A long worrisome day has ended for Leon. It’s bright, shiny, the sun’s glaring a heatwave that Germany hasn’t felt in ages, but for the rest, people are taking advantage of the weather. After finding out he’ll be competing against a three on one match in the finals, especially against two people he deemed a nuisance, such as Ravana and his butt kisser, it’s rubbing him the wrong way. On the way out of the middle campus of the academy, he bumped into Mandy who was sitting, reading a book she was studying closely for the past year. He questioned why she’s so keen on learning Witchcraft's biggest secrets when her goal in the end is just to be a bounty hunter against fallen spirits.

Once the two were done discussing today's events, they decided to end the day by walking together. Walking side by side, the academy coming to an end, Mandy and Leon were on their way out of the building. The halls crowded, in the courtyard, Esper's and Witches were sparring and some were bullying underlings, the two were speaking of what's to come next after the tournament graduation.

“Leon Leon, look look.” Mandy said, pulling up a pamphlet of the contestants involved.

Leon looked at it as Mandy held it out for him. He saw everyone involved and the name at most talked in quotes was of himself. Even though he knew about his position, being reminded about it made him grimace. This didn’t surprise him and rather than being excited, it only made the tall man roll his eyes and trickle a grunt.

“What? Are you not glad about being the most talked about for this? I mean, someone of your caliber should definitely be spoken of. From once you came to where you are now, Leon, you are the best.”

Mandy’s words of encouragement made Leon grin and pat her shoulder.

“Your flattery is most welcoming, Mandy. Although, I do disgrace.”

She stepped in front as they continued walking, pouting.

“For?! You should have no reason to disgrace, sir!”

“Ha, you’re adorable, Mandy.”

Mandy blushed, and pouted more, turning away.

“Whatever, and you can’t be just calling any girl adorable now that you’re with—nevermind.”

“Samantha? Right right, but it’s just a fact. Can’t help and state what’s in fact… true.”

The two had paused, and were standing to the main entrance of the building. From the outside, it appeared to one's view of entering a major train station, but in a gothic historical design. With students entering, exiting, people being checked in by the staff, Mandy and Leon were just staring at each other. Mandy was beginning to think of something she questioned, and it’s about their relationship and how Leon truly felt.

At first, she’s hesitant, but after some quick reflecting, inner peace thinking, she let out a sigh, and clenched a fist.

“Leon, do you really—love Samantha?”

An unexpected question, one that caught Leon off guard and made his pupils turn left. In his mind, he wasn’t sure to react annoyed by the question, or begin to question, why? He let out a sigh, and shifted his pupils back to her.

“Of course I do, Mandy. Why do you ask?”

Mandy hung her head, and her expression turned blank.

“I-I don’t know. It is stupid and envious of me to ask, but I can’t help and say what could be questionable.”

“Wh-what are you trying to say?”

Mandy grew half a grin, and moved her fingers.

“Because I know, deep down inside you, you don’t only just like her…”

Leon’s eyes swelled. His face turned lopsided, and he scratched the back of his head.

“Mm…”

That’s all he could’ve said without sounding selfish and to that of a jerk towards the woman he’s currently dating. Hearing that response made Mandy’s grin soften to a cute smile and for her to look up at him. Seeing her bright blue oceans glisten at him made his heart race and blush. Seeing his face heat up made Mandy’s heart pound a million times faster.

“You know, Leon, if you weren’t already taken by someone whom I’ve come to hate… then I know you and I would’ve already been—”

“A thing?” he replied.

She gasped and he was softly grinning.

“Wait, you actually—?”

“Mandy, of course I liked you before I ever met Samantha. Do I have to remind you that you were the first person that I ever talked to here? Not only were you the first to show the place to me, but also, the first one to make me smile and not treat me as some sort of shy freak.”

Leon gently grabbed her hand, and held it.

“You were my first real friend here, and I don’t count John since I’ve known him before coming here. Of course I’d develop feelings for you.”

Mandy’s eyes glistened like they never have before. She smiled so hugely a tear came out, but that tear also came out with sadness that rolled down her face.

