---

Town Hall.

---

Both bullets whirled past the mysterious woman in the center as Billy wasn't a very good shot. Both bullets splashed the water and served as a great distraction for Penny as... she was honestly unaware of how that mysterious contraption works.

However, the real issue was Amethyst, as she didn't realize it but her dagger was launched out of her hands as she tried to grasp it. The knife went directly past Caelea and right into Theresa's gut, the girl fell over as her brother shouted.

"Sister!" He immediately shot a portal at her feet that she fell into and Amethyst cursed her luck. Amethyst jetted around as she reached into her robe and pulled out yet another dagger.

The leader stood tall and mighty as she shouted in another language, as Goro and the water bending girl took her sides. Their weapons were surrounded by water and fire as they flooded the room with both of which in hopes that they would either drown the group or smoke them to death. However, Lynette already had more than enough time to finish her glyph. It was a bit different from their original plan, but she made it work.

When the glyph was finished it began to glow with blue color as a massive stone spire erupted from the ground, piercing through the ceiling and sending shockwaves through the entire battle. Lynette was hoping it was so sudden and abrupt that it bought them enough time to escape. There was a cloud of smoke, but Lynette used it as cover to change it from a spire to stairs.

Sharon took note, as this could be interesting.

"Everyone, let's go!" Lynette shouted, pointing at the stairs.

---

Grand Ridge Academy.

---

The Hound blankly stared at Rita as the distance was seemingly closing by itself. The Hound was probably so terrifying that Rita couldn't bear to move, the beast simply said,

"You do not have the option."

The Hound shrunk to being no taller than Rita herself but kept staring at her with it's red, blank, lifeless eyes. The beast's fog engulfed her lower body and... she felt nothing. The fog of pure death made her feel nothing but the apathy of death. The fog faded, and she regained the ability to feel again. Both sensations and emotions.

"I will leave with them, I'm just giving you the choice," The Hound let the words hang in the air as he looked behind him as he saw a figure limping over to him slowly. There was a small flame. "The choice to willingly give them over or unwillingly... either way, I shall assist."

There was a sound akin to the call of a bald eagle as a fireball flew directly into the Hound and exploded. The explosion caused some of the ground to be alarmed. The Hound didn't even flinch, he merely craned his head as he faced Justin, limping over. He was covered in blood as he was desperately holding onto a makeshift bandage he made with some scraps of clothing. That was also soaking with blood... it was incredible that he was even still alive at this point. He fell over onto one knee as he said,

"I don't know who you are, but I don't..." He fell over onto his side.

"Impressive, but it is not your time, Justin Liao," The Hound said as the black fog moved over to him and filled his body up, lifting him into the air.

"What are you-" Zoey tried to object, but she realized that his wounds were healing and he was gently put onto the ground. The Hound turned back to the ground.

"So, I'm still waiting," The Hound said, "We must make haste, as the Glutton grows stronger with every passing movement."

"Very admirable, but go to him-"

"No," Jordan finally spoke up as she finally realized something. This was what her feelings were telling her; she had finally accepted death with loving, open arms. As grim as it sounds. It was like the Hound said, it was far past her time to die. She took a few steps over to the Hound, as she closed, and with a smile, she said, "I'm going."

"What? Seriously?" Kimberly said.

"It's... wow... I don't even have the words to say," Jordan said, "You know, I..." She shook her head, she was right when she didn't know what to say. "I'm sorry, honestly. It's meant to be this way, I'm not supposed to be the one that's living; there's someone else who belongs right here and... I'm selfishly taking her spot."

Jordan shook her head.

"Madison Brown died... a year ago today... or at least I believe it would be," Jordan shook her head. "But, that's enough semantics girl." Jordan moved in for a hug and hugged Kimberly and the girl was shock eyed.

"Oh, okay," Kimberly said, "I'm going, to be honest here, I'm taken back, I'm not sure what to say other than... thank you for being my friend and... Goodbye." A tear streamed down from Kimberly's eye as she didn't realize it just yet... but there was a glow coming from her back.

"I'm going, too," Madeline said.

"Before we depart, are there any last words you'd like to share?" The Hound asked. Unfeeling to the ground.

---

Town Hall

---

Penny’s face twisted into a look of shock and disgust as her repulsion successfully buried Amethyst’s dagger into one of the archer’s bellies. It was what she had intended to do, but the sight of the girl collapsing before she disappeared through a portal burned itself into Penny’s eyes. There wasn’t enough time to feel the guilt sink in as Amethyst wheeled around on her with another dagger flourishing in her hand. Penny ducked backwards to get out of arms reach and found herself being swallowed by a cloud of smoke. Moments later, Lynette’s glyph exploded and Penny was tossed (almost) harmlessly to the ground by a shockwave.

“Everyone, let’s go!”

There was no need to tell Billy that twice. Now without a gun and seemingly stuck with a broken abstraction, he was more than ready to make a break for the stairs. It was only when he made it to the steps that he finally paused and looked back, his eyes searching for Penny. However, his concern for his sister was not able to beat back the fear that had only momentarily relaxed its clutches on the man, and after just a couple of seconds he had already turned and bolted up the stairs, through the lobby, and out into the snow. Hopefully the storm had let up.

Penny stayed crouched low to avoid being choked out by the smokescreen. She hated to admit it, but running was really their only option. She blamed herself entirely for things falling to shit. If she hadn’t been so insistent on the group sticking together, they could’ve easily surrounded the Watchers or—now wasn’t the time. As she ducked and ran towards the stairs, she kept an eye out for any robed legs getting near their exit with a pen in her hand just ready to fly loose at their ankles. Only then did she notice the crutch and her stomach sank. Paige.

Penny was now crouched right by the exit. The others could easily make it up the stairs and to the school. Paige, not so much. There was no way Penny could live with leaving the girl behind. Forget the smoke, it wasn’t like her lungs hadn’t been tainted by cigarettes long ago. Penny stood up and, cursing under her breath, disappeared into the smoke as she rushed to grab Paige.

---

Grand Ridge

---

Rita didn’t have a chance to speak back up as the Hound stared her down while its fog swarmed around her. The slightest moment of alarm, fear, and confusion was swept away as a strange peace fell over her, albeit not a very calming one. It was impossible to describe. How can someone explain actual nothingness? As the fog drifted away from her and Rita regained her feelings—all of them—a ragged, chilled breath escaped from her throat as she shuddered. There wasn’t an argument to make. Her eyes fell away from the Hound. Even as Justin returned, her reaction wasn’t a strong one. The Hound was right. Why bother?

No, wait, why should she believe that he was right? From the sounds of it, he’d screwed up before by letting Jordan and Madeline live past their expiration date, so maybe he was screwing up now. Rita bit her lip hard. As Jordan and Madeline accepted their fates and began to say their goodbyes to everyone, Rita looked up from the ground with a strained and screwed look of concentration on her face. The Hound asked if anybody had any last words, and even if it proved to be pointless Rita wasn’t about to just allow them to go so gently with that scary Hound.

“I think you two are cowards,” said Rita. She glared at Jordan as her abstraction fired up. “They’re dead. This won’t bring them back. Do you honestly believe that this is what they’d want? To see you just give up and kill yourself?” She shot an angry look at Kimberly. “How can you pretend to be okay with this?”

---

Grand Ridge Academy.

---

"I am a coward."

Jordan replied, but strangely, she felt like she wasn't compelled to do so. This was something that she was holding in for God knows how long. Jordan stared Rita down, feeling more rage than ever as tears ran down her eyes. She just honestly answered, "I know Madison would think I'm an asshole, but... I killed her. I would give anything to let her live on and follow her dreams! Deep down in my heart, I know this is the way it should be. Either way, I have made up my mind!" She stared down the girl as she let out a sigh.

Kimberly's reaction was a bit more mixed. "I... don't want to lose my friend, but I want to stop the Glutton more than anything right now," Kimberly responded more honestly than she normally would. If she wasn't compelled she probably would have ignored Rita because... it simply wasn't her choice, to say the least.

"Fact of the matter is," The Hound said as his neck unnaturally stretched towards Rita. He was staring her directly in the face again with that black fog being held at bay by him. "You may object. You may run. You may hide. But death comes in the end."

The Hound's neck reverted to normal as he grew in size. "I would get them either way.... just like I'll get you."

"Alright, I don't have a clue what in the fuck is going on right now!" Justin said as he was covered in fire. What clothing wasn't ripped to shreds by the Wendigos was now on fire, "But, I do not trust a fucking word that's coming out of your mouth. I get the feeling you're some kinda grim reaper type, but enough people died here. I don't give a shit."

"Boy, Stay out of this," The Hound arced his head towards Justin, "I will not kill you, but it will be very unpleasant."

"Too bad!" Justin said as the Soul Self erupted from him in the form of a phoenix and loudly squeaked as it breathed fire at the Hound.

Done with watching the spooky hound from the sidelines, Zoey also followed Justin's lead as she was surrounded by electricity. "Yeah, I'm tired of listening to this bullshit myself!" She fired a stream of bright electricity at the Hound.

"Hmph, it's... pointless," The Hound said as the black fog formed a dome around him as the beast no sold both of the attacks. The electricity and flames both disappeared into the fog, but before they could even react the Hound had exploded the fog and it latched onto both of them. It pinned them to the nearest surface... and they suddenly couldn't use their abstractions... as they felt nothing.

"What? Where's my abstraction?" Justin just blankly said.

"My fog is the black fog of death itself... apathy," The Hound explained, "Your abstractions are fueled by your emotions - the same emotions that my fog suppresses and therefore you are unable to access them."

"That's enough!" Jordan shouted, as the sight of people getting hurt stung more than anything. Jordan shook her head as she walked over to the Hound, feeling nothing as she stepped into the black miasma. She made up her mind and decided to finally get it over with. She balled her fists as she finally said, "I'm ready."

"Very well," The Hound said, and his mouth finally moved as he opened his maw and black fog came out for a moment. "Step forward..."

Jordan complied and felt the fog overtake her. Finally, she felt absolutely nothing as her mind was clear. She couldn't feel regret for her actions anymore. She couldn't even feel the huge weight off her shoulders being lifted. She didn't care what anyone thought about her actions because... she can't feel anything.

"... And embrace nothingness."

Suddenly, she felt something, getting lifted. However, she couldn't feel the weight of her body as she looked down and saw it still standing. She looked at her hands and saw black fog in the shape of her hands... this was her soul? She was just made out of black smoke. Or maybe it was just the Hound's interpretation of her soul. Suddenly... she was jetted square up into the sky so fast it was blinding, she would have been nauseous or sick if she even still had a body right now.

But soon enough, she was consumed by the comforting light of the Godforce... she was home...

So long crew, please stop the Glutton so Maddie has somewhere to come back to.

Back to the land of the living, the Hound had consumed the bodies of both Madeline Levine and Jordan Nichols in the fog... out of respect for them he decided to keep their bodies somewhere safe until he corrected the timeline. However, what floated in the place of their bodies were the sigils that they had left behind. The fog restraining Justin and Zoey had disappeared and the Hound sat down. He simply said,

"A deal's a deal..."

Before he disappeared into a cloud of black fog.

