Craig stood at the barren stop down underground of the lifeless city. Well, as lifeless as New York City could be. The dim lights hung above him as they flickered, making the subway stop very creepy seeming. He had been waiting for a while, and sense it was near two in the morning, he would probably have to wait a while. He knelt down and took his bag off his shoulder and took out his lighter. He leaned his back against the column next to the lighted, yet dark tunnel and lighted a cigarette as he waited for the next ride to come. He zipped up his heavy brown jacket. It was a little cold down here, and there was no warmth coming off any of the other people trying to get to the next place. That was mainly because there wasn't anyone there except him and a few people keeping to themselves just as much as he was, and not to mention much creepier than Craig thought he was.

He quickly finished his joint and then threw it into the tunnel floor. After he did, he began to feel the vibration of the next train coming, so he stood up. Craig leaned his head forward and saw the bright lights of the next train coming. He picked up his bag and stood back as the subway station rumbled and the car slowly stopped making the screeching sound of the breaks pushing against the track. The doors opened and Craig quickly walked in and roamed around the car looking for a good secluded seat, so he wouldn't have to sleep by any freaks, which was almost impossible to avoid on a NY subway. He noticed a couple of people including a stern looking woman sitting completely upright, and avoiding eye contact with anything other than the window directly in front of her.


Allison looked over at the next lonely man walk on to the subway, but then quickly looked back in front of her as if she was a robot. She avoided eye contact anymore with him, as she had done with everyone else that had gotten on. The subway car she was on was getting many more people than she expected for two in the morning, and she didn't like it. She hoped to not have to talk to anyone on the ride to her destination which stop was in about thirty minutes at the least.

Farid stood at the platform resolute and alert. The air seemed thin and the darkness was encroaching, despite the electric lighting, but nevertheless he maintained his stance as though in challenge of whatever malevolent forces may lurk in the shadows. It was a mentality he kept at all times, especially on a day like today when he'd had meetings with clients back to back; clients who had all agreed to entrust Farid with protecting their interests in one way or another.

The train pulled up, no doubt it would be the last one until morning, and he had been waiting for it for some time. And despite the outward perception of immutability that he tried to convey, he was relieved in a sense; the train surely couldn't be any colder than the tunnel. Obligingly, he entered through the doors when the opened and quickly took a seat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veerle was once again woken by the shar[ sliding sound of the doors opening. Lifintg her head groggilly she looked to see what station this was. With a groan, she acknowledged that she still had some way to go. What a day it had been...called all the way across town to audition for a part she didn't particularly want, and which she was almost certain that he had, in any case, not managed to get. Sometimes she envied people who had nine-to-five jobs. At least, that's what was usually going through her head when she was on the train at stupid-o-clock trying to get home. It certainly wasn't what she thought the rest of the time.

She repositioned herself so that hopefully she'd manage to stay awake for the remainder of the journey. Even so, she was a little surprised to see so many people getting on. Not that it was really manypeople, but more than you'd expect for this time of the morning. She eyed them carefully - there was the slender guy who seemed to slink off into a corner, and a possibly mediteranean man in a long brown coat who looked like he was moving with a purpose. Nobody to be too worried about.

Leaning back, she took a few deep breaths, trying to get the oxygen supply back to her blood in order to keep her eyes open, just for another twenty or thirty minutes.

"I don't want to get on that train!" Stella whispered to her boyfriend. Ryan rolled his almond shaped eyes at her. "Why not? Is it bad luck to get on a train the only time your boyfriend needs you to?" He said with sarcasm. He grabbed her hand and slightly pulled her, but she resisted.
"I have a really bad feeling, Ryan! Come on! Why can't we drive to the resturant?" She asked with pleading eyes. "I'll do you a favor when we get back to the apartment." she offered. They had been living together for about a month now, and they were attending the same college. Ryan thought for a moment, but then continued to drag her towards the train. "Nothing's gonna happen, Honey. Let's just get on the train, get to the resturant. I have a breakfast planned for us." Stella gave up and walked by Ryan's side, holding his hand.

As they got onto the train, Stella prayed to herself quietly, while holding the small golden crusifix on her necklace. Stella was the third generation in her family to have it and it felt very sacred to her. Ryan found them some seats and they both sat down, hands still linked.

