ZETAB0UND PART II

BE THE GHOST OF THE SEER

Callie wandered around the Bubbles, finding herself alone. She stood on a small bridge overlooking an illusion of Derse. Her feet made a small tap as her small, scuffed shoes rubbed against the polished bridge. She looked down as she held a small chess piece in her hand. It had glitched in a way. She knew this world was not real. She held no right to hold this world close to her heart anymore. She never did though. This place was just another roadblock in her life. She was supposed to return home someday. Everyone missed her. Everyone missed them. She could picture their faces now. But she couldn't get back home now. She needed to find a way back to the world of the living. "So, I see you are still trying to escape these bubbles?", said a voice. Callie looked up. It was her timeline's Julie. She wore a long, black trenchcoat, her glassy eyes half-lidded. "None of your business.", Callie said. "Kinda is. If you are trying to bail, who said I don't want out too?", Julie said, walking over.

"What made you so... not moody? I mean, you are actually talking to me.", Callie's ghost said. They sat alone in the Dream Bubbles. No one else was here. "Friends in low places, buddy.", Julie said. "...If you want me to help you get out, I am not helping.", Callie said. "I know that. I don't want to leave. In this world, I don't need to worry anymore. No more Sburb here. Plus...", Julie began. "...If I leave, it's just gonna tear us and the rest of our timeline's members apart.", "Oh?", Callie asked, looking at Julie. "I know which timeline you are trying to get into...", she said silently, looking over the horizon as she gripped the railing of the bridge. She saw the particles of color around her hand began to glitch. She bowed her head, frowning. "You want into the Zeta Timeline. You want into his new timeline. You wanted his body as a host, so you bet on it. You bet on everything!", Julie said. "Though the Alpha timeline died... he didn't. He abandoned us.", Julie said, clenching her fist. "He left us to die!", Julie yelled as she slammed her fist into the wall nearby. "And now you wanna play hero.", Julie said. "But that is why I want to fix this. He started this. When I get into the new timeline--", "Exactly. You are gonna leave us too. Do you really think you can just erase another timeline? Bringing more people here will do more harm than good. All I want is everyone to be together again. The Zeta timeline can have their Ian, and we can have ours. What was so hard for him to understand?", Julie said. "There is no more Zeta Ian. Alpha Ian killed him. I saw it.", Callie said. Julie froze. "She stole their Ian from them... too? What did I do? If I could slap my living self right now, I so would.", "Maybe I could look into that.", Julie said. "He helped her Ascend.", Callie said. "Oh? Did he? He can barely care for his actual friends and starts decking out those posers with a bunch of cool powers?!", Julie said. "And all he is doing now is tearin' that timeline apart too. All because you had to mess with his head--", "You don't understand. I saw his Rage. I never did anything to him. There was something else at play here. I'm not saying someone gave it to him... but I could see how much it hurt him, and how much he just wanted it to go away.", "You mean...", "Yes... And that is why I need to fix this. I need to get control of his body and put the Rage inside him to good use. If I can just get to him, I can bring him to peace. I can remove what he most fears. If I do this, I can use his powers of Time to completely reverse this whole experience.", Callie said. She turned to Julie. "I want you to come with me... I want you to help me too.", Callie said. She put out her hand. Julie stepped back and laughed. "And what will happen when I get there? He has moved on from us! He hates us now! All we are is a bad batch to him! I never asked for this...", Julie said, crumbling to the floor. "...I never asked to be the leader. I never asked to be a Knight. I never asked to die...", she said. Tears streamed down her face. "I want to help make this right. I am sure you do too.", Callie said. She knelt down to look Julie in the eyes. "I know we never got on the best of terms... but I want to help you. I want to bring him home.", Callie said. Julie sniffled. "...Alright.", she said.

