The Silver Bullet Club (Started)

Pippa:

Pippa stood and watched everything unfold. She watched everyone's faces and reactions to what was going on and it made her a little uncomfortable. Someone was after people that had abilities?

"Just a quick question, but how do you know that these paranormal investigators are going to find out about us let alone are looking for us. Most humans believe paranormal stuff just ghosts and stuff like that. They don't really go after people with supernatural abilities." She replied. Cedar looked over at her a smiled a little as she squared her shoulders off.

"We can't take that chance though." Someone said, she wasn't exactly sure who.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you change anything. You just keep quiet like y'all are and meet in more secure places. Find a better cover story for what this 'group is about." Cedar said as he walked over to Pippa. "What does the rest of the school think y'all are a school group for? Have y'all even made one up or do you just gather and let people speculate. Honestly more trouble will come from people speculating then if you give them a valid thing to believe. It's some scientific law or something where the most likely scenario is the one people will believe. Say someone disappears. You can either believe she was kidnapped or that she was taken by aliens. The majority of people, minus your alien nutcases, will believe that she was just kidnap and not think anymore about it. So if you tell them we are a math study group or something like that they are more likely to believe that then we are supernatural beings."

"Also, why on earth do y'all call what you are a disorder? Like it's bad or something. I mean honestly what we are is nothing but amazing and quiet honestly awesome. Usually people want to get rid of their disorder, fix it. But honestly I wouldn't change what I am for anything. I like being different, I dont' have a disorder I have an amazing ability." Pippa said as she looked around the group. "Yeah sometimes they are a pain, and you wish it would all go away, but think about it, what we are is amazing, it's a gift, not a disorder. We aren't going anywhere until we have to, we have moved around enough running from whatever has been chasing Cedar sense he was changed. Honestly it's scary and unnerving and we don't even know that whatever it is is a threat. It may just be checking in on him to make sure he is ok, that he has control of his ability. Freaking out over the unknown is the worst thing you can do. Because then everyone you don't know becomes the enemy, you become paranoid anytime a new person shows interest in you. No I'm not saying to trust strangers with your secret, but also don't think that every stranger that looks at you the wrong way is out to get you."

The same night that the club is meeting in the mansion.
The Church of Ophiuchus
"Oh God, help me..."


The church was silent, all except for the hiss and rattles of Silas's serpents. They were out of their cages, hunting for mice. Silas hated mice, far more than he hated just about anything. Other than the demons.

The vision started again.

He fell to his knees, and he saw them, children. They were in his church, but they were not on their knees. The figure of the Son on the cross stood above him, Silas was begging for mercy. Not from the Son, but from the children.

He snapped back to reality when he heard a knock at the door. It was Sandra, the woman was starting to become a thorn in his side. He opened the doors and let a hunched figure in. Her raven black hair was slick with rain, and she shuddered. "Father, can you help me?"

"What do you need?"

"My husband wants a divorce. If he leaves me, I'll go down. I don't want to go down there father," hot tears and cold rain ran in parallel streaks down her cheek, "I don't want to go."

"I know child, I know. Your husband must be purified, his sins must be washed away from the inside." Silas held his cane in the air, it began to wriggle, wrap around his hand. Sandra gasped.

"Ophiuchus," he whispered, "you know what I need from you."

***

The woman drove along, the snake was in her coat pocket. She was not afraid of Ophiuchus, she'd handled snakes before. She knew how to command them. As long as she had faith, Ophiuchus could not hurt her.

Silas once said some demons are powerful. Too powerful to be controlled by lesser beings than him. Sandra wondered about Ophiuchus, about her power. But she couldn't lose faith, Silas had given the serpent a command, and it would obey.

She felt the serpent moving, it poked its head out of her pocket. For just an instant, her faith waned. Silas had deceived her. She felt it. She felt the hot sting as Ophiuchus sunk her fangs into her wrist. "Oh God, help me..."

There was a man in the road. It all happened in an instant.

It wasn't painful when the car flew through the guardrails, and her head was rammed against the windshield. The man in the satin suit opened the passenger door and whispered a faint command. "Good job, Ophiuchus. Our next order of business, the Hunters."

The serpent straightened up, and changed back into the cane.

Spoiler

Sorry for forcing Dakota's hand, Rydia. I'm going to try and extricate her with a bit more grace for you… hope I don't end up making things worse.

Also, this is extremely long, I realize, terribly sorry

Eli (A little before the meeting)

The woman studied him, sizing him up for a moment. But she suddenly looked disinterested, as though her thoughts were elsewhere.
"She needs to go home." She said, nodding towards the girl. Eli looked down at her; she was a new face to him and he set her down gently, hoping she wouldn't remember anything about the roof. The woman turned to leave.
"Wait," Eli said "You're one of us, aren't you?" he asked. The woman did not reply, but there was a dark flicker in her eyes. A threat or warning, perhaps. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "And how do you know I'm a demon-killer?" The woman smiled at that, pulled a small device out of her pocket and held it up.
"See this; it's a device that detects supernatural signatures. You see, I'm an investigator." She started to walk away. "So long kid." Eli got to his feet.
"Why did you save me?" The woman shrugged, but did not stop. Eli tried to put his thoughts together. "Investigator?" What was an investigator? "Who was that man here today… the one with the cane." He said. The woman stopped at this.
"Listen, I wouldn't ask so many questions if I were you." She said. "It might be best if you tried to keep your head down… there are just some things you don't want to get involved in."
"Like what?" Eli asked.
"Hard to say." She said coolly; as if her thoughts were elsewhere. Eli felt his head spinning as he watched her leave.

The sudden appearance of the demon, the paranormal woman who wanted nothing to do with him, the man in the black suit… something seemed was definitely off. It was as if a heaviness had descended on Willowcreek, something dark and entirely unknown.
For a moment Eli felt that familiar fear creep up around his chest. The unknown, the blind darkness. Powers he could feel but not yet see… He felt a tingling in his spine. There were more demons here, closer than he was comfortable with. Eli needed to talk to someone. He tried to remember what Chris had told him earlier that day…. He had mentioned a meeting at Daniel's, sometime when he hadn't been paying attention. That was where he would go then, to the Silver Bullet Club. Eli started to run at an easy pace, one that would carry him far.

The girl on the ground began to stir, but by the time she had opened her eyes, the boy who had saved her was gone.

