She ran and ran from something she could not see. It was a swift shadow, and it was always a few paces behind her. Her heart raced, and she tried to run faster, but she was running out of breath. She wanted to run into someone, soon, and feel safe again. She found no one, no matter how she screamed. The streets were empty. She was alone, except for the shadow creature who relentlessly pursued her.

The doctor stood over the young girl, her parents on the other side.
“I’m afraid we won’t know if she’ll come out of her coma for the next few days. As of yet, her pulse is abnormally quick. We’re not sure how it can be so fast, with her so inactive. We’ll let you know if anything comes up. I’ll leave you now.”

She was running blindly, not knowing how long she’s been going on like this. It’s felt like years and years, but she can’t be sure. She smacked into something, and fell to the ground.
“Are you alright?” A masculine voice asks her, and a tall man helps her up.
“I-I’m being chased...” She says.
“I know, Selene.” He says. “It’s alright now.” He draws her close to him.
“How do you know my name?” She asks.
“I’m your Guardian Angel,” he tells her, “Zruhah.”
“Zruhah?” She asks, and blinks.
“Yes.” He replies. “But you can call me Zru.”
“Zru.” She can taste the goodness as she says the name out loud. It makes her think of rainbows, and blue skies after a summer rain. She feels safe. “But you don’t have wings...”
“Would you like me to?” He asks, his hair is long, and brown, and he’s go a pair of jeans, a tank top, and a long leather trench coat on. His eyes are grey-green.
“Can you show me?” She asks. He nods, and she scarcely had time to blink, he now has large, gray falcons wings, like nothing she’d ever imagined for an Angel to have. They are beautiful, and she says so.
“Thank you.” He says, and takes her hand. “Come, walk with me.”
He leads her to the right, where a large expanse of beach seems to have materialized while they’d been talking. She looks behind her, but the city is gone.
“Don’t look so confused.” Zruhah tells her. “I’m an Angel, remember?” He laughs, and it’s a sweet, honey-like laughter, in a deep velvet voice that makes her think of lilac and purple.
“Of course...” She smiles. She thinks she loves Zruhah, and what he represents to her.
“Selene, I wish I didn’t have to tell you the news the Gods have given me for you...” He looks sad.
“News? She asks. She’s still confused. “Gods?”
“There is more than one...” He laughs again.
“What is the news?” She asks. His smile fades again.
“Our time grows short.” He says. “So I’ll make this quick.”

The doctor comes in again. Her father stands up.
“I’m sorry... It’s amazing she was still breathing when we found her. The x-rays show broken collar, broken back, and irreparable brain damage. We’ll need you to sign the form to pull the plug on her life support.” He sighs, and shakes his head. “She’ll die, either way. Pulling the plug will end her life with less suffering. It’s up to you.

Zruhah explains the car crash Selene was in, and that her current state was a dream. He also explains that the creature chasing her had been a real monster named Zacic.
“What does he want with me?” She asks, at this point.
“Your pure soul.” He tells her. “Because you’re still a child.”
“But I look like an adult..!” She says.
“This is a dream, remember?” He replies, and touches his finger between her eyes. “This is a temporary dream form. You’re actually twelve years old.”
“Twelve?” She asks, confused.
“Yes, and that is why he wants you.” Zruhah replies. “Your soul is young, still pure. He needs it for a spell. We can’t let him win.” Zruhah sighs, and his eyes look glossy. “You’ll die, either way, but if you let him get to you mentally, you’ll never be reincarnated.”
“Oh, give it up, Zru.” A voice from behind him. Zruhah turns, and a taller man with short black hair, in a white robe, smiles happily.
“Zacic...” He says.
“Zas...” Selene blinks. Their clothes are reversed, her angel wearing black, and the demon, white.
“She’s already got a nick name? How sweet!” Zacic’s green-black eyes glint, and he’s looking like a good guy.
“Selene, don’t let him trick you!” Zruhah says, calmly. “He wears the skin of a sheep, but he’s really a wolf.”
“Am I?” Zacic asks, and Selene can’t seem to decide. “Are you sure I’m not really a bunny rabbit?” He begins to hop around, and Selene giggles.
“The truth hurts.” Zruhah says, and Zacic blinks. “So it is also ugly.”
“But,” Zacic counters, “the truth can also be beautiful.”
“Yes, it can.” Zruhah replies. “But you are not the truth this time.
“Selene, don’t let him in. He’s going to ruin your eternal soul.”

The doctor comes into the room, and sighs. He’s going to pull the plug, but the parents ask for a few more minutes.

“Child, you’ve not much time to make your choice.” Zacic says. “Who do you trust?”
She bites her lip. Zacic is charming, but she’d been wrong before. Zruhah was kind, sympathetic, protective... He made her feel safe. Zacic had a familiar feeling to the shadow, but she wasn’t actually scared.
“Selene, he is the creature who chased you.” Zruhah said. “When I showed up, his plans changed. He’s still going to hurt you when he gets you. Urd has brought us here, Verdandi keeps us going, and hopefully Skuld will have you make the right decision.”

The doctor wraps his hand around the cord, and pulls it from the wall.

Selene takes Zruhah’s hand, and kisses his cheek. She falls limp in his arms.
“You lost.” Zruhah says. “Go home.”
Zacic becomes a wolf, and trots off.
I’ll win next time, he growls. Then he’s gone.

Her mother puts a pink rose on the casket, and it’s lowered into the grave.
“Goodbye, Selene.”