I was on my way walking to the shops in town to pick up some cleaning detergent for my clothes. We had run out of the washing machine powder a few day... ago, and it seemed all my house-mates were stubbornly holding out on buying the next packet. I had taken it upon myself to head out and purchase the detergent, and not out of good will to my house mates but because selfishly I needed some more as I was personally running low on clothes. Rummaging through my bag as I went I seemed unable to find. It also hurt to breathe. I was sure that meant that one of my lungs might be punctured and that I'd probably cracked or broken a rib or a few. My hands were bleeding and I had a headache. My neck was also sore. Lastly my leg was bleeding where the small piece of the Jeep that had struck me after the crash hit.I looked below and the Jeep was a wreck. It appeared to have folded in on itself and several sharp appearing spars, probably parts of the chassis that had snapped at the welds protruded. ”Aran’s mind was slowly beginning to spin. Vala? Gods? Darkening? Maybe it was the all-but-naked, distractingly beautiful woman sitting across from him, but he was having trouble keeping up. “Darkening?” He asked dumbly.Elaina took one look at him and clucked her tongue. “My apologies, Aran, I’m going too fast, and this is the first you’ve heard of the real history of the world. That, and you’re probably still recovering from your first touch of the vala. Might I suggest we go downstairs, and. It would require computer software and time that he didn’t have right now. He heard a sound behind him and without turning said, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it, darling?”“I’m not your darling,” said a male voice, “but for what it’s worth, it is beautiful.” Keith began to spin around, but the voice halted him. “Keep that thing pointed away until you’re finished, if you don’t mind.” Keith zipped himself up and then turned to face the newcomer.“Who are you?” Keith asked.“I’m your secret Santa,” the man.