Alexander stood in front of the antique store, frowning.

In the middle of the day, just above a "Welcome" sign on the door, another one was hanging. "Closed". It was... perplexing.

Narrowing his eyes, Alexander peered through the window. There was no light inside, so all that the man could see were old-fashioned clocks and brooches and silver utensils glittering in the sun.

Before leaving, Alexander automatically tried the door. It was not locked.

"What the hell..." He walked in, slowly, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark. "Michael, are you there?"

The owner of the store didn't answer.

All the things here were in a perfect order as always, just like in a museum. Paintings on the walls; statuettes and vases in rows on the shelves. In the gloom, everything was plunged into grotesque shadows.

"Michael?" Alexander called again, a bad feeling formed at the back of his mind.

After the noisy city, the store seemed to be deadly quiet and motionless. But soon, Alexander could hear muffled voices coming from the storeroom.

"...so where is it?" the male voice was vexed.

"I couldn't find it," Michael replied.

"What do you mean you couldn't find it? We had a deal."

"I said it would be hard, I need more time. I might know a person who-"

"I don't have any more time! I need the artifact now."

With a heavy thud, something broke and the glass shards tinkled to the floor.

"Hey, you just ruined a three hundred year old jar!" Michael cried, angry. Alexander grimaced, he knew how Michael cherished every single one of his items. They were like children to him.

"Oh, believe me, that's nothing comparing to the troubles you're about to get yourself into!.."

Alexander froze, unsure what to do. Leave? Or intervene? Or call the police? What kind of a deal Michael could possible make? Suddenly, he remembered that Michael had a gun under the counter. There's no overreacting when it comes to safety, the owner used to say. Especially, with so many relics around.

"...Don't threaten me, Leir." Michael went on. "You're going too far with it."

"You have no idea how far we can go," a female voice interjected. One more thud, one more jar smashed.

"No!"

"Where is the map?.."

The map? No way. Alexander soundly darted to the counter, fumbling for the gun. What are the odds? He talked to Michael about a map recently. A sheet of paper picturing a fantasy land. One of the few things Alexander had left from his wife. Michael assured him that it was nothing but a beautiful old drawing, that he wanted it to be in his collection, that's all. Could he be lying?

"...I said I don't know."

"You don't know where the artifact is or the person who has it?" Leir asked in a low, menacing tone.

"Both."

"Liar."

"Well, technically, he can be anywhe-" Michael voice choked off into a cough as he got punched.

"Technically," Leir hissed, "I can kill you, and get away with it. Practically, you know that."

Alexander's fingers found the grip of the gun. With his heart racing, he pulled it from under the counter and turned it over in his hands. The revolver was as antique as everything else in the store, with three bullets in. Hell if Alexander knew how to use a gun, but the sight of it should be enough, right?

"...Don't try my patience, Michael," Leir continued. "And tell me-"

Drawing a deep breath, Alexander swung the door of the storeroom open.

A glint of metal flashed in front of his eyes. Before Alexander could understand what was going on he saw a blade pointed at his chest.

"Charna, wait," was Leir's order.

The girl froze, but didn't lower the knife. She just stared at Alexander, irritated. A pale scar was cutting through her right eyebrow and cheek, and her hair was as red as blood in the dim light of the room.

To Alexander's surprise, except for Leir, Charna and Michael, there were two more men here. And everyone was looking at the interloper now.

"Who are you?" Leir demanded. The collar of his coat was up. All that Alexander could see were Leir's black eyes peering at him, intimidating eyes.

Alexander swallowed hard. This wasn't exactly what he'd been expecting to see. "And who are you?" he glanced at the criminals, then at his friend. Michael's face was composed as ever despite the blood dripping from his spit lip on his flawlessly ironed shirt.

"Alex, I'm a little busy," Michael spoke quietly. "Come back later."

"Oh, no," Leir let out a sound that, conceivably, was a rough laugh. "I'm afraid Alex is not leaving." He made a vague gesture, "Tane, Nagal, entertain the guest while we finish here."

The two other men started toward Alexander.

He backed into the darkness of the store, hurriedly trying to decide among the unpleasant options. Run? Shoot? Try to talk?

