Sorry it took so long. The next one will probably take even longer. This is because I need to study up on the peculiar world and find teensy little facts that are crucial to the story. And it is truly a pain to do.

You know, I just have to keep working with Evan and Tamara. I've got plans for them. More to come!

I could smell more syndrigasti. I could see them, too. They were walking in the streets next to everyday people, going about their business.

It was horrible, watching them, knowing that my leaders would find them soon. I headed in the opposite direction.

Was there a way to save them? I didn't know. But if there was, I would get them in the end anyway. My brain could not hold out against the Hollowgast.

So I had to… cure myself, or something. There was no other option.

"Hollowgast. We have a job for you."

I glanced up, startled, and saw a human man looking straight at me. He had no pupils.

By his smell, I could tell that he was one of the leaders. Not human. Demon in disguise.

"We will give you a chance to redeem yourself. All you have to do is come with me. We are tracking a particularly large group of syndrigasti. You have the chance to help."

He said this like it was some great honor. I bared my teeth, but as a monster I found it appealing. Yes. I would help.

"Good," he said. "Now follow me."

He strode away. I loped after him. Maybe it would be good. I could try and sabotage whatever they were planning. I knew that was impossible, but I was desperately trying to think of something.

I paused. What if I could get those poor syndrigasti to help me, the ones the leader was speaking of?

I dismissed that theory. How could they do anything? It wasn't like they could talk to monsters. Plus, I doubted they would be likely to help me when I would be about to eat them.

That was another worry. I still needed Food. What would happen when I confronted a large group of it?

I shook my head and tried to pull away from the leader. But I knew that I couldn't. I had to listen to the higher-ups.

He glared at me, and I sped up to his pace.

Other POV

Evan didn't want to go towards the Hollowgast. He wanted to get as far away from it as possible.

But Tamara was set in her ways. She dragged him out of their broken apartment and up the crowded street.

"There's a loop around here. You know what that is," she coaxed, picking up the pace.

"I don't care," he complained. "Besides, there's a reason we didn't join when they asked us to."

Tamara rolled her eyes. "But if the Hollow knows where we are," she emphasized, "then it could track us down at any moment. Loops are safer by far."

Evan sighed but followed her down the street. What had she gotten them into?

"Here we are!" she said cheerfully. "Miss Canary's loop!"

They were far away from the heart of the city. Suburban living was just a few miles away.

But where they were now, nothing looked happy. Buildings were falling apart, and only a couple stores were still in business.

One abandoned house contained the loop. Tamara led the way past all the others, until they stopped at an average-looking one, seemingly no different from the others. The two kids entered the building, mindful of the falling plaster.

Suddenly, the broken and deteriorated room fixed itself. Crumbling walls became shiny and new, and furniture restored to its early colors. Evan knew that was what entering a loop was like, but he was still in awe as the smashed light fixture glowed brightly and welcomingly.

It immediately became apparent that something was wrong. Miss Canary's usually cheerful wards were nowhere to be found.

"Miss Canary?" Tamara yelled into the house. She peered around the corner into a furnished living space. "Miss Canary!"

"Where do you think –?" Evan started, but at that moment, they heard speaking.

It was coming from somewhere in another room, maybe a basement, because it was muffled. But both kids could tell that the speaker was loud and angry. And his voice was steadily growing closer.

Evan motioned frantically for Tamara to duck down. They crawled behind a cheery recliner by the fireplace.

"…Get them and take them outta here. We've got to get them back, and then we transport the ymbryne to the location," someone was saying. His voice was rough and sent shivers up the kids' spines.

"Yeah," said an equally rough voice. "Call the team. We're all set."

The two men came into view then, but there were other people with them. Smaller people.

"Miss Canary's children!" Tamara gasped. Evan shushed her.

The first man prodded the line of children with something. Evan shifted to see and inhaled sharply. It was a gun.

"Stop," sobbed one of the children. "Please."

The second man only laughed. "Don't waste your breath, little one," he said. "We've got plans for you."

Evan and Tamara had seconds before the children were taken for good. And then they would be discovered.

So Evan, on impulse, jumped out from behind the recliner and bellowed, "HOWDY THERE!" Not wasting time, he body slammed the man with the gun.

With an "oof!" the man tumbled down, and Tamara used the opportunity to snatch his gun.

Shaking, she pointed it at the second man.

He got over his shock fast. Drawing out a second pistol from his coat, he pointed it at her. "Don't move. Or I'll shoot you in the head faster than you can kill me."

Meanwhile, Evan tumbled down with the first man. "So you're a Wight," he grunted, rolling over him. "I expected you to be more… eyeless."

The Wight glared at him, kneeing him in the stomach. "Contacts, don't you know? I'm so glad you decided to join the party."

Evan sucked in air, feeling like he was a fish gasping for air. But he couldn't let the Wight get the upper hand. He pinwheeled his arms in the air, struggling with it as it fought to get out from under him.

At that moment, something flew through the air and struck the Wight in the head. It was a lucky shot, one in a thousand, since they were flailing so much on the ground. But the Wight was immediately knocked unconscious.

Evan looked at the object. It was a bowling ball.

He sat up, panting and inspecting his bruises. "Thanks," he said, looking up for his angel.

One of the kids in the handcuffed line smiled at him. "No, thank you," she whispered.

Evan glanced around for Tamara, but he didn't have to look far.

She was standing a few yards away from the second Wight, pointing a gun at its head.