Keith waited patiently backstage for the concert to end. It was loud, active, and the cheers deafening to him, but still he stood waiting. Elena had a sold-out crowd listening to her every word and not because of magic this time. No, the allure of seeing a real live Alux on her native size was a big factor. In the time since being outed, Elena had worked hard to establish herself as a legitimate singer. A legitimate singer that ate people, but nobody knew that except a few. Her kind ate shrunken humans to gain magic power. On their own they could use magic, but it was weak at best. Size changing was most of what they could do. This led Keith to a real dilemma. One that he'd been thinking on the entire flight to Mexico City and then the ride to Monterrey.  He needed the power of an Alux but that would pertain to sacrificing humans. Could he ask her to do that? Something she swore off? Even rationalizing eating only "bad" humans was a slippery slope. Her last song ended and the people roared. Keith watched as an assistant carried her in her hand offstage. She was placed on a table and she slipped off her left heeled sandal. "Madre de dios..." she said rubbing her aching foot.

"Being a diva is hard work it seems" Keith said startling her. "Keith!" she said running to the edge of the table. Keith picked her up and hugged her to his cheek. "Was wondering if you would remember me" he said. "How could I forget you and your friends? Wait...please don't tell me someone is gunning for my life again" she said. "No. No assassins this time. You've been staying busy" he said looking around. "It's hard. Losing my sister was a big blow to me. Not just my career but personally. I kinda threw myself into work to keep my mind off stuff" she said. Keith put her back down. "I know the feeling. How's your magic?" he asked. "Nowhere near as strong anymore. I can still change size and keep if for a few hours but that's about it" she replied. Keith frowned. "Why don't we grab dinner at my hotel and we can catch up?" she said. "Sounds good. The flight was pretty long" he replied. Her assistants were clearly concerned with him, but Elena swore he was a good friend and was to be left alone. He was able to sneak her out by putting her in his pocket. Good thing as paparazzi was even at the back door.

Keith waited patiently sitting on a bed as she changed. "So how is...Aspen, Claire, and that boy Ritchie?" she asked. "Aspen and Claire got married. Ritchie did too" Keith chuckled. "Really? Much can happen in a few short months I guess" she said slipping out her costume. "You have no idea" he muttered. Elena emerged human size finely dressed. "Ready to go?" she asked smiling. She took him by the arm and led him down to the lobby. Keith had forgot how pretty she was. Her black hair was curly at the ends. Her bra barely contained her tits. Her red dress matched her toenails. "Hehe...you can look" she said seeing him glancing. He expected her to take him to a fancy restaurant but not quite. It was a plain place but the food smelled good. People were surprised to see such a nicely dressed girl there and more than a few men took exceptional notice. "Is this alright?" she asked sitting down at a table.

"Looks okay to me. I figured you'd have a more...selective taste" he said. She waved her hand. "I grew up in the village. This is royalty compared to that. Besides, it's not the first time I've been here. The cooking reminds me of home" she said. "Then what should I get?" he asked. She pointed out a few dishes. "Señor. Dos Equis por favor" she said to a passing waiter. He returned with two bottles of beer. Elena downed her's in seconds and asked for another. "Okay then" Keith said sipping his. "So tell me what else you've seen. You were on some documentary quest weren't you?" she asked. "Yeah we were. We finished as we for what we wanted back in the states" he replied. "So...what else?" she asked. "Got involved in fighting an ancient evil hellbent on culling the human race and conquering the world" he replied sipping his beer once more. Elena laughed at him but saw he was not smiling. "You can't be serious" she said. "I didn’t come to see you on a social call. I...we need help" he said. Their food arrived. "Guess you should give me the low down" she said as she began to eat. An hour later after they were both done, Elena sat speechless.

