Lena hummed to herself as she wiped down a table with disinfectant. It was a good thing she hadn't drank anything suspicious the day before, otherwise she may not have shown up to work with the same air of professionalism.

She looked up at the clock near the register. It was already nine o'clock, and everyone was required to clock in at eight today. The restaurant just seemed.. off. Lena draped the towel over her shoulder and walked over to the break room, where she picked up the thin pile of clock-in cards and started flipping through them.

"Hey... did anyone else notice Ted is missing?" Lena asked after she realized today's date on his card was empty.

"You're right!" Mary gasped as she came out of the changing room. "I haven't seen him since yesterday either, come to think of it."

Maya came up from behind Mary and rested her head on Mary's shoulder. "Wait, Mary, don't you live with him? Wouldn't you have noticed him missing sooner?"

Mary groaned and rubbed her eyes. "Yes, but I was hungover from that party."

"Hmm.."

"If he's not in his apartment, where is he?" Lena rubbed her wrists anxiously as the girls made their way out of the break room and back into the cafe.

"Ah, good morning Dawn!" Lena smiled, instantly erasing the lines of worry that creased her face mere seconds ago.

"Good morning," Dawn raised her hand in a shy wave and lowered her voice. "Excuse me for being nosy, but I overheard you were looking for Ted?"

Lena sighed and shook her head, a sad smile on her thin pink lips. "He hasn't shown up to work since yesterday."

"I know where he is."

Mary and Maya blinked and instantly rushed over to the counter. "Where is he?"

Dawn leaned closer to the counter and disclosed the information while keeping steady eye contact with the girls, her ebony eyes framed sharply by the dark eyeliner and mascara around them. "I was passing by the police station when I saw Ted, Naomi, and some other girl around their age locked up together. Well, the girl was locked up with Ted and Naomi was in the next cell."

"WHAT?!" Lena almost shrieked.

"Ted and Naomi are in jail AGAIN?"

"Maya shush!" Mary scolded.

"It's fine," Dawn shrugged. "I'm sure they're locked up for something minor."

"Thank you so much, Dawn," Lena held her hands together in front of her chest in earnest gratitude.

"Of course. Also um... not to be rude, but I came here for coffee."

Lena giggled. "I'll get it for you. I'll even let you have a discount since you helped us."

"Sweet, thanks!" Dawn smiled softly.

***

Later that day on Mary and Maya's break, Mary was struck with an idea.

"We should go pick up Ted."

"Are you kidding me?"

"What?" Mary held up her hands in defense to Maya's irritated tone.

"How many more times are you guys going to get into trouble?" Maya squinted and crossed her arms.

"Excuse me, but this time it was all Ted. I wasn't involved."

"I might as well work there, with the crazy way you're talking," Maya rolled her eyes.

"You wouldn't," Mary challenged.

"As a matter of fact, I WILL," she sneered.

"You're kidding."

"I'm not," Maya stood up and walked to the door. She turned her head and flipped her hair. "Watch me."

***

Maya reached into her purse as she walked into the police station and quickly sniffed her fingers, making sure to rub her nose afterwards. Nothing like a little magic powder for courage.

"Yes? How can I help you?" a heavy built black officer with a shiny bald head looked up from the front desk for a second and back down to continue arranging some papers.

"I'd like to become a cop," Maya stood tall and grinned down at him.

Officer Drake chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry little lady, but we already have a good amount of officers on the team."

"Yeah, you only have three guys," Maya deadpanned.

"Why do you want to join?" the strong officer crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"Truth is, I need a summer job."

"Then go work at a store or something."

"Listen!" Maya began to get impatient and slammed her hands on the desk, then ahemed and patted the desk. "Listen. If I work as an officer, or even an assistant here, I'd get enough money to pay my college tuition."

Officer Drake scratched his chin and debated the idea with himself for a full sixty seconds before finally giving in. "Fine! You get the job. Consider yourself an assistant. You can go pick up a uniform over there." He jutted a thumb to the door on his left.

"Thank you!" she fluttered her eyelashes.

After changing into her uniform, tying her curly hair up in a tight bun and using an absurd amount of gel, Maya snuck her way into the jail and dangled the keys in front of some familiar faces.

"Your savior, me, my comrades."

"Maya!" Ted ran up to the bars and laughed with joy.

