The two companions walked around the suburb of Renadia. According to Donovan, they were looking for “ shelter” for the night, which would be upon them in a matter of hours. Anita followed him quietly close by, it really didn’t matter to her if they slept in a motel or spent another night camped outside. Sleep was sleep until you woke up and left.
Donovan was actually a little taken with the town. It was the perfect example of peace. Children played games out in front of their homes, with their parents close by and talking, probably about the joy of their young ones. There was a small baseball field with kids playing a friendly game against each other and shouting praise and advice to help their friends out. Couples were walking down the sidewalk across from them, holding hands and talking to each other. The people here were enjoying life so much.
Well... Anita thought to herself. Look at this. The “normal” human life: kids fighting with each other, bragging about their talents. The adults don’t do anything to stop it, they can only think of their own problems. Those two over there are even arguing. They don’t even see the boy hitting that little girl, probably his sister. Human relatives always fight. Human’s always fight. Those two people holding hands aren’t even noticing each other. They obviously hate each other. I can see it right in their faces. Why are they even together?
“ It‘s beautiful.” Donovan was obviously in high spirits. “ This is exactly what we don’t want Darkstalkers to destroy. If they had their way, all of this would be gone. It’s joys like these that make life on earth so good.”
Anita said nothing.


“ Well, welcome to the Dustin Motel, the finest motel in town. Are you going to stay in one of our rooms?” Donovan and Anita found themselves looking at smiling, greasy, black-haired little man, the motel manager. The nametag on his blindingly colorful Hawaiian T-shirt read:
“ Johnny ‘Honest Dollar’ Crow”.

“ My friend and I would like a room for the night.” Donovan spoke with an air of authority and dignity. “ We plan to leave early in the morning, so we don’t need anything extra.”

“ Oh, don’t worry,” The manager still had his plastic grin, “ you wouldn’t get extra anyway.” He pulled out a key from under the counter.
“ Room A05, on the bottom level. I also need you to pay now.” He gave a little chuckle. “ You wouldn’t believe the number of people who say they’ll pay in the morning, and then run out in the middle of the night. It’s very bad for business.”
Donovan gave the man a twenty and took the room key. Anita headed for the door.
“ Have a nice night.” He snatched the bill as soon as it hit the counter. “ I must remind you of our little policy here before you ask me... no refunds. Good night!”
The Hunter walked to the door of their room, which Anita had already found and was staring at the door, holding her doll and obviously waiting. Donovan unlocked the entrance and entered first.
The room wasn’t as bad as they had expected. It had two good beds and a window looking out to the more populated area of the town. There was a little lamp between the beds. There also was a bathroom, though it was a bit messy with a smudged mirror and dirty toilet. All in all, not a bad room.
Anita had already made her chose of bedding and was sitting on the bed farthest from the window.
“ We should probably rest now.” Donovan took off Dhylec and placed it on the bed. “ We’ll leave early tomorrow and start our hunt again. You don’t want to stay longer, do you?”
She shook her head. I could’ve unlocked any door here and we could stay for free. Why didn’t you ask me to? I knew you were thinking about it.
“ It would have been wrong to cheat him by not paying. It’s my mission to protect people from harm, not cause it.”
You really think that “ Honest Dollar” Crow, has never stolen human’s money?
“ Even if he’s done wrong in the past, it doesn’t mean he’s doing it now.”
I saw a packed suitcase next to the counter with his name on it. There was also a back door behind him that was half-open, and I’m sure I heard a motor running back there. It doesn’t sound very “honest” to me.
She lay down and turned her back to him. She didn’t bother to get under the covers.
Donovan pondered her words before he decided to sleep as well.

The place seemed honest to him.

