The once calming light of the moon shines down balefully on the Crimson Lake, adding to the rich slurry of colors reflected off the water's surface. Maus remains unperturbed, meditating quietly by herself. The talking rodent's company is one of the last things I'm looking forward to but heading back out into the darkness is equally unappealing. Especially when there's a predator lurking about. Torn by indecision, I finally manage to take a seat on a fallen tree a healthy distance away from Maus.

My mouth goes dry, expecting Maus to launch into one of her insulting lectures but the rodent remains silent, sitting as still as a statue by her corner of the lake. The minutes pass and eventually the tension becomes too nerve wracking for me to take.

"No insults? No snide remarks?" I challenge the talking rodent, trying to sound more confident than I feel.

Maus turns to look at me with a weary expression on her face, "Not everything revolves around you Robert. I do have my own life to lead."

"Big talk for someone who stalked me into a Rift." I scoff in reply, quietly relieved that Maus isn't spoiling for a fight.

"You might be precious to me Robert," Maus turns back to the lake in contemplation, "but it is because of what, rather than who, you are."

"I don't get it. You're as obtuse as ever it seems." I snort while folding my arms. The danger I sensed stalking me had vanished. Whatever that creature was, it had decided to give the Crimson Lake a wide berth.

"You'll understand eventually. Maybe even before it is too late." Maus shrugs, disinterested in pursuing the conversation further.

"Aren't you worried about the Reality Shift?" I question, peering up at the sky as the ion storm flickers within the swollen clouds.

"There's nothing in this Rift that can harm me." Maus flatly responds, "Therefore there is nothing for me to fear."

I frown at Maus's dismissive explanation. She's certainly not scared but from the hunched posture, the rat's been having a rough day. Life in the Rift clearly hasn't been very agreeable for Maus.

"Sometimes I wonder," Maus sighs, a surprisingly diminutive sound, "what freedom from the purge cycle means."

"You tell me." I grunt, "You're the one who claims to have transcended everything."

"Not transcended." Maus shakes her head, "People like us endure the purge cycles. Even if we do survive the cycle, we're still governed by it."

"Aren't you effectively immortal?" I question, gazing at the rat with a critical eye, "That's what you boasted about if I remember correctly."

"Immortal." Maus muses, "Yes I am. Within the purge cycle."

"Then what are you being upset about?" I pursue the point, "Sounds like you have it made."

"I just ... just ... think there might be more to this existence." Maus says with some difficulty, "More than just endless repetition of my life."

The waves of the Crimson Lake lap gently at the shore and in the background I hear the chirping of crickets. The moon wordlessly observes, passing its silent judgment.

"I feel thin, Robert. Thin like a rubber band stretched to the limit." Maus stumbles with her words, "The days just keep coming and coming without end."

A bad feeling wells up in my heart. I now only realize that Maus's arrogance concealed an extremely delicate psyche. She was balanced on a razor's edge and her current dark mood wasn't helping any. A trace of fear runs down my spine. Maus was dangerous and in her current condition, it was entirely possible she could lash out as a means of dealing with her frustration.

It would be laughable to admit that fighting a talking rat scared me, but there was always more to Maus then meets the eye. An abundance of caution when dealing with her was only natural.

"But beyond the purge cycle." Maus's expression becomes distant, "Do you know what lies beyond, Robert?"

"I doubt anybody really knows?" I answer carefully, not wanting to inadvertently set her off.

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"Of course. No one knows." Maus nods sagaciously, "What lies beyond could be anything."

Her expression grows incredibly ugly and my breath hitches. Had I answered Maus's question wrongly? But the talking rodent goes back to staring at the surface of the lake with renewed intensity.

"It could be anything." a small terrified whisper comes from her rodent lips, "What lies beyond could even be the end."

Maus clutches her forepaws at her chest, consumed with nearly elemental fear. My own hand unconsciously mirrors the motion and the both of us feel the heavy, unmoving weight of our hearts. Two hearts that will never beat again. The reminder of the profane bargain we made to avoid our deaths.

Like me, Maus would have experienced her end once before. And she was scared of facing oblivion once again.

I focus my will, ordering my heart to begin beating once more. It thrums to life but its a sham, an impersonation. I don't need this beating heart to live. Just as neither Maus or myself need food to live. We eat for pleasure, to mend our bodies and sometimes just to fit in.

