To Hell and Back

Katherine Fox Paranormal Urban

Aitea stumbled along, her face ghostly pale. "Blood loss is such a b***h," she mutters, taking a shallow breath and fighting a wave of dizziness. She collapses against the wall and slides heavily to the ground, grateful she at least made it out of the light cast from the overhead street lights. Leaning her head back against the wall behind her she let's her eyes drift closed, "only for a moment," she thinks.

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A young man, looking to be in his early twenties, stands on the roof of the old Travelers building in downtown Des Moines. He looks out over the city as he lazily pulls out a pack of Marlboros, fishing his lighter from his pants pocket as he puts the cigarette to his lips.

"Sin, come over here and take a look at this," he hears Adonis' low bass growl from behind him. Sin finishes lighting his cigarette as he moves silently over to where his twin is, following his gaze to the alley below them. He squints into the darkness and sets his gaze on the movement of what looks to be a young girl blending into the shadows in all black.

Sin and Adonis watch as she slumps to the ground. They exchange a look before Sin makes a smooth leap over the edge of the building, grabbing the ladder on the fire escape and swinging onto the landing of the first platform. Adonis like a large shadow a heartbeat behind him. As they reach the pavement Sin holds up his hand to his brother, signaling him to hang back as he moves closer to the girl.

"Hey," he says, inching closer. She doesn't respond. He kneels down next to her and takes in her filthy blue jeans, her missing shoes and her damn near shredded black tank top. She's covered in blood that has dried in a sticky mass all over her skin. Sin gently nudges her with no response. He looks over his shoulder at his brother, who shrugs and says, "We have to get back," and starts walking to the far end of the alley. With a long drag, Sin flicks his cigarette to the ground. He wastes a thought on the repercussions of bringing her home with him before gently gathering the girl in his arms, walking in the direction his brother had disappeared.

Unfold