BE THE MAGE OF TIME

"I cannot believe you just... up and told her what's wrong? I'm not mad... just, you actually opened up to someone!", Callie said, laughing at Ian. Ian moved his Rook. "I'm surprised either of us even knows how to play chess. Boy, being practically dead in the void of space while your friends get slaughtered sure gives you time to learn. Did those H.P. knockoff Cthulus teach ya?", "I will have you know that they are the reason I didn't die.", Ian said. "Oh? Did they manage to save someone during our Session? Too bad you never returned the favor. You had to leave us to die and then abandoned us entirely. Did it ever strike you that you could have just... I dunno, reset?", Callie said. "...Timelines don't work like that. It is a chain. If I was to change the past, there wouldn't have been an alternate future to begin with. There is always another Ian off in some not-so-distant future who is doing the job of resetting as we speak, only for the next mindless drone in line to do what has been done before, except not yet at that point. I did what I did because it was unexpected. Time did not accommodate for this.", Ian said. He advanced his king on the board. "You moved your king? All you did was open him up for my armies--", "If a king does not hold strong and move forward, how are his subjects going to?", Ian said. "Another thing no one accommodates. "...It seems I win again in the battle of wits. We both know that you obviously weren't the first person with that idea or any of your ideas! But in every timeline, you know what happens?...", Callie asked, knocking down Ian's rook. "...I will win.", Callie chuckled.

"Perhaps. But there is always going to have to be a first. If I were to run through all of my data on timelines like this one if I accommodate with their own original features... I have a 0.000000000000000000456% chance of winning under legitimate means without the need of external assistance or manipulation of the game by my own hand.", Ian said. "Since when were you any good at math?", Callie asked. "Since shut up.", Ian said. "At least I did my homework.", Ian said. "And, what have you actually learned in life?", "In the game? Well, I learned that reality is a facade and that our painful existence isn't worth our own time. I also learned that humanity's entire concept can be boiled down to its most basic parts and left indistinguished from a forest fire. In real life? I guess I learned math or somethin'. But hey, now I can prove we are all trash mathematically. So I guess the years of grueling social and personal stress and anxiety were worth it.", Ian said. "And receiving the mysteries of life from a bunch of space squids really--", Ian began. He heard screaming in his ear, and the sound of a large explosion. He fell from his chair. "...Ian?", Callie asked, sitting down on the floor to check on him. He looked up, a black fluid dripping from his mouth. "T-they... they hurt...", Ian said. Small tufts of black fire appeared around him. For a split second, you could see his hair go white. Callie knew this look. "I-Ian! Come on! Get up!", "T-they... they are... they are in pain...", Ian said. He tried standing. "I-Ian... your hand...", Callie said. Ian looked. A patch of his right hand was now gray, a black aura leaking from it. "...Something is happening to them... I can feel it. I n-need to go. Like, right now.", Ian said, standing. He walked into the void, disappearing. The feeling was strange to Ian. He felt not only the presence of the Voidful, but another being.

BE THE WITCH OF LIFE

Riley looked around the void she was now in. This was a dream. She felt as if she was not alone, however. Just out of reach sat large masses, speaking to her. They spoke no language spoken before, but she still understood. She looked close by. Surrounding her, standing side by side, were all versions of her. They were like twins to her. "Hello?", "F't joit't hear, 'sub f't gohluyng shemtor.", said a voice. It was demonic and low. Riley looked behind her. It was... Ian? His skin was grey, his eyes white. His hair was white as well. "Ian? What is going on?", Riley asked. "T't broodfester yi fib'th yar 'ai jalu, gis f't had callet ma futfore.", Ian said. He tilted his head, putting out his hand. A small patch on his right hand shot out cloves of black flame. Ian put out his hand and snapped. A whirlwind of black fire shot from his hand, engulfing the void in black, flaming light. "I-Ian!? What is this?", Riley asked. The fire faded away, leaving the clones in tattered clothing. Each one had glassy, white eyes. Some of them were missing, others had large wounds on their bodies. "Ian! Stop it!", Riley said. Ian smiled. "Fall.", Ian said. He laughed before a chain of black fire erupted from the mass around him, piercing Riley's chest. "Ugh--", Riley began. She fell back and fell into the mass of blackness. She knew this feeling.

