For the next couple of days, Mikoto kept me busy; sending me on supply runs and various errands. I was able to map out the area in my head at this point, and could go fetch food and water from nearby streams and orchards on my own volition. It started to become my daily routine, something to keep my mind of the state of the world. I've rarely ran into Undead on my ventures; staying clear when I do encounter one; and returned long before the sun went down. I've been spending a lot of time with Mikoto too. Every time I returned successful, she'd tell me a little more about our race. She told me that our ancestors had been around long before humans, and when early humans pioneered their continent, they drove them out with the help of dragons. She believes that this world we are in now isn't the same world we knew before the "Rift", but the same world where these events occurred. That would explain the monsters. The reason we've been sent here; she believes; is to punish us, the humans, for their conquest, losing our memories backs this theory up. I was skeptical, not fully believing in this story. Dragons? It seemed far fetched, but I also had a hard time denying it. I mean, what else would explain what I am?

One day, returning from a supply run, I decided to ask Mikoto about herself. Although i've been with her for the past week, I didn't know anything about her. It took a bit of courage to pull off, but I had more bravery i'd ever need, at least that's what I told myself.

"Yo, Susano'o! I have arrived!" I said dramatically. She looked up from a book she was reading.

"My knight in tacky armour." She said with sarcasm.

"Look who's talking. Those shorts are so last century."

She pouted. "That doesn't seem to stop you from staring at 'em" She said with a sly smirk. My face glowed like hot coals. She laughed, "whatevs', pass me some grub." Putting her earlier comment behind me, I sat down beside her and removed the contents of the sack I've been using when gathering provisions. I wasn't a hunter, so I only collected fruits and plants Mikoto had told me were edible. She plucked a lumpy, apple shaped fruit. Black seeds sprinkled it's skin, so it looked more like a giant strawberry than an apple.

We ate, our normal routine, then once she'd finished, she'd tell me about monsters, our race, et cetera. But this time, it couldn't wait.

"What did you do before the Rift?" I asked out of the blue.

She raised an eyebrow, swallowed then smiled. "I was wondering when you were gonna ask who I am." She turned to face me and crossed her legs. We were about to have a heart-to-heart. "But first, why don't you tell me about yourself? I've been answering all you'r questions recently, so now its your turn." She wanted to know about me? I hadn't planned out what i'd say, so I just told her the first things that came to me.

"Well, i'm fifteen or sixteen, my memories are still pretty jacked up," I swallowed hard, feeling awkward. "I was the lead guitarist in a band. We weren't popular at all. We only played in the neighborhood some nights." I racked my brain, trying to think of more things about my past.

"You were in a band? What genre did you play?"

"Rock," I replied. "I played an electric guitar, totally blew the roof whenever my solo's came up!" I paused, subtle memories coming back. "Man...it was great, Miko—Susano'o. I wish I could remember who the other dudes were." I looked back up at her. "So, what's your story?"

"Meh, you wouldn't care."

"Aww, come on! I told you mine, it's only fair that you tell me yours!" I cried.

She bit into her Super Strawberry. "It'd be a waste of breath. We're totally different." She said with her mouth full.

"You don't know that! I just made that crap up to sound cool!"

She gave me a questioning glance, then a hint of a smile spread on her lips. "Okay, okay, fine. If it means that much to you." I prepared myself to listen. "Before the Rift, I was an aspiring writer, otaku, and hardcore gamer." She took another bite and stared at me waiting for a response.

"That's a lie."

She shrugged. "Told you it'd be a waste of breath." She didn't look like she'd be into any of the things she told me. She looked like a girl who you' d see at a punk concert. And I had the foggiest idea what an otaku was.

"What games did you play?" I asked suspiciously.

"I was the number one DarkSouls speed runner." she replied with out missing a beat, "Won first place at APEX  last time I attended."

I gasped. "DarkSouls is too hard."

"Maybe you just suck." Moving on, I asked her what an otaku was. She was reluctant to tell me. "An otaku is someone with a...interest in Japanese manga and anime. You know, like Dragon Ball?" I blinked, not knowing what she was talking about. "Wow kid. We need to get you some manga, stat."

I asked her about being an aspiring writer. She claimed it was just a hobby, nothing more. I felt as if she didn't want to go into it. Or maybe. . .

"Was your memory wiped too?"

