Task One

I woke up expecting to be in my room surrounded by daily tasks but instead found myself in an old musky room.

"Tobin" someone whispered. I sat up in my bed and touched my forehead. My head was pounding.

"Tobin, help me." The whisper was louder. I looked around trying to find who it was.

"TOBIN," I heard a woman scream. Mother. I jumped out of bed a ran around trying to find her. I ran for what seemed like forever and found nothing.

"Tobin," she was crying now. In pain.

"MOTHER," I shouted.

"Save me.." I ran around trying to find her. Everything was dark. I ran into a wall and fell back. I looked down at my hands and saw the red, dripping blood. Thoughts filled my mind, making me fearful.

"No..no." I shook my head and stared at my hands with horror.

"Wake up." a whisper went off again. I felt my body start to tremble. It's a dream.

"Ryder!"

I shot straight up in my bed. Drenched in sweat and tears in my eyes.

"Hey are you okay.." A hand touched my shoulder softly. I shook my head trying to gather what had happened and what I just woke up to.

"I need to go." I kicked my feet out from under the blanket.

"Go? Go where?" Dalian got up off her knees. I shook my head.

"I don't know..I just have to go." I got out of the bed and stumbled towards the bathroom.

"Wait wait. We have to discuss this first. You can't just leave. These people need you. You have to get the permission to go and the right team and-" I cut her off before she could say more.

"No time Dalian. I must go now." I adjusted the bracelet on my wrist.

"Okay..then allow me to join you," she stood up and touched her own necklace.

"No this is my job and my job alone." I pushed past her and out the door. I hurried down the main hall to the office room.

"Stevens," I shouted as I entered the Boardroom. The Principal quickly looked at me, "I will be back. Dalian is in charge. I want everyone to stay here unless it's an emergency." Mr. Stevens nodded his head hesitantly. Dalian protested but I drowned her voice out. The screaming cries of my mother filling my every sense.

I climbed the ladder up to where the ledge where a small window was present and took in the surroundings outside. It was chaos. Buses were flipped. Cars were wrecked. Smoke filled the air. And bodies..bodies were in cars, on the sidewalk..they were every where. I looked down and shuddered. Luckily there were no beast in sight. I gently started to open it when Dalian stopped me.

"Ryder, I'm coming with you." She said firmly.

"No, it isn't safe," I pulled her hand off me and faced back outside.

"Then why do you get to go?"

"Cause the person I'm saving is important to me and I must do it alone." I felt my anger in my temples. The throb of frustration triggering me.

"Fine," I heard her stomp off, her presence disappearing after awhile. Then the stupid voice went off in my head.

"You do know she's your partner, right? She is supposed to help you out. So stop pushing her away and allow someone in your life."

I glanced back at Dalian and shook my head.

No, this is my task and my task alone. She can help some other time.

I jumped out and landed silently on the ground.

Using cars and buildings to hide myself from any unseen danger, I made way to my own house. The door was completely torn down and all the windows were shattered. This isn't good. I made way to the door and slid in.

I was careful not to step on any old wood, that might've creak under my steps.

"Mother," I whispered. I checked the living room and the kitchen but there was no one. I went up stairs to check. I found myself in my room looking at my old photos. My father was in every one of them and my mother in none. I grabbed an old bag that I had so I could gather supplies.

I wandered down the hall that had so little memories. All my life I was outside, modeling for people and acting in movies, I never was home. And when I was I would lock myself in my room so I didn't have to hear my schedule being repeated to me every minute.

Finding myself at my Mothers door space. I trembled. I have never been in here..and at this moment I was dreading entering. The door was on the other side of the room and the bed was destroyed. I clenched my jaw. I took a step in and looked around. Pictures were on the ground, her curtains were ripped off and had bloody hand prints on them. I walked to the other side of the bed and immediately turned away. There on the ground was my maid. Or at least what I thought was her. Her head was clean off and her limbs were thrown in every which way.

