It's only a mere 3,076 words but the next chapter will be longer. Backgrounds on our dear angels will come soon, as someone has asked on DA. But for now...let's both hope that Zexion, Squall, and Sora have their guardians come to save them. Cross your fingers!~

Thanks go to my wonderful editors: April and SarcasticProcrastinator-AMLF
As well as to the readers: SacraasticProcrastinator-AMLF, shebajay, Dragi

Calling All Angels

Chapter 3

~Zexion Shiki~

Yesterday was a big hit. So many customers came, that we were swamped with sales. Not that it's a bad thing. All those customers had seemed to come out of no where, especially when no one had been in there for so long, and all at once. This turn of luck shows me that someone is indeed watching out for me.

The buzzing of my alarm goes off and I reach over, flicking the switch. Rubbing at my eyes, I sit up in bed, surprised at how well I slept. The groggy feeling tells me that I did, for once, sleep all night long. Knowing that I made it through the night without Marluxia whispering in my ear, and the noises that drive me crazy, I let a smile slip onto my lips. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and headed to my closet. Pulling out similar clothing as yesterday, I replace the white shirt with a light, baby blue one. Taking a seat on the edge of the mattress, I work on tying the long laces of my boots, when Marluxia appears next to me. "What do you want Demon? Can't you see I'm busy?"

My fingers slip from the strings as my head is jerked back, meeting the mattress as he looms above me. "I'm getting impatient Zexion. I want your soul and I'll have it one way or another."

All the fight washes out of me at the fact that he touched me, actually hurt me. His grip loosens and I push myself off the bed. With only my left boot tied, the strings of the right slap around my feet as I run to the front door. I stuff my keys and wallet into my jacket pocket, before shrugging that onto my shoulders haphazardly. I dash out the door and just keep running, I don't even think about where. Letting my feet lead me, I dodge past people and skid around corners.

I can't let him catch up to me. I have to get to work now!

That's when I remember, there's a shortcut through the park, which leads to the store. I duck under peoples' limbs as the sun slips behind the foreboding clouds; they're dark again, signaling another snowfall. Those same people yell at me for running, but I ignore them as I make a quick dash across the road before the light turns green. Horns blare in my ears for being reckless, but I have to keep moving. Not watching where I'm going, my hip slams into the side of a bench. Gritting my teeth, I resist the urge to yelp. Instead, I take a deep breath and keep up a steady jog, trying not to inflame the ache in my bone and muscle.

Keeping my eyes out for Marluxia, I spot no human in the park. Pushing past dead, or dying, bushes and dodging swing sets, the frigid wind blows at me, chilling me to my core every second that I'm in it. Pushing forward, I feel my eyes go wide and my heart speed up, as if it could beat straight out of my chest. Fear and panic curses through me as I look up at the sneer on Marluxia's face. Swallowing hard, I decide on my plan.

All I have to do is make it past him and back out onto the street, then I'm only thirty seconds away from my sanctuary. I don't think he'll let me passed though, nor will I be able to talk my way around him. He's too smart for that.

Taking his hands out of his pockets, Marluxia cocks his head to the side. "Where are you going Zexion?"

"Nowhere."

"You got that right!" His laughs echo in my ears, a haunting melody.

Marluxia turns his gaze upward, staring at the dark sky, almost like he's hypnotized. Taking my cue, I attempt to dart past him, careful to keep a decent distance away. Unfortunately, my laces slip underneath me and I trip myself. Arms reach out and I assume that they're there to catch me, I'm proven only half wrong. I'm caught before I hit the ground, but once I'm upright, he throws me up against a tree. The back of my head slams against the bark, forcing me to moan in pain.

"I'm sorry, did that hurt?" His fingers dive out and grab a hold of my chin, forcing me to look at him. "You don't understand the position I'm in. I need your soul or I'm a dead man."

"You weren't alive to begin with."

The comment makes his eyes blaze with anger, and jealousy. "I would never want to be a human. You inferior dullards die...so easily."

A shallow breath is all I'm granted, before his fingers link all the way around my slim throat. Slowly, my air is cut off and I can't peel his hand away, no matter how hard I try. I feel my feet slowly lift off of the ground and I dig my nails into his hand, but nothing works to my avail.

Normally, I'd argue that death is a cruel term, that no one dies, that they merely cross over into the next world. Whether that world is Heaven or Hell or another go-around in this human one, I don't know. But I don't want to die here. I don't want to die this way. I know if I do...If I do die by his hand, there will be no saving me. I'll be in this demon's clutches and I'll never get away...I can't die...