"Hey! Get back here, bastard!" Justin said.

---

Library
_{@Ruler Inc@Atrophy}

---

Tuyen felt nothing but terror at the appearance of the hound, even as the Wendigos disappeared. It had saved them – but at what cost.

It seemed the cost was two of their members.

Rien clenched a fist at the unfairness of it all. What the fuck was with this avoiding your death? Surely that was this Hounds fuck up. They didn’t want to lose anyone else – but what could they do. What could they say? In the end they were too much of a coward to argue against it.

Instead they stepped closer to Kimberley, knowing that this was bound to hit her hardest. Jordan had been her closest friend. Rien would be there for her, but what could they really do? They couldn’t bring Jordan back.

Tuyen just watched from the side lines as Rita went off, using her abstraction on both Jordan and Kimberley. The answers made her uncomfortable – and others too. She was shocked by all of this, she really was, but deep down she was numb to it.

She winced as Justin and Zoey tried to fight back (as expected of them, honestly) and nothing came of it.

And then they were gone.

“You can’t just expect us to take their abstractions,” Rien blurted out, eyes widening as the Hound suggested it. “They were our friends and they just… They’re just gone now, how is that respectful?”

They needed everything they could get, sure, but Rien just… couldn’t.

“I’ll take one,” Tuyen stepped forward, voice just loud enough to be heard. “We need to do everything we can to beat the Gluten.”

She shrugged slightly. Her own abstraction was a double edged sword right now anyway. So she touched the sigil that had been Madeline’s, concentrating on it carefully – until a lotus flower appeared on her wrist.

“Well, I’m not taking Jordan’s,” Rien said, putting their hands up and looking at Kimberly. It just didn’t feel right.

---

---

As the Awakened fled, Amethyst could only feel a sick sense of satisfaction. She had them so... wrapped around her finger it was almost horrifying. Horrifying that they were willing to fight and die for a dirty traitor, Amethyst squeezed her dagger so tightly that it almost drew blood. She shook her head as the rest of the Watchers took her side, even Theresa and Cindy had taken her side. She spoke in their native tongue.

"... We'll have to take a more drastic measure now."

---

Storm's picking up.

Britney thought to herself as the group marched through the snow back towards Grand Ridge. She was wondering if even the Corrupted would be capable of penetrating this thick storm. It was unimportant as the group finally made it through the lobby of Grand Ridge and... it was destroyed. Claw marks were everywhere, there was blood, and glass was everywhere. She took a look around and saw Justin and the rest of the group has a seat on what was left of the lunch benches.

"Guys!" Britney said with a smile, happy that they survived... as she was already prepared for the worst the second they parted ways. "You made it, what happened here?"

"We got the map," Justin said as he sat with his hands together in front of him. The map sat on the table that was still together as the group looked at it. "We got attacked by some kinda monsters... but then this thing came up calling himself the Hound-"

"THE HOUND?!" Britney's voice boomed as her adrenaline spiked for a moment upon hearing his name. "I mean... the Hound? That means..." She trailed off as she tried to find the right words. "... Somebody was marked for death." She flatly said.

"Yeah, Jordan..." Kimberly said with a frown.

Britney had an idea of what Jordan was going through and figured that might have something to do with it. She just sighed, before she said, "Well, the Hound has what he wants, so he should leave us alone." She just flatly says.

"You sound real remorseful..." Justin shook his head, "We also lost Charlie, Madeline, and Cyrus in the attack."

"To be honest with you," Britney said with a sigh, "We lost so many... I can't bring myself to be sad anymore. Because..."

"Because...?" Justin said.

... We're going to be losing a lot more by the time this is over. Britney's mouth moved but she stopped herself from going forward just if she upsets Justin further. "We can cry all we want to when we make their deaths mean something... um..." She trailed off as she asked.

"... Were they killed by the Glutton or the monsters?"

"The monsters, the Glutton didn't come anywhere near us."

"That means... did any of you take their abstractions?" Britney asked.

"I have Jordan's," Kimberly said.

"Well, I have to tell you all how to use them, right?" Britney said with a raised eyebrow. "It's simple... you'll start to experience their memories as we did with John Reid, but to use them you have to channel and understand their emotions. You might not be able to use it perfectly at first, but it's something."

"But..." Justin said as he eyed the object the group brought back, then he flicked a finger towards the map. "You didn't come back empty-handed did you."

"We got this," Britney said as she placed the weird glass object over the map... then had to rotate it because it was off. When it was perfectly aligned it showed tunnels and pathways that weren't obvious before and Britney almost sighed in relief that they got this before they got the map. Because they would have gotten lost almost instantly. However there was something that stood out to Britney... in the center of the mountain at the base there was a huge orb - revealed by the glass screen.

"That..." Lynette said as a finger drifted towards it.

"That's obviously where he is," Justin said. "... Where we need to go."

"Okay, we go there and then what?" Kimberly said with a shrug. "I know we went through the effort of getting the map - losing like four of our own in the process - but what's the plan? It's obvious none of us have the power to stop the Glutton."

"The Child will help us."

"Well... I'm not super keen on trusting the Child blindly anymore." Kimberly said and Justin shook his head as he realized something.

"Don't tell me you're-" He cut himself off as he said. "What I'm trying to say here is; do we have any other options right now?" He let the words hang in the air.

"We can go around and take out as many of its followers as possible," Justin started, "But they're not the problem? If we head in there, at worst all we'd leave with some idea about what to do."

"But more of us are gonna die." They bickered and bickered.

Sharon was oddly quiet during the whole thing, her mind lingered on a few words spoken by Amethyst. Before she just randomly suggested, "What if we destroy the mountain?"

"What?" Justin said.

"Maybe if we destroy the mountain it'd take the Glutton down with it," Sharon gestured towards Lynette. "Her power, she can do it!"

"The thing is, Sharon, and you should know this," Britney said, "The seals are the only thing keeping the Glutton "in", and if it gets out... there ain't nothing we can to do to stop it. As the Child said, we have to repair the seals and then the Glutton will go dormant again." She explained before she glanced over at Penny.

"And I know you have your reservations about Glint making the Glutton our problem - but far as I can tell; we're the only ones around who can solve it." She shrugged. "We'll go there first thing in the morning, but in the meantime, everyone rests up."

"I have an idea," Lynette said, "How about we make as many copies of the map as we can just in case the inevitable happens?"

"Yeah, that's a great idea."

"I'll get to work immediately," Lynette said.

"Everyone else, let's head to sleep..." Britney said as the group went their separate ways. Fortunately, not all of the academy was destroyed, and they still had functioning beds. There was a watch kept up, but for some reason, they felt something guarding them. Something dark but friendly, and not even the most insane corrupted came close to them as they slept.

They felt strange ease they allowed even the lookouts keep rest.

---

---

It was Justin's turn to take watch, as he elected. Everyone gets one hour watch before they pass the metaphorical torch. The torch in this instance was a flashlight-lantern hybrid that Farmer Hill has hundreds of... if only he knew getting power knocked out was a common occurrence here. He was on the third floor of Grand Ridge looking out onto the pitch-black streets of Farmer Hill... he couldn't see a thing, but he felt safe for some reason.

Somebody was watching over them.

If only he knew who... he was still pissed off at the Hound for killing two of their friends and then running away, but the emotion that trumped that rage. Curiosity. If he was the so-called agent of death, then he had the answers that he needs. His grandmother's death should be a simple question for the Hound, even if he has to fight the-

... Do you want the truth, boy?

The Hound's voice crept into his head and even then he could feel the apathetic aura that abomination gives off. He froze in shock - unaware that somebody crept out of their room. Justin looked around and saw no Hound, but wondered if he was just going crazy! However, when he looked out the window he saw the Hound, a weird light appearing out of nowhere and giving him some kind of contrast. He sat on the streets, and Justin realized he mustn't be afraid. He was about to go out and yell at the thing but the beast got up and took one step...

... and appeared directly in front of Justin. The black fog appeared and wrapped him to prevent him from yelling.

"Do not be alarmed, Justin Liao," The Hound said, "I mean no harm. I merely want... to speak with you."

The fog faded and Justin felt his emotions return as the Hound laid down. "... Still never going to get used to that."

"There is great anguish going on inside of you, Justin Liao," The Hound said, "And I sensed you wanted answers in regards to the death of Lihua Zhao."

"Yeah, I do," Justin said, "Who killed my grandmother?"

"Well, all I can tell you is that it was her time to die," The Hound said, "All is well in the world when that happens."

"I don't think that's all you came here to tell me, Doggy,"

"Hmph, it isn't," The Hound, "You want answers, but you don't understand that everything comes with a price Mr. Liao..."

"Well," Justin said as he ran a hand through his hair, "My grandmother said everyone has a price whether physical or emotional."

"But is it a price you're willing to pay?" The Hound asked as Justin went silent.

"Yes, yes I am," Justin said.

"You are not ready." The Hound answered.

"What? What makes you say that?" Justin asked.

"... Because you don't even know the price."

Justin felt pretty stupid.

"Oh."

"Before I continue, let me ask you what you want?"

"I think we've been over this..."

"Do you want to know the truth behind who killed your grandmother, or do you want information that could aid you and your friends in the battle against the Glutton? Or let me ask you a better question..."

The Hound paused for a few moments.

"... What would Lihua want you to do?"

"Stop these stupid games."

"Answer the question."

"I'm serious!"

"Answer. The. Question."

"... She would want me to stop the Glutton over her, okay. Are you happy?" Justin turned away as he sighed.

"I am quite satisfied, maybe you are ready for the price," The Hound said. "Allow me to give you a very helpful piece of advice... do not trust the others."

"What? They're all I have?"

"But, you are not aware of something the Child glossed over in their rush to tell everything you need to know to open your mind," The Hound said as he stood up, "The Glutton's influence is in all of your minds."

"Wait, what does that mean?"

"Allow me to begin my explanation that by Awakening your minds are specially hardened to outside influence. It is why you managed to maintain your sanity while others haven't, and became thralls to the Glutton. However, you aren't impervious to it, merely resistant. During the first night when the Glutton tormented you, it planted its seeds in all of your minds. If exposed to too much of the Glutton, those seeds will begin to grow and it can begin to exert its influence on you."

Justin patiently listened.

"At worst it can enthrall you, but fortunately, by doing so, you will be cut off from your abstractions. So you can easily dispatch them."

"... Yeah, fortunately."

"But, I doubt you'd want to kill one of your compatriots," The Hound said, "The only way to purge its seed from your mind is to seal it back. There's a point where it'll break your mind beyond all repair. I'm more than certain you're going to lose a friend a two to it."

"Thank you for letting me know..." Justin trailed off. "But, what is the price?"

"Ah... you remembered..." The Hound spoke in a low tone, "... Maybe you are ready to face the mountain."

"And what's in the mountain?" Justin said.

"Challenges that few are prepared for," The Hound said, "The Child will explain everything you need to know... I would help but I do not feel that the group is ready to accomplish the task they seek. And while I can help, there are things that not even I am capable of."

"I want to know the price I have to pay, bastard."

"Well..."

