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[mackwritess]

After the Bloom

A/N: Posting yet another commission! This one is also a couple weeks old, I just never got around to actually posting it. It’s never too late, though!

Summary: While Ray is out, Val and Ilenne spend some much needed time alone together.

Word count:  1.5k

The air outside is crisp on this winter evening. 

There’s some plants already beginning to thaw out after the long winter. The trees are slowly beginning to grow their leaves back, albeit slowly. The specks of green add a splash of color to this otherwise colorless land. Some of the woodland creatures have already begun to emerge from where they were hiding away, likely looking for food as the transition from winter to spring begins. A light breeze is in the air, making sure that the world knows that winter isn’t gone quite yet.

Inside the house, though, the air is much warmer.

There’s a small fire going in the fireplace, doing its best to combat the cold seeking to leak in. The sweet smell of pastries that had been made earlier in the day still lingers in the air, giving the space an even warmer feel. 

Ilenne lies on the couch, watching the flames dance in their designated spot. It’s hypnotic, the way their movement lines up with the soothing crackling of the wood they burn through. She’s always believed that fire was livelier than people gave it credit for, however dangerous it can be.

Val comes in from the kitchen, carrying a tray that holds the tea he made for the two of them. He places it on the low table that sits across from their couch. The new presence pulls Ilenne’s attention away from the fire.

“Mmm that smells good,” Ilenne says. She leans forward to get a better whiff of Val’s brew before looking at him. “Are these new leaves?” Val nods.

“They’re seasonal,” Val signs. 

He bends down to pour a cup for each of them, and Ilenne sits up to take her cup. She takes a sip, letting out a satisfied hum as the hot liquid spreads through her entire system, warming it up completely. Val does the same, taking a seat across from Ilenne on the couch. 

“Do you think Ray is doing okay out there?” Val nods. “I still can’t believe they got that invested in knife throwing. I thought it was just a hobby.”

Ray had found themself falling in love with the sport. They’d bought the set of knives on impulse and, after some teasing from both Val and Ilenne, they wanted to prove they could do something with them. Their skills eventually caught the attention of some local hunters, who were going out on an expedition and needed an extra hand. Val was more than happy to stay behind with Ilenne. Ray was likely out having the time of their life, getting to adventure with new people like they’ve always wanted.

It’s something that Ilenne tries not to think about too much. She loves the idea of Ray getting to explore, learn more about themself as they do so. It’s natural for people to grow and evolve as time goes on. She worries that one day this will mean they’ll grow away from her.

Ilenne has grown more and more apathetic in the years that have passed. Her past always seems to creep up on her when she’s at her lowest, and it’s begun to weigh down on her. She knows that Ray and Val love her, really. They show this to her every day in little gestures. There’s something in her, though, that is convinced that one day they’ll take that love away, as many others have done in the past. She finds it difficult, impossible even, to imagine life without the two of them. 

Val, noticing that Ilenne seems to be in a daze, waves his hand in front of her face to get her attention.

“You’re spiraling again,” he signs. “Wanna talk about it?” She shakes her head before taking another sip of her tea.

“Same old stuff,” she signs back. Val nods, understanding exactly what she means. 

He hates when she gets like this, though he can’t say he’s never experienced similar emotions. He does his best reassuring Ilenne that she’s over thinking whenever she gets like this. 

Val opens his arms and gestures to Ilenne, and she takes one more sip of tea before leaning into his touch. He runs his hands through her short hair in a comforting, gentle manner. Ilenne finds herself trying to get closer to him at his ministrations. She wraps her arms around his waist, wanting to show him the same kind of affection to the best of her abilities. 

The two of them sit like this in comfortable silence for a while, only separating occasionally to sip at their tea, before attaching themselves to each other again. Ilenne is starting to become drowsy, her eyes slightly heavy when Val taps on her shoulder.

“Want to dance?” Val signs.

“You know how to dance?” Val nods. “I don’t.”

“You’ll figure it out.”

His response illicits a nervous look from Ilenne, and she stands from her seat with Val doing the same. Val extends his hand to Ilenne, and she reaches out to take it before she stops.

“We don’t even have any music! How are we supposed to dance?” She giggles out.

“We can think about our own music,” Val insists. “Don’t think about it too much.”

Ilenne shakes her head, but takes Val’s hand anyway.

Val leads Ilenne toward the empty space between the main room and the kitchen. He turns to Ilenne, taking her hands and placing them in their proper places, one on his shoulder and the other in his. When she looks at him, likely waiting for him to guide her in whatever it is she plans on doing, he finds himself freezing briefly. He knows she’s never danced before, he doesn’t want to overwhelm her.

He decides starting with some simple swaying works best, just so that the two of them aren’t simply standing there looking at each other. She seems to follow his movements very easily, picking up whatever rhythm Val has made up with no problem.

After a few minutes of basic movements, Val decides to try to do a little more, just to keep things interesting. He slowly begins to turn, trying to move so that the two of them are now spinning in a circle. Ilenne, who had gotten lost in the moment, trips over her feet for a moment, and Val stops his movements.

“You didn’t tell me you were gonna be doing that,” Ilenne says with a smile. “You don’t have to worry about being bored. I’m never bored when it comes to you.”

Val and Ray had managed to awaken something within Ilenne that she thought was long gone. They had revitilzed her craving to go out and experience the world and everything it had to offer. She found herself meeting new people, making new connections, all because the two of them had given her the courage to do so. She doesn’t know where she’d be now if she hadn’t met them. 

She looks up at Val, and he meets her gaze. Though he knows she continues to grow worried, still feeling that in the back of her mind that she’ll be abandoned again one day, her eyes have always told a different story. Her eyes always seemed to hold galaxies, shining brilliantly on a good day, clouding over on a bad day. It was the expressiveness in her eyes that drew him to her to begin with.

He decides he can’t help himself, and leans in to plant a kiss on her forehead, then her nose. She doesn’t say a word as he does this, reveling in his every touch for as long as she could. He looks at her again, confirming that she’s okay with what he’s doing. When she only gives him a small, almost shy smile, he continues.

He moves his hands downward, the tips of his fingers peeking under her shirt, and Ilenne shivers at the contact. He kisses her cheek, before moving down to kiss her lips, and Ilenne returns it eagerly.

It’s her turn to allow her hands to roam, brushing her hands over his back and up through his hair. She slips her hands under his shirt as she does, the tips of her fingers brushing against the spots where his wings used to protrude from, a place that she knows is ticklish. He shivers, but draws circles on her skin to let her know that it’s okay.

Things begin to escalate as time goes on, with Val beginning to move Ilenne back to the couch they were on previously. He starts to remove her shirt, and she lifts her hands above her head so she can do so, exposing her skin to both him and the warm air of the house. She does the same to him, and he allows her to do so. 

For a while, Ilenne is able to forget about all her worries and just let go. Val is happy that he’s able to do so for her the way he wished people had done for him in the past.

As the fire shrinks from a blazing heat to a smoldering warmth, the two of them continue finding comfort in one another long into the night.

[mackwritess]

Westwood Road (Part 2)

A/N: I’m back with a second part! This was another commission, I didn’t think people liked the first part enough to want more of these two, but I guess I was wrong! My commissions are still open, with three slots available currently, so if you like what I do feel free to hit me with your own requests!

Summary: It’s been years since the incident on Westwood Road, and the two of them have long since gone their separate ways. But when an opprotunity to be reunited presents itself, will the risks be worth the reward?

Word count: 5.8k

Part 1

He doesn’t know how long he sits in the dark.

For all he knows, the dark is all he’s ever known. He sits there, waiting. Waiting for what exactly, he doesn’t know for sure. He just feels like this is the calm before the storm. Though he feels, upon thinking about it a bit longer, that this is more like the eye of the storm. 

After all, he was just killed by someone he loved. 

No, that doesn’t quite sound right either. He does still love her. He knows he probably shouldn’t, given the way she had just ripped him apart like a rabid animal, but he can’t bring herself to harbor any negative feelings about her. His only regret is not asking how she’d ended up in such a tragic situation. If the tears that streamed down her face as she finished him off were anything to go by, it must have been devastating. 

He continues to just sit there in the all encompassing darkness. He wonders if he’ll ever be reunited with her again. He wonders if he’ll ever get to see her smile again, or hear her voice.

While he’s lost in thought, memories drifting in and out of his mind, he doesn’t notice the way things are beginning to grow brighter around him. He doesn’t notice until the light is near blinding, and he finds himself losing consciousness again. 

~

It’s been years since she did what she did.

She’d convinced herself that she would move on and, in a way, she has. She continues to feed, preying on men and women alike as she sustains herself on their souls. In all this time, none of them had the same effect on her. She was able to do the same process that she had done with him with very little trouble. She was so certain this meant she had moved on.

Deep down she knew she hadn’t. 

Even after all this time, the way he had looked at her before she took his life sits at the back of her mind, coming forward at the worst possible moment without fail. 

Sometimes it comes to her just before she falls asleep, rendering her unable to do so for several hours, if she gets to at all. Other times, it comes when she’s about to feed, when she’s already planning where she’ll go to catch her next one. Suddenly, her prey becomes the predator, looking back at her with his forgiving eyes rather than the terrified ones they’d replaced. She’s taken back to the moment before she committed what she considers to be her greatest sin. Though he wasn’t fully composed, the fear of death as paralyzing as ever, his eyes told a different story. It was one of forgiveness, of acceptance. 