This dream

BE THE KNIGHT OF SPACE

Julie gasped to awareness. Sweat was all over her forehead, and she looked around. She had fallen asleep in the caverns. It was dark, and Julie felt as though she had been asleep forever. She needed light. She put out her hand, and waved it around. From the rock, she turned several cracks in the walls leaking honey bioluminescent. The entire cavern was lit up in a yellow glow, and the low snarl of the beast down below could be heard. Creaking between the rocks were drowned out by the whaling, and a stirring in the depths. It seems Julie's abilities woke up the Denizen. The farther down Julie trekked, the felt more dread. She pulled out her phone to text as she walked

InsomniaticJury began chatting with TerminalLaziness

IJ: Hey

TL: Hiii Julez!

IJ: Guess where I am?

IJ: I'm in my Denizen's cave!

TL: Cool! Is it creepy?

IJ: kinda I guess. I was just wondering if you had any info on the guy.

TL: what makes you think I would know?

IJ: Well, you have access to the walkthrough at the moment. I don't.

TL: Ah yes, just let me use my superkewl haxxor abilities

IJ: If I wished for a sass battle, I would talk to Ian. Spoiler, I am not.

TL: Arguably the most shocking thing this game has made you do.

IJ: Well, did you do it?

TL: Yeah. I got it. (Just imagine I am reading this in an old british voice.)

TL: "Echidna, the Queen of Monsters. This beast is one of the coldest, most unnerving of them all. Rumored to have a rivalry with the Denizen of Time, Hephaestus, Lord of the Forge, this beast can kill with a single glance before you are consumed by your own terror."

IJ: Heavy-handed and coy. Yeah, sounds like Sburb.

TL: But be careful, Julez. I did some research, and you aren't all that prepared as you thought.

IJ: I'm immortal, how much more prepared can I be?

TL: Understand something. My research told me that these guys are clearly formidable. Like, super tough. Though you cannot die, these things will tear you apart limb from limb. They are monsters. And the worse your death is... the longer it takes to regenerate.

IJ: Do you think I don't know that? A flurry of bullets and being cut in half are different things.

TL: It could take days if you aren't careful. And the last thing we need is a space player not able to do her job, even if for a little bit. We all care about you.

TL And even then, what if your death is judged as heroic or just? All I am saying is... don't get cocky, promise?

IJ: So, how is Ian?

TL: I figured out what's wrong with Ian!

IJ: You did? Really?

TL: He told me a while ago. He is busy taking a rest.

IJ: Well, can you tell me?

TL: I dunno. He seemed like he didn't really want to tell me.

IJ: Well, why wouldn't he tell me? I'm one of his closest friends.

TL: That is why. He told me about how he never would want someone

as close to him as you and Ben to figure out.

IJ: Must be pretty bad. Does it have to do with any of us in a... weird sorta way?

TL: No. You of all people would know that.

IJ: Sorry. Just wanna know. Things have just been pretty dismal lately, and I thought things

could get interesting.

IJ: But... can you give me a hint? I know this isn't my place, but if it is major enough for him to literally stab me, I wanna know.

TL: But...

IJ: As the leader, I do not ask. This is for our team's sake. I command

TL: K, jeez. But I kept a promise, and I won't let this game break it.

IJ: I knew it.

TL: Knew what?

IJ: I knew you are still soft. No offense, but I thought you could get over yourself and help the team? Youre the Witch of Life, after all.

TL: Wow. So that is what you think of me? I am trying to help you. You have gotten a little full of yourself since we started this thing!

IJ: Well, excuse me if for once in my dang life I actually don't hate myself!

IJ: I know who I am now. I spent years stuck in my own pathetic head, but look at me now.

IJ: I know why I exist. I know why the universe exists now! Because now I know that whoever made everything we hold dear was someone just like me.

