Echo uses very clearly painful and creative ways to plow through the people at both locations. Eventually, she comes out, covered in blood, a decapitated head in her hand; the second target. She approaches Ewan.

"Had your fun?"

"Most definitely, yes. But this guy has something to share with you."

"Oh?"

Echo lifts the head, clutching it by its hair, eyes wide with pain and fear, "Go on. Tell him what you told me."

He seems to be gasping, his voice weak, "You... bounty. For death. Nuisance for... Von Stein."

Ewan looks to Echo, "Does he know how difficult I am to kill?"

"Von Stein. It's the siblings." She looks at the head again, "Do you know who set the bounty?"

"N-name... Contact... Ju-Julia."

"The sister?"

"Yes. She's nowhere near as powerful as him, but she's smart. And a bitch."

"That bad?"

Echo scrunches her nose, dropping the head, "She lies and deceives and manipulates. I don't like her."

"I don't think I would either."

"She enjoys throwing around her family name to get things done. She used to be her father's pride because of her intelligence and knack for... business. Her brother meant little compared to her."

"Even if he seems to be the bigger problem?"

"They cared little for his abilities over her smarts. He wasn't able to control his powers well. At all, really. For a long time. I..." Echo sighs, "I helped him with that."

"So this must be fucked."

"She... set me up for their father's death."

"And I assume she was the on to really do it?"

Echo nods, "By the time I figured it out, it was too late for me."

"They'll get theirs. Especially now."

"How fucked is it that I don't hate him?"

"Suppose not very."

"Yeah? Hate her though."

"That is fair."

She smiles faintly, starting to walk as she takes a small notebook from her pocket, "For you."

He takes it, following, "What is it?"

"Seems he was a bounty handler. It contains quite a bit of interesting information."

"Thank you."

"Might keep you busy for some time."

"That it will."

"I've been thinking. I should go for her first."

"You mean we."

"I might have an idea of how to use you to get to her, but I'll give it some more thought first."

"Let me know."

"What I should share now is her ability. She's a master illusionist."

"You think it'll work on me?"

"Honestly? On you? Not very well. You've got nothing to lose. That, paired with your invulnerability, means you can power through near anything."

"Really?" Ewan scoffs, I suppose we'll see."

"You don't seem entirely convinced at my confidence in you."

"Because I've not encountered illusionists."

"The thing about her... she uses others and the surroundings to work with her. I know someone who can show you and teach you of illusions, but they don't compare to her."

"We should see, then."

"To take you for a bit of training, definitely."

"Sure."

"Then I'll arrange for that in the morning."

"Morning? Why not now?"

"He's a strange person. Doesn't like being surprised. So I'll need to arrange with him."

"What kind of strange?"

"The afraid of people kind."

"Hermit. Got it."

"He uses his illusions to hide. To spend as much as possible of his time in solitude."

"Must be good illusions, then."

"Good, but simple."

"Often times simplicity is the best."

They walk in silence a while before Echo speaks again, "I assume you're following me home again?"

"Correct."

"Maybe I should pull a disappearing act. What do you think? Then I can kickstart your training."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't really enjoy it, but I can cast some illusions. Especially the disappearing kind."

Ewan sighs, "If you can promise there will be no trouble."

He's barely finished his sentence when Echo holds out her hand, an earpiece having manifested in her palm.

"What is this?"

"So you can still hear me speak. Best practice is immersion."

The moment Ewan puts the earpiece on, Echo disappears, the environment around him feeling like it shifted.

"What's going on?"

Echo's voice sounds over the earpiece only, "Illusions fuck with the senses. Looking around, things seem normal yet different, do they not?"

Ewan looks around, "About right."

"I could be halfway around the world. Or I could be right here."

Echo touches his shoulder, making him spin around. He looks at her, her voice this time coming from herself, "The most difficult sense to fool is touch. It often breaks illusions."

"I assume hers are able to fool touch."

"She can make it appear as tough something is touching you. Basically by manipulating your other senses. But even she struggles to make it appear as though nothing is there when you touch it."

He nods in understanding. Echo removes her hand and disappears again.

"The easiest sense to fool is sight. Especially because we as humans rely so heavily on it."

"So I'll have to think differently."

"Exactly. You can't trust your eyes. Walk down the road."

