"Sophia, huh?" The blonde, Tiffany, asked. "A human name for someone so weirded out by them."

"That's the closest translation in English, name wise." The amber eyed girl shrugged.

"Because parading around with a silly name like 'dishwasher' just isn't allowed." Tiffany sighed, her head in a hand.

The blonde thought she was losing her mind.

"Precisely, why would I waste silly time on that?"

This caused Tiffany to raise her head out of her hands, she did not think the other would actually take her seriously.

"Okay, I think I can ask why you're in my house?" The nameless girl shrugged, the blonde wasn't surprised.

"Sophia," Tiffany paused, hoping the fiery demon wouldn't strike her down. "Why in the name of everything green have you come into my life and turned it upside down?"

"Would you believe me if I told you that landing here was an accident and I need to get across the county?" Sophia asked, slightly cringing.

"That depends, where across the country?"

"I'll figure it out later," the brunette waved off the question. "Any other question before we go?"

"Okay," Tiffany paused, "who, or what, are you?"

"As of now, human." Sophia answered rather simply.

"As of now?" Tiffany looked at Sophia in confusion. "What were you before?"

"That's a story for another day." Sophia dismissed. "Where are we?"

"Uh, Northern Maine. United States, Maine." Tiffany awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck.

Sophia mumbled a word foreign to Tiffany under her breath. Before the blonde had a chance to speak, Sophia spoke up.

"I need to get to the other side of these, United States, to find a friend of mine. Care to assist me?" The grey haired girl offered, smiling.

"Okay, let me see if I have this right," Tiffany waved her hands around for a moment. "You just came out of a fiery box, risked burning my house down, won't tell me anything about who-or what-you are, and now you're asking me to drop everything and leave to help you get to the centre of the US. It's a lot bigger than any picture will let you believe!"

"That's, exactly what is happening..." Sophia trailed off.

"You got me there."

"Anyways, the little thing on that pretty little hand of yours is a bond." Sophia began.

"What does that-"

"And now the things after me know of your existence and will likely murder you beyond comprehension." Sophia said as if she weren't just explaining how someone's life is in danger. "But I don't understand if you want to stay and die."

Tiffany cussed under her breath as Sophia began leaving.

"I hate you, your existence, and ever opening that box." The blonde sighed bitterly as she followed the brown haired girl down the attic door and to the outside.

Quickly, Tiffany left a note to her roommates saying that she went on a trip with family.

Sighing, Tiffany followed Sophia outside.

That was, until, Sophia ran back inside, wincing in pain.

"What's wrong?" Tiffany asked, still outside in the rain.

"The rain, it burns." Sophia frowned.

The blonde looked at the strange creature in front of her with confusion.

"I think I know what to do." Tiffany smiled as she ran past Sophia, the floor becoming soaked from Tiffany's shoes.

"What are you doing?" Sophia asked Tiffany, who was running around.

Tiffany didn't respond, only ran to Sophia with a weird umbrella, a rain coat, waterproof gloves, and rain boots.

"The umbrella is a work in progress, I've been trying to build one from scratch." Tiffany explained, helping Sophia into the rain coat.

"What are these for?" Sophia asked, holding up the gloves.

"They cover your hands. Also," Tiffany began. "Why do you have no shoes?"

"They aren't useful, and I have a question for you." Sophia carefully stepped into the rain boots.

"Shoot."

"Why have you suddenly become nicer and helpful?" The grey haired girl asked, grabbing the umbrella.

"I don't know about you, but the possible threat of death doesn't appeal to me." Tiffany frowned.

Sophia didn't understand, so Tiffany just opened the umbrella and practically pushed Sophia outside.

Tiffany heard something fall from her pocket.

When she turned around, the blonde saw the box Sophia was summoned from. She seemed to have seen it as well.

"Can you grab that, please?"

"Um, sure." Tiffany handed the umbrella to Sophia and ran to the box, grabbing it.

"Hold on to it, please?" Sophia spoke, her voice a bit desperate.

"So then, Ben, what are you?" Miguel asked, leaning on the counter.

"I'm not entirely sure myself," The blue eyed boy blinked, then frowned.

"Well, that's not comforting." The brunette rolled his eyes at the actions of the strange male named Ben.

"Well, what you want me to do about it? I have a feeling, no matter what I say, it won't make you feel better." The black and blue haired boy stared.

"Ben?" The brunette suggested.

"I need to know where we are." Ben asked, ignoring the other male.

"Southern California, why?" Miguel looked at the other guy, newly named Ben, confused. And a bit peeved, for ignoring his question.

"I need your help to get to the other side of the country, I need to find someone important and I can't sense them anywhere nearby." Ben explained in a dismissive manner.

"Wait what?!" Miguel stared in absolute shock. "You want me to drive you across the country?"

The brunet thought for a moment, that he was going utterly mad.

However, his job is going south, so that's not a reason to stay. He has next to no friends, he only moved a few months ago.

Nothing was really keeping Miguel here.

But he didn't know if he wanted to leave with this lightning creature person (Ben, he reminded himself) just right away.

"What can you say to convince me to leave?" Miguel asked, leaning against a wall.

"Well, staying alive would be nice, no?" Ben playfully smirked.

"What have you done?" The brunet's voice became serious.

"Basically, you're being tracted by something that will kill you in ways your tiny brain can't even imagine." Ben became extremely serious.

Miguel was at a loss for words, there was nothing he could do but agree.

"You're a smart boy, you know what I mean." Ben smiled, almost childish and jokingly.

"You are something else, you know?" Miguel groaned.

"So I take it you're coming with?" Miguel nodded.

Smiling, Ben walked over to the box he came from.

"Can you take this with you?" He asked, pointing to the box.

"Why?" Miguel walked over, picking the box up carefully.

"Our lives depend on it." Ben spoke casually.

"Okay okay," Miguel paused. "How many things will be deciding my life or death?"

"Oh, you have no idea." Ben chuckled. "You aren't the first to have helped us."

"Who is your partner?" The brunet asked, it was a fair question.

"Trust me, it will be easy to find her." Ben paused. "Just look for the flames and be weary of rain."

Miguel nodded, going to his room to grab something.

When he came out, Miguel had a large backpack and he ran to the kitchen.

"Smart." The blue eyed boy commented.

Miguel ignored him, packing all the food and water that he could.

When done, the brunet threw the pack over his back and walked out the door.

Shaking his head and smiling, Ben walked out onto Miguel's front balcony.

"I've found a smart one, haven't I?" He said, looking to the stars, leftover rain drizzled down with lightning calming down. "I hope you've found good help.

Remember our promise place."

Author's questions for the readers;

Who/What do you think Sophia and Ben are really?

Where do Tiffany and Miguel fit in?

And last one;

Who, or what, do you think is chasing them?

Wuv you all and I'll see y'all in the next chapter.

Winter out!

-Winter