Mom and I were screaming our throats off until they were completely dry. I had never in my life heard anything so piercing loud. The sounds of the raging bullets were like clashing chimes with angry musical tones that were stabbing through my ears. I had to clasp my ears shut to keep the noise from entering my eardrum. But what about Dainu? He was getting himself shot to death...or so I thought.

When the guards' bullet chamber emptied out, I opened my eyes and saw something incredible.

The bullets they were firing at Dainu didn't hit Dainu at all. They all stopped in midair a foot away from Dainu's body. I can't believe I was so cowardly stupid to think that the bullets would hit us. The guards were so stunned at what Dainu did they didn't know what to do next. The bullets, then, dropped to the ground in unison. Everything became peacefully silent around us.

Then the guards remembered to reload their weapon, but they were interrupted by a strange electric shock that tingled around their guns. The guards dropped their weapons and the guns exploded themselves into pieces. The guards ran panicky away from us until they were gone.

"Yeah!" exclaimed Kyle. "That's what I'm talkin' about! You showed them, Dainu."

Dainu turned to us and smiled. He picked up my mom and me off the ground. As he took hold of us again, he jumped off the building and soared through the sky at lightning speed.

As we came close to the town, I told Dainu to drop us off behind the supermarket so no one would notice. My mom gave Dainu a squeezing hug, thanking him for saving us.

"Easy, Mom," I said. "You don't want to squeeze out his intestines."

"I'm just so happy we're all right," she cried happily. "We've could've been killed. Your friend here had saved us. And I'm so sorry again that I didn't believe you in the first place."

"It's OK, Mom," I said, rolling my eyes. "I forgive you."

Dainu lighted up a smile at me.

"C'mon," Kyle said, "let's go home, I'm beat."

We were about to walk home when, all of a sudden, we heard a couple of screams that followed by a chorus of screams. Dainu ran to follow the screams to find out what was going on. I tried calling Dainu to come back, but he didn't hear me. I chased after him, but he already got himself a head start.

There was a crowd of people looking up at something. I looked up too and saw what caused the commotion. A constructor was dangling from a billboard without a safety rope around him to keep him from falling. He was screaming for help as he tried to pull himself up but kept slipping inch by inch. Everybody was screaming, running around, and shouting orders to call the fire department. I shouted Dainu's name over the crowd, but he did not respond back, and I couldn't see him anywhere.

That's when I little girl—or was it a little boy?—shouted out, "Lookit, up there!"

Everyone drew their attention—so did I—at the strange floating boy that flew upwards towards the helpless man. Why did Dainu draw so much attention like that?

Dainu held out his hand towards the man, but he hesitated. He was probably too startled by Dainu's appearance or too scared to move. The man slipped off the billboard, and everyone screamed frantically. Luckily, Dainu caught him by the hand wrist just in time. Silence took over the people's screams as they incredibly watch Dainu descend the man back onto the solid ground.

I ran by Dainu's side, and watch the man catch his breath. A woman and a little boy ran towards the man and enclosed him in tight hugs. That must be his family. Then the man turned his head to look at Dainu, and smiled thankfully at him.

The crowd of people still stood at their spot not making a single sound. The looks on their faces at Dainu was something I have never seen before. Their faces expressed no hate, no fear, no panic or disgust. It was more of a gratitude and peace kind of mixture on their faces. It might sound a little weird, but that's the best I can explain it to you. You would've had the same look if you were a witness too.

"That was a brave thing you did there, Dainu," I smiled, patting his shoulder. "Now I'm not worried about you exposing yourself anymore. You're a great benefit to our world."

Dainu smiled. "I did what I thought was right. Your guidance led me to the right choice."

He was right about that.

"Come," he continued, "we should rest."

The man bade us farewell and thanked Dainu again. I could feel the people's gaze still locked on us. That was OK; I didn't mind it at all. I knew everyone wasn't looking at a freakishly green alien. They were looking at a hero.

Then, something out of nowhere flew incredibly fast like lightning and pierced Dainu's left shoulder. It was so fast that it shot right out of his shoulder, making a wholly, bloody mess. Dainu cried in pain, and the crowd started to panic again. I scanned the skies and the buildings. Where did that thing come from? The army couldn't have found us—could they?

Dainu fell on his knees as he tried to block the flowing red blood from his wounded shoulder with his hand (that's right, red blood, like ours...Hey, what'd you expect? Green?).

