Greene and Michael carry the crib into Zachariah's bedroom. Theresa rocks in her chair, humming to Nathaniel in her arms. Sun rays cut between buildings. Veronica stares from across the street.

  Two cloaked figures appear on both sides of her. Veronica hangs her head. "Running out of patience?"

  The twins laugh. One grabs her shoulders and hisses. "Patience is a virtue of the insipid." The other giggles behind him. "And what are we if not bodies with flavor?"

  Veronica grunts. "You here to kill them?"

  One of the twins removes their mask. His blue eyes center on her neck. He cups Veronica's jaw, then tilts her head back. "Zachariah's loved ones will die when the time is right."

  The other removes his mask. His yellow eyes flash above her. His hands hold her head steady. "It's you we're concerned about, sister."

  Her orange eyes flicker. "You doubt my plan, Lukrimora?"

  He snickers.

  Her eyes narrow. "You doubt Nebula."

  Lukrimora nods. "She's busy with the mole rat while we're awaiting orders."

  Veronica snorts. "Need mommy to tell you what to do?"

  The other grips her throat and presses his lips to her ear. "Tell us what to do, mommy."

  She shakes them off. They settle at her hips. Veronica huffs. "Where are the others?"

  They rest their heads on her shoulders. Lukrimora hums. "Byrd is toying with the civilians." The other giggles. "Says they tickle him!"

  Veronica watches Theresa rock Nathaniel. "Why aren't you out playing?" She glances to the other brother. "Are you bored, Kaideses?"

  He rests his chin on her shoulder. "You know me so well!"

  Lukrimora stares at the window. "Why do you sit here day and night watching him go nowhere?"

  She swallows.

  Kaideses laughs. "Reminds you of the other days, doesn't it?"

  Veronica jerks. "Maybe..."

  Lukrimora tilts his head. "Is that the one Byrd is fixed on?"

  She shrugs. "Guess so."

  Kaideses sneers. "Damn nobody! What makes her so special?"

  Veronica raises a brow. "He said she can track someone across the continent."

  Kaideses scoffs. "Not impressive enough to stalk!"

  Lukrimora laughs. "Bet she can't even fight!"

  Veronica nods. "It'll make her easier to abduct."

  The twins giggle. Kaideses leaps off the building. Veronica grabs his cloak. He hangs. "I wanna take her now!"

  Lukrimora teases. "Simmer down, Kai! Our time with her will come."

  Veronica drops Kaideses. He falls to the ground, then dashes away. Lukrimora groans. "Better keep him out of trouble." And he leaves.

  Veronica slouches. "You're both trouble."

  Chuboki twists the stone between his fingers. He trudges through trees. A shadow keeps its distance. He stops. "You gonna attack?"

  Tatiana steps into view. Her green eyes shimmer. She points at his neck. "That crystal has value."

  Chuboki clutches it.

  She frowns. "I'm not here to rob you." She approaches. "I'm here to help."

  Chuboki glares at her. "You're the one who took Melody."

  Tatiana nods.

  He raises a brow. "You're one of them, aren't you?"

  She smirks. "Nebula wants that amulet and the agents she's sent to retrieve it aren't far behind. If they capture you..."

  Chuboki grunts. "They'll kill me?"

  Tatiana opens her cloak and reveals a weapon. "Maybe..."

  Chuboki steps back.

  She hands it to him. "This is something I spent the later half of a century concocting." She sighs. "I was going to give it to Nebula as a 'Thank you' gift, but I figured that'd be no fun!"

  He doesn't move.

  Tatiana grins. "Trust me, you'll want to use it!"

  He stares. "What is it?"

  She raises it. "I call this Coil. It emits a frequency which disrupts cell division."

  Chuboki shifts. "For what?"

  She lowers it. "Whatever you'd like. Use it on Zachariah. The Axeheads. Nebula. Me."

  His lips twitch.

  Tatiana sets it at his feet. "It's pretty simple! Point and squeeze. Your opponent will be temporarily incapacitated." She returns to the shadows. "Or leave it for someone else to find."

  Chuboki huffs. "They'd use it to hurt people." He picks it up.

  Tatiana snickers. "That's what it was made for!" She lingers. "Perhaps you can find another use for it." Then she's gone.

  Chuboki eyes the weapon. "Point and squeeze, huh?" He tucks it in his pants. "Another weapon of war." He continues trudging.

  Melody scoots away from a large cloaked statue. Its skeletal hand holds a book and the other caresses a rose. The toad jumps into her arms.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  The statue leans. "And you are?"

  She tenses.

  The statue coughs. "Fear serves you well in the other world."

  Melody gulps. "Can you help me? I'm trying to find my way out of this place."

