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Riot: The afterward

Hello,

Even though I am not around anymore, I felt it would be good to share the story of what happened after the whole mess that occurred not too long ago inside a Washington mall.

It certainly changed a lot of lives. In fact, I think everybody came out of it with something new in life.

Most of them, however, came out with nothing, as there were many terrible deaths, but surprisingly, there were a few good points in the lives of some. I'm sure you're curious to see what has happened to everyone? I'll start with one of the most upbeat vampires I have ever met. Of course, you can tell what changed in his life…

Lucas, still limping slightly, walked with Alexa down the sidewalk towards his house. Once he found out that Alexa didn't actually have a place to live—which was part of the reason she was at the mall in the first place, was her pondering over where to live, Lucas said that she could stay with him for now, as they had a spare bedroom from when his sister moved out.

Their walk became a quicker pace when they didn't see his house up ahead. Instead of a house, they stood in front of a pile of random broken and burnt pieces of what it used to be.

"… What the hell?" He stared at it, and only a few moments later, a car pulled up behind them. A lady—blond haired and blue eyed, looking quite like Lucas, quickly got out.

"Lucas! Where have you been?" She pulled him into a hug, smushing him. "I've been worried as shit."

"Cali? What—what happened?" He had to push her off to get her warm skin away from him.

"Ah—well…" Cali suddenly frowned, looking unhappy. "The story I heard was that uh… while you were gone, in the middle of the night… the house caught on fire… and mom and dad… I guess they didn't wake up quickly enough…"

Lucas was frozen, staring ahead of him. He felt number than he had before.

"… They're dead?"

Cali nodded slowly. "I'm sorry… ah, this is going to be a bad question… but do you want me to drive you to your friend Matt's house?" Lucas glanced at her, confused. "Well… I'd offer for you to stay at my place… but my landlord would kill me… and you don't want to be living with two girls anyway, right?"

Lucas was about to respond, but he paused. "… Didn't you say you lived with your boyfriend Nick?"

She bit her lip. "Ah… well that's what I said, but..." Getting another confused glance, she explained. "Yeah… uh… well I didn't actually move out… mom and dad kinda kicked me out when I told them I was a lesbian. They didn't really like that, and they didn't want you to be gay too. As if it's like, contagious." She chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "So I wasn't allowed to tell you… Nick is Nicky."

He nodded slightly. "… Oookay then… uh… yeah… so you'll just take us to Matt's?"

"Sure."

They then started off in their half depressing and half awkward car drive to the large house which Matt lived in, consisting mostly of Lucas trying to get a hold on everything that was now different in his life.

This isn't the end to Lucas's story; but he'll reappear, don't worry. For now, I'll start on Matt's.

Matt, knowing his house wasn't too far from where the mall had previously been, decided to walk home. Even though it had begun to drizzle rain again, and he felt weak, and he wasn't sure of his ability to turn into a dragon anymore, he appreciated the thinking time before he got home.

As much as he wanted to see his family, and know they're okay, and not worrying like they always do, he thought it might be good to have a straight story first. And his sanity.

He walked, hands in pockets, and a strange sight for anyone who may have seen him. Tall and pale, wet black hair hanging in his face, jeans covered in black and red splatters and rips, and no shirt, but instead a bandage around his chest and his shoulder, and, Kay had been nice enough to bandage his upper right arm so that when he got home, he didn't have to explain the scar his uncle had given him seven years ago.

How he was still walking, he didn't really know. It wasn't as though Kay had made him have more energy. But something about the feeling of freedom, and the rain on his face made the trip home easier.

It was impossible for his eyes to not have caught the signs on his way home. The many signs that were put up everywhere, their ink smearing from the rain, taped and stapled to trees, telephone polls, walls, anything that would attract attention. And oh, they attracted his attention just fine.

Each of them had a picture, and a description. Short and to the point, as any good missing sign should be. He knew all the faces on them, even though they were beginning to smudge and fall off.

Cassandra Kalia, Shayne Campbell, David Barker, Whitney Angeline, Kimberly Page, Lucas Jones, and—

He sighed. Matt Keller.

Yeah, they worried.

