chapter 2

A Chapter by iamthewriter

Chapter 2

We both stayed in that position for what seemed to be an eternity as it slowly made it way past us. I feared I would suddenly cough or sneeze, but then again, I wasn’t even breathing. Another stupid question that I had to apply what she had taught me. No, but in a way, yes. Or how else could I talk? Was I actually talking though? These stupid questions, it seemed all my mind could do was jump from one question to the next. Sam only said two words before darting out again, “Keep up.”

She darted out, quickly I followed her lead. We hadn’t made even a pair of houses, before one of the demons had spotted us. In an instant we both knew it was onto us. Suddenly I felt as if I was being chased by the most evil thought you could think up, and it was clearly out to devour me whole! It made my legs and arms move that much more quicker as she rounded a house and ducked into an open dark doorway. I almost slammed into her on the way in. We both froze, as slowly, again the partially bodied dark shadowy figure slumbered past in no apparent hurry, but still heading on the path we would have taken if we’d stayed on the move. Again time seemed to stand still, as we both waited for the demon to mosey on. Two hundred yards away now, Sam seemed to relax a bit.

“That was close.” Sam stated.

“Swear I felt that thing breathing down my neck.” I said relieved. wanting to recall that sentence as once again, she shot me that look again.

“You do realize swearing is one of the reasons why god’s losing the battle, you know that right? Though, trust me, it’s not me you need to apologize too, so don’t even bother.” Sam said with distaste in her words.

“…”

We sat there, as a thought crossed my mind. We needed another car, surely we could out run these things in one.

“What about another car? There’s one right over there,” I pointed too it.

“I was a fool to try that, the last 5 times I tried it.” Sam admitted openly.

“Huh?” I wondered about her response.

“Jack. In this realm, everything is rigged to give away you position… Cars, phones, lights, even doors and aluminum cans on the ground.” Sam spoke, all the while looking around.

“So, any idea how we’re supposed to find the other’s?” I queried.

“Yeah, actually. We have a pull towards each other.” Sam said.

“A pull?” Jack asked.

“Hard to explain, but actually that’s been a problem here as well.” Sam spoke quietly, trying not to let his questions get up under her skin.

“Oh, how so?” Jack inquired.

I just realized as the last question past my lips that I was probably being a huge pain in this woman’s butt. I’ve been doing nothing but firing questions at her and she’s answered every one of them without much rudeness or disparity. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying there talks more and more. As with the other questions, she answered this one with the same clarity,

“When we connect and group up, we have found that these demons hone in on us much quicker. But, the irony of that is, to open the church door, at least one of us ‘guardians’ have to have one hand on their charge and the other hand on the doors handle. And the last time I did this, I watched a guardian give up there essence to allow four out of this realm safely. I was one of them.

“So, your basically stating that I probably won’t make it.” I stated, fearing this to be the case.

“The only way to know is to enter the church.” Sam said. “And you I intend to get there, but first we have to find the other’s.”

“So how far away are we from them?” Jack asked.

“One’s about two block’s away and frozen. The other is about four blocks behind us, and on the move towards us.” Sam said quietly again looking around to make sure we were alone.

“So, which way is the church?”

“Don’t worry about that right now. We have to connect with the others first.” Sam pointed out.

“Okay, then let’s go get them.” Jack suggested.

“It’s not that easy.” Sam stated.

“Why?”

“Most of the demons have been heading straight to their position. I think they have them boxed in.” Sam surmised.

“So, now what?” Jack asked.

“We attempt to rescue them.” Sam stated simply.

“How?”

“I’m not sure yet, we have to see what we’re up against.” Sam admitted, starting to get a kick out of all the questions this man could come up with.

“How do we fight something that can’t be killed?” Jack asked.

“Again, we’re not here to confront them. We just need to distract them from there target.” Sam offered a way.

“How do we do that, without making ourselves the target?” Jack asked.

“Not sure.” Sam admitted. Man he had questions.

“Oh, this is going great.” Jack said in a whisper.

“They’re using them as bait.” Sam noted, “trying to draw us in.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. So how are we going to reach them without getting spotted ourselves?” Jack asked.

“We sneak. We find a hidden way to get around them. And yet, that’s not going to be the hard part.” Sam pointed out.

“Oh?” Jack questioned.

“Even after we find a clear way to them, we have to get them free without the demons catching on that we got them.” Sam said.

“But, you’ve done all this before. Right?” Jack asked thinking she had a solution to this.

“Yes. But each time, it’s different. In fact, this is the first time one of us and a charge has been trapped.”

“How do you know their trapped?” Jack asked.

“Cause, I can sense they haven’t moved since we left the trailer.” Sam stated.

“You can sense them?”

“Kind of, that’s how I also know where the church is each time.” Sam added.

“Each time?” Jack asked, “what the board changes each time you try this?”

“Yes. Last time I lost my charge a half a block from the church.” Sam recalled. And last time, the demons... they were Lions. Literally."

“And so? What you got sent back to live a real life?”

“It’s not like that at all.” Sam pointed out.

“Well, explain it to me.” Jack asked.

“Sigh, okay… Look, I do know if that we lose our charge on this plane, that we ‘semi angels’ are sent up to the planet among the living. But, from what all my senses tell me, it’s worse being alive."

"How could you say that?" Jack asked.

"Because, the demons are... all the other people through out your whole life."

“The demons are like what, hiding in human form? What you can’t see them?”

“I see them fine. It only takes demons that can seed themselves into men and women of the living plain. They hunt us in bodies we can’t distinguish as demons, unless they are in arms lenght. If we die up there, we would instantly become a charge down here, like you. Except, we don’t get an angel to guide us to the church and we can’t hook up with other of our kind while we’re here. We have to secretly follow other’s to the church’s position and open the door for ourselves,” Sam pointed out.

“So, you can be killed in the living realm?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, but somehow ‘again’ things kind of got twisted.” Sam recalled being sent down here.

“I don’t follow you. You were an angel in the living world?” Jack asked, trying to figure her out.

“I’m more like an underling then an angel as status goes.”

“Confusing.” Jack stated.

“That’s okay, I sometimes have trouble understanding it myself.” Sam agreed.

Pointing out another close mist demon, they both remained silent as it drifted past. Once past them in there slice of darkened cover, Sam spoke again,

“We only have a short time to get them free, so, we got to keep moving.”

“Right behind you.” Jack confirmed.

