I can feel the heat of her flames as they lick up her arms. I step closer, trying to chase away that familiar and dreadful chill that encases my heart.

Fallon jumps into a fight, her sword raised high. She screams like a banshee, nearly shattering my eardrums as she cuts into one of the ghouls.

It lets out a terrifying sound as she wrenches her sword from its thick neck.

Blood splashes onto the floor like paint.

Fallon is like a beast, slicing and stabbing with an unending precession of attacks. Where was the girl who tripped over a skateboard last week?

I snapped out of my awe when one of the ghouls trained its eye on me. Through its helmet, I could see a bright red eye.

I raised my pan defensively, stepping backwards as it started to run.

Its metal-clad hand reached out for me. I squeezed my eyes, screaming as I brought my frying pan down in an arc.

I felt my whole arm shake like a tuning fork as I blocked him.

The ghouls hissed pulling away.

His arm where the gloves didn't cover his skin was a blistering, red patch. He seemed stunned for a moment.

That was a lucky shot. I wouldn't be so lucky next time.

"You dare to use iron!" He bellowed. "Filthy human!"

He raised his face fist in the air.

"Fucking hell!" I rolled out of the way. "What in the ever-loving—"

I scrambled to get up.

My jeans were a torn, bloody mess and I'm pretty sure my left hand felt like it was burning because of the glass.

So long adrenaline. It was nice while it lasted.

The ghouls with the blue eyes swung, hitting me square in the chest. I went flying and hit the wall of the stairwell.

The air was knocked right out of me.

Pain exploded in my head, turning my vision blurry as something warm and wet dripped down my temple.

I groaned, trying to use my arms to get up but I couldn't.

The ghoul chuckled, its boots pushing me onto my side as it held a large spear in its hand.

Damnit, I didn't even have my frying pan with me.

So this was it, huh?

This was where I was gonna die? On a rooftop in some city?

"You are not our target," he said, raising the spear. "You must die."

Fallon slits the throat of the other ghoul watching with cold eyes as it goes down a gurgling mess. I crack a smile, wondering who would be stupid enough to send these boneheads after her.

If I met them, I'd punch them out of a three-story window.

I cough, tasting blood in my mouth. That can't be good.

I wince as I pull myself up, feeling dizzy. "Hey, jerk!" I say, "Before you kill me, can't you tell me the name of your master."

"It is forbidden."

Ominous isn't it?

"What a shame," I croak. "Then what about yours? If you're gonna take my life then I have the right to know your name."

He hesitates as the spear is suspended midway. The silence is concerning.

He opens his thin lips, uttering something so soft I'm afraid the wind will take it away.

"Lichen."

"Do you want to know my name, Lichen?"

"Your name is irrelevant."

My vision is getting darker. I'm going to lose consciousness soon.

"F-Fallon," I whimper out.

Almost as if she hears me, her head whips towards me. She's covered in blood and soaked to the bone.

She runs and jumps into the air, her blade sinking into the head of the ghoul as he thrusts his spear forward.

I opened my eyes, expecting endless pain but only saw the tip of the spear lodged in the wall next to my head. Her blade juts out between the ghoul's eyes as black blood oozes down the tip and onto my clothes.

The spear creaks and moans, snapping into a million shards.

He slumps forward, his breath escaping his throat like a hiss as he turns to ash. All that is left of him is his armor which sizzles and pops.

"Don't touch it," Fallon says. Her eyes are an icy blue now. "That thing is cursed."

She pulls me up to my feet. I wince as I put pressure on my left ankle.

"Are they gone?"

"I think so." She tilted her as if she was listening for something. "I can't sense them anymore."

Fallon doesn't have a scratch on her while I look like I've been dragged behind a garbage truck. I wondered if being Fae meant that you would look that good all the time.

"Fallon," I said, bracing my hands on my knees. "Listen, I know we're in a life-and-death situation but who are these guys?"

"Oh, that's complicated." She said, scratching her neck.

I glare up at her. "Uncomplicate it."

"Well...I'm not exactly human."

No. Fucking. Shit.

"Gee, I wouldn't have guessed. I just thought you were really into cosplay."

She places a hand on my shoulder, giving me a solemn look. "Please, Maria. Not your sarcasm. Not now. You're hurt."

I sigh, feeling my ribs throb. "Fine. Continue."

"Those things are ghouls," she pointed a long finger towards the smoking armour. "Horrible creatures that were sent after me by their master."

"Fae, I assume?"

"Unfortunately," she sighs. "If they were human, it would've been easier to kill them."

I chose to ignore that for my sanity.

Murder is a big no-no but I suppose it's different to the Fae Folk.

I have to keep an open mind for my best friend, no matter how mad at her I am.

God, I'm such a doormat.

I lay back, staring up at the cloud-filled night sky. I can see the light pollution reflection off them.

"This is so fucked up." I roll over to face her. "This is the third time I've nearly died today."

"I'm sorry."

"I'll hit you with your sword if you apologize," I said, smacking her arm. "Borderline insanity and magic aside, I guess I can see why it would've been hard to tell me."

"So you're not mad at me?"

"I'm more pissed off about the circumstances," I admitted. "I had a lot of time to think on the bus ride. It must've been tough keeping all of this from me. Besides, how would you ever go on to tell me that all of this is real?"

"Oh, so you are mad?" Fallon laughed wetly, pushing her hair out of her face. She wasn't glowing anymore.

"Just a bit."

"You would've tossed me into an insane asylum if I had told you."

"Nah. You'd escape."

I chuckled, sitting back up.

We both probably looked like a pair of fools on the partially destroyed rooftop.

"Oh yeah," I said, looking around. "Where's Darien?"

"Oh shit!" She scrambled up and ran towards the stairwell. "We left him in the shop!"

I sat there for a second before slowly getting up, feeling something in my spine crack before sprinting after Fallon.

Damn, she was fast. 

I just hoped I didn't fall or pass out. A concussion was the last thing I needed.