Swann, Jennifer, Pimm, and Quaid all stood together in a circle as the sun began to set. The sky was turning a beautiful fire red color, as dashes of gold and purple began to fade in with the stars. They knew the desert, this had been their home. Standing there as the cooler breeze went past them, the four of them had a strange understanding. A few feet away were the thrown shovels and picks. For the last three hours they dug, nearly twelve feet into the ground before they hit rock. There they tossed their once master's lifeless body into the ground. Nothing happened, so scares…no magic.

It was really over.

Now, the unmarked grave covered up…they knew it would never be found. This was their secret, and as long as they lived, it would stay hidden.

Swann was in the middle of buttoning his shirt up, it the desert heat while digging, the men peeled off their sweat soaked shirts and tossed them to the side. Now here they were, barley able to look at each other.

"So…I guess it's over."

Pimm said before looking up at everyone.

Jennifer, her hand now wrapped up nodded.

"What…what if somebody finds him?"

Pimm said, her voice slowly breaking up.

Swann shook his head.

"He won't…"

"But…"

"He won't, I promise you all."

Everyone looked at Swann before glancing over at the parked car and van.

"Now what?"

"We go our separate ways, life our life's and try to forget about all this."

"You mean we'll never see each other again?"

"No, we will…but not for awhile."

"What about the girl?"

Quaid motioned towards the car. Swann looked over, the sun now slowly going down as a stillness went into the air. In the distance crickets began to softly chirp.

"I guess I'll find someplace for her."

"She doesn't have family?"

"Did we?"

Quaid looked down before nodding.

"All right then…"

Swann let out his hand and shook Quaid's. Turning, he faced Pimm who barley waved before following Quaid to the van. Then Jennifer and Swann looked at each other.

"How's your hand?"

Jennifer held it up, the cloth bleeding through.

"Fine, I'll go to a hospital once we hit the city."

"You sure your gonna be all right?"

Jennifer softly smiled before walking forward, both looked at each other.

"I wish I could go with you, but I know I can't."

Swann nodded as Jennifer blushed.

"So…I guess this is goodbye."

"For now."

"For now."

Faintly smiling, Jennifer turned away and joined Quaid and Pimm. A few moments later the engine was started. Swann stood there before waving as they turned around and headed towards the road. Standing there, hands now stuffed in his jean pockets, he turned and glanced down at the unmarked grave.

An awful feeling washed over him before he turned around and walked over to his car. Looking in, he saw the girl sprawled out across the front seat sleeping. Pausing, Swann looked in before opening the door. Right away she shot up, her eyes big. After a few seconds she looked over at Swann before sinking back into the passenger seat.

"You okay?"

Swann asked, sitting behind the wheel, shutting the door. The girl then looked out the windshield at the now empty and slowly darkening desert.

"Did…did you bury him?"

Swann nodded.

The girl sat back, a silent tear running down her face. Swann started the engine before looking over at her.

"What's your name?"

The girl looked over.

"Dorothea, what's yours?"

Her voice was barley able to hear, scared and weak.

"Philip…Philip Swann."

Dorothea looked at him before Swann turned the car around and began driving on the road.

"Is it over?"

Swann nodded.

"I think so."

"Where did everyone go?"

"They decided to split up for awhile, might be good."

"Why?"

"Well, Nix had a lot of people who followed him, I'm sure their pretty lost and angry about what happened."

"Do you think they might come after us?"

Swann shook his head.

"They know better then that, anyways without Nix…their helpless."

"I hope your right…"

Swann turned his headlights on as they began driving down the bumpy road.

"You were a member of his, weren't you?"

"Yeah…I was."

"For how long?"

"Two years…"

"How old are you?"

"Nineteen, what about you?"

"Twelve…"

"Do you have any family?" "A mother…a father?"

Dorothea shook her head.

"No…I was living in a home for kids like me, you know the ones who don't have parents."

"How long did you live there?"

"Not long, us foster kids get moved around a lot."

"Do you remember your parents?"

Dorothea shook her head.

"Yeah…we too."

"Were…were you homeless?"

"Close towards it, then I met Nix…"

"What made you do this?"

"What?"

"Turn on him…kill him."

Swann bit his lower lip. In all honest truth he knew it would take too long to even begin to tell her this. Glancing over, he saw how scared and filthy she looked. Here she was just a child and witness all this.

"I…I was very close with Nix, he showed me a lot of his power before I saw he was using it for evil, then I heard about you, and I knew he needed to be stopped."

"You saved my life…"

"I think you saved mine, that was very brave of you."

Dorothea looked down at her dirty hands. Another tear fell.