They were all people that lived nearby—and he guessed, their parents had put these up. He wasn't seeing the names of the adults that were in there.

Or… even though he looked, he didn't see any posters looking for Jay.

Did Jay have a last name? I wonder…

He guessed nobody really knew the angel personally… He seemed more so the type who would just do well needed acts of kindness for everyone.

So everyone knew him… but nobody knew he went missing…

Although… it made him wonder if Jay had a family. He had a brother, but did angels have parents? Where were they? Did angels even live in homes? They must…

Would they live in Heaven though? Never really thought there was one… but maybe there is… or maybe they just live in the clouds, or…

He let out a sigh, wishing he had a chance to ask the angel more questions. He was curious.

Before he got the chance to let his mind wander further about Jay's death, how completely unfair it was, and how he wished he could have done something, there was an arm on his shoulder, pulling him between two buildings and into the forest. He winced, as it was the shoulder that was stabbed earlier.

"Where have you been?" Hissed his uncle. Matt resisted the urge to chuckle, now realizing that for once since he started his training, his uncle truly hadn't known where he was.

"Out of your sight, apparently. Look, I haven't had the most fantastic week. Just let me go home." Matt snapped back, even though he knew well, that the absolute last thing his uncle would do is pity Matt.

He was about to smack him across the face, when his uncle seemed to notice that Matt was injured. And it wasn't his fault.

"What have you been fighting?" Guy growled, then looked down, noticed Matt's hand, and grabbed it. He stared at the symbol for a few moments, before glaring at Matt's face again, not bothering to make him answer his last question so that he could replace it with another.

"Where did you get that?"

Matt stared back. I really have to explain myself to this dumbass?

"What have you been doing with the Elites?" Guy continued to question.

"I was fighting with some vampire named Cruz. Happy?" Matt half sneered.

His uncle actually looked surprise—and for once, not with anger. "Cruz? The Elite leader?"

"No. The Elites broke up or something."

"Did you kill him?"

"No, he went away."

His uncle snorted, glaring down at him. "I dunno how you're alive, boy, but you're stupid as hell. I don't know how many times I've told you not to get close to vampires. Ever. They're long range only, and it seems like you got pretty damn close."

He eyed Matt's bandages. Matt didn't meet his eyes, he wasn't in the mood. He really just wanted to go home.

"… You're off." His uncle said suspiciously.

"Gee, thanks."

"Cut the crap, kid. Stupid vamp did somethin'."

"Fantastic. Can I go?"

Guy didn't answer him, he merely grabbed his mop of wet hair, and stared at his face. Matt returned his stare with an annoyed glare.

"… Where's the dragon part of you?"

"I dunno."

"Don't be stupid. What happened?"

"Something about a soul, I don't know, when are you gonna be done? I should get home."

"Shut up. He probably took the dragon half of your soul. Tch. What a vampire move." Matt had a feeling that his uncle had a disliking for vampires.

"… Kay." Matt acted casual, hoping it would get his uncle off his back. His uncle let go of his hair—or, more so, half throwing him backward before letting go.

"It'll come back in about a week. Just have to practice you fully changing… all over again." Guy growled the last bit. Matt ignored it.

"… Right. Well, I'm gonna go."

Guy snorted. "Fine. You're worthless to me right now, anyway."

Spinning on his heel, Matt turned back for the sidewalk, aware of his uncle's eyes on him as he left. He was more relieved once out of sight.

It was nice to know that he wouldn't be without his dragonyness in a week. But for now, it was weird knowing that he couldn't do it. As though he needed to confirm again, he looked down at his fingers, pale, and the tips each having a small bandage around them. Kay felt it was necessary, as most of the skin was burned off.

They tensed, but remained human, and he sighed. Huh, forgot what it was like to not be able to just become a dragon…

Shivering, and wishing Kay hadn't taken his shirt—even though it had been in shreds, he walked in the direction of his house again, absent-mindedly reading the descriptions of the missing person posters.

He noticed Lucas's said he was sixteen, raising an eyebrow. … His parents forgot his age?

Rolling his eyes, he continued strolling down the street, enjoying the feeling of the rain on his skin as he looked at the various missing person posters. The closer he got to his house, the more he saw of himself.

