Cautions and fears were thrown to the wind.

  The upturned earth, warm with the memories.

  The heat.

  The devotions.

  The kills of the many.

  Grass gray and trampled.

  Trees burnt and shattered.

  We. Would. Not. Lose.

  Depression was heavy upon our shoulders.

  Oppression ripe within our minds

  We. Won’t. Give. Up.

  The tears were great.

  The fear obsolete.

  Our stance was strong.

  Our resolution valid.

  This was where it was to be done.

  Here, our stand was to be made.

  At the time, we were blind.

  Our minds and hearts not understanding.

  Not seeing, nor knowing...

  The pain that was to come.

  The disasters that were to follow.

  No longer running or hiding, for no longer a place.

  Too many died.

  The death of demons.

  Of monsters.

  Of nightmares.

  In many ways and few,

  we wished to take their place.

  The hearts of the wicked, the hearts of the strong.

  The hearts of the loved, the hearts of the hated.

  The heart of a child.

  The death of a babe.

  What was it for?

  Sacrificed, murdered, raped, and plundered.

  We fought not for them, we took not for us.

  No tears for the unknown.

  No guilt as we stood.

  Here we now are! Here we will fight!

  And here to our knees…

  We. Will. Fall.

  The hearts that remained were broken.

  The link between them severed and torn.

  In the violet hue of the sky.

  In the cold depths of our souls.

  We. Made. Mistakes.

  In the broken feelings of our hearts.

  From the confusion in our minds.

  The blood upon our hands.

  We did not know if we would survive.

  We did not know if they would die.

  Though we were all certain.

  That we would cry.

  Oh, how we cried!

  That one choice!

  Those many mistakes!

  And we fought.

  Freedom.

  Hope.

  Life.

  We sought.

  Not knowing.

  Never ending.

  This battle was to be ours.

  This day, we would survive.

  Under this violet sky we make our stand.

  One thought readily in our minds.

  One truth we forced into our hearts.

  Not knowing if we were right.

  Not knowing if we were wrong.

  As the blood dried, we declared ourselves to fight.

  To survive.

  We had to believe.

  For the sake of all before and after.

  We. Would. Win.

  Come and get it, you evils of the dark!

  These hearts that beat within are resolute!

  Kill, maim, take, topple our dreams!

  We won’t give up!

  We won’t surrender!

  Our jaws set, we stood for battle.

  And battle is exactly what we found.

  ~Accounting of Hearts

  ~Feldyn Goldchord, the Endless Bard

  * * *

  Stryker was at the parking lot of the grocery store when the creaking quit and the gate opened. Francis Stricksent, caught completely off-guard as the breath of Hell washed over him, quickly started drowning in the emotional turmoil it crushed against his soul.

  Fear. Madness. Betrayal. Terror. Hopelessness. Despair. Doom. Torture. Loneliness. Loss. Hate. These were but a few of what he felt all at once. Stryker had no idea if he was still standing, or even alive; screams wracking his body.

  Gigi.

  'Was… was Gigi… destined this fate? Was this how she felt?' Awash in madness, falling into an ocean of the deepest of dark; that tiny light was there before him. And Stryker had questions. 'Hey, God… why do you let these things happen? You are God, right? Can you not just… make it all go away?'

  Gigi.

  'Heh… If I forced that child to do what was right, she would hate me. But I still gotta punish her if she does wrong. I would still love her even if she became a monster. Hmm… Is that why you let us have this free will thing? To learn? Or… because you want us to love you on our own?'

  Gigi.

  'So, God, I’m going to lose now, aren’t I? Well, shit. Guess I’m going to Hell… This is so stupid… It’s been in front of me this entire time. Your son, Jesus. Jesus… Really, God? Why not Bob, or Jim? You have to give him one of the most awkward names in all of history? Makes guys like me shy away. Y’know, social stigma, and all that.'

  Gigi.

  'Who am I fooling with my excuses? You’re God! You know I’m just a piece of shit, stupid, foolish sinner. I’m sorry. I really am. I know it’s too late now and all… But... I know Jesus is your Son. I don’t quite really get it… I know that he died and you brought him back… I know that he’s listening to this right now too…'

  Gigi.

  'Hey, Jesus… sorry about saying your name is awkward. I know you're Christ, and that was rude of me. Sorry I wouldn’t accept you all these years… I always felt too guilty, y’know, to admit it. My sins. I... didn't want them to be. But they were. I've sinned, and I'm sorry for that. And... I know I gotta go to Hell now… Me and my timing. Just please… let that little girl live, will ya? Please let Gigi get out of this? And be with the others. If any of them have to die, let it be quick. Lord God, Jesus Christ, forgive me for being an idiot. And tell the kids... If they have to die, tell them I'm sorry too, okay?'

  Stryker’s head slammed hard into the asphalt, face and shoulder scraping as he slid for several feet. His ribs hurt so badly, he cried out when he tried to move. I’m… alive? Not for long if he didn’t start moving!

  Pushing agonizingly to his feet, he looked around at the changed, yet same, landscape. The air tasted like it was full of dust. All the greenery was gone. Trees were reduced to stumps. There wasn’t a plant to be seen. There were also clouds of gnats and other bugs. That was when he realized what had happened. Somewhere in town… A gate to Hell had opened.

  His friends had failed? Then did they - Wait! Woah! Hold up! He had been talking to God a moment ago! To Jesus! Did... Christ saved him from Hell? Does this mean… Oh holy crap, does this mean he was a Christian now?! Huh. Wow. He felt… Fuck, he felt worse than before, actually. Didn’t all those Jesus people on TV say you felt all high and retarded or something when you got saved? Stryker felt like his face was shredded, and his ribs were broken. But still, that nightmare thing he was having when the gate opened, Jesus had really heard him, and saved him from it!

  Cool. Really, really cool. Maybe everyone else was okay too? If his sinful ass was allowed to make it through, surely the others had!

  When he looked up and saw the lycanthropeire bounding towards him, he seriously wished Christ came with a bazooka. He hoped Jesus was good with cursing, because Stryker was cursing quite creatively as he resumed his -gimped- sprint across the parking lot.

  He needed cover! A chance to actually launch a proper attack that wouldn’t give that demonic bitch time to heal. The giant dog jumped and landed not far behind him at the same moment Stryker crashed into the locked door of the store. “Shit!” he exclaimed. Why he thought the electric swinging door would be working, or even on, he didn’t know. Perhaps because the town still had electricity? Though he guessed the store still needed to be open to, well, open.

  Knowing the beast’s tactics decently by now, he fell to the ground, landing on his broken ribs. The pain was severe enough that his shout was breathless and silent. The beast -as expected- jumped over him, and through the closed doors, taking them and a good portion of the wall with it, smashing over halfway through the interior of the building in that single leap.

  Okay, so cover doesn’t seem like it will be very effective. Fuck. Now what? Hiding? Running? If he could keep in front of it, or away long enough to get in enough damage… Shit, shit, shit, shit!

  Stryker stayed on the ground as the dog burst back out of the building and over the top of him again. With gun he miraculously had not lost yet, he aimed up, and shot the stupid beast when it leapt over him a third time. He briefly wondered if it was retarded, then changed his views to focus the retarded accusation on himself; the beast’s blood splashed down, luckily hitting only his left foot and the sidewalk he lie on.

