"Thanks for your purchase. Your bus will arrive on time. Take a seat."

"Thanks." I smiled at the cashier behind the anti-theft grill. She slid the bus ticket to me, her eyes already turning to the next customer in line.

Turning away from the window, I headed back to the entrance. It was time for my hourly snack. There was a vending machine outside.

The bus depot wasn't very crowded. There were only a handful of people around besides me. Their auras rippled with homesickness, exhaustion, or just the pure unease that came with leaving for a job you hate. As for me, I was finally leaving for good.

Taking a seat on the uncomfortable metal chairs with my snacks, I glanced up at the giant clock. Fifteen minutes till my bus arrives. My last fifteen in this place. I've spent enough time in this town. Eight months, almost nine counting this week. My welcome had been overstayed the moment I stepped into this place. I wasn't supposed to be here. If it hadn't been for those two, I wouldn't have even approached this place.

Or so I'd like to hope.

I felt like my travels had been pretty random up to this point. It clearly hadn't been true. I'd been homing into this town since the moment I left. I just didn't know it.

This Hunter Hole.

Over the last week I'd spent here after waking up, I'd constantly felt eyes on me. Police cars around corners, cars outside my bar at odd times of the night, the constant sound of footsteps behind me. The police had not only stalked me, they'd visited me. Said they had it on reliable sources that I might have a hand in the sudden disappearance of seven people.

Axel's well-placed alibi of my stay in the other town was not well received, but it cleared me of suspicions. I could see the irritation in their eyes as they called up each place I said I'd been to and requested footage and proof of my stay there. The little stunt we'd pulled in that diner there had ensured a good amount of people knew me, and thought that they had seen me sitting at that place every morning for breakfast during my hospital stay.

The blast at that abandoned factory had made the news, the rumour mill and the gossip factory. The suspicions the police had about me had pushed the last two into overdrive.

Anyone with kids would drag their children away from me or tell them not to stare. Whenever I sat down at a public place or a cafe, quite a few people would get up. Suspicious stares followed me everywhere I went. I didn't know if the ones watching me were jusy curious pedestrians or Hunters. It was hard to differentiate between them and the normal people here. I had no way to spot them amidst all the murky auras around me.

Pitying looks sometimes followed the suspicious stares. Eyes would linger on my heavily scarred, shaved head. It had taken Carla, Ryland and Robert a while to get used to it, but that was to be expected.

My story about having to rush to Axel in the other town when he had an accident, losing my phone on the way, and also falling down the stairs after arriving there was taken with a fair amount of confusion and suspicion among them too. They didn't believe me at first. But they didn't have any proof that told them not to believe me either. After all, when it rains, it pours.

However, I had to commend them for sticking by me. They seemed to be the only ones who seemed to be standing up for me in this place. It almost made me feel bad about leaving. Which was quite a big thing in itself considering how my feelings were harder to reach than before. Feeling detached and numb from events happening around me was another massive change I was getting used to.

There had been no fear when the police came to question me. No dread when I saw those cars outside my place. No worry when I'd been threatened with jail time. Not even a single moment of panic when I realised I was being followed by more than the police. My mind was always clear. Analysing everything with a clarity that had never existed before. Anything and everything that had happened around me in the last few days felt irrelevant, almost miniscule considering the scope of the events I had been a part of within the last year and a half. Nothing seemed to faze me anymore.

I looked down at the bag of chips in my hand, carefully ripping it open in one smooth move. My fingers picked out one chip, popping it in my mouth. Cracking open a can, I tilted my head back to take a sip. There was a slight clunk from the metal as I pressed too hard. The sound made me switch my grip to the base. I was still learning to control my new strength. Over the last week, I'd shattered a good amount of glasses before giving up and switching to using plastic.

Glass was a hazard around me until I figured out how to join all the pieces together. I'd figured out how to recreate the base of the glasses but I couldn't recreate the glass to its full form yet. There was a literal bag of broken glass in my backpack just to practice that.

I'd been reimbursing the cash register for the glasses I'd broken. The Jamesons' had received my resignation after the fact that the rest of the people who were supposed to be working with me were dead, not that they knew it either. I didn't receive a reply from them last I checked. It made me question if their cruise was real or not. I'd gotten maybe three replies from them in the entire time I'd been working here. They're either dead, or having a great time. I hope it's the latter. They seemed like a nice bunch.

Picking up the can again, I took another sip, a lot more careful with my grip now. I ripped open of the two energy bars I'd bought from the vending machine. Man, this was tedious.