“See that building?” Sam pointed a quarter of a block away. “The trash bin?”

“Yeah?” Jack confirmed.

“We hide there next.”

“Got cha,”

With that, after a long check of the area, they casually walked towards it. She stopped at any hint of danger, resuming in the understanding that the area was actually clear. They’d made it to the back side of the building, cowering behind the large square trash bin. Only resting a moment, she left the safety and continued to the buildings corner and followed the small corridor between that and another building to the stores front. At the front corner of the building they’d crouched as Sam looked over all the possibilities to get across the street safely.

It seemed the demons knew all the tricks, they guarded the streets carefully, awaiting anything to cross, any movement to lock onto. Sam seemed perplexed as to what to do here.

“What happening?” Jack asked.

“Trying to figure a way across this main street without getting spotted.” Sam said, again looking up and down the street, noting two demons about two block down in one direction and three demons about a block up in the other direction. I myself could see her dilemma.

Then, I spotted it. It was a walkover bridge that connected two of these buildings together.

“Hey, does everything here work the same way as the real world?” Jack asked.

“Give or take, yeah. Why?” Sam asked.

“See that?” I pointed to the crosswalk from this buildings second story leading to another smaller building across the street.

“Hum, I guess that’ll work,” Sam said already heading to a door we’d passed in the small corridor, and using it to get in there.

“If I tug on this door, and it squeals… you instantly hightail it back to the place before the dumpster, understand?” Sam said, not sure about this action.

“Yes.” Jack said.

In a slow tug, the door was unlocked and slowly came open inch by inch. Enough opened to easily slip in, and once in Sam slowly closed the door behind them. It was pitch black in here!

“What I would give for a set of infer red goggles right now.” I quietly whispered.

“Hush, Let me scope this place out.” Sam spoke softly herself, as if trying to feel out any demons.

Sam took my hand and as we both stood in the all consuming darkness, she spoke to me.

“There are no demons in here, it’s too dark. But we have to make sure we don’t make any type of noise while we’re doing this, or like the ones we’re trying to rescue, the demons will surround us, and then we’ll be trapped too.”

“Okay then , so, how do we do this?” I asked, not able to see a thing.

“Hold my hand and walk directly in my path. I can see a small amount, that should get us through here safely, just don’t let go and stay directly behind me at all times. There are things like ‘cans’ on the floor all through here. So watch your step. I guide you, ready?” Sam asked for trust.

"So, you can see?"

"Sort of, looks like shiny lines in it's shape.

“Well, I can’t see a damn thing so you watch my step for me okay? I guess I’m ready.” I said, trying to keep my eyes peeled on the ground directly where I would be placing my next step, but I couldn’t see my legs much less my feet. In here, sound in here was dead. There wasn’t a scratch, tweak or hum threw out the entire structure. A mere cough would have sounded like a atomic bomb going off.

Sam carefully lead me through the isles as I heard each step I took. Finally she’d found the stairs that lead to the second floor, and in unison we took each step up as quietly as possible. At the second floor landing Sam lead me to the crosswalk. There was a few broken out windows along the passage of the crosswalk, however the red tinted light that shone through was a welcomed sight. She had released my hand as we cautiously walked across the hallway tunnel towards the other side. I’d noticed ahead, that the darkness loomed within the entrance way to the other building.

Sam had taken this moment to peer out one of the broken windows, surveying the area. She quickly noted a few things to me out loud.

“There. That’s where they’re trapped. See that garage apartment, their up on the second floor.” Sam showed me a full view point of the actual room through a half broken, deeply soot covered pane of glass.

“You mean where the light is on.” I understood.

“Remember how I told you everything about this place is to attract demons?” Sam conveyed.

“Yeah.” Jack recalled, looking back at the building.

“Look closely around the building, it’s the effect of that single light.” Sam offered.

The place was surrounded by all three types of demons. They were swarming around the place. They were not trying to enter the building at all, just milling around.

“What are they waiting for? Why aren’t they attacking?” I asked quietly.

“There waiting for us. They somehow know how this game works too. They know we’ll try and rescue them. Just waiting for us to make the first move.” Sam said.

“Oh crap. That’s going to be impossible, we’d never get near the place.” Jack openly spoke.

“Ye of little faith. See, this is what separates the demons from the angels.” Sam stated.

“Okay angel, got any ideas.” Jack quipped, to the point of sarcasm.

“Not off hand,” Sam admitted honestly, not even disturbed being called as angel.

“Why did they turn the light on?” I asked.

“Not a clue.” Sam confided.

We stood staring at the situation from our perch and I noticed a car almost a half a block before the apartment on our street. And my brain started to formulate an idea.

“Those full bodied demons. They’ll chase about anything, right?” Jack asked.

“Oh yeah. Why? You got something?” Sam asked.

“Not sure yet, maybe.” Jack said actually trying to keep her in a little suspense.

“Well, spill it would you. We don’t have all day.” Sam actually smiled at him.

“I got a way to distract the solid ones, but how do we trick the two other types away.”

“we’d need them to get rid of that light first.” Sam said.

“Any idea on how to accomplish that?” Jack asked her.

“No.” Sam said.

“Crap.” Jack said frustrated. And again she didn't smile at his comment. But he smiled back at her anyway.

When he smiled back at her, she instantly shutdown and just looked at him weirdly. He was confused and stopped smiling altogether, and in that she noticed it,

“Is there something wrong Jack?” Sam asked, her head tilted in slight concern.

“Uh… It’s nothing, don’t worry yourself about it. It’s fine.” Jack said, having to fake a smile, but even though she didn’t return the smile, his lie had gotten not past her.

“They’re not going to turn that light off, and that means, we’re going to have to somehow do that for them.” She stated.

“How long would it take the other two types clear to out if we got that light out?” Jack asked.

“They’d almost instantly lose interest. I say five minutes, and they’d be dispersed. Why?”

“Then all’s that would be left would be the solid ones, right?”

“Yeah, but they wouldn’t leave. So?”

There was a single car. It was in a position to drive directly past the apartment building.

“See that car right there?” I said pointing to it.

“Okay?” Sam tried to understand where he was going with this.

“It works right?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, it should. Funny but nothing is plugged in or has batteries, but everything works, especially if it make a natural noise." Sam still whispered.

“And it’s got a radio?”

“Yeah? I'm sure of that.” Sam stated confused.

“What if, we started up a car, sending it blaring right past the apartment building.” Jack wondered.