"Poor woman," I sighed. Keeping the search on, I kept looking around and made way to the bathroom. The tub had a bloody print on it.

How did that happen? The maid died in the room. These must be someone else's.

"Don't get your hopes up," I said to myself, clenching my fist.

Her closet was open and all her clothes were still hanging up nicely, except one corner. It had marks as if something was trying the get into the wall. I walked up to it and touched the marks. The entire room opened up to a smaller, metal room. "What the hell are all these secret rooms,"I laughed to myself. There was a blood trail leading to a dark corner of the room.

"Hello?" My voice rang throughout the empty room. "Is anyone in here," I walked forwards, "My name is Ryder. I'm here to help."

I heard a small gasp and stopped in my tracks. A woman crawled out of the corner.

"Help me."

It was my mother. Her hand had been cut off and she had cuts all over her body. Tears filled my eyes.

"Don't worry ma'am..you're alright now. We have a base and I can take you back." I walked towards her. She pushed away from me and had a terrified look in her eyes.

"I'm not here to hurt you..I just want to help." I reached my hand out to her. She started to raise her hand but instead of taking mine she pointed at me. Or behind me. I immediately knew. Damnit. I slowly moved my hand to my staff. Once I grabbed it I knew the beast was about to strike. I lunged at my mom and pushed her farther back into the corner. Once she was far enough away I flipped around and extended my staff.

"You bastard." I growled. The beast stood there, drooling. It was smaller than the others. "They can multiply" I asked myself.

I ran at it and swung my blade at it's feet. A hideous yelp was let out by it when it fell to the ground. Trying to get up but unable to. It's missing limb was gushing the blue, thick blood. It was non stop. I step towards it about to send the final blow when it slashed out and hit my arm with a force I've never felt. I tumbled to the ground. My own blood mixed with the blue. I grunted as I got up to my feet holding my arm. Wiping the blood from my mouth I picked my staff up once more and stood wobbling side to side.

"You're going to die now," I jumped into the air and threw my staff at its head. It went straight through and out the other side cleanly.

"RUN NOW," I yelled at my mother. She started to limp to the exit. I picked up my weapon and a shirt off my moms hangers and wrapped it around my arm.

After gathering myself, I ran to my mother.

She had stopped at the bottom of the stairs, trying to breathe. I came up behind her and touched her back. She jumped and looked startled.

"Mom, it's me." I smiled softly.

"Tobin.." she teared up and touched my cheek. I nodded and put my hand on hers.

"We must leave now." I pulled her hand to the leave the house. She didn't budge.

"I need to get the photos.." She pleaded. Photos were everything to my mother. As strict as she was, she always kept every photo of my shoots and even when I was younger. I looked around and nodded.

"Fine but once I'm done gathering food, you're done with photos." She nodded her head and ran up the stairs. I sighed and made way to the kitchen. I began to empty the shelves.

"Only hot foods. No microwaveable or refrigeration foods." My mother said entering the kitchen. I nodded my head and grabbed the rest of the stuff.

"Let's go."

I opened the window and helped my mother inside. I took one last look around and went in myself.

"DALIAN" I shouted. Everyone turned towards me. She suddenly appeared next to me.

"Yes?" I looked at my mother and Dalian nodded.

"Please come with me, ma'am." My mother and Dalian vanished in the crowd. I sighed and sat down. The image of my maid replaying in my head. How could I have not saved them? I could have gotten to them yesterday. Once again the anger burned my ears as I turned to punched the wall behind me and a sudden shock went down my arm. I forgot. The blood was soaking through my sleeve. Crap.

I felt dizzy and my vision was going in and out again. Damn.

"Ryder," Dalian grabbed my arm.

"Watch it." I snapped. She pulled back her hand and looked at the ground. I glanced up at her.

"Give her a chance." The voice in my head urged. I sighed and uncovered my arm, pushing it in her direction. She looked up, half surprised and smiled.

