As expected, today was a horrible day. The rumor that wasn't really a rumor was the talk of the school by noon. "I knew she liked animals... but talking to random ones on the street? Wow." I heard a girl say as she walked by my locker.

I groaned.

"Hey." Lila said.

I looked at her.

"I don't know if you know this or not, but-"

"Yes. I know."

"Ray?"

I turned around and saw Jacob walk up.

"Why did Justin just ask me if it's true that you talk to animals?" He asked.

I sighed dramatically as I sat down on the floor in front of my locker. When all my friends came to ask me what the rumor was about, I told them what happened. And strangely, the second I finished the story, Chris walked by. "Hey Aathy!" He grinned.

Jacob got up and walked towards him. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked.

Chris smiled. "Nothing. If you're referring to the rumor, than all I did was tell the truth. So it's not really a rumor."

Jacob glared. "You aren't funny."

"I'm not trying to be funny."

"You better go tell everyone that you were lying." Jacob said, stepping towards him.

Chris stepped back. "Hey, hey! I would, if this was a lie. But it's not. So I can't do that, so sorry pal." He then grinned at him. "You know it's true, don't you? You know that Aathy talks to animals and those animals change into people... you know it, don't you?" He asked.

Jacob stared at him and started to laugh. It was obvious to me that it was a fake laugh, 'cause what Chris said was true.

"You're joking right? Do you know how crazy you sound?" Jacob asked.

Chris frowned. "Shut up. I know that you know." He looked at all my friends. "You all know."

They started to laugh their fake laughs too.

Chris snorted. "I know what I saw and you guys are best friends, I'm sure you know it's true."

My friends continued to laugh.

Chris frowned, but looked at me. "I wanted to ask you, Aathiray, where's your punk boyfriend?"

"That's none of your business, Chris." Ivana said when she stopped laughing.

"And he's not punk." Nivea added.

"You two broke up, didn't you?" Chris smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and go away." I said.

"And they didn't break up." Tiana added.

"Sure. That's exactly why I haven't seen him in like, days." Chris said. "He's always around you and suddenly he's gone."

"Why are you talking about this?" I asked, glaring at him.

He smiled. "Well, I'm going to go tell more people that you talk to animals." He winked at me and left.

"Bastard." Jacob said, a little loudly.

I sighed.

"Hey." Lila smiled. "At least we know that you aren't crazy."

"Yeah! And that's all that matters." Nivea smiled.

"I'm sure people will forget about it if you pretend you have no clue what's going on." Jacob smiled.

"And maybe you can get Kero to kick his ass later." Tiana smiled.

Ivana grinned. "That would be nice."

I smiled. "Thanks guys."

Jacob drove all of us home that afternoon and it was definitely fun. My friends went just as crazy as I did when they saw the car and their faces made my day. They were jumping up and down in the back seat and Jacob started to get worried that they were going to destroy the car. I couldn't stop laughing.

When I got home, I walked right to the fridge. I pulled out a box of strawberries because there was nothing else to eat and placed them in a dish after washing them. "Aathu?" I called.

No response.

"Ma?"

No response.

"Daddy?"

Again, no response.

"Kero?"

As expected, no response.

I then noticed the light beeping on the phone, which meant we had a message. I dialed the password and listened to the message. It was from my mom. "Aathy dear, I'm sorry to have to tell you this so late but your father and I are going to go visit your grandfather and grandmother straight after work. Your poor granddaddy has gotten sick and your grandma is very worried. Again, I'm sorry this is late sweetie. If you need anything, call us but I think it's better to call Aathu because he can get to you faster, okay dear? We'll try to be home before ten o'clock, so take care and please, don't break or dent anything. Love you!"

I frowned. I guess I was going to be home alone. Well, I should make the best of it. I walked around the house, closing all the windows and locking all the doors, just to be careful. I then walked up the stairs and into my bedroom.

Something smelt funny. Not bad, but different.

After closing the door, I put my bag on my bed. I then turned around to get my laptop but was surprised by the presence of someone.

I smiled to myself, initially thinking it was Kero. "Why didn't you answer when-" I then realized that it wasn't Kero. I stared at the tall man with broad shoulders. His long black hair fell over his shoulders and his small dark eyes were smiling. There were strange scars all over his chest that was showing since he wasn't wearing a shirt. The scar that caught my eye was the one that went around his neck. It was more of a bruise... the one that Kero gave him when Kero grabbed his neck and held him against a wall.

He grinned.