It was one of love. 

Sometimes she wonders if she’ll ever see him again. Perhaps he’d be traveling the world as a spirit, unable to move on from his mortal dwelling. Though she figures he’s likely become an angel by now. Helping others where he can, protecting them from things that may come to harm them. Protecting them from beings like her.

She knows he couldn’t have become something like her. It’s not in his nature.

While he had been able to accept his end, remembering all their moments together with fondness rather than regret, she hadn’t been able to do the same. Instead of remembering any good that had happened between her and the man that had ended her life, she found herself thinking about all the red flags that she had looked past. The way she had ultimately pushed away her friends and family who tried to warn her floated through her mind. She wished she’d listened to them. 

Now she was doomed, her soul tainted with spite and vengefulness. She was to wander the earth, inflicting the same pain tht had been done unto her, only able to survive by causing heartbreak that could rival her own. 

She wonders if the man who killed her had wanted to do the same. Reveling in the damage he had done to her, for fun rather than for survival. She thinks he was her first encounter with a demon. No person could be that evil without corruption. Though she fears she’s become like him.

She wonders if the cycle will ever break. If she’ll ever be free of her curse.

~

When he wakes up again, he’s disoriented.

The room is covered in a blinding white. The white curtains that hang in front of the window move slightly, a light breeze flowing into the room. There’s not a single sound coming from inside or outside of the room. He takes in his minimal surroundings, noting the chair sitting at the edge of the bed. The walls are as bare as the rest of the room, save for a rather intricate painting of clouds that rests near the door. It’s redundant, he thinks. It’s as if whoever was responsible for designing this pace felt it was too plain, but decided any sort of color would disturb the flow of the room. 

He continues scanning the room, searching for something, anything, that could tell him where he is, when there’s a knock at the door. He freezes. Should he be hiding right now? Would making any sounds alert whoever, or whatever was on the other side of the door? 

As if able to sense his apprehensiveness, the door opens slightly. It continues slowly, and he doesn’t dare move an inch. When it does open, he’s met with a young woman. She wears a simple white dress, and carries a clipboard with a few sheets of paper attached to the front of it. 

“There’s no need to be alarmed,” she says. “You’re safe now.”

“Where am I?” He asks immediately. He can’t quite explain it, but her presence soothes him instantly. He finds any worries he has have melted away, and now he only has questions that need answers.

“Heaven, of course. You do know that you’re dead, right?” He nods. “Well, you’re certainly handling this better than most people your age do.”

“I didn’t think heaven would be so… clinical.”

“We’ve tried modernizing the way we welcome new angels.”

“It’s a little…”

“Plain?”

“Yeah.”

“There’s no real reason for that. Just how it is.” He nods again. “Were those all your questions?”

“What’s the clipboard for?”

“Oh! That’s actually what I’m here to go over with you. You see, once you die, the place you end up after assigns a job to you.”

“So we don’t just get to enjoy the afterlife?”

“You do, just as long as you’re on top of assignments. It’s just so we can keep things running smoothly. Gives the people here a purpose.”

“So it’s like having a job.”

“Exactly! Only the payment is living in paradise.”

He considers this for a moment. Everything he’d been told about what Heaven is like has been a little misleading, it would seem. Though, he guesses that angels who visited humans in all the stories he’d heard were just doing their job. He tries not to think too hard about what that implies.

“So how do I choose my job?”

“Oh, you don’t choose. Your assignment is chosen when it’s decided where you’ll go after you die. Easier to get both of those examinations done in one go. Much faster that way.” 

“But what if someone gets a job they aren’t happy with?”

“They learn to be happy with it eventually. Each job is rewarding in its own way.”

“I guess so.”

“You’ll understand more the longer you stay.” The woman clears her throat. “Now then! Let’s talk about your job. Your file says that you tend to go out of your way to help people. You were fairly popular in high school. A shame that you died so young. You really didn’t get to live much of your life.”

“I’d rather not think about that too much.”

“Your manner of death, though, that’s what really interests us.”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“Oh, this is a great thing. It’s the reason you’re getting the job you’re getting. We’ve been trying to deal with this type of demon for a while now. So many souls, unable to be saved.”

“Why?”

“Well, we don’t really base where you’ll go on your whole life. We base it on your emotions during your final moments. Really says a lot about you as a person. Much more than you realize.”

“So the people who died the way I did? What were they feeling?”

“Rage. Vengeance. Bloodlust. They wanted the person who had betrayed them to pay for what they’d done. They wanted them to suffer as they had.”

“But isn’t that normal? Isn’t it reasonable to be angry that someone you loved would hurt you?”

“Maybe. But forgiveness should follow. That’s what we’ve all been taught. And that’s why you’re the only one who’s been saved.”

“The only one?”

“Understanding. Acceptance. Forgiveness. Those were the last things you felt before your death. We’d never seen that before. More interesting, though, you felt love. You were still under the spell of that demon.”

“A spell?” His voice raises slightly at the mention of her. “She never used any spell on me. I love her.”

The woman eyes him for a moment, mild concern written on her features. 

“You poor boy. One day you’ll be free.”

“From what?”

“Nothing. Now, your job is similar to a guardian angel, albeit a bit more dangerous. You’ll be helping more people free themselves from these demons. Or, at the very least, you can warn them by telling them what will happen if their emotions lean too negatively when the time finally comes.”

“Okay. I think I can do that. But why is it so dangerous?” 

“In doing your job you're essentially taking away a demon’s source of food. Much like a wild animal, this will make them more dangerous. We usually leave a job like this to our more experienced angels, but seeing as you know first hand how these demons work, you should be just fine.”

He’s silent for a moment. He didn’t think there were very many demons who operated the way she did. Certainly not enough to cause such a problem that it would be considered dangerous. His heart hurts at the thought of so many people suffering the way she had. He wonders if there’s a way for him to help the demons themselves as well as their prey. 

“Will I ever find her again?” He opts to ask.

“I doubt that. None of us know her name?”

“What? But-”

“Demon’s names hold power. If someone knows the true name of a demon, then they’re basically owned by that person. They usually go by cover names.”

“And you don’t know hers?”

“No, I do. But you can’t know that information. You could end up going rogue, and we can’t have an asset as valuable as you doing something like that.” 

“Rogue?”

“You know them as fallen angels. You’d essentially become a powerful demon. I’m sure you can understand why we wouldn’t want such a thing.”

“Could a demon become an angel?”

“That’s not possible. Their place was already decided. There is no way for them to rise in status, no matter how much they believe they have redeemed themselves.”

“But that’s-”

“I know. It seems harsh, judging someone based on a single moment. But that’s the way things are here.” 

He’s speechless. He wamts to do this job, that much is for sure. He wants to save people from having everything taken from them the way he had. He’s got all the motive he needs to do the tasks given, not really afraid of the potential danger of this new proffession.

He just wishes there was a way from him to save her.

~

This is probably the worst attempt at feeding she’s had to suffer through in a long time.

It seemed easy enough when she first stumbled across him. A strange man who’d never even been in a relationship. He would be quick work, she’d thought. He’d fall for her in a week, three at the most. That’s what she’d assumed. 

It’s been about four weeks now, and she can’t lure the guy away from his house for long enough to finish the job.

It wouldn’t be as bad, all things considered, if the guys weren't also a total freak. He’s definitely not someone she feels any sympathy for. He’d started pressuring her into sleeping with him a week into the relationship, which would’ve been the first red flag to anyone who knew how to spot them. She’d managed to convince him that she wanted to wait, and he agreed, deciding that her reluctance made her more “worthy” of him when the time came.

She thinks he’s full of shit.

She’s tried everything to lure him away, from telling him that she wanted to take him out to dinner to telling him that she had some sort of surprise for him that needed to happen outside the city. Just her luck she’d find prey that was essentially a hermit. She’d only come across him when he was out buying computer parts. Today, though, she was at her limit. 

It was when he’d berated her for her choice in clothing, a simple tank top and jeans combination, that she’d decided that she’d let his pathetic existence go on for much longer than what was necessary. 

It takes finally giving in to his request of hooking up with her to pull him away from the basement he was living in. She imagines his soul won’t be particularly tasty, but at this point, she’s more worried about having someone like him taking up valuable space on earth than anything else.

She brings him to the outskirts of the city, his greasy hands finding their way all over her body on the way. She can’t wait to be done with him. He’s so focused on trying to make her focus on him that he doesn’t notice the way her eyes flash red with every press to her skin.

She’s so focused on trying not to kill the man right then and there that she doesn’t notice she’s being watched.

~

She managed to convince him that allowing him to tie her up would be a good idea, and he agreed, noticing that the building they’re in is run down, but too concerned with what he thinks is about to happen to interrupt her. 

“C’mon, Miranda, when do we get started? I’ve gotta be back home for this tournament.”

She flinches at the use of her name, or at least what he thinks is her name. Somehow it doesn’t make her feel any less dirty. 

“Oh, you poor soul, you don’t realize the danger you’re in. Not that it matters.”

“What danger? Does this building have asbestos or something? Why would you bring us here, are you really that stupid?”

Her eye twitches at the comment, but she makes the decision to ignore it. He’s the fool here, after all.

“It’s not that you should be worried about, though you’re probably right about the chemicals. This building has been around for centuries. Great place to harvest a soul.” The man lets out a nervous chuckle.

