The sunlight streaming through my blinds is what woke me up. I opened my eyes and immediately knew that I had woken up too early. I could hear mom and Luke moving around the house. I looked at my clock, it read 8:21 am. Yep. Way to early. I kicked off most of my blankets and reached for my phone. Mom must have heard me because she came in to get me up.

"Get up Clary" she said as she yanked my curtains all the way open, with way too much enthusiasm I might add. "We have a few hours to pack up our stuff. Luke has to go in to the station to clear up and assign some cases, then we're on the road." She walked out the room then tossed a cardboard box into my room. "Put all of your art stuff you're bringing in here. Put all your clothes in your suitcase." She stopped and sighed. "What am I saying? You know the drill. I'll Check on you in an hour or two".

For a moment, I debated just staying in my bed, refusing to get up; mom would surely kill me if I did that. I got up and dressed, then started gathering my stuff to put in my suitcase. I may have packed a little too much, because when I went to close the bag I almost hit myself in the face when my hand slipped from the zipper. After a few minutes of struggling, huffing and puffing and red in the face, while sitting on the bag, the zipper finally cooperated and closed. I was still a little out of breath when I got a text from Simon.

HEY CLARY. MEET AT JAVA JONES?

I know we have to leave soon, but what harm could come from getting a coffee? I messaged Simon back.

MAYBE. HOPEFULLY BE THERE SOON?!

I grabbed my bags and headed for the door.

"Hey mom, I know we're leaving soon, but could I go with Simon to Java Jones to get a coffee?" I know as an artist and a New Yorker, there was no way my mom could deny me coffee privileges because she would be an absolute mess without hers. "I have all my stuff packed and ready by the door, and I have my phone on me".

She hesitated, then conceded.

"Yay thanks mom! I love you!" I said as I hugged her goodbye. While walking, I texted Simon.

ON MY WAY!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Simon had gotten there before me and had already ordered our drinks. We sat down at a booth and quietly sipped them.

"So how did your mom take it last night?" Simon asked, his eyebrows raising with the question.

"Actually it wasn't as bad as you might think. Well, she did flip out a little, but she was just worried you know?" I took a particularly large gulp of the delicious drink, enjoying it's warmth travel through my body.

"That's good. My mom was a little mad that I didn't text her, but she was cool with it. 'Let kids be kids' and all".

I nodded. Just as we were finishing our drinks, I got a call from mom. I stood up to leave as I answered. "Hey mom, I was just about to come back home. I'll be there in two minutes".

"NO! Clary you can't come home! Do not come home. Stay with Simon, call Luke and tell him Valentines found me ok? I love you".

I must have looked stricken because Simon was by my side in an instant. "Mom? Mom! What's going on?" She didn't answer. I hung up and tried to call her, with no answer. I grabbed my things, dialed Luke and ran out the door.

Simon quickly ran after me. "Clary wait up! What's going on?"

I didn't have time to answer as Luke answered the call. "Hey Clary. I'll be home soon. What's up?"

"Luke!" I yelled into the phone. "Something's wrong! I went to get coffee and mom called. I could hear things being smashed. She said to call you".

"Did she say anything else?" Luke asked, sounding urgent.

"She mentioned a name, Valentine I think? She said to call you and tell you Valentine found her".

I heard Luke curse before yelling things I couldn't quite make out. "Clary where are you? I'll come pick you up."

I slowed as I got to our apartments front entrance. "I'm at home".

"Clary get out of there! I'll be there in 3 minutes".

"I can't Luke," I said as I moved towards the stairs. "I have to help mom". I hung up and reached the top of the stairs, slowly edging toward the door.

"Clary stop!" whisper-shouted Simon. I forgot that he had followed me home. "We don't know who's in there".

I ignored him and pushed the door open, taking in the room. Things were knocked off the tables and walls, glass littered the floor; our stuff was thrown everywhere. I moved slowly, as if I was trying to move through quicksand. "Mom?" I called out. No answer. Simon and I had searched the house, no sign of mom when we heard the front door open. "Luke?" I said as I moved to the door. I stopped moving when I got to the front hall. It wasn't Luke.

"Well well well, who do we have here?" the man said. He was tall and strong looking, with dark black markings all over his body.

I threw the closest thing to me, which happened to be a book. It hit its mark, but didn't faze him at all. "Stay away!" I yelled at him.

"Oh, you're a feisty one aren't you?" he said walking closer. I threw the keys on the table at him, cutting his face, only to make him mad. "Well if you want to play like that". He whistled, a vicious smile breaking out on his face. A second later this dark creature appeared behind him, moving towards us. I screamed and ran. Simon was ahead of me waiting to close the bedroom door on this nightmare when it caught hold of my hair and yanked me backwards. I let out a loud yelp.

"Clary!" Simon yelled moving forward to help me as the thing threw me backwards to the floor and rushed him. It grabbed onto him as he struggled to escape its grasp. As I was getting up to try to help, the man grabbed me and held on tight, squeezing harder the more I struggled. I watched in silent horror as another person appeared out of nowhere, a glowing circle floating in the air behind him.

"Let's go" he ordered. He went back through the circle, followed by the thing taking Simon. We were about to go through when Luke burst through the front door.

"Luke!" I screamed as I was pulled away.

"Clary!" yelled Luke as he rushed towards me, but he wasn't fast enough. I was pulled through, the circle closing around us.