1 Chapter 1

The world is bound to falter

In hands of the bearer

A path of thorn or path of struggle

Either way, life will shift its hobble

"Ashnah, what are you scribbling?"

Ashnah's eyes swiftly turned to the owner of the voice and an immediate smile stretched on her lips. It was one of her close friends, Melanie. "Just some poem that crossed my mind."

"Can I read it?" Her curious eyes were hopeful.

"Hmm, I'll let you if it's finished. I was just on the starting point."

"Oh, okay. Gotcha!" Her eyes sparkled with joy.

The coffee shop they're in played "Air" by Bambam of Got7, one of her favorite songs. Each time their songs play on air, she can feel the tingling of her heart, may it be happy or sad according the the rhythm and the content of their song.

"Are you going to enter a contest?"

She chuckled. "No. I won't be able to complete this anyway. I'm a frustrated writer remember?"

"But I think you'll get a pass for these poems and story you're trying to construct," she pointed out to the pages of drafts that Ashnah used as a 'take-down-the-idea' notebook. Melanie is aware of the functionality of that notebook since she was one of the few people who encourages her about her passion.

"Nah, too busy to think of its details for the plot and characters," she just smiled at Melanie when disappointment crossed her face. She ruffled her hair. "Such a cutie!"

Melanie was about to counter when Ashnah's phone suddenly rang. It was her Uncle Rodney, her pastor uncle.

"Hello, Uncle Rod!"

"Hi Ash!" He greeted with his cheerful voice. "Are you available right now?"

"Yeah! I am. `Sipping some drinks here in Amicafe."

"Oh, okay. I'll just drop something your Aunt wanted me to give you,"

She heard the starting of an engine on his background. "Shall I wait for you here or shall I meet you somewhere you're near?" She prepared her notepad to jot down the location just in case he preferred a different place.

"It's okay. I'll go to where you are. Just wait for me."

"Okay. See you then, Uncle Rod. I will wait for you." The call ended.

Melanie with her curious eyes looked at her. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Nope. Uncle Rodney's going to drop something from Aunt Jenine so I will wait for him here. `Won't be going anywhere."

"Yay!" She rose her hands in glee.

Ashnah grinned, amused of Melanie's reaction.

Melanie started babbling her day with Ashnah. They laughed together as they joke in each other's company.

The wind chimes of the cafe made a tinkling sound as the door opened. A man in probably forties entered. His edgy eyes turned to their direction. Something chilly ran through her body like a shot of cold ice. He is wearing a black long sleeve polo with its sleeves rolled up just past his elbow. Three of his buttons were undone, showing a bit of his well-toned chest muscles. He's in black cargo pants and combat boots. What caught her eyes though is the strange yet unique tattoos on his arms and neck. They are kind of similar to scars from being struck by lightning but also kind of different.

"Who are you looking at?" Melanie traced her sight and found the strange man. "Wow, he is hot!" Melanie giggled with interest but she's more amused of Ashnah's astonishment. Though Melanie is already on her thirty plus years, she really looked so young. She looks like in her mid twenties.

Ashah just nodded without putting much thought to what Melanie said. "Yeah."

"Are you so starstruck of this man?" Melanie asked with her eyes wide in surprise.

Ashnah's eyes finally went to her friends. "What in heaven are you saying?!"

"Girl, you just nodded when I said he is hot!" she chuckled.

"I did?!" she exclaimed the chuckled in disbelief.

The wind chimes tinkled again as a man with his head shaved entered the cafe. His eyes combed the area, and they stopped when he saw her. He smiled automatically when he found Ashnah. "Ashnah!"

"Uncle Rod," she greeted him. They hugged each other with smile on their faces.

"I didn't know you're with your friend," he said, beaming at her friend.

"We just met coincidentally." She introduced the two. "Meet one of my family members, Mel. He's Uncle Rodney, and he's a pastor. Uncle Rod,this is Melanie, one of the best friends I could ever have."

"Hi, Uncle Rod!" she greeted him.

"That's good, that's good," he nodded in agreement, pleased that Ashnah still have friends to call. "It's good that you still meet with your friends."

It may not looked like it but she was a loner before. Though most of the times, she's not that lonely when she's only with herself. Cause during those moments, she have the time to entertain her thoughts and ideas. It only gets harder when depression falls cause she overthinks during those times.

They took their seats as they exchanged details on how things are going so far.

"Oh, I almost forgot what I am here for," Uncle Rodney handed her a yellow-green ecobag. "It's from your Aunt."

"What's this?" she asked curiously. She took a peek from small opening.

"It's souvenir from Armenia. You may share it with your sister."

"Thanks a lot, uncle. Please also extend my thanks to Aunt Jenine," she smiled warmly.

"You're always welcome," he glanced around, probably to check if he can get them something. His eyes stopped on the counter as a familiar face greeted his sight. He stood up. "Wait, I think my friend is here." He went straight to counter.

He smiled widely and greeted the stranger that caught their eyes before. He's a close friend of her uncle according to how warm they greeted each other. They exchanged jokes together like it's been years since they saw each other.

"Hey, is that hot daddy an acquaintance of your uncle?" Melanie excitedly whispered.

Ashnah chuckled to her friend's statement. "Silly Melanie. Can you please oggling over the poor man?"

"I think he's far from being poor," Melanie winked.

