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Chapter Text

Death left the Spirits’ house, a smile of Pride on his face. 

He was thrilled that his proposition had so far evaded complications. Adrik, Lucas and Emma had already hopped through the portal, and Death had given each Spirit besides them keys to operate the portal. Now, the last thing to do was to go and surprise the Mortals. He anxiously gripped at the collar of his suit before tapping his scythe a couple of times into the ground. His own portal came in front of him and he stepped through it. 

As he stepped through and glanced at the new and improved home of the Pendant Bearers, his nerves jostled his form. He ran his index finger over the grooves of his scythe for comfort, and teleported into the house. 

It was quiet. It was likely the group was still sleeping. Adrik, Lucas and Emma were already there, talking about how they were going to surprise the group, especially Stephanie. Emma was bouncing excitedly on the couch. Death smiled at her. “Are any of them awake?” Death asked softly. Adrik shook his head. “They're out like lights.” 

Death shrugged and walked towards the corridor. He found Stephanie’s room and creaked the door open slightly. 

He took a deep breath and internally recited how to wake people up without startling them.

He then reached out for the sleeping teen… 

Chapter Text

Stephanie woke up to someone lightly jostling her. She rolled over and all but jumped when she was met with Death’s face. “Death, what are you doing here?” Stephanie slurred, forcing herself upright. She moved her messy hair from her face, and stretched. “Just came to visit you for your birthday.” Death quipped. Stephanie cringed at his tone. She’d never heard him talk like this. “What’s the catch?” 

Death laughed and shook his head. “You’re impossible.” He tilted his head towards the doorway. “I have a surprise.” 

Stephanie flinched at the mention of a surprise. For some reason, she felt a sense of distrust. She swore up and down he was out to get her. He walked to one of the unoccupied rooms, and opened the door to it. “Okay, you can come out.” Whoever heard it agreed, and then Adrik peeped through the doorway. “Hey, Pinkie.” Stephanie’s stomach dropped in surprise. “Ade?” Stephanie rasped. She didn’t even think, she just ran. “ADRIK!” She laughed, hugging him tight. She was almost hanging off of him. “Woah! Привет!” Adrik laughed. Lucas and Emma then followed after and leapt at her too. “Emma! Lukey!” Stephanie cried out, with tears in her eyes. “It’s you! It’s really you!” 

Death chuckled. “Happy Birthday, Stephanie. But this is for all of you. This door holds a portal to the Spirit Realm and back. It is a safer alternative to that spell. It has more regulations that you must follow.” Death explained. “First, the portal only works for a certain amount of time in a month. You use up all of that time, it sets the balance off. You’ve got up to a week and a half per month. Use it wisely. Secondly, try not to start any romantic relationships with anyone you meet here, since you still age. Stephanie, Lucas, that was specifically towards you two. Unless you want to live in the spirit realm, Stephanie.” Death explained. Stephanie and Lucas glanced at one another in disappointment. “Alright then.” 

“Lastly, be very careful with who makes it through the portal. It is fairly regulated, but Evil Spirits can still make it through if you aren’t careful.” Death explained. He smiled weakly and handed Stephanie a box of keys. “Now, I must return to the Spirit Realm. I wish you luck.” He teleported away with his rules. Stephanie was still bouncing on her heels. “Wait until the others hear about this!” 

Stephanie ran down the hall, excitably calling for the others.

So far, this was turning out to be the best birthday gift she ever got. 

Chapter Text

“Guys! Wake up, quick!” Stephanie called, racing down the corridors like a small child. Her eyes were wild and excitable, as she glanced behind at Adrik, Lucas and Emma behind her, trying to keep up with the fast moving teen. “Come on out here and look!”

Lucy creaked the door open. “Seriously, Steph? I’ve been trying to sleep. I have work late tonight.” Lucy grumbled, as she rubbed her green eyes, and shot them angrily towards the ecstatic girl. Stephanie smiled sheepishly before poking the door with her index finger. “I think you’ll thank me later.” Stephanie said, handing Lucy one of the keys Death handed to her. “You all will.” Stephanie said, when she felt Right, Henry and Ellie’s presences behind her. 

