The cool night breeze brushed against my cheeks as the door closed after me. I'd taken the back exit to avoid being seen by the lady in the bar and didn't regret it. I didn't realize until then that my stomach was churning. I felt green. Gritting my teeth, I slung my purse over my shoulder and rubbed my wrist. It was hurting like I'd cut myself on that broken glass. I looked down at my left arm and froze. 

    It looked as if someone had drawn a circle around it with some ink. Thin, dark, and straight. I rubbed at it, licked my thumb, and tried again. It didn't budge. And it hurt every time I tried, as if the skin was sore.

   I wracked my brain, but couldn't think of any reason why that would be there. Noah was right, apparently. I was sleep-deprived. Shaking my head, I headed around the back of the building toward the bus stop. The streetlights were just now flickering on, the sun setting over the city. My red converse gently padded down the alley. Usually all I heard were cars. This time, I heard voices. Normally I wouldn't have cared. However, the topic caught me off guard.

   "...braided hair, tattoos, and aura? Yes, I'm positive, Calida."

   "Forgive me for being sharp, but I do not want to lose her." The new, feminine voice had a funny accent to it. "She will not escape again."

   Before I could decide it was a bad idea, I ducked behind some crates and held still. If I wasn't sorely mistaken, they were referencing the creepy lady like she was a criminal.

   "What do you think, Alexie?" The first voice, that of some guy, asked.

   There was a faint pause. A quiet, thoughtful voice replied, "She's daring us. Sitting in plain sight and making sure Marrok saw her? She knows that we won't engage when she's not alone."

   "So she's just going to hop around in plain sight? She has got to have a game plan."

    "I'm sure she does," murmured the guy she'd called Alexie. "She has a card up her sleeve."

   "No idea what?"

    "Pray I'm wrong."

    I frowned and leaned back. They were being so vague that I wasn't getting any information. What were these people, anyway? They spoke like they were from a different country or something.

   "Hold on. Calida, has she moved?" It was said by the guy with a rougher voice. Mark, or something like that?

    There was a pause. "No. She is still inside."

   The third person interjected, "What is it, Marrok?"

    "I'm sensing something. It's like she's just over there. Diluted, but there."

     What? The heck was he talking about? However, I wasn't given time to think about it. Footsteps slowly headed my way. My eyes widened and I cursed mentally. I'd really rather not deal with any more crazy people today, thanks! Turning, I tried to sneak down the alley and away, but my foot knocked into some broken glass.

   In the silence, it might as well have been a gunshot. I snapped my head over my shoulder, locking eyes with the guy. He was tall, lanky, and pale. He wore something like the things I'd seen in the Harry Potter movies. Greys and silvers and blacks were brushed across the surface like storm clouds. The hood was drawn over his head, only letting me see the sharp chin and thin lips. Everything about him was sharp and thin. And somehow, he terrified me more than the woman inside had.

   I am not dealing with two crazies today! Nope! Without hesitation, I jumped into a sprint. The woman swore. "Marrock, shift and go around to cut her off!" I ignored them and turned the corner, getting whacked in the face with a stray part of fence. There was a sting from where it cut into my cheek. I ran between the building and fence, feet slapping the ground. My heart thundered when I realized they were following me.

   Cursing, I turned another corner sharply, ducking an overhang on the back of a building. At the same time I fumbled with my phone and pressed the emergency dial button. My sweaty hand gripped it tightly up to my ear. The rings made my heart jump and I cursed that them to hurry up. There was a click before someone started to say, "911, what's your emerge--"

   Just as I turned a corner, something white flashed from the bottom of my vision. It was like my legs hit a box that was in the way. I tripped and threw my hands up just before I slammed into the concrete.

   Stars danced behind my eyelids as I groaned. Common sense kicked in and I pushed myself onto my elbows and knees, scrambling to my feet. I cursed when I saw the remains of my phone scattered on the ground. The glass had been broken cleanly off. There was no way I could call the cops now. Chest heaving, I bolted for the street ahead, but something leaped into the way. I couldn't help the screech as I tried to stop and tripped over my own feet. How the heck did that get here?!

   The animal in front of me frothed at the mouth. It was a sandy-colored wolf, with large teeth, narrowed eyes, and hackles raised. It shoulders reached my middle. A low growl escaped it and it took a step forward. Landing on my ass, I clambered back up to my feet and didn't hesitate in running. My heart flew faster than my feet would ever be able to. I tore my purse off of my shoulder and lobbed it behind me. A snort told me I'd hit my mark. Praying I had bought myself enough time, I reached for the wire fence.

    Fire exploded to life. It swallowed up the fence in an instant, scarlet flames roaring as tall as it stood. My fingers burned and I cried out, lurching away. My skin stung from the proximity of the unnatural fire. Feeling like I was going nuts, I spun back around. "What the hell is going on?!"

   The flames parted for a moment and two people appeared. One was the man from the alley. The second was a woman. Her hair was bright orange and braided over her ears. Lenses were perched on her nose. Fire was crawling around her arms like a hug, constantly shifting between yellow, scarlet, and blue. Sparks flew from her. Her lips pursed in a frown. "This is some teenager."

   The wolf from behind me snorted. Her eyebrows lifted. "Still the presence you detected?"

   I finally swore aloud. "What the hell have you drugged my drink with?" First the wolf the size of a person, then this stupid fire lady, what next? A freaking wizards duel or something? I had to have been drugged or gone insane.

   "What are you talking about?" The woman asked, her eyes wide. "Who are you?"

   "This is Dani's hidden card," murmured the pale guy. "Look at her wrist."