He noticed another Lucas poster that said seventeen, and it had a different picture, and a different font. The same font used on his.

… Did Celery make missing posters for him too?

He then came across one of Whitney, and after a moment… it occurred to him that he hadn't seen her outside the mall. In fact, at least halfway through the fight, he hadn't seen her at all. Almost as though she had disappeared. … Did she die? I didn't even notice… I hope Lucas is alright.

Before he knew it, he was on his way up the driveway towards his home. He could faintly hear the piano playing inside. Huh, Tom must be playing…

His aching limbs were nearly screaming at him to sit the hell down as he got to the door. He reached for the doorknob, but the moment the tips of his fingers touched it, the door was yanked open, and he suddenly had a very short twelve year old wrapped around his waist.

"Maaatt where have you been!" She cried, half muffled by his bandages.

"Are you okay?" His brother asked from over the girl.

"'M fine," Matt chuckled, patting his sister's head and pretending her very tight hug didn't hurt.

"You're soaking wet—get inside." Eliza grabbed his wrist to pull him inside. He let her pull him, but he clenched his fist to hide the marking on it.

He fell onto the couch when Eliza let go, Celery conveniently let go just as he fell.

A woman, perhaps in her fifties, her hair was slightly curly and was a mousy brown. Her face was wrinkling, but it was full of relief.

"We've been so worried. Where were you?" She asked, frowning at his many bandages. But then again, it wasn't unlikely for Matt to come home in bandages…

"I was uh…" Matt met Celery's eyes for a second before quickly looking away—she knew when he was about to lie. "Kidnapped I think… I don't really remember anything."

"That's terrible!" She gasped. "I'm so glad you're okay. I'll get started on dinner, you must be hungry."

He hadn't noticed that he was, but he was grateful as his adopted mother went back to the kitchen. Celery plopped down next to him, head near his ear.

"You'll tell me later, won't you?"

Matt nodded slightly, and she bounced off upstairs as though to find something. Then, there was a knock at the door. Nancy hurried out of the kitchen to get it.

Opening the door, Matt was surprised to see Lucas, Alexa, and Lucas's sister, who Matt had only met a few times, but he hadn't seen her since she moved out.

"Oh thank god, I'm glad to see Lucas is okay." Nancy sighed with relief. "What's wrong?"

"Ah… well…" Cali frowned. "Our parents died in a fire, and I can't take them in. Alexa's parents kicked her out."

It took Matt a moment to realize that Alexa was lying; her parents were likely long gone, she easily outlived them by now. She just didn't have a home at the moment.

"Oh—I'm so sorry! We can take them in, there's always room here." Nancy offered quickly. Matt knew her well enough, that she would happily take anyone in who had nowhere else to go. And at the drop of a hat, too.

Matt pushed himself to his feet—despite his body protesting—as Nancy let the three in. Lucas had his hands in his hoodie pockets, not very much looking like himself.

"Oh, won't you stay for dinner?" Nancy offered.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I hate to throw kids on you and run, but I really need to get going. I'll just say good-bye to Lucas and go." Cali said, nearly putting a hand on Lucas's shoulder, but then thinking better of it as she spotted a few burn marks on his chest.

"Oh—alright, I'll um, get started on dinner." Nancy hurried off to the kitchen again.

Cali brushed a hand through Lucas's hair—for the first time since she was kicked out, she did it without her parents glaring at her for touching him. "I'm sorry, Lucas… I hope you'll be okay…"

"What's wrong, Lucas?" Celery frowned as she bounced down the stairs, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Ah… I'm okay. I'll tell you later…" Lucas gave her a smile, although looking at him; it was easy to tell that he was not very okay.

And with that, Cali said her goodbyes again, thanked Nancy endlessly for taking him in on such short notice, and then, Lucas and Alexa lived in the Keller house. Nancy had tried to find them a place on the couch, or somewhere comfortable, even offering to give up her own room. But in the end, Lucas and Alexa insisted they could both sleep in the basement—even though neither of them actually slept.

Jupiter, who was only two or three miles away, went on with her life the way it was before. Only with more of a skip in her step, and she was able to look a lot less tired than she was, as she could actually sleep properly now. The scratches on her face healed just fine. Lanna didn't seem to scratch deeply.