Ewan does as she instructs. A few steps on, he walks into a parked vehicle, appearing as he touches it. He adjusts and walks again.

"She'll put plenty of obstacles in your way. Breaking your momentum." Echo's voice sounds from across the street now, "To throw you off."

"This could be aggravating."

She appears, motioning him over, "Her goal will be to have you lose focus."

Ewan starts towards her. He crosses the street without a problem.

"Care to guess the second easiest sense to fool?"

"Hearing?"

"Smart. It is hearing."

The image of Echo falters and fades away, the environment becoming darker. Ewan looks about, now finding himself in complete darkness and silence, the only sound being Echo's voice in his ear.

"Smell and taste tend to go hand in hand."

Ewan catches the whiff of cinnamon on he wind, the taste faintly on his tongue. He turns to face the direction of the wind. The taste fades and in an instant he finds himself in the middle of a field overgrown with strawberries. The sweet smell quickly replaces that of the cinnamon. The taste becoming prominent on his tongue, too.

He looks around again, paying attention to his surroundings. Slowly, he starts walking, waving his fingertips through the plants. It almost feels as though he is touching them. The plants move as his fingers caresses over them. Yet, something feels off about their touch.

"Taste and smell can often be fooled more convincingly by the addition of sight and sound."

The field bursts alive with flames, burning taller than Ewan stands. The warm light reflects off his skin. The sound of crackling plants fill his ears and the smell of smoke his nose. He reaches out to the flames in front of him. They feel like nothing.

"She'll make you distrust your senses. But listen to your instincts."

Ewan walks forward. Flames burning hot at his sides, but not the ones he walks through. He appears back in the city streets, fire still at his sides, he looks around for Echo. He sees her sitting on a bench, eating an ice-cream, flames flickering between them. Ewan walks to her. Some of the flames are real and hot while others fail to burn him. He reaches her, her voice again coming from her as she holds up a second cup of ice-cream.

"While you were busy, I got a treat."

He presses his finger to the cup, making her smile, "It's real."

"Thanks," Ewan says as he takes it, inspecting before tasting.

"Where do you think we are right now?"

He looks around, "Southwestern parts? I recognize that building."

"What do you want to bet?"

"I... don't want to bet. Not against you."

"Aww, come now. Don't you trust your eyes?"

Ewan picks up a rock, flinging it at a window on the top floor. It crashes through the window, breaking it.

"Seems a bit off, still."

Echo smiles again, the illusion fading away. He finds himself standing in Echo's living room. She sits on the couch, eating her ice-cream.

"Impressive."

"Honestly, what you experienced now is actually different from true illusion."

"Oh?"

"I kind of cheated with my own abilities. I scramble around inside your brain. She can only to that with your environment. And, of course, mental games."

He nods, "You know how I knew?"

"How?"

"There's an old bastard that lives there. I occasionally throw a rock through his window for being an ass. Nearly ran me over when I just came here. He would've yelled, flipped me off."

Echo starts laughing, "Sounds like he needs more than just a rock through his window."

"I do it a lot. But inconsistently." He shrugs, "He's not moved yet."

"That's funny. Seems he deserves it."

"Suppose he does."

"Anyway, I'll be working o a plan to get around her defenses. And we'll be getting you that training with the illusionist. Speaking of, let me arrange."

She stands, ice-cream finished, a phone materializes in her hand as she walks off to the kitchen. She dials a number, speaking gently, asking nicely. Ewan eventually gets up, standing closer, "Does he want to talk with me?"

Echo asks the person on the other end, then holds the phone to Ewan.

"Hello."

The voice on the other end speaks soft, "Y-yes. Who are you?"

He answers, voice softer than Echo has ever heard, "My name's Ewan. I heard you're really good at illusions. I'd very much appreciate if you could help me train."

"You-you know Amity?"

"Yes. I do."

"How?" The voice on the other end seems hesitant to speak much.

"We're acquaintances."

"Why do you need to train?"

"To be able to protect myself from someone really good at illusions."

"You won't... hurt us? Or tell on us?"

"No. No one will ever know you trained me."

There's a moment of silence, "I want to speak with Amity again, please."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Ewan hands her the phone and she speaks again, "Wonderful. I'll bring some. Thank you." She ends the call and the phone disappears.

"That a yes?"