   I looked down at it, remembering the dark line, and decided I was definitely insane. Something yelped from behind at the same time my feet were jerked out from under me. I cried out as I was suddenly yanked up by my ankles and dangled, blood rushing to my head. My head had narrowly missed a collision with the concrete. Did I step onto a boobytrap or something?! A familiar shape caught my arm with a smirk. "Took you long enough, Albers. You're losing your touch."

   It was the creepy woman. Something like inky blackness swirled around her fingers. It was like a dark purple flame. The ends were singed black and between the edges and purple core was a dark grey tone. I looked up at my feet to see the same stuff dangling me like a dead turkey. At the other end of the alley, the wolf was unconscious. The woman, Calida, took a step back and the wall of fire vanished from sight. The woman chuckled darkly and lazily turned me, drawing something sharp from her jacket. I went cross-eyed looking at the blade I'd seen earlier. 

    "As soon as I entered that building, I sensed this little hidden nugget." I cursed aloud when the blade bit into my chin slightly. "It was too good to resist. And now, I'm more powerful than the three of you put together." She smiled.

    The tall guy tilted his head. "Is that your plan, Dani? To fight your way out using a source? It would take every drop from her for you to escape me. Then you'd be left with a dead source and powerless."

   Dani smiled darkly. "Would I?"

   I'd had enough and swore badly enough to make an old lady faint. "Would you mind letting me down, you psychos?"

   Calida snorted. "You just had to stumble on an annoying one, didn't you?"

  "She won't be for long, I assure you. And you won't be alive to be bothered anymore."

   Chaos exploded. Something launched at the two and the tall guy snapped his hand out. Sparks of white flew and a long, thin pole appeared in his grip from literal thin air. The dark spikes shattered as a white flash crashed against it. Calida stepped forward, fire circling her arms. I could feel the heat on my cheeks. Dani tilted her head. "Perfect. And try not to implode, will you?" She addressed me.

   "What the hell are you--"

   A sensation of prickling started in my wrist. In a heartbeat, it became acid. It burned and ate at my skin. My blood seemed to boil and fry my nerves. My words turned into a cry of agony and my back arched. Everything seemed to fade away. I felt nothing but the ripping, pulling, tearing in my muscles.

   I was going to die. There was no doubt about it. Anyone in this amount of pain didn't live to tell the tale. While I didn't want to die, part of me couldn't wait for the pain to stop. I nearly wanted to beg for someone to actually kill me. Then the delusions shut off. I'm not dying without taking that creepy-ass woman with me first.

   I forced my eyes open. It was as if I had flipped a switch. The pain moved away slightly enough for me to lift my trembling arm to my eyes. The previously-thin black line was no more. Now it was several inches thick, covering half of my forearm. My skin bubbled beneath it, making me gag.

   My attention was pulled away just as the limp body of the wolf slammed into Calida. The fire cut off as they went down in a heap. The other guy -- Alexie? -- was still on his feet and seemed to be holding his own. Calida looked like she was bleeding from several spots and struggled back to her feet. Dani was enjoying herself, wiggling her fingers. Alexie suddenly glanced my way. I couldn't see his eyes, but I somehow knew that ours met. Dani snapped her fingers.

   Alexie grunted and spun the pole nimbly. His feet were torn out from under him as a black cloud slammed down on his shoulders. Calida cried out as his knees bent and he fought against it. With a sharp exhale, he flung the pole away. I realized it was aiming straight for me before Dani reached out. Something dark caught the top of the pole and wrenched it her way.

   Oh, no you don't. I buried my hand into my jean pocket and pulled out the small bottle. With a cry, I flung it at Dani's outstretched hand. I watched, praying, but it sailed widely to the left. She looked around, amused. "What was that supposed to do?"

   The pole suddenly switched directions again. I grinned past the pain and reached out, catching it in my grip. It connected with my palm with a satisfying thunk. Within a second, whatever was holding my ankles let go and my moment of victory ceased as I crashed onto the concrete in a heap. Dani outright laughed. I picked myself up with a growl. "It was a distraction that worked, you nutzo."

   She rolled her eyes. "All you've done is taken away the Mage of the Century's source of power." She smiled at Alexie, who was still struggling under the weight on his back. "He was your only shot. How ironic."

   Dani was so busy snickering to herself that she completely missed what I was doing. I gripped the pole with both hands and swung it as hard as I could. It cracked against her skull with all of the force I was able to muster. She fell toward the ground and rolled, swinging into a crouch with her teeth bared. "Are you really this foolish?"

   "Call it my instinct to survive." I hefted the pole and realized that the pain was gone. It had disappeared as soon as I had caught this wood thing. Calida suddenly shouted and my feet were ripped out from under me. I hit the ground and saw stars, the pole clattering from my grip. Dani smirked and weight dropped onto my stomach. I choked for air, hand scrambling against the ground. I know I saw it land over here--!

   "Not so smug now, are you?"

   "Nope, still pretty smug," I rasped, lifted my arm, and pressed the button on the bottle. The mace shot straight into Dani's eyes. She screeched, lurching away and digging her hands at her face. I kicked her knee and sent her sprawling. Then Alexie was there, pole sailing into his grip. White covered her head and sealed around her wrists. Dani thrashed in her glowing bonds.

   The weight gone, I staggered to my feet. The red-head -- Calida -- was watching me, stunned. The wolf was still unconscious. Alexie's hood had tilted back enough to tell that he was studying me. My heart suddenly dropped into my chest. He took a single step forward. My gut took over and I bolted from the alleyway.