From Isolation To Home: The Adventures of The Hellblazer's Daughter

One: Run, Maria, Run

Little Sparrow, Little Sparrow. Precious fragile little thing.

Darkness was definitely something Maria had become accustomed to. One of many things, in fact. Her time in the dark opened her eyes to many things. This included needles and knives. Despite these and many other taboos being part of her daily life, Maria wasn't any less fearful..

Years. She spent years in a cage and resisted for years.. She was determined to not let the prophecy come true. She did not want to birth the evil to cause the apocalypse. Until the last year, she didn't have any incentive. Then they brought him in..

Maria is many things but she loves her family. She loves her family and would do anything for them.. Unfortunately for them, nobody was able to find her mother. Mary "Zed" Martin is very good at running. Some guessed that she had gone back to Atlanta. Others thought she'd seek out the people she was spotted with in Atlanta. However, it was the majority who had concluded that, seeing her in England, she did not look well and may already be dead. They believed that it wasn't worth looking.. For Maria to see that, it absolutely would not help, some argued that it could make it worse.

However, it didn't take them long to find her brother, Marius, alive. He was found in a convent. It seems Sister Anne-Marie Flynn couldn't keep him as safe as she thought.. He'd dedicated his years there to light magic. Of course everyone knows that light magic defeats dark magic. Marius gave a good fight but even the most skilled magician isn't immune to tranquilizers.

The day they dragged the teen in, Maria's screams could probably be heard from hell. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it.

For a while he became her rock. He would tend to her cuts and wounds. He'd hold her and tell her everything would be alright.. All while devising an escape.

Each day Marius knew what was happening. He knew why he was there. He knew their plans with her sister. He lived with nuns. One of whom happened to be a magician.

Throughout time, prophecies have existed. There are various ones describing the end of days. Most of them mention a child. It is often depicted as a child of a demon. An "Anti-Christ" if you will. Many people have tried to bring about the end. Many have failed.. However, the general idea is to find a pure female and put her with a random demon and hope for the best. Some meetings are more gory than others.. But all believe that they will be rewarded for doing so.. Of course they are incredibly deluded to think that..

Maria grew up as the younger twin. Surprisingly, she wasn't the rebellious one. That was Marius. He adopted a punk aesthetic from a very young age. He was loud and rebellious. Even choosing to colour his hair a very vibrant plum. Their mother wasn't too impressed. However, she did try to be positive about it and as a lighthearted joke.. Likened him to the fruit.

They had each other and as long as they were together.. Nothing could harm them..

Of course.. They had to be careful  with a cult chasing them.. A cult with dark intentions. Of course eventually they would be found.. That would completely change the twins forever.

That day was going to be their last day in that town. The bags were packed. They were going to set off in the afternoon, ready to head north.

In the early hours of the morning the twins were awoken abruptly by a brick through their bedroom window. Being that they rented a cheap room in a rough part of town, this was nothing unusual. Despite being unusual, it always terrified Maria.. Especially given recently, she had been experiencing visions of a brick wall crushing her. She'd feel the weight. Hear the bones crunching. They had been leaving her unable to breathe.

Of course, Maria knew what to do.. She'd been cleaning up the last few in the hopes of getting over the fear. She got up with a yawn and a stretch, heading over to pick up the red block. As soon as she picked it up, careful not to drop it, the world melted away, shrouding her in darkness. The presence surrounding  this object was strong. In the darkness she could see a bird. A caged bird. It was stained with blood. It's wings mangled beyond any kind of help. Trapped in a cage. As she reached out to touch it, offer any kind of consolation or assistance, it screamed. A shrill, ear piercingly human shriek before melting away, returning to the present. She looked to her brother. She looked him dead in the eyes and told him that it was time to move. He reacted fairly quickly, taking her hand and taking her very quickly to their mothers room.