IJ: A dumb kid who knows nothing. But... something came out of their useless existence.

IJ: What makes you think that I'm any different?

TL: I don't think that is the problem. The problem is that you aren't considering your limitations.

IJ: So much for being helpful.

IJ: Er, no. I don't know what came over me. I am so sorry.

TerminalLaziness has left the chat

Julie groaned. She had meant no harm by it. But, she supposed her self-hatred and regret could wait yet again. She wondered what her Denizen looked like. She could see it now. Large fangs with scaly skin and crimson eyes would glare at her before the long battle would commence. Apparently, she was to defeat it so she could play a song that would awaken the sleeping NPCs on her planet. With this, they could now tend to the overgrowth slowly killing the planet.

But even now, she still thought. What was Ian hiding? He was never violent enough to... kill someone. Especially not someone as good friends with him as Julie was. He was becoming a danger to the team. Did Sburb really impact him that much? Then again, where was he for what felt like hours was 3 months time to him? Let alone that something major must have happened for him to Ascend.

BE THE MAID OF LIGHT

Ava sat in the darkness of her room, tears in her eyes. Did she seriously... like this guy? He killed someone! To think she thought he was nice. She knew from the start that it wouldn't work out, but she thought that there was a chance that he just might pull through for her. It seemed almost idiotic now. What else were her friends hiding from her? This wouldn't have happened if she wasn't so... weak. Though she hated to admit it, she wasn't surprised. Maybe it came with the job as a Maid of Light, but she seemed to be the most unlucky girl in the world. First, her actual Sprite left, and now who she thought was her crush was just another killer. Ava wailed out into the void. She needed some sleep. She put her head on her pillow, her eyes still wide. She felt no need for sleep now. She covered herself in enough blankets to suffocate the mattress itself, let alone the moody girl atop it. Finally, whether through passing out of heat stroke or legitimate lack of real sleep, she passed out.

BE THE KNIGHT OF SPACE

Julie finally found herself at a large, steel door. The rock had cleared away, revealing the door. Dried blood stained the door, and the groaning on the other side of the room shaking the chains crawling across the door. Julie held her blade and put her hand on the door. She was to be as quiet as possible. But, she needed to plan. She rubbed her hand on the door, turning a patch of the metal into a clear wall of glass. She looked through the other side, finding the cave seemingly empty. Bones were scattered across the ground, and a mass of green scales could be seen in the darkness. The towering beast was just ahead, almost waiting for her. Julie's heart beat faster and faster the more she looked at the mass. She could see it now. Large teeth with its eyes glaring. It would be the fight of her life. Well, all the stakes were pretty much dead due to her immortality. She wasn't cocky, just confident.

She went to slowly open the door when she heard a sudden shift in the rocks, bolts of green light sparking around her. No, she wasn't nervous. Shut up, no she's not! She jumped as she was startled, and felt a power surge. Within seconds, the door was blasted off the hinges, colliding with the mass of scales. Julie felt pains in her chest, green light still resonating from her hand. The groaning went silent, and Julie dropped her blade. Was it over? She ran to the site, tripping over a rock. She hit the ground with a thud and looked up. She was now face to face with a reptilian skull about the size of her own. She screamed out in terror, hearing nothing but her own echo. She stood, still holding the skull. She needed to clear away the rubble to see if the beast still lived. She was surprised by the ease of the battle. That'll show Riley.

