I don't believe in destiny. Fate. Whatever it's called. I suppose it comes as no shock that I don't believe in God either. Or at least I don't believe in organized religion. I don't like the idea of someone having a plan for me. Hell, I don't even have a plan for myself. Why should anyone else bother?

………………..

Michelle checked the empty alley before darting into the abandoned building. You never knew what could be watching. Maybe before all a girl had to worry about was some shit-faced pervert with a knife, but not these days. Nope. These days, in fact, most of those guys had been eaten. By angels.

Angels. Yeah right. Maybe that's what they were once upon a time, but after Judgment Day too many had taken a liking to destruction. Perhaps God had forgiven mankind, but they were killing on their own time now.

Michelle shivered and compulsively looked to make sure that she could reach her gun. She had gone for a few weeks on one of the military bases, but found she couldn't take it. Too many people cramped up together. Too much fear and anger, not enough room. Not enough air. Maybe she had to work a little harder to stay alive out here on her own, but anything was better than that hellhole. And besides. Who would take care of the little ones if she went back?

Her face softened as she stepped into the room and picker her way through the rubble. She knocked twice on the wall. After a second, it slid aside to reveal two dirty young faces.

"Michelle," Rachel sighed with relief, as she did every time Michelle made it home alive.

Kayla leaped out and clung to her with all her strength. Michele hugged her back, then frowned. She reached out and touched a shallow gash on Rachel's forehead.

"What happened?" she asked tightly.

Rachel shook her head.

"One of them came upstairs when Kayla was out stretching her legs. I took care of it."

Michelle was silent.

"Well done," she said finally.

Rachel blinked.

"That's it? You're not gonna read me the rights? I'm too young to have to do this, it's dangerous, I should have called you right away? Nothing?"

"Obviously you already know them," Michelle retorted heading for the bathroom.

"Michelle."

She paused and sighed.

"It was a long day."

She closed the bathroom door behind her and leaned against the sink. It really had been a long day. She looked at herself in the mirror and evaluated what she saw. Medium length brown hair that got in her way more often than not. Grey-blue eyes underlined with bruise-like shadows. Noticeable curves underneath her filthy used-to-be-white ribbed tank top and army surplus faded pants. She wondered if she would have been hanging out with her boyfriend today instead of getting the crap beaten out of her by a pack of demons if everything hadn't changed five years ago. Certainly she had never imagined she'd be spending her eighteenth birthday like this.

She rubbed her wrist across her eyes fiercely. Telling Rachel she was too young to deal with this when they were only a year younger than her! Not that the twins knew it, of course. All Mighty Michelle was ageless and undefeatable. Of course she didn't get scared. She was the protector. Michelle pulled out the first aid cut and rolled up her shirt to uncover the deep gash bleeding sluggishly across her lower hip. At least she could protect them from having to see this. Michelle took a deep breath as she threaded the needle then grit her teeth to keep from screaming as she once again did what she had to do.