Chapter 2: Entrapment

News crews crowded at the scene of the accident. A grey sedan was overturned in the middle of the intersection. Onlookers continued to crowd, trying to see the accident resulted in any causalities. Yellow tape with black writing spelling out "CAUTION" was displayed around the accident. Its purpose, I ascertained, was to keep the bystanders at bay. While it successfully kept people away, allowing first responders to tend to the scene, phones were out with cameras flashing.

I could see from my vantage point on the adjacent rooftop one person was quite seriously injured. An elderly man who appeared to have been in the driver's seat of motor vehicle. He lay face down unmoving halfway out of the vehicle. It would appear he had tried to climb out once the car overturned but his injuries were to grave. I could see, as I focused on this man's neck, that he had no pulse. He did not survive this accident.

Several feet away was a stretcher waiting for the paramedics to transfer an elderly woman who was extracted from the passenger side. A neck brace had been placed. She was still alive but wounded. A gash covered with gauze was evident on her forehead. Her transport to a local hospital was critical.

I needed a closer look.

I stepped to the ledge of the roof on the farthest end from the street of onlookers. There was an alleyway between buildings. It was abandoned. I took this opportunity to jump, landing with ease on my feet. I headed towards the accident.

Getting through the crowds posed difficult in trying to remain unnoticed. The caution tape also kept my access and assessment limited. When I finally found a space to step up to along the tapeline, I could see more clearly the overturned car by the driver's side. I looked for anything that could indicate if foul play could be suspected.

"Miss, remain behind the line." I firm voice called from my side. An officer stood, evidently tasked with keeping the crowd out of the way.

"Sorry officer," I replied. "If I may…was the couple alone?"

The officer squinted his eyes. He was suspicious. "No comment."

"I'm not with the press," I insisted. "My little brother and sister were lost…I heard an elderly couple tried to help them. I am unsure if this is the couple but if they are…I'm looking for my siblings."

"Have you filed a missing person's report with the local sheriff's office?" His eyes softened but very slightly.

"Of course," I assured. "Please…they ran away from home. My parents are very worried. I just want to find them and bring them home safe." Faux tears formed in my eyes. He was wavering.

He came closer to where I stood.

"It appears the elderly couple were traveling alone," He told me in hushed tones. "No children were with them…. on scene. There's an eye witness placing them at the corner gas station two blocks south of here. They were supposedly approached by two children there."

"Two blocks South?" I confirmed.

"You didn't hear it from me." He stated firmly.

"Of course," I assured. "Thank you! You have no idea how much you are helping my parents." I smiled my teary smile.

I took off back in the direction of the new condo. Three blocks South of the incident. One block shy of the gas station. Also seemingly central to where most increased supernatural events have increased in a short month's time.

The gas station was not overly full. The accident seemed to draw most in out of sheer curiosity. There was, however, a pick-up truck parked at one of the pumps. A man had just stepped out of the driver's seat to put a rectangular card into a slot on the machine in front of him. He was young, well groomed. Poised.

I could see a man seated at the counter inside the store reading a magazine. He was very much unaware of his surroundings. Had he been paying attention; he would have seen this young gentleman suddenly being approached by two children: a boy and a girl. Children. Two children completely alone, appearing out of nowhere at a gas station.

"Hello," the boy said to the man. His voice devoid of emotion. He avoided all contact with the man as did the girl. The wore all black. The pale, sickly skin stood out as the sky was beginning to change.

I did not need to stand around observing long to know what would be next if this man fell prey to these black-eyed beings. He would soon meet a similar fate as the elderly couple if he gave in to their pretense of needing help and invited them in to his car to assist them. They could not be invited in.

Quickly, I made my way over and injected myself between him and these beings.

"Sorry I'm late," I smiled at him. It did not reach my eyes. He looked at me with confusion.

"Please help us." The boy and girl harmonized together. I

"Are you lost?" The man asked, redirecting his focus on these beings.

"Please help us," They repeated, avoiding the question.

"Can you drive us to find our parents?" The girl asked, her head raised slightly but kept her eyes averted.

"You should go," I told him. He looked at me confused.

"But these kids-" he started. I cut him off. I would not give him the opportunity to extend an invitation to them.

"They'll be just fine on their own," I stated. "Won't you, children?"