She poked the doors, reducing them to sand. As the sand cleared away in the stale breeze flowing through the caverns, she saw the mass of scales. It was molten skin. Before she could ponder this problem, she felt a cold hand touch her back. She turned and screamed. It was a beast as tall as a small building. It was like a snake with a scaly tail. Its upper half was like that of a human's, if not for the solid white skin and 4 arms. It had long, greasy, black hair that dragged across the floor. The beast's white arms were long and thin, its ribcage visible. Under its long, black hair was a mouth with small, human-like teeth. It grimaced at the girl before reaching out its hand. Julie felt adrenaline run through her, and she put out her hand to throw the beast into the air. However, nothing happened. Her power did not work on living beings. Julie swung her blade as the hand grew close, and the ring finger of the hand was removed. Bursts of green blood spewed from the stump, and the cold finger fell in front of Julie. It was about the size of 2 canoes, and Julie gasped from fear. The beast shrieked in pain, its green tongue like a snake's. The monster screamed before Julie lifted a rock into the air, having it collide with the beast. "Ahh!", Julie screamed as she did so. "Die!", Julie said.The rock shattered, and only minor bruises on the beast appeared before being scabbed over by new skin. Julie gulped and felt exhausted due to the large weight she lifted. Echidna lifted Julie into the air as she tried to slap the beast's hand. Echidna revealed its face from under its hair. She was like both a young girl and the oldest of women. Her eyes were a beady, black shade. Julie showed Echidna the skull she held. "Can... this be a consolation? I mean, I am sorry for intruding, but it is a funny story--", Echidna hissed, "Okay, I will stop.", Julie said, her voice hoarse. Pro tip: never lift up an entire boulder and hurl it at a giant snake lady at Mach 14. The beast took another of her arms and proceeded to squeeze Julie between the two as she held the girl in a small ball, as a child does a firefly so it won't escape. There were screams as bursts of green light shot around, but all went silent as the sound of a skull crunching into bits were heard.

ACT 9 PART 2

The beast sighed in satisfaction as the torn skin on one of its many arms had healed, steam shooting from the fresh skin. From every inch of her body, steam flew through her eyelids and her mouth. She let go of the corpse, finding her hand was empty. A cracked, reptilian skull sat alone in her hand, as the faint glow of green light sat in its place. Echidna yelled. Her voice was deep like the oldest man, yet high pitched like the youngest woman. It wasn't human in the slightest. This beast was terrifying.

In the corner of the cave atop a ridge sat Julie. She had just teleported. It was a new power. However, she wasn't unscathed. A large gash in her side was bleeding rapidly, and her hands were covered in blood. It was her own blood. She saw the beast, still screaming. Her disembodied finger was now a pile of hot ash and bone. On her hand, a new finger was growing. It had become bone with a thin layer of muscle slowly growing. It was clear in the beast's breathing pattern that this took somewhat major energy to attempt. Julie stood and grabbed her blade. Her chest was stained in blood, hiding the symbol on her shirt. Julie jumped at the beast with her sword in hand, screaming loudly. The beast slowly turned its head and raised one of its arms. In an instant, Julie was slapped away by the beast, and she crashed into the wall of the cave. The beast groaned in agony, and Julie saw it. She had cut a large slash into Echidna's back, green blood leaking slowly from it as hot smoke rose from the wound and skin began to reform. Julie fell into the mass of molted skin, feeling it break her fall. She fell back to the ground as she bounced off of it, blood covering her body. She felt completely drained of power, and her sword was drenched in green liquid as steam rose from it.

"...Why won't you die?", Julie asked, gripping the gravel under her in her hands. "I'm not losing to you! I will not lose to the likes of you!", Julie said. She grabbed her blade, green sparks surrounding her. Her hair stood on end, and she launched at the beast. "I won't lose! Not as long as I...!", Julie said, grimacing at her own cliche. "I know what I am... I am a Knight... I am Julie.", Julie said, launching at the beast. It put out its hand, and Julie cut the hand from its arm and continued to launch at the beast. Her blade planted into the face of the beast, and it wailed in pain. Hot tears fell down its face, and one of its other hands ran to grab Julie. Julie, with little energy left in her body, shot a bolt of green at the hand, causing the hand to become stone. As it crashed into Julie, it crumbled to pieces, and the beast wailed more. Julie jumped from the beast and fell to the ground. The disembodied hand was gone, small amounts of bone growing in its place. Julie froze when she saw Echidna. Under her long, black hair, a faint glow of green could be seen from one eye, blood and tears leaking from the other. Echidna began to breathe heavily, and Echidna looked at Julie. Her hand was back, and she was slithering toward Julie. Julie gulped and retrieved her sword. She tried to use her abilities, only for a wisp of power to come out. She was soon to overexert herself at this rate. So, she gripped her sword tightly as Echidna stood overhead, her cold face ready to consume.

