Boundary Bay. Waves lapped at the beach, lit by the sun setting behind us. Thea was waiting there, a few Echoes standing by her side, overlooking the water. From down on the beach, it was peaceful. A gentle breeze blew in from the ocean. I’m sure it would’ve felt nice through my hair, but I was in my Imago.

From up in the sky, it was terrifying.

The ocean opened washed over a vast pit, black and bubbling. It was a sinkhole kilometres wide, that seemed to drop endlessly into the depths of the earth, where the water met its entrance, reality cracked and bent, a tear in spacetime. The boats sailing over it were blissfully unaware of its presence, but for me, it was unbearable. I couldn’t look at it for more than a few seconds before my temples ached and eyes closed of their own accord. It didn’t belong here. It couldn’t belong here.

“I’m sorry,” said Thea. “But he said no.”

“Hold on. What is that?” I said, pointing to the huge crevasse in the middle of the bay.

“But don’t worry about it. I have my backup plan...” she continued, not seeming to pay any attention to my words.

“Thea,” I repeated, still gesturing out at the crashing waves, “what is that?”

“Huh? That’s where Echoes are born,” she said. “A nursery. The heart of Ecto’s plan. Of our plan. You see? The entrance is open because I am here. It hears my call as a Demon. Inside, they’re still growing, but the time is coming soon for them to emerge.” She gently stroked the Echoes beside her. “Not like my little friends, either. A real Echo. Something big.”

Big? “Wait, so these aren’t—”

“You didn’t think that these were what Echoes are, did you? These little things?” She picked up a rock off the beach and tried to skip it. “Well, I haven’t seen any of the big ones yet, but the stories they tell me, Quinn. Enormous creatures that shaped the world. The power to accomplish what was needed. To free humanity and bring you to paradise.”

“Paradise?”

“Didn’t I say so? The Echoes... they’re empowered with a force against that of Gaia. But that’s besides the point. The point is... what was the point again? The point is that Ecto is planning on using this one. He’s got a huge plan all set up on commandeering this Echo and using it. Something about how it’s his birthright or something. He plans to, once it formed, awaken it. To ‘liberate’ the local population.”

“Hold on, liberate?”

“Yeah... that won’t be pretty. But Anyways, I’m going to hijack it. I can force his hand. Use it as a bargaining chip and force him to let your parents go. And take over the world and stuff.”

Yes, and— “Hold on, take control of the world?”

“Did I stutter?”

“That’s.... that’s a lot. I don’t if I can let you do that.”

“Now you come to your senses?”

Thea looked me deep in the eyes. “Look, Quinn... there’s a city,” Thea started, “A new city in the clouds. A paradise for humans and all other living things.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

“Come on, Quinn. You are a literal Angel, able to change your form at a whim, and you’re questioning whether we can make a single city?”

“When you put it like that...”

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“It’s true, Quinn. I’ve seen it. It’s all on Ecto’s video feeds. Though his office is in the house.”

“My house.”

“Yes. And it’s crawling with Demons. But I... I’ve seen the video, seen the city being constructed, prepared for humanity. It’s beautiful and wonderful. Nothing like the world you live in today. Oh, you might love the things you experience here, but you can’t even begin to imagine the wonders we’re working for. I promise, I’ll show it to you when I can. I’ll prove it. And then, with your help, I can give you back your parents.”

“Or I could kill Ecto.”

“Don’t be silly, Quinn. Your so-called friends will never let you fight him. They’re only dangling that in front of you while they make you part of their plans. They’ve got other things in mind. Your parents are just a bargaining chip to get you in line.”

“I mean... I went on a hunt with Angelina the other night. They trusted me enough for that.”

“And how was it?” She tapped her feet expectantly.

“It was fine, thank you very much.”

“Did it make you feel good? Killing my siblings? Soaking yourself in their blood?”

“I... I’m not sure how I felt. But at the end of the day, they are not... not from here. They were taking the place of people. Of my own people. And I don’t think that’s okay.”

Thea scoffed. “Oh, we may not be from here, sure. But we were here long before you humans were, nonetheless. We were the original rulers of this world. And taking our rightful place of dominion over this planet is what’s best for all. The Angels are merely fighting the war of others... why not do what’s best for your own people?”

“I don’t know...“

“And...” Thea smiled. “What did she do to the paradoxes? Those little crystals of disturbance that the Demons had wrought? Hmm? She shattered them, right?”

I bit my lip. “She didn’t. She said that... that they needed to be taken to... somewhere.”

“Sure. Sure. And they’ll say the same even if you defeat Ecto.” The Demon laughed. “I will show you our paradise, Quinn. Give me a little time. I’ll take you to the house. I’ll show you the city. And you’ll see it with your eyes. But if you really want a chance to stop Ecto and get your parents back...”

“I’ll give you a little time.”

“One last thing.” Thea walked right up to me, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t you dare tell anyone about this, Quinn. If you do, they will try to hunt me down. They will kill me.”

“But this is...”

“I’m serious, Quinn. Angels may be nice to you. But I am a Demon. If they so much as catch a hint that I’m involved, I will die. You need to keep quiet.”

“I...”

“Promise me.” She squeezed my hands.

“Fine. I promise.”

***

But weeks later, I was still standing on the rocky peninsula overlooking Boundary Bay. The waves crashed against the boulders, spraying my cheeks with icy mist. Out on the water, the distortion was barely visible. Indeed, without Thea here, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it wasn’t there at all. But it certainly was.

“You’ve been coming here a lot, haven’t you.”

I had been. Still no news from Thea, of course. Yet again she’d left me wondering. But now that I knew of it, this place had a magnetic draw to it. I knew I’d promised not to say anything. But it was a really big Echo. And all I had was Thea’s word, her promise to take it away from him. To stop him, and... and... and take over the world? Was that really okay?

That probably wasn’t okay.

Had I really gotten swept along with this? Thea would take over the world? I had to tell them. The shape beneath the waves stirred, precipices of jagged black rocks peeking through the surface of the water. My head throbbed. This was wrong. I had to tell them.

Sorry, Thea.