“I know it’s ridiculous to say this now since I’m with Samantha and I look like a scumbag telling you. Yet I can’t help it, I have to speak my mind and say what’s true. But, Mandy, I’m with Samantha now, and I-I… damn…”

Mandy wiped her eyes, and faded out her smile. Again, her face went still, and in an abrupt silence, Leon wondered why she grew quiet. Mandy clenched her fists, and in an instant, pulled Leon down, and forced a kiss on him. Leon’s eyes shook as the two locked lips. Mandy had her eyes closed, yet the shut dams couldn’t retain the overflow of emotions hiding behind them, seeping through them. Leon also couldn’t retain his feelings for her, and felt utterly guilty for not letting off. They held their kiss until John came through the entrance gate, and saw them.

“Uh oh, let me glance around and see if she ain’t around!” John said.

John hovered his hand over his eyes, scanning the area to see if Samantha's anywhere to be found. Thankfully, she wasn’t and John let out a relieved moan. He marched to the two, and clapped his hands, which broke them out of their kiss. Mandy looked embarrassed yet happy, and Leon appeared flustered and guilty.

“Jo-John! Wh-where did you come from?!” Leon asked, yet his hand was still holding Mandy’s.

John raised a brow, and bounced it.

“Ooo, I had no clue that my buddy here’s a playboy and a cheater? ahh shit! Pretty radical if you ask me hegh hegh!”

Mandy’s smile softened and she held Leon’s hand tighter. Leon could feel her clutch strengthen, and he also did the same. Yet he couldn’t understand why he’s doing something this unforgiving. His heart and mind belonged to Samantha, but something deep down inside was telling him that Mandy is also a part of his love or perhaps—trying to tell him something different.

“John, I-I, it’s not, shit.”

Mandy stepped in, and raised her fist.

“It is as to what you have seen. We kissed and do share similar feelings for each other!” Mandy said.

“Ooo, a shocking twist coming out of the quiet girl! Holy cow, what a turn hegh hegh!”

“Alright alright, everyone, we don’t have to say it so loud. But right now, I’m very conflicted and I gotta clear my head.”

Leon turned to Mandy, and shook his head.

“I don’t know what to tell you, but please, don’t do that again. And I’m not saying it to be rude, but I just don’t want to seem like a jerk.”

Mandy understood, and bumped her head against his abdomen.

“I’m fine and I promise not to act out of line over my feelings.”

Leon patted her head, and grinned.

“See you around, Mandy.”

Leon walked off, and John quickly followed him. She saw the two having a verbal discussion and soon afterwards, John began teasing him and at first he looked annoyed but laughed with him. Mandy knew that if anyone could ease his conflictions, it’d be him. Feeling joyful but conflicted, Mandy wandered off and once she got to the sidewalk, she saw Samantha eerily standing across the street, and she had her eyes on her. From across the street, Mandy could see that wretched thin smile that came close to ending her life a couple of times if it wasn’t for Leon who came to save her.

“Wh-what is she doing?” Mandy said.

Samantha took a step forward, and Mandy was caught in a vortex of colour changing patterns that drowned the sky. Around her, reality itself changed into a world of washed out colours, and spun in the sky. She gasped and panicked as Samantha was coming to her in an eerie way. The thin smile, the blank stare, the way her arms were moving with each step forward, Mandy froze in fear. Samantha stopped in the middle of the street, and the swirling vortex came to an abrupt end. They were now in an odd pattern world of changing obstacles and the universe in the reach of one's hand. Stars, galaxies floated above as orbital structures bounced everywhere, staircases came out of the ground, and darkness lurked from every corner. The sources of light that were the stars made Samantha’s face appear out of a nightmare. Each flicker reflected off her crimson eyes that shone emptiness.

“Mandy, I’d like to have a word with you, if you don’t mind.” she said in a soft tone.

Mandy shook uncontrollably and stepped back.

“Wh-what do you want from me?! Haven’t you had enough tormenting me?!”

Samantha again proceeded forward and the world shifted into them floating in space. Yet the path Samantha had in front of her had Mandy stay in place. Each step pulsed a silent explosion of a galaxy that quickly zoomed in for her to step on. Mandy had no clue what she’s witnessing. Was this Samantha’s world? Her domain? Or is this real and is she that powerful?