"You want me to fight that? My people fight that?" she asked. "I know what I'm asking" he said. "No you do not!" she yelled slapping down money and leaving. Keith chased after her. "Elena I wouldn't ask if it wasn't this fucking bad" he said. She rounded a corner. Keith grabbed her by the arm. "Elena...we're talking over 6 billion people here. There was about 20 people in that restaurant. Only two are going to see Christmas" he said. "Keith...to even be any use to you I'd have to eat people. I hated it. Hated it when I did it. It haunts me every day. You have no clue what it feels like to eat someone" she said. "Thrilling, powerful, shame" he muttered. She saw sadness in his eyes. "I know" he said. He walked her back to her hotel. "I didn't come here to fight. If you don't want to I'll respect your decision" he said as they stood in her room. "I wish you luck" she said hugging him. Keith returned it and spotted a strange white glow outside coming for an adjacent wing of the hotel. His borrower eyes focused slightly on it. "Magic array...GET DOWN!" he screamed yanking her to the floor. Just as he did, a beam of light melted a hole in the window, missed Elena's head, and scorched a bit of the wall.

"Magic sniper...that's new" he cursed. "These Mogwai people followed you here to kill you?!" Elena yelled. "No, they're forbidden to. I think you're the target. They knew I met Hikari and fear you joining the cause. Stay low" he said. He pulled down a sliver tray using it as a mirror to see up. That white light was still there. Another beam struck the tray reflecting it causing the bedspread to catch fire. Keith quickly put it out. "Señora? Guests are complaining of smoke. Hello?" a woman outside the door said. She opened it with a pass key. "Get down! Get..." he was saying before a beam of light burned clean through her skull. The poor housemaid fell to the floor dead. Keith stopped Elena from screaming. "Call your assistant now. Have her meet us in the lobby" he said. Elena fumbled for her phone while Keith peeked with the tray. "Fortification" he muttered casting an arcane. Now he could see much clearer. "Uh oh" he muttered seeing their sniper gone.

"She's on her way. What uh oh!" she yelled. "The sniper is gone. No doubt coming here to confirm the kill. From their vantage point they can't see the door so they don't know she walked in" he said. There was a young scream from the hallway. The sound of little running footsteps. "Fuck. Some kid must’ve saw the body. We'll be stopped before we even get to the lobby. Change of plans" he said. Keith shrank down. "Get small. We'll use the air ducts to get down" he ordered. Elena shrank to her normal size and Keith dragged her to the vent. It was a tight fit but they passed the grill. Just in time as staff came to check things out. "Call the police. Get reception on the phone and have them pull up the guest for this...señora, please go back to..." someone said before a bright flash and the sound of a body hitting the floor. "Keith. Write these symbols on yours and Elena’s skin now!" Oberon yelled. Keith winced as Oberon force fed knowledge of an arcane spell. He bit his finger to draw blood to write it. Keith quickly scribbled down the symbols on his hand as another person cried out and died. "Your hand" he said to her. He drew on it and finished just as the slow thuds of giant footsteps came into the room. "Don't move an inch. The sealing spell will hide your and her's magic signature from whomever, but they could still hear you" Oberon said. Elena was trembling at the footsteps got closer.

Keith wanted to fight. His training demanded it. His instincts screamed it. He did not want to hide like a cockroach in a vent. Two giant feet clad in sandals came into view. The huge toes were pale and the nails painted black. It was highly unlikely they belonged to a Hispanic female. A voice cursed in Chinese. "I fucking knew it" he thought. He was sorely tempted to get close to the vent just to see her face. He thought better. Experience with Lawan had told him that their hearing and sight was almost as good as his. The pair of feet receded from them and left the room. "Let's go" he said. Keith led her as his eyes were better in low light. "This spell cancelled my fortification Oberon" Keith said. "Unfortunately, it did more than that. It locked out the spell that made you grow human sized years ago. Until it's removed, you won't be able to use any magic on yourself. There is a silver lining" Oberon said. "Enlighten me" Keith said sarcastically.

