Ever After

It had been some time since the incident and Tracy had gotten back into the swing of her her normal life, of which, she was grateful. She was also pretty grateful for the time she spent with Dysis. It helped her 'come out of her shell' as it were an she was being a bit more social with her classmates. You know, to the point where she was saying 'Hello' and 'Good bye' in her shy voice. She still had yet to Actually socialize with any of her classmates, but one step at a time, as far as she was concerned.

It was after classes were over that about four of her friends were gathered around one fo the desks. They were muttering amongst themselves and, despite herself, Tracy found that she was curious as to the nature of their conversation and was even toying with the idea of going over and seeing what was up.

Dysis was glad that at least for the moment things had settled down and there was nothing out of the ordinary. At least, no more then normal and he liked it that way. Tracy wasn't staying at his apartment anymore but that was fine since it wasn't like he couldn't visit them.

The young Zoanthrope really didn't have any grand plans or ambitions, she just wanted a normal life and that was something he wanted too. For the most part, he did a good job of doing so, minus the hiccups here and there.

Still..maybe I should get a bit stronger...

He had very little interest in fighting, but the encounter with Tracy's once stalker was a wake up call of how complacent in his abilties he had gotten. Though to be fair, he had been good at avoiding pitfalls and the like.

Regardless, he made up his mind to visit his friend Tracy today. He really liked her company. He dialed her cell phone number, knowing classes to be over and waited.

Tracy was called over by some of hr classmates and she wanders over. She never was very good at giving orders, only following them. After a minuet or so of one of them going on about something Tracy vaguely payed any attention to, something about a 'good luck charm', Sachiko something-or-rather, that the more people who participated in, the better.

Her phone rings and she excuses herself. It was odd for someone to be calling her, outside of her family that was, since she really didn't socialise with anyone. It was Dysis. He was one of the few people she would like to spend more time with, if it wasn't for her almost crippling shyness. She flips her phone open "Hello, Dysis. How are doing?" she says, almost robotic-like. Which she was more comfortable around Dysis than most, she was still really shy around him, because he was so darn cute!

Dysis noted the slight strange tone in her voice, but he rolled with it. "I'm all right, just keeping myself busy. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. That is if you're not doing something."

Tracy felt heat rising in her face as she was certain it was turning bright red "Um, G-give me an hour? Some of my classmates want to try a, uh, good luck charm they found online." she says in a lame tone "After we're finished here, I'll probably either still be at the college or my apartment." she says.

One of her classmates, Kyko, was beaconing her over "Um, I have to go. I'll, uh, I'll see ya later or give you a call. Bye." she mumbles,than flips her phone closed and wanders over.

"Okay, now that we're all here..." she pulls out a small paper in the crude shape of a girl "We're going to do the Sachiko Ever After charm and to do it, we all need to grab an edge of the paper doll, say 'Sachiko, we beg of you' once for each person here, than we pull the doll apart." she explains, since she knew Tracy wasn't listening the first time.

"If we do it right, then we should get good luck for the rest of the year!" she says, sounding excited "And with finals on the way, some of here could use all the good luck we can get!" she teases the only guy there.

Tracy sighs, this was stupid. Why did they need her here? Her grades were the best in the class. Still, maybe it will give her luck with guys. Still, her animal instincts were telling her that there was something wrong here. But, it was just a paper doll, what harm could it do?

Dysis was fine with that, in the mean time he'd just have to do some things to keep himself busy. It was a bit too quite in his own apartment since his former roomate Diana moved out and Tracy wasn't there anymore.

It had been almost an hour and still nothing from Tracy. Which was odd, since she was very punctual and when she said she would do something, she often did it. "There won't be anything from her either." says an old man, who had seemed to have gone unnoticed "She is, not here anymore." says an old man in some robes and a walking stick "You might even say, she's a, Lost soul."

Dysis tensed a bit at the unknown voice, he didn't really know what to make of the old man. "..What are you talking about? Not here anymore?"

The old man heaves a sigh that seemed to carry the whole weight of the world on his back "It's just as I said. She's not here any longer. Her and her friends had preformed a cursed charm incorrectly and were whisked away to a nightmareish realm that follows it's own set of rules." he says "To get there, you must have two or more people preform the Sachiko Ever After charm and to do it, you need a paper doll in the shape of a female, say 'Sachiko, We Beg of You', once per person, than pull the doll apart." he explains.

"To get back, you need to say the same thing, the same way, but once more for Sachiko, then you must bring your part of the paper doll back together with a piece of the same paper doll. But be warned, should you go there, none of your supernatural abilities will work." he cautions.

"In fact, should you even try to use them, it would only speed up the Darkening. It's Sachiko's cure in it's purest form. First you lose your mind as your body turns completely black and myst-like, then you either die or you become a savage and attack anyone you encounter." he says in a low tone.

Dysis frowned, if what the old man was true he wasn't sure of who to even ask for this 'ritual'. Diana was across the world, his mother and sister were a no go for obvious reasons so he was sort of..stuck.

"Okay. Let's assume I believe your story." He began. "Do All matter of powers stop working there? And if this is a supernatural realm, are there monsters there running around?" If this was to be believed he couldn't just run and get himself killed and by proxy Tracy even if he knew he probably didn't have a lot of time.

The old man nods "I assure you that what I tell you is the truth and yes, it is a supernatural realm and most forms of supernatural powers won't work and will only hasten the Darkening." he confirms "As for monsters, there are many ghosts that will try their best to get you killed, and if you die in that realm, your existence in this one will be erased." he says in an ominous tone.