“Sa-Samantha! Please… what do you want from me?!”

Samantha continued forward until she was at least a foot from Mandy so she could look at her blanched face. Samantha spread her arms out, and the universe itself gathered around them. A wall of galaxies, a floor of nebulas, and a ceiling of stars had Mandy on the brink of retaliating.

“Relax, and allow me to introduce to you, the universe that we co-exist in.”

“Huh?!”

Samantha giggled and her hair fluttered.

“What you’re witnessing is not a mirage, a fantasy, the world inside my envious mind, but, the actual observable universe.”

Mandy’s jaw fully dropped, and she let out a tear.

“The infinite darkness we presumed, is all here, for you to see, my dear, friend.”

“You mean… this is the actual universe scientists have tried seeing and predicting?!”

Samantha eerily nodded.

“Yes… yes it is.”

“Then why are you showing me it?! What are you trying to prove, Samantha!”

Samantha’s thin smile grew ear to ear, and she put her face forward. Her crimson eyes glowed, and she let out a giggle that had Mandy’s memories fogged in hatred and anger. The same twisted giggle she lets out every time she has an opportunity to showcase the embodiment of fear to poor Mandy.

“Why? Why am I? I wonder why, little Mandy.”

Mandy took another step back, and accidentally tripped, falling on the heat, having dust particles of the nebulas on the ground pop up. She coughed, and her eyes grew tenfold.

“What are you going to do to me?!”

Samantha lowered her arms to her sides, and tilted her head.

“Nothing. I’m not going to do anything to you, weak, lopsided Mandy.”

“Then what’s your goal here!”

Samantha vanished in the blink of an eye, and in another blink, she was beside Mandy. She grabbed her jaw, and held her face up, letting her stare into her glaring blood red eyes.

“My goal here… is simple, Mandy.”

She brushed some of her hair behind her ear, and bent down to Mandy’s face. Mandy’s eyes flooded and she averted her gaze. But Samantha forced her neck to turn and stay permanently still. She tried shutting her eyes, but Samantha wouldn’t allow it. Casting a spell for her eyes to stay open, Samantha went in, and kissed Mandy, and she felt her soul being sucked out like last time but only worse. After she was done, she let off, once Mandy could see her eyes again, she saw the glint in them, and their hollow nature printing fear into her.

“Again you have made a fool of me. Again you have let your lust get the best of you. Again you kissed the man that belongs to me. Again you have played me for the last time. I’m here not only to show you how powerless, hopeless you are against me. But to remind you that if you ever think of overpowering me, or manipulate Leon’s weak mind…”

Samantha licked her lips, and went to her ear.

“... I will give you a death only you’ll ever want to see—and that is the light you fear that I can create, with the tips of my fingers, Mandy.”

Samantha let off, and smacked Mandy. She fell to her side, and cried. Samantha had her jaw gapped as she watched her cry her anger, her fear out her eyes and mouth. Not a single sign of remorse was felt for Samantha as she watched someone extremely weak in her eyes let out their true feelings.

“I hope to god we never cross paths again once the tournament is concluded. For now, enjoy the last moments and you can see the man who’ll soon be my ticket and tool for my ultimate goal.”

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Mandy ground her teeth, and mustered some courage to ask her what her goal was.

“Wh-what would that be, huh?!”

Samantha smiled again, but genuinely yet it shared sadistic properties in the way it reached her ears.

“To bear a child, and create the family I envisioned, M-a-n-d-y.”

Samantha let out one more giggle, which awoke Mandy from a slumber. She quickly shot up from a bench, and grabbed her head. Feeling a headache, and her stomach in pain, she let out a groan before catching her breath. She felt her acid reflux come out, and she put her head over the bench, vomiting. After she was done, she wiped her mouth with a dangling piece of cloth from her shirt.

“Samantha, you wretched wicked Witch.”

It’s late at night, and Mandy has found herself on a park bench. She glanced around the lit area to see where she’s at. She couldn’t remember much after a long walk her and Linnea had taken after the events of the attack from the Witch cult. She brought her legs up, and hugged them, feeling the chill of the night best the heat of her body.

