All day Friday, I had to listen to Shad telling me this was a bad idea. KT tried some divination thing and said to be careful, but I couldn't have cared less. I was finally going to see my brother again. Maybe he would bring dad along, and we could all just pretend like it's all over, and start again. After all this time, I was going to have a family again.

We showed up at Woodfield Mall, and I immediately started scanning any groups of people for the slightest glimpse of James. I almost thought I had forgotten what he looked like. But, finally I found him sitting at a table in the food court. He had really changed. Taller than I remember him, and he shaved and cut his hair really short, like buzz-cut length. He got all dressed up, even wearing a tie. The whole effect looked like that guy from Shaun of the Dead, only still buff from his football days. Damn, I forgot to ask if he was still playing.

I just ran up and started hugging him first thing. I guess I looked stupid, but at the time, I didn't care. It was just so good to see him again. Then, my barrage of questions- how are you, what have you been doing, where are you living, why are you dressed up ("can't I look good for my sister?"), etc, etc, I must have just been rambling for way too long, because he just cut me off then.

"Su, don't you even know what's been happening?"
"Uh, I've kind of been out of it for a few years. Give me a hint?"
"Susan, dad is dead."

what?
"I was out on a date that night, and I didn't call dad to tell him I was going to stay overnight. I figured he was going to be pissed as hell with me, so I tried to sneak back in early in the morning. I opened the door, and he was lying in his chair. I thought he was asleep, but he wasn't breathing. Paramedics couldn't do shit."


oh my god.
" You've been gone so long, I didn't know where to find you. Why did you do it?"

"J, I'm sorry. I wish I was there, but I was going through something that, well, I don't understand most of it. I'm really sorry, but it was something I had to do."

"You HAD to do it? What, did someone hold a fucking gun to your head?"

"J, please, I can't say I'm sorry enough. I wanted to be there, but I just couldn't face dad anymore. He was just totally lost after mom was gone."

"You didn't even have the guts to do it face-to face? You had to stab him in the back?"

"Uh, he would have seen me if I had done that."

"God, you're fucking evil!"

"WHAT? Why are you acting like I killed somebody?"

"You did, you bitch!"

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Susan, no one broke in, the door was locked. The cops said it had to be someone who knew how to get in. You're the only other one who had a key."

"YOU THINK I KILLED DAD?????"

"Cops have been looking for you in Ney York for almost two years now."

"Oh, my God! J. please, I didn't even know he was dead. I couldn't have possibly done anything like this."

"It doesn't work like that."
"huh?"
"You're supposed to tell me why you did it, then you say you want to give yourself up to the cops."

"James, I didn't kill anyone. You're not making any sense."

"You're supposed to be telling me the truth!"

"I AM TELLING YOU THE TRUTH!"

Suddenlly, I hear the urgent voice of Will. "Susan, there is danger afoot."

I turned around just in time to see the biggest, ugliest fucking bug in my whole life. This thing was massive, and headed right for us. We couldn't even react before it lunged at us. I thought I was screwed, but just then James jumped up, getting right between it and me. He really got fucked up for that, though. I grabbed him and pulled him underneath a couple tables for protection. After that, I don't know what happened, but KT and Shad grabbed us both and we headed out of there first chance we got.

It's nice knowing folks got your back.

I'd driven her up to Woodfield Mall, and I stayed with her until she found her brother... I wandered a bit away to give them some privacy, but I made sure not to get too far. I heard when they started arguing, but I couldn't hear what it was about, so I started making my way back towards them.

I saw the thing; it looked like a large mantis... People were screaming and running, which made it hard for me to get there in time. I saw it slash into her brother, and I saw him go down... The whole thing felt like it was going in slow motion; I wasn't going to make it.

There was an energy bolt that hit it from behind. It shook its head, and kept going at first, but a second bolt pelted it in the back of the neck, right where the head met its neck. THAT got its attention... It turned around, as did I...

There were a pair of goths there, looking like scared kids in black outfits as it turned towards them. One of them put up an energy barrier, as the mantis rushed them...

My legs felt like they were made of lead. I had frozen up completely, and could only watch as the mantis shredded the shield, and sliced into the goth who'd put it up.

It was Shadow who reacted next... He got its attention completely on him. I didn't pay much attention to him after that; I know he can take care of himself... I had two injured on my hands. Fortunately, two injured is better than any dead, but if I didn't act fast, two injured could become two dead...