  The beast howled loud as Stryker, and tumbled into the store, losing its footing. From the way the sidewalk melted, and the level of pain in his foot, he didn’t even want to look at the damage. Instead, he got to his hands and knees, chucked a grenade into the building, stood, and began running (AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHouch!) towards a parked car. At least a part of his foot had to still be there, since his left leg was supported by something while he hobbled to an old piece of crap, rusted, brown, two-door car.

  Hearing the beast howling in pain was almost satisfactory enough to make this entire new universe of suffering he was feeling worth it. When the store crashed down atop it, he felt a bit depressed. He liked that place. This was his home after all; Stryker had a lot of memories shopping there! It was just another item on the list of reasons why he was going to take that monster down, even at the cost of his own life.

  Climbing inside the (like always) unlocked car, he prayed the old beater even worked. Quickly reloading his firearm, and not seeing any keys, hotwiring was the only option. There was another loud crash, the dog demon bursting from the rubble, this time low enough that it would have captured the cop in its jaws, had he still been lying there. Looks like it does learn…

  Trying to steady his shaking hands, the beast saw where he was. In an instant the dog was in front of the vehicle, and flipped it into the air with her snout.

  The officer braced himself as the vehicle spun end over end through the air. It hit the road on the far side of the parking lot, landing on its wheels. Stryker was glad for the blessing, and hurried to try the hotwire again. He didn’t know if he was faster than before, or if the monster was hesitating, but he got the vehicle to turn over. Giving a small shout of triumph, he got it into gear and floored it.

  And didn’t get to speed far at all, before the car was suddenly sent flipping and tumbling through the air once again. The vehicle hit something as it flew and changed trajectory, the impact dislodging the officer from the driver seat, causing him to be bounced around violently inside; eventually coming to a bone-jarring stop.

  Realizing he was upside down, Stryker tried to move and couldn’t. At first, he thought he had broken his spine; his head was at a horrible angle. When he realized he also couldn’t breathe, it dawned on him that he was pinned- so tightly that he couldn’t take a breath or move an inch.

  The panic that washed over the officer was almost as bad as when the Hell gate had opened. Almost.

  * * *

  Feldyn’s group felt like they were hit by an ocean. Each of them cried out as the madness of Hell engulfed them. Though, because of the mighty Word, the breath of Hell broke upon them, like waves crashing against the stone.

  After the mind-bending panic subsided, John, gasping, reluctantly uttered, "amen," and opened his eyes. “I think it is done,” his voice quavering as he tried to stand, and failed, deciding that staying on his knees worked just fine for now. Feldyn opened his own eyes with a grimace, expecting to explode, or worse. Masque stood almost immediately, looking everywhere, smelling the air, and listening for the inevitable onslaught of demons.

  Yet, no such thing happened.

  “We…” Feldyn started, puzzled, looking about at the now rather gloomy landscape. “Did… the gate open?” The bard was confused. Managing to stand, no one answered him. They had no idea either. All plant life appeared to have died, there was enough destruction for it to look like a war had taken place, and there were bugs everywhere… Yet, it was nowhere near what had been expected.

  “Shouldn’t we be under assault?” Masque asked, his voice holding a tone of puzzlement. “I do not know what to expect any more than you,” John admitted, still kneeling. “However, that experience… I have no doubt that the enemy accomplished something. Though, why things remain… calm… I just do not know.”

  Knees shaking, Ally stood, looking around at her town. An alien now. A nightmare parallel version of it. Silly as it might be for one that couldn't wait to grow up and leave, the sight made her very sad.

  There was a sound like an umbrella opening, and John’s eyes widened when they fell upon a tiny pink and white cat, flapping it's dragon-looking red wings in front of Feldyn’s face. And probably using something else to fly, as it remained in place far too stationary to be solely relying on those wings.

  “Feldyn!” Lance chirped in a panic. Masque’s nightblade was in hand; stanced to slice the infernal creature in two. “Lance! You’re okay!” Feldyn said, surprise and relief in his voice. “Of course I’m okay!” the... feline(?) replied, a lecturing note to his voice. Masque relaxed the stance, yet kept his blade in hand.

  “This… is Lance?” John asked, now managing to stand. He was… not what John had expected. The cat (more like kitten) turned to look at the old man, one eye blues and one green, both full of urgency. “John! You came! Did Bryan come too?” he asked in a voice young and squeaky enough, it sounded more feminine child than male. John didn’t know what to say, so he nodded. The feline’s mouth didn’t even move when it spoke. “Where is he?” Lance continued, looking around, wings still flapping, as he hovered. “Where is everyone?”

  “It’s complicated” Feldyn said, Lance turning in the air to look at him again. “Where have you been?” he asked now, changing the subject. They didn’t have time to explain everything right now. “They killed her, Feldyn! They killed her right in front of him! It was horrible!”

  “Wait, killed who?” Feldyn asked, completely lost. Was he ever going to not be confused again?

  Shouting, and crashing could now be heard. From both directions - from whence they had come, and where they were heading. Behind them, there were also gunshots. The group had definitely heard gunshots and an explosion shortly before the hell trumpet, but they had been a bit preoccupied at the time, and had assumed Stryker was fighting, the same as them. They all had their roles, and couldn't afford to get distracted by what the other groups might be facing... Or so they all continuously reminded themselves.

  John even more so. He did take solace in knowing there was an active battle. that meant the officer had not succumbed, and his Reba may yet live. Although making it easier, John still expected them all to die. He could feel himself caring less, his anger growing. Not that it mattered. If this was where God decided to punish him for all he had done, so be it, the other sinners along with him.

  Ignoring the sounds of combat, Lance kept squeaking, “The baby! The Terrors were using a cumulative delayed material cast for the gate. They had fed the hearts into the spell sometime earlier! Feldyn, they killed a baby right in front of Caleb, using her as the final heart!”

  “Aiyaka,” Ally whispered, eyes distant. Lance turning to look at her. “Yes, I think that’s the name he said. Do you know her?” She shook her head no, but her reflex was to nod yes.

  Masque walked close to the small creature, and squinted at it. “You smell quite pleasant,” was the vampire’s awkward assessment. “Um, thanks,” Lance replied. “You, not so much,” he added. Masque stepped back and frowned. Did he truly have a foul odor about him?

  “How horrible,” John said, referring to the baby, not the smells of his teammates; his psychosis fading at the revelation. Mostly.

  Masque started, and stood up straighter. “The gate… it is closed.”

  “What?!” was the collective question. “I said the gate is closed. It has shut and gone, I can sense its presence no more,” Masque clarified, though he kept his blade in hand, and somehow looking even more nervous. He had not even realized how distinct the presence of the gate had been until it was gone. “That makes no sense,” John shook his head. No one disagreed. For indeed, why go through all this trouble to open the bloody thing, just to shut it almost right after?!

  A young girl’s voice shouted something in the direction of the Rock. “I never realized how well you could hear things when the town was empty,” Ally mumbled to herself. But she guessed they were pretty close, and most of the trees were either destroyed or dead now.