Eating to me has always been an activity that I avoided if I could. Something that landed me in several painful situations throughout my life. The fact that I had to eat something almost every hour now in order to keep up my body's rapid consumption of energy felt like karma. Especially now that I don't even feel hungry or thirsty.

That was a change I'd more or less been happy about. Eating only if I want to instead of needing to. But now I need to. All. The. Fucking. Time. How do people do this? Feeling hungry so I would have to eat would've been a better choice compared to being forced to eat no matter what.

Why is this bar so chewy? Is this expired?

My fingers twisted the bar in my hand to read the information on the back. Eating is so boring.

My attention was drawn from the green wrapper to the entrance. There was a rush of footsteps. Several of them. Still leaning forward, my eyes scanned the people who'd walked in. I didn't know them. Yet they seemed famili-

They're packing.

I could see a glint of something metallic under one of their coat. Another had his hand shoved into his pocket. Their eyes were scanning the place. Looking for someo-

Looking for me.

I sighed to myself. They fit the profile. Crossing fifties, a bit of a self- important look, puffed necks and the aura of anger and grief. Definitely Hunters. Retired, possibly, judging by the house loafers one of them is wearing.

My hand moved on it's own, knocking off the cap on my head. The other hand caught it as it slid down my back. Pulling out my phone, I quickly slid to a picture of myself in the gallery as I stood up to head to the washrooms. My shoulders were hunched as I stared at my phone. I'd been mistaken as a guy several times the last week when I was wearing baggy clothes. This weak attempt to hide myself wouldn't work.

I could already hear the hubbub amidst them. Not a lot of people here. I had already been noticed.

My feet led me into the guy's washroom. I immediately whipped around towards the mirror.

My hair had been growing out pretty fast. It lay flat on my head because of the cap I'd been wearing, already starting to curl into its wavy form.

But it wasn't my concern at the moment.

Looking right in my own blue-black eyes, I read my face. I have less than a minute. I need a face.

"Axel." I whispered. I knew his face pretty well.

My eyes fell shut, his form weaving itself into existence in the darkness on the back of my eyes. Black hair, black almond shaped eyes tilted up at the end, a straight nose, slightly wide at the tip... that's him.

The washroom door slammed open. The sound echoed off the tiles as my head jerked to the side, eyes shooting open. It's one of them.

His eyes shot to mine, the only person in here. He frowned, starting to approach me. My hand tightened into a fist beside me. I could take him. One punch should stun him enough for me to make a dash for it. I'm strong enough.

He stopped in front of me, a grim expression on his face. All the self-defense videos I'd ever watched started flashing in front of my eyes. Fingers to the eyes, heel of my palm to the nose, knee to the nu-

"Did you happen to see a woman run in here, young man?"

Y... Young man?

My head turned back to the mirror. I had to stifle the surprise crossing through me as I realised I was looking into Axel's eyes. More specifically, my eyes.

I did it.

I was Axel.

My surprise escaped me through a laugh. I used the involuntary emotion to my advantage, lips twitching upwards as I spoke. "A woman? I don't know if you noticed, old man. But this is the men's room." My voice was filled with contempt. Tearing my eyes away from my own, I met his in the reflection, jerking my head to the side. "The little ladies room is the other door." My voice was also no longer my voice. It was Axel's.

The old man pressed his lips together. There was a vein pulsing in his head. His aura showed that he was offended. "'-old man'?! Don't you have any manners?! I am-"

"-senile." I completed for him, looking at myself once more before turning my fake body to face him. "You're senile, clearly. Looking for a woman in the men's room."

"Senile?!" His voice rose with the anger in his aura. "Watch your tone or I-"

"You'll what?" I cut him off, taking a step towards him to close the distance and squaring my shoulders. "What will you do, huh?" Actually, I squared Axel's six foot two, broad, muscled shoulders as I let my smile drop into something less pleasant.

The old Hunter went quiet as I held his glower. He was fuming. That vein pulsing in the side of his head was ready to burst. But he didn't say a word.

I cracked a smirk as the tense silence persisted. "That's what I thought." My eyes roamed over his pudgy, softened form. He might have been a lot more impressive in his heyday. But at the moment, standing in front of me as who I am, his sweater vest, cargo shorts and house loafers did not show it. They'd blended into society very well considering the shit they did.

They don't deserve a peaceful life. None of them do.

I stifled my anger, resorting to one last smug glare before walking past him. I purposely bumped shoulders with him. The sound of his loafers slipping on the bathroom tile was the last thing I heard as I exited the stinky men's room.

My eyes lazily roamed over the rest of the Hunters running around the bus depot. The other ticket holders here had also noticed them. Watching them all run around like chickens with their heads cut off was rather amusing.