---

The Watchers retreated to their underground complex, deciding to change their plans. A portal opened and they all appeared as Amethyst wiped the blood off of her dagger. She shook her head as Goro was the first to speak,

"What's our plan?" Goro asked.

"I didn't want it to come to this," Amethyst said with a shake of her head as she went over to the library part of their complex and there was a book resting on a table. It was old, decades old. She opened it up as she flicked page after page of research until she found it, written in a completely unknown language that was seemingly made up out of a bunch of symbols.

Eras ago we were unsure of how the wielders of the White Light even came to be. When they left us, after what happened with the Glutton, they took all traces with them.

Or at least that's what they thought.

We stumbled across this complex and it had to be made by them - it was full of their symbols, their plans... after all, before the Glutton interdimensional travel was impossible. It was a messy place but we found some usage in it by making it the home base for the Watchers. After some digging we realized something; the Wielders of the White Light were not born, they were created. All in this place. It required a ritual involving a Nexus point and a group of Awakened.

The point is to open a portal directly into the Luminscience itself and bath someone in its powerful energies to give them power like no other. The power that was used to seal the Glutton. If we can replicate this, we can make new wielders of the White Light, and become all-powerful. The ingredients are simple, we need one Awakened that are strong in each of the lights:

An Awakened with powerful rage, fear, love, desire, happiness, pride, anticipation, nostalgia, sadness, hope, courage and apathy, and we must throw them in the pure Luminscience located in a Nexus point. We can do this in our home universe, but it'd be easier to use Mount Ever Reaching as it's safe from the League's eyes.

We have to keep this secret from the League, as those greedy bastards would kill to have this power. If we keep this card in our pockets we can become on top. No longer will be assigned to the Watchers be a punishment for those they want out of their hair.

Ayron Sinclair

"That amount of pure Luminscience is lethal for the mind," Cindy injected, concerned. "It'll kill them."

"We have no choice," Amethyst said as she turned around to face Cindy. "We need a solution to this problem and we're out of easy ways out."

"What if we contact the League?" Cindy asked.

"All that's going to happen is that they'll cordon off the universe in fear of the Glutton," Amethyst said, "Which means we won't have anywhere else to go back to."

She shook her head as she pushed Cindy aside, "I am your Captain, and you are just a squire. You do not object, you do as you're told. Now rest up, because if my guesses are correct they're going to be right where we need them." Amethyst announced to the group as she marched back to her quarters and slammed the door behind her. Leaving the Watchers confused about their leader's actions... and sanity.

The latter was more likely the case as Amethyst, the second she was alone, tears streamed down her face and she slammed her fist onto the wall. "I'll kill you, Britney Williams..." She muttered to herself, "I promise!" The powerful emotion she felt brought her back to something that she didn't want to re-experience.

A recollection.

Back to her home universe of Glint, the recollection brought her back to her childhood home. A room that overlooked the city of Buroko, a place that's located in Africa.

"Yes, Pierre! That's it!" Amethyst moaned in satisfaction before the climax came and she fell over on the side of the bed and into the sheets. Her head still full of energy, she looked off to the side and saw her love, Sir Pierre the Worthy, of the Knights of Luminescence. A large, muscular, hairy man with a thick beard and piercing eyes that she loved to look into.

"Amethyst, that was great as always, however," Pierre said, as he slid out of the bed "I must take my leave."

Amethyst eyes drifted towards the floor as she softly said, "Leaving so soon, Pierre?"

"Yes, I must have a meeting with my superiors about becoming a general in the Knights," He started, "Then I can get you out of that realm and somewhere where your talents are better suited."

"Like your bed?" Amethyst said with a giggle. "But it's not that bad, love."

"But, alas, even if you are following in your father's footsteps," Pierre said, "It's where they stick the unruly Squires; quite literally far away from them as possible. They are scum."

"But, I am their leader, a mother to them," Amethyst came out and admitted, "They are far from scum, misguided yes, but not scum."

"Lady Amethyst, you will understand in time," Pierre said as he finished buttoning up his shirt as he walked out the door. He put his hand out for her to grab, "Care to accompany me?"

"... When I put clothes on."

---

Amethyst wore a red dress through the courtyards of the Knights of Luminscience fort. She walked along the pathways, holding Pierre's arm as she watched the sights of Knights training Squires. Doing rigorous exercises such as climbing, mock-sword fighting, and jumping jacks. She remembered when she was that age... good times. On the way there she passed Britney Williams talking to a knight and she wanted to talk to her dear friend. They eventually ended up at a big building and after opening it up they proceded through the lobby into a large room with a massive round table. Which had many gentlemen that she knew as Generals and high-ups in not only the Knights of Luminscience but the League as a whole. Amethyst put her hands together as Pierre walked over to the table.

One of the men, an aging gentleman with a beard was the first to speak, "Pierre Alakija, step forward." Pierre did with his hands at his side, standing tall and straight. "You wish to undergo the mark of a General? Do you understand what this means?"

"Yes, High-Lord General, Adonis," Pierre said.

"I don't think you do," Adonis said, "I see you flaunting your titles around and their benefits... but what about the price, young knight?"

"I am Sir Pierre the worthy, Vice-General Knight," Pierre stated, "I haven't gotten this far without kno-"

Many screams cut through the air, and the window that overlooked the room showed a massive shadow. Suddenly, a beast crashed through the window and immediately everyone dispersed and drew their weapons. It was a massive wyvern made out of green light with black light taking the appearance of thorny vine-light veins.

"Apparition!" One of the generals shouted.

"How'd it get in?!" Another asked.

"I'll eliminate it!" Pierre shouted as he drew his sword from the sheath on his back and went to battle with the beast. However, it had a target and it lunged for one of the generals and launched him into a wall... and Pierre stopped in shock as he muttered something under his breath. Before he charged in to fight the beast.

Amethyst herself was pushed out of the room as the knights came in to engage the beast, she didn't even see the beast get slain...

---

Hours later, Pierre was sitting on the edge of the bed while Amethyst, nude, was smiling. She gently tapped the bed with her fingertips. "Pierre, why don't I help you take your mind off the general..."

"No, lady Amethyst, I am not in the mood." Pierre turned her down which ended with a pout from Amethyst as she turned in her bedsheets. Eventually, she felt Pierre enter the bed as she drifted asleep.

...

A rustling of the bed stirs her awoke as she tried to hide but she felt Pierre get out of the bed. She listened motionlessly as she heard Pierre put his clothes on and tried to discreetly leave the room. There was something wrong here, and she was going to find out. When he was out the door she had thrown on a dress without another hint of clothing. Not even shoes. He moved through the halls of the estate as Amethyst clumsily followed behind him. They went through the streets of Buruko eventually ending up in the woods outside of it... she remembered there was a park. She didn't know how long because she was too focused on being discreet. He stopped and Amethyst found some bushes to hide in. The pathway was illuminated by torches as Pierre waited on a bench. Eventually, someone approached and Amethyst raised an eyebrow as she saw who it was.

Britney.

Was Pierre having an affair with her?! Amethyst's blood boiled as her head filled with assumptions, but the truth couldn't have worse. Pierre hopped up to his feet with his fists balled, with Britney having a look of regret on her face.

"Britney!" Pierre shouted, "What is the meaning of this?! This was not apart of the deal."

"I know..." Britney couldn't dare to look him in the eye as she turned her head away, holding onto her forearm with her other.

"You were supposed to scare them, your Apparition was supposed to make me look like the hero, not kill Lord-General Adonis!" Not even letting her get one word in, he slapped her across the face. Her head was turned thirty degrees where it remained. Britney was silent for a moment as she truthfully replied.

"I know, but Lord General Adonis proposed attacking Shimmer and securing the mountain," Britney replied as her face stung, but her sigils began to brightly glow. A razor-sharp vine slowly primed itself behind him as he spoke, but Amethyst missed it as she was focused on Britney's speech. "Regardless of our deal... I couldn't let the idea spread to not even another member."

"This is what I get for trusting you Society members," Pierre said, "I could have helped both of us."

"But in the end..." Britney said as she hesitated for a moment before she sighed. "... You only helped me."

The vine quickly cut through the air and stabbed him through the back with such force it ended up on the other side. Amethyst almost shrieked but covered her mouth tears ran down her eyes as she slowly backed out of the bushes. Bloodshot everywhere as Britney walked up. "You should have had your weapon drawn already, Pierre. You should have been smarter."

"Britney..." Pierre said, "W-why...?"

"As useful as you would be as a General in my pocket," Britney said, "I can't risk the information getting out, at least not this early on in my plans. Just know I take no pleasure in your pain... I don't even want to do this to you... to Amethyst."

"But, I need to protect my home, regardless of the price."

Amethyst's blood boiled, but she was unsure of what to do... could she kill someone she thought as her sister as she reached for her trusty dagger. No... she turned herself invisible as she walked away. Watching Britney bury Pierre in the soil with her plant powers.

---

The night was rough, Amethyst didn't get a lick of sleep. Her best friend just murdered her lover as she revealed both of them were involved in the Society... the antithesis of the League of Luminescence. The sun hit her as she decided on how she was going to respond. She hopped out of the bed, still wearing the dress from earlier. She stormed through the manor halls until she made it to her destination...

Ayron Sinclair's room.

Her father. Amethyst stormed through the doors as she found Ayron awake, watching the sunrise, he was an older man by the time this occurred. He turned his head towards Amethyst as he asked,

"Amethyst, this is your vacation," Ayron said with a smirk, "You need to rest, the Knights haven't ruined your sleep cycle like they have ruined mine."

"Father, I have something to discuss with you... something important."

"It must be," Ayron said, "You stormed in here this early."

"You heard of Lord-General Adonis' death?" Amethyst asked,

"Yes... filthy Apparition,"

"Pierre was responsible for it,"

Ayron's heart skipped a beat as he nearly broke his neck turning his head towards Britney. "Amethyst, you mustn't-"

"He was conspiring with Britney, who's a member of the White Spider Society!" Amethyst said. "Who killed Pierre this night, I watched! I want to bring her to justice!"

Aaron sighed. He was completely silent for a few moments as Ayron began to explain, "I am aware she is a member of the White Spider Society."

"Whaaaaaaaat?!" Amethyst said, "Why would you allow this to go on? Does Micheal know?!"

"Who do you think got her in contact with them?"

Amethyst balled her fists as she marched over and slapped her father with all of her force. "You bastard! Why would you let this go on?"

"Because... she's needed," Ayron said, "She was an instrumental part of me and Micheal's plan to rebel from the League... which we devised years ago but it hasn't come to fruition nor do I think it will at this point." he shook his head.

"Wha-what?"

"But, that's not important at the moment," Ayron said, "You must not take action against Williams."

"Wh-why?! You don't want me ruining whatever scheme you and Micheal have?!" Amethyst screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Because of that relationship between us and the Alhudaybi family."

Amethyst went silent as Ayron continued.

"We are their closest alley, Amethyst. You can try to get her executed, but if they find out their daughter was in League with our worst enemy; they will surely come after us with or without a reason. And even if they don't, that'd negatively impact you anyhow because think of how badly it'd look if your best friend was a traitor."