Lulu had taken Kim to see her family one last time. Her family was sitting in the living room, her mother crying, and her dad trying to be strong for her mother, and not cry. They had called everyone they knew, and practically every kid and parent in the school, but no one had seen or heard from Kim.

They had tried going to the mall, because they were going everywhere that their daughter might have gone, but a few pale, shady looking people turned them away, saying they were doing construction.

Lulu patted Kim as she cried, seeing her parents and her relatives all gathering to look for her. And her goat, who had sat in the corner of his pen, and refused to move or eat. Not without his girl.

And then, Lulu had to leave Kim. She wanted to be there for the poor girl when the Reaper took her, but she couldn't let herself be taken, so as selfish as she felt, she left.

A black hooded creature, which was invisible to all living, came and took her by the arm. She caught a glance of their face, noticing this one looked somewhat human—maybe distantly human, but with pointed ears, and white skin with blackness around their eyes. Their eyes were black, with white irises and no pupils. Its face had markings to look like a skeleton, but it had very straight black with a few white streaks hair that went just past its chin, some of it hanging in its face. All of its teeth were pointed, and cold, blackish breath came from its mouth whenever it opened it.

"Come," he murmured—at least, she thought it was a he. His voice was dark, and his hands were white and boney, the fingernails black and pointed. She shuddered. Even though she was sure she wasn't supposed to feel the difference between hot and cold as a ghost, the Reaper's presence made her feel like she had just swallowed a ton of icy water.

"Do not be afraid, little one." He whispered as he gently pulled her higher and higher into the sky. Despite it being light out, as they came nearer to the clouds, it seemed to become darker, and she got more tired, until…

"Goodbye, child."

And with that, they were gone. The Reapers are a scary last sight to see, but in truth, they are very kind creatures, but they have seen so much death, their own lives have been sucked from them. Nobody envies their job.

Another person, who unfortunately met a Reaper, was Cassandra. The young witch had no idea that the spell Shades had put on her was one that caused slow internal bleeding. Just after coming home to her parents, she collapsed, and never rose again.

As Daffy had lived with Cassandra—and without her parents knowing, Daffy couldn't turn into a normal sized human, and she was stuck as a fairy, making it difficult for her to contact Gary with Cassandra's phone.

But she did, Gary took her in, telling her that as soon as he went to the village of fairies again to trade for their different powders and syrups that only the fairies knew how to make, he would take her with him.

Daffy wasn't the only one Gary was kind enough to take into his small home. He had no idea what to do with Ava, but he took her in anyways, and began doing research on her species. Discovering that she would do whatever he told her, he merely showed her a picture of a lamp, told her that's what she was, and now there she sits on Gary's desk while he tries to figure out what to do with her.

Jessie went home, telling her father that she was on a really intense hunt, and the creature broke her phone. He believed her, and patted her on the head, telling her it was okay that it got away. Hunters can have their off days.

Apep, Erin, and Katherine left, all on their way back home, and away from the remains of the mall.

And the Elites… well, they're no more. Most of them separated—some went with each other, and others wandered on their own. The majority of them are just trying to figure out where they belong now. It's a sad thing to not know where to go, or where it seems right to be. They're confused, and don't have their families that they had before changing anymore. Cruz took them all away from their places.

And Cruz, he's disappeared to ponder over his own thoughts, and what's happened in his life, and where he's going now. Wanted posters have appeared around the magical cities—all with his name. The magical law enforcers were of course, furious to find out he was still alive, just under a different name, and now they're determined to catch him—hopefully alive, because even though none would like to admit it as it may hurt their reputation, they would love to torture him.

But, mainly, he knew if they caught him, it would end in death. So for now, he hides, just wanting to be away to think.

As for me, well… I'm not really here anymore. I always knew my brother would kill me. He now sits, somewhere in the world, engulfed by anger and confusion and mourning. It is a tragedy to kill an angel.

But, in a way, I am still here. Just not particularly visible, but perhaps one day I will have enough strength to come back as a human once more. I am always where I am needed.

After all, everything happens for a reason.

