Frank and I slowly made our way back to the entrance of the colliseum. I think I could safely say that we were both glad there were no more demons left to attack us. I noticed Frank looking back over his shoulder.

I think he's looking for you.

"Let him look."

I turned and looked at Frank. "What are you thinking about, Frank?" I leaned closer to him, cocking my head to the side and studied his facial expression.

"Nothing, really." He replied. I didn't say anything but instead turned my attention forward again as we made our way to the entrance of the colliseum. After a while I we gained sight of the exit.

"Finally. We can get out of here." I heard Frank say quietly. I looked over at him, a smile on my face. I was really glad to finally be leaving this stupid nightmare behind. Suddenly a thought hit me.

"What's going to happen to you?" My ears drooped and I asked him. I didn't want to think that he would suddenly be leaving, not after all of this. My tail stopped swishing back and forth as he turned to me.

"I.. I really don't know, Kate. I need some time to think about these things... Lunarvale... Windia... I'm... not sure..." He sounded tired, and there was something wrong with his voice.

It sounds like he's in pain...

"What do you want me to do about it?"

Stop acting so mean. I turned my attention back to Frank.

"You okay?"

"Somewhat. My body hurts... I'm exhausted. But I'll live."

We exited the colliseum and entered a clear, moonlit Windian night. A movement off to the right caught my eye as we were about to leave. I turned and saw the form of a guard standing. I tugged on Frank's arm. "Frank... remember that guard in the colliseum? She asked us to talk to the other guard out here. And..." Frank cut me off.

"I'm on it." He whistled loudly to get the guard's attention. I saw the guard rush over to meet us.

"What happened to you two? You look like you've been fighting..."

"Please." Frank started. "Don't remind us. That's the last thing we need more of." The guard looked at us with a curiosity.

"What happened in there? There was a flash of light in the doorway, then..."

"Nathaniel Redwing... over ran the place with monsteres. They nearly killed us..." I started to say quietly.

"But we made it. Turns out Redwing himself was a demon. here. Maria can vouch for us." Frank finished up my sentence and pulled out Maria's ID from his pants pocket. He handed it to the guard.

"Maria! Is she safe???" The guard asked as he took the ID. "What about Redwing? I heard of what he's done but we couldn't gather enough evidence..."

"Then what are you good for?!" I heard Tellka's shout in my mind.

Calm down...

"He's dead. He morphed into his true form, and tried to kill us. You'll find all the evidence you'll need in his private room, and the secret room behind it." Frank explained.

"I'd better go check on Maria. She was looking for a girl named Kate when..." The guard stopped talking.

"Kate's with me. Don't worry. I'm taking her home." The guard nodded, then ran into the colliseum to look for his partner. Frank and I began to walk off.

I shivered a little from the cold night air. My fur pricked up again and I ran my hands over my arms. My tail twitched uneasily and my feet felt sore from the boots. I just wanted to go home, curl up in my warm bed with my warm cat and sleep. Frank must have noticed my shivering because I felt him put is jacket around me. I looked up at him.

"What about you? Won't you get cold?"

Frank shook his head. "Nah... I'm used to cold places. I'll be fine. Besides, you need it more then I do at the moment."

I smiled. "Thank you, Frank... Thanks." I leaned my head against his shoulder.

"Anytime. Now let's get going. The sooner we reach your house, the less that Carrie is going to be worried about you." Frank put an arm around me and we started walking.

I had to direct him through the Windian streets. There weren't many people out, save for a few who were out on walks. Every so often I would glance up at the stars or the moon for just a moment, but as soon as we got to a turn in the road I had to look back down to remember which way to go. I glanced over at Frank. He seemed to be staring at something. I looked over to see a small park I had never noticed before.

"Frank? You OK?" I asked him.

"Yeah... I've just got a lot on my mind." He explained.

I smiled, then remembered something. "Here. You lost this back in the colliseum." I handed him the shotgun.

"Thanks. I'll load it later." Frank took the gun from me and slung it on his back. The both of us continued walking until we finally reached my house. Frank and I looked at eachother. He seemed a little hesitant. I nodded lightly to him. He replied with a nod of his own, then knocked on the door.

The door opened.

"Yes... What can... Kate!!!!" Carrie looked at me with wide eyes.

"Ms. Harlow..." Frank started. Carrie turned and looked at him. "I brought Kate back, safe and sound."

Carrie was speechless. She just stared at Frank with her mouth hanging open. Suddenly it hit me. I've been missing for a long time now, guards have gone to look for me, and suddenly, in the middle of the night, I come trotting up to the door with a strange man, wearing a strange uniform, and carrying a strange weapon. I began to hope she wouldn't keel over from a heart attack right then and there. My ears drooped. "Carrie?" I asked quietly. She turned and looked at me. Suddenly I felt scared, relieved, alone, and found all at the same time. I wasn't sure what to do, but I know what I did. I ran up to Carrie, threw my arms around her, and started crying. It took her a moment to react but I felt her put her arms around me and whispering quietly.

"Shh.. calm down, it's okay. Kate.. calm down." She pulled me into the house, I could hear Frank following.

I sniffed quietly as we entered the kitchen, doing my best to will my tears to stop. Carrie had motioned for Frank to take a seat at the kitchen table.

"I need to go upstairs for a moment." I told Carrie quietly. She nodded and I ran upstairs. I entered my bedroom and looked around. I don't know why, I just did. I wanted to make sure everything was okay. It just began to sink in to me that a few hours ago, I might have never had the chance to see this place again. I sat on my bed for a moment and stared out the window. After a few minutes, I brushed my hair out of my face, kicked off my boots and headed back downstairs.

I walked into the kitched quietly. Carrie and Frank were talking, but they stopped as soon as I entered. Carrie turned and watched my come in. I kept my head low.

"Kate... sit down." I sat. "Frank was just telling me what happened." Carrie glanced at Frank and then back at me. "Kate.. are you okay?" She reached out a put an arm on my shoulder. I nodded my head lightly. In truth I wasn't. My head hurt, my legs hurt, my side hurt. I just hurt. I wanted to lay down and forget all of this. I looked up at Carrie and she gave me a studying look.

"Are you sure?" She asked again. I nodded. She sighed. "I'm going to make you all some food." She got up from the table and walked over to the pantry. I stood up after her.

"I'll get the dishes..." I stumbled out of my seat and headed towards the cupboards. It was then that I felt the pain shooting through my side with each step. I staggered a bit but did my best to ignore the feeling. After all, I had just put up with a day full of pain. Why couldn't I do it again now?

e-mail author, talonr@hotmail.com