The next morning Vine woke to Kat's voice and a strange tugging feeling.

"Let go of him already..." She was starting to sound desperate. "I don't...I don't want to see any more death..."

Calm black eyes met teary blue ones. The kid was watching them from the other side of the hollow, so it apparently wasn't him Kat was concerned over. "As flattering as it is that you worry about me, I have no idea what you're mumbling about."

She tried to pull at the wood covering his upper body like a cocoon again but it wouldn't budge. "This...I don't know what's wrong with even the trees now, but..."

"Nothing is wrong." The wood receded and disappeared into the wall of the hollow like it had never been there. "Should I have specified that no animal or plant will harm me? I am- was an angel of natural world. This is simply a way for me to borrow the strength of the earth."

"Oh..." She quickly wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry. I was just scared with all the weird happenings lately."

Vine smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I appreciate it."

Kat blushed and backed away quickly. "I- I shouldn't!"

Oh, right. Many who served god believed they should love only him. Vine gave her a seductive grin and leaned closer. "What shouldn't you do? I like you, Kat. Is that a sin?"

That only made her panic more. 'Don't believe a demon's sweet words,' she reminded herself. Demons always lied to lead the children of god astray. But Vine had saved her life out of all the people in the village...Didn't that also mean something?

Suddenly the child both had forgotten momentarily dashed between them, his arms spread to protect Kat. The serious, stubborn look he gave Vine really didn't match his age, and the demon did his best not to laugh. This was important to the kid. His belief. His strength.

Then his eyes were drawn to the key, now hanging on a string around the kid's neck. It still emanated the same power that both called and repelled him. Just what was that thing for?

"We should get moving," he said. "The longer we sleep in same place, the more likely it is the dream-eaters will find us." Not as long as there were still people alive in the villages - more people would attract more attention than their small group -, but if the doorway to hell was open, that would not be long.

Kat nodded slowly. Vine was right that they couldn't stay here. But it had been almost a full day's drive by car along the bumpy jungle roads to get here from the port town. If they had to walk, it would take a better part of a week.

"Let's go back to the church!" she suddenly stated.

"What for? It won't keep them out."

"That's not what I meant! Father Thomas had a radio. The kind you could send messages with. We could contact someone to come for us."

That idea did hold some merit. "How far does it reach?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "But it's worth a try, isn't it?"

Well...At least he could send Kat and the kid to safety that way. If safety even existed in this world anymore. "Let's do that then."

The climb down was somewhat difficult, mostly because Kat wanted to climb on her own instead of being carried like the kid and then got stuck, but they all made it to the ground in one piece.

It was strangely quiet compared to the earlier day. No, not quiet. The forest was full of all the usual sounds made by the animals there, completely opposite to the fearful silence evoked by the presence of creatures from hell. But there was no sign of the creatures themselves.

Gradually Vine started having a feeling that the girl was staring at him. "What is it?" he asked.

She quickly looked away. "Nothing. Just...if you weren't here, I would think everything was just a nightmare. Where are all those things? Nothing is out of ordinary."

Vine gave her a slight smile. "Does it frighten you?"

Her hand went to the disc hanging right below her throat, like seeking security from her faith. "It's making me nervous. If this were a TV show, you'd turn into a monster about now."

The demon laughed. "It's not. This is reality." Then he turned somber. "But it is strange. The group we encountered yesterday would have moved on already, but why aren't there others?"

"Moved on where?"

Vine sighed. "They're predators that feed on humans. They're going to go through every single human habitat in this island, killing everything on their way. After that...Well, I don't know if they'd try to swim across the ocean to mainland or turn to animals and plants next."

"And if they make it to the mainland..."

"Every human there will also die. Blades or guns won't stop them. If you can make anyone believe your tale, I think this island will be bombed with nuclear weapons." That should be enough to kill even dream-eaters. "Although it won't do much if the doorway is still open."

"If?"

"It would explain why there are no more of them, wouldn't it? That is, if the door was closed."

Kat was quiet for a moment. "May I ask why you're helping us? You are a fallen angel and I am a servant of god." When Vine gave her a sideways glance, she hurried to add, "I appreciate it! I really do! I just can't understand why a demon would protect humans from other demons unless there was something to gain from it."

"The world is not quite as black and white as your scriptures would paint it as," Vine only said. "Even fallen angels will protect things they consider precious."

She blushed and looked away.