Seeing the spirits in their house, the group was conflicted. “Stephanie, after all that we have just been through, you still insisted on doing that spell again?” Marianne asked irritably. “I didn’t do it. If you have problems with it, talk to Death. He did this for us.” 

Rolfe flailed his hands toward Stephanie, gesturing for her to stop talking. “Hold on, You are telling me that the Grim Reaper himself did this for us? Remember how ticked he was?” Rolfe asked incredulously. “I have a hard time believing that.” 

“Have I ever lied to you guys?” Stephanie asked. Rolfe shook his head. “Fair point.” 

Stephanie looked down at the keys in her palms, before handing them out. “Each of you gets a key. There’s a door here in the clubhouse that he enchanted. It takes us straight to the realm and back without us dying in the process. It’s regulated so the Collision is less likely to reoccur.” Stephanie explained. Dmitri stared down at his key. “This is astounding.” He mumbled. “I can’t believe he had it in him. I thought he had a heart of ice.” 

Stephanie shrugged. “I guess not. I know I would thank him. He also told me to tell you, time is limited for how long we can linger.” Stephanie explained. She continued to explain the downsides before elaborating the upsides.

The group loved it, regardless. It was Stephanie’s initial plan with extra precaution, and they hoped that maybe this time, it worked.

The other spirits came to Stephanie’s party, with Stephanie meeting some new friends of the Petrovs, including a new lover of Ivan’s. 

The party had a lot more guests than Stephanie anticipated, but she was glad they all cared enough to show up. She sat on one of the chairs and sipped some punch when Flash sat by her. “Bet you wasn’t expecting this for your birthday, were you?” Flash chuckled. 

Stephanie leaned back. “No, I didn’t. Yet, this all feels too good to be true.” She beamed as she took another swig of her drink. “It’s so good to be able to safely have them back. Who knows, maybe we can help resolve everything now.” 

Flash grimaced a little. “We can’t promise that. Fate might throw one of her curveballs at us.” 

Stephanie laughed. “Maybe.” They clinked their glasses together for another drink. 

“Is Death sure that it is regulated? The portal, I mean.” Stephanie asked softly. “We really cannot risk that happening again.” 

Flash leaned back. “I don’t know. Just focus on something else for right now. Give yourself time to unwind. Not just radio time, either.”

Stephanie laughed awkwardly. “You sound like Rolfe. And like Mom and Dad.”

The two of them sat in silence for a moment, before Lucas walked over. “They're setting up your karaoke machine. Thought I’d let you know.” 

Stephanie got up and ushered to Flash to join her. 

It was one of the calmest, yet rowdiest nights they had in months. 

Chapter Text

The night was over almost as quickly as it began. Reginald and Elisha laid on their bed, exhausted from Stephanie’s party an hour and a half earlier. Reginald was quiet, his hands folded against his chest and his side up against Elisha’s. His mind was racing. 

The events from the Collision and from being taken into that maze by the Embodiment of Deception himself had taken a real toll on him. 

The maze had genuinely rekindled emotions in him that he had sworn up and down that he’d overcome. The feelings of what his first wife would say about him moving on and the thought that he’d failed not only his family, but his best friend numerous times. They swarmed his mind like bees in a hive, angry at a threat. The guilt was still relentless against his brain and heart, suffocating him under his own ocean of shame. 

That maze, however, rekindled another wave of guilt. It broke through like water through a dam. 

The memories of the night he was separated from his hometown. The night his family and friends were drowned. He had thought it was submerged deep into the ravines of his mind, and yet after that incident in the maze, he was struggling to stay afloat.