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The forest blurred around him as Eli ran. His heart was pounding, but not only because of the running. No matter how much he ran the day though his mind, he could not get the image of the man in the black suit out of his mind.
There was a deep gash in Eli's shoulder, the wound leftover from his fight with the demon. Eli had always wondered why injuries to his soul transferred back to the physical world, it was more than slightly inconvenient. The blood had dried but it still throbbed, and he knew he would have to deal with it later.

A mile of woodland passed before Eli found the road that led to Daniel's manor. He quickened his pace a bit, taking long strides along the side of the road. The black asphalt twisted and turned through the forest until it finally emerged into a rocky ridge line. The road continued along the ravine, level in elevation, but curving back and forth like a long black snake. Eli slowed to a stop. He smelled gasoline, and started to feel uneasy. It was a sinister aura, entirely too familiar to him. Eli started to walk, his eyes constantly scanning the road ahead and the ravine below. He came along a black trail of skid marks, leading over to a crushed in guardrail. Eli's stomach twisted as he looked over the edge. There was a car there, lying twisted and smoking at the bottom of the ravine. The crash had happened five minutes ago. Eli cupped his hands around his mouth to yell down, but decided against it. There was still that heavy feeling about him, and he didn't need another demon attacking him.
Without another thought he jumped the guardrail and carefully skidded down the hill. He approached the car carefully, making his way around to the driver's side.
"Hey are you okay…" he stopped. The woman driver had been rammed through the windshield and lay still on the hood of the car. Her head was gone. Eli instinctively jumped back from the car. He backed away, and noticed the dented front of the car. Another person's remains were smashed into it; he saw blood and a hand before turning and running away. There was a pounding behind his eyes and his head felt light. Eli climbed back up the slope away from the wreckage, and was so disturbed that he did not notice when he reached the road again. Nor did he notice the man in the long black suit standing there until he had almost run on top of him. The man regarded him warily, with some guarded interest. He looked dangerous now, his white hair gleaming in the red light of sundown.
"Who… who are you?" Eli asked. The man folded both his hands on top of the cane he carried.
"A man of God." He said in a strange voice. "A priest?" Eli thought. His mind flashed briefly to the last time he had encountered such a person--- the image of the dead Rabbi on the ground before him caused his face to drain of any color.
"Does that fact bother you?" the man asked. "I can see that you are a believer, though an apostate, what business do you have in this town?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Eli said cautiously. He motioned toward the ravine. "Who were those people?" The man inclined his head slightly.
"No one of consequence, those who deserved God's wrath." There was a hissing and Eli's eyes widened as a brown snake slid out from his suit cuff. It coiled up around his wrist, sliding up his arm until it rested across his shoulders. The snakes bead-like eyes glittered and its tongue moved in and out. "Hush Medusa," the man spoke to it. Eli backed away.
"You're… you're a demon-master." Eli said.
"How interesting, one of the few who is aware of such powers." The man said. "You yourself must have some connection to the unseen." He said. "As such we are in a way, brethren. Allow me to introduce myself… I am Silas."
"Why tell me that when you're my enemy?" Eli asked. Silas studied him for a moment, the snake swaying its head from side to side.
"There is an evil in this town boy, one that you are still unaware of. It is my duty to guide those who have strayed to find their path to God."
"Even if it means killing them?" Eli asked. The man only smiled. Eli shook his head. "I don't want to fight you."
"The feeling is mutual." Silas said, "However…" Without warning he ran towards him and swung his cane. Eli dodged as it missed is face and heard a hissing as it brushed past his check. "A demon in the cane too?" he thought wildly. Silas swung again but Eli twisted around and grabbed the cane. He pushed the man over to the side of the road. The two came face to face; Eli could see the red specks in the man's pale blue eyes. The snake on Silas' shoulder bared its fangs, much to close to Eli's face, and the black shaft of the cane coiled into a snake's body and wrapped around his wrist. Eli yelled just as the brown snake struck towards him, but his fist was faster. He punched Silas in the jaw and kicked him back at the same moment. For a moment Silas teetered on the edge, his snaked rearing up in the air, then he fell back into the ravine. Eli didn't stay to see what happened, he ducked his head and ran.

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Thunder rumbled overhead, a gray omen as the last light of day faded. Rain was in the air when Eli finally caught sight of Daniel's mansion through the trees. He ran up to the front doors and pulled them open, stepping inside and allowing them to slam shut. Here in the warm, dimly lit interior, he caught his breath, then slowly made his way to the front parlor.

Daniel was seated in a wingback chair close to the fire and nodded as Eli stepped in. The parlor's walls were laden with heavy bookshelves, and Eli realized that this was the first time he had actually been inside the place. And he had been part of the club for two years?

Chris was pacing agitatedly, and his face was red. He was obviously recovering from one of his "eruptions." Andrea stood with her arms crossed watching him. Aryn and everyone else were there, along with three new people he had never seen before. A boy about his own age and a pretty girl, and another girl who appeared to be in a bad mood. Jonathan stopped shaking his fist at the air wildly and turned towards him.
"Oh, Eli…you're here a little late" he said. Andrea opened her mouth to say something but Eli stopped her.
"We need to talk," he said, still slightly panting.
"What is it?" Daniel asked. Eli tried to put his thoughts in order; he had always been bad with words.
"Let me guess," Andrea said "The snake church." Eli nodded. How did she know? He decided to forget about guarding his mind, she could read it if she wanted to but would only find images of snakes and blood on a wrecked car.

"That and… who are the investigators?" Eli asked.

Daniel Nitram

I looked about everyone seemed slightly stunned by Eli's question I was the first to recover. "I actually haven't heard much but I read an article in the newspaper on them." I got out the copy of the newspaper I'd read this morning. "All it says is that the new investigation group specializes in the paranormal little beyond that is mentioned." I put the newspaper down and look about the room. "This is bad news for us no one at the school has called our group in to suspicion yet but Pippa is right we're not exactly inconspicuous. What if they do start to ask what if a particularly paranoid student went to the investigators?" I turned to Eli, "I'm curious though why specifically bring the investigators up now."

"I had a run in with one of them," Eli looked about as he spoke, " she was like one of us she had an ability. She had telekinetic powers and a device that could identity abilities."
I turned to him looking shocked, "I'm not sure how it works but that device can't be good news."

I let out a long sigh running my fingers through my hair messing it up. I kicked my feet up and looked up at the ceiling thinking. Andrea was the unofficial leader of the group and therefore was better at coming up with ideas. I looked at Andrea waiting for her to say something, "we're not running but that device will make it harder for us to hide, and from what I've seen in Eli's memory this Silas fellow is dangerous to say the least."

Pippa spoke up, "so we'll just have to hide better."