She's probably right. Although he's in a weird fashion sense, the clothes he's wearing seemed to belong to famous brands. Except perhaps if those are high quality duplicates.

"Can you stop inspecting the man? He's probably on the same age with my uncle," Ashnah shook her head, but her amused smile is still on her lips.

"Come on. I rarely get to see a hot foreigner in our land. Look at those gray eyes and that tall prominent cheeks and nose."

Ashnah couldn't hold her laughter. "Girl, you're drooling. Please stop or I'll disown you."

"You're my friend though, not my mother," Melanie joined her in laughter.

Her uncle and the stranger went to their table. "This is my niece, Ashnah. And her friend Melanie." He shook their hands when greeting. Somehow, she saw something flickered in his eyes for a brief moment when Ashnah shook his hand. But it was very quick that she doubted if ever she truly saw it right. "Ashnah, he's my long time friend. He's your Uncle Arnold." Uncle Rodney continued.

Ashnah glanced at her friend. She's completely starstrucked. Though she tried to hide it, she knows better. She'd like to shake her head in amusement but satisfied herself with just biting her lips to stop herself from smiling.

"I'd like to stay but I have some other things to do. I've got an appointment sched in," Arnold take glance at his wristwatch, "about ten minutes. I just drop by to get a strong coffee to wake myself up." Disappointment laced on his eyes.

"It's a pity. I will just see you then around," Uncle Rodney mirrored his dismay.

"Sure thing. I would gladly accept your offer," he tapped Uncle Rodney's shoulder. "But today's not a good time." He sighed in regret. "Then, I'll leave you three to savor your orders. Ladies, Rod." He tipped his head slightly, gesturing his goodbye.

Uncle Rodney just nodded his head in understanding. Arnold went out of the cafe. Melanie just couldn't get her eyes off the man.

"Uncle Rod. How old is Uncle Arnold?" Ashnah asked.

"Don't tell me, you're interested in him?" his brows shot up in surprise.

"No, silly. I've got a startstucked friend here," she pointed at Melanie.

Melanie seemed to just got awaken from her wondering thoughts towards Arnold, "W-What are you saying, Ash! That's so embarrassing!" her cheeks flushed red.

"What? He's a lot older than you, kids. You'll look like his daughters," Uncle Rodney looked worried, like a parent should.

I chortled. "I'm almost thirty, uncle. And this friend of mine is on her mid thirties. She just don't look like it."

"What?!" he exclaimed, shock at what his niece said about Melanie. "Are you kidding me?"

"No heart attacks please. But that's the truth," she laughed at his uncles look. "So, is Uncle Arnold still single and available?"

Uncle Rodney sighed briefly. "I'll see to it. But don't keep your hopes up."

Yeah. That's a good advice. With Arnold's look, there's a big possibility that he is no longer single. Though probably not married. They have not seen any ring band on his ring finger.

***

"Meeting adjourned."

The faces of the council were grim with worry. Given what they have discussed, everyone was pressured to double time in their night hunting. Yeah, their night hunting is not the usal hunting for animals or whatever living creature. They hunt demons. Demons that were made monstrous from human emotions. Their organization--The Gifted--might be enlisted in many forms of establishments such as a charity foundation and business corporation. But this organization was mainly built to counter the dark creatures which caused numerous death to human race by infecting their souls to convict to death tendencies. They gather talents around the world which were given spiritual gifts. They trained them in order to send them to spiritual battle.

"Arnold," called Fina. She have the power to predict the future. "Can I talk to you in private?"

His brows knotted. Whenever Fina tried to talk to someone in private, it means something's going to happen. And most of the times, that's not going to be good. He nodded and followed her to the unused conference room.

She sighed. "Have a seat."

He took the seat opposite to her.

"To what do I owe this privey meeting?"

"You know it's no joke when I talk to someone privately," her eyes shot blades. "Someone new is going to come."

"Isn't that good? Though we always get a few for a year or two," his forehead knotted deeper in trying to comprehend what she's trying to get into.

"No, this one is different. She has a different ability and a different way of dealing with the demons."

"I still don't get why you need to be worried."

"She's someone you know. And she's someone you won't want to be in this organization. You're going to stop her from joining."

"I don't have any female family member currently." he thought hard. "Is she my grandma? Is that why I don't want her to join?"

"Silly. That's not it. She's way younger than your grandma, at least I can confirm that with the vision I had."

"That's the only thing that i can think of. Can you just shoot it off and get over it? We're not in some thriller movie."

"I'm not sure yet why you're going to oppose having her in our organization. But you're going to be her mentor. She's one of the best card we will ever have."

"Wait," Arnold chuckled. "I think your stress is building up, making fantastic dreams for you. I've been there." He stood, up gathering his coat, and prepared to leave.

"I don't do normal dreams, Arnold, and you know it," she said through gritted teeth, insulted of Arnold's remark.

"There's always a first, Fina. You know I'm no mentor and you know I have no connections with any breathing female except for my grandma. Those are already clues that you're starting to have normal dreams due to stress."

She was about to say something but he cut her off. "Given that we are in this kind of generation were people don't communicate well and any depressing stuff could be gotten online, it's possible for demons to grow in numbers." He concluded. He took her warning without much thought of it being true. 'She should try relaxing and not let her job gobble her up.' He thought to himself. "I'll try to come up with something in next meeting." He turned his back on her and went out.

"I hope you are right, Arnold, but I highly doubt that."