“What are you, like, one of those fake vampire people?” 

“A vampire? You don’t even know enough to know what it is they do? The most explored mythical creature in existence?”

“I don’t need the likes of you telling me what I do and don’t know. Let me go, you’ve ruined the mood. Maybe I’ll let you try again in a week.”

“You still don’t get it, do you?”

“Get what? Let me out of here!”

“Ah, you’re another one that doesn’t get it. Frankly, I’ve wasted enough time on you, so I’ll just spell it out for you. I’m a demon and I’m here to consume your soul.” His eyes widen, but he says nothing. She continues. “Ideally I would’ve been done with you a week ago. But you’re such a pathetic waste of a person that I couldn’t even get you out for long enough.”

“So this is what you do? Trick men so you can eat us?”

“Yup. You made the hard part easy, too. You were wrapped around my finger the second I rejected you. Strange behavior, if you ask me.”

“You bitch, you won’t get away with this!”

“You’re not even that original. A misogynist named Kyle? Give me a break”

Her eyes begin to change from their warm brown to a harsh crimson. She opens her mouth, rows of inhumanly sharp teeth appearing seemingly out of nowhere. When she does, she can feel her body begin regaining energy, his soul draining from his body and entering hers. She watches as the life drains from his eyes, growing duller the more of his soul he loses. When the light is gone, she reverts back to her human form, and breathes a sigh of relief.

“Wow, that was exhausting. Never going after one of these types ever again.”

“That’s a good idea. I didn’t like the way he treated you.”

She freezes. It’s happening again. She hasn’t imagined his voice in such a long time. It hasn’t crossed her mind in months. Why now? Why after all this time? 

“I know you’re not real,” She says. “I’m just hearing things again. Go away.”

“Again? So you’ve heard me before?”

“You know I have.”

“How could I know that? I haven’t seen you since the day I lost you.”

“Since you lost me... You don’t talk like that. Where’s the ‘you did this to me’ speech?”

“Turn around. I’m real.”

She’s unconvinced. She knows this is her mind playing a dirty trick on her. A simple rewording of what it usually tells her won’t get her hopes up. Still, she decides to play along. She turns, slowly, like a model on a runway showing off their every angle. She figures that she’s already on the edge of her sanity as it is, and she closes her eyes too, making it a bit of a game. Her turning comes to a stop.

“Alrighty, go ahead and tell me when I can open my eyes. Really make me look even more unhinged than I feel. Let’s have fun with this.”

~

He can’t believe that after all this time, she’s right in front of him.

She’s just as beautiful as he remembered. He’d just watched her consume a soul, a soul which he’d been sent to save, but he can’t find himself feeling anything other than pure joy at the sight of her. He thanks his lucky stars that he was assigned to this case, he was starting to lose hope that he would ever see her again. 

He’s thinking about what she said. She’d been hearing his voice before he found her. Killing him really had taken a toll on her, it would seem. At this realization, he thinks back to what he had been told so long ago.

“Her kind don’t form connections to the people they kill,” the woman says. “They’re heartless creatures. It’s best that you accept that now rather than finding out later.”

“Is it just something that doesn’t happen often? Or is it difficult for them to do it?”

“No. It’s impossible. You really need to let that girl go. She’s out there right now forming the same type of relationship with other people as she did with you. You were nothing but something for her to use.”

“Right. A food source.”

“Exactly. You’ll feel better once you move on. For now, just focus on your work.”

He did exactly that. He’d managed to save many people in the time since he'd begun his job. Luckily, he’s been able to avoid every demon he’s managed to swindle out of a meal. Until now, that is.

This is the first mission he’s ever failed. Surely, he would be questioned about what happened, and he knew he would have to make something up. But seeing the way this particular person acted, especially after he found out it was her he was talking about in such a disrespectful way, he decided he had no qualms about letting him die, taking advantage of his luck so that he could get the answers to his questions. He needed to know if he really should be moving on, or if he should be looking for a cure.

“You can open your eyes. It really is me,” He says. She scoffs.

“You better leave me alone for good after this.” She wastes no time in letting her eyes fly open. When she does, she looks unimpressed. “Oh, you haven’t done this little trick in a while. I suppose you expected me to run forward only for you to turn to dust, right?”

“You can touch me. I’m real. I came to see you.”

“Prove it then. Walk forward. All the way over here to me. I’m just dying to see what you’ll do when you get here.” 

He obeys immediately, making his way over and resisting the urge to run over to keep from alarming her. He stands right in front of her now, and she continues to give him the same unimpressed gaze. She still doesn’t believe what she’s seeing. 

It’s when he makes the bold move to wrap his arms around her that she goes quiet.

~

This isn’t real. It can’t be real. This is just an intense delusion of hers. 

He’s warm, that’s the first thing she takes note of. He’s got a tight hold on her, almost as if he’s afraid that he’ll leave him again. Against her better judgement, she leans into his embrace, taking in his scent.

“You’re real,” she says. “You’re really here.”

“I’m real,” he confirms. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“But why?” She asks. “I’m the reason you ended up this way. You’re supposed to hate me.”

“I could never hate you. Not when I understand why you do what you do. I won’t punish you for doing something out of your control.” 

She finds herself relaxing in his hold. She hasn’t been able to relax in such a long time. It’s not what she was made to do. It’s entirely out of her nature to do such a thing. She’s never been able to stick to her own rules when it comes to him, though. Still, she pushes him away.

“You shouldn’t be here. Not with me. You could get in trouble.”

“You’re worried about me?”

“Of course I am, don’t be ridiculous.”

He seems to consider her words for a moment. 

“I need you to listen to me, okay?” She thinks a moment before nodding. “There’s a way for me to cure you, I know there is, but I need to know that this is what you want.”

“What? That’s not possible.”

“No, there’s a way. I just need time. I’m not gonna let them keep us apart like this. I just need you to trust me.”

She already trusts him, though. She doesn’t need any convincing. She only worries about what will happen to him if he’s caught. 

“You can’t help me. It’s against your rules. You could get in serious trouble.”

“I don’t care. As long as your burden is lifted, I’ll be happy.” She says nothing. “I’m going to get you out of this. But we’ll need to be apart again for some time. Stay safe until that day.”

She doesn’t bother arguing with him. He’s always been this way, setting his mind to something and not stopping until he gets what he wants. It’s a trait of his that she always admired. She’s afraid that this time, it may be his downfall. He’s challenging forces he’s only just begun to understand. 

But she’s tired of them too. She doesn’t care what happens to her, but if this is something that can cause a change, she’ll do it.

“Okay,” she says. “I want this. I trust you.”

He grabs her by the waist and pulls her close to him again, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead, before backing away again. 

“I’ll see you soon. I promise.” With the flash of a bright light, he disappears, leaving her alone with nothing but her thoughts, and the shell of the soul she had eaten.

For the first time since she lost him, she breaks down.

~

When he returns home, the first thing he does is report what happened to him.

Not all of it, of course, he can’t mention that he’d finally found her. That would only anger them. They would likely restrict his activities, making his mission more difficult than it likely already will be. The people in charge tell him that because of his great work in other cases, one failed case was nothing to worry about, so he could just go about his day until he received his next assignment. 

While he waited, he went to visit the person who would help him to do what he needed to do. He knocks lightly on the door, and upon hearing the quiet “come in” on the other side of the door, he lets himself in

“Oh, it’s you again. Don’t tell me you’re here to find more ways around the curse.” The woman says.

After being here for several years now, he’s met tons of people. Though, he’s never bonded with someone the way he has with Kora, an elderly woman whose death came to her in her sleep. In her life she had been a witch doctor, dabbling in spells that could transform things into different objects, cause misfortune for others, and yes, lift curses. 

“I don’t need to do that.”

“Sure,” Kora says. “I just made tea, come have some.”

He sits down at her kitchen table, and she turns to pour him a cup, placing it in front of him before pouring one for herself and taking a seat. 

“I really don’t need to find a way around the curse, Kora. I found her today. She wants to do this.”

Kora looks up at him, expecting him to tell her he was just joking. But when she sees the way his eyes sparkle, unbridled hope written in them, she knows he’s serious. She lets out a sigh.

“Well, I did say I’d help you. I’m a woman of my word.” He smiles. “But you’re risking a lot here. If it doesn’t work, you could risk everything. Not just for you, but for both of you.”

“That’s fine. Whatever it is, we can handle it.”

“So, it’s not the procedure that takes much effort. It’s the aftermath. The main step is finding the man who killed her, in order for her vengeance to be achieved. Lucky for you, he’s still alive.”

“Sounds easy enough. It didn’t take much for her to tear me up,” he says with a chuckle.

“However, once she does this, she’ll be reborn. This would separate the two of you, leaving you behind to deal with the consequences, on top of defeating the purpose of you doing this.”

“I can’t accept us getting separated from each other. Not again.”

“There is a way for the two of you to be reborn together. But it is difficult. You’ll have to have bonded to her. Seeing as she’s a demon, the only way for you to do that is for you to get her name.”

“She didn’t even tell me that when we were alive.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. In the end, will she have trusted you enough to give you this information? Will she love you enough to make herself so vulnerable?” He says nothing. “Even so, there’s no guarantee that in your next life the two of you will meet. That will also depend on how strong your bond is. You could end up in entirely different countries, even.”

