Joel sat on an ancient threadbare mattress; his hands tied behind his back. Mysterious stains covered the dirty fabric, which he tried to scoot away from. He had the horrible feel that it was dried blood, and did his best to avert his eyes. He didn’t want to think about how the mattress would look once Moe was finished with him.

He wanted to flee, but hadn’t put up a fight. Joel knew he was no match for three grown men, especially when two of them were carrying assault rifles. He thought about the gun Nan had given him. His backpack had been tossed in the corner of the room, well out of his reach.  Even if he could somehow get to it, he probably wouldn't use the revolver. The thought of shooting someone made his stomach turn.

He tugged at his restraints, testing how tight they were. The fabric chafed uncomfortably at the skin around his wrists, but mercifully didn’t cut off any circulation. 

“W-Why are you doing this?” Joel tried to keep the quaver out of his voice. His heart was beating so fast, he was worried it would explode. 

Moe was lazily pacing around the dirty room, eyeing the mismatched furniture with surprising nonchalance. “It’s nothin’ personal.” 

Moe turned to face Joel. He lifted a booted leg and pressed it onto the mattress causing it to dip. He rested an elbow on his thigh as he leaned forward, putting their faces mere inches apart. Joel studied the lines of his weathered face. His eyes were a honey brown color, but they held no signs of warmth, even though his thin lips were pulled into a smile.

“We know you’re traveling with a demon.”

Joel could feel his adrenaline spike. He tried to take a calming breath. He knew that a panic attack would only make things worse. 

“I—“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Moe let out a humorless laugh. “Cut the shit, kid. I can smell their kind. It’s a gift.” He sniffed the air in Joel’s direction, his nose scrunching with disgust. “You reek of their scent. I bet you’re letting that monster fuck you, you little slut.” 

Joel was momentarily speechless, but he could feel his cheeks heat at Moe’s words. “Don’t— don’t talk to me like that.”

“The way I see it— you’re either its slave and we’re doing you a favor right now, or you're in league with it, in which case this is deserved.” 

Moe’s smile became more shark-like the longer Joel stayed silent l. “So you’re with it willingly. See, you may have forgotten where you are. This isn’t Gomorrah. Their kind aren’t welcome here. I knew Nan was working with biblicals at her settlement, but I never thought one of her people would have the audacity to bring one here.”

Joel swallowed the bile creeping up his throat. “I’m sorry. We didn't mean any harm. P-Please let me go and we’ll leave peacefully.”

“I’ll let you leave when I get what I fucking want.”

Joel couldn’t help but tug on his restraints again. He felt his wrists sting as the fabric bit further into his skin. “And w-what’s that?” 

“Information. I know the bibs are up to something– somethin’ big. What is it?” 

“I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Moe made a tutting noise and shook his head. He picked a broken clock from the bedside table and tossed it between his hands. “Don’t lie to me, Joel. Just tell me what you know.” 

“But I don’t have any information! I barely know Levi!”

Moe’s lip curled in disgust. “You even call it by a name. Like it’s a person or something.” 

Moe’s fist moved faster than Joel could register. The metal clock slammed against the side of his face, and his brow exploded with sharp pain.

“What are they up to!” Moe yelled. 

“I don’t know! Levi is just doing this as a favor to Nan. He hasn’t t-told me anything.”

Moe pulled his hand back, gripping the clock tightly in his fist as he readied to swing at him for a second time. 

“Help!” Joel screamed at the top of his lungs. “Levi, help!” 

Moe laughed. It was an ugly sound that made Joel recoil as if he'd been struck again. 

“You think it’s coming for you?” Moe sneered. “We mean nothing to their kind. It probably left already.”

“You’re wrong!” Even as Joel said the words, doubt prickled at the back of his mind. 

“If I am wrong, which I’m not, we’ve got a sigil on the far side of our fence. Bought it from some travelers. Your demon friend couldn’t come in here if it tried.” 

“Levi!” Joel called again. “Please, help me!” 

“Shut up!” Pain bloomed across Joel’s cheek as Moe struck him with the clock once more. “Tell me what they’re planning!”

Fat drops of ruby blood were now dripping onto the discolored mattress. Joel sniffled in an attempt to stem the trickle of blood leaking from his nose. He thought he could hear popping noises, and wondered if his ears were ringing from the blows he’d received. 

“I don’t know what they’re planning! I don’t know anything!” 

Moe reached around Joel’s body and grabbed him by his restraints. Joel hissed in pain as Moe yanked him off the bed and pushed him to the ground. Joel landed on his knees and tried not to tremble as pain flared up his legs. 

Joel felt momentary relief when Moe finally turned away from him to address his companions. 

“Go check that out,” Moe snarled at one of the armed men. The one wearing a leather jacket moved towards the door, but it was ripped off its hinges before he got there. 

All of the air left the room. For a moment, Joel’s captors stayed perfectly still and silent. They were in stark contrast to Levi, who was growling and shaking with barely contained rage.

Levi’s body obstructed nearly the entire doorway. His chest was heaving and his clothes were shredded with small holes. His black fists were clenched and coated with red blood. Levi’s golden irises and pupils were literally glowing, and Joel could have sworn that steam was curling out of the demon’s nose. He looked like an absolute menace. 

A part of Joel’s brain knew that he should feel afraid, but he didn’t. If anything, the sight calmed him; it made him feel safe. 

“Levi!” Joel’s entire body sang with relief.

The two met eyes from where he was kneeling on the floor, and Levi released an inhumane sound at the sight of him. His mouth opened wide, showcasing his pointed teeth. Goosebumps erupted from on Joel’s skin at the sharp, thunderous sounds he was making.  

Levi stepped inside of the room, and Moe’s men fled the second the doorway was clear. For another moment, Moe stood stock still. His body straightened as he opened his hands in a placating gesture. “This is just a misunderstand–”

He didn’t have time to finish his words. Levi had moved so fast, his body was nothing more than a blur. At the first strike of Levi’s fist, Moe had fallen to the ground. As soon as his head had hit the carpet, Levi was on his knees, his fists raining down repeatedly on Moe’s face.

Joel winced as he heard the crunch of broken bones and the squelching sound of blood. The pummeling didn’t slow down as more moments passed, and Joel realized that Levi was going to kill him. 

“Levi, stop!” Moe had hit him, but that didn’t mean Joel wanted the man to die. 

Levi didn’t stop. Instead, he reached back between his shoulder blades, as if readying to unsheathe his massive sword. 

“Levi!” Joel called again. “Stop and get me out of here, please.”

At the word please, Levi finally looked up from Moe’s broken face and met his desperate gaze. 

“Levi, please,” he whispered.

Levi’s gaze softened as he stood once more. Moving faster than Joel could comprehend, Levi grabbed his backpack from the corner of the room, before scooping Joel up in his arms. He didn’t slow down, even as they approached the second story window. 

“Levi!” Joel yelled, but the demon didn’t slow his pace.

He’s gone insane! I’m going to die! 

As they reached the glass, Joel clenched his eyes shut to brace for their inevitable fall– but it never came. Instead, he felt cool air blowing on his face. He hesitantly peaked his eyes open. They were in the air, but moving forward, cruising at a steady pace. Joel was still tightly wrapped in Levi’s arms, but he managed to crane his head far enough back to see the sky. His mouth fell open in disbelief at the sight of jet black wings. They were flying.