”Reggie?” Elisha asked softly. It snapped him out of his distressing thoughts, and brought his focus to her. “Yes, Elisha?” Reginald asked weakly. “You’ve been asking strange lately. Since you got back from that maze. Was it something you saw in there?” Elisha inquired. 

Reginald gripped his pajamas in his fists, and laughed awkwardly. “You could say that, Dear.” 

His mind trailed off again. He had so many questions for those that he lost and still hadn’t seen again yet. Then he remembered the portal. 

“Reg.” Elisha whispered. “What’s wrong?” 

“Remember when I told you how I met Righty and my first wife?” Reginald asked suddenly. “Yes, Reginald.” Elisha recalled. “That day you were swept away in that flood.” 

Reginald felt his stomach twist at the last word. “Yes. Well, back in that maze…I saw…” 

Elisha felt a chill down her spine when it registered. She remembered the unfamiliar man in Reginald’s end of the maze. “You saw…?” Elisha prompted, gently waving her hand to prompt Reginald into finishing his sentence. 

“My dad. I saw my dad.” Reginald admitted. Elisha’s face melted into empathy, before cuddling close to him. “I saw him again and it reminded me of everything.” He revealed. “I thought I got over that damn flood years ago.” Reginald mumbled, his voice frail and very clearly willing to break. 

“Yet, I saw him and all I could think of was him telling me to get out before I got hurt, and then of those simpler times when he’d take me to accompany him at his work. It just…hit me like a train, I suppose.” Reginald mumbled. Elisha rested her head on his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me more about your parents? I told you about Mom.” 

Reginald sighed and stared at the moon-streaked ceiling. “I couldn’t bring myself to. I guess it was to feed into my illusion that I was over this.” He laid back. “I’m slowly recovering from Anna and trying to cope with Emma, but this…I thought losing Emma was the worst of it.”

Reginald looked down at the key he was given earlier. His eyes lit up as an idea sparked in his mind. “Hey, ‘Lisha?“

Elisha hummed in reply. Reginald smirked at her and swung the key, lifting himself up off the bed. 

“How would you and Annie like to meet the family?” 

Chapter Text

Reginald anxiously stared into the portal before his eyes, his eyes occasionally glancing over to his wife and sister in law before returning to the bright, swirling vortex before him. 

He carefully gripped the briefcase in his left fist, while holding the key to the portal door in his right. Right saw them and walked over to them. “Are you ready, Reg?” 

Reginald smiled briefly, already planning his words in his mind. Especially what he would say to his father. “You can come along, too, if you want.” Elisha quipped, putting a reassuring hand on Right’s shoulder. Right shrugged, deep in thought. “Well, me, Sonya, Dad, Ma an’ Lucas were talkin’ about droppin’ by to see Aunt Reese, so yeah, I can accompany you.” Right thought aloud. Stephanie flagged them down before they could step into the portal and she hugged them. “See you in a few days, Guys.” 

Reginald ruffled her hair, and nodded to her before stepping into the portal. The door slammed shut behind them. The group didn’t expect the speed and intensity of this bridge. They were whipped and thrown around by a ceaseless wind, gusts blowing them every which way in the bright, searing light. They could see the bright orbs of Spirits who had just passed, going on a much smoother ride. 

“Lucky!” Right shouted over the howls, before they were dropped from a steep height, into the ground of the Spirit Realm. 

Elisha was the first to take in the sights, and then Luke Sonya. “Woah…Oh my god, guys, look! It’s gorgeous!” Sonya gasped. 

Reginald, Right and Lucas staggered to their feet, with Reginald and Right standing speechless. “Wow…So this is what the Afterlife looks like.” Reginald whispered in awe.

”Beautiful, innit?” Luke asked with a chuckle. “This is the Utopia. The good Spirits go here.” 

Reginald smiled. “It’s stunning.” He laughed. “It’s prettier than I imagined!” 

As the members marveled, Luke and Lillian were ready to excitably show them around. 

