“Why am I even alive?” A young girl sat all alone on a black bench. Her face was covered in smudges. She had short brown hair and blue eyes. Her body was only covered by a sheet that had a hole cut to go over her head. Her mother had decided to leave her there that afternoon. It was raining. She was crying as the rain fell harder in between two buildings. A bright light came towards her. She shielded her eyes at first, then the light grew dim.

            “Who are you?” The girl asked. A young man appeared and smiled. His brown eyes looked into her’s. He had light hair and it was cut short. He had a cape around his brown shirt and brown pants. The girl took his hand, not knowing why.

            “I am someone with great power, and I can help you,” he said. She was happy to have someone again, someone who loves her…

Chapter 1

            “Mother! Wait!” Tomoi, 10 years old, ran after a tall woman, who was laughing. Tomoi was laughing also as she ran through the puddles.

            “I’m sorry, my sweet daughter, I have to leave you,” the woman said and ran off. Tomoi stood there, crying.

            Tomoi opened her eyes and starred at an unfamiliar ceiling. She had a dress on, it had blue flowers on it and the rest of it was white. She smiled and sat up to see the man that she had met the other day, standing there, next to her bed.

“Good morning. I made breakfast,” he said, smiling. The man suddenly started gasping and he held the spot on his coat where his heart was.

            “What’s wrong?! Are you alright?” Tomoi asked and went to him. He slowed down and put his other hand on her head.

            “I’m alright. My name’s Dar, don’t tell anyone, alright?” He asked, getting up. Tomoi nodded and went into the next room and sat down at a round table. Dar put some eggs onto her plate and his.

            “I hope you like them,” he said, smiling. She smiled as she took a bite.

            “I do like them! They’re delicious!” Tomoi ate happily. He was glad. It had been awhile since he had someone with him. Both his wife and daughter were killed by and evil wizard. He had to get revenge, and maybe this girl could help. He closed his eyes and stretched out his arm towards the girl. She looked at him and she started to glow. Tomoi closed her eyes and inside her mind she heard a voice, Dar’s voice.

            “Do you want to become stronger?” He asked. Tomoi nodded. She floated in the air and her aura glowed a bright red. She started screaming.     

            “The pain will pass, don’t worry,” Dar said. She couldn’t see him.

            “Where are you?” She cried. Her eyes grew blank and small angel wings opened on her back. She screamed one last time and opened her eyes. She had a different outfit on. It was black and went all over on her body. The wings were as long as one of her arms. She looked to Dar and saw him collapsed on the table.

            “Dar! Wake up!” Tomoi cried. She sat him up in a chair. He opened his eyes slowly.

            “Good, the transformation worked,” he said, holding his chest again. Tomoi was confused as to what just happened. “I gave you power, but the side effect is that you have strange feelings attacking your heart. That won’t happen until you’re older.”

            “What can I do?” Tomoi asked. Dar let go of his coat and put his hand on her head again.

            “You can go into peoples’ hearts and see what they cannot see about themselves or other people that they are close to. You can also see their nightmares and what they fear the most, and sometimes even, the future of the person they are close to,” he replied.

            “Shall I go try it?” Tomoi asked. Dar nodded. She left the apartment. There weren’t too many people around. She then saw a young lady who held onto a man’s arm. Tomoi stretched out her arms and concentrated on that lady. The lady kept on talking to the man. She saw the man inside the lady’s heart, he was shivering and in a car. He drove up to the lady’s apartment and three guys in black suits came around the corner. The man unbuckled his seatbelt and started to get out when one of the three men took out a gun and shot through the window and blood spilt everywhere. Tomoi gasped and stopped watching. She went back inside and saw Dar reading a book.        

            “I saw, a murder, it will happen two days from now,” Tomoi said and started to cry. Dar closed his book and hugged her.

            “You have to stop this murder, I know it’s a lot for a little girl like you, but you must do it for the person he loves,” Dar said, quietly.

            “I understand. I want her to be happy,” Tomoi said and wiped her tears away.

Chapter 2

            Two days from the vision…

            “I’m leaving now, mother,” Randy said. He took his black sports coat from the coat rack. He had an odd feeling when he walked out the door. He shivered since it was cold out. The rain had been pouring for three days now, but the water never seemed to get deeper on the ground. It was weird, Randy had to admit, but he didn’t let the rain bother him, since there weren’t any floods. He opened the door to his red car and sat down. He smiled as he thought of Mira. They were both in college and had the same classes.

            Two days ago…

            “C’mon Randy! Let’s get some ice cream!” Mira said, her long blonde hair in a ponytail swung from side to side as they walked down an almost empty street. Randy turned towards an apartment building. Mira looked concerned.

            “What is it? Did you see something?” She asked. He shook his head.

            “No, nothing,” he said and sat down on a bench. Mira sat down beside him and tugged at his arm.

            “I thought we could get some ice cream and then go sit in the park, how about it?” Mira Mirada asked Randy.

            He remembered all of it, but he still had a weird feeling. He suddenly saw a little girl, about the age of 10, with angel wings. He pulled up to Mira’s apartment, shivering. He didn’t move.

            “You mustn’t be afraid, I am here to help you,” she said. She put her hand on his shoulder and teleported him into Mira’s apartment. Mira was surprised to see him but didn’t see Tomoi. They heard gunshots and glass braking. Randy looked out the window to see his car wrecked.

            “Tha…” he started to say but Tomoi was no longer there.

