NEZHA

We walked out from the emergency stairs so no one would ever try to find us. We kept jumping from building to building before realizing that Pete could not continue.

We stepped to the ground and looked at the road, noticing we were an hour away. We passed the red district, trying to make sure that Arsu wouldn't get lost in the lustful eyes of the men who were pulling him closer to an endless nightmare. I kept studying the buildings. Most of them now had at least two women to work and they looked tired. Not afraid. There was a difference. They looked tired as they danced around with their red jewels, moving the customers inside the establishments. They were slow, they were bland, they were. Almost dead-looking in an area filled with corpses.

But then, other buildings had almost thirty women and fifteen men working. Their clothes were long black, their jewels were either green or white and each of them had an owl tattoo untouched on their skin.

They were Stolas’ business. And based on the amount of customers, he could have any riches he wanted here. Spirits, he could buy the entire area and make the dark veil disappear if he wanted to.

And the ARS GOETIA was a palace. The walls were painted with a bright golden shade. But not to cover the mold or any hole. But for it to show the riches of the establishment the painting seemed to be strong. Expensive.

The guards for the entrance were wearing light brown suits with feathers around the collars of their shirts and the cuffs of their sleeves and their faces were covered with pale owl masks.

I held my breath as Pete was ready to get inside the door before one of the guards halted him.

‘’Aren’t you…’’He said, studying all of us skeptically. ‘’A bit young to be here?’’

I showed the invitation from the folder and started reading it. Either he was a slow reader or was wasting our time on purpose. That made me look at the rest of the people walking inside as they had a more noble presence. Not just their clean clothes but the way they walked, the way they smiled, the way they breathed. They were everything that we were not.

‘’Do you have any weapons?’’The guard finally asked us.

We all shook our heads in sync.

‘’Alright’’He groaned, moving his head front. ‘’Take everything out.’’

‘’But we do not have any,’’ I repeated.

And then Minerva pulled out two covered needles from her coat and gave it to the defeated guard. Arsu removed the pistol from his boot and pouted.

I frowned at them and tried to look around.

The guard glared at Mara who was staring at him coldly.’’Come now, girl.’’He said,

Mara sighed and spread her hands, making the two daggers move from her sleeves out to the open. She gave it to him.

He arched his brow and waited. Mara gave up and slid her hands from her skirt, taking out another knife, and looked up to the guard.

‘’Your boots.’’

Mara gasped and took out two more smaller knives.

‘’How many did you bring?’’ I whispered.

‘’That is all she said.’’

‘’Helm’’ The man said, looking at all of us. Pete took a deep breath after removing the already sweaty leather. I removed it slowly, as I could smell now clearly something sweet coming from the building. Minerva and Arsu gave theirs to the guard but he turned grimly to Mara.

‘’The helm stays.’’ She almost sounded as if she was making a demand.

‘’Do you have something to hide?’’ He asked.

Mara tilted her head. ‘’No,’’ She looked at his mask. ‘’Do you?’’

I kept looking at her with my mouth pressed to a thin line, praying how long she was going to argue. Did she have a knife inside her mouth?

The man gave up and showed us the door now open.

Inside every lantern was burning bright green light. Every smell was lighter, and elegant, unlike the FOURTH CIRCLE. The people here were laughing with each drink in their hands and a few cards on the other. There was music coming from a stage with a beautiful singer and a pianist.

Bright colorful fabrics to each corner, to each stair. People with beautiful smiles were watching everyone with joy and yet I could feel that someone was watching us more than the others.

‘’This is…’’Minerva gasped.

‘’Beautiful’’Pete gasped nervously as he kept looking around for anyone.

‘’Is something wrong?’’I asked, moving closer to his side.

His fingers were heated, dripping sweat and shook a giant no.

‘’It’s just…I wanted to see my mother here.’’His voice broke.

I looked left and right to see anyone who resembled Pete’s innocence or any other characteristic. But there was none. Because people like him, like her, shouldn't be there. Either his mother wasn’t there or she once was and now perished.

Mara kept walking unbothered, looking at everyone and everywhere with her fingers now digging in the shadows of people’s pockets.

‘’Really now?’’I squirted near her and whispered.

There was a confident shrug and I swear I could see her smiling.‘’If we find nothing better to not return empty-handed.’’