He thinks about this. Now that he knows what will be required, he’s hit with the weight of what exactly it is he’s risking here. If he’s unsuccessful, he'll have to face the wrath of the angels he’d betrayed. If he succeeds, he doesn’t even know if he’ll get the result he’s really after.

But then he thinks of her. No matter the outcome, she’ll be freed from her curse. She’ll get to live the life she didn’t get to before. More than his desire to be with her, he wants her to have the life she deserves.

“I’ll do it. I don’t care about the risks. I’m going to do it.” Kora sighs.

“Alright, then. I’ll tell you where the man is, but the rest is up to you.” He rises from his seat and makes his way over to her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

“I’ll be okay, Kora. Everything will be fine.”

He makes his way out of her home after talking a bit more with her. He knows that regardless of what happens, he won’t see her again after this. 

She watches him leave, and for his sake, she hopes that if she is to hear about him again, it won’t be a story of a young man who risked everything for the wrong person.

~

When they arrive at their destination, she feels a chill run up her spine.

It’s late. They wanted to be certain that no one would be around when they did what they came to do. Things would be less messy that way.

“He’s in a church?” He asks, confused. She rolls her eyes.

“I expect nothing less from him. He always did hide behind a facade. This is the best one yet.”

The two of them head in, and hide amongst a few churchgoers that linger inside. She assumes that there was a late night church service being held here. They must’ve come at the end, and she’s thankful. The thought of having to actually listen to him pretend to be a good man makes her sick to her stomach. 

They linger until the church is empty, and she sees him head to the back, leading to the basement that she knows all too well. She grabs his hand and leads him in that direction, bringing him to the door that leads deeper into the church.

“Are you sure you’re ready to face him again?’

“I’m sure. It’s about time I see him again. This is long overdue.” Her eyes flash red for a moment, and he decides to stop asking questions.

She pushes the door open, and makes her way down the stairs with him following close behind her. She sees the man at the back of the room, rifling through boxes, and wastes no time in letting him know she’s here.

“Well, well, well.” The man freezes. “Been a while since we were down here, huh? Sure brings back memories, doesn’t it?”

“You’re not real. You’re not real. You’re not real,” the man mutters to himself.

“Oh, so you do feel guilty about what you did to me? Could’ve fooled me. Your little holy man cosplay is quite interesting.”

“Why are you here?”

“Look me in the eye, coward.” Afraid of provoking her, he turns to face her, slowly. “Much better.”

“How are you here? What are you?”

“This question gets more annoying the more i hear it, you know. Figure it out yourself, holy man.”

“What do you want from me? Please go away.”

“Oh no. Not yet. See him?” she points to where he stands, standing a little distance behind her. “I want you to tell him what you did to me.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Tell him why you thought my life needed to end.”

“I had to. You know what would have happened.” the man turns to him. “She knew what she was doing.”

“You didn’t have to do anything.”

“They would have disowned me!”

“So a little premarital sex is an issue, but murder is cool? Got it. Anything to keep your dirty little secret, right?”

The room is silent. Now that the truth is out there, now that he knows what happened to her, he understands why no one knows her name. 

“I guess I should’ve expected this, right?” She continues, “After getting involved with the preacher’s son? And you got to go on, right? Continued living? Taking up after your dad? And what did I get? Cursed. Dooming people to the same fate you forced me into. But today, that changes.”

“You dare to claim that what I did wasn’t justified? You wanted to ruin me!”

“I wanted to be with you. In public. I didn’t wanna be a secret.”

“You convinced me to commit a sin. You haven’t earned the right to love, I could’ve been great. Instead, I’m stuck in this town, in the middle of nowhere, trying to make up for something that you did.”

“You did this to yourself.” she says. Her eyes quickly change to that harsh red he had seen before, and he knows what’s about to happen before the man does. “I don’t need to prove my worth. To you, or to anyone. You were nothing in life, and now, you’ll be nothing in death.”

Before he can even get a word in, she’s latched onto him, ripping him apart in the very same room where her existence was cut short.

~

A few moments of silence go by before she begins to glow slightly. 

“It’s happening. I did it, I broke the curse.”

“You did. You’re free now.”

“But what about you? Why aren’t you glowing too?”

“We haven’t bonded enough. It’s okay though, I wouldn’t have wanted you forced into doing something. You’ve been through enough.”

“No! No, tell me. I’ll do it.” He knows she won’t, but she won’t remember him when she’s reborn anyway.

“I needed your name.”

She looks at him. She’s so close, so close to being free from that person. She can’t be bound to her again. She can’t say her name. 

Taking note of her silence, He grabs the sides of the face, and pulls her in for a kiss, putting everything he has into it, as he knows it’ll be the last time. He whispers an “I love you” before looking her in the eyes to be sure she knows.

It’s at this moment, as her glow is becoming blinding, that she realizes this is a decision she can make herself. Finally, she’s the one who gets to make a choice. Instead of misery, this time, she chooses happiness. She just hopes it isn’t too late.

“My real name is..”

~

Somewhere, in another part of the world, a baby girl is born to a family that had been trying to conceive a child for years. They know this is the most precious gift they’ll ever receive.

Minutes later, in that same hospital, a baby boy is born. 

[mackwritess]

Crystal Snow

A/N: This is another commission! I’ve never worked with OC’s that aren’t mine, so this was both fun and nerve-wracking. Hope you enjoy! 

The small village is bustling today. 

Stalls have been set up, selling uncommon or even rare merchandise, only being found during the winter months. People are beginning to set up games, where people can compete for prizes. Warm drinks and dinners are being sold at the taverns scattered around to combat the biting cold. Snow falls gently from the sky, blanketing on the ground. 

It’s time for the new year’s festival.

“You guys are too slow we’re gonna be late!” Ray says, eagerly running ahead of their two companions. We gotta get there before the place fills up!”

“No, you’re going too fast, Ray. The tavern isn’t going anywhere!” Ilenne says. She’s moving admittedly slow, having a little difficulty trudging through the thick snow. She hopes once they reach the town it’ll thin out. 

Val, who walks along next to Ilenne, smiles at the two of them as they continue to bicker and banter about what speed they should be going. He scans the area as they go along, looking for seasonal plants he can use in his work later on. 

Attending the festivities together had always been a tradition for the three of them. Though they’d only lived in the area for a few years, it had become a staple for them to begin the new year with good cheer, believing it would be the key to an even better year. 

“Val, can you tell Il we need to make it there ASAP to get a good spot?” Ray says, hoping that two will be enough to convince Ilenne to pick up the pace.

Val looks between the two of them before lifting his hands to answer them. 

“We should slow down.”

At this, Ray lets out a loud groan. A smug smile appears on Ilenne’s face.

“C’mon, Ray. I’m the one carrying all the gifts. We’ll find a spot, don’t worry.” Ray sighs before walking over to her, taking a gift and carrying it under their arm. 

“Fine, fine. I’ll carry this one at least.”

Val, who has been watching their conversation, takes a gift himself and nods at the two of them before smiling. 

“Okay, now we can speed up a little.”

~

After another few miles of walking and chatting, the three of them arrive at their destination.

There are other taverns in the town, sure, but this one has the best drinks and dishes of them all, a necessity during the winter season.

They’re lucky this time, because it seems the other villagers had the same idea. The small place is almost filled to the brim, save for one booth seated towards the back of the place. They all weave their way through the area, holding on to each other to avoid getting separated.

“Wow, this place really is packed.” Ilenne says, looking out at the crowd of people who have gathered here. 

“It is a holiday, after all. Some of these people I don’t even recognize,” Ray adds, taking note of the very obviously out of place group of teenagers seated not too far away from them.

While the three of them continue to people watch, taking note of the stage set up fot traveling musicians to perform, a waitress makes her way over to them.

“Ah! It’s been a while since the three of you have come in here,” she says, able to drop her forced proffessional smile and offer them a genuine one.

“Yea, we’ve been trying to cook at home more often. Saves us money,” Ilenne says.

“That makes sense. Hard to grow most plants under these conditions.”

“But we’re here now! I’ll take my usual, you remember it right?” Ray interjects.

“I do! Same for you two, right? Just your regular orders?”

Ilenne signs the question to Val to be certain he’s understood, and when he signs his confirmation, Ilenne turns to the waitress and nods.

Val gets their attention again and lifts his hands once again.

“Are we going to exchange gifts now?”

Ray taps excitedly on the table as they place the present they carried on top of it, Val and Ilenne follolwing suit.

“Looks like we ended up carrying our own gifts,” Ilenne says, eyeing the box in her hands. 

“I’ll open mine first!” Ray says, excitedly peeling away at the wrapping paper. Ilenne and Val watch as they gradually reveal the gift they had put so much thought into getting.

The gift is finally opened, revealing a notebook made from leather. The front of it has a latch, in the event that the contents begin to spill out of it.

“Surprise!” Ilenne says with a smile. “It’s for you to hold your music notes.”

“Your old one was beginning to fall apart.” Val signs to Ray efore sporting a small smile of his own. 

Ray continues to inspect the notebook, taking note of all the little details on it. There’s some music notes carved into the cover, Ray’s initials displayed on the spine. They look up at their two friends, a wide grin adorning their face. 

“Thanks, guys. I can’t wait to use it.”

“Val should open his next,” Ilenne says, directing her attention to the boy next to her. Val looks between the two of them to get confirmation, Ray nodding their head. 