"This will also shield you from scrying spells" Oberon said. "Okay. I don't feel so bad now" Keith muttered. "You talking to the thing inside you?" Elena asked. "That thing said we can stay off their radar, but we'll be stuck small for a while" Keith replied. "Awhile?" she asked before Keith stopped her. "Until I can get you safely to Claire and them. You can't stay here" he said falling down a foot. He motioned for her to fall. Keith caught her to see her fuming. "Hey. I'm not exactly doing a fucking jig about it either. Welcome to the war" he snapped. Elena was silent. It took them 20 minutes to get to the ground floor. By that point, Elena’s dress was in taters, she was barefoot, and both were filthy from dust bunnies. Keith slipped out first to look around. His eyes narrowed on her. "There you are sticking out like a sore fucking thumb" he said seeing the only Asian girl in the lobby. She looked so ordinary to him. Not a threat at all with her mousy demeanor and glasses. 17 or 18 years old wearing a black dress. At first, he thought he was mistaken but knowing Kasumi, he knew appearances could be deceiving.

"You sure that's her?" Elena asked. "Black toenails. Just like we saw in your room. It's her. Follow the wall and behind that plant" he said. They ran along the edge of the wall sticking to the shadows and paused briefly under the desk of the receptionist. The sound of her rubbing her nyloned feet against one another unnerved him. A tick of agitation no doubt as call after call came in on her phone. Keith grabbed her hand and pulled her along until they took refuge behind a plant. "She's eyeing everyone and the exit. She hasn't given up" Keith said. "There's my assistant! Gabi! Ober..." she was saying until Keith clamped her mouth shut. "Quiet! She's probably using a fortification spell to boost her hearing and sight. Damn..." he said seeing the giantess' gaze go towards their location. "In there...don't argue" he said pointing to a roach trap. Elena cried a little as they slipped into the roach box. Keith had to stifle her scream as roaches dead and brittle were inside. They couldn’t stay long as the chemical fumes and residue could kill them. A giant sandaled foot came down where they had been. The large toes scrunching slightly, and the shoe leather made and eerie whine under the stress. "Hmm..." she said before walking off. The thuds of her footfalls far away enough for them to gauge her being far away enough to come out. The girl had walked across the lobby and gave them better leeway to sneak out. They made it outside as someone used the revolving door.

"Elena? Where are you?" Gabi asked. "Get in the car! Get in the car!" Elena yelled frantically waving. "What happened..." she stammered. "Get in the fucking car please!" Keith yelled. She gasped seeing him her size and both disheveled. She scooped them up, placed them in the car, and quickly drove off. "What happened to you two?! The police were swarming the hotel!" Gabi asked. "Take us to the airport. Get the jet ready to go" Elena said sternly. "No. The jet is the last thing we need to use. For all we know she put a bomb on it" Keith muttered. "BOMB?!" Gabi yelled. "They think we killed people!" Elena yelled sobbing. "An assassin tried to kill Elena...to get to me" Keith said to Gabi. Gabi was silent as she passed the airport turnoff. "We have to ditch the car" Keith said. "The police can protect us" Elena said. "You think that girl gives a shit about the cops? Or if they could stop her? She uses fucking magic Elena. For all we know cops are helping her. That's what Mogwai do. Corrupt, bribe, or threaten humans to do their bidding" Keith said coldly. Elena cried softly. "Easy asshole. This is your fault we’re in this" Gabi said increasing speed.

"Think I haven't thought of that? Three people, I know of are dead because I came here. Just another few notches on my grief tree. It's not just her life I'm responsible for now. It's yours too" Keith said drying off with a Kleenex. "...what do we do now?" Elena asked. "Steal a car. Nothing fancy. Old and can blend in. We use it to drive to the border. From there we make our way to Austin. A busy enough airport where she won't dare make a scene" Keith replied. "Tall order" Gabi quipped. "Only order we got. Once we're out of the city, find an out of the way gas station. We can steal a car there" he said. Elena was shivering, and Keith held her. She wanted to push him away but saw the guilt in his eyes. About an hour had passed before Gabi pulled over. "Down you guys" Gabi said placing them on the ground. Elena was so tired she didn't care who was watching as she slipped her panties down to piss. Once done she walked right past him to the car. She sat on the edge of the doorframe looking at her tiny toes. Her pedi ruined by tonight's antics.

