Chapter 1

Elisia's POV

My eyes fly open. A small sliver of light seeping through the blue curtains; birds chirping happily outside. I sit down, the blankets rolling down to my lap, and stretch; my arms over my head as I yawn and look at my clock. 5:00…excellent. I fling the covers over and I jump out. I walk out my room and head directly to my small bathroom. Slipping my clothes off like my life depends on it I hop inside the shower that is ready for me with hot water escaping the shower head. I stand under it, letting the droplets of water gently cascade over my body. The water washing away the sleep in my eyes. When I finish my shower I wrap a towel around my body stepping out the shower; my damped feet hitting the cold floor. I make a wet bun and brush my teeth. I smile at my reflection, my bright blue eyes staring at me. I wink, giggle and walk out. Same routine as always.

Making sure my body was dried I drop the towel and put some nice lace panties and bra. I start flipping through my very different clothing. What to wear, what to wear… I chant. I lean over my bed to get my phone. I put the weather. "Nice weather today, awesome!" I turn around and my eyes sweep faster through the summer clothing. I go for my blue ripped shorts and a 'Normal is Boring' black tank top. I slip on light blue socks and black converse.

I blow dry my platinum blond hair. The good thing about my hair it's straight not like Maya's (My best girl friend). I take my cute fake furry animal book bag with fangs and fling over my shoulder. I kiss my fingertips then jump to place them on Fall out Boy poster that's high up. "Goodbye boys, time for another day in hell. Woops, I mean school," I giggle as I close my bedroom door behind me.

"Talking to the posters again Elisia Battle?" I jump making my mom laugh. She's sitting on our small kitchen table with her breakfast in front of her. Or should I say left over's. She has her booty shorts and tank top, her platinum blond hair in a messy bun. Her tired, yet happy blue eyes look at me with kindness. My mom and I have this, not so normal relationship. She is gone for long periods of time, traveling the world, then returns for a few days then leaves again. She does love me and I love her but after my father left us, or honestly I don't know what happen to him, mom… well mom has a weird yet exciting way of coping. She is beautiful and it's no mystery how guys just pop out of nowhere in her life. She checks in with me while she's out traveling; Gary the caretaker of our apartments is here for me, like an awesome uncle. Bonus to have my best friends living here too!

"Mom, so not funny. And what's with using my full name, Dana Battle?" I giggle and walk up to her for a hug. I take a cookie off her plate and she chuckles squinting her eyes. We love food. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd still be in India with BaJuan," one of her many boyfriends but I don't say that. I finish the cookie, more like inhale it.

"I missed my baby girl. And, oh, look at this." She jumps out of her chair and runs to her suitcase. "Look what I brought you," she takes out this elegant pink material. It's very beautiful with gold patterns. "It's called a Sari, is what girls wear over there," she explains as she takes it out. It's some sort of a wrap; layers of elegant material, soft and very refine.

"Wow, mom, thanks. It's beautiful." She beams. When am I ever going to wear this? But I feel good she thinks of me. I smile and lay it carefully in the couch. I look at the clock on the wall as it tic's away. "Mom, I have to go or I will be late,"

Her expression falls. "Oh. I thought you will skip school today and hang out with your sexy Momma," she wiggles her eyebrows.

I laugh, "Tempting, but I have an important test today,"

"I have to go back today at 3pm," she blurts out.

My heart sinks. "To India?" She just got here.

She nods slowly. "Yeah, BaJuan needs me back because tomorrow he has and important dinner. He wants me there," I do know he's like a super-rich guy. And mom has talked about how wonderful he is and all that jazz. She really is happy…

I mask my disappointment. "It's ok," I hug her again but a little longer this time. "Have a safe flight."

She offers a small smile. "I will honey."

"Well I have to go. Gotta wake up lazy Maya,"

She walks to her suit case and bends down. "Don't forget this," She takes out another elegant material. It's light green. "It's a sari for Maya. And this for Cain." I take the small box opening it. It's a very nice gold guy ring.

She never forgets about them. I smile. "Thanks mom, I'm sure they'll love it." Cain Knight is a very mysterious guy you can say. He doesn't talk much to people except me and Maya. We do know each other for thirteen years now. I met him around the same time I met Maya. And how we met him I will never forget…

"Come, through here," I pull her by the elbow.