"Is he ever going to come back?"

"No…he won't."

"Thank you…"

Swann looked over as he drove, her beautiful brown eyes looking at him. So pure, so young.

"Now what?"

"We drive…into the night."

"Where?"

"Someplace safe…"

Setting back in her seat, she closed her eyes. Glancing over at her, Swann sighed. His hands had blisters on them from digging so much. Looking forward at the dark desert road…he drove on.

The next day, dawn came early. Philip drove through the empty waste lands of the desert. Replaying those awful events over and over in his head. He knew for the rest of his life, he would have nightmares about what he saw.

Finally Dorothea woke up. Swann gave her the rest of what was left in a water bottle that was thrown in his back seat. She hadn't spoken much since. He kept driving, as she looked out the window.

This time Dorothea's thoughts began to drift.

Driving along the lone desert road, everything looked the same. Between the sound of the howling wind, and the static filled radio that drifted in and out of old rock and roll stations, the silence could drive anyone crazy. She didn't know where she was going or what was going to happen to her. Everything seemed like an awful nightmare that had happened to someone else. She was all alone, her parents, her family…everyone gone.

Dorothea?

Suddenly the young girl's daydream disappeared. Looking over she saw the man who had saved her. He sat in the driver's seat and had a concerned look spread across his face. His long brown hair kept dancing across his sparking and striking blue eyes. Dorothea thought he had the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen before.

Yeah?

She cleared her dry throat, she felt exausted after everything. In fact they had been on the road the entire night. Once and awhile she would nod off, her neck strained in a very uncomfortable position until the car would hit a pothole and skid against some pebbles. Every time she would wake with a start, thinking she was back there, tied and helpless as the devil laughed down at her. Instead she always found herself sitting beside him, watching his blue eyes look straight ahead, so serious and so worried. After everything that happened yesterday, she was surprised he hadn't fallen over from exhaustion. She watched him along with the others as they buried the man who nearly killed her, the man who would stay in her deepest fears forever. She watched him as he dug, shoveling piles of dirt for hours until finally they threw the body into the darkness. After that they all went their ways…

She stayed with him.

You okay?

Dorothea slowly nodded, something about this man made her feel funny. It wasn't an unsettling feeling it was…the feeling of being safe. She understood how much he had risked saving her, now what was going to happen?

I'm fine…but could we stop soon, I need to use the bathroom.

Swann nodded before looking ahead.

Yeah me too…I'll find one as soon as I can.

Dorothea nodded before looking back out the window. Just then finally a station was picked up on the radio to be heard loud enough. Dorothea smiled before looking over at him.

I like this song…

Swann glanced over at her, faintly smiling.

You do?

Dorothea smiled, something she thought she would never do again.

It's like you.

How's that?

Well the song is about angels…you kind of saved me like one.

Swann softy smiled before looking ahead again.

Yeah right…I'm no angel.

But you saved me.

Looking over again Swann tried to smile as Dorothea looked back out the window at the passing desert.

Here we are.

Swann said as he parked the car. Dorothea squinted and saw the small gas station. Slowly getting out, she sighed with relief as her legs stretched. Swann quickly came around to her and they both began walking out back.

Okay meet you in a few minutes…

Nodding, Dorothea entered the small restroom with had dim light drifting through from the back windows. Walking across the dusty floors, she finally found a stall. Closing the door, she took a deep breath and thought of Swann again, and those beautiful blue eyes.

PHILIP!

Swann heard as he stood zipping himself up in the small men's room. Right away his heart jumped, Nix he thought and nearly fell forward into the door as he raced to Dorothea's helpless cries.

I'M COMING!

Kicking open the other restroom door, he saw her curled up against the wall, tears dripping down her face as she shook.

Breathing hard, his eyes darted around for any danger. One of Nix's followers might had come. Tracing the room, he finally saw it.

Drips of blood, a trail leading to her as she hugged herself around her knees and slowly rocked back and forth.

Dorothea?

Right away he rushed over, skidding as he kneeled down beside her. Reaching over, he touched her hot feverish hands as she wept.

What's wrong?

I'm bleeding!

She cried.

Where?

Swann then looked down again and saw where the blood was coming from. Biting his bottom lip he tried to search for the words. He really didn't know much about this stuff, and she seemed so young. Looking down he then reached over again and softly touched her face.

Shhhh…it's all right.

Dorothea glanced up before sniffling in. Swann tried to smile before shaking his head.

Your not hurt, this is supposed to happen.

Wh…what?

Swann tried to search for the right words before just shaking his head.

I think you have your period…anyone ever tell you about that?