BE GR

"See ya later, Cal!", GR said. "Oh, and thanks for showing me Julie's house!", GR said. Callie waved and ran away. "You lead me right to 'er.", GR mumbled. GR knocked on the door. On the other end, Ian appeared. "What?", Ian said. His eyes were tired and half-lidded, his hair messy. "Is Ava here?", GR asked, scratching his head. "No. She just left after dropping some stuff off here to go find her Denizen. You can wait here for her, though. She is bound to come back soon, I suppose.", Ian said. "Come in-- Shut up Julie!", Ian yelled as the sound of a crying baby was heard. "Pardon the mess. You know babies...", Ian said, chuckling. "No, not really. But sure. Let me just take in all my copious knowledge of those ugly, hairless monkeys-- Oh my god, they are so precious.", GR said, looking at the infant form of Ian and Ava playing with one of Jack's bottles. Ian grabbed it from them. "This isn't a toy, kiddies. Jack! Do us all a favor and clean up your junk! If these babies get hurt or something, we could most likely fade from existence!", "I'll do what I want!", Jack yelled. Ian sighed. "I swear to gog, if I have to spend another hour here listening to this, I will do a dang twirl off of the edge of existence and engulf the entirety of life with my searing hatred.", Ian said. "So, wanna play a game?", Ian said. "Like what?", "Got a pack of playing cards? How does a nice game o' war sound?", Ian asked. He put out his finger, a pack of cards reaching his hand. "A god versus an unlimited source of knowledge. Sure.", GR said. They sat down, Ian clearing away the baby bottles. "How is the Witch?", "Sleeping.", Ian said, staring at the cards. "Did it.", Ian said. "How did you do that? Nothing happened. They just sat there.", "I simply just manipulated the history of the cards, changing their layout at complete random. Duh.", Ian said. "Let the games begin, I suppose.", GR said.

A FEW HOURS LATER

"This is dumb!", GR said. "So says the loser.", Ian said. "When is Ava getting back?", "I dunno. This is my 'relaxation' time, as Julie puts it.", "Speaking of which, where is she--", "It is safe to assume she is still off in the caves down below here, probably getting maimed by Echidna.", Ian said. "Don't you think we should help?", "...Nah. Who are we to ruin one of the most important moments in her Quest?", Ian said. "What is with the glove?", GR asked, pointing to Ian's right hand. "Got a pretty nasty bruise on it. I just thought I would try and hide it. The last thing I need is someone like Ri freaking out about it.", "Freaking out? My, am I that terrible?", Riley asked behind Ian. Ian jumped, flying into the table. "What?! Er, no-- I mean--", Ian began. Riley giggled. "Hey! I'm trying to be nice!", Ian said. "Well, you might, but next time you're going to dye your hair, get the whole thing done.", Riley said. "W-what? I didn't dye my hair.", Ian said. He ran for a mirror. His bangs were now turning white. "Well, that is comforting.", Ian mumbled, whispers still in the back of his mind. He looked at Riley. She now wore a large sweater and jeans. "Who did this?", Ian asked. "I dunno. Put on this hat, it might help I guess.", Riley said. She threw Ian a grey beanie. He put it on. It hid literally everything except his bangs. "...This does nothing.", Ian said. "Well keep it. I don't want any lice or anything that'll make my hair white.", Riley teased. "Did you not notice this, GR?", "My color receptors are effectively dead now. I'm colorblind.", GR said.