"On a condition, but yes."

"And the condition is?"

"There's a restaurant whose food he likes, but they no longer do deliveries."

"Seems easy enough."

"Sure is. I'm rather surprised he's ok with it on such short notice."

"Think I proved I'm not a threat to him. I did speak real softly to him."

"You did. I never would've guessed your voice can be hat soft. No offense, but you don't really appear as the type to have a soft voice."

"When do I go to see him?"

"It's arranged for the morning."

"Morning it is."

Echo starts towards the back door, "I'm going to check on Casper."

Ewan starts to follow her again, walking into an invisible wall, "Echo..."

She turns to look, a frown on her face, "Yeah?" She freezes, her eyes looking past him.

Ewan turns to follow her eyes, finding himself to be in a narrow invincible box. The walls barely allowing him enough space to turn, pressed against his shoulders. The German from before stands close by, this time in more casual, but still neat, clothes.

"You fucker," Ewan snarls.

The man glances at Ewan, "Be a good boy and stay put. I have business to attend to."

He walks past the thrashing Ewan as he strains against the invisible walls containing him.

The man's blue eyes settle on Echo now, his expression softer, "I need to speak with you."

She steps back, managing to speak, "What do you want?" Her voice comes much less threatening than she intended.

He approaches still, "Just to talk."

"I'm not exactly interested in talking."

"Please?" His voice is almost pleading, desperate.

Echo glances at the trapped Ewan, "Make it quick."

"I want you back. I miss you, Mitty."

"You left me for dead. Now you want me back?"

"I was told you were already dead, killed by-"

"You know that's a lie," she cuts him off.

He looks hurt by this statement, "You really think that?"

"I do. Regardless of how I begged and pleaded... you just kept hurting me. Over and over. After I've broken in every way, you still kept going."

"You know that's not how I am."

"Do you want me to show you what you put me through? What I felt?"

"I know. Mitty... Do you truly think I would let those things happen to you?" He reaches for her hand.

She hesitates at first, but grabs his hand. Detailed memories of her weeks long torture flood into his mind all at once. He sees himself use knives to carve into her soft skin. Reopening wounds as they close days later. How he burns her with iron rods freshly off the fire, the smell of burning flesh raising in plumes of smoke. He sees himself using her as a toy for his own pleasure, reveling in her anguish. He feels her hunger, her desperation for a sip of water as he watches himself drink from a glass before throwing half of it on the ground. Slowly losing consciousness, but snapped awake again with a fist to the stomach, or a whip across the back, or a solid wooden board cross the face. He hears her pleading voice as it become weaker, not once swearing vengeance, but asking for his forgiveness for whatever she might've done to drive him to this. How her voice falls silent for days before turning into broken laughter. The pain turns into something different. Something for her to hold onto as a reassurance of life. Then, everything goes numb. Through weak eyes, he sees his sister, who has been in the background through all of this, raise a gun. The shot rings in his ears, warmth leaving his body. Everything as she had experienced it.

"I KNOW, MITTY!" he screams before releasing her hand, turning away. He slams his fist on the counter, first swearing in German, "Bitch sister! Whore's child piece of shit!"

Echo stands back, startled by his reaction, breathing becoming irregular again. He turns back, yelling at her now, "I couldn't fucking stop her! I wasn't there! Mitty, please believe me!"

She takes another step back, back now against the wall, "Don't... yell at me."

He takes a breath to calm himself, running a hand through his hair to straighten it out. The anger is still clear in his voice as he speaks, "Mitty, hear me out."

"Speak."

"I can arrange for you and myself to go away. From all of this. Further than either of us have been, to where my sister won't find us."

"You know there's no running away. Your sister has to die."

He swallows hard, then sighs, "It's not that easy."

"Take this as a courtesy, then. I am going to kill your sister."

"You won't be able to. Mitty, we can be free of this, please."

"Why do you think I won't be able to kill her? You have no idea how I've changed."

"I have some idea. And your own mind is holding you back. You know that I know you. Inside and out. Mitty, I'm begging you. Please."

"Stop protecting her! Then I'll be able to kill her."

"I'm not. Please."

"How am I supposed to trust you? After all of that?"

"Just do it. Like when we met in Berlin."

"Trusting your family got me killed."

"Me. No one else. Even this... monster," he says, motioning to Ewan.