  Ally then embarrassed herself, stepping back so fast that she fell into John. He caught, and held her up, though his focus was on the same thing Ally had just seen. Several blocks from them, above the remains of trees, and the roofs of houses, a humongous head appeared. It was so hideously wrong, John nor Ally could fully register what they had seen, before it vanished out of view, luckily heading away from them to the right.

  Towards the area where Bryan and Pazely should be.

  “Was that…” Feldyn began to ask, his heart slamming, jaw hanging open. “A gigas,” Lance confirmed his friend's fear. So at least one demon had come through… But where was it going? “If what we just saw heads towards us, run,” Feldyn told Ally, who stared at him stupidly. “You too John. And support Masque, Lance, and myself from a distance.” Not that he believed support would be helpful. A gigas? How in the bloody hell would he even begin to fight something like that?! Masque, sure. Himself? He would be better off running as well!

  Panicked or not, Ally needed to focus. “Is Caleb alive?” she asked the pink cat that was now sitting on Feldyn’s shoulder, wings folded in a way, you barely noticed they were there. Talking flying cats were trivial at this point, so she didn't give the tikirin much thought. “I hope so. He ran a bit out of the canyon, then curled up in a ball and started crying.”

  “He’s such a pain in the ass,” Ally complained, starting to get control of herself again. Seriously, Caleb is lying around crying while they are trying to save him?! That motivated her to at least stay focused until she could kick his ass!

  'Wait. What canyon? Oh, never mind, not important right now!'

  “Does this mean the plan is still the same?” she asked Feldyn, instead of worrying over trivial things like random canyons appearing in the middle of town, and giant demons big enough to probably swallow her whole. Not really knowing what other options they had, Feldyn nodded. “What plan?” Lance chirped. The bard felt a cold chill run up his spine. This was real. He was really about to start a fight with enemies powerful enough to open a gate to Hell, and control a gigas.

  “I do not think ye are going to like it,” Feldyn admitted.

  * * *

  Stryker inhaled sharply when the lycanthropeire ripped enough of the car away to unpin him. His exhale became a scream however, as the demonic canine bit hard into his right leg, ripping him from the vehicle. He was surprised as the bitch-demon when he shot her in the face. The gun had been on his lap when he had tried to drive away; must have subconsciously grabbed it when the beast flipped the vehicle.

  Flinging her head and yelping, Stryker was thrown through the window of a restaurant directly across the narrow street from the hardware store. Pings and pangs seemed to hit all over his body; crashing through tables and chairs. His body didn’t hurt anywhere near as badly as a few minutes ago, and he was pretty sure that wasn’t a good thing.

  Pulling himself along the ground; right leg moving, but not the way it was supposed to. He had dropped his gun, though saw it not far in front of him. The bandoleer of grenades had apparently come off at some point, since it was no longer across his chest. Wonderful. Reaching the firearm, Stryker grabbed for it with his left hand, and noticed he was missing his index and middle fingers. Well, fuck. Getting closer, he grabbed it with his right (Everything there? Yup!) hand, and continued crawling to get behind an overturned table near the door to the kitchen.

  This was bad. That damn dog kept healing! He had no idea how he was going to stop it! If it stayed still long enough for him to just unload into it, he was fairly sure it would die, but it wasn’t just going to stand there and let him! Thinking briefly thought of cramming a grenade down its throat; that was out now, since he had lost them somewhere.

  Looking at the gun, Stryker noticed his hand wasn’t completely intact after all. His pinky finger was sticky out at an odd angle and he couldn't move it. Damn! He was literally falling apart. There was blood everywhere, his legs were mangled, left hand partially gone… What else was injured or torn off?! Why was he even this clear headed?! Adrenaline? Shock just making him think he was alert? No idea.

  Stryker had failed. Castle Rock was destroyed. The citizens he had sworn to protect, and loved, were dead. His fellow officers (whom he had to admit he also loved) were dead... All the people he had known and loved, or even hated, were gone. Facts the man was simply not ready to accept. There was no way, no fucking way they were all dead! That was the truth his mind chose to believe, and the justification for him coming back here. It wasn't just to protect the kids, and stop the bad guys, it was to save those left behind! He had to stay strong! To see this through!

  Now, Stryker -kinda- fought a monster, while bleeding to death on the floor of a restaurant he had never actually ate at, though kept promising the kids to take them. It was supposed to be 'fancy'. He had heard good things, and the kids were dying to try the duck the place was known for, as they had never had it. But he just kept putting it off...

  Soon, he would be joining the rest of his beloved town he had failed. Well, those that went to Heaven anyway. But not yet. First, he had to at least take out this fucking dog. Think, Stryker!

  Nope. He had nothing.

  The lycanthropeire came into view, looking into the window he had been thrown through. Stryker shot it three times in the face, missing with the two shots after. Well, that should buy him a few seconds at least; the dog falling away howling.

  He felt pathetic! This monster wasn’t terribly bright, and it took damage so easily! It couldn’t even kill his normal human ass without chasing him all over the place! and he still couldn't take it down! Dammit, if he only had powers like John, or was a vampire or some damn thing like Masque! Why had they trusted him of all people behind to guard Reba and Gigi? Easy answer: they had no choice.

  'What would Gigi do?' he thought, and laughed. Definitely not what Jesus would d- WAIT! Jesus! He was a Christian now, right? That had to count for something! What do Christians do when they are fucked? … He guessed they prayed! … Stryker wondered if there was a right way to pray. He had no idea, but tried anyway, closing his eyes.

  'Um, God… uh, can you help me kill this... demon? I am trying to protect children! They are Christians too! So, err…. in Jesus’ name, amen!' He opened his eyes, looking around. He was still missing parts, bleeding everywhere, and no weapons appeared. Well, it was worth a try right?

  Maybe faith? Wasn’t faith supposed to be like that thing where you fell backwards, with your arms out, trusting for your partner to catch you? Stryker never had been good at that. Having faith in people just wasn’t a strong suit of his. Stryker was a cop; he knew how evil and manipulative humans could be.

  But God wasn’t a human! Well, Jesus was, but that shit was still confusing to him, even though he got the gist of it. The point of focus right now, was to keep the faith, and fucking move! Keep fighting! Keep… not dying! Looking around, he decided to crawl out the back door, since the beast was still being noisy in her pain, out front.

  With a grunt, he began to drag himself on elbows, that he actually still had. For now. “Jesus, since I may be meeting you soon, mind having a burger and some beer waiting for me? Think I earned it,” he complained out loud, and then laughed at the stupidity. Like God had cheeseburgers and beer handy. Then again, He was the creator of everything, so why not? Probably wouldn’t even be fattening.

  But first things first! Had to find a way to kill the monster, and save the kids. Then Stryker could go have an epic BBQ in paradise. At this point, he was actually looking forward to it. Tired, in pain, and afraid; he needed a good eternal BBQ. The good kind, with homemade sauce, and corn, and chicken... The kind of shit Ally would come up with.

  Reaching the back door and opening it, barely reaching the door-handle from the ground he dragged himself on, Stryker finally understood the whole victory in death thing. This demon was fucked, no matter how you looked at it. Him? He got eternal life and paradise. Can’t go wrong with that!