Amethyst realized he was right. "Then I'll-"

"... Kill her yourself? Without proof, you'd be tried and hanged at the behest of the Alhudaybi family. And Micheal is a very cunning man; he'd raise a daughter that leaves no traces." Ayron explained, "If they find out Pierre was responsible for the death of the High-Lord General they'd surely kill you to send a message to other traitors that their loved ones are on the line for this treachery as well."

Every word that Ayron was saying was right and Amethyst didn't have an answer.

"Listen to these words: forget about Pierre and leave Britney alone. You need her for the Watchers, I have a feeling things are going to change very quickly."

Ayron left her with the words as he looked out the window. Leaving Amethyst to walk away silently as she realized she had no other option at the moment.

But she'd get her revenge.

One way or another.

The recollection faded away as Amethyst fell onto her bed.

"I'll kill you even if it kills me."

She looked at the door as she said to herself,

"No. Matter. The. Cost."

---

Billy Lawson as he slept, found himself drifting away into the darkness.

Into a different world altogether.

Into a world that was not in the design.

He found himself in a dark room that was faintly illuminated by an orange light coming from somewhere. Nothing in sight.

"What's going on?" muttered Billy as if he were coming out a drunken stupor. He felt like he must've been dreaming, but the ominous orange light filled him with a creeping dread.

"Hello, Billy Lawson," Appearing in a mass of embers was the Speaker. A being that Billy was vaguely familiar with... as nobody was sure if it was human or the Glutton taking human shape. Of course, the bald Speaker appeared with their hands behind their back as it spoke. "We have much to discuss if you are willing to listen."

"What do you want, man?" yelled Billy as he jumped up to his feet, stumbling ever so slightly as he adjusted himself to avoid falling out of a bed that was no longer beneath him.

"A different perspective, if you are willing to listen," The Speaker held up a had and a glowing orange orb appeared in their hand. "I can sense inside of you that there is great grief in you... the same grief that is killing your sister, whether the two admit it or not." The Speaker held the words in the air as they turned around.

"Henry Lawson."

After first Billy didn't do anything but glare at the Speaker, the orange light reflecting off the lens of his glasses. His brother was dead. He had come to terms with that or at least pretended that was the case, even before he had found Henry's picture on the wall of victims in the old school. Yet, hearing his name twisted a knot in his chest. He sucked in his lips and said, "You can't talk about him."

"But, what if I told you he was still alive and well? That he went to a place that coward Reid would never touch?" The Speaker turned around, "That instead of death at the hands of John Reid, he found something higher. Salvation from a cruel world at the hands of Child, that he found..."

"...redemption."

"I've heard enough of this kind of shit in Sunday school, dude," said Billy, his voice dropping into a (rather unthreatening) growl. "Unless you can prove it, I'm not listening."

"Very well then," The Speaker slowly disappeared as they spoke in a low tone, almost as if they were disappointed. "... I'll let him speak for himself."

Slowly in a mass of orange sparks and embers, he appeared.

Henry Lawson.

Billy knew that this must've been a trick. He told himself that there was no way that this could be real. Yet, in front of him stood his little brother. He was taller, broader, and had aged he would've aged, it had been four years since he had gone missing—but it still looked like Henry. He had the same blue eyes as his siblings and his messy, blonde hair was shoulder-length, and he had the same scar on his chin from the last time he ever rode a bicycle. Henry wasn't dressed in tatters or some weird cult robes, but normally, wearing an old jean jacket over a black hoodie. It was as if his brother had just grown up in Farmer Hill as normal instead of being lost to the world for almost half a decade. Billy felt his lip quiver, he opened his mouth, and no words came out.

"Hey bro, been a while," said Henry. His voice had deepened.

"What the fuck, this isn't real," said Billy.

"It's a little weird for me too, man," said Henry, cheerfully. "But it's real. Trust me, you almost get chased around by some crazy farmer so he can just take this from ya," he lifted his right palm to reveal a sigil shaped like a compass rose, "only to end up in hiding for four years and you get used to the weird. You gonna tell me this is the craziest thing you saw this year?" Billy didn't say anything. "I figured as much. Listen, Billy, there's something I gotta show you. I swear you'll love it. Follow me, man."

"What about Penny?" asked Billy as Henry turned away. His brother stopped, but he didn't turn around.

"What about Penny?" he asked, his voice falling flat.

"I mean don't you want to get her?" said Billy as he took a step towards Henry.

"Yeah, I do," said Henry, and he started to walk again. He was heading towards the orange light, and it appeared to Billy that with each of his brother's steps the light grew bigger and brighter. In a moment it was all Billy could see, just a giant, shimmering pool of orange, and the faintest black speck of his brother disappearing into it. For a moment Billy didn't know what to do, and then he heard Henry's voice in his head like how he would sometimes hear Penny. His brother had said, "Aren't you coming?"

---

However, this bastard, in an attempt to get that power killed him and woke it up!

Those words hung in Sharon's head as she couldn't go to sleep. Part of her wanted to step out there, tell Justin that he could go to sleep and sit out there and reflect. At least someone would benefit from it, she was at least that compassionate. But the fact of the matter is; it was the only explanation, as much as she hated it. Maybe she was just ignoring the obvious and knew what happened all along! Maybe it was all some coincidence but in reality... coincidences don't happen. Sharon hopped out of the bed, which belonged to someone who not around anymore. She felt safe enough in here to sleep in her underwear, the same ones she's been wearing for days now since the trek back to her father's house was, at best, a pipe dream in this weather.
Hygiene was something Sharon overlooked even when the world wasn't about to end.

Sharon looked up at the mountain and couldn't help but think about better days as her mind drifted back into a recollection.

The recollection took her back to the Reid household... which Sharon was limping back to. This was years ago when she was only twelve years old. She was incredibly bruised and battled, and her nose was oozing blood. She held her arm as she walked up to the Reid household and opened the door. The first sight was her mother at the kitchen counter, well her backside. She turned around and Sharon immediate began sobbing as she ran over to her daughter.

"Sharon!" Amy said. "What happened?"

"The girls beat me up again!" Sharon said as she loudly cried. "I can't take it anymore, I hate it so much!"

"Sharon, Sharon, Sharon..." Amy said. "You gotta calm down baby." She said as she embraced Sharon and her soft touch immediately calmed Sharon down. She carefully walked her over to the sofa as the girl sobbed.

"What happened?"

"Carla was mean to me so I punched her, so she and her sisters jumped me after school."

"Baby..." Amy said, "You need to ignore those girls, I keep telling you... you keep giving them a reason to do this to you."

"But, mom-" Sharon said.

"I know I said to stand up to them... and you did," Amy started, "But this is too much."

"I just get so angry..." Sharon said as Amy put a hand on her shoulder.

"I understand, it's going to be okay," Amy said, "Let me take you upstairs to get cleaned up, dinner's almost ready..."

Then the recollection ended... she hated her father for taking her mother away from her, but one thing she was going to do was make sure that nobody else has to suffer for the sins of the Reid family.

She looked up at the mountain.

She was going to make things right.

---

Oh...

Lynette looked at her hands and realized that she was transparent... she knew that it was a recollection that she was experiencing. She was so familiar with these, but she still had so many questions about everything. She looked around and saw woods after woods - almost as if it was the very first recollection. It was the dead of night and the area was illuminated by the oddly vibrant moonlight. Turning her head she saw a group of about four people in cloaks that walked through the woods illuminated by lanterns. She recognized the cloaks and it was obvious that they were the Watchers - given the patterns and colors on their cloaks - but there were two wearing plain white cloaks, leading the group.

When they walked by they spoke,

"Are you ready for this?" The woman that Lynette recognized as Floris spoke.

"Yeah," She heard John Reid under the cloak. They stepped into the darkness, and eventually, they ended up at a massive tunnel at the base of the mountain. It was up a hill in which they stood in the base of... John sighed as he was about to walk in, but he felt Floris' hand stop him as it wrapped around his forearm.

"Remember John," Floris said, "The Luminscience is strong in there... so strong your mind might not be ready to handle it. You will experience memories in such a way that'll blur the line between your own, your friends, and the dead."

"I understand," John said, "I have to bring this bloodbath to an end one way or another."

Floris smiled at him from underneath her cloak, as she let go and the two proceeded into the caverns. They disappeared into the darkness, but John raised a hand and a flame appeared in the palm that illuminated the caverns. They marched and marched, and marched through the tunnel, one would think they would get lost. Eventually, they ended up at a huge nexus that had a tunnel for each direction... but they heard sounds of beasts coming towards them. Suddenly the lanterns and torches that were dormant were alit with flames. And in shining white light the Wendigoes appeared from all angles. They climbed on the walls and took perch on the edges of the tunnels with their massive claws, and laughed.

"Shouldn't have come here, Reid!" One Wendigo shouted. "Once you're out of the picture, we're going to eat Farmer Hill alive!"

"That's what I come here to stop..." John Reid said as he walked up, flipping up his hood. "... Among, other things." They lunged as John Reid snapped his finger and massive spikes of earth appeared out the ground and impaled a majority of the Wendigoes and they faded away.

"Stop him!" The ring leader lunged at him only for a portal to appear in front of him and send him flying into another Wendigo. He opened his palm and a massive jet of flames immolated one of them as he moved forward, and one-touch with his left hand reduced it to ash. Another came running up behind him and the ground he was standing on flipped over and crushed him. Meanwhile, Amy's abstraction was charging before it activated and unleashed a wave that froze all of them that got close. Which meant all John had to do was snap his fingers and stone spires appeared out of the ground and killed them all.

"Well, that's one problem we-" John said as he grabbed his head in pain, he screamed at the top of his lungs as he experienced a recollection.

"Faster, Jen, faster!"

The girl said as she was running through the woods, she looked back and saw her friend tripping. Before she knew it, one of those things were on top of her. "JEN!" She screamed at the top of her lungs before she felt an impact than a sharp pain in her stomach. She looked down and saw the Wendigoes claws piercing through her and she was being lifted into the air. She spits up blood as she watched her best friend get devoured by monsters and it wasn't long until it went dark.

^"John."

"John."

"John!"

"John!"

"John!"

He felt himself tumbling over as a gunshot rang through the air. Looking around he saw a minecart to his left and Amy on top of him.

"John Reid!" A voice shouted. "It's over!"

He saw a white light that only he could see as it blurred - If you do this, we'll all be safe. - his vision. He climbed up as another bullet cut through the air and put a hole through the minecart and made wood fragments flying everywhere. He got one good look at the person - The Watchers, this is their game! They tricked us all! - and saw a boy his age with blonde hair and was very pale and scrawny with green eyes and had on tattered clothes.

Mark.

John... he heard so - This town has never seen such a string of murders before - many voices that he couldn't think. He grasped his hands with both hands as he tried to carry himself forward towards him, and Mark lowered his gun.

"Amy," Mark said, "You know what you have to do. He can't take all of the memories. If you kill him now, we both can get his abstractions and end this fucked up game the Watchers have been playing."

"No," Amy said without a second thought, "I can't stand the thought of going against John because... I love him." That was when the pulse of blue light appeared and froze his gun and forced him to retreat. She knelt to John as she said, "He's getting away, we have to stop him!"

