Chapter 1

The rumbling of the train woke me up from my sleep. Liz's soft snores filled the air around us, her small stomach rising and falling with each breath. Listening to her breathing allowed me to relax, knowing that we were alive, that she was alive. That in itself seems like some sort of blessing. Taking a look at the passing train, my consciousness slowly returned to reality.

"Liz! It's here...." I nudged my sleeping sister behind me. Groggily, she began to sit up, rub her eyes, and stretch- taking her sweet time of course.

"Oh for the love of-" I stood up and grabbed her quick, holding her tightly to me. Finally seeming to be more awake, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. I broke out into a run, chasing after the train. If we missed this one, we would have had to go on foot and risk being caught, and that was not an option.

Running faster I started to align myself with an open cart. The train rumbled loudly next to me, as if daring me to try to jump on. I shortened my strides but kept the same speed. Grabbing the handle next to the side of the cart I hoisted myself, along with my little sister, into the cart.

Trying to make her hit as little as possible, I pressed my arms tighter to my sides, making a right angle. My elbows stuck out taking the first, hard blow from the train floor, but as we rolled my hands helped to cushion my sister. Finally we stopped rolling, all that was left was my aching muscles and dying lungs.

"Mark?" Liz asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, I'm alright. You?" I somehow managed to wheeze out.

"I'm fine. What happened?" Her voice shook lightly as she tried to regain her surroundings.

"Well, we just barely made it into a moving train." I kissed the top of her head. "You should go back to sleep pumpkin."

"Are those people still chasing us?" She asked, yawning as she shuffled over to the corner of the cart.

I shook off the snow from my pant legs and answered as I slid down the wall to the floor next to her with my arm immediately wrapping around her shoulders, drawing her to me, "I don't know, I just don't know sweetheart." I watched for a while, Liz sleeping soundly next to me, as the scenery passed by. The white falling snow seemed to make everything look much more peaceful. The night sky held countless stars in its grasp. I don't know how much longer we can run before we're caught, but I am damn well going to make sure we come out of it all alive.

It was hard growing up as we did, but with each passing day it seemed to get a little easier. I don't know what kind of future we can have in this world, but I'll make sure we make it through all this-or, at least, make sure Liz makes it through everything.

I took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air. Who knows how much longer I can enjoy the luxury of peace. As my eyes began to close, a true genuine smile graced my lips, something that hasn't happened in a while.

"Mark...... Mark? Wake up...." I woke up to Liz shaking my shoulders, attempting to get me awake.

"Mm?" I grunted out.

"I-.... I think I heard s-something coming from the next cart...... Mark!" Frustration and fear coated her words, startling me awake.

"I'm up! I'm up!.... Wait, what? The next cart?" She just nodded her head, visibly trembling. Grabbing her hand, I led her behind some boxes towards the corner of the cart which most likely just held simple cargo, making sure she was perfectly hidden from the door just in case. I could never be too careful when it came to Liz. Placing my index finger against my lips, signaling for her to stay quiet, I slowly crept towards the door that led to the neighboring cart. Before I could open the door, someone came barreling though it crashing into me hard, knocking the wind out of my lungs.

"Woah! Hey!" I was pushed back, my butt hitting the hard wood floor. Looking up I saw a hooded figure looming over me. The figure was covered entirely from head to toe in black clothes with a red hood covering their head. Despite the figure's small shape, I could not tell which gender they were. The hood clung tightly to their shoulders but hung loose everywhere else and stopped just at their ankles, enough to give you a view of their thick black boots.

I used my legs to flip myself backwards, onto my feet, and jumped back a few steps. "Who are you?" Despite my worry of our current situation, my voice came out loud and clear, as though this was a simple, everyday, occurrence. I had to force my eyes not to glance back at the boxes to see whether or not Liz was truly hidden and okay. Luckily, the person didn't seem to pick up on my unease and continued staring my with an analytical gaze for a while longer before, literally, shaking themselves back into reality.

The person in the red hood simply raised their hands as if to say they meant no harm. As the figure raised their arms, I got a glimpse of what gender they were, but it was to dark to see properly. I think it was a female but I couldn't quite tell.

The hooded person began to reach behind them, giving me great reason to feel a sudden sense of alarm. I was about to rush forward and attack, prepared to defend myself, when they pulled out a small brown paper bag, rather heavy despite its small size. The person handed it to me and stepped back doing the previous gesture of "no harm", as though I would actually believe them and take their word for it.

Opening the bag I found two identical bulky guns with an infinity symbol carved in silver on the side by the trigger, a rarity in this time. A gun that never requires ammunition. What would I need this for? Why would a total stranger give this to me? D-did... Could this person possibly know me from somewhere? No, can't be... B-but what if.

I looked up, curiosity getting the better of me, and I gave in to it easily. "Who are you?"

The hooded figure stayed silent, irritating me. "I'll ask you again, who are you?" The figure turned towards the boxes where Liz was hiding behind, as if she knew something, or someone, was there. Panic engulfed me at the thought of this person before me discovering Liz. I mentally prepared myself to not only keep Liz and I safe, but to also get her off our tracks as well. Before I could even bother to question the person again, they spoke.