  It wheezes. "You did not come here to escape what you're running from."

  She squeezes the toad. "I don't understand."

  The statue places the rose inside its book. Its long grey cloak crackles as it steps off a platform. "You came here to say goodbye." It moves deeper into the walls of roses.

  Melody looks at the toad. "Think we should follow?"

  The toad stares up at her.

  She groans. "What am I getting myself into?" She chases the statue. "Who am I saying goodbye to?"

  It inches forward. "The life you could've had."

  Melody shakes. "What does that mean?"

  The statue coughs. "Who you were and who you'll become...are not the same. If you wish to leave this world and venture into the next—you must let go."

  Melody shakes her head. "Let go of what?" She drops the toad. "I've already given up everything. There's nothing left for me to go back to."

  The statue huffs. "Just a little further."

  Legs grow from my waist. Twisted and black. Beetles crawl over my hands. Ants march up my neck. Snakes in my veins.

  She hisses. "Have you suffered enough?"

  ...

  She growls. "Answer me!"

  There's nothing for me to hold onto is there? I tell myself I'm always doing what has to be done. Protecting people against their will. Opposing a power I possess. In the end... I'm all that's left.

  Her eyes dance. "You can end it. Stop the world from hurting. Remove yourself."

  I can... I could sleep forever... But this place isn't a home... And Nebula's still out there... If she's allowed to rule the world... If she's allowed to decide... It won't matter if I live or die because...

  She cackles. "I'm amazed you find reasons why!" She flicks ants off my neck. "Why you should stay..." Picks beetles off my hands. "Why you should run..." Wiggles my toe. "You can't decide if you're worthy of existence."

  I can't. I don't know. Maybe I don't want to.

  She holds me. "You can be someone else." She brushes my cheeks. "Someone who's brave and kind."

  Aren't I those things? I was brave enough to stand up against the Axeheads, but I had regeneration on my side. I was kind to Melody, but I could be cruel too. What's the point in being a better me? If I'm already the worst, then—

  She whispers. "You've got nothing left to lose."

  I think I understand my regret. I shouldn't have taken their minds. I should have taken their power—their abilities!

  Her tongue slips through her teeth. "Is this how atone for your sins?"

  It's how I right every wrong!

  Her nails stretch. Teeth sharpen. Eyes grow. "Why do you deserve their powers?"

  Because I won't let the world cave in!

  Saliva trickles on my chest. She cackles. "And what of the child? Will you consume him?"

  No, Nathaniel is the key to my future! I'll make him into a sharp, unrelenting blade, then aim him at Nebula! When she crawls from the shadows, he'll destroy her!

  She moves the hair from my forehead. "And your daughter? What'll become of her?"

  Melody? I... She... We...

  The toad hops beside Melody. Her flashlight flickers. She clicks it off. "What does letting go mean?"

  The statue creeps. "You come from a world which uses energy as a weapon. They siphon gifts from blood and spit out disease. Where you're headed is a collision with destiny—a place where memory and freedom are bound in an endless cycle."

  She turns and looks behind. Roses close her in. "This sounds like... This sounds like something my fath—Zachariah would understand."

  The statue wheezes. "Yet another thing you carry into the unknown."

  Melody grips the flashlight. "Does letting go mean giving up on him? Someone told me that if I cannot change, then I'll become my own enemy. How do I face this? How do I know it's the right choice?"

  The statue stops and waves it's boney arm. "Shine your light."

  She clicks on the flashlight. Another door. Wooden. Black.

  The statue takes the rose from its book and pushes the stem into a keyhole. Metal clanks. The door groans. The statue steps aside and motions for her to enter. "There is uncertainty in the future. For mortals, it's always changing. Those in the other world see the bends in reality and acknowledge the cycle of creation. You decided this is the path you'll walk."

  Melody looks at the toad. It backs away. She glances at the door. "Will you go with me? I'm... I'm scared."

  The statue leans down and picks up the toad. "Where you will go—we cannot. Your future is unwritten and ours has long past. Go now!" The statue shoves Melody through the door, then slams it shut behind her.

  She falls onto a bed of dirt. Darkness waits at the edge of her vision. Her eyes search. A creature heaves above Zachariah. It's limbs covered in boils and blotches. Hair long, red, and stringy.

  Melody shakes and grabs the flashlight. She moves closer. "Zachariah?"

  The creature's claws sink into his eyelids. Stretching them open. His eyes swirling grey. It hisses. "What'll become of the world when you unleash your might?"

  He croaks. "All suffering will come to an end."

  Melody moves around them. "Zachariah? What is that?"