"Okay so first things first I have an idea on how to hide the club. We'll be an invite only study group that should allay some suspicion. I'm old enough to drive so I'll get us a vehicle to ride in to meetings from school." I scratched my chin thinking Chris I'll send the vehicle your dad's way for some work find me a car as beat up as you can and I'll by it I don't care what I have to pay to have replaced." Chris almost seemed to object but I continued not giving him a chance. "Until the work on that car is done I'll ride with a private driver and have him drive different club members home to meetings and school as necessary." I waited for the group consensus on my plan.

Samantha Heikkinen - At the meeting in the mansion
"Isn't having a private driver driving us all to and from school? I have a car normal family and I live really close to school, so I could disguise myself as Mrs. Greendale and drive you. It's normal for a mother to drive her daughter and her friends to and from school, right?"

Of some reason, I was offering to do all kinds of stuff for this club, when I should be running away from this town as soon as possible. A mystical church, paranormal investigators.. They could all be working for my parents, trying to force me to go back to them.

"Yeah, I guess that would be more inconspicuous," Daniel agreed.

"But if you really want to seem normal, then you shouldn't change your habits at all. Suddenly being driven to and from school everyday is a certain sign that you're afraid. Trust me, I know more than I want about hiding."

Jonathan Summers - At the meeting in the mansion
When the spirits finally had left I could listen properly on their conversation. "Maybe we should try to have our meetings closer to school? If we can just walk there from school, then it's more convenient for a study group." I smiled nervously when the others turned to look at me. "Both mine and Samatha's house is close to school, so unless it's a weekend, we should go there." That was more discreet, and I wouldn't have to deal with all the spirits in this mansion. That dog had given me quite a scare.

"Yes, definitely," Samantha agreed. "If we go out of our way to get away from others, then they'll know that something is up. Actually, we should hold meetings at the library during some of our free periods." Andrea frowned and opened her mouth to protest, but Samantha cut her of. "And during those meetings we're actually going to study, like study groups are supposed to."

"This sounds like a lot of work," Chris complained. Probably because he did not have the time to stay away from his family for too long.

"Acting normal is a shitload of work," Samantha said. She didn't sound ironic, just very determined. "But we'll have to do it, or we're all screwed."

Spoiler

You're good Elo and thank you!

Dakota | Paranormal Investigator's Office | Evening

It isn't a case of asking enough questions, Dakota. But have you asked the right ones?

It felt like a long walk back to the new store and Dakota gripped her right wrist as she walked. Again. How had she done it again? No, not how. Why? It was a difficult question to answer. Easy on one level - the boy and the girl would have died. But hard on another. Dakota knew it was wrong and she knew it was everything inhuman that her father sought to eradicate from this world. But why?

That was a question there would never be an answer to.

Arriving at the shop, Dakota strode past Phil as he called out: "Hey Dakota, where did you want the ampometer?" She took the stairs two at a time and entered the tiny above-shop apartment where she would live. Did live. The home in the country was a long gone dream and Dakota was almost used to her transient existence, being shipped from one town to another as it pleased her father whenever he heard more stories, more leads.

But what were they searching for? Dakota had always wondered and over the years she had found things, more than she ever revealed to her father. Like the device. In the safety of her empty living room with its bare floorboards and box-furniture, Dakota let go of her arm and slipped the device out of her pocket. She realised now she should not have told the boy about it, but there were so many questions in this world without answers and she didn't know how many more the world could survive. Dakota didn't like to not answer a question which she knew the answer to.

The device was warm and a scattering of flashing lights moved across its surface. Except that they weren't very scattered today. They huddled in a group, flickering from one place to another but decidedly together. It wasn't a very accurate device but it found them. And Dakota couldn't help finding them. If her father knew- well there was one red dot not huddled with the others and that red dot was huddling in an above-shot apartment, its hands wrapped around buckling knees and asking questions.

Daniel Nitram

Wishing I could sleep, new friends to meet Daniel's late nights and early mornings.

I looked about the room everyone seemed to be agreed upon my idea if not precisely at least in spirit. I looked at Andrea she nodded already knowing what I was thinking, "Well now that we have a plan I guess our meeting is done for the evening." I looked at Chris, "would you mind running everyone home just to be safe?"

"Yeah no problem zombie boy." Everyone laughed at his joke, I glared at him.

I went to speak, "just because I'm undead doesn't mea-" Em cut me off.

"Actually Daniel I'll just walk home I promise I'll be careful and safe." Em got up to leave and headed to the door.

Samantha got up too, "I'll walk home as well no point in having Chris make too many trips." She left following seemingly close to Em.

Everyone started to leave the manor those that didn't walk rode with Chris and those that couldn't fit in Chris's car remained with me for a bit longer. Finally Chris returned for them and I once again gave him gas money still sneaking in a bit more as though it were nothing, it wasn't to me, but he refused me simply giving him money. The car work his father would be doing would let me help him with out him saying no. As they drove away I went up stairs to wait for the morning. The nights were the worst part of being a reanimated corpse I didn't need sleep so while the others were asleep I would be waiting for the sun to rise.

Videogames were a good way to pass the time and reading made the hours fly. I had watched almost every movie even read scripts from certain ones I really liked. I also enjoyed tinkering and occasionally other hobbies would take over cooking, crocheting, and sewing were some that also amused me. It seemed that each night grew longer until there were few things I hadn't done before morning. As it grew closer to dawn I heard the noise of a truck of indeterminate size unusual at that time in the morning. I had just gone to prepare myself for the day getting what I'd need for school. I had opted to walk to school today my schedule due to my having passed several of my academic classes early meant not needing to be at school till later. So I largely spent my time downtown waiting until I had to be at school.

As I walked out of the front gate to Stone Manor and in to the neighborhood of Victorian homes that lead to the gate of Stone Manor I could see a moving truck. It seems worth investigating I thought. As I walked by to see what the new neighbors looked like I saw a vision of beauty. A tall girl almost as tall as me was going to lift a rather large box she seemed to struggle with it but eventually lifted off the ground. She handle it awkwardly and was clearly struggling, "hey let me help you with that." I rushed over and grabbed the bottom of the box. For such a heavy looking box it almost seemed light in my hands.
The girl seemed surprised by my presence so I opted to introduce myself, " I'm Daniel Nitram I live in Stone Manor the old house up that way. I guess you're just moving in to the neighborhood?" It sounded like a question and as soon as I said it I realized how stupid it sounded.

