It had been a long day. Saturday's were always hell at the store. Annabelle sighed heavily as she walked to the front of the store. She walked to the entrance and took a rod from within the wall. She reached up with the rod and pulled down the metal gate, finally closing the store. She dropped down to the floor and locked the gate. She pulled on the gate, ensuring it was locked. Her boss had been complaining that the gate had been left unlock and was threatening her job if she didn't ensure it was locked.

Annabelle rose from the floor and set the rod back within the wall. She walked back to the register and pulled the till. She pulled the money from the till and secured it in a small pouch. She placed the till back into the register and walked into the back of the store. She set the pouch on the desk and picked up her purse. She strung her purse over her shoulder and headed for the back door.

Annabelle slipped into the back hallway of the shopping center. She only used it afterhours and after she locked the front gate. The hall was quiet, empty, like it always was. She walked through the hall toward the exit. She looked up at the cameras and waved to the security boys.

Suddenly a gust of air caught her attention. Annabelle turned from the cameras. It was too early in the year to have the air conditioning on in the center. Annabelle frowned and followed the air around one of the side hallways. She turned the corner and stopped. In the middle of the hallway was a large glowing sphere. The light was incredibly bright. Annabelle had never seen anything like it before. She took a step toward it for a better look. The sphere almost looked like a gem or some sort, only it was moving in midair.

"Impossible." Annabelle whispered.

A low growl caught Annabelle's attention. Her heart stopped in her chest. She turned slowly, looking back toward the hallways junction. Her eyes widened as she beheld a creature standing in her path. It crouched low to the ground, eyeing her hungrily. Annabelle gasped in fear, taking a step backwards. Another growl came from behind her. She turned quickly, finding another creature behind her. She was trapped.


and the first death...for the record: i never check grammer errors, so you are bound to find dozens in here. you've been warned. AND this is my first Becker/Jess fic.