  Dragging himself out and into the street, Stryker was almost to the sidewalk on the other side, when he fainted.

  * * *

  “I like it,” Lance said, after hearing Feldyn’s plan. “Wow, you’re as mental as he is,” Ally observed. Lance chose to ignore her, and kept talking to the bard. “You have been such a wuss since-”

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  “Watch it!” Feldyn snarled. “Watch yourself, you bloody prat!” Lance squeaked right back at him. “If you haven’t noticed, things are not in our favor!

  “What happened before was not your fault! You could have done nothing to save them! Any of them!” But now you can!” Feldyn went tense at Lance’s words. “This time you and I can do something! Maybe we can save this group of friends!” The pink and white, winged-kitten, lecturing and encouraging the half-elf… was crying.

  “Or maybe this group of friends will save you?” John interrupted, doing all he could to focus on the present task and not the daughter he left behind, or how much he did or did not care. Lance turned in his hovered flight to look at John, feline mouth ticking into a sort of smile, “You already have.” Feldyn sobbed once, and turned his head. Lance flew back to land on his shoulder.

  “We need to act,” Feldyn said, composing himself quickly. “Ally will take shelter in that large house there. Masque and I will taunt the Terrors to us. When they arrive, we need to separate them. John, do you think you can get the zombie king to fight you alone?” The old man nodded without hesitation. “Good. At a minimum, keep him delayed, weakened, something, until Masque or myself can help. Just focus on surviving and keeping him busy.” John grit his teeth at the implication he could not defeat his opponent alone, nodding his understanding.

  Now to explain Masque’s role… Feldyn turned to look at the vampire, who rose an eyebrow. “Lance and I are going to slay the witch queen. What I have planned, anyone else involved in my fight will cause it to fail.” The look on the vampire’s face was fear, the bard’s words sinking in. “I partially sealed her, Masque,” John reassured the concerned vampire. “She is diminished enough, that with what I have seen from you, I do not doubt you can hold her at bay, at the very least.”

  Masque was not convinced. “How much power has she lost?” he asked. “I would say maybe thirty percent. Fifty, tops,” John answered optimistically, hoping he sounded more sure than he felt. Fifteen percent maximum was more likely… When Masque stood straighter, John almost sighed with relief.

  “I fear I must feed, if I am to be at my fullest,” the vampire declared, and John scowled. “Not off of me, you will not! I draw the line at letting you drink my blood!”

  “Settle yourself, old man,” Feldyn laughed, missing the edge in the priest's voice. “We need you at your fullest as well, for your own battle.”

  John glared. “Old man…" he grumbled, then asked "You never explained why you can now feed. Are you not cursed?” Before Masque could answer, John quickly rose his hand, and lowered his eyes. “It does not matter! It does not matter! Forgive me. So, if you must feed, it-” Realization dawned on Masque and John at the same moment, both looking to Ally. “No!” they protested in unison.

  “And, why the hell not?” Ally asked, hands on hips. “I can’t fight, so I might as well do something useful!” John looked mortified, but you could see he understood the necessity. “I am not okay with this!” he snapped his non-consenting consent. “Noted,” Feldyn almost sang, and John stomped a few yards away to lean on his staff, grumbling.

  Masque looked at the teenager with a peculiar expression of worry. “Ally… there is something you must know, if I am to do this.” She found it odd he was having trouble making eye contact. “When a vampire feeds, it can, at times, be an... enjoyable experience for them. Even more so if the vampire finds the individual they are feeding upon attractive.” Ally rose an eyebrow, hands staying on her hips, trying to look judgmental, and failing. “And I find you… to be an attractive young woman,” Masque clarified, and Feldyn almost lost it when the vampire actually shuffled his feet around in his embarrassment.

  “And what about me? What will I feel?” Ally asked, not even trying to hide her amusement now. It was Feldyn that answered. He was afraid he would start laughing and get decapitated by their black-garbed friend if he remained silent. “It will feel like someone stabbed two fangs into you, and is forcefully removing the blood from your body. Quite an awkward, and unpleasant, sensation.” He impressed himself by not even giggling!

  Ally sighed. “Whatever. Go ahead, Masque. I’ve had much creepier guys than you want to suck on my neck.” Masque stood there, unmoving and awkward. “Ally, you do not understand the level of intimacy I will experience.”

  “More than sex?” she asked jokingly, then felt awkward herself when his eyes shot to the ground. “I… do not know. However, from my understanding, it may be on a similar level of... enjoyment.” Okay, Ally hadn’t been expecting that. She tried not to look disgusted. She wasn’t, it was just… Well, having a huge dude dressed like a ninja essentially talking about getting off drinking her blood… Let’s just say it didn’t really make her all giggly.

  But... she guessed it could be worse. Masque was respectful, and nothing sexual would actually be taking place. This would still have been a let less awkward if he had kept that damn information to himself! “Well, get to it already!” she commanded, forcing him to look up at her. “And be quick about it! It’s no fair when the girl can’t enjoy herself too, so don’t drag things out!”

  John did not find her attempt at sexual humor to be appropriate in the least! She was hardly more than a child! The way Masque was acting, the way they both were, it was unacceptable. Vile! Disgusting! He ground his teeth, as that all too familiar hate began to fill him, and his own dark desires whispering at the back of his-

  Masque, without warning, rushed Ally, bending his knees and embracing her, biting deeply into her neck.

  But what really had flabbergasted John, was the loud moan that escaped from the girl. Masque scooped her into his arms as she swooned. What disgusting display of sexuality was he witnessing?! When Ally made another disgustingly inappropriate sound, John turned his back to them reflexively. He felt like he was on the set of some blasphemous pornography! The sounds behind him! Those heathens decided to be screaming in pain not pleasure! Their death cleansing the iniquity of their actions from his mind!

  Suddenly, Masque appeared between John and Feldyn in a puff of black smoke, his back to Ally like the priest’s. “Forgive me!” he apologized loudly, sounding ashamed to the point of flight. “It- it, I-I- did not-” Masque had lost control, and he had not meant to! He had drained so much of her blood! His body still trembled as it flowed through his veins.

  Masque was unable to taste sins in the blood he fed from, but sometimes, the general flavor could give hints. Ally tasted like... pleasantness. That was the word he would safely allow himself to think. Also, illogically, the girl's blood tasted like mana. As if he were drinking magic power itself, laced with physical pleasu- pleasantness. Masque had never before heard of such a thing, let alone experienced.

  The girl however, didn’t seem to mind his over indulgence, appearing a bit drunk where she sat on the ground. “That’s… okay,” she gasped. Ally had thought she was going to die it felt so good. Not sexual, exactly, but definitely good. Really good.

  Her flustered mind tuned to Feldyn, who was laughing his ass off. Did he know that would happen? No, he wouldn’t intentionally set up something so embarrassingly weird. Especially not with the so recent mana sickness incident. Jeeeeeeez, why did all the sexual stuff have to happen to her?! “But, whew.. uh, maybe you shouldn’t do that again,” she concluded. Masque shook his head vigorously, “I will not, I swear upon my soul!”