This time last night she was enjoying a bubble batch in her sink looking at tv on her phone. Now she was running for her life. "No cars" Gabi said behind Keith. "It's off the main road. One will come" Keith said softly. "What have you gotten my Elena into?" Gabi asked. "Armageddon. You know what she is right?" Keith asked. "Of course" Gabi replied. "No I mean truly" Keith said. "...yes. I know what she had done. She told me not long ago. She had terrible nightmares and even pissed the bed. Being her assistant, I was sleeping with her. She told me" Gabi said softly. "And you're fine with it? The whole eating people thing?" Keith asked. "She was forced into it. If she feels guilt, then that's what matters. There are times we do things not of our choice. Against our wishes, our feelings. This road here is a popular one for illegal immigrants. Fleeing to America for their own reasons. Excuse me" she said leaving him. Keith turned to see her hold Elena in her hands as she washed the dirt and sand off her little feet. 

They sat in the car for a half hour munching on granola before a van pulled up for gas. "We'll take that" Keith said. "Just like that we're going to steal their car?" Gabi asked. "Then give them this. This Infiniti is better than that piece of shit Chevy Astro" Keith replied annoyed. Then The occupants got out. "Fuck my life" Keith hissed. A man, a pregnant woman, and their two preteen kids hopped out. "So now what?" Gabi asked. "Then we hitch a ride. Get as close to the border as we can. Fuck. I didn't want anyone else involved but no telling what could happen if they're found with this car" Keith said. Gabi carried them both to the man pumping gas as his family stretched their legs. "Excuse me. Señor?" Gabi asked. "Buenos noches señora. Ay! Elena Flores! Mateó! Carmella! Juanita! It's Elena Flores!" The man yelled seeing Elena in her hand. "Flores?" Keith asked. "Changed my last name after things went down" Elena whispered. "We need passage to the border. Our car...umm...broke down" Gabi said. The man looked it at. "Broke down huh?" he asked seeing how new it was and the bad shape of Elena. "Are you in trouble?" he asked Elena touching his side. "She didn't kidnap me if that's what you're wondering. Very bad people want to kill me" Elena replied looking down. He looked at his family who had gathered around her.

"Alright. Let me top off the spare tanks and pay the man inside" The man replied. "Gracias" she muttered. As he filled the red cans of gas, the 12-year-old son Mateó noticed something. "Papa. Look at the shooting star" he said pointing up. "That's...that's no shooting star!" Keith yelled. The girl from before came down like an ominous meteor of doom. They were stunned. "Get in the car!" Keith yelled. They had all gotten in except Gabi who had tossed Keith and Elena in. Gabi was braver than most as she tried attacking the girl with her high heel. "Gabi no!" Keith yelled seeing her in the side mirror. The girl caught her arm and snapped it causing Gabi to cry out. He tossed her on the ground. "Come out" she commanded. The father hopped out with a gun in hand and took a shot. The bullet ricocheted off her head striking a pump hose. The gas leaked onto the ground. "Jesus. How high is her defense?! An elite. Of course, they would send an elite" Keith muttered. The girl pointed at the man and a magic array formed around her finger. Before she could fire, Gabi slammed her heel on the exposed flesh of the girl's foot. "Goddamn coffee gopher" she hissed firing her attack on her. The beam burned her arm clean off. Elena hid her ears from the shrieking.

