Quinn was with that girl again tonight.

Nep remained hidden in the alley, careful not to step out into the light. She didn’t want to shock anyone with her Imago’s form, cloaked as it was. Some of the Echoes were with the girl again, too. E1-Friend walked alongside her. The big one was not present, but E1-Serenade sat perched on the girl’s shoulder. They were remarkably calm in her presence, at least compared to what the previous records had shown. Indeed, this girl was mysterious.

A very strange Demon indeed, this Thea.

“What do you think?” Nep whispered, asking the insect on her shoulder.

“It’s possible,” replied Laccotrephes. The symbiote had seen her fair share of Demons, and yet this one was still new to her. It made all six of her limbs shiver with a sensation she hadn’t had for millions of years: dread.

“She’s not in any of our databases, Lac. Nothing. She must be a new one. Which would mean that Ecto is not who we think he is. It would mean that the real one we have to worry about is...”

“Is her instead,” the insect confirmed. “And the number of Echoes in her entourage supports that hypothesis. She very well may be the harbinger of the seventh Calamity.”

Nep hummed to herself, tapping her lip nervously. Quinn and the Demon kept walking down the street, passing her alley without so much as a second glance. They seemed deep in conversation. Thea said something, and Quinn laughed in response. At least they seemed to be enjoying themselves. “What’s the correct protocol, then?”

The insect on her shoulder paused for a few seconds. “Report to Mali.”

Mali. “I don’t want to deal with her right now, though. She’ll get mad at me for focusing too much on Ecto, and for the... liberties we took with Quinn. I’m worried about Quinn... a little bit. But this Demon has really been an oddball. It’s almost like she doesn’t understand her purpose yet. It’s almost like she’s growing fond of Quinn.”

“And vice versa.”

“True, true. We should maybe curb that a little bit. But it seems she’s not causing too much trouble, yet. She certainly isn’t trying to destroy her. And right now, Ecto’s a much bigger issue. Especially if what I’ve observed is true.” Nep chuckled to herself. “I knew he was ambitious, but this... we needed Quinn. And we might even need Quinn’s friendship with the Demon. Vespa was right, as much as I hate it. For now, let’s tackle Ecto. We can keep Quinn at home to distract Thea. Maybe send Angelina to distract her as well. A little conflict will keep the two of them a little further apart. It’s against code, but... those are more like guidelines, right? It’s all for the greater good.”

“Rules are meant to be broken.” Laccotrephes clicked his mandibles excitedly. “The Angels are really glad to have someone like you, Nep.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

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***

It was still bright out when Nep returned to Sanctuary 73. The The streets were packed with people, none noticing the young woman walk down the stairs to the front door. The glass was frosty from the evening chill. The lights were on inside, and a boy was inside the bar.

A boy was inside the bar?

Impossible. “Only Angels can even notice this place,” Nep whispered, “Much less enter them. An Angels are... not boys. Usually. What is this?”

“I don’t know,” said Laccotrephes. “Be careful.”

“Of course.” Nep partially returned to her human form so as to not startle him when she entered. Her face returned to normal, but beneath her coat and pants the smooth exoskeleton remained, ready for any suspicious signs. He was young. Sixteen, maybe, with a lone white streak in his otherwise black hair. He wore a blue rain jacket and jeans, with a black knapsack slung over his shoulder. The door opened, the rush of wind drawing his attention.

“Don’t be afraid,” Nep said, mostly to herself. She had butterflies in her stomach. Deep breaths. She had to do this properly.

“I’m sorry for intruding,” he said. “I didn’t know that other people—“

“No. Don’t worry about it.” Nep made her way behind the counter and took out a glass, pretending to be focused on filling it with water as she scanned the room for Vespa. “Can I get you anything? Anything non-alcoholic, that is.” Where was Sarah? Why did she, of all people, have to deal with this child?

“I’m fine thanks. I’m just...”

“What brings you here?” There she was. Vespa flew in through the back door, perching just out of his view behind the counter. “How did you find this place?”

“I’m looking for someone named Quinn Lee.”

What? Impossible. Nobody knew Quinn. Ecto had erased all of that from history. Only fixed points like Angels should have been able to remember such things. Nep raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the panic rising up inside. “And how did you hear that name?”

“She went to my school.” He held up his phone. A picture of her. A photograph. That shouldn’t have been possible, either. They should’ve all been destroyed when Ecto’s paradox had been created. “I saw her walk in here a few times, so I thought maybe the people here might know what’s happened to her.”

“Vespa, explain,” she mouthed. “Well, young man, you really shouldn’t go about following your classmates and looking for where they live. You’ll get arrested.”

“I’m worried. Nobody else remembers her. Not even with the photo. But you seem to know very well who she is and where she is. What’s happened to her?”

Nep bit her lip. “Now now, young man, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know anyone with that name.”

“Vespa has no idea what’s going on either, Nep,” said Laccotrephes. “You’re right. This shouldn’t be possible. Everything connected to her should have been erased. The fact that this boy has memories of her, and even photographs, requires further investigation.”

Nep looked back to him. He wasn’t going to budge. “Fine.” Nep drained her glass and set it down on the counter. “You want to know about Quinn, kiddo? Then we’re going to have a little chat.” She headed towards the front door. “Well? You coming?”

He hesitated for a moment before following her out.