As black begins to spot my vision, I catch a flash of red and pink. The ground meets my body, even though I'm not sure how or why. Hands reach into my hazy sight, but I don't get to see the person that saved me, for my sight finally fails and my ears no longer hear...almost like a peaceful sleep.

~Squall Leonhart~

I grip at the calm darkness, not wanting to wake up. But I'm shoved, hard, out of my empty dreams. "If you don't get up...Hojo will make sure you are." I curve the pillow around my head, a soft whimper escaping me. "I'll even go get him Squall, don't think that I won't."

Silence settles around me and the realization hits. I throw the pillow away and toss my sheets to the side. My eyes scan the room...but Sephiroth is no where to be seen. The sound of footfalls echo in the tiled hallway and I know what's coming next.

I don't want this before I go to work...I can't deal with it!

The second my feet hit the floor, I lunge for the door. Slamming it shut, I lock it, and slide down till I hit the ground. A fist slams into it, rattling the hinges and me along with it. Fear builds up in my gut as he pounds against the thick door. I feel the tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won't give him the benefit of making me cry. "Get your ass out here, Squall!"

"Go away!"

"How dare you talk to me that way, boy!"

Please leave me alone...please, God, let him leave me alone...

All commotion ceases almost immediately. Dad walks away and from the sound of it, he goes back to his room, or so I assume. Sighing heavily, I push myself to my feet and prepare for work. Thankfully enough, I took my shower the night before and don't have to skitter down the hall past Dad's room. Nonetheless, I pull out simple jeans and a white t-shirt, not caring as long as it's clean. All I want to do is get out of here. Stepping into my boots, I quickly lace them up, and unlock the door.

Opening it slowly, as to avoid it creaking and making any other unwanted noises, I peer around the door frame. The adjacent door to Dad's room is shut tight, with no signs of it opening. Taking my opportunity, I slip out and close the door as quietly as I can. Barely making a sound, I get to the kitchen and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

Snapping myself around, I spot a grinning Sephiroth, but more importantly, is the man in front creeping towards me. Before I can even process any thought, a thick book slams into my chest, knocking the wind out of me. Backing up, I run into the chairs of the table, but hurriedly shove them in front of me, only to be knocked to the floor. Dad's fingers grab at the plate he must have been eating off of, and launches it straight at my head.

Dodging just in time, I duck down to the floor, throwing my hands over my face and head, the plate shatters, sending a spray of shards over and around me. The toe of his boot slams into my shoulder, shoving the rest of me onto the ground. Kicks thrust against my knees, arms, stomach, and head...but I take it without uttering a word. More ceramic plates and glass bowls crash to the floor, while he tries to get at me better. As the onslaught begins to slow, I peek between my fingers and the blood oozing down my face, from a cut, in a location I'm not sure of. Dad stands in front of the drawers, as he yanks them all out, looking for a specific set of utensils.

Uncurling myself away from the cabinet, careful not to hit any shards of the various plates, I try to sneak away. The crunch as I move alerts him and I look up at Sephiroth, expecting him to be satisfied and done for the day. However, he's leaning against the wall, looking at me as though he believes he's won. The broken pieces scrape through my jeans and on my arms, as I try to crawl to the despicable demon.

"You'll never win. I'll break you...I'll kill you before you could ever win."

Feeling tears of anger gather at the corners of my eyes, I let out a yelp as I'm kicked in the hip. My body slams back down to the yellowed floor. Dad kicks me again, forcing me onto my back, and my eyes meet the object that dangles back and forth over me, never consistent with its target. The butcher knife gleams from the light as it swings, my eyes train perfectly on it.

"He killed your wife Hojo. He'll never admit it. He might be your son by blood, but nothing more. Dispose of this blemish before it's too late and he kills you too."

Dad cackles, "I'll make sure no one ever knows. No one cares about you! No one will even know you're gone."

"Drop the knife, Hojo. If you do, I'll grant you what you want. I'll give you money, power, knowledge, women...anything that your heart desires and all you have to do is give me your son."

"D-Dad don't! What would Mom think about you doing this?" I plead with him, hoping that this last card up my sleeve will work.

Sephiroth's glare snaps down to me. "Shut up you!" His penetrating eyes turn back to Dad, even if I'm not sure that Dad can see him or not. "It's what she wants Hojo. I've talked to her. She wants me to tell you to do away with this pathetic being she gave life to. She wants to be with you Hojo...just end it and you can have her back if you want."

He's lying. I know it and he knows it...but Dad has no idea. There's no way I can get through to him. I can't reason with a crazy person. I don't think a crazy person could reason with a crazy person. It's just not possible!

