<span style="font-weight: bold">Prologue</span><br/><br/>The everlasting war between Heaven and Hell continues to persevere. Laying waste to Earth and its surroundings. The lands that slowly mutate towards terminal withering entities. The battle of shadow and light decaying what remains.<br/><br/>The Patriarch from the Underworld had unleashed his dark followers to roam upon the earthly planet a long time ago. Disguising themselves as mortal being inhabitants. Lurking, plotting, scheming, manipulating within unsuspecting eyes.<br/><br/>They are known as the Lurkers.<br/><br/>Given their unknown, but limited, powers- they are able to resume the form of civilians. Walking amongst the living in their everyday lives.<br/><br/>Some Lurkers have had the ability to deceive the people they are with for decades. Let alone days, months and years. Resuming the role as political figures, business employers, married ones, even children.<br/><br/>From the heavens above, Angels have descended in attempt to rebalance the defiling amass of Lurkers. They, too, keep their identity classified. Also residing camouflaged amid the living. Their intentions for the greater good but often leaving consequences in the wake of their acts.<br/><br/>Within the fray, alliances shift where Angels fall to the dark side and Lurkers turn towards the light. The chaos and upheaval causing some to fight against their own. Friends, family, brothers, sisters, loved and adored ones.<br/><br/>The question remains as to whether the Earth will arise with calm and tranquillity, or plummet into a never-ending oppressive abyss.<br/><br/>If a select few can recognise their purpose and learn the truth of the Underworld’s and Heaven’s motives, perhaps the world can be spared from its crushing fate.<br/><br/>__________________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">City of Los Angeles<br/>Police headquarters</span><br/><br/>Detective Athena O’shea sat at her desk. Gnawing at the end of a pencil as her overworked eyes scanned the various case files scattered across her desk. 5 empty mugs that had previously been filled with black coffee were all lined up at the end of her desk.<br/><br/>She shook her head as she struggled to make heads or tails of any of the case scenarios presented to her. The more she read, the more her head throbbed.<br/><br/>She took a deep breath and tried again.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“Young woman dies an unsuspecting death within her hospital bed. Note found simply stating ‘The war is upon us.’”<br/><br/>“Missing! Young boy who used to make strange claims that he spoke with Angels. Runaway or captured?”<br/><br/>“Missing! Weird Voodoo couple whose house was also burnt down with all evidence destroyed of their collections and whereabouts. Suicidal ritual?”</span><br/><br/>She clicked her tongue, before sighing in an exasperated fashion. More and more of these cases were showing up. However, before she could get to the scene or get a lead, it seemed all evidence would get destroyed. Bar what was left behind.<br/>There would be no bodies to autopsy, no finger prints to pick up, no witnesses, no alibis.<br/>No nothing.<br/><br/>“Well, this blows!” she winced as she slammed her palms against the desk. Pushing herself to stand up and make her way towards one of the windows.<br/><br/>She glanced through it and scrutinized the view. The cityscape was an extensive concrete jungle which only just ended a few hundred miles away. It was evening time and the few building and street lamps were beginning to light up. Traffic was becoming congested with car beeps becoming more audible and agitated in tone.<br/><br/>The sun was setting and the blue sky was slowly diluting towards oranges and pinks in the wake of its path.<br/><br/>A hand suddenly fell on her shoulder.<br/><br/>“Problem Athena?”<br/><br/>Athena turned around frantically, gasped with shock before calming down. Her expression then hardened to that of a ratty one.<br/><br/>“Can you STOP doing that?!” she flailed her arms “I’m like… the last person in this building so I don’t need your prancing around Declan! Especially with what’s been going on lately…”<br/><br/>“Dgeeze ok! I’m sorry alright…?” Declan said, lifting his arms up in surrender.<br/><br/>Backing away.<br/><br/>“I was just finishing up myself and I think you should do the same...”<br/><br/>Officer Declan O’leary was a tall silver fox who had worked with Athena multiple times on various cases. Lately, however, he had tried to keep his distance given the strain of recent happenings which appeared to be making her an oppressive individual to be around. Especially since she had lost someone close to her about 6 months ago.<br/><br/>She used to be so jovial and fun to work with.<br/><br/>Now she couldn’t even take a joke.<br/><br/>“I will go home when I have SOME lead on what’s going on here…” she spoke more softly. Trying hide the impatience in her voice. Somehow the drawling of the last word gave it away.<br/><br/>“So what do you think it is then?” Declan asked nonchalantly “vampires? The gods? Urban Legends? Occults… Grim Reaper??”<br/><br/>“No I don’t think it’s any of those things!” Athena snapped “how could it be?!”<br/><br/>“You’re allowed to think, outside the box, as it were, Athena,” he smiled with his eyes closed.<br/><br/>“That’s ridiculous..!” she tightened her hands into fists. Before taking a deep breath and sighing “I mean.. there’s just not enough evidence. Actually… there’s just no evidence at all.”<br/><br/>“…I just don’t get it…” she said out aloud. More to herself.