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Chapter One

The wolf was coming after me.

I knew I wouldn't be able to outrun the wild canine, but I kept running and ignored the dying heart that the wolf was so eager to get ahold of. I allowed adrenaline take over my body, allowed it to drive my mind to only focus on surviving. My lungs were about to explode, but I ignored that too. My legs were growing tired and there were so many obstacles in the way. So many things to dodge and avoid from, but such little strength and energy. How could anyone survive from this?

Getting ready to give up, I tripped over and saw the vines of the Forest of Death gripping and grasping onto my juvenile legs. If I were any younger than seven, my poor limbs would've been broken for sure. The wolf advanced towards me and circled around me as I fumbled over the vine to loosen.

As if it were teasing me, it loosened and I got up, ready to run when I had the chance. But when I took a step forward, the vines wrapped itself around my foot again, paralyzing me to the death-covered grounds. The wolf circled closer and closer to me, able to hear my heart pounding. It was pounding so loud in my ears I couldn't hear my own panting. The heartless beast howled to the pale, luminous orb that hung in the sky every night, like a dead man's face, hung for doing crime.

After what felt like an eternity of last seconds of life, the wolf decided my time was up. It leaped high so that it's body would cover the ill moon like an eclipse, blood seeping out from the rim... Was it mine? I never found out.

I woke with a start and quickly scanned the room for any death threats. I glanced at the clock,and it was barely nine. I dashed for the door, still in the nightmare. For some reason I couldn't open it.

Feeling the adrenaline coming back, I banged the door and twisted and turned the doorknob. It still wouldn't open. I finally realized it was locked, but I didn't recall locking the door. What seven-year-old girl would lock their doors at night? Most certainly not me.

Running down the hallway of my unsafe home, it looked like it was stretching farther and farther. I kept running, but my legs were already weak from the run from the wolf. I fell down, but I immediately stood up after I tumbled down and kept running. Seeing the light, I pushed myself into it and found that every adult was still up in the house.

For a quick moment, I thought I saw the wolf sitting among them, observing its dinner plate. But as I got closer and approached my family, the wolf was no longer there. I hopped into my mother's arms and cried, scared to death. She walked me back to bed and tucked me in. Staying there until I fell asleep, I was too paranoid to shut my eyes. I heard my father summon for my mother, so she left, thinking I've already fallen asleep. I was too scared to say anything, so I stayed silent and hoped she would turn around and still see that I was awake.

She shut the door behind her.

Left in the dark again, I kept seeing things in the dark. In the corner of the room, I saw the wolf's sickly, yellow eyes, gazing at me hungrily, wanting my heart. I shut my eyes, but it didn't work.

I opened them again and saw a shadowy figure standing at my bedside. I felt my head begin to fillup to its brim. I blinked a couple of times and looked around.

The canine was gone.

And so was the mysterious stranger.

Drowsiness danced upon my eyes, lowering my eyelids. I finally nodded off, after catching a glimpse of someone's smile.

Chapter Three

*Two Years Later*


"I think I'm going insane."

"Why?"

"Because I'm talking to a person I created from my mind."

"...Like an imaginary friend?"

"...No. He's real."

I lied flat on my stomach on my bed, talking to my friend on the phone. She's recently been going through some problems, and I was trying my best to help her get through.

"Oh, okay, then... well... I'mah go crazy with you."

It was silent on the other line, so I couldn't tell whether or not it was helping her feel better. So I waited patiently for her to reply my last statement. After what felt like a whole ten minutes, she finally asked me a question.

"How?"

A voice in the back of my mind told me "I don't know. Good question." I felt the urge to say it, but from the corners of my eyes, I saw a visitor in my mirror. I turned my head. He looked different, but he had distinct features that allowed me to recognize him.

He had the similar uniform, but he didn't wear it formally. His shirt was untucked and he had random chains on his clothing. It was lined royal blue, but the coat was overall, black. There were these red badges on his coat that flared in the light. His jeans were torn like his demonic wing were. His angelic wing was still a flaring white. He wore black boots with a buckle. His face didn't show any signs of the chain tattoo that was on his face two years ago.