‘’Yes but, what if…’’I whispered even more but she did not seem to listen with her eyes now moving to the performer. She locked eyes on him whose fingers, whose every breath every inch of existence seemed to captivate everyone around him. Taking them all, trapping them on his own magic. Even Mara seemed enchanted by it.

So I turned to Arsu who was flexing his naked arms as he was the main event. I studied his arms and his tattoos. Arsu said that they did it to show their dreams and their ideals. They were one. And there were two. And then, I looked down at his hand, dinsing his red bracelet. Rubies like the ones that the women from the red district were wearing.

‘’Keep your guard up’’I whispered and turned back to Mara who was moving a necklace inside her sleeves.’’And hold your tongues.’’

Minera looked at her too.

‘’I can hold my tongue.’’She gasped dramatically. ‘’You will see.’’ Her fingers showed front, with Pete walking far from the rest of us and slamming himself at an anxious-looking man.

He let out a small shout and his round glasses fell to the floor.

‘’I am so sorry’’Pete tried to apologize to him as the man was now sitting on his knees and moving back with a smile. His pale slim fingers fixed his fire hair and his circle-looking amber eyes looked at us with surprise. I took a better look at him. Round face and yet slim. Probably he also hadn’t eaten for days. He was around his late twenties or even mid-thirties and his clothes seemed old, with dark orange and yellow pieces attached around. And unlike my collar, his was dark with a mark of the owl.

‘’ Inka to Ars Goetia’’ His voice was shaking like a leaf. ‘’You must be the Spectres’’He turned his slender back on us. ‘’Please, follow me.’’

‘’Seems like we are famous.’’Arsu laughed back to Mara.

I turned to Minerva who had the same unsureness as me. What if we made the wrong decision? What if it was all a trap? What if we got killed like Azizos?

Before even answering my questions we were stepping upstairs. far from the chatting people and I noticed a man swiping his fingers down between a woman’s legs with her filled wallet ready to fall from her hands and fall to me.

Maybe it was not that different after all.

The front door was guarded by two men with owl masks and stepped aside with a sort of laugh when they saw the weak-looking man.

He knocked on the door three times and I heard a husky voice. ‘’Come in’’

The door opened and in front of us was a clean desk, a cup of brooded coffee, and an old bald man sitting on his red velvet armchair. His small sharp yellow eyes looked deep into our souls with his silver ringed wear fingers stroking his long wide beard. I could see the men behind us shaking slowly as the man represented power. Old but tall, strong-looking with his broad shoulders and his black suit and feather-tailored coat. Even his scent, his heavy sweet perfume was shooting electricity against me.

‘’Hello’’I said, remembering how to speak and how to breathe.

‘’We are…’’

And then, there was a smile underneath his thick mustache. And then a laugh. ‘’I know who you are’’He said clearly. ‘’Inka, Inka’’He forced himself to stand up with the help of a silver cane. Stolas jerked his bronze-looking head to the scrawny man who faced Minerva with a darting gaze.

‘’Where are you manners boy? Give them some chairs to seat.’’

The man nodded and turned to one of the walls near Stola’s small library, bringing five chairs. Next to it there was a tale that had a heavy box covered with a dark blanket as next to it there were also three box tins with a red-haired man at the top of it. I did not need to see the top to know it. I was certain of it.

‘’Would you like some tea?’’Stolas asked. ‘’Cake? Melka?’’

Minerva tried to speak.

But when the scrawny man was done, Stolas whistled him. ‘’Go to the kitchen and bring five cups of Lavender and chocolate cake.’’

The scrawny man smiled and walked away with Mara turning back and spying on him.

‘’Chocolate?’’ I asked him confused

‘’You haven’t tasted before boy?’’ He asked. ‘’Oh, the sweetest of sweets in all of Aztlan and Olympus. I am sure children like you are going to love it.’’

Children…

The chairs were comfortable enough and warm as if I was sitting on a pillow. And then I slowly realized that it had a red pillow that made me lie down.

‘’So so’’ Stolas took a sip from his cup, dirtying his mustache with coffee. ‘’I apologize for the search up but you see I needed to be sure for’’ His yellow eyes turned to Mara with his thick eyebrows making a frown.

‘’Troublemakers’’ She crossed her legs and looked away.

‘’I am sorry for her’’I smiled nervously.’’She is shy.’’

‘’I see’’Stolas smiled and with the door now open, the scrawny man returned with five cups, a tea kettle, and a whole brown round loaf, all of them to a tray roller.

As he poured us tea, his eyes kept facing Mara with interest, making the intoxicating smell fall to the floor.

