My hands were slick with sweat as I frantically tried to figure out what to do. Roy was on his way here and as the time ticked away I felt like a bomb was ticking in the back of my head just mere seconds from detonating.

What was I supposed to do? Should I call Taylor? Is it to late to take back all that I'd said?

I should have just listened and stayed back at Black Nova estate. Now looking at myself I felt ashamed and foolish for thinking so rash and irate. If I had just listened.

My clammy hands clutched my phone as I stared at it still entranced with the nerving information that Roy was most definitely heading here as I looked at my phone screen. I couldn't handle him all on my own, I nearly died last time, and this time I have my niece.

Sucking up my pride and biting back my cold words I rang the one person I thought would pick up the soonest. I was in for a rough awakening when I dialed Caleb and he didn't pick up, my heart sank.

No please pick up! I'm sorry.

Panic coursed through my veins, adrenaline begging to race my heart into cardiac arrest . No, I needed to think, I needed to keep a leveled head. If I lost myself now to the mania I'd get myself killed, and Jozy.

My attempt failed again only for his voicemail to echo in my ear. Fuck! I didn't think he'd hold my words so true to heart, I thought maybe he'd jump at the first chance of me reaching out. I guess not, but I don't know why I'm surprised, I was cold hearted and blunt. Any rational person would take the hint and turn their back, after all that was what I wanted.

It's what I thought I wanted.

"Pick up Caleb, please!" My voice cracked as I begged tooth and nail for him to pick up only for my heart to sink further when I heard his voicemail.

"Damn it!" I yelled whipping a tear that escaped while I frantically scrolled through my contacts. I was about to tap on Taylor's name when a tiny innocent voice caught my attention.

"A-are they coming back?"

My head snapped up to the railing of the staircase that led to the loft. Jozy clutched her sleeping blanket in on hand with another wrapped tightly around the neck of her bunny. Her big eyes reminded me of a lost fawn, she couldn't be more of a little fawn like Bambi.

"No, of course not." I reassured her making my way up the stairs. I crouched down to her level offering her a smile that I hoped masked the sheer terror behind them. "Why don't you lay back down while I call my friend?" With a little nod she crawled back under the covers as I ran into the kitchen.

My phone rang as I held it to my ear desperate for Taylor to pick up. It only took two rings before her exasperated voice sounded through the line.

"Papa johns at your service how-"

"You need to come back, now! Roy is on his way as we speak and-and I have Jozy. I can't protect her all on my own. I'm so so sorry I thought I could- I didn't mean to- fuck- shit! I'm so stupid I need help-"

"Shut up and breathe, Eve! I'm in the parking lot." She screamed on the other end of the phone. I stared blankly at the tv, as I processed her words. She was in the parking lot? "I've been standing watch over your place with Naní."

"Wh-"

"Did you honestly think Caleb let you be by yourself?" She asked rhetorically as I heard the slamming of a car door. "We are on our way up now get you and your niece together."

"O-oh, okay." I breathed out jumping to my feet to grab Jozy and her already packed back pack.

"Jozy, baby, get your blanket and bunny we have to go somewhere." I told her trying my best to keep my voice voided of any terror it may have possessed.

A million thoughts ran through my head as I briskly threw things around in bags and all over the furniture. He didn't live far from here. Roy said he'd be paying me a visit over fifteen minutes ago which meant...

I checked my phone once more reading the time of his text, 9:26 PM. My eyes slowly lifted to the corner of the screen as I sucked in a deep breath as I red the time 9:45 PM. He was definitely here.

"Aunty Evie, wh-where are we going?" Jozy's trembling voice caught my attention just as a knock on the door tore it away.

I felt the room fall silent as the knock echoed through the loft. My heart pounded against my rib cage daring to barrel out of my chest in dread. Time seemed to stop as another set of knocks echoed again, my hands quivered as I gripped the backpack zipper. The soft jingle of the metal zipper was all the noise I could hear besides my own heart.

"S-someone i-is at the door auntie." Jozy told me as I gulped down my fear.

I placed my finger to my lips and gestured to my niece to go back up and hide. I listened to her light frantic footsteps and the sound of the comforter swishing as she tugged on it to hide.

Gradually I rose to my feet taking my steps as slow as possible with my back rigid with tension. Every nerve in my body screamed danger but I couldn't allow myself to think irrationally. It was Taylor I reminded myself.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.

My heart banged against my rib cage like a wild restrained animal. The stray hairs at the back of my neck clung to my skin with sweat that tricked down my nap. I nervously licked my lips now standing inches from the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.

My hand rested on the metallic door knob in hopes it would rid my shaking arm. It did not. My breath caught in my throat as I rose to my toes to peer through the peephole. The moment I saw the person I let out the breath I held and slide the chain lock off the door, turning the dead bolt and opening my apartment door.

"Eve!" Taylor exclaimed making her way inside the loft followed by Naní, who gave me a solum smile.

Taylor stood ideally in the living room all the while Naní made her way further into the loft twisting the blinds at the window to scan outside. Knowing how on guard Naní was I was sure she was looking for any odd people in the vicinity.

"Anyone?" Taylor asked keeping her eyes on me as she questioned Naní. Naní shook her head as she twisted the blinds shut again and made her way over to us.

I sighed in relief slumping into the kitchen chair. Finally, I was able to relax.

"I never took Roy as having zero brain cells, a brute, yes," Taylor paused when she noticed my distraught face. "But an idiot, no."

