chapter 1

*The Vault Keeper materializes out of thin air in an open meadow*

TVK: Im not going to waste time with horrible puns or innuendo like the other hosts, shut up and listen.

*TVK flicks his wrist and a book appears*

TVK: Guardian angels come in all shapes and forms, sometimes they're not angels at all. Sometimes someone looking out for you could be very...very dangerous. A young lady is about to find out that the person who improves her life isnt always the knight in shining armor. I call this story...TANIA'S NEW BOYFRIEND.


Tania walked along the riverside, enjoying the clear blue water on a Sunday as the wind began to pick up. The scars on her arm told the story of how her day went. Her father once again used the belt on her the day before, “Better than the broomstick” she thought. The tears had dried on her face as she continued to walk. The wind picked up again, blowing her medium length brown hair all around. She was lonely but doing her best to enjoy the day. She had no idea it was supposed to be this windy. Suddenly, by the oak trees, she saw him. She looked intrigued as he waved. He was wearing a black, suit with brown loafers. His medium length blonde hair blew until the wind died down. He smiled and her hazel eyes locked with his blue ones. She took the last bite out of her Butterfingers bar and a sip from her Arizona iced tea as he looked her up and down. She wiped the mascara remnants under her eyes as she took another swig. She was humming Rob Zombie’s Dragula as she continued to walk. She wondered how the wind just suddenly died as it had just suddenly picked up. She looked over at him and he was clearly looking at her, admiring what he saw. Her cute cheeks blushed as she made a full stop just before the water. He made his way toward her as she sat down at the base of the river. She hugged her knees as he stood before her. “Great day isn’t it?” he spoke. She didn’t answer, staring directly as the water rippled. She clutched the pentacle around her neck and he smiled. The pentacle began to glow and she let it drop onto her neck. He spoke again “You really should get your arm checked out.” She looked at her arm and tucked it away under her other arm. He looked at the water as she finally spoke. “What’s it to you?” He shook his head “I hate seeing girls cry and in pain.” She could only shake her own head and say softly, “Fuck you.” He laughed and said “Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself.” She lowered her head and could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. “You don’t know me, you don’t know about my life and you don’t know what I go through.” She broke down and began crying her eyes out. He looked down at her and said, “No, I don’t. I’d love to though. I’ll see you around…Tania.” She slowly looked up and he was gone. She looked around and there was no trace of him. “How did he know my name?” She asked herself as the wind made the water ripple again. She looked at her arm and about what he had said. For the first time in a long while she felt somebody was there for her. She didn’t know who he was but there was something about him that made her feel safe. She then lifted up her backpack and noticed one of her binders was hanging out, the top of which had her name on it. She shook her head and walked home.