Val shrugs before beginning to open up his gift, removing the paper with ease. Once it’s open, Val is met with a jar that seems to contain several different types of plants. 

“We managed to find some of the rarer plants so you could work with,” Ilenne says.

“We aren’t the best gardeners, though,” Ray adds. “It took us a while to get them intact. Wouldn’t want you to have broken plants after all.” 

Val smiles at the two of them before signing his thanks to them, excitedly looking through his new collection of plants, thinking about all he’ll be able to do with them.

“It’s your turn, Ilenne,” Val signs to her.

“Oh right, open yours, Il!” Ray says excitedly.

“Alright, alright.” She begins peeling open her gift, taking an almost agonizing pace in comparison to the other two.

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

“Whatever do you mean? This is my usual unwrapping speed,” Ilenne teases, continuing to move as slowly as possible.

“Il.”

She laughs before finally ripping the packaging open, revealing a remarkably well crafted bag. It’s made of a similar leather to Ray’s notebook, albeit a little darker, and has outer pockets on each side. She stares at the present, in shock.

“Do you like it?” Ray asks.

“Is something wrong?” Val signs, concern written all over his features.

“How did you two afford this?” Ilenne finally says, inspecting the bag. She takes note of the plant designs carved into the surface. “It must be worth a fortune!”

“That’s because it was!” Ray says, Ilenne’s face draining at their words. “Until I walked in, of course.” 

“Ray is quite the haggler,” Val explains. 

“Took me about an hour and a couple games of chess, but I managed to get the guy to bring it down enough that it wouldn’t break our banks.” Ray says, puffing out their chest at the opprotunity to brag about their skills.

“You two really did all that for me?” Ilenne says, finally looking up at the two of them.

“Of course we did. Why wouldn’t we want you to have something nice?” Val agrees with a nod of his head. Ilenne smiles, taking a moment to think about how lucky she was to be able to meet and form a relationship with the two of them.

“Thank you both. Really.’

“Ah there’s no need for that. Anything to show off my haggling skills.” 

Ilennes reaches across the table to playfully slap at Ray, Val watching the two of them fondly. 

“Here’s your food! Sorry for the wait, holiday rush has had us swamped since we opened.” The waitress is making her way to them now, balancing their plates on a tray as she makes her way through the crowd.

“Ah, don’t worry too much about it!” Ray says, not even trying to hide the hungry stare they level at the tray.

“You’re just in time, actually.” Ilenne says.

The waitress distributes their food, being extra careful to be sure everyone gets the correct dish. Val insists she take a tip for her work, and she does so with a thank you before leaving to tend to other guests. 

The three of them get to work on their plates, having not eaten anything earlier in the day. They wanted to be sure they had room for the other festival foods that they knew would be available for them to eat. As they eat, they chat about what activities they would like to participate in and what stands they saw selling things they may be interested in.

After they’ve eaten, they clean their table to make things easier on the workers. They find their friend and are sure to say goodbye and wish her a happy new year, and head out to the festival.

~

Leaving the tavern, they begin making their way to the center of town, where most of the stalls and games have been set up. The farther they go along, the denser the crowd gets, and with a bigger crowd comes louder noise. 

Soon, they’re in the thick of it. Vendors yelling at everyone passing by, hoping this tactic will be enough to earn them patronage. There’s games set up right in the center, offering prizes such as rare materials, delicacies, and at some of them, money.

“Check it out, Val.” Ray taps on Val’s shoulder, directing his attention to the archery game. “There’s a cash prize there too if you get a certain score. Think you’re up for it?”

Val looks at Ilenne as if asking permission, and when she gives the two of them a nod, Val and Ray share a look before rushing off. Ilenne follows a few feet behind them, not even bothering to tell them to wait for her, as they’re both clearly too excited about potentially earning more money. She knew better than to get in the way when they had tunnel vision. 

Ray marches up to the booth, confidence flowing off of them in waves. The man in charge of the game seems amused by this.

“I don’t suppose you’ll be trying this game, will you?” He says.

“Nah, not unless you’ve got a way for people with one arm to play,’ Ray says with a laugh. “My friend wants to play, though!” 

Val stands just a little behind Ray, offering a wave to the man behind the counter.

“Ah, I see. In that case, I’ll explain the rules.” The man begins, explaining the point system and what prizes can be received based on those points, including the cash prize. In this time, Ilenne has caught up with them, waiting on the side lines as they wait for the game to begin.

After the rules have been explained, and they are sure that Val has gotten every word, the game can begin. 

The man hands Val the bow and arrow that’s meant to be used for the game. It takes a moment for him to figure out the best way to hold it, not used to using a bow other than his own. Once he does, he takes aim at the board and, upon lining up the shot, releases the arrow. He lowers the weapon, seeing that he’s landed a bullseye.

Turns out using a different bow than what he’s used to wouldn’t be a problem after all.

One by one, Val sends arrows flying, all of which end up hitting the target. After each one, Ray lets out a loud cheer, bragging to any strangers that happen to be passing by. This ends up attracting attention, and soon, there’s a small crowd gathered around the booth. Val is a little more nervous now, having so many eyes on him. 

There’s only one arrow left. He’s so close to winning the money.

He takes a deep breath, aiming the arrow in the same place it’s gone nine other times so far. He closes his eyes, and lets go of the arrow. 

It’s quiet for a moment, and he’s certain he’s missed his mark, until the crowd bursts into cheers. He opens his eyes to see that he just barely managed to get the arrow to go to the center, his nerves likely getting the better of him for a moment.

“You did it!” Ray yells. “For a second I was worried you would mess up right at the end, but you did it!” 

“I can’t believe you adjusted that quickly to a different bow,” Ilenne says. “You’re amazing, Val.”

“I’ll have to agree with the lady,” the man says. He’s holding the prize money in one hand, his other hand extended to shake Val’s, which he does. “You’re quite the archer for someone at your age.” 

“He hunts our food for us, he’s had a lot of practice,” Ilenne explains.

“He’ll have mastered it in no time at this rate.”

The three of them wish the man a happy new year, before Ray drags them away to spend their newly earned money.

~

The store they end up in seems to sell just about everything, from cooking herbs to musical instruments, which Ray makes a beeline for. This seems to be the only quiet store in the plaza, everyone being more attracted to the temporary shops rather than a store they can go into anytime they want. 

Val finds himself perusing the plant section, deciding it can’t hurt to see what else he can add to his inventory today. Ilenne elects to look at some cooking supplies, knowing that they’re starting to run out of them at home.

It’s when she’s looking at a particular spice that they’re rarely able to afford that Ray seems to appear out of nowhere.

“Will you give me your old bag?”

“What?”

“Sssh keep your voice down! I want this horn but it’s way too expensive, I need haggling material.”

“And you think my bag will help you?”

“Of course it will. I’m a master-”

“Yes, I’ve heard.” Ilenne pauses to think, before sighing, taking the old bag off her shoulder. “Please don’t get us kicked out.” Ray does a silent cheer before speeding off to the counter, presumably to get themself a new horn at the expense of the old tattered bag. 

Ilenne decides to buy the seasoning, along with a few other herbs, and heads to the counter, watching as Ray is leaned over the counter as they speak to the shop owner, a small smile on their face signifying that they’re close to making a breakthrough.

“This really seems to be a bag that holds great value. How long did you say it was in your family?” The shopkeep asks, seeming to have eaten up whatever story Ray has fed her. 

“Ten generations!” Ray says dramatically. “But my family has long since abandoned me, leaving only this bag as a way to remember them. Now it only weighs me down.”

The woman behind the counter places her hand over her heart, as if hearing Ray’s fake, admittedly convincing, story had caused her physical pain. 

“I usually don’t do this but, it’s a holiday, and this item seems to hold a lot of sentimental value. I’ll accept your offer.” 

Ray places the bag on the counter, along with a decent chunk of the money they’d just won, and grabs hold of their new instrument. They thank the woman, before taking the rest of the money and, upon spotting Ilenne, makes their way over to her. they hand her the money and say they’ll be waitng outside, before turning around to whisper in her ear.

“The master haggler strikes again.’

~

After a long night of playing games, shopping, and eating, the three of them make their way back to their home in the woods. On the way, they find themselves stopping in a clearing. It has almost a magical glow to it, the lack of strees making it easier for the moonlight to illuminate the area. There are a few flowers peaking out of the ground, and  Ray takes it upon themself to dash around the clearing, collecting them all.

Ilenne and Val find a fallen tree to take refuge on, looking at the stars twinkling in the sky.

“Today was fun,” Val signs. 

“It was,” Ilenne agrees. “I can’t believe Ray lied to that woman.”

“I can’t believe it worked.” Ilenne can’t help but laugh.

Ray runs up to them, a bundle of flowers in hand, before immediately getting to work turning them into flower crowns for the three of them. After they’ve finished, they gently place them on Ilenne and Val’s heads, the latter reaching up to touch it. Ray, satisfied with their work, takes a seat, pulling out their new horn and playing a simple melody.

The three of them sit in silence, simplifying enjoying the atmosphere and each other’s company. Soon, Ray breaks the silence.

“Hey, Il?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think this year will be better than last year?”

Ilenne considers their words carefully. Last year had been rough for them. It was difficult to find food, money was scarce for most of it, and the rainy season had nearly destroyed their home. They almost didn’t attend this year’s festival, believing that it had become cursed after being used so much as a good luck charm. 

