She's an extraordinary girl

Green Day

In an ordinary world

And she can't seem to get away

he lacks the courage in his mind

like a child left behind

like a pet left in the rain

She's all alone again

wiping the tears from her eyes

some days he feels like dying

She gets so sick of crying

she sees the mirror of herself

an image she wants to sell

to anyone willing to buy

he steals the image in her kiss

from her heart's apocolypse

from the one called whatsername

She's all alone again

wiping the tears from her eyes

somedays he feels like dying

somedays its not worth trying

now that they both are finding

she gets so sick of crying...

Darkness fell quickly to a black abyss thanks to the failure of electricity all around. Christine approached the house in a steady walk-run, trying to ignore the whispers she didn't want to take the time to understand, on the night breeze. A faint glow, soft yet brilliant in the nothingness, assaulted her eyes and senses, from an upstairs window. She stopped abruptly and almost tripped over her own feet. The man had told her that no one lived here anymore and there had been no sign of habitation when she had been here earlier. Was it him? Waiting for her? Christine cursed under her breath at this fine prediciment. What was she supposed to do now? If she went ahead into the house, he might be inside. If she tried to flee, he might become suspicious that she hadn't shown up at the house and come looking for her...or worse, send his friends after her. Then a thought struck her so suddenly that she only justified its simplicity not occuring to her sooner because of the day's events. She could go to the house she had lived in! She would not entertain the idea that someone might possibly be there too...

There was a quiet rustling in the cornfield across the gravel driveway...

Christine narrowed her eyes slightly and stared back at it...not realizing that she was being watched and had heard movement amongst the rows...but instead believing that it had been the corn whispering mockingly at her entrapment. She hated that voice on the wind even more than she hated it invading her thoughts. Christine glared at the waving field.

Adam watched her, smirking. He hadn't been blessed with the ability to read her thoughts as Malachai had, but he didn't need to. He could feel her fear and sense her anger. But it didn't matter. She had foolishly come back and He didn't intend to let her get away again. Adam readied himself for the chase that he thought soon would entail. But Christine wasn't planning on running. Though she didn't want to, she knew she would have to cut through the cornfield. She steadily started to walk into it. It was amazing not only how she had known what house the man had told her aout when she had first met him, but she was pretty sure, even in the darkness, she would be able to find her grandmother's house and yet everything else she couldn't exactly remember about this place seemed to elude her. Adam stood perfectly still and silent, patiently watching Christine enter the field.

The stalks seemed to be leaning away from her, letting her through...guiding her...Adam followed her quietly only a few feet from her at any given time. He remembered the other warning Malachai had placed upon him and Luke. They were not to harm her and they were not to lay a hand on her unless it was necessary.

Christine hesitated once a little ways into the corn. She had never wanted to run so bad in her whole life, not even when she had been in the clearing. Something was wrong here. Terribly wrong. She wasn't just pushing the corn aside as she walked..it was moving for her. And where was it trying to lead her? Another rustling that startled both her and Adam. Both knew they hadn't made the sounds. "Who's there?", Christine called out timidly. Both listened for a response.

A hand fell on Adam's shoulder and it was all he could do not to jump up and attack its owner. Luke's eyes reflected the moonlight as they leveled with Adam's. Adam looked over quickly to where Christine had stood and saw that she was walking again. He turned back to Luke, impatient. "What is it?", he hissed quietly. The girl was getting farther away now and he couldn't follow her with Luke stomping along beside him. Somehow he had never learned to be as stealthy as he and Malachai were legendary for.

Luke observed him cautiously for a moment. "Malachai has been waiting for you for over an hour...he's waiting." Adam strained to see the girl and could not now. "I have to follow her...", Adam protested, letting his voice raise slightly. Before Luke could reply, Adam was brushing past him, but looked back at him. "I have to see where she is going...she hasn't spoken with Sarah and Job and I haven't seen what they are up to, so go back to their house and see what you can find out...if you get back to Malachai before I do, tell him I am still following her." Adam darted off quickly and silently.