  “Not that I would mind, it’s just that-”

  “I promise that-” Masque snapped around to look at her, “Truly?”

  “AHEM!” John practically shouted at the two; Feldyn losing total control of himself, and fell to his knees with such laughter that his face hurt. Lance was composed, and was trying to appear irritated, though the amusement was still evident.

  These crazy, unpredictable people could always bring the bard such unexpected mirth, even in the midst of such chaos and despair! “I love you people,” Feldyn barely managed to say, voice breaking with a loud wheezing sqeek, which only made him laugh all the harder.

  * * *

  Gigi had extricated herself from the rubble shortly after Stryker had begun fighting the dog lady. When she heard that creepy loud instrument, she had started praying. She was terrified in a way that confused her, so Geeg had kept praying, even after the horn thing quit, and continued to pray as the creaky noise started. She prayed for everyone, she prayed to not be scared, she prayed for her parents, and for Sally. But more than anything…

  …she prayed for Stryker. Because he didn’t know Jesus! And if the door to Hell opened, he might have to go there if Jesus didn’t help him! So she begged God to help him! For Jesus to love him! He was old, and stupid, but he was one of the nicest old people ever! She yelled at Stryker in her mind to listen to her! That Jesus could save him!

  When the gate opened, Gigi knew what had happened. And she prayed harder! She was too scared to quit! Too afraid to open her eyes! Too afraid if she stopped praying, she would see the monsters! Would be all alone!

  It took her a bit to open her eyes, even after the bad feeling stopped. And the world looked… sad. All the plants were brown and shriveled, and the trees were just as bad, some even looking like they exploded. There were bugs crawling on everything, and dirt in the air. The town was dead. It felt like nothing. It felt like it did inside of her.

  What now? Did everybody… lose? Were they all...

  No! NO! They did not die! Namey was asking if she was okay, and she could still hear Stryker fighting!

  Oh no, Stryker needs my help! Gigi had prayed for him to live, and God had let him! If she didn’t try to help… what good was she? She might have to die next! And Gigi didn’t want to die. But she especially didn't want to be alone.

  Still in the middle of the rubble, she nimbly hopped along the top of it. Miss Reba would be okay, because Reba was a superhero! If not, then she would die. Which was sad, but there were more important things right now. Gigi jumped free of the downed shop, right where Stryker had crawled out of it at. She pulled her hood up, even though it was warm.

  Everyone knew it was the stupid-looking costume that you unlocked at the end of the game that was the most strong one! And she hadn’t gotten hurt at all since she put this on! Not really hurt, anyway. She needed her cow helmet on too! Everyone that wasn’t dumb knew more armor gave you more defense points! So she had to equip her head too!

  Or so she pretended. Gigi knew that was all bullshit make-believe, but it did help and made things more fun. What Geeg really wanted to wear was a ninja outfit. Or just naked. It took a lot to not want to be naked... Because being naked was bad, and being bad felt good, and Jesus only let you do certain bad things. This was not an appropriate situation to be the good kind of bad; make-believe it was!

  Running down the street, and rounding the corner, she froze. Down several blocks from her, she saw the giant black dog. It was outside the tool store, by the restaurant that the old people always went into, that Ally said was too expensive and she cooked better than there anyway (but secretly wanted to try the duck they set on fire). The dog monster was all bloody, and shaking its head, whimpering. Good! Die, you dumb… you dumb BITCH! Gigi was terrified, but cursing helped. Which must be why adults do it, since old people are scared of everything!

  When the monster dog started looking around, Gigi ran and hid behind a building. Did it eat Stryker? Was it going to eat her too? As fun as it was to think of other people hurting, she understood what it was like now, and never wanted to feel that again. Or any of her friends! Okay, it still felt a little good to imagine them hurting, but it felt better imagining them all being together and having fun.

  Steeling her courage, she held her gun tightly. With a little grunt of determination, Gigi ran out from behind the building and towards where the monster was, it now having crashed into the restaurant.

  When she saw something in the road, she stopped, almost tripping. Were those… Stryker’s grenades? And...

  * * *

  Masque was still glaring at Feldyn, while John -angrily- lectured Ally. Okay, maybe an inappropriate situation to get the giggles. He was not just on an alien world; a Hell gate had just opened nearby, and there was even a bloody gigas out there somewhere! It was enough to fray the nerves of any man, link or not.

  “I hope you know, letting a vampire feed on you is not a recreational activity,” John admonished the blonde, in his never-ending lecture. “Oh, grow up!” she snapped finally. Whoops! “I’m so sorry!” Ally said, cowering a bit reflexively. She was feeling stupid enough as it was right now; snapping at the old guy like he was a kid, probably not a good thing. John was one of the cool adults, but she hardly knew him, and he was most definitely uptight.

  The uptight old man felt like she had just slapped him. Her snapping at him barely even registered as rude. Reba was the snottiest, brattiest child he had ever encountered in his life. It took decades for her to quit starting fights every place they went with that attitude of hers. What had surprised him was Ally’s response after. She looked like a child being forced to submit to a teacher or other authority figure, suddenly fearing repercussions for her actions. Possibly even fearing being struck.

  If Ally only knew what she did have to fear in him.

  “Forgive me, child!” John, his horrified self realization overtaking him, shouted. Ally didn’t flinch, but blinked at him wide-eyed. He frowned, blushed, sighed and hung his head for a moment, before looking back up at her, a slight flush still in his cheeks. “I am simply not used to so much blatant sexuality, and adult content, since you all came to our home.” His words were one long sigh.

  'Did he just say adult content?' Ally knew it was rude, and she tried to contain them, but ultimately failed; having her own fit of the giggles.

  Obviously irritated again, John gave up and walked far enough away to indicate his speech was over.

  Lance found it bloody fantastic Feldyn’s ability to align himself with fools! Did they not hear what was going on around them, or understand what they were about to do?! “Can we?” was all he chirped. The group knew what their new companion -they had accepted fully already- meant, and their moods at once returned to feeling dire.

  The males then gathering together, and at hearing the battle talk start up, Ally went ahead and made her way for the building she was to shelter in.

  “Ally,” Feldyn called her name, surprising her. She stopped and looked back. Lance felt his friend tense. “The way a bard fights…” he started, and Lance rolled his eyes.

  Good grief, will he ever quit being so self conscious? Feldyn’s pretty appearance had not done him any favors in his life, Lance supposed. But he was a good in a fight. And was really good when it came to being a bard. A combat bard. The level he had pushed himself to, still such a novice, was extraordinary. And where Feldyn may be ashamed to be seen by this human girl (and probably John and Masque as well), Lance was looking forward to it.

  He knew what Feldyn was going to ask. He knew good and well what his friend had in mind. And he was positive with his help, that this time Feldyn could pull it off. If he didn’t, their death should be pretty abrupt, so why sweat it?

  “... it can tend to be a bit of a... ridiculous flamboyance." Feldyn smiled. “Do not judge me too harshly. Truly, looking foolish is not my intent.” Ally frowned, about to make a teasing comment, before she realized he was actually concerned. About her opinion of him. The hell did he give a crap if she judged him? She’d been judging him since they met! Then something dawned on her, and she laughed. “That’s what you’re worried about?” She rolled her eyes, and gave a mocking laugh, continuing to the house.

