3 Friend Or Foe?

Hope had gone out, after her father had returned. She was headed to an art and crafts store. The downside was it was a dangerous route, but at least she knew how t be sneaky. She'd learned some techniques from her father about sneaking around undetected.

She shoved her hand into the pockets of her army like pants, the ones that had multiple pockets on them, while her left hand gripped the arm, of her backup for support. Her hair was up in buns, her hair looked like she had Minnie Mouse ears. She had a respirator mask on so the polluted air wouldn't make her sick. The air was filled with the small stench of sulfur and smoke.

She patted her pockets. She let out a sigh of relief when she felt she hadn't forgotten about her inhaler. She continued her walk to Anthony street, and onto the intersection. The store was about ten minutes away now. she gripped onto her beating stick with a tight yet calm grip. She never let her guard down.

Five minutes had passed, and she walked into the parking lot of her destination. Abandoned cars littered the parking lot along with loose papers, bags, and news paper articles. A few cars around her were on fire, but had already blown up. A while back, when everything had first started.

She walked into "Carol's Crafting Store", with a small smile. She moved the large plywood piece she had set up, against the shattered door. She didn't like breaking in, and she always prayed for forgiveness as she walked in. It was dimly lit inside, but she was still able to see.

Hope walked down isles, of random arts and crafts. She grabbed simple things, such as brand name painting sets, that included small and medium sized canvases, paint brushes, a few small acrylic paint tubes, and a paint holder. She also grabbed extra smallish medium like canvases into her back pack.

Hope filled her bag full of things she knew she would need. Art was her form of escape. Plus, at a young age, Hope and her mother would paint together, while her mother was still undergoing chemo, it was a way to feel closer and Hope felt like her mom was still there watching her as she had done like always before her mother's passing.

She then grabbed knitting and crochet supplies. She even stocked up on sewing supplies and materials, such as cloths. Soon enough, her bag was full. She struggled to get the bag closed, but she managed to though the seam. Her backpack looked as though it could burst open any minute, and spill the condiments inside.

Before Hope could throw her bag over her shoulder, a sound of breaking glass filled the store. She froze and listened for a moment. A group of people could be heard laughing, but something was off. The voices were to deep for any human to have. Her skin soon had goosebumps popping up, as the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

She soon felt uneasy. An anxiety attack seemed to approach, out of nowhere. She began to try and regulate her breathing. The voices went softer, and Hope knew they knew someone else was here.

Hope quietly rushed off to hide finding a small desk to hide under. The voices got louder, indicating they had sensed she was there. She hunched over, making herself as small as possible, to remain hidden. By the time she had hid, the footsteps had approached a few feet away, from the desk she hid under.

She looked around seeing a nearby mirror that was angled perfectly, so she could see the "people". One person was tall and slender. He had black hair..and what seemed like red glowing eyes. A female growled as she looked around desperately, "Atticus where is the poor unfortunate soul! I'm starving."

A small cooing giggle left the blonde haired female's lips. Her eyes were pitch black with red skits for her eyes that resembled a snake. Atticus has turned and snarled backing handing the girl, with so much force. She slid a few feet away from Hope's hiding place. Atticus spoke up, "Lilith shut up. For fucks sakes, you have no problem shutting your fucking legs when Adam comes around."

The other male who gave a stern glare growled rolling his eyes, "hey lee your ducking mouth shut Atticus. I would fuck her if our father Lucifer demanded it. Who knows what the whore has caught." Lilith growled and zoomed over to Adam, "oh shut. You and eve had no problem fucking around what's so different about me?" Adam scoffed, "the simple fact that I have standards. We all may be demons, but I'm not that low unlike you. Besides, you may be named after mother, but I'm not going to fuck and eat everything I see."

Hope remained perfectly silent. 'So they are possessed..I felt that much but...' before she could finish her thought her inhaler had fallen out of her pocket thudding to the floor. Everything went silent, as she held her breath. Her eyes widened, as she remained still. She had her eyes glued to the mirror.