Dorothea took a second before getting herself under control, slowly nodding she bowed her head.

I just panicked, I'm so sorry for scaring you.

You didn't…trust me.

Swann brushed away the hair that hung in her face and smiled.

Tell you what, there's a woman who's inside that store up front…I'll ask her to come in and help you out okay?

Dorothea softly laughed before Swann softly brushed his fingertips against her tear soaked cheeks. Smiling he leaned down and kissed one of them before looking at her.

Dorothea smiled.

That's was my first kiss…

Swann blushed, he couldn't believe what he was doing, it seemed like he was falling down a hole in which he couldn't escape. Fear, terror, and excitement were all pounding in his sore heart.

"She's twelve man, don't be stupid."

He told himself deep in his head, but looking at her beautiful and pure face made him feel like he really had done something good.

Swann leaned in again and this time kissed her on the lips. It was a quick kiss, closed lips and kind of awkward. But all the same it was a kiss filled with love. Dorothea giggled as Swann pulled away.

I love you Philip, I really do.

I love you too Dorothea, I won't let anything ever happen to you.

Smiling, Dorothea sat back and took a deep breath.

I'll go get that lady, wait here…

Dorothea watched him and smiled, for the first time in awhile she didn't feel scared anymore.

Excuse me?

Swann walked up to the counter where a young girl, maybe fifteen or sixteen sat reading a magazine. A small fan blowing by her from the hot sticky heat that nobody could escape. Looking around, it was a small store that people stopped by whenever they needed gas driving through. It looked as if nobody had stopped by in days. Clearing his throat, he stuffed his hands in his pockets before the girl looked up.

Yes?

Ummm…I just bought twenty worth of gas.

The girl nodded as Swann handed her a crumpled up twenty dollar bill. Swann took a second before controlling his breathing.

Ummm, could I ask you a favor?

The girl looked up again.

You see, I'm traveling with my kid sister and she just started her, well…

Ohhh…

The girl put down her magazine before standing up and walking around the counter.

I'll see if she's okay.

I'll be happy to give you money…

Swann began reaching for his wallet when the girl laughed and shook her head.

Don't worry about it hon, it's a girl thing…best you wait out in the car.

Nodding, Swann thanked the woman before watching her walk out back. A half an hour later, both walked out.

Take care honey…

Dorothea slowly nodded before getting into the car. In her hands was a brown paper bag. Right away Swann noticed she was dressed in a light colored baggy T-shirt and sweats. Mostly likely given to her by the girl. Avoiding eye contact with him, Dorothea waved to the girl as Swann started up the engine.

You okay?

Yes…

Dorothea softly said.

Pulling out, Swann sighed.

He had been thinking about dropping her off someplace. He asked earlier if she had any family…but there wasn't any. Much like him, she was completely alone. He thought someplace in the city…then glancing over at her as she clutched her brown paper bag and looked down, he thought back to that kiss.

"She's twelve…"

He tried to tell himself, but looking at her, he felt a need to protect her. There still was risk…maybe he could stop it.

Dorothea?

Yes?

Never mind…

Driving ahead, he decided he wouldn't say anything until he got a good night sleep.

The two sat inside the dinner right before dusk. It was a small place off the beat and track. A few people were sitting up at the counter, truckers mostly. Swann and Dorothea sat across from each other in a booth. The window that they were at faced the dusty parking-lot were the car was parked.

Both barley touched their food.

"That your car?" "Like do you own it?"

Swann looked up, he had been spacing out again. Looking across at her as she pointed, he looked out at the car. Nodding he looked at her.

"Yeah, bought it when I was sixteen…been fixing it up.

Dorothea stared at it before looking back at him.

"Do you have any family?"

Philip took a sip of his drink before shaking his head.

"Nope…they died when I was younger, lived on the streets for a long time."

"Before Nix found you?"

Philip slowly nodded.

"Let's not talk about that anymore, okay?"

Dorothea nodded, still picking at her food.

They sat in silence for a while, before the waitress came over with the check.

Heading back in the car again, Philip really had no idea what was next. They were arrive in Los Angles before tomorrow. He needed sleep badly now and knew they would have to check into a motel tonight.

Then what?

He really didn't know. Maybe find someplace for Dorothea to go. Someplace safe? Then another part of him felt as though she was only safe around him. He knew he could protect her in case anything happened.

But he didn't know what he was doing. Here he was, glancing at her, feeling himself go hard while she was this young twelve year old. Most likely in shock after everything she went through. It wouldn't be fair to take her with him. He knew it wasn't right his feelings.

But still…his thoughts kept going back to that kiss.