We got to shore by nightfall with zero interruption from Gary, who got off at an earlier stop. The sky was flicked with white stars, and the gentle overlying darkness of the sky shifted gradually from blue onto black. The moon was missing from the sky, and the stars twitched and their light shone down against us, as if the balls of gas themselves were the heads of angels and the light flowing down were there skirts.

Oliver's face grayed against the darkness, but I could still see the giddy expression curving his face. His hair glowed like a satin white halo over his pale face, and his eyes twinkled like neatly cut sapphires in the darkness. His jacket-padded arms were crossed over his chest, dipping the cigarette in his mouth against the wind so the smoke wouldn't get to me. Honestly, he had offered to leave while smoking earlier, only to have me tell him to stay. I didn't care about the smoke.

It was time to accept it... The bond between Apotropaic and Extant.

Oliver stood, taking the cigarette from his mouth. "We're here. Still in Arizona, but... here. Let's hope Dillon can figure out something." He twisted the ashes against the bottom of his shoe, and cast me a small smile.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "He has gotten us this far," I said, referring to Dillan. "But I don't think he will when Caleb's vessel dies." Truly, Caleb, Delta's Apotropaic was the one with the silver tongue. Dillan had his ways, but from what I remember, Caleb had gotten us both train and plane tickets.

Oliver's eyebrows lifted. "What makes you think his vessel will die, Emma Whitestone?"

I shrugged. "You told me they all die off sooner or later. I think maybe most of the Aporopaics will probably die off by the time we get to Mary's aid." I stood after him, straightening my back. "Do you think we could get any training done while in Arizona?"

He shrugged. "You never know." He stuck the cigarette back into its pack; he was out. "I though that maybe you would want to wait until Vegas?"

I shook my head bitterly. "There's no way that I could get rusty."

At that moment, Dillan Raking rested his hand on my shoulder. I jumped and glared at him in a flash, blonde curls swinging against my hair in the process. The tacosexual laughed in amusement at my reaction, and I shoved him.

"Woah, Emma!" He grinned. "Being a little violent today? I thought you would be happy after the day with your new boyfriend."

If there was one thing I hated more than being teased about romantic relationships by an adult was being teased about them by a kid. I had no interest in Oliver that way. After all, we had only just become friends. And he was my Apotropaic. I pulled my Metallica shirt a little ways down over my jeans, and stuck my tongue out at him rather than getting angry. "Hush, boy."

As if he was content with something, he crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. Soon, the rest of the group had located us, and we were herded off the boat into a place in Arizona near New Mexico. I wasn't sure exactly where we were at, but it seemed to be a fishing district, and there weren't many people.

I let Oliver carry my back,and he held it gingerly at his side. We walked in two's: Oliver and I, Dillon and Nahara, Fango and Delta, Carter and Ace, and finally, Mun took up the rear.

I lifted my head towards the sky as I left the boat and stepped onto land. The breeze patted my hair, which was greasy at this point, but I couldn't care less. I felt the ends of my hair tickle my elbow, and my black eyes found the sky. It's okay, Mary. I am so close to you... We won't lose you. Even if I have to search the rest of my life. I hope you don't mind... I made friends that I love almost as much as you.

***

I don't understand.

Where did everyone go?

They couldn't...

I look down at my hands, which are slick in a dark red liquid like sticky soap. It could wash my hands if it wanted to. After all, it cleansed the earth.

It wasn't fair. These mud puddles were red, but where was my blood? Where is my blood among these corpses? Why must I live, when everyone else has died? The carnage is gone, but I can't fight the feeling inside of me. It's sickening, twisting at my stomach, beckoning me to come forward and join my friends in death. But I can't. I don't know why. I want to, but I can't.

My while body shakes as I slowly turn to look at the girl I loved. Her eyes are glazed over. They aren't milky, like they say in the books. She looks like she could pop back up at any moment, blinking and laughing that it was all a joke. I am expecting that to happen. But she doesn't, and it is so wrong when she doesn't breath.

She should breath.

I have to see her breath.

Those dry lips were trickling blood. I hear a creak as something begins to close in one me. Then, I know I must leave. I know that I must go do the impossible.

It's what they would have all wanted, the dead bodies lying like frozen sleep in front of me.

Before I leave this dimension, I must close all of their eyes. My face should be the last thing they see. And soon, I am saying to the world that birthed me, which will soon disappear...

***

I was in the forest, eyes suddenly woken to be trained on a bird that chirped on one of the thin limbs on the trees. I stopped dead in my tracks, creasing my eyebrows at it as it stood, looking back at me and singing a song only tone could let you understand. What did I just see? Who is going to die? The bird wouldn't answer my question, so it splayed its wings and fluttered is off.

Someone grabbed me by the wrist gently in a worried undertone. "Emma, you alright?"

I broke my eyes away from the branch and turned to look at Oliver with wide eyes. My face peered back in the reflection of his pupils, so afraid and shocked. His cigarette (I bought him a pack) drooped in his mouth, and the wind drove the smoke away. My jaws were limp, my mouth open slightly. I looked like I had seen into the face of... someone or something worse than Death.

"Emma, what's wrong? Extant!"

I blinked at him. "I-I'm okay..." Then, in a more firm (and irritated) voice, I added, "Mind your own business, alright? I will need you when I need you."