“I’m not sure this time, Ray.”

“I was worried you’d say that,”Ray replies, a humorless laugh following. Val taps both of them on the shoulders, pulling them out of their brief melancholy.

“We’ll be okay,” he signs.

“How can you be so sure?” Val thinks for a moment before moving again.

“Because we have each other.”

Val leans back, having said his piece, and goes back to observing the moon. 

Ray and Ilenne share a look, before nodding, an unspoken conversation between the two of them. They’ll be okay, whatever this year has in store for them.

As long as they have each other, they’ll be okay.

[mackwritess]

Scarlet Cross

Summary: When Evan is chosen to take a job interviewing a member of a small town, he’s a little disappointed. But once the secret of the town is revealed, he and the rest of the world realize that something bigger... something evil... is at work here

Word count: 2k+

Evan doesn’t understand why he had to be the one to take this job.

Really, what’s so special about a little town no one’s heard of? His boss had told him that this town had history, that it could be a really interesting news story. Evan thinks it’s just been a slow news week, and the studio needed something to fill the gaps. He doesn’t complain much, though. Work is work, and he’s been struggling for it. He’s also thankful that he was allowed to bring his friend, Blair, who had been working with him since the beginning.

After following his GPS to their destination, Evan arrives, and he feels even the title of “town” is too big a word for this place. It feels more like a village. Driving along the main road, he takes in the little landmarks scattered about. A small bank sits at the intersection between the main road and another, noticeably smaller, street. Placed next to it is a general store, with no parking lot in sight. Evan assumes that most are out of town shopping, as there’s no possible way someone could get everything they need here.

He takes a turn down a small street, almost worried that his car won’t fit, and continues looking for the place he was supposed to be. It takes no time to get there, to the point where he almost misses it, and he turns into the small parking area.

“Scarlet Cross Church, huh? Weird name,” Blair says upon seeing the old sign next to the even older building.

“I hear people from out of town aren’t allowed in at all,” Evan says, helping Blair to get their filming equipment out of the vehicle.

“Wonder why they made an exception for us.”

“Tourism, probably. People love forbidden places. Intrigue or whatever.”

The two of them begin putting their camera together, and after finally finishing up, they make their way to the steps of the church and knock on the door.

They only have to wait a few seconds before the door opens slowly, revealing a short, elderly woman dressed in all white.

“Are you two here with the news station we spoke to?” She questions, eyeing the recording equipment they have.

“Yes ma’am!” Evan says, a little too enthusiastic all of a sudden. “Are we too early?”

“No, no. You’re right on time. Come right in.” She turns around and motions for the two of them to follow her in.

~

To say that the exterior of the church was misleading would be an understatement. Gorgeous columns were scattered around the building, further showing how long the building had been around. There were flowers growing in large pots along the walls, to add color to the blank slate that was the rest of the church. But these paled in comparison to the main attraction of the place.

An intricate mural made of stained glass was placed at the front of the church. In it, it depicted a great figure dressed in white, kicking another figure clad in red out of the clouds. It didn’t take an extremely religious person to figure out what was being shown.

“This place is beautiful,” Blair whispers, not wanting to disturb the tranquility of the place.

“No wonder they’re so careful about who they let in here,” Evan says. He’s still taking everything in when the woman calls for them up at the podium.

“I’d really like to be sure that our mural is captured on camera,” the woman explains. “It’s really the crown jewel of this place.”

Blair positions their camera, making sure both the mural and the woman are in frame.

“May I ask your name before we begin?” Evan asks, straightening his shirt.

“You can just refer to me as the head of the church, if that’s okay with you.”

“Whatever makes you feel more comfortable.” Evan turns to Blair, “Are we ready?” Blair nods.

~

“We’re coming to you live from the Scarlet Cross Church, a place that was closed off to out of town visitors until now! We’re here with the head of church. What made you decide to finally allow outside eyes in?” Evan is now much more cheery than he was upon arrival. Though he’s waiting for his career to finally take off, he still loves his job no matter how small.

“We as a community consider this church to be our pride and joy. And we decided that not only should we finally reveal it to the world, but also share the secret of this town.”

Evan and Blair give each other a quick glance because getting back to business.

“What secret might that be?”

“You see, while most people believe that some aspects of religion are untrue, or perhaps even religion as a whole, I am here to tell you all that it’s all real. For we ourselves are apart of that mythicism.”

Another glance is shared between the two of them. What had the studio gotten them into? Still, Evan plays along.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“This town, including myself, is home to a clan of fallen angels.”

“What-“

Before Evan can interrupt, the woman take a step back, and feathers begin sprouting from her back. At first, only a few, but suddenly a pair of wings sprout all at once from her. But these wings aren’t anything like the ones that have been described for centuries.

These wings are a deep red.

The two stans there, dumbfounded at what they’ve just witnessed.

“We would like to invite people from around the world to come and learn about us. We are real, and we would like to spread the word.”

~

It wasn’t long before the news segment went viral. Some called it a hoax, just some special effects the network was using to up their ratings. Others believed that this was the sign the world needed that there was indeed a creator out there. Regardless of explanation, one thing was certain.

People were going to flock to this town to see for themselves.

And flock they did. People from all walks of life, religions zealots, disillusioned atheists, and YouTube channels whose focus was on the supernatural, all gathered here to see what they could find.

The town was much different than when Evan had first arrived here just two weeks ago.

Civilians were now out of their homes, greeting tourists. It was easy to tell who was who, as natives of the town all sporting the burning red wings that everyone had only seen on tv. Children on both sides playing together, the native children flying around while the others shrieked with glee.

Morale was high today, because the head of the church announced they would be holding a special service in the church. The amazement of a church service being held by actual angels was surely one for the ages.

Naturally, the studio once again sent out the duo that had made the discovery to begin with. They were there to broadcast the festivities, and later, the service. They made their way around the town, taking in the sight of cheerful people of all ages. Eventually, they found themselves at the church once again, and decided to visit for a short while.

Stepping inside again, there was a different feel this time. It was now bustling with people, Evan assumed they were members of the clergy, getting ready for tonight’s event. At last, he found the head, and went to speak with her.

“I never thought I’d see this place so lively!” Evan says, grabbing the woman’s attention. She offers him a smile.

“It’s all thanks to you,” she says. “I’ve never in all my years seen our little town so happy.”

“I’m really glad to hear that,” he says, admiring the decor. There are candles lit all over the room, giving it an almost romantic feel. He turns back to meet her eyes, and noticing she looks a little sad. “Did I say something wrong?” She shakes her head.

“No, no. Don’t worry about me, everything is fine. You should go out and enjoy the festivities. The service will begin soon.” Evan nods and offers a wave goodbye before heading out to look for Blair.

One of the clergymen, having seen their interaction, walks up to her.

“You took pity on him, for just a moment.”

“I do wish I could have spared him. He seems like a sweet boy.” She thinks for a moment. “But this is what must be done. This has been too long in the making.”

“I imagine you’ve been waiting for this day more eagerly than any of us.” She nods.

“Soon. Soon I will be free.”

~

Slowly but surely, citizens and visitors alike began making their way to the church. Evan worried not everyone would be able to fit inside, but people were so desperate to be here that they even stood up in the empty space that was left.

Evan and Blair made sure to stay in the back. It was there that they would be able to capture the full picture.

“We come to life once again from inside the Scarlet Cross Church, where for the first time caught on camera, a service hosted by angels will take place. We have the exclusive on this history making occasion.” Evan steps out of the way, so that the whole scene would be visible to the public.

“Will everyone who is able please take a seat? The service will now begin.” The Church head says, effectively silencing everyone in attendance as they turn their attention to her. “We will open with a prayer in our native language.”

The head along with the clergy begin their prayer. In a language that is clearly ancient, they begin speaking in unison.

It doesn’t happen immediately, but the air begins to feel heavier as the chanting continues, becoming almost suffocating. Soon, the ground begins to shake. Subtly at first, but increasing to earthquake like trembling in a short amount of time. The people within the church struggle to remain upright, trying to hold on to whatever is nearby to remain steady.

And then, the shaking stops. The air becomes breathable again.

“It is done. None of you will be able to escape the town. You will remain here until the sacrifice begins.”

A wave of confusion and disbelief ripples through the crowd, some rushing out to see for themselves. The woman turns and looks directly into the camera.

“My name is Lilith. I was the first to be cast out of the kingdom of Heaven and to this land. Now, with your sacrifice, I will be set free.”

Panicked screams begin to bounce off the walls of the church. Everyone is in a rush to escape, still believing there’s a way to escape.

Evan is stood still. His mind begs for him to follow the crowd, to try to find a way out. But his body knows there is no use. Soon, the church is empty, sounds of chaos coming from outside.

The woman, who Evan now knows as Lilith, makes her way over to him.

“I’m sorry you had to get caught up in this. If there was a way for me to spare you, I would have done so. But I’ve been here for longer than even your ancestors. It’s time for me to leave.”

She walks past him without another word, and Evan’s legs give way under him, making him collapse to the ground.

~

On the outskirts of the town, she can hear cars crashing. People who still think they can get away, trying in vain to force their way through the barrier that had risen. She can only sigh. She doesn’t blame them for wanting to escape this place. It’s been her goal for a millennia.

She can feel the power slowly coursing through her body. It’s almost time now. Soon the life force of everyone will be drained, and everyone who has been cast here for their crimes would be able to go where they wish. As she makes her way through, people notice her.