She flinched then stared down at her lap. Now I knew something was up. She looked back up at me, her gaze hard and intimidating. "Yeah. It was. When I woke up, I had no idea where I was, or who I was." She paused for a long time, "These people found me, crying in the middle of nowhere. They said they could help me remember. They said they knew me. . . they lied."

I sat at the edge of my seat. "What did they do?"

She clenched her teeth, fangs overlapping her bottom ones. "They tried to do lead me away, to their group. Told me it was alright. They told me they'd take me back home." Fury blazed in her eyes. I could feel her rage from here, like a heat wave. She crushed the remainder of the fruit in her grip and batted her tail against the ground repeatedly, leaving a depression where it struck. " And the worst part is. . . I had trusted them" She took heavy breaths, the air around us becoming ionized. Was she doing this.

"Wha-what did they—"

"I killed them all. Every single last one. Without hesitation. Scum have n Ifo place in this world. They can all rot in the deepest circle of Hell."

My mouth went dry. "You. . . killed them? Hu-humans."

My hair stood up straight and static tingled my skin when she trained her furious gaze at me. I wanted to get out of there, go far away, away from this powerful aura. But I didn't. I asked about her past and wouldn't run from the answer.

"When you lock you'r doors at night, do you lock them because you're afraid that an animal will enter, kidnap you, murder you and your family? No, you fear humans. Being human doesn't make you any less vile and twisted then the beast out here," She dropped her gaze then brought it back up, boring into my eyes with intensity. "If a human murdered someone you cared about deeply, and there was no police or hero to stop them, what would you do?"

Something clicked. In my head, for a brief moment, a memory flashed and then was gone again. It went by to quick to fully grasp, but I knew for certain it was triggered by her question. I was silent, lost in my thoughts. She huffed and got up. She wiped the juices from the fruit on her leg and walked off towards the woods.

"I'd kill them. Evil like that shouldn't be allowed to roam free," She stopped and turned her head to me in astonishment. " You'r actions were completely justified, and you're right. Humans or not, evil is evil." I looked down, feeling slightly embarrassed. "So don't feel like it's blood on your' hands or anything. You did what most couldn't. So. . . yeah, you're cool." I shrugged. That's all I got. But I knew from the slight upturning of her lips that I had said the right words. She dug her hands into her pockets and trotted off into the woods. I let her. She needed time to herself after what she had shared with me.

++++

The rest of the day was boring. I occupied myself by working on the shelter I built from fallen trees. I doubted Mikoto or anyone had a TV anymore, the only real form of entertainment I had was exploring, but with the sun beginning to disappear pass the horizon, I knew it'd be dangerous to leave the camp. Mikoto still hadn't returned, which worried me a lot. She knew what she was doing, and could definitely find her way back in the darkness, but what if she needed help? What if she was attack by a vampire or something? These thoughts buzzed around my head like annoying flies. I dismissed them and retreated to my quarters. Mikoto would manage, I thought. How else could she have made it this long?

++++

Hours later Mikoto had still not returned, and I couldn't sleep, knowing she was out there in the dead of night.

She needs your help.

"Damn. You're right." i replied to a voice in my head.

Well, get your' ass up and go help her.

Without missing a beat, I exited the shelter and made for the same general direction Mikoto went last time I saw her. It was stupid, impulsive, and reckless. But I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to her and I wasn't their to prevent it. She saved my life, and i'd never forget it. So i'll be damned if I didn't do the same for her.

I tracked her down, using the static charge in the air to guide me. It felt the same as it did earlier; making the hairs on my arms stand on end. The closer I got, the more ionized the atmosphere became. My body felt tingly and the air hummed with electrical energy. I wasn't completely sure if it was being generated from Mikoto. Part of me believed I was imagining things. A chemical imbalance in the brain or something. But I knew, deep down in my gut, this was Mikoto's doing. She had some form of power she hadn't revealed, something that she had obtained through her transformation.

It took me thirty minutes to find her. The moonlight cast the area in an ominous light. It was a clearing, identical to our camp. Except this one took a slightly darker turn.

The field was strewn with bones. The skulls of humans, animals, and even unidentified skeletons of monsters lay spread out as far as I could see. Blood soaked the grass and dirt. It looked wet. Almost fresh. Seeing this display of carnage reminded me of the moment I saw the carnage in the halls of my apartment. I'd never forget the fear I felt then. The fear I was feeling now was the same.

