Little Lost Lamb...Make that Demon (Christine)

[Hope Taylor]

*Bell Ringing* Finally, math was so boring today. Gathering up her things almost mechanically and heading for her locker. All the while thinking about the nightmare she had last night. It had to be the worst one yet. The most disturbing thing was that it through the eyes of the monster this time. The monster walked through a village killing everyone in sight while it searched for something...never finding out what. The dream ended when Hope opened her eyes in a cold sweat.

That is when she tripped and fell to the ground in a heap. Looking up at all the laughing people Hope turned a bright shade of pink. Why did they always have to pick on her. She never did anything to anyone else. They thought she was weird, and they were right. But it wasn't her fault, she tried to be *normal* like them. But she couldn't fit in as much as she tried. She knew she was different. As sure as the sun shined. She knew the voices in her head weren't normal...the ones that told her to hurt people.

Getting to her feet she turned to walk away, afraid of losing control again. The voices were getting harder and harder to control these days. If they only knew what they were toying with they would stay away from her, leaver her alone. Maybe she should let the beast win for once. Let it show them all. No, I cant do that. If I let it win it will take over.

"Where do you think your going freak!" Oh god...not her again. Becky wouldn't let it go...allways needing to take things one step further, determined to see her cry. With her hands clenched it was all she could do to keep from proving to them all that she was the freak they claimed her to be. "Just get away from me right now". Becky and her friends just laugh. "Or what little baby...you gonna cry at us". The real Hope wanted to scream in terror. Not knowing if she could hold herself in check.

[Christine Moore]

"Another day, floating from class to class aimlessly. Thank God high school was almost over," She scribbled in her History note book. At least at this point in her life people in her school mostly just left her alone. Including the teachers. Which is why she found herself sitting the very back of the class room drawing vampires with stakes through their hearts in between a half-hearted journal entry. These days when she did get a chance to scribble a line or two about her life in her various school notebooks (she learned long ago that if you write your journal entries in several different places people are far less likely to find and read them than if you carry around a big book with the word "journal" written across the top in bold print) her entries were mostly about her night time adventures in the cemetery. If you could them adventures. More like insane attempts to fill a position that none of them were called to and none of them equiped for. She was trying to keep her spirits high, after all, someone had to be out there protecting the city until another slayer decided to show up, but it was becoming increasingly more obvious that one of the scoobies was likely to die in the mean time. Her grades were slipping, she knew it. Mostly she slept in class and in between class and at lunch and after school. There wasn't much sleeping going on at night. The thought of sinking grades didn't particularly appeal to her, but she consoled herself with the fact that what they were doing at night was much more important than what they were doing in school in the grand scheme of thing. Anyway, she had a horrible case of senioritis.

The bell rang just as the pen was slipping from her hand and her head was slipping from its perch on the other hand. Good thing too, Mrs. Birch seemed to have her eye on Christine lately. She slipped past her desk in the middle of a throng of students so as to avoid her. Lunch time, at least she could sleep undisturbed in the cafeteria. As she stepped into the hallway in front of the cafeteria she realized that lunch time would not be as undisturbed as she was hoping. She did not recognize the girl but she definitely recognized the bullies. They mostly didn't bother her, she had too much of a reputation for that, but they were known to be mean to just about anyone who seemed weak enough. The girl seemed to be just about trembling in fear which, Christine knew, was just about the worst thing you could do in that situation. They fed off of it. Like bears. Helping the helpless wasn't really on Christine's to do list for the day, but she couldn't just leave the poor girl to fend for herself. Lord knows nobody else was going to help her.

She pushed past the throng of people flocking into the cafeteria and stood in between the unknown girl and the others. "Look, I'm really tired right now and don't want to get into it with you do how about you just move along and leave this girl alone and I won't kick your ass." Usually Christine was a little less forward about her threats but she really was in no humor to dance around the point here. She heard one of the girls standing behind the leader mutter something about being kicked out of school and she laughed, "You really think I care about being kicked out of school?" She stared them straight in the face, the key to winning, and half smiled as they started to move off toward the class rooms. She heard one of the girls laugh as they left and say, "It's not like you're going to college anyway." This might have hurt her once, but since she had started battling the forces of evil she hadn't really thought of college at all. She turned to the girl. "Are you alright? Don't let them get to you, they're mean to everyone. I'm Christine." She offered her hand to the girl.