‘’I am…’’He almost cried in front of Stolas and the scrawny man turned on Minerva for a couple of seconds and then his eyes moved on the floor.

I waited for the outcome. To electrocute him. To press his number, the button in front of us makes us fear him. Mammon had done it countless times. But instead, he laughed and halted him. ‘’You can go now’’

The man nodded shakily and left the cake on the desk for us to take it.

As he was ready to walk away he stuttered to Mara.’’I just, I don't think that Mammon would let ten-year-olds to work.’’ It almost just for a second sounded like he was mocking her.

There was that dark face of hers. ‘’I am twelve’’She hissed and the man walked away.

A quick smile came across his face and moved far from her.

We all looked hesitant about the loaf for a while But I could hear Pete’s and Arsu’s growling stomachs as Minerva tried to hide hers. And I could not stop smelling it.

‘’I haven’t poisoned it’’Stolas laughed and we all faced Mara for sure.

She nodded.

Stolas’ smile faded. ‘’You must have thrown a lot of…’’He said slowly. ‘’Pain back there. But you must know, I just want you to eat and drink before they get cold.’’

Arsu looked down.

‘’My condolences for your brother. I would never order someone to kill a child like that.’’

So you killed your own man because he didn’t obey you?

Pete was the first one to pray and take a sip from the hot tea. And he kept drinking it, regarding the small cries of pain by the hot liquid.

‘’You are a religious boy huh? Mammon probably likes you enough.’’

He nodded and took a piece from the loaf. Arsu did too and when they munched it in sync and tried to hold their pleasurable sounds.

Arsu turned to me with a smile.’’ It’s amazing.’’He gasped.

Minerva took a bite from another piece shakily and took a soft bite. Her eyes opened wide, almost I saw her cry for the first time before she took one more bite.

I gave up and took it, feeling the hot and yet soft slimy texture around my thumbs. How sticky it was but not like paste. And then I took a deep breath and bit it. It was hot and yet so sweet. I could feel a rush of emotions that I could not describe. But I felt warm just by eating it.

Stolas smiled, watching us eating, and turned to Mara.

‘’Go on ‘’he said.

She passed it with a smile underneath her helm. ‘’I prefer it when it is cold, if you do not mind’’She showed me the helmet she was wearing.

‘’I see’’Stolas laughed and turned to Arsu with a thick frown.

‘’Once again, I only wanted to say’’

Arsu faced me with a wild gaze, thinking if he could kill me now or later

It was my time to speak.

I coughed dry, making Stolas ‘ attention drawn to me.

‘’This is all lovely’’I said, feeling the need to have more cake ‘’Really but why are we actually…’’

‘’People here can listen to everything you know’’Stolas interrupted me and took out of his pocket two secured needles. Minerva’s needles. Her face turned red and tried to speak.

Stolen story; please report.

‘’It was not meant for you ‘’She lied. She would love to see her poisons making his skin change color, his mouth spitting heavy saliva and his eyes popping out until his corpse started to rot like warlocks.

‘’No, no’’Stolas laughed. ‘’I mean it is amusing that you can do something like this at your age.’’

She blinked confused.

‘’You have a talent that gets wasted’’He explained.’’Let me guess. Mammon’s equipment is shitty.’’

Minerva gasped and shook her head with a blush before shoving her mouth back to the cake.

Stolas turned to Arsu. ‘’You seem strong’’He said amused. ''Strong enough to become a guard on my palace.''

Arsu smiled and nodded, restraining his blush.

‘’You are…’’Stolas looked at me from head to toe, studied me, and took a deep breath. ‘’You, had it rough’’

I shrugged, trying to act like his words, his honest words did not hurt me. For some reason, he sounded so considerate and sentimental even if his gazenow was cold and empty.

‘’And you’’He moved his body back to look at Mara.

She shrugged.

‘’The little lie detector.’’

‘’I really do not like that name’’She muttered.

‘’What is your name then?’’ Stolas asked her.

She tilted her head and she almost seemed to smile. ‘’Mara.’’

Pete raised his hand and Minerva instantly put it down, knowing he might say something stupid.

‘’It is a pleasure to finally meet you all’’Stolas said and his fingers went down to one of his drawers. ‘’This is why I wanted to talk to you.’’He said, showing us four papers.

‘’Arsu’’He said, giving him the first paper.

Then, he gave one to Minerva and started reading it fast. ‘’Shit’’She whispered with her eyes darting.

