Once we reached the emergency room I was rushed inside pretty quickly, which made sense, being covered in blood and all. I now sat in a hospital gown, glaring at my ruined clothes that were seated on the table near the door. They had hooked me up to all sorts of machines and bandaged up my wounds, which I could hardly feel at the moment. The stitched scratches on my sides had reopened despite the previous decent handiwork, and I had a new gash down my right thigh. A few deep scrapes on my jaw and neck, which they used those weird, tiny bandages to patch up, and for others, a special glue.

The woman who brought me in sat beside my things, her fingers flying across the screen of her phone as she texted someone. I audibly sighed, and she looked up at me.

"So, you ready to explain what exactly happened?"

"I already told you, I don't remember. Now can I please call the people I need to?"

She sat up, stressing over her hair before turning to the door. "Look, I need to go get my daughter, then we can figure out what to do with you. Please just wait here, okay?"

I stared at her, annoyed. Guess I'd have to find my own phone. My literal phone was gone, I had checked frantically earlier. I was even more angered by the fact I'd have to redo all my games and their high scores if I ever got a new one. One does not get to level 300 on candy crush that easily.

"Fine." I let my head fall back and hit my pillow, staring at the white tiled ceiling. It smelt like someone had spilt bleach everywhere and hadn't bothered to mop it up. I listened as she shuffled around looking for her keys, and then I heard the door click as she left. I sat up again, fast, and began pulling out the needles and patches they had hooked up to me. I spun around to put my feet on the floor, becoming suddenly dizzy and nauseous as the pain finally registered along with the shock of cold tile on my bare feet. I had to shake it off and get out of here.

I sat there for a while longer, trying to catch my breath and encourage myself to keep moving on. With legs that felt like jelly, I walked to my clothes and managed to pull on my jeans and shoes. My shoes were the least bloody of my things, and my jeans a close second, save for the thigh and bottoms of them being encrusted in the dried stuff. The socks were unsalvageable. I took the jacket, too, as it was cold outside and it was dark enough that the bloodstains weren't that noticeable. My sweater was ripped to shreds, so I wouldn't be wearing it, but I just grabbed it and brought it with me anyway, tucking what was left of it into my jacket. Curse me for being sentimental.

I then readied myself by the door, wondering how I'd get past all of the nurses and doctors roaming the halls of the hospital like this. But I kept telling myself, I had to get to a phone, so I had no choice. I slowly cracked open the door, peering out into the hall before closing it swiftly behind me, pulling my jacket around me to attempt to hide the hospital gown I still wore.

Turns out the hallway I was in wasn't that active, so slipping out of my room unnoticed wasn't a problem. I carefully let it shut behind me, letting my gaze wander. I watched as a few nurses bustled around, walking from room to room. A woman sat outside one, flowers clutched in her hands. The lights were insanely bright, and everything was either a pristine white, or a pale color close to turquoise. The rooms were lined up behind and in front of me, some of them with darkness underneath their doors, others with a similar light to the fluorescent ones on the ceiling.

A sudden dizzying feeling overtook me, and I lurched, quickly grabbing onto the handle of my door. I didn't understand. What was happening to me? A nurse passing by stopped beside me, pressing the towels he held to his chest as he squinted at me. "What are you doing?"

I panicked, which easily was able to override my dizziness. "Just getting some water. I'm fine." I unlatched my hand from the door handle, quickly brushing past him. He seemed confused, but continued on anyway.

The bright lights were disorienting, and I found that my head was beginning to pound. I searched with my head low for a darker hallway, my feet dragging along. I coughed into my sleeve a little bit, frustrated as I looked up at the signs posted at the end of the hallway. There had to be a map of some sort... I approached the signs, eyes scanning the board. Just a bunch of healthcare stuff so far. I looked back to the other side of the hallway, which had more people. I watched as people pushed carts and hurried along, I even saw a security guard quickly speaking into the radio he carried. That struck a nerve, and all at once, my anxieties rushed over me. They were here. That, or the doctors knew I had left. Or someone else was in trouble, and I was innocent.

They? They... Who are they? I couldn't remember. All I could do was feel the fear that gripped me, and know that there were people I needed to find. Being completely honest, that rattled me. Not being able to remember who I was running from rattled me even more. It suddenly felt like someone splashed water on my face, and I rubbed my eyes, turning to look at the board again.

The phone, right. Would they mark one on a map? I would've thought so. That seemed like a logical thing to do. I knew I couldn't go to the front desk, obviously, even though that was the only place I knew that had phones. It seemed weird that they wouldn't have one in the rooms, but I guess not. I stood and contemplated for a second, wondering if I should ask another patient.