“Damn it’s cold.” she said.

Rubbing the side of her arms, her clothes still torn from earlier fight, she wondered where Linnea had wandered off to?

“Where could that girl be? Leaving me alone and unintended at this time of night? In a city like Detroit! Some friend you are, Linnea.”

Her concerns were answered when she saw Linnea leap her way beside the bench with a fresh patch of clothes.

“Ah, you’re finally awake. Enjoy your nap, Ms. grouchy pants?”

Mandy remembered them abandoning Jack and leaving him for dead. It still rubbed her the wrong way, and guilt had stayed permanently ever since.

“Linnea, what’s the status of the city, and Jack?”

Linnea set Mandy’s clothes in front, and sat down. She rubbed some debris off her coat, and let out a regrettable sigh.

“I-I don’t know about Jack, but the city is destroyed. I’m sorry.”

Mandy’s eyes crinkled, and she lowered her chin to her chest.

“We should’ve saved him…”

Linnea frowned and felt just as guilty as she did.

“I know I know. But look, we’re edging close to her last location. Look, I’ll show you.”

Linnea pulled out her necklace that had different pendants and insignias and one fluttered red. It was the one that represented Witchcraft, and seeing it pulsate made Mandy knit her brows.

“I see… although, I still think we could’ve at least attempted to help Jack. And I’m not just saying that to make you feel guilty, but the fact she’s not here right now shows that we had an opportunity.”

Linnea gave a vacant stare towards Mandy.

“Yeah… I guess you’re right. Sorry for acting so selfishly. I let my vigilantism get the best of me.”

“It’s fine. What’s done is done, and there’s no going back now since we’re close to getting to her. Yet, I will ask, is Samantha really Abyzou?”

Linnea could remember a time when she saw Abyzou in action, and the similarities between the two were apparent. When her hands reached down from the heavens, trying to grab onto an Exorcist who was brave enough to stand up to her. She remembered that woman, an elegant woman who dressed to that of a high class individual from the great depression. Her long silky brunette hair, her golden eyes, and the huge dress, but more notably, a gold encrusted umbrella that glistened from the pulsing light of Abyzou’s reach.

Seeing the battle unfold first hand was breathtaking. It felt so reminiscent Linnea found herself back in time, and seeing the fight unfold before her blanched face again.

“Aby—zou…” she muttered.

She saw the hands shrink, and faded away into crimson particles. Red glitter fell from an opening from the sky, and out came the Sin of Envy, wearing a dress that represented death and devotion. Her snow-white hair, the glow of her eyes that lusted for blood, and the aura of hell surrounding her. The glow of her pale glistening skin made it seem as if she were an angel of death. The woman had a grin on her face as she held her umbrella up to Abyzou, and Linnea saw her mouth moving. The two exchanged words before something attacked her, something Linnea couldn’t see with her eyes.

“What was that?”

The woman easily dodged these invisible attacks and used her umbrella to deflect something coming to her right. After she was done, and Abyzou stayed floating in the sky, the woman let out her power, and flashed the world in a golden light. The flash blinded Linnea, and she blinked back to reality, and saw her close friend's downturned face.

“Mandy?”

Mandy had already gotten dressed and she was just sitting, and gazing at the night sky.

“You know, Linnea, once this is all over, I really hope Leon and I move out into the country where we can spend our lives, living with nature.”

Linnea grinned, and scooted next to Mandy. She put her hands on her arm, and a faint glow erupted around her.

“Stay still so I can heal more of your wounds.”

Mandy can imagine them living in prosperity and beauty. The smell of the fresh country grass, the howl of ranch winds, and a view that stretched out to the horizon: With the two finally being together, they could raise their future children without the influence of the supernatural.

“Whatever you’re daydreaming of, it’s making you smile.”

Mandy giggled, and felt her body almost at hundred percent.

“Of course, Leon and I exchanged a vow before all of this went to shit three months ago.”

“Oh? Did ya now? What type of vows? Wedding? Or perhaps more?”

Mandy rubbed her stomach, and her smile softened.

“Way more than you can imagine, my friend.”