Echo looks at Ewan now, "At least I know what to expect from him. I can trust him, even if he wants to kill me."

"I've never done you any harm, Mitty. And even though I have clearly failed you many times, I've never once tried to do you harm." His eyes well with tears, speaking German, "And you've hurt me, so badly."

"Where have I hurt you?"

"This distrust. This... animal standing where I stood. And he doesn't even care for you."

"How can I believe your words now? I believed your words in a promise for safety and protection. I believed your words when you said you'd always be there for me. I believed your words when you told me you love me!" Her own eyes now fill with tears, "I believed you. And now I'm broken."

"Mitty... Bitte." He reaches for her again.

She wipes the tears away, "You won't help me. Again, you won't help me. I won't... I can't trust you."

He gently takes her hand, stepping closer and wiping a tear away, "I've never stopped loving you, Mitty. Not once. Not even after I thought you were dead."

She turns her face away, "How long have you known I am alive?"

"About a month."

She frowns, "I've been receiving letters signed by both of you for three years now. No matter where I ran to."

His face also changes, "I didn't..."

She looks to the floor, a box materializing, "Look."

He looks through the letters, mumbling and cursing again, "Whoresdaughter... Bitch..."

"Some of those are even in your handwriting. They contain things I've only ever shared with you."

"I never wrote these."

"How would she have known these things?"

"Unless she manipulated..." his thought trails off as he returns the letters to the box. "I'll see what I can do to get you close. You're right. She deserves to die."

"She's destroyed so much. I can't stand by and watch her destroy even more." Echo's eyes move to the still trapped Ewan as she says this.

"I'll try. If it's all I can do for your forgiveness."

He approaches her again, hand softly touching the side of her face, he leans forward to kiss her. She turns away again, pushing his hand down.

"Johann. No."

He seems shocked and dejected, "Mit-" His words are interrupted by Ewan's fist striking him in the side of his mouth, knocking him across the floor.

Echo's eyes seem blank as she looks at Ewan jumping over Johann, swinging fists.

"Ewan, stop. He's going to help us."

Ewan continues, blood splattering.

She seems to snap awake, "Ewan!" She yanks him backwards, sending him to land seated on the couch, "I said stop."

"You told me he needed to die."

"I don't know, ok? If he's not the one who," she sighs, "Can we just get his sister first, please. We'll need the help to get in."

She goes down by his side to help him sit up.

"Then you go to lover boy," Ewan stands, spitting at him, "I'll be out. Looking."

Ewan leaves.

Echo helps Johann to his feet, then points at a chair, "Sit."

He stumbles, but manages to sit, slumping down in the chair as she goes to the cabinet to get medical supplies, then a bowl of water. She lifts his face with one hand, hesitant, but continues on to clean the wounds on his face. He weakly places a hand on her arm.

"Your focus still falters," she says in an almost scolding tone.

"Du bist es," he breathes heavily.

She stops a moment, "Where else are you hurt?"

"Just face."

She gets an antiseptic, applying it to the open wounds, "He's not... a bad person."

Johann flinches, "Animal. Unrefined."

"I can't say that I'm much different these past years."

"You are different. He's a monster."

"And I'm a monster to many others."

"I'll help."

"To kill your sister? You said so."

"I said I'd try. But I'm going to."

Echo packs away the supplies.

"You... feel for him."

She sighs, "I don't know. I like him. He fucks good. But he hates me. He wants to kill me, too."

He's clearly bothered by these statements, "He's an animal. Only knows to fuck and kill."

"I don't have to justify him to you of vice versa. I've spent a long time alone after... I've been through much. And I'm rather tired of it."

"I wa... need you. Amity, I love you."

She looks away, "Don't do this now."

"I won't stop. You know what I'm saying is true. I'll fight for you until my last breath."

"I already hate myself enough. Regardless of my care for you, I can't help but feel fear being this close."

"To me?"

"What I experienced... it doesn't just go away."

"I'm sorry, Mitty. I really am. I wish I could change what happened."

She still avoids looking at him, "If Ewan is still willing to be part of this, I'll be helping him practice against illusions. I'll let you know when to leave the back door open."

He weakly takes her hand, kissing it softly, emotions writhing behind his eyes, "Mitty... I love you. I always will."

He disappears.