Description
Riot: The afterward

Hello,

Even though I am not around anymore, I felt it would be good to share the story of what happened after the whole mess that occurred not too long ago inside a Washington mall.

It certainly changed a lot of lives. In fact, I think everybody came out of it with something new in life.

Most of them, however, came out with nothing, as there were many terrible deaths, but surprisingly, there were a few good points in the lives of some. I'm sure you're curious to see what has happened to everyone? I'll start with one of the most upbeat vampires I have ever met. Of course, you can tell what changed in his life…

Lucas, still limping slightly, walked with Alexa down the sidewalk towards his house. Once he found out that Alexa didn't actually have a place to live—which was part of the reason she was at the mall in the first place, was her pondering over where to live, Lucas said that she could stay with him for now, as they had a spare bedroom from when his sister moved out.

Their walk became a quicker pace when they didn't see his house up ahead. Instead of a house, they stood in front of a pile of random broken and burnt pieces of what it used to be.

"… What the hell?" He stared at it, and only a few moments later, a car pulled up behind them. A lady—blond haired and blue eyed, looking quite like Lucas, quickly got out.

"Lucas! Where have you been?" She pulled him into a hug, smushing him. "I've been worried as shit."

"Cali? What—what happened?" He had to push her off to get her warm skin away from him.

"Ah—well…" Cali suddenly frowned, looking unhappy. "The story I heard was that uh… while you were gone, in the middle of the night… the house caught on fire… and mom and dad… I guess they didn't wake up quickly enough…"

Lucas was frozen, staring ahead of him. He felt number than he had before.

"… They're dead?"

Cali nodded slowly. "I'm sorry… ah, this is going to be a bad question… but do you want me to drive you to your friend Matt's house?" Lucas glanced at her, confused. "Well… I'd offer for you to stay at my place… but my landlord would kill me… and you don't want to be living with two girls anyway, right?"

Lucas was about to respond, but he paused. "… Didn't you say you lived with your boyfriend Nick?"

She bit her lip. "Ah… well that's what I said, but..." Getting another confused glance, she explained. "Yeah… uh… well I didn't actually move out… mom and dad kinda kicked me out when I told them I was a lesbian. They didn't really like that, and they didn't want you to be gay too. As if it's like, contagious." She chuckled lightly, rubbing the back of her neck. "So I wasn't allowed to tell you… Nick is Nicky."

He nodded slightly. "… Oookay then… uh… yeah… so you'll just take us to Matt's?"

"Sure."

They then started off in their half depressing and half awkward car drive to the large house which Matt lived in, consisting mostly of Lucas trying to get a hold on everything that was now different in his life.

This isn't the end to Lucas's story; but he'll reappear, don't worry. For now, I'll start on Matt's.

Matt, knowing his house wasn't too far from where the mall had previously been, decided to walk home. Even though it had begun to drizzle rain again, and he felt weak, and he wasn't sure of his ability to turn into a dragon anymore, he appreciated the thinking time before he got home.

As much as he wanted to see his family, and know they're okay, and not worrying like they always do, he thought it might be good to have a straight story first. And his sanity.

He walked, hands in pockets, and a strange sight for anyone who may have seen him. Tall and pale, wet black hair hanging in his face, jeans covered in black and red splatters and rips, and no shirt, but instead a bandage around his chest and his shoulder, and, Kay had been nice enough to bandage his upper right arm so that when he got home, he didn't have to explain the scar his uncle had given him seven years ago.

How he was still walking, he didn't really know. It wasn't as though Kay had made him have more energy. But something about the feeling of freedom, and the rain on his face made the trip home easier.

It was impossible for his eyes to not have caught the signs on his way home. The many signs that were put up everywhere, their ink smearing from the rain, taped and stapled to trees, telephone polls, walls, anything that would attract attention. And oh, they attracted his attention just fine.

Each of them had a picture, and a description. Short and to the point, as any good missing sign should be. He knew all the faces on them, even though they were beginning to smudge and fall off.

Cassandra Kalia, Shayne Campbell, David Barker, Whitney Angeline, Kimberly Page, Lucas Jones, and—

He sighed. Matt Keller.

Yeah, they worried.