Luke started to chew part of his lower lip in defiant thought. He didn't want to waste his time spying on the newcomers. He was tired of taking orders from Adam and Malachai. But if he didn't listen to Adam now and Malachai found out about it, it could mean his head. Huffing gruffly, he turned back in the direction of the house. A dark thought, not for the first time, crossed his mind. They had better keep an eye on her...and not leave him alone with her. Because if they did, deep in his heart he resented Malachai so much, he would take Christine first and therefor take His power from him.

It didn't take long for Adam to catch up with her...she hadn't gotten too far. He was getting so close to her now, in fact, that he could reach out and touch her if he wanted. And as much as he wanted to, he knew better. She had stopped again..and was looking at something. Adam followed her gaze. Before them was a white house...extremely rundown, but it still looked solid enough. He knew he couldn't let her go in there...Malachai would go mad. He looked back at her. He knew he didn't have much time.

A white hand emerged from the row Christine was standing in, behind her. Adam reached up and touched her long blond hair. Christine suddenly felt dizzy, like she had at the cafe. Adam came into the row behind her. She took a step forward and then stumbled backward, closing her eyes. She knew she was going to faint, but couldn't help it. Adam came behind her knowing this, and smiling slowly.

Just before she fainted, that gravely voice visited her one more time...'Home Sweet Home...', it laughed mockingly. Adam caught her as her knees buckled and picked her up. He looked down at her innocent face for a long time. Malachai's voice rung in his head, "Do not harm her...", but Malachai was not here. Adam bent down gently to kiss her lips, her back arching as he tried to pull her unconscious body closer. Awkwardly, he managed to kiss her, but he quickly dropped her as the corn repeatedly whipped him, almost as a punishment for his act. Adam thought of abandoning her, but knew he would face something much worse if he did. Sweating profusely from fear, Adam scooped Christine up and threw her limp body over his shoulder, heading for the clearing.

Luke was heading back to the house of the interlopers, where Sarah and Job had been raised for the most part. Upstairs, where Christine, Adam, and Luke had seen the light, Luke now saw two shadowy figures passing back and forth through the master bedroom window. Luke's eyes trailed from the lit window to one only feet away next to it. A slightly rusted, shaky drainspout ran up the middle of the windows. A sly smile surfaced briefly on Luke's lips as he began to take hold of the pipe and inch his way up the side of the house.

Sarah and Job froze in place, both thinking they had heard something outside. Their frightened gazes locked, unsure if they had actually heard something and confirming it within seconds. Job moved slowly to the window, but the darkness had blanketed everything and made it impossible to make out anything. He turned back to Sarah and shrugged. "But we better hurry...I don't want to confront them tonight.", Job whispered. He closed the book he had been examining and tucked it under his arm. Sarah folded the newspaper page she had been reading and put it in her pocket. Luke's foot suddenly slipped, making a loud clang against the house, before sending him tumbling to the ground below. Sarah and Job, without saying a word to one another, bolted from the room and out of the house as fast as they could. A dazed Luke, watched from the thorny berry bushes which had broken his fall, as the two intruders ran off down the gravel driveway. He wanted to scream in frustration, but something caught his attention, muting him. Job was carrying something under his arm...it looked like a book. Luke squinted his eyes closed. Telling Malachai would not be pretty...

Adam entered the clearing, constantly looking around, feeling as if he had been followed the entire way. "Malachai...", Adam called out, "I found her trying to escape...I brought her back..." Malachai emerged from the shadows of the wooden crosses at the far end of the clearing, smiling sheepishly. He Who Walks Behind The Rows had whispered to him of Adam's betrayal...and to think, Adam had the audacity to appear before him like nothing had happened. Rage creapt into Malachai's stomach as Adam's eyes met his. Adam instantly knew that he had been found out. He laid Christine down at Malachai's feet. Christine stirred slightly but did not awake. Adam took a tenative step back. Malachai watched his cautious actions, amused with himself. He looked down at Christine, faning only half-interest in her sleeping form and yet mentally taking inventory of any lesions or bruises, and then back at his closest friend. He managed to maintain an even tone. "What was said between her and the other two?", Malachai watched Adam's reaction like a snake.