Atticus whipped his head around, as he stared towards Hope's direction. She could see black thin veins spread out under his eyes as his skin grey a pale color. It looked almost as if the skin had scorch marks, and bruises all over. The same went with the others. They all stalked towards the desk.

Hope braved her self as she put her backpack on. She grabbed her inhaler shoving it back into her pocket. She then rushed off, running towards the exit. Adam pointed to Hope, "Atticus she's running!" Atticus growled and snarled grabbing Adam by his shirt collar, "don't just stand there go get her I'll be behind you both!" Lilith and Adam took off after Hope catching up to the fleeing girl with ease. Hope made the mistake by looking back.

As Hope looked back, Adam snatched her up by her hair rather roughly. He smirked slamming her into the wall a few feet away from them. Hope let out a strangled cry of pain fall past her lips. She fell to the ground. She extended out her arms, as she fell, to at least try and comfort her fall. Hope grunted, and moaned out in pain. She forced herself to sit up as best as possible, but she slumped over her back hurt like hell.

Lilith rushed over pouncing onto the female ,as she bit into Hope, where her neck and shoulder met. Hope screamed out in poor pain. Razor like teeth tore into Hope with ease. Hope struggled and tried to fight back. It was no use. No matter how hard she kicked and punched; it didn't seem to phase the demon above her. Adam glared at Lilith, "you lack so much self control your impulses are truly showing." He rolled his eyes.

Atticus approaches seeming calm, for a moment. With a flick of his wrist, Atticus sent Lilith flying off of Hope. Lilith flew backwards but seemed to steady herself, and not fall to her back. She didn't dare say anything.

Atticus was the leader in the group. In the blink of an eye, Atticus stood looming over Hope for a mere minute. He then reached down and gripped her throat lifting her with ease. Hope cried out and choked gasping for air. She gripped onto Atticus' wrist, of the hand that held her throat, as she dug her nails onto the skin. She kicked her feet thrashing around.

Atticus laughed tauntingly at Hope's failed attempt to get free, "man, It's pathetic really! Took the fucker upstairs long enough to realize his 'beautiful creations' were doomed from the start. It's a shame. Your pretty cute and you've matured better than most older women." Hope began to almost lose consciousness. Before she could pass out Atticus tosses her to the floor rolling his eyes. Adam and Lilith stood side by side watching with hungry eyes.

As Hope hit the ground, she wheezed and gasped for air. Her throat burned as oxygen was allowed to enter again. She coughed and gripped her throat loosely. Hope looked up to Atticus with slightly wide eyes, "wha-what do you want? My soul or something?" Atticus laughed darkly and tsked, "yes but more than that. You see we already have a meat suit so we just want something to eat. And you my dear look appetizing." He cooed.

He got into Hope's face and licked up her cheek. She winced and pulled away from him some. Atticus scowled. He didn't like that she pulled away from him. He reached for her grabbing and pulling her into his chest by her waist, as she squirmed about. Atticus smirked and grabbed Hope's hair tightly, by the roots pulling her head back, as he bit into the already existing bite mark Lilith made.

Hope let out a scream of pain. She she gasped, and squeeze her eyes shut. She fought back as hard as she could but everything was going black. Everything moved in slow motion. Before she knew it, there was yelling and the lights flickered on and off repeatedly.

Her vision grew blurry. It looked as if a group out people were running towards her and Atticus. It looked like there were three priests who held the crucifix and a bible. They preached as they did their best to ward off the demons. Hope, with strength she had left preached with them knowing what verses they were preaching.

Soon enough she felt lightweight and she fell to the ground. A few people ran towards her as the priests continued with their battle. Atticus and his group was screaming and hollering in pain. Hope blinked a couple times as she stared up at a female, who was around her forties, cradled her applying pressure to Hope's wound, "alright sweetheart, I need you to stay with us ok? Can you do that?" The older lady asked. Hope managed to speak out a small, "n-no m-my vision it's blurry and..I'm so weak.." And just like that, everything went black...