...Anita...
She walked down the hall, looking in every doorway that she passed.
...Anita...
It was so dark. She couldn’t even see her hands in front of her. Only the moonlight through the windows guided her.
... ... ...
Why did she feel so alone? Everyone was there: her parents, her brother. They were always there...
...come...here...
She stopped in front of her parents’ door. It was cracked open. Something was making a noise...
...why...?
It sounded like a dog growling. They didn’t have a dog. What was a dog doing in her parents’ room? She opened the door.
...you called...
Her parents were in bed. They were both there, but there was something else there, what was it?
... ... ...
A dog? No. It was bigger. She’d never seen anything like it before.
...Anita...
Why was it on top of her dad? What was it doing? Her father wasn’t moving. Why?
...your wish...
There was something all over the bed sheets. What was it? Was it coming from dad?
...why...?
It was eating him. The monster was eating dad. She wanted to leave. Why didn’t she?
...Darkstalker...
The animal looked up from its meal. It looked directly at her. She couldn’t turn away. It was hideous. It came towards her.
Why didn’t she run? Why couldn’t she leave?

Anita opened her eyes. She was still lying down on the bed, in the motel room with Donovan.
She had had that dream several times already, but she never got used to it. She was never ready for what she saw. Now she could only go back to sleep and hope that the dream wouldn’t occur again.
...Anita...
She froze. It was a dream. It was the same voice she heard in her dream. Why did she hear it now?
...come here...
She got down from the bed. She couldn’t explain it, but she had a feeling. She had to leave.
Grabbing Amanda, Anita opened the door and walked outside.

“ So you’ve a new traveling companion, Baine?” Alan’s voice echoed from the bright light before the hunter.
“ Yes. A little girl is with me at the moment.” Donovan answered the old hermit.
“ Hmmm, her name is Anita. A very special girl indeed.”
“ She’s an orphan, no family. The Darkstalkers murdered them. I’ve decided to protect her.”
“ Protect her? What are you protecting her from?”
Donovan laughed nervously. “ Alan, I’m sure you know my intentions. Why are you asking me this if you know the reason already?”
“ I don’t need to read your thoughts if you tell me what’s on your mind.”
Donovan paused a bit before he replied. “ She has a connection with the Dark Ones and their world. She has told me of her past, and also that Darkstalkers are called by her. Whether it’s subconscious or not, it doesn’t matter. It means that, though her, I have a direct link to the ones I’ve sought so long to destroy. I must make full use of that.”
The sadness in Alan’s words was easily detected by the hunter.
“ Donovan... don’t you see it? To you, she is nothing more than a tool. Even though you care about life, you care more about the death of your enemy. You have to work to save lives, not destroy them.
“ Donovan... that girl, Anita, she is the one that can end it. She knows the way to peace among them. She does not realize it now, but she will come to do great things. Only the future can tell what will really happen, but this I am sure of: The two of you are linked. You have a bond not of blood, not even of spirit, but of destiny. You must not separate. Until she is ready, Baine, you must protect her life. It’s the only way.”
“ Where do I go next?”
“ You must...” Alan’s voice began to fade.
“ Wait!” Donovan shouted into the light. “ Don’t leave yet!”

Donovan bolted up from the bed. He relaxed when he saw his friend, standing next to Anita’s bed. Alan smiled and acknowledged the demon hunter with a small nod.
“ Glad to see that you’re awake, Baine.”
“ Yes,” Donovan was a little confused about Alan’s sudden appearance, “ it’s very good to see you at all. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“ Why not?” He looked around the room. “ Your choice in lodging isn’t too bad. It could be better though.”
“ I’m just surprised to see you. It’s been awhile since we last met.” Donovan’s eyes suddenly open wide. “ Oh yes, I have to introduce you to Anita! I’m sure you want to meet her.”
He walked over to her bed to wake her, but it was empty.
“ Oh no! She’s gone! She must have left the room while I was asleep.” He turned to his friend. “ Did you see her leave?”
Alan shook his head. “ She has wandered into the town, but I’m not sure of her specific location.”

“ I must find her, immediately!” He dashed out into the night.

