John winced at the popping beneath his tires as he pulled into the driveway. It wouldn’t take Michael long. He would be out in seconds, if not already waiting on him. He really didn’t want to be here but shit just got real. He would have to lie to Celeste again, but it was way better than her finding out the truth. He cringed thinking about what had happened earlier. He had both panicked and acted incredibly stupid. Not his shining moment. Celeste had caught him between phasing and he was never himself when that happened. Normally he was able to phase properly and return to his loft, but this time the Æther had taken its toll and he had passed out before returning to the human realm. John hoped for her forgiveness but for now he needed to get this done. He was barely easing himself out of the sleek Infinity GI when he was grabbed from behind roughly.

“Well, that didn’t take long.” He quipped. Faster than he could blink, John was shoved against the car door. He tried to struggle, but his arms were pinned together and held at a painful angle. Only one other person could hold him down like that. “Long-time-no-see Gabe, how’s the lap dog business?” John’s face was slammed into the car roof in response. “Ouch, over reaction much? And try not to ruin this one.”

“The car, or your face?” Gabe said, chuckling as he crushed John’s face further down. The metal squealed in protest and a tiny dent formed beneath John’s right ear. He grimaced from the pressure and fought back a scream. Gabe was pretty unreasonable when he was in a nasty mood. Apparently tonight was one of those nights. It certainly didn’t help that Gabe’s human sister had lost her eye and that he was dating what was probably the cause of it. It wasn’t exactly a secret that Anna had blamed Celeste for the loss of her life. Even if her fiancé was a total douche that had left Anna in her time of need. Gabe had recently acquired his current body, which meant he was attached to the human’s thoughts and emotions for a few years. Ironic that the human’s name actually matched his own. Then again, Gabriel wasn’t really known for his intellect. He was the messenger between the humans and heaven. Earth was feeling a bit crowded with all the angels roaming it lately. The deep rumble came from the side of the house and John’s stomach lurched. “Gabriel, you know the rules.” Gabe’s brutishness John could handle, but Michael was another story. He should not have come here.

“Yeah, yeah,” Gabe grumbled as he lifted John from the car.

Fumbling over what to say, John stared at the ground, unable to look up. Michael, like John knew he would be, was silent. More than likely waiting on what he knew John would ask. This was a huge mistake. If he had any brains, he would get back into the car and drive away. You know that’s not an option, he thought. Sighing heavily, he spoke the words that would earn him another decade, at least, in hell. This was going to be a long night.

“I need your help.”

*  *  *

“Jesus. Are you OK? What happened?” Daniel’s soothing voice and warm grip were more than she could bear and Celeste collapsed in his arms sobbing. It was Daniel that blocked the entrance of the cave. She wasn’t sure how he found her, and she didn’t care. Daniel said nothing and gently lifted her from the ground. Celeste’s soaked slacks and sweater didn’t seem to faze him as he wandered through the woods. The parking lot slowly came into view as Daniel crossed the field past the playground. Celeste was grateful for his silence. It gave her time to collect her thoughts.

Celeste didn’t know what to tell him. She thought about lying, but in the end she decided on the truth. Daniel was not stupid, sooner or later he would catch on to her craziness. She sulked thinking about how stupid and crazy it would all sound. It was better this way. Her wet clothes suddenly reminded her that it was the end of October. Celeste shivered and nestled close to Daniel. The heat radiating through his shirt felt so wonderful and her eyes grew heavy. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed and not wake up for days. That wasn’t going to happen. Honestly, the way things were going, she hadn’t had a moments rest. It was as if Loki himself was tasked with the sole purpose of making her life shit. His car finally came into view and she calmed down. In one graceful motion Daniel laid her in the seat and reached for her feet. He pulled off her shoes and socks, then flipped a switch under the seat. The most wonderful heat spread beneath her body, and she sighed in content. Her body finally gave out as she heard his car door slam and the engine roar to life.

When she woke, they were pulling into her driveway. She was finally home. It was time to own up. Daniel crossed over to her side, opened the door, and lifted her up. Celeste's protests did little to deter him. And before she could react, he had carried her all the way to the front door. John. She frantically scanned the driveway and then relaxed.

