickers while obliterating all traces of their once unchallengeable beauty before quickly their bodies vanished into that of ash before we could even budge. Andrea’s palm slid into mine as watched shadows slither around our sphere of protection; their looming forms altering quickly into that of disgusting minions and cloaked demons. Their eyes appeared scarlet, their teeth sharp, their shapes contaminated by evil as ribbons of ebony sliced into their forever tarnished flesh.

And leading the horrific pack was none other than our eccentrically demented stepsister Adriana. She beamed a small of pure malice, her cherry tinted lenses glowing ominously beneath the light as her black pumps brought her closer to my guards. Her tiny skirt drifted upwards upon tanned thighs, her long golden brown hair swept back from her sadistic features.

“Eluded?” she questioned as she chuckled prettily with hilarity, the others joining in as fury caused my free hand to contract painfully, my nails biting deeply within my palm. Her hand tilted, her gaze condescending, “did you honestly think that we did not see through your little escape plan? That we did not find it amusing to chase mice around the maze before slowly entrapping such foolish prey? We would have captured you sooner had it not been for the allure of the notorious distress call. A legendary beckon to those we rarely get the pleasure of seeing. I must say, it was an enticement we just couldn’t say no to.”

Throwing her head back to cackle freely in delight, crazed eyes finally allied with mine. “Imagine the look on Daddy’s face when at last I not only bring home his precious Anna Marie, but the beheaded skulls of a small army of virtuous guardians.”

The look of pure unadulterated bliss that captured her features at the mere idea was that of lovers finally coupling in expressed pleasure as the sight of it virtually repulsed me into enforced silence as Seraphina bravely walked towards the edge of our group, “let us be, for even a demon as young as you must know of the rules of humanity’s unawareness of our world.”

My mind inwardly commended her courage while silently disagreeing with virtue’s need to attempt at evoking peace through words instead of action. My ingrained impulse lingering deeply within my soul to decimate the enemy swiftly battled for supremacy over my self containment before eventually conceding. Inwardly, I recognized its scorching need burning beneath my skin as I repressed its desire acknowledging that its existence came from my untrusting darker nature, something from which I knew none of the mentalities around me shared.

Adriana’s beam grew at her words of caution, “that’s gonna be kind of hard for us,” she glanced around at her amused army of darkness before returning my protector’s unyielding gaze. “For you see, you’re currently safeguarding the one thing we were sent to apprehend.”

With fear never touching my fearless defender she emotionlessly responded, “The child goes with no one but us.”

“Oh really,” our step sister murmured in alleged deliberation, the amusement slowly dying from such vicious orbs as she considered the vast multitude of guardians facing her before she twisted to consider so many demons behind her. Her hair fell forward to shield her expression as unpredictably her palm swung forward swiftly towards my defender maliciously implanting a ball of red energy searing into the surface of her stomach, its touch burning rapidly through cloth and skin.

Smiling wickedly with merriment she retreated several steps back, her eyes oddly knowing… as like a ticking time bomb entrenched I watched helplessly as Seraphina’s eyes enlarged, a tear dribbling from the corner of her eyes before she literally exploded before us.

We ducked to avoid the debris as chucks of flesh flew along cars, blood covering the ground and upon those who had unfortunately stood too close. My eyes gazed upward as all around us strands of lily white tresses drifted down upon us like that of revoltingly horrid trickles of hell’s version of snowflakes.

Seraphina’s death occurred in mere seconds while I knew privately it would stay with me forever.

Applauding her own sick spectacle in an obvious display of demented glee, small splatters of Seraphina’s blood lingering upon her cheek, her smile almost cracking her face in two I finally realized just how much damage enduring Rick’s constant wrath had done to Adriana’s mind. How much it had warped her way of thinking. It was blatantly clear that my stepsister wasn’t just evil; she was completely and utterly…

…Bat shit crazy.

Taking unmistakable gratification in our dismayed horror we watched her actually leap up and down in uncontained exhilaration before enthusiastically exclaiming, “Okay, now who’s next?”

………………………………………………………………………….

Thanks for reading!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter and as always….

Vote if you liked it….

Comment if you want…

Add to your library if you’re into the story…

But always come back for more…

Until next time…