            “How did you get here?” Mira asked. Randy shivered.

            “I think a guardian angel saved me. That’s crazy huh?” Randy asked, smiling as Mira put her elbow on his shoulder.

            “I’m glad you weren’t in that car,” she replied and they kissed.

Chapter 3

            “Did you save him?” Dar asked, getting up from a chair to see the pale Tomoi frowning.

            “Yes, but it was hard for me to do,” she said, putting her hand on her heart. She felt a strong power outside. Tomoi quickly spun around and saw a young boy sitting on one of the rooftops. He was mysterious 

and shaded. He smiled and disappeared.

            “Did you see that?” Tomoi asked. Dar shook his head. “I don’t know who he is even. A little boy was sitting on top of that building.”

            A little boy about the age of three walked up to his mother. She fell over and started coughing up blood. He knew something was wrong.

            “Mama! What’s wrong?” He asked. His mother turned to him and smiled. She put her hand on his head and closed her eyes. He saw her inside his mind. The space they were in wasn’t very large, and there wasn’t much room to move. She widened her eyes and his started to glow.

            “Remember this, my dear Sasal,” his mother said. He had visions of his mother in a hospital.

            “She’s seriously ill but with child, what should we do doctor?!” A nurse asked.

            “Take her into the Labor Center!” A doctor cried. They rushed her into a room. A baby started crying.

            “Sasal…” the woman said, holding the baby in her arms. The vision stopped. Then he saw himself at the age of 1, at his birthday party with his mother. She was talking to someone on the phone in the kitchen.

            “I see, so I am infected with a virus? How much longer do I have to live?” She asked, starting to cry. She nodded. “Thank you, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said and hung up the phone. She wiped her eyes and saw the kids trying to make balloon animals and smiled.

            “Why don’t we go to the park? It’s a lot of fun!” Sasal said to his friend, Takisa. She smiled and nodded.

            “What are you going to do for college, Sasal?” Takisa asked, sitting on a swing next to him.

            “I’m not sure yet. I think I’ll go to Tsunami University. Do you think that’s a good school?” Sasal asked.

            “I haven’t heard anything bad about it. Accept… there have been strange things happening to the students who go there,” Takisa said, frowning.

            “Like what?” Sasal asked, looking worried.

            “Oh, I’ve only heard rumors, but people talk about a guardian angel who saved them from different possible deaths. Many of them are really strange deaths, like a disease that could never be cured, but apparently this girl has the power to cure anything and save anyone,” Takisa said.

            “Oh, does it only happen to the people at that school?” Sasal asked.

            “Yes, it seems that way. It’s a good thing they’re being saved, but it’s still a little odd. Well, I have to go make dinner for my family now, I’ll see you in school tomorrow!” Takisa said, waving to Sasal, who waved back as she slowly disappeared. Sasal sighed.

            “Why didn’t you save my mother?” He asked and started to cry. It was strange for an adult to cry, especially if you are a male. But he thought he was still a little boy, that he never got rid of the child in him. He started to walk along the curb of the street. A car came racing around a corner. Sasal turned to see the car coming towards him. He started to run but tripped. The car hit him and blood flew everywhere.

            Takisa sat next to a bed in the hospital, crying. Sasal’s soul as a boy appeared in front of her.

            “Don’t cry. I am happy now, but I will get revenge on the one who didn’t save my mother and me!” He said and disappeared.

            “Why, Sasal? Revenge isn’t a good thing. You never wanted to hurt anyone… so why?” Takisa asked, sobbing even more.

Chapter 4

Dar laughed as Tomoi told him a joke about a small cat that was lost in the woods. It was sad at first but the ending is what was the funny part. The kitten got stuck in a tree and cried ‘Help! Someone’s trying to possess me!’ and the one who was trying to possess her appeared and asked, ‘But aren’t you that lost soul that nobody can save?’ Dar and Tomoi laughed and she ate some sandwiches. She suddenly felt very cold and shivered.

            “Is something wrong?” Dar asked. She smiled and shook her head.

            Takisa was walking down the sidewalk near her school. She was thinking about Sasal and smiled. She did not realize how much she loved him. She did not think that he noticed either. She saw him turning the corner and ran after him.

            “Hello, Sasal!” Takisa said happily. He turned and smiled.

            “Do you have guitar practice today?” He asked. She nodded and blushed.

            “Sasal, I…” she started but could not finish. She wanted to finish but couldn’t.

            “What is it?” He asked. She frowned.

            “Nothing, sorry. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow in school!” Takisa said and entered her house. She waved to him and he waved back. Takisa sighed and said ‘hello’ to her mother, who was the only one home.

            “Your brother went to the library, he should be home soon to help you study for that exam tomorrow,” her mother said. Takisa just went up to her room and closed the door. She set her bag down and lay on the bed.

            “When will I ever tell him?” She asked herself. Her mother knocked on the door.

            “Takisa,” she said.

            “Come in!” Takisa replied.

            “I have bad news. Your guitar teacher died unexpectedly last night,” she said. Takisa’s eyes widened.

            “What? How did she die?” Takisa asked.

            “I don’t know. I’ve heard rumors of weird killings around. Please be careful,” she replied and walked out. Takisa started crying. She missed her teacher already and decided to call Sasal.

            “Takisa, aren’t you practicing your guitar?” Sasal asked.

            “No, my teacher was killed… I miss her too,” she replied.

