I stayed sitting on the sewer floor for a few minutes, regaining my composure as I tried to make sense out of everything that happened tonight. But, I eventually

sighed out, shaking my head as I slowly stood back up. It doesn't matter how hard I try to make sense out of something that makes no sense. I know too little right

now. All I can do is what I can, and right now I needed to get back up to the surface. I slowly made my way back to Carnegie Hall, the walk conveniently monster-

free. I suppose Eve has to remain in the area for the monsters to thrive, definitely something I should keep in mind for the future. My body feels absolutely exhausted

from all the excitement tonight, so it took me longer to get back. Once I finally arrived at the auditorium, after what felt like hours of walking, I realized that the room

wasn't in the same state I had left it. It was now occupied by the police, paramedics, and fire department as they investigated the area. When I came up onto the

stage, some of the nearby officers looked over at me, staring in shock with their mouths open. I'm not surprised, considering the state I'm in. My hair is clumpy, my

dress is tattered and stained, my body is dirty and blood-stained, and my shoes were missing. One look and anyone can tell I've had quite a night. Nonetheless, I

sighed out in relief when I saw my fellow officers, some of them running over to me as I walked down the steps. "Aya! You're a mess! Are you okay? What

happened?" they would start asking me quickly, clearly having been concerned about me. I merely smiled and shook my head. "I'm okay. I'm just really tired. I

promise all of you will know when I give my report to the Chief." I told them as I looked around the room. "Hey, is Daniel here?" I asked Mark, one of the officers. He

shook his head to my question. "No, but he'll be here soon. He's been worried about you when he found out what happened." he replied, looking around the room as if

it was an ancient ruin. "I see." I replied lightly, sighing out.

"Then, I'm gonna wait outside for Daniel..." I told them, walking slowly toward the exit. But I didn't get very far when two men, a reporter and his cameraman,

stopped in front of me. "Miss! There are rumors flying around that you're the sole survivor of this terrible ordeal! Is this correct?" the reporter asked me passionately.

I was a bit shocked when they just jumped in front of me. I thought all the reporters were being kept outside… "I..." I stuttered, unsure of what to say. Unfortunately,

we were close to the front exit, so the reporters outside heard this and quickly tried to get closer, the officers outside trying to stop them. "Hey! You need to leave!"

one of the officers told the passionate reporter, standing between him and myself as he tried to push him out, but the reporter didn't let up. "There are unconfirmed

reports that the people in here have spontaneously combusted! Is this true?" he asked, holding his mike toward me. "Until now, this combustion theory has been

acknowledged only by occult enthusiasts. Tell us, what exactly happened here? The people have a right to know!" he shouted, the other reporters seemingly being

spurred by him as they also shouted questions, their cameras all pointed at me. I was starting to feel really tired and irritated at these vultures, my head starting to

throb. "Please... just leave me alone..." I spoke out. "Buddy, you need to get out of here! Don't make me repeat myself!" one of the officers shouted, but the reporter

kept going at it. "And not to mention, that this incident took place on Christmas Eve, of all nights!" he continued fervently.

"I would like to represent the citizens of the city and interview you exclusively...!" he continued before a large, dark hand clasped him on the shoulder. The reporter

was clearly irritated by this as he turned toward the source of the hand. "I told you guys, I won't move until-", he shouted, but was cut short when a fist came

barreling into his face! The reporter fell to the concrete with a loud thud, moaning out as he looked up at his assailant in disbelief, holding his nose with his hand, a

frenzy of camera flashes surrounding them. "ARE YOU CRAZY?" he shouted out at the man standing above him, before looking at his cameraman. "Jim! Did you get

that on tape?" he shouted out. The person who hit him then bent forward to look at him closer, pointing his thumb outside. "Scram, buddy!" he told him, standing up

straight again, facing me as the other officers finally started to push the reporters back. "Sorry I'm late, Aya." the man apologized, giving me a smile. I felt a wave of

relief wash over me when I saw him, giving him a smile in kind. "Daniel..." I muttered. The man before me is an older, black man of 42. He has faded, black hair, a

bushy mustache and black eyes. He has a round body, weighing in at about 270 lbs, and is wearing a tan suit with a white undershirt and green tie. His name is Daniel