The following day she walked away from her high school. She could feel the stares from the girls and boys as she made her way home. While most girls wore Gucci and Dolce/Gabana, Tania was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and gray sweatpants. She was ashamed of her body as she always resented the fact smaller girls would mock her for being “chubby” as they called her. As she made her way home, halfway there she stopped to feel the wind blow. It wasn’t supposed to be windy but as she stood near the park area, she could feel it. All of a sudden a green Buick pulled up bumping Soldia Boy. The passenger window rolled down and the smell of weed emanated down the street. “Look its da goth bitch. Sup bitch, murder any cats lately?” She ignored the thugs and continued to walk. The wind suddenly picked up as the back window rolled down. “Ey yo bitch, we talkin to you.” Tania looked over and flipped off the Buick. Suddenly the car screeched to a halt. Tania could feel the wind blow as all four doors opened. Out stepped 4 youths all dressed in various forms of gangsta gear. The one from the passenger seat pointed at her. “What da fuck is yo problem bitch?” Tania looked over “Go fuck yourself Roshawn.” The guy in the back passenger side spoke as he stomped out the joint he was smoking. “Get yo eyes checked bitch, I’m Roshawn.” Tania looked over “It don’t matter, you're all scum.” The driver went “Woahhhhh” as Roshawn pulled out a knife. “Oh you did not just say that. Imma cut you up good.” Tania started to run but stopped dead in her tracks. Directly in front of her, he was standing there. This time he was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a black leather jacket. Tania ran and stood behind him as the youths stopped short. “Who dis white mutherfucka?” The driver looked over at the others “Hey Ian, Tania gots a boyfriend.” Ian was the passenger apparently. “Wonder if he’s got money too.” Roshawn said “After we cut him, we cut the bitch too.” Finally he spoke. “Take one step toward Tania and I’ll put you down.” Roshawn looked down at his chained-linked necklace and it began to glow. “Dis mutherfucker just call me out?” He folded his arms and said “I'm gonna drop you if you don’t get out of here.” The driver said “Woahhhh” again as Tayshawn shook his head. “Oh hell naw, fuck the blade.” He reached into his baggy pants and pulled out a 9mm handgun. Tayshawn cocked it and pointed the gun sideways at him, “Imma lullaby yo ass.” Roshawn pulled out a piece of his own and the driver said “Make dis quick before 5-O show up.” Tania clinched him and thought to herself “We’re gonna die” as she began to cry. The man never moved his mouth but she thought she could hear clearly “No we’re not.” The man then spoke for real “This is going to be fun.” Roshawn “Fuck you ***er!” and he Tayshawn pulled the triggers just as the man put his hand up. Suddenly, there was silence. Tania opened her eyes and saw the two bullets fired levitating in mid-air. Roshawn “What the fuck, I’m too high for this shit.” More bullets were fired and they all stopped short of the man. He then stepped away from Tania as the tears made her eyeliner run. He then made the bullets spin in a circle with the wave of his hand and they fell harmlessly to the cement. The 4th thug then ran toward the man and tried to take a swing, only for him to sidestep and throw the thug to the cement. Roshawn and Tayshawn kept shooting their guns but they were soon out of ammo with the bullets continuing to fall harmlessly to the ground as the man walked toward them. “Mutherfucker” Roshawn tried to pistol whip the man but his hand stopped short, frozen in place. “Hooo shit dis is fucked up man.” The man flicked his wrist and Roshawn whipped himself in the head. Tayshawn jumped on his back but suddenly screamed as he began levitating in the air. The man turned around as the driver tried to start the car up. The man flicked his other wrist and the engine went dead. The loud roar of police vehicles could be heard as they made their way toward the green buick. Tania looked on in shock as the man levitated Tayshawn over to Tania, making his legs spread a little bit. The man looked at Tania and laughed “Think he deserves a kick, don’t you Tania?” Tania smiled and proceeded to kick Tayshawn square in the gonads. He fell to the ground groaning as the man turned around and kicked the 4th thug in the face. Tania turned her back to the man as she kicked Tayshawn in the face. “Thanks dude.” She spoke as she turned around…and he was gone. As the police came and took Tania’s testimony, she could no longer feel the breeze that accompanied the man. The 4 thugs were arrested for attempted murder, illegal gun & pot possession, but all Tania could think about was the man. Once again, she didn’t know why or how but she felt safe. As she felt the wind blow, she smiled and began to walk home.

As Tania made her way home she could feel the wind blow against her hair. She stopped dead in her tracks and closed her eyes. She whispered “Are you here?” She could hear a voice answer back “Yes.” She turned around and there he was, still in the leather jacket and white t-shirt. She looked up at him and smiled “Thanks for helping me.” He smiled and said “It was nothing, you look like you could use some company. At least for now anyway.” She could feel the butterflies in her stomach as she barely was able to speak “Would you walk me home?” He held his hand out and she took it, she could feel the strength in his hand but comfort at the same time. “Of course” was his reply. They walked hand in hand down Lautner Street as they made their way toward Tania’s home. “Who are you?” she asked and he replied “You’d never believe me.” She gripped his hand and he stopped. “I used to go by a real name.” Tania “You’re not well, are you?” He laughed and said “No, I guess not.” He looked at Tania’s house which was a two story white apartment complex. He noticed someone peeking through the curtains on the bottom level. Tania “How old are you?” The man smiled “Don’t worry about it.” Tania shrugged, “You don’t look that old anyway.” The man went to say something else when suddenly Tania’s hand broke away and she held it in front of him, “Stop. If my dad sees us he’ll flip out. I gotta go.” Tania began running toward the house, the man stopped to admire the way her chubby belly and butt bounced as she ran. He smiled as she made it to the door, huffing and puffing as she got there. He waved to her and she waved back. “Next time Tania, next time.” As Tania opened the door she looked back and he was gone. Waiting for her in the hallway was her father.