“Would you like to check out the place a bit for when you come here?” Luke asked. Annie giggled and nodded. “Come along, then! Then maybe we can find Reginald’s family here.” 

As they walked off, Reginald fell behind, stumbled and went to join them.

He wasn’t aware that he dropped his Realm key.

Chapter Text

Two days later…

Stephanie sat at her desk, relieved to be back in school without worrying about anything interrupting and making a huge scene. Yet, she was bored and tired all the same. She answered the questions on her paper, ready to go back home and continue living life as relatively normal. Once she’d finished her paper she submitted it and laid her head on the desk. She looked up at the clock every now and then, before laying her head back down. She dozed off. Then she was startled awake by the last bell of the day, and watched as her classmates swarmed for the door. She gathered her backpack and her purse and followed suit. 

She pulled out her phone as she walked and dialed for her mom. “Hey, Mom.” Stephanie chirped. “Flash and I are on the way home.” Stephanie assured. “Okay, Stephy, we’ll see you soon.” Stephanie walked out of the school and shivered at the fresh autumn air, taking sight of the yellow leaves falling in groves. She sought out Flash’s car before racing up to meet her best friend. “So, Flash, how’d everything go today?” Stephanie asked. “It’s gone good. Tired.” Flash replied. Stephanie laughed. “Well, it beats fighting a serial killer, a group of ghosts or being trapped in a supernatural maze, at least.” Stephanie laughed. “Let’s not forget Puppeteer.” Flash added. Stephanie laughed awkwardly. “Yeah. Good old Puppeteer.” Stephanie added sarcastically. 

“Has Reginald said any indication of coming back to our realm yet? Anything on his family back in the Spirit Realm?” Stephanie asked. “Because I haven’t heard from any of them.” 

Flash shrugged, his eyes still glued to the leaf-covered road ahead. “I haven’t either. I don’t think anyone has.” 

Stephanie nodded and leaned against her seat. She tried to act unbothered, but she was genuinely curious about them. As the car stalled in the drive of the house, Stephanie got a very strange feeling. Something was wrong, and she didn’t know what. 

Whatever it was, it was new. 

“Stephanie, are you coming?” Flash asked. 

“Uhh! Yes! Sorry, Flash!” Stephanie called, running after him for the door. 

Chapter Text

The sun set rapidly on that warm autumn night, yet it went by very slowly. It was strange not having the Copperbottoms around, or Right and his sister. Marianne was starting to get anxious at her father’s absence, especially with the lack of communication. 

Jean had insisted that night, to speed things up to do a game night with Stephanie, their family, Lucy, Flash and Mitzi. Three games sat out on the table, different groups playing different games. Stephanie, Jean, Richard and Louise were in the middle of playing Trivial Pursuit when they heard the Realm portal door open. Marianne bolted up and raced for the door. “Pops, your back already-Oh.” It went awkwardly silent for a moment before Marianne came back in, holding Andy in her arms. “Lucy, I assume you have a visitor.” Marianne grumbled. Lucy’s eyes lit up immediately. 

“Oh, my god! Andy! It’s good to see you!” Lucy cooed, holding the boy close to her chest. “Hi, Momma! Papa Izzy sent me to see you.” 

Lucy cringed at the mention of her dad. “Papa Izzy, huh?” Lucy said awkwardly. She hadn’t seen her father since the Collision, and the time she had with him wasn’t yet enough to patch things up between them. But Andy however…

Lucy lost her trail of thought and carried Andy back to the table with the gang. “Here, Andy. You get to watch momma play Apples to Apples with Momma Copper and Uncle Flash.” 

Marianne sauntered awkwardly back into the room, and sat next to Gracie, who noticed her anxiousness. “Mari, Honey, what’s wrong?” Gracie asked softly. Marianne shook her head. “Nothin’, Luv, I’m good.” She mumbled, leaning back onto the couch. Gracie stared at Marianne blankly, expecting the truth. 