"GET OUT OF HERE!" Gabi screamed. Seeing what he could only describe as a demoness, the man got back in and slammed on the gas. The van spun it's tired kicking up dirt and raced onto the road. Keith climbed up near the open window seeing the magic array once more pointed at them. "Half a meter left now!  Keith yelled angling the side mirror. He winced as a flash of light hit it. Sheer luck paid off as the mirror reflected the bean right back barely missing the girl setting a small piece of tumbleweed on fire. The girl sucked her teeth. "Tell me where they are going" she said. "Eat shit gringo" Gabi hissed. The girl snapped her fingers shrinking her. "Tell me. They are going to the border obviously but what part? You don't comply I will leave you to the coyotes" the girl warned. "Go fuck yourself. I'd rather die than betray some I care about" Gabi hissed at her. The shrunken girl began laughing at her as she saw something behind her. "What is so funny?" the girl asked. "You'll see. You'll see you fucking punta" Gabi said laughing hard now. "The coyotes will have to lick you up" the girl said coldly as she slammed her sandal down on her. "Still laughing? I thought not. Damn...got blood all over my foot" she muttered. The Mogwai girl didn’t notice what Gabi was laughing about until it happened.

Her attack had set a tumbleweed on fire which was harmless in of itself except the gasoline leak caused by the man's ricochet. While Gabi was being tortured, the leak spread to the fire. As soon as it touched it, it shot out causing a massive explosion. Big enough everyone in the van could see it even after a mile out. "GABI!" Elena painfully shrieked. Elena thrashed about so violently, she punched Keith in the mouth causing it to bleed. Keith had no choice but to knock her out. "Hold her please" he asked the pregnant mother. She held her in her hands as he wiped his mouth. "Demonica! God have mercy!" the man said crossing himself. "No. Not a demon. Just an evil person with power. It would be simpler if she was. I would feel easier about wanting to kill them all" Keith said angrily.

"What was that she did? Is it a superpower like Cyclops of the X-Men?" Mateó asked. "Hehe. No kid. That was magic. Not The card trick stuff. The real deal" Keith replied. They all glanced at him. "Magic is real and there are good and bad people that use it. You just met a bad one" he explained trying to leave out as much as he could. "Why was she trying to kill you?" the daughter asked. "Not me. Her. A fight is coming, and Elena has a unique power dangerous to them. They want her dead out of fear" he replied. "What kind of power?" Carmella the mother asked petting Elena. "Her voice can carry a powerful magic. She can't use it right now...no... more accurate is she won't use it" Keith replied. "Why not? Your friend would be alone right now if she did...right?" The boy asked. "Mateó!" The father yelled. The boy shrugged. "Not that simple. Her power comes at a cost she refuses to pay. I have to respect that decision" he replied. The van hit a bump causing Keith to nearly fall to the floor. The daughter Juanita caught him just before he did. "Thanks...man I'm tired..." he groaned as the adrenaline wore off.

"You can umm...sit her if you want" she said blushing. "Just for a while..." he muttered. Keith fell asleep within a minute. "You got a crush" Mateó teased her. She punched his arm for that. She did like him. She found him cute just sleeping on her leg. Back at the burning gas station, the girl was not happy. Alive but not happy. The gas pump explosions had set off a propane tank connected to the store blowing half of it to bits. The attendant, a pimple faced 17-year-old boy was not outright killed but the blast had mortally injured him. The girl strolled in ignoring the flames going to the cooler. Taking a bottled water for herself, she went to exit. "Help...me..." he begged grabbing her ankle. Her own wounds rapidly healing, her dress burnt off leaving her just in panties and sandals, she looked down on him. "Please..." he begged. She pointed at him and a beam of light burned through his head striking the floor. "You've been helped" she said leaving his corpse to burn. She waited outside knowing the authorities would come. When they did, she would put them to use.

An hour later...

