She found herself with her face in the dirt. When she gathered enough strength to rise up onto her elbows, the air smelled burnt, and the sky looked to match. Confusion and disgust creeped up her spine in a cold brush.
There was nothing left of what she believed to be London. It was broken and destroyed.
"It wasn't just an inferno that swept through here..." Mia spoke to herself aloud.
She pushed herself to her feet by her metallic hand in one swoop, picking up the chainsaw that had fallen with her possessions straight after. She spun on her heel to look in the space around her, dusting off her torn crimson dress with her free hand.
"If that book could fuck up my life any further..." She groaned, "I can not be anywhere I've actually been before..."
She began to walk along the burnt road, the sky was a dark red, it was impossible to know the time of day. Neither the sun or moon were visible. Her eyes caught a torn poster as she looked around, an advertisement in a window, she could barely make out anything.
Squinting, she read out loud, "Open... Discount... 2087?!" She shouted, causing large birds to scatter into the dark sky, demonic cries filling the dead streets.
Mia shook her head, letting out a loud whine, "This can not be fucking happening!" She growled, grabbing a large stone and tossing it at the poster, breaking what was left of the window.
"That was one hell of an after shock." A sarcastic and charming voice came from behind Mia's back.
Mia jumped away in surprise as she turned to see the tall, bloodied male that was behind her.
Mia shrieked, quickly equipping her chainsaw to the metal around her wrist, replacing her own artificial hand. She took a wide-legged stance, pointing the chainsaw towards the man as she pulled the string to start up the weapon in a whir of panic.
"Whoa, baby," the man smirked, seeming completely unthreatened by the shorter woman, "I'd like to turn you on, but the chainsaw's a little much for me." He gave an wink, causing her to scoff and scowl as she raised her weapon, attempting an attack on the mysterious man.
Her attack was stopped, her chainsaw having clashed with another, her eyes darted to the man's own weapon, seeing that he had the same means of defense as her.
"You like it rough, eh? Sorry babe, you're out of your league at this game!" He smiled, easily pushing her entire body back with a swift move against her chainsaw with his own.
Mia stumbled, her back and head finding the hard cement of the wall next to the window she had broken. Disoriented, she heard a couple clicks, and before she could open her eyes, she felt a yank on her defensive hand, her chainsaw, turned off, and on the ground. The man's face was directly in from of hers, she was trapped between his strong arms against the wall.
"I ain't gonna hurt'cha, if you don't attack me again." He stated, firmly, his eyes set on Mia's.
Mia let out a huff in frustration, "Yeah? And how the Hell am I supposed to trust you?"
A calloused hand grabbed at her bruised chin, forcing her to look at his self-built hand, "I fight demons, and idiots that get in my way. You're lucky ya seem to have some worth to ya, or you'd be demon food."
Mia snarled at him, ducking down to escape him and grab her weapon.
"That and you're pretty cute, wasting a face like yours would be pretty upsetting." Mia simply turned, smacking him in the face. He froze. Mia attempted to stalk off, but he caught her wrist, forcing her to face him again.
Mia just groaned, "Look, asshole, I've been through Hell and have not been home in years, things keep seeming to get worse. Okay?" Tears began to well in her eyes, "I just want to find out why that fucking book sent me here, and hopefully wake up in a hospital bed in reality!"
"Whoa whoa whoa- what book?" He asked, pulling her closer to him, peering at her face as he asked.
"Natu- demondo or something! The book of the dead or some bullshit that's been ruining m-" her statement was interrupted by a gentle finger placed on her lips.
"We really aren't different after all." He said, letting her go, "Name's Ash. Seems we're both after the same thing. What's your name kid?" He asked, nodding towards her.
"Mia." She stated calmly, glancing away from Ash, "My name is Mia..."
"Well, Mia, no point in fighting each other. Might as well team up. So long as you don't get in my way," Ash smirked, pausing to look at her again as she moved to face away from him, "...or go distractin' me with your ass."
Mia only groaned, beginning to walk away, "I can't do anything about the second one. And I'm sure I'm better off on my own."
"Tsk tsk tsk," Ash shook his head, "I don't think so, you're pretty weak with a chainsaw."
She froze mid stride, only to turn back to him, "Do you know how many fucking demons I've slaughter with this thing?"
"Four, maybe five," He shrugged, smiling as her face distorted once again into one of anger, as it was true, "Stick with me, kid. You'll be slaughtering demons as far as the eye can see. Just like me."
Mia hesitated to answer, studying his strong, scarred face. Ash was a handsome man... He was also intimidating, and it wasn't just his height.
"Fine." She replied, "but if I'm not home in a few days, you're own your own."
"Yeah I'll get you home, baby. Leave it all to good ol' Ash." He gave her a cocky smirk as she walked past him.
"'Old' is right..." She muttered, stalking off before turning to wait for him, seeing him give her an insulted look.
"Well? We don't have forever." She sighed, only for Ash to follow after her.