Fantastic idea, if I do say so myself. Though someone might attempt to rat me out. I decided that it was totally worth the risk, and made my way to the door nearest to me. I hesitated for a second before knocking, and almost immediately, the door swung open and I was faced by a very angry looking woman.

"I've told all of you this a hundred times." She hissed through her teeth, and I stumbled back. "My daughter is sleeping. If one more person knocks on this door, I'm going to sue this whole hospital." Bewildered, I stared at the lady, wondering if I should even try and apologize. She quickly shut the door in my face, and I awkwardly turned around to the room across the hall.

So far, I had run into the angry mom, a confused old man, a new mom, and a very talkative teenager that seemed enthusiastic someone had come by to visit. I felt a little guilty to just be asking for their phone, but they didn't seem to mind as I searched around their bag for it. They made the best of their situation, propping their legs up on a bunch of pillows, which were very obviously broken, being in white casts and all, to lean forward and talk to me better.

"Sooo, stranger, can I ask why you need my phone?" They arched an eyebrow, and I stopped searching, looking up at them. They had remarkably fluffy hair, and dark coffee brown eyes. As they smiled, I noticed they had a chipped tooth. A bruise had sourly formed on their cheek.

"Only if you tell me how you ended up here." I responded, arching a brow back, and they snorted.

"A brilliant plan gone wrong. I was trying to find a fun way to go up a hill on my skateboard, and did so by hanging onto the back of my friends truck, but I'm sure you can see how that ended. My fingers ended up slipping halfway and down the hill I went."

"Oh, yikes." I laughed, but I did feel sympathy for them.

"Not even worth it." They said, and shrugged their shoulders, wincing when they popped. "So, you still haven't told me."

I stared down at their bag, which was a beige color and decorated in various patches. Lots of stars, for some reason, and a few patches that were the moon in different phases.

"I'm trying to find these...people. I need to warn them, and I'm worried that I'm running out of time to do so."

"Um, do you by any chance know who these people you need to warn are?"

I started, but my words didn't even leave my mouth. Fear struck me again, and I pressed my hands to my head. I swear I knew. I knew I knew. There was only one name that seemed to stick with me, but I couldn't seem to figure out why. I exhaled, quickly, feeling that terror strike through me again.

"I need to find Kindle."

"Who is that?"

I bit my lip, my previous suspicions stirring within me. Kindle. All I could remember was his name, and blood. Lots of it. Eyes staring at me in the darkness. Another sudden wave of dizziness hit me, and I nearly fell backwards off of the patients bed. They lurched forward and grabbed my jacket, hauling me forward again.

"Riiiight, so this is weird. An amnesiac that keeps passing out and has a very ominous sounding task ahead of him? I wish I didn't have broken legs right about now." They let go of my jacket carefully, and I groaned and rubbed my eyes again. I was tired of not knowing what the hell I was supposed to be doing. It felt like someone was messing with my memory. Every time I thought I had something, it'd be dragged out of grasp. Everything but Kindle's name.

"Ugh, I just want to go home."

"Don't we both." They poked my shoulder, probably to see if I would do anything.

I looked at them, tilting my head. "Hey, quick, sorta personal question."

"Yeah?"

"Are you a boy, or a girl? Honestly as soon as I saw you I was immediately confused, um, sorry, that sounded kind of rude." I neglected to mention confusion in other ways, because all I saw was a very attractive individual. But we don't talk about that. Especially not now.

Fucking hell, Matthew, you're a mess.

"Don't sweat it. I'm nonbinary." They leant forward, tilting their head too.

"Oh, so,,,they-them pronouns, right?"

"Yep! And my name's August. How about you, Mr. Amnesia?"

"Matthew, but you can call me Matt if you want."

"Wow, nickname stage already?" They winked. "Didn't know you were that forward."

I immediately trained my eyes back to their bag, and frustratedly closed it. "Are you sure you've got a phone? All I found were a bunch of dumb poetry books, pens, and gum wrappers."

"Hey, don't hate." August grumbled and pulled their back into their lap, rummaging through it as well. They sounded a very frustrated sigh after a few minutes, having even gone as far as dumping the bags contents out with no luck. "My grandma must have snagged it... She's always taking mine because she can't keep track of her own." They looked over at me with a sorrowful expression. "Sorry, Matt."

I sighed and flopped back on the bed, careful of August's propped up legs. "I haven't been able to find a single phone in this whole damn building other than the ones at the reception desks. The last thing I need is to be dragged back and not be able to get out of here, which, I don't even know how to do. They're especially going to want to keep me longer if they catch me trying to escape. With how that woman found me, and not being able to remember anything? I'm screwed."

August searched through their bag again, pulling out a packet of gum and taking a piece before settling back again, seeming to contemplate something.