Three cop cars pulled up along with a fire engine and ambulance. Paramedics rushed over to her. "Don't touch me" she said walking pass them. "Are you alright? Alvarez! Get her clothes from the trunk!" one cop said. "Give me your phone" she said to him. We'll call who you need but please get checked out. Did you see any other survivors?" he asked. "There was a survivor, but I killed him. Give me your phone" she said sternly. The cop went for his gun. "This is annoying" she muttered. Cascading flashes of light came from her entire body freezing in place anyone who dared look at her. "Obey" she said. Their eyes went glassy as they nodded. "Clothes. And you your phone" she said. Alvarez handed her jeans and an old tee shirt. She put them on and sat in the back seat of a car. Everyone just stood there mesmerized. She dialed a number. "Yes it is An. I request an armed drone dispatched to my coordinates. I don't care. Get it done or I will come to you" she said hanging up. An was even more annoyed now. "You. Get on your knees and clean my toes. Still blood on them" she commanded. The man from before got on his knees taking her sandals off. While he sucked her toes clean of Gabi's blood and soot, An was busy looking at a google map of the area. There were dozens of different trails branding off from her. No telling which one they would take.

"We shouldn't get involved Carlos. We are putting the children in danger with them being here" Carmella whispered. "And what should we do then? Leave them here in the desert for the vermin and carrion eaters to get them? Have you forgotten why we are running to America?" he asked. "Mom we can't just abandon them. They're terrified. What would Jesus do?" Juanita asked as her finger rubbed Keith’s sleeping back. "He would help them any way he could. You have a point. They run from evil like Joseph and Mary ran from Herod" Carmella said looking at the statue of the Virgin Mary on the dash. "I'm sorry for exposing your family to this danger" Keith said. "You're awake?" Juanita asked. "Your petting my back woke me" he replied. She immediately stopped. "I didn’t say I didn't like it" he said smiling. The girl blushed as her brother chuckled. "Life happens. I can't fault you for doing what you must to survive...like we are" Carlos said. "What do you mean?" Keith asked.

"Where we come from, a cartel controls our town. Their drug money has all but bought it. Even the police are theirs. Murders, rapes, horrible things happen with no consequence. My son was nearly killed in a shootout last month in the produce stalls. With another on the way, we all decided it was best to leave and live with my cousin in Amarillo" he replied. "Last month? That's not enough time for immigration procedures" Keith said. "Yes...it's not" he said softly. "So you'll enter illegally? Forgive me but that's very risky" Keith said. "After 9/11, America changed its immigration policies. Now it takes thousands of dollars, a two-year waiting list minimum and that's assuming you meet the cutoff quota. I know what we do is illegal, but wouldn't you do anything you could to protect your family?" he asked. "Yes, I would. It's why I'm here actually" Keith replied.

(Authors note: It's true. After 9/11, the DHS changed the immigration process. Doing research, while the fees are different for each specific case, the bare minimum I found was about $2000. A staggering amount depending on where they come from. For the time the first application is filed to the time of becoming a citizen is a bare minimum of two years if you have sponsors. While writing this chapter, I thought about whether to include this in the story. Seeing the location where this takes place, I decided I had to include it.)

"You have kids I take it" Carmella said. "Three with another on the way" Keith replied. "Nice! You borrowers must have kids like rabbits" Carlos chuckled. "More or less. When you get down to it, we're not different from humans. We have dreams, aspirations, hope for the future. Love our kids. Would do anything for them" Keith said. "I heard your kind get married early in life" Carlos said. "True. Most borrowers choose a mate and have kids by the time we're 14" Keith said. "Juanita here will be 14 this October" Mateó said. "Shut up!" Juanita yelled. "Did you have an owner, or you lived freely?" Mateó asked. "Freely...if you could call it that" Keith replied. "I think borrowers are cool. Wish there were some down here..." Juanita said. "There are. Not many but there are. Our kind are spread out in North America. Some even look like you" Keith said smiling. "Didn't know that" Carmella said. "Not all of us are white. Borrowers race mix like everyone else" he said. Raindrops began pelting the windshield. "At least we are only three hours from the border" Carlos said turning the wipers on. "But the river" Carmella said. "That's why we got the raft dear" he said to her. "Raft?" Keith asked. "We plan to ditch the van at the river border and raft across. Our ride will be nearby and waiting for a call" Carlos replied. Keith was beginning to see how desperate they really were.

