After narrowly escaping the chaotic scene downtown, Mike and Altheack raced through the shadowy alleyways, their breaths echoing against the cold, damp walls. The distant sirens' wail served as a stark reminder of the supernatural upheaval they had just fled. Mike glanced over his shoulder frequently, half-expecting to hear the pounding footsteps of law enforcement in pursuit.

They reached Altheack's apartment building, an old structure with an unassuming facade that belied the sanctuary within. As they slipped through the entrance, Mike couldn't help but marvel at the stark contrast to the outside world. The lobby was a calm haven, with lush plants climbing the walls and a small fountain murmuring in the corner.

Altheack led him up the stairs, her steps quick and sure. "You'll like my place; it's got a bit of a... wild side," she said, a playful smirk playing on her lips.

Stepping into the apartment, Mike's eyes widened in surprise. The space was a veritable indoor jungle, brimming with plants of every shape and size. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the leafy greens and vibrant flowers that seemed to thrive in every nook. Cats lounged on shelves and windowsills, a couple of dogs padded up to greet them, and terrariums housing snakes and lizards dotted the living area. Birds chirped from their perches, adding to the symphony of peaceful sounds.

"Wow, it’s like stepping into another world," Mike commented, his voice filled with genuine awe.

"Yeah, it’s my little slice of paradise," Altheack replied, her voice softening as she watched a butterfly flit across the room. "Helps me stay connected to nature."

As Mike continued to take in the surroundings, Altheack set her bag down and gestured towards the couch. "Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get us something to drink. We’ve got a lot to talk about."

They settled onto the plush sofa, surrounded by the tranquil sounds of nature, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just fled. Altheack handed Mike a steaming cup of tea, the herbal aroma blending seamlessly with the earthy scent of the apartment.

"So, that was intense, huh?" Mike began, trying to keep his tone light despite the gravity of what they had encountered. "One minute we’re having a drink, and the next, we’re facing down a damn demon in the middle of the street."

Altheack nodded, her expression serious. "It’s not just random, Mike. That was a true demon possession. Something’s stirring them up, pushing them here."

Mike sipped his tea, the warmth spreading through him, yet it did little to soothe his nerves. He glanced at the cup, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You know, a bit of a stronger brew might not be a bad idea. Got anything to turn this into a Long Island iced tea?" His tone was half-joking, a nod to old habits that lingered from a past life he barely remembered.

Altheack chuckled, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she took the cup from his hands. "You never change, do you?" she remarked playfully. She moved to the kitchen, returning with a bottle to add a kick to his drink. "Here, this might help steady the nerves."

Mike accepted the fortified tea, his chuckle mingling with the soothing sounds of the apartment. "Thanks, I guess some old habits really do die hard," he admitted, his gaze drifting out the window to the flickering city lights. Despite the warmth of the apartment and the newly spiked drink, a sense of unease remained. The world outside was on the brink of upheaval, and Mike felt the weight of what awaited them both.

Altheack leaned closer, her voice low and urgent. "We'll figure it out together, Mike. Whatever it takes, we'll face it head-on."

Mike nodded, comforted by her resolve but still wrestling with the duality of his nature. The Mike who had grown up in a peaceful suburb was vastly different from the Mike who had once wielded powerful magic against dark forces. Now, as those two worlds collided, he found himself caught in the middle, unsure of which part of him would emerge when he needed strength the most.

As the evening settled, Mike and Altheack cozied up with their devices, scrolling through social media to catch up on the world's reaction to the bizarre events. The glow from their screens illuminated their concerned faces as they watched footage of similar demonic attacks in far-off lands.

In the South Pacific, the encounter was captured through a series of leaked drone footages which circulated rapidly across social media platforms. The footage depicted the U.S. Navy's overwhelming firepower as cruise missiles and high-caliber naval gunfire illuminated the night sky, ultimately resulting in the destruction of one of their own ships to eradicate the demonic presence.

In Brazil, cell phone videos from numerous bystanders provided a chaotic and harrowing perspective of the prolonged street battle. The clips showed civilians and law enforcement in a desperate melee, using firearms and improvised weapons against a monstrously transformed local. The raw footage, filled with screams and gunfire, painted a stark picture of human courage and tragedy.

In China, the military's engagement was also leaked through various online channels, showing tanks and artillery firing upon a rampaging foreigner-turned-demon. The professional quality of some drone footage gave the skirmish a surreal, almost cinematic quality, which fueled further speculation online.

As Mike and Altheack watched these scenes unfold on their devices, they found themselves caught between the reality they had experienced firsthand and the world's varied perceptions of it. Social media erupted with debates, some users claiming the footage was fake or AI-generated, while others prophesied it as a sign of the apocalypse. Amidst the heated discussions, memes surfaced, trivializing the event with dark humor, juxtaposing the fiery naval assault, desperate street battles, and military engagements with absurd pop culture references and dark jokes. The comments and memes, while sometimes humorous, also highlighted a widespread unwillingness or inability to acknowledge the gravity of the situation—a phenomenon that both fascinated and disturbed them.

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As they continued to scroll through the unnerving footage on social media, the room seemed to grow colder, shrinking the gap between their digital observations and the chaotic reality beyond. Mike paused, his thumb hovering over the screen, hesitant to expose them to more horror, yet driven by the need to understand the scope of the threat.

