A tremendous crash startled Gabriel from his reverie, instinct forced his neck around to regard Bronx, panic stricken and pale gasping for air. He pushed himself from the sofa and tilted his head, taking a few steps forward.

"What's wrong?" He asked, furrowing his brow with confusion.

"Something…" She rasped. "Something's out there…"

'Great.' He sighed to himself and approached the door, his hand raising up to the family talisman. A brief moment. Silence. He tossed open the door and peered out, hazarding a few steps on to the porch. Staring down long abandoned streets, he noted the tossed pieces of paper and fragments of trash dancing upon the stormy wind that made an audible wail through the too close buildings of Bronx's neighborhood. He turned and walked back into the house, closing the door behind him.

"There's nothing out there." He eyed her curiously. "What did you see?"

She seemed to be regaining her composure, her eyes squinting into tight lines of irritation. He couldn't tell if the emotion was directed at him or at herself. "I didn't -see- anything." She stated angrily. "Something grabbed me…"

"Something?" He asked, disbelief heavy in his tone. "Why not someone?"

She sighed. "I don't expect you to understand." She hurried into the kitchen, throwing open the cupboard and securing a glass she immediately filled with water. Her movements were hurried and her posture indicated how nervous she had become.

"I see." He looked back at the door. "Why didn't it come in after you?"

Bronx quit sipping from the water and stared at him a moment. "If I didn't know what the hell it was, what in blazes makes you think I know what motivates it to action?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "Why did you invite me here, Matsu?"

"What?"

"Why did you invite me here? I don't think that it was for the pleasure of my company… You never displayed any interest in my friendship before. What's changed? Or is there some other reason that I'm here?"

"It was only polite to invite an 'acquaintance' from college for a visit." She answered all to quickly.

"I see." He walked over to the window and gazed out, squinting past the light that reflected on the surface. The streets were still empty. "And you had no ulterior motive whatsoever?"

"Of course not." She set down the glass of water and walked over. "But I don't think it's safe for you… for you to be here right now."

"Why not?" He asked casually, walking over to a different window to repeat his examination of their surroundings.

"Because I…" She paused, seemingly flustered. "Because there's something about me that I've never told you… Something that puts you… us in danger."

Gabriel smirked. "Danger huh?" He chuckled. "At last something I'm used to." He turned away from the last window and walked back over to the door. "Well, it seems to me that I can't leave you without at least arranging your safety."

"What do you mean?"

"What sort of man would I be if I left you here alone after being attacked?" He asked. "Not very gallant."

"I wouldn't expect anything else."

'That hurts."

"Not as much as…" Color rose in her cheeks, painting them a bright shade of pink.

"Not as much as what, Bronx?"

"Never mind! You just need to leave!"

"I'll be happy to but not until I know that you'll be safe." He walked over to the door again and paused. "Perhaps you should come with me back to the hotel?" Thunder clapped outside followed an instant later by a bright flash. Rain began to slap the pavement roaring along with the wind in a cacophony only nature was capable of producing. He looked outside and frowned. I forgot my umbrella." He muttered, looking back at her.

"Why would I leave here?" She exclaimed. "Especially with you! There's nothing-" Her phrase was cut short by the shattering of a window in the bedroom. Gabriel dashed across the room, tossing the door open and nearly gagging with surprise.

It had crawled through the window, fragments of glass decorated every item within the room. Rain poured in and the curtains billowed wildly, shrouding the crouching form in a white cape. His eyes squinted to take in more detail… It was a dark hue. Arms, legs a face all strangely out of proportion, almost as though it were an impressionist's view of human anatomy. Cloudy eyes regarded him with an alien expression. A heavy sent assaulted his nostrils, that of soil-strong enough to make his eyes water. The startled cry of Bronx drew him back to reality…