"Yeah we're new to the neighborhood." I guess she didn't fault me too much for being stupid. "I'm Akiza Silverback nice to meet you." I reached out a hand balancing the box and gripped her hand firmly in mine.

Chris Lanyard
The day after the meeting in the mansion,
Willow Township Auto Body Shop

Today I was manning the desk. In fact I had been manning the desk since last weekend.

Dad still wouldn’t talk to me after what I did to Joey- and what I let Joey do to poor Nick. He had made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want to be near me, if not by direct communication, by shunning. I therefore volunteered to work the desk for a while, till things simmered down. I don’t think it made a difference that Joey would have to cut down on some of his bar money to pay for his arm, something that I thought would be good for him, Mom and Dad still weren’t ready to forgive me.

As for Joey, we now had an unspoken agreement. He didn’t **** with me, and I didn’t **** with him. We were done with favors. He had moved out of the house, much to the chagrin of Mom and Dad. They were conflicted. They would never forgive him for what he did to Nick, but at the same time, they relied on his income for some of the extra odds and ends of living. Looks like we’ll be living off rice for a while.

Anyway, today was a work-day, not that it would make any difference. I had been increasingly missing Marching Band practice to either work or come to SBC meetings at John Summer’s and Sam’s houses. Needless to say, that meant a lot of taxiing normal and “disordered” friends around in the sputtering Honda, which had preceded me by six family members and almost 20 years.

I was shooting the bull with George Mark (that’s right, one of them two-first-name folk), a customer who we all loved because he was notorious for not knowing the simplest auto jobs like changing the oil or tires. Pair this with an ailing Camry, and you have yourself a lot of business for Willow Township Motors Inc.

In the middle of a joke about Elephants and refrigerators, that, while a bad joke, still had the pudgy George rolling in his socks with mirth, the bell on the door rang was the glass orifice opened. In walked a guy that, and I don’t lie, breathed evil. No joke, man. This guy had a stoop, wild eyes, wore a huge black coat, and carried a walking stick that was carved like a snake. There was only one resident of Willowcreek that would fit this description, and that would be the infamous Silas the Bible-banging snake charmer.

The Right Reptile Reverend sauntered in as much as one could while bending over a tiny cane, and announced his presence at the doorstep, which was as unnecessary as it was redundant.

“The Good Father Silas Ardell!”

I looked at him for a little, not knowing the proper response for this introduction. “At least, you’re not the Good Son. That Culkin kid really messed some stuff up in that movie. Come on over to the desk.”

George, however, must have known him, because he instantly ran up to the middle-aged Protestant and shook his hand, offering to take the man’s coat, which Silas arduously refused, pushing the overweight man away from him.

Pulling his lips into an obviously fake smile, he hissed, “Always good to meet a member of my flock around town, Mr. Mark.” He turned to me, the smile gone. “I am here to fix my automobile. There is something stalling it, and I have no idea what it is.”

“I’ll put you down, then.” I put his name and car type down on a pad, looking at the model through the window. It was nice, a corvette, all black, with snakes painted on the sides. How fitting. “Just drop your keys off here, and I’ll make sure you get that taken care of. Thanks. Also, could you write your number here. It’s a small town, and a friendly business. We don’t do time estimates. We call you when we figure out what the big deal is with the Chevy over there.”

As he gave me the keys, he locked sinister eyes with me, and their red spots seemed to burn with recognition. “Haven’t I seen you before?” He seemed confirmed. “Yes I have! Do you happen to know anyone named Eli?”

I didn’t know how to respond here. I sure wasn’t going to try and say anything that connected me, and with me the whole other group to Eli if Silas knew about his powers. I couldn’t let everyone else take the fall. A lie was in order. “No, can’t say that I do, sir.”

“Lies!” he shouted, startling George, who had been playing with a pen that had been ripped off its chain from the desk and had been previously lying on the ground. “I could’ve sworn I saw you talking to him in front of the school back-” He stopped himself.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing, nothing, thanks for the service, call me when the car is done with the price of maintenance.” He turned to go, then returned his gaze to his constituent. “Mr. Mark. Remember. Tomorrow night at the Church. It’s a very special meeting. We’ll have guests, from the local Investigation unit. Don’t forget.”

He barely heard George’s reply of remembrance as he stormed out the door.

Well. I had something for show and tell for the next Silver Bullet Club meeting.

Akiza

Walking inside, I looked around the house I would now call home. It was an old Victorian home, though it was in great shape. The giant double winding staircase really caught the eye. Before I could get into any detail, Axel's voice came ringing loud and clear in my ear.

"C'mon dufus!" he yelled in my ear. "Get you butt in gear."

I turned to glare at my older by one minute brother and brush past him towards the moving truck. We'd gotten into town the night before and slept in a bed and breakfast since we arrived first instead of the moving truck. Mom wasn't here at the moment. She was off signing the last few papers and getting last minute things in order.I fixed my shades as I stopped in front of several boxes. Axel walked around me and tapped one with his foot. "Help me move this."

"Why would a big strong man like you need help from a dainty female such as myself? I thought you were a 'manly man'?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Blah blah blah blah blah blah." he replied in a high pitched voice and bent to pick up the box.

With a laugh and shake of my head, I bent down. We lifted from the earth and proceeded to the house. Half way there, I trip over something on the ground and stumble.

Axel cursed. "Watch where you're going, clumsy."

"Oh bite me, thumb sucker." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Oh yea?" he smirked devilishly. "Suck this."

He let the box drop from his hands, and me along with it.

"Umph," I grunted as the box and I both thudded to the ground.

The sound of Axel's rumbling laughter reached my ears as I struggled back to my feet. Wow. This bad was heavy, but nothing I hadn't encountered before. I pulled back to my feet, almost losing my balance, when I hear an unfamiliar voice and foot steps.

"Hey, let me help you with that."

The box is out of my hands and in another person's hands, catching me by surprise. I look up to see a man only a few inches taller than me, now holding the box. His hair was the oddest shade. Charcoal grey. And his eyes. a dark grey that gave off a faint luminescence. Hm. interesting. I let my shades slide lower on the bridge of my nose, careful not to let him see my eyes, though my bangs did a good job of hiding them anyway, and get a better look at him. His almost translucently pale skin was something else to be noted. Hm. Before I could do any more, he spoke, breaking my train of thought.

"I'm Daniel Nitram I live in Stone Manor the old house up that way. I guess you're just moving in to the neighborhood?" it sounded more like a question than a statement.

I smiled lightly. "Yeah we're new to the neighborhood. I'm Akiza Silverback, and nice to meet you."

