Ezra and Althea walked out of the dormitory and toward the main campus. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary—at least nothing Ezra could make out. He looked over at his charge, who was deep in thought.

"Okay, what's bothering you?" Ezra asked.

"Nothing. Why would you ask that?"

"Let me think: because you're not saying a single thing, usually you talk a lot."

"I'm sorry? Was that a compliment or an insult?" Althea questioned.

"I'd say a little of both," Ezra responded.

Althea laughed and playfully pushed him on the arm. Thankfully he had solidified on the way out of the dorm room, so they could talk.

"You are a bitch," Althea said jokingly.

"It's a gift. Thanks jerk," Ezra responded with a chuckle.

When they arrived on the main campus, Althea stopped talking. Confused, he turned to her and saw that she was looking at something. Ezra followed her gaze to the Servants of Evil, heading toward the forest with some new girl.

"Althea? What's wrong?"

"We need to follow them. I saw them in my dream last night."

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"Come on, I know another way." Althea said and grabbed Ezra by the arm, dragging him across the street near the bike storage and outdoor classroom.

*~*~*

"Althea, I don't like what you're planning," Ezra said.

Althea rolled her eyes as the two walked into the forest and followed The Servants of Evil from a distance.

"Come on, Althea! Think! This isn't right, use your common sense! Listen to your instincts!"

Althea covered Ezra's mouth and sent a glare toward him.

"Ezra, the last thing we need is for them to find out we're following," Althea whispered. "I get that you're worried, but you and Michael were the ones who wanted me in this fight so that's what you're going to get."

Althea removed her hand from his mouth.

"What did you do that for?" Ezra whispered.

"Because you're loud!"

"I am not, I'm simply worried about you," Ezra responded. "Look, I just want nothing to go wrong. If something happens then I don't know what I would think."

Althea shook her head and got back up from the bushes. Ezra and Althea started walking further in until they arrived at the cabin. They hid behind some bushes and watched as the Servants started marking the four corners of the cabin. Ezra knelt by Althea while the two watched from behind the bush.

"We need to make sure that everything is ready for the last ingredient," Alex said.

"I know!" Jennifer yelled. "How else are we going to get close enough to Althea and take her?"

"Were you guys not listening?" Another girl responded.

Althea's jaw dropped. She didn't like the fact that Melissa now became involved with them. That girl always got herself into trouble and had been bringing Abigail and Althea into her own personal problems since she was abused. So, seeing her with the group meant trouble. "We lure her out by capturing something that she cares about."

"But does it have to be him?" Peter said.

"Peter, don't tell me you're having your doubts about this?" Alex asked.

"I'm not having doubts," Peter complained. "I'm just saying, couldn't we try something else?"

Althea and Ezra watched from their hiding place. However, Peter glanced over and saw them crouched behind the bush. Ezra and Althea locked eyes with each other before Ezra disappeared. Althea snuck away from the bushes and raced back to her dorm.

*~*~*

Peter was getting annoyed with Melissa's constant talking. All she talked about involved capturing Ezra and trying to get through to Althea. The only thing about that was that Peter had a few good tidings with Ezra. They were once good friends. Well, he and Ezra were more than that. They were like siblings: After all, that was how charges and Guardian Angels were. Peter thought back to the day he met Ezra. Things had been running smoothly; they were having lots of fun as they aged together.

Peter was seventeen-years-old when he first learned about Ezra. Peter was stuck between a rock and a hard place, since he was in a public school. People treated him like shit, since he was so different. Because he believed in things that people don't normally believe in, they considered him an outcast. Peter lay down on the grass with a baseball cap covering his eyes. He always kept to himself and never cared if anyone listened to him. Despite everyone making him feel invisible, at least he could ignore all the badgering. He was enjoying the sun when a shadow stood over him, blocking out the light. Peter removed his baseball cap to see who stood over him.

"Hey!" Peter said to the stranger with dirty blonde hair and green eyes. "Do you mind? I'm trying to relax before class."

"I would, but I saw you lying here alone and thought I might join you."

"Whatever," Peter scoffed. "Just don't stand in my way, can't you see I want to be alone?"

Rather than walking away the man sat next to him.

"You're not going to leave me alone, are you?"

"Nope, not unless you give me a reason."

"Well, since you will not leave me alone." Peter sat up and held out his hand. "I'm Peter."

"Ezra," Ezra responded.

Peter was so lost in thought that he hadn't realized his friends and Melissa were staring at him.

"What?" Peter said.

"Are you off in la la land again?" Alex asked. "What's it going to take to make you focus?"

Peter shrugged his thoughts aside and tried to focus on the task at hand. In his peripheral vision, he could see Ezra and his charge walking away but Ezra's worried expression was forever burned into his brain.