“It’s just…Stupid, I dunno.” Marianne grumbled. “It’s not stupid if it bothers you.” Gracie added. “So it wouldn’t be stupid if I was upset about a tap dancin’ mantis or some shit?” Marianne asked deadpan. 

“That doesn’t count because I know it’s not a tap dancing mantis bothering you.” Gracie teased. Marianne laughed. “My dad always comes up with random shit like that to win any arguments me and ‘Im have. Cracks me up every time.” Marianne chuckled. 

Gracie lifted her head at the mention of Right. “That’s why your worried, isn’t it? You’re worried about your father.” 

Marianne didn't look Gracie in the eye. She only chuckled. “See? Told you it was stupid.” Marianne said with an awkward smile. 

“The only been gone for two days an’ I'm worried for them. Dad, Aunt Sonya, Aunt Elisha, Uncle Reg…Annie. Like they can’t take care of themselves.” Marianne scoffed incredulously. Gracie put her hand on Marianne’s shoulder. “You know you have no reason to worry.” 

Marianne nodded. “I know. It’s just…well, I told you about how come my Pop is a cyborg, right?” Marianne whispered. 

Gracie nodded. “You told me that Henry had attacked him when they met.” Marianne shuddered at the memory. “Thing is, neither my dad nor me expected ‘Im to get hurt, because he was the toughest guy I knew. I didn’t think of all the bad things that could happen if I wasn’t lookin’. Since ‘e got hurt, I get anxious if I don’t know where they are and there’s no way of telling. No communication. No news, nothin’. I thought nothing of it when they left but it just sort of hit me today, I guess.” Marianne explained. 

Gracie tensed at the heaviness of the conversation. “Well, I know they’ll be okay. I can feel it. As far as I know the spirit realm doesn't have wayward men carrying chainsaws.” Gracie teased darkly. “Very funny, Grace.” Marianne scoffed, nudging her in the rib. “Jus’ throw the trauma back at me,” Marianne chuckled. “I should be pissed.” Gracie nudged her back. “There’s your smile.” Marianne’s grin glittered brighter. “They’ll be back. They're safe, and I can feel it.” Gracie assured, flashing her own smile at Marianne. Marianne hugged her. “You know, I have never met a girl who understands me like you do.” Marianne whispered. 

“I’m glad to have the title, Mari.” 

Lucy finished her game and looked down at a near dozing Andy. “Hey, guys, I’m going to go and put Andy to bed.” Lucy explained. “Okay, Luce.” Copper hummed. Lucy picked Andy up and walked through the corridor to her room. She walked into the moonlit bedroom and laid Andy down in one of the old toddler beds. Lucy flopped backwards onto her own bed, and pulled out her phone. “Momma?” Andy asked suddenly. Lucy set her phone down next to her. 

“Yes, Andy?” Lucy asked softly. Andy rolled over to face Lucy’s direction. “Me and papa Izzy were talking about dads.” Andy hummed. 

“How convenient.” Lucy scoffed. “Izzy is you and uncle Andre’s dad, right?” Andy asked. 

“Yes. Unfortunately.” Lucy joked. “And Papa Ivan is his dad.” “Yes.” Andy kept going trough a list, and it almost made Lucy lose sight of what Andy’s point was. Until…

”So…Who’s my dad?” Andy asked softly. Lucy tensed, crushing her phone in her hand. “A very bad man, Andy.” Lucy whispered. “And hope you never have to meet him. I bet you’re safe, though. People like him go to the Prisons.” 

Andy looked down sadly. “But you said Papa Izzy and Uncle Andre are very bad, too.” 

“They did very bad things. They can change. Bad people don’t realize they did bad things.” Lucy explained. 

“What did he do?” Andy asked. Lucy walked over to her son, and looked into his eyes, the same as her ex-boyfriend’s. Her mind drifted to that night…

”You don’t want to know, Little Cub.”