He reaches out, a hand balancing the box to grip my hand firmly in his. I gave an involuntary gasp at the flood of emotion that hit me. Curiosity. Intrigue. Attraction. I pulled my hand out of his so fast all he could he do is blink.

"Is something wrong?" he frowned.

I cleared my throat. "No. Just remembered something important."

He nodded but said nothing. I went for a change of subject. "So how long have you lived here?"

"Too long to remember." he laughed humorlessly.

His change in mood told me how true those words rang. A feeling of loneliness crept over me and I couldn't help but say, "You poor thing."

He frowned again, his mood shifting to one of confusion. "What?"

"Um," I paused. "You poor thing you look so pale. Are you feeling ok?"

"Now that I've met you, I can already feel the color coming back." he winked.

His flirtatious mood made me smile, and the awkward smile he gave me after realizing how corny what he said was, made me laugh. "Smooth."

His feelings came rushing at me like a tidal wave. Embarrassment. Awkwardness. More attraction. Aw. What a sweetheart. I shook my head. "So can I have my box back?"

As if he'd forgotten about it he looked down at it with slightly widened eyes. "Oh! Here you go."

I took the box from him with a smile. "Thanks for the help."

"No problem." he smiled back.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you around?" I began backing up towards the house as mom's car came into view.

"Um, yea. Count on it." he assured me.

"Hey!" Axel called from inside the house. "Get your butt in gear, Kiki!"

I rolled my eyes. "That's my idiot brother calling me. Stop by later or something. I'd like to get to know you better."

"Sure." he began to head back the way he came. "It was nice to meet you!"

I waved before heading back inside the house and towards Axel. "What the hell man? You drop the bag like a dirty needle and leave me? Douche bag move, man."

Axel, sitting on the left staircase, shrugged. "You seemed to be doing just fine with whoever that guy was that helped you."

I rolled my eyes again. "Idiot."

"Kids! I'm back." Mom called.

"It's about time." Axel stood up. "We thought you'd never get back."

"So did I for a moment there." she came into view, looking back the way she came curiously. "Who was that boy you were talking to?"

"Daniel Nitram." I answered. "He lives in the old Stone Manor house."

"Hm." she looks on curiously, then smiles at me. "Already making friends, I see."

Yep. Already making friends indeed.

Jonathan Summers - Home at his place, late evening after the meeting
Chris drove me home, even though it wasn't far. I thanked him for the ride, said goodbye to the people still in the car and closed the door behind me. It felt nice to be home. There were no spirits here, just Yenna, our cat Ticka and our dog Loy.

"Welcome home, son." I smiled at Yenna as she gave me a hug. When she touched me I saw her, but much older, laying in a bed with her eyes closed, smiling. It was a relief to know that she would die such a peaceful and painless death. Loy was laying in the couch, and just barely lifted his head to look at me when I entered the living room. I couldn't see Ticka, which meant she was probably sleeping in my bed. "Did the spirits bother you again?" She sat down beside Loy and patted him on the head. "I've felt some nasty energies coming from that manor."

"They were quite loud, but the spirit from an angry guard dog chased them away."

Yenna looked surprised. "Angry, you say?"

"Yeah. He was about to attack one of my friends, but then he went after the spirits instead."

"You shouldn't go back to that manor. Next time you might not be so lucky." I nodded, though I didn't want to miss any meetings. "How's your friends?"

I considered lying so that she wouldn't have to worry, but I knew better than that. I and Yenna kept no secrets from each other, and I wanted to keep it that way. "Apparently a couple of paranormal investigators have arrived in town, and there's a church too. The Snake Church. According to Andrea the man who owns it is up to no good."

Yenna frowned. "Yes, Andrea if anyone should know. I think I passed that man before. He is not a good man, and certainly not a man of God. He might think so, but he isn't. You all need to take care when people like that are in town. It's not safe."

"We have a plan to lay low. Hopefully that will be enough."

"I don't think so. This man he was.. Evil. I could feel it oozing from him. I've never encountered any spirit with such a negative energy, much less a person. If he comes for you then you should run."

I nodded. "I know. I'm tired, so I think I'll go to bed."

"Sleep well, child."

I didn't sleep well, not at all. I dreamed about my friends, laying on the floor of a church, snakes crawling all over them. The crucifix above the altar was covered in blood.

Spoiler

Well, sorry about this being terribly long. You can ignore half of it if you want. This happens a little before Cow's post, I intended Eli's tinkering with the car to be the cause of the stall that Chris was going to work on. Anyways...(And yes, I changed the corvette to a cadillac, it seemed more likely for an old fuddy-duddy to be driving around, no offense, Shin)

Eli (After the meeting at the mansion)

Eli hadn’t rode home with Chris and the others. It wasn’t that he didn’t like them--- it was that he had a generally reserved mistrust of any moving vehicle, especially one driven by Chris. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Chris--- but when Chris was in a bad mood, he was in a bad mood. Besides, Eli had far too many private thoughts that needed to be sorted out, and he could only concentrate while alone.

So he had walked home.

The storm had broken a little after he left the mansion. Lightning split open the dark gray belly of sky and the rain poured. Eli avoided taking the road that would lead him back towards the ravine; instead he trekked through the forest on the ridge and over back into town. The trees helped to shield most of the water, but Eli still managed to get drenched.

His thoughts turned over and over in his head as he walked. He couldn’t fit all the events of the day into a logical order. Somehow, he knew that the demon-possessed girl from earlier had something to do with Silas… if only through indirect influence. There was no doubt about it; the presence of a demon-whisperer was drawing other supernatural phenomena to Willow creek. Surprising since there weren’t actually that many people who lived here. The rain soaked through to Eli’s bones, he got a chill that he couldn’t shake. Thunder rolled overhead and he ignored the cold, pulling his jacket closer. Once, he felt a demonic presence, but only for an instant before it vanished in the rain. He wondered if the town’s sudden spiritual activity was drawing things down from the mines--- and not everything in an old mine was a demon or ghost.

Soon, he reached the edges of the town. He had to back track to the bridge before he could cross the river, which was now swollen with the late season down pour. Eli skirted Main Street and crossed under the state highway as he headed home.
Willowcreek was an old town, but most of the buildings in the main part were kept up and in good repair. The town held interest for the younger crowd, a lot of college students rented here because of the “artistic interest,” choosing to commute to the campus two towns over. But here, on the other side of the bridge, the tangled mass and layers of buildings were known simply as “The dump.” Not literal of course, but the shabby houses left over from an 80’s renovation had junk that crawled out onto the streets, and there were a few resident stray dogs that exuded fleas and disease.

