Hot, that or boiling alive were adequate words Eian felt described his situation, his waking mind didn't register the passage of time, he couldn't understand what was happening at first.

All he understood was misery, he could hear disjointed mumbling, women or men, maybe both, but there was more than one, that he knew.

Faces would stare at him, but in his state he understood nothing, his mind did not interpret the visual information, almost like seeing sounds, nonsensical.

While not agonizing, he felt hot one minute and then freezing another, he was also sweating rivers, which made him want to bathe in boiling water.

Finally, he clicked, a fever burned within his veins, a strong one.

"I think he woke up." A familiar voice registered, Eian tried to place it, failing.

Still uncomfortably cold, Eian rubbed his arms for warmth, taking in his surroundings to figure out answers.

"Eian, are you alright?" Susan's voice made him turn his head in her direction.

She stared at him, worry marring her otherwise fair features, the thought made him blink in recoil and realize he was definitely dying.

"What happened?" Eian took in everything around.

"I would like to know more on that also." The familiar voice answered, a man.

Turning Eian realized the speaker was the previous 'policeman' with whom he had a brief conversation, along with half a dozen similarly dressed men, all armed.

He looked around noticing he was on a bench covered in a layer of cushion, there was also a wide variety of people staring at him.

Eian started to get up, shocked and worried they were captured, he wasn't sure how he would fare against heavy fire while weakened.

Susan placed her palm on his shoulder, shaking her head and motioning for him to relax before explaining.

"Without the car, I couldn't take you back, this was the closest place I knew of with people." Susan gently made him lay back down.

"Why didn't you just heal me? I'm fine." Eian frowned, she trusted too easily.

"No no, you were poisoned. Saw that big lizard outside. George n' I let you both in," The policeman's partner interjected before Susan answered.

"Who are you anyway?" Eian was getting annoyed at his snark.

"Yes, you're rude. Not even a thanks." The second officer pointed to the two large doors.

"Fine, thank-you." Eian sighed, rubbing his aching head.

Susan remained silent, but she alternated between watching him and the 'officers'.

"You didn't answer my question though. A quick healing would have been for the best." Eian looked at Susan, keeping his tone as subdued as possible.

"...It wasn't working." Susan looked away from him to the floor.

"Wash his mouth," Another elderly lady voiced in.

"What do you mean it wasn't working?" Eian ignored the lady but tried to lower his voice further.

"Wasn't working means it wasn't working! What do you want me to say?" Susan growled, to which several 'officers' chuckled.

"Are you sure?" Eian asked delicately, he couldn't help but lift an eyebrow.

"Yes. I'm. Sure. You got a fever, and everything I tried wasn't fixing you to better shape." Susan explained, her arms crossed and face surly.

Food for thought, Eian wondered if that was normal, he didn't recall ever getting poisoned, but he was almost sure Alex mentioned something about it, didn't he? His time in the dream was a bit blurry now.

"Excuse me, since you've nothing else to discuss, mind filling us in? We let you in, but we don't feel too comfortable leaving in the dark." The man interrupted his thoughts.

******

The policeman in uniform Eian met before introduced himself as George Bakers, his fellow officer whom Eian assumed was his partner introduced himself as Christopher Allen.

The second officer, Christopher, was fit, but in a more lean way, and he still had a bit of baby fat on his cheeks, also Eian was eye-level with him.

Eian was flanked by two officers, they were not being aggressive, but they expressed concern for the motivations of Eian and Susan.

They refused to not have Eian answer his questions, quoting that they had to know if Susan's story and his coincided, and when it did they visibly relaxed.

After answering their questions the rest of the policemen scattered and intermingled within the band.

This group of survivors was much larger than Eian had first anticipated the policemen had been helping locals get out towards Los Angeles safely, providing aid and rescuing the injured or incapacitated as well as attempting to reunite several children to their parents.

As a result, the officers had elderly and underaged minors to take care of, the minors were a mixed bunch some excitable and playing with magic, others sullen and silent.

Going by how the group also had a few complete families, all whom for one reason or another had been unwilling to brave leaving for safer pastures, Eian figured these children's parents were either lost, effectively leaving them as orphans, whether literal or not.

Feeding and even dealing with these children was already something Eian could envision as a problem for years, a child needs parental support to develop proper values.

Eian could only imagine, all his life he had no father true, and that caused problems early on, but these children had neither mother nor father.

Personally, Eian was impressed, despite all the problems the group was trying, each child was assigned a 'nanny', usually one of the elderly.

They also had medical specialists, two doctors, and three nurses, they were obviously overused, seeming a tired crew of specialists.

They were rescued from the local hospitals and medical certain, furthermore, the original number was higher, but the other medical staff left in a big convoy headed to L.A before the communication went down.

In all, the officers were helping people until communication was interrupted after they lost contact they had no way of knowing what was happening outside.

As expected Eian noted most of the officers, in particular, were bulky and carried themselves with an air of professionalism despite their dire state, he even saw one light a cigarette with a finger, these people were at least aware of the three magic.

Strangely the priest of the church was within the group, and currently giving a sermon, he kept most of his teaching toned down for an audience of other faiths, but people listened, likely because there was no other form of entertainment.

Perhaps Eian was being too cynical, he had a healthy respect for religion, but he never liked going as a boy, even if his mother dragged him, it always seemed like a lousy way to spend half your weekend.

Religion wasn't something he put much thought on, sure he always figured someone out there was watching, if only to not have to think on the fact that there wasn't, a much more depressing thought.

Now, the thought made him wonder what was actually out there, was this all the plan of some greater being? Or were the 'gods' Ul served the only true forces along with them, if so what of the afterlife? And all the other questions faiths endlessly debate upon.

Religious thoughts aside, there were a few problems that came along with such a group, prominent among those was food, a question Eian asked Officer Allen, and his response made Eian blink twice.