"They’d surely chase it,” Sam admitted.

“We be able to get them out of the way. Once gone they'd have to turn off the light.” Jack agreed.

“Okay, but back to how to get them to shut off the lights.” Sam pointed out the problem.

“It’s only a single light bulb, right?” Jack pondered.

“Yeah.”

“We take care of that and it’s dark inside, right?” Jack pointed out.

“Yeah, I see where you're going with this. Still, how are we going to do that?” Sam asked.

As Sam was walking me through the store, my eyes had slightly adjusted, I noticed it was a sporting goods store. We had passed a rack that had ‘pellet rifles’ on display.
“We could shoot it out?” Jack stated.

“What! That would be nuts.. Might as well set off a flare too, waves your hands and start yelling at the top of your lungs… Stupid idea.” Sam stated, at a loss to add anything more to the statement.

“Not a gun, gun! A pellet air rifle. They make almost no sound.” Jack spoke it through.

“Pellet gun? Okay”

“We passed a rack of them down stairs.”

“And how close would you have to be to hit it?”

“I could hit it from right here.”

“Your serious. You could actually make a shot like that.”

“Yes.” I admitted.

Sam’s mind started to whirl with the plan I’d just sketched out. It took almost a full minute for it to all fall into place. Up until now, they had nothing. Now, it was at least a partial plan. Sam suddenly turned around and look cautiously back at the way we came. I wasn’t aware of any presents, but Sam was…

Out of the darkness, two human figures seem to materialize as they walk up to us. I was completely freaked out, looking to grab up a weapon.

“Easy.” Sam whispered to me. “There with us.”

They walked quietly right up to us. One a tall male, was smiling as if he final meet a long lost friend. The other with him was a dark skinned female who seemed scared to death. She held herself tightly as if freezing to death.

“Hey.” He said to Sam.

“Hey.” Sam said back.

“So, what’s going on?”
“Look, trapped.” Sam pointed out the broken window to him.

“Do we know who that is?”

“No idea. If you me, it's a new guardian.”

“So why do they have that light on?”

“Don’t know. But look, it’s now got them surrounded.”

“Yeah, I can see that. Probably why we didn’t run into so many on the way here.” He started to look Jack over.

“Hi. I’m Jack. Sam’s charge,” I stated in a low voice, offering my hand. He did not accept it.

“I’m Ralph and this here’s Tanya, my charge.” Ralph stated trying to be kind, then he called Sam away, as if to talk privately. Jack walked over to the much younger black girl, as it was apparent the two guardians wanted to talk alone. Jack tried to smile, but the girl didn’t seem to want to smile back at him.

Far enough away, their words sounded muffled, as Tanya spoke to him first, in a very scared voice.

“Are we dead?”

“Yeah. I think so... Don't remember anything, get use to it.” Jack asked.

“Not much, I remember not being able to breath… Then it all went black, and the next thing I’m on the floor of a room I’d never been in, gasping for breath. Then he walks in and lays this weird tale on me.” Tanya pointed to Ralph.

“Same here.” Jack admitted.

“So, are we’re dead?” Tanya asked in honest.

“I'm guessing pretty much. Nothing I’ve witnessed points to us being alive or in a nightmare... I can't wake up.”

“Nightmare? I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe if,”

“This isn’t a nightmare, trust me. I tried to wake myself. It didn’t work. I about took my own head off trying.” Jack informed her, and she looked displeased by his answer.

It was quite obvious that Sam and Ralph had met on more than one occasion, as they walked to the other side of the hallway.

“So, any clue as to what happened?” Ralph asked Sam.

“No. We were just formulating a plan,”
“What? Wait, your actually listening to a charge?” Ralph looked at her with dismay.

“Whoever he is, he not a charge.” Sam stood firm on this fact.

“What, not your charge?” Ralph stated highly confused.

“I know this sounds off the wall, but, that’s not the same soul the body carried.” Sam tried to explain.

“And how is that even possible?”

“I don’t know. But, the soul and the body are of two people.”

“Your kidding.”

“Go, look into his eyes.” Sam said, turning and calling jack over by finger motion.

Jack noticed her beckoning him to come over,

“I’ll be right back.” Jack said as she nodded it was okay. He walked over to the two of them,

“Let him look into your eyes.” Sam requested of him. Jack nodded, agreeing to this procedure as Ralph literally grabbed his head and stared directly into his eyes for about five seconds. Releasing him, he seemed dumbfounded at the information he received.

“Go back over to her.” Sam pardoned him from their presents. Jack nodded and left them.

“A trick?” Ralph questioned.

“No, or we won’t have made it this far.” Sam pointed out.

He seemed to ponder many factors, collecting bits of information,

“How’s this possible.” Ralph, wondered if it could be possible that he was witnessing god plan.

“I think I was sent a profit,” Sam finally spoke as Ralph’s eyes lit up.

“No freaking way.”

“It’s the only explanation I can surmise.” Sam said as he eyed Jack up and down.

“You sure?”

“Feels right as rain.” Sam pointed out her own experience with him, “and he’s come up with almost possible solutions. He's openly helping to free the other charges. He's smart..." Sam said again.

“Yeah, got that one already. So how would you plan to save that other charge?” Ralph asked as Sam.

Leading him over to the window she pointed, showing a perfect shot at the bulb.

“They're in there.” Sam announced.

Looking out the broken glass, he suddenly realized everything that was going on. This was a very bad cluster f**k. Wasn’t just the fact the light was on, they been placed into a, one way in one way out, box. It was probably the fact that they were on a second floor that had stopped a full out attack.

“Oh lord help them.” Ralph recognized just how impossible it would be to get them out of there safely.

“I think that’s why he sent Jack.” Sam spoke in a soft tone.

“What, as a profit?” Ralph spoke, not believing the words just rolled out of his own mouth.

“Can you think of anything else that would explain these things about him?” Sam asked, actually trying to deny the fact herself.

“This is… It’s unprecedented. Surely there’s got to be some other explanation?” Ralph said almost flabbergasted.

“Been racking my brain for the last two hours… And I keep coming back to ‘profit’. I don’t know. He may well be.”

“Is he smart?”

“Again yes, smarter than you’d expect. Took ten minutes to lay out the whole story, and he accepted all of this, right off the bat.”

“The last thing he remember’s?”

“Was going to sleep, after trying to compile a manuscript.”

“A writer?”

“Yeah. Guess where he was brought from.” Sam offered.