"There are also various animated objects, such as anatomical models, traps, and others who had succumbed to the Darkening. However, out of all those, there are four young ghosts you should be on the look out for. One is a young girl missing her left eye, the next is a young boy who had his stomach sliced open, the third is another young girl who had the top of her head removed, and the last is a young girl in a red dress." he explains as he turns to head back where he came.

He stops and looks back to Dysis "Lastly, the realm exists on multiple plains of existence. Which means, you could be standing exactly where your friend is, and not run into her, because she is on a different plain from you." he warns, than starts hobbling off.

Dysis mentally groaned. Damn it Tracy..

It wasn't her fault, she probably thought it was just a game or something but after all this he was going to give her a run down of supernatural things to avoid far as things like this were concerned.

He rather have to fight a Wendigo and have his ribs broken again then fight a supernatural entity in their home turf and unable to use their powers.

It was kind of ironic. In this type of situation a normal well trained professional human who deals with these sorts of things would be a better fit them him, since his powers were gone it just came to skill and equipment.

Now where was he going to find someone else to come with him?

"Before you go, do you know anyone that specializes with dealing with spirits?" He doubted it, but it was worth a shot.

The old man stops, looks over his shoulder "Yes, it just so happens that I know quite a few. Some better than others to be sure, but for this little quest, I suspect you will want the best." he says "And as it happens, he's very close by. I shall return in a bit." he says, than hobbles into the darkness and disappears.

Dysis didn't have any option but to wait, but he tried not to think too much since he was worried about Tracy.

Lost comes walking in as he had before "I have returned and I brought someone who will be of great help" he says as there was a sharp knock on the door "Ah! That would be him now and not to worry, I filled him along the way." he says as he open the door.

Standing there, was a slightly annoyed Ross. He had his long coat on, which meant he also had all his tools and weapons with him "If we're going to do this, then let's get this over with." he says as he pulls out a small paper doll.

Dysis had to agree with that, he wanted to get to the point and get this done with as soon as possible. So he prepared to follow the instructions that were given so he could get this to work and enter the friendly realm Tracy was stuck in.

((I'm just gonna assume they did the ritual and suffered the aftereffects and are now where they need to be. Will start a post in Elsewhere. Both are out for now.))

After they got back, the girl, who's name was Moriko, had fallen unconscious again, Her breathing was very labored and she was Very pail. She wasn't looking too good at the moment "Would you like to give her to me?" the old man asks. Apparently he had waited for someone to come back "Rest assured hat I shall take good care of her." he says.

(Assuming its Lost if not I'll edit)

Dysis decided to give the old man the benefit of the doubt, he hadn't lead him wrong the first time and he had asked outside help when he didn't have too. So after brief moment, he handed the young woman to them.

((Yeah, it's Lost.))

Since he was an old man, Lost couldn't really take Moriko. He waves his hand and a dark blue/black swirling portal opens and the old man looks back "Come along, Moriko. It's time for us to leave." he says.

The young woman in question, was standing behind Reizo in addition to her being passed out. She looks around in confusion, then focuses on her body. It looked so pail and she felt so cold. She looks back to Lost "Am I...Dead?" she asks, tears in her eyes.

Lost turns to her "Not yet. But you're slipping very fast. The fact that your spirit is here and not within your body, is testament to this fact. No matter how fast we get you to a hospital, you won't survive. You've lost too much blood." he explains.

Tears start to fall from Moriko's eyes "But...there's so much... I still...wanted to do...." she says in a choking voice.

Dysis felt really bad, he didn't want the young woman to just die like the others had. There had to be Something that could be done..unless..

It was risky, and she didn't have a lot of time but it was the only thing he could think of that Might work and the old man seemed to 'know' things he had otherwise no business knowing. "Wait..would turning Moriko save her?"

Dysis had never bothered with it obviously and he was only a half breed so he honestly wasn't sure, even if it did would it help?

Lost nods slowly "Yes, but unfortunately, I don't believe your kind is capable of 'Turning' anyone. However, I know someone who is." he focuses on Moriko "Listen, child. There is one way that you can live, if you can call it that. However, You have to be the one to decide if you wish this or not." he says.

Moriko looks at her dying body, then to Lost and nods "Yes. I want to live. she says, a very faint sliver of hope in her ghostly eyes.

Lost nods, sadness in his eyes as he looks at the porta he made "You may come through now." he says as a young asian man comes through. He was more good looking than he had the right to be "Han. We need you to, help this young woman to 'live' again." Lost says.

The young man named Han also frowns "You mean..." he starts, but Lost's nodding head stops him from finishing his sentence. Han looks to Dysis, than back to Lost "Take him out. He doesn't need to see this." he says.

Lost nods again and looks to Dysis "Come. We are no longer needed here." he says as he heads to the front door.

Dysis wasn't sure what to make of all this but he did follow after Lost, though silently. He had a lot on his mind.

Lost takes Dysis to a cafe and orders him some tea. After some time, Lost looks over to the young man  "None of this is your fault. In fact, no one is really to blame for what happened and those who are, have been dead for decades." he says "People call me Lost, by the way." he says, finally introducing himself.

"Dysis.." The young man mumbled, the name was unusual but he wasn't in the mood to even remotely care about that. "Is there any way to close down that place?" It would have to wait even if there was, with Ross and Tracy inside.