Grandpa's heritage stirs and the familiar warmth fills my chest. The reassuring heat clears my mind and drives me to the only correct conclusion. This is wrong. Maus's insanity is consuming me as well. I have a life with prospects, friends and perhaps even a lover. Maus's lunacy should be the last thing on my mind.

I get up, preparing to leave. Coming to the Crimson Lake was a mistake. Nothing good would come from entertaining Maus's ramblings.

"Robert." Maus says as my feet reach the edge of the lurid color separating the lake from the darkness beyond.

"Yeah?" I whisper hoarsely, my hackles suddenly rising.

"You know what's out there." she states in a matter of fact way.

"A large animal. I know." I reply, both feet rooted to the spot, "I can handle it if things come to that."

"Then leave if you're so confident." Maus turns back to the lake.

I try to take a step forward but my body resists. Cold sweat breaks across my back and a near primal urge demands I retreat back to the lake.

"The heart understands," Maus explains, "no matter how much the mind wants to fool itself."

"I'm no coward." I hiss back, trying to muster my willpower to break out of the lake's perimeter.

"Neither am I." Maus smiles sadly at me, her teeth winking in the moonlight, "But there is one thing that we will always fear."

"And what's that?" I try to sneer but my face is locked in an unseemly grimace.

"The death that stalks us." Maus says, "Even I, with my invincibility, feels that terror. Never mind someone as powerless you."

"I'm strong now." shaking my head, I summon my soul weapon. On my command, the ethereal cesti bloom into existence around both fists. My strength overflows as the heritage unleashes its potential into my blood.

"I'm strong now!" the heritage roars, demanding to be used. My fist swings in a savage arc, striking at a nearby tree with such impact that the trunk is shattered. As the tree topples over, my soul exults in the knowledge that this strength is equal to any beast.

Maus on the other hand, looks completely unimpressed.

"What a coincidence that you met up with a dangerous animal after being separated from your friends." the rat drolly states, "Is this how you truly want things to end?"

"Don't talk down at me!" I snap and spin about to confront Maus. My soul flares at the offence and raw spiritual energy explodes around me in a wild nimbus. This is true power, not the vulgar magic Maus is so proud off, or her boasts about being invincible. I clench my fists and -

Maus narrows her eyes.

Sheer pants shitting terror overwhelms me. My soul recoils back despite its previous confidence. The cesti immediately vanish into the ether and the heritage's presence in my blood shrivels away like a pulled out weed. I didn't feel this level of fear even when the world's most obvious assassins were about to kill me. Because I knew then that there was always a fighting chance against them.

Not with Maus. That is how wide the gap between us is.

"You made the choice to live that night at Rutger's." Maus says as her expression relaxes, "Don't throw your life away so easily."

"Then what should I do?" I swallow hard, sinking to my knees. All the fight had gone out of me and a curdling sensation had settled into my chest. As if the heritage was disappointed at my decision to back down.

"Stay here." Maus answers, "With me."

"Really?" I gaze at the moon in the sky. I know Maus doesn't mean anything romantic by it but I'm reminded of that saying from the cult pamphlet. That the moon is kind to lovers. And it had one way or another, led me to Maus tonight.

"I'll keep you safe." Maus declares, "So stay."

"What if I say no?" I needle back, trying to regain some of my manhood.

"I would be very sad," Maus shakes her head, "to lose someone precious to me."

"This crazy talk again," I sigh, "you're not going to force me to stay?"

Maus looks up at the full moon in resignation.

"The will of the world would take offence at that. Forcing you would do more harm than good."

I settle on the damp grass as the two of us admire the moon and the ion storm crackling around it.

"My friends are out there in the Rift. I can't hide here in good conscience." the strong, fake beating of my heart confirms it. My oath to Paul takes precedence over anything else. I need to reunite with my master as soon as possible.

"I know." Maus calmly responds, not in the least put off.

Through the darkness is the path I need to tread. But my entire body revolts at the very thought of leaving Maus's company. The rat watches me as I struggle to master myself. Finally Maus decides to take a huge piss on a pile of dead leaves and twigs.

"Here." Maus uses her telekinesis to toss me a particularly pungent twig.

"Gross." I frown, fumbling with the piss soaked piece of refuse.

"It'll keep you safe for some time. Probably." the rat waves me off before curling up to sleep.

Its strange, but the creeping sense of danger does recede when I have the twig in my hand. Emboldened, I make ready to continue my journey.

"Sweet dreams." I murmur to Maus, just before the fog swallows her up again.