I went to the strangers first. Angel was hidden away with her brother, and the uninjured goth kid was dragging the hurt one away. I ran to them, getting their attention, and getting them to stop... I healed the injured one, thanked them, and told them to get out while the getting was good. The injuries didn't heal right away... I found that rather...disturbing. I'm hoping it was because of whatever caused them, and not because of a failing of myself.

I went to James and Susan/Angel, next, making sure I kept myself out of range of the bug's claws... I got to them, and started casting protection spells around them... Once I was reasonably certain they were safe, I got back behind the tables with them...

Susan was in hysterics. I don't know that she knew what was going on right then... I started casting healing spells on him, and again, noted that his wounds weren't closing immediately. I also noted he was worse off than the goth kid had been, and mentally kicked myself for letting him go longer... At least he was safe for now.

I left them, and looked back out to the fight. Neither Shadow nor the mantis were in good shape, but Shadow wasn't alone... The two goth kids had gotten up onto a higher floor, and were sending more energy attacks at it, keeping it distracted and whittling it down... I had no real way of attacking, myself; I had no spirits or weapons with me. I didn't know what to expect, but I wasn't bringing weapons into a mall...so I just stayed back and watched.

Finally, the thing died, and vanished. The kids vanished, too, slipping away before the cops arrived... I got Shadow's attention, and we got Susan and James outta there, back to my car.

Not knowing where else to take them, I took them home...

That's terrible!

I wish I could've been there... although gunfire would've probably just made things worse.

That's just crazy talk.

You're right Kolya. I must have lost my mind for a moment.

Glad I could get you back in line buddy.

As stated I also had been there to watch over Angel. Something about the whole situation felt off to me from the start, but Angel wanted to see her brother, and I could understand that.
I had stayed in the background to watch for trouble and to give Angel and her brother time to talk privately. I was watching but staying out of earshot for anything other than raised voices. But as Angel already said that happened, At first I could see the conversation going from friendly to heated, and then Angel saying," YOU THINK I KILLED DAD?????".
I started to move towards them at that point, but just then I felt something EVIL, and alien. Just as I nailed down where the feeling was coming from, this Thing came barreling out of one of the empty store slots.
It looked like a Giant Mantis, but there was also something kind of humanoid to it's apperance as well?
I was on the opposite side from where it was, and was now dealing with a flood of frightened people trying to escape, can't really blame them but they kept me from getting to Angel and James before the creature did, and they also made trying to get a clean shot at the thing impossible.
The two kids KT mentioned were, I think the only thing that kept Angel and James alive, and after the bug went after them I returned the favor.
I fired 4 rounds from my pistol at it. I had hit with all 4 shots, but only two of them had any effect it's hide was like armor, but I had gotten it's attention.
It came after me with its pincers leading. I fired several more shots again most of them seemed to flatten on impact. I dodged it's charge but still caught me with a glancing blow that knocked my gun out of my hands. I then found myself in a closequarters fight with the thing, try to stay clear of those pincers, and the claws from the other set of arms it had.
It tossed me like a rag doll into a wall. If I hadn't put up my defenses I would have been seriously hurt.
It started moving towards James and Angel again. The kids from before started pelting it again with TK bolts from the next level up. I started hitting it with a few blasts as well. It turned to deal with me again, but this time I was ready for it. I summoned "Night Ender" It was not expecting that, We exchanged blows but I got the better one in the end and beheaded it. As it dissolved I went and retrieved my gun and joined KT, Angel, and James.
James had been baddly hurt the beast had nearly dis embowled him, but thankfully KT was there otherwise he would have died. We left quickly there after.

Talk about a sticky situation.

Still going for the title of Master of Understatment I see.

After all this shit, I think he's leading in that category.

By the way, what is Night Ender?
Rather, who?

It is a sword, it calls itself an Artifact weapon, something like a Rune weapon, but very differant as well.

And they're not all that talkative about him, either.

Yeah well it has been very willing to talk about itself, and comment on everything.

Think they'll talk trash about you behind your back?

Ah, one of those "only if they want you to" kind of situations?

It has proved useful now a couple of times.

I still hate them.

That's a rune weapon alright.

Glad to hear you an your brother made it through in one peice, girlie. Sorry to hear about your pops, can't even honestly say I understand what it feels like

Well hopefully shit like this is over with.

I wish you were right Kolya, but I think things are only getting started.