Eli found the familiar path that led to the apartment complex he lived in, and had soon reached it. The place wasn’t as back as the other parts of the Dump, partly because the owner didn’t allow as many junkies. The brown and gray two-story building sat at a comfortable distance from the street, and was the place Eli currently called home.

When he stepped inside Eli was immediately hit with the familiar smell of coffee, cigarettes, and paint. He let the banged up door slam shut behind him and shivered as the new temperature hit him. Krystal, the landowner’s spunky, redheaded girlfriend and doorkeeper, briefly stuck her head out from the kitchen.

“You’re back late, Eli” she said through the paintbrush gripped in her teeth. She did a double take “My god, you’re bleeding!” she exclaimed. Eli shrugged and winced. He checked his shoulder and discovered that it was, indeed, bleeding. The wound must have opened up again. Krystal set her paintbrush down.

“Come on, let’s have a look at that.” She said. Krystal was from London, and had a peculiar accent to her speech. In fact, everything about her was peculiar; her short, spiky hair, torn jeans for a 30-something year old, and a tank top in September. But, as long as her boyfriend asked no questions about why a 16-year-old kid was renting, Eli was content to call her a friend.

“I’ll be fine.” He said. “I can patch myself up.”

“Don’t lie to me kid, we’re taking care of this right now.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the kitchen despite his protests. Krystal shoved the empty palates and boxes off the table. She made Eli sit down and dug the first-aid box out of one of the cupboards.

“You’re covered in mud.” She said. “What the hell did you do?” She handed him a wad of gauze that was loaded with disinfectant. Eli’s eyes watered as he clapped it to his shoulder.

“I was out with a friend.” He quickly thought up a convincing story. “I was trying out his new bike and hit a branch.” He said.

“Whatever.” Krystal said. “Be more careful, you’ll kill yourself at this rate.” She sighed and crossed her arms. “Well, did you get anything to eat?” she asked. Eli shook his head. Krystal went over to the fridge and pulled it open. She emerged with a lunk of… something, wrapped in plastic.

“Made this for Brock yesterday, but he wouldn’t take it.” She tossed it on the table. “You can thank me later.” Eli warily eyed the lump. It was a sandwich, apparently. Krystal poured two glasses of lemonade and pulled up a chair next to him. She took the gauze away and studied it for a moment.”

“Hell, kid, this is deep.” She pursed her lips. “Don’t know if my CPR cred covers this.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Eli said. “I can get stitches tomorrow if I need them.” Krystal shook her head.

“You need them now… I’ll do the best I can.” Eli debated whether or not he should try to eat the sandwich, but his stomach convinced it and he unwrapped the plastic. He concentrated on eating and ignored the pain as Krystal cleaned the gash more thoroughly and stuck it back together with tape. He had always got a lot of injuries like this, ever since he started training with the Rabbi, but they never ceased to hurt the same every single time. This time though, the thing that bothered Eli the most was that the sandwich had apparently drowned in mustard long ago and been buried and mummified in the back of a fridge that eternally oozed the taste of onions.

“Are you sure you made this yesterday?” he asked.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eli couldn’t get to sleep that night. He tossed and turned and drifted in and out of fitful moments of sleep, but there was one question that plagued his mind and wouldn’t allow him rest: Why? Why was Silas here to start with? What plans did he have for the town, for the club--- for him? Eli was worried. So far, none of the club members had been purposely contacted by the crazed “man-of-God,” but somehow he doubted that would last long. He also doubted that the fall to the bottom of the ravine would have done much damage to the demon-wielder. “This is crazy,” he thought “What does he want?” Finally, he found an hour or so of sleep plagued by dreams of falling and snakes… and the Rabbi from his past.

He woke up at two in the morning, hot and breathing heavily. Something was wrong. Bright yellow light flooded in through the window, casting strange shadows on the walls. Eli got up and looked out. There was a car there, a black Cadillac with silver trappings. He watched as a man stepped out of the driver side door and walked around to the front of the house. “What is this, a funeral?” he muttered to himself. The rain had stopped, it no longer drummed on the roof, and hearing voices Eli crept out and to the top of the stairs.

The man was dressed rather poorly, and had dreadlocks that draped to his shoulders. He stood on the doorstep, trying to talk to a very intimidating Krystal who blocked the door.

“Sorry, we don’t give info about our renters.” She said angrily. The man tried to say something placating, but Eli couldn’t hear him. He didn’t need to, he knew who the man was looking for. Eli stole back into his room and shoved a few things into his backpack. A flashlight, extra socks, the box of granola bars he had never finished… Eli pulled on his hoodie and ducked back out. The man was still at the doorstep, and Eli stuck close to the wall as he crept down the stairs. The backdoor was in the kitchen, and he’d half to cross the main hall to get there. The main hall was in clear view of the front door. Fortunately, Krystal and her boyfriend Brock were sort of eclectic eccentrics, and piles of books and old hobby stuff packed the walls. Eli quickly darted across and hid behind a stack of filing boxes.

The conversation at the door was getting louder and louder, and Eli didn’t really pay attention until he heard a smooth, slow voice.

“Step aside, Philemon.” Silas said. Eli would never forget that voice. He risked a look and watched in horror as Silas calmly faced Krystal.

“We are looking for a young man named Eli, I must speak to him about something that happened earlier today.” Silas said.

“There’s no one here by that name.” Krystal replied. “And even if there was I wouldn’t give you info on our renters. Good night.” She tried to shut the door, but Silas took a step forward.

Eli saw the snake but before he could do anything the black, wispy creature had looped around Krystal’s arm and sunk its fangs into her skin. She went rigid, then the snake retreated back to its master. It was over in an instant.

“Now, sister, would you be so kind to run upstairs and fetch Eli for me?” he said in an odd voice.

“Of course, father.” Krystal said, only it wasn’t Krystal. Her voice was distant and heavy. Eli watched as she walked down the hall, trance-like, and passed right in front of him. For some reason, she did not see him, and climbed up the stairs in her hypnotized state. Eli was left there, with Silas standing at the door, unable to move. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, and his back was sticky with sweat. He tried to slow his breathing, and take shallow breaths so he wouldn’t be heard. The zombie-Krystal returned, walking right past him again, unable to see him. He wondered, briefly, if the demon snake or Silas’ power only registered the target if it moved.

“He is not here, father.” Krystal said.