"Well, I think I know a way you can get out. Finding a phone after that shouldn't be too hard, just find one of those phone booths that are usually by the bus stops."

"I'm broke, August."

They suddenly grabbed my hand, pressing something into it with their other. It was a crumbled ten dollar bill, which was far over what I needed for the fee for the calls I needed to make.

"Thanks..." I said, seeming to zone out as they squeezed my hand a second time. They reached into their bag again, pulling out a black pen and uncapping it with their teeth. In delicate handwriting, numbers started to appear along my forearm. I stared as they wrote, capping the pen again and letting go of my arm.

"Call me when you find a phone booth or something, okay? Keep me updated!"

I stared at their phone number written on my arm, snorting at the enthusiastically written August underneath followed by a few stars.

"So.. You said you had an idea on how I could escape, right?"

"Yep. Down the most deserted, freaky hallways in this building, and then the scariest room. You're going to be going out by the morgue."

_____

"Ugh."

"Ugh is right. But that's honestly your best bet."

"Ugh. So I guess this is where we part ways, huh?" I looked up at August, and they grinned at me.

"Not forever. I have a feeling I'll run into you another time. But before you go!" They handed me a sharpie, which had somehow evaded my gaze earlier when I was searching through their bag. "Would you mind signing?" They gestured to their casts, and a small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. The dark blue ink was surprisingly difficult to write in, but I managed. On their left cast, in bold letters I wrote MATT. And just because I enjoyed their company, I took the extra time to write on their right cast, MR. AMNESIA.

They smiled down at the writing, their chipped tooth looking like a fang for a split second. "Sweet. My doctor's probably going to be pissed. You remember the way to go, right?"

"Ah, whatever." I waved my hand, closing the sharpie and setting it back in their hand, getting to my feet. "And I'm pretty sure, though even if I get hopelessly lost, and don't even want to find it anymore, I'll probably just end up accidentally stumbling into it anyway. Destiny likes to mess with me at first."

"I like the way you think, Destiny is weird, and kind of an ass. But maybe it'll work in our favor. I'll see you around, Mr. Amnesia."

_____

Following August's directions, it was surprisingly easy to find the correct hallways. I didn't understand how a person with legs that weren't in their favor was able to map out this place like the back of their hand. Part of me wondered if this wasn't the first time they'd been here for a while. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.

I was more cautious than ever, and had the luck of evading the suspicious eyes of most of the people in the hallways thus far. I began finding that the lights were dimmer down here, the farther east I went into the hospital. A woman rushed past me, knocking into my shoulder and sending me crashing into the wall. Bewildered once again, I watched as she talked into a similar radio the security guard had. Something seemed off here. That just kicked me into gear, and I began going much faster down the hallway. Like August ordered, I took a left. It got darker. I kept going, like August ordered. It got even darker. So much so, that I wondered if this section of the hospital was even in use anymore. Did August send me in the wrong direction? Maybe I took a wrong turn.

The hallway lights flickered very faintly as I walked past all of the messy desks, overflowing trashcans and ajar doors. Nobody was in the rooms, however. Spooked, I continued on, my eyes scanning the signs that usually presented the room number above the doors. 437, 438, 439....morgue.

Why oh why did the hallway have to be so damn creepy.

I didn't bother in calling out, I wouldn't want to draw attention to myself. I went to the door that lead to the morgue, my hands suddenly turning very cold. My fingertips hovered over the silver handles, and I stood there, wondering if any of my memory would come back to me. I recalled the feeling of something cold on my neck and I reached up, expecting to find something hanging there. But of course, there wasn't anything, and I was left even more unsettled, now feeling like spiders were crawling across my back.

I pushed open the double doors, both of them scraping at their hinges in protest. The lights were dimmer than the hallway, and an overwhelming musty, floral smell hit me. I coughed into my sleeve, trying not to think about the fact that I was in a room filled with bodies.

It was an even eerier feeling in here. I didn't like it at all. I immediately set out for the back of the room, where I hoped an exit would be. I was not expecting to find the man sorting through files. He stared up at me, surprised. I think I was far more surprised than him, though. How was I going to explain myself?

I stood silent for a long time, and he just stared. Slowly, he closed the cabinet, and I could read from his name tag that he was clearly a doctor.

"How did you get in here...?"

"The...door." My eyes glanced around for any chance of escape. I covered the hospital band on my wrist, undoubtedly looking very uncomfortable. I had two options. Either play the idiot teenager card and be dragged back to my room, or just make due with what I had. I'm sure it's easy to imagine which option I picked.

I wandered over to the file cabinets, pulling one open with a sudden, calm smile. "These look interesting." I noticed an empty silver tray on top of the cabinets, wondering what I could potentially do with it.