"We starting eating the deer, figured they were already attacking us, so once we killed them...well one thing led to another and there we go." Officer George gave him a genuine laugh.

"You're not afraid its ...uh harmful? Those 'things' aren't normal anymore." Eian wondered what strange effects magic and mutation would have on animals.

"Don't say? The size might have clued us in." George smirked at him.

Eian's humor died and he frowned at him, deadpanned, the meat could be poisonous, and much like the gigantic four-limbed-snake that bit him, who knew what magic did to mutants, and what properties they gained.

"Are you...glaring at me?" Raising an eyebrow down at Eian, George was playing with a half-smile on his face.

"I don't see how feeding children something 'dangerous' is funny," Eian answered seriously.

"...Lay off son, I tested it first myself. Ourselves." The officer corrected himself before he snorted, killing off his humor.

"I still don't see the need. It hasn't been that long." Eian insisted, even he could still find food everywhere.

The first officer, George, was clearly losing patience, he gestured at everyone currently as the only priest addressed them.

"Good food's hard looking, try feeding all of them. Seems like everyone and their grandmothers are scrambling for stock. We are hard-pressed to haul in enough, not enough men, not anymore." The officer's face saddened slightly at that remark.

That statement seemed to imply a lot, but Eian had no way of knowing what happened, perhaps a few officers died? That seemed the most likely.

The conversation fell dead there, George seemed tired as he listened to the priest go on and on about faith and hope, as well as the tests of the creator.

Susan was off speaking with a few people, hopefully collecting information, or improving her healing techniques, in which case Eian would jump for joy.

Instead, he looked on as she healed a few injured, as well as enter into a conversation with both a doctor and patient simultaneously.

Susan had insisted they stay some time, which dampened Eians enthusiasm, but it made sense as he still felt a bit shaky around the edges.

As she attended to the aches and pains of a few people which began to herd her towards the doctors, Eian watched them ask questions and nod, Eian did note that they weren't surprised about supernatural powers.

Eian wasn't sure if everyone worldwide had undergone the dream, but it seemed likely, even here among scattered survivors he noticed many among them being physically fit, few people were overweight.

Even the officers were giving her a friendly reception, it was strange how well received Susan was, they had to have at least one healer in this large gathering.

Eian had a pressing concern, he wanted to know if any type of rescue or plan was coming in from the government.

"So... what's the plan?" Eian asked the officer.

"Hmmm? Plan?" George turned to look at him with confusion, distracted.

"You know...the 'big' rescue. The government has to be dong something." Eian threw it out there.

"Don't say? Don't know to be honest. Too busy helping people on the ground, I... Sure, the bigwigs were telling us the big cities were the place to be, but after that? Zap, zero, radio went down too quick." George sighed and leaned back on the chair.

The priest finally came to an end with his sermon, to which Eian let out a breath of relief.

"Yes Aye. Are you absolutely sure you want to leave? We could use a few extra hands. Your girl especially." The other officer, Christopher, briefly looked and nodded at Susan.

"She is not my 'girl', and I told you, we still have to help the captives." Eian implied an accusation in his tone, he had already asked for their help.

"Been through this son, we aren't going to help you on your word alone. Besides these families need our help. Hands tied kid," Officer George replied with a sigh.

'Cops.' Eian scoffed at the thought, they were supposed to help people, people were in danger of dying and they refused to help even slightly.

Exiting the church took some time as he still felt a bit unwell, but in the end, Eian was relieved to find his paranoia unwarranted.

He had been skeptical, but that and the fact they let them leave was what finally convinced him they at least weren't dangerous and likely officer in true.

The people who were around also seemed in good condition, although their morale seemed down the gutter, a few children had been crying, and families sequestered themselves in their own circles.

The officer, on the other hand, seemed worn down, tired from their constant watch, bags under their eyes and a few were twitchy, jumping at almost anything.

"Swing by anytime Miss, your welcome to stay if you get tired of grumpy." Christopher waved at Susan with a good-natured smile

"Thanks, he grows on you." Susan returned the smile, nodded, laughed.

The officers' group were at least generous enough to drag and fix the damaged wheel of their car, the gigantic snake-thing was also loaded into the back, the tail and head were spilling out.

The group inside the church did take the deer meat though, which left Eian feeling sour, he earned those kills, Susan had offered it to the group since 'they needed it more'.

Biding a lackluster farewell Susan waved at them as they sped off, the drive would be quick, though Eian worried about the serpentine-cadaver in the back.

It was getting a bit dark, and Eian noticed the end of the day was approaching.

"They seemed nice," Susan stated casually.

"To you. How long was I out for?" Eian watched as the day began to wane.

"A few hours, try not to die on me Eian. I can't bring you back if you die." Susan replied simply, unamused.

"...I didn't expect to be poisoned." Eian replied.

"Even if it wasn't the doctor said you're lucky you aren't infected. Animal teeth have tons of bacteria." Susan looked at him quickly.

"Well, can't just heal that?" Eian asked.

"I don't know. Eian, WE don't know. If not for the doctor..." Susan stopped the car.

"Why are you stopping?" Eian turned to face her fully, feeling a bit uncomfortable at her use of his name.

"Listen, I know you're a lot stronger than me. I do, but you're still human. You're not made of metal. WE don't know what we 'can', or can't do yet. Be more careful." Susan lectured.

"Yeah, we don't know so we have to learn. Either way, it's not like I want to die." Eian shrugged it off.

"I'm serious here. I almost thought you were dead." Susan said quietly.

She drove the rest of the way in silence, while he reflected on her words, he may have been too overconfident.

'I still need to get stronger,' Eian said to himself, it felt like the world was holding him back, he couldn't do anything to save the people he wanted to help.