They were all people that lived nearby—and he guessed, their parents had put these up. He wasn't seeing the names of the adults that were in there.

Or… even though he looked, he didn't see any posters looking for Jay.

Did Jay have a last name? I wonder…

He guessed nobody really knew the angel personally… He seemed more so the type who would just do well needed acts of kindness for everyone.

So everyone knew him… but nobody knew he went missing…

Although… it made him wonder if Jay had a family. He had a brother, but did angels have parents? Where were they? Did angels even live in homes? They must…

Would they live in Heaven though? Never really thought there was one… but maybe there is… or maybe they just live in the clouds, or…

He let out a sigh, wishing he had a chance to ask the angel more questions. He was curious.

Before he got the chance to let his mind wander further about Jay's death, how completely unfair it was, and how he wished he could have done something, there was an arm on his shoulder, pulling him between two buildings and into the forest. He winced, as it was the shoulder that was stabbed earlier.

"Where have you been?" Hissed his uncle. Matt resisted the urge to chuckle, now realizing that for once since he started his training, his uncle truly hadn't known where he was.

"Out of your sight, apparently. Look, I haven't had the most fantastic week. Just let me go home." Matt snapped back, even though he knew well, that the absolute last thing his uncle would do is pity Matt.

He was about to smack him across the face, when his uncle seemed to notice that Matt was injured. And it wasn't his fault.

"What have you been fighting?" Guy growled, then looked down, noticed Matt's hand, and grabbed it. He stared at the symbol for a few moments, before glaring at Matt's face again, not bothering to make him answer his last question so that he could replace it with another.

"Where did you get that?"

Matt stared back. I really have to explain myself to this dumbass?

"What have you been doing with the Elites?" Guy continued to question.

"I was fighting with some vampire named Cruz. Happy?" Matt half sneered.

His uncle actually looked surprise—and for once, not with anger. "Cruz? The Elite leader?"

"No. The Elites broke up or something."

"Did you kill him?"

"No, he went away."

His uncle snorted, glaring down at him. "I dunno how you're alive, boy, but you're stupid as hell. I don't know how many times I've told you not to get close to vampires. Ever. They're long range only, and it seems like you got pretty damn close."

He eyed Matt's bandages. Matt didn't meet his eyes, he wasn't in the mood. He really just wanted to go home.

"… You're off." His uncle said suspiciously.

"Gee, thanks."

"Cut the crap, kid. Stupid vamp did somethin'."

"Fantastic. Can I go?"

Guy didn't answer him, he merely grabbed his mop of wet hair, and stared at his face. Matt returned his stare with an annoyed glare.

"… Where's the dragon part of you?"

"I dunno."

"Don't be stupid. What happened?"

"Something about a soul, I don't know, when are you gonna be done? I should get home."

"Shut up. He probably took the dragon half of your soul. Tch. What a vampire move." Matt had a feeling that his uncle had a disliking for vampires.

"… Kay." Matt acted casual, hoping it would get his uncle off his back. His uncle let go of his hair—or, more so, half throwing him backward before letting go.

"It'll come back in about a week. Just have to practice you fully changing… all over again." Guy growled the last bit. Matt ignored it.

"… Right. Well, I'm gonna go."

Guy snorted. "Fine. You're worthless to me right now, anyway."

Spinning on his heel, Matt turned back for the sidewalk, aware of his uncle's eyes on him as he left. He was more relieved once out of sight.

It was nice to know that he wouldn't be without his dragonyness in a week. But for now, it was weird knowing that he couldn't do it. As though he needed to confirm again, he looked down at his fingers, pale, and the tips each having a small bandage around them. Kay felt it was necessary, as most of the skin was burned off.

They tensed, but remained human, and he sighed. Huh, forgot what it was like to not be able to just become a dragon…

Shivering, and wishing Kay hadn't taken his shirt—even though it had been in shreds, he walked in the direction of his house again, absent-mindedly reading the descriptions of the missing person posters.

He noticed Lucas's said he was sixteen, raising an eyebrow. … His parents forgot his age?

Rolling his eyes, he continued strolling down the street, enjoying the feeling of the rain on his skin as he looked at the various missing person posters. The closer he got to his house, the more he saw of himself.