"The alley?" Maya asks unsure. The alley looks dark and murky. Steam coming out of some apartments. Dumpsters all over the place. Puddles of dirty contaminated water on the ground.

"It's the fastest way to the apartments. Like a short cut," I explain, since she's new to them. Well newer them me.

She shrugs and continues eating her taco. To ease her I talked to her about my mom. About the way my mom is a travel junky. And has been practically everywhere.

"Hey want some candy?" A voice in the shadow asked. I stop talking and looks as the man starts walking our way. My stomach begins hurting in an unsettling feeling. As he got closer the sun hit him; showing us who we're dealing with. He has a creepy scar on his face and dirty clothes; dirt hidden beneath his long yellow nails as he offers lollipops.

"No," I say as I pull Maya to her side. My heart begins racing, pounding against my chest.

"Get the candy," the very ugly and obviously creepy man got closer. He had a sinister smile as he kept walking towards us. We were trapped between him and some dumpsters.

"We said we don't want it," My voice got stronger. Not knowing where the strength was coming from, I was scared out of my life.

I kept looking around to see a way out but the man kept cornering us. "I said get the candy!" the man was so close you can smell his stench. Cigarette breath, alcohol drenched coat.

"Get away from them," We all turn towards the very menacing voice. I frown as I see a boy, just a little older than us. He had piercing dark eyes, almost completely black. He had pale skin that clashed with his black hair.

"Or what? What are you going to do to me boy?!" The creepy man stalked the boy. But what surprised me was that the boy didn't seem faced. He stood his ground as the very much bigger creepy man started walking his way.

"Elisia we can't let him hurt the guy who is helping us," Maya whispers.

"You're right. When they start punching we'll use the time that they're distracted. We run to my apartment and call 911,"

We couldn't do anything then to look on. As the creepy perverted man got closer to the boy. When all of a sudden the man clutched his own arm and started grunting in pain. I frown. What is going on? The man kept falling to the floor like if someone was choking him.

"Run," The mysteries boy said and we weren't told twice. Maya took my hand and we ran out quickly.

Later on we found out he lived in the apartment building with us. I still don't understand what happen that night but I was happy we all got out safely. It took longer for him to start talking to us but we wanted to thank him for saving us. And we've been inseparable since.

"Ok, now go. Before you're late. Love you sweetie." She kisses my forehead. And hugs me one last time.

"Love you mom!" I yell before walking out and closing the door behind me.

Once in front of the door of Maya's apartment that is no lie two steps away from me I get on my tip toes and reach for the spear key on top of the door frame. I unlock it. As I walk to her room; I look at the clock in her living room. Six ten, a little behind schedule. I open her bedroom door and shocker, she's asleep.

"Wake up!" I scream at the top my lungs. And on cue she throws me a pillow.

"Go away," She mumbles.

I giggle. I look at her Maroon 5 poster. "Can you believe that Adam? A girl comes in good faith to wake her up and she's kicking me out," I talk to the lead singer tapping my foot.

I see Maya look at me with one eye. "Adam only listens to me. Now ten more minutes."

"Fine, but you have until I come from Cain's. If I come back and you're still on that bed I will splash you with cold water. You know I will," she shoos me away and I laugh walking out.

I run to Cain's apartment at the end of the hallway. He takes longer to wake up so I need more time. I fish out his key from my key chain. He gave me an extra because he doesn't trust it on the door frame like Maya does. I unlock it and run to his bedroom. His apartment is very clean; more than mine that's for sure. His stepfather Mitch is OCD so we all know why it's spotless around here. I open his door slowly and very quietly. Like a ninja I run and jump on top of him taking no prisoners.

"Shit," he cusses when something catches him by surprise. His dark brown eyes, which sometimes are black no lie, look at me with a slight frown; his jet black hair ruffled around. "Fuck El, you scared the shit of me,"

"Oh come on Cain, you have to admit it was fun," He grunts in response. When I don't get off he begins tickling me. "Ok, ok. I'm leaving but you better get up. Mr. Senior I only have half days." I roll my eyes.

He chuckles with a sly grin. I get off and smirking I pull back his black curtains. The sun immediately invading his dark red room. "Is it really necessary?" he throws a pillow over his face.

"Yes, that way I know you don't go back to sleep," laugh walking out. This is actually fun waking them up.

I walk back to Maya's. She is sitting on her kitchen table eating cereal. I laugh. "I don't get to throw you cold water?"

"Not today," she glares at me.

