"Do you fear me?"It was as if every confident thought that resided in his mind faded. Like the hope of his long-dead friend.It was all pooling at his feet. His blood. It wasn't slowing down, it just kept soaking his shirt.And as he stared into the eyes of this creature he realized true fear, for in those eyes he saw his friend.The one that had died so long ago. He blamed himself. The creatures claws remained stabbed into his shoulder, slicked with blood.He withheld his pleas to be freed. His friend had died for this very day. He had sacrificed himself.But despite knowing he could avenge his friend by killing this creature, he couldn't.So much was at stake, but he was willing to throw it all away.He slapped himself. "Pathetic." He said, looking down at his feet. "I'm pathetic."The creatures claws hovered near his heart, as if waiting for the perfect moment to end the pathetic mortal.Sixteen Years Earlier

The long, claw-like branches tore at her skin and ripped up her clothing as she ran.

She was barefoot, having used her shoes as weapons. But now, all she could do was run, and hope that she could make it.

The bundle of blankets in her arms bore the last one. The very last Guardian.

Her son.

She sprinted into a space of distorted air, and the world around her changed.

The tree limbs had bodies impaled on them, and the sky was dark, despite it being mid-day.

A black shingles roof was visible through the leafless trees, so she picked up the pace.

She was almost there. Just a little longer. But she hadn't seen the trap until it was too late. It was just like these maniacs to put a bear trap on the path.

How could she be so stupid? All she could do was struggle to withhold her cries of pain. She had failed to save the bloodline, and her son.

It would end with them, dying here of starvation, the wolves prowling the forest, or the men chasing her.

They wanted her son. They wanted to use his DNA. They wanted to break him down into nothing.

But she couldn't do anything now. In a final, fleeting attempt, she called out. "Jack!" But it wouldn't do much good.

Even though she was laying on the edge of the yard, they wouldn't see her until it was too late.

She smiled down at her baby, and wiped away the tears in her eyes. This would be the last she would see of him.

She'd never see him grow up. She'd never be able to tell him she loved him ever again.

It was like Jack all over again. As soon as she became pregnant with her son, she had to leave. A Guardian had to be born in the human realm.

Or it would be tainted.