"Why aren't you in your room, young man? You're hurt, it isn't safe in here."

"I'm fine." I opened the file randomly, making sure the papers were all together before closing the file and throwing it over my shoulder. This forced the doctor to stop what he was doing, and cautiously walk to it. Just as he bent down to pick it up, I grabbed the heavy tray, hefting it in my hands as he started to get up.

"Sorry about this."

I slammed him across the back of the head with it, and he the ground, hard. Wasting no time, I dropped the tray and booked it to the back of the room, where an exit sign could be seen. I threw open the doors and ran, right into another person.

I dragged them down with me, right into a pile of leaves and dirty rainwater. I groaned and held my arm, which had suddenly exploded in pain. I also realized actual rain was cascading over me, fat raindrops landing on my face.

I rolled over to see who I had accidentally tackled, and for a moment, I saw nothing more than a striped beanie laying in the rain soaked gravel. Then I saw familiar red converse, and I looked up. Through the rain, I could make out smoldering grey eyes, and I suddenly realized who I was looking at. Finally being able to remember something just shot a bolt of adrenaline through me.

"Sally?"

She crouched, now holding a ruffled umbrella over the both of us. Sally studied my face, seeming amazed.

"Matthew? From art class?"

"Um. Pretty sure that's me, unless there's another red headed Matthew in our class that has somehow avoided me this entire time. Maybe I've been cloned."

She grimaced, picking up her beanie. "Okay, it's you." She stuffed the beanie into the pocked of her hoodie, then hauling me to my feet. I brushed off the soggy leaves,  making a face. "I had a feeling you were the one my mom talked about..."

"Your mom?" I thought back to the woman that had brought me here. Then another thing crossed my mind. "What did she say?"

"That she found some half-dead kid on the side of the road. You've been missing for nearly three months. Everyone thinks you really are dead. Well, but Ryan, anyway."

Ryan? Ryan! How could I nearly forget my best friend. Memories of this summer so far hit me like a wave now, and I suddenly felt like sitting down. It finally felt like the entire barrier that had formed to keep me from my memories was finally broken. Sally, somehow, didn't question it. She outstretched the umbrella a little further.

"What happened to you?"

Now there was the stuff I still couldn't remember. I couldn't recall anything about how I got injured, before I woke up in the road. Nothing. Those three months just completely avoided me.

I ignored her question, more important things to worry about.

"What month is it?"

She seemed a little irked that I couldn't recall it myself, as she told me I'd been gone for about three months. But you can't really blame me. I was too stressed and freaked out to connect the dots. "August."

That's ironic. I thought she had mentioned them for a split second, but then realized that yeah, August was a month, too. Embarrassed, I hesitantly outstretched my hand up to her.

"You don't happen to have a phone, do you?"

_____

"Hey, it's Ryan Brooke, I'm busy and I can't come to the phone right now but I promise I'll get back to you ASAP!"

"Did you really just say ASAP."

"Shut up Matt-"

The phone cut off, and I stared down at it in defeat. I had called him ten times now, and I was about to again when Sally closed her hands over mine, sighing.

"I think you should give that a rest. He hasn't responded, so he probably won't the next six times you call him. Is there anyone else?"

I had tried to aunt already, to no avail. My only option was my parents. I really hated it, and I hated the fact I'd have to spill everything, but there was no other way. I couldn't call my mom. I couldn't bring myself to. Before I knew it, I was dialing my dad.

It was agonizing waiting for him to pick up the phone. I hadn't realized it, but I was biting down on my tongue. I could start to taste copper in my mouth.

"Who is this?" A voice said from over the phone, becoming suddenly static at some points. But I could recognize it anywhere. I rubbed my eyes, turning away from Sally as I clutched her phone in my shaking hands.

"Dad?"

_____

"Matthew? Slow down, slow down."

"I just woke up in the road and I couldn't remember a thing. You don't even know how scary that is! For a second I couldn't even remember my fucking name!" I hardly gave my dad time to speak in between my frantic and slurred words.

"I'm coming to get you. Stay put, stay safe, there's something I need to talk to you about, but not like this."

The phone cut off, and I handed it back to Sally, my hands still shaking. She seemed amazed, but afraid at the same time.

"Sounds like...quite the summer." She had a strange look on her face, though I didn't blame her. I had just rambled on about demons and spell books and my aunt being a witch.

"So you probably think I'm a psychopath now. It's probably for the best that you go."

"Excuse me? I'm not going anywhere."

I stared at her. "Correction, you're the psychopath."

"Whatever is going on here, you definitely believe it." She pointed at me, and I noticed the chipped blue polish on her nails. "That gives me enough reason to at least check it out. Anyway, it really isn't that hard to grasp."

