The sun was gone, and the world was benighted quicker than I thought. The strange part about it all was the fact that there were no lights. No streetlights. No house lights. It ... everything was just dark, extremely dark. Such that my blind eyes, and even my artificial pair of lenses could not fear well against the dusk. 

I felt like a bat. Except ... a bat could see in the dark. It was stupid of me to think such. I didn't have echolocation either — but I sure wish I did. Because the creature at my shoulder—like an incarnated manifestation of annoyance—irritated me excessively and I couldn't silence it. I couldn't silence it in that I didn't want to make a sound from my mouth. So, of course, the echolocation would have come in handy. 

Making sounds from my mouth was not what I wanted. Because that would draw attention. Attention from the men lurking in the darkness. I couldn't have been any more paranoid when it came to breaking the first rule we've established. 

"You are awfully quiet," the creature said, grinning, "thinking about repaying your debt?" I couldn't stress just how annoying its voice was.

I remained in an alley, curled up in a corner, my backpack resting on my back. Hanso and Miguel was also in the alley. It felt safer in here ... with them. But, everytime I regarded the wall—behind me—on which I slumped, I immediately thought otherwise. 

I wouldn't have an escape route should someone attack us. I'd die in the alley without even putting up a fight. I had no fight left in me. Not without that sleek metal bat of mine. For situations like this, it had to be around. 

But it wasn't around and I had no idea how I was going to retrieve it from a gang of ability users. 

I shivered, crossing my arms around my chest, and rubbing my arms. It was cold. Extremely cold. And I was starving. I hadn't eaten in days. I looked at the bags of food right next to me. They leaned against the wall as well. 

We managed to bring them here, in this dark alley. We figured it would be safer here. But, unfortunately, many onlookers caught on. Hanso was right, after all. I was right too. But we did need the food. 

"The cold is guilt," a voice emanated from Hanso's location, "you won't feel warmth until you repay your debt."

"Shut the hell up!" Hanso snapped at the creature on his shoulder.

He seemed annoyed ... excessively. Though, I couldn't see the anger on his face at all. He appeared as a silhouette to me, and nothing more. To make amends, he wasn't really a silhouette. He just interlocked with the darkness of dusk. 

I placed a finger upon my lip, and tried to quell him. "Shhhhh," I uttered, trying to be audible as possible but mesh with the lingering quietude of the new world at best. 

I doubt he saw my finger on my lip, so it was negligible. But, he did remain silent. The darkness truly bothered me. I wasn't able to make out faces. But I did see eyes. A lot of eyes. Three pairs to be precise. Three pairs of crimson glowing eyes at our shoulders. 

I tried not to pay attention to the eyes too much. They were making me horror-struck everytime I did. I started shivering again.

"You're silencing the demon when your teeth are clattering like bones in the back there," Hanso said. 

He was obviously talking to me. Right then, I realized just how much noise I was making. I had to be silent so I decided to clench my teeth tightly to avoid the upper and lower rows smacking into each other.

"I'm sorry for the noise," I muttered. Though so soft even I had trouble hearing my own words. 

"Being free of all debt is the best thing you can ask for," said the creature at my shoulder, "you're considered a slave to a man in these modern times until you do repay it all."

"Shhhh..." 

My heart exploded everytime the creature opened its mouth to utter words. Much worse if I somehow glimpsed at the creature and saw it's red glowing eyes that carved into my soul.

We didn't get the time to test if people would be able to hear or see the creatures. But, I did get the impression that they were able to upon realizing how many gawking onlookers we received while going through the streets.

I also wondered just how many others were under Aiden's spell. If, of course, Aiden was his real name to begin with. 

Hanso suddenly got up, stretching in the spot. Then, he walked over to to me. He stood, looking down at me. Though, I wasn't able to even see his eyes to confirm that. 

"Can you pass one of the cans in a bag?" He demanded. "I'm starving. You should also grab one for yourself," he leaned in, "demons can hear the rumbling stomachs of zombies from miles a way."

I wanted to at least chuckle. But I relented. I couldn't make noise to attract unwanted attention. 

"We weren't supposed to eat anything today," Miguel said, "I simply forgot to count today. But then again, we don't want Ash eating our brains out when we go to sleep."

They could probably fall to sleep. But I couldn't. If I was to sleep, I would with one of my eyes opened. I never slept outside of a house before. All of this made me miss comfort provided by my parents. 

Hanso chortled. "Yeah it's best we feed our little naive Ash. What are you waiting for, Ash? Grab us something to eat."

I opened one of the bags on the floor. It accommodated a few cans of food. I grabbed one of the cans, and gave it to Hanso. Then, I grabbed one myself. 

"Give me yours," Hanso said, "Miguel has a knife. He'll be able to open them for us."

"Wait ..." I said, "Miguel has a knife?"

Miguel tittered. "Of course I do. Rats are dangerous."