John recovered as he got up and the two ran down the tunnel he was going and they followed the sound of his footsteps. They kept running down the tunnels until they saw a literal light at the end of the tunnel... an orange light. They ended up in a weird room... it was massive, probably as big as the fields in Farmer Hill, but in the middle of the room was a barrier that cut the room in half. It was white and transparent, but it did little to keep the orange light given off by this... sun? It was a massive sun-light entity with a black mass underneath the light.

A strange being for sure and Mark was touching the barrier.

"John! You gotta listen to me!" Mark said, "This... this is the Glutton! This is the source of the problem and... those God damn Watchers. Thousands of years ago, they put it here and now they're trying to protect it!"

While they were talking, the brightest circle of the orange light moved downwards. John approached Mark as he desperately pleaded with him.

"It's not of this world, it's like the shit Lovecraft talked about but worse. You gotta stop this guardian nonsense because the only thing you are guarding is this!"

"I'm sorry, Mark," John said as a stone spire erupted from the ground and impaled Mark through the stomach. "We can't have anyone break the masquerade, and Farmer Hill only needs one protector. I'm sorry."

"You're- making... a mistake..." Mark since as his life faded and his sigil brightly appeared through his clothes. John walked over to his body to get the abstraction...

However, the Glutton had another idea. The bright orb had charged up and pierced through the barrier for a moment was an intense beam of orange light that engulfed Amy. She loudly screamed as John immediately turned around and yelled,

"Amy!"

The beam faded as Amy fell to the ground spread eagle, John ran over to her as he shook her by the shoulders. "Amy! Amy! Can you hear me?!" He looked her into the eyes.

They were glowing a bright orange.

---

---

---

Grand Ridge Academy.

---

Lynette was jutted awake after the recollection... it seemed everyone was awoken at the same time. But, Lynette found herself drifting over to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a black bra and some pajama pants she found in the laundry room. There was something off about today, maybe it was because she was nervous about fighting a world eating horror... but was it her fight? She was forgetting that she came here for a reason, and that reason was the one thing keeping her up at night. But that recollection she experienced made her think. What if the answers are in the mountain? Maybe she should have a glance or two at the mountain.

She walked out of the room and glanced outside to see that the snowstorm was finally letting up, but it was far too foggy to see. It was not warm enough to omit the coat, and she decided to also omit a shower.

After all, she was probably going to shit herself.

Putting on some jeans that she got God knows how long ago for this kind of weather, she stopped as she felt a twinge of guilt about what happened to Jordan Nichols. She was a friend and... if only she was there, then maybe they would have fought the Hound off. But, if Jordan went willingly, then who was Lynette to say anything? She wouldn't do it herself but she didn't know much about what Jordan was going through.

Nor will she ever.

She continued putting on her clothes which ended with Lynette putting on her huge parka and she marched out of her room. The first thing that Lynette saw was Sharon who immediately hugged her. Instead of taking it as a touching gesture, Lynette awkwardly laughed.

"Feeling friendly?"

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry," Sharon said.

"For?"

"Everything. I want to apologize..." Sharon let go of Lynette and looked off to the side.

"I think Paige is the one you should be apologizing to... everyone else you were mean to be..." Lynette trailed off as Lynette looked off to the side. "... Kinda dead."

"But, my dad, he did so much wrong in the world..."

"And sins of the father doesn't exist," Lynette said softly, but she grasped Sharon's wrist as she leads her along to the lobby. "C'mon, we gotta meet up with the rest of the group."

Eventually, she leads the group to the lobby where the others were assembled around the map and the glass. Lynette had her bag full of the copied maps as she smiled at the group, "Hey, I did what you asked, Brit," She said to Britney.

"Great, so..." Britney turned towards Penny. "The balls in your court, what would we do oh wise leader?"

"Did everyone experience the same recollection?" Justin asked as he had a hand to his chin.

"Yeah," Lynette said. "Where John Reid went into the mountain."

Justin was silent for a few moments as the Hound's words still haunted him to this hour.

"I have to talk to you all about something... but it's going to be tough to swallow."

---

Grand Ridge Academy

---

Tuyen woke in cold sweat, sharp breaths wracking through her body. Another recollection. Because of course, god forbid they have a good night’s sleep. Not that she would’ve gotten it anyway. She’d practically collapsed in her bed when they’d gotten back but, exhausted as she was, sleep wouldn’t come.

Instead she’d ignored the sinister whispers and tried her hardest to shift through the memories that didn’t belong to her. Because if she was going to use a hopefully useful extraction, she had to understand the girl that had once held it. She was surprised how little her death affected her. She only felt a numbness when considering it. There had been to many now to give what little emotion she had left, beyond self hatred and guilt, to someone who was practically a stranger.

Someone who’s memories she now had.

She could understand a little what the other girl felt. Like someone who should’ve died, the ghost of a town, just getting through life. That was what she felt now. Like she hardly existed. She found it hard to even care. But she had to, to survive, she guessed.

(Did she even want to? She wasn’t sure anymore.)

Shaking off the depressing thoughts she forced herself up, merely eyeing her shadow as it slunk around her. She changed into a fresh set of clothes, rummaging deep in her drawers to find something as warm as what she’d had on before (and slept in).

Once done she splashed her face with water and headed out the door.

---

Grand Ridge Academy
_{[@Ruler Inc]}

---

Caelea felt like some fucking idiot as she stared at the map that the others had gathered around. Ok, yeah, they’d pointed out where they were going yesterday but she had no clue how to read maps. Honestly she was just pretending to look at it. It was a good thing she didn’t need to but, y’know, still made her feel dumb.

Min, on the other hand, was studying the map intently as if it could give him the answer to the meaning of life. Or, maybe how to understand the abstraction he’d taken. Britney had said something about understanding the person who had it. Sure, he had the mayor’s memories. But he had no clue what the person was like. It had kept him up most of the night as he tried to understand. Not understanding was something that had always frustrated him in his constant pursuit for knowledge. Yet here he was, unable to do the simple thing of understand someone who’s memories he held. It was infuriating.

So he distracted himself by memorising the map.

“You mean that recollection where John Reid also “killed” all those creatures that chased us yesterday?” Rien air quoted killed, shivering slightly. “Felt like a flashback to me.”

For all they said it was like some terrifying flashback, Rien had actually slept pretty well the night before. Sure, it had been filled with nightmares and dreams of the death of all their friends. But other than that? Been pretty good. Still, now that they were awake they were worried for Kimberly. She’d lost one of her closest friends the night before and they may have lost a lot of people… but that had to have hit hard. So they kept an eye on her and stuck close. Just in case. Cause that’s what friends do, y’know.

“Just say it, Justin,” Tuyen joined the group a bit late, but on time to hear the last of what had been said. She stared him in the eye in a sudden surge of weird confidence (looking people in the eye was never her strong point). After the events of the day before, and all the dreams and memories that weren’t hers she’d seen last night, she found she cared just a little less about what people thought of her. She cared a little less about pretending to be happy (though she lost that a while back). “We’ve heard, and seen, a lot that’s tough to swallow. What’s one more thing to add to it? So just tell us quickly… please?”

She shifted slightly, gaze dropping to the floor and a hand running through her hair. It was better that he told them right away but yeah, maybe she could’ve phrased that a little better.

---

Grand Ridge Academy

---

For Rita, last night had felt like the longest night of her life. She had tossed and turned for what felt like hours, mostly because she was steaming with anger. Jordan’s decision to go with the Hound ate at her. Kimberly said it was her choice, but it was the selfish choice. Plus, it felt like anyone who knew what was going on—Britney, the Child, the Speaker, the Hound—contradicted the others so much that Rita was certain that she was always getting lied too. Then, once she had managed to swallow her anger, push down her worries, and actually fall asleep her dreams were filled with memories of other people’s lives.

She had never even spoken with Charlie, and now she had to reflect on their deepest, darkest secrets and witness as they kept filling themselves up with false hope to keep on going down a fruitless career path. Rita shouldn’t hate so hard, as her studies were for Journalism with a minor in retail work, but at least it wasn’t Fine Arts. Despite spending too much of her night in Charlie’s head, Rita couldn’t understand how their mind worked. Since when did thinking happy thoughts do anything but set someone up for a grand disappointment? They were utterly unrealistic.

It was with this negative energy that Rita started her day, and it was with this negative energy that she joined the group. Nobody needed to have an empathic link with the young woman to see that she wasn’t her best self; the dark rings under her eyes, her stringy, unwashed hair, and yesterday’s sweater said enough as it was. Rita did what she normally did when they had their group sessions: find Tuyen, squeeze in next to her, and try to disappear from sight. However, this morning there was no hello, no wave, and not even a quiet smile as Rita took her spot. She was practically Tuyen’s second shadow, which while perhaps more moody than the first was certainly less likely to tear the whole lobby apart.

Penny offered Rita a smile as she joined the crew that were studying the map, the blonde’s face falling as the other girl outright ignored her. Penny also had a restless night, although she didn’t look as worn out or tired as Rita. Perhaps it was because she was no longer weighed down by heavy makeup, but Penny looked more like she felt—which was like a lost child crossed with a surprised deer. The role of leadership was proving itself to be an overwhelming one, and the fact that four of their own were now dead added a weight to any of the choices she was going to make. She should’ve fought harder against splitting up in the first place.

"Great, so..." started Britney as Lynette arrived with the copies of the map. "The balls in your court, what would we do oh wise leader?"

“Seriously?” said Penny under her breath as she shot Britney an annoyed look, not letting the tiny little dig slide by. Penny had an urge to remind Britney how she had been the one to suggest that Penny be one of their “oh wise leaders”, let alone how Britney would be dead if Penny and the others hadn’t backed her up against Amethyst. She swallowed it, and wished that she hadn’t smoked her last cigarette the other night. Penny was already feeling on edge because Billy still hadn’t decided to join the group yet, despite her telepathic reminders to get the hell up. She didn’t need to keep stirring up a rivalry she was trying to bury.

Justin mentioned having some tough news to swallow, giving Penny a minor reprieve of coming up with a plan.

“She’s right,” said Penny after Tuyen urged Justin on. “I’m pretty sure we can handle anything at this point.”

---

---

It was tough for Justin to explain what he learned last night. A small part of him knew he shouldn't take what the Hound said at face value, but at the same time, he knew he couldn't let the possibility slide. However, Tuyen and Penny spurred him to finally speak his mind. "So, while I was keeping a watch last night I had a conversation with the Hound."

"Why in the hell are you talking to that thing?" Kimberly was first to speak up, only for Lynette to say something next.

"Kimberly, chill," Lynette said, "Let him finish."

Justin shook his head as he opened his mouth, before Sharon piped up, "Justin, show don't tell." She put two fingers to the middle of her forehead right when the bridge of her nose starts. Before she said, "Just envision the moment and send it to everyone else."

Justin sighed as he did the same and sent everyone into a recollection...



The recollection ended and Lynette was the first to speak.

"... I've had my suspicions," She said with a shrug. After all, she was personally wondering why they weren't being controlled like the others. If they could even be. Well, they found out... but the question is; who will be enthralled by that thing first. She kept that to herself, as her eyes drifted around the room.

This just got a looooot harder.