“Hmph, whatever. I’m just glad I got to heal you in time. Anyways, how the hell did you let that buffoon beat you into a pulp?!”

Mandy rolled her eyes, and flailed her hand to Linnea without giving a glance.

“Psh… I know I know, you don’t have to remind me. I had my reasons, and I wasn’t at even half my strength.”

“Yeah, but still, it was a shocking feeling that girls' power replicated that of Archard’s and the great William.”

Mandy shifted her head to Linnea, and raised a brow.

“Yeah, that caught me off guard too. But, I’m glad that happened because it answers our concern that she’s not a copy of Samantha, rather, there’s a possibility she could be a vessel.”

“A vessel, what do you mean?” Linnea asked, letting her hands off. “All healed now.”

“Thanks, and think about it. There were times when we sensed Samantha and Abyzou inside Sarah.”

Linnea did remember. The empty stares, the voice of the past coming to haunt her for the present to instill fear: The times Mandy lashed out at Sarah and Linnea also doing the same, it made them grimace.

“Seeing that she shares the same strength as those two now, it also answers my own probability.” Mandy said.

Linnea brought her gaze up to the clear dark sky.

“And that probability is Sarah’s possibly artificially made?”

Mandy nodded, “correct.” she reached into her pocket, and took her phone out.

Linnea noticed something in the sky, and saw dozens of shooting stars coming from the left side of her vision.

“Hmm, strange?” she muttered.

Then, stars twinkled brightly in the sky, and more and more kept dimming out of the darkness. Mandy also noticed, but was focused on her phone screen. She tried to dial for Leon, but as always, since his disappearance three months ago, he’s not answering.

“I hope he’s okay…”

“Who?” Linnea asked as she kept seeing the night sky beginning to illuminate more and more.

“Leon. He got hurt three months ago by the nuke filled with mana that could’ve devastated our world.”

“Wait? That giant flash three months ago was Leon saving the world?! Leon—Bolverkr?!”

Linnea shut her eyes, and another scene came out of her subconscious.

“Huh, who would’ve thought a guy like him would do something so selfless and heroic.”

***

Remembering him from the past and a time, a time in which she could recall calling Samantha a friend, a time she thought would never change. She could recall herself and Leon training in front of Samantha who was sitting on a black blanket, and umbrella protecting her delicate skin. They were out in the Norwegian country, and for once, the sun had shone, giving off the feeling of a nice cool spring setting. The bright green grass, flowers bellowing in the distance as well as tree tops lopsided, it was a beautiful day.

Leon was teaching her basic combat, and Samantha watched closely as she fought hard to keep up with his lessons.

“Come on Linnea, you’ve gotta try better than that.” Leon said.

She leaped away, and summoned a dozen ghostly goons to fight Leon instead. He punched, kicked, and slammed them out of existence.

“Giving up on combat, already?”

He sounded disappointed, but as he lay waste to the last three, he saw Linnea flash in front of him with a fist coated in electricity.

“Oh, that’s new.”

She pushed her fist forward, and contact was made. Electric particles fluttered everywhere, and Linnea saw that Leon had blocked it with his hand, catching it.

“Not bad, you’ve improved quite a bit.”

Linnea let out a grunt, but grinned.

“You think so?”

“I said so, Norwegian sis.”

Linnea backed off, and shook her wrist, feeling the power of his clutch.

“You never cease to amaze me, my German brother.”

“Yeah, and I gotta put on a show since my fiancé is watching us closely.”

“That’s right.”

Linnea panned to where Samantha was at, and saw her calm smile and cooled eyes locked onto them.

“I’m not doing anything to anger you, Samantha!”

Samantha waved back.

“I know you wouldn’t, but please be careful on how to treat him.” she replied.

“Yeah, understood.”

Linnea’s aware of how envious Samantha could get. She’s seen it a couple of times back at the academy, and recently when the three were just getting lunch. A waitress boldly flirted with Leon in front of them, and Samantha carefully grabbed the waitresses wrist, and although she couldn’t see Samantha’s gaze, she knew from the young gal’s expression, she saw death facing her. This answered an assumption her new friend warned her about.

“Let's go back to the picnic, I’m parched.” Leon said.

