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Watching Over Them

Nick was standing in the kitchen by a microwave full of popcorn still finishing its popping. He could see his sun room turned den from a window that had been cut in the wall between the two rooms. This is where Ryan was playing his latest violent sandbox world game on the system he had left over from the weekend before. Lily sat in a chair next to the couch he was on starring at the screen in shock. A shock that was occasionally broken by Jaq who would join Ryan in laughter over the carnage and apparently hilarious deaths his character was exacting on an un-suspecting virtual world. Every once in a while one of them would look over at him and smile or laugh his direction and he’d return the gesture quickly but it was merely for show. Inside he was a mess. Nick tended to stress about the small stuff, the big stuff on the other hand, well it had a tendency to twist his insides up. Still, he knew they all felt that way. They each just had a different way of coping with stress. Nick suffered in silence, paced, but put up a fake front that everything was okay. Jaq pretended it didn’t matter. Laughed, shrugged it off, moved on. Ryan, well Ryan did what he did best. He took it out on the net or the virtual realms where there were no repercussions for losing ones mind and killing a whole city of people just for kicks. If one had walked in, they’d have thought everything was perfectly normal. Only the four of them had any idea of what was going on inside themselves.
That being said, Jaq knew Nick was faking his passive smiles and calm demeanor. She got up and walked around to the kitchen through the dinning room and punched him in the arm lightly. “You alright hun?” She forced a smile. “Yeah, of course I’m alright. I’m fine. Everything is A-ok.” He forced a laugh. Jaq hit him again. “Knock it off. We both know you’re lying. You’d be pacing outside if you thought it was safe to and you know it.” Jaq still kept a grin on her face though knowing Nick was lying didn’t exactly settle her either. “Who’s lying? I’m perfectly…” The microwave alarm went off. Everyone jumped. Nick pulled the microwave door open. After a long pause Jaq couldn’t help but snicker. “Pansy-a**.” She smirked. “Excuse me?” Nick pretended to be offended. “You jumped too ya hypocrite.” Jaq shook her head. “Jesus. What’s it gonna take to relax us huh? You don’t have anything man?” She was implying that maybe some alcohol would calm them down, an idea Nick had opposed since it had first been presented. “All my folks have is wine, and trust me, they’ll notice if some is missing. It’s expensive stuff. We’ll just have to do what everybody else does to numb the pain. Ain’t that right Ry?” He shouted the last part into the den. “What’s that Nick? Kinda busy killing here.” Lily made an especially disgusted look as the sound of blood splattering could be heard. “Boom, headshot!” Ryan bellowed. Lily actually found herself laughing. “More like killing brain cells.” Jaq mumbled. “And there you’ve found my point.” Nick winked grinning slyly.
Meanwhile Lily was taking the time to get to know Nick’s counterpart. She had taken to coping with the incidence through justifying her safety in the hands of her new found friends. In short, she was simply happy to be with anyone and she did owe her life to them. “So… you want to kill these people?” She asked as the rag doll body of Ryan’s next target hit a brick wall before splattering into a pile of limbs and blood. “Well, ya can kill the monsters too but I find it more fun to shoot these guys. Their limbs and torsos tend to sail and bounce around in a most comical fashion.” He stated rather astutely. “You’re mocking me aren’t you?” She starred at the ground sighing. “Listen, this is how I blow off steam,” “And kill most of your time in general!” Nick interrupted from the other room. “Ha ha! Laugh all you want you do the same thing just with RPGs and less blood. Hypocrite.” He mumbled the last part. “So killing in a game is like my shopping after a bad day?” She asked. As she asked this Jaq and Nick entered the room with a bowl of popcorn. “Don’t even bother trying to compare your habits to his.” Jaq sarcastically interjected. “He’s a martial artist. If they aren’t hitting something some where they just aren’t happy.” “Now that’s just not true.” Ryan stood up at this. “You know we stress self defense.” “Basically he means he only hits the ones he thinks deserve it.” Nick teased. “Aw come on. You know me better than that guys. You’re making me sound like I have some sort of sick problem. s**t.” He brushed past Nick who punched him in the arm. “Relax. You know were only pulling your leg. Maybe it’s time for a DVD huh Bromsbeard?” “It’s Axebeard! Axebeard! And yes, I guess you’re right. Be right back.” He left the room.