‘’Is Nezha correct?’’The old man asked with a smile.

How did he know our names? It did not matter because when I read what was on the paper my eyes darted and then I heard Mara cursing too as soon as she took the paper in her own hands.

I did not know what he said but mine was this.

The contract between the businessman Mammon and Nezha is now over as the debt of two million Eke’el had been paid by the ARS GOETIA establishment.

And it had both Mammon’s and Stolas’ signatures. But it could not be. He would never.

‘’Minerva’’I turned to her. Her eyes kept darting. ‘’It says that the debt is’’She said slowly.

Turning to Arsu he muttered the same thing as he also said that his brother’s debt was also paid off. Everything was paid and I could feel my heart racing as Mara now drank her cold tea.

‘’Unfortunately ‘’Stolas sighed, turning to Pete. ‘’Your contract is yet to be found but do not worry.’’

Pete arched his brow.

''Contract?''

Stolas grinned and looked at me.'' Haven't you told him yet? About your collars.''

Pete's eyes looked down on it. My lips parted and tried to speak. But Stolas beat me, wiping crumbles from his brown loaf out of his mustache.

''It's their prison, my child. But it won't be yours when I have your contract.''

Prison. Right. We were prisoners so long that I forgot. Pete faced down slowly, trying to think of the right words to say. But nothing came out except for 'Thank you'.

I looked once again behind. At Mara whose hands were shaking her eyes were red from the anger.

''What happened?''

She slightly showed me the paper and then I could see it clearly.

This was not a paid contract…

I looked up to her and then I could see it so clearly. That glint on her eyes that hidden fear, rage, hatred all of it ready to burst out of her.

She stayed silent as she glared at the old man who was sitting right in front of her and was drinking his brewed tea.

‘’You are buying us’’ Minerva asked him, standing on her feet. No it was not a question. For her was a fact.

Stolas blinked. ‘’Child you misunderstood,’’

‘’You are paying our debts for Spirits knows how and you expect us to do it for a gesture?’’She asked.

‘’All I did is because I know how you feel.’’He frowned. ‘’I too am trapped.’’

‘’You are buying our silence’’Mara said speechless. ‘’Because we saw what you did.’’

Stolas arched his brow confused. I tried to talk to her but I saw Minerva stopping me. Seemed that she wanted answers too. And if she agreed with Mara from all people, that meant trouble.

Mara now stood up and I knew that no one could stop her by asking questions.

‘’You know that you have kidnapped people and you’’

‘’I never did that child’’

Mara gasped. ‘’But you have ordered.’’

‘’No child, in fact’’There was a pause.’’I do not know what you are talking about?’’

And I saw her hands shaking around the paper. She was panicking when the clicking sounds from outside became louder. The laughter, the open bottles, the music. Everything became louder and Mara’s panic grew.

‘’What about a monster?’’She asked breathlessly. ‘’Do you have any…’’

‘’No’’Stolas narrowed.’’Are you accusing me of something?’’

‘’What about Wendigo?’’ I asked him. Seemed that his men tried really hard to hide that secret.

‘’Wendigo?? ‘’He sounded surprised. ‘’What is that?’’’He whispered and breathed his teeth. And Mara’s eyes lit.

‘’What about a drug?’’Mara asked.’’Do you have anything…’’

‘’I am sorry child but …’' Stolas spoke sweetly and Mara slammed her hand to the table.

‘’I am no child’’She almost whined. ‘’And now, tell me the truth, I command it. There is no way you just want to …’’

Command?

Then, Stolas stood up. He did not speak once more with his eyes looking right at Mara and his veins popping.

‘’Listen to me carefully, judge’’He said calmly, and yet it sounded as if the entire world was shaking.

Suddenly, I could feel my head growing heavier. Voices started echoing slowly. Was this from all the shock? The hope, the commonsion the lies and truths? But then I realized. We actually have no proof. We were all assumptions. None hurt Minerva or Mara and Arsu, only a few drunk men. Yes, we heard something in the center but it could have been anyone. The people were doing their jobs. We were just…

And now the man was giving us hope, a chance to get out. And Mara was rushing to conclusions.

‘’We were wrong’’I whispered for Minerva to listen.

’'I haven’t ordered anyone to kidnap the people you think, I have no drug for you to get high and for your talent to work.’’

Mara looked up to him as his language became suddenly vulgar.