“No idea. Heaven?” Ralph pondered out loud.

“Jonesborough Tennessee, in the USA.” Sam said, not seeing the information connecting.

“I don’t get it?” Ralph looked lost.

“It happens to be the storytelling capital of the world… He does has the credentials to be a true profit.

“Really? Wow.” Ralph said reevaluating the value of Jack in this situation.

“Me wow, too.” Sam said with almost a smile.

“And this idea of his?” Ralph asked.

“Maybe I should let him tell you. I’m sure you’ll be impressed. I would never had thought of it.” Sam said, pointing out the obvious.

They walked back over to there two charges, Ralph seemed anxious about Jack. Jack realized whatever they had talked about, it had something directly to do with him.

“So, about your plan there Jack, want to run it past me, maybe I could help?” Ralph asked Jack.

Jack looked at Sam. He trusted Sam. Sam nodded in the fact he should trust him too. Sam looked at Tanya and back at Ralph. He collected himself, and walked over to the broken window, pointing…

“It would have too be a two tier plan, if it’s going to work. First, we need that car down there,” Jack pointed to it, “To be ready to roll past that apartment. It’s got to look and act like there’s two of us zipping past the apartment, music, lights, the whole nine yards. And have it start off, what, say about three minutes after the light in the apartment goes out?”

“I’d say less than a minute. Any longer than that and those solids will be beginning to look for a way into that building,” Ralph agreed.

“When the car zip’s past, the solids should lite out after it seeing nothing attractive happening in the apartment. Then, with those demons five, ten blocks down the road, the mist demons should loose interest in say… a minute or so? The apartments free in what three minutes?” Jack concluded.

They contemplated his idea, and Ralph was most impressed.

“I commend you on your thinking. Your plan seems workable.”

“Told you he was a profit.” Sam almost snickered.

“Jack's your name?” Ralph asked, as Jack nodded. “So now then Jack, just how do you intend to get them to turn off that light when the time is right?”

“Easy. I shoot it out.” Jack said.

“And there goes you Profit, he just turned to smoke.” Ralph spoke directly to Sam.

“Hun, Why?” Jack asked quickly, not seeing the problem.

“The loud sound the gun would produce, it would attract every demon in this realm straight to the sound.”

“Um, air rifles don’t make any loud sound…”

“Air rifle?” Ralph pondered the missed thought.

“It’s all you really need to take out a easy spotted light bulb,” Jake pointed to the clear bulbs existence from there point. His point struck home.

“I guess, wouldn’t draw any attention to whoever is up here, especially if a car’s sound takes up the distraction.” Ralph realized.

“Told you there was something different about him.” Sam almost smiled.

“Air rifle, and just where would we,”

“There’s a rack of them on the way up here.” Sam informed Ralph.

“There is? Okay then, look’s like we got a decent plan except, who stay’s and shoots out the bulb.” Ralph asked.

The dark reddish tint of this place seemed to grow dimmer as Phil asked the question. No one spoke, as Sam and Phil looked at each other as to who had the smallest straw between them.

“I’m probably the best shot here. Two years on a rifle team.” Tanya stated actually speaking up.

“Wait. Hold on, you guys aren’t supposed to be figuring this out for us.” Ralph stated, realizing that this may not be apart of the rules.

“We never run into a situation like this before. Have you ever done target practice with a gun?” Sam pointed out, actually glad for some help.

“Well, um, not professionally. What about you?” Ralph admitted while questioning her.

“Doll’s, dress-up, slumber parties, sure. Guns, no.” Sam admitted.

“We’re all in the same boat, why shouldn’t we help out in any way possible?” Jack interjected.

“I have four trophy’s on my dresser, or did have.” Tanya pointed out but realized, that was when she was alive.

“I never heard of anything like this.” Ralph was not happy the way this was going. Sam just shrugged with a smile at him.

“And you’re sure you can hit that bulb.”

“May take a second shot, using a weapon I haven’t fired, but yeah.” Tanya stated very self confident about it.

“Okay, how do we do this?” Phil said, not going to leave his charge alone here to do this.

“Me and Jack will head down and get the car ready. You two get the gun and set up for the shot.” Sam ran down the best solution.

“When do we take the shot?” ralph asked.

“As soon as you see those solid demons lite out after the car.” Jack offered.

“Works for me. Sam said.

“And then?” Ralph asked, trying to understand the rest of the plan.

“We’ll meet over there, in that doorway,” Sam pointed to the darkened doorway right where the car was parked, just be very careful, those mist and semi demons will be vacating the area, probably looking for us.”

“So then, if we make it that far?” Ralph asked.

“Being as how we’ll need a distraction if this don’t work right, that will be your task.” Sam offered.

“okay, well we figure it out at that point. Then what? Meet between here and the church?”

“Sounds to easy.” Jack pointed out.

“How so?” Ralph asked.

“They know where we are heading, we can’t walk a straight line from this ‘disturbance’ to the church.” Jack pointed out.

“True, we’d be walking a gauntlet.” Sam agreed.

“So then?” Ralph asked.

“What are demons best known for, or any evil for that matter?”

“Deception.” Sam pointed out.

“So, let’s use there own tactic’s. Facing the front of the apartment head two blocks left, that should keep us out of the gauntlet. We’ll meet along the second street over. And once there, stay hidden till we meet up.”

“Okay, hope this works.” Ralph realized this would be harder then they thought. However, it was about the best plan on the table.

“Okay, we’re going, I’ll wait for the light to go out, before starting the car.” Sam said as she and Jack started walking to the other darkened side of the crossway.

Ralph and Tanya slowly walked back the way they’d entered. And as Tanya looked back, Sam and Jack had already entered the darkened abyss of their doorway.

“Like I taught you,” Ralph whispered to her, “slowly and quietly.” Tanya just nodded, as they too entered the doorway to their building.

Again Jack held Sam’s hand as she guided him to yet another set of stairs and they, step by step, made there way down to the first floor. There was no light, Jacks eyes had nothing to go on as far as adjusting too. Sam however had only a slight perception of things around her. In the severe darkness, only a shimmer of silver lines told of a material item near her. It could be done if them moved very slowly, and she would have to guide Jack movements as well. Here she was lucky, as jack was fully relying on her to do this. She at times had to hold his head and guide it around a hanging wire or a half hung sign, but they were making there way to the front of the building.

Tanya and Ralph had also finally made the bottom of the steps and he quickly recognize the rack of guns displayed. He took one into his hands and handed it to Tanya, who felt it over an realized this was the proper weapon.