“ Today is day of sorrow, and a day of joy. He led a lovely life, and the town will never be the same without him bringing joy to us all.”
The minister’s words echoed throughout the church. Anita was sitting in the back pew with her parents and brother. It was a nice service, but she was so bored. She didn’t even want to be in the church, she wanted to be playing with her friends. She wanted to have fun today, not sit at some funeral for a man she didn’t even know. Why did her mother make her come?
“ Lucas Danes was a good man, and we are glad that he is with God now. Some of us were very close to Mr. Danes and we have been asked to let one of his better friends say a few words. We ask that Mrs. Maria Raman come forward and tell us her thoughts on the deceased.”
Anita’s mother rose from her seat next her daughter and walked up to the podium at the front of the church. Anita’s attention changed from her thoughts to what was happening now before her. Her mother never did a public speech before. This was something different for the little girl to see.
Mrs. Raman cleared her throat and started. “ Luke was a very good friend of mine for a long time. He welcomed my family with open arms and a kind heart. When we were getting settled, he gave us information on where we could find the best restaurants, the best school for our children, everything that we needed. Anything he could do to help he did, and we always tried to do the same.” She coughed and her voice shook a little bit. “ We gave him parties on his birthday, and when he started to suffer from Alzheimer's disease, we found a rest home for him to stay in and visited him often. He was so much like one of the family, and since he had no family of his own, we became his family.” She started to sob. “ He was the nicest person you’d ever want to meet, and I’m sure that he’s happy now, finally at peace.” She walked back to sit with her family.
Wow. Mom had never cried like that before. She was really sad. She must have really liked this man, but why did I never meet him? I just don’t remember him. I hope Mom was right. I want him to be happy too.
Nobody wanted to even be close to the little child walking down the street. All of the people in her way moved quickly to avoid her. Even the cars moved out of her way. She just looked so frightening, but she was just a little girl. Why was everyone afraid of her?
Anita wasn’t even conscious of where she was going or where she even was at the moment. She was completely lost in thought, and her body was moving as if she wasn’t even in control any more.
You’re all alone now. No one in the world can help you; nobody even wants to.
The voice from her dream was still there. It was continuously speaking to her, bringing back memories of the past. She couldn’t find out where the voice was coming from, but it sounded very familiar to her.
People look at you and hate or fear you. They all know what you really are. They know that you are not one of their own. Because of this, they abandon you. The entire world hates you. You should leave them behind. You can.
I can leave. Anita was slowly starting to understand the idea.
You can leave this world. You can go home.
I can go home. I want to leave.
Leave. Go home.
Yes. Take me home, where I belong. Take me home.
Your wish...

“ Alan, where is she?” Donovan had looked all over town, but found nothing.
“ We will find the child. She is still in this town. Do not give up so easily, Baine!”
Donovan stared down another street. “ You’re right my friend. I will not give up until I have found her!”
“ Wait!” Alan paused for a long time, looking in several directions and finally closing his eyes. “ She is close. I can feel the turmoil in her soul.”
“ Please, Alan. Lead me to her.”
The hermit started to walk. Without another word, Donovan followed him. Alan kept his eyes closed and his pace was very controlled. It took only a few minutes for the two to find the one they were looking for.
Anita was standing rigidly before a terrible portal. It was surging with energy and gave off a force like a strong wind. Anita was holding Amanda with her arms and was staring straight into the portal. Donovan walked up behind her.
“ Is this what I think it is?” He could not take his eyes off the portal.
“ This is indeed a portal to a dimension of evil. Though I do not know which. It could lead to the realm of the Dark Ones, or it could go somewhere else. In any case, it leads to the Darkstalkers.”
Donovan thought deeply before he spoke. “ I must go...”
Alan remained silent.
The hunter placed his hand upon Anita’s shoulder. She nodded and moved forward. Donovan moved ahead of her and continued to the portal. He took a glance back. Alan was gone.
Donovan and Anita kept walking, and entered the window of energy before them. Both of them felt a coldness envelop them and they were taken into the infinite darkness.