"Um... what?"

"You act like you're the only one who's run into their fair share of weird." She crosses her arms, eyes darting to the side. "I can literally see spirits, soooo."

I stared at her for a second, processing the sudden information. Mooreshade sure was a weird little place with lots of strange people. It frightened me more that I just accepted it, rather than refuse it.

"Right now?"

"Hospitals are the worst. And cemeteries. It really sucks that I live by one." She sighed, looking to the building. "But to answer your question, pretty much. Not so many out in the back here, but there's tons roaming around at the front of the hospital."

I paused, glancing at the building, wondering just how many there really were.

"So, demons, huh?" Sally looked at me, and I cringed away.

"Yeah... it's.. complicated."

Part of me wondered if I was still possessed by the other demon. I couldn't really sense her anymore, but I still didn't quite feel alone in my head. I ran a hand through my hair, attempting to pull a few knots and tangles out, but to no avail.

"You said there was one helping you, though? How did that happen?"

I brushed off a leaf covered rock that was nearby and sat down, uncomfortably pulling my arms and legs to myself. Sally seemed to notice my uneasiness, and thankfully, didn't press. I wanted to tell her, though. Just wasn't quite sure how to explain. Could Kindle even be explained?

"He's different than the others." I managed, just shaking my head.

"So there are good demons now... huh. Something I thought I'd never hear."

Something seemed off about the sky suddenly, and we both looked up as thunder boomed throughout it. I narrowed my eyes up through the trees, and a familiar feeling of warmth erupted in my chest. I pressed my hand to it. It didn't hurt.

"Matthew!" A voice called, but it wasn't Sally. I turned around to face her and the direction of the speaker, and quickly recognized my dad. Sally was staring at him in awe, but I couldn't really get why. He stood right at the doors I had just run from, and looked like he'd just been in the path of a giant fan, his hair was windswept at an odd angle and was soaked, as were his clothes.

My dad rushed to me, stopping and grabbing my shoulders. An emotion I couldn't understand crossed his face, and he brought me in close and hugged me. For once I didn't step away from him. He was surprisingly warm. I eventually hugged back, and I truly realized just how terrified I was. Sally glanced at us, seeming a little envious, which I wondered about. I doubt that envy lasted once I started to break down again.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." I pushed away and turned, wiping my tears.

My dad sighed and shook his head, pulling me back one last time before letting me go.

"There's so much you don't know yet, Matt." He said, and I interjected.

"I'm not the only one. Remember Kyle-"

"Forget him for now, Matthew." He glanced around and spotted Sally, seeming confused. Apparently he didn't think too much about it, and he lead me back to the rock I had been sitting on before, and he sat himself down in front of me, grimacing as he clasped his hands together. "So I assume she knows?" He nodded at Sally, who curiously took a seat beside me.

"Oh, yeah. He knows some stuff too. If you ever need an expert on spirits, I'm your girl."

My dad laughed, but it seemed really forced. "Of course he found someone like you." He ran a hand through his hair, which was a shared habit of ours.

"So what's this big family secret?" Sally pressed, and my dad and I both glanced at her. She apologetically looked at me. "Um, sorry. If I'm even allowed to know."

"Do you trust her?" My dad arched a brow over at me, and I looked at Sally again. Her grey eyes seem to regard me humorously, like she already knew something I didn't. But something about her...

"Yes, I trust her."

She smiled, and I wondered how she ever used to be the shy artist I knew from school. I understood now why Ryan liked her so much. He would never shut up about the times they had encountered each other out of school. He always commented on how she seemed like a much different person.

"Look, Matthew. You know we have a complicated enough family as it is, but there's some things that both your aunt and I have sworn not to tell you. Now, obviously, is the time. A lot of things have been going on lately that we have noticed... She tried warning me, but I didn't listen, and now it's my fault you're in all this mess."

"I remember that. You guys are terrible at whispering."

"Yeah. Yeah...we are. Look, son, remember your grandmother?"

"She was a badass."

"Yeah, she was. And you've heard the stories about your grandfather."

"The guy that ditched as soon as you and Jade turned two."

"Yeah."

My dad's hands nervously clasped and unclasped, and I tilted my head at him. He rarely ever mentioned his father, and what I heard about the man was from my grandmother when she was alive. Jade, my dad's twin, never spoke of him.

"He wasn't human. He was far from it. He was an archangel named Joseph. He left because he had no choice, none of the extravagant lies about cheating your grandmother told you were true. Your aunt and I are half angel. And in a way, you're part angel, too. Less than we are, but your power seems to be much stronger than mine, and perhaps your aunt, if you could ever learn to expand it that much." My dad didn't stop talking. I stared at the ground, and I felt Sally place a hand on my shoulder as an act of comfort. "Joseph, ages ago, was a warrior of heaven. With his weapon, a bow crafted with his own light, he sealed the seven sins away. Now they want revenge through you and will do so using the demon Rae."