            “Hmm, that’s weird. I’ve heard of killings in this town, I wonder what this means. Do you have any idea?” Sasal asked.

            “No, none. I wish I did though. Then I would be able to do something about this,” Takisa said, starting to cry again.

            “Don’t worry, I’ll help you work something out,” Sasal replied. Takisa smiled but was still confused and sad.

            “Well, I have to go, see you tomorrow. Let’s meet in the park, all right?” Takisa asked. There was a moment of silence before Sasal replied:

            “That should be okay. Around ten o’clock?”

            “Yeah, see you then,” Takisa said and hung up.

            The next day came quickly, almost too quickly. Takisa walked towards the park in a fast pace, it felt like someone was following her. She stopped and turned around. A small girl with angel wings appeared. They turned black slowly and tears of blood ran down her cheeks.

            “You and your friend will die, I’m sorry, but I can’t stop it,” she said and disappeared.

            Takisa had talked with Sasal about a guardian angel that saved people from Tsunami University and how there were some other cases. Takisa entered her house after saying goodbye to Sasal.

            “Hello dear, is something wrong?” Her mother asked as she looked at her daughter’s sad face.

            “Nothing, I just had a weird dream last night, that’s all,” Takisa said, smiling. She went in to the kitchen to get the ingredients for dinner on the counter. Her mother helped her.

            “I’m worried about you. You’ve been in a daze often and you don’t seem to eat the amount you usually did,” her mother said.

            “I’m fine, mother. You don’t have to worry,” Takisa said.

            After dinner she sat in her room and played her guitar. She played a rather sad song that she had learned from her teacher. Someone knocked on her door.

            “Come in!” Takisa said. Her mother came in and started to tear up.

            “Sasal is in the hospital… he was hit by a car and was seriously injured. They don’t think he’ll make it,” her mother said. Takisa started crying. Her mother drove her to the hospital.

            “Hey, Sasal. Are you awake?” Takisa asked, sitting next to Sasal. There was no life in him anymore.

            “Sasal…” Takisa started. She could not seem to finish, but finally she said, “I love you.”

Chapter 5

            Tomoi drank some tea and smiled at Dar, who was reading some papers on magic. He had many of these types of things; spell books, staffs, jewels, etc. He did not really use magic, since there were no evil powers in the world besides humans, most of which can not use magic anyways, or did not have any happiness in their lives. Dar hated these people. He even hated the people who are happy, and will not take pride in sharing it with someone else. This happened to him a long time ago, back on the planet where he was from…

            “Dar! Hurry up!” A young woman said. She looked about twenty and had a fair face. Her hair was blonde and long. Her eyes sparkled blue and her dress waved as she ran towards Dar, who was running ahead of her on the street. She was smiling and laughing and so was Dar.

            “We’ll be late for the concert, Mari, we need to hurry!” Dar said, back. They entered a large building and gave a man their tickets. They went in to the rounded room where the seats went around the stage in the middle. There was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. They sat down towards the middle of the area. The lights dimmed and a spot light shown on the orchestra on stage. The music started and Dar felt relaxed, but he could feel tension all around him.

            “Isn’t this beautiful?” Mari whispered. Dar nodded, now getting a little warm. Sweat ran down his face. Everything turned black.

            “What’s going on?” Dar asked. His voice did not go anywhere. A girl with short black hair appeared in front of him.

            “You will lose something very precious to you. You can stop this but it will take time,” the girl said. She had a gentle voice and the butterflies on her dress seemed to glow.

            “Yes, I do want to stop it! How?” Dar asked, worried. The girl smiled and stretched out her arm and Dar took her hand. He felt a strange feeling all though his body. His eyes widened and the area returned. Everyone was clapping.

            “Are you all right, Dar?” Mari asked. He nodded slowly. He could see everyone’s hearts and what they were feeling. Most of them felt sad, or lost, and others felt confused or angry. Dar did not know why he felt these feelings. He then looked at Mari, and took the sides of her face with his palms gently, and kissed her. He pulled away gently and she smiled, as if almost knowing what was going on. He saw Mari a few days later, getting killed by a serial killer. He almost threw up and Mari held on to his arm.

            “Come on, let’s go out back,” she said, quietly. They went slowly into the hall of the theater. They could still hear the music playing, it was a slower song than the first, but Dar felt calm listening to it.

            “Do you want to go home?” Mari asked. Dar shook his head.

            “I’ll just rest awhile here. Do you want to go back in?” Dar asked. Mari shook her head.

            After the concert Dar and Mari were walking home and Dar felt a cold chill up his back.

            “Why am I so cold all of a sudden?” He thought. He then motioned for Mari to stop and said, “ I’m going to check something out, hold on .” He went around the corner. Dar looked around to see if anyone was coming. He heard a scream and ran back to where Mari was. A man in black was stabbing her and she was trying to get away.

            “Mari!” Dar cried. The man ran the other way. Dar caught Mari before she fell.

            “Dar… I…” she started.

            “Don’t talk, I’ll get you an ambulance!” He said, taking out his cell phone and started to dial a number but Mari put a hand on his arm. He stopped.

            “I… love you!” She smiled and closed her eyes after saying this. That was the last phrase that he heard.

Two days later…

            Dar was visiting her grave and put a bouquet of lilies on it. Dar started crying uncontrollably.