"Clam down squeeze," I chuckle at the nickname that we gave her when we saw a picture of when she was younger and she was so cubby as a baby. You just want to squeeze her cheeks "Cute outfit," She wears a light blue mini skirt ending at mid-thigh with brown belt at the waist and a beige top with very short sleeves.

"It's 75 degrees outside,"

"Yeah I know, awesome. It is May it better get hot soon," I cross my legs once I sit down.

"Love your shirt, totally fits you," She points with her spoon.

"I know. Look," I say standing and walking towards her couch. I take the sari.

"What is it?" She asks as she washes her hands fast and starts feeling the material.

"It's called a Sari. Mom brought it from India for you. I think it look nice with your green eyes,"

"Your mom's here?"

"Yeah, but she's leaving again in the afternoon," again I try to mask my disappointment.

But Maya knowing me for years can read me like an open book. "Sorry Ely," she looks at me apologetically.

I shrug it off. "Its fine, it was actually awkward. Not use to her being around," True, in a way.

"Yeah," I know she feels the same because her mom is hardly here as well. Helen Connor, Maya's single mom, works in the Trauma Emergency room leaving Maya here alone with me. We only have each other and Cain to count on. We love it really.

"I'll put it next to my little collection of things she brings back for me," she laughs and walks away with the Sari in her hands.

After she grabs her soft pink book bag with a bow and we walk out. We race each other down the stairs. Laughing we make to the lobby. We stop to look at Cain with a black shirt, black jeans, and black shoes with messy sexy black hair; leaning against the glass door with muscular arms crossed over his chest. He's lean yet muscular; no more that skinny boy that saved us in the alley.

"Why is it that I wake up last but get here first?" He smirks with his raspy voice.

"Because you're a guy," I say waving him off. We laugh. "Here," I give him the box. He raises an eyebrow. "My mom brought it for you form India,"

He opens it and smiles. Something he rarely does. "Tell her thanks,"

"When I see her next," he keeps looking at me. "She's leaving in the afternoon again," his eyes soften. "No, don't worry about it. I'll live. Now let's go," I saunter out of the building.

The three of us walk to school something we've done since the first time we met. "After school I'm going to yours Maya," Cain says.

"I thought Mitch had a day off today?" Her brows crease.

"He does but I really want your famous grilled sandwiches. Been craving them," He gives her a small smile.

"Oh, Yum! Now I can't wait for school to be over," I say overly excited.

"With some nicely fresh cookies out the oven?" she asks pointing out my weakness.

"Let's go back. Forget school," They laugh but I's not funny I'm really hungry now.

I feel depressed at the site of the school. It makes me feel slow instead of making me feel like I'm learning something but the three of us try. Not awesome. "I don't want to go," Maya mumbles.

"Same here," I grunt. Cain says nothing. He's the mysterious guy of the school. Every guy is scared of him and every girl secretly wants him. "Cain, it's healthy to smile once in a while," I give him a sly smile.

I see his lips twitch but he doesn't smile. "I have an image to uphold." He says and walks ahead with just the one notebook in his hand. How he made to senior year is beyond me.

We giggle. "If only they knew he's a gigantic teddy bear inside," Maya whispers.

"I know," I bet you all the girls would literally throw themselves at him. They already chew him in with their eyes.

Shoot me now! I'm currently sitting in my English class watching Beowulf. Who the freak is he? I would know if I could read the damn story. But the teacher, Ms. Beck, is always too busy applying lip gloss on her nasty lips then to teach me how to not be Dyslexic. If that's possible. Well whatever, she does nothing to teach anyone. I leave my class angry, like always. I open my locker, put in my notebook and the pointless book and slam it.

"Another rough day?" Maya asks amused. She can sometimes get it around the whole dyslexia thing, not fair. I like having friends that are dyslexic, that way I know they understand me.

"Yes," I grumble. "Let's just go to lunch. Food always cheers me up," Maya hooks her arm with mine and we walk to the cafeteria.

We inhale all of our food and part of Cain's. He left it there and it seems such a waste just to leave it there. We laugh and joke as we walk into the locker room. Gym class is next and it all seems fine but today I was not looking forward to it.

"Cain is damn lucky he doesn't have to deal with this crap," I sigh frustrated as Maya giggles while she ties her shoe lace. "Half days," I huff. "Loser,"

"We're going to be seniors next year." Maya points out.