"Altissimo glorioso Dio,
illumina le tenebre de lo core mio.
Et dame fede diricta,
speranza certa e carità perfecta,
senno e cognoscemento,
Signore,
che faccia lo tuo santo
e verace comandamento.
Amen"

As she whispered the prayer to herself, Ryan looked around the train. Looking to make sure Stella's eyes were closed, Ryan pulled a little black box out of his pocket. He opened it, revealing a silver ring with a aquamarine jewel. It had been his mother's ,but since she died, his father had been pressuring Ryan into giving it to Stella, whom his mother had adored.
Ring: http://www.andalucia-golf-holidays.com/ ... t-ring.jpg
He quickly put it back in his pocket. He smiled at Stella, who was finishing her prayer. He loved her with every fiber in his body, and he was going to spend the rest of his life with her. Nothing could ruin this.......

Two private school boys walked down the stairs leading to the subway. It was quiet and cold as usual, with not many souls to be seen at the time of the day.
" I have a bad feeling about this Samuel. Its always your stupid crazy ideas that always gets us in trouble. You know that? Ever since 7th grade I knew you were a psychopath or something.. " Alex grumbled, cringing his body to try and resist the cold.
" Believe me Alex. I'm so excited for this.. This is the time of our lives baby! " Samuel's voice echoed throughout the station.
" It's two o'clock in the morning. Geez.. "
Passing by an old homeless man huddled in newpaper, Samuel snickered.
" Look, its your dad Alex. Disgusting.."
" Shut up Samuel. You're such a jerk. "
When the train arrived, the two walked in and took a seat near the back.
Alex took out a book and began reading, disinterested in the few other passengers. The other boy began humming a tune to himself, regarding the other people with an aloof mannerism. He took a wealthy family and the best education as granted. In a couple years he would be achieving far more than all the people in the train combined, he thought.

" Heh, check her out. " Samuel nudged Alex on his arm.
A woman was praying quietly to herself.
" Hey lady, hey! This ain't a chapel you know. You're creeping me out over here. " He laughed.
Alex clenched his jaw and buried himself in his book, ashamed of being associated with Samuel.

" Hey lady, hey! This ain't a chapel you know. You're creeping me out over here. ", Stella heard. She opened one eye and smirked at him. Ryan had a small grin on his face, because he knew that Stella already was already had something to say.
"Oh sorry, Hon." she said in a slightly suductive voice. Though it bugged Ryan that she flirted with other guys sometimes, but he had faith in her.
Stella crossed her legs and sat up straight. Her gray eyes drifted back and forth from the loud guy and his resevered friend. Her smirk grew.

"So, what are you boys doing on a trai this early?" she asked curiously, with a hint of suductivness. She knew she was hot, and she was thankful for it. Ryan smiled at Stella.

Samuel narrowed his eyes at the woman.
" Well thats none of your business lady. I guess we can say that we have some.. important things to take care of regarding our busy academic schedule. I'm sure you recognize this coat of arms we're wearing on our uniforms, its none other than St. Patrick's Academy for Young Men. It's alumni are only some of the most honorable people in the nation. Its nothing much really. We only have had about, lets see.. 16 laureates who received the Nobel Prize since its founding. " He replied in a sarcastic tone.
Alex rolled his eyes. " Yeah right. Our school's alumni aren't anything but mafias, lunatics, and corporate lawyers. Very big deal. "
" Sorry if my friend was rude lady, he can be a real jerk sometimes. " Alex apologized to her.

Stella glared at the rude kid and then at his friend. "First of all, don't call me lady, I'm like 19. Second of all, I accept your apology, and Third of all-" she looked at the rude one,"I've only known you for 3 minutes and I already know your a complete-" "Stella!" Ryan hissed at her.
Stella slightly bit her bottom lip. "Sorry, if my question bugged you." she said unenthusiastically. She looked at Ryan, as if to say sorry.
Ryan smiled at her and slightly squeezed her hand. Stella's eyes darted back to the rude. "I hope you two don't freak out, but may I ask your names?" she said, attempting to be friendly with the younger men. She tried to smile, but ended up being incredibly fake. "I'm Stella, and this is my boyfriend, Ryan." Ryan looked at them for a moment with a slight wave and an almost emotionless smile.

Evelyn sighed quietly as she waited for the train, rubbing the back of her neck in an attempt to lessen the pain she was in. She reached into her large black purse and pulled out her pill box, feeling like an old lady she took out two little white pills and took them with a sip of water. When she looked back down to put the little silver box away she noticed the train coming. Stepping through the doors she thought to herself ‘just get home, get home and you can sleep.’

