Krystal gazed thoughtfully out of the dining room window as the last few rays of sunlight filtered across the sky. The town wasn't so bad really. Sure the people were a bit weird but at least here she could devote her full attention to the novel. Krystal's mind drifted for several more minutes before being interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in, it's open!" Krystal called out.

There was only more knocking in response.

"I said it's open!"

As the knocking continued Krystal made her way to the front door while muttering something about "redneck hicks" under her breath. Upon opening the door, a small figure lunged at her legs and quickly took hold.

"Hey let go! I…"

Krystal stopped in mid sentence as the figure looked up at her. Now hugging her legs was a young girl, about 9 or 10 years old at the most. The child's short blond hair was tasseled and full of knots. Her skin was covered with small cuts and bruises, most likely from running though the woods. As Krystal closed the door the girl finally looked up at her with a set of red rimmed eyes.

"What's your name?" Krystal asked.

"Cheryl" The child replied weakly.

"Why are you way out here?" She said. "You're a long way from town."

"I…I can't…"

Suddenly she pushed herself away from Krystal and sunk to her knees. The child began to cry out in desperation filled voice while clutching at her head.

"Leave me alone!" Cheryl yelled. "Stop it! I…"

The young girl fell silent and slumped to the floor. Krystal rushed to her side and quickly took the child into her arms.

"Please, don't hurt me." Cheryl whimpered.

Krystal carefully set the young girl down on a nearby sofa. Covering her body with an old blanket that had hung over the side, Krystal tried to comfort the child as best as she could. It was at that moment that Krystal felt her fingers touch something cold on the back of Cheryl's neck. Bending her neck forward, Krystal gasped when she saw the object imbedded at the base of the child skull.

The object was no bigger than a dime and looked as though someone had cut a marble in half. The color was a deep yet translucent blue, which sparkled ever so often. Branching out from there was a hair thin strand of the same material the encompassed Cheryl's entire neck, much like a collar.

"What on earth?"

"A gift." Cheryl said in an overly calm voice.

Krystal moved back a bit as Cheryl sat up. The color had returned to her once horribly ashen face. Cheryl managed a brief smile before speaking.

"Your follies compound one atop another. Trapping yourselves in a perpetual living hell of your own making. Mankind's era of self-rule is at an end. Once you have been reborn through us is when you will know true peace."

"That doesn't make and sense." Krystal said in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Don't worry child. You will soon." Cheryl replied.

As Cheryl pushed the blanket aside and stood up, Krystal began to move away from her. Looking to the door, she thought about trying to run away. Suddenly her entire body tingled for a few moments and she couldn't help turning back towards the little girl.

"Run to where, Krystal?" Cheryl said. "To a world where compassion and kindness are viewed as nothing more than weaknesses? A world consumed with hate and ignorance? No, you belong here now…with me."

"Leave Cheryl alone!" Krystal nearly yelled. "She's just a child!"

"You think I want to hurt her?" Cheryl replied. "I just need to borrow her and the others like her for a while."

"Others?"

"Others like her…and you." Cheryl replied. "The kind, the innocent. Once I've rid this world of the hateful and cruel, people like you will be able to live as you should. Soon your soul will be intertwined with my own, you'll never be alone or frightened again."

Krystal felt her back bump into the wall. Cheryl seemed to sense the urgency in her actions. Lifting her hand, the little girl offered her palm to Krystal.

"Take my hand, Krystal." Cheryl said in a calming voice. "Take it and I can show you things you could never even begin to imagine."

"No, I can't" Krystal stuttered fearfully.

Krystal didn't have many options and she knew it. The pistol was in a cabinet at the other end of the room. Even if she reached she wasn't sure she could bring herself to shoot a child. The Front door was nearby but it was pitch black out side and running around in the dark didn't sound like a very good idea at the moment.

Suddenly the sound of footsteps came from outside. Cheryl turned and looked at the door for a moment and then back at Krystal.

"Please, make this easy on yourself." Cheryl said. "It's only a matter of time anyway. You can't escape your fate now…only accept it."