            “I’m so sorry, I knew that this would happen. I thought… that you’d be all right, because I was always there. Why did I let you down?” Dar asked, through his tears. “I will join you soon, I’ll be able to see you again, don’t worry!” Dar said, laughing suddenly. He walked to the high bridge towards the edge of town. He stood on the very edge of one side. People would honk at him as they drove past.

            “Goodbye!” Dar cried and fell off the bridge. About half way down a ghost appeared and caught him. It lifted him and put him on the sidewalk that was near the bridge. He opened his eyes and saw Mari standing there, smiling.

            “You have to save other people from dying. You couldn’t have prevented my death, please live,” she said and disappeared.

            “Wait!” He cried and tears fell on to the ground.

Chapter 6

            “Tomoi, you might…” Dar started. Tomoi looked really worried and Dar shook his head. “It’s nothing. Do you want to go to the park?” He asked and Tomoi nodded, confused. They walked there, it had stopped raining and now the sun was shining and Tomoi had to shield her eyes, but she smiled up at Dar, who was sweating and pale, but he smiled back.

            “Tell me more about your mother, what was she like?” Dar asked, sitting on a swing. Tomoi sat on the one next to him.

            “She was kind and gentle, and very beautiful. My father didn’t love her very much and I can’t see why. She was always talking about how great he was, before he left. You actually look a little like the photo that she had of him,” Tomoi said. Dar closed his eyes and put his hand over the place where Tomoi’s heart was. An image of Tomoi’s mother appeared in his mind. He winced hard as he saw her run off and Tomoi crying.

            “She’s going to come soon,” Dar said.

            “What?” Tomoi asked, starting to cry.

Chapter 7

            “Tomoi! Do you want to go shopping?” Shaii asked. Tomoi nodded and put on the coat that she always wore. It was brown and it went down to her knees. She did not have many clothes, since her mother was a single parent. They lived in an apartment towards the edge of a small city called Kasai and her mother worked at a flower shop.

            They walked down the street of shadows of people, all seemed to disappear, Tomoi only thought of her mother.

            “Mommy! Look at this! It’s so cute,” Tomoi said, pointing at a bear in the window of a shop.

            “Would you like it? It’s almost your birthday anyways,” Shaii said, smiling.

            “Really? Yes!” She replied, holding on to her mother’s arm. They entered the shop and Shaii went up to the desk and asked the man to get the bear in the window. Tomoi suddenly felt dizzy. She started swaying back and forth and fell forward. Her mother caught her and picked her up. The man looked worried as he handed her change and the bag with the bear.

            “Thank you very much,” Shaii said and walked out.

            “I’m sorry, mommy. My head began to hurt and I saw all blurry,” Tomoi said, weakly. Shaii smiled and put a hand on Tomoi’s head. They walked to their apartment. Shaii laid her daughter in bed and gave her the bear. It suddenly looked sad to Tomoi as she looked at it. Her mother frowned also and went to get the thermometer and a cloth with cold water. She put the cloth on Tomoi’s forehead and removed her coat.

            “Don’t leave me mommy,” Tomoi said. Suddenly the phone rang. There was one right near her room. Shaii got up and picked up the receiver.

            “Hello?” Shaii asked. There was a moment of silence.

            “Shaii, I want you back,” a man’s voice said.

            “But… you said that you didn’t love me and left, for a year. How can I let you back in my life?” She asked.

            “How is Tomoi?” He asked. Shaii looked surprised.

            “Fine. She’s really happy,” Shaii lied.

            “You must leave her. I know what will happen if you don’t. Please come tomorrow to the park,” he said. Shaii started to cry.

            “I… still love you,” Shaii said and hung up the phone. She wiped her eyes and went into Tomoi’s room. She was asleep . Shaii kissed her forehead and Tomoi smiled. Tears fell down Shaii’s face.

            The next day Tomoi woke up and saw her mother in the hall.

            “Mommy, I feel a lot better. Can we go shopping again?” She asked.

            “It’s raining out, don’t you want to stay inside?” Shaii asked, sadly.

            “But we didn’t do anything for my birthday. You don’t have work, do you?” She asked. Shaii shook her head and smiled.

            “Let’s go then,” she said and Tomoi put her coat on and took the bear from her bed. They ran in the rain, laughing and splashing water. Then suddenly Shaii stopped.

            “I have to leave you now. I’m sorry!” She cried and ran away as fast as she could. She could hear Tomoi yelling for her to come back, but she could not stop. Or was it she did not want to stop? She reached the park and saw a tall man standing at a tree.

            “Sasal! I’m… sorry about what I said before, but I was thinking about Tomoi,” she said, hugging him.

            “Don’t worry, she’ll be safe. If you don’t leave her, she would have… well, you know,” Sasal said. Shaii closed her eyes. She suddenly felt a strange power near her. She opened her eyes and jerked back and saw a glowing Tomoi with wings. She almost looked like a ghost.

            “Don’t worry, mommy,” she said.

            “What is it?” Sasal asked. Shaii looked back at him and then at where her daughter was but she was not there anymore.

            “Nothing, let’s go,” she replied.

            Back at Sasal’s apartment, he showed her pictures of him when he was little. There was on where he was in a school play and was a crow. They laughed as he told her the story of the play. The phone rang and Shaii was surprised and Sasal answered it after the third ring.

            “Hello?” He asked.

            “She’s safe, don’t worry. I think she misses her mother, but I’ll keep her occupied,” a man said on the other side.