“Yes,” She quietly stated.

“Okay, now ammo.” Ralph carefully eyed the rack and shelves around it. Keeling down, he carefully felt for a container of pellets. It didn’t take much movement to realize all the pellets were loose within the tin container.

“Carefully.” Tanya whispered, realizing the sound of metal on metal. Ralph was frustrated that he’d actually did that. “Only take two or three pellets.”

“As soon as I get it open.” Ralphed whispered. This was going to take some time.

Sam and Jack had just made it to the front door. It was somehow frozen shut! Sam froze trying to think of another alternative.

“No good.” Sam said unable to budge the door.

“What?” Jack quietly spoke.

“The doors locked,” Sam stated.

“Here, let me see,” Jack asked to switch places. Placing his hand on the door, a simple solution presented itself. There was a deadbolt about a foot higher than the doorknob itself. In a slow turn, the released deadbolt freed the door as Sam strived to switch places with Jack via taps on his arm. Again having switched, Sam slowly tried to open the door. A rather loud creak sounded and Sam froze.

“Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” Sam said more to herself than out loud.

“Okay, hold up a second. We’re going to need something wet.” Jack stated.

“Yeah, well… good luck with that.”

“Bug spray, bottled water, oil… can of watered green beans, anything.” Jack recalled.

“Hold on and stay right here, I’ll go find something.” Sam walked around him and literally disappeared into the darkness again. Jack, actually felt himself taking in air. He was breathing, or at least it appeared he was, but his lungs weren’t expanding, his chest wasn’t rising and falling like normal. This s**t was weird.

Back with Ralph and Tanya, he had now slowly unscrewed the tin lid of the container off, accessing the ammo inside. He carefully reached into the tin and tried to collect a few pellets and other’s seemed to scurry out of his clumsy fingertips, etching there movement with the sound of metal on metal. He held a few pellets between his fingers as he withdrew his hand from the tin container. A single pellet dropped 6 inches back into the tin causing a sound most unwanted. They both froze in terror, and remained that way for almost a minute. Nothing moving, Ralph decided they’d both had just gotten very lucky.

“Come-on,” He told Tanya, and started to led her back to the stairway.

Jack had been standing there for what seemed an eternity. Finally, he understood that Sam was returning. He wondered what she had brought.

“Here, I don’t know what this is, but it’s liquid inside.” Sam whispered.

“Should work then.” Sam said, accepting the slow fingering exchange. He felt the top, It wasn’t even open!

“Um, think you could somehow open a hole in it?”

“Yeah, sure.” Sam took it back. Taking out her cross, it glowed showing all the rusted out carnage around them. Everything metal was rusted to the point of decay, nearby display cases and racks of items had fallen by the weakened metals. In a final puncture, the can spilled a liquid.

“Oh god, that’s horrible.” Sam repugnantly pushed the can to Jack.

“As long as it works.” Jack said, eyeing the three door hinges as Sam placed her cross away.

Again the entire store fell into a pitch black as Jack slowly reached for the top hinge. Touching it gingerly he guided the hand with the container with liquid up to the top of the hinge and poured some of the liquid trying to drench it. More of the smell free now, almost cause Sam to want to gag.

“How are we actually smelling this?” Jack wondered.

“I don’t know, but it seems real don’t it.” Sam said, unable to shake the scent as he continued to pour it onto the lower two hinges.

“That should have done it.” Jack moved out of the way, still holding the can. Sam again placed her hand on the door and again, try to open the door.

Ralph and Tanya had made it to the top of the steps and entered into the lit crossway. Tanya was relieved to be in some kind of light, as Ralph let her hand go. In her hand was a pellet air rifle as she walked over to the broken window and peered over to where the car was.

“They’re not there yet.” Tanka whispered.

“Here are the pellet’s.” He handed them to her scoping out how many demons wandered about down there. Tanya loaded quietly and in slow moves began to pump up the gun. She had given it eight pumps, feeling that it should be enough force to brake the window and the bulb from this distance. They waited for Sam and Jack to make their appearance. It wasn’t long to wait,

“There they are.” Tanya whispered, as both Sam and Jack stood in the doorway, looking both up and down the street and moved towards the car. The car, parked in perfect sight, allowed sign language to communicate between each other.

“Okay, they’re calling it in three minutes.” Ralph told Tanya who readied her shot at the light. She realized the two in the apartment, they were both females.

“Two females in the apartment.” Tanya said as Ralph relayed the information.

“two and twenty seconds,” Ralph pointed out in a wisp of a voice.

“I got this.”

“I’m going to check out the way down, cause after the shot, we got to move onto the street quickly.” Ralph left her quickly to secure the way to the street.
“k…” Tanya agreed.

Sam and Jack slid up and hid behind the car, not seeing any real threats behind them. Sam had no clue what to do as Jack slid to the drivers door and look down the window to the door handle. Power windows! CRAP! He realized he’d have to turn the key on to lower the window. That in turn would start a warning bell inside. He realized he only had less than a second to do this, and not get caught out in the open. Duck walking back to the rear of the car

he informed Sam of the best idea he had, I got to get inside the car and turn on the power to lower the window of the driver’s side. When I do, a bell will go off attracting those things to the car. You, go back upstairs and tell that girl to shoot out the farthest and largest window she can see, twenty seconds after I open this door,”

“But you’ll be spotted?”

“as soon as I roll down the window and shut the key off, I’ll slip under the car. If I stay still, they won’t find me and the breaking glass down the road will surely grab there attention from me.” Jack said.

“What about me?” Sam asked.

“Two seconds after that, you be at that door way and signal to them and me when the coast is clear. Then I’ll reach through the window and rig the car to drive down the road at a good clip, blearing music with a light show while you keep an eye on my back.” Jack said. “As soon as I give you give the signal, have her shoot out that bulb. I’ll start the car and send it moving ten seconds after the light goes out. The solid demons should still be milling about where the storefront glass broke, the car rolling at them with the lights and music should draw any attention away from us. You won’t be noticed if you stay in the shadows till you get to the front door. You get them out, and we’ll all meet a block away from here,”

“A block? Separated?”

“I know what you told me, I get it. But, it’s the only plan that might work. Promise I’ll be careful and anyway I won’t exactly be alone, I’ll be with Ralph and Tanya.” Sam smiled at her.

Was she looking at him with fear in her eyes?