Adam flinched, not expecting a question, but a few short words before Malachai's knife pierced him. Maybe he didn't know. Maybe Malachai was only testing him to see if something had happened. Adam swallowed stiffly and cleared his throat. "I followed her to the house. She hesitated when there was a light in the upstairs window. She retreated into the corn and I followed her still. Luke found me and told me you were waiting. I sent him back to the house, to spy on Sarah and Job. I kept following her...and...and...", Adam didn't know how to continue. Malachai was not going to take it well that she had remembered where she lived. He felt his gaze burning into him. "And?", Malachai urged impatiently. Adam looked away and then down at Christine. If he didn't tell Malachai, surely she would once she awoke. "She...she...went directly to her grandmother's house...", Adam replied weakly. He didn't like to feel inferior to Malachai, but he didn't care much for his wrath either.

Malachai turned away and took a few step from them. He was silent for a moment, his anger with Adam temporarily forgotten. Christine had remembered something substancial. The place of her childhood...if she could remember that, she would soon remember more...and then she would understand what had brought her back. Malachai whipped around suddenly. Adam reacted, startled. "Did you let her enter?", Malachai asked, already knowing the answer. Adam blinked hesitantly before answering. "No...that is why she is sleeping. I knew you wouldn't want her in that shack." Malachai looked again to Christine...she stirred again, but again did not awake. It was as if she could feel his eyes on her.

Adam looked at Malachai apprehensively. Malachai slowly looked up at Adam. Before Malachai could say a word, there was a soft, rasping whisper from the ground. "No...", Christine whispered hoarsely, voice choked with sleep. Malachai and Adam both directed their attention to the her. She was still asleep. Malachai tried to hone in on her thoughts and found that his abilities had been blocked. Adam watched her in awe, wondering if he had caused this sudden outburst. Malachai had no choice but to listen closely to figure out what she was dreaming. "Malachai...", she hissed seethingly and then was silent. Without even looking at Malachai, Adam drew in a ragged breath. "Oh my God...", he said lowly. The same thought ran through both their minds. Christine was remembering more than they both had bargained for...or it was being revealed to her...by He Who Walks Behind The Rows...

"Noooo...", Christine screamed, loud enough to wake her from her slumber, and send her sitting straight up with her legs straight out in front of her. She looked confused, turning her head quickly around as she scanned her surroundings, wondering how she had gotten here, finally fixing her gaze on Malachai. "You have seen Him haven't you?", he asked. "Yes...", Christine whispered, knowing that he was referencing to the dark figure that had just penetrated her dreams, "Who, or what, is He?", she asked. Malachai paused for a moment, this question bringing an evil smirk to his lips as he replied. "You will find out in time", Malachai turned back to Adam, who took a step back still anticipating some sort of punishment for his earlier actions, "Go now and leave us. Do not return until morning, at which time bring the others", Malachai looked back to Christine with a cold gaze and still speaking to Adam said, "There will be news for all to hear tomorrow." Adam was all too happy to oblidge, getting off this easily, and disappeared into the corn.

Christine watched Malachai untrustingly as he stepped closer, squatting down before her. He started to raise his right hand. Christine flinched, expecting to feel the backside of his hand lash across her face as repayment for her attempt to flee, but instead she felt the gentle touch of his hand brushing the hair back from her face. His hand slid down to her chin, cupping it, turning her head side to side as if examining her. Christine's lower lip quivered, she was trying as hard as she could to hide her fear. Malachai's eyes seized hers and wouldn't drop. "Don't be afraid...", Malachai whispered, "He loves you. He will not let any harm come to you, as long as you love Him too..." Malachai let his eyes drop to her lips. He looked back up at her and leaned in, kissing her. He pulled away when she did not return his kiss. His eyes burned into hers once more and he kissed her again. Christine submitted to the kiss, not knowing what he might do if she resisted him again. Her mind raced as one emotion bled into another. Repulsion. Lust. Hatred. Love. As if she were battling her own emotions with some controlling outside force. Malachai wondered if she knew exactly who she was dealing with...she had uttered his name. It didn't matter. She would soon be his and the prophecy would be fullfilled. Slowly, the bittersweet poison of Malachai's kiss became too much for her to want to resist.

As he was lowering her back to the ground, still kissing her, Luke spilled into the cornfield...

A/N: I want to thank everyone for their patience for this chapter and special thanks to fellow author, Maddhatter, who helped me with the inspiration of this chapter also.