            “Thank you Dar. Please teach her well,” Sasal said, looking at Shaii.

            “I will. Goodnight,” Dar said and hung up. Sasal also hung up the phone.

Chapter 8

 

            Tomoi was sleeping and Dar went up to the side of her bed. He put a hand on her heart and went in to her dream. She was standing on a bridge over a river that had water lilies on it.

                “I wonder if I will save anyone today,” she said, but then she wondered why she said it. Then Dar came up to her, but she could not see his eyes. He smiled and put an arm around her shoulders; she then smiled and closed her eyes, letting the wind blow in her hair.

            “Someone important to you will die,” Dar said. She was suddenly falling. Everything was black.

            Tomoi jerked up in bed. Dar looked concerned as she started crying.

            “Why… did you tell me that?” She asked. Dar sat next to her on the bed and she hugged him.

            “I’m sorry, I saw it…” he started and then started to cough. He held his chest and started breathing heavily.

            “Are you all right?” Tomoi asked. He nodded slowly. Someone rang the doorbell. “I’ll get it,” she said, wiping her eyes and running to the door. She opened it and there was a young girl, about fifteen, standing there. “Who are you?” Tomoi asked. The girl smiled and bowed.

            “I am a friend of Dar. Is he here?” She asked. She had golden brown hair that went down to her knees and her purple eyes sparkled.

            “Yes, but he’s not feeling well,” Tomoi replied.

            “I might be able to help him. What’s your name?” She asked. Tomoi smiled.

            “I’m Tomoi Sasaka… please to meet you!” She replied.

            “I’m Sherl Tarla,” the girl replied, walking in. Tomoi closed the door. Dar came out from the other room and leaned up against the wall.

            “Hello Sherl. How are you doing?” He asked. She smiled and Tomoi then realized that she had pointed ears.

            “I’m fine, you’re friend, Tomoi, tells me you’re sick. Is it because of your power?” She asked. Dar nodded and winced. Sherl went up to him and kissed him. Her ears started glowing and dragon wings opened on her back. A tear ran down her cheek and Dar was breathing normally again. He took her arm and held her close to him. Tomoi felt angry at her for a minute, knowing that he had a girlfriend before. She did not know why he was kissing this half dragon.

            “How are you…?” Tomoi started but she screamed suddenly and held her chest.

            “Tomoi!” Dar cried, pushing Sherl back gently and going to her. Tomoi pointed out the window. The boy, Sasal, was sitting on a window sill, smiling. He had a strange aura around him, almost as if he was being controlled.

            “Why are you in the shadows of my heart, haunting my dreams, trying to scare away my power to do good?” Tomoi asked.

            “You are a nuisance. You didn’t save me, or my mother. You won’t be able to save your friend either. He will fight me, in the past, and lose!” Sasal laughed and disappeared. Tomoi was just breathing heavily now and had a painful look in her eyes. Sherl bent down to her level and kissed her forehead. Tomoi’s aura glowed and she felt a little better. Sherl fell over to one side.

            “Sherl! Are you all right?” Dar asked, lifting her head up. Sherl opened her eyes slowly and smiled.

            “I just used a large extent of my powers, that’s all,” she replied. Sweat ran down her cheek. Tomoi started crying.

            “You saved me, and I hated you. I’m sorry,” Tomoi said.

            “It’s all right. I can see how close to Dar you are, so I know why you hated me. We go way back though. He found me when I was only two years old and helped me find a home. Dar was only a teenager, but I still fell in love with him over the years. He had also told me that his girlfriend had just died,” Sherl explained. Tomoi hugged Dar and he smiled, putting a hand on her head and still holding Sherl with the other. Tomoi still had tears falling down her face.

            “The boy, Sasal, said you were going to die, Dar,” she said. He smiled.

            “Don’t worry about me, I’ll manage somehow. I want to protect you two, because you are the only family I have now,” he replied. Then Sherl started crying and sat up. Tomoi then looked out the window and saw a man, about Dar’s age, walking on the sidewalk. He had a black coat on and a black hat. He was handsome, except for the scar on his cheek. Tomoi reached out to him, seeing inside his heart. Dar almost laughed, seeing Tomoi wanting to help people still.

            What Tomoi saw was a small bird; it had black wings and a white stomach. A young boy was next to it, he looked almost like Sasal, but not quite. He touched the bird’s wing and it began to glow. The bird grew in to a monster. It had purple eyes and a hairy body. It slashed its claws at the boy and kept whacking him with its tail. The boy fell to the ground and blood ran down his arm and he was not breathing anymore. Tomoi suddenly saw that this boy was his son. She did not know why this was going to happen, but she knew it was going to take place a few minutes from that moment.

            Tomoi waved to Dar and Sherl as she exited the apartment. She ran down the stairs and opened her wings and saw the direction that the man was heading. She then flew above him. She touched the ground in front of him and he stepped back.

            “Don’t worry; I’ve come to help you. An evil force is after you. Please, take my hand,” she said. The boy was confused but took it anyways. They flew into the sky as soon as the bird landed. Tomoi took the boy to his house, which was not very far.

            “Thank you. Please come visit tomorrow for tea!” The boy said, smiling. Tomoi nodded and flew back to Dar’s apartment. She opened the door and saw Dar sitting down, coughing. Sherl was next to him.

            “Dar! Is everything all right?” Tomoi asked.