Some cower in fear, hoping that she will spare them. Others try attacking her, only to be stopped by someone else of her species. She sees Blair, desperately searching for Evan, after realizing they had left him behind in the commotion.

She even sees a small group praying.

Before she can even think to say anything to them, she notices people around them beginning to drop, their bodies laying lifeless.

She’s so close.

The others begin dropping like dominos soon after, and after a few more final screams are heard, there’s silence.

“It won’t be long before he’s back.” She says to no one in particular.

She makes her way to the edge of the town. The place where she’s been held captive for as long as she can remember. She take the first step out, cautious, despite being a creature with unheard of powers. Then, another. Eventually she finds her self miles away from her prison. For the first time in a long time, she sees the outside.

For the first time in a long time, she’s free.

[mackwritess]

Westwood Road

Word count: 3k+

Summary: It’s your average high school romance. The boy meets a girl who accepts him despite his hidden secret, and in turn he changes her. But what happens when she’s got her own little secret?

A/N: Hi! This story represents a lot of milestones for me as this is both my first commission and my first attempt at romance! I hope you like it!

He’s running late. It’s a character flaw of his, really. A problem he’s never been able to correct, no matter how many alarms he set to go off in time. This time though, it isn’t just some unimportant thing he’s late for, oh no.

Today, he’s meeting her parents.

He takes a sharp turn down her street, the street people normally avoid. He doesn’t have time to think about the warnings he’s gotten about this old gravel road. He has somewhere to be.

He finally decides to slow down a bit in order to ensure he doesn’t pass up his destination by mistake. Slowing down to what feels like a snail’s pace, he pays close attention to each disheveled home he passes by, looking out for the house that was described to him.

Luckily, he didn’t have to look particularly hard, as she was standing outside the very place he was looking for, waiting for him to arrive.

He slows his vehicle to a stop and jumps out immediately, trying to make up every second he may have lost. Running over to where she stands, he tries to rush out an apology, explaining his situation. Instead of lashing out as he fears, she offers him a serene, almost eerie, smile. She assures him he’s right on time, and takes his hand to lead him inside.

~

How they met was something straight out of a romantic comedy.

He was running late, of course, to a special event at his local video game store. He insists it’s not his fault this time, really, it’s not. He’s got a reputation to uphold, he can’t be caught hanging out with a bunch of people who’ve never even been to prom without a group of friends rather than a date, he rationalizes. He’s ducking around corners and hiding behind telephone poles in a borderline cartoonish manner, hoping he won’t run into someone from school, specifically anyone he’s on a team with.

After finally arriving at the store, he can finally drop his elaborate manner of movement, certain that he’ll run into no trouble here. Upon arrival, he spots the table set up for the event he’s attending, already surrounded by others who are there for the same reason he is. He scans the scene quickly, looking for a place to sit, and his eyes find an empty seat next to a girl.

He thinks nothing of it and takes a seat next to her, offering her a small smile when he does. It’s only when she turns to look at him that he realizes he knows her from somewhere. Perhaps he’s seen her in the store before, though he isn’t quite sure.

Today’s event is for a game tournament. It’s a relatively popular game, if the attendance of this event is anything to go by. After the order of the tournament is decided, he’s careful not to take his eyes off his other opponents' game play, hoping to catch on to any tricks they may have.

The girl he had sat next to doesn’t appear to have any particular strategy. Unlike her more animated competitors, she remains calm, her expression blank.

Eventually, after making his way up the tournament bracket, he finds himself facing her in the final. He’s nervous, having been unable to learn anything about her potential, but can tell that she’s skilled.

“I’m nervous,” she says suddenly, “You’re really good.”

He’s caught off guard. She hasn’t spoken a word this entire time, and he’s certain he’s only gotten this far by luck. All he can do is offer her a sheepish smile, before the game begins.

He’s feeling a little misled by the time their turn concludes. Not only was he utterly destroyed, but their match was the shortest out of all the others, lasting a measly two minutes. She’s given her prize, a gift card to be used in the store, and immediately stands from her seat, presumably to begin her shopping with her newly earned funds.

He finds himself following after her, not to berate her or accuse her of cheating like some people his age might do, but rather to ask how the hell she managed to do what she did in such a fashion. He finds her looking at the old used games, likely because of their relatively low price range compared to the rest of the items in the store.

He’s unsure how to approach her, the first time he’s ever been nervous about such a thing. He can’t quite place it, but something about her is making him feel sheepish and insecure in a way. It’s when he finally decides what he’ll start with, a simple “hello” that he sees her pick up an old game he recalls from childhood. Immediately, he calls out to her, seeming to startle her, and explains the relationship he has with the game.

“It’s one of the first games I ever owned,” he elaborates. “I’ve never even gotten to complete it. Haven’t seen the cartridge in years.”

The girl seems to consider his words. “What if I let you borrow it? After I’m done with it, of course.”

He lights up at her offer. “I would love that!” He says, albeit a little loudly, attracting the attention of other patrons in the store. Taking note, he lowers his voice. “But how would I know to get it back from you, and how would I return it?”

“Well, it is the twenty-first century after all. I could just give you my number.” He cringes at himself, realizing how clueless he must seem.

“Right, yea, we could do that.” He moves to take her phone to enter his number before pausing. “Wait. Do you mind keeping this a secret?”

“I mean, sure,” she says, clearly confused by his odd request, “Can I ask why?”

“No one knows I do things like this, it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine. If people found out, my reputation would be ruined.” He expects her to get angry. To tell him he has no respect for the hobby or the people who play professionally.

Instead, she laughs.

“What year is this? Dude, everyone plays video games these days. What, do you think you’re gonna get bullied if you tell your friends you like Mario?” She laughs again, and he decides he likes the sound of it.

“It’s a long story, alright? Just promise me you won’t say anything,” he says, trying to preserve what little dignity he has left after today.

“Fine, fine. I’ll keep your dirty little secret,” she says. She hands him his phone, and he quickly inputs his name and number. Upon finishing, he looks up and hands the phone back to her. Though, he’s afraid to make eye contact, so instead he finds himself watching the fly that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

“How long do you think it’ll take for you to finish?” He asks, trying to shift the conversation back.

“Not sure,” she says with a shrug. “I’ve never played, could be weeks, months even. But I’ll get back to you as soon as I finish.” He nods, already eager to talk to her again.

Three days later, he receives a message.

~

What had begun as a simple exchange had quickly turned into a friendship between the two of them. The two of them clicked better than he had ever expected. Upon talking more to her, he realizes she looked familiar because they have a few classes together. He worries that she’ll be upset that he didn’t know her, but instead she laughs it off.

They’ve made it a weekly tradition now to meet once every week at the game store where they first met. They talk about their favorite releases, look at new equipment that the store has gotten in, and comb over the clearance section, hoping to get their hands on a cheap game or two.

This time, though, his luck appears to have run out.

The two of them are making their way around the store, looking for a particular pair of headphones that professional gamers swear is the best product in the business. Upon examining them, deciding they won’t look at the price tag just yet, he hears a familiar voice call out his name.

He looks up, and is met with the confused expression of his teammate.

“What are you doing here?” He asks.

“I’m looking for some game for my brother, he’s got his heart set on it so I’m getting it as a Christmas gift. What are you doing here?”

He stutters, trying to come up with an explanation, when she peers from behind him to see what the sudden commotion is about.

“It’s a game store, can’t you read?” She asks, obviously irritated by the interruption. “Why don’t you look for what you came here for and mind your business?”

He’s shocked by her sudden outburst, and when he turns to look at her, she’s back to browsing the shelves as if nothing happened.

“You’re here with her too? Man, you really must be desperate for something to do,” the other boy responds, unphased by her words.

“What’s wrong with her?” He lets slip immediately, wanting to return the favor.

“You’re telling me you haven’t heard? She lives on Westwood Road. You know, that old freaky abandoned road at the edge of town?”

“So what?”

“What do you mean, so what?” The boy balks. “That place is haunted, no sane person would ever live there, besides, even ignoring the fact that she’s probably some undead weirdo, this place is for nerds.”

He moves to say something, but a fearful expression briefly moves past the other boy’s face, and he’s backing away.

“You know what? Forget it. I won’t tell anyone I saw you, just keep that freak away from me.” He turns around and quickly moves to another part of the store.

“Well,” she says, drawing his attention back to her, “that was something.”

He profusely apologizes to her, which she brushes off and insists is fine. She continues her shopping, deciding she’ll buy the overpriced headset she’s heard so much, and he asks when he’ll be allowed to borrow them.

~

It had been a few months since the incident, and rather than growing farther apart like he feared, they’d actually grown much closer. They spend almost every day together now, whether it be just goofing off or working on school assignments together. With spring break underway, today is one of their goofing off days.

He decides that today he’s going to ask her to go to prom with him.

He doesn’t really have a plan, deciding he’ll keep it simple and wing it rather than some big display of affection. He’ll wait for the right moment, and then he’ll ask her and hope he doesn’t get rejected.

They’re at a local diner now, having decided after last time that if they get confronted again that they can handle it. He’s listening to her explain the plot of a game she’s been struggling with lately. She’s clearly frustrated, having never struggled with a game before, and he finds it endearing.

“Will you go to prom with me?” He asks, not realizing he’s said anything until she stops ranting, a shocked expression appearing on her face.

