ᶰᵒᶤʳ ᶜᶤᵗʸ, ᵇᵉᵍᶤᶰᶰᶤᶰᵍ

CHAPTER NINETEEN

She took a deep breath.

Her mind filled with all the pain her father had caused her, all the words Danford had uttered. Every moment when people screamed at her, every moment when hate was directed at her, her friends, or anyone close to her. She remembered meeting the ShadowSeeker and feeling sympathy for him. He had lost his memory to whatever Satan was doing. Whoever started this was dead to her.

She started to float into the air subconsciously, her eyes bursting into a bright red. Streaks flying from them. Red fire balls forming in her palms. She kept slowly rising as the shadows got closer.

Then it happened.

First there was a red implosion, then an explosion. The shadows screeched chillingly, burning into ash. This was all centered from Kate. The hated girl. The girl who was rubbish-minded. She had saved the city from shadow beasts. Her friends watched in awe at her. Kate's hair floated above her head, lightning crashed beside them. The Devil then had morphed into his true form, watching like a proud father. A crimson trident appearing in hand.

__________________________________________________________________

Kate woke with a start.

If you asked Kate what just happened, she would have said:

'I went boom.'

Her hair was a mess and she was in another bed. She gazed around to see a couple of her friends. The Devil and another strange looking man. She sat up and rubbed her temples. ''What happened?'' Steel deeply inhaled. ''You basically exploded and imploded, not in that order. And some how lived.'' He, kind of, explained. Making a few hand motions in between. She let out a small snicker and wheezed. Gazing at the strange man. ''Who's he?''

''He's God.''

''Get out of my room motherfucker.''

God stared at Kate for a second. ''I could have swore I made a nicer girl the Dimensionrunner.'' He mumbled. Kate gave him an aggressive look, folding her arms. ''She was just kidding. '' Said The Devil, quite frantically. Giving Kate a look that spoke for itself. She sighed and groaned mentally. ''Oh, sorry o' Holy Lord. What the hell do you want? Because I don't need your pure earthly-''

''KATE.''

''Sorry.'' She rolled her brown eyes and sneered. The Lord Of Heaven obviously wasn't pleased, grunting at her loudly. ''What's her name?'' He glanced at the Devil. ''My names Kate, thanks I'm still here.'' She spat. ''Kate.'' God echoed, distantly. Staring at her. His silver hair flashing in the lighting. His gray eyes seemed grim and narrowed. With extremely pale with skin and flecks of a white beard on his chin. ''Devil. I'll be going now. I've seen....enough.'' He stood up, patting Kate's head (''don't fucking touch me!'') and disappearing out the door. The Devil hoarsely sighed. ''He's just a stress.'' He mumbled, slouching over in his chair. Kestrel gave Kate a longing look before tearing her gaze away. Staring out the window with a far off look. Kate tilted her head in concern before being directed by her ears to Jake's voice.

''Steel why did you strangle me.''

''I-I was scared! Weren't you?''

''That's not excuse to, STRANGLE ME, TO DEATH.''

''SORRY.''

Kate watched them bicker in slight amusement. Then glancing back over at the rest of her friends. Realizing how much she cared for this bunch of idiots. And softly smiled to herself. Alex slouched over in the shade. Gwen with her hands on her thighs. Dawn watched with her arms folded, smirking. Steel and Jake bickering like hounds (even though Steel just sounded like a sad puppy), Kestrel watching the window. Brendan silently whispering with Jackson. Ken staring at Harry (lovingly) quietly. Harry, talking with the Devil quite comfortably. She watched them all joyfully.

A few days later she was out of the clinic and back at her house. She had been unsuspended. And the News was covered with 'MYSTERY GIRL SAVES CITY? RED EYES?' she smirked quietly. Happy with herself. Plus, summer vacation had started. So she got more time to spend with her friends. She was resting at home, watching television with her brother. Her mother quietly muttering in the kitchen, staring out the window. Her father reading the paper questioningly. Folding it to a new page every few minutes. Steel and Kestrel had kept that collie The Devil had saved and named it 'Miracle', after what had happened that day. They never spoke of it. They found it better to keep that event a secret between their group. And what had actually happened that unfaithful day. Kate grabbed her leather jacket (the hot weather never seemed to phase her) and opened the door. She had planned a meet up with Alex and Steel. Even though she, classically, was going to be fashionably late. They had planned to meet at the local beach. When Kate finally arrived, she kicked off her sandals and strolled over to the two. Softly kicking Steel in the head. ''WHAT THE HELL- oh hey Kate.'' ''Hi losers.'' She sat down on the towel between the two, yawning. ''So uh, how'd it even feel to kind of, explode?'' Alex mumbled, glancing over at her.

''It felt boom.''

''That isn't a valid explanation-''

Kate shrugged, cutting him off. He squinted at her and playfully punched her shoulder. ''I wonder what you can do now..'' Kate's smile flickered into a devilish smirk. ''You wanna see some magic?'' ''That sounds really wrong-'' Kate ignored him, laying out her hand. Red sparks flickering from it. They twirled around a reed in back of them. Ripping it from the ground and smacking Alex in the head. He wheezed in awe, swatting the reed away. It then flew down beside Kate. ''I think I've got the hang of these powers,'' said Kate, ''just have to focus really hard and shit happens.'' Alex brushed his dark black hair out of his face. ''Cool.'' He said blandly, while Steel just stared blankly. ''So where is Kestrel at?'' Kate asked, glancing back at Steel. ''Oh, she went to walk Mir.'' Kate let out a soft yawned and nodded.

She came home at about three o'clock, her sandals sandy and her leather jacket creased. Her father glared at her before going upstairs. Her mother slouched over in a chair. Jake laid sprawled out on the couch.

''Mystery girl saves two? Possible Red Eyes conspiracies? We'll fill you in on the breaking news in a minute. Now we go to Jim with this breaking case.'' There was a pause. ''Thank you, Phil. A mysterious girl saved the town. How, you ask? She imploded, then EXPLODED. How? Who knows? Sources tell us this was something....paranormal in origin. Scientists are completely questioning everything! EVERYTHING!''

She gazed at the television, listening. As the news caster explain, saying 'everything' as loud as he could. She slouched over more, letting out a yawn. ''Well, I'll be upstairs if you need me.'' Kate mumbled, trekking up the stairs. She flopped down on her bed to take a nap.

She found herself plunging into darkness. She smelt smoke, and saw the dark mist rolling towards her. Trees burning, fire spreading. She saw the same horned figure from before. Beady red eyes glowing against its shadowy skin. ''HELP ME.'' It screamed in a distorted voice. ''PLEASE HELP ME.'' It held up its claws, trying to reach for her. She stumbled back, frightened. ''Who are you?'' She shouted, the figure just came closer. Wailing distortedly, trying to reach out its claw to touch her. But she kept stumbling back. ''What do you want with me?'' She screeched. ''HELP ME, RED EYES,'' said the figure. Its horns growing massive. It slowly got taller, a fang snout and five eyes splitting out of its mouth. Blood running down its arms as it grew. A long devilish tail sprouting out of it with sharp spikes. ''SAVE ME.'' It screamed, lava-like tears rolling down its cheeks. ''SAVE ME.'' It stomped towards her and wailed. A familiar zodiac stained on its chest.

The Dimensional Zodiac.

''SAVE ME.'' It screamed, before she plunged back into darkness. Only to wake up, sweaty and trembling.