For the first time in years, I had no crowd anxiety. I can't recall a single moment where I didn't feel happy. Kaz and I spent the whole dance together. I caught people staring at us, but it didn't trigger my nervousness at all. We both smiled at each other as we attempted to dance, then laughing when we just ended up looking like clumsy idiots. Everyone noticed the baseball player and the angel having a great time. Some students even complimented me on my costume as we walked by. I hated seeing the clock on the wall, counting down to the end of this amazing night. When it was over, Kaz once again took my hand in his as we made our way back towards our homes. Unfortunately all the punch we drank hit us not long after we left the school.

"Think we can stop at that convenience store over there, I kinda need to pee."

"Yeah, same here." We walked in and made a run for the bathrooms. I stood there for a few moments, reliving what had just been the best night of my life. I walked out into the main store and didn't see Kazuto yet so I started to wander around the store while I waited. As I walked into the next aisle I saw a man and lady at the other end near the checkout line. I stopped halfway down the aisle, not wanting to crowd them as they looked at the display in front of them.

Suddenly, the man grabbed the lady and slammed her against the display, then wrapped his arms around her neck in a choke hold.

"CHILL OUT BITCH! WHY DO YOU MAKE ME DO THIS EVERY TIME?!" he yelled as she thrashed her legs trying to get away. Panicked, I looked around the store at the other customers, hoping someone would step in to help the girl. They continued to struggle as he began violently swinging her petite body back and forth while still grasping her neck in his forearms. I could hear her gasping for air as she pulled at his arms weakly with her hands. Not a single person in the store stepped towards them. Everyone was watching, I even saw one guy take out his phone to start a video. But no one could be bothered to save the girl.

At that moment I thought to myself, should I? I don't even like crowds, or people, I always kept to myself but dammit, she's in trouble! I thought of Kazuto and considered what he'd do. He'd help her, no questions asked. So my thoughts turned to action.

I walked over to them and pulled on the arm closest to the girls neck. His surprise made him loosen his grip and I managed to free the girl from his grasp.

"That's not a nice way to treat a lady, okay?" I said calmly as the guy turned his attention to me. Maybe this wasn't the best way to handle the situation after all. Where's Kaz and his lucky bat when I needed them? Even though he was scrawny, the guy was easily a foot taller than I was, and he was pissed.

"The fuck is this shit? Some fat angel bitch thinks she can tell me what I can do with my chick?" He pushed me against the shelf and grabbed the front of my costume, pulling me close to his face. I could smell alcohol on his breath, and the way his dull gray eyes looked gave away that beer wasn't the only thing he was under the influence of.

"Look, I was just trying to help her, you don't have to..." I felt something smash against the side of my head. My legs gave out from under me as I hit the floor hard. The girl pulled me up to my knees and was holding my hands behind my back. The wings I had been wearing were smashed up and uneven.

The lady behind me started to speak, her breath reeked of alcohol as well. "You think you're just gonna lay hands on my man and not think I won't do something? Bitch, who said I needed saving? I know my man loves me, ain't that right baby?"

"You know it is sweet thing. Just cause I get rough sometimes just means I care, you know that. But this bitch don't know that, wonder what we should do to help here learn that?"

"Let her find out how rough we can be, baby. Let's see if she can save herself!"

"Wait, look I just... Please... I JUST WANT TO GO HOME! KAZ!" I yelled as the two of them started to beat me. Wild punches and kicks connected with my body and face. I could feel the woman scratching at my face and neck while her boyfriend drove his fists and feet into my chest and legs. The girl ordered her boyfriend to hold me up and I was pulled back up to my knees again. Through swollen eyes I looked towards the front of the store for anyone that could help me, but no one was there. Where was Kazuto?

I heard what sounded like the grinding of metal against metal. Suddenly I felt something cold and sharp against my neck as the guy pulled me back and started speaking in my right ear.

"I don't think the beating's enough of a lesson, angel bitch. So my lovely lady here's gonna leave a more...permanent reminder." I felt the blade quickly run up the left side of my neck, over my jaw and across my cheek. The cold metal gave way to warm fluid running down my face and neck. His 'lovely lady' slashed at the left side of my face again, this time with less control. The guy let my arms go and punched me on the side of my face that wasn't slashed open. I was down on the floor again, my consciousness started to fade. I saw the guy raise his leg up to stomp on me once again, so I closed my eyes and braced for the impact. Instead I heard a scream and the sound of wood meeting flesh.

There's my lucky bat.

"GET AWAY FROM HER YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I tried to raise my head up to see Kazuto. I began to feel dizzy so I laid back down. I heard the bat hit the ground as Kaz came into view. He pulled off his baseball jersey and pressed it up against my face.

"Your...favorite jersey..." I managed to say as he kept pressure on my wound.

"I don't care about that you dummy, I care about you! You're going to be okay. I'm here now, I'm sorry I took so long. But I'm not gonna lose you, okay Seraphim? You're my angel, you got that? Stay with me, please!" My vision started to go as I felt a strong urge to sleep.

The last thing I remember before I passed out was the sound of Kazuto's lucky bat cracking against a human skull. Then I was gone.