"Next year, exactly. I have to wait 'till then," I lean against the locker as I wait for her.

"It's May already, we're almost there," She stands and puts her light brown wavy hair in a bun.

"Blah, blah. That's all I heard," she pushes my shoulder jokingly. I giggle.

"I still don't know why you complain about it. It's just a test."

"A test. You said it. I hate all the test. Especially the ones that say I'm not fit enough or that I can't' run as fast. Screw them," I throw my hands around.

Maya laughs and swings an arm over my shoulders as we walk out the locker room. "Chill, my friend. It will be over before you know it." Sure…

"Remind me to m-murder you when I find my s-strength," I say gasping for air as we finish the running test. The final one. We dropped instantly.

"We should've ditched it," Her chest moving up and down rapidly.

I keep my weight on my elbows as I look down at Maya, "Now you tell me?" The bell rings. "Saved by the bell," I playfully glare at her and she laughs.

After many failed attempts on getting up we finally did. We take a fast shower, only the body and change super-fast wanting to get out. We practically run out the building.

"I don't want to go back. You know what?" I stop and turn to look at her, in the middle of the sidewalk. "I quit school," I declare.

Maya rolls her eyes. "You say that all the time."

"But this time…" I point my finger. "This time I'm for-real."

"What are you going to do then? If you quick school?" she smirks.

"Move with my mom," I shrug. I've been thinking about it and it'd be great to travel. See new places.

"What?" I look back at Maya. She actually looks taken aback and she wants to cry. "You want to leave?"

"I was only thinking about it. But you know I would never leave my bestie behind. I'd take you in my book bag if I have too," I nudge her.

She laughs. "I know you would,"

"Well anyways. Let's talk about delicious things. Those sandwiches, are you making them? I don't want to get my fat hopes up," I eye her.

"Well my best friend's want some… what the heck," She shrugs.

"Yes," I fist pump the air.

We laugh as we turn to the alley have always taken. It's a short cut; nobody wants to walk the actual distance. Plus, we've gotten over what happened that day. I tell her more about the classes that I detest as she laughs and tells me that she's actually doing good and blah, blah, blah.

"Well I am 99.99% sure that I'm failing more than half my classes."

She arches her brow. "What classes are you not failing?"

I roll my eyes. "Gym," I replay glumly. She stops in mid-step and begins laughing. "Shut up,"
I giggle.

Our laughs die down when we begin hearing loud heavy footsteps at the end of the alley. "Cain?" Maya calls out. Cain always walked with us back and since him starting senior year he would wait for us here.

Heavy breathing, the footsteps becoming heavier splashing the puddles. "Cain it's not funny," I say frowning. If it's him he will die. From within the shadows I see the one silhouette stop. My eyes widen when it becomes two more. "Cain…" I whisper.

Someone 'tsks'. "Not Cain," The voice is insanely deep, raspy. My muscles freeze and my heart begins beating hard.

"Fresh Demigod meat," another one says in a heavy thick voice.

I step forward. "What are you talking about?" I begin quivering when I see the tree men appear in front of me. They look like they've been lifting weights since they were born. Heads completely bald, their clothing is jeans and a construction orange vest.

"I want her," The one on the right that has a crazy look on his ugly face starts walking to me when the one in the middle stops him.

They don't say anything else as the stalk us, corning us for the perfect kill. Maya takes my hand in hers as we stared wide eyed at the extremely tall men. As they walk they start smelling like rotting flesh. They grunt in pain when I heard bones crack. The one at the middle all of a sudden was more at my height but my eyes almost bulge out my sockets and I see he has a body of a lion with a serpent tail.

"What the heck," I say dumfounded. Maya only squeezes my hand harder.

The two on the sides start appearing arms and hands from their sides. Long arms that will bend to give it the spider like shape; their skin turning black and red. No lower-body just arms and torso. The torso is bigger than one form a human. The fingers are webbed fingers with double jointed thumbs. The one on the left start running around and up the building. It stood still at the side of the wall and looked at us.

My heart begins bumping against my rib cage. What the heck is happening? Then our backs hit the brick wall. I look to my side franticly to find a way to escape but we are trapped by them and dumpsters. I look back at them as they all carry an evil smile. The Spider-creepyman on the ground stalks us, hovering over us. I turn my face away in disgust closing my eyes.