  The other three chose to let the bard stay puzzled over her words. No reason to accidentally break his subconscious belief he was going to win. That they all were.

  “I am going to taunt them-” Feldyn informed, shoving his puzzlement aside. “Once they arrive, I will explain our desire to fight them one on one. “If they do not agree?” Masque asked. “Well, then we improvise!” Feldyn answered cheerfully, praying it didn’t come to that. “One thing that we need to stick to, is trying to solo our own fights. If we finish before another, do not intervene unless you know you should. If one of you interrupts what I am going to attempt.” John and Masque nodded their understanding.

  “And what are we to do, exactly?” Lancetron asked, already knowing the answer. Feldyn hesitated before answering, “Do ye remember what I had been practicing before…” he didn’t finish, but Lance knew what he meant. Lance had been right about what Feldyn was intending. “You want me to add blinks to correct the timing discrepancies.”

  “Uh, well, yes actually.”

  “No problem!”

  “Do not equip me until I give the signal.”

  “Kay!”

  Looking around at everyone, they seemed as ready as they were going to get. Again, cheerfully, “Oh, one more thing: we don’t run. This is a fight to the death. Win or die, this is our stand.” Before the priest and vampire could say anything, Feldyn tossed his weapons off to the side of the road (he wouldn’t be needing them) and shouted towards the Rock. “HEY TERRORS! COME AND GET US! OR ARE YE TOO COWARDLY TO FIGHT YOUR OWN BATTLES?”

  * * *

  Opening his eyes with a start, Stryker was surprised he was still alive. Let alone alert enough to instantly remember what was going on. The sounds behind him were obviously the giant dog trashing the remains of the restaurant. He was honestly a bit disappointed he hadn’t died. Waking to this level of pain… fucking sucked.

  He continued dragging himself across the road, for what else could he do? In front of him was the town’s small drugstore. How he wished he could go bust the door down, and find some painkillers or something. A beer would be wonderful too. Or a bottle of whiskey… Hell, any booze at this point would be nice. Almost to the sidewalk, he laughed at an image in his mind of being full of holes like some cartoon character, the liquid pouring out.

  Rolling to his back, Stryker wondered what the fuck he was doing. Just draggin’ himself around, waiting to die? That was stupid. Why not just lie here, and get as many shots in as he could, when the monster inevitably crashed through the wall to eat him? He felt something hit him in the chest, before clunking on the sidewalk beside him. It was a small grenade, pin still in it. What the fuck? As he was looking around, wondering where it came from, for just a moment, on the roof next to the restaurant across the street, Stryker saw something. Someone.

  He saw Ally. Only… it made no sense. Her hair was longer, and hanging loose. She looked… older, maybe? Or was it the dirt on her face? She was wearing a black leotard, with rips and tears in it. But the strangest still… was… it looked like she had the same wispy smoking type of cloth as Masque, rolling around her. And when their eyes made contact for that split second- he swore there was no emotion. Like he was looking at a doll. A pure, eerie, uncanny valley feeling And then she was gone. Just, gone.

  He must be losing it. Oh well, at least he had a grenade now. Thanks, freaky Ally look-alike!

  The only thing Stryker could think of was to feed it to the mutt, and hope it worked. Only, that probably meant getting eaten in the process. Well, it’s been a good run. The last few days... The people he had met, the new friends, the adventures, learning so much about the truth, and God. And now he was a Christian too! Who the hell would have ever thought that would happen?! Sure as shit not him!

  “Hey bitch, I’m out here already!” Stryker called from where he lie. And was a little surprised when the dog went back out the front of the restaurant and walked around the corner; he had expected it to burst through the wall.

  The monster seemed quite a bit smaller now too, actually. It looked at him, and started to turn, then stopped, sniffing the air back the way they had come. Was it having trouble catching scents? “Don’t ignore me!” he yelled, while she continued to do just that, sniffing the air, fixated in that direction.

  The lycanthropeire quit sniffing, and looked back at him, appeared to decide something, and smiled, turning fully away from him now, to face back the way they had come. Oh no! Did Gigi follow me?! “HEY!” he almost screamed, and the beast ignored him.

  Oh no, you don’t! Stryker went to shoot it, but his right arm wouldn’t lift over his body. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Without thinking, using his mostly gone left hand, he managed to grab the grenade. Ripping the pin out with his teeth and sitting up - he chucked it with an awkward side throw, and fell back hard enough to whap his head off the sidewalk.

  The grenade hit the beast as it was leaping - and exploded on impact. The bang was earsplitting, like lightning hitting a tree. The lycanthropeire was launched sideways, smashing out most of the front of the hardware store, and losing a huge chunk of its left shoulder.

  Stryker had no idea why this grenade wasn’t like the others, but he smiled when the lycanthropeire walked out of the rubble, blood spilling everywhere. It was facing towards him now, instead of whatever was down the street.

  Goodbye, everyone. I love you.

  The beast dove upon him, and grabbed him up in her jaws. His right arm and leg dangled free, fangs piercing his torso. The pain was worse than he thought it would be, and he wished he could have screamed.

  “STRYKER!” he heard the tiny voice shriek in agony to mirror his own, as he was whipped side to side in the beast’s mouth. He felt his body snapping, and tearing.

  Belle’anne (in sheer ecstasy she had finally gotten one of the fuckers that had been such an annoyance) tossed him in the air, catching him in her mouth, shaking him more, and repeated. That stupid little cunt had been quickly trying to sneak up on her. She had through to grab her and make the man watch as swallowed the bitch whole. This was almost better.

  “STRYKER, NO!!!!!!” Gigi screamed again, struggling to remove one of the grenades from the bandoleer, while she watched the most horrible thing she had ever seen in her life! It wasn't like the movies! This was not like a movie!

  Belle dropped Stryker to the ground, and bit his right leg off at the hip - Stryker, for whatever horrifically cruel reason was still alive, and this time managed a scream. A scream worse than Gigi had ever heard an adult yell!

  “NOOOOOO!” Gigi shrieked in a coughing sob, and threw one of the grenades. Nothing happened. She had forgotten to pull the pin. “PLEASE DON’T DIE, STRYKER!” Grabbing the other grenade, she pulled the pin this time, and threw it, hitting the beast near its flank; right as she was about to bite Stryker in half. It exploded in a purple cloud of acid, that luckily had a small area of effect.

  “I’M SCARED! I'LL HATE YOU IF YOU LEAVE ME! I'LL HATE YOU!!!” Gigi shouted over the howling lycanthropeire, that she had momentarily interrupted from ending Stryker’s suffering.

  Even though suffering felt like an understatement to the still very lucid officer.

  Hearing her voice so pained, so full of fear... all he could think of… was that the emotions in her voice… were because of him. Had he not been fighting to keep Gigi and the others from hurting? And now he was the one causing her pain.

  The lycanthropeire snarled in rage. And it dawned on the officer- Gigi was next. If he failed, Gigi was next!

