Chapter 3:

Doctor Edwards shook his head in defeat for the last time. After trying five times to bring the stranger back to life and failing miserably, he could only conclude that there was no way the boy would be breathing again. But what disappointed Mr. Edwards the most was his abrupt death. The doctor had done enough tests on the stranger to know for sure that he would be able to survive for at least another couple of weeks, but here he was in the hospital bead lifeless, the heart machine no longer beeping, his eyes rolled in the back of his head. What else was there to do for the boy?

With a sigh, Dr. Edwards said to me, “Because he is now deceased, it’s not as important that we look into his history because there is no way he could go back and report our base back to our enemies. Now I ask you number 21567, do you still wish to have his history researched into?” This was the question I had been anticipating.

“Yes Dr. Edwards; It might come of some importance, and his behavior was a bit...strange.”

The doctor nodded his head. “Come by tomorrow at around this time and I shall have his files organized and prepared. Until then, his body will remain in this bed for studies.”

There was no reason for me to hang around, so I decided it was best to leave. I checked out at the main table and then pocketed my card, my only thoughts focused on going to sleep. Although today had been less eventful compared to what I was used to, I was still weary and growing a headache, my feet worn out from all of the walking.

Waiting on the officials to check the premises for lurking humans was a tiring process, but once it was done I was able to ride the elevator I had arrived on in peace. My thoughts were so wrapped up in hopefully completing this morning’s dreams that I had become idle. It was the sound of the wind rustling the trees and birds making its calls that woke me up and got me moving again. I walked with quick strides over to the back of the building where my car, newly-cleaned and hidden under a large willow tree, was parked. It wasn’t half as good as the motorcycle but that was because it was the FEO who gave me the bike; I bought the car by myself. It always came as a wonder to me how the car always came off as looking brand new and sleek when I had bought it more than five years ago at the age of sixteen; I never saw myself as the type of person good at preserving things so big and easy to destroy.

Everyday with me it was always a thorough search through my small money bag and all of my pockets to find my keys. I can remember every demon I have ever killed since my very first one at the age of fourteen, yet remembering where I have put my keys has always proved a very hard task to me. “AHA!” I exclaimed to myself in the dark of the night, clutching the keys tightly in my hand once they were discovered way at the bottom of my money bag. I nearly broke my key jamming it in the door so hard, but the very moment that the door had opened I jumped in with no second thoughts. I began to wonder when my impatience would turn into a weakness. However, I didn’t elaborate on that thought the moment the car was on and the radio blasting. Disturbing music full of drums and screaming voices attacked me. By the time I turned the radio off my heart was beating abruptly, skipping every few beats. I would have never turned my radio up this loud, not if I was in my right mind at the time. I stepped harder then I should have on the reverse paddle and sent my car flying back as quick as a firefly. Saruwatiri had broke into my car and took it for a ride once, leaving it in the same condition; who was I to believe that he would really take my words into consideration and never do it again? Saruwatiri was the known trouble maker himself. He was once no more than a thieving criminal, and, somehow, he had ended up working for the FEO. All that I could remember about the story was the action-packed parts Saruwatiri managed to sneak in. It didn’t sound like nothing but an over told, elaborated on fib. I wasn’t sure exactly what I would do to him if he had been the culprit though.

Driving in silence with no music on made my mind go straight to the image of the stranger again. A couple of years ago his death would have really shaken me, giving me nightmares every other day of the week, but now? Now it could do nothing more than become an unsolved mystery within my head. If anything, I was more sad than scared. This young boy had probably seen a lot and been through a lot. Who was there at his aid to help him? Had he been so upset and so afraid of something that he found dying and coughing up blood in the alley a formidable answer to all of his problems? Or had he been thrown there by someone. It could have been a gang, but the most logical answer would have to do with his father. It was his father who he didn’t want to go back to; it was his father who had scared him into thinking that the world would end if he was scratched the wrong way.

