• “Alexis. Alexis! It’s me,” Max shook her arm to stop her from screaming. When she did and her heart had slowed down a bit, his expression was stern. “What the hell are you doing out here! I told you never to leave the house!”
    “I-I just-“
    Suddenly she was cut off by an echoing, bloodcurdling howl.
    Max cursed. “Come on, we have to get out of here.” He took her hand and pulled along, almost dragging her. Her legs felt like jelly and felt like they would give beneath her weight any second. Detecting her distress, he urgently picked her up and was off and moving again quickly. She glanced at the horizon and noticed the sun would be rising soon.
    She had barely enough time to relax as Max carried her before she heard him gasp in pain as he fell to the ground, bringing her with him, but somehow managing to not get her hurt that badly. She looked at the attacker and instantly identified it as one of the ones that had attacked her earlier.
    Max was on his feet in less than a second as the demon came to attack her. Charging right back at it, he hit the flying demon square in the face, pushing him back a good two yards. He struggled to get out his pistol quickly enough as it came at them again. Luckily, he just managed to pull the trigger as it was about to attack him. With the momentum, the lifeless carcass hit Max in the chest and sent him to the ground.
    With a grunt, he pushed the dead demon off and got to his feet again. She only then noticed what the demon had done to him when it had attacked him from behind. Five long, bloody gashes streaked across his back, stretching from his right shoulder to his left hip.
    “Oh my god, you’re hurt,” She said, a little concerned.
    “Don’t worry about me, I’ve taken worse. Besides, I know how to handle myself out here. You don’t. Now come on.” He said, helping her to her feet.
    She really couldn’t argue with him on that point. How she had survived for two years was strictly luck. Some how finding the strength to walk again, she followed him all the way home with no more interruptions. By the time they got there, the sun was already high in the sky and Ryan could be seen in front of the window, waiting.
    “Where were you Alexis?” He asked as he hugged her when she came in.
    “I was just going for a little walk,” She said, hugging him back. “Now I need some sleep.” She let go of her brother and began walking to their bedroom. Max was not far behind her since his was on the same floor, she knew.
    Looking back at him, she smiled. “Thanks. For everything.” She said.
    “Your welcome,” He murmured softly as he left to his own room.
    Back in her own room, she snuggled under the covers and drifted off to sleep. Finally.


    “Hi, Angel,” Her father said as he hugged her. 16 years old and he never got tired of giving her endearment names.
    “Hi Dad,” She replied as she pulled away from the hug. Usually he seemed like the happiest man on Earth. Now however, he seemed a little shaken. “I got to go do my homework.” She said as she ran upstairs and pulled out her notebook. From downstairs, she could vaguely hear her mother and father discussing something. And they sounded scared.
    “ . . . When they come.” She heard her father say.
    The date was- . . .


    She woke with a start. She had just stumbled upon a revelation in her sleep. The date had been December 16, 2012, only five days before the demons had come. She couldn’t believe it, but knew it in her gut that it was true.
    Her parents had known the demons were going to come.