Welcome to Gaia! ::

“She’s giving up dance?” Frank asked from the living room. “Why?”

“Someone at the ice arena offered her lessons there.” Mikey sighed. “I-I told her she had to choose.”

“She knows.” Ray sighed heavily after a moments pause.

“I told her we couldn’t afford both.” Mikey replied. “She chose skating.”

“Great.” Ray sighed. “Just great.”

“She doesn’t know how bad it is.” Mikey said defensively. I swallowed hard and stepped into the room.

“Anyone seen my cell phone?” I asked nonchalantly.

“It’s on the desk in the entryway.” Mikey replied, glancing over at me. I could feel the eyes of the three men in the room as I walked out. Ray would figure out that I’d overheard, and it’d only be a matter of time before Mikey and Frank realized it too.

“Thanks.” I turned it on and checked for messages, bumping into Gerard in the hallway. “Are you leaving?” I asked, noticing the multiple hidden weapons.

“Hopefully I’m not going very far.” Gerard replied absentmindedly. I frowned. He caught the expression and smiled. “I’ll be back soon, I promise.” He ruffled my hair and walked past me.

“Yea right.” I said under my breath. Louder I said. “Have fun demon killing maniac.” Unless Bob stayed, it seemed like Frank would be the only one to hang around for a while. Gerard turned back around and gave me a bear hug.

“Love you too.” He laughed, pulling back and walking into the kitchen. “I’m out.” He said, grabbing a set of keys.

“That ones almost out of gas.” Ray warned.

“I’ll fill it; I’m not going that far.” I slowly closed the door to my room as Gerard said his goodbyes and left. I knew it would be a long time before he returned, but I didn’t feel like saying a lengthy goodbye. It had almost been a whole week that all of us were in the house, a record. I thought dully.



“Ally let’s go!” Mikey called loudly, knocking on my door.

“Five more minutes.” I groaned. It had been a week since Gerard left, and Ray had gone off to the Midwest on a job.

“You don’t wanna be late on your first day do you?” Mikey called, I sat up tiredly.

“It’s so early!” I sighed, pulling on some clothes from the numerous piles on the ground.

“You’re the one that wanted to do this.” I glared at the door, knowing that my brother was right. I pulled my hair pack into a tight ponytail and opened the door.

“I’m surprised you’re up.” I grumbled. “You always stay up longer than most people I know.”

“Coffee.” Mikey replied, holding up a mug. I laughed.

“Let’s go.” I lead him into the kitchen where he ditched his coffee and wrote a note to the others explaining where we were going.



I sped through the first five levels, learning a few things that I didn’t know already. It wasn’t long before Regina was helping me get ready for a competition. The practices were private.



“Where are you guys off too?” I heard Mikey ask as I got ready.

“West coast.” Bob replied. I sighed. I didn’t need the added worry of two more of the only family I really had getting hurt. Not now, not before I started preparing for my first competition.

“I’m ready.” I said quietly, stepping out into the hallway.

“Have fun squirt.” Frank sneered, pulling me into a hug.

“You manwhore.” I sighed, trying to sound as joking as he was.

“Hey, we’ll be back soon.” Bob promised, hugging me tightly.

“Liar.” I hissed softly, so no one could hear. “Don’t get yourselves killed.” I said, like I did every time one of them left.

“We’ll try.” Frank promised. “I’m driving.” I laughed as he snatched the keys from Bob and ran out the door.

Mikey dropped me off at my practice and left after shouting a quick goodbye. I hurried in and quickly found Regina.

“No Mikey?” She commented. I shook my head, lacing up the borrowed skates.

“He said he had a few errands to run.” I stood up. The two hour class went by a lot faster than I though it would, but, after it had been over for 15 minutes, Mikey still hadn’t come.

“Do you need to call him?” Regina asked after another five minutes went by. I dug around my bag for my phone.

“Sorry we’re late.” Patty said, walking in. I blinked at her. “Mom had to run a few errands.” I blinked again, confused. My eyes widened suddenly and my cheeks flushed.

“No!” I gasped. “That little ********!”

“What?” Patty asked instantly, caught off guard.

“He left!” I screamed. “He didn’t tell me! He’s so stupid!” Patty frowned.

“Ally, Mikey didn’t leave.” I glared at her. “I’m serious, he ran out of gas.” I relaxed. “Bob and Frank left him with the car that had almost no gas in it. Thanks to Gerard.”

“Good.” I sighed, relaxing and throwing my bag over my shoulder, as if nothing had happened. “Later Regina.” I waved at my coach and climbed into the back of Patty’s car.

“So you’re a skater now?” Patty’s mom asked. I nodded. “I don’t know if Patty told you, but I was halfway to the dance studio before I remembered.” I laughed.

“That’s awesome.”

“Sure it is.” Patty sighed. “I’m really sorry I freaked you out.”

“What’s that?” Patty’s mom asked, looking back at us.

“I thought Mikey left when Patty walked in.” I replied.

“She freaked.” Patty smiled. “I’m really sorry.” I wrinkled my nose at her.



“Hey.” Mikey called when I got home. “Sorry I couldn’t pick you up myself.”

“Please warn me next time.” I begged, hugging him tightly. “I thought you left.” I couldn’t hold it back, suddenly, all the fear that I felt for Mikey, Gerard, and their friends spilled out, and I broke down.

“Hey, hey, hey.” Mikey whispered, stroking my hair. “Shhhhhhh. You’re okay.’ I buried my face in his chest, my tears quickly soaking his shirt.

“You d-d-d-d-d-don’t kn-know h-how h-h-hard i-i-it i-is f-for m-me.” I sobbed. “I-I-I-I-I h-h-hate s-s-s-seeing y-you leave.” Mikey walked slowly over to the couch, sitting down, with my arms still wrapped around his neck.

