AN: I own only the plot and Aura. Nothing else. All mistakes are mine.

Chapter 1

After spending twelve hours in the clinic, Aura couldn't wait to get home. She made it to the small market a few blocks from her house just as the sun was starting to set. She approached the sweeping grocer outside his store and tried to remember if there was anything she forgot to add to the list she'd left him that morning.

Mr. Ziza looked up as she reached him and greeted her with a friendly smile. "Aura, I was starting to get worried. Not much time left till dark."

Returning his smile she replied, "You know me, always working till the last possible minute."

He turned to the door of his shop, pausing to lean the broom against it and retrieved the two canvas bags she'd left with her list. As he handed them to her he spoke softly, "Hurry home and lock up. You shouldn't be out much longer."

Aura shouldered her bags and replied, "I'm going straight home, no need to worry! I have the best security system RSI sells."

"I know, I know, but I can't help it. You're like a daughter to us."

She kissed home on the cheek and called over her shoulder as she continued on, "I'll be fine! Kiss your wife for me."

He smiled back and walked into his store to lock up. She could hear the shutters locking into place as she made her way home.

On the short trip home Aura took in her neighborhood. It was run down but she could imagine what it had once looked like when it was built so long ago. Rolls of beautiful houses meant to look like boroughs of the twentieth century in Chicago. Two story houses that sat right next to each other all made of brick. Now they were old and weathered. Some had flower boxes but hardly any had flowers. Right now most were boarded up due to the impending eclipse. Some of the houses had wood on their windows while a few had metal bars. The few that didn't were either empty or belong to the criminals that would soon be rampaging the streets. They didn't care if anyone would try to break in. In fact they would probably welcome it so they could show whoever had the nerve who was boss. Aura felt secure with her home security system and wouldn't have to worry about it for the next eight days.

As she arrived at her home she felt warmth and comfort. It wasn't as run down as some of the houses on her block. She took good care of it. She took pride in it too. She had used her inheritance her mother and father had left her for two things and this home was one. The other was nursing school. And she worked hard to keep her home in good condition through hard work and what felt like constant upkeep at times. She planned on using the next few days to do some of the things she hadn't had a chance to get around to lately. But she also was going to relax. She hadn't had a day off in over two weeks and a vacation since the last eclipse three years ago. They were always short handed at the clinic and she never could get any time off. Not that she'd ask for it. She had nothing better to do with her time. Her life revolved around her home and her job.

However Aura was ready for the eclipse. She needed to recharge and that is exactly what she was going to do.

Entering her small two story brownstone home, Aura was thankful to get inside and out of the chilly air that always preceded the eclipse. She turned to a control panel on the wall and activated her high tech defense home security system. She heard the sounds of shutters much like Mr. Ziza's shutting over her window and doors. She would check them all after putting her groceries away.

She placed her purse on the table under the panel and slipped off her shoes, heading to the kitchen and turning on lights as she went. As she passed the TV in her living room, she turned it on as well, watching a news channel flicker on.

On the screen was what looked like footage from a helicopter of a neighborhood that looked remarkable like hers. She couldn't be for sure since there were multiple just like it in her town. It showed a swat team surrounding a house and then they all rushed forward in a single file line into a house.

The news anchor appeared and said, "It is unknown as to how many people were onboard. Please take extra caution and report any suspicious activity to local authorities."

Aura wasn't surprised to see this type of footage on the local news. The planet of Glara Ouzel was notorious for it's higher than normal crime rates and this wasn't anything new to the daily program. She herself dealt with a lot of the local hoodlums at the free clinic she worked at. They came in for minor things like colds and allergies to the occasional gunshot. The clinic wasn't legal suppose to care for gun shot wounds yet the gangs and other criminals weren't about to go to the emergency room where they would call the cops. The clinic had a reputation for not asking questions. As upsetting as some of those types of cases were Aura was more than happy to help because they either came to the free clinic or bleed to death somewhere.

The news lady shook her from her thoughts when she said, "Now to Marshall for advice on how to stay safe during the pending eclipse."

Aura walked into her small kitchen and placed the bags on the counter. She began putting everything away and pulled out two boxes of her favorite cookies. She knew she'd forgotten something on her list but leave it to the caring grocer to remember her favorite snack. Aura smiled and decided she'd have to back her famous chocolate cake to thank the Zizas after the eclipse ended.

