Melek, as always, awoke two minutes before his timer. He immediately went through his nightly checklist.

Fully charged earbuds? Check. Music app open on his phone? Check. Hatchet blade sharp and clean? Check. Everything was in its proper place and in tiptop shape. He put on his all black attire, inspecting his trench coat for ash. Using a solid black hair tie, he put his flowing golden mane in a ponytail. The all too familiar sounds of police sirens blaring and his neighbor's suggestive screams hushed as he shoved his earbuds in and swaggered out of his apartment.

***

She truly believed that her heart was about to burst out of her chest. Her muted screams and constant squirming were fruitless. The large, horrific smelling hand covering her mouth made her nauseous, and the sound of her heels scraping against the wet pavement were $800 Givenchy nails on a black chalkboard. The wound on her knee caused sporadic pulses of sharp pain to permeate throughout her body.

The giant man with his hand over her mouth paused for a moment and looked around, his grip on her body tightening as he stilled for a few seconds before continuing to drag her to God knows where. "Must have been my imagination," he whispered. "If you came with me quietly, I wouldn't have had to do this."

Why would I follow you anywhere? she thought. The captured woman had spotted his menacing aura and crimson eyes from afar, but her instincts didn't tell her to take off her heels before running away, so she instantly fell flat on her face. Her cries for help echoed in the crisp night air for only a moment before he got a hold of her and dragged her to the nearest alley.

"Don't worry, you might be the one he's looking for," he growled.

"Let her go!" a voice yelled. The sudden noise startled the red-eyed giant, causing him to loosen his hold. She took advantage of his confusion by breaking free and stumbling away from him, kicking off her heels with each step.

"Stupid bitch!" the giant screamed as he caught up to her, throwing her against a brick wall. The impact of her back slamming against the rough surface knocked the wind out of her.

Once the pain ebbed and her vision returned, she saw a blonde-haired man standing before the giant. The woman squinted to get a better look, but all she could clearly see was blonde hair, striking green eyes, and a bizarre aura that had swirls of black and white dancing around in no discernible pattern.

The green-eyed man with the zebra aura lifted a hand up to his ear. He paused and then jumped up and down with his hands flailing. The woman's mouth hung open. She fought through the pain, examining the movements of this lunatic. Of course, she thought. The entire night had felt like a fever dream, so why not cap it off with a good old-fashioned dance routine.

The giant stood frozen. At that moment, the woman knew that they were thinking the same thing:

What the hell is going on?

The giant flew toward her, landing on his back. The woman looked up at the blonde-haired man. He was rhythmically jumping in place, white earbuds protruding from his ears. His now violet eyes glaring at the fallen giant.

The giant rose and stumbled, but he eventually stood his ground. "What are you?"

The man kept hopping around, mouthing something to himself. The giant sprinted to the woman, lifted her up, and chucked her at the blonde-haired man. He tried to catch her, but he misjudged the distance, causing her to crash onto the pavement.

Her entire body was in so much pain that she let out a shriek loud enough to mask the giant's fleeing footsteps. She lay there, her consciousness slipping away. The last thing she saw before letting go were two violet eyes looking down at her.

***

Melek paused the music. The joyous rage that consumed him every time he pressed play dwindled away, leaving behind the emptiness he had grown accustomed to. He stood still for a moment, shocked at what had just transpired. The loud clomp of the demon's feet repeatedly hitting the asphalt elicited a moment of hesitation. His desire to run after that detestable creature was all-consuming, but the woman let out a shriek, causing Melek to bolt toward her instead.

He stood over her and immediately noticed the bloodied scratches on her knee. Her pale skin peaked through the rips in her teal dress, and the bottoms of her feet were wet and blackened. The woman peered at Melek with glossy amber eyes, losing consciousness soon after.

He weighed his options. The nearest hospital was well over ten miles away, and the thought of carrying her on his shoulders for that long of a trek seemed preposterous. He could call an ambulance, but since the uptick in crime, the response times had been ridiculous, especially in that part of the city.

Melek realized that he was wasting precious time. This person was hurt and in need of help, so he picked her up and headed toward his nearby apartment.

Melek gently placed her on his bed. He found himself suddenly ashamed by the bareness of his apartment. He grabbed the first aid kit located under his kitchen sink and placed it near her motionless body.

