After that night, they all woke up to a scene of chaos. Sam stirred first, blinking at the mess around him. His head pounded as he sat up, groaning. Nearby, John was slumped in a chair, snoring lightly, while Xander lay on the bed with Alex curled up against his chest. A sharp knock on the door shattered the silence.
Sam groaned, rubbing his face before stumbling toward the door. As he opened it, he was met with the furious glare of John's wife, her arms crossed.
"Can't you behave when you're drunk?" she scolded. "Don't drink in front of children!"
Sam winced, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, madam."
She stepped inside, scanning the room until her eyes landed on Alex, still asleep against Xander. Without another word, she walked over, gently lifting the boy into her arms before heading out.
Sam, still groggy, nudged John and Xander awake. "What happened last night?"
Xander and John exchanged knowing looks before turning back to him. "You destroyed the TV and the bench... and then declared war on the Dark Forces," John said flatly.
Sam rubbed his head, wincing. "Oh... is that so? My bad."
Meanwhile, Alex sat up on the bed, dozing off again. Ben plopped down beside him, staring blankly at the wall. "Alex, I want to sleep more," Ben mumbled.
Alex stretched and yawned. "Why are we so sleepy today?"
John smirked. "Because you kids went on a long ride yesterday. Now, go wash up!"
Alex and Ben begrudgingly trudged upstairs. As they passed Gwen's room, Alex paused. "Hey, why don't we wake Gwen too?"
Ben shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
Alex pushed the door open and froze. A dark, ominous smoke hovered over Gwen, pulsating with eerie energy. His eyes widened in recognition.
"This is the same type of dark matter I saw in heaven... but weaker," he thought.
Turning to Ben, he asked, "Ben, do you fear demons?"
Ben grinned. "I only fear God... and my mother's sandal."
Alex grabbed Gwen's wrist. "I'll handle the smoke!"
Ben wasted no time, lunging onto Gwen and attempting to restrain her. She thrashed wildly, letting out a bone-chilling scream.
Alex rushed forward, chanting a sacred verse. Gwen's movements became erratic, her body convulsing as if something inside her was fighting to break free. The entire house shook as footsteps thundered toward Gwen's room.
Xander, Sam, John, and his wife arrived, eyes wide with shock.
Sam let out an amused chuckle. "I like that kid. I've decided."
Xander nodded. "He's good at this. Looks fearless."
John, however, remained tense. "Those kids... they have angels guarding them."
His wife clutched his arm. "But Gwen is struggling!"
Xander waved a hand dismissively. "Leave it to the kids. Alex was raised in heaven—his body is covered in a holy aura. Just stay put."
Inside the room, Alex summoned holy fire, pressing it against the dark mass. The black smoke twisted violently before finally dissolving into nothing.
Ben crossed his arms. "Where's that black bastard now?"
Alex climbed onto the bed, murmuring in an ancient language. Gwen shivered, her body still tense. He smirked. "It's still hiding inside her."
Placing a hand against her chest, Alex summoned more holy fire. Gwen gasped before falling still. He nodded at Ben, who released his grip and gently laid her down.
Alex turned to Xander. "Father, I need to talk to her."
Xander frowned. "Really? What happened?"
Alex hesitated. "When I was in heaven, I saw dark matter like this... but much stronger. I was only able to burn it using a strange liquid form. I think I can handle it."
Xander sighed, placing a hand on John's shoulder. "Come with me. There's no dark aura left in her, so let the kids handle it."
Ben shut the door behind them, leaving Alex and Gwen alone.
Alex shook her gently. "Hey, Gwen, wake up."
She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. But the moment she saw Alex, she recoiled, pulling the blanket over herself. Her breath was uneven, her body shaking.
Ben frowned. "What's wrong? We just burned that demon! Why's she acting like this?"
Alex chuckled. "Ben, let's pull the blanket."
They yanked it away, revealing Gwen's tear-streaked face. She trembled. "It was terrifying... It tortured me. I don't want you both to suffer because of me."
Ben laughed, patting her head. "We fear nothing, as long as God watches over us."
She sniffled. "It said God abandoned me."
Alex grinned. "Then why did He send me? It's all part of His plan."
"If you become our friend, then we can cover the demon with a blanket and stomp it until it dies!" Ben declared.
Alex laughed. "That's a good idea! How dare a mere ghost mess with us in this house!"
Gwen hesitated before slowly extending her hand. "Let's be friends. I'm Gwen."
Alex shook it firmly. "I'd love to."
Ben huffed. "Hey, what about me? Don't I get a handshake too?"
