Masquerade of Madness: Adjustments Part 4

They met Crystal near the abandoned section, and they all began walking through it. Homeless people came out from hiding and began to whisper, "Is that him? Is he the angel?"

Louie was getting fed up with all the angel talk. "He's a demon!" he yelled and threw his whiskey bottle at a homeless mother holding her baby. She flinched, and her baby began to cry.

"Shhh!" Louie asserted and stormed off.

Baxter busily slept off last night's hangover. More homeless people gathered in the streets, watching them pass.

Embarrassed, Creed wanted to hide. In fact, he was so embarrassed that he released his wings and pushed them to the side of his face, shielding it from their view. The homeless people gasped in shock. Now they were sure he was an angel.

Sue turned around, freaking out. "Creed, you shouldn't do that! Everyone is not so accepting," Sue stated.

"He's so cute." Crystal giggled.

That comment only added to Creed's embarrassment.

A little girl in pigtails rushed up to him. "Hey, Mr. Angel, where's my mom and dad?"

Creed bent down, sitting on one knee. "I am not an angel, but a Casalyian.

"Well, Mr. Casalyian . . ."

He interrupted her. "My name is Creed."

The little girl's eyes appeared to glow with joy. Then she lifted her ragged teddy to her cheek. "Do you hear that Teddy," she whispered menacingly. "His name is Creed. This is going to go better than I thought."

Now Crystal bent down, feeling sorry for the little girl. "Do you have a place to stay?" she asked in her best motherly voice.

"No." The little girl shook her head. "I lived on the streets with my parents, but they disappeared, trying to protect me from scary things."

"Well," Crystal said, smiling at her, "how about you stay with me?"

"Yeah! Do you hear that, Teddy? We are getting a new mommy." Crystal held out her hand, and the little girl took it.

Sue laughed. "Your mom's going to kill you!"

"So let her," Crystal rebutted.

The little girl let go of Crystal and hugged Creed. "Thanks for hearing my prayer." She let him go, and Creed looked confused. He didn't know why, but that made him feel sad. He stood up as his eyes searched the area.

The little girl again took Crystal's hand. "What is your name?" Crystal asked.

"It is Yin, 'cause my Mommy said I was the yin to her yang."

What a weird name, Crystal thought fondly to herself. "My name is Crystal, and she is Sue, and Creed already introduced himself."

Creed decided to pull his wings in because of Sue's warning.

They stopped at an old building with a faded antique sign. "This is where I found Crimson," Crystal pointed out. They continued walking until they were in an almost semi nice-looking district. Then a group of girls and guys, seemingly teenagers, came out of a building, all laughing together.

One of the girls spoke up, "Well, if it isn't Sue and Crystal with a few friends."

"Yin," Crystal whispered with concern.

"Yes, Mommy?"

"Run," she replied, her voice trembling.

"No," Yin said fearlessly. "My real mom and dad said that and now I can't find them."

Crystal bent down. "I will be fine. Do not worry about me."

Then suddenly one of the young men grabbed Crystal by her hair and began dragging her. Another went for Sue's ponytail.

Yin screamed, "Leave my mommy alone!"

A girl made a move to kick Yin, but Creed stepped in to protect her.

"Putting hands on a girl, huh," the stranger mocked at him.

Creed, using a warning tone, said, "Stop what you are doing!"

The people in the gang laughed at him.

Sue yelled at Creed. "There are too many of them, Run!" Tears collected in her eyes.

"No," he said firmly, "I will not abandon you!”

"Suit yourself." Then one of the guys hit him in the back of the head with a plank board, knocking Creed unconscious.

Crimson wanted to help Sue, but they were Humanoid, so she waited inside the glove. She did not fight Humans.

"No . . ." Yin called out to Creed.

The guys laughed. Yin lunged at the one holding Crystal by her hair. She bit him in the leg. He staggered back but got Yin off. He kicked her hard and then others began to beat her, too. Some watched, laughing as the little girl screamed.

Sue yelled out to them, "No, she's just a kid!"

"So what!" a girl spat out, "Anyone who stands against us, gets it." The beating continued.

Creed regained consciousness, hearing Yin's screams. He rose to his feet and gave a threatening yell.

"If you do not stop, I will be forced to engage."

The gang momentarily forgot about the little girl. "And who's going to make us, you?" They laughed.

Crystal broke free. Crying hard now, she ran straight to Yin and held her. The little girl breathed slowly. She tried to lift her head, struggling to see Crystal.

"Tell me," Creed said darkly, his head lowered but his eyes staring at them, "do you enjoy this disgusting behavior?"

"Yeah, we do," one of the group retorted.

"Creed," Sue warned, "just remember that not all Humans are like them. Whatever you do, take it easy. Some of them are our classmates."

Creed looked at her, while the guy yanked harder on her hair. "I'll try," he said, but winced internally.

"Yeah right, so this little guy's going to take us out . . ."

Before the man could finish the taunting, Creed went for the females. Attacking the back of their necks, incapacitating them as painlessly as possible. He intended them no harm.

The male gang members moved toward Creed, yelling, "We are the Bulls! We fight till we die!"

Waiting, Creed closed his eyes. He wanted them to get closer.

Smirking, they all had their sights on him, but could not land a hit. While one swung, he dodged. Then another one swung, he dodged. Someone managed to catch Creed, pinning his arms behind him. The others surrounded them.

Creed saw it coming – hit after hit. While they held onto him. They all circled around not caring where they hit. Desperate to make him fall.

The one with the plank struck him in the stomach. Yet he still stood amidst them. The blows did him no damage because of his overcoat of armor.

Damon laughed, impressed at Creed's strength, but still wanting to take him down. He grabbed Creed by his chin, while another kept his arms pinned.

Creed glared.

Damon's well-toned muscles rippled through his shirt. He hit Creed again, but Creed gave no sign of pain. Finally, Damon shifted back. "He isn't worth it. Let's beat up on the girls."

"Damon," Sue called out, "leave us alone!"

"What was that?" he smirked.

"I said leave us alone," Sue managed before one of them smacked her across the face. The blow cracked across the air, flinging her head sideways.

Frightened, Crystal pleaded, "Please stop." She held tightly to Yin's hand

.

Creed broke free as one of the guys charged at Crystal.

"Boss," the one that was holding Creed spoke meekly.