[Hope Taylor]

Hope looks up into Christine's face with a mixture of shock, confusion and wonder. After a moments hesitation she takes her hand and gets to her feet. Turning to look after the departing bullies. "Wow...they are really leaving..*. God...that was to close...I have to be going crazy. This is all becoming to much. If only I was as strong as this girl Christine. Then realizing that she was still here Hope turns to face her. Turning a deeper shade of pink from her embarrassment. In a shaky voice Hope says "Thanks. I wish I could do that. Every time I try to get them to stop they just make fun of me more. Is it because your bigger and taller?" "I mean....not that your big I mean....like strong." Holding her books against her chest like a shield. Getting nervous, not having talked to someone like this in awhile...trying not to get Christine angry with her but the words keep coming out wrong. "Not that I think your like all musclebound or anything I think your pretty for a girl". "Not that I'm hitting on you or anything I like boys". Christine puts her hands on Hopes shoulders and shakes her "Relax! I'm not gonna bite your head off.

Christine heads off to get some lunch and leaves Hope standing there confused. Before she can stop herself Hope hurries to catch up to her. Hating herself for being so desperate as to chase her down. But she did so want to have a friend...even for just a little while until she decided that she was a freak and told her to go away. Coming up and having to almost jog to keep up with her long confident strides. "Ummm...do you mind if sit with you at lunch? I always have to eat alone, nobody wants to sit with me. To her surprise Christine actually said that she could. Trying to stay cool and not act weird Hope follows Christine down the hall to the Cafeteria and sits down next to her after getting some food.

"I'm Hope by the way. You know...if you wanted to know. After a few minutes of silence a weird sensation goes through her head, and then the nightmare began. Hope felt herself speaking in some language she didn't know while all she saw was the nightmare playing out. It played out like it usually did..but this time it continued past the time she usually woke up. Down the path the monster went. Going to the edge of a pond the monster looked down into the water and what stared back in the reflection woke her from the vision. What looked back at her was her face but it wasn't her in those eyes staring back. It was ....evil. If it wasn't just the eyes the black horns protruding from the top of her forehead curling back through her hair and the black leathery wings coming from her back made it very clear. Why was the monster wearing her face! Wanting to scream she looked at the bewildered Christine and got up without a word...if she opened her mouth to speak she might very well start screaming and not be able to stop.

[Macy Penfolds]

[Hope its alright for me to join in, didn't realize it was a closed thread for Christine lol. If not, I'll remove the post =]]

With the last year of school beginning, that also meant that she would finally be free. Right now, she felt empowered by the fact that they cheerleaders were officially in charge of the school- as they were the head level in the school, and cheerleaders were even higher than the other students in their level. She also felt excited about the idea of having a car, however right now she was happy riding around in Paige's. Paige always had the cool car, which was of course bound to be obvious. Paige was just like that, the most popular girl in the entire school, and Macy felt great being friends with her. They had so much fun...Just thinking of this made her wish she had another boy to hook up with. It was getting past the one week mark of being single, and she didn't know how much longer this feeling could last. She should speak with Paige.

Entering the cafeteria, she felt like Pizza, however hadn't had cheerleading practice yet today, so saw it as a bad thing to do. After all, she had a perfect body to maintain! Maybe all the other students in the school didn't mind stuffing their faces with Pizza, but for Macy, she needed to keep her physique. After all, it was a guy magnet. And if her physique wasn't attracting guys, she would remain single, unhappy, and watching soppy romantic movies with Paige with a bucket of ice cream. Although she did enjoy those moments with Paige, minus the constant crying on her own behalf, she would prefer cuddling up with an attractive, smart, popular and rich guy. Yes, she had to have it all.

She noticed the freak Christine sitting at a table talking with another weird looking person. Was she new? She could've been, but a lot of people looked new to Macy, as they were nobodies and never thought of by people like her. Shaking her head in disgust, she went to pass their table and over to some of the girls she knew from gym class, when that weirdo new girl jumped up suddenly, bumping Macy. Macy gasped, looking more shocked that the girl had engaged in physical contact with her. "Oh..." She retaliated, loudly enough for just the people around their table to hear. "What the hell do you think you're doing...? Don't you people know how to watch where you decide to jump up like little freaks? What if I had a coffee or something, it would've gone all over this white sweater...Do you know how much sweaters like this cost? Well, you know what, don't answer that." She glanced at Christine, with a stern look. "Maybe I gave you too much credit to expect you to keep your freaks in check and not trying to bowl people over with their physical outbursts...I definantly won't be making that mistake again. People like you two should just have your own table, away from everyone else..."

