The lights on the perimeter's chain clink fence flashed red, they made a slight buzzing sound. No one really knew what it meant, it was always doing that. They usually found no demon in sight—it might as well have been signalling ghosts. The tripwires through the forest were more crucial to take seriously.

Mardea had decided to step out—she shrugged off the perimeter warning. I mean, why would she care about ghosts? She chucked, her cracking leather jacket over her impenetrable vest. Moving her box braids off her skin—it's colour was the dark flecks of an absalon tulip. Soft and balanced against her thick lush lips.

Unclipping her headpiece—she placed it down on the tablet before her. It was a heavy thing, weighing her head down with the coms and boring radio. Mardea was sure she didn't need it on her walk into the city's walls, besides Adam had one.

She bent to check her boots were zipped up tightly and buckled. Taking the pack of bullets out of her pant pocket—she tossed them on the tablet beside her firearm and grabbed the pistol just in case. As her father would always say, "Sidearms for unexpected sidefire."

She flipped the pistol over checking the magazine, it was fully loaded. Snagging an extra pack of bullets for any emergencies, she stuffed the pistol into holster and tucked the bullets away.

That should do it.

Turning and headed for the gates as someone caught her hand, yanking her around to face them.

She looked up to see Rohaan's olive-reddish complexion. "What's up?" She razed a brow.

"Ah, I was going to ask ya that." He fixed his brown hair from falling over his eyes, "Ya look like ya in a hurry." He scanned her face intently.

"General Dad—" She rolled her eyes mockingly, "wanted me to do the depot run."

"Do you need help?" He offered, concerned.

Mardea scoffed, "No"

"What if the truck needs loading?" he pushed again.

"No."

Rohaan felt hurt, he wanted to be useful, cause he was bored. "Be safe." He waved— wandering off.

"Hmmm," Mardea wondered if she should just stay in the city overnight and then head back in the morning. Though she had time, it was only the afternoon. She really wanted a break and to spend time with Adam. Having Rohaan would make things awkward.

She glanced back to see Rohaan, Jagger and Chyou all hanging out in the tented common area. Which was filled with random beanbags and pillows. They were laughing and goofing around.

Taking a breath, the gates lifted and she stepped out of the compound. Dust and pine needles flew across the path only grazing her cheek. The day was slightly cloudy and a nice one for a walk or a ran. The way from the compound to Coasto was forest wilderness and too many birds.

She quickly ducked as a magpie swooped down almost getting her. "Fuck off." She muttered—waving her arms. Mardea sprinted for the trees, following the path nearer to the foliage—hoping it'd give cover from those creatures.

Taking a rest under the forest's hanging branches, she took a minute to judge her next steps down the road. She followed along the trees knowing they weren't going to be her cover for the entire way. There was a wide open area ahead.

The shadows kept her from the eyes of magpies—they were more annoying than being any real danger. Unruly pests that had nothing better to do with their days. She steadily approached the opening in the trees and bolted for it. At least four magpies dive-bombed simultaneously, bringing talons and all down on her.

"AHH!" She screeched and grabbed her dagger from her knee, slashing upwards and cutting it down. Leaving their black and white feathers behind.

Mardea had taken this route many times—it was clockwork and the only way to Coasto. Being the first time she'd knifed a Magpie. She scooped up the lost feathers and headed down the hill. The branches and tree trunks curved with the waves of hills on the landscape.

She breathed a sigh—having more cover. When a pale hand with sharp black nails grasped her forearm—ripping her off the path and into the thick foliage.

Mardea's body froze, feeling paralysed—her shaky breath held her heart in panic. She could feel the person behind her. Up against their broad body—her head locked in position with their nails peering into the skin on her chin. Scared to look down to see who this was, her free hand slowly slid down her leg—feeling for the knife.

A soft warm tongue egregious clicked her forehead—Madea's entire body quaked with the unexpected turn of events. Her hand gripped the knife and she jammed it backwards hoping to land it into the body behind. But the person sprung off her and caught her other arm—holding both and trapping her to face him.

Mardea's eyes widened—this was indeed a Demon. She felt she had let him hold her for far too long. In the shade of the trees—she knew what she saw. He was entirely pale, with four sharp horns on his head—two bluish golden ones curved backwards and two on the front pointed upwards in reddish brown. His eyes; green and glowing, face; covered in red markings and his ears were pointed. He stared back holding Mardea captive—until she high kicked him in the centre of his chest.

She lost her footing and her hands caught her in old branches and leaves. Her head jerked up to search for the demon but he was standing over her.

"Get away from me!" Mardea screeched—pointing her knife.

He lifted his hands up and then shrugged. His expression was neutral. She stammered to her feet, panting and puffing—realizing she had been holding her breath.

"What do you want from me!" She tried to speak bravely but it was shaky.

"I want you Mardea." He said softly.

"What?? How do you know my name?" She backed away.

"I've been watching you." He said walking towards her.

"You're a creepy stalker!" She screeched.

He was stunned by her unexpected accusation, "No, it's not like that! I don't follow you." His face screwed up with disgust. "I admire you from afar."

"You know, you're doing something and I'm busy... Doing my own thing and then, I see you." He tried to explain hoping to not dig himself an uncomfortable hole. But he doubted his words were making sense after they had left his mind.

"I can't believe this! How close are you to the compound." Mardea turned to run, but he grabbed hold of her again. She swung her knife at him but he dodged it.

"I just—want..... t—to know!" He jumped back from the knife—taking hold of her wrist and twisting her up in front of him.

He held her firmly from behind. "If you'd accept me."

"Accept you!" She shouted and bit his arm, baring her teeth in.

"AAH! FUCK!" He shouted and she squirmed out of his grip.

"No..... You're delusional!" She spat through the blood. Mardea raced for the path, losing her knife in all the fuss. As she ran, she noticed blood dripping off her chin—wiping it on the jacket sleeve.

Was he asking for permission to consume me? Oh my God! She thought as she could hear her heart about to explode in her ears.

I meet a demon, I meet a demon.. An actual demon!... I almost died! No ... no ... but I didn't. Her mind raced. I prefer shooting them from afar in battle. I hope to not have to do this again.

With vision blurring she spotted the gates for Coasto up ahead. Relief filled her body finally she was safe and glad to be physically unscathed. She felt herself pondering if she was wrong for declining Rohaan's help—fighting beside him would have lifted the fears and panic. Mardea felt guilty, she blamed herself for an attack that could of been avoided. Leaving her headset behind was a critical mistake and she knew she had made far too many, allowing for what happened.

She could feel pine needles and mud caking her clothes and itching her skin. She did not wish to see Adam in this state, unsure of what she should do. Her hands were dirty and flaky dry. One of her box braids had glued itself to her other braids making her beautiful hair a clumpy mess. She wondered what upset her more, the state of her hair or what had happened to her. Deciding they were equally heartbreaking.

Taking some more slow steps towards the huge city gates. The wall was grey layered bricks towering heads above her. With a small machine sitting off to the right side. The road was still dirt all the way to the gate because this was the backside of the city, not the entry gates. Forest hung back covering the outside of the city's surroundings.

Magpies rarely bothered to dive-bomb this close to the wall. Glad to be in the clear. Magpie season was always great for target range shooting practice.