"Could you be less emotionally intelligent? Can't you see that Eve is only just coming down from a panic attack. Have some empathy!"Naní scolded handing me a glass of water.

I swiped at the sweat that trickled down my neck. The last forty-eight hours has been nothing short of chaotic. I just wanted it all to end. I wanted Nora to get the punishment she deserved and I wanted Sorcha to tell me what I was or take away whatever power she handed me. I didn't want it nor did I every ask for it.

"Are you packed up, Eve?" Naní's voice pulled me out of my jumbled thoughts as I doust my parched throat with water. Nodding I got up searching for my tiny niece that I was sure to find trembling.

I couldn't have been more spot on as I saw her balled up in the corner of the living room. The beige comforter took any shape of her body away the only reminents that she was even concealed under it was the fact that it was shaking.

"Jozy, it's auntie Eve, you can come out now. Everything is alright." I cooed hoping to coax her out.

The blanket moved ever so slightly as her innocent fawn eyes peer out from under the darkness of the comforter. A warm smile spread across my face as she stopped shaking at my appearance. I didn't, however, miss the way her eyes darted everywhere around the room, her PTSD was evident in the wideness of her eyes.

I moved the comforter even more exposing the rest of her body. Her small limbs out stretched and wrapped around my neck in a hug I knew she needed. Her small body wrapped around me like velcro, desperate for comfort. I may not be Aurora but I would try my best to fill that void I knew I would never truly be able to make whole again.

Standing up with Jozy in my arms I turned back to Naní and Taylor. They had been watching us both intently, neither one of them said anything about the small mother-like moment they had just witnessed. I was relieved too, I didn't want the recognition, I will never want anyone to see me as Jozy's mother, her aunt yes, her mother, never.

That was a spot only for Aurora.

"Ready." I muttered stepping towards the front door. A sad chuckle crept out of me as I thought about how I was returning so shortly back to Caleb. I probably looked like a fool and if it weren't for the fact that I was taking care of Jozy I probably wouldn't have called for help. I would have face Roy again, fear and terrified as I was I still would have faced him. Now, however, I couldn't take such a risk, it wasn't just my life on the line.

"And to think I only lasted such a short time on my own." I stormily said under my breath. The comment was more towards myself than anyone, I couldn't lie to myself anymore, I was hopeless without them.

Naní and Taylor said nothing as they picked up our bags and followed close behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my exposed skin goose-bumped as my hand grabbed hold of the deadbolt lock.

A sudden wash of fear, confusion, pain, and anger flashed before my eyes. For a brief moment I heard the sound of a gun clicking, as the sound played out the door momentarily disappeared and the image of a body falling lifelessly appeared instead.

Just as quickly as the image and sound appeared it vanished and the only thing that told me I was back in reality was the shout of Naní's voice.

"Wait!"

The door exploded in an array of splintering pieces of wood. I was thrown back at the sudden force, falling flat on my back. My head bounced on the hardwood floor as my ears became muffled to every sound. Everything sounded as if I were under water. Shouts and screams could be heard and though I knew I needed to get up and move I couldn't, all I could do was open my eyes to clouds of purple mist.

"Grab... leave... child... kill the rest." The deep masculine voice was heard but my ears could only make out chunks of his demands.

Groaning, I forced myself to roll over to see Naní and Taylor on all fours chocking on the purple mist that enveloped the whole loft now. Taylor crawled with every ounce of effort she still had towards me, her arm was out stretched to grab me but she was kicked over. She clutched at her side in pain.

My dazed attention was caught when I watched as Naní, hurt and crying out in pain, fought two grown men. She was holding them off regardless of the fact that she was slowly being poisoned by this invasive mist. Naní looked stoic and full of fire as she tore out the throat of one of the men and clawed the face of the other.

A gun shot rang out in the apartment ripping my once muffled ears and replaced it with a sharp ringing. Naní cried out and slumped to the floor unmoved and unresponsive.

"No!" I shouted moving towards her but I didn't get far before I was yanked back into a body.

Disoriented still the person holding me had no trouble wrapping their thick muscular arm around my entire body. Immobilized, confused and distraught, at the sight of blood that pooled around Naní, I still tried to pull free. The man squeezed me tighter as I fought against his hold my breath push out of my lungs.

I gasp in an attempt to fill my lungs, it was no use as he yanked my hair back with a punishing strength.

"You're not getting away from me this time baby girl." My body went stiff with utter horror. I never thought I'd hear that voice again, at least not this soon.

In shock I felt as though I were just a stiff rag doll being pushed and tugged around. My neck was still pulled back at a painful angle but the pain was vague compared to the nauseating feeling that slowly crept up my throat.

"Leave them! The gas will kill them." Roy shouted catching the attention of the remaining three men. The one man that was kill laid lifeless and motionless on the living room carpet next to Naní.

"And the child?" One of them questioned.

My heart sank. "No, don't touch her, please!" I begged tears daring to spill out.

"Leave it," Roy ordered pulling me along with him. He lowered his mouth until it was just millimeters from my ear. My skin scrawled with disgust. "I have what we came for."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Sorry for such a long wait. I've been working on transitioning my books to other platforms. I'll have an announce up soon explain what is going to change. Don't be alarmed I still will be completing this book and publishing my works here.

Q: If you could be any animal besides a human what would it be?

A: I'd be a horse. I'd say I just would be.