“That’s impossible.” Silas said coolly, but Eli heard the frustration behind his voice. And then Silas was walking down the hall. He passed him; Eli could have reached out and touched him, but did not see him. Eli didn’t dare move. Hiding in plain sight must have worked after all.

“Never trust a neophyte to do simple work.” He heard Silas mutter as he climbed up the stairs. He moved easily, showing no sign of injury from his fall down the ravine. That was hardly surprising to Eli. He waited until Silas had disappeared and then bolted for the kitchen.

He had forgotten about Krystal. She turned on him, running towards him with a strange, snake-like hissing. Eli sprinted for the door but she caught him, grabbing at his neck. Eli was hauled backwards and a struggle ensued. He wrestled to get her off of him but was somehow pushed back. He hit the table and fell onto it. The thing jumped on him, slamming her knees down on his chest, pinning him to the table. Eli reached around wildly for a flat surface, his left palm started to glow with the runes. But the thing saw what he was doing and punched his shoulder where the bandage was. Eli bit back a scream. So far, the thing had made no noise except for the hissing, and Eli didn’t want to alert Silas of his whereabouts. He felt his arm go limp though, and the thing had grabbed his wrist and locked it against the table before he could move. Then it reached down with its other hand and grabbed his throat. It pushed down, and Eli gasped for breath. He struggled but could not throw her off.

But he still had his right hand. While the thing concentrated on choking him he grabbed the edge of the table. He pulled up and threw his weight to one sight at the same time, bodily throwing the table to the floor and heaving the thing of at the same time. It hit the ground, hard, and lay still. Eli untangled himself from the table and ran for the door, still struggling for breath. He burst outside and, running unevenly and leaning crazily to one side, somehow managed to get across the street. He crouched behind the dumpster in the alley and allowed his head to stop spinning, catching his breath.

His arm throbbed as he watched Silas emerge suddenly from the back door. He looked around and then called Philemon over and the two vanished behind the house, searching for him. Now was his time to move, if he was going to move at all. Eli got up and was about to run when he stopped. He couldn’t resist the Cadillac, sitting there with its engine purring, and before he could think about it had run over and popped open the hood. He looked inside. Although he knew almost nothing about car engines, he had an analytical mind and had soon pulled a few important looking wires and screws. Eli slammed the hood and sprinted off into the dark. He heard angry shouts far behind him and smiled as his feet carried him far away. But his thoughts turned to worry about Krystal, and he hoped she would turn out fine. He would not be coming back. Eli pulled the hood over his head, ducked low, and ran.

Em-Morning-Shelter/School Short-cut

I checked out the small window in the shelter room. I didn't see anyone I knew from school this time, so I guess I was good to go.

I grabbed my backpack and turned around, Lily (my 4-year-old roommate) was staring at the floor, silent.

"Hey Lils, what's wrong?"I asked.

She glanced up at me with her big brown eyes for a split second revealing a black-eye . Then went back to staring at the floor. "Mommy's gone again." She mumbled.

I sat on the bed and put my arms around her. She was crying now. She never made a sound when she cried, but I knew.

"Hey Lils?"

"Yeah?"

"You know I'm never gonna leave you right?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

She burrowed deeper into my arms and I began to rock her back and forth, humming the lullaby I always sang to her.

"There once-
was a girl
on a mou-ntain top-

So high-
she could tou-ch
the stars-

And she danced all day
and she sa-ng
so the whole world could hear her-

lalala
lalala
I am free-

lalala
lalala
I am free...

I glanced down at her; she was fast asleep. So I gently placed her on her bed, tucked her in and wiped away her tears.

I glanced back down at her, silently wishing that someone had been their to wipe away mine.

Wordlessly, I slipped out the door.

***************************************************************************

I liked the woods. This particular woods made a great short-cut to school too. But there was the small matter of th-

I let out an audible "oomph" as I tripped over yet another fallen branch. I quickly stood and brushed myself off. Then stared at my grass-stained jeans.

"Great." I muttered.

I was just about to continue on my way when I heard a faint whisper.

"Flawlessss, absolutely flawlessss..."

It was a woman's voice. I turned around.

Nothing even resembling a woman stood before me.

The wind picked up.

"Is this some kind of joke?" I shouted."Because it's not very funny."

The wind stopped. "Joke?" The voice laughed. My dear child, this is hardly a joke."

"Then what is it then?"

The woman...voice let out an audible sigh. "Such a fool she was, to keep you so ignorant of your origin." She paused. "Tell me child, do you know where exactly your... gifts come from?"

"Well, no... I never actually th-"

"Do you wish to know?"

I thought about it for a minute, this wasn't exactly the best time for me to be having this discussion...But, she claimed to have answers to the questions that had plagued my mind since who knows how long. So, cautiously, I answered;"Yes."

"Well then, let us begin:
There are many names for what you are in this world; halfling, demi-demon, changeling, nephilem-"

"Whoa there, demi-demon? I think you have the wrong person he-"

"-but the name of which you are called in your homeland is Tetholk'malise, 'child of the inferno'."

I stood there. Petrified. A demi-demon? But how? These thoughts clouded my mind among others. Silas. The snake church...Eli. Did he know? Could he kill me? Was I evil?
I felt dizzy.

"Who are you?"

"A messenger, come to tell you that the time is at hand."

"For what?"

"To reclaim the birthright that your mother kept from you.

I marvelled at the way she managed to make the name I've longed to be able to call someone, seem like such a profane insult. I decided that I really didn't like this chick, but still, she had answers.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

The woman...demon, messenger...thing paused. "I must leave now child. I fear my presence is no longer secret."

Well, so much for getting those answers.

"Seek out the man by the name of Silas, he shall serve our purpose."

And with that, she was gone.

Samantha Heikkinen - The day after the meeting, after school

Class was over, and the club meeting was supposed to be held at my place in three hours, which meant that I had to spend three hours alone in that damn house. I didn't mind the 'alone' part, but I hated the house. The Greendale family was supposed to be living there, and there were pictures of them everywhere. Pictures from holidays and family reunions where they were all smiling. I had never had that kind of family, and I knew I never would. My parents claimed that they were trying to protect me by hiding me, but I knew that only did it because they feared me.

"Hey, Sam!" Andrea grabbed my shoulder and I turned to look at her. She had a warm smile, and I couldn't help but to smile back at her. Of the members of the club Andrea was the one I had gotten closest to. "Want to do something?"

She had probably read my mind and realized that I didn't want to be in that house alone. "Yeah, sure. Want to watch a movie? It seems the Greendales were fans of the classics."

She frowned slightly and glanced around. No one was looking. "You should really be more careful."

