It was a warm spring night, and it was made warmer by a fire radiating next to a running river. Anita and Tim sat around the fire, exchanging tales of their past.

“ I remember there was a river close to my hometown. It was just like this one.” Anita said wistfully.

“ It could be the same one. This river is very large, it goes on for miles.” Tim said encouragingly.

“ My friends and I used to play by it all day. We’d have so much fun swimming, fishing, and even camping there.” She sighed. “It seems so long ago.” She started to think of her family, of the good times she had with them.

“ My family didn’t live close to any rivers, but we used live right next to a lake. It was so much fun to play around there. Dad taught me to fish, Mom taught me to swim, and we would sometimes go boating too. That was always fun.” Tim looked down into the river.

“ Tim,” Anita said hesitantly. “What ever happened to your parents?”

Tim threw some sticks into the fire and it blazed strongly. His face was solemn. “ It doesn’t matter. It was long ago.”

“ It can’t be any worse than what happened to me.”

He let out a long sigh. “ Well, ok. I guess you do know what it’s like to lose someone important to you, so I’ll tell you.”

“We used to live by a big lake, like I told you. One day, mom and I were out there; we were waiting for dad to get dinner ready. Mom was going to show me how to do the back stroke, I wasn’t very good at it, so I watched her, hoping to pick up tips on how I should do it. Well, she went in the water one time, but she didn’t come up. I waited for her, she was a good swimmer and it never occurred to me that she was in trouble. Eventually, her body floated to the surface, it had a lot of scratches and marks on it. When I saw it, I ran to tell dad. I showed him mom and after he looked at her for awhile, he called an undertaker.” Tim sniffed and wiped a tear from his eye. “ Mom’s funeral was so hard. Dad cried so hard. The doctors said that she had obviously died of drowning, but dad told me that she didn’t. I didn’t understand then, but I found out later. Mom had been attacked by demons, Darkstalkers. When dad told me about this, he said he didn’t have an explanation for it. Dad didn’t want to live at our house anymore, so he had it torn down and we moved. The new house was nice, but Dad was never happy. He was always quiet and sad.

One day, I woke up and the house was empty. I found a note from dad saying that he had left and couldn’t come back. He told me that I could live with neighbors if I wanted.

I didn’t want to think of dad leaving me behind. I thought that he would come back some day, but I waited and he never came. I was sure he was gone for good. I thought that maybe if I went looking, I could find him, so I packed my bags and left.”

“ What happened then?” Anita asked him.

“ After awhile, I found a monastery. I was too tired to go any further, so I stayed there. There I met Donovan. He told me that the death my mother was the doing of Darkstalkers, and because I was a witness, I might be in danger. He said that I’d be safe at the monastery, and I could live there if I wanted to. I told him that I wanted to get rid of the demons that took my mother and all the other ones too. He said that I couldn’t stop them, but I begged him to teach me how to get rid of the evil that they had done. He told me that he’d let me go with him to an area were demons where causing trouble and when we were finished there, I could chose my own path. He helped me to develop my mind so that I could open its powers. I got very strong thanks to him.”

“ After you were done with the demons?”

“ I chose to split up and find my own way.”

Anita looked confused. “Why didn’t you stay with him? He was willing to help you.”

“ He told me that he traveled to very distant places. I wanted to stay around here.”

Anita stared at the fire for a long time. She finally spoke the words that were on her mind. “ Will he help me?”

“ I’m sure he’ll try. If he can’t get rid of the Darkstalkers following you, then He can at least take you to the monastery were you’ll be safe.”

“ Are you sure he’ll be at Welkin?”

“ Don’t be so worried. I’m sure he’ll go by there eventually. We’re not very far either; we’ll be there by mid-afternoon tomorrow if we follow this river.”

“ Great!” Anita beamed. “Let’s get an early start okay?” She yawned. “I’m pretty tired anyway. Good night Tim.”

“Good night. Don’t worry, I’ll put out the fire later.” But Anita didn’t hear him, she was already asleep.

Anita woke up early the next morning, but she was shocked to see that Tim was no were to be seen.