"The pain," Dainu cried. "The burning pain!"

Of course, somebody-somewhere-must has shot some kind of sniper from a distance and almost bullseyed Dainu. I pulled him up to get him running. Next thing I knew, military soldiers and SWATs are pouring out in every direction. A helicopter landed a block away from us, and out pour in more soldiers and SWATs and—you guess it—Dean and General Mustang.

"STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND WE WILL NOT SHOOT!" said one of the soldiers.

I held Dainu's hand tightly. Dean stood there smiling at us saying, "Don't even try escaping this time! There are SWATs and soldiers all over this town."

Mom and Kyle appeared but were held back by the soldiers who came out of the helicopter. Mom was calling my name, and Kyle was trying to fight them off.

We were surrounded, like needles in a haystack. But I wasn't going down like a coward. I don't care if they hurt me, or arrest me, it was my job to protect Dainu and I won't fail him again.

"RUN, DAINU!" I shouted an order. "DON'T LOOK BACK AND RUN!"

Dainu blasted off the ground and soared out of the bullet's way. I held on tightly on his arm as my legs dangled freely during the flight. I flinched every time a bullet fired and missed us. All of the soldiers and SWAT teams were shouting words like "GET HIM", "SHOOT HIM", and "He's moving too fast".

Dainu almost dropped us when a flying bullet grazed his thigh. He had no choice but to retreat and hide. There was just too much chaos going on, and Dainu probably couldn't handle it all at once.

He landed on a roof on one of the highest apartments in this town. That would give us time to recover.

Dainu sat down and hunched over from the excruciating pain. I asked Dainu if I can take a look at it. Blood smeared all over his shoulder and stained through his sleeve. The wound looked worse. I bit my lip to keep me from vomiting.

"Dainu, heal yourself," I told him. "Heal yourself quick!"

"That cannot be done," he said.

"What?" I said, looking confused. "What are you talking about? You've healed others before."

"But I cannot heal myself."

"WHAT?!" I yelled. "You mean to say that you can heal others, but you can't heal yourself? What the heck?"

"There are limits to my abilities, and this is one of them," I remarked.

"What a jip!" I fussed. "You could've told me there were limits."

I tore the seam around the leg of my jeans. I tied it around Dainu's shoulder like a bandage. I pulled him up back on his feet and then I noticed something on the back of his neck. It was tiny like an ant, but it was round and smooth like a beetle's shell. I pinched it off of his neck, placed it in my palm and examine it.

"Tracking device," I scolded. "That's how they found us."

I let it drop to the floor and crushed it hard with my foot. I hope now it will be difficult for them to find us.

Dainu took hold of me again and took up into the air. The coast seems pretty clear from soldiers and helicopters. I still kept a good eye out in case they pop out of nowhere. Dainu, though, had trouble flying because of his aching shoulder and leg. But I think we were far from them and they won't be able to chase us or shoot us. We were perfectly safe.

I guessed wrong. The SWATs and soldiers ambushed us from every direction they came. Many SWATs popped out of nowhere on the rooftops, soldiers were dangling from helicopters and more soldiers on top of billboards and water towers carrying something that looked like a rope or a net. We were completely surrounded and trapped. Guns from every direction targeted at us; they're definitely going to make Swiss cheese out of both of us.

Someone from behind us (or below us) caught Dainu by the ankle with a whip or something. It yanked Dainu hard, sending us lower and lower to the ground. Then another whip tied around his left arm and yanked and twisted, making the pain on his wounded shoulder pierce him again. Dainu was being tugged in every direction. I almost slipped from Dainu's grasps...or was Dainu forcing me to slip off?

"Go, Kaley," he told me. "Protect yourself."

"Like, heck no!" I shouted, trying to hold on tight on his arm. "Don't be stupid!"

Dainu smiled. "You have done so much for me, Kaley. You were a benefit to your neighbors, mother, friends, and to me. But you had forgotten to protect someone else, and that is you. This is the time to worry about you. Do not worry about me; I will overcome them, just like how you overcome your enemies. Now go, Kaley, and make haste."

Dainu was right; I had to protect myself now. I had done so much for my mom and my friends. I never thought about taking care of myself. I was too busy protecting and caring for the ones I love. Now, it was Dainu's job to guard himself, to overcome his enemies. I still have to overcome mine.