"Geekuden..."

I laid still in my bed and stared at the mirror. I observed him walk out of it as if it were large window pane he was walking through. He stood before me, towering me.

"Angie?"

I was brought back from my daze and I stared at my guardian I almost forgot about.

"Uuh, yeah?"

"Who's Gee - what was it?"

"Geekuden... He's..."

Then I realized how to answer her first question.

"He's my guardian. That's how I'm going to go insane with yah, buddy."

She was silent on the other side of the line. I figured she was taking it in slowly or thinking of another question to ask me.

I kept staring at Geekuden, observing his peculiar face. His hair covered half his face, but it was still pretty unique. He looked real thin, his shirt looked loose on him, but I almost took back what I thought when I saw his arms. The sleeves stretched over it. But he was so thin...

"Angie??"

"Oh, sorry."

"Gawd, stop being so quiet. I'm beginning to think you're dead."

"Sorry."

"It's okay." She laughed and remembered what she was going to say. "So how long has he been with you?"

I thought about it. I don't remember how long...

"Seven years..." a velvet voice whispered.

I had forgotten what his voice had sounded like. It frightened me to hear it again, but not as much as the first time I had met him.

"Umm, almost seven years," I replied.

"Wow..."

"But... I didn't meet him in person until two years ago..."

He moved closer and sat down on my only chair in my bedroom. I didn't feel scared anymore, comforted by his words from two years ago.

"No need to worry. I'm here to protect..."

I glanced over at my alarm clock and sat up. I probably startled Geekuden, because he stiffened and glanced at the clock.

"Wow, it's getting late."

"...Really? What time is it?"

" Twelve something."

"Oh... well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow...Bye."

"Bye."

I plugged in my phone to recharge it and climbed back into my bed. I stared hard at Geekuden, and he stared back at me. I tried to stare at him without breaking the tension, but I loosened it and started laughing. He smirked at me and leaned back and crossed his arms against his chest.

"Ummm..."

"You probably want to know me better," he said knowledgably.

"Umm, yeah."

"Ask."

"Age?"

"16."

"Wow..."

"Yes, I'm old."

I laughed. "No, not really."

He grinned and waited for my next question, closing his eyes and throwing back his head. His neck was long-ish and bony like the rest of his body.

"Uuh...from?"

He thought about it. "Sorry. No specific name."

I frowned and thought of another question.

"Why are you protecting me for?"

He grinned again. "Hmmm... you understand the concepts and such of why you did not get 'taken away' when you were six, right?"

I tried to recall what had happened when I was six. I remembered, but I didn't understand the concept of "taken away." I shook my head.

"Well... you were suppose to be... dead."

I gazed at him. The voice inside my head was arguing with me. I told myself not to believe, but the voice was telling me it was true. I shook my head, confusing my guardian. I explained to him what was going on in my head, and he nodded, understanding.

"It's hard to take in all at once, because you're still living, but it's a fact. But," he informed. "You're still alive, because you have a big purpose in life."

I scoffed. What big purpose could that be? Tell the world that I was suppose to be dead at the age of six, but God didn't want me, so he left the Devil to take over my life and torture me?

"I'm here to protect you until you fulfill that purpose and make sure the Darkness doesn't turn you into a Shadow. And I'm not the only one who's also preventing this from happening..."

He turned his head and faced towards my phone. I understood that my friends were going to prevent me from getting eaten by Darkness.

Speaking of the devil, I began to see dark blotches, luring me to sleep. Geekuden stood up and turned off the lights. He sat back down on the chair and stared at me in the dark.

"I doubt I'll be able to sleep knowing a guy is watching me."

He chuckled, but I couldn't see him laughing at me in the dark.

"You know, I've always watched over you when you sleep? Just go to sleep, silly child."

I blushed, and turned my back against him, secretly smiling to myself. I felt something attack me and sat up quickly and stared at Geekuden.

"You forgot Growlers."

I looked down and saw the outline of my tiger. I reddened more and laid back down, hugging the stuffed animal to sleep.

And once more, no nightmares that night.