"Yes, yes, I should kill him. I want my wife back! I'll do it for her!"

Hot tears leak out the corners of my eyes as I clamp them shut, not wanting to watch the last few seconds of my life...

~Sora Kaze~

Stretching my arms and toes, I push the comforter away and climb out of bed, still sleepy. I push myself up off the bed and make my way to the light switch, flicking it on. I leave the room and head towards the bathroom, where I begin brushing my teeth. As I look back into the mirror, I unscrew the cap to a bottle of fluoride, I spot Larxene. Almost gagging on the mouthwash, that I was swishing around my mouth, she giggles at me. "You're so clumsy little Sora. I hope you had a good sleep."

I spit the blue liquid into the sink and wash it out, turning to face her, "Why would you care?"

"Because you have a busy day ahead of you, do you not?"

Always talking like that when she has a plan...sometimes it frightens me, but I'd never let her see the fear I hold inside of me. Half the time it's just empty threats anyway. I don't care what she says, I won't take any of it to heart. They're just words.

Splashing water on my face, I reach for a towel, when my head slams against the mirror. Groaning, I blink the water out of my burning eyes and stare at her multiple reflections from the cracked glass. She removes her hand from my brunet spikes and smirks at me. "Oh, I'm sorry, did that hurt?" Droplets of blood leak from the miniscule cut just below my hairline. I move around her and leave the room, not wanting to stay in her presence. Angry doesn't even comprehend the emotions building inside of me. "Where are you going Sora?"

I grab a tissue and dab at the blood on my head as I walk back into my room. She stays away from me, allowing me to dress in my usual attire and get out the door. I keep my eyes on the ground, not bothering to look up at the sky, as I walk to work. However, I wouldn't call it work. I like what I do there, plus it gives me some time to be away from Larxene. Nonetheless, I basically jog my way there, perfectly aware that I can't outrun her, but be damned if I won't try.

All hope falls from the expression on my face as I stare at the closed sign on the door. Slightly desperate, I try all the doors, front and back, but none of them work. Peeking in through each of the large windows in the front, I realize that the lights are out in the whole store.

Now what am I going to do? If I go back...it'll be like she won. No, there has to be a perfectly good reason why Zexion or Squall aren't here yet. Aah, we should all have a key in times like this. Maybe I'm being selfish...he is the owner right now, not me. It's not my store and it's not Mom's. I might as well go get something to eat, since I ran out without eating. Then, if it's still closed, I'll go hide out in a church.

After traveling a block to the local bakery, I buy a cheap bagel and go on my way. Passing back by the shop, I come to a realization that the store must be closed today for some reason and I continue on my way. Tomorrow, I'll have to make a note to get phone numbers, that way I won't be out of the loop. Pulling out my cell phone, I check the time. It's a little prepaid one, one where you have to buy the minutes. It's the only way I can survive. I can't afford a plan.

That's when the hair on my arms stands up. I quickly scan my surroundings, trying to locate Larxene, but she's no where to be seen. I take a cautious step forward and I spot the reason for my instinctual fear, but it's too late. My bagel drops from my hands, as a man shoves me to the side. Before I can gain my balance back, I'm pushed back towards the other man, by a hulking figure. In the midst of it, I catch the sight of a sign printed on the breast of their jackets, a gang sign.

Like a human ping pong ball, I'm bounced between the two to the point where I want to empty my stomach completely. But the final shove sends me to the sidewalk. As if it's a sign, the two men grab me by my arms and drag me into the alley beside another store, one a few lots down from Tranquil Escape. The leader of the other two appear before me, as I'm let go. His thick boot slams into my shoulder, forcing my face to press against the filthy cement.

"I told you that you were going to have a busy day. Did you believe me? No, and this is the result for being so careless." comes the feminine hiss, that I know is Larxene.

I catch sight of her standing behind the leader of the small gang; her arms crossed over her chest and a triumphant grin on her cherry lips. Flicking a strand of flaxen hair back in place, she leans over, whispering in the leader's ear. I don't know what she says to him, but I know it's not good; for the second she backs away, fists and feet barrel into me without warning.

"If you agree to give me your beautiful soul, I'll make all the pain stop."

In an attempt to shield my vital parts, I curl into myself, forming a weak human ball. Their hits impact on my head, arms, legs, back, and stomach, as they try to pull me away from myself.

"You can make this easy on yourself. Just say the word, Sora, and it'll all be over."

I can't do this much longer. I don't want to die. But I don't want to give into her either. I...don't...can't...last much longer...I'm breaking.