"I don't know what the hell you just said or who you are, but HOORAY! We're saved!" Amy cheered.

Maya unlocked the cell and guided them out.

"Thank you so much! I'm Amy, by the way."

"No problem, I'm Maya," she grinned and shook her hand.

Amy took notice of her strangely dilated pupils and let go. "Well, It's nice to meet you Maya!"

"Likewise!" Maya said as she unlocked Naomi's cell. Out of nowhere, Maya gasped and jumped giddily. "Let's go ride in the cop car! Come on, I'll drop all of you off!"

Amy laughed and leaned into Ted. "Your friend's kinda hyper, isn't she?"

Ted furrowed his brows and covered his mouth. "Not usually..."

Amy linked her arm with Naomi and pointed at the exit. "Let's go!"

The two ran off swiftly, leaving Ted and Maya walking behind. Maya reached for his shoulder before they left the hall.

"Ted wait."

"What-" Ted turned around and was met with Maya's soft lips on his. He instantly backed up and held Maya away from him. "What was that for?"

"Sorry... I got a little excited," she smiled and licked her lips. "Just..." she blushed and looked down at the floor. "Forget it ever happened, ok?"

"Ok..."

Maya looked up gleefully and grabbed his arm. "Great! Let's go."

Maya ran off, leaving Ted wondering what in the world just happened.

Outside, Maya clicked some keys and presented the cop car. "Go on in, there's definitely enough space."

Amy and Ted shrugged and hopped into the backseat. They decided it was safer in case anyone questioned Maya.

Naomi stood still and blinked.

"Uh- hey Naomi, are you going to get in or wha?" Maya looked around awkwardly.

Naomi said nothing.

"Naomi?"

And suddenly she ran.

"Naomi! Where are you going? Come back!"

Ted looked out the window to see Maya chase after Naomi. "Hey, where are those two going?"

Amy facepalmed and grabbed her door handle. "Forget it. I'm going in the front." She shook it, but it didn't open. "I'll have to leave through your door, sorry."

She stood up halfway and grabbed onto the barrier in front of their seats for balance, using it to guide herself carefully. Suddenly, she tripped in front of Ted's lap and landed on something soft.

Ted held his hands up awkwardly and froze. "Amy..."

"What the-? Oh who cares."

After a bit of struggle, Amy slammed the back door shut and got into the driver's seat. "Haha, I'm taking the wheel."

In the backseat, a figure rised up from the floor and nearly gave Ted a heart attack.

"Holy shi-"

"Hey bro, did ya miss me?" a handsome face beneath dark bangs grinned at him.

"Edward? What are you doing here?"

"Maya brought me along," he bragged, pleased with himself as he took his seat next to Ted.

"You guys might want to put on your seat belts, I'm starting the car!" Amy called from the front. She shifted the gear into reverse and pulled out from the parking spot, accelerating forward to exit the station. "We need to catch up to Naomi and Maya."

"I saw them head toward the forest," Edward inputted.

"On it."

***

Amy, Ted, and Edward stood outside the police vehicle and called out Naomi and Maya's names, their voices echoing in the silent forest. Suddenly a twig snapped, breaking the stillness and causing everyone to turn their head in its direction.

A figure with silky long black hair, pale skin, dark eyes and dark clothes emerged from behind some branches.

"Dawn?" Ted managed to choke out.

"Are you guys stalking me or something?" she glared.

"No, Maya picked us up from jail but Naomi ran here!"

"I was taking a stroll, but I have decided to help you out."

"Thank you!" Edward sighed loudly.

"I say we split up," Amy ordered. "You can go with Ted since you know him."

Dawn and Ted nodded in agreement.

Amy turned around to look at her new partner in crime. "And I'll go with Edward."

"That's fine by me!" Edward announced and gave his classic Bad Boy TM expression.

Amy ignored him and opened the trunk. "You guys might want to take some weapons."

***

"Is she always that unpredictable?" Edward questioned with a slight hint of annoyance as he and Amy walked through the nearly silent forest. The only other sounds came from the chirping of undisturbed birds.

"I mean, I haven't known her for that long to be honest,"  Amy admitted, her mind drifting to how excited Naomi seemed when they first recruited her. "Is your girlfriend always that.. high- hyper?" Amy cleared her throat and stared at the path ahead.