Everyone was asleep except Carlos as he drove through the rainy dark landscape. He wondered what life had in store for his family. Surely, God would provide for them after such a meritous deed helping Keith and Elena. He glanced at her laying on top of his wife's baby bump. He was a fan of her like millions of others. Like so many others, stunned to learn what she was. So, what she wasn't human? Who cares if she was an Alux? He knew of the legends but took no stock in them. He was a just man who didn't believe in the sins of past others decided who a person was. Elena visited orphanages. Let kids pet her. Did charity drives. Her songs have hope to people. The day he decided to leave his home, she was singing on the radio. It calmed his nerves and have him the strength to make that choice. A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky striking not too far away waking Keith. "That was loud" he said. "Echoes travel easy out here" Carlos said. "How we doing?" Keith asked. "Got just over half a tank of gas. 140 miles or so to go" he replied. Keith climbed over their stuff to the back window. He looked out seeing the rain whiz by. He hated storms.

Borrowers have a natural fear of rain as just a simple drop was as big as their head. For Keith it went deeper. It was no exaggeration to say he suffered PTSD when it came to storms. It reminded him of a very painful day. Lightning illuminated the sky giving away an odd shape. "What?" he muttered. He saw it again. It was coming closer slowly so it wasn't a cloud. It appeared to have wings, but they didn't move. He thought it a hawk or small condor, but he knew birds wouldn't fly in this. Too small to be a plane. "...you got to be shitting me!" Keith yelled. "What? What is it?" Carlos asked. "Is there any outcropping or caves nearby? Quickly Carlos!" Keith yelled. "There is this ridge line I've been driving next to over there! What's happening?!" he asked. "Predator drone. The bitch sicked a drone after us" Keith hissed. "What's that?" Mateó asked yawning. "Mateó! I need you to draw something on the door!" Keith yelled. The boy took out an old pen tucked in the seat pocket. "Now draw exactly what I say. Carlos, start heading to the ridge!" Keith said. "Keith?" Elena asked waking.

"The choppy weather is making things difficult, but we got an infrared signature. Intercept in 12 minutes. Instructions?" a voice asked. "Hit the rear. Intelligence says he's good enough to survive" An replied. The fires at the gas station had mostly gone out from the rain but nobody was really left to make any report. An had gotten hungry and has shrunk everyone there except the lead officer. She had just finished swallowing a firefighter alive when she got the callback. Her belly was full from eating the others. "Start the car and head that way" she told him patting her belly. The man said nothing as he put it in drive and headed towards Keith and the others. An looked at a family photo stuck to the dash. A man and three kids. No wife. She recognized the man as one of those she had eaten just before. "Your partner?" she asked him. "Yes" he replied. "Known him for long?" she asked. "My nephew" he replied. "I see. And these are his kids? Where is the woman?" she asked. "Gone to be with God the three years ago" he replied. An held the picture. She thought about them. They would never see their father again. Her stomach had made sure of that. One by one she ate the responders. Her hypnotism cruelly had them line up for it. She remembered this one particularly well.

As he stood naked on the ground, he gazed up at the giantess feeding off others. He did nothing as he watched a female firefighter slide down her throat as she waited for a call. When the person ahead was eaten, they just took a step forward. A firefighter, the last one, was behind him and he stood waiting as she gulped down the man who was in front of him. An reached down and plucked him up. An took notice how handsome he was. Not a bit of fat on him. She was tempted to rape him but business first, pleasure later. Her eyes locked on his. No true emotion in them like all the others. He would never see his kids grow up and right then he didn't care. His mistress was hungry, and it was his duty to feed her his flesh and bones. An placed him in her mouth feet first and sucked him right in. Content he was as his penis rubbed her tongue as he slid back to her throat. Muscles pulled him downwards to her stomach and he landed right on top of bodies...some dead and some not. The darkness surrounded him. The steady beat of her murderous heart filled his ears along with the gurgling of her belly. Then another fell in beside him. He could hear her. She was speaking. As it became impossible to stay conscious, he hoped she was praising him. His flesh burned as the acids went about breaking down his proteins for calories. Cruel fate as his last thoughts weren't about his beloved children, they were of her.