I screamed the second I realized who it was and fell backwards on my bed. "Diyo?"

"I am glad you remember me!" He laughed.

The memories of the Crownas flashed through my mind, the demon crow that likes to eat Raakshyans for lunch and humans for dessert.

I screamed again and felt the scar across my chest tingle. It was the scar that he had given me. "What are you doing here?" I asked, moving as far away from him as I could.

"I am here to eat you." He laughed. "But... I'm not going to."

"What?"

He jumped onto my bed, making me scream again. "Oh, don't scream, it does hurt my ears very much!"

"Get out of my house!" I yelled. "How did you even find me? How did you even come to our world?"

He smiled. "Some Raakshyans are very powerful. Can I ask you something?"

"Get away from me!" I screamed.

He glared. "I told you already that I am not going to eat you!"

I jumped off my bed and ran towards the door, but he was there before me.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked again.

"What?" I asked, rudely.

"Where is Keroshan?"

I hesitated. "He'll be here soon. He... went to go buy food." I lied.

"You are lying."

"No, I am not."

He smirked.

Suddenly, I jumped when I heard the doorbell.

"Oh, it's a friend of yours." Diyo said.

No! I thought.

"How wonderful, I am very hungry. If I cannot eat you, I'll eat her."

No! Why is that person even here? Whoever it was, they were going to get hurt.

"Go answer the door." Diyo smiled.

"No." I said. "Leave my friends alone."

"Okay, but if you don't answer the door, I will eat her."

I stared at him. What was wrong with him? What did he want? "Promise?" I asked.

He nodded as opened the door. "Go." He pushed me out of my room.

I rushed down the stairs and to the door. I flung it open and was surprised by Ivana. "What are you doing here?" I asked, a little rudely.

She pushed me in and closed the door. "You will not believe what I saw."

"What?" I asked.

"I saw a snake in my room. It was huge... I think it was a Raakshyan."

"What?!" I exclaimed. Serpethions face popped up in my head.

"I am not lying, my sister and brother saw it too. It was in my room, I opened the door and screamed and then it slithered out the freaking window!" She looked really scared.

"Hey, I'm sure it's nothing big... we'll tell Kero."

"We have to tell-" She was looking past me.

I followed her gaze and saw Diyo standing at the top of the staircase.

"Why did that guy just walk out of your room? And why isn't he wearing a shirt?" Ivana hissed.

Diyo was by my side in less than a second. "Hello." He said.

Ivana's mouth was wide open. "You're a Raakshyan?" She asked, probably because he was so fast.

Diyo smiled.

"But you don't have a symbol on your forehead..."

Diyo pulled his sword out and pointed it at Ivana, who gasped.

"Stop!" I screamed.

"I'm sorry, I cannot keep my word. I am too hungry and this human smells delicious!" He held up his sword, preparing to cut her.

Ivana screamed

I pushed him.

He fell to a side, shocked by my aggressiveness.

I grabbed Ivana's hand and ran towards the living room.

"Who is that?!" Ivana asked.

"A Crownas."

"The things that tried to eat you?"

I nodded.

"Oh my freaking gosh!" Ivana screamed.

Diyo got up and chased after me. "Do not anger me." He said.

I stood in front of Ivana, holding my hands out. "Leave her alone!" I yelled.

He smiled. "I'm sorry, but I am too hungry."

"Kero will kill you if you hurt me or any of my friends!"

"He will never know!"

"Yes he will, stupid bird!" I yelled.

I knew that got him mad because he lunged towards me.

I grabbed Ivana's hand and pulled her away.

He landed on the couch, making it turn over.

I pulled Ivana and ran to the door.

Diyo was in front of me before I could make it anywhere close to the door. He grabbed my hand and threw me to a side.

I screamed as I smashed into the closet.

Diyo grabbed the screaming Ivana and pushed her against a wall. He looked like he was going to bite into her, but I wouldn't let him.

I ran behind him and grabbed both his shoulders. "Leave her alone!" I screamed. When he laughed, I let go, ran to the closet and pulled out a broom. I ran back, lifted it over my head and smashed it against his head.

He let out a strange cawing noise and turned to me. "Foolish human!" He yelled.

I dropped the broom, which was now in two pieces, and stepped back. My heart stopped beating when I saw the blood drip off the side of his head.

He pushed me against the wall. "Fine, I shall kill you too if you want to die so badly! And you shall go first!" He yelled.

I then heard the door open. My head flung around as I wished with all my heart that it was Kero.

Please! Kero! Help!