He hadn’t come over tonight, after everything that had happened. Her anger ignited. How could he just hang up on her like that? She barely knew him anymore. She was lucky if she saw him every other week. On cloud nine one second, and hell the next. She was just lying to herself. Things were not working out.

Why was John so loving and kind toward Celeste when they were together? And why did he ask you to marry him? She wondered. No one in their right mind would do that, then turn around and leave you. He didn’t make sense. Her stomach fluttered and twisted. She felt like throwing up, but managed to keep it down. I wish John would make up his mind about me, she thought. She never felt so confused in her life. They walked up the stairs, and Celeste was sure Daniel would leave her there. Instead, he asked where the bedroom was. She tried telling him to put her down, but the words stuck in her throat. Exhaustion won and she pointed to her room. Daniel walked down the hallway and slid her into bed. He glanced back at the fireplace, then turned to her.

“Where’s the firewood?” He murmured.

Celeste felt hot under his gaze. She pointed toward the library, unable to bring her eyes to meet his. “It’s behind the fireplace but─” he was already walking before she could finish her sentence. Daniel started the fire without a hitch and she was surprised to be excited over it. It was just a fire, but somehow it comforted her. Daniel sat on the chaise staring into the flames. She would give anything to know what was going through his mind. It probably had something to do with how stupid she had been for wandering off.

It was a dumb move leaving him behind, but Lain was more than just another missing girl. How could she let that sweet girl down like this? Lain might have been close by, if she had just stayed longer, maybe they would have found her. She could be anywhere, lost and alone, or worse─ she could be with that psychotic piece of trash that was murdering people. Clenching her fists, she tore the sheets from around her and jumped out of bed. Daniel was on her faster than she could take a step.

“I don’t think so. You can barely stand,” he said. Celeste wobbled, but firmly held her ground. Her chin rose a degree, and she crossed her arms. Her gaze fell on the smooth marble bust to the left of her. The woman’s face was timeless and full of grace. Her long curls draped loosely around her face and neck. She smiled at something beyond Celeste’s grasp. Maybe it was her child or lover from long ago. The serenity captured on the woman’s face calmed her, and she lowered herself to the bed. Wetness gathered in her eyes. All Celeste felt like she was doing lately was running in circles.

Daniel lifted her feet to the bed and her head to the pillow. He moved to her ankles, grasping at the wetness. His eyes scanned the room, and then he walked over to her dresser. He returned with soft red pajama pants and a black tank top.

“I’ll wait outside while you change. Do you want any tea or coffee? I can make it for you, if you tell me where it is.” She stared up at Daniel’s smooth face. The light from the fire bounced off of his sandy hair, giving it a warm, orange hue. His green eyes bored into hers and she fought desperately not to kiss him.

“Um… sure, there’s tea in the pantry, and a kettle on the stove. Cups are to the right of the stove.” She trained her eyes on the trees outside her window, praying that he left. If he stayed one second longer, Celeste knew she would do something that she would regret. His clothes rustled, and he turned. She relaxed at the sound of her bedroom door closing.

This was crazy. She needed to focus on finding Lain, not the first guy that gave her attention. It was true John had been gone lately─ a lot, but that didn’t mean she should act like a lovesick girl. John loves you, don’t do this to him, she thought. Why was it so hard to be good around Daniel? It was as if he was the earth and Celeste was the moon. If this was how love worked, gravity was a cruel mistress. She jumped at the sound of light tapping on the door. Daniel’s voice peppered through, “Hey, what kind of tea should I bring? There are a million little packets in there.” Laughing, Celeste answered, “Green tea will be fine, but leave it on the side, the water will be too hot to steep it right away,” Satisfied that he left, she stripped down then pulled on the warm pajamas.

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It felt good to be out of the sopping wet clothes. Celeste sat down in front of the fire, stretching her legs the length of the chaise. Her eyes wandered to the subdued glow, licking at the wood. The flames pulsed, and then emitted a low drone. The October breeze pulled at the side of the house as the creaks and groans echoed throughout the space. Her attention never left the fire as it blossomed, peeking from beneath the logs. Laughter wheezed from the flame, like the dry snap of cracking ice. A fiery appendage reached out, and then popped. Something sparked in her memory and she closed her eyes, allowing the feeling to seize her mind. She needed to know what it was this entity wanted. Maybe it had been trying to tell her something all along. In any case, she was done running away. She was determined to get some answers.