His hot, nasty breath hits my skin in me neck. "It's not good to play with your food," a voice like many roars says.

"But playing with it is half the fun," The breath smells like candy which struck me as odd. I feel one of his very long wed-finger hand getting closer to me.

"Only half the fun?" A voice ringed in my ear. It sounded familiar as it bounced off all the alley walls.

The monsters head quickly snap towards the entrance of the alley. I glance to see Gary the apartment care taker. His short frame with gray-ish hair is probably a joke to the monsters. "Gary! Run! Call 911!" Maya screams making my ear drums shake.

"Not possible," The leader says and they take a step back. In his red marbled eyes I saw fear pass through them but quickly compose himself. I frown.

"The fun is to kill you," Gary says in an even tone voice like what he's seeing is natural.

"Gary, what are you doing? Run! They could kill you!" I scream.

But Gary doesn't even look at me as he stomps his foot and the ground vibrates. The monsters look uneasy watching Gary. He begins getting taller, his clothes shredding from how muscular he gets. Horns start appearing at the front of his forehead. As his clothes, in total shreds, pools under him I see he doesn't have human legs but… donkey? Omg, his a… donkey?! With his wooden walker he hits it on the ground and suddenly becomes a wooden club; bright blue lines create symbols around it. The wooden club pulses as Gary inhales and exhales.

What...I turn to look at Maya who is hyperventilating. My body feels numb, I don't know what to do. Then I hear the sky crack in thunder. The dark clouds covering the already gloomy sky. Trillions of droplets fall at once. The rain is so heavy you can't see in front of you. With my other hand I hold on to Maya. "Maya?" Her eyes completely shut as she shakes her head not wanting to open them.

I hear a roar of pain from within the rain but I can't see anything. I gasp as does Maya when an ugly, finger-webbed-hand grabs her forearm. "AHHH!" She screams.

I hold on to her to dear life. "Hold on!" I scream over the roars and the booming thunder. The water hitting me in rapid speed. I as hold on with my hands gripping her arm a light bolt lights the sky violently.

Something happens that the monster let's go and we fall back. I hit the ground hard scrapping myself and hurting my ankle. I swipe away the wet hair from my face only to come face to face with the hideous creature. The rain stops in a blink of an eye. "Maya," I shake her body but she doesn't move.

"Easy prey," The spider like demon laughs.

I begin crying when he ambles to me. I close my eyes holding Maya's hand ready for the worst. When I hear something odd. My eyes fly open to see the monster still when suddenly it becomes ashes; evaporating like nothing. I stand not believing what I saw. "Duck!" I hear and I do in a split second like if I was trained and I see a golden arrow fly over my head hitting the second spider looking thing.

The arrow hits the shoulder then five more arrows hit him like rapid bullets making him evaporate into ashes. I look back at Maya. "Wake up. Maya wake up!"

Someone's body stands in front of me. "First patient has scraps in her right and left leg. Her ankle is a little swollen but not broken," She has dark brown hair with honey color irises.

She moves on to Maya looking at her intensely without touching her. Her eyes roaming her body. "Second patient has cracked skull. She needs pressure on it. She is unconscious."

My eyes wide as I look around everybody around me. A tall muscular guy walks to us, he wipes away his dirty blond hair form his face; he adjusts his long and impressive bow over his shoulder and back; he squats down to pick Maya up, cradling her in his arms.

"Wait," I touch his arm, standing and limping. "Where are you taking her?" I ask with concern laced in my voice.

His brown eyes dart to me, "Camp," he replays.

Well that got me nowhere. "But-"

"You need to keep pressure off the ankle." The chick from before says. "James, get her."

"Wait a second-" Before I can protest this James guy who has the same frame as the guy holding Maya cradles me. His wet dark brown hair sticking to his temples. He looks at me with his brown eyes and a smirk. "Put me down!" When no-one says nothing I huff. About three more young adults circle around slinging their bows at their back. "Gary!" I call him, seeing him just stand there, looking at them take me and Maya. It's weird seeing him 10ft tall and beyond muscular; with freaking huge horns in his forehead but it's Gary. "What's happening?!"

He crosses his arms. His expression blank. "Everything will be explained in time," His voice even sounds different. My eyes fall, what happened to him? Why isn't he helping us? Before I could replay that I close my eyes to a bright blinding light and I hold on tight to James.

A/N: Please tell me what you think! More to come! I wonder what happened to Cain? :)