---

Grand Ridge Academy

---

Penny didn’t look at the group at the end of the recollection. She kept her eyes on the table with her jaw clenched tight as Justin’s revelation rampaged through her brain. Everyone of them was at risk of becoming like those maniacs that had attacked them in the hospital the other day. Penny knew that asking everyone to head up into the mountain to face the Glutton and whatever else awaited them was was already suicidal, but now they were at risk of a fate worse than death—being the Glutton’s puppet. To make matters worse, not everyone had shown up to the meeting that morning, including…

“...your brother?”

“Huh?” asked Penny, as she looked up from the table to stare at the source of the hoarse, meek voice.

“I said, where is your brother?” repeated Rita, her voice more firm than last time. She glared at Penny with betrayal in her eyes. Penny had promised to watch him for Rita, in case he tried to do anything weird again. In Rita’s mind, being absent this morning qualified. Especially just after what Justin had shown them.

“I don’t know,” said Penny. The words surprised her; she’d thought for sure she’d make some excuse. It was the truth. She didn’t know where Billy was. He hadn’t been in his room that morning, and he wasn’t answering her now. “Shit. Maybe he just ran away or maybe, well,” Penny let out a deep sigh and swallowed her emotions. Her voice sounded hollow. “I think we should just expect the worst from here on out.”

“Anyway,” said Penny as she stepped towards the table. “All I can say for certain is that we’re running out of time. If there’s some evil shit growing in my head then I’m not just going to stand here and consider all of the possibilities while it sprouts. We’re going to that mountain, we’re going into the mines, and we’re fixing those five seals to keep that piece of shit locked up for the rest of eternity. I think the easiest way in would be…” she drew at the last word as she scanned the map, and then jammed her finger down on a spot that would be familiar to all of them: the old campgrounds. “Here. Any problems?”

---

Grand Ridge Academy

---

Tuyen had given Rita a slight glance when she arrived, unsurprised to find the other girl just as exhausted as she was. She was almost glad that the other girl didn’t bother with a greeting – she barely had the energy for it herself. Though, she didn’t mind her essentially shadowing her.

The recollection Justin showed them all was… awful. It gave one other thing they had to possibly fight against. Themselves. Which was just great. What even was the point? It was really great, it wasn’t like Tuyen didn’t already have a fucking voice in her head without the influence of something else being in there.

The other’s will betray you first.

For once she agreed with the shadow, it was likely. Though if she lost her abstraction… would that be so bad?

“Wow, I can’t wait for us all to be even more suspicious of each other,” Rien piped up, voice heavy with sarcasm. Though they quickly turned to raise an eyebrow at Penny, head tilted at Rita’s question.

They had been there when Billy had considered (as much as he denied it) throwing Rita into a human killing barrier. They were also just a little bit suspicious of the fact that he was gone. “Let’s hope he stays missing, if it’s the worst case,” they muttered.

“Surely it’s too dangerous to just run in without even knowing how to fix the seals,” Min responded to Penny with a frown, ignoring all the other conversation that had happened (though keeping an eye on his cousin). “We don’t know that we can do something to keep the glutton in. We need more time to plan.”

“What, and become sitting ducks that’ll lose our minds and attack each other? I don’t think so,” Rien rolled their eyes. “I think Penny has the right idea, going from the campgrounds. It looks like the easiest route and, well, it’s familiar.”

“We’re going to need to make sure to stick together,” Caelea pointed out the obvious, ignoring another eye roll from Rien. “Some of us have more combat-oriented abilities than others, and we don’t know what kind of shit will be in there. Well, apart from you know… the Glutton. I’m just saying, we’re short for time, but we should at least quickly think of how we’re going to go about it?”

Not that she was one for thinking normally, and she did want to get going, honestly. It just seemed the sensible thing to do.
 

---

---

The subject of Billy came up and Britney couldn't help but shake her head. "No note, nothing?" Britney had to ask, but she sighed as she held her head. She tried to reach inside of herself for the nicest way to put this, but maybe she had to be blunt. "I'm not sure what happened to Billy; if he left or something happened to him," She started. "Well, the Corrupted aren't the most subtle, so we can rule that out. Neither are the Wendigoes."

Well, that came out better than she thought. "Maybe... maybe it was all too much for him and like you said, he ran away. A few members of our group packed and left, after all."

"Let's not worry about them," Lynette just softly said as she focused on what Penny suggested. Going back to the old campsite... back to where this all started. It would feel weird to be back, but she wondered what would have happened if they were never there. Would her life be normal? Or would another group of people have to get to finish this nonsense? Though the revelation that Justin told her has her worried - she feels perfectly fine, but what about the others? She would have to stay on her toes, but her eyes drifted to Sharon for a second.

However, the Support group got a reminder about their guardian angel as everything went white for just one second.

"Don't worry, I'm going to be watching over you all the whole way. I will show you everything you need to do, just believe in me."

The Child's Voice disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Justin shook his head as he crossed his arms. "I'm finding it hard to keep believing in you." He muttered to himself before his attention landed on the map. Penny suggested they go to the campsite. Justin liked that idea. "Yeah, I think we should pack up either way." He started, "This place is too big to properly guard and the Glutton probably already knows we're here."

"So, it's official, then?" Lynette said, "I wouldn't mind heading back to the campsite."

"Everyone pack up, if it's not important; leave it."

---

After everyone got what they needed, the Support group marched out into the old campsite. They weren't bothered by either Apparition or Corrupted - there was a strange occurrence. Every Corrupted in town was stuck in a trance; frozen in place, but standing staring at the mountain. Their eyes were glowing a bright orange color as they didn't respond to a thing - not even Justin hitting one of them in the shins with a baseball bat. Regardless of Justin's idea of taking them all out, the group pushed on through the woods until they made it to the old campsite...

The bridge to the place was still destroyed by the Glutton and it seems like nobody touched the place since they left here. They stood at the bridge and stared at it. Lynette was the first to take initiative and pull out a screwdriver she had on her. She drew a large symbol of earth and pillar after pillar erupted out of the ground and made a pathway for them straight to the island. She stood to the side as she said, "After you."

"I'm impressed," Sharon said.

The group walked across the makeshift bridge, as Justin took the lead as he said. "Alright, I doubt anyone was here, but let's find a place to take a break and figure out a plan. Let's split-"

"Don't say it," Lynette said.

"Fine," Justin said with a sigh. "Penny, what do you think we should do? We'll cover more ground if we split up."

---

Campsite

---

It was bizarre returning to where it all started. Penny found herself stopping and staring at the snow-covered husk of Dexter’s car where it rested a few yards away from the tree it had pinned Reese against. A thin frown set in on her face as she recalled that evening. If Penny had known things would turn out like this she probably would’ve joined everyone around the campfire as they drank and talked shit instead of search for her missing younger brother. Maybe if she had just accepted things as they were instead of try and push reality away she wouldn’t have even been in this town when all of it began. Although, the thought of not being in this town filled her with a kind of melancholy. As bizarre as it was to think, she was glad she was here.

Besides, someone had to be here to take Lynette’s side when Justin started proposing idiotic ideas. She trusted the hell out of the guy, but they were not splitting up. Penny kept it to herself, but she was concerned about what would happen when, no, if one of them succumbed to the Glutton’s influence. Regardless, it would be easier to handle the situation as a collective than as individuals. Also, she already knew where they could take a break.

“Yeah, I’m with Lynette. Splitting up is the last thing I’d want to do. The boy’s cabin was still relatively intact. We can hole up there,” said Penny.

Penny took her place back at the front of the pack and led the group to where she and Billy had hid during Scott Reese’s rampage. No place they found would be warm, but at least it hadn’t been hacked to parts by the bastard like the girl’s cabin so they could temporarily escape the elements. As they approached the small wooden building Penny shoved down a growing feeling of dread, mostly brought on by the hinged door being cracked ajar. She held up one had to stall the group and signaled for Justin to join her as she took a look inside. Fortunately, it seemed like the cabin was empty except for the unclaimed bags of campers. Penny stared at the pile. She felt like Billy’s bag should’ve been left there, but it was missing. She forced the thought out of her mind. Obviously, he had just grabbed it when running from Reese months ago.

“Okay, so Min brought up a good point earlier,” said Penny after the group piled into the cabin. She stood by the same window she had kept watch out for Reese at that summer, scanning the snowy grounds for any interlopers on the horizon. “To be honest, I have no fucking clue how we can fix the seals once we find them. There was nothing in the Mayor’s memory about it, Min?”

“Wouldn’t be surprised if Britney knows something,” muttered Rita under her breath. She sat on a bed with her back against the wall, her knees pulled up into her chest. She tugged at her sleeve as she glared over at Britney, trying to catch the woman’s eyes. “You keeping anymore secrets from us?”

---

---

“You keeping anymore secrets from us?”

Suddenly, Britney whipped around to Rita as she was compelled to speak. There was something that she was keeping from the group, as always. Except she had the noblest intents in heart when she justified keeping it to herself. She spoke with a smirk and a smug attitude to boot... which probably didn't endear her to the group.

"Oh, I know a definite way to fix the seals - it's just that the cost is so stupid and high that I would never consider it. Nobody ever explained how they sealed the Glutton, did they? There's a group of Adepts from Glint known as the Wielders of the White light and they are so powerful that they can manipulate the Godforce! But, after the Glutton was sealed and they saw how fucked up the League was, they packed and left. They're in a different universe, and nobody knows where. They tried looking for them, but... it didn't end well."

Britney started off her explanation rather robotically... because it was in her nature to never disclose this information to anyone. Ever. "But, there's a way to make more. It's a ritual that involves sacrificing twelve different types of Awakened that correspond with their twelve colors. Like, you just won't be dead, you'll be stuck in a state worse than death. Like the kind of dead that makes you wish for a normal death but you're stuck in it for the rest of eternity. But, it's not like one of us is going to be the ones getting powered up; it'd have to be an Adept. Meaning that psychopath Amethyst and her goons are gonna be all-powerful, and we'll have more problems to deal with after the Glutton - if she doesn't kill us all. So would the cost really be worth it?"

Britney sat down on a chair as she spawned a vine and brained it like a rope. She spun it around her fingertips as she said, "So, that plan is literally dependant on trusting a person from a different universe with a different set of morals and ideals with one of the strongest abilities out there and hoping they don't screw it up or cause a worse problem afterward. Because there are more beings like the Glutton out there, y'know? They just don't bother us... until someone does something stupid to piss them off. There has to be another way, the Child or the Hound must know of one."

That was when the effect of Rita's abstraction wore off and Britney started putting together the dots. The Farmhouse, Hillview High... whenever the girl talked to her, Britney ended up talking too much. Her eyes narrowed as her sigils started glowing. Vines started coming from her hands as she said,

"... Rita, you never told us what your abstraction was."

---

Campsite

---

Rita didn’t lower her glare as Britney gave them doomed scenario after doomed scenario. Put all their faith in the Hound and the Child? Rita trusted them about as much as she understood them, which was very little, and the idea that there were other things like the Glutton out there haunted her. Her eyes narrowed on the vines that Britney played with, and that loss of focus was enough to break her abstraction.

“Rita, you never told us what your abstraction was.”