It felt like nails streaking down a chalkboard to hear her name, and I could feel her fight for control once more, seemingly fiercer than before. I didn't have time for freaking out over my angel ancestor. I had to push her back down. Just knowing a demon's name was a very powerful weapon against them, perhaps I'd finally be able to expel her.

Was the world tilting, or was it just me? Spots danced in my eyes, and I was dragged back down into the dark. I was so exhausted, I was tempted to just let it pull me down forever.

No, no. I couldn't do that. I had to keep fighting.

My dad mentioned my grandfather used a bow. Now where was the bow...I felt the light accumulating in my palms. But there was still a piece missing. I willed what I had to light up the space around me, and in a glorious flash, the emptiness around me was illuminated. Why was I here? I suddenly felt solid ground at my feet, and my gaze trailed down at the darkness beneath me.

"No." Rae suddenly shrieked from in front of me, and I looked to her. Something was different about her... She seemed...trapped. She seemed to want to travel from place to place, but couldn't figure out how.

Not sure why, but learning you're part angel will really give your confidence a boost.

"What's the matter? I thought this was fun." I glared at her, and with her distracting pink eyes, she glared back.

"Took them long enough to explain that to you, huh, darling? I'm not sure why you think you're any stronger than before. It changes nothing."

"I know what I can do now."

Well, sort of.

"Your father and that sweet blonde friend you got there won't last much longer. Neither will Ryan or that pesky demon." She said. "Oh, but little did you know, they're falling one by one. Your aunt is gone. Wonder who's going to perish next."

I stopped, feeling my heart thunder in my chest. "You're lying."

"Oh, am I?" She smiled deviously. "Did you ever wonder who's blood covered your hands when you woke up from your little nap, angel?"

I screamed and charged at her. My anger fueled me. She tried to vanish, panicked, but before she could even attempt, I was upon her. I willed anything I had to use to kill her as I tackled her to the ground. I wrapped my hands around her throat, nothing but rage coursing through me.

"You think..this will solve..your..problems..fix..your grief." She grinned, and I squeezed my eyes shut and roared.

"Leave, Rae."

_____

"Matthew! Matthew!"

I felt the harsh burn of a hand slap me across the face, and I sat up, gagging, just to fall back down again, blood pooling from my nose and ears. I turned myself over, heaving as blood and vomit expelled itself from my system. I felt my dad calmly reassuring me, pulling me close to his chest after I nearly passed out a second time.

I wanted to take a nap.

"No, Matt, stay awake."

I must've said that out loud.

My eyes grew lidded, and my breathing slow and heavy, but I tried my best to obey my father.

"Ryan..Kindle..please..." I forced the words from my mouth, hoping someone would get the message and call them. I could use some good news right now. I felt like I was freezing but burning from the inside out after expelling Rae. I turned my head down to my arm, muttering again. "August."

"I got it." Sally said, her voice soft. She took out her phone and walked off. I wondered if anyone would respond this time. I pressed my hands to my face, and my father asked if I was alright.

"No." I said. The rain began to fall once again.

_____

I felt warm.

I opened my eyes slowly, and it took a few seconds for me to realize that I was back in my own room. About two blankets were bundled over me, and I turned away from my window, which was dark, indicating it was night now. Apparently my clothes had been changed, and I now wore one of my stupid black skeleton shirts I wore around Halloween. It seemed highly inappropriate right now, but it was better than what I had earlier. I also wore my grey and black shorts.

I nearly laughed out loud in disbelief when I turned to face the rest of my room. Kindle rested against my dresser, his head back, snoring. Ryan's head rested on his shoulder, and he was out cold, too, probably drooling on the demon's shoulder.

Sitting up, I felt like throwing up again, but I forced it back, staring down at my feet to try and fight my dizziness. I tried to reassure myself, soon, this would all be over. I wouldn't have to constantly keep going through all of this.

I stood and glanced around for a pillow, taking one of my smaller ones. I turned back to my friends, amused, and tossed it at them, both of them stirring awake. Kindle shot up, looking like he was prepared to fight. Ryan's head fell of his shoulder and he sat up quickly, his glasses sitting crookedly on his face.

He pushed them back and looked at me, crying out and rushing to his feet, nearly tackling me back down.

"I fucking hate you." He said, hugging me tightly. "I hate you."

"I'm sorry, Ry." I murmured.

"You were gone for so long, oh my god. Everyone thought you got fucking murdered. We searched for you forever. They said you weren't coming back. But they were wrong."

"I'm sorry."