Mikoto stood in the center of the war zone, her back facing me. She was covered in red liquid, her tail around the neck of—

She swiveled her head, her eyes falling on me. The look in her eyes could only be described as murderous, like staring into the eyes of a lion before it makes the killing bite. I was frozen, like a deer caught in headlights. This wasn't Mikoto. It was something else. Something that was going to murder me, my bones joining those amongst the quarry. She blinks twice, then grins, her fangs looking sharper then knives.

"Didn't think you'd have the guts to come out here."

My lips were as dry as sandpaper. "I. . .what. . ."

The vampire she had pinned with her tail roared a savage cry. "Blood! It be the blood of a human!" it thrashed and lashed out with its teeth, but Mikoto held it firm. I instinctively backed up, my face turning pale.

"WHAT IS ALL OF THIS!?" I cried. I pointed at the creature Mikoto detained and the bones scattered across the field.

She motioned me come. Reluctantly I made for her, the static in the air at its peak. Up close, I could see the vampires face clearly. If not for its red eyes, sickly pale skin, and snake like fangs, it could easily pass for a human. But I knew better. I could feel its blood lust, oozing from its body like a noxious gas.

"You can feel that murderous intent, cant you?" She asks. I nod, "our bodies are attuned to the energy of the world. We can detect things humans can't." She looked back at the vampire. "This bloodsucker knows a little something about what happened here. Don't you?" It made a choking sound and spat. Mikoto effortlessly moved her head out the way.

"Give me his blood! I want his delicious—" It was interrupted by a sharp uppercut to the chin. A sinister CRACK! rang outthrough the forest. It could only be the sound of bones snapping. It didn't move; its jaw slack and red eyes void of life, but seconds later, it's jaw shifted back into place and it's eyes turned back on with life. "Foul, no good, damnable wench!" It snarled. It's eyes burned with wrath. It snapped at Mikoto, trying to bite her throat. She simply stepped back and was out of reach. "Give me the runts blood!" He locked eyes with me, kicking and spitting.

"This is what a vampire is like when it hungers. If I released it, you'd be torn to shreds in seconds." I screamed in terror, afraid that it would break free and come straight for me. Mikoto laughed wholeheartedly. "Don't worry," she said, "He can't do jack shit while i'm holding him." She aims her gaze back at the vampire, who is spitting curses that even i've never heard. She presses on his throat with her tail to silence him. "Now tell me," she said with brutal seriousness. "Who—besides you—is to blame for these killings?"

"HA! What will you do!? They'll kill you both, witch! And feast upon the runt, too!"

"I'll kill you. The sun rises in an hour. I'll keep you here till' it does, and keep you conscious long enough so you can feel yourself burn," she got into his face, "or you could take my other offer, and tell me what I want to know."

I could see the fear build up in the vampires face. I felt sorry for him. I was going to tell Mikoto to ease up, but the vampire succumbed to the threat and spilled the beans before I got a word in.

When he had told her everything, he begged to be set free,promising to leave and never return. Mikoto had other plans. She tightened her tail around the pleading vampires neck. He let out a croak that was cut short. His eyes bulged and his face turned sky blue. He kicked violently, dying of suffocation. I couldn't bear it. Vampire or not, I couldn't just sit there and watch the life drain from a person.

"Mikoto stop!" I cried. "It's over dammit! He promised he'd leave!"

Mikoto glared at me, I was unfazed, meeting her eyes with equal intensity. She sighed, "You believe that bull. He'd throw his life away to have a taste of your blood! Open your eyes and stop being weak."

"No he wont," I replied, "he'd haul ass just as he said, not wanting to be killed like this."

Her fiery gaze lingered for a while, then in a huff, she released him. "Fine. You'll have to learn the hard way. Like I did. . ." I was certain he'd run away as soon as he caught his breath. I knew for a fact he would. . .

I was lying to myself. Every fiber of my being told me he wouldn't. My instincts went crazy, telling me he'd go straight for me. Before I even had time to register what was happening. I was pinned to the floor, a immense strength keeping me down. It's grip was paralyzing. As I looked up into its white face, I could easily see that it was devoid of all humanity. A depraved beast, no different then Undead. It bared its fangs, saliva flying everywhere as it went straight for my jugular. To be honest, I had this coming. Mikoto tried warn me, but I was foolish. Now i'm dying because of it. Just goes to show you the weak aren't meant to survive. Mikoto has been keeping me alive this whole time, and without her, i'm dead. I closed my eyes as time slowed down, like it does before you're killed. If I was gonna die, at least let it be quick and painless.