‘’You killed valuable people of mine, And instead of making you pay the price like people like your father do, I thought of mercy. ‘’He explained now taking a deep breath.’’I invited you here, you came with your own will, I gave you hot beverages and food..’’

Mara’s eyes narrowed.

‘’ I gave you the freedom that none would ever give you for free. And you are still questioning me. You can show those papers to Mammon and he won’t take anything and you will be free'' Because if Mammon doesn’t obey Stolas’ contract, his establishment will be done.

‘’Do you understand now? Detector’’

Eyes filled with rage as Mara tried to look down, avoiding the wave of force that was pressuring her not to cry or scream once more.

‘’That is not my name’’She whispered breathlessly.

Stolas watched her as she kept panicking from the loud noise and she just nodded.

‘’We are very sorry’’I said, almost bowling near him right next to Mara. I could feel my body turning heavier as my head was slowly spinning. Probably from the tea and commission.

‘’And we do not know how much we can thank you ‘’I kept looking at the paper, at the signature. Mammon’s signature. It was exactly like his. And that scared me. It seemed that Stolas knew more about him than he was saying. Even so, how did he know the signature? Had he made a deal with him before?

‘’The pleasure is all mine.’’He offered his hand and I shook it fast. His grip was warm, strong, everything that Mammon wasn’t. And now, we were all free.

Why was the feeling painful? And the pain in my head did not stop.

Walking outside, I could see Pete facing the ground with regret. He probably wanted to ask Stolas about his mother. And that bothered me too, judging by Stolas’ words to him to her.Her contract. But what did he mean by contract? Pete hasn’t signed up yet so we had to find his mother ... no it wouldn’t matter. Pete could leave so we would all leave and then…

Why would he need to free all of us? Even if this was his way of silencing us, it felt a bit too much.

I could not think right, with the headache growing even more. So Minerva was the one to speak, turning to Mara.

‘’What was that?’’ She asked, panicking.

Mara looked away from her.

‘’Hold your tongue’’She reminded her. ‘’You just had to hold it.’’

She did not reply and kept walking into the shadows as if nothing had happened. As if the loud noises did not bother her as what happened was all a lie.

But Minerva could not let it go with her hand now grabbing Mara’s wrist.

‘’I am talking’’Minerva said. ‘’Don’t run away.’’She grunted.

‘’You are not yourself right now’’Mara whispered and looked at Arsu who was still staring at the piece of Paper and Pete who was gaining every strength to stay still.

But Mierva's lips twitched. ‘’I am not myself? You completely lost it inside. Why? What did you find out?’’

Mara’s eyes kept looking at her deadly.

‘’Whatever you found, let me explain to you.’’ Minerva’s lips twitched. ‘’We are done, we are free.’’

‘’You are not’’Mara said, her fingers clenching her own paper.

‘’Why? What did he say behind the lies?’’

‘’He was not telling a lie’’Mara admitted and scratched her helm. ‘’Every part of it. It was all true. He just wants to…’’

‘’Then why are you mad?’’Minerva now sounded less furious.

Mara gave the paper to her. She took it and started reading it.

‘’It’s blank why is it…’’She made a sudden pause and looked at her.’’Mara,’’

There was a glimpse of pity coming from her and a laugh moving from me.

Minerva stared at me with a tense expression.

‘’It doesn’t matter,’’I gasped.’’We won’t get out’’

For a moment I thought that this was it. That was the end of it and I could get out. I could live. I could feel freedom so close.

I looked at Pete who had no contract and Mara. I could not let them alone. And I hated it. I hated that I cared about them. Especially Mara. Mara who had made a commotion, Mara who only caused trouble. Mata who…

Anger, disappointment, and hope started rising in my head the moment I moved on Mara’s side and slapped her face harshly.

Arsu and Minerva stared at me shocked and Pete let out a sound. But Mara didn’t even try to look at me.

‘’Why are you always making everything worse?’’ I asked, feeling every life I had in my voice once vanishing.

‘’Nezha wait’’Pete tried to speak but I couldn’t pay attention to him.

‘’That's enough’’Minerva continued. Oh, now she cared.

She was always picking fights, and arguing not because she didn’t know better. No, that was clear now. Because she just couldn’t stop messing everything up. She wasn’t satisfied with the truth because there wouldn’t be a crisis. She loved chaos, didn’t she?

‘’Do you even want to get out? Or you just want to turn up like Ma..’’