She found a fairly secluded chair and sat down cross-legged in the seat, her back was most comfortable this way. Looking around she noted the other passengers on the train, most looked like they wanted to be alone just like her. There was one woman saying a prayer, she found it a bit silly as she did with most things having to do with religion. But she didn’t mind, if it made her happy who was she to judge. She frowned when a guy on the train mocked her, then chucked gently as he began talking about his prestigious school. Glad the other woman hadn’t backed down to the spoiled brat.

Blink. Blink.

Isaac had been sitting in the subway for several moments, now. Three chairs down from the entrance, the people scurrying into the subway like a swarm of locusts. Sighing, Isaac looked back down to his college book, entitled Advanced Physics and Molecules. He slowly rose it to his glasses, allowing the un-artistic color to be seen by all on the train. His eyes slowly read the book for several minutes, not engaging in conversation. He gave another sigh and put the book on his lap. Gods...Subway isn't the best place for conversation, but I guess noone ever pays attention to the geek.

Isaac readjusted his glasses and shuffled his feet against the floor of the subway train. His white button down shirt was desperately winkled, his dark hair wiry and gelled messy. His black dress shoes clacked with a sound of screech against the ground, not willing to shut up for even an instance. He slowly started to sing under his breath, Loser, by Beck. "In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey..."

" The names Samuel Jeffrey Hayes, from the Hayes family. I'm sure you've heard about Hayes Industries, my family's business. We're an Old Money family you know. When my ancestors arrived on Boston from Ireland, they had one thing in mind sister: 'never back down from anyone'. " He grinned.
Alex began to introduce himself. " Hi. My names Alex. Samuel and I go to St. Patrick's together. Don't believe what he said about the laureates and all. Everyone in New York knows our schools crap. "

Eve had reached into her bag grabbing the obscure manga she had just bought, but when she opened it to read Samuel's words reached her ears. She smirked at first putting her hand over her mouth in an attempt to stifle her laughter, and when the words old money reached her ears she teared up a bit as she tried not to burst out laughing. But sadly when he concluded she couldn’t help herself, and in a moment was holding her stomach while laughing loudly. She knew she probably looked like a lunatic but she didn’t care, that was one of the funniest things she’d heard in a long time.

Samuel nudged Alex on the arm.
" A lot of loonies we're seeing this morning eh Alex? " Samuel glanced over at the woman who started laughing by herself.
" Hey lady, there something amusing you might want to share with us? You need to take your pills or something? " He mocked.

[ 0_0 I just realised that there are two Alex's, how are we gonna do this?]

Lance stood next to the seat, on which Alex sat, who was staring into space. Lance promptly kicked him in the side, knocking him over. Lance let out a laugh, as Alex tackled him. They spent a good few minutes wrestling on the floor, but then they heard the train. Lance got up, and kicked Alex, pulling him up off of the ground. The train slowed to a stop as the doors opened, and the men walked in. Lance immediately took on his 'Bad Boy' expression, and slightly raised his head. He looked around, and noticed other people on the Train. How awkward. Alex turned to Lance, who was obviously checking out Stella. Alex nudged him, in a way, telling him that he shouldn't do that. Lance looked away, as the doors closed. He sat down on the bag rack. He glaced once again at Stella, making sure no one noticed him. "Hey Alex, where did James tell us to go?". Alex looked at Lance, and opened his mouth. "21st St, It's at least an hours trip from here". With that they sat down on the ground and did what they did best. Ignore the world around them.

After a few more chuckles Evelyn managed to settle down enough to answer Samuel. “Sorry I couldn’t help but overhear you” she said with a childlike smirk on her face “I didn’t think anybody ever said shit like that. I mean seriously ‘were and old money family’ who says that?” Eve had an innocent look about her, but if you looked past the twinkle in her eyes to the dark circles surrounding them you could see how tired she really was. “Oh and by the way I already took my pills.”

Farid had been sitting with jaw locked in restraint, listening to the kids fooling around a short distance away. But the 'old money' comment was too much, and the comeback from the fragile looking brunette seemed fit to be backed up. He turned in the direction of the two public school boys.

"Sounds like your 'old money' is getting real old real fast my friends." he said, his north African accent giving a dubious, backhanded warmth to his words. "Maybe pipe down about it for the rest of the journey, eh?"

He reclined back into his chair and closed his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Veerle was oblivious to the conversations going on around her, embroiled as she was in the battle against sleep which threatened to overtake her any moment. But with each oscillation of her eyelids, it became more and more difficult. She wasn't quite sure when she drifted off yet again, but she was almost immediately woken up by a plink. Oh hell! She had dropped her subway token. Leaning forward to see where it went, she managed to spy it rolling down the aisle and hit a black dress shoe, belonging to a guy in a white shirt.

