The first thing Serenia did when she left the building was look for a new job. She didn't know how she was going to be able to do a part time job, got to school, and find a place, but she figured that she should do one thing at a time.
She went inside of the little cafe, where a kind waiter waited to seat her. "Um...actually, I was wondering if I could speak to a manager?" Serenia gulped her nervousness down. She needed this job, which meant that she needed to be bold.
The waiter did not take long to come back with the manager. The manager's name tag read, "Ken M." He was bald. He had green eyes and was dressed in a nice suit.
He was nice enough, but he looked to be in a bit of a hurry. He looked at Serenia with curious eyes, probably thinking her to be a complaining customer, "How may I help you?"
"I was wondering if you were hiring?" Serenia stood up and looked the man in the eyes, even though they didn't hold contact for very long.
He looked at the waiter, "Uh, yes, I do believe we are. Renoldo, will you please give this young lady an application?" he turned towards Serenia, "When you are done filling it out, please come back to see me, and we'll see about scheduling you for an interview." with that, he left.

Paul could see the disappointment in Serenia's eyes. He was giving up the fight. Maybe he would get out on good behavior before Serenia grew up.
"What am I talking about?" Paul asked himself. Serenia was already grown up. She was too young to go through this, though.
Paul pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It had his ex wife's address on it that he was able to access via the internet.
He normally wouldn't do this-after all, he would probably never see Serenia again, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He took out his pen and paper and started writing...

James waited impatiently for Serenia to show up, but she never did. James' imagination was starting to catch up with him, and he was wondering if his dad had caught up to her. That's impossible, he told himself as he walked down the staircase for the millionth time to see his dad asleep on the couch.
But where was she? James began to pace back and forth in his room. Should he go out looking for her? But if he did, his dad might wake up and notice that he's not here. That would cause problems for both of them. There was nothing to do but wait...

Paul tried to put it in good light and made a joke about it, but all Serenia could see was the pain behind his eyes.
The jail was dull, and Paul didn't have anything to remind him of his daughter. Serenia looked around, feeling selfish for thinking only of herself during these hard times. She had to get her dad out. He was innocent, but no one saw him that way. Instead, they took away her only source of protection. Serenia nearly laughed and cried at the same time because of the irony.
She looked at the guards, and then at her dad, who was somehow able to smile despite his circumstances. He had always been the optimist of the family. "Don't worry about me, Serenia. I'll be fine. How is your home life?"
Serenia didn't have the heart to tell him that she didn't have much of a 'home life,' so she lied and said, "It's great. Child services put me in a good family."
Paul narrowed his eyes as he studied his daughter, "You've lost some weight."
Serenia lightly laughed, "You're one to talk."
Paul looked at her, "Do not lie to me...You, by the way, are a terrible liar."
Serenia nodded, "I will be okay, daddy," tears came to her eyes, "I will get you out of here, I promise."
Paul looked at her sadly, "Right now, that's not possible, but it sounds like you need me."
"Of course I need you. You're my father!" she yelled, maybe too loud.
Paul slowly nodded, "I know."
The bell rang, and a guard came in, yelling that visitation time was over.
Serenia wanted to stay and talk longer, but she stood up and grabbed her backpack as her father said that he loved her.
"I love you, too, daddy." she walked out of the building and looked at the jail from outside the fence. It looked like a zoo with a bunch of caged animals. Unfortunately, her dad ended up being one of them....

Serenia sat on the street curb. She was not going to go back to James' house. It was way too dangerous, but she didn't know where to go.
She slowly stood up and started walking towards the jail. Maybe seeing her dad will give her some hope.
However, when she finally got there, she saw that her dad had lost a lot of weight. He was pale, and he had a black eye. She was in shock, "Dad, what happened to you?"

James sighed, thinking about the connection between him and Serenia. He couldn't figure out how they received this connection, but he guessed that it was possible.
While he thought about this, he also thought about the fact that Serenia didn't know everything about his father.
James' dad wore a mask, because he almost didn't have a face. There were so many scars on his face, his dad would never be able to be looked upon as a normal human being.
James had only seen his dad's face once. His dad had turned around and had become so angry, James avoided his dad as much as possible ever since. It didn't always work, but it was better than getting in his dad's way all the time.
James hoped that Serenia would be smart enough to stay out of his dad's way, too, because the price might be too high if she doesn't....

Serenia didn't say anything, only nodded. She quickly hid in the closet and hurriedly dressed. They both snuck out the window and ran to the school.
Neither one of them could pay attention in their classes, but they tried to anyway. Serenia kept staring at the board with confusing Math problems. The teacher had just called on her, and she flushed as she admitted that she did not know the answer.
Ms. kawalski looked at her and scolded her. Some of the kids snickered, but Serenia barely heard them.
After the bell rang, Ms. Kawalski called her name, "I need to talk to you."
Serenia sighed as she looked at her, "What about?"
Ms. Kawalski did not talk right away, but looked at her, "Your grades are slacking. I think you should probably see a counselor."
"You think I should see a counselor?" Serenia raised her eyebrows, "Uh...no, thanks."
The teacher looked at her, "I don't think you have a choice. Your grades were just fine...until now. There's a reason for that," she sighed as he fold her hands on the desk, "I know about your father, Serenia."
Tears came to her eyes, but Serenia shrugged her shoulders, "I'm sure everyone knows. It's a small town."
Ms. Kiwalski slowly nodded her head and seemed to be thinking to herself. Finally, she said, "You may go, Serenia."
Serenia didn't hesitate on exiting the classroom...