"Please tell me you got a plan Keith!" Elena yelled. "We hide in that outcropping and pray they can't see us" Keith replied. "We're kinda too big for that!" Elena yelled as they got close enough for the headlights to shine on a few small holes in the rock face on the ground level. "Well aware of that! Mateó! Now draw these symbols here and here!" he yelled. "What is this thing?" the boy asked. "A shrinking spell for the van and everyone in it" he replied. "Cool" The boy muttered. He finished and nothing happened. "Uhh...we're getting close and that thing is closer!" Carols said seeing it well in his mirror now. "Takes a minute without using blood!" Keith yelled.

"Target in range in two minutes" the voice said on the phone. "Keep on them" An said.

The van shuddered and then it felt like the ground rushed up to them "Floor it!" Keith yelled. The van shook as the ground was more uneven and bumpy at their new size. Fortunately, they were close enough to the rock face.

"Lost target! Infrared has lost target!" The voice said on the phone. "Impossible. I would know if he used magic! What is on the screen?!" she yelled. "Just background signatures given off by wildlife" he responded. "Then shoot the biggest one fool!" she yelled.

They pulled into a cave as the drone got close. An armadillo scurried by in the rain about 75 feet out. The small hellfire missile shot from the drone blowing the poor critter to smithereens. The shockwave blew out the windows and shook the van. "That...that could've been us" Carlos muttered. "Target eliminated. Hitting bingo fuel" the voice said. "Any others on the screen?" An asked. "Nothing bigger than a prairie dog" he replied. An hung up the phone and looked at the sky. "Curse this rain. If only it wasn't..." she hissed. Carlos had everyone get out the van. They were shocked to find themselves the same size as Elena and Keith. "You didn't shrink too?" Juanita asked. "These seals prevented it. Everyone okay?" he asked. They all nodded but it was clear they were shell shocked. "Well, looks like we have to wait. Make sure the drone flies away and the rain to stop. Mateó. Don't wander outside" Keith said. "But nothing looks different" he said looking at the cave and rocks. "Sometimes being small can play tricks with your perceptions. Right now, you're about 2 1/2 inches tall. Stay close by" Keith said taking his shoes off. He closed his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Carmella asked. "Looking. Making sure this place is empty" Keith replied. "But your eyes are closed" Juanita said. "Borrowers can feel tremors in the ground through our bare feet. Good...just the rumbling of thunder" he said. Juanita slipped off her sandals. She stood on the damp earth in her bare feet trying to feel anything. "Get some rest everyone. I'll stand guard" Keith said going close to the opening. He sat quietly as he watched the now shrunken family bed down in sleeping bags. Elena couldn't go to sleep. She watched him cringe now and then as he watched the rain. She went over to him. Keith nearly jumped out of his skin when she touched him. "Didn't mean to scare you" she said. "The storm gives me bad memories. My parents died because of one. Flash flood. Caused our burrow to collapse. Buried them alive. Only me and my sister survived" he said.

Elena put her arms around him. "Never should've come. Put you in danger. Gabi is dead. And now an innocent family the size of fucking mice is holed up in here" he said kicking a pebble. "I see what you mean by how dangerous they are now. They sent a fucking drone after us. That would mean they military is helping them" she said. "They're in every major military on Earth Elena. Ebonheart said as much. Imagine them having control over nukes. Gabi...oh my god..." he said starting to cry. Elena held him to her. "Wait...wasn't Gabi the name of your sister?" he asked. "Yeah. I met Gabi a few weeks ago while at my talent agency. Saw it as a sign from God to let go of the pain. She was shocked when I demanded her to be my personal assistant. Respectful, diligent, caring. Doted on me because she wanted to. Just like a big sister. This person that's chasing us. I want her dead Keith" Elena said coldly. Keith held her close and kissed her head. "So do I" he muttered. Juanita was awake watching the whole thing.