"Maya? Not necessarily... she's been acting strange today." Edward's mind wandered back to when she and Mary found him in the garbage. He recalled her anger and disgust at discovering his drinking habits, and wondered if they were still technically dating or not.

"I would watch her closely if I were you," Amy warned, an awry feeling of dread demanding her to walk faster.

"Watch her closely..." Edward's eyes lowered to her swaying hips as she stepped over a small boulder.

"Maya might not be who you think she is. It's funny how people will surprise you..."

"I wonder if she found her way ba- AHK!"

Amy stopped, causing Edward to bump into her back.

"What was that for?"

"Shhh!" Amy motioned. "Quick, hide behind that bush."

"Why?"

"Just do it!" Amy pulled him by the arm and they kneeled. "Look, there she is. What on earth is she doing with that gasoline can?"

"I don't know," Edward whispered, his face inches away from Amy's, "but it sounds like she's muttering something."

The two peered at the clearing of long dry grass from behind the bush, watching as Naomi poured gasoline in a zigzag motion, going further and further away from them.

"Soo ba da lag ko no shi va da gag..." she murmured before tossing the bright red can away and pulling out a lighter from her jacket pocket. She pressed the ignition button and a small flame flickered, lighting up her face in a ghastly manner under the dark shadows of looming trees. "This should keep them away. Sipritus xena jintu!"

The lighter was tossed, spiraling in the air before landing upon a patch of dry grass. The flame multiplied into smaller sets of itself, resembling tiny dancing demons as they rapidly spread through the grass and increased in size.

Amy gasped and backed up into Edward, causing them both to lose their balance and fall. Naomi heard a rustle in the bushes and escaped, her sleek brown ponytail swaying behind the dancing flames.

"Come on, we have to go!" Edward yelled, pulling Amy up by the arm as she coughed.

"No, we have to find Maya!"

The two held on to each other as the trees around them lit up in bright orange, creating a heavy cloud of smoke below. They shielded their faces with their arms and started a coughing fit. All at once, Edward knew what to do. He removed his black shirt and ripped it in half, handing Amy part of it and covering his mouth and nose with the other.

Amy caught glance of Edward's defined six pack and blushed. "Edward..!"

"Take it, you don't want to be inhaling this smoke!"

She did as she was told and held that half of his shirt to her face, her breathing no longer as stifled.

"Maya!" Edward shouted, searching desperately through the flames.

"Maayaaa!" Amy echoed.

A violent scream pierced through the rumbling of fire, sending chills up Amy and Edward's backs.

"Help me..!" A choking voice called out.

A branch snapped and fell in front of the two just as they made their way to the voice, sending bright sparks everywhere. Edward grabbed Amy by the shoulder as she led them through a safer direction.

They found Maya laying helpless in her tattered and ashy police uniform, fading in and out of consciousness.

"MAYA!" Edward fell to his knees in front of her and wiped the smoke away from her face.

"You came..." she coughed before closing her eyes.

"Maya Maya, no, stay awake!" he grunted as he ripped his shirt into an even smaller piece. He grabbed Maya's hand to keep the shirt weighted on her face as he picked her up.

"I'll go start the car!" Amy announced before sprinting through the trail. Thankfully, the car wasn't too far ahead.

She pulled the keys out of her pocket and unlocked the police car, throwing herself onto the drivers seat. "Come on come on..," she groaned as she turned the keys. The engine revved for a few seconds before shutting down again. Amy's head throbbed as she wiped off the beads of sweat forming on her forehead. It wouldn't turn on! She turned the key again and again, the car taking its own last rumbling breath.

"Fuck! Stupid car!" Amy cried as she slammed her fists on the dashboard. She opened the door to see an exhausted Edward making his way up the trail with an unconscious Maya in his arms. "Edward, the car won't turn on!"

Horror struck Edward's face upon hearing the unfortunate news. "Shit shit shit!" he muttered under his breath as he panted up the hill.

"Hey there!" a bubbly voice sounded from behind Amy.

She turned around and screamed, seeing a beautiful young adult redhead in a clean school uniform.

"Oh my gosh, this forest is definitely haunted."

An equally attractive, buff blonde man with a cowlick, ironed silver vest and silver pants approached her.

"We are no ghosts. We are angels," the man, who was not much older than the other young woman, winked at Amy and threw up finger guns. "We heard you were looking for a car!"

Amy blinked, her head suddenly starting to spin. "Am I.. dead?"