The boy’s situation kept my thoughts busy the whole ride to my house. I barely noticed that I was parking. Was it a shame that even as a demon hunter my life was oh-so-predictable and automatic? I was better off being a robot than a human. I park my car at the same spot every day of the week and I go straight to sleep the very moment I step foot into my bedroom. Although I never usually go to work at the same time of the day, that does not stop me from always waking up at a certain time, cooking the same drab breakfast, and wearing suits always similar to the one I wore yesterday. Furthermore, my emotions are not the way they should be. I haven’t dated or had a decent friend since the age of twelve, and going to social events was always out of the picture for me. Saruwatiri, thinking he was winning me over with his ‘charm’ and ‘handsome looks’, was only making me understand what had made me stray away from the world of romance.

I yawned heavily, deciding I would just skip dinner today and go straight to sleep. I took my shoes off on the bed slowly and couldn’t help but realize how unsteady and weary I was getting all of a sudden. I meant to change into my sleeping gown but my head had hit the pillow and my eyes had closed, and I was asleep before I could wrap any covers on my body...

I am running, sweating...yet I have no idea why. The corridor I am in is very cramped, the walls white but splashed with dripping blood. My breathing is coming out in intervals. I want to ask where I am but the words are stuck in my throat and my mouth will not move at all. I can feel dread overcoming me even before I turn the corner. I want to stop running. My heart is beating rapidly. There is a demon right around this bend, and he is very powerful. His energy is more than one thousand demons combined. It is giving me a heart attack. Yet, I can not stop. I cannot make my legs stop running, and I cannot seem to force a voice that is not just in my head to speak. I hardly have any time to wonder whether I am being possessed before I abruptly turn the corner and stop. Looking back at me, enveloped in a dark, sinister light is the demon. His eyes are silver and gleaming menacingly, his teeth on display by his wide smile. His silver hair is so long and silky that it goes all the way to his back. I am not familiar with him the way he seems to be familiar with me. His voice sounds hypnotizing and ominous all at the same time. “Kimiko, you had the chance to kill me, but you have waited. How foolish of you to let love overcome you. If I have to, I will take your life like I would any other, or else you could opt to join me. Than maybe I would be able to reconsider my feelings about you.” Once again, I could feel my feet move against my own will. I was hoping that I would at least have enough sense to run the opposite way, but my hopes were not put into any consideration. I was heading straight for him. There was only silence when I reached him. I hugged him. And he hugged my back. His breathing was on my neck, his arms so tightly around me that I could feel some of his dark energy. Oddly enough, it felt...good. Almost right after the hug ends he softly puts his lips to mines. I find myself wanting to push away, and I found myself wanting more. The more we kiss the more his energy seems to transfer into me. It’s as though we’re sharing more than spit at this moment. I had the sudden desire to keep kissing and keep taking. I was greedy. “Do you want to join me Kimiko, do you want to be my queen?” he whispered. Holding me dangerously tight he adds, “Do you want my energy?” I nod my head with no thought and he puts his lips to mines again, this time more fiercely. Than I feel a searing pain and I notice that some of the aura around him is coming around me...I hear maniacal laughter unfamiliar to me, and it is my own...

My alarm clock blared, quickly awakening from my dream. It surely was not a continuation from yesterday morning. I wiped the sweat from my face and quickly turned my alarm clock off. It was nine o’ clock-time to start my day. Shivering nervously, I jumped out of my bed and jogged to the bathroom. I didn’t hesitate at all to turn the shower on and jump right in. But as soon as my feet touched the water my transmitter beeped feverishly. I grunted and slogged to the sink where I had irresponsibly placed my transmitter.

“Kimiko Anenokoji, number 21567,” I spoke into the transmitter. A voice that sounded just as sleepy as mines replied, “Yes, Yes, Kimiko. Sorry If I have awoken you. There is an urgent meeting at FEO today. It starts at 9:45. You should be on time.”

Angry that I would have to shorten my fifteen minute shower to one that lasted only five minutes, I stepped into the shower and washed the disturbing dream out of my head.

Author's Note: I know it's not the greatest chapter ever, but it's all my mind could think up. I'm stooped.