            “He has grown weaker and the pain is increasing. I tired many times to heal him, but… I can’t do anything now,” Sherl explained and started crying. Tomoi went up to Dar and took his hand and touched her forehead to his. The place where his heart was glowed and he was breathing normally and stopped sweating.

            “How did you do that?” Sherl asked.

            “I don’t know. I just knew that would work. I guess it’s because of my powers,” Tomoi replied, a little confused too.

            “Thank you,” Dar said. Tomoi smiled and looked out the window, almost daydreaming. She wanted to meet the boy who she met that day…

Chapter 9

 

            Tomoi went over to the boy’s house, the boy she saved the other day. It was the day after. She was talking with him about her mother. She started crying when she mentioned that her mother left her. The boy, Tom, hugged her.

            “She’ll come back to you,” he said. Tomoi smiled and wiped her eyes.

            “Thank you. I do live with Dar right now. He’s really nice and he helped me get these powers,” she explained.

            “So that’s how you knew to save me. You’re cool!” Tom said, and Tomoi laughed. Her wings were currently gone. The boy’s father came home.

            “Do you want some cake? I just made it today,” he said, peering into the room.

            “Sure, thank you,” Tomoi said, sipping the tea that was in blue and green cups.

            “Can you fly anywhere?” Tom asked. He was only nine years old, five years younger than she. She nodded.

            “I haven’t flown very far yet. I’ve only had the powers for a week. I don’t know a whole lot yet,” Tomoi said. Tom nodded. His father brought out two plates with chocolate cake to them. “Thank you,” Tomoi said and bowed politely. The man smiled and went back in the other room. Suddenly everything grew dark. Mist rose all around them.

            “What’s going on, Tomoi?” Tom asked. Tomoi put a finger up to her mouth.

            “Be quiet, stay close to me and I might be able to protect you from whatever this is,” she said, Tom went up to her back and wind started swirling around them.

            “Tomoi, I need you at my side, please…” a young boy’s voice said. Tomoi’s eyes widened. The wind cut her sides and arms.

            “Tomoi! Who are you and why are you hurting my friend?” Tom cried, catching Tomoi.

            “I am Sasal. You will not keep me from her! But I’ll let you go this time, my daughter,” he said. The blackness disappeared and Tomoi started crying.

            “Father? But it can’t be!” She said.

            “Daddy! Get some bandages! Tomoi’s hurt!” Tom called. Tomoi smiled slightly. Tom’s dad rushed in with rolls of cloth.

            “What happened?” He asked.

            “I don’t know exactly. This wind started hurting her and a boy was talking to her,” Tom said. Tomoi lifted her shirt up and his father put some ointment on the sores and wrapped the bandages around her.

            “Thank you so much. My mother used to bandage me too, but she left me,” she said, smiling and wiping her eyes.

            “Where do you live now?” Tom’s father asked.

            “With Dar. He’s really kind and helped me when I was alone,” Tomoi said. The doorbell suddenly rang. Tom answered it and Sherl was standing there, breathing heavily.

            “Something’s wrong with Dar!” She cried. Tomoi came to her.

            “What’s wrong with him?” She asked.

            “He won’t stop crying and he’s breathing heavily. He said something about Mari and then he just…” Sherl started crying.

            “I’m sorry, Tom. I have to go. Thank you, I’ll visit you soon,” Tomoi said. They ran out and Tom was worried.

            Tomoi opened the door to the apartment and saw Dar sitting in his chair, eyes closed.

            “Dar! What’s wrong?” Tomoi asked, walking to him slowly. He opened his eyes quickly and they started glowing. He screamed and held his chest.

            “Tomoi… I think… this is the final stage in my power,” he said.

            “What?” Tomoi and Sherl both asked.

Chapter 10

 

            Dar’s eyes were almost blank and both Sherl and Tomoi held on to him. He started crying, thinking about Mari.

            “I’ll be with you soon,” he thought. Tomoi closed her eyes and opened her radiant wings and shown upon Dar. His aura started glowing and Tomoi leaned forward and kissed him. His eyes turned normal and the pain stopped, at least for now. He pushed Tomoi away and held his head.

            “Why… did you do that?” He asked. Tomoi started to cry.

            “Because I didn’t want you to die! I still don’t. I love you!” She cried. Sherl was surprised. So was Dar, but Tomoi still hugged him.

            “Why, why do we still live?” A young girl about Tomoi’s age, asked. She had been tortured all her life by her parents; she had no choice but to run away. Now, she does not know why people even exist anymore. Terri, never really did anything wrong, she obeyed her parents, but they still beat on her. Now she was living in an abandoned chapel. Terri had to steal or find any food she could. Every once and awhile her parents would come by and look for her. She knew they had a problem and could not help beating her, but she could not stand it anymore.

            “I want a good family,” she said, crying.

            Suddenly a boy appeared.

            “Who are you?” She asked, still sobbing.

            “My name is Sasal. I can help you,” he said. Terri smiled slightly at his “kind” face.

Tomoi shuddered and looked down.

“What’s wrong?” Dar asked, worried.

            “Something’s happening in the past,” she said.

            “Do you have to go?” Sherl asked. Tomoi nodded.

            Sasal hugged Terri as she cried some more.

            “Don’t worry, you’re with me now, and I’ll always protect you,” he said.

            “Always?” Terri asked. Sasal nodded.  “I will help you too, what do you want?” She asked. Sasal smiled evilly.

