Fallen Chapter Three: Battle at the Plaza

Cohan swallowed as he watched a shadowy figure slink out of the shadows of the corner. The form had the shape of a man, yet he knew it wasn't really. No matter how human these shadows chose to look, they weren't. This was something that he had learned at an early age. Sohai suddenly winced and gripped his head, his eyes slipping closed as he, stood next to him. "...Sohai?" Cohan asked quietly, looking at his partner. "Jesus man, snap out of it," he murmured and grabbed Sohai's shoulder, shaking him. Sohai opened his eyes and focused on him, but it seemed that he wasn't all there. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" he didn't remove his hand from Sohai's shoulder; he tightened his grip, watching the shadow from the corner of his eye. Sohai only shook his head and glared at the shadow, snarling under his breath. Cohan wasn't aware that the shadow was coming to attack him until it was too late. "Ack!" he cried, and flew backward suddenly. He hit the ground hard and lay there for a moment, seemingly in a daze. Groaning, he rose to his feet.

"Stay down," came Sohai's voice, though he couldn't see his partner anywhere. The room was suddenly very dark, and he could hardly see his hand in front of his face, let alone the shadow or his partner a few feet away. "He's powerful."

"...He?" Cohan questioned, confused. "What are you talking about?" he looked around, but didn't see anyone. "Where are you?"

"By the table," came Sohai's voice.

"...And...where's the table?" Cohan asked as he took a step forward. He was knocked down again by some unknown force. He hit he ground hard once more, and his head slammed back into the ground making his vision go fuzzy. His head spinning, he could only lie there.

"Cohan!" came Sohai's voice. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"...M'fine..." Cohan managed to mumble. "I'm okay," he said. Slowly, shakily, he rose to his feet. He felt a presence to his left, and spun quickly, narrowly avoiding the jaws of death from the shadow. He felt the air go past his face and froze. He took a step back and nearly tripped over a chair. 'Jesus I'm off tonight,' he thought to himself. "Sohai, where are you?" he called, squinting. He still couldn't see through the cover of darkness.

Sohai didn't answer. Everything was silent.

"Sohai! Where are you?" he tried again, but still, there wasn't an answer. 'Damn it Sohai!' he thought to himself. 'Answer me!' he took a step forward and nearly walked into Sohai. "Sohai! What's wrong?" Sohai was staring into the darkness, his eyes glazed. "...Hello? Partner?"

Sohai blinked and shook his head. When he spoke his voice was shaky. "I...God I wish he would stop getting into my head..." he clenched his eyes tightly closed, and even in the dim lighting Cohan knew his face was pale.

"...Who?" Cohan murmured.

"The shadow. It was once a man, I think. He keeps getting into my head, and...ugh!" he shook his head. "He's trying to get back in. I don't know what he's doing in there, but my head is killing me."

"Hang in there," said Cohan as he gave him a friendly cuff on the shoulder. "This isn't over yet."

Sohai nodded. "I know," he whispered.

Cohan was secretly worried though. Sohai was good at picking up on the emotions around him, unless he was around another Active One. He could read normal people's thoughts and emotions, and this shadow was really messing with him. He felt a presence to his left and ducked just a shadowy fist came flying through the air. "Damn he likes to be straight forward."

Sohai nodded again. "Yeah I know what you mean." He was suddenly knocked backward, and Cohan could only watch as the shadow pinned him to the ground, giant fangs snapping at his throat. Sohai struggled to keep the teeth back, but Cohan knew it was a struggle. "Get back!" Sohai shouted as Cohan took a step forward to help him.

Cohan wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but he knew it probably wasn't going to be for the best. This shadow was different.