He noticed another Lucas poster that said seventeen, and it had a different picture, and a different font. The same font used on his.

… Did Celery make missing posters for him too?

He then came across one of Whitney, and after a moment… it occurred to him that he hadn't seen her outside the mall. In fact, at least halfway through the fight, he hadn't seen her at all. Almost as though she had disappeared. … Did she die? I didn't even notice… I hope Lucas is alright.

Before he knew it, he was on his way up the driveway towards his home. He could faintly hear the piano playing inside. Huh, Tom must be playing…

His aching limbs were nearly screaming at him to sit the hell down as he got to the door. He reached for the doorknob, but the moment the tips of his fingers touched it, the door was yanked open, and he suddenly had a very short twelve year old wrapped around his waist.

"Maaatt where have you been!" She cried, half muffled by his bandages.

"Are you okay?" His brother asked from over the girl.

"'M fine," Matt chuckled, patting his sister's head and pretending her very tight hug didn't hurt.

"You're soaking wet—get inside." Eliza grabbed his wrist to pull him inside. He let her pull him, but he clenched his fist to hide the marking on it.

He fell onto the couch when Eliza let go, Celery conveniently let go just as he fell.

A woman, perhaps in her fifties, her hair was slightly curly and was a mousy brown. Her face was wrinkling, but it was full of relief.

"We've been so worried. Where were you?" She asked, frowning at his many bandages. But then again, it wasn't unlikely for Matt to come home in bandages…

"I was uh…" Matt met Celery's eyes for a second before quickly looking away—she knew when he was about to lie. "Kidnapped I think… I don't really remember anything."

"That's terrible!" She gasped. "I'm so glad you're okay. I'll get started on dinner, you must be hungry."

He hadn't noticed that he was, but he was grateful as his adopted mother went back to the kitchen. Celery plopped down next to him, head near his ear.

"You'll tell me later, won't you?"

Matt nodded slightly, and she bounced off upstairs as though to find something. Then, there was a knock at the door. Nancy hurried out of the kitchen to get it.

Opening the door, Matt was surprised to see Lucas, Alexa, and Lucas's sister, who Matt had only met a few times, but he hadn't seen her since she moved out.

"Oh thank god, I'm glad to see Lucas is okay." Nancy sighed with relief. "What's wrong?"

"Ah… well…" Cali frowned. "Our parents died in a fire, and I can't take them in. Alexa's parents kicked her out."

It took Matt a moment to realize that Alexa was lying; her parents were likely long gone, she easily outlived them by now. She just didn't have a home at the moment.

"Oh—I'm so sorry! We can take them in, there's always room here." Nancy offered quickly. Matt knew her well enough, that she would happily take anyone in who had nowhere else to go. And at the drop of a hat, too.

Matt pushed himself to his feet—despite his body protesting—as Nancy let the three in. Lucas had his hands in his hoodie pockets, not very much looking like himself.

"Oh, won't you stay for dinner?" Nancy offered.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I hate to throw kids on you and run, but I really need to get going. I'll just say good-bye to Lucas and go." Cali said, nearly putting a hand on Lucas's shoulder, but then thinking better of it as she spotted a few burn marks on his chest.

"Oh—alright, I'll um, get started on dinner." Nancy hurried off to the kitchen again.

Cali brushed a hand through Lucas's hair—for the first time since she was kicked out, she did it without her parents glaring at her for touching him. "I'm sorry, Lucas… I hope you'll be okay…"

"What's wrong, Lucas?" Celery frowned as she bounced down the stairs, looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Ah… I'm okay. I'll tell you later…" Lucas gave her a smile, although looking at him; it was easy to tell that he was not very okay.

And with that, Cali said her goodbyes again, thanked Nancy endlessly for taking him in on such short notice, and then, Lucas and Alexa lived in the Keller house. Nancy had tried to find them a place on the couch, or somewhere comfortable, even offering to give up her own room. But in the end, Lucas and Alexa insisted they could both sleep in the basement—even though neither of them actually slept.

Jupiter, who was only two or three miles away, went on with her life the way it was before. Only with more of a skip in her step, and she was able to look a lot less tired than she was, as she could actually sleep properly now. The scratches on her face healed just fine. Lanna didn't seem to scratch deeply.