* *     *

She opened her eyes and fell back, covering her eyes and face. The entire room was engulfed by a roaring fire. Smoke burned her eyes and lungs and she coughed uncontrollably. Her body blinked between the two realities and she struggled to stay whole. She was back in Tokyo at the old child care center. The paper doors that separated each room and the ceiling were completely aflame. She sat in what used to be the playroom. All of the toys had melted and the books were piles of ash. She scanned the room, searching for any clues. Her eyes fell on a turned over bookcase. Beneath it were two sets of small feet. Celeste gasped at the children’s tortured screams as the flames crept closer to their legs.

She dashed for the hulking mass and ripped at the shelf. She pulled and tore at it until her fingers bled. Celeste ran back and forth ramming her shoulder into it. It didn’t budge. She cried out, kicking and hitting the bookcase with all of her strength until finally Celeste collapsed next to one of the children. The whole thing was a memory, she couldn’t change a thing. A mountainous roar shook the room and a beam fell from the ceiling. It landed inches from her head. She stared at its sheer mass, dazed by the sudden crash so close to her. Then she turned back to the two children. The beam had tipped the bookcase just enough that one of the struggling children was able to break free.

She could tell that it was a girl. No more than four years old, the girl was dressed in a tattered pink jumper. She stood for several seconds staring down at the other child that was still trapped. Celeste got up and walked around the bookshelf, looking down. It was a girl, her blue jumper dress was completely ripped from her left shoulder and blood poured freely from the wound. Her wide eyes turned to the girl in the pink that stood over her.

She reached up with her torn arm, “Kiwako-chan, tasukete,” she pleaded clawing at Kiwako’s leg. Kiwako stood rigid, her small profile surrounded in amber movement. Her gaze flicked to the fire that snaked across the beam. It slowly crawled to the bookcase and the girl in blue beneath. Celeste felt empty. All she could do was stand and stare. It was tearing her apart, she felt useless and pathetic. She dug her nails into her palm as the girl in blue cried out and repeatedly asked Kiwako for help.

The fire now gorged itself on the bookcase. It was only a matter of time before the girl in blue caught on fire. Kiwako crouched down next to the girl, briefly ignoring the fire. She reached out and stroked the pinned girl’s face and hair. Kiwako whispered so softly Celeste had to strain just to hear what was said.

“Sakura-chan, daijobou,” Kiwako drew out the last word, it was soothing and calm. She continually stroked Sakura’s hair as she repeated the words. Sakura screamed in agony as the fire finally reached her legs. Kiwako said nothing, and then leaned down, covering the girl’s nose and mouth. The child in blue looked up in confusion at first, and then something worse replaced it. A horrible calm expression softened her features. The acceptance in Sakura’s eyes as she looked at Kiwako was too much, and Celeste had to run. She was four, if that─ she had barely lived her life. She choked and sputtered, gulping in the first taste of fresh air outside. She stared from the end of the sidewalk. An ambulance roared past on the main road, its siren ringing from the buildings. Where was the girls’ salvation? Where were their blessed sirens?

Her stomach clenched and she leaned down, unable to stop from gagging. Kiwako, why didn’t you save her? Celeste asked. She knew why, knew that a little girl couldn’t possibly lift something so heavy. It wasn’t right that she had to see such a terrible thing at that age.

Celeste stared at the people outside listening to their radios, or wandering the streets. Where were the other children? The grassy lot was completely empty. Where were the adults? Celeste scanned the area but could not find a single person. All that existed was empty sidewalks, an abandoned park, and buildings that towered over the adoption center. It was as if the city were built to hide the lone daycare. She looked on, the only witness to a horrible end for the two girls. It wasn’t fair. Celeste prayed it happened in the past and not right now. As horrible as it was, it comforted her to think that it had already happened.

