“My eyes opened to black. I can’t explain it; I could see, but I couldn’t, as if someone had blown out the only candle in the room. I remember feeling a chill in the air. My skin felt like I was touching a dead body, which makes sense because it was a dead body – my body.

I noticed something in front of me, a source of heat, that I could reach out and grab, but when I did, it didn’t help at all. I realized it wasn’t actually warmth, but the potential for it. When I held it, I’d hoped there’d be at least a flicker of something, but nothing happened.

Things only became clear after the events of that day. The extinguished candle was my life that had fizzled out, and the heat I thought I felt was my mom and dad,” I choked. “And my little brother, Diego.” I stared at the floor of the car for a long time before continuing.

“It felt like I’d been dropped into the world but had no control over my body. I was operating on pure instinct like some beast. All I could think about was getting warm and getting away from the darkness. I knew that if the light went out completely, I’d die. I had no idea that the light in my life was already dead.

I had to do something to survive and right in front of me, I saw a way. There was a church not far from my house. I opened the door as if opening a box of matches and at the sight of me, the people panicked. Most of them scattered, but some of them just froze in place.

One after another, I used them to try to start a fire to save myself from the cold that threatened to consume me. When the church was empty, I smashed through it like a wrecking ball, and the whole building crumpled to the ground. People ran in every direction, but I was unnaturally fast. It was like picking up something I’d dropped at my feet.

They couldn’t all get away, but that was alright, I started to see flickers of light. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. I kept trying, but eventually, all the people were gone. I surveyed the scene, but I didn’t see bodies. I saw a pile of wasted opportunity.

With each moment that passed, I felt myself getting weaker. Something drew my attention downtown, but my neighborhood was pretty far from it. The night obscured most of the tall buildings there, like a foreboding fog. Even so, the glow of the clocktower shone through the darkness. That’s when I heard the howl of sirens in the distance.

I ran from house to house as if scouring drawers and cupboards in a kitchen. Each person I stole the life from brought me closer to lighting a fire inside me. Finally, it happened. A tiny flame ignited, and I tried to hold onto it, but that’s when they showed up.

Like wolves, two police officers cornered me. They had their guns raised and were slowly closing in. I tried to run past the female officer that entered from the back. She yelled for me to stop, but I ignored her. I was able to get past, but not before she shot me.

The bullet tore through my thigh, and I screamed out in pain. Out of reflex, I swung an arm out. My fist hit her so hard, she slammed into a wall; when she fell to the floor, she wasn’t moving. Seeing his companion taken out of the fight, the other officer charged at me.

He tackled me and struck me with his baton. I was pinned to the floor, and he kept cursing at me. Something about that demanded that I respond. I grabbed him by the throat and slowly got to my feet. He stared into my cold, unfeeling eyes, and there was fear in his. I slammed him to the ground. My wounds started to heal and the strength I’d exhibited used up all the energy I’d accumulated; the fire went out.

I was overcome with anger, and before the officer could respond, I smashed his head in. Even though I hadn’t drained him of his life, a little warmth returned. As if I’d forgotten about her, the other officer had gotten up and approached slowly. She was in shock at the display, but I didn’t care. I kicked her as hard as I could.

My fury subsided when I heard another officer crash through the house. I tried to run, but as soon as he saw the bodies, he gave chase, brandishing his gun. I pick up a refrigerator and threw it at him. Before he was crushed, he managed to shoot me in the ankle, but that didn’t stop me.

When I heard more sounds rushing toward me, I jumped through a window and sped toward the city. Agonizing screams came from the house, followed by shouts of anger.” My mouth was dry, and I swallowed hard.

Detective Glau clenched his teeth. Those screams had come from him. Hearing the gunshots, he’d paused to call for backup, but when he made it into the kitchen, he saw three dead officers. An unrecognizable man that would need to have a closed casket funeral; a woman with shattered bones that shredded her organs; and his partner, flattened by a kitchen appliance. After a moment of silence, I continued.

“I made it to the city in record time. The buildings towered over me, and I was completely lost. With each moment, my life force was dwindling. I started to fear that I was nearing my end, but I kept pushing forward. That’s when I felt something not far away. Urged on by that feeling, I saw light coming from a third story apartment.

Without hesitation, I jumped all the way from the street into the window. Inside, a man sat, watching TV with a big smile on his face. His aura was like an enticing campfire. I knew if I didn’t get to it, I’d die, so I charged him.

He was a mage. He danced around the apartment, unwilling to let me get close. I was sent flying by gusts of wind, blasting me into walls. My energy dwindled further, but I wasn’t just fast and strong – I was agile. I jumped at him from odd angles with speed that he couldn’t keep up with. When I finally caught him, his power was exactly what I needed. It warmed me to my very core, but my relief was short-lived. I was still being hunted by the police.

I ran, picking up more fuel as I went, but the pack of officers were hot on my heels. Bullets flew past, narrowly missing me. The mage’s power welled up inside me, and I used it to fling wind at my pursuers. I finally jumped through another apartment window a few flights up.

The brief respite gave me a chance to catch my breath. That’s when I realized that I’d been accumulating all this energy, but it was like I was in a cold cabin holding a burning log instead of throwing it into the wood-burning stove. My body was that cabin, and my soul was the stove. When I put the fire into my soul, it fit perfectly, and when I sealed it inside, like a door with a latch. A bright light blinded me.

My vision cleared and I saw beams from flashlights directed at me. A dozen furious police officers, thirsty for blood, pointed their guns at me. I’d finally come to my senses and my first thought was that I never got away from the cold or the darkness. I shivered in fear and scurried into a corner with my back pressed up against it.”