"I mean you no harm. I'm here to help." The voice was soft and sounded rather feminine. I concluded this as her gender and continued as though this was nothing but a spec of dirt in a dark corner of a spotless crystal clear white room.

"Look I don't need help," I tried to put some strength behind my words, "besides, why should I trust you?"

"Do you really have a choice? Who else do you have? You are all alone in this world, no one would help a-"

"He has me!" Liz came out from behind the boxes fully prepared to defend me from the verbal onslaught without realizing the possible danger she has just placed both I and herself in. I instantly tensed up, ready to protect her as well as myself if need be. I loved Liz, she was my sister for crying out loud, but sometimes she simply drove me nuts.

"Who is that?" The lady in the hood asked cautiously.

"No one you need to know about, now back off."

"You need to trust me, I-"

"Haven't you ever heard the phrase trust is not given but earned? Look lady, if you want my trust you try to earn it, if not don't even bother me and be on your merry way." With that I did something that I would normally never do, I turned my back on her.

"It is coming up..." Liz said. Kneeling down I allowed for her to get on my back piggy-back style. I stepped toward the opening of the cart.

"W-where are you going?" The lady asked anxiously.

"Out." With that vague answer I jumped out of the train and into the snow. The snow was knee deep, but I still continued on ahead trying my best to keep the snow from touching Liz, not wanting her to get sick. I walked ahead until I came upon a rock with no snow covering it atop. Placing Liz on the rock, I checked to see how she was fairing.

"How are you doing pumpkin?"

"F-fine," she sniffed, her nose already turning red from the cold. I grabbed my jacket and wrapped it around her tightly, hoping to secure some of her warmth. I grabbed her long dark brown hair, much different from my own light brown, and tucked it into the hoodie. I began to shiver from the cold, but it was better than her getting sick.

"You might regret that." The lady said behind me.

"Ugh, you're still he-" I turned.

Her hood was in shreds, no longer shielding her face from view. Her long red wavy hair was a big contrast compared to her fair skin, a beautiful contrast might I add. Her eyes were a greenish-blue color which seemed to be able to look straight through me. My knees would have felt weak had it not been for that cold look in her eyes. It woke me up from the haze. She cocked a brow.

"Look, why are you here?" I barely managed out.

"I am here to warn you. They are coming after you, they know you are of demonic blood. They know of your abilities, they-"

"Are idiots who have already made themselves known to me, but the question I have for you is how do YOU know of me?"

"I hacked their computer. So.... Who is she?" She gestured to my little sister with her head in an attempt to dismiss my question.

"I will not answer that until I know I can trust you, and by this point, I don't." With that I turned away again, not caring whether or not she answered me. She rushed to catch up and walked next to me, side-by-side.

"Fair enough, I am Arisa, nice to meet you Marcus."

"It is Mark, call me Mark," not entirely trusting her, but finding no reason not to, I gave her Liz's name, "and this is Liz."

"Pleased to meet your acquaintance." Liz held out her hand.

"Liz don't- oh whatever."

Arisa seemed surprised but held out her hand as well. Her fingers were slender and wrapped gently around Liz's. She smiled softly at her, my hear skipped a beat. Maybe I am getting sick after all.

"So where are we going?" She asked.

"You will see if you stick around long enough and survive." I put Liz back on my shoulders and began walking North. This is going to be a long journey.

Not even ten minutes later I heard a twig snap to my right. If Arisa hadn't turned we could have made a break for it and surprised them. As soon as she acknowledged them, they sprang out from their hiding spots. Some were up in the trees, some behind rocks, and some under the snow. Each was dressed in white clothing in an attempt camouflage, the bastards.

"Liz!" I shouted.

"On it!" Liz jumped into the air and allowed her wings to sprout from her back. Well, there goes my hoodie. She flew high into the air, far from their grasp.

I allowed my body the ability to change to my true form as Liz used her long claws to at least hold them back. I could feel the change throughout my body. My blood boiled and I no longer felt the cold temperature. My eyesight, smell, and even hearing became more enhanced. My heart stopped.

On the physical level I knew what changed. My hair became a silver-ish color as my eyes went from dark green to a dark red. My skin paled with blood no longer flowing through my veins. My tail came out and my horns grew. I willed the black flames engulfed my body.

As soon as Liz noticed I was ready she flew back up into the air. I jumped at the nearest man, poor fool.

I gave him a right uppercut and grabbed him before he went flying and slammed him into my knee, breaking his spine. I turned around and my hand shot out wrapping around another mans throat. As I snapped his neck my tail shot out stabbing another through the heart.

I was about to turn on the others when I realized, they were already down. In the middle of it all stood Arisa, sword drawn. A sword? Wow....

"Trust me yet?" She asked, knowing the answer.

"Let's just say I don't plan on killing you." I replied.

"Dang you're harsh in this form."

"No, I would have said the same in the human one as well." Liz came back down but stopped slightly before reaching the snow. I changed back into my human form, and turned around. Liz retracted her wings and put herself back on my shoulders.

"You did great Mark!" Liz happily kissed my cheek.

"Thanks squirt."

"Cute-" Arisa started. I glared at her and she shut her mouth. It may sound harsh, but I don't know how to treat her when I don't know what her intentions are yet. I know I said it before, but this is going to be a long journey. With that Liz and I set out with Arisa following closely behind.