“I thought I did,” said Rita hurriedly, her ears darting to the ground. She felt a tightness in her chest. She should lie. She had another abstraction. Did Britney know that? The others certainly did. She glanced at Tuyen. Maybe she could help. Rita needed to keep her abstraction a secret, especially from Britney. It’d be broken, otherwise, and leave her out in the dark. She felt her breath quicken. Penny could help her, right? She looked up at the blonde and all of the blood drained from her face. Penny didn’t look like she was about to defend Rita. She looked puzzled.

“Actually, I don’t remember if you did,” said Penny as she rubbed her chin. It was strange, wasn’t it? Rita wasn’t the only one whose abstraction was still a mystery to the group—Penny couldn’t recall a time Kimberly used hers—but it would be in the group’s best interest to know what they had to use against the Glutton. Penny opened her mouth to ask her a question.

“Why didn’t you do anything about Billy after I told you he tried to kill me?” blurted out Rita as she beat Penny to the punch, deflecting the question about her abstraction.

“Because he’s my brother and I don’t want to fucking believe that the only living family I had left could do something like that!” shouted Penny with exasperation. “I still don’t. He’s an asshole and an idiot, but Billy couldn’t hurt anyone.” Not on purpose, anyway. Not unless his seed had started to sprout. Her eyes darkened. “I said I’d watch over him just in case, but I didn’t think he’d just disappear in the middle of the night. I’m sorry. I fucked up.”

Penny bit her lip. She wouldn’t have said half of that if it had been her choice. She glanced over at Britney, realizing that she had figured it out first, and then took a step towards Rita. In comparison to her confession, Penny’s voice was quiet and composed when she asked, “Rita, what is your abstraction?”

“I—” Rita glanced away and tried to come up with another question to ask Penny, but her mouth was already moving. “I just ask questions and get answers.” She sheepishly grinned. ”Is that a problem?”

“No, it isn’t a problem,” said Penny, lying, as she stepped back and prayed Britney didn't do anything stupid.

---

---

“I just ask questions and get answers.”

Suddenly things started making sense. Rita had some kind of compulsion based abstraction, and all the times Britney was forced to speak all made sense. She slapped herself mentally for failing to catch on sooner, but she could only feel disgusted. "So, you've been hiding a compulsion abstraction from all of us?" Britney asked, putting a hand on her chest, the same hand that was covered in roots. "I feel fucking violated here, and I know I messed up-"

"Enough!" A massive flame appeared in front of the group and caught everyone's attention as Justin stood in the middle of the fading flame. He had his eyes narrowed and brows furrowed as he spoke, "Okay, we know Rita's abstraction, we know Billy's a murderer and a coward, but how about we stay on the subject here? Just for one second, okay?"

Britney groaned.

"We need a way to kill the Glutton, and we don't have a clear plan, and as much as I want to charge up in there and fuck that thing up - I don't like the idea of going in without a clear plan at the very least," Justin said as he pointed at the mountain through the window. "Winging it isn't going to work."

Things were getting intense, but Lynette was staying focused on the mission. Stopping the Glutton (or finding that lead on her grandmother). Rita had seemed to use her abstraction on anyone that wasn't Britney or Penny - she thought to herself. However, if Billy really tried to kill her... then she found it hard to care that he ran away (or even got injured). She let out a sigh of relief when Justin took charge of things, and there was a little lightbulb in Lynette's head that was about ready to go off.

"I have an idea, it's not the best but it's better than what we got - nothing," Lynette said finally deciding to step up and be a leader. "Brit, you said that the Wielders or whatever built the Seals in the first place, right?"

"Yeah," Britney said. "They're long gone, however."

"What if we tried to find them? Is there an option to do that?" Lynette suggested.

Britney sighed.

"Well..." Britney trailed off, looking off to the side. "We could, there's a point in the mountain that'd allow us to travel to the different universes but there's a catch or two... or three." She shrugged before she continued.

"We'd still have to go into the mountain and I think the Glutton is gearing up for something big. Plus, all of the Godforce and those memories could overwhelm some of us. I've seen what it can do to people and... it's not pretty. And that's not even the worst part; traveling to different universes can be a scary thing - like the League exiles thousands of people each year and know where some of them go? The void. And once you go in, you never come out unless somebody gets you. And with some of the things there... it's better to leave them be."

That was the first part of Britney's explanation of why this was a terrible idea. It gets worse. "And those universes aren't small - they're huge as ours. What are the odds of us stumbling on the wielders of the white light in a reasonable amount of time?"

Justin shook his head as he put his hands on his hips and hung his head. "... Not high, right?"

"But, it's still better than nothing."

"Better than nothing?" Britney said, "I don't think it's a good idea, dimensional travel is risky. Too risky for us to even consider an option."

"You brought up one definite way to fix the seals, right...?" Justin mused as he kept his arms crossed, looking off to the side.

"Don't tell me..." Britney looked over at Justin and balled her fists. "We can't trust Amethyst with that power - even if she does solve it, we might have a bigger problem on hand later! If she doesn't go and fuck it up the first time."

"Well, I'm thinking maybe we'll have to chance it!" Justin shouted.

"Don't trust her," Britney said, "I don't want to see her throw your lives away so she can achieve power!"

"... Hmph, and you are the people the Child has placed their faith in?" The group heard the deep demonic voice of the Hound as he appeared in a cloud of black fog. First appearing in a silhouette and then walking out of the fog with his glowing red eyes. He appeared to be the size of a normal wolf, for once, but his head drifted from the left and then to the right. "Are you all aware you all are the last Awakened in Farmer Hill? All others have fled." He first said.

Britney's heart started racing for a moment as she had to grasp her chest upon seeing the Hound in person. Sweat started dripping down her head as she took as many steps back as possible to get away from the thing.

"Or they're dead." Justin flatly said.

"And they are being tormented as we speak," The Hound said, a hint of irritation in his normally monotone voice. "You all need to get serious because time is of the essence. The Child may have kept this from you all, but there's a slim chance we can revive those killed by the Glutton."

"Wait, there is?" Britney suddenly perked up. "Or are you bullshitting us...?"

"I never lie," The Hound said, "As I said before, the whole cycle of life and death has been thrown off balance... it wasn't their time to die, which means if we do things right; we can save them."

"And what's 'right'?" Lynette said.

"I can give you a way to fix the seals utilizing the same power that the Wielders of the White Light used," The Hound started. "The true name for that power is Ascension and it requires meeting a certain set of requirements and bathing yourselves in the Godforce to Ascend to a different level and grant you the ability to manipulate the Godforce itself."

That was interesting to Lynette, to say the least, but what was the catch. She raised an eyebrow as she looked at the Hound, and he continued, "However... it requires a clear mind and a deep bond to everyone else being bathed in the Godforce. Or your minds will be overloaded and shattered by the experienced. Sent all over the Godforce... but using this method we can recover those who have been consumed by the Glutton."

"But, there's always a fucking price is there?!" Justin shouted, angrily.

"I am afraid so, Justin Liao," The Hound turned towards him as he said, "There's also the option of locating the wielders of the white light, but you'll have to go to the very core of the Mountain to find the portal into the All-verse and possibly connect your minds to it and try to locate them. But, that'd require sacrificing a few of your friends to the Godforce and I can't guarantee you'd find them..."

That hurt Lynette's plan.

"... But if you did, I'd guarantee they'd be able to save your friends and close the seals."

That saved Lynette's plan.

"However, as I said before, time is of the essence and you all should be aware that all of this will come with a price. It's merely a matter of deciding which choice is the lesser evil."

"What about Amethyst's plan?" Justin just had to ask.

"That'd work, too, but with all the prices Britney went over," The Hound looked at the group, "So, I would decide now and stick with it."

"We should go with giving ourselves greater powers," Britney said as she raised a hand.

"I think we should try to locate the Wielders of the White Light," Lynette suggested.

Justin shrugged and remained silent.

However, the light in the sky outside went orange for a second as the group perceived orange cracks in their eyes. A massive headache overtook them as the Speaker appeared out of nowhere in their vision. Except wrong. Instead of appearing human, their skin was an unnatural oily jet black color and their eyes were orange... holes. The thing wasn't wearing any clothes but was completely smooth in appearance.

"... So many risks, choices, and games," The Speaker first started with their voice having an echo as if it was being repeated over and over again. "Bah, don't tell me you all are going to play the False-God's sick, sick, game."

The Speaker chuckled for a moment, "All of this... all your life's sufferings and complications, it's all to them and they didn't care one tiny bit. They just farmed you for your memories so they could achieve true power and now they are suddenly trying to care that they have a use for you. Hahahahahahahahahaha, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The Speaker laughed maniacally.

"Don't play their game any longer, I can give you an easy way out. So we can all enjoy the rest of eternity in relative bliss. Reject the false Gods, reject their Harbinger of Death, reject the system they forced on you. Because this is how you achieve the happiness you want. The freedom you desire without the shackles of the False God. Just reject him already, we have a place for you on the other side. We just need you to... fall into the light. The choice is yours."

All of the Speaker's hallucinations disappeared. Possibly a mind game or maybe they wanted true allegiance to the Glutton.

So many choices and Lynette didn't know which one was worse. Hell, some part of her was thinking that maybe the Glutton wouldn't be so bad.

---

Campsite

---

“He’s not a murderer, but thank you,” said Penny as Justin spoke up and took control of the situation.

Justin was right. As much as she wanted to punch Rita for holding out on her and Britney for bringing it up in the first place, they had much more important things to worry about than an invasion of privacy. Penny stood back and listened as the group debated possible plans of attack, and she jumped when the Hound spoke up. She even chuckled a little to herself. She thought by now she’d be used to otherworldly creatures appearing out of the ether. At least she managed to not flinch when the Speaker arrive and gave its piece.

“At least we can confidently cross one idea off the list,” said Penny as the Speaker disappeared. The things that had given into the Glutton didn’t seem free. They seemed more like puppets, pulled and jerked around by strings, and were dangerously prone to committing grievous self-harm in the name of redemption. She’d pass. “Honestly, I think there’s only one real option. I’m with Britney.”

“Sorry, Lynette,” said Penny, as walked over next to Britney. “Your idea isn’t a bad one, there’s just too many variables and, really, I’m not sure if I put much faith in jackasses from another dimension, especially jackasses that helped seal the Glutton here. And yeah, Justin, if you met Amethyst you wouldn’t fucking trust her either. She wears robes, man; she definitely wouldn’t bother to try and bring everyone back.” Penny smiled. “It’s just...I don’t want to throw away our one shot by putting our fate in the hands of people who don’t even give a shit about us. I trust everyone in this room....even if they may not trust me.”

“...I never said I didn’t trust you,” muttered Rita as she felt Penny’s eyes on her.

Penny continued, “We should do the Ascension like the Hound says, bring everyone back, and seal that orange glowing son of a bitch away for the rest of time. It’s the best shot we got.”

---

Campsite

---

Tuyen had moved to stand close to Rita, half in front of her as the accusations flew. Even when Justin stopped Britney from going she stayed there. She, for one, could completely understand why Rita had hidden her abstraction from the others. They would’ve been suspicious of her the whole time.