I don't want to die.

My hand sprang free of the vampires crushing grip. I grabbed his throat, holding him just inches from my neck. I didn't want to die. Not like this. Not like an animal. I let out a violent scream and kicked viciously, hell bent on surviving. With his hand now free, he aimed it at my chest in an attempt to tear my heart out.

The tip of a silver steak protruded from the vampires bosom. It froze, it's clawed hand stopping directly above my beating heart. It coughed, hacking up blood into my face, and went limp, falling to the side with a thud. I was frozen too. Coming so close to death left me feeling hollow. This was the painful truth about this world. I learned first hand that the monsters here wouldn't hesitate to kill me. Tears streamed down my face. The vampire laying dead could have very well been a normal human once, just like me.

I didn't care. Human or not, I wasn't going to let him kill me without fighting for my life.

I sat with my knees pulled to my chest. My body was wracked with tremors. Terror still fresh in my heart. Mikoto prodded the motionless corpes with her foot; making sure it was dead. She pulled the steak—tipped with silver or some other form of metal— from his back. She cleaned the blood off by wiping it through the grass.

"Now you know the truth. This new world is ruthless and unforgiving." She squeezed my shoulder, trying her best to be sympathetic. "Always trust your' instincts. Even when your' eyes or even your' heart fools you, your instincts will keep you thinking rationally." She stood up and looked deep into the wood. "If he wasn't bullshitting us, most of the vampires in this area should be gathered deeper in."

"Then let's get out of here. . ." I whispered, still shaken up.

She shook her head. "We can't leave them to roam around free. For one, i'm sure they've tracked our scent, so they'll be coming for us regardless, and two; if we let them live, they'd complete their ritual."

"Ritual? What do you mean?" I asked.

She scanned the field, the bones of hundreds of creatures and people laying in bloody grass. "This thing we're standing in isn't just some run of the mill crime scene. This is a legit Blood Seal."

"The hell is a Blood Seal?" I asked.

Mikoto rubbed her chin. "Not entirely sure. But I know one thing, if it is activated, something real bad is gonna happen. Not knowing what it's going to do when activated makes me all the more inclined on taking out these things before they have the chance."

"But what if it doesn't do anything?" I whimpered.

"Tell me, do you honestly believe that?"

"No. . ." I replied. I wanted it to be true, but I knew deep down that whatever this dark thing was, it'd end badly for everyone if it were to be turned on. "What do you think we should do?"

"Isn't it obvious? Take the bastards down before they can activate the blood seal."

"That's freaking insane! We'll get slaughtered!" I protested.

"Grow a set will you?," she clenched the bridge of her nose, "the only way we're stopping them is by facing them."

"How are two people going to fight a gang of bloody monsters!? One almost tore my heart out of my chest!" I sobbed, "I can't do it. I don't want to die dammit!" I buried my face in my hands.

"I can't force you to risk your life, so if that's your' decision, i'll go alone. But dont expect me to come back. If i'm not back by sunrise, assume the worst. You can do whatever the hell you want after that." With that, she turned away from me and casually, hands in her pockets. I knew that if I let her go, it'd be the last time i'd see her. She new it too. Yet she still moved forward. Facing death with confidence and bravery. The way she made up her mind, accepting the outcomes and setting aside fears. It reminded me of someone. Someone I know more then anyone.

She reminded me of myself.

"I take that back," I said wiping the tears from my cheeks and running to catch up with her. "Im not letting you go into this alone. You saved me twice now. I'd never be able to live with myself if I let you walk straight to your death."

"I had a feeling you'd change your mind, you predictable little bastard." She said, smiling.

I shrugged. ''I'd be a pretty big dick to ditch you at a time like this. So, here I am." I spoke with confidence, but on the inside I was terrified.

"You sure you don't want to turn back? I honestly can't guarantee your survival with the plan I have."

"I'm not going to die, and neither are you," I swallowed hard, "so what's the plan all about anyways."

She gave me a wicked grin and my stomach dropped. "You're going to be used as bait."

I take that back. Chances are, I am dying tonight.