Time seemed to stand still as Tanya waited for him to return to the overhead crosswalk before taking the shot. Finally, he’d returned with another twist of events. Hearing the car’s warning bell going off she zeroed in on the farthest and largest storefront window she could find and took the shot.

“Pppsth” made the sound of the pellet. She heard a faint ‘tink’ in the far off distance, she hit it.. but, no great sounds of glass majorly braking. The car’s bell had attracted most of the solids attention as they slowly walked towards the car Then, she loaded the second pellet. Aimed and fired.

“Pppsth” The second pellet flew out of the barrel. Then, about two blocks past them all, the hard sound of breaking glass filled the silent air.

The window store front window had broken out, as the two inside the apartment were startled by it. As well, the sound attracted all the solids from the front of the building and those heading his way. There were window pieces still making slight sounds on the sidewalk two blocks away as all the solid demons ran straight towards the sound as quickly, almost racing each other. Jack was sliding out from underneath the car, glad none of them had spotted him. The bell only rang three ‘dings’ as he shut the power off. Tanya reloaded what she thought was her last pellet, took aim at the window and pulled the trigger,

“Pppsth”

It was a miss!

“Crap,” She stated, knowing she’d just blew this whole plan.

“Not so fast.” Ralph held in his opened palm one single pellet. “Make this one count, okay?”

Again she loaded the gun and quickly pumped the gun… same amount of pumps… different aim. She shot, and the brightened light went poof out of existence. The whole area went deadly dark, as she realized she’d have to move as well.

“Put down the gun, take my hand and follow directly behind me. ” Ralph stated in a whisper, and waving her to him. She move quickly to him, having already laid it down. Pulling out his cross, it glow upon the steps so that Tanya could descend with out mishap. He quickly led her to the steps and down to the bottom as he heard the car start up and quickly moving away as they met Jack literally at the door way. Sam had already reached the corners edge of the apartment building, staying deep within the darkest shadows. She opened the door slowly to the apartment being confronted by another Guardians glowing cross.

“Come on. We’re out of here.” She said, moving back out the doorway and back into the shadows. There were only two mist demons left in the immediate area and both guardians knew how to get past them. RUN!

“I hope that worked,” Ralph said kind of under his breath.

“Yeah,” Tanya said allowing him to guide her onwards through the ground floor to the open and awaiting door.

The plan had worked almost better than anyone had expected. All the full bodied demons had freaked when the light went out and displayed their anger when the car started up and began to roll past them in a good clip, lights on and music blaring. Enraged, they chased it no longer interested in the darkened apartment building. The semi and mist demons seem to lose interest as the car had crashed almost five blocks away.

As bright light of fire had lit the sky providing a earthshaking vibration from the explosion, Sam, Tanya and Ralph watched both Semi demons sauntered off towards the wreck.

About that time, Ralph and Tanya and Jack had decided to leave the area.

“Where’s Sam?” Ralph asked Jack as the three of them headed away from the calamity down the street.

“She’ll meet us on the next block over.”

“Good. If this worked. We should have almost a clear shot to the church.” Ralph guided them around the blocks corner using the shadows as best he could.

Oh. By the way, nice shooting.” Jack stated to Tanya.

“Sure. Tanya, good shot. But, from here on out, no more crazy plans.” Ralph stated. Tanya nodded, walking within the dark shadows with both men. Ralph edged along the buildings darkness in the red haze of an evenings sky. Slowly he moved ahead as they all walked behind to him.

At the corner, he slowly peered around it as a flashback of doing this sometime before had meet with a set of demon fangs staring three inches away from his face. Needless to say, that time he didn’t make it either. How many times had they done this? To many to count. He couldn’t recall weather or not he’d ever made it, but then, if he had… he didn’t think I’d be doing it again. Maybe this time,

A new street over, apartment building way behind them, it was clear that they had made the rough spot. A waved hand was all it took as the others spotted him and almost walked right up on them.

Sam seeing that Ralph had gotten them here to safety, realized it wouldn’t be to good for everybody to follow in such a large group. They huddle into a deep doorway, and discussed what would be best for all from here on out.

“Follow me,” Sam told Jack as she quickly walked the route they’d came. Jack quickly understood what she was doing. They would be a decoy for the others, if spotted. In a quick hurry now, Sam seemed to be doing a kneeling jog moving along the row of buildings and stopping quickly scan checked the alleyway and any other direction seeking movement of a demon.

“Move.” Sam said, as Jack followed on her heels.

They took a left down the ally, following it almost to the next street, she froze. There off to her right, thirty yards up, a mist demon stood almost seeming to wait for something to appear.

Sam searched the rest of the block, nothing.

“Come-on.” She stated and took off in a full fledged run across the street and on into the next alley. She’d didn’t stop till she’d almost hit the second road. Seeing her aiming for a darkened doorway he realized she’d be stopping quickly, as he too had started a braking action. Almost ramming into Sam’s backside he had tried to slide in behind her. As his manhood firmly pressed into her backside. In a quick glare at him, he’d quickly tried to apologize, but she’d already dismissed the action.

“So sorry,”

“don’t worry. It’s not like I have anywhere you can stick that thing.” Sam retorted.

“Excuse me?” Jack looked at her weirdly.

“I’ll explain it later, just get ready to move again.” Sam prepared herself to move out again. Her butt almost waved in front of his face. This felt weird to Jack, as he suddenly realized that now, she was doing it on purpose.

“I like the way your butt wiggles.” Jack said in a quiet tone. Again she looked back at him, but this time she had a slight smile on her face.

“You know what so weird about that?” Sam spoke softly again looking out to the street.

“What’s that?” Jack tried to ready himself for the run.

“I haven’t had sex since I died, kind of forgot what an orgasm feels like.” Sam said.

“Since you…” Jack’s eyes again focused on her nice round a*s.

“Yes Jack, I died too. A long time back.” She informed him, finally spotting Ralph and Tanya zipping past. “There they are.”

Cautiously, Sam looked about behind them, then in front. She quickly edged back into him, again feeling the maleness of him against her backside,

“Um, sorry again. Thought you were going to run.” Jack again protested.

“Skip it. There’s one almost a street back behind us and now there’s one following Ralph. We’ll follow the one following them. Keep your eye’s peeled behind us, okay?” Sam asked politely. But inside something happened, she felt desire. Her butt felt warm for some reason, then she realized why, his was staring at her body.

“Um sure.” Jack finally broke his gaze from her rump.

