A swift kick forced Seraphine's eyes open. She regarded her surrounds whilst peeling her face off of the asphalt. There was no sign of anything living, but one glimpse at the demolished car decaying behind her brought a tsunami of pain.

The crash. The explosion of glass. Skidding across the pavement. It was all too familiar to Seraphine. She gingerly fingered the scathing gash on her cheek.

"Anybody got a Band-Aid?" The young girl asked sarcastically through clenched teeth.

"Sorry hun, I just ran out." a raspy voice replied in a playful tone. Seraphine jumped, for she had not expected an answer. The young woman craned her neck in search for a body that matched the voice. Nothing but pavement and wild vegetation.

"Come out!" Seraphine ordered while she took to kneeling in a wobbly sort of motion. The pressure on the young girl's knees painted a grimace on her face, but she bit her cheek and struggled through it.

"Don't do that. You'll kill yourself." A rustling emerged from the bushes. Seraphine heard footsteps approaching.

"No I wo-" She stopped short. The creature that stood growling in front of her was nothing man had ever seen. With bulbous, sandy ears, and beady black eyes, the beast before her resembled a... rat. It appeared 6 feet tall and bore mocha brown fur with the slightest tinge of gray. Spindly fingers crawled out from the monster's palms. Seraphine stood sluggishly and faced the giant head on. Its menacing teeth threatened her silently. She took a step back and gaped.

"What? Is there something on my face?" The beast inquired. From what Seraphine could see, there was an overabundant amount of blood dripping down its chin, but she held her tongue.

"Ah, the silent type. That's helpful..." The oversized rat trailed off.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Seraphine challenged with all of the courage she could muster.

"I am Ripred the mighty rat, and it is crucial that I speak with your father."

Gregor! The girl's heart raced and her eyes widened in terror. Where are you dad? She took one last quizzical glance at Ripred and tore towards the obliterated vehicle. Her blood coursed through her veins at lightning speeds. Seraphine's vision blurred as she ripped the automobile apart. It did not occur to the young woman what a feat of strength this was.

After minutes of digging through piles of debris, she discovered her father's corpse. She seized it from the rubble and placed him tenderly on the asphalt.

"Why... why you?" The girl whispered through sobs. She lay there for an eternity next to her father. His wispy gray hair was lathered in blood. His face was solemn and a hefty maroon stain extended from the fragment of glass that had embedded itself in his chest. Seraphine gathered wild flowers and created a bouquet for her father.

"Goodbye." She stood hastily, forgetting about her pain, and moved towards the rat that had been watching nearby. Were those tears she saw in his eyes? No. He was a man-sized rodent. IT did not have the capacity for emotions.

"Sorry to disappoint, but he won't be meeting with you any time soon." Seraphine sniffled. She took a step closer, making sure that Ripred saw the hatred boiling within her soul. This was all his fault.

"I understand you hate me, but I am just as sad as you about this." Ripred pleaded. He momentarily wiped beneath his eye. "Wanting to kill me will not help you."

"I-I should call the police or something."

"No, you shouldn't. That would be extremely stupid."

"What else am I supposed to do?" Seraphine argued whilst taking a step back.

"You should... come with me! Luxa would know what to do..." Ripred trailed off once more.

"I'm not going with you! You killed my dad! And who is Luxa?"

Ripred snapped.

"I did NOT kill your father." The rodent replied in a dangerously quiet tone. "You will come with m-."

Seraphine didn't wait for him to finish. She raced off in the opposite direction of her father. Doing her best to ignore to the fire in her legs, she sprinted down the pavement. The morning sun beat down on her neck and sweat enveloped her skin. Ever so often she took a swift glimpse backward, searching for any sign of Ripred. Nothing.

Seraphine ceased dashing and began walking after about four minutes. The young girl took this time to think about what would happen.

"First I should probably find a payphone and call the police." Seraphine planned aloud. " When I get back to Virginia, I could probably stay at my old house until the police find some sort of relative I could stay with." As the young girl discussed her future with herself, she did not notice the creature looming before her.

"Hopefully they will be willing to let me live with the-" Suddenly she hit a wall of brown and gray fur. Seraphine stiffened.

A familiar raspy voice growled,"For the record, I'm a lot faster than you."