"A ride," the boy stated, irritation evident. I could see the hair on the back of the man's neck slightly rise. He was right to be alert. These beings always brought with them the sense of dread.

"Can we get in your car?" the girl tried again.

"I think you look comfortable where you are," I told them. I wanted to bring about their irritation. "You wouldn't need to seek invitations to places you do not belong if you did not wander off to places you have no business existing."

My hand had made its way conspicuously to my bag, my entrapment capsule at the ready.

The anger and irritation were coming off them in waves. I was getting under their skin. It was not lost to them the hidden meaning of my words.

Their heads snapped up. The man next to me fell back, his back slamming against his truck as he was caught by surprise. Their eyes were black and devoid of all life. But unlike this man, I was prepared for this. Expected them to reveal themselves if provoked enough.

I took out the entrapment capsule just as quickly. Placing it in the palm of my left hand, I waved my right hand above the top in a brief circular motion. These capsules were designed to be activated by our magical signature to detect malevolent beings and entrap them.

Smoked pooled out of the device, taking on a path and life of its own as it spread to find the source. Its power was beyond that of these Black-eyed beings. It rendered them unable to move or disappear to wreak havoc on other innocent bystanders. The smoke engulfed them as they snarled in anger until they could no longer be seen. It covered them from head to toe until it swirled like a cyclone back inside the entrapment capsule where these beings would be unable to escape. A final growl could be heard as the capsule snapped shut with the beings inside.

I took a deep breath. One set down. I would report back to Amira immediately with the progress.

I looked at the man who was still frozen in place. Eyes as wide as saucers.

His reaction was understandable. Certainly, what just occurred was not something humans see or hear every day. I did tell him to go. He simply did not listen.

"Is this going to be a problem?" I asked him. He shook his head adamantly.

"Who would believe me anyway, right?" He laughed nervously. I rolled my eyes. His phone suddenly rang from his pocket. He jumped, startled.

"You should get that," I told him. "Try staying out of trouble." He nodded in acknowledgement. "And don't give rides to strangers. Children or otherwise."

I took off back to my motel to gather what I needed for the move. I did not have much. Anything I needed I could conjure which made getting around the city exceptionally easy. I did have a rather large antique chest. It mostly contained weaponry, enchantments, herbs. It remained cloaked and disguised with clothes for any prying eyes.

When I arrived at the Motel, I retrieved my looking glass.

I tapped the center of the glass with my pointer finger causing a ripple like effect in the glass. I had summoned Amira.

"Isa," Amira appeared. "Tell me you bring news."

"I do," I confirmed. "I have detained and entrapped the Black-eyed beings."

"Good work, Isa." Amira acknowledged. "There are still thousands left unaccounted for."

Disappointment was evident in her face. One small victory did not mask the thousands left unanswered for.

"Callan and Cynane?" I did not need to ask.

"They've successfully discovered and entrapped a few hundred ghouls," Amira answered matter of factly. "They tracked them to a place called Salem, Massachusetts. The activity is prominent." She spoke of their successes with such pride. She was proud of her warriors. Disappointed in me.

"I understand." And I did. I needed to do better. Be better.

"Good," Amira said, pleased. She knew her intentions were successfully relayed. No more words were spoken. Just as quickly as she appeared in the looking glass, she disappeared.

Taking a breath, I gathered my things and set out for the condo.

A quick cab ride and I was standing, once again, in front of the building. My new temporary shelter. I declined the driver's offer to help remove the antique chest. He had initially attempted to help place it inside the vehicle. He failed, of course. While the weight of the chest was nothing for me, for a human it seemed to exceed comfortable limits. He seemed put out as I placed it inside the trunk with ease.

I carried the chest up the six flights of stairs and down the corridor to number '605'. Habitually, I knocked.

Rose opened the door and instantly looked confused. "Isabella, why are you knocking?"

"Is it not customary to knock?" I replied.

"You live here now," she said. "You don't have to knock to enter your own home. Come inside." I nodded in understanding and picked up the chest to bring it inside.

"Oh good, you're back!" Alice exclaimed. "I want you to meet Jasper! Jasper, come meet Isabella!"

I placed the chest down so that I could formally greet Alice's match.

When I got back up to greet this Jasper, I was taken by surprise when I came face to face with the same man I encountered not long ago at the gas station. His face mirrored my surprise.

"Jasper," I stated, holding my hand out to shake. "Lovely to meet you."