Linnea nodded, and the two went to Samantha who reached into a basket and took two water bottles out. Each grabbed one, and Leon sat next to his lovely fiancé who can easily claim the title of most beautiful woman in the world. The black sundress, her amazing skin, the raven hair that covered her back, but more notably, her bright crimson eyes that were breathtaking. Linnea quietly drank her water, and Leon remembered something.

“I’ll be back real quick, I gotta call someone.”

“Take your time, Leon.” Samantha said.

Leon walked off, and out of the picture. Linnea drank as she stared at the beautiful grassy view in front of them.

“So, Linnea, how’s life?” Samantha asked.

Linnea stopped drinking, and lowered her water bottle.

“It’s alright. But, rather difficult when your brother’s considered a clown amongst your village.”

“Yeah, I remember meeting him. He boldly asked me out immediately at first glance.”

“Tch, of course he did. He wouldn’t shut up about you after you departed back to Europe.”

Samantha’s smile turned thin, and she gave Linnea a side eye.

“Say, to bring us off topic, I’m rather curious about something.”

“Oh? What would that be?”

Samantha put her index finger against her chin, and her smile grew more.

“Is it true that you’ve recently gotten a new friend?”

“Mm, yeah. She’s quiet, serious too, but once you get to know her, she’s pretty cool.”

Samantha lowered her finger, and her pupils moved left.

“That so?”

Linnea raised her brows, and wiped them with her wrist.

“Yeah, her name’s Mandy. She’s an Esper who happened to join our group.”

“Ahh, the group that you also joined. And if I do recall, you’re the only sorcerer amongst them?”

Linnea nodded.

“Yeah. she’s really talented and adorable if I do say so myself.”

“Hmm.”

Linnea kept it cool knowing that her new friend Mandy had something to say about Samantha. Seeing how much she’s asking about her new friend answers more about them knowing each other. Linnea can repeat the same sentence said to her by her name, and the distraught tone she had when she said; “BE careful, Samantha isn’t who you think she is. She’s a terrible being, a demon living amongst us… and especially, someone who can’t be trusted.”

Linnea wiggled her lips, and felt eager about asking something to Samantha. She isn’t afraid to ask, rather, she doesn’t want to stir an old rivalry.

“Uh, say, Samantha?”

Samantha looked forward, and put her hand out. A butterfly happened to land on it, and she brought her hand to her face, staring at the beautiful coloured insect.

“Go on, Linnea.”

Linnea watched as Samantha gently touched the insects wings. It didn’t react or fly away, instead allowed Samantha to touch it.

“Do you know, Mandy?”

Samantha gently blinked, and the butterfly flew away. Dozens more came out, and flew around them as Samantha lay her hands on her lap, crossing each other. More emerged from the grass, and surrounded the two, which made Linnea be awe inspired. Glancing at them, Linnea hadn’t noticed the small glint in Samantha’s eyes that emerged after another blink.

“I do know her. Why do you ask?”

With Linnea’s attention on the butterflies, she put one hand out to see if any would land on hers.

“Well, she said some things about you that I question.”

“Oh? And that’d be?”

“Well, given that I’ve known you longer, what she said is pretty contradictory.”

Samantha’s smile thinned.

“I wonder why.” she muttered.

“For example, she said that you shouldn’t be trusted and that you’re not who people think you are. The person we see in front of us isn’t the real you, but a cover up to what personality hides beneath the layer of skin and flesh we see.”

Samantha’s smile faded, and her lips straightened. Staring blankly at the sea of butterflies, her crimson eyes turned lifeless.

“Of course she would say something like that…”

One butterfly managed to land on her hand, and it made her giggle from being tickled.

“Don’t worry, I just think that you guys were most likely old rivals, that’s all. So I'm not thinking too much about what she said.”

“Good, she’s not to be trusted, Linnea.”

Linnea softly gasped, and the butterfly flew away. All the insects flew off into the distance, and a storm happened to barge in. The clear sky turned dark, gusts of wind violently emerged and the sky clapped sounds that shattered eardrums.

“Mandy is someone who did the best she could to make me angry. She would try to steal my love, boil my blood, but most of all… she’s…”

Samantha stood up and stared at the flashing sky.