He took my wrist instead of my hand to ward off future protests from me and dragged me along in the forest, where the rest of the group were already way ahead of us. Our feet crunched against the leaves and pine needles, and my bag clapped against his flank. Minutes into the journey, I snatched my wrist away and picked up the pace.

Eventually, I caught up with Dillan.

"How long until we get where we're going, Dillan Raking?" I slouched a little bit to compete with his shorter height; I looked like a female copy of Carter. I hoped the question wasn't stupid. After all, I wasn't sure he knew too much about the excessive daydreaming.

"No idea," he answered, disappointment in his voice. "It could be hours before we find our first sign of civilization."

Blood is everywhere...

I dipped my head, fiddling with my knuckles. "I will go head back with my Apotropaic, then."

"You do that."

Oh God...

I headed to the back of the line, sobering as I made my way.

Mommy, help me!

I shook my head. I hate it... Why do I have to have these goddamned visions? It isn't like anyone else here has that problem. I hate being able to see the pain people go through... My hands found their way into my pockets, and I stopped beside my Apotropaic. He gave me a worried look.

I curled my lip at him. "If I let you hold my fucking hand, would that make you feel better?"

"I..." His cheeks flushed. "I'm not going to ask for that. I am genuinely worried. It hurts that that is all you expect I want from you, as your friend or your trainer."

I opened my mouth, to apologize or argue further, I wasn't sure. However, I was stopped before I could speak by Nahara shouting something excitedly in the front. Fango glanced back at us and leaked the information, "We found a stopping place!"

I dropped my hands at my sides, and dipped my head. A stopping place... Truly, a was born a tense person, but Croma put a toll on me. I sincerely needed a break from some of the tension, although I couldn't do that without Mary... Who knew what was happening to her right now?

I was jerked out of my thoughts as the group stopped in front of the house. It looked as abandoned as the one we had lest slept in, cobwebs building around the fence and other various parts of the house. On top of that, were were damaged places in the bricks that any owner would frown upon. If I wasn't about to walk into a poorly made horror film, then it was vacant.

Then again, my life was a poorly made horror film...

I took a breath, as I had been told to do so many times before in my life. "Sorry, Oliver. I'm just being stupid. Again. We will be staying in the same room, right?"

He gave me a forgiving smile. "Of course. And I don't think you're stupid, you're just a little fiery, that's all."

Before Dillan could knock, an old woman opened it. The sight of her shocked us all. For the rest, it was probably how ancient she looked, like tarnished gold. For the others, it was probably that she was there at all that shocked them. But I couldn't help but wander into her eyes, which were like ink drops on satin paper. The eyes of a demon...

She swung the door open and put her hands up in the air. "Visitors?! At this hour? My, my, my, so many young children." Her eyes skipped over Mun. "Forgive me if these are not your children, and it is none of my business, but kind sir, are you a whore?"

Mun narrowed his neon green eyes and paled, clearing his throat. "Um, we are sorry to interrupt you. However, we are hungry and will pay you handsomely..." Nahara shot him a hot glare. "In a way without money?"

The old woman laughed. "Nonsense! Come on in! You will have to share rooms, now, of course."

Dillan was the first to appreciate the taco poster on her wall. His purple eyes took in everything and he grinned. "Nice decorations..."

She chuckled. "Thanks. Don't stare at it too long. It's hotwired to do something painful to someone who isn't me."

As the rest of us filed in, Dillan slanted his eyes towards the old woman. "You mean like... A prank?"

She shrugged. "That's my thing. I suppose you want to leave now that you know my awful secret?"

Nahara nudged me with her elbow and muttered, "Dillan just found himself a friend for life."

I had a feeling that part of that had to do with the fact that they would probably die around the same time...

***

I twisted to my side once again, facing Oliver in the darkness on the narrow bed. The air between us was boiling in a way that only I could tell, me being so uncomfortable. I tried to shift my head onto the pillow without coming into contact with his hair or forehead, but it was impossible. This was hell.

Oliver was on his side, too, facing me with a tired and amused expression. "You'll hurt yourself if you hit the mattress too hard..."

At this, I smothered a chuckle. We were practically lying on a rock.

"What do you dream about?" Oliver asked, halfway between sleep and wake. His eyelids were drooping so that his eyes weren't as wide. "I can't remember mine, except for this one dream... I was a teacher. It was wonderful."

I said nothing; I usually dreamed about death.

Without my consent, my Apotropaic wrapped his arm around me and nuzzled his face into my neck. "Dreams are beautiful things... They show a window into who you really are..." He yawned, then continued, "But they can be pretty scary things, too."

I was bound so shove him off, but what would be the point? The demon was like a puppy. Besides, he was asleep. And he was right, in a way. There in the darkness of a house owned by a woman named Gran P, under the blank ceiling, Oliver's breath pricked against my neck, and I sat there fumbling through my mind, trying to set the mood for a good dream.

And eventually, I did. I was teacher's assistant. It was wonderful.

If it isn't obvious who Emma is falling in love with, you need help, but who do you guys think should get with Emma anyway? I can see a lot of Emthorne shippers reading this.

*evil laughs*

Garry Blueberry is going to live on his own underground because his hair is screaming.

Vote and comment! I love you!

The picture is Gran P. Don't get bored; the next chapter will be an epic fight! What do I need to work on? Thank you guys so much!