"It's all over the globe, Alth," Mike said, his voice low and tense. "This isn't some random chaos; there’s a pattern here. They’re targeting us, and man, they’re not fucking around."

Altheack shifted closer, her body pressing gently against Mike's, sharing a warmth that felt both comforting and vital in the chilling reality they faced. "We’re not ready for this," she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "No one was ready. Earth doesn’t have the magic we used to fight with. It’s terrifying to think about."

"Yeah, what really gets me," Mike replied, his voice laden with frustration, "is that I’m wrapped up in this. That demon—it called me out by name. It’s like no matter how hard I try to lead a normal life, my past—or whoever I used to be—is clawing its way back."

Altheack tightened her grip on his hand, a tangible reminder of her presence and support. "You’ve faced them before, Mike. We can face them again, together," she asserted, her voice firm yet soothing, a balm to his frayed nerves.

Mike couldn't help but chuckle, though the sound was tinged with irony. "Feels like having Sophia in my head all over again, hogging space rent-free. Except now, it’s not just sibling bullshit; it’s my whole past life crashing into my current one."

As they scrolled through the chilling new footage and alternate angles of the global chaos, Mike and Altheack unconsciously moved closer together on the couch, seeking comfort in each other's nearness. As a clip from the South Pacific played, showing the intense military response to a demonic attack, Mike whispered, more to himself than to Altheack, "I remember having power like that. Here on Earth, without any magic to balance it... it could be devastating."

Altheack rested her head against his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck, stirring something deep within him. "We need to draw on our past, use what we know," she whispered, her lips brushing his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.

Mike nodded, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I need to figure out who I am—how much of me is the Mike who grew up here, and how much is the person I was before all this. This power isn’t just a tool; it’s a part of me. I have to learn to control it, use it responsibly."

As the tension of their situation grew, so did their need for each other's comfort. Altheack leaned in, her breath mingling with Mike's. "Maybe I can help you remember... I remember doing this," she whispered, the memory of their past life adding depth to the moment.

Mike’s blue eyes locked onto Altheack’s green ones, his hand gently caressing her pointed ear. Their lips were inches apart, the air charged with the electricity of their imminent connection. It was new yet hauntingly familiar, a merging of past and present that promised solace amidst chaos. Just as their lips were about to meet, Mike’s phone shattered the moment. It was his parents, frantic with worry over the recent events.

Mike sighed, rolling his eyes. "Gotta take this," he muttered. He quickly reassured them, "Yeah, Mom, I’m fine. Just some crazy stuff happening. I’ll explain later."

Once he hung up, he looked at Altheack with a rueful smile. "Well, that killed the mood."

Altheack chuckled softly, "Yeah, but it’s okay. We’ve got more important things to focus on right now."

A cat jumped onto their laps, purring loudly and making itself comfortable. They both laughed softly, the tension easing a bit as they stroked its fur.

"Look at this," Altheack said, pointing to another clip on her phone, her tone serious. "We need to be ready for more of these guys. It seems the only way for normal humans to defeat them is to completely destroy the demon's body."

Mike nodded, showing her a video on his phone. "Yeah, they also get stronger the closer the vessel is to death. Did you notice it during our fight? Or look at this one in Brazil." The video showed the intense battle, the demon growing more powerful as its host neared death. "We need to let the world know not to make these pacts. It could be days or weeks before the next wave hits, but we should have a little time before they can trick enough idiots to launch a coordinated attack like that."

Mike scratched the cat behind the ears, his face thoughtful as he continued. "The body is their anchor to this world, but the soul should be the fuel, and these pacts their source of strength. We need a plan, maybe some way to inform the world how to handle it without causing a panic or getting picked up by the feds. These people no doubt made a pact with a demon. Once their soul was sold, it gave these demons a foothold on Earth, one that can only be cut when the body is too damaged to hold a soul."

Altheack nodded, her expression determined. "We'll let people know through some new accounts on a VPN at the library or something. It was risky, but we did the right thing even if we were lucky we didn’t get caught helping out in that fight, considering all the cameras and people around. Even if most were fleeing, there were still witnesses."

"That demon aura messed up the camera," Mike said, showing Altheack a blurry video of him killing the demon from an old security camera down the street, the rest apparently being fried during the fight. "But look at the comments under this footage. Some people are calling me a badass superhero, while others think I’m just a weeb with a flaming katana." He laughed at both.

"We'll wear masks next time," she chuckled, nudging him playfully with her elbow.

Mike looked at her, his hand caressing her pointed ear. "We need to help people understand what they’re dealing with. These demons gain strength through their pacts, and we can’t let more people fall into that trap. I would know better than anyone the cost of it."

Altheack's head rested against his shoulder, her breath warm against his neck. "More will come, so all we can do is plan." Their late-night discussions deepened into strategic planning, their proximity fostering a strong bond forged in the fires of shared adversity. The cat, still purring, curled up tighter against them, a warm, living reminder of the peace they were fighting to protect. They talked until the only light was the soft glow of the city seeping through the window, casting shadows that blurred the lines between past and present.

When they finally decided to retire, Altheack’s embrace was both a shield and a reminder of their strength together.

Lying beside Altheack as sleep claimed him, Mike felt a determination kindled by their connection. The stakes for Earth were immense. Yet, with Altheack’s steady presence, Mike found the courage to face whatever lay ahead.