Dollis, a veteran cop of about 20 years and my partner. Because of our age difference, we're also known as the "father-daughter team". I couldn't help but smile when

Daniel was around. I was only in the police force for 6 months now, so being with him gave me confidence. I learned a lot from him, and I came to trust him with my

life, though I do admit he was kinda scary at first... I giggled at the thought, but he didn't notice, instead studying my appearance. "You okay, Aya? You're a real

mess." he told me. I smiled and nodded my head at him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." I told him. He gave me a smile and nodded his head, leading me to his car. The

reporters were taking pictures again as we passed them, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get out of here already...

We got in the police car Daniel drove and went on our way, a sigh of relief escaping my throat as I cuddled up on the passenger seat. Man, I really stink... "I'm glad

you're okay, Aya. I heard the rumors. That was really SOMETHING that happened back there..." he told me, the lights on as he drove so we could bypass all the

lights. I nodded my head, staring out the window when I looked over at him. "Yes. Oh, but my date..." I muttered, having completely forgotten about him. Daniel

started to laugh when I mentioned him. "Heard from a cop that your boyfriend ran outta there like a wuss! Haha! Err... sorry your date didn't go so well..." he started

mockingly, before apologizing, clearing his throat. I huffed when he used the word "boyfriend". "It wasn't like that!" I told him defensively. "I had him escort me 'cuz

he kept pestering me for a date." "Yeah, but the OPERA? There's a story! Ha!" Daniel replied, laughing again. "So why the opera? Is that the new 'in' thing right now?"

he asked. I shook my head, shrugging my shoulders. "I dunno... just caught my eye..." I muttered, sighing out again, looking out of the window. Daniel took a quick

look over at me before placing his eyes back on the road. "Don't tell me you were on to this case? Haha! So you finally got some cop instinct in ya, huh?" he said, his

tone light like he was proud of me. I merely stared out of the window, my eyes unfocused. "...Instinct...?" I muttered, before looking at him again. "Daniel... shouldn't

you be with your son? It's Christmas Eve..." I muttered, a frown on my face. Daniel gave a quick look at me again before sighing, shaking his head slightly. "He knows

his dad's a cop. My boy understands..." he replied lowly. I sighed to myself again, looking outside the window again as the world passed me by.

Daniel took me home shortly afterward. It's nothing special; I live in a small apartment building on the 3rd floor. All I have is a small kitchen with a small bathroom,

small dining room, and a one person bedroom. Well, for me it's enough anyway. First thing I did was get right into the shower. I moaned out in ecstasy when the hot

water hit my skin, the dried blood and grime falling off of my body. It felt like I haven't showered in ages! I worked to clean all the grime from my hair, the soap

lathered on my body fighting off the putrid stench that followed me home. As I stood in the shower, the water falling on my face, my thoughts turned once again on

Eve and everything that happened tonight. I looked down at my side where Eve had shot me with the laser, passing my fingers across where a hole should still be, but

not even a scar was left. I then looked down at my wrist that was cut by the glass, but that wound was gone too. How did my wounds heal like that? This never

happened to me before... And that orange light that surrounded me and my body getting hot. What was happening to me? And who's that little girl who keeps

disappearing?

Even if you don't understand, don't worry. Your mitochondria will... they've always known...

I'm going to give you some time... some time to think and some time to evolve... And the day will arrive when you will finally... AWAKEN...

Eve's words rang through my head like as if she was in this shower with me, reciting them over and over again. "When I will awaken...? Mitochondria...? What does

she mean...?" I muttered to myself, feeling frustrated again. "JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT, EVE!" I shouted out angrily, huffing slightly from the effort, the sound of

the shower my only response.

I got out of the shower and slipped on my underwear and a long shirt, walking over to my bed and falling face first into it, my face sinking into my pillow. Oh, this feels

so good! I moaned out again in ecstasy, turning to lie on my back, looking up into the darkness that surrounded me. Before I realized it, I fell asleep.