I let Dainu release me and I landed on the ground, falling on my butt. Soldiers charged towards me to arrest me. I took the stand to push them out of my way, and jump onto the fire escape ladder that was attached on the right side of the building. The ladder slid downwards, but I lost my grip and fell into a heap of garbage bags. As I was about to make my way out the alley, more soldiers bumped into me and took hold of my arms firmly so I won't escape. Terrific!

The soldiers led me to General Mustang where he kept my mom and Kyle. When the soldiers released me, I ran to mom and hugged her and Kyle, happy that they were safe and sound. Mom asked me about Dainu, I frowned at her which gave her the sign that I had to leave him. The soldiers were guarding around us like an enclosed fence, they stood shoulder to shoulder without making a gap to let us free. Their guns were in position and ready to fire according to the General's order.

I tugged at Mustangs arm, but he refused to budge.

"You've got to stop them," I shouted at him. "Your dogs are hurting him. Just leave him alone, he didn't do anything!"

"It's our job to protect this country," he said.

"Well, you're doing a horrible job!" I protested. "Your soldiers and SWATs almost shot me just to get to my friend. You call that 'serve and protect'?"

He ignored me.

Mom tried to tug me away from him, but I snatched my arm away.

Dean was listening to his walkie-talkie, he told me, "They got your friend."

"No!" I shouted. I charged at him, and kicked and punched his chest, repetitively shouting "scumbag" and "arrogant pig" at him. He slapped me hard across the face that sent me falling to the ground. Mom let out a cry and tried to pull me up. I felt her arms shaking in fear against my shoulders.

I noticed a human figure was trying to push the guarded soldiers out of the way. At first, I couldn't tell who he was, but as soon as he emerged, I recognized that face of his. It was the man that Dainu saved when he was dangling helplessly on the billboard.

"Stop!" he shouted at Mustang. "Stop this! You're making a big mistake!"

"Who are you?" Dean said to the man. "You shouldn't be here. Get out of the streets!"

Dean was pushing his shoulders but the man pushed back at him. "Listen to me, that alien didn't do anything wrong. There were plenty of witnesses, and I'm one of them. That kid saved me when I was in trouble. Listen to the kid, and call off your military soldiers."

"We don't need to listen to you lower-class citizens," Dean insulted. "We do what we want, and we're doing it our way. Back off, or you'll get yourself in trouble too."

Dean grabbed his shirt and tried to push him away, but the man pushed and shoved back at Dean.

"Listen to us," the man shouted. "We have witnesses. Listen to us!"

Dean was about to punch him in the face, when the General said, "Wait, I want to listen to his side of the story."

Yes! Finally, the General wants to listen.

Dean was about to protest but stepped out of the way. I got up too and went to Mustang's side.

"So you guys are tellin' me that he's harmless, like some kind of guardian angel?" he asked, looking confused.

"That's right," said the man. "He saved me when I was about to fall off the billboard. There were plenty of witnesses who saw too. He doesn't mean any harm."

"Yeah," I added. "My friend was with me for a long time, and he's been a big help to me. One of my other friends and I were badly hurt, and he would heal us. He even protected me from some gang members who tried to kill me."

"Oh, so now he's some kind of Jedi master," Dean teased. "General Mustang, sir, don't listen to them! There probably in on some kind of trick. How can you believe—?"

"Quiet, Jackson," Mustang said forcefully. "I want to hear some other opinions for a change."

"But they don't have any proof the alien is harmless. It's probably a trap. Maybe they're aliens too!"

I don't know what got on Dean's mind, but he was getting crazy, and it was freaking me out. Now he thinks we're aliens in disguise planning to conquer the world or something. Guess he got sci-fi on the brain.

One of the soldiers called for the General's attention, and we all turned our heads to look. Dainu was a half a block away from us, and he was badly hurt. When he walked, he was walking very steadily but there were some limps added while he walked. His hand was still pressed onto his wounded shoulder, his clothes were badly ripped and torn, and the left side of his temple oozed with tears of blood.

