The old man was dying.

The news spread quickly, as is often the way, drawing an anxious crowd hopeful of one final blessing from the great man. Hopes that would be short-lived, for the doorway was blocked by a tall, red-haired woman, who wore a forbidding expression around a dangerous half-smile. Something in that smile must have frightened them, for they eyeballed her warily from a safe distance, muttering and shuffling, giving the impression of pressing forwards, but not actually moving. She may have been young, but the large hunting knife sticking out of her belt was enough of a deterrent for most, if not her wild eyes and masculine attire.

A large Indian man strode up to her, and she stood her ground defiantly. The crowd held it's collective breath as the two squared off, and then sighed when she leapt into his arms.

While the couple were distracted, a young man tried to sneak past.

Wood splintered, inches from his face. He froze.

'And where do you think you're going?' the girl purred, her voice silky and playful.

'S-sorry ma'am, wanted to see the Priest ma'am, just for a minute, ma'am.'

'Leave him, sweetheart,' the big Indian rumbled with a deep, throaty chuckle. To the terrified villager he said, 'You better step back, boy. We'll tell you when it is your turn.'

The red-haired girl laughed and gracefully curled backwards in the Indian's arms, reaching over her head to pull the knife out of the door. She caught the young villager staring down her cleavage in terrified fascination. She grinned.

'Can I help you?' she said, spinning the knife round her fingertips. He almost fell down the steps in his haste to disappear back into the crowd.

The Indian laughed and pulled her upright. 'We should not be here,' he said.

'Yes, yes,' she said dismissively. 'Be good to strike another bastard off the list though, won't it?'

'If he comes,' the Indian shrugged.

'He will come. The old man is rarely wrong.'

'Just don't believe it. Why now, after all this time? If they just waited a few more days…'

'They want to end him on their terms.'

'Terms,' the girl spat. 'How many do you think are left?'

'Ten, twenty, a hundred? They kill, we hunt. Fewer now. The Dragon's wings are clipped.'

'If she comes for Davey, I will end her,' the girl said quietly. She tightened her hold around the Indian's neck. 'What's keeping them?' she murmured. 'It's been half an hour already.'

'What do you think? Our Sadhu is sharing his deepest, darkest secrets with "The One". The Messiah will stride forth from this humble doorway and show us the path to enlightenment. His insane chatterings will show their true colours as the Word, the One True Way. We will fall upon his feet with ravenous delight as the Holy Words spill from his corporeal lips. We are-'

'Oh shut up, Nari.' The girl laughed, jabbing him in the ribs with her elbow. 'Mystic nonsense it may be, but even you have to admit the world is a very different place now.'

'You saw the news.'

'Yeah. All over the country, they said.'

'How long you think we've got?' Nari asked the question, but in a tone that suggested he already suspected the answer.

The girl shrugged. 'Weeks, days, hours?' she said, mocking him. 'Another twenty years? I don't know.'

'Do not like it.' Nari's eyes wandered restlessly over the small, anxious crowd. There were no children among them. He lowered his voice. 'Do not think we can keep the children safe indefinitely.'

'No.'

'Backup?'

'Maybe. Dan's been reaching out, could be a few more days though.'

'Shit. After all these years. Thought it was over. Guess this is it, then.'

'Yeah. I just hope Will's ready.'

Nari smiled. 'The Chosen One? If I've taught him anything over the years…' The girl shot him a concerned look and he squeezed her shoulder. 'Don't worry. I'm sure he can hold the crazy at bay.'

'Hmpf. Without Davey it's gonna be hard.'

The girl and the Indian fell silent then, watching the people watching them.

All thinking the same thing: it's happening again.