A Guide to Surviving Against Monsters

Walking away from the Academy, alone and mostly at peace, felt like a fresh breath of air. I had a lot to do, and I had to protect many others, but I had confidence in myself.

Then, I saw Mia. She hovered at the gates of the school, hugging herself.

"Hey, Emmalyn."

"Mia."

She brushed a piece of hair behind her ear. "Can we talk?"

"Will you buy me a coffee?" I countered, lifting an eyebrow.

Mia shrugged. "Sure. Does that mean we're good?"

"We might be," I sighed, walking up to her. She hadn't changed much, and I still pictured her next to him on a consistent basis.

"So... How long have you been away..?"

So we're doing small talk now?

"Seven years, Mia."

"But he..."

"He died here," I said softly, finishing her thought. "I know. We were both in town for personal reasons."

"And then you just... Left again?"

"I was around," I said stiffly.

Mia stopped, gently grabbing the back of my coat. I looked back with a blank expression, staring at her.

"Emmalyn, no one is going to blame you for mourning him. Your brother died five years ago -- that's not that long."

You really need to bring that up?

I shook her off. "I'll keep it in mind."

Behind me, she sighed. It was filled with disappointment.

Not surprising, I disappointed a lot of people.

A bit more walking and we were sitting at one of the cheap tables of a fast-food store that sold decent coffee. Twin coffees sat in front of either of us, Mia nursing hers while I stared out the window.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"...I think you should get out of the country."

My entire body tensed, and I looked back at Mia with an intense stare. Things had gone from annoying and tedious to deadly important.

"Why?"

She met my gaze with confidence. "You and I both know that Aurina's getting a lot more activity. Barriers are weakening. People are losing this fight, Emmalyn."

"So why should I leave?"

"You freelance," she said softly. "It's your thing. It's obvious that you and the Academy have a bad history, so why stay here to help them? Hunting already took your brother, Emmy."

She reached over, latching onto my hand.

"Don't let it take you."

Fire -- not the purple one, but anger -- flooded my systems. I clenched my hand into a fist, pulling away from her.

"I get that you still love him, Mia," I snapped. "But don't think I can just leave. I have people to work with and protect, I have kids looking up to me--"

"They're not even kids!"

"--and relying on me to keep them alive. And the Academy may have fucked me over, but those people that actually did that are long gone now. So get your love away from my life, Mia. Whatever responsibility you think you have to my brother, consider it fulfilled."

Tears sprung into her eyes. She got to her feet, her chair scraping against the tiles.

"You're being stupid, Emmalyn! God damn it, both of you are so hard headed! He would be so freaking disappointed with--"

He was never disappointed with me. He was always on my side.

I stood up as well, knocking my chair to the ground. Mia's words died in her throat as I leaned across the small table, grabbing her arm.

"Your lover is dead, Mia. Roman is dead. Don't drag the skeletons out of the closet. Piss. Off."

A tear finally slipped down her cheek as I stormed away, coffee cup in hand, bad mood in place. I myself wanted to cry, the picture of my older brother, Roman, hanging in my mind.

He and I had a two year difference, with him being the older sibling. Roman had been an amazing hunter, starting at nine years old, two years before I had. He had been a graduate for one solid year before I had gone through experiments that had turned our lives upside down.

He had graduated even after our parents were killed.

Roman Foxit was one of the most respected hunters in history. He was the strongest person I had ever met.

And he died because of me. Because of the Academy.

We both had.

My thoughts were haunted as I began walking home. I didn't react to anything, even if I could detect every slight movement in the world around me. In this moment, my power felt like too much. The things I'd lost felt like too much.

I wanted to go back. I wanted to stop this life and get a new one.

But life wasn't merciful. I was stuck here, walking like a zombie toward my apartment.

"Emmalyn..?"

No. Please, leave me alone.

"Hey, Foxit!"

No! I don't want to deal with your shit!

A hand grabbed my shoulder, and I nearly stabbed the person, but I fell short.

Holding onto me and forcing me to turn was none other than Theo, his cousin a little ways behind. He stared back at me with a calm yet defiant expression, daring me to snap at him.

I deflated. I was so tired.

"I--"

Theo cut me off. "Do you want to come over for dinner?"

Blinking, it took me a second to process his words.

"What..?"

Mateo skipped forward, his cousin letting me go. "We're going to make a pasta dinner tonight and wondered if you wanted to come join us," he clarified, grinning widely. "Everyone had been so stressed, and you've been one of the worst."

"Way to remind me," I said dryly.

He shrugged. "Oops?"

I sighed, shaking my head. "Alright. Yeah. Sure."

"Awesome!" Mateo cheered. "This is the address. Come by at five."

He handed me a slip of paper before waving, the two of them brushing past me. I blinked in shock, staring at the notepaper in my hand.

I'm having dinner at... My friends'?

Have I ever done this?

I don't think so...

What happened to wanting to cry?

I looked up, watching Theo and Mateo continued on their way. By chance, the quieter of the two glanced back.

Theo and I locked eyes, neither of us breaking the stare. I felt like I'd been split in two, with every memory and emotion on display.

Part of me was tempted to say something.

But I wasn't that brave.

I was a coward. I hid behind words that were like barbed wire, actions of intimidation that were like setting off bombs, and a power that wasn't human.

As a person, I knew I was a coward.

I was just a scared little girl, unable to do anything but prance around as a reminder of something that should've never happened.

But there he was. Watching me. Inviting me over. Taking the time to hand me extra weapons before a dangerous mission, even with my flames.

And when Theo finally looked away, I felt the cold tear sliding down my cheek like it was something I had never felt before.