Before anyone could utter another word, the machine churned loudly, emitting a strong red glow."What on earth..." Alastair muttered in disbelief."That machine seems a little unstable..." Aya whispered, reaching for Paige's hand.Suddenly, a bright white light shot out of the middle of the machine. A sudden force swept across the room."Ah!" Aya cried, clinging onto Paige's arm."Don't worry, babe; I've got you!" Paige reassured, pulling her closer."Papa!" Fiora shrieked, taking a step forward."Wait, be careful!" Kiernan shouted, grabbing her by her wrist."Rachael, you too, take a step back!" Alastair exclaimed, grabbing her and pulling her into him."Al, what is happening?!" Rachael cried.Before he had a chance to speak, the light quickly faded."It worked..." Honch mumbled, amazed."It really worked...!" He cried out, clapping his hands together.Swirling around above the machine was a ghastly white circle.Kacie's eyes widened."Don't tell me..." She whispered under her breath
"T-Tessa..." Honch stammered.Before him stood the love of his life, whom he had lost thirteen years prior.All anybody could do was stare at the spirit in complete awe.As Honch opened his mouth to speak, Tessa shot him a look."This was quite careless, you know." She frowned."Honch, my love, look at me..." She continued, smiling sadly."I think you know deep down what's gone is gone, and yet...""B-but you're not gone, see?" He interrupted."Darling, you're standing right before me, talking to me; that's all I've been yearning for, for the past thirteen years...!" He exclaimed."Honch," Tessa shook her head."You and I both know that this was not the full purpose of this experiment..." She frowned.Honch looked at her in shock."Now," she paused."Before I go, I would like to say a few words..." She said, smiling softly."Aya..." She began."My, what a lovely woman you've turned into..." She spoke.Aya's eyes widened."T-Tessa..." She sniffled, swallowing hard to fight back tears.
"Does anyone see them...?" Aya questioned nervously."The whole building looks like it's about to collapse, and yet..." Paige whispered.Alastair... Rachael thought to herself.*"Ugh..." Alastair groaned, rolling over onto his back.As he opened his eyes, he saw nothing but white."Where am I...?" He whispered.He then remembered what was happening just a minute prior."H-Honch...!" He cried out frantically, quickly sitting up.Looking around, he noticed the silhouette of a woman in the distance. However, it was too foggy to make out her appearance."E-excuse me...!" Alastair began, rising from the ground."Do you happen to know where I am by any chance...?" He questioned, taking a step forward."My dear sweet boy," the woman began."You're in the gap." She said, smiling softly.The gap...? Alastair thought to himself in confusion."There must be some sort of mistake..." Alastair began."I'm not dead; I'm-""Well, you're not alive either," the woman frowned.Alastair's eyes widened.
*After a few weeks had passed by, life had quickly begun to go back to normal for some.For others, major adjustments had been made. For one, Honch, Cya, Rosario, Sev, and Fiora had finally finished moving into the apartment complex.*"Is that the last box?" Cya questioned."Yes, no thanks to you!" Rosario hissed."Hey, hey, I helped by buying the decorations for our apartment!" Cya cried out."Tacky decorations, that is," Sev frowned."If you don't like it, there's the door!" Cya shouted."Oh, Cya, relax; she's teasing," Honch reassured."Though," he frowned."That lamp is rather tacky..." He mumbled."Not you too!" Cya cried out in frustration."Well then," Honch cleared his throat."If you three are ready and moved in, I suppose I shall be taking my leave then," he said."Take it easy, Honch," Rosario said, waving goodbye."See you later!" Cya beamed."Bye," Sev said with a smile.*As he arrived back at his apartment, Honch let out a sigh."Girls, I'm home," he announced.There
Running through the streets of the bustling city of Cesa was a little girl. Despite bumping into several aggravated citizens, the girl kept running as though her life depended on how fast her feet could carry her. * "Alastair?" A woman called out, walking towards a man fast asleep at his desk. "Hey, Alastair!" She cried, smacking him on top of the head with a newspaper. "Huh...?" The man groaned in annoyance, letting out a yawn as he sat upright in his chair. "You seriously need to stop falling asleep at your desk; it's not good for your back or your posture in the long run, you know!" The woman scolded, placing a hand on her hip. "Chill out with your damn yapping, would you?" The man grumbled, stretching his arms behind his head, placing a foot on top of the desk. "Anyway," the woman continued. "Read this; it's today's paper." She smiled. "Oh, come on, Aya, you know nobody reads this garbage anymore." The man sighed. Aya huffed as she picked up the newspaper, skimming throug
* Opening her eyes as she gasped for air, the girl quickly sat up. As she looked around the unfamiliar surroundings, her head began to spin. She quickly flopped back down on the couch. Clutching her head with her tiny hands, she let out a whimper. "Ah, you're awake," a voice called out. The girl's eyes widened, panicking; the girl quickly pulled the blanket over her head. "That's no good; you'll suffocate like that." A man stepping out from another room frowned. The girl did not respond. "Not the talkative type, are you?" The man chuckled. "Listen," the man began, taking a seat on the couch as he pried the blanket off of the girl's face. The girl looked up in alarm. It was the man she had bumped into right before she lost consciousness. "W-what..." The girl whimpered. "What do you want...?" She squeaked. "Well, for starters, to make sure you don't have a concussion," the man frowned.
The man slowly began to remove the eyepatch as the girl stared in awe. Underneath the eyepatch revealed a white-ish-colored eye. Certainly different from his golden-colored right eye. "Y-you...!" The girl stammered. "I guess you could relate after all, huh?" The man laughed. "Can you..." The girl blushed, looking down at her lap. "Can you see them too...?" "Spirits?" The man asked, staring steadily at the wall. "Ah, I can see them clear as day." He said. "Do you talk to them a lot?" The girl asked, suddenly perking up. "I suppose so," the man whispered. "They ask me for help, but..." The girl quickly looked down. "I don't know how to help..." She whispered. The man turned his attention back toward the girl. "Hey," he began. "Ever hear of the odd jobs joint known as 'Spirit Force'?" "Spirit Force...?" The girl pondered for a moment. "N-no..." She frowned. "Even with your abilities?!" He cried. "Damn!" He cried. "I guess I'm more out of touch with society than I though
On top of a hill on the outskirts of Cesa sat a secluded mansion. The exterior was rather worn-down, and the interior was quite tacky. * "Is everything in order?" A woman's voice called out. "Yes, madam," a man nodded his head. "Excellent," the woman then turned her attention towards a little girl. "Why do you look so glum?" She questioned with a glare. "You should be thankful we kept you for this long!" She exclaimed. She then quickly turned her attention back towards the man. "Sebastian?!" The woman cried. "Get the car already, would you?!" She demanded. "Yes, madam," he bowed, promptly taking his leave. "Anyway..." The woman began letting out an exaggerated sigh. "Do you know where you're going?" The woman asked the girl. "N-no..." The girl whispered, looking down steadily at her lap. "Let's just say they cater to and create freaks such as yourself," the woman smirked.<