“So, you guys really like messing with each other huh?” Lily asked with a wry smile. “Hey, if ya can’t laugh at yourself than ya can’t laugh at anyone else am I right?” Nick smiled softly. “Besides, he really is a good guy. Has more self control than ya might think. And trust me, he knows how to handle himself in a real fight without the carnage you see in his games.” “He just… seems so different from you. You all seem so different from each other. I mean, no offense Nick but you’re kind of passive, kind hearted, and a bit cynical. He’s violent and sarcastic, and she’s a tomboy.” Lily cringed as she realized she had just insulted her only support for the night. Jaq burst out laughing. “Listen to yourself. Did you not just give three similar descriptions for the same type of person? Listen, so we have differences, so what? It’s what makes us compatible. Who wants to hang out with people who are exactly like them? Where’s the fun in that?” She had one of those b***h please kind of looks that said next time you say something like that you’ll regret it. “Jaq, easy. She raises a good point. We are different. But we like that. My brains, Ryan’s brawn, Jaq’s attitude. All we’re missing is Preston’s bat s**t loco nature and Fubu’s blackness.” He put his hand on Jaq’s shoulder. “We’re a rag-tag crew but this captain wouldn’t have it any other way.” “Jaq shrugged his hand off. “Captain huh? Ryan might call ya that but I’m still not digging this whole, you’re the leader bullshit. I didn’t before and I sure as hell don’t now.” She looked over at Lily who seemed to be worried about what she’d just started. Upon seeing this she felt a twinge of guilt. “But then again, who else could possible hope to lead such an idiotic group but you huh?” She took a seat on the couch next to Lily and placed the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table in front of her. “Enough of this talk. What are we watching tonight huh?”
Ryan walked in behind Nick and sat next to Jaq on the couch. “We have quiet a nice selection. Some B-list zombie horror and this samurai western that peaked our interests.” Nick opened the DVD player. “I say we start with zombies and end with the bizarre spaghetti samurai western. How about it?” Lily looked up at him. She couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with these guys. Near death experiences, demonic creatures, and suddenly its, hey let’s watch a zombie film. “How can you guys even think about watching something like that right now?” Ryan looked at Lily with genuine confusion. “It’s B-list horror. When is there ever not a good time to watch that?” Nick shrugged and nodded his head as if Ryan had actually risen a valid point. Jaq just shook her head trying not to laugh. “It’s what they do. I don’t get it either but for some reason they enjoy it. One of those so bad it’s good things.” She tried to justify. “It is good.” Ryan stated again as if it were common knowledge. “The B-list aspect kinda makes it funny. You’ll see.” He smiled. Ryan glanced over at Jaq and rolled his eyes. “Gee Nick, maybe you should hold her hand through the movie.” Nick smacked him and let the DVD tray close. He sat down next to Ryan after flipping off the lights. Since the room was a sun room and it was night time, the black windows only seemed to make the room feel darker. Still the light from the television served to comfort them just fine. “Alright, it’s zambie time!” Ryan called out. Lily glanced over at Nick quickly then back at the TV as the opening credits rolled by. She just couldn’t wrap her head around the logic of her new friends, if she could even call them that. She suddenly felt a chill run down her spine as the music in the movie began to build. She slowly glanced behind her out of one of the rooms many windows only to find nothing but the dark shadows of Nick’s backyard. She shook the feeling off. Then a scream came from the TV at the end of the music’s crescendo. She jumped and Ryan began laughing hysterically. “Shut up Ry. You okay Lily?” Nick looked over at her genuinely concerned. “We don’t have to watch this if ya don’t want. I underst…” “No. It’s fine.” She cut him off suddenly. “It’s just a movie right? I’m fine.” She was safe as long as she was with Nick and his friends. Or at least she told herself this to calm down a little. Still, she couldn’t help but feel watched.

As the next movie started Nitanielous noticed that Lily kept looking over at Nick. “Lauraliey? Does she?” “Shhh.” She whispered. “It’s not for us to mess with. Our job is to protect them.” “Do you guys mind.” Gaudeomous interrupted. “I’m trying to watch this. Now are they samurai or cowboys? Or are the samurai acting like cowboys? Are they even supposed to be cowboys? Oh come…” Ryan had gotten up again and so Gaudeomous was forced to follow. “Tell me what I miss.” Jaq was txt-ing on her cell in the other room and so Jessaphim was their too. She on the other hand was un-interested in the movie. She more or less was still upset over her relationship with her charge. Nithanielous and Lauraliey watched as Lily took the opportunity to seat next to Nick. “What do you think’s gonna happen.” Nithanielous whispered. “Would you hush. There’s a reason why we aren’t allowing ourselves to be seen ya know. We can’t interfer which means we can only watch from the side lines. Now just hush. So the sat and watched silently.