I sighed. "I know, I know."

"Anyway, I want to pick the movie. I'll be damned if someone make me watch Casablanca again."

I laughed. I'd never been very fond if the movie either.

---

It only took about ten minutes to reach my place, since it was so close to school, and we passed Jonathan's little house on the way. He had told me that Yenna, his adoptive mother, apparently was the town's psychic. He was lucky to have a parent who understood him so well.

"Cheer up," Andrea told me as she walked through the door to my house. "You might not have a parent, but you have the club. You have me."

"Thanks. I know I shouldn't complain." I took my coat of and put it on a hanger. "The club is more than I could ever dream of.."

"But you wish you could stop running from your parents?"

"Exactly. Do you want something to eat?" I asked as I entered the kitchen. I wanted a tuna sandwich, a big one with lots of cheese.

"I'll take one too, but with a normal amount of cheese." I started making the sandwiches, a bit surprised that I actually liked that he could read my mind. I had thought that I would hate it, but it made things a lot simpler. She always knew what I was feeling and thinking, which saved me many words. "Thanks," she said suddenly, and I turned to look at her with a quizzical face. "For liking my ability."

She was looking a bit too serious for my liking, so I walked over and snatched her feodora and put it on my own head instead. I giggled at her surprised expression. "Does it suit me?"

"No, not at all," she said bluntly and laughed at my scowl.

"Too bad, 'cause you ain't getting it back."

I put the sandwiches on a tray and led the way to the living room. Andrea chose a movie from the shelf and put it on. We both sat down in the couch. She looked a bit surprised when I leaned toward her.

"What are you doing?"

"Leaning," I said matter-of-factly. I noticed the blanket hanging over the back of the couch, so I took it and put it over myself.

"Are you cold or something?" She put an arm around me.

"Nope, but this is cozy."

She didn't answer, so I assumed she was focusing on the movie, so I decided to shut up and do the same. Andreas warmth made me a bit sleepy.

Spoiler

I hope that's fine, LH. I guess you can take it from there?

Andrea - Greendale House - "Your kiss woke me, and honestly, I loved your kiss,"

I couldn't believe it, here I was with Samantha who I think is coming on to me, what was I to do? the more she did the more I wanted it. My arm around her, my hand at her stomach and she seemed to be dozing off, tired I guessed, but she was leaning against me, I was secretly a lesbian. Yea I dated a few guys in the past but the relationships, never lasted as long as they did when a secretly dated a few ladies, but those are in the past, this is the now, I was barely paying attention to movie as my eyes darted from the movie to her, just to see if I could catch her looking at me. I could only read surface thoughts, and she was showing no sign of thought about me, about leaning up against me and feeling our warm bodies. I looked at her, she was asleep! No wonder why she wasn't thinking anything, can't think if your asleep. I slowly got up, careful to not wake Samantha from her nap, and slowly I lowered her down on the couch, hopefully it'll be a few minutes before she wakes.

I went upstairs ever so quietly and went to the bathroom, I needed a mirror, a place to think where I can't hear anyones thoughts, when I got there I closed the door behind me, there was still plenty of light outside, I went up to the mirrior that hung from the wall and looked at myself. Was Samantha for real? what could I do? what should I do? I felt a longing, I saw Samantha's lips as I lowered her down on the couch, they were full and I ever so wanted to do the one thing that could risk our entire friendship, the club at worst. But it was something I just knew I had to have, this desire, this longing for her, I knew I had to have it. I left the bathroom and crept back downstairs slowly, quietly to make sure I didn't wake Samantha, eventually tho, I found myself in front of her, she laid there like a sleeping beauty. Slowly I placed one hand on the side of her face, and slowly I moved my head forward, now our faces just inches from each other, it was now or never.

I pushed forward and our lips met, I placed a gentle kiss on her lips, and then I felt her return the kiss, her hands coming to my face and returning the kiss in a passionate wonder, and then she broke the kiss my face felt flushed with wonder, excitement, fulfillment, and longing.

"It took you long enough," Samantha said.

"You, were awake?" I asked.

"Your kiss woke me, and honestly, I loved your kiss," she said.

I kissed her again, and this time, it was rather short until I heard the door open and a few club mates walk in, I react late and pull away to see Em, Daniel, and Chris.

Em giggled "have something to tell us you two?" she asked.

I looked at Samantha and for the first time really hoped she had an excuse for why we were just making out, but in my head I somehow knew there was no excuse.

Daniel Nitram
Love is in the air, Daniel the romantic
"Well about time," I let out a laugh. I turned to Em, "you should have seen Andrea the first time she looked at Samantha I thought she was gonna French her on the spot." I laughed again. We all started to sit down and I slowly began to drift back to this morning and Akiza. I couldn't keep her off my mind, "actually Andrea um...I can't stay for the meeting I have some personal matters to attend to. Oh and congratulations you two." I pointed at her and Samantha.

As one they gave a kind of awkward embarrassed thanks. I walked out the door and called my driver I needed to swing by my house and grab a few things. I arrived mere moments later at home rushed in and changed outfits. I put on a tight red t-shirt, a white thin sport coat, and tight black jeans. I went through my garden on the way out with some pruning shears quickly I plucked a rose and clipped it's thorns. It was a beautiful rose for a beautiful girl. I left the Stone Manor grounds trotting and whistling thinking about Akiza.

I arrived at Akiza house and knocked three times fast. I heard a guys voice yell, "coming." The door swung inward revealing a young man roughly as tall as Akiza. I swiftly put the rose I was holding behind my back. "Akiza someone's at the door for you," the young man briefly sized me up. "I'm Axel by the way, not that my sister bothered to mention me. She'll be down in a moment." He left the door open and I could see Akiza walking down the stairs to the front door I struggled not to let my mouth gape open. She had tied up the shirt she was wearing earlier and it definitely enhanced the look of her bust it was tied up and revealed her midriff. Her muscles glistened with sweat, I was sure had I been a cartoon character my eyes would be popping out of my skull.

"Hey Daniel, I was hoping I'd get to see you again today." Akiza smiled at me and I blushed a bright crimson.

I held out the rose for her willing my hand not to shake, "a beautiful rose for a beautiful girl." That line sounded so cheesy; I began to wonder what was wrong with me. She took the rose from my hand and held it up to her nose and breathed in the scent. "I thought maybe you'd like for me to show you around town and maybe grab a bite to eat I mean I've lived here my whole life so there are reasons." I tried to sound confident as if I was telling her what I planned for us to do rather than asking. I felt as though I'd failed.