He inspected her, checking for other visible injuries. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties and in phenomenal shape. She had toned arms and legs, with the rock hard calves of a runner. The small pool of blood under her knee alarmed him, so he hurriedly cleaned the wound and bandaged the area.

She let out a dry cough. "W-Were am I?"

"Are you feeling nauseous?"

"W-What?"

"I asked if you're feeling nauseous."

"No... wait, you're the dancing guy."

Melek remained still despite feeling a tinge of shame pass through him. "Any dizziness?"

"No, just a little tired." She rubbed her shoulder. "And really sore."

"Well, the good news is you don't seem to have a concussion." The woman tried to sit up. "Be careful. I haven't finished checking you for injuries."

"I'm fine. I—" she gawked at her bandaged knee. "What the hell was that thing? And what the hell are you? I've never seen someone with an aura like yours."

Melek walked toward his kitchen, his eyes checking the freezer door. "So, you're able to see auras." He forgot to mask his before heading out. A rookie mistake. After turning the faucet on and washing the blood from his hands, he reached for a paper towel. "That behemoth was a demon. As for what I am—let's just say I'm special."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Of course he was," she said flatly. "First the crime, now this?"

No reaction to being told that demons exist? Interesting, Melek thought. "You're aware of the increase in crime, yet you went out at night dressed like that?"

"I was working."

"What work could possibly require you to... oh."

She flinched and then grabbed her knee. "I can't believe I didn't say this right away. Thank you. That guy was going to kill me. Also, thanks for not copping a feel."

"I can't believe you just thanked me for not sexually assaulting you."

"In my profession, I tend to see the worst side of men."

"Well, you don't have to worry about any of that from me. And, you're welcome." Melek reached into his cabinet and took out an empty glass. He filled it with tap water and handed it to her as he took a seat on the bed. "What's your name?"

"Anastasia. And you?"

"Melek."

"That's a pretty name."

"You think so?"

"No, I've sort of conditioned myself to say that." She laughed. It sounded so dry and awkward that it caught him by surprise.

"I like your laugh," Melek said, smiling.

"Now you're the one lying."

"No, I really do. It's unique."

"Well, thank you. I don't get to show it off much. I'm kind of out of practice."

"I know the feeling. So, Anastasia, do you live nearby?"

"I don't know where I am at the moment, so I have no idea."

"Oh yeah, sorry about that. You're just a couple of blocks from the alleyway."

"If that's the case, then no. My boss sends me to different areas of the city. I actually live near Bridge Plaza."

"That's pretty far away." Melek glanced at her bandaged knee. "Are you sure you're okay? I mean, that guy messed you up pretty bad."

"That was nothing. My brothers did way worse to me growing up."

"Can you stand?"

Anastasia inched her feet toward the edge of the bed. Once they hit the ground, she stood up with a hand on her knee. She then started limping toward the kitchen. "Told you I was fine."

"Fine, is the last word I would use to describe you right now." Melek shot up and grabbed a jacket from his closet. "Here, put this on." He picked up a pair of flip-flops. "And these. They'll probably be a little big, but at least they'll protect your feet." Melek handed her the jacket. After she took it from his hands, she leaned in for a kiss.

There wasn't an ounce of spark present. His lips reflexively stiffened.

Anastasia pulled away. "I'm sorry. I just..."

Melek placed the flip-flops on the ground. "It's okay."

"Yeah, forget about it." She slipped her feet into the shoes. Melek stifled a laugh as she stumbled around his apartment.

After testing out her new footwear, she sat on his bed, using his jacket as a blanket. "What were you doing out there?"

Melek sat next to her. "I was going out for a walk."

"Do you always go out for walks in the middle of the night while carrying a hatchet?"

"I'm surprised you even know what a hatchet is."

"I noticed the holster in your closet. I grew up in a rural part of upstate New York, so I've seen my fair share of tools."

Observant. "I guess it's no use lying to you. The hatchet is for the demons. Decapitation is the only way to kill them."

"So you just go out slaying demons with a hatchet? Sounds like you have a death wish."

Melek furrowed his brow. "You didn't even flinch after I told you that demons exist."

"I've always sort of believed in the supernatural. You could have told me vampires are real and I'd believe it."

"I'm pretty sure I can confidently say that vampires do not exist."