“ slowly, we’ll follow.” Sam said, moving to the alley street intersection.

“You sure about this?” Jack asked quietly.

“We have to watch where they hole up at.” Sam explained, keeping a beady eye on the Mist demon following the others. Unable to see any others following them, Sam slowly crossed the street and slid up into a darkened doorway, Jack looking around and back down the ally had notice a mist demon slowly heading there way. He quickly entered the darkened doorway with her and unknowing held her arm. She turned and slightly smiled at him,

“If I didn’t know better,” Sam said as he instantly released his hand from her arm. She smiled at it though. A warm feeling, like a breath of fresh air, past through her whole body. Jack just felt embarrassed about the last few minutes. He tried to picture her being a corpse, it wasn’t helping any.

“I’m dead to… right?” He whispered to her.

“Yes. I would agree with that.” Sam eyed him, feeling alive with these new emotions.

“And, well… dead people aren’t suppose to have… well, sexual feelings. Right?” Jack wondered.

“No, of course not.” Sam said, realizing why he might have just said that.

“Just wondering.

“Do you. You aren’t attracted to me, are you?” Sam asked looking concerned as she gazed into his eyes. She suddenly aware that it wasn’t his attraction to her, it was her attraction to him!

“Well, if I’m dead, then I can’t be..” Jack surmised, but it was her eyes that told another story.

“Oh!” Sam almost burst out in full volume, realizing way to late that it was her that was doing the attracting.

It was the complete turn around of everything. Her ears began to ring, her eyes watered as she suddenly contemplated that she emotional feeling towards him. She was now almost more afraid of him then she was of the demons that lurked around here.

“Shhh! Are you trying to attract them.” Jack creakily whispered to her. Her awe shocked gaze still stared him in the face.

Her mind was ablaze with things she had never thought of… like love, the soft touches, smiles of surrender… She quickly realized that she must be losing her mind! How could she even dare be thinking these things? Where did these thoughts come from?

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!” Sam spoke in rapid succession.

“Catch a grip before you get us killed.” Jack said as she suddenly shut up and was just staring out at the street. Jack froze just glad she had stopped. She scared him. It was only in a slow turn around that Jack realized something was seriously wrong with her. Her eyes slow connected with his and he saw it.

It wasn’t sudden, but there it was. A single tear streamed down her cheek. Jack was at awe and didn’t understand what this meant.

“You’re, your crying. Your not suppose to cry, right? Why are you crying?” Jack whispered.

“I’m not sure. Suddenly, mind has been flooded with such impure thoughts. How is this possible?” Sam said trying to understand any of her own actions.

“Are you sick?”

“I never been sick. Not as long as I can remember.” Sam said, unknowingly pulling out the cross from beneath her neckline. Jack realized that her cross had a natural light glow about it, he’d seen it twice. But for some reason, this time, it didn’t glow.

‘Your cross. It’s not glowing.” Jack pointed out. She looked at it, almost instantly a fear grew within her and she literally coiled herself around Jack. This surprised Jack so much he didn’t know what to do. And just stood there with her weeping in a tight hug around his chest.

What the hell was going on here? Even to Jack, here in this place, how could she be acting like this? He felt her shiver deeply and clung tighter as if trying to thaw a deep freeze.

“This can’t be happening to me.” Sam finally spoke. But it wasn’t the voice of the rough tumble woman that found him, this was the fear of a young girl, she was scared, no terrified!

What could so scare an angel?

“What is happening to you?” Jack asked.

“I’m not sure. What I think it is, is not possible.” Sam said trying to collect herself and release her grip from around him.

“Why? What do you think is going on with you?” Jack asked.

“No, it’s just not possible.” Sam sniffed in snot. And wiped her face seeing the wetness of her own tears and again began crying, once again falling into the arms of Jack.

“Oh s**t… we’re dead.” Jack stated, now just returning a caring hold of this woman.

It took a few minutes, but slowly, Sam kind of returned. It was well obvious she wasn’t the kick a*s woman he’d met, and he really didn’t what to say anything that would take her back to her crying jag.

“Hey woman, we are in the middle of something. You with me?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, just a few more seconds please.” Sam said, really trying to cram the lid back on her emotional jar.

“Sure. There are still demons everywhere, but please, take your time.” Jack said almost sarcastically. At that, Sam seemed to grab herself up by her own bootstraps and again wiping away her own tears, set to the task at hand.

“You back?” Jack asked.

“Not really, but I do recognize we have something to do.” Sam began to look out and around them.

Jack noticed she was still shivering. What in the hell just happened to her? Her cross now hung out in the reddish hue of the sky and it wasn’t glowing. Was she tagged by a demon?

“Sam. I need you to be honest with me…” Jack confronted her. “Did you get tagged by a demon?”

She spoke very softly,

“No, something much worse.”

“What could be worse than that?” Jack asked.

“I got tagged by love, you stupid idiotic dumbass.” Sam said looking at him.

“What?” Jack asked surprised, “but you’re dead? I mean we’re dead. Aren’t we? The both of us?”

“That’s the scary part, I’m like you now. I’ve started having feeling since I’ve met you. Feelings that I haven’t felt in, oh my, I don’t remember how long ago. To be a Guardian, I had to willingly give those feelings and emotions up.” Sam said.

“But, I don’t get it. If you gave up all your emotions, how’d you get them back?” Jack asked, really concerned.

“I don’t know. Really, I don’t know.”

“What? You have a soul now or something? Your not dead any longer?” Jack asked.

“It not about souls Jack, or being dead. It’s about my status as a guardian. This is so weird, how do I explain it, I think I fell in love with you.” Sam tried to piece it all together, but it seemed we had bigger problems heading our way. A mist demon that had followed us up the ally was just now entering the middle of the street. It searched up and down the street, hoping for a sign of movement unnatural to this place.

They both knew to freeze. It lingered about almost unsure in which direction to travel. And of course it picked the direction the church was in. They both watched it slowly trapes past as Jack realized Sam was actually pressing herself against him. What the hell? When did she start have feelings towards him?

Jack realized he still had human thoughts and emotions while in this plain, like the stimulation of seeing Sam’s butt wiggle, or the way she raked her hair out of her eyes when checking the street to be clear, and stupidly trying to smell her body odor. She, up until now had been stripped of these. Was it true? She was like him now. Just another soul in hell’s playground. Then a thought occurred to him,

“Sam. Do you know where the church still is, right?” Jack asked. She looked surprised, then shocked.

