Ch 7: Momodos, a worldwide threat.

John found himself doing two things he never thought he'd do in life. First there was the fact that he was flying; and second he was running (or to be more exact flying) from the police. Arltos who was holding John's back, his newly revealed fiery wings flapping, was gliding the two of them to safety from the swarm of on looking cops below. The sound of sirens rang in John's ears as cop cars followed the beat-up BMW of the escaping bullies; while Arltos tried to get him and John away from the hectic scene below.

As they were up in the air, John looked down at the ground below. They weren't that high off the ground, only high enough to fly over houses, but the height was still enough to frighten John. As he realized they were getting lower he noticed that Arltos's right wing was out of sync with his left.

"Arltos—is everything okay?" John questioned nervously, almost dropping the orange spell book when a brief gust of wind caused them to wobble.

Arltos, who was breathing heavily, didn't respond to John's question; but quickly started to descend once they'd reached the outskirts of the suburb.

Touching down in an empty field nearby a road, Arltos stated "This should be far enough."

"Are you okay…" John murmured, realizing that Arltos obviously wasn't okay with all the bruises surrounding his body. Looking down at his own trebling body, John realized he wasn't looking so good himself (though his clothes were relatively in one piece). As Arltos's body wobbled, John grew a bit more concerned; but he also obtained a saddened appearance.

"If only I had done a better job—maybe…" John was thinking before he decided to stop himself. "Right now I should focus on helping Arltos."

"I'll carry you. You just rest now." John said warmly. Arltos only response was to nod his head. Soon he was asleep in John's arms.

As John walked, struggling to hold up Altos (the orange spell book perched awkwardly under his shoulder), he looked up towards the sunny sky.

"For such a beautiful sunny day—today has been nothing but misery for me." He says softly before looking towards Arltos. Almost immediately something catches the corner of his eye. On Arltos's right shoulder, due to one of the many tears in Arltos's orange shirt, was visible an unusual white patch.

"What is that?" He couldn't help but think.

Looking closer it appeared as though the upper layer of his skin had been burned, though the wound didn't appear recent.

"What caused this?" He thought, gently touching the wound with the tip of his finger. He was then abruptly startled at the sound of a police helicopter flying by; causing his finger (still over Arltos's wound) to shake. John quickly pulled his hand away and looked up awkwardly at the helicopter as it flew away out of view.

"I hope they catch those three degenerates." He said with a scornful expression on his face.

-Some hours later-

When Arltos opened his eyes the sky above him had become dark. He was lying against a tree trunk, with John resting to the right of him. They were sitting near the side of a main road (which was surrounded by trees on both sides). Once more Arltos releases his fiery wings and they take off into the sky—flying over the trees away from the road, where no one can see them. Once they reach the outskirts of Zalston, they land and commence walking home; while John keeps the spell book pressed closely to his chest, covered by his arms in hopes no one would get a good look at it and become suspicious. The fact that it was night helped disguise their ragged appearances.

Once they were finally at the door to John's apartment, John hurriedly rushed in before giving out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God!" he proclaimed sitting down of his couch (which felt a lot more comfortable than usual), after he had thrown the orange spell book onto the kitchen table.

Arltos followed suit quietly sitting down next to John, who was jubilant for a moment before reality sank back into his mind.

"The 10 o'clock News!" He blurted, looking up at the clock above his TV. He opened the TV just as the familiar charismatic reporter David Newsman comes on. Banging his fist on his desk he begins with a shout.

"Hello—it's David Newsman here with shocking news! Earlier today in the small suburb of Sunrise Gardens there was another sighting of so-called magical creatures, four of them to be exact. When police confronted the creatures and the spell book wielding teenagers who were supposedly controlling them; chaos ensued. One creature, along with one teenager flew away—yes flew away, managing to escape."

"That's us." Said John, but Arltos didn't respond.

"The others got into a car and were chased by police, but also escaped after attacking police with—and I realize how ridiculous this sounds but this is what actually happened—they attacked police with laser beams and cannon balls fired through the windows of the car. The police decided it was best to end their pursuit after two policemen were badly injured, with fear of further casualties. Even the police helicopter hover overhead was shot at, and had to cease its pursuit."

"It sucks that those three losers escaped. Right Arltos?"

"No, it means we'll have another chance to beat them." Arltos responded in a serious tone.

"Bu…" John's tongue stumbled before he quickly looked back towards the TV.

"Now before I go into detail about this latest story, I have some things I want to explain. Most of you viewers will recall the man who was found beat up in an alley way in Zalston just last night. He had said that he was attacked by a women and little girl who fit the description of the robbers which have been plaguing our area. This woman possesses a spell book, and the little girl is suspected of being one of the many mysterious creatures with magical powers that have been popping up all over the place. Well the man she attacked says that he too had a spell book and was in command of a strange creature of his own—that is until the women burned his spell book supposedly sending his creature back to his own world. Confusing—you bet—but I'm going to break it all down for you. "

"Please do." Thought John.

According to the man the creature said he was called a Momodo, and apparently these Momodo come with a book—a spell book that only one person can read. The books are able to activate the Momodo's abilities, such as attacks. These Momodos don't seem to be friendly towards each other though, for they're apparently in some kind of competition or something. When one Momodo destroys another Momodo's book, the defeat Momodo goes back to their home world. And if you think this is wild—it gets wilder! Sightings of Momodos are coming in from throughout the country, continent—the whole world! These Momodos are a worldwide threat. Some think they're aliens—others demons…"

John suddenly grabs the remote and closes the TV. He quickly turns his head towards Arltos. "These Momodo are all over the world!"