  “Gigi!” he shouted, chills like he had never felt erupting through his body. “Grenade!” Praying -literally- it moved this time, Stryker lifted his right arm. No longer did he have his gun in hand. His world spun violently when the beast picked him back up in her mouth, and from this angle, he could see her. Gigi. Standing, poised to throw - which she did; the grenade landing perfectly in his right palm. Then, Geeg began unloading her tiny gun into the beast’s side.

  Belle’anne opened her mouth to howl. Now! Doing what was becoming signature for him, Stryker pulled the pin out with his teeth. Forgetting all his pain, worry, and fear, “RAAAAAAAAAAAA!” he roared, hooking his left arm around a tooth, and with every bit of determination he had, forced his body as far into the beast’s mouth as he could; slid far enough inside that the monster gagged on him, which was all the opportunity Stryker needed to shove the grenade down its throat.

  And the lycanthropeire swallowed it.

  Another gag, and Stryker fell from the monster’s jaws.

  Both sides of the lycanthropeire blew out in a wet, sloppy pop-sploosh, and this time, the demon’s wail was a human scream. The back half of her body broke clean away, bubbling, boiling, and disintegrating from the reality corrosive, insides spilling everywhere.

  Belle knew she was dying. She knew she was now on a one-way ticket to torture; worse than she could ever fathom. And she knew this fucking man that had killed her was going to live long enough to watch her die! Belle’anne Haileyandra Lacuice was not going to let that happen! She forced her front legs to move towards towards the dying man that was only a few yards from her.

  Then, that tiny infuriating blonde ran to block her. No hood on anymore, hair loose and matted with dirt and blood. Wearing that stupid cow outfit! If she couldn’t take the man that killed her, then she would take this little cunt instead!

  But Gigi had other plans. In her two tiny hands, she lifted the huge handgun Stryker had dropped in the road. Hands that, days ago would have been too small, were now just big enough to point it at the monster that had hurt her so bad! And this time she made sure it was loaded; with the bullets she found next to Stryker's grenades! The shots felt like she was getting punched in the hands - but she held strong! Her legs shook, and her arms went numb - but she kept fucking firing!

  “IIIIIIEEEEEEAAAAAAAA!” Gigi shrieked in a deep, guttural rage, each bullet ripping such holes through the remains of the monster, that even one was overkill. When the gun only clicked, Geeg lowered it, looking at the mutilated remains of the lycanthropeire as they bubbled and disintegrated.

  And, for a really weird moment, Gigi thought she saw a lady. But not just a lady… It was like inside the pile of dog goo were two people. A lady… and a little girl, that she almost mistook for one of her friends.

  The odd sensation only lasted a moment. Though Gigi still stood staring at the piles of slime, which were quickly disintegrating; sizzling and smoking, until nothing was left but several black oily slicks that smelled like burnt toast and garbage.

  The dog lady, Belle'anne Haileyandra Lacuice, was defeated.

  From where he lie, looking at the little girl’s back, Stryker gathered the gist of it. They had won. Despite trying to keep her safe, Gigi had been forced to fight yet again. Only, this time… the one left mangled, and mutilated… was not going to be saved.

  She turned slowly to look at him, face expressionless, eyes wide. “We killed it,” she stated, emotions in her voice unreadable.

  He wasn’t sure why, but he began to cry. His tears were tears of joy. “Hell yeah, we did, Gigi! Hell yeah, we did!” His one regret was that he was going to have to die here, in front of this brave kid. Dropping the big gun, Gigi started to cry as well. “Are you okay?” she asked, voice much more composed than he was expecting. “Honestly, Gigi,” his tears calmed as he spoke, “I don’t think so.”

  Looking at her cop friend lying there… Gigi didn’t understand. She wasn’t dumb; she knew how people died. She understood injuries. What she did not understand at all was the sight before her. Stryker’s left hand was totally gone, right leg and hip looked like it had been taken out in one bite by a shark. His left leg was gone from the knee down. He had bloody holes all over his body, bad burns, his face was really really scratched, and most of his hair was gone. Plus, the large shard of glass embedded in his right eye -which Stryker didn't even known was there- looked large enough to be in his brain. Staring at him, Gigi knew he should be dead. But…

  “Yes, you are okay!” she snapped, her tears stopping. “So you shut up! You aren’t even bleeding, but almost all of you is gone!” she lectured. “You can even talk, and be dumb! Doesn’t that mean Gigi can save you?”

  Confused… he didn’t know what to say. He… wasn’t bleeding? He had been mauled, ripped and shredded, and knew subconsciously that he was missing limbs. Yet, he could still talk. Think. He could even breathe pretty well, even if each breath was excruciating. At a minimum, shouldn’t he be unconscious? Officer Stricksent had seen people remain alive and alert for a bit, after absolutely gruesome injuries, so that was probably all it- “Maybe you’re a zombie!” Gigi exclaimed in wonder, and he laughed, almost making him scream. FUCK, laughing hurt!

  “Can’t Gigi save you?” This time, her voice sounded broken. An odd... confusion in her eyes. Like she didn't understand her own question. “Please, isn’t Gigi right? What should Gigi do?” She fell to her knees, and his eyes saw her lip quivering violently as she tried to control her tears. “Please... tell me. Please! Stryker... what can I do? Please tell me?!” Her sadness… This... this was different. He had seen her cry, afraid, and right now, in this moment, every other emotion he had seen from her... felt... like a lie.

  Once again, his desire to protect gave him a clarity, a will to fight. He wasn’t sure why. It made no sense. Not like anything did lately, but he was still alive. For now, anyway. He couldn’t just let the poor child sit there, feeling helpless, questioning for the rest of her life if she could have, should have, done something.

  “Gigi,” Stryker said calm and steady. “Yeah?” she asked with a sniffle, eyes glinting with hope. “Do you know how to wrap a bandage?”

  * * *

  While Gigi listened to the dismembered officer explain what to look for in the pharmacy behind him, Hailey was still screaming. You see.. when demon Belle’anne Lacuice died and began her plummet to Hell, so did the soul she was fused to; the soul of nine-year-old Haileyandra.

  Hailey had thought that all this time, she had been dreaming. That nothing since that night had been real… That she had been in a nightmare… Not that her waking life was any better.

  Before she went to sleep... and her long dream started… That night, the man calling himself her father, brought her home a puppy. Just another way for him to try and exert dominance and cruelty.

  A couple of years before, right after him and her mom got married, he showed her his evil. He started bringing her to those horrible dog fights where he let men… do things to her. Things that hurt. Things that burned. Things that made her feel so… dirty… gross. And if she didn’t do what they wanted… he would threaten her with the dogs. And barely, only barely, those men were less horrible than what the dogs did to her.

  One time, she had gotten the guts to tell her mother. She should have known better. She had known better. But she was only eight! A little girl needed her mommy. Even if they knew their mom didn’t care. She never cared about her once, after Hailey's real dad had died. All she cared about now was that horrible, evil pig of a man, that she remarried.

  Her mom went to the husband who denied everything. And the next time he brought Hailey to the fights, well… they did their usual to her, before throwing her to the dogs. How they loved throwing her to the dogs. They always got so excited as the dogs violated her the way they did.