Her eyes snapped wide as she faced me and let out words shouting rough.’’Say that again.’’Her voice was almost a hiss, rough like a wild animal. Her eyes burning with greed, hungry for more chaos.’’I dare you.’’

A smile curved on my lips and backed away from her. ‘’I don’t need to. You are already proof of it.’’

‘’Nezha’’Minerva barked at me and turned to her with a frown. Why was she upset now? I couldn’t understand, I could not hear the cracking sound before it was too late.

‘’We need to go,before’’Mara said again and let out one more laugh.

‘’Before what?’’I asked with my rage rising. Why was I angry again? ‘’Tell me Mara why should we run.’’

‘’Maybe before the drug starts working’’A voice echoed from behind us.

I knew that voice, I knew it better than anyone. Soothing and kind even when he was trying to play cold-blooded. Getting out, I could see his pale white hair being tied up with a blue ribbon. His suit was in the shade of light blue and his eyes were staring at us with determination.

I held my breath, I held my tears, I held my smile.

‘’Hello Nezha’’ Ao Bing grinned at me and stepped carefree closer. I did too but I noticed Mara clenching her hand on Pete’s shoulder.

‘’You Have to run,’’ She whispered.

‘’What?’’ Pete turned to her, confused.

Ao Bing was now right in front of me only a foot away. He kept smiling at me like he always did and turned to Minerva and Arsu. ‘’You have grown’’He said with a noble tone.

‘’You are alive’’Minerva sighed with disbelief.

‘’Of course I am owl’’ His brow narrowed.''Why shouldn't I be?''

And then, his smile faded as he turned to Mara who was taking a few steps back.

‘’Where are you going?’’He asked her. ‘’Don’t you miss me?’’

Her eyes snapped.

Ao Bing closed his eyes and returned to Pete.''She was always like that''He flexed his fingers.''Every time I tried to speak to her she was a wet cat.'' That cocky smirk of his curled on his pale face.’’You still afraid of me?’’

Pete blinked confused while Mara tried to tell him to walk away from all of it.

‘’Ao Bing what is…’’I tried to speak with my weight, finally giving up. I fell to the ground and took a better look at Ao Bing’s hand. I didn’t even notice his new tattoo with an owl printed on his left hand.

‘’Nezha?’’ Arsu cried and turned to Ao Bing.

‘’I am sorry Nezha’’ Ao Bing frowned.’’I will explain everything I promise.’’

And the fog appeared from nowhere as the ticking sound snapped once more.

I could see dark figures approaching trying to grasp us. I could see Minerva fighting to hold her breath and Arsu fighting too as Mara tried to drag Pete as far as she could.

‘’What is happening?’’ He cried.

Mara did not answer but I was sure that it had to do something with her contract.

''Mara what was that guy talking about.''There was a sound of tears once more, Heavy childish tears. And then Mara spoke out

''I will get you out of here.''She announced.''I promise I will get you out just please listen to me you need to run...''

Mara was never promising. She couldn't even say the word. Was she scheming again? Or was that girl so important?

I couldn't listen after that. Maybe my mind stopped listening to the screams of the monster or the monster's growls were far too loud.

I had to fight. I had to get up.

I forced myself to stand and fight to the pillars of flesh that were coming for us. There was one that I could not see but only listen to. I could listen to Pete streaming. I could hear him screaming and letting go. And then, never speaking again.

I could feel my heart racing with the sweat dropping to my face. I could listen to Ao Bing’s calm steps fading and I could listen to the ticking sound turning rougher, faster. Louder.

‘’Mara.’’ I finally said, hoping she would listen to me. I wanted to tell her I was sorry. I was so stupid. I was so stupid following the cranking sound. I was so stupid when I kept staring at the hundreds of red eyes the monster had.

And it was staring at me back...I felt my breath, my life getting out of my body so Lord Death could collect it. For a single moment, I wanted to cry for my mother. Where could she have been now? Maybe drunk and happy under a table in her house. And then, the monster walked away, letting me free.

I took a deep breath again, wiped the hot sweat out of my brow, and started shouting Mara's name again.

But she did not respond. I did not know what she did. I kicked a man’s teeth, making him fall down, and approached the haunting of Arsu.

‘’Where is…’’I tried to speak as I kept breathing the fog. I still could not believe that I was still standing, that I was still alive.

‘’She ran’’Minerva growled, showing every bit of her anger. ‘’Judge ran away.’’

And then, everything became dark.