Talk. But what about? Alexander knew nothing about the deal Michael had made with this Leir and why. And what sort of criminals were these people? Was Leir joking about the killing part? Were they really capable of such a thing?

"Guys, let's take it slow," Alexander said, raising the revolver. His hand was trembling.

"We always take it slow," nodded one of the men, grinning. Poisonous amusement flickered in his eyes as he looked sideway at his friend. "Aren't we, Nag?"

Bald-headed Nag just chuckled low in his throat and reached for something in his pocket. A knife.

Without thinking, Alexander hopped behind a bookcase, trying to buy more time.

Silence hovered over the store for a few moments.

"You want to play hide-and-seek?" Tane's mocking voice came from somewhere in the blackness. "Too bad we're not into games."

Too bad Alexander knew it. These people seemed so calm and unfazed, Alexander wondered if they were professionals. Carefully, he peeked from around the corner. Not a slightest movement. The pitch darkness made Tane and Nagal invisible.

Leir's and Michael's voices were still heard from the storeroom.

"...you're telling me now or your friend..."

"...doesn't know that!"

More glass breaking, more punching.

"Then you'd better..."

All of a sudden, Nagal's grim face appeared next to Alexander. The enemy lifted his fist for a strike, but Alexander jumped aside. Nagal's hand slashed the air instead and hit the bookcase, knocking it on the floor. Books and antiquities flew all around them.

Nagal gave an exasperated growl and attacked again.

Alexander staggered as the stone fist landed on his shoulder, his arm went numb, and the revolver clattered on the floor.

"That toy is useless here," Nagal said, his eyes wild.

They both collapsed, tangled into a fight. Behind the sound of his blood pounding in his ears, Alexander could still hear Michael and Leir arguing not so far away. Then, everything fell silent.

Regardless of how strong he was, Nagal also was ponderous. Sluggish even. He moved as though he didn't intend to hurt Alexander, but rather keep him busy.

Grabbing some statuette, Alexander hit Nagal with it. The enemy roared like a wounded bear, but a second later ready to attack again.

Fortunately, a second was quite enough to get to the gun. Alexander rolled to his feet and stood, leveling the revolver at Nagal.

"Put the gun down," Leir emerged from the storeroom. Charna was beside him, holding her knife to Michael's throat.

Alexander didn't move.

"Come on, Alex," Leir gave a gusty sigh. "I see you sweating, your hands shaking. You're not cut out for this."

It was true, Alexander felt panic rasping in his chest. Yet, he couldn't simply flee and leave his friend. Besides, the thought of the map still nagged him.

"We told him the pistol is no use here," Tane said, appearing from the dark next to Nagal. "But he's obviously as dumb as any other earthling."

Giving a sign, Michael's gaze shifted to the back door. Alexander's brow creased. What did his friend want? He wanted Alexander to run? Or there was something else?

"Hey," Charna twitched her lips and pressed her knife closer to Michael's throat. "Stop flirting."

"Alexander, if you want to shoot," Leir took a slow step forward. "Shoot. But make sure you don't miss." Another step. "Otherwise, when the police show up, you might need to explain why-"

And Alexander shot. He didn't aim at anyone, of course. He shot in the air above the heads, just trying to scare.

The bullet bounced off a piece of armor hanging on the wall and drilled through the window. In the blink of an eye, the glass cracked and shattered into pieces.

"He's not dumb, he's crazy!" Charna yelped, covering her head with her hands. She didn't sound frightened though, only extremely annoyed.

Michael got free and dashed toward the back door.

The daylight filled the store, revealing the mess Alexander and Nagal had created while fighting. Glittering jewelries and souvenirs, splintered music boxes and torn books littered the floor. The light danced on the facets of the gems, twinkling.

Blinking, Alexander looked back at Leir who was still before him. The light fell on his face, and Alexander involuntarily gasped in astonishment.

Leir. He was only a boy, not a man. Just a child, merely older than Alexander's own daughter. And the other's too. Alexander suddenly felt sorry for them. What could possibly force a young person to step on a dangerous path of a criminal?

"How old are you?" All the fear evaporated from Alexander's soul. How could he not see this from the beginning? Perhaps, their behavior was too bold for anyone to question their age. But still.

Temper flared in Leir's eyes. "You want to know how old I am?" He took another step toward Alexander.

