The Expired

Chapter 27

It turned out most of the demons hightailed it out of the school, not willing to lose their freedom for a leader who couldn't even win.

Kira was disappointed they never found Matt. That was the one demon she was afraid would try to make this all happen again. But next time she will be ready and definitely more confident in herself.

Colby groaned as he leaned on the broom. "We save the world. We stop Lucifer from creating havoc. We stop the demons from killing every last single person in this school. But we still have to help with the cleanup?" Colby asked exasperated.

"This place isn't going to clean itself," Jacob said with a shrug.

"Aaron doesn't have to help," Colby mumbled.

"He got shot in the leg! What did you expect?" Jacob said, rolling his eyes.

"How long is it going to take to rebuild all of this stuff anyway?" Kira asked, walking up after getting her wrist put in a cast. She looked around at the destroyed dorms.

"Oh, a few hours, maybe a day," Gwyneth said, walking up to the group. She wore a giant smile as she wrapped her arm around Kira. "The big hero! I knew you could do it!"

Kira shrugged. "It wasn't as if I saved everyone."

"But the people you saved outweighs the people who died, doesn't it?" Gwyneth asked. She frowned and took Kira's shoulders in both of her hands. "I know what happened to your sister, and I'm sorry. But just think about the beautiful life she had because of you. She would have had no happy memories to die with if it weren't for you."

Kira smiled slightly with teary eyes. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Of course I'm right!" Gwyneth smiled. "I'm always right, haven't you figured that out by now?"

"Okay, so going back to fixing this place, shouldn't it take more than a day?" Colby asked.

"Do you underestimate my skills, boy?" Gwyneth asked.

"Wait, does that mean we can stop cleaning if you can fix it all?" Colby asked hopefully.

Gwyneth laughed. "I'm only hired to fix the buildings. You can continue to sweep up all this debris," she smiled, walking away.

Colby frowned and looked over at the other surviving hunters picking up and sweeping the mess that the demons laid in their wake.

"Great, where are we supposed to sleep?" Colby asked.

"We all can pack into my house," Lucas offered. "I don't know how comfy it will be for all of us, but it's a place to sleep."

"I don't care," Colby said. "Anywhere is fine. Does anybody else feel like they are going to pass out from exhaustion?"

"Well, we haven't had a good night's sleep since Kira went missing, so I think all of us are about ready to keel over."

"Hey, guys," Aaron said, hoping over to the group with the help of crutches.

"Hey, cripple," Colby smiled.

"What's the update with your leg?" Jacob asked.

"It should be fine, it just hurts like hell," Aaron answered. "The bullet splintered the bone slightly, but the doc said it should heal up fine in a few days."

"Do you know what sucks about our job?" Colby asked.

"Getting hurt almost every day?" Jacob laughed.

"No. Well, that too," Colby nodded. "But what I was going to say is that the whole world will just continue on as normal and not even know who saved their asses. Or that their asses even needed to be saved."

Aaron laughed. "Yeah, but who cares? It's done and over with, right? We won, and this little community here knows it. Let the others be oblivious."

"Then we can all go back to normal lives," Jacob sighed. "Well, normal for us anyway."

Mr. Barlow walked up to the group, covered in bandages and gauze from his wounds. "How are you all feeling?"

They all stared at him like it was the stupidest question he could have asked.

Mr. Barlow laughed. "You all look terrible. Go get some sleep and let the others do the cleaning up."

"Yes!" Colby exclaimed, dropping his broom. "Thank you!"

Mr. Barlow smiled and looked over at Talon. "You helped out, thank you. Of course that means you are always welcome here."

Talon looked at him shocked. "Really? I mean thanks... but..." Talon glanced over at Kira, not knowing what to say.

"Actually," Kira said. "I've been thinking that I shouldn't stay here anymore."

Everyone looked over at her shocked

"What? But I thought you liked it here," Mr. Barlow said.

"And did you forget what happened last time you left?" Colby asked, placing his hands on his hips.

Kira smiled. "Just hear me out. Everyone here obviously knows what happened. They know everything."

"So?" Jacob asked. "True, there might be some people who will be jerks about it, but I bet there will be more people who understand the good you did."

"It's not just that," Kira said, shaking her head. "Sure, people definitely won't treat me the same way. Whether that's good or bad, I'm not quite sure. But I just don't want to hide away here anymore, you know? I don't want to seem like that scared little demon that is afraid that someone else will come and try to raise Lucifer. I want to at least look like I'm not afraid if they try."

"But what if something does happen?" Aaron asked, concerned.

"It's not like I won't ever talk to you guys again," Kira said, rolling her eyes. "I can still call. I can still come and visit. I just hate to be a burden when it comes to taking down the barrier so I can leave or come in. Every time you guys do that, you are taking a risk."

"We don't mind," Mr. Barlow said with a warm smile. "But, if that is really what you want to do, of course we won't stop you."

"But I expect a phone call everyday!" Aaron said with a frown. "And you better come visit!"

Kira laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, whatever."

"Are you really going to leave and be all by yourself?" Jacob asked.

"I won't be alone," Kira said. "Talon is coming with me. We both are demons, after all."

Jacob sighed. "Alright, but you better stay safe."

"Okay, mother," Kira laughed.

"And there is no way I'm letting you leave without a going away party," Lucas chimed in.

Kira smiled, looking at the small group of people she had learned to love as her family.

They were all worn out. They were all beat up.

But they were all still smiling.

This was her family.