Anastasia chuckled under her breath. "What about the dancing?"

"Huh?"

"You were dancing. Actually, it was more like jumping around."

"It helps me get into the right mood to fight. I'm normally not a violent person."

"What about the music? What gets you in the mood to dance?" Anastasia failed to hide her mocking grin.

Melek pulled out his phone and showed her the singular track in his music library. "'Blood in the Streets' by Ghostface," he said. "This was my brother's favorite song. He was always going on about how much better nineties rappers are."

"Was? What happened to him?"

"He passed a while ago."

"Sorry for your loss."

His brother's crooked smile appeared in his mind's eye, filling him with equal parts disgust and rage. "I'm over it," he seethed.

"Your eyes..."

Melek collected himself by focusing on his breathing. "Yeah, that happens sometimes."

"I saw them change back in the alleyway, too."

"Remember when I told you I was special? Let's just call that one of my gifts."

"Why the hell are you being so cryptic?"

"If I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me."

"Melek, you just told me that demons exist. I don't think anything could trump that."

"Honestly, it's something I'm not very comfortable talking about. All you need to know is that I'm different."

Anastasia scoffed. "Okay, zebra boy."

"What?"

"Your aura. It's black and white like a zebra's stripes."

Melek pulled out his phone and searched for the number of a taxi service. "I really hope that nickname doesn't stick."

"Too late." Anastasia glanced at his phone. "Oh wow, you're already getting rid of me? Does zebra boy bother you that much?"

Melek chuckled. "Even though it's a stupid nickname, that's not why I'm calling a taxi. You need to get home and rest. I also recommend that you see a doctor, since you insist on lying about how much pain you're in."

"I told you, I'm fine."

Melek dialed the number to the nearest taxi stand and put the phone to his ear. "Whatever."

After finally getting a taxi to agree to come to his apartment, he checked his wallet. "Damn it."

"What's the problem?"

"I don't think I have enough money to pay for your fare."

"You're so sweet." Anastasia lifted her dress, revealing a thin nylon velcro strap attached to her thigh. Faded green dollar bills peaked out from under it. The velcro crackled as she removed the strap and collected the money. "I think I'm going to be okay," she said before taking a one-hundred-dollar bill and waving it in front of Melek's hand. "Thank you for everything."

Melek really wanted to grab that bill. "I can't."

"Zebra, you don't have to put on this noble act for me."

"I don't need your money. Thanks for the offer, though." The groceries he envisioned himself buying disappeared, one by one. "Let's wait for the taxi downstairs."

The sound of Anastasia flopping about as they walked through the lobby caused Melek to pause near the halfway mark to contain his laughter.

Anastasia gave Melek a peck on the cheek before hopping into the cab. "I'll bring your jacket and flip-flops back, I promise."

"I'm going to hold you to that."

Once Melek made it back to his apartment, he almost collapsed from exhaustion. Never had his mattress looked so tantalizing. The small circle of dried blood on his sheets didn't deter him. He hopped onto his bed and fell asleep.

***

Melek opened his eyes, a white void stretching before him. He sprung up from the ground and looked around in a panic.

Hello, Melek, a voice said, the words echoing in his mind.

"Fuck," Melek said. "Why now?"

Turn around, the voice bellowed.

Melek turned, his eyes shooting up toward the 'face' of the skyscraper-sized being standing before him—the creature's flowing golden and white cloak covering its entire body. There were two golden gauntlets in place of its hands, and it had a colossal white smiling theater mask for a face—a massive golden handle attached to it.

He tried to hide his awe. Despite meeting with this being several times by now, Melek was still dumbfounded by its size and beauty.

"What do you want?" Melek asked.

I desire reaffirmation of your dedication now more than ever.

"I am a man of my word."

I sense less rage in you.

"Anger is an emotion, not a sustainable state. It comes and goes."

This new temperament is... concerning, to say the least.

"Well, I—"

Remember what they took from you! His voice rattled Melek, causing him to swallow his indignation about being interrupted. Remember why you fight—why you survive. Hone your hatred. Sharpen it like a blade's edge.

Melek awoke to squares of sunlight slanting through his barred windows. He clenched his fists. Flashes of his brother assaulted his mind.

He let out a smirk. "You don't have to tell me twice."