Where’d he go? Anita thought to herself. His things are still here; maybe he just went to get wood or something. We’re supposed to be leaving though, so he shouldn’t have left. Well, I guess I can wait for him.

Anita sat next to river, her eyes scanning the area, looking for her friend. A minute turned into a half-an-hour, then an hour.

Where is he? Maybe I should go look for him, but how do I find him? She thought hard for awhile and finally got an answer. I know! Tim was talking about sensing psychic energy. Maybe if I try, I can sense his. But how do I do that?

She went over and looked around the area of the fire for any signs of him. She found a set of footprints! Maybe she’d find him easily after all! She stuffed Tim’s backpack into hers, and followed the trail.

Anita had followed the footprints a good distance before she stopped to rest in front of some woods.

How did he get this far so quickly? Did he leave in the middle of the night or something? Suddenly, her eyes widened, and she became quiet. What was that? I just felt something. It feels strange. Could it be Tim?

She walked further. It’s getting stronger! It must be him! Wait, there’s something else. I’ve felt it before. What is it?

“ Anita?” It was Tim. “ Anita where are you?”

“ Tim?”

It’s getting stronger now. I know what it is! It’s the dark energy again. Where’s it coming from?

“ Anita?” Tim appeared through a cluster of trees.

“ Tim! What are you doing here? We have to go. They’re close.”

Tim walked closer to her. “ We’ll be fine.” He said reassuringly.

It’s getting stronger.

“ I brought your things.” She said hesitantly. “ Come on, let’s head to the river and get going.”

“I found another way, through the woods. It’s faster, trust me.”

It can’t be. Not from him.

“I’d rather go by the river.”

“ We’re going through the woods.” He said decisively.

“ Fine, you go through the woods, and I’ll go by the river. We’ll meet in Welkin.” Anita started walking towards the river.

Suddenly, an uprooted tree slammed down in front of her, blocking her path. “ You’re going with me.” Tim said calmly.

“ Who are you?” Anita did not turn around.

“ I’m you friend, Tim Norris. You know that.”

“ Who are you?”

Tim stood still his voice still calm. “It doesn’t matter. You’re coming with me.”

“What did you do with Tim?”

“He’s standing right here. At least his body is. His spirit belongs to us now.”

“ Why?” A tear started to form in Anita’s eye.

“ He was weak. He also tried to keep you from us. We don’t appreciate that.”

“ Give him back!” Anita cried.

“ I can’t. He’s gone. Forever.”

“ No!” She shouted. Anita lifted up the tree that was in front of her to throw at him. It rose off the ground a bit, but shook for a second or two, then fell. She broke into tears.

“ Were you trying to do this?” The possessed Tim said scornfully. The tree lifted up high and flew over near him. Anita silently watched. Tim lifted it above his head and, with a movement of his hand, the tree split in half.

“ I don’t want to hurt you Anita, but if you don’t come peacefully, I will.”

Anita rose up, ran towards Tim, and started hitting his chest with her fists. Tim stared passively at her. Obviously, he was not hurt. He put a finger on Anita’s forehead, and she was sent flying backwards.

“Please leave.” Anita was lying on the ground, crying.

“Come with me, and I will.”

“ You took Tim. So why don’t you just take me and be done with it!”

“ I can’t. You’re special. We need you, not your spirit.”

“ You can’t have me!” She got up and ran from him.

But he was too quick. A log was sent at high speed towards Anita’s head. It struck, and she fell. Tim started to slowly pull her in with his mind.

Anita regained consciousness shortly. The log didn’t hit her too hard. When she realized that she was being dragged towards Tim, she tried to crawl away. She was slowly moving away from him, but it didn’t last long.

Tim saw that she was awake. He let out more psychic energy. Anita started to move slower. He was getting impatient. He strengthened his pull with as much power as he could.

Anita was lifted off the ground. She was flying towards Tim and couldn’t stop. She tried to think of something. She was getting closer, but so was everything else. Rocks, logs, even trees were flying off the ground, though they passed by Tim. Anita looked around for something to throw at him. She had her doll, but she didn’t want to lose it. What else did she have? Finally, an idea came to her.