“I’m not leaving yet.” Mikey promised, rubbing my back soothingly.

“B-b-b-b-b-but y-y-y-you w-will.” I shuddered. “W-w-wh-what i-if th-this t-time y-y-you d-d-don’t c-c-c-come b-back?”

“Nothings going to happen to me Ally.” Mikey murmured.

“W-w-what a-about th-the oth-others?” I whimpered, a fresh wave of tears taking over. “G-G-Gerard o-or Bob o-or F-F-Frank. Wh-what i-if s-s-s-something h-h-happens to th-them o-or R-Ray?”

“Shhhhhh.” Mikey whispered. “Their going to be okay, I promise.”

“D-d-d-don’t.” I sobbed. “D-don’t p-p-promise th-that. N-not wh-when y-you d-don’t m-mean i-it.” Mikey sighed.

“We can call them if you want to talk to them.” He said softly.

“N-no.” I gulped, pulling away. “Th-they don’t n-need to s-see me like this.” I dried my eyes and drew in a deep breath. “I’ll be okay.” Mikey nodded slowly, watching me carefully. I knew there’d be a phone call to Gerard later.

“You sure?” I nodded. “All right.” He stood up as the phone rang. I rose shakily and locked myself in my room, powering up my computer. I checked my email, responding to the ones from Patty, Michelle and Katie. The rest was just spam.



“Meltdown.” I heard Mikey confirm. “It was bad.” I woke up slowly, to the sound of Mikey talking to Gerard on the phone. “She said something about us not knowing what it was like for her to watch us leave.” I sat up, realizing I had cried myself to sleep.

“******** emo.” I mumbled to myself, heading to the shower.

“She’s awake.” Mikey said suddenly. “Do you want to talk to her?” I locked the door and turned on the shower. “I have to take the call.” Mikey whispered, thinking I couldn’t over hear, even though our house echoed like mad. “It can’t wait.” I choked back a sob. How could he even think of taking a call after my last breakdown?

“Ally?” Mikey stood up when I left the bathroom. I ignored him and stormed to my room, dragging out the suitcase that stayed in my closet. “What are you doing?” I continued to ignore my brother as I began backing some clothes. “Ally.”

“Go.” I said hoarsely. “just go.”

“Al.” Mikey sighed.

“GO!” I shrieked, spinning around to glare at him. “YOUR ******** CALL CAN’T WAIT! IT MUST BE REALLY DANGEROUS, THE KIND OF CALLS YOU LOVE TO TAKE! GO!” My breath came in harsh sobs as I glared him down. Mikey was hurt by my outburst; he didn’t try to hide it.

“Ally...” He whispered, taking a step forward to comfort me. I pulled away.

“GO!” I screamed. “GET OUT OF HERE! TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO! I DON’T FUKING CARE! LEAVE!” I turned away from him and continued packing, my tears splashing onto everything I touched. Mikey stood there for a moment more, then left. I finished packing, and then collapsed onto the floor, sobbing quietly. My phone rang suddenly, snapping me out of my daze. “H-hello?” I stammered.

“What’s wrong?” Katie asked immediately.

“Patty picked me up from skating yesterday.”

“Yea, she told me about that. You freaked out.”

“You have no idea.” I whispered through the tears. “I had a complete breakdown.”

“Oh God.”

“A really bad one.” I glanced over at the suitcase on my bed. “He got a call, and he told Gerard it’s really important.”

“Is he leavening?” The concern was thick in Katie’s voice. I hesitated.

“I-I don’t know.” I breathed.

“Ally, you have to go talk to him.”

“I can’t.” I whispered. “Katie, you don’t understand. I-I told him to go...I screamed it at him.”

“You told him to leave?” Katie asked confused. “But”

“I was mad!” I sobbed. “I told him that I didn’t care that the call was dangerous, something he’d really enjoy.”

“Talk to him. I’m sure he hasn’t left yet.” Katie said calmly. “Call me back once you do.” I nodded and hung up. My legs trembled as I set my phone down and stoop up. I found Mikey in the kitchen going through the mail, but not really seeing it. His eyes were red and I knew instantly that what I had said really stung.

We stayed silent as I sat down across from him, avoiding his eye.

“I-I don’t want you to go.” I finally stammered, breaking the silence. “I-I just.”

‘I know.” Mikey said curtly. “We’re both tired.” I smirked weakly.

“Suuure.” I laughed. “Because I’m never tired.” Mikey laughed. “I really don’t want you to go.”

‘I’m not.” I looked up confused.

“You’re the only one not on a job.”

“We’ll split up Bob and Frank. I’m sure one of them will take it. Besides, someone’s gotta stay here and make sure you can take care of yourself.” I blinked. The idea thrilled me. Although, at the same time, it scared me. The thought that I actually needed to know how to protect myself was frightening. The added information on Kiesha’rii and Mikey’s reaction to it was bothersome as well.

“Really?” I asked my eyes wide.

“Gerard told me about you pointing a gun to his head. Do you even know how to use one?” I shook my head. “You could have killed yourself, or one of your friends. Might I add, that going into a house where you know there’s something in there, but you don’t know what, that’s dangerous.” I flushed.

“Katie’s parents heard me telling my friends how defenseless I feel didn’t they?” Mikey nodded.

“Her dad spoke to me about it.” He replied. “I’ll teach you what I can. I’m sure the others will too.”

“Don’t they know exactly what you do?” I asked, being used to them having the same knowledge on demons they fought. Mikey shook his head.

“We know the same basic stuff, but we’re all experts on different things.” He replied. I nodded.

“We’ll have to work around skating.’ I commented. Mikey agreed.

“We can start right now if you want.” I shook my head.

“I have to call Katie first.” I said. “Let her know what’s going on.” I grabbed the phone and dialed.