<br/>Declan laughed quietly before shaking his head.<br/><br/>“No. Not yet… there’s no evidence,” he explained “with a more rested mind though, the answers will be easier to retrieve than you think.”<br/><br/>“Come on… let’s go home. I’ll escort you.” He offered “and if we see anything on the way at all… we’ll stop and investigate!”<br/>Athena reluctantly puffed her cheeks, before simply nodding and walked past Declan. Out of the office, with the accomplice hesitantly running after her.<br/><br/>_______________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Room within a corporate Medical building</span><br/><br/>Carly was sitting upon a leathered couch with an inclination for the head rest. The furniture piece had its back facing the other back of an executive swivel chair.<br/><br/>Before her session began, she took a moment to take in the room’s surroundings.<br/><br/>There were shelves stacked with books with spines of royal colours. Namely greens, navy blue and reds.<br/><br/>The curtains were drawn and a couple of desk lamps were a lit. Although the light they brought paled in comparison to the fire place which was just across the room from where Carly was sitting. There were also a couple of pot plants, whose green leaves added some colour variation to the room.<br/><br/>The feel about this place was supposed to be homely and welcoming. Supposed to be…<br/><br/>Carly jerked back as an old styled door within the modern building swung open and appeared to be callously shut behind. The figure merely glanced at Carly, before promptly setting a briefcase upon his desk. Flicking it open to retrieve some files.<br/><br/>“Welcome back Carly,” an eloquent voice with an edge of order spoke in an alto-bass like tone.<br/><br/>Carly shifted uncomfortably before peering at the tall figure who was wearing a white business shirt, a red tie and a blazer.<br/><br/>She’d seen Dr. Summerfield before. Several times for therapy and she was always grateful for his help. However, something about him seemed shady.<br/><br/>She dismissed the thought again for the 500th time and composed herself.<br/><br/>“Thanks sir…” she replied.<br/><br/>The figure picked up her uncertainty.<br/><br/>“Please, call me Julien,” he reassured her.<br/><br/>Carly simply sat there and nodded, before her eyes followed Julien as he walked past her to take the opposing seat in the executive chair. Disappearing from her vision.<br/><br/>“Alright then,” Julien began as he checked his watch accordingly and then made himself comfortable by crossing his legs and resting his palms on the armrests of the chair.<br/><br/>“So how are you doing lately?”<br/><br/>He leaned his chin against the palm of his hand. Mentally sighing<br/><br/>Intros were always so dull for him. Nevertheless, it had to be done in order to get into his patients’ head.<br/><br/>_________________________________________________________________________________________________<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Outside police headquarters</span><br/><br/>Athena and Declan spent several minutes walking upon the pavements. Shifting from street shadows, to more lit up areas, and then back into the shades again. Neither saying a word since they left the office and walking an awkward 4 meters apart from each other.<br/><br/>Declan started to open his mouth. About to say something. Anything… before his thoughts were interrupted by some sound playing from a nearby record store. It was hard to deduce what genre it was. Whatever it was, it was way too intense for him.<br/><br/>“Ugh, what do kids listen to these days?” he joked with a cheesy grin.<br/><br/>Athena resumed the facial expressions of narrowing her eyes, before raising her eyebrows. Scrutinising the question as much as she would’ve done one of the criminal investigations back at the office.<br/><br/>“Actually, I find that music very therapeutic,” she contradicted.<br/><br/>Declan rolled his eyes, before stopping and smiling at the sight ahead of him.<br/>It was late, true, but it appeared that right in front of him, a florist was open.<br/><br/>He had an idea.<br/><br/>“Wait there for just a second Athena… I know what will cheer you up!”<br/><br/>Before Athena could interject in any shape or form, Declan dashed towards the florists.<br/><br/>Eager to get the attention what looked to be, a young girl. One who donned a red pair of glasses and was a half human and half panda.<br/>He got the impression that if there was a good bunch of flowers to pick, she would be the person to ask. Although he also wondered whether she’d be better suited to a library.<br/><br/>“Hey girl!!!” he said in cheesy but harmless manner. Catching his breath before she looked up.<br/>“I need some flowers… can you help me out?”<br/><br/>_________________________________________________________<br/><br/>Athena stood there. Folding her arms and tapping her feet impatiently. The undertones of the music she heard from the record store came drifting back slowly to her ears which caused her to turn around and have a good look at the store. Something she didn’t care much for earlier.<br/><br/>She raised her eyebrows as she noticed a tall and large framed human figure. Leaning against the wall as he took a drag of a cigarette. The fumes well outlined against the dark as the night was properly setting in.<br/><br/>‘Just a record guy, having a smoke right? Nothing wrong with that.’ She thought to herself.<br/>She looked over her shoulder briefly, before wondering off. Up to the record store guy.<br/><br/>“Hi…” she asked dubiously “you got any smokes on you?”