"Yeah. What did you think? That one hundred Momodos where all in this one area."

"Well—believe it or not I never stopped to think about it."

"Well I believe it." Arltos is quick to respond before asking "Why do you look so flustered for."

"Why? Do you realize how weird this all is for me!"

Arltos doesn't say anything to this but looks away frustrated. John also frustrated looks back at the TV. Newsman goes on to explain the attack on Mr. Nerton, and how he was able to identify his attackers as three former students of his. He also explains that the other teenager present (John) remains unidentified (to which John gives out a sigh of relief).

John closed the TV and looks over his shoulder towards Arltos. "We need to talk."

"About what?"

"This battle."

"Again."

"Yes again!" John yells stamping his foot empathically.

"Why are you so panicked all of a sudden?"

"I—I don't think I should have anything to do with you in this battle anymore!"

"Not this again." Arltos said, rolling his eyes as he got up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen. You worry so much, it's…"

"These Momodos are all over the damn world, Arltos! The scope of all this is finally starting to set in. I mean you could have been really hurt today. I could have been hurt. "Arltos—don't walk away from m...!" John was yelling before Arltos stared sharply into his eyes. Arltos walks forcefully forward before stopping right in front of John. After calming down for a second he looks up towards John who is speechless.

"All I've ask is that you at least help me with the three were facing now, then we can be through. I can't go back…"

"I know, you can't go back without a single victory! Is it about pride—or what?"

"It's complicated John."

"Well I have all the time in the world to listen."

"Look there are certain things that I want to keep private. Why don't you tell me about all your family problems?"

"Well…" John pauses with absolutely no response. "I didn't mean to…"

"Look I can't force you to help me—I'm done pleading. This is simply a decision you have to make for yourself; and you need to make it now—tonight!" No more uncertainty John. No more bullshit. You have tonight to decide whether or not you want to help me." He turns away and heads to the bedroom.

"Bu…" John can't bring himself to say anything. He flinches when Artlos slams the bedroom door before sitting back down on the couch. "So I have to choose. Not exactly something I'm used to."

He closes all the lights and goes to sleep on the couch.

The scene outside his small apartment building is of a calm quiet night. Rain begins to slowly come down as the only apparent activity is that of an occasional car passing down the street. That is—until a shadowy figure is seen on the roof top of the building on the opposite side of the street. It is the staff wielding Momodo, her white staff and instant indicator of her identity. She begins running away, rooftop to rooftop; eventually reaching the end of the block. Loosening her grip, the staff she is holding in her hand vanishes in a brief poof of smoke. Like Artlos, this Momodo looks virtually human. Her hair and shirt are both a bold purple in color while her vivid violent eyes are clearly visible in the night. After surveying that nobody's around, she effortlessly jumps down 4 stories to the sidewalk below and begins walking.

-3 hours later-

In an unknown location the purple haired Momodo is now standing before a basic white van.

"Sally!" The Momodo yells knocking on the door of the van.

"What!" responds a woman inside who lowers one of the windows. "I'm sleeping in here!"

"It's just me Sally—now open up."

"Where have you been all day Stawea?" Sally said, peeking her head out the van window. She is young, about 20 years old, and has long blonde hair (though it is uncombed and messy). Her eyes are heavy implying she has just woken up.

"Spying on our next targets. You know there was another battle today."

"Battle?"

"Yes Battle. The four Momodos are named Arltos, Laaid, Kihe and Ungrewe. The last three I've mentioned are working together.

"So…"

"So—we should get rid of Arltos first. His book holder is weak, so they should be easy pickings.

"But…"

"But nothing Sally. It's been about a week since I meet you and we've only defeated one Momodo—a weakling at that!"

"Quiet Stawea—or somebody will hear you. Quick get inside." Stawea gets inside the van. In the back there is a simple mattress with two pillows. "What's the rush? Besides, you look like you could use some rest. Its 1:00 AM.

"I only need three hours of sleep—then I'll be ready. We can attack in the middle of the night while there asleep. We should attack at around 4 or 5 AM."

After a pause Sally responds. "Fine Stawea, but after this next one we steal me something more luxurious then this simple van. The necklace around my next is worth more than this piece of junk."

"I don't like all the stealing that we're doing Sally."

"We have a deal, remember. I help you beat Momodos and you help me out.

"Yeah."

"Well tonight we'll dispose of that Momodo you want to attack, okay." Sally said smiling, admiring her diamond necklace.

"I'll never understand you humans and your obsession with shinny stones."

Both Sally and Stawea quickly fell asleep in their make-shift bed. Above them though, out of the darkness arrived a circling black crow; which as soon as it appeared—disappeared back into the darkness.

The red-eyed crow swiftly slashed through the air; soaring towards an unknown destination. Soon the crow is gliding above New York City, eventually darting into the top of an ominous skyscraper. The crow lands on a long black board table. At the head of a table is a man shrouded in darkness holding a black spell book.

"Aakaio—I see you've finally returned." The man says in a calm easy voice.

John and Arltos are in danger, but they aren't the only ones who need to look over their shoulders. What will these developments mean for our heroes next time?