            “Can you help me get revenge?” Sasal asked. He put his hand on her head and her eyes glowed. Tomoi suddenly appeared.

            “Yes, master,” Terri replied.

            “Oh no! I was right. Sasal, why are you doing this?” Tomoi asked, holding her chest.

            “I won’t kill you because you didn’t save me,” Sasal said.

            “Then why is there an older version of you?” She asked.

            “I wanted you to have a father. I knew that yours was killed. And that you have the power to save anyone,” the kid said, smiling evilly. Tomoi’s eyes widened and tears fell down her face.

            “Then why… why does my mom not want to see me anymore?” She asked.

            “You don’t need that answer!” Terri cried. She made a sword appear. She took it and ran at Tomoi. She sliced at Tomoi’s face and blood flew in the air. Tomoi stood up.

            “Dar, please help me,” Tomoi said. Her wings wrapped around her as Sasal started laughing.

            “No one can help or save you here!” He said. Suddenly Tomoi disappeared. “What?” Sasal asked in frustration.

            Tomoi appeared in front of Dar’s apartment.

            “Dar, did you save me?” Tomoi thought and flew to the door and opened it. Dar was sitting in his chair, eyes closed, Sherl in his arms. They were both sleeping. Tomoi sighed and got a blanket and put it around them. She went in to her room and saw her teddy bear that she got for her birthday and started crying.

            “Mommy. I miss you,” Tomoi said quietly and cried herself to sleep.

            The sun rose early that morning and Dar woke up. He saw Sherl on his lap and smiled. He gently picked her up and moved her to the couch. Then he saw Tomoi on the floor, hugging her bear.

            “Thank you,” he whispered. She smiled as if she heard him. He went into the kitchen and started making breakfast. Sherl woke up also and yawned.

            “You should still be sleeping,” she said.

            “It’s okay. I’ll be fine for awhile. You don’t have to stay here,” he said.

            “But if something happens…” she started.

            “You have a phone right? I’ll call if anything does,” he said.

            “I’ll stay for awhile,” Sherl said, coming in. They suddenly heard Tomoi singing.

            “Don’t be afraid, someone is there for you, everyone is a dream, to die is to give up,” the tune was sad but beautiful.

            “I fell her pain. It’s the same,” Dar said. Sherl frowned. She hugged Dar and Tomoi came out.

            “I’m sorry, did I do something wrong?” She asked. Dar shook his head. The image of Sasal came to Tomoi. “Why did he do that?” She thought.

            “What happened in there?” Dar asked.

            “Well, there was a young girl being controlled by Sasal. Sasal made her attack me and he said that he wanted me. I don’t think he loves me though,” Tomoi explained.

            “We need to do something about this,” Sherl said. They sat down at the table and Dar put the bread and eggs on four plates and filled the glasses with juice.

            “I don’t know if I can. My power to save people is almost gone. There’s probably only one percent of it left,” Dar said.

            “I might be able to do something. I have a good amount of…” Sherl started.

            “No! I don’t want your help! I might be able to save Sasal’s soul!” Tomoi cried. She almost started crying. “He’s suffered so much. I want to help him.”

            “I don’t know. Maybe I can use the same thing I used on you,” Sherl said, blushing. Suddenly the doorbell rang and Sherl answered it.

            “I’m looking for Tomoi. I’m her mother, Shaii,” a woman said. Tomoi’s eyes widened and started to run out, but Dar caught her.

            “Why do you want her?” Sherl asked.

            “Why else would I want her? She’s my daughter!” Shaii said.

            “But didn’t you leave her?” Sherl asked. Shaii nodded.

“I want her back. Sasal and I will take good care of her now. I promise,” Shaii said. Dar and Tomoi came out and saw Sasal behind Shaii.

            “Sasal,” Dar muttered. He smiled.

            “Thank you, Dar. Now you must die!” Sasal cried. He stretched out his arm at Dar and a blast hit him.

            “Dar!” Tomoi and Sherl both cried. Dar flew back and hit the wall. Blood ran down his chin and out of his side. Tomoi flew over to him. Sherl started crying and fell on her knees.

            “Dar.. are you…?” Tears stopped Tomoi’s words.

            “Save… everyone… you must,” Dar said, and his hand fell against the wall.

            “What a shame. He used to be such a good friend. But I did what I had to do,” Sasal said, smiling. Even Shaii was in shock.

            “You… you killed him!” Tomoi cried. She started to power up and ran at Sasal. Suddenly everything turned black. Dar and Sherl were no longer there, it was just Tomoi, Shaii, and Sasal. She stopped in front of her mother.

            “No, I can’t hurt you. Even if you did do something wrong,” Tomoi said. Shaii smiled slightly.

            “Come back to us, and you will save Sasal’s soul. He told me that he was another person, a child. And that child was a young man once, but a girl with tremendous powers did not save him from death,” she explained. Tomoi started crying, listening to her mother.

            “Tomoi… I need you,” Sasal, the child, said. Her head suddenly started to hurt and everything turned normal again. She ran over to the window and saw Sasal and Terri sitting on the roof, crying. Terri leaned on Sasal’s shoulder.

            “Tomoi…” Sherl started but Tomoi was not listening. She put her hands on the ground.

            “How… what do I do?” Tomoi asked, crying. She saw a sword out of the corner of her eye and went to it. She wondered why Dar had this.