Chapter Text

 Lucy couldn’t stop scrolling through her phone. She was trying everything to get her mind off of Andy’s questions and the memories that had returned to her mind, much fiercer than she’d anticipated. Her hand shook, as her rattling thumb scrolled up over…and over…and over…

”Ugh. Fuck it.” Lucy grumbled, and chucked her phone across her bedroom into her beanbag chair. She bumped her head against her headboard. She walked over to Andy’s crib and looked over the snoozing young spirit. She smiled softly and sadly, before walking out of the room. She walked past Stephanie’s bedroom, where Stephanie slept deeply. Her cat, Sia, lied curled on the teen’s chest, with Stephanie’s hand over her. Her TV was still faintly playing a movie, bringing a faint light into the room.

Stephanie had fallen asleep with her earbuds in, and Lucy could faintly hear the Sailor Song playing through them. Lucy hesitated before walking quietly into the room and past her tv, venturing to the girl’s bed. Lucy hesitated. She could’ve told Copper, but she wasn’t ready to reveal everything about her ex to Copper just yet, not when she had her own ex problems to worry about. 

Lucy lightly jostled Stephanie, waking her up. Stephanie grumbled a little and sat up, prompting Sia to leap off her chest and run out the door. “Hey, Luce. What’s going on?” Stephanie asked. 

“I hope you don’t mind, I need to talk to you.” Lucy whispered. “Oh?” Stephanie asked, noticing the drop in her friend’s voice. Not good, Stephanie thought. “What’s wrong?” 

“I’ve told you about my ex, right?“ Lucy asked softly. “Andy’s dad, you mean?” Stephanie asked. Lucy nodded. “You told me he was a violent sack of shit that beat you for being pregnant. But  I thought Andre killed him?” Stephanie asked. “I did tell you that, and he is dead, but there is another thing I didn’t tell you.” Lucy whispered. 

“What happened?” Stephanie asked. Lucy tensed before forcing the words out. “He forced me that night.” 

Stephanie’s blood boiled, and her teeth grated. “He what?” She asked flatly. Her hands twitched and seized against her chest, as her fury overtook them. 

“Yeah.” Lucy said, almost voicelessly. “He was high…and he wanted to ‘spend time with me’.”

Stephanie’s stomach twisted when the implication hit her. “I told him constantly, ‘stop it, I’m not in the mood’ and, ‘you’re high’!” Lucy tangented, her voice was rattling as much as her body, as her hand coiled against her sweater collar. “But…” Lucy trembled. 

Stephanie froze, numb to her own body. She could feel the agony radiating off of Lucy, an agony she had never felt in full force before. She could feel the disgust, the rage that ran off of her, so intense that it made every inch of her body ache and shudder. 

“That’s disgusting.” Stephanie choked. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Stephanie asked quietly. Lucy shrugged. “I didn’t want to talk about it, and I didn't think it was a big deal to begin with.” Lucy admitted. “Hell, I didn’t know it still made me that upset until Andy asked about his dad…” Lucy trailed off into silence. Stephanie hugged her. 

“I’m so sorry, Luce. Would you like me to stay up and talk for a bit?” Stephanie offered. Lucy shrugged and shifted on the bed, facing Stephanie directly. “We don’t have to talk, but sure.” Lucy mumbled. 

Stephanie had heard many of her friends’ horror stories, but this one further churned the odd anticipating feeling in her heart, and she felt like whatever it was, she and the gang would have to protect Lucy most of all. 

Chapter Text

Meanwhile…

Reginald, Right and Elisha soon discovered the Spirit Realm was MASSIVE. The Utopia seemed to be a whole world in itself, and it was so overwhelming to Reginald. 

“My god…” Reginald mumbled under his breath, as he looked out at the endless waves and slews of people below the balcony the group stood on. “How will we ever find Mum and Dad in this mess? We’ve been looking for days.” Reginald asked. 

“Before you ask,” Lillian chimed in, sensing Reginald’s anxious stance, “No, we don’t have to go through this many people to find them.” 

