KC and the strange man had been walking for two blocks without saying a word to each other. Finally, the strange man opened a large steel door in a grimy back alley. He motioned for KC to enter. She didn’t feel like she had any other choice.

KC enters the room, a beautiful and entirely unordinary living space. Sculptures and paintings make up most of the decoration; in the middle of the room are two couches, one larger than the other, and a coffee table. In the middle of the table is an ashtray piled high with cigarettes.

The strange man shut the door behind them, walking past KC and taking a seat at the larger sized couch. He pulls a pack of ancient looking cigarettes out from his coat pocket; pulling out a smoke and lighting it between his lips. He proceeds into a quick coughing fit.

“Come.” The strange man says, motioning towards the couch. KC obeys. The strange man removes his sunglasses, revealing ancient, weathered old eyes. He places his shades on the table, along with his hat, revealing a thin faced bald man. KC’s eyes open.

“You…”

“Yes, me. I’m sure you’ve seen my photograph in the wanted posters?” asked Raine Poplin, journalist, rogue immortal, and aide for The Angels.

KC wasn’t sure what to say.

“Yes, I have… Why?” asked KC.

“Why what?” asked Raine.

“Why did you save me? The poster said you help The Angels.”

“Yes.” Raine said.

“The Angels don’t help mortals.”

“You’re a mortal?” Raine asked, genuinely shocked. He stared her down as if he were about to get up right there and contact the authorities. All color flushed from KC’s face. Raine smiled.

“I’m just kidding!” Raine said as his laughing subsided. “Of course The Angels help mortals! We aide all that want to exile from our ‘Eternal Protectors’; mortal or not.”

KC gave a weak smile.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah, don’t mention it.” Raine said nonchalantly, taking another drag of his cigarette. “What’s your name?”

“KC Homstov.”

“Casey Homstov?”

“No. KC Homstov, its short for Katherine Christian.”

“Katherine Christian Homstov, eh?” Raine said, observing KC like a psychologist would their patient.

“Well KC, I hate to make you feel any less special than you already do, but I’ve been doing this a long time. You’re not the first person I’ve saved from certain death, and you won’t be the last.”

KC looked right into Raines old eyes.

“That doesn’t matter to me. You saved my life. I don’t care how much it mattered to you, but it meant the world to me. Thank you, Raine.” KC said, Raine looking down at the ashtray.

“Like I said, don’t mention it.” Raine said as he put out his half finished cigarette. “Would you like a drink?”

“What have you got?” Asked KC. Raine rises from his couch and retreats to his kitchen, opening his yellow stained refrigerator.

“We’ve got Whiskey, White Rum, Dark Rum, Spiced Rum, Vodka, Gin, Tequila, Grapefruit Juice, Milk, and Water.” Says Raine; quick as a bullet.

“Err… Grapefruit juice is fine.”

In no more than fifteen seconds Raine is exiting the kitchen; a glass of vodka in one hand and a glass of grapefruit juice in the other. He hands KC her cup and returns to the couch. He grabs his half finished cigarette from the ashtray. “Smoke?” he asked.

“Oh, no thank you.” KC said.

Raine shrugs, lighting his smoke.

“So what’s your story?” Raine asked. KC doesn’t respond.

“Come on, you owe me that, at least. I’ll be honest; I thought you were an immortal. But what on earth is a mortal doing in Wheren?”

KC sighed before telling Raine everything. She told him about her parents, about the money she stole, about her pregnancy and the firing from her job. Raine listened the whole time; never breaking eye contact as he stared intensively into her eyes. After she finished her story, Raine took a few seconds of silence.

“You can stay here tonight, if you need to. It seems you’ve had a long day. I have a spare bedroom, it’s a little messy, but it’s better than a prison cell.” Raine said with an endearing smile. KC finally smiled back.

“That would be great. Thank you.” KC said before being subjected to several moments of awkward silence. KC decided to break it. “So what’s the plan?”

“I’ve got that figured out, don’t worry about that. Just take it easy for the night.”

“I can’t.” said KC bluntly.

“Why not?” asked Raine.

“I’ve spent the last six years of my life with the constant thought that if a single person decides to let loose of my heritage I’ll be euthanized by the EPoB. Running from my past and hiding from my enemies is not something new to me. It’s what keeps me going; it’s what gives me sleep at night, knowing that every day might be my last. If I take it easy I’ll finally have time to be scared.” KC swallows. “So, what’s the plan?”

“The Forsaken America.” Raine says. KC’s eyes widen.

“Listen – The Angels have headquarters there. It’s not as bad as EPoB makes it out to be. America, I mean. Sure, there’s certainly a lack of vegetation, but believe me, it’s safer there.”

“There’s a boat, it leaves from Wheren harbor north to the top of the America’s. It’s where the weather’s most mild. The owner of the boat, his name is Otto, he carries on fugitives and refugees, other people like you. I can get you on that boat.”

KC takes a few moments, staring into Raines intense old eyes.

“Okay. I’ll go. When are we leaving?”

***

KC spent the next month living like a prisoner. She was told by Raine to remain at the property at all times and to never answer the door. Raine brought her food and luxuries. He told her that he wanted her safe while he figured things out, for the sake of her unborn child. She couldn’t agree more, but couldn’t argue that reading old books all day was not very much fun. One day someone came knocking at the door, but KC ignored them and they eventually went away. When she told Raine about it he said that it was probably just a bum.

It was 43 days after her arrival when Raine gave her the good news that bright and sunny morning. KC entered the kitchen to see Raine talking with four strangers, two men and two women. They were all so young and beautiful. They all stopped the conversation and looked at her when she walked in. They all smiled.

“KC, come, have a seat!” Raine called.

KC slowly moved to her chair, observing the only humans she’s seen other than Raine in over a month. They were dressed incredibly casually with nothing too special about them other than their stunning beauty. One of the men, tall, black, and bald, took his hand out.

“Katherine, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” The man said as he shook KC’s hand.

“She liked to be called KC.” Raine said quietly. The man smiled.

“KC, we’re The Angels.” He says. The other three smile warmly.

“They’re going to be on the boat with you and the others. They’re going to protect you while you go to America. Would you like some toast?” Raine asked.

“No, I’m fine…” KC said. “But me? I thought you were coming too, Raine. You’re a wanted man here. I thought you said it was safer there.”

“It is. Believe me, it is. But it’s like I said when we’d met, you’re not the first and you’re not the last. Well, you’re the first pregnant mortal we’ve ever had to deal with, so with that I’d been paying special attention. But there might be more pregnant mortals out there who need my help.” Raine said, smiling.

“Do you have all of your things?” One of the female angels asked, blonde with dreamy blue eyes.

“Yeah, I don’t have much.” KC said.

“Perfect. We’ll leave within the hour. It’s best we get you there as soon as possible.” The black Angel said.

Raine Poplin leaned over the table and took both of KC’s hands; she stared deep into his ancient, weathered old eyes. He smiled, warping the stubble that had grown on his face.

“KC it was a pleasure to have you as my roommate. I’m sure we’ll never meet again.” Raine said. “And read ‘The Truth’!”

KC smiled.

“If they even sell The Truth in America.” KC said. Everyone laughed.