Thanking her lucky stars that it hadn't rolled into some inaccessible nook or cranny, and got out of her seat with some difficulty due to the tired acheing, and ambled over to retrieve it. She briefly looked at the guy, and mumbled "Sorry...such a klutz."

"Ya, or how about just shutting your mouths the whole way," said Craig rolling his eyes at the teenagers who obviously thought they were all that. Craig hated those kids when he was in high school, since he and them were complete polar opposites. Atleast Samuel was obnoxious, though his friend seemed pretty normal. Craig took out his iPod and put it in his ears, trying too drown out the noise of the people having conversations on the subway. Who has those, especially at 2 in the morning. Craig never talked to anyone on the subway, they were honestly the strangest people you could find in New York.

Craig closed his eyes and leaned his head back. He felt like smoking right now, but didn't want to do it here, even if there were barely anyone on. He looked around at everyone on the subway. There was already about eight people on, and Craig wondered why some of them weren't on the other cars. It was getting too crowded for two in the morning.

(For Alex Ryumin, i'll start calling him Alexander to distinguish him from the other Alex. Thats his full name anyways.)
After listening to the advice from the adults, Samuel decided that there was no use arguing with people who were 'lower class'. Alexander thought it was amusing to see his friend grumble something under his breath, then put on one of his usual sore expressions afterwards. Sitting back, Alexander began to reminiscence about some events in his past at St. Patrick's.
----------------------------
Theres always that one kid. The kid everyone forgets that exists. Alexander Ryumin knew, that he was that type of student at St. Patrick's. Ever since his first year at the private school, he only wished for one thing: To go unnoticed, especially from the social groups, just go about his own business, get good grades, then quietly graduate from the school with honors. Even getting A's bothered him. It meant that the teachers, deans, and school council would notice him. Alexander wasn't the over-achieving ambitious type of student. After all, his only dream was to become a writer, or administrator of some sort. He was good at organizing things. But that must of been the exact reason why he did get noticed, from something that he would dread most in his academic life.
During his first year, Alexander walked towards his locker on the second floor of the main building. The school was beautiful, with red and yellow hues marking the beginning of fall semester. Upon arriving his locker, he noticed the yellow post-it attatched to it. Glaring at him like a snake in the grass. He could hear that the other students were gossiping about him from behind, trying to scurry along in the hallways.
' The Watchers want you. ' was written on it.

(continued from last flash-back)
" The Watchers..? " Alexander thought. " What kind of joke is this..? "
He took a look around the hallway, noticing that the bell had rung and was emptying of students. Throughout the day uncomfortable thoughts filled his mind, unable to shake off the feeling that he had been noticed in a very bad way.
After the day's classes, he took a seat in the courtyard and read through some works written by Nietzshe, when he noticed a limousine pull up in front of the school gates. A kid in the school uniform got out, wearing a hair cut that by itself looked like it cost a hundred. Alexander noticed from afar that it was that kid Samuel Hayes. Even though the latter probably knew nothing of him, Alexander had already heard his name a dozen times.
" You better not be late to pick me up later today! " Samuel advised the driver as he slammed the door shut.
Alexander chuckled. He knew kids like Samuel were no good in the head. Kids who grow up with trust funds from their wealthy parents. Never interested in anything else besides money, and status. Completely oblivious to the evils of this world.
He watched as Samuel was greeted by at least a dozen people on his way to the dorm rooms: ass-kissers who Samuel probably didn't even know their names of..

A soft chuckling noise arose from the corner of the subway car. None of the people on the benches had spared it's source a single glance the entire ride, and perhaps the seat had even been empty until now. But the point that mattered was that the seat, regardless of its prior state, was now occupied.

The figure sat clad in a beige overcoat of a fine but outdated cut, giving him the appearance of a high-powered business executive, or a detective from the 1950s, even down to the fedora and the navy suit and waistcoat adorned with a golden fob chain. The wearer had his face buried inna copy of the New York Times, but it was still fairly obvious by the rolling motion his shoulders made that he was laughing.

His face was unreadable behind the paper, but he was grinning brightly. He thought to himself, cooly, that today's fun was only just beginning.

Allison was trying to ignore everything that was going on. She wasn't going to talk to any of them. She was just trying to make it through the ride without talking to any of these people who all seemed like low-class freaks, the kind of people that she didn't even take a second glance at. She sat back and drowned out the talking, and the chuckling of the strange man in the corner. Why was he even laughing anyways. He was strange looking, like he had jumped out of the forties and didn't realize that the wardrobe had changed.