But things got more on topic. Multiple plans were thrown around and Tuyen couldn’t help but shiver when the hound appeared, hand automatically going to the new mark on her wrist. It didn’t seem like he’d come to take anyone away but instead brought an alternative.

Just as bad as all the others, really. Always a risk of someone dying.

She then winced as the Speaker approached in a horrible hallucination, flinching at their laughter and preaching about how they could achieve happiness. She scoffed at that thought. She would never achieve the happiness she wanted. Not that easily.

Still, giving in to the Glutton didn’t seem that bad. They glanced at their shadow, surprisingly silent for once. The intrusive whispers were background level self-loathing. Perhaps it was intimidated by the various higher powers around. She doubted it had that much self-awareness. But still, the decision was tough. It would be nice to be rid of her abstraction.

Rien rubbed the back of their head with a frown. What the fuck? On one hand they could sacrifice a few people and possible ascend, on the other they could race against the clock to find some weird ass super power wielders. There was no way they wanted to fall in with Amethyst and that lot. Giving in to the Glutton was completely out of the question. Giving up wasn’t a phrase in Rien’s dictionary (unless it really suited them).

“I vote for the ascension, getting greater power thing,” Rien said. “I agree with everything that Penny said. I trust everyone here cause we’ve been through some shit together, and we made it this far on our own. I think we gotta keep depending on ourselves and not others.”

“I also agree with Britney,” Caelea spoke up with a shrug. She still hated Britney’s guts, sorta, but it was definitely the best option. She was a firm believer in if you want something done, do it yourself. “I don’t trust other people who save us. I don’t think they will. I definitely don’t trust Amethyst at all, and I told her that myself. Penny’s right. Those of you who haven’t met her don’t know what she’s like… she’d kill any of us to get her way. So Ascension or whatever is the best way.”

Min frowned, listening to the others and inclining his head. What they all said made a certain amount of sense. He wouldn’t give in to the Glutton. Becoming a puppet seemed far worst than death. And the idea of Ascension seemed… appealing. But risky.

“I agree with Lynette,” Min gave a soft sigh, gaze moving to her. “The Wielders of White Light seem much more knowledgeable than us, and much less likely to mess everything up.”

Tuyen remained silent. She’d let the others decide and go along with it. Because honestly, she didn’t know what the best option was. She wasn’t even sure if she cared.
 

---

---

The New Yorker kept her mouth shut as the group seemed to lean towards Ascension. Lynette was not opposed to the idea at all and, honestly, if there weren't a few variables that Penny seemed to be missing herself. However, the reason why Lynette wanted to seek guidance from the people who sealed the Glutton in the past was that they would know more about this than they would. Then again... Penny wasn't completely wrong in her line of thought.

"It seems you have chosen Ascension," The Hound ominously said as he looked around. Justin crossed his arms as he resigned as he realized he's been outvoted. "However, Ascension comes with a price... a price few are willing to pay."

"What is it?" Lynette asked.

"When you enter the Mountain, you all must journey to its very core... it is where the heart of the Nexus point is and where the Godforce is the strongest," The Hound started. "As you all are aware, the Godforce is the accumulation of all emotions, memories, thoughts, past, and present. As you venture close to its core, you will begin to experience countless memories."

"Whose?"

"Everyone's." The Hound said. "Your memories will repeat, you will experience memories of events about you, you will see memories of other Awakened... and you could encounter phantasms of the deceased. The lines between you all will blur, as you experience these recollections. I have to warn you that, even if your minds can handle it and are not destroyed, you will reach a point where you cannot tell your memories from someone else's."

That made Lynette raise her eyebrow. This... was a lot to handle. However, the world was at risk. Risk of being devoured by a being that they couldn't even understand let alone stop conventionally. Even if this is not a story told, she wanted to pave the way for new stories. However, she had a question.

"You said that the process will destroy minds if we cannot handle the onslaught of memories..." Lynette trailed off, "Is there a way to fix them if that happens?"

"There is... but that too comes with a price."

"... Like everything these days." Justin sarcastically said with a roll of his eyes.

"Similiar to finding the Wielders of the White Light, you would have to go to the center of the mountain and connect your mind to the Godforce but instead you must wade through it for your friend's memories and place it back together. However, you would have to do this correctly to have your friend back... and you may be lost to the Godforce yourself. This is why I advise against it and merely dispose of anyone whose mind is broken before they fuel the Glutton any further. As we cannot expend the resources."

The Hound explained and everyone was silent. The Hound closed its eyes as it said,

"This is the price of Ascension, does everyone understand what they need to do? The sacrifices that need to be made?"

"... What if we just blow the fucking mountain up?" Sharon suggested. "It'd skip all these stupid games and we won't have to sacrifice nobody!"

The Hound shook its head. "I'm afraid that's not an option. If we destroy the Mountain, the seals may go with it and it may release the Glutton. And, without a being on the level as The Father, we wouldn't be able to seal it back."

---

Campsite

---

Penny gave a nod of appreciation to the others as they came to an almost unanimous agreement. Even those that did not want to go along with the Ascension plan still seemed to acquiesce to the idea. It was a far cry from how they used to behave. Penny could still remember their first meeting as a group of survivors from the summer camp slaughter, how heated everything got, how they were practically at each other’s throats. How, in all honesty, the hostility largely stemmed from her. Before, she would’ve said “Fuck all of y’all”, flipped the room the bird, and stormed out to take on the Glutton by herself. Now, she couldn’t imagine getting through this without their support.

Still, there was a moment of apprehension once the Hound finished speaking. She no longer cared if the others knew her deepest, darkest secrets, and she would happily take on the burden of learning theirs, but the idea of losing her own sense of identity seized her. Penny didn’t want to forget the person she was, and she certainly didn’t want to stop being the person she became. However, if that was what was necessary to stop the Glutton, then she’d take the risk.

Rita stared at the ground. Unlike Penny, she did not want anyone to know her memories, her thoughts, or her feelings, although there was a certain voyeuristic pleasure in the idea of knowing everything about everyone else. Still, the Hound’s suggestion that they dispose of anyone who breaks filled her up with dread. She gave a worried look around at the group, trying to catch if any one of them had taken a glimpse at her. Certainly, they all viewed her as a weak link, and now that they knew her Abstraction she’d never find out that truth. She chewed on her lip and returned her gaze to the ground, finding comfort in the cracks in the wood.

Penny laughed at Sharon’s suggestion to blow up the mountain. It wasn’t a mocking laugh, but a surprised one, “If I could swap my Abstraction to one that’d allow me that much destruction in the first place, you better fucking believe I would’ve accidentally blown myself up ages ago.”

The Hound mentioned someone called The Father. As far as Penny could recollect, it was the first time a being like that had been mentioned. “Let me guess,” she said dryly, “The Father went out for cosmic cigarettes some millenia ago and hasn’t come back yet, has he? I suppose that explains why we only deal with The Child. Fine. We won’t blow up the mountain.”

“Are any of you capable of disposing one of us?” said Rita, finally breaking her silence.

“It won’t be necessary,” said Penny, worried that it wasn’t true.

---

---

"Father..." The Hound trailed off. "I'm surprised The Child has not mentioned him - since that was their predecessor...." The Hound spoke in a deep voice... for the first time, it showed a hint of emotion: sorrow. Only a few will be able to pick up on it, however.

"Father is dead. He died during the final confrontation with the Glutton in the world of Glint. The Child was the piece left behind to watch over the universe and eventually undo the damage of the Glutton. Hopefully, after this is over we can all watch the light shine on a new All-verse."

After that left the uncomfortable question of whose capable of "disposing" of anyone who was broken by the Godforce. Britney was fully prepared to do it, however, she knew it was best not to say it. Justin had a better idea as a flame appeared in his hand.

"We're not "disposing of" anyone, Rita," Justin said. "Nobody else is going to die. Not if I have anything to say about it."

Lynette didn't find that very assuring because she had a feeling a lot more people were going to die. That felt like it was... unavoidable. She was going to hope it didn't happen - or it wasn't her - but she couldn't tell anymore.

The Hound shook his head as his black fog engulfed the room - wrapping around every person in it as they all felt the cold apathy embrace them. "Every second that we waste is another second that the Glutton grows stronger. Which means we need to go now." When the fog faded everyone was gone.

The fog reappeared and so did the group when it was gone. The Hound had teleported them to a pathway that leads directly into the mountain. The Hound, not wasting another second, began walking into the mountain.

"Wait, why didn't you teleport us directly where we needed to go?" Lynette asked.

"And overload your minds?" The Hound said, "You have to take this one step at a time."

The Hound's answer made Lynette shake her head as she proceeded down the pathway like the rest of the group. It was just like the Recollection they just experienced - they were lead through the dark tunnels. Except they weren't so dark. There were torches alongside the walls that gave them a bit of light. Which was kinda weird because... shouldn't these mines be abandoned? They kept going until they ended up at the nexus... a massive room with tunnels going in every direction. Like the one where John Reid fought the Wendigoes.

"... Why hello there," Amethyst appeared out of a purple some distance away from the group with her Watchers following right behind her. "I think we got off on the wrong foot, yes?"

"Amethyst!" Britney shouted as her abstraction activated and a massive vine.

"I think you all need to see something..." Amethyst said as she activated her channeler.

"Go to hell-" Britney shouted as the group was pulled into a Recollection.

---

The group was transparent and ghostly like they were in every other Recollection. However, this time they were sharing the Recollection with the Watchers... and the Hound. The sky was a red color and they were in an open field, and in the distance, there was a castle. However, there was something in the sky...

"Amethyst..." Britney hissed.

"Before you all choose to follow Britney, I want each and every one of you to see this!" Amethyst shouted as tears streamed down her eyes. "What I am so desperately trying to prevent from happening again!"

... That thing in the sky was the Glutton and underneath its hellish light was an army. An army of twisted human beings that were not too different from Scott Reese oozing orange blood. The Corrupted army. They all wielded weapons as they marched forward towards the castle, the last bastion of humanity behind the walls. Coming from behind the walls was a gigantic army of knights and... other beings. The Corrupted charged forward and the two forces met in a bloody battle. That went on around the group as Amethyst continued.

"The Glutton... it killed everyone in my home universe, this was all that was left of humanity a few centuries ago," Amethyst explained, "We hardly had anyone to even fight! We went to all corners of the All-Verse to get help... and we still had to use women and children to fight!"

There was a small child with a sword that met his end with a spear going directly through his face. The Corrupted that slain him was promptly killed with a blast of lightning. It came from a knight wearing armor made out of shining gold and had a long flowing cape.

"Keep fighting! This is all we have left."

It wasn't long until the battlefield was littered with dead bodies as blood showered from the sky. However, the violence was not showing any signs of letting up. The man in the golden armor looked up at the sky.

"Are you amused you bastard!?" The man shouted.

"Do you understand what's going to happen if your plan fails? Everyone's going to die." Amethyst said, putting her hand out "Please... I have a way to fix everything. The seals, the Glutton, the Apparitions, the League, everything... I'm... sorry for what I did before, but you have to trust me. Please... I'm begging you..."

Amethyst paused as the tide of Corrupted were overwhelming the warriors of Glint.