I slouched in the backseat of Detective Glau’s car, my eyes fixed on the floor, but I could tell that the he was watching me intently.

“So that’s what happened,” a woman said somberly, outside me window. Even though I was startled, my head didn’t jolt to see who it was. Instead, my gaze slowly drifted up to see Selena’s sad expression. “I’d always wondered, but I hadn’t realized…”

“Selena, I –” Her finger pressed against my lips. She stuck her head through the window to look at Max. He was still staring intently at me with a mix of emotion evident on his face.

“Let him go. He’s not going to hurt anyone,” she said to him. His mouth curled in a sort of growl. “Trust me.” His face fell and he nodded, turning back to the wheel. Selena opened my door and dragged me out of the car. I didn’t stop her.

We walked away, leaving the detective to his thoughts. Her and I continued in silence for a long time before she spoke.

“Jesus, if I’d known, I would have –” she started. It caused something to rise inside me.

“You would have what?” I asked with a tone of angry guilt. “You would have stopped me? You would have saved our parents? What could you have done?”

“I would have been there for you,” she replied.

“Then why weren’t you? Mom and Dad were dead, but you just – left. Where were you when I needed you most?” I asked.

“I – I can’t tell you,” she replied, dropping her eyes.

“For death’s sake, Selena. Why are you still hiding the truth from me?” I asked, but I couldn’t maintain my frustration.

Selena had always been stubborn. Even though she agreed not to fight with me to lighten the load on our parents, she’d push the boundaries with them directly. She thought that because she was such a model older sister that she was entitled to more freedom, and Dad seemed to be fine with it, Mom wasn’t.

“Fine, you know I’m going to find out eventually, if you’re not going to tell me. At least tell me that it was worth it,” I said. She didn’t say anything. It sent a twinge of rage through me, but it quickly subsided into a deep sadness. “Why – Why did you even come back?” Her face darkened.

“I’m here to make sure Aloysia Warmacher dies.” I stopped and stared at her.

“I don’t understand. What happened between you two?” I asked, fearing the answer. Al may have been harsh, but she still took me in. In the beginning, and even during the time between training, she had her moments. Looking back, it wasn’t all bad. Sure, there was definitely animosity between us, but I couldn’t say I hated her.

“You’re in danger. I’m just trying to protect you.”

“Seriously? You’re going with that?”

“Jesus, a year from now, if she’s not dead, you’ll be the one to die,” Selena said ominously. I deadpanned.

“Is that some kind of prophecy?” I asked. She shrugged.

“Maybe?” She smiled. “I knew you’d like that.” I shook my head and sighed. “But it is true. I’m not lying Jesus –”

“Please stop calling me that? After they – after that day, I can’t stand hearing that name.” She smiled.

“Do you want me to call you mijo?” She asked jokingly. “Remember how I used to call you that? I thought it was Mom’s nickname for you until she told me what it meant.” Selena must have thought that the memory would cheer me up, but it only made the pain worse.

“My name’s Jesse now,” I said and started walking again.

“Alright. Jesse then,” she said. “I’m telling you, it’s not a joke. If Aloysia lives, you die. I know she’s strong, but if we work together…”

“You’re starting to sound like a villain, Selena. I’m not going to kill Al,” I said with finality. She clenched her fists in frustration.

“Jesse, she needs to die. We need to kill her. Trust me,” Selena said with desperation in her voice, the tone pulled at my heartstrings. I wanted to listen to her, but something just wasn’t right. I paused mid-step and turned to her, narrowing my eyes.

“After ten years, you show up out of the blue and tell me that Al has to die. Why would I trust you?” Her brow furrowed and I saw confusion evident on her face.

“Because I’m your older sister, you should trust me,” she said, and that’s when I knew. Her expression hadn’t been confusion at my question. When she said, ‘trust me’, her eyes turned black for a split second. I lowered my head and gave her a menacing look. I spoke quietly with a threatening tone.

“You just tried to use magic on me. You’re not Selena,” I said. I took a step forward and she took a step back. She tried to turn away to flee, but I grabbed her wrist before she could escape. I projected my soul into her as soon as my fingers had a firm grip.

I stood in Selena’s old room. There were posters plastered on her pastel pink walls of various boy bands with ‘dreamy’ lead singers. Her bed was made without a single slight crease in her blanket or sheets. Perfectly aligned pictures of her and her friends were pinned to a corkboard. In front of it, my sister sat at a desk with a stack of books place neatly in one corner. One of them was open in front of her. She turned in surprise.

“Jesus?! How did you get in here?!”

“Where is it?” I asked without hesitation. “Where’s the demon – or are you her?” I snarled. She stood making a warding gesture and backing up as I approached with a furious determination.

“There aren’t any demons here,” she defended. I stopped my advance and eyed her suspiciously. “Just – get out!” She shoved me. I flew through her door and back into reality. Somehow, even though I’d only been in her soul for a moment, she’d been fighting against my grip the whole time.

“How did you – ” I started.

“Let go!” Selena demanded, tugging at her arm. Her eyes were black again.

“What in the graveyard is going on?” I asked, but she responded by headbutting me. I let go and staggered back clutching my face. “What the hell, Selena? Did you seriously just –”

“Language!” She shouted and her eyes were brown again.

“Hey, that’s my line,” I replied.

“Fine! If you’re not going to help me, I’ll kill her myself,” she snarled. Before I could overcome my confusion to respond, she clocked me in the face, knocking me out cold.