Apertura

OCTOBER 31ST, 2006 

SAN FRANCISCO UNIVERSITY 

           Night had fallen, and the Halloween party was now in full swing.

Lights strobed across the auditorium, so painstakingly, spookily, decorated by Heland, Kiya and I, and the others involved.

Butler Bai had taken over at the DJ booth, and was making announcements about a live band performance later.

Naturally I snuck backstage to take a look.

Kiya had already left the party, actually...

Him and Heland's strange, crow-like... acquaintance? had crossed paths in the campus and after some scuffling had ran off to discuss something in a hurry.

I wasn't even consulted, I thought bitterly, but I had to assume that the situation was under control. Kiya seemed calmer, and I'd set up my "trap" in the clocktower as well. Should all go to plan, this Halloween would pass without incident.

          But I hadn't seen Kiya in a few hours, and all my calls to him bounced to voicemail.

I can trust that you've got a plan, but could you fill me in at least?

Two hours ago, Ellis had sent Kiya a text message.

They should be meeting soon, I thought as I took a peek behind the curtain.

          I came face to face with a man who could only have been described as beautiful.

Strumming on a white ESP, long mulberry locks falling in his face... it was as if Michelangelo had revived to sculpt him.

The man next to him was equally beautiful though in the way the charming rogue from an RPG was beautiful.

He's singing something.. That must be the song they're going to perform.

          "Nils, what a sad song you've written."

The rogue-looking one stopped singing and became solemn.

"If only it can save you..."

I listened further, and a strange drowsiness began to come over me, but I shook my head to clear it and walked away.

Perhaps the performance would take my mind off of things after all.

OCTOBER 31ST, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

          Ellis and Phoebe had arrived without incident at their terminal.

Far from being comforting, the lack of obstacles so far unnerved Ellis instead.

Phoebe, however, was overjoyed at their "vacation", and Ellis concealed his growing sense of fear for her sake.

          Now that he had service again, he flipped open his phone.

Kiya had finally responded to his text. They'd meet at Pier 13, and then...

Phoebe looked up at her brother. He seemed to be lost in thought.

          "Ellis..." she called out. "What're you thinking of with your face all scrunched up like that...?"

Ellis shook his head. "Nothing, Phoebe. Don't worry. Let's wait for our taxi here, okay?"

          When a pawn reaches the final row behind enemy lines, it may metamorphose into a queen.

Yet, Constantine, you've invited me directly here...

Phoebe was still a child and small enough to be helpless yet mature enough to know it.

So, she prayed for some higher, lower, power to help Ellis.

It is entirely possible, he being so fond of her, that a lower power responsive to prayers, had responded to her wish.

          A taxi arrived.

Ellis looked back. The line of cars that was just there... had disappeared, leaving only one. 

The two got in to the mysterious lonely taxi. They had no luggage to speak of, and so the driver stayed in the car, his face shadowed by an old fashioned cabbie's cap.

          "Take us to Pier 13, please." said Ellis.

The driver lifted his gaze to look at his passengers through the rear view mirror. Ellis recognized those dark eyes with a start.

"Always dragging your little sister through your own fights." said Cal. "You never learn, do you?"