Author's Note: I'm currently in the middle of editing this story in order to start the second part. All edited chapters will have an E at the end of the chapter title. So bear with me! Thanks!

Down the aisle stood Maria Howard, a twenty year old college student taking her turn buying the groceries. She was a relatively short girl and pale, with brown hair that fell just past her shoulders. She shifted the green basket of food as her hazel eyes stared at the salt trying to remember if she needed any. Playing with her second earring, she decided that there was no harm in buying salt since she'd run out eventually.

"Is there anything you need help with, ma'am?" an employee asked her. Maria looked up to him in confusion, it wasn't exactly normally for the employees to offer help unless asked.

"No thanks," Maria said, grabbing her salt and walking off. The man, who was rather large, stepped in her both and effectively blocked her way.

"You're coming with me," he said.

"Uh, excuse me," Maria said in a full on sarcastic tone. She looked up to the guy, ready to beat him with her sass, only to see his eyes completely black. Maria started walking backwards, but fell over her feet.

"This'll be easier than I thought," the man scoffed. He walked over and dragged her up. Maria kicked her way free, effectively knocking the guy into the shelves dropping salt and sugar all over the place. The guys skin burned as the small white pellets fell over him. Maria, not thinking twice about it how strange it all was, got up and ran.

She ran towards the front of the door, only to be greeted by more people with pitch black eyes. Without thinking, she darted for the door and her car. She got in her car, slamming her door just before another black eyed person tried to get her. Locking the door, she tossed her stolen food and basket and rammed her keys in. Ignoring the man banging on her window she drove off as fast as she could and went home.

After a few minutes of driving, Maria got the courage to look up to her rearview mirror. Her paranoia was unfortunately correct. A couple of cars behind her was a car full of black eyed people. Maria stepped on it, going faster than she ever dared to in her neighborhood despite the lack of law enforcement.

Once Maria pulled up to her house she checked for her chasers. They had just turned down the road and be there in a minute. She grabbed the basket out of a weird compulsion and ran into the house, locking the door behind her. Sitting against the door, Maria took out her cell and dialed 9-1-1. The ringing as she waited set her nerves ablaze and she played with her earrings nervously.

"Hello 911, what's your emergency?" the operator said.

"Hey, I was just chased by these guys with black eyes from Food Lion and I'm not one to get all panicy but I am," Maria blurted out as she heard car doors slam outside.

"Alright, we'll send out a dispatcher. Where are you now?"

"I'm at my house, 1212 Cyprus Lane."

"Alright, there are cops on there way. Would you like to stay on the line while you wait?" the operator asked, though they were obviously bored with the conversation. Maria rolled her eyes and hung up without another word, tossing her phone across the way and onto her couch.

They won't be able to help you.

Maria shot up and looked around for the source of the voice. No one else was home, all her roommates having left for one reason or another. Neither the TV or stereo were going and there was no where else the voice could have come from.

To save time I am Maria and am essentially in your head. Make a like of salt in front of the doors and windows. Once you've done that draw this in front of all your doors.

An image of some cultist circle flashed in Maria's mind. She peeked out her window and instead of just seeing the men who were chasing her she also saw the demons true image. The thing was so horrifying and sickening, that Maria had to run to the bathroom to throw up. With the bad taste still in her mouth she ran around with her new thing of salt and did as the voice said. She then took her paint sets and drew the circle along with some other patterns everywhere. But none of that stopped the demons from knocking.

Outside of Maria's house four demons stood guard, sitting on the curb. Since Maria had decked out her house with anti demon charms, they planned to wait her out. The plan, however was shortly interrupted when a cop car with sirens blazing came up. They parked in front of the demons and stepped out, hands resting on their guns in case there was trouble.

"We got a call about a women being chased, you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" the older cop asked.

"No sir. That was all a misunderstanding," one of the demons said. This demon was taller and even in his true form more terrifying than the others.

"We'd like to talk to the young lady to confirm that. Standard procedure," the younger cop said, starting for Maria's house. The demons all stood to block his way.

"Sir please step out of my way. We don't want any trouble, do we?" the elder asked, tightening his grip on his gun. Maria peeked out her window to see the scene, a small part of her still hoping that the cops could handle it.

"No trouble at all," the tall demon said and ran his hand straight through the old man's stomach. The younger cop pulled his gun and shot the demon in the shoulder. The demon looked at his shoulder and frowned, while one of his men took care of the last cop. Blood ran over the street and into the sewer and the sight of it had Maria ready for another bathroom run, but she couldn't pull herself away.

The gunshot drew attention and Maria's neighbors slowly started to emerge from their houses. Some were instantly possessed by more demons, most were killed in the same brutal manner as the cops.

"You see that Maria! Don't bother calling anyone else!" the tall demon shouted to her. Maria ducked back down and closed her eyes tightly, trying to rid the images of all those familiar faces going cold.