“{{STOP!}}” a strong female voice commanded. “{{Don’t touch them! They’re mine.}}” The woman walked confidently into the midst of the mass of Spirits, unafraid of them or of their power. Recognizing her, the ghosts cleared a way for her to pass, and she stepped to the center of the mob to find Mars and RK being held prisoner, the ring leader of the Spirits standing before them. He turned to look curiously at the approaching woman, wondering why she had returned so soon. “{{Let them go.}}” The Spirit seemed surprised at this demand. He and the woman stared at each other in an unspoken challenge. At length, he answered her.
“{{I have no intention of doing any such thing.}}” He moved towards the two women that were being held hostage. Eris snarled and jumped in front of him.
“{{You WILL let them go. You have no business with them. They know not where they are, nor what trouble they cause.}}”
“{{That is no concern of mine,}}” the man replied.
“{{It is every concern of yours, Viodeh, for if you harm either of them, I shall claim your non-existence and everyone shall forget you ever lived.}}”
Viodeh stopped at this. His hollow eyes reflecting only shadows of his former living soul. “{{You wouldn’t.}}”
“{{Do you really care to find out?}}”
He thought a moment, then sighed, defeated. “{{No, not particularly. You may have them, but for this time only. If ever they enter here again, they will be mine, and no bargain will be struck.}}”
“{{Understood.}}”
The man turned back to face Mars and RK, before speaking one more time. “{{May you live long and never be forgotten.}}” Viodeh then quickly disappeared, the other Spirits fading away one by one until there were only the three women left within the room.
Both shocked and relieved at their unexpected reprieve, Mars and RK wondered wot the ghost had said, but decided there would be a better time than now to ask. They turned to face their rescuer.
“Th… Thank you,” RK said.
Eris nodded.
“But… Who are you?” Mars asked.
“I think now is not the time for introductions. Let us go out of here, before the Spirits change their minds. They are rather… not fond of intruders.”
“But,” RK said, tapping the Invisi-wall with her knuckles. “We’re kinda stuck in a box.” Mars nodded her head in agreement.
Eris studied the situation for a moment, then said, “Come here. Each of you place a hand against the wall. Don’t move until I tell you to.”
Mars and RK did as they were told. Eris placed a hand against each of the other two women’s hands, palms touching. She then closed her eyes and recited something under her breath, just out of hearing range. She opened her eyes again. “Now, don’t move your hands from mine, and step through the wall,” she instructed. Mars and RK did so. “Very good. Now, follow me. Deygo is waiting outside. He was very concerned about you.”
“Us? Why? We’ve been nothing but trouble,” Mars said.
“He tends to be very kind, though he often hides it. He gets attached to his work, and you seem to be his latest project. You are in better hands than you realize.” With that, Eris turned and moved toward the window to exit Origin. Mars and RK quickly followed her out.
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