“Hey, Nick…” Lily started. “Uh… what’s up?” He laughed nervously. “I just, ya know, wanted to thank you for pushing me out of the way of that thing. I never got the chance to properly back there and I was afraid I might lose you when that thing… I just, was, ya know, worried I wouldn’t get to say thanks.” She looked away from him. “So you just wanted to say thanks. Don’t mention it. I’d do it for anyone I considered a friend ya know?” Nithanielous smack himself in the face with his hand which Nick was secretly thinking about doing to himself coincidently. “So you do that for any of your friends?” She asked. “Well, I mean. Only the ones I really care about. Like…” “Like Ryan and Jaq?” She asked looking up at him. “Well yeah but…” Nick started. “I see. You must really care about me then huh? I mean, cause you really care about them right? And I mean, you’ve known them longer and they’ve done more for ya but I’m still on par with them right?” Nick was watching himself blow it slowly with each one of her words. “It’s not to say that I don’t, I mean, I just…” He stammered. “Hey, it’s okay.” She smiled. “I’m pretty lucky then huh? To have someone as caring as you looking out for me. You’re friends must be pretty lucky too. You’re… you’re a really nice guy ya know that Nick.” Nick didn’t know what he’d just done. Had it been a good thing? Did she think he just saw her as a friend now? Was she trying to say more than she really had? This was one of those points in the game where he’d reset and try the other options to se if he was right. But this wasn’t a game, this was real life. “I… I’d be lying if I said the fact that I like ya didn’t factor in too.” Silence. He was trying to judge her reaction. The pause was sudden, awkward, terrifying. “I mean, I’d have to like ya a lot to do that am I right? For any of my friends for that matter. Ah ha ha, ah ha ha ha ha…” He forced a laugh out. One of those, somebody help me I’m an idiot kind of laughs. Lily blinked she seemed unfazed. “Yeah, isn’t that what I said?” “Uh, yeah. Guess I’m just still a little stressed over this whole thing.” Nithanielous was just about to intervene and smack his charge in the back of the head when Ryan stepped in with Jaq next to him. “Aren’t we all?”
Just then the movie had a gunshot occur breaking the awkwardness. “What’d I miss? Don’t tell me you too weren’t paying attention.” Ryan sat down in between Nick and Lily forcing his way in. Jaq sat in the chair Lily was in before glaring at Lily the whole time. She was worried she’d mess with Nick again. “Well I guess we’ll just have to start that part over then huh?” He grinned hitting the chapter button back.

“They’re alive. His will be done.” Gaberial sighed sinking into a soft cloud like chair. “That’s it? Just, they’re alive. Whoopie?” Micheal began pacing back and forth. “And what of my charges? Those bumbling guardians must be exhausted from a healing ritual like that. What would have happened if he chose to attack again? Then I would have lost four of my fellows along with your so called chosen mortal fools. Why can’t we do something?” “Relax Micheal. I get it. Things have changed since the wars of old. We aren’t aloud to play such an influential role anymore. It’s too dangerous. The darkness in the hearts of man has become too great. Lucifer would capitalize on such actions without even blinking and let’s face it, he has all the cards. He always does. Let fate work according to the grand plan.” Micheal resisted punching a nearby ivory pillar. Instead he leaned against it gritting his teeth. “Back in my glory days I could have marched an army to the gates unopposed. Now I have to rely on subordinates and mortal strengths. It is a sad time indeed.” “It is necessary.” Each of Gaberial’s words was spoken sharply and directly. “You know the rules.” “Rules,” Micheal sighed. “I remember when they were simple. Good versus evil. That was all. Now, this whole thing has just gotten ridiculous.” “If you’re so worried about them why don’t you fly down there and do something about it?” Gaberial smiled already knowing the answer. Micheal hesitated. Started to say something pointing a finger at Gaberial but then stopped. Slumped back into a chair that wasn’t there before made of the same clouds Gaberial’s was made of and sighed. “You know why.” “Then have faith. Nithanielous and the others will take care of them. They find any loopholes they can and so will we.” Micheal sighed again. “Go on then.” Gaberial motioned to the center of the chamber. “Check in on them if you must.”
Micheal waved his hand and a pool of light appeared in the chamber floor. It shined brightly and then slowly focused into a scene. The four mortals all sleeping in respective places. Nick was lying on the couch, Jaq was asleep on the chair, Ryan had decided to sleep on the floor by the door to the backyard just in case, and Lily lay on a blow up mattress in between the coffee table and the entertainment center. Each guardian in turn was sleeping near them. “Do you see? I send children where I should have sent warriors. Resting when they should be looking for dangers around their charges.” “Peace Micheal.” Gaberial chided. “He won’t attack again. He can’t afford to. We’ve shown him that he can’t kill them before the set date. He will honor it now. He has to. Next time we could do far more damage to his cause if he pulls that again. Let them rest. As you said before, they must be exhausted, no?” Gaberial stood up and waving his hand dismissed the scene heading towards one of the rooms golden double doors. “I’m taking my leave. I have more pressing matters to attend to at the moment. Seems the gates are becoming a more and more dangerous place. Does this not sound like your kind of work friend?” He smiled. “You know me to well Gaberial. Let us do so with haste. I wish to take my mind off of this for now.” With that they took their leave.
They weren’t the only ones watching that night though. Had they looked closer they would have noticed a dark shrouded figure amidst the vine covered arches and bushes in the yard. Its red eyes peered through the darkness at them through the windows biding its time. “Soon,” It whispered like the wind. “Soon it will be my turn. I will see you foolish mortals again. Soon. You will suffer. As I have suffered. Soon.” He faded into the shadows. The clock had started. The time for preparations had begun.