  The creature looks up at her and shrieks. Melody covers her ears. Zachariah jolts. The creature hisses at her. "If it isn't the daughter of the damned!" It crawls toward her.

  Melody pushes, but nothing happens. She checks her back. "My wings!"

  The creature forces her to the ground. Its red eyes peer into hers. "Won't work in here!" Its jaw hangs at its chest. Purple saliva drips from its teeth. "Are you in need of a friend?"

  Melody gags and struggles against its weight. "Zachariah!"

  He groans. "Who's there?"

  The creature cackles and licks Melody's face. "You'll make the perfect vessel for me to inhabit!"

  Melody shuts her eyes. "ZACHARIAH!"

  My eyes ache... Flashes of flowers and sand... Where... Who's calling to me? I roll over... The woman straddles Melody. How is she here? Am I still dreaming?

  Melody cries. "HELP!"

  The woman... No... Not a woman... A parasite! I try to stand and fall. My legs aren't ready to use yet! I reach for her. "Melody!"

  The creature glares at me. "I'm doing this for you!"

  I shake my head. "I don't want this! Please, stop!"

  The creature cackles and sinks its fingers into Melody's eye sockets. She jerks...then goes still. Her mouth hangs open. "Da...d."

  My head! My brain! It's pounding! My vision! I can't breathe!

  Someone else appears. Short silver hair. Piercing green eyes. A beard. He touches the creature. "Not this one."

  The creature... The woman... She let's go of Melody.

  Who is... He turns and smiles. "Been a while, kiddo!"

  Is... Is that... No! No! NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NO! GET OUT! GET OUT OF ME! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

  Chuboki runs into Zachariah's apartment. Theresa bumps into him and pushes him back. "Wait!"

  A blob of flesh crawls towards them. Arms extending from all sides. Legs kicking left and right. Mouths gaping with hot breath.

  Chuboki shudders. "Is that... Zachariah?"

  Theresa shakes. "And Greene!" She covers her mouth. "It ate my son!"

  Chuboki tugs on the necklace. The stone vibrates in his fist. He reaches into his pants and grabs the Coil.

  Theresa clings to him. "Do something!"

  He growls. "Give me a moment!"

  She lets go. "You don't have time!"

  Melody blinks. Breaths uneven. She looks over. "Zachariah?"

  The woman and the man hug me. Their bodies so warm. I can't tell if I'm disgusted by this feeling or if it's comforting.

  Melody's nostrils flare. "Zachariah!"

  I don't want to open my eyes. I'm scared to see them. I don't want to see her.

  Melody groans and rises. "Zachariah... I came here to...to tell you... Goodbye."

  Chuboki can't look away. The flesh moans. Closing in on him.

  Theresa yanks his shirt. "CHUBOKI!"

  He gasps and whips out the Coil. His finger squeezes the trigger. Light pours from it. The flesh screams and falls apart.

  They stare at the pieces. Chuboki steps into the hall. Greene sits against a wall. Michael lies on the floor in Zachariah's bedroom. Theresa rushes to Greene. "Honey?" She shakes him. "Can you hear me?"

  Chuboki enters Zachariah's room. The infant wails in its crib. He stares at Zachariah's body and trembles. Zachariah's flesh melts off his bones, then more regrows and the process repeats. He lifts the necklace and locks it around Zachariah's neck.

  Huh? Everything's cold... Melody... Melody... My eyes open. She's gone!

  Rorno Auctis stands in front of me. She wears a sickened scowl. "So this is the condition you've called me in to fix?"

  The man and woman. They're frozen. They look like marble. I can't move.

  She scoffs. "Why have you done this to yourself?"

  I gulp. "I didn't—"

  She stomps. Flowers sprout. Blue, red, yellow, and orange. The statues crumble. Her eyes shine. "Did I not teach you healing?" She steps. The island tilts. "Did I not give you a second chance?"

  I roll onto my side and grab fistfuls of flowers. "You did, but—"

  Rorno swats her hand. The island ruptures. "WAKE THE HELL UP!"

  I sit up. My flesh sticks to the bed. More grows in its place, then settles. I jump. "Chuboki?"

  He hides his hand and breathes. "You're alive!" Then falls into my dresser. "Thought you were dead!"

  Theresa crawls into the room. "Michael?" She pats his cheek. "Baby?"

  I look at Nathaniel. He's crying. I throw the blanket off. My legs... They're back... I flex my toes.

  Melody stands in a sterile pink hallway.

  Nebula grins. "Find what you were looking for?"

  Melody shivers. "I'm ready for phase 2."

  Nebula chuckles. "That's what I like to hear!" She struts towards a set of doors and holds one open. "Come along, child. I'll make you better—better than before!"