“What did you just say?”

“I was just thinking, since we’ve been hanging out so much. I don’t know, I don’t really talk to any other girls and I really like spending time with you and I just thought-“

She cuts off his rambling by throwing a napkin at his face, a small smile gracing her lips.

“Relax, already. I just wanted to see you freak out a little,” she chuckles lightly. “I’d love to go with you.”

He lets out a sigh of relief, pulling another laugh from her.

“I really thought you’d reject me for a second there.”

“Do you really take me as being that heartless?”

“Heartless isn’t the word I’d use.”

“Intimidating?”

“That’s the one.”

They continue to talk for hours on end, until the street lights outside the diner turn on. Another fly appears in his field of vision, though his focus this time is entirely on her.

~

“What are you smiling about?” She asks, having stopped at her front door, waiting for him to snap back from whatever thought he was having.

“Remember prom?” She laughs immediately.

“Yea, how could I forget the wonky chocolate fountain they had that got all over everyone’s clothes?”

“I still can’t believe I talked you into going to an after party.”

“Listen, I heard there was a pool, I wasn’t about to say no.”

The two of them laugh again, reminiscing on the night they decided to make their relationship official.

“C’mon,” she says, suddenly much quieter, “let’s head in.”

He follows her through the door, and is met with a surprisingly nice house compared to the disheveled appearance. There’s a few paintings hung up on the wall, and an old fireplace lit in the living room.

He makes his way through the house, curiosity overtaking his thoughts that he may be acting a bit rude for digging around. He finds a decently sized kitchen, and a dining room straight out of a centuries old painting.

While he looks around, she’s following him slowly, hoping the old furniture is enough to distract him from her presence. She lifts the weapon above her head and, right as he moves to turn around, brings it down on his head.

~

He wakes up after what feels like days, when in reality it’s only been about an hour. His head is throbbing, and when he tries to move, he finds himself unable to, his hands having been tied behind him. He’s in a dark room, barely able to see anything as his visions adjusts to the lack of light. The smell of sulfur invades his nostrils, worsening his headache.

“You’re awake, I see. I thought you’d be out for at least another hour or two.”

He hears her voice before he sees her. When she steps forward, he notices something is different. Her demeanor has changed, and he finds himself sitting up in the chair he’s tied to.

“What happened? Where are we? Are you okay?”

“How sweet, you’re worried about me?” She sighs, “Don’t do that, my dear boy. You’re starting to make me feel a little bad for what’s about to happen.”

He’s about to ask her what she means, when she speaks again.

“Oh, have you not figured it out yet? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. This has been one of my most successful catches, after all.”

“Catches?” He asked, still not understanding.

“Must I explain everything?” She shrugs. “Fine, I suppose I can tell you how you’ll be dying.” His eyes widen, and he opens his mouth to scream when she interrupts him. “Don’t bother, we’re underground. No one will hear you.”

“What the hell is going on? Who are you?”

“I have many names. It’d be easier if you think of me as the one I already gave you.”

“Why am I tied up? What are you doing?”

“Well in order to get to that, we’ll have to start from the beginning, wouldn’t you agree?” He doesn’t respond. “Why don’t we play a little game? Did you notice anything strange when we first met?”

He thinks back. Nothing particular stands out to him, except for one thing.

“There was a fly, that was pretty weird.” He finds himself laughing, despite his situation. “I was too afraid to look at you, so I watched the fly.”

“Judging by the way you’re laughing right now, I assume you don’t know what this means.”

“You’re right, I don’t.”

“Anything else you noticed? A certain smell perhaps?”

“Sulfur. I smell sulfur.” She says nothing. He’s deep in thought. “So you’re a demon?”

“Ding ding ding! Smart boy, I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

“Why me? Why did it have to be me?”

“Oh, it’s nothing personal, really. You just seemed the perfect target. Looks like I was right.” Again, she’s met with silence. “I know it’s hard for you to accept, but I never loved you. You’re a food source for me, nothing more.” Still, he says nothing.

“So now what happens? You eat my soul or something?” He asks, finally.

“Precisely! And since you’ve won the game, I've decided to let you have your last words. Go ahead.” He looks her directly in the eye.

“You’re lying.”

“W-what?” She stutters, caught off guard. “I’m not lying, why else do you think your loud friend ran off that day?”

“No no, I believe that you’re a demon. What I don’t believe is that you never loved me.” It’s her turn to stay silent. Taking note, he continues. “It’s not hard to tell when feelings are real, and yours clearly were, whether you’re ready to admit it or not.”

“They weren’t!” She yells, beginning to shake.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve heard of your kind before. Your death relates to lost love, and now you live as a demon, breaking hearts and feeding on the souls because this is how you survive. How you get your revenge.”

“Stop it,” she screams, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know you love me, really, but I know you no choice.” She’s crying now. All she can do is shake her head violently in denial. “But it’s okay. Because I still love you. And I forgive you.”

~

She leaves the house covered in his blood. She found herself unable to consume his soul, as even after all she’d done, she was still unable to break him. Out of anger, and sadness, she had ripped him apart, leaving his body scattered across the room.

For years, she’s been living on this road. She’d never encountered any problems, and she never had to think too much about what she would ultimately end up doing to her victims. This time was different.

She was suddenly disgusted with herself, after doing what she’d done to so many people. Maybe she’d find some other way to sustain herself. Perhaps one day, she’d reunite with him, one day when she felt she was worthy of a love so pure.

For now, though, she would leave Westwood Road, and start somewhere new.

[mackwritess]

Siren Head

Word count: 700+

A/N: Hiiii this is my first post! I already posted this on my Wattpad account but I thought it would be a good idea to expand! I hope you like it!

Three days.

It’s been three days since the sirens started.

Naturally, this led to widespread panic. Authorities rushed to stop these strange creatures before they reached densely populated areas. Conspiracy theorists around the world began their speeches at the appearance of the monster, insisting that this was nothing more than government sanctioned population control.

The odd, humanoid beings continued their slow trek to an unknown destination, their constant wails heard from miles away. They moved strangely, swaying as they walked. Their arms dangled at their sides, appearing to only be there for decoration as it seemed that these creatures could not use them. None of them had faces, donning two loudspeakers in the place where a head should have been. The only things visible were their mouths, filled with rows of teeth. What appeared to be loose wires dangled from them, their real purpose being to stun prey.

No one dared to step foot outside their homes in fear of being trampled or eaten. Desolate streets and abandoned businesses are all there was to be seen as the strange visitors continued, not being able to be stopped by any amount of fire power thrown at them to stop them dead in their tracks.

People gathered around their TVs at home, waiting to hear any news about these beings. Children clung to their parents asking if they would be okay. The elderly looked on somberly as the reporters relayed the information about the creatures they knew only as siren heads.

Had it really been thirty years already?

Most people had known that one day these monsters would return. Others either believed them to be a myth or simply didn’t think they would come back.

There were less this time around, some noted. Perhaps they were going extinct. Maybe this time would be the last.

But something about the beasts themselves was different this time around. They appeared to have no desire to feed after resurfacing like they had in the past. Instead, they merely wandered aimlessly, the piercing sound of the sirens never ceasing. Scientists kept a close eye on their activity, watching closely for any changes in their behavior.

Suddenly, they stopped.

Some in the middle of cities, others in deserts and forests, but they appeared frozen in place, as if they’d fallen asleep. Their voices could no longer be heard.

Teams of people were cautiously sent out to study them a few days after they had halted. This could be their only chance at getting so close to things that had terrorized the masses for such a long time.

The arrival of such people would only worsen their situation.

Something appeared off once they approached the sites. The creatures seemed more alert, more awake than when they had first stopped. Still, they continued forward, eager to complete their assignments and potentially make a groundbreaking discovery.

Then, the wailing began again.

No, this was much louder, and at a higher pitch than before. They were doing something, but no one quite knew what.

Again, people began to panic. The sound echoed off buildings and valleys and didn’t appear to have an end.

When the silence came again, everyone braced themselves for what they assumed would be an attack.

Days passed, and still nothing happened. It was deemed too dangerous to try to approach them so soon, and the missions were scrapped. The world was now watching, waiting for something to happen, unsure if they were ready to face what would come from this. Still, nothing.

And then the rumbling began.

An earthquake, people had assumed at first. Another natural disaster, not ideal, but not something that was a new experience. Perhaps this was the sign they had all been waiting for life to return to normal, as sick and callous as that may seem.

The seas were still disturbed, waves constant, but it had been far too long after the presumed earthquake for that to be the cause of the ocean’s unrest.

Slowly, they emerged. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands of the same monster that had made the world pause just a short while ago had broken the surface and began to make their way onto land. They were different from the first group, larger, much larger. There was no sound coming from them, save for the shaking of the ground they caused with every step they took. And much like their predecessors, they appeared to have no weakness.

No, this would not be like the last time. This time, they were here to stay.

[mackwritess]

Oop idk how to do this

Hi! I go by Mack, and I’m an aspiring author! My bio says I take commissions, but I’ll also be posting other works outside of requests, so don’t worry about not getting content if you decide you wanna stick around! I’m HOPING to have a new work out once a week, though I can’t guarantee that since I’m still new to making this a regular thing! I already have one work completed that I’ll be posting after this, so if you decide you like it pls be sure to follow for more!

Uh that’s all I guess so thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy what I do!