After placing a pot of water on the stove to boil, she poured herself a glass of wine and moved to the window above the sink. She took a sip of the wine and enjoyed the crisp tartness on her tongue. Setting her glass down she made sure the metal shutters had properly closed and then moved around the first floor of her two bedroom home to check the few windows and doors. Once those were thoroughly inspected, Aura made her way upstairs.

She checked the spare room, the hall bathroom, and then made her way to her room. As she checked her window Aura thought she heard a noise coming from downstairs but figured it was just the TV she left on.

She changed out of scrubs and into a pair of comfortable sweats, a t-shirt and a hoodie since it was already getting chilly. She'd have to turn the heat on soon. Aura brushed her long dark hair and put it in a messy bun on top of her head.

On her way back downstairs to put the noodles on to cook, she contemplated the difference between how she spent her time during the eclipse now, versus when she was a young girl. Her father insisted her, her sister and mother go to Racnoavis Security, Inc. headquarters and into sleep pods. His high political standing made him and his family targets. Oh, how she hated it. And he would stay locked up at home. Aura always thought he was just working, trying to help G.O. stay safe during the stressful eight day eclipse. It wasn't till she was older that she found out he was spending his time nose deep in drugs and women of various reputations.

Her father, Adron Esogen, had gone into politics to make a difference for the hard working people on Glara Ouzel but the mining companies were always trying to bribe any and all politicians to lower taxes and mining restrictions. He resisted for years but not long after her and her older sister had been born that they got to finally him. Then the drugs and women started. Her mother drank to ignore the problem and that's what lead to early graves for both of her parents, drugs and booze. Nevertheless that was a long time ago.

Aura entered the kitchen picked up her wine glass and turned to grab the box of macaroni and cheese she planned to have for dinner. Instead, she found an empty box by the stove. She didn't remember putting the noodles in water before her shutter check but it had been a long day and an even longer week.

"I must have," she mumbled to herself.

She stirred the noodles with a spoon from the utensil drawer and went back to the living room with her wine. She placed the glass down on the table next to her reading chair and turned the TV down to background noise level. She sat in her arm chair next to a wood burning stove and thought about lighting a fire but decided against it, seeing as how she planned to go to bed as soon as she was done eating.

She picked up her romance book and opened the cover. Inside was a handwriting note from her sister.

Aura,

You need a little romance in your life. Don't let life hold back. Till then this book can show you want love can be like, even if it is a little unrealistic.

Love,

Meira

Her sister was always a romantic. She had married and ran off with the first guy to pay her any attention. Thankful he was a good man and they had a good life in New Mecca now. Meira was currently pregnant with their 3rd child and happy as could be and Aura was happy for her. She found love and a new life far from G.O. She called at least once a week to try and talk her into moving in with them and starting over. It always started with the mention of a man Meira just knew Aura would fall for. Be that as it may Aura wasn't ready to leave for little home or her work at the clinic.

Turning to the page she left on, she sat and read for awhile before she headed back to the kitchen to finish her evening meal. She measured, mixed and served herself a small portion of the finished product. She returned to her chair, picked up her book and proceeded to read and eat. Reaching for her glass she sipped and noticed it was almost gone, "You really need to sleep," she said to herself. Had she really drank the entire glass? 'I must have,' she thought.

Twenty minutes later, Aura yawned and figured she was at a good place as any to put down her book. After placing a bookmark between the pages, she took her glass and bowl to the kitchen sink, grabbed a plastic container for the leftovers and moved to the pot still on the stove.

When she saw that almost all the macaroni was gone she knew it wasn't just her being forgetful all evening and a chill ran down her spine. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and pivoted to her right. The light that she'd turned on in the living room turned off and through the entryway between her kitchen and living room, she saw a large man with bright silver colored eyes and a smirk reclining on her couch, resting in the glow of the TV. She gasped and the plastic bowl fell to the floor making a hollow thud.

Aura looked like she was about to scream, or possibly faint. The giant of a man brought up a large knife to his lips and shushed her.

"If you scream the neighbors might report something suspicious."