"What the hell are you laughing at?" asked Craig. He didn't care if the man was laughing at him, the two school boys or the ceiling. Craig wanted to know why the creepy looking man was chuckling at them. He seemed amused at the fact that they were just talking amongst themselves. "Huh?" he said louder. He wasn't going to lie, he was honestly just trying to start something now. Craig was bored of surveying the subway and listening to music, and he was never going to see these people again, so why not jack with people.

Evelyn smirked when a man with an accent, she couldn’t quite place, and a man about her age voiced similar opinions about the bratty kid that she had. When Samuel didn’t seem to have a retort back she went back to the manga she had brought out earlier, hopping the ride would go by fast.

She hadn’t registered the odd laughter coming from an even odder man until the young man who had just spoken to Samuel decided to confront him. Her brown eyes looked up over the small comic book to examine the laughing man. ‘hm, he’s kind of weird. He looks like he could almost be a ghost or something, I like his hat though why don’t people where hats like that more often.’ Her train of thought continued to go on about why no one wore hats when they went out now a days, taking most of her attention away from the happenings in the real world.

Ryan let out a sigh as a brown haired man said they should spend the rest of the ride quiet. "Best idea I've heard all mourning."
Stella rolled her eyes. "Nice to meet you Alexander." she looked to Samuel. "Si può andare a vite da soli." she said with a pleasant smiled.
Stella sat back, now quiet, and within a few minutes she figured how tired she really was. She fell asleep with her head resting on Ryans shoulder.
Ryan looked around, putting an ipod into his ears and listening to the music Stella hated. He was listening to A Little Piece of Heaven, by Avenged Sevenfold when all of a sudden, a man started to yell at another man, who looked like he just stepped out of the Twilight Zone.
"Dude, just calm down." Ryan said emotionlessly. Though he didn't seem it, Ryan was suspicious of the older man. There was something sinister about him. And Ryan had a feeling he had seen that man before.

As Stella slept, horrible images crept into her dreams.
Stella was in the train, it was dark and cold. She saw a shadow move and a horrible giggled echoed through the car.
"Who's there?" She asked, and another shadow seemed to run across the subway car.
"Stella." a voice whispered. "Stella."
She stepped toward the area she heard the voice. "Stella."
She turned and let out a horrible scream at what she found. It was Ryan.
Covered with blood and with his limbs twisted the wrong way. "Ryan!" She cried "Ryan!"
"Stella." she heard and turned to see the siloute of a man. He was wearing some kind of coat and a hat, like a detective from an old movie.
"Who are you." she asked. "Hahahahaaha." the voice giggled.
"Nanna cunetta
Mamma è andata a messa
Papà è andato in campi
Con tre cavalli bianchi." the voice sang in a childish tone. It was the same nursery rhyme that her grandmother had sung to her when she laid her down to sleep.

Ryan felt Stella jolt in her sleep, and he noticed her holding her breath alittle.
"Hey, babe? You alright?" he shook her alittle ,but she wouldn't wake up. Her lips opened slightly and a brief whisper came out.
"Santa Maria, Madre di Dio,
prega per noi peccatori,
adesso e nell'ora della nostra morte"

Ryan raised his eyebrow as Stella taught him some Italian. And if he wasn't mistaken she had just said,
'Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.'

The laughter stopped, just as abruptly as it began. The mysterious man lowered his newspaper an inch, his head rotating slowly towards Craig. The act of these eyes focusing on him seemed to project waves of pure, unrestrained hatred in his general direction.

"I'm enjoying your last few moments as free men and women, Craig," he intoned quietly, his voice melodic but containing a bladed edge. He smiled behind the newspaper, not showing his small, pointed white teeth. As if to dissuade any further questions by the man, he simply quirked one eyebrow and said, "You'll see what I mean soon enough. You'll all see." Then he gave off another short burst of laughter and removed his gaze from him. The mysterious man returned to his newspaper and said no more.

Farid narrowed his eyes at the strange man. It wasn't unthinkable that a man in this city would talk like that simply because derranged, or possiblty even playing games. There was no limit to the strangeness of what you cold see in New York. But even so, there was something disturbingly lucid, somewhat emotionally detached, about the way the man spoke.

Gritting his teeth, Farid rolled up the sleeves of his coat, exposing the tattoo on his arm. He couldn't say much either way for the Italian girl's Hail Mary's, but there was something deep within him which trusted in the old magic of his ancestors. And something was telling him that evil was on the doorstep.

He kept his eyes fixed on that man a while after he had stopped talking and reverted to reading his broadsheet.