Elisha squinted her eyes in confusion. “Then how?” 

Lillian walked over to the edge of the balcony, where a small gem was built in. “Just like this.” Lillian said as she pressed it. She ushered Reginald over and told them to whisper their names into the gem, and it teleported them into the edge of the Utopia they lived in. “Okay, now this is where we ask people around.” Lucas announced awkwardly. 

“Why couldn't it ‘ave just teleported us to their ‘ouse?” Right asked bluntly. Lucas sighed and laughed. “I’ve been trying to wrap my ‘ead around that since I got ‘ere.” Lucas chuckled, before striding past the group. 

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Sonya asked. “Come on!” 

The group hastily followed suit, swerving through the edge of the city and asking who they could. It took another day, going through the hefty grove of houses and people. They stayed the night, where everyone slept peacefully except Reginald, who was dreaming of his father. 

It was the morning the flood happened. The day everything fell apart. Reginald didn’t think about the prior events of that day in decades. He was at his father’s theatre, helping to do maintenance on the stage before the show. He was sixteen, and had his first leading role in one of his father’s shows.

“Careful, Reggie, don’t hit that lever, the sandbags will come down.” Edward had said, while Reginald was clumsily staggering around backstage, after losing his balance during a practice he’d done. “Sorry, Dad.” He’d said. Edward smiled. “Don’t worry, Reginald. I appreciate the help.” The two of them turned back at the stage, while the young boy turned to his father. “Hey, Dad?”

”Mmm?” 

“I’m terrified.” 

“Why so, Reggie?” 

“What if I mess up the role? I don’t want to ruin the play by messing up my lines.” Reginald admitted. 

“You won’t. Reggie, I don’t pick people based off of my association, but by their talent. You were made for this.” Edward breathed, putting his hands on Reginald’s shoulders. “You are as good as your mother always was. And you got some of your old man in you, too. You certainly got my charm.” He wrapped his arm around Reginald and walked out to the empty theatre. “Everyone is going to stand and cheer when you take that final bow. Even if they didn’t, I’d be cheering for you louder than they ever could, and your Mum, too.” Edward whispered. 

“Promise?” 

“Promise.” 

The tender moment between them was interrupted by the sound of the emergency siren going off and the power shutting off. 

“Dad?! What’s going on?!” Reginald cried out in fear. Edward glanced at Reginald and dragged him out the door by his arm. He saw the distant waves in the distance. Edward’s face went corpse white as he shakily turned to Reginald. “Go get your Mum. NOW!” He cried out, running to go warn the other civilians nearby.

Then the memory skipped…he was back in the water again, being pulled under, stuck…being thrashed about, hit with planks and twigs. He reached for a grip, before he couldn’t breath. 

Reginald shot up with sweat trickling down his neck. He felt his eyes burning, his mind fixated on his father’s voice. 

“Reggie?” Elisha moaned, sleep still apparent in her voice. “Nightmare?” 

Reginald nodded and curled up facing away from her. “Nightmare.” 

Elisha lied in surprise. This was not normal for Reginald, since usually, he’d accept her comfort. This time, he turned away. 

Reginald realized his reaction came across avoidant, before rolling over. “I dreamt of what happened before…it happened. With my dad?” Reginald explained. Elisha sighed. As much as she understood his pain and determination, it was starting to annoy her when it was all he spoke of that day. 

Reginald was growing increasingly restless as all his memories from that time returned. Sometimes, that made him forget his present. But at that moment, he coiled back into Elisha’s hold, as they spoke about what They'd do when they returned home. 

They didn’t know what was going down back home. 

Chapter Text

In the Spirit Realm, the Prisons were bustling with chaos. The demons and Evil ranked spirits frantically tried to notify one another of an escapee. 