"Thank you," she whispered softly. I shook my head.

"No. Thank you, I wasn't bein' fair to you and all you wanted to do was help. So thank you and I'm sorry for my actions."

She giggled, "It's okay, Puppy." I smiled at her. Dalian pointed at my bag, "What's that?" I looked down. I had forgotten about it.

"Oh, I got some food. My- I mean, the house I went to was loaded. There is enough for everyone here and there is still a decent amount there. This should last us a few months." Dalian touched my shoulder and smiled as she looped the bag through her hand and slid it off mine.

"Good job," she took the stash and took it to Mrs. Stevens. I watched her all the way through.

"Ryder," I looked over to see Axel. He looked worried.

"My pal, Tobin. He is missing." Axel scratched his head in a nervous way. Damn it. How is this supposed to work.

"Your friend is fine." I laughed.

"How do you know?" He questioned my nonchalant response.

"I..I saw him in his sleeping quarters. He suffered a small injury but he's fine. He's just sleeping it off," I put my hand on his shoulder, "he will be glad to hear someone has been looking for him." Axel nodded and went back to Laura. He isn't alone. He has her. I looked around the room, students were laughing and comforting each other. They all aren't alone. I sighed and left to find my room.

Making sure no one was in the halls I slipped inside the room marked "Tobin Steele".

Two taps.

I slumped to the floor and stared at the ground. My limbs ached and begged for a cold shower and sleep. Giving in to the feeling I gathered the things I needed for a quick shower but before I turned the water on there was a knock on my door. I walked to it slowly.

"Who is it," I asked before opening the door and revealing my face.

"It's Xonnie." A girl spoke softly. Xonnie? Oh the girl who fought with Erika just a day before this Hell. I opened it and let her in, closing it behind us.

"Dalian." She said, her back facing against me.

"I am Dalian and you're Ryder," she asked. I studied her.

"Prove it." I said, crossing my arms.

Xonnie tapped her necklace twice and closed her eyes and lifted her head as her suit formed over her body. She stared at me. Two taps.

She looked serious as she watched my suit appear.

"I think it's important that you and me know who each other are. So later on we can cover for one another." She nodded her head while looking at a wall.

"I get it. I was hoping you'd tell me soon, Princess." She turned to look at me, smiling.

"Why? The janitor knowing upset you?" A scandalous smile consumed her face and I turned away. "Well anyways, Puppy," she softened, "I'm glad it was you, in a way." She looked away again.

"Why's that?" I pushed on.

"W-well because..." her cheeks were red as she looked at the ground, "you're a nice guy outside of the suit."

I looked at her. Shocked. 'Nice guy.'

"How do you figure" I crossed my arms.

"Well you helped me out the yesterday with Erika and all.." she seemed hesitant.

"No ones ever called me a 'nice guy' before." I stepped towards her. She turned to look at me and stepped back some more. I kept walking towards her until her back way at the wall.

"If I'm so nice, why would you step away from me," I raised a brow.

"B-because." She fiddled with her hair. I pulled the usual hands blocking her exit on her.

"I have you pinned down, am I so nice now?" I teased. Her face was red.

"Don't be stupid." She puffed her cheeks out.

"You're cute," I smiled and ran my hand down her hair letting a few stands slip in and out of my fingers. She looked up at me and stared into my eyes.

Oh- my heart started to beat like crazy. I slowly got closer to her face and she got closer to mine.

"M-maybe..you should go to your dorm room." I muttered almost too quiet but she heard it. Her head dropped down to her feet quickly and she nodded. I looked away moving my arm out of her way and she scurried out of my room quickly and quietly.

I sighed.

Two taps. I hit myself on the head. How stupid! I cover my face with my palms.

"Ugh, I don't even know her and I almost kissed her," I ran my fingers through my hair. Her hair..it was so soft. I wonder what it smelt like.

"I need a shower." I whispered after a short while, "and sleep."