It started out like any typical day in suburbia. Percolators perked, toasters toasted, garage doors opened to disgorge cars heading toward the freeway. Everything was beautifully ordinary, until the shadow....

The shadow creped over the land like a crooked fingered thief robbing the world of light. The laughter of children hushed, cars crashed to a halt and people stood outside watching the sunlight disappear forever.

Its creator, Dr. Louisa Hunton, to defend humanity from the stupidity of their predecessors, activated the Solar Hindering Artificially Developed Ozone Wall or S.H.A.D.O.W on Nov. 2, 2013. She knew the eternal night of the Shadow was the only option left for human survival. Governments waited to long to cut back on their polluting of Gaia. Any future on Earth with out the Shadow would be collective suicide, but was the price worth it?

"Dr. Hunton, sorry to disturb you but the board of trusties wants to see you pronto. Something about Factor D", Dr. Sally Tomson, interrupted Louisa's reverie with an inquiring expression on her round, cheerful face.

"Okay Sal, be there in a minute", replied Louisa.

Sally entered the hall and disappeared. A few minutes later Louisa made her way down to the main conference room. She entered and looked upon the familiar faces. Some of them she knew to be fresh human and some she had seen from time to time over the millennia. They were all unique to the specific race and sex, but they shared a viciousness that shone through their physical shell.

Louisa read what they wanted in a moment. Blood. Her blood. And they it craved with such ferocity that she almost dropped her poise.

They knew.

"Louisa", started the Chairman of the Board Jackson Duncan, "We have found ourselves very disappointed and betrayed by actions you have taken over the coarse on the project that have just recently come to our attention". Jackson's cool polite manner was common among her kind so she wasn't fooled for and instant by the apparent amiable ambiance. His piercing eyes looked like to lamps as they reflected the florescent light of the conference room, soulless hungry eyes that gave a glimpse of the beast behind the pretense.

Louisa said nothing, imagining herself to be a statue, cold and unyielding. She knew she had to play their games if she wanted any chance of getting out of this situation alive, so she waited for the reason behind these disgusting pleasantries.

"However...," continued Jackson.

Here it is, she thought, the great merciful "last chance" they will offer but will reconsider after they have what they want. She found strength in her logical skepticism. She planned on it coming down to this, so as to spare herself temptation the S.H.A.D.O.W. could only be shut down manually by 3 keys and 3 passwords.

"The board feels that you are to valuable to us to deal with in the usual manner. Therefore, if you will concede to undo your acts of sabotage to the project you will be…"

"Allowed to live?" interrupted Louisa sharply. "I seem to remember that second chances are not permitted among us, why should there be an exception. I don't trust anyone in this room, least of all you Jackson."

"Louisa, I don't believe you're thinking clearly at the moment," replied Jackson with a sudden chill. Quick as light dancing on a knife, he was behind her closed around her like a Venus flytrap, with a dagger at her throat. The surgical steel blade so gentle it was like his tickling whisper, "agree to it idiot".

"Of coarse I couldn’t refuse the council", she said. He’s losing it, even though nobody else heard his emotional burst, it was there.

He released her, stood beside her and said, "Well?"

"Paradoxically, you want me to shut down the S.H.A.D.O.W. in order to take you out of the spotlight. People should not be used by our kind in the manner this council does. However, I will do this, but it will take time. I will get to work right now", Louisa said with a calm smile.

"So eager to undo your work Louisa?" asked Jackson with a sly smile," I will watch you work".

"Very well then", said Louisa as she looked at the 2 rows cold faces and unearthly eyes down the table.

As Louisa and Jackson weaved through the 3D maze of the Dark Tower Corp building Louisa pretended to lose her balance on the stairway. Jackson reacted impulsively to help stabilize her. She grabbed the rail and his arm pushing him forward. He tumbled down the stairs and landed with a thud.

She jumped down on him and grabbed his dagger. He struck her in the face, breaking her nose, and sprang to his feet with an angry howl.

Her face throbbed and her blood flowed down her face as she threw the knife into his chest near his shoulder. He roared in pain and she delivered a swift round kick to the side of his head. He staggered back and slid down the wall.

"Louisa…", came his choked whisper. Then he was out.

"Sorry Jackson, this is bigger than my love for you", she said while she removed his key card.

She looked out the wall length windows in the lobby. The S.H.A.D.O.W. gave the world wild colors. The sky was a deep violet and blue humans with neon eyes hurried about their lives. Louisa walked through the doors and saw the look of terror on those around her. She ran through the parting sea of people. They saw her beast.

Louisa climbed up the fire escape to her safe house apartment and called a cab and grabbed her prepared bags. The cab dropped her off in a deserted airport parking lot. The cab drove away and she felt a tickle on her neck.

"Jackson", she breathed.

"Where are we going", he asked.

"The only place two monsters in can, into the deep wilderness", she answered finding his hand with hers.