She stared at the windows as they blackened and cracked. The smiling bears and bunnies that were painted on the glass converged into multicolored goo and slid to the ground. Her existence was tearing at the seams. She could feel it pulling against the dual reality. Celeste remembered that Daniel was making tea and would be back at any moment. How much time had passed here?

She focused her energy, staying in this moment. She would tell Daniel everything, but right now she needed to see this. The roof to the building collapsed, sending up a huge wave of debris. All that remained standing was the concrete walls. Where the hell was the fire department? Had no one noticed the billowing cloud of smoke from the end of the street? Celeste paced back and forth at the end of the sidewalk. The constant pull on her body was mind numbing. The pain was increasing by the second and Celeste was seriously rethinking her stay. She pressed her eyes together. A soft moan rose from the building. No. It can’t be, she thought. Her mind had to be playing tricks on her. Then she heard it again.

She didn’t want to open her eyes. What bloody scene awaited her? Were there more children that were trapped in other parts of the building that managed to escape? It took everything she had, but Celeste finally opened her eyes. The scene blended in her vision, the smoke and collapsed building a dull grey and brown. A quiet shuffle sounded from the front door as the tiny figure emerged. Celeste gasped and backed away as the image came into focus.

Inside, she had only seen the side of the young girl’s face and hair. But now Kiwako was in plain view, walking from the front door. It wasn’t so much that she was completely devoid of clothing, or that the girl’s skin was dewy and fresh that mortified Celeste. It also had nothing to do with the fact that Kiwako’s hair was perfect and flowing, despite the fire. None of that mattered at this moment.

She gaped in horror at the flames that grew from the girl’s fingers.

It snaked along her arms and sprouted from her back to join with the fire that was eating away at the building. Kiwako smiled down at the budding fire, as a mother would look holding her infant. She whispered something, and the fire subdued. The flame pulsed, and then crept beneath the child’s skin. Every vein glowed amber, and then finally disappeared. Kiwako walked through Celeste and wandered down the narrow path to the main street. She continued on until she faded into the alley. Celeste stared at the girl for several minutes, her hand glued to her mouth. The world faded and crumbled, threatening to deflate. It was time to go. She squeezed her eyes shut and sought the comfort of her room.

*    * *

Celeste finished her story and then looked to the floor. The room was so silent, that she was afraid to breathe. It felt good to finally get everything out, even if Daniel called her a nut and left. She was getting ready for him to walk out when he finally responded. “This vision you had, the one from a few minutes ago,” Daniel paused and then added, “Were there two girls?” He placed emphasis on the word ‘two,’ his eyes intense. She gaped at Daniel, unable to process what was said. Celeste had told him that the vision involved a fire and an adoption center, but she never mentioned the girls. Or the other thing she wanted to lock out of her memory? forever.

She tried to keep her voice steady, “Yes,” she paused. “But, how?” her words stuck in her throat and she narrowed her eyes at him. Daniel rubbed his face and stood. He paced the floor, and then chose a spot next to her. His hand clasped hers and he sighed. “Because I have seen it too, Celeste.” His words swept down her body like a cold winter breeze. It was not possible. How could Daniel have seen them? He was never there. Worse, he had seen Kiwako and he knew. Daniel knew her secret from all those years ago. The very secret that even now, she couldn’t believe it was true. She was terrified, because the very moment she allowed that fact to be a reality─ whatever it was that was trying to break her, would win.

That girl had been her.

Her tea cup shattered on the floor as Celeste jumped to her feet. She spun toward the hall, but Daniel was on her in seconds. He flipped her around to face him. His words came swift and frantic, “Please, don’t leave. I didn’t mean to scare you.” It took her a full five seconds to digest what was said before she melted to the floor. He hadn’t realized that Kiwako had been her. Maybe he did know and he didn’t care. It was all too much. Why was this so important to her? Who the hell was this guy and why did she care about what he thought?

Daniel helped her up to the chaise and sank to the ground in front of her. Celeste heard her mother’s voice then? soft yet clear, we can never be sure of why, but the red string of fate chooses those that we are destined to meet. Celeste had been a child at the time and never understood what Mama had meant. Those we are destined to meet. Celeste stared into the fire with Daniel, neither of them willing to speak.

* * *