[Hope Taylor]

[For sure you can =) I should have left it open to begin with =) If anyone else wants in they can join in as well]

The shock of bumping into one of the most popular cheerleaders in the school momentarily broke through the fear and shock of a moment before. Only able to say "oh..." before she starts to belittle her and Christine. Every part of Hope wanted to slink back into the chair and hope that Macy would think her to small a fish to remember to make her life miserable. To Hopes utter dismay and building terror other..darker part of her that had been growing lately refused to accept that. Her mood suddenly changing from almost cowering to anger. How dare she talk to me like that! Who does she think she is! Who do any of them think they are!

Feeling something in her eyes change. Changing from blue to red...like in the dreams. Some part of her was afraid of that fact, not remembering why though. It was only brief. But when they changed back and Hope came back to herself there was a small flame on Macy's sweater. Macy didn't seem to notice right away. Just looking at her strangely Like she thought she saw something in her eyes but wasn't sure she saw it or not.

When felt the heat of the flame she quickly swated it out. Macy yelled "What did you do"?! Hope looked around to see everyone watching and didn't know what to say or do.

This day just seemed to be getting worse and worse

[Christine Moore]

Christine's day just kept getting weirder and weirder. It wasn't often that people actually wanted to follow her around. And when she noticed that the strange girl was following her to her seat, she had to shove down her annoyance that she couldn't pull out the book on witchcraft that she had "borrowed" from the magic shop last night. It's not like anyone was going to notice. There were never really that many people in the magic shop anyway. Oh well, that's what you get for helping the helpless: endless annoyance. She stared in amazement as Hope rambled on and quickly got up from the table without Christine ever saying a word. She reached out to her hand to stop the girl from leaving the table when she saw what was about to happen before it did. Macy Penfolds was walking just behind Hope and, big surprise, not paying any attention to where she was walking. What was with these rich kids thinking they owned the right to walk anywhere they wanted to?

Christine cringed as the collision happened. This Hope girl just couldn't catch a break, could she? She needed to learn to take care of herself once and a while, Christine wasn't always going to be there to stop people from walking all over her. Anyway, when Macy spoke it came out something like the teacher from Charlie Brown to Christine's ears. Wuh, wuh, wuh was all she heard. She sat back and let Macy ramble, wondering if she could sneak out and steal some lunch while all this was going on. Then she saw it. A small spark on Macy's sweater. Christine shoved her chair out and jumped to her feet as the flame grew bigger. She wasn't sure what was going on at first, she just followed her first instincts. She ran toward Macy just as she was noticing that she was on fire. Christine pulled her sweat shirt over her head and started beating against Macy's sweater until the flame was gone. Once she was sure Macy was no longer burning, Christine turned towards Hope. She was still shaking and looking just about as shocked as Christine felt. Of course, there was no guarantee that the new girl had caused the flame but she couldn't help the feeling that Hope had something to do with it. She made a mental note to ask Zane and Elizabeth about what kind of demon can make fire appear.

[Hope Taylor]

Knowing she didn't have time to gather herself. This was bad...really bad. Knowing that she caused the flame. How it happened she didn't have a clue...but deep in her bones she knew that it was her and by the same instincts she knew she had to get out of there. There would be no proof that she did anything but she couldn't take any chances that Macy saw anything. Probably not...but Christine was a different story. She wasn't a fool..and there was only the three of us there.

Before Macy could get over the fact that she caught fire Hope slips away into the crowd trying not to bring any more attention to herself. Looking back and seeing Christine following her with her eyes wasn't a good sign. Nobody can prove anything. Ill just deny it if she accuses me. But we are friends. She wouldn't do that. It was Macy's fault anyway. Its always someone else's fault. I don't do anything to anyone but they always attack me. They all need to pay! Feeling the dark trying to swallow her up again Hope ducks into the bathroom and hides in a stall.

Putting all her effort into pushing the hate and anger and....Evil away. I cant deny it anymore. There is something terrible in her. Why me. Starting to sob quietly. I don't know if I can keep doing this. It hurts. I think I'm losing my mind. Nobody would believe me if I told them. They would put me in a mental hospital. Maybe that is where I should be. Maybe they could help. But probably not. I don't want to go there anyway. But what can I do...I'm not safe. Im going to hurt someone and I don't want to. I'm good. Aren't I? Why is it getting so hard to hold on to "me". Sitting there for several more minutes. Gathering herself together and concentrating on keeping the 'other' out.

