I couldn't hear what mini me's mother and father were saying, most likely because I hadn't heard it when it had happened ten years ago. The mother looked worried, and father was serious.

Mini me was watching them, her head cocked curiously to the side. She shrugged, then danced around in a little circle, singing to herself.

Her father and mother broke away a few minutes later. The mother took little me by the hand and walked her away, while the father walked back over to some people standing in the crowd.

Mom gestured for me to follow her in the direction that mini me and her mother had went. I followed, and then immediately wished I hadn't.

We were instantly surrounded by hunters, all with loaded guns pointed straight at us. The mother in front of me shoved mini me behind her, and backed against a wall.

I looked over to my mother, who was watching the scene play out in front of her with tears in her eyes. I looked back at the memory unfolding in front of me.

A man shot, and the bullet hit little me's mother in the arm, where she moved to protect little me. Another fired, and it hit mini me in the side. She screamed, and her mother quickly turned and grabbed her, then flew into the sky.

The hunters around open fired, and hit mini me and her mother several times, but in no life threatening places.

The two vanished from sight, as did the hunters surrounding me and my mother.

"So this was when you found out that the hunters were after me?" I asked my mother.

She nodded. "Later, you noticed the hunters and scientists camping in the valley, watching us. Those were the ones who put us in our current situation."

"I guess that means I suppressed this memory from fear, because of how hurt I was."

"That is my guess as well," Mom said. Then she smiled as the carnival for the otherworldly beings came back into view, where my father had apparently been an aspiring actor. "Would you like to go enjoy some of the festivities?"

I nodded, and we walked back to the carnival and enjoyed ourselves, and the time we still had together.

*

Third Person POV:

Maria, Finny, Sebastian, and Selena were hiding in the darkest part of the woods. Selena was sleeping in the grass, while Maria tried to take another look at her shattered wings. Finny sat under a tree watching the stillness of the night, staying on guard.

Sebastian was thinking. The boy had spread wings and fought Christopher while they escaped. Of course Selena was Sebastian's top priority, but he almost felt like he should have handed Selena to Finny and stayed to help. There was no changing his decision now, of course, but maybe he also could have gotten some answers from the boy.

Suddenly, there was movement in the woods nearby. Finny jumped up immediately, and Maria looked up from Selena, fear showing. Selena stayed asleep.

Sebastian walked over and stood in front of Maria and his daughter, ready to fight off an enemy.

The rustling in the grass and bushes got closer, and a dark figure appeared. As it got closer, Sebastian could see that it was no huge threat; it was the boy.

"How did you find us?" Maria asked.

The boy pointed to Selena. "I followed her energy. Which, by the way, has grown incredibly weak since I saw you all last. What's happening?"

"First tell us who you are," Sebastian said.

"Alright. My name is Alex. I'm half demon, half angel, like the girl. But her angelic energy is fading fast. What's happening? I want to help if I can."

Sebastian looked back over at Selena, who was smiling in her sleep. Then he looked back at Alex, and told him what had been happening.

Alex listened intently, truly wanting to help. Once Sebastian had finished, he looked over at Selena, and took a step forward to see her better. Sebastian seemed to stiffen when Alex approached, but he made no move to stop Alex from simply examining Selena.

Alex crouched down beside the young girl, who was somehow able to have peaceful dreams in a situation like this. He smiled to himself at her beauty, but didn't let the others know what he thought. I'm just here to help, he thought to himself, standing.

"She looks so peaceful, when all these horrible things have been happening to her," Alex said aloud. "How is she able to dream at times like these?"

"She's not dreaming, I believe," Sebastian said simply. "She's with her mother."

"But you said her mother was dead," Alex said questioningly.

"No, caught between life and death. That is why we are trying to find her, but the quest became more urgent when Selena's angel half began to die," Sebastian corrected. "That was why we were meeting with Christopher, so he could tell us where the body of her mother lay."

Alex stood. "So you know where it is?"

Maria answered. "Yes. I know where Christopher's lab is, but he wants to kill us all, and Selena can't go in her state. I have no materials or anything to even stop blood flow." Alex could hear the sadness in her voice.

"What do you need?" Alex asked. "I can fly to the city and buy whatever you need to help her."

The relief in Maria's voice was loud and obvious. "Thank you. Um..." She looked at Selena's wings. "A lantern, some bandages, and some soap and warm water, for now."

Alex nodded, then turned away and spread his wings. "I'll be back soon," he said, then took off into the night.

"He seems nice," Maria commented once Alex was gone.

Sebastian turned to face her and his daughter. Finny stayed by the tree, still keeping watch. "Yes, he does."

"Do you think he might stick around to save Angelica?"

Sebastian didn't know for sure. "It's possible."

Maria smiled. "I trust him."

"You also trusted Christopher. Your judgement is not going to be persuading mine anytime soon."

Maria sighed. "He used to be such a good man. I wonder what happened to turn him into such a beast."

"Sometimes humans are beasts from the start," Sebastian said, and the conversation ended.

Selena moved in her sleep. Maria reached to still her but was too late. Selena awoke with a scream, sitting upright in a flash.

A moment later, Alex returned, arms full of supplies. He set all of them on the ground except one box, which he handed to Maria.

"I figured she would need a new one," he said as Maria lifted the lid of the box to reveal a black dress. "I had to guess on the size, but it's better than one that's covered in blood."

"Thank you," Maria said. Alex nodded, then walked over and lit the lantern he bought.

Selena, silently weeping, leaned against her father, eyes closed, waiting for the stranger to leave her alone for good.