            “No!” Shaii cried as Tomoi picked it up. She tried to get to her daughter, but Sasal stopped her. Sherl just stared, afraid of what Tomoi was about to do.

            “That’s it, do it!” The young Sasal said in Tomoi’s head. She stabbed the sword through her chest. Blood flew everywhere.

            “Tomoi!” Shaii cried and tears fell down her face. Sasal closed his eyes. Sherl caught Tomoi before she hit the ground.

            “Thank you, Dar,” Tomoi said, smiling. She closed her eyes and her hand fell.

            “What?” Sherl cried. Dar’s ghost appeared with his hand on Tomoi’s hand that still held the sword. He smiled at Sherl who started crying as Tomoi’s soul appeared and took Dar’s free hand. They disappeared.

            “No, this isn’t right!” Sherl cried. Sasal and Shaii left. “What about the boy..?” She asked.

            “He’s gone now,” Sasal said, turning his head.

“And so is Terri,” Shaii said, still crying.

“But I’m all alone,” Sherl said, opening her dragon wings and folding them over Tomoi, who faded away slowly with Dar.

            “Thank you,” Sherl heard Tomoi say again. Her tears fell to the floor, she picked up the sword and blasted it.

            “Dammit!” She cried. The boy, Sasal, appeared in front of her and touched her cheek.

            “I am saved, thanks to Tomoi. You will now have her powers to save people from death,” he said and smiled.

            “Wait! What do I do?” She cried.

            “Look into your heart for the answer. You will find it,” Sasal said and disappeared. Sherl stood up and put a hand on her heart.

 

Lost Soul

 

Tears fall down,

In the river of death,

You come to save me,

And you fly away,

 

I cry before you do,

Even though you’re lost,

And everywhere you turn,

You can’t decide where to go,

 

I’m here with you,

So don’t be afraid,

No more nightmares will com.

 

The End “I want her back. Sasal and I will take good care of her now. I promise,” Shaii said. Dar and Tomoi came out and saw Sasal behind Shaii.

            “Sasal,” Dar muttered. He smiled.

            “Thank you, Dar. Now you must die!” Sasal cried. He stretched out his arm at Dar and a blast hit him.

            “Dar!” Tomoi and Sherl both cried. Dar flew back and hit the wall. Blood ran down his chin and out of his side. Tomoi flew over to him. Sherl started crying and fell on her knees.

            “Dar.. are you…?” Tears stopped Tomoi’s words.

            “Save… everyone… you must,” Dar said, and his hand fell against the wall.

            “What a shame. He used to be such a good friend. But I did what I had to do,” Sasal said, smiling. Even Shaii was in shock.

            “You… you killed him!” Tomoi cried. She started to power up and ran at Sasal. Suddenly everything turned black. Dar and Sherl were no longer there, it was just Tomoi, Shaii, and Sasal. She stopped in front of her mother.

            “No, I can’t hurt you. Even if you did do something wrong,” Tomoi said. Shaii smiled slightly.

            “Come back to us, and you will save Sasal’s soul. He told me that he was another person, a child. And that child was a young man once, but a girl with tremendous powers did not save him from death,” she explained. Tomoi started crying, listening to her mother.

            “Tomoi… I need you,” Sasal, the child, said. Her head suddenly started to hurt and everything turned normal again. She ran over to the window and saw Sasal and Terri sitting on the roof, crying. Terri leaned on Sasal’s shoulder.

            “Tomoi…” Sherl started but Tomoi was not listening. She put her hands on the ground.

            “How… what do I do?” Tomoi asked, crying. She saw a sword out of the corner of her eye and went to it. She wondered why Dar had this.

            “No!” Shaii cried as Tomoi picked it up. She tried to get to her daughter, but Sasal stopped her. Sherl just stared, afraid of what Tomoi was about to do.

            “That’s it, do it!” The young Sasal said in Tomoi’s head. She stabbed the sword through her chest. Blood flew everywhere.

            “Tomoi!” Shaii cried and tears fell down her face. Sasal closed his eyes. Sherl caught Tomoi before she hit the ground.

            “Thank you, Dar,” Tomoi said, smiling. She closed her eyes and her hand fell.

            “What?” Sherl cried. Dar’s ghost appeared with his hand on Tomoi’s hand that still held the sword. He smiled at Sherl who started crying as Tomoi’s soul appeared and took Dar’s free hand. They disappeared.

            “No, this isn’t right!” Sherl cried. Sasal and Shaii left. “What about the boy..?” She asked.

            “He’s gone now,” Sasal said, turning his head.

“And so is Terri,” Shaii said, still crying.

“But I’m all alone,” Sherl said, opening her dragon wings and folding them over Tomoi, who faded away slowly with Dar.

            “Thank you,” Sherl heard Tomoi say again. Her tears fell to the floor, she picked up the sword and blasted it.

            “Dammit!” She cried. The boy, Sasal, appeared in front of her and touched her cheek.

            “I am saved, thanks to Tomoi. You will now have her powers to save people from death,” he said and smiled.

            “Wait! What do I do?” She cried.

            “Look into your heart for the answer. You will find it,” Sasal said and disappeared. Sherl stood up and put a hand on her heart.

 

Lost Soul

 

Tears fall down,

In the river of death,

You come to save me,

And you fly away,

 

I cry before you do,

Even though you’re lost,

And everywhere you turn,

You can’t decide where to go,

 

I’m here with you,

So don’t be afraid,

No more nightmares will com.

 

The End

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