The soldiers were all yelling at once, asking Mustang for an order, or threatening Dainu to stop. Mustang ordered his men to seize fire. Dean was trying to order the soldiers to shoot Dainu down, but Mustang told him to stop and reminded Dean of some kind of consequences. I caught Dainu's eyes as they looked at me filled with glossy tears. Dainu's expression told me that he was not defeated, he did not want to surrender, he was not angry or filled with hatred, and he's not afraid of dying. He looked as if he was at peace as soon as he saw me, still alive. I, somehow, felt the exact same emotion that he's feeling when I saw that he was still OK. No fear, no anger, no hatred, no misery, or loss of hope on his face at all. Only a smile and an extended hand at me, which told me he wanted me to be by his side until this was over, no matter what happens with us.

I finally break through the guarded soldiers and ran towards Dainu. I heard the soldiers, Mustang, Mom, and Kyle shouting at me to come back. I ignored them all. I was tired of listening to adults' orders, this time I was doing what my intentions were telling me to do.

I stood in front of Dainu, extended my arms out, and guarded him using my whole self like a human shield. You might think it was suicidal. Maybe, but I was not trying to die for my friend. I was doing it because I was not afraid anymore. I was not the cowardly, naïve, little girl anymore who would run away from everything. I am a friend, a protector, and a supporter. I had a responsibility to do, and that's what makes me powerful.

Mom and Kyle tried to push away the soldiers to escape, but they held them back. I shouted at them to not shoot. Mustang repeatedly ordered them not to shoot too. Dean, on the other hand, wanted to bring Dainu down and started arguing back at Mustang. Mustang, Kyle, and the man protested to Dean that Dainu is not an alien terrorist that wants to conquer our world. I heard Mustang call him a madman, which was true because he tried to load up his gun to shoot. Mustang snatched it out of his hand and took it apart like a piece of Legoes.

"Stand down, men," Mustang told his soldiers. "The alien is proven innocent. He is no threat to our society, put down your weapons!"

Yes! Thank you so much, General, sir.

"No wonder he didn't fight back at us when we were shooting him down," I heard a soldier said from a distance. One of the soldiers saluted at Dainu and me with a great smile on his face. Dean looked really aggravated. That was good because he wouldn't bother us anymore and we'll never see him again.

Dainu collapsed almost on his knees, but I quickly picked him up. "You have triumphed," he whispered to me, still smiling. "You came to save me, even though your life would be at risk. No fear possesses you now, I am proud of that."

I smiled widely at him and hugged him lightly on his wounded-free shoulder. "Thank you, Dainu," I said. "Thank you for everything."

Soldiers came to Dainu's side with a first aid kit and other paramedic equipment. One of the soldiers gently and carefully took Dainu's soaked bandage off of his bleeding shoulder, and applied a new and clean one and over-layered it several times to clog to bleeding. Another soldier applied peroxide on a cotton ball, and stroke gently against his bleeding temple and on his thigh. Judging by Dainu's expression, he felt like he was already completely healed by the miracle workers.

The paramedic soldiers left us and Dainu picked himself up on his feet easily. I still held onto his arm just in case he collapses or trips. As we began walking, I saw all the soldiers, including the General, smiled at us proudly. One by one, they all took off their helmets and dropped their guns and spare weapons. Mom and Kyle looked so pleased that they looked like they wanted to cry—actually Mom looked like she was already preparing her happy tears.

Out of nowhere, I heard the same loud, piercing noise from an aggressive gun heading for Dainu again. Except the bullet didn't hit Dainu.

It all happened so fast. I uncontrollably fell to the ground, screaming and crying from this burning pain I was feeling on the side of my left arm. I never felt so much pain before. It's so hard to describe this new burning pain I was feeling. But I can explain that it felt like I was stabbed by a burning hot needle that was twisting and burning my nerves.

I remember hearing a lot of shouting and the sounds of people wrestling each other. I heard the voice of General Mustang saying, "GET DEAN DOWN!" I didn't hear the rest of what he was saying because too many people were crowding me and screaming my name. I heard my mom wailing and felt her hand holding mine. I also felt Dainu's soft, gentle hand stroking my forehead and begging me to calm down. I couldn't answer back at him or calm down when the pain still burned inside my arm.

"GET THE KIT NOW!" I heard Mustang's order.

"—heal her—be—peace," I heard Dainu say, but I couldn't catch all of the words he was saying.

Dainu's hand pressed against my burning arm, and I panicked and screamed some more. I felt other hands holding me down to relax and remain still.

Next thing I know, I felt relaxed, relieved, and at peace. I felt myself fall into a dosing, restful, comforting sleep.