She reached into her backpack for Tim’s things. She scratched around until she got what she was looking for. She pulled out the pocketknife Tim had brought, flicked open the blade, and threw it with all the strength she could muster.

Tim was so absorbed in catching Anita, that he didn’t see the knife until it was too late. It drove into his neck with force from his own power. He flew back, clutching his throat, and the pull stopped.

Unfortunately, Anita was still flying pretty fast. She flew straight into a tree, and was knocked unconscious.

Well my child, it seems that you are stronger willed than I thought. She heard the voice from the darkness. It doesn’t matter though; you cannot escape your destiny.

“ Destiny?” Anita said to the voice.

I knew you were special since the day you were born.

“ Who is this? How do you know about me?”

Out in the darkness, Anita saw a dark figure moving towards her. Its eyes were glowing red, and it radiated evil energy visibly. It changed as it came closer. It started to look human. Anita looked closer. It was a woman, one that looked very familiar.

“ Do I know you?” She said to the figure.

“ Of course,” the voice was coming from the figure now, “but not like this.”

She held her hand to her face and, before Anita’s eyes, changed her appearance to that of a kindly old lady, wearing a shawl.

“ Grandma?” Anita’s voice shook.

“ Yes dear.” Her voice had also changed. “ It’s me.”

“ What’s going on?”

“ It’s very simple. When I came to the over-world a long time ago, I found this irresistible man. We fell in love, and we had a daughter. Unfortunately, She had her father’s genes, and was almost completely human. We loved her and cared for her, but she could never come back with me.

Eventually, she got married to that pitiful excuse of a man, your father. When they had a child, you, I didn’t want to see it, but I was talked into it anyway. I was amazed at the power you possessed in your spirit. It was that of a Darkstalker. It seems that you were born with the Darkstalker trait your mother had. I knew you’d be special.”

“ You were a Darkstalker?” Anita asked timidly.

“ I still am, and so are you.”

“ So that’s why you wanted to take me there, to your realm.”

“ It’s called Mikai, dear. If you’re going to live there, you might as well know what it’s called.”

“ I’m not going to live there. So why don’t you leave?”

“ You still don’t understand, do you? You are supposed to live there. Great things would be in store for you.”

“ I won’t live there.”

“ You have so much promise. If we work with you, I know you’ll become the queen of darkness one day.”

“ I will not.”

“ We can go hunting and shopping, and you be brought up right. Not like some ‘human’ weakling. You’ll be even happier with me than with your mother.”

“ I won’t”

“ Fine, stay here with the ‘normal’ people for now, but you will come with us eventually. We’re all you have now. Nobody will take you in after they find out that we will eventually take their souls. If they do... well, you’ve seen what happens.”

“ No, it‘s not true” She was saying it more to herself than to her grandmother.

“ You managed to kill the only human that was willing to be with you. You knew his promise of removing you heritage was an empty one. Even he lied to you. You will soon see the darkness.”

“ He lied?”

“ They all lie...”

The woman faded into the eternal blackness and Anita awoke.

She looked around her; she wasn’t in the forest any more. She didn’t know where she was, but she didn’t care. She knew that her grandmother was right. She couldn’t live with people normally.

I don’t care about those people anymore; grandma was right I will eventually be with her and the other Darkstalkers. Her eyes were as cold as stone. These people don’t care what happens to me... and nether do I.

She walked on for awhile, it was bright out, and the weather was nice. A group of old horse-driven wagons came towards her. The head driver of the wagons saw Anita and signaled the others to stop. He got down from his cart and walked up to Anita.

He was a friendly looking old man, with a large, bushy, white mustache. His clothing made him look like he was an old cowboy; he even had a cowboy hat.

“ Well, hello there missy!” He said in a perky tone, “What are you doing in the middle of nowhere like this?”

Anita just stared blankly at him.

“ What’s wrong young ‘un?”

One of the drivers got out next to him. “ Hey Clem, maybe she’s one of them mutes.”

“ Well then, let’s take her with us. I know a priest that can cure muteness in a jiffy! Come on little missy!”

So Anita got on the head wagon and the group started off. They had no idea what they had done to themselves.