"You're practically my brother- I was- Matt, I missed you so much."

I think Ryan was crying now, but I wasn't going to call him out for it. He really was a brother to me, I'm sure I'd be just as damaged over this if I was in his place.

I felt another pair of arms wrap around me, and looked up to face Kindle.

"I told you I'd find you, didn't I?" My throat felt hoarse, and he just hugged me tighter. I felt Ryan break away and begin pacing across my room.

"I should have never left." Kindle said, and I shook my head.

"She would have killed you or dragged you back down with her, I wasn't going to let that happen to you. Not after everything."

"I deserved it. What she put you through... I..." His hands gripped my shirt, and I tilted my head back up at him.

"Don't say that. What happened, happened. We can't change it now." I attempted to break away, but Kindle didn't seem to want to let go. I paused, sighing. "You know what I am now, don't you? Or have you always."

"I had a feeling." He said. "But I wasn't certain."

I finally broke away from him now, staring down at my arm again, where August's number was written. I couldn't hide the disappointment on my face when I saw it was all smudged.

"What exactly do you guys know about what happened to me out there?"

"Other than the fact that you're literally part angel, not much." Ryan said, rubbing his temples.

I paused. "Is Sally here?"

"Downstairs, with your dad." Ryan's face became red. "I wasn't prepared to find you and her when I showed up. I was sweaty, I hadn't showered in like three days. I hadn't washed my jacket in like a week. You know how embarrassing that was?"

"You were going through a rough time, I'm sure she understood. You did your best for the situation." Kindle reassured him, which weirded me out a little bit.

I suddenly felt my throat go dry, and I roughly coughed into my sleeve, Kindle placing a hand gently on my shoulder. "I can't remember anything from the months I was gone...but." I stopped, having the force the words from my mouth. "The other demon, Rae, said I..." I felt sick again.

"Sally mentioned that her mother found you." Ryan said, concern racing across his face.

"I woke up in the middle of a highway. I was covered in blood, some of which wasn't my own." I stopped to take a breath, and sat back down own my bed. "Where is Jade?"

Ryan paused, looking very, very sad. "She vanished shortly after you did."

I pressed my hands to my face, feeling like screaming. "I think I killed her." I said quietly. "Rae must have made me kill Jade before I managed to expel her."

"Matthew." Kindle looked at me, grief flashing across his face.

"Jade is dead, because of me." My voice was shaking now, and neither of my friends seemed to know what to do.

Ryan looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn't form the words. Finally, after a few minutes of silence, he spoke up, reaching into his pocket.

"Before Jade left, she was attempting to teach me how to create some of her spells. I never quite understood how, despite how much she tried helping me. Then one day, during one of our training sessions she gave me this."

He extended his hand out, and in his palm lay her quartz necklace.

"I think, somehow, she transferred what magic she had from her angel half into it, that's why she became so skilled with it. As soon as she gave me it, I could perform her spells almost flawlessly. She told me to watch after it, and I never saw her again after that." Ryan shifted on his feet anxiously, putting it away. "I think she went after you, but knew what her fate would be."

I sighed slowly, rubbing my eyes and clasping my hands together.

"What now?"

Kindle seemed enraged, and I saw the familiar spark of determination flare up in his eyes.

"We find Rae and we destroy her. Once and for all. Ryan's our new witch, he can make any spells we need. You can tap into your power and I mine." Kindle looked to me. "No more running from her. Let her come back to us."

"You might need me, too." We all turned to the owner of the voice, and Sally called at me from the entrance to my room as she climbed up. "Us freaks gotta stick together, you know. Not sure what use communicating with spirits has right now, but hey, I'll make myself useful."

"You see spirits?" Ryan's face had turned red again, and Sally tilted her head him.

"Yeah. And you know magic? That's pretty amazing." She gently elbowed Kindle. "Not sure we've been introduced. I'm Sally, you must be the nice demon Matthew had talked about."

Kindle looked at her curiously. "Matthew really admires your artwork, so I've been told."

Sally looked over to me, beaming.

I felt myself blush and another thing crossed my mind, and I glanced at Ryan. "You said only my dad was here, where's my mom?"

"Losing you put a pretty bad strain on them." Ryan rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "She's been with her own parents for a while. Your dad doesn't want to get her involved in all this demon, angel mess anyway."

I sighed again. A much needed, calming warmth fell across my shoulders, and I thought about what my dad had said about my grandfather. He had a weapon he used to seal the seven sins away, made from his light. I remembered the empty space I had been confined to, and the two orbs of light I had encountered. But a piece was missing.

I got an idea.

"Ryan, everything should be how it was left at my aunt's house, right?"

"Yeah...how come you're asking?"