I made my way back to the entrance. My fifteen minutes were up. The bus pulled in to a stop right as I stepped outside into the winter sun.

I couldn't feel it on my skin. There was no warmth, only brightness. The illusion seemed to be shielding me.

Rolling my neck, I turned to the side to head to the vending machine once more as the current passengers of the bus unboarded. I didn't want to buy anything, I just wanted to look at myself once more.

The shiny glass reflected Axel once again. His entire tall, tanned, Asian self. Turning my head to side, I raised a hand to press against my jaw. It felt like my jaw, but in the glass it was Axel's jaw.

I was still in disbelief about the illusion working. It had been something that had come a lot more easily to me than recreating broken glasses. The first time had been in the hospital bathroom. And the next had been in the gym the next day.

Explaining a lost phone, a scar on my head and my sudden disappearance would be a lot easier than explaining my changed eye colours. The black eye was close to the dark brown I originally had. It was the blue that concerned me.

I'd managed to maintain the brown eyes through the last week. I'd gotten so used to it I wouldn't even realise it till I l looked in the mirror and realised I no longer looked like a husky.

Going from such a small-scale illusion to one that recreates an entire body, voice included, was... quite a leap. I was surprised at myself. Impressed, even.

"Last call for th-"

"Oh, shit." I mumbled to myself, turning and jogging towards the bus. The conductor grabbed my ticket, scanning it boredly before letting me on the bus. He didn't even glance at my name or my held out ID.

I glanced over my shoulders as I climbed up the steps. The Hunters were still running around searching for me. Three of them were watching passengers board the bus. I could feel eyes on my back as I climbed up the last step.

My head automatically lowered as I stepped in. An involuntary reaction I had not seen coming. Maybe it was to protect the illusion? This was an interesting phenomenon.

Walking to the back of the bus, I placed my bag by the window and took the aisle seat. If my illusion faltered, I'd rather it not be noticed through the window as we were pulling out of the depot.

I kept an eye on the Hunters rushing around the depot. They seemed desperate. They'd clearly had intel that I'd be coming here. They just didn't know where I was going. Neither had I. I hadn't told anyone where I was heading. My usual answer would be 'I don't really know' if someone did ask. I just wanted to leave.

"Good morning. What's your destination?"

I looked over the cashier. Her aura said she didn't want to be here. Fair enough.

I shrugged as an answer. "When's the first bus out of this place?"

"In fifteen minutes."

"One ticket on that."

I had no destination in mind. This was only bait.

The bus pulled away from the stop a few minutes later. The scenery shifted from the confused and dejected old faces to blank scenery. I sighed, vaguely realising I was till holding the energy bar in my hand.

My eyes went to the crushed green wrapper in my hand. Ah, shit. Not again.

I peeled the wrapper off the palm of my hand to look inside. The bar had been crushed to smithereens. I hesitated for a moment before tilting my head back and letting the crumbled bar fall into my mouth. Whatever. Food is food. And I'm under doctor's orders.

The most amusing event of my day over. All I had to do now was wait.

The bus rumbled along smoothly as I crunched through the rest of the bar. The back and forth swaying was making me sleepy. Another recent development. It felt nice to be able to sleep again. But all of a sudden, the days were shorter. Considerably shorter.

The strain the essences were putting on me had regressed me to human traits as well as elevated me lightyears above some.

I was strong. My reflexes were better. My thoughts were clearer. Feelings were lesser than ever. But I had to sleep. I had to eat. I had to drink. The bag of tricks that came with my new form took their own tolls on me. I could feel the illusion draining my energy.

The air around me stirred, breaking me out of my meandering thoughts. My hand moved, idly dragging the bag on the other seat into my lap. Within a few moments, a body appeared in it's place.

Axel looked me over in amusement as I met his black eyes with my own sleepy ones. "I figured you missed me but not enough to become me."

"Imitation is the best form of flattery." I replied dryly, stifling a yawn. Damn. I needed a nap. "Took your sweet time, didn't you?"

"Sorry I'm late." He replied, reading my features with interest. "I got distracted."

"Sure. No problem." I shrugged dismissively. "When are we leaving?"

"Whenever you want." Turning his head away, his eyes turned outside the glass. "You should know that the Hunters are following us. They figured out you slipped past them despite your handsome disguise."

"Did they?" I raised an eyebrow. "That's impressive. What did they do? Threaten the cashier?"

"Bribed her. And then showed her your picture." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "Well done, by the way. I see you've been training."