Lulu had taken Kim to see her family one last time. Her family was sitting in the living room, her mother crying, and her dad trying to be strong for her mother, and not cry. They had called everyone they knew, and practically every kid and parent in the school, but no one had seen or heard from Kim.

They had tried going to the mall, because they were going everywhere that their daughter might have gone, but a few pale, shady looking people turned them away, saying they were doing construction.

Lulu patted Kim as she cried, seeing her parents and her relatives all gathering to look for her. And her goat, who had sat in the corner of his pen, and refused to move or eat. Not without his girl.

And then, Lulu had to leave Kim. She wanted to be there for the poor girl when the Reaper took her, but she couldn't let herself be taken, so as selfish as she felt, she left.

A black hooded creature, which was invisible to all living, came and took her by the arm. She caught a glance of their face, noticing this one looked somewhat human—maybe distantly human, but with pointed ears, and white skin with blackness around their eyes. Their eyes were black, with white irises and no pupils. Its face had markings to look like a skeleton, but it had very straight black with a few white streaks hair that went just past its chin, some of it hanging in its face. All of its teeth were pointed, and cold, blackish breath came from its mouth whenever it opened it.

"Come," he murmured—at least, she thought it was a he. His voice was dark, and his hands were white and boney, the fingernails black and pointed. She shuddered. Even though she was sure she wasn't supposed to feel the difference between hot and cold as a ghost, the Reaper's presence made her feel like she had just swallowed a ton of icy water.

"Do not be afraid, little one." He whispered as he gently pulled her higher and higher into the sky. Despite it being light out, as they came nearer to the clouds, it seemed to become darker, and she got more tired, until…

"Goodbye, child."

And with that, they were gone. The Reapers are a scary last sight to see, but in truth, they are very kind creatures, but they have seen so much death, their own lives have been sucked from them. Nobody envies their job.

Another person, who unfortunately met a Reaper, was Cassandra. The young witch had no idea that the spell Shades had put on her was one that caused slow internal bleeding. Just after coming home to her parents, she collapsed, and never rose again.

As Daffy had lived with Cassandra—and without her parents knowing, Daffy couldn't turn into a normal sized human, and she was stuck as a fairy, making it difficult for her to contact Gary with Cassandra's phone.

But she did, Gary took her in, telling her that as soon as he went to the village of fairies again to trade for their different powders and syrups that only the fairies knew how to make, he would take her with him.

Daffy wasn't the only one Gary was kind enough to take into his small home. He had no idea what to do with Ava, but he took her in anyways, and began doing research on her species. Discovering that she would do whatever he told her, he merely showed her a picture of a lamp, told her that's what she was, and now there she sits on Gary's desk while he tries to figure out what to do with her.

Jessie went home, telling her father that she was on a really intense hunt, and the creature broke her phone. He believed her, and patted her on the head, telling her it was okay that it got away. Hunters can have their off days.

Apep, Erin, and Katherine left, all on their way back home, and away from the remains of the mall.

And the Elites… well, they're no more. Most of them separated—some went with each other, and others wandered on their own. The majority of them are just trying to figure out where they belong now. It's a sad thing to not know where to go, or where it seems right to be. They're confused, and don't have their families that they had before changing anymore. Cruz took them all away from their places.

And Cruz, he's disappeared to ponder over his own thoughts, and what's happened in his life, and where he's going now. Wanted posters have appeared around the magical cities—all with his name. The magical law enforcers were of course, furious to find out he was still alive, just under a different name, and now they're determined to catch him—hopefully alive, because even though none would like to admit it as it may hurt their reputation, they would love to torture him.

But, mainly, he knew if they caught him, it would end in death. So for now, he hides, just wanting to be away to think.

As for me, well… I'm not really here anymore. I always knew my brother would kill me. He now sits, somewhere in the world, engulfed by anger and confusion and mourning. It is a tragedy to kill an angel.

But, in a way, I am still here. Just not particularly visible, but perhaps one day I will have enough strength to come back as a human once more. I am always where I am needed.

After all, everything happens for a reason.