Malaika looks around the room at all of the people watching her while she was restrained to the ceiling by chains. She stops when noticing a younger boy around her age, realizing that Shohei was there as well. His eyes were pitch black as he looks at her with a twisted smile. He said some inaudible words before pulling back a switch as she's electrocuted, which is when she wakes from this nightmare, screaming.

"Mala! ..Mala, it's me. You're okay," Shohei reassured her. He had a damp cloth on her forehead and another to clean up the blood stains from her eyes when she cried.

Silence falls for a moment before Shohei spoke up curiously. "What.. was that? In your nightmare?" He looks confused and set the cloth down, rubbing the back of his neck. "I saw electricity.. but then it vanished, like a shadow."

"it's kind of like a curse," Mala answered after clearing her throat. She sits up and glances at Shohei. "It's a long story."

"I'm pretty sure you should rest here for a bit, so we have time on our hands. Besides, you being.. whatever you are, being able to read my mind and tell who or what those monsters were, seems really interesting if I could know more." He looked at her with genuine curiosity peaking, which made her smile and softly giggle. "Alright, Sho. Just promise me you won't freak out or take anything I say to your head."

"I promise."

"...well?" He says as he sits down beside her, waiting for her to start talking. She sighs and looks away. "Those.. monsters, they're from my nightmares. Those creatures take on the form of a living organism to blend in and hide from those who hunt them. So far, I'm the only one who can track them, but I have a feeling my brother may be able to as well."

"Those things are from your nightmares!? So that's why you look tired," he comments before tilting his head slightly. "Why would your brother see them?"

"..he brought them to life. That's a long story, too. His mind was corrupted and taken over, and he was ordered to torment me for betraying.. someone who used to care for me."

"Oh... I'm sorry, Mala, I didn't know."

"It's not like anyone died! Jeez.. but now you know that Zulo is the least of your worries. I'm sorry for your loss, though. Cats are super cute."

Her comment makes him smile as he stares at her for a moment with an endearing look in his eyes. She catches him staring and then looks off at the window while her face grew a rose tint of embarrassment.

Another awkward silence is broken by yet another question Shohei had in mind. "Is Mala your real name?" He asks. "Malaika. Mala, for short. And no, my biological mother named me Mackenzie."

"So you're human, like me?"

"In a way, I was. I still have human parts, like a heart, brain, body.." she trailed off.

"But not your soul," he says, looking down.

"Precisely. I was reincarnated as an angel, but there are rules to being a guardian, and I broke them. That's why I'm here. My creator doesn't have enough love in her heart to understand me." She looks at him, placing a hand on his. "I'm not a bad person, Sho.. I just do bad things to protect people that I love." As she's speaking, her eyes turn white as she passes on a glimpse of her memories to him.

He stares at her in awe, a mix of confusion, and fear. Shohei could see all of her finest moments of saving the world, but more importantly the family who has once betrayed her. He loved how forgiving her heart was. He felt all of her emotions she ever felt within seconds and then suddenly everything went black.. the last thing he heard was Malaika scream his name.

Next chapter: When I Loved You.. I gave you perfect attendance.