  The first time they tossed her to the dogs, she had been particularly bloodied up after making the mistake of trying to fight back. She didn’t know what exactly they had been expecting the dogs to do. Probably kill her, since she was covered in blood, and they were more than a little vicious, being dogs that were used for illegal dog fights.

  To the surprise and joy of the men present that day, and to the horror of the little girl, the dogs didn’t kill her. She wished they had.

  This time, when the dogs were done, the men beat her again. Usually, they just cleaned her up before going home, if it was a particularly violent session. Her step fucker telling the school she was ill, to avoid the teachers seeing the marks. Hell, the entire town believed her to be sickly now. But this time, they couldn’t just take her home. The dogs had used their teeth, as had the men.

  She was in the hospital for three weeks; her jaw broken by her evil stepdad ahead of time, so she couldn’t speak. Every night, that monster slept next to her bed in the hospital, feigning concern, and refusing to leave her side. And every night, he tell her if she ever told anyone the truth, he would kill her for good.

  So she had lied. The times were old. No one cared to know the difference between a gang of rednecks running an illegal dog fight, or a group of innocent negro males who the crime was blamed on, using the excuse of hating her for her mixed heritage. When in reality, the only hate that had aimed her way had been from her racist step father, and his evil friends. No one would have believed the story of the dogs anyway, the bites she suffered being explained away as a couple strays that happened upon her after the beating.

  Hailey felt bad for the men she accused, but their end would be much more merciful than her own.

  Or so she told herself.

  In the months after leaving the hospital… she decided to just give up. To give in. To not care. In truth, it helped. The pain drifted away. The disgust and fear becoming as shallow and empty as the rest of her feelings. Well, most of her feelings. The men quit being as violent now that she obeyed, and there were no more dogs either. They had been killed or just moved. The last event with her being too risky to keep the fights local.

  She wanted her evil fake dad to die. This gross, horrible man, forcing her to experience things she never chose. Never wanted. She preferred the pain. She wanted the pain. Instead, her hatred kept her going. It kept her alive. Until she could kill them all.

  Hailey began to poison her mother first. Then, her two sisters, once her mom got sick. Then, after them, her older brother. She took her time about it. The brother getting ill a few days after her sisters. Her evil dad finally started to grow concerned; his wife almost dead, his daughters dying, and now his son.

  There was no cure for this poison. No antidote. The doctors blamed plague or other illness.

  And as they all died, one after the other, her stepfather seemed to grow obsessed with her. He only took her to those other men a few more times as his family died, until he decided he wanted her to himself.

  Night after night, he came to her room. The best nights were the ones where he was drunk, or angry. Because it was brief.

  When she saw the gang of rapists again, she poisoned them too. This poison faster acting; letting her watch them choke to death on their own blood. That was when her evil stepfather figured out it was her. But what could he do? They were all dead now. And he couldn’t kill Hailey because she was all he had left.

  She continued to study the book that had taught her how to make the poison. To talk to the woman in the blue dress, that only appeared to her when she was alone. Her only friend. She understood, you see. Belle was the only one that understood that they all needed to die. And she was only helping poor, innocent Hailey rid the world of evil. Death saved her sisters from the inevitable fate of what men will do to them someday, and death saved her stepbrother from becoming like his father. Her mom? That bitch deserved it.

  Hailey knew what church said about murder, but God must want them to die, right? He must want her to kill them, right? Or why else didn’t he stop them, the evil ones, from hurting her? Why hadn’t he stopped her? God wanted her to kill, and to relish in their deaths. So she would. Jesus would surely be proud of her. That's what Belle had said. and the Bible too, from what Hailey understood (it was written convolutedly. Too bad their wasn't a more plain language version...), corroborated the woman's words.

  Then, that evil man had brought her home a puppy. She ran to her room and locked herself in with such defiance, he actually gave up slamming on the door, yelling at her to open it.

  Hailey decided to kill him that night. Then herself. Finally be done… Finally be free from all of this and go to Heaven. To be with Jesus in Paradise.

  Belle’anne had other ideas. She coaxed Hailey into letting the puppy in her room. Of course, she hadn’t wanted to, but it was easy enough. The girl was broken to the point of madness. Belle'anne brought the stepfather into her life, after having his soul tainted by imps. She also controlled the dogs at the fights, to make them do what they did. She had slowly brought this child to a state more damaged than she had ever seen a soul so young and gray. In fact, a good portion of that the child believed she experienced, were dreams and hallucinations, that first time breaking her.

  Belle'anne had a goal! To be great! Once, she had been a dog tainted with sin, who upon death deteriorated into an evil spirit with barely a conscious thought. After years of drifting, her spirit grew to be fully demonic, and eventually evolved into a powerful possessor with the strength to become a lycanthropeire!

  If she found a human to possess, and bind with, she could be free! Only freedom was not enough. Belle'anne fully intended to be special. To be different. To be powerful. And how better than the impossible? Fusing with an impossible soul? The soul of a child. What lycanthropeire had ever achieved it before? None, as far as she knew.

  One step was left. One. And she knew this child was finally broken enough to coerce her into it.

  Convincing Hailey to make and drink a potion, that essentially destroyed what little inhibition that remained, Belle convinced her to submit to the stupid puppy the demon herself influenced. Regardless of... technique, the sin still counted. Manipulated into it, but still chosen freely. Which was the exact medium Belle’anne needed to attempt a fusion with her soul.

  And the dog lady, Belle’anne Haileyandra Lacuice, was created.

  Infuriatingly fast had the angels shown up. They took Hailey's consciousness and put it into a deep sleep. Her soul was not to be damned, though it was to be sealed along with Belle'anne. Upon the eventual death of the lycanthropeire, Hailey’s soul would be separated. Still technically an innocent, she would be forgiven, restored, the horrors she experienced erased.

  But the Echoes of Aethra happened.

  Angelic interference would have been needed to keep Hailey's soul from being dammed upon the death of the lycanthropeire. Unfortunately, the Echoes kept the angels from saving the child.

  Meaning... This nine-year-old little girl... tortured, broke, and manipulated…

  …was now burning. And when not burning, there was torment by creatures that only existed in nightmare. Flesh was flayed, holes were torn. Body was boiled, eaten, and melted. Never a moment of unconsciousness, or of madness; always pure clarity, and suffering, and horror.

  Or so the demon the suffering alongside her believed.

  Where God does not reach into Hell… His Mighty Eyes ever closed to the horrors, His Holy Ears ever closed to their pleas…. God does not abandon to destruction those He loves. God does not curse those undeserving, Echoes or otherwise.

  That moment of death, the instant before Hailey was drug across the threshold - God sealed her soul; hiding her consciousness so deep within, she would remain unaware, no matter the torture Hell inflected. Simply drifting in a painless nothingness.

  If there was one with ears to hear, they would have heard. If there was one with eyes to see, they would have seen...

  ... the promise from above.

  Telling Hailey to hold on.

  For she is loved more than she could have known And is more special than she could have imagined. That her story is not done, and one day she will be free. The horrors of the life she had lived, and the Hell her soul was dragged to, forgotten by her, as if it all truly was just a bad dream.