I got up, searching around for my jacket, finding it and slipping it on. "We need to go there. There's something missing...and I think that's where I can find it."

"I can take us there." Kindle suddenly said, and I nodded at him. I would have to talk with my dad later.

"You guys stay here, I shouldn't be too long." I told Sally and Ryan, and Sally hooked her arm with Ryan's.

"I'll keep him safe." She looked at him, and Ryan seemed as if he might pass out.

Kindle crawled onto my bed and opened the window, and I hurried after him. We stepped out onto the roof, and Kindle looked at me, outstretching a hand. I took it and he pulled me in close to him as I nearly slipped off the roof. Embarrassed, I held on as we leapt from the roof, and I felt weightless again. I squeezed my eyes shut, and when I opened them, I hit the carpet of my aunt's living room.

Kindle effortlessly pulled me to my feet, dusting me off. "Now." He said, the whites of his eyes glowing a soft yellow in the dark. "Let's get to work."

_____

I held the black book in my hands, and Kindle looked over my shoulder as I did so.

"I don't believe it." He whispered. "Jade had the Book of Demons. This is what you used to summon me, isn't it?"

Book of Demons? I stared at the cover. "Yeah, it is."

"This has everything we could ever need." Kindle carefully took the book from my hands, and I watched as he opened it, carefully touching one of the pages. "I don't think your aunt knew what a powerful book she possessed." His eyes hungrily scanned the pages, and I took the book back, closing it and holding it to my chest.

"Now wait a second..."

He seemed a little betrayed, but just sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry, I got a little excited. It just...there might be something in there that could free my soul."

I looked at him, and he seemed very anxious.

"When I summoned a demon to kill my father, I didn't care for the consequences. I gave him my soul and he turned me into a demon, too. I did all of the work he never felt like doing. He owns my soul. If I could free myself-" He inhaled slowly. "I could become human again."

I stared at the book, quiet for a little while.

"We can work on it together, okay?"

His eyes glittered sadly, and he nodded. "Okay."

I turned to the rest of the library, trying to reach out and search for the light. I closed my eyes and outstretched my hand, letting the rest of the light I had acquired guide me. Strangely, I was being lead from the library. We walked back into the living room, and I felt my hand graze past some of the crystals that dangled from the window. Opening my eyes, I found a rather peculiar thing. I had been lead to the clock. Kindle and I exchanged glances, and I lifted the clock from the wall, bringing to the table.

It was an old, intricate thing. I felt kind of bad about potentially breaking it, but I had no choice. I lifted the top of the clock off, surprised by what I found inside. The black ring from before. It was nestled into the gears, which kept the clock from working. I took it out and slipped it onto my finger, and Kindle curiously observed it as well.

It felt like I got hit in the chest with a battering ram, and I gasped, suddenly staggering back as I felt energy course through me. Kindle caught me, looking alarmed. It was like the orbs before, but this was far more intense. I watched as my chest lit up with a pale blue light, and the ring seemed to hum in my presence. Then all at once it ended, and the ring was no longer on my finger. Before I knew it I was being dragged to the ground with Kindle by a very heavy object.

In my hands I now held a lithe bow made of wood and ivory, decorated with a black stone. The ends of the bow jutted out in the shape of large antlers that glowed in an ethereal, pale blue light, the same as the string did. I touched the surface of the bow, speechless. Joseph's weapon- this had to be it.

Kindle scrambled backwards, eyes wide as they were seemingly forced to change to black.

I looked to him, surprised.

"That weapon. I never believed I'd see it in person." He said slowly. "It's true and only purpose is to smite demons. I'm.. I'm sorry. I don't wish to summon it's wrath."

I stared at the bow, furrowing my brows. "It doesn't even have any arrows."

"Not yet, but when the weapon is in action, they will appear for the angel that is using it."

"How do I get it to leave? Don't tell me I have to carry this thing around now-"

Just as I said that, I felt a warmth erupt in my chest, and watched as the bow quickly shrunk back into the ring it was before. I slipped it back onto my finger, and Kindle finally seemed relaxed. He breathed deeply, like that had been a very close call. His eyes became normal.

"Can we go back now?"

____

When we traveled back, the landing was far less graceful than our first. We appeared pretty much halfway into the window, and I ended up rolling the rest of the way in, thankfully collapsing onto my bed. Kindle appeared off a little bit farther than I did, and hit the ground hard. Sally and Ryan were nowhere to be seen.

I sat up, holding the Book of Demons to my chest.

"Come on." I attempted to pull Kindle up, and he got to his feet, rubbing his nose, which had smacked the floor pretty violently. He seemed a lot more drained than before. "Are you okay?" He looked at me, and for a second, I felt like the most treasured person in the world.

"I'm more than okay now."