“No, I have no idea. Oh crap!” Sam got excitedly scared.

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” Jack said trying to clam her.

“What are we going to do… Why did this happen to me?” Sam asked, fear deeply setting in.

‘It’s okay, we’ll just find Ralph.” Jack stated.

“Ralph? Who’s ralph?” Sam asked, not understanding.

“Oh, this is just great.” Jack said, feeling truly defeated now.

“Do you have any idea where we are or why we are here?” Jack had to ask.

“Kind of, I think.” Sam said, “But it’s all kind of fuzzy.”

“Our souls are trapped here, we’re trying to get to a church. Do you have any idea how far that might be? Or something, anything you can remember about this place?” Jack informed her.

“My head feels like it’s in a washing machine.” Sam said.

“Okay. Well, we got to move. So you, from now on, stay directly behind me.” Jack stated.

“Okay.” Sam said, not even challenging him.

“Lord, one day. Me and you, we’re going to talk.” Jack stated quietly looking up.

Sam had actually seen where Ralph and Tanya had ducked in, but it would take a few more minutes to let the demons pass to get to them safely. Ralph would know what to do. They waited out the minutes, as he felt Sam once again cling onto his arm,

“It will be alright.” Sam comforted her. He noticed she was slipping farther into being a normal woman. Her hand reached up and caressed his face. As he looked into her eyes, he realized that they were in deep trouble here. The cost clear, he said to her,

“Ready? Let’s go.”

In swift movement they crept along the buildings outer edge, she seem to insist in holding his hand as they made +their way to the other four people waiting for them. In a open buildings doorway, Jack led Sam inside, quickly closing the door behind them. He’d barely noticing the others that stood still in the larger room.

“Ralph. We got a problem.” Jack quietly spoke up.

“I see that.” Ralph concurred.

“Something is wrong with Sam.”

“No. You misunderstand. It’s that there’s something right with her.” Ralph said.

“Hun? She no longer a Guardian and you say it’s a good thing?” Jack questioned, unable to see the clarity of his face.

“What I wouldn’t give to be her.” Ralph said.

“What?”

“She’s free. She now has the chance to go to heaven. She’s been forgiven.” Ralph stated.

“Yes. She’s the lucky one.” Another female voice spoke up.

“God, I wish I could see you.” Jack almost fumed.
In turn the two other guardians pulled out there crosses and the whole area lit up. Jack realized that the others including Sam had somehow banded together in the darkness. Ralph walked over to Sam and slowly removed her cross from around her neck. Then brought it back to me. In a way he seemed to be presenting it to me.

“Take this, it now belongs to the man you wear.” Ralph said.

“What? Oh no, I’m not becoming a guardian.” Jack almost warded off the cross.

“Not you.” Ralph almost smiled. “The man who’s skin you wear.”

Again he offered the cross to Jack. Jack was almost fearful to accept it, but he felt he had too. And as he did accept it, it glowed for him as it had for each of the guardians.

“Okay. But this does not mean I’m a guardian, right? I mean Fred Wallabash is, but not me right?” Jack stated.

“That is correct. It must be that a Profit was to witness.” Ralph stated, as the both of them were pleased with what had just transpired. And with that, both of them placed away there crosses. Jack seeing this, also placed his cross away. The darkness enveloped them all.

He stood in the darkness. And although there was no given light in the room, there was. As he looked around, thin silver lines encompassed almost every body and item within the room.

“Oh wow, you guys see like this all the time?” Jack asked quietly as he walked over to a rack of cans. Easily able to count each and every one, he pick one up with a smile. Sam huddled with the other two. All three were women. He could easily pick out Sam and Tanya from the newest one freed just and hour ago.

“But hey. We still have a problem. I don’t know where the church is.” Jack explained.

“Oh, but yes you do…” Ralph stated.

“Uh, no I don’t. Sam did, but she lost the… Oh, but now I can.” Jack said, finally catching on to what Ralph was aiming at.

“A little slow out of the gate,” The new woman guardian said to Ralph.

“I’m not worried, he’s smart enough. I just hope Sam has taught him enough to get her to the church safely.” Ralph said, taking the hand of Tanya and headed for the door.

“Hope so. I’d hate to lose Sam this close to the end of her penitence.” She almost sighed, as she to took her charge and headed towards the door.

Jack, seeing Sam confused and groping at the air around her, as she quickly latched onto him as he offered her his arm.

“That’s you right Jack?” Sam asked.

“Yes.”

“Jack, I’m remembering less and less. It is so dark. I now understand why they were always so frightened.

“You can still recall where we are at… And about the demons.”

“Yes.” Sam stated.

“I know the way to the church. I’m going to take you there. Okay.” Sam said, taking the first steps to the front door of this store.

“Yes.” Sam said, allowing him to lead her towards the door.

As the other two had left. It was their turn to depart. Jack thought they’d take turns watching over each other as they all made there way to the church. But that wasn’t so. As Jack opened the door, he could sense the others and their charges. Each had taken a different route towards the church. As if it were a mystical light almost to the colors of the Arora borealis that couldn’t be hidden by the darkness nor the buildings, it shone in a true radiance.

“Sam, it’s so beautiful.”

“What is?”

“The glow the church gives off.”

“I was once told it was the truth of god’s love we were seeing.”

“It is amazing.” Sam said, finally taking his eyes off of it.

Then, he looked around. Instantly he’s spotted three demons less than a block from them. With this new sight, it was much easier to spot them, though unlike being able to see the other guardians positions, he couldn’t see those demons out of plain sight.

“Okay, Sam. Need you to stand here with me and be real quiet, there’s a semi solid demon heading our way.” Jack whispered. Sam understood and shook her head that she agreed.

Jack watched as the demon walked just a few feet away, down the sidewalk. Never once suspecting that the two were right there in the folds of the shadows. Slowly, casually, it walked past. In a minute it was fifty yards away, by the second minute it was gone. Another look around, and it was completely gone.

“Ready to go?” Jack asked Sam. Sam shook her head.

In a dart, the two took off down the edge of the buildings darkness, in a quick change of direction, Jack headed down yet another alleyway. But froze less then twenty yards in, bringing Sam to an abrupt halt. Quickly looking for the darkest spot available, a demon had spotted them and was advancing at a trot. Almost yanking Sam’s arm out of her socket, he dragged her into a very dark doorframe and said,

“Shhh.”

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