I smiled at that. "Thanks. This is my first full body illusion though. I'm surprised it came out this well."

"Everyone has something they're naturals at. Yours seems to be illusions."

"And strength." I looked down at the crushed wrapper in my hand. "I've broken so many glasses in the last few days."

Axel laughed easily at that. "Really? That's easy to control. I can teach you."

"For a deal?"

"Of course."

I sighed, looking up and meeting his eyes with exhaustion apparent in mine. "Why do you want to get with me so bad? I'm not that human anymore. I'm a demon. I'm an angel. Doesn't any of this... disgust you at the very least?"

"On the contrary..." Axel leaned forward, resting his chin in his palm. "I'm extremely turned on by the idea of finally sleeping with an angel."

I burst out laughing, amusement lining my voice as I continued. "I'll be sure to pass that se-sentiment along to Mike."

"Hmm... he's not my type, Ryleigh." Axel cocked his head. "You are."

I rolled my eyes. "The sky is blue."

"And..." He turned his head to the side again. "...the Hunters are still after you." I could hear the eagerness in his voice. "I can take care of those cars..."

"No need." Hiding a yawn behind my hand, I turned to look out the window as well. "The angels have it covered."

Surprise passed through Axel's form. He turned to me with raised eyebrows and curiosity in his eyes. "Mike...? The angels usually play everything quite close to their chests."

"They didn't tell me anything. But they've been watching me."

"They have?"

"Yes." I paused, frowning as a question formed in my mind. "Have you met Lou in the past week?"

"No. Haven't you?"

"No. I haven't seen either of them since the hospital."

"Aww, Ryleigh." Axel poked my arm, a smirk on his face. "Are you worried about them?"

"No." I replied candidly. "Just curious. They're usually buzzing around me like gnats. It's been rather dull without them around."

"You know you could-" Axel was cut off as our bodies suddenly jerked forward. The driver had hit the brakes. He was slowing down. "-could have always called me."

"Why would I do that?" I leaned out into the aisle, moving my head up and down to look past the other curious passengers blocking my view. "They're driving in front of the bus and waving at him to slow down."

"They're going to use the excuse of needing to take you in for questioning. There's probably a police officer somewhere in that bunch."

I frowned, moving back to my seat. "How do you know?"

"It's a fairly obvious choice to bring someone like that into their folds." Axel dropped his hand back to his thigh, sitting up straight. "They'd want someone with power in their midst."

Then, those officers who'd come to my place... 'Reliable sources', my ass. They always knew about me. Hunter Hole? This was my Hunter Hell.

I tsked in irritation as the bus finally pulled off the road and slowed down to a stop. "Assholes. I hope the angels take care of every single one of them."

"They will. Angels are good at cleaning up."

They are. I've seen them do it to my old bar twice. "Cleaning up..." I know very well that means. "Will there be backlash from this? There have to be more Hunters out there."

The bus door shuddered open to let an an irritated looking conductor step outside. I could hear vague yelling. "Might be. But what else is new?" A hint of exhaustion crept into Axel's voice. Not the type of irritated exhaustion I felt at him hitting on me. The type of exhaustion born out of years-no, centuries of dealing with the same thing over and over again.

I'd heard it once in Lou's voice.

The war.

The Hunters.

The never ending deaths on both battlefields.

Demons and angels can't feel anything. But after this long, it would take a toll on any being. Dead or alive. Feeling or unfeeling.

I could feel it too. I'd had barely a taste of it. But I could feel it too.

Our loud sighs were almost in tandem as we both sagged against the seats. The yelling outside had stopped. A Hunter started climbing up the steps.

"I think we should leave now."

"Sure." I placed my hand in Axel's open one sitting on the armrest between us.

The Hunter was looking at everyone's faces closely, squinting in the dark and glancing down at his phone to confirm.

The illusion had slowly been draining me during my conversation with Axel. And as the Hunter met my eyes, I felt the last of it finish. My vision flickered, and I felt an invisible weight on me lift.

Axel shifted beside me. "As sexy as I am, I really prefer the way you look."

I smiled at that. However, it was aimed at the Hunter who's eyes were glued to my face. "I know you do."

"Let's get out of here, Ryleigh."

******************

AUTHOR'S NOTE

AND THAT'S ALL SHE (I) WROTE, FOLKS

For real though, this story is over.

Yes, there's an epilogue though.

And I hope you enjoyed this DOUBLE UPLOAD 👀 (I treat you guys so well)

You can just continue on with your day now without reading this

Like, who cares what the author says right lol

Vote and comment though

:)

As a PS since we're ending on chapter 69 -

nice