"Ben probably snuck in here at night and dyed it, Ian!", Riley said. "Sure, let's go with that.", Ian said. GR tried to clear his throat as if he had one. "So, do you know anything about J?", Ian asked, sitting down. "I talked to her earlier. She was being a real big jerk. She is treating me like a baby! Every other second, she is acting like I should just sit back and watch. I am part of this too!", "She is just trying to help, Riley. She really cares about you. She has lost a lot since this thing started. I don't know what would happen if she lost you too.", Ian said. "Actually, I do, but that is beside the point.", Ian said. "Am I the only one who noticed how much of a jerk she is now? I think the whole 'being magic' thing got to her head.", "Some people don't know how to react to this kind of stuff.", Ian said. "Plus, you are pretty much the most important member of our team. If any of us actually and permanently kick the bucket, you can help!", Ian said. "I suppose.", Riley said. "I'll call Julie to say sorry.", Riley said. She pulled out her phone. "...You know what? I dunno if it is a good time to talk, she is probably really--", "Are you... nervous? Look, I'll be your mouth. Just tell me what to say, and I got it.", Ian said, taking the phone.

BE THE KNIGHT OF SPACE

Julie was out of breath, cuts covering her body. Her blade was almost dull, and Echidna seemed to stand without a scratch. Her breath was raspy as the steam on her body made the cavern warm... too warm. Julie felt like she was going to pass out, although, she had restored some of her energy. Echidna continued to groan, her left eye still not healing. Julie put out her hand, the rock under Echidna launching into the air, and impaling Echidna's left shoulder. Echidna screamed, and Julie heard her phone ring. In a flash of green light, Julie soon found herself in a small, empty space in the cavern. Through a hole in it, she could see Echidna struggling to move. She answered her phone. "What?!", she asked in a whispering voice. "Hey. It's Ian. Riley wanted to talk, but she is having me speak.", "Can't you see I'm fighting a snake lady?!", "No. But I am sure you have time. Trust me, I know.", Ian said. "Duh! But... can't she wait! I am in the middle of something!", Julie said. She looked out, seeing Echidna was nearly free. Green liquid had made a thin layer on the bottom of the cavern. The intense heat was becoming too much for Julie. "I-I can't talk. Ian... you and Riley... g-get here s-soon...", Julie said before passing out. "Wait, what? I couldn't hear you! Julie? Julie!?", Ian asked. The phone died, and Julie felt the overwhelming heat as Echidna screamed.

BE THE WITCH OF LIFE

"Dangit! We lost 'er!", Ian said. "What? Is she okay?", "Well don't ask me. It isn't like I know everything when it comes to the future. God, Riley... yeah, she is so screwed.", Ian said. "We can help!", Riley said. "Tough luck. Those caverns are hidden deep underground. The only way Julie knew about it was because her Space abilities always give her a sense of where she is. She is like a human GPS.", Ian said. "Well, can't you take us to the point in time in which she, like, got in, and advance us to the present time so we at least know where she is!", "I can't just drag you along on my adventures! If I could, I would have already and wrote a pretty sweet book about it.", Ian said. "Says the one wearing the dumb hat and the black suit with the mismatched hair.", GR said. Ian grimaced. "If I knew why my hair is like a zebra's fur I would have said something!", Ian said. "And I wear this suit cause some of us enjoy tacky junk. Also, the hat was a gift, and I will wear it because I am nice.", Ian said.

"You probably have space lice from going around the multiverse.", GR said. "Can you three shut up and let me read?", Jack yelled from the other room. "Trying to understand the back of a bottle while drunk isn't what I would call reading!", GR yelled. "Shut up, kid!", Jack said as he stood. He put the bottle aside. "You need to take a nice, long nap. Maybe then you can have this back.", Riley said. "Don't encourage him-- Oh my god, why are we talking about this! We have a friend to save!", Ian said. He ran his fingers through his hair as everyone yelled at each other. "Hey guys! I just thought I would say--", Callie said as she walked in the door. She slowly backed away. "...What happened to your hair?", Callie asked Ian. Ian grabbed her by the shoulders. "I don't know!", Ian said.