"He doesn't." Michel's voice answered.

Turning his head, Alex saw the owner of the store. Michael licked his spit lip and demonstrated to everyone a dagger he was now holding. The dagger was odd. Its blade was made of some kind of dark blue stone, with silver symbols carved in it.

Yet, what was odd even more was the reaction of the intruders.

Leir froze, terror crossed his face for a second, before he managed to conceal it behind the mask of placidity. Charna let out a short shrieking sound and hid behind Leir's back. Tane and Nagal tensed, staring at the dagger in horror.

"You and your friends are leaving now, Leir," Michael spoke. "Or I'm using this blade on you. Any volunteers eager to know how it feels against the skin? I bet you know."

"Michael, what's going on here?" Alexander stood between Leir and Michael, his eyes constantly flicking left and right. "Don't you see they're just children?"

"There're no children in my business, Alex."

"Whatever they told you, they didn't mean it. I'm sure."

"Alex, get out of here," Michael said, his eyes still fixed on Leir. "I'm trying to help you."

Alexander raised his eyebrows, confused. "Help me? What you mea-"

At this moment, Tane leaped from aside, trying to knock the dagger out of Michael's hands.

"I warned you!" The blue blade in Michael's hand swished the air and cut Tane's leather jacket. Tane screamed as if he was burned, and retreated, clutching his injured arm.

But, using the element of surprise, Nagal took his friend's place as swiftly as a lightning. He snatched the dagger from Michael's hand and jammed it under his ribs.

"No!" Alexander shot again.

The second bullet found Nagal's thigh, and the boy slumped on the floor, cursing.

Michael sagged against the wall as his shirt was rapidly turning red. "Alex..."

"Michael!" Alexander rushed to his friend.

"Alex, the par... the parcel..."

"What parcel?"

Michael coughed, struggling to breath. "Alex, don't let her... Don't..." He went limp and hit the floor like a rag doll.

A faint sound of sirens came from the distance. Someone had apparently heard the noise of firing bullets and called the police.

"What have you done?!" Alexander turned to the others. Children or no children, they were murderers after all.

"He's just unconscious, he'll live," Leir said matter-of-factly, bending over Nagal. He took off his coat, covering Nagal's leg that was stained with blood. "And we're leaving."

Nagal groaned with pain, climbing to his feet.

"You're not going anywhere!" Alexander raised the revolver once again. His hand was still shaky, but now it was only anger. "We're all waiting for the police."

No one even bothered to look in the man's direction. Charna and Tane were already by the back door, trying to unlock it. And Leir was supporting Nagal, helping him hobble toward the exit.

Something glowed on Leir's arm. At first, Alexander thought it was a trick of the light, scattered jewelries playing with the sun and spreading their colored glints over the room. But the glowing was too steady. It was more like melted diamonds spilled over Leir's skin, tracing along his veins.

Alexander's eyes widened. "I know who you are."

It all became clear. Why they weren't afraid of the gun and feared the dagger. Why they looked so young and spoke so strange. Michael was right, there were no children here. Faces lie. Except for the map, everything made sense to Alexander now.

Still, nobody even glimpsed at him.

"I know who you are," Alexander repeated, louder. "You're not humans."

Leir darted a quick look at Alexander, his expression quizzical. "Aren't you afraid to end up like your friend for these words?"

"I'm ready to take the risk."

The sirens wailed very close.

Tane cracked the lock and looked outside. "Everything's clear for now," he breathed. "Let's go."

"No, wait! I need your help!" They were the people Alexander had been searching for, for so many years. Trying to solve the mystery, he'd already lost his hope. He'd asked Michael about them a million times, but the friend claimed to know nothing. "I need you!"

"Anyone knock him out, please," Nagal rumbled. "He won't leave us alone."

Charna cocked her head at Alexander. "Kick or punch?"

"Your choice."

Charna grinned. "Kick it is." She started toward Alexander.

"No!" Alexander held up his hands in a defensive posture. "I have the map."

Everyone stopped in the doorway. Even Nagal ceased to groan and tilted his head to look at the man.

"Do you really?" Leir asked. His voice was flat, but an unhuman, devilish spark flickered in his dark eyes.

"Yes."

Leir's mouth quirked up into a smirk. "Then we have something to talk about."