"So what are you supposed to be? Some kind of demon hunter? Like out of Indiana Jones or something?" Claire asked incredulously.
"I've never been to Indiana," he said distractedly. Claire guessed Bal had fallen off the pop culture train a dozen stops back or more. "So you going to help me out or not?"
"How can I help? I have no idea what's going on. That THING absorbed my sister and..."
Bal put a hand on her shoulder. "Look, girl, things are about to get even uglier than that beast that took your sister. I'm injured and, if you haven't noticed, I'm not as young as I used to be. My people aren't coming. The police won't be able to do shit and the government will probably debate what's going on until it's too late for them to do anything about it."
"And you think a sword is going to help?"
"It's a start. And you know your school a hell of a lot better than I do," Bal observed.
"Okay, I'll help you..."