Zach:

Terrified by his actions, the amateur robber leaves the crime scene. I don't stop him. Instead, I press my hands against my mother's wound, trying to desperately close the gaping hole his gun made. I feel her life slipping through my blood-strained hands. The light fading from her blue eyes.

"Mama....don't worry. You're going to be okay," I sob. Her cold fingers brush away my tears, a pained smile forms across her lips.

"Zach...promise me that you'll become a hero. That when you finally end up like me, that you won't regret the life you chose," my mother croaks, her voice hardly louder than a whisper.

"I will, mama. I'll become the best hero out there," I promise, holding her hand tightly.

"I know you will...my little hero," she chuckles, her voice slowly trialing off. Her hands falls from my grasp as she takes her last breath. I bend down and gently kiss her forehead.

"I love you, mama," I say. I'll become a Spirit Dancer. Then, I'll become the hero she always wanted me to be.

* * *

I groggily awake, rubbing my eyes. I glance down at my hands, the feeling of her warm blood fresh in my mind. A feeling I'm not use to rises up from the depths of my soul: regret. I dig out a crumbled picture out of my pocket. My mother's face smiles back at me through the photo. "I'm sorry, mama. I've become more of a villain than a hero..."

James:

I step out of the hospital more energized than when I came in. But my happy attitude is quickly shattered as I smell a familiar scent. Its smells of blood and spiritual possession, but among the madness it reminds me of someone I use to know. Zach... I can hear the voice in my head chuckling at my panic, but I ignore him, having better things to do than fight with him. I almost feel the sicking urge to summon the voice. If I just kill him... No! I swore I would never take another life!

"James!" a cheerful voice calls me from behind. I turn around to see Julie running towards me. She gives me a bright smile, her true feelings for me shining in her eyes. I feel pang of pity for the woman because I will never be able to love her the way she wants me to. "How are you feeling? You had us all worried!" she exclaims. I'm almost positive you were the only one worried.

"I'm feeling fine, thank you! I guess I've been doing too much work," I chuckle, laying on the sweetness. I watch as her walls crumble at my sweet voice. I smile, but behind my kind facade, I wonder how much she knows.

"I know how you feel! The work never ends!" she responds cheerfully.

"Yes... Well, I suppose justice never sleeps. I hope I didn't cause any inconveniences," I say innocently.

"You didn't at all! In fact, we didn't really need you today. Crap! Did that come out rude?" Julie panics, desperately trying to salvage the conversation.

"No, it didn't sound rude," I reassure her. "What did you guys do today?" Her face brightens instantly and answers me eagerly.

"We just had to arrest an Hunter-" She says, but quickly shuts her mouth. Once she's realized what she's said, her face goes colorless. My expression doesn't reveal it, but my blood goes cold. I knew it...

"Not to pry, but do remember the Hunter's name?" I ask, my voice extra kind. I watch as she tries to squirm out of the conversation. I lean in until our faces our inches apart. "Come on, Julie. I can keep a secret," I coax, smiling playful. She remains silent, desperately trying not to answer. "Please," I whisper quietly, brushing my hand against hers.

"His name...is Zach," she mumbles, looking at her feet. I straighten up, giving her one last smile.

"Thank you," I say, patting her shoulder before walking off. I follow the scent, pretending not to notice Julie's hurt gaze. She knows she's been played, but it doesn't hurt like it use to. Sometimes to win the game you have to play dirty and I don't care how dirty I have to play as long as I'm the winner and Zach is the loser.

Zach:

I grin like a fool in the darkness of my cell, knowing my game is nearing its end. I don't fear the end because even if I lose, I'll still win. I'll win knowing that someday James will end up like me, forced into becoming his Spirit Animal's slave. His pure intentions will not be enough to save him. Good intentions never saved me.

My grin grows wider as I sense him growing closer and closer. I wonder if he will try to kill me. I wonder if he will summon the death machine he condemned years ago, because he if wants to take my life, he must take his own life. I am not talking about the death of the body, but the death of the spirit. I have experienced the life of the walking dead and it is the worst kind of death. But it seems like a little life might be breathed into my body. Because even if we meet as enemies instead of friends, even if he abandoned me long ago, even if he called me a MURDER, I still want to see his face before my body becomes likes my soul.

"Its time to get Mia. I want her to meet...a friend of mine," I say to my Spirit Animal, chuckling to myself.

Mia:

I awake, glad to be free of that Physic's spell. But that is the only thing to be glad about. I told her everything, but it still wasn't enough to insure his life. Why can't I save him like he saved me? I became a Spirit Dancer to be useful to him, but I am still as useless as I was as a human... Through my despair, a memory comes to mind. The memory of how I fell in love with him. I remember it so clearly that it could have happened yesterday. Smiling, I think of how he saved me from my abusive parents. I remember how he took their lives just like how they always tried to take mine. I know that the way I love him will never be returned. I'm too young...but I'll still walk beside him. I'll still...kill for him.

"Atlas," I say telepathically.

"What is it, Mia?" my Spirit Animal answers.

"Are we ever getting out of here? Am I ever going to see Zach again?" I ask, starting to tear up.

"Don't give up just yet, Zach always saved you before, he'll save you again," Atlas reassures, snuggling up against me.

"Yeah...I'll see Zach again," I mumble aloud.

As if just to prove Atlas right, the door to my cell slices in half. Walking past the destruction is none other than Zach. The tears I tried to suppress pour from my eyes at the sight of his smile. I take his outstretched hand, rising to my feet.

"I told you he'd save you," Atlas chuckles. I look down and smile at the fox.

Then, I turn to Zach and say: "Thank you, your...my hero."