“Someone… I en—”

Leon rushed in, and wondered what all the ruckus was.

“Hey! It’s about to rain, come on. Let's pack up and get out of—”

The storm had cooled, and the sunlight had shone through the clouds. The darkness faded out, and the clear sky returned. Samantha smiled again, and she hugged Leon while Linnea remained in shock.

“Sorry, I got too carried away, Leon.”

“You had me at a scare, for second I thought we’d all succumb to mother nature's tears.”

Linnea had goosebumps, and watched as Samantha’s eyes were still blank.

“What… are you?” she murmured.

Samantha gave a quick side eye, and in that moment, she saw the glint that was sharpened. Her jaw dropped, and Samantha blinked to have her eyes return to life, showing their beauty glistening nature.

“Why don’t we all go home, it’s getting kinda late, don’t you all think?” Samantha said.

Linnea didn’t say anything, but watched as Leon cluelessly hugged Samantha. At that moment, Linnea didn’t know who to believe anymore, but felt more leaning towards Mandy’s side. As they kissed, all Linnea could think of was the brief glare Samantha had given her that froze her bone marrow.

***

“And now that I know she’s a horrible being, I want nothing more than to cleanse this world of her.” Linnea said.

Mandy tapped her shoulder to get her attention again.

“Were you just in the past?” she asked.

Linnea didn’t open her eyes yet, but grinned.

“Yeah, and what a time it was. To think that I was good friends with her? That damn Witch, the Sin Of Envy supposedly in the making? It’s all hard to believe.”

Linnea re-opened her eyes, and a tear came out.

“I once considered her such a close friend, but in the end brought the end to my town, and having my brother's life taken away…”

Linnea closed a fist, and put it against her forehead.

“It’s all my fault that he’s dead…”

“Linnea, stop blaming yourself for his death. Remember who’s at actual fault: the woman responsible for billions of lives, the woman who took the life of your brother—”

Mandy grabbed Linnea’s hand to force her to face her.

“The demon who almost ended our reality…”

Mandy ground her teeth, and knit her brows.

“The woman who took hostage the man that I love and robbed him of me. Samantha, Abyzou—together, Linnea, we will defeat her and bring an end to her reign of terror.”

Mandy’s words of encouragement and her confidence made Linnea return a smile, and bump heads with her close friend.

“God, I hope we do… I really hope we do.”

Mandy smiled, and rubbed their head’s together.

“I know we will, my awesome friend.”

As the two smiled and soaked in the moment, they felt a gust of wind sent chills across their bodies which forced them off of each other. They glanced around for a moment, and Linnea again took aim to the sky to see if it had changed. To her surprise, it did, but this time, she was able to see more stars twinkle brighter, and in plain view, she could see some galaxies. She pulled on Mandy’s jacket to get her attention.

“Look at the sky, can you explain why we’re able to witness something mesmerizing yet a one in a trillion chance?”

“What are you talking about?”

Linnea pointed to the night sky, and Mandy saw what she was speaking of. Mandy’s confused as to why they’re able to see this until she saw a barrage of twinkles emerge, and to the corner of her eye, she saw a nebula pop out. Her jaw gapped, and her eyes grew wide as she slowly put the puzzle together.

“She’s… here.” Mandy muttered.

“Huh? What did you—?”

“Linnea! Your necklace! Analyze it!”

Linnea heard her panic, and saw her distraught face. She quickly pulled out her necklace, and saw it glowing red. She loudly gasped, and the two jumped out of the bench. Mandy clenched her fists, and sweated up a storm.

“Samantha’s… here…?”

Linnea began to shake uncontrollably.

“Wh-What makes you say that?!”

“The sky! There’s only one person I know who can manipulate time and space!”

“Wait wait?! She can—what?!”

In a panic, Mandy scanned the area to see if she was actually around. But in a more shocking circumstance, the park that they happened to be in, was no more.

“Wh-Where are we?”

Linnea also scanned their surroundings and saw the trees that would be present, instead, in their place, they found a straight path of them, and they were now standing in the middle of a different park.

“We… we gotta get out. We gotta leave her path!” Mandy shouted.