Serenia woke up in a sweat, and James woke up with a yell.
"Sh!" Serenia said harshly.
James was sweating also, "I'm sorry...I had a dream...a nightmare..."
"I know, I had it, too," Serenia said, "Where were we?"
"We were in...my house." Serenia could tell by his voice that he was still in shock.
Serenia looked at him. She could not see him, because it was dark, but she could see his silhouette, "The hall, it's your house?"
James nodded, "Yes."
Serenia sighed through her teeth, "Your father, he's crazy! He's possessed!"
James didn't agree or deny it. He seemed to be just staring ahead as if expecting his father to appear any minute.
Serenia laid back down. She knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep, but she could plan.
She didn't want to die, but it seemed like this town was full of crazy people who wanted to kill her. Maybe she should run away? Serenia refused to run away. Her father was here, and he needed her.
It was finally time to wake up and go to school. Serenia groaned, wanting to hide from the world, but knowing that it wouldn't do any good.
Serenia slowly got out of bed. James also groaned as he sat up and turned off his alarm.
James looked at her, "We need to leave before my dad wakes up from his drunken stupor."

The hallway was dark. She slowly walked, her mind in a daze. She couldn't feel anything. She couldn't feel fear, the stress, nothing.
James came out of a room on the side of the hallway. He walked next to Serenia, but neither one of them talked.
There was a dark force facing them, but it wasn't human. It was a demonic winged figure, growling and snarling as it started running towards them...

Serenia sighed in frustration, "Never mind. We will think about that later."
James looked at her, "I'm sorry. All I could think about was how soon you were going to die if you stayed with my aunt."
Serenia nodded, "I'm sorry. I am truly grateful to you, but-"
"But you've been through a lot, and I understand. We are going to get through this, I promise."
Serenia slowly nodded her head, not quite believing him. She didn't want to address all the new issues they were now facing. She didn't think it made matters any easier. She was too tired.
She looked around the tiny room again. It seemed too small to even sleep on the floor, and it was obvious that the bed was made for only one person.
James noticed her looking at the bed, "Um...I can sleep on the floor." he offered.
Serenia looked up at him. It seemed to her that he was embarrassed about the tiny room, but that wasn't what was bothering her. There was no place to hide, no place to run to. It was riskier than at Janette's house.
She sat on the bed. She laid down and slowly closed her eyes. She could hear James moving around the bed to sleep on the floor before she drifted off...

Serenia sighed in frustration, realizing how ironic it was that she was about to do something she had just said she wouldn't do.
She found a groove in the tree and started climbing. Once or twice, she heard a branch snap and nearly squealed, but she didn't fall.
Once at the top, she handed her bag to James and then hopped from the tree to the roof and swung herself into his room. "I am never doing that again." Serenia said breathlessly, still shaking from looking how far she had climbed.
"Never say never," James lightly laughed, "We need to be quiet, though, because my dad can't find you here."
Serenia nodded as she looked at his room. It was small and dimly lit. There was one poser of batman on a wall and a small closet with a few pieces of clothing. Serenia put her bag on the floor of the closet and lightly sighed.
She had so many questions, but she didn't know if James knew the answers, "How am I going to hide?"
"We are going to have to play it by ear." he said simply. Serenia nodded, not pointing out the fact that that was not very comforting.
She sat on the bed and looked at James, "What if he beats you? I get thrown against walls when that happens."
James cursed under his breath and ran his hands through his hair, "Um....I didn't think about that..."

"You are my friend, too," Serenia said quietly, "But don't forget, it's his dad who's trying to kill me."
"That's the point," Josh said adamantly, "He would never expect you to enter the lion's den."
"I don't know...That sounds dangerous." Serenia said hesitantly.
"It's more dangerous here." he countered.
Serenia had to agree with the logic, but she honestly didn't think it would take anyone long to find her, because she wasn't about to skip anymore school. Her father would be so disappointed in her.
Finally, she agreed that it would be better for her to go. She told him to go upstairs and call James. She would get ready,a nd he was to meet her at the door to her room once the plan was finalized.
Serenia slowly packed her belongings, and she did not have to wait long before Josh met her at the door to the basement. "Come on, let's go," he said, "James is waiting for you."
Serenia's heart started beating faster as Josh pushed her out of the house. The night was dark with no moon or stars. Serenia was cold and clutched her sweater tighter as she walked down several streets.
She finally reached James' house. "Serenia!" she heard a voice whisper harshly. She saw James at the window of the second story. He expected Serenia to climb the tree that was next to his window. She shook her head vigorously, signaling that that was not going to happen.
James looked behind him as if he was afraid that his dad would come into his room, and then signaled that she needed to hurry.