Just as Hope is about to leave she hears a familiar voice. Becky. Oh god. I cant deal with her now. I just cant. Trying to avoid notice in the stall. Just as she is leaving Becky starts to laugh and the other girls in her crew rush in and laugh along side her. Did you really think I was going to let you go that easy. "Christine cant keep you safe little freak, now come on out of there if you aren't to scared" Becky says in a sneer. The other girls laugh on cue. Cringing in the stall Hope preys for them to go away but knowing they wont. Walking out of the stall and looking up at Becky. She is everything I'm not. Tall, confident, popular and strong. Why she wastes her time with me I don't know. I'm nothing. A nobody. Nobody would know that I was even gone.

While thinking through all the reasons why she is worthless Becky pushes her into the wall and leers down at her. Becky talks to her friends while holding Hope against the wall. "I think I'm gonna have to teach the little freak not to get help from other freaks. Its not as much fun trying to get my hands dirty with Christine. I like the little freaks better. The other girls surround Hope, making sure she cant get away. Starting to panic Hope begs "leave me alone...please. You don't understand." They just start to laugh maniacally. "I don't think I've ever heard someone beg before. You really are pathetic". Hope tries desperately to hold on...but the dark starts to press in on her like never before. Trying to ignore the girls menacing her and concentrate on holding it out.

Thats when the slap connected with face. Hope yelled "GET......OUT" with the last of her conscience before Hope ceased to exist. At that moment ever creature that could feel supernatural energy heard the scream and the profound jolt of energy and a great feeling of wrongness throughout the city and beyond. Something old has awakened after a very long sleep. In an instant the moment was gone.

Even the humans in front of her must have felt something because the looked down at her with unease where seconds before they were so sure of themselves. In a shaky voice Becky says "I..I don't know what freak games your playing but I'm not gonna let you get away with that weirdo vibe. I'm really gonna kick your ass now!" The other girls, now a few steps behind her nod there heads in encouragement but not coming any closer. Looking up at the girl with a curious look on her face. You are Becky right? Becky looks down with confusion. "Of coarse I am...Ive been making you feel like shit all semester...". Becky slowly starts to frown slowly seeing the look in the smaller girls eyes.

Becky whispers "Hope?" looking concerned and scared. Lilith lets out a giggle that could stop a heart cold. Normally Lilith wouldn't even bother to speak to members of the pathetic mortal race but Lilith would make an exception for these girls. In a calm and cool voice Lilith tells them matter of factly "I'm afraid Hope has left the premises". Letting her see the truth in her eyes. Going very pale Beck backs away while the other girls look on confused, expecting there leader to show the little freak who's in charge.

Lilith lets her eyes go to there natural color. Black except for the blood red iris's and just looking at the terrified girl who swallows visibly and tries to clear her eyes not believing what she is seeing. By now the other girls can see that something very bad is going on getting in each others way as they back up. Unable to look away as they know they are looking there death in the face but unable to get there voice to work. Only able to make squeaks and whimpers. Letting out another chilling giggle. All the girls try to make for the door but a wall of flame erupts at the door. "I didn't say you could leave. That is very...very... rude. But..its your lucky day. I'm willing to give you.....humans a chance. Its been awhile since Ive been able to play you see and Ive missed it. So...heres the deal. If you can make it off school grounds your home free. I promise not to bother you ever again. But...inside the grounds I just cant promise your safety. Ill even give you a head start. Aren't I sooo generous?"

All this comes out calmly and without a hint of anger. But her eyes held something that even a cruel bully that lived to make others miserable couldn't beleave...but saw so clear that her body couldn't help but shake in front of. Evil. With a capital E. The flame disappears and the girls run out and into the halls like the devil was on there heels, and they were very close to being correct. Walking out into the halls behind them. More lost in her own thoughts then with the girls. The halls were empty...class in session. All these little kiddies ignorant of a darkness walking the halls so close that she could open a door and make them disappear. Turning the corner as the girls make for the exit, thinking them self free. Staring down the hall wanting them to have hope. Its more painful and cruel to take away hope at the the moment of victory.

As the door is about to close Lilith engulfs them in flame. Watching them writhe on the ground unable to scream Lilith looks on calmly. While this was fun she would have to be discreet this time around. The slime of humanity would be destroyed in good time. But she wasn't completely free yet. She would have a day or two until she would have to rest again for a time. So it was time to set things in motion for when she could truly take what is hers. By the time she came out of her thoughts the girls were piles of ash.

Her pride and arrogence forced her to leave the mess. Leaving her mark was an old habit. This time there was nobody who would know what to look for though. Walking out into the world with a smile on her face.

If this city had a voice....it would be a scream of terror while weeping tears of blood.