Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except for Theo.

I don't expect you to read this, but:

Hi, I'm Krisalyn. Thirteen years old, living in California. Hope you enjoy this!

A seventeen year old boy sipped his drink and scribbled a few more words to his essay when a huge thump resonated from outside the coffee shop.

A few customers turned to look, but most disregarded this, much too engrossed in their own doings.

But it happened again. This time most turned, annoyed, to find out the source. Probably some drunk teenager, most concluded.

Distant screams, getting closer and closer, and the whole population of the coffee shop clambered over to the smudged window.

And then —

Boom. Something smashed into the roof, and the shop crumbled to the ground.

It was mayhem, disarray. People stampeded out the door, screaming, yelling. The boy scrambled out in a panic, about to run home when he saw —

A girl?

Cool and calm, she stood. Her soft blonde curls were pulled up in a messy updo, some spilling over her temples to frame her small, heart-shaped face.

Her face was otherworldly and surreal — delicate features, a small nose, the bridge sprinkled lightly with freckles. Plump pink lips. Large, curiously grey eyes framed with thick dark lashes, and finely chiseled cheekbones that blushed a faint rose color.

She was the most beautiful girl Theodore had ever laid eyes upon.

Even if her stormy eyes had a fiery, angry look beyond what he thought was possible. Even if there was a dried scrape running from her temple to her jaw. Even if her she was just wearing an orange tee and black cargo shorts — both of which were tattered and ripped. Even if she looked slightly dangerous, with black combat boots and a silver-black jacket.

And even if she was glaring at him so intensely he thought he would implode.

"Uh… hi?" Theo said, uncertain.

"Well?" The girl demanded.

Theo allowed himself to stare for a few more seconds, then intelligently replied, "Um."

"You're one, aren't you?" the girl asked furiously.

The girl was starting to scare him — her eyes blazed, and he noticed things that he hadn't noticed before, like a belt that shifted in and out of focus, and a freaking knife for god's sake — who even carries a knife?!

Oh no. He was hallucinating again, just like he did every day. These hallucinations never seemed to end well, though, it always ended up with him getting injured, or nearly dead.

He had to get away from her.

Theo stumbled away, holding up his hands to fend off the vision girl. No wonder she was so beautiful — she wasn't even real. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he felt dimly disappointed.

She narrowed her eyes at him, and Theo took that as the cue to run.

He ran as fast as he could. He didn't mean to be arrogant, but he was the best in the track team at school. He could run pretty fast.

Yet the girl easily caught up to him and grabbed his arm. Theo tried to wrench it away, but her grip was strong. He opened his mouth to scream when a hand clamped down over his mouth.

Suddenly all he could think about was how good her she smelled, like strawberries. Or lemons. Was he seriously being kidnapped by this model of a girl?

Oops, ADHD, Theo realized, and came back to the matter at hand. He struggled.

"Gods, will you stop it?" the girl said, and he realized she didn't sound malicious or angry or anything, she sounded exasperated. "I'm trying to save your life here."

He jerked his arm away from her and flung her hand off his mouth. She didn't object. "Save my life?" Theo laughed, trying to ignore the rapid beating of his heart. "You're kidding, right? You seriously expect me to believe that?"

The girl sighed. He wondered how she looked so pretty when she was annoyed — her small nose scrunched up in irritation, and her lips pulled to one side. "Look, okay, I really don't expect you to believe that, but we really have limited time right now!"

Theo blinked. "I — what?"

For the first time since he had noticed the girl, he looked around and saw the ruckus around them. Buildings were being torn apart, people screamed. A savage roar rang in the smoggy air.

Through all the fog he could make out an indistinct shape over ten feet tall. Horns. Lumbering arms. The works.

The noise seemed to multiply tenfold when he noticed it. "What is that?!" he cried over the noise.

The girl shook her head. "No time!" She yelled, starting to jog. Theo kept pace with her, measuring his steps with hers. She was really fast, he thought. "I'll explain it to you, just come with me!"

Theo stopped in his tracks. "What?"

The girl turned, her nostrils flaring. "What the Hades is it now?!"

Somewhere in his subconsciousness he pondered the way she had said 'Hades'. But he cast that thought aside and shouted, "I just can't leave! My school, my home, my dad!"

The girl's hard expression softened a fraction. "I'm sorry Theodore… you'll see them again. But you have to come with me —"

He wondered briefly how she knew his name, but it all didn't matter when his world was crumbling around his ears. "I need to say goodbye!"

Now the girl's face was open, gentle, and she said, "Theo. Please."

She ran.

Theo considered.

He ran after her.