Linnea agreed and the two ran forward, straight down a path of endless trees. Above them in the night sky, stars began exploding, and galaxies began colliding with one another, erupting the sky in a gorgeous catastrophe. Soon, afterwards, auroras coursed above them, changing colours and flashing waves down at them. Rainbow flashes blinded them, and began to coat the earth in the elegance of natures tearing aftermath. They could feel the mass of each explosion reach them, weighing them down as they hurried to a glimpse of light growing bigger. The more they ran, the more it grew.

“I think we should be out once we reach that light!” Mandy shouted.

“I hope so, because I’m slowing down here!”

They used their mana to fight the gravity building up, and it boosted them to get to the source of light faster. The two dove into it, and found themselves back in the same spot they were a minute ago. The same park, the same park lights, and the bench that Mandy was sleeping on. The two caught their breaths, and Mandy took a seat, and let out a loud grunt.

“Th-That was close…”

Linnea wiped her forehead, and was glad to feel the chilly air of Detroit.

“Damn her, and you know what’s worse?”

Linnea pulled out her necklace, and the glowing heat had vanished.

“I think she pulled a trick on us.”

Mandy slammed her hand on the bench, and clutched her head.

“Damn it! Curse you, Samantha!”

As the two reflected on what to do next, the air began to feel chiller. The gusts of wind that howled, slowly, turned into whispers. Linnea noticed the change in the air, and felt goosebumps beginning to rise. The whisper in the wind turned into a growl, the bleak darkness in the sky, flashed white from the full moon. The two could feel the change, the air had a scent of iron, and a fragrance that was lovely to inhale. Leaves fell from trees, drifting around them: As they swooped in for their eyes to see, the two began to see the different changes in each group that flew past them. Some were normal, many were charred, but hiding within the piles that stack briefly, they saw crimson drip, and burn away.

“Wh-What’s… going on?” Linnea muttered.

Seeing the changes in the leaves as they kept pushing away, and flying off her view, the scent of iron grew stronger along with the perfume fragrance. Linnea’s arms began to tremble, but not from the chilly frozen breathtaking air, rather from a feeling she sensed from the time she was betrayed by the very being who took her brother's life: the same being who killed her group.

Mandy slowly let off her head, and she also could sense the surge of anger, and…

“Envy…”

The moonlight that had gleamed behind Linnea, where her shadow had hovered forward on the sidewalk, a curtain of sharp edges had emerged on the sides of her shadow, fluttering. Linnea’s mouth opened, trickling a faint scare, and slowly, she began to turn over her shoulder. As she turned and what seemed like ages as she did, she heard the trickle of a breath that sounded angry, and soothing to the ear. The breath of danger had trickled into another moan, one that had haunted Mandy’s dreams for decades, the bright moonlight had a black mass covering its view, and once Linnea could see what had covered the full moon, she grew pale. Hovering in the sky, the sea of raven hair that would mask the dark sky, bellowed from the growl of her angered winds.

“Sa-Sa…”

Linnea grew speechless as she saw the angel of death hovering in the sky. Her ghostly platinum eyes glowing the same colour as the moonlight. Mandy slowly shifted her head to where her pale friend was looking at. Once she saw the reminiscent of the past, floating, the demon she warned of everyone, a sharp glint of red that pierced her silver eyes, illuminating from the lurking shadow covering most of her body: she gently got off the bench, and slowly, clenched a fist. Her pupils dilated as her teeth ground, and Mandy’s brows, in-between formed a deep wrinkle.

“Saman—tha…”

Floating in the night sky as the full moon illuminated behind her brighter for a second, faded from bright white, to crimson, Samantha slowly turned down her gaze at them. Staring at the two beings whom she thought had brought trouble to her quiet life, she made her glare more known by allowing the shadow over her body to curtain away, revealing her elegant red dress, and snow white skin. They can see her glare in full, they could see her tightened muscles, and most of all, they could see her blank, yet cold stare that hid her true rage.

Letting one last trickle of annoyance out her frozen breath, her hair calmly floating into place, Samantha slowly opened her lips as the observable universe appeared within the moon: she said as her eyes were dead aimed at Mandy…

“Found… you.”