Gwen giggled and offered her hand. "Of course."
Ben shook it enthusiastically. "Alright, we're officially friends now!"
Outside the room, Xander and Sam exchanged amused looks as they listened.
Xander chuckled. "Being a kid is the best thing."
Sam smirked. "They're handling it well."
Later, after freshening up, Alex and Ben made their way to the kitchen.
"What's for breakfast, Aunt?" Ben asked eagerly.
She laughed. "Chicken roast."
Ben elbowed Alex. "We're making sure we eat a huge portion. It's best with butter!"
After eating, Alex and Ben sat on the couch, watching action movies.
Gwen sat beside Alex. "Why are you watching so many movies?"
"Action movies are interesting!" Alex said.
Meanwhile, across town, Ethan stepped into John's home, his gaze falling on Ben.
"Why did you say that, Ben?" he asked, already sensing mischief.
Ben simply chuckled. "Dad, did Mom scold you?"
Ethan sighed dramatically. "She roasted me alive with her words! And she hit me! Even your grandma was on her side!"
A voice came from behind. It was John's wife. Amber smirked. "Well, if I were her, I would've killed you or thrown you out of the house."
Ethan groaned. "Hey! I was on a mission! That's my job! If I don't do it, who knows if someone else might fail?!"
A voice cut through the air. "And what makes you think only you can do it?" she asked, arms crossed.
"Because I'm damn good at it," Ethan said, confidence radiating from him. "I've saved countless lives and taken down deadly enemies—alone!"
John walked in with Sam and Xander. "He was an ex-CIA field officer," John explained. "A specter in the shadows."
She scoffed. "Whatever. Now, everyone, to the dining table!"She scoffed. "Whatever. Now, everyone, to the dining table!"
At the dining table, the room buzzed with chatter as everyone settled into their seats. Amber was feeding Gwen while Sam playfully offered a spoonful of meat to her. Alex, meanwhile, took a bite of the dish in front of him, his expression shifting rapidly as he processed the flavors.
"I... I can't describe this taste!" he finally managed, looking bewildered.
Sam burst into laughter. "Alex, that's just spice and butter."
Alex nodded slowly, still trying to comprehend the sensation. "It's… it's good, Uncle!"
Sam grinned. "Glad to hear it. Now hurry up and finish eating. We're heading to the bank."
"Bank? What's that?" Alex asked, genuinely curious.
Everyone at the table paused, looking at him with expressions ranging from surprise to amusement.
Ben finally broke the silence. "It's where all the money is stored."
After finishing their meal, Sam led the group outside, where a rugged, open-top Jeep waited for them. As they drove into the city, towering glass buildings and people dressed in vibrant, trendy clothes overwhelmed Alex's senses.
Ben noticed his reaction and chuckled. "John, is this Lightcase & Co? It's a pretty good bank, right?"
John shook his head. "No, this one's pretty small. I think it's—"
"Roosevelt Calvania," Xander interrupted, swallowing the last of his food.
Ethan, who had been casually eating, suddenly stopped, his gaze locking onto Xander.
Something was about to unfold.
After finishing their meal, Sam grabbed a hammer and hopped into the open-top modern jeep. With the engine roaring to life, they set off, the wind whipping past as they traveled.
As they entered the city, towering glass buildings stretched toward the sky, their reflections shifting like liquid light. The streets pulsed with people draped in colorful, trendy clothes, a stark contrast to the world Alex was used to. He couldn't help but feel disoriented, his gaze darting from one neon sign to another, trying to make sense of it all.
Ben, noticing Alex's confusion, gave him a sideways glance and muttered, "We really need to be sure about this."
"That it was the right place?" Alex asked.
Ben nodded, scanning the towering structures. "uncle John said it was Lightcase & Co."
"It was very good!" eathen affirmed with a knowing expression.
"No," Xander interjected, shaking his head. "It wasn't some big-shot corporation. It was a small bank—I think."
Without warning, Xander's expression shifted. His voice dropped to a murmur, his words carrying an eerie weight. "Roosevelt Calsanvania."
Ethan, who had been silent all this time, narrowed his eyes. He stared at Xander for a long moment before speaking. "That was an old bank… A place for the mysterious and the forgotten. No government could ever lay a finger on it."
Xander brought the jeep to a sudden halt. The city noise around them seemed to muffle, as if the very air held its breath.
"They didn't dare," he said, his voice smooth yet edged with something sharp. He turned to them, his gaze like a shadow cast in flickering light.
"Because they are afraid of me."
A smirk played on his lips.
"The Agreement of Light and Shadows."