A trail of smoke wafted through the prisons, hindering the sight of the prisoners that remained in their cells. The young man heard the authorities ganging up on him, his legs moving faster and faster to get away from them. “Stop!” One of the guards demanded, to no avail. The man paused, only at the sight of a corner he couldn’t maneuver without running into the guards, and looked behind him at the crew. He tapped the navy blue gem on his neck, glared back, and reached into his satchel for a couple of black metal shells. He put them to his face and whistled, before clicking them together to throw. A plume of pink smoke filled the air, shrouding the guards in the strange cloud and putting every one of them to sleep. The guards fell to the ground unconscious, and the man made his escape. He could see the doorway, and another group of guards trying to flag him down. He kept reaching into his bag, pulling out shells and throwing them, different plumes of smoke lingering in the air long afterwards. He walked past the last guard, shaking and jittering behind the wall in fear. 

“I need a whisky.” The guard faltered. The man grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. “Oh, do get me one, too, Boy. Maybe I’ll take you with me.” He chuckled. He freed the guard and he fled. “Thank you for being so compliant. Ah, look at the shit show I left here.” The man chuckled, his voice dripping with a smooth sense of pride.

”Goodbye, Bitches.” He smiled, as he snapped his fingers and the door slowly crept open. He fled, and send the door slamming shut. 

He looked down at his pendant, and fidgeted slightly. He stopped in the midst of the Fallen Realm, and listened to what they had to say. Most of it was either about the Pendant Bearers or the Collision. As he suspected. He was planning to figure out all he could about the group, before going to try and “see” who was allegedly part of them. 

Where does he live now? Where do he work, what are their names? We need to know what is going to be carved across his forehead, now don't we? Perfect payback for what that Andre did to me. The man thought. 

Can’t wait to see you again, Andre.

Shame I couldn’t see Lucilia. Cannot ask her how our boy is. He thought, chuckling sadistically before he sped through the Fallen Realm, his anger towards Andre being the only thing that fueled him. 

He teleported through the Spirit Realm, before a glitch sent him into a lake in the Utopia. The Evil Spirit hissed from the pain the water inflicted on him, and he staggered out and lied back first on the pearl colored pavement. Then something shiny caught his eye.

He rolled onto his hands and knees and crawled over. He picked it up, realizing it was a key. A golden hat resided on it with the name “Reg C.” Etched into the space right below it. The man squeezed it and was jump scared by a portal. He heard a conversation inside between some girl and…He stopped. He leaned into the portal to listen some more. 

Lucy. 

A slasher smile spread across his face, before he wildly glanced down at the key and then at the portal. “Hell yeah. Bingo.” He leapt through the portal, his plans temporarily changed.

Chapter Text

The man hurtled through the portal and once again, shot backfirst into the floor. He groaned loudly, as he forced himself up and opened his eyes to a frightened Lucy and a very protective looking woman holding her close. He chuckled at them. “Well, aren’t you two just absolutely sexy?” He chuckled, his teeth glittering in hunger. “Lucy, dear, it’s been such a long time-“ “Get away from me!” Lucy snapped, recoiling further into Copper. The man crossed his arms. “My, how rude, Lucy. I missed you, too.” He started eying Copper as well. “Hey, there, Lady. I’m Dion. I’m Lucy’s boyfriend-“ 

“Ex-Boyfriend, and you know it good and well, you pig.” Lucy snarled, her voice was dangerously low, and barely human. 

Dion took Lucy’s clenched fist and smiled. “Only through your brother’s direction.” Dion taunted. “I hear the old bastard is dead now, as deserved. And look.” Dion reached into his pocket and took out the key. “The universe is smiling at me.” Lucy’s face went white with fury. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO REGINALD?!” Lucy demanded, taking Dion by surprise. “Reginald? I don’t know a Reginald.” 

“That’s his key! Don’t lie to me! What did you do to him?!” Lucy snarled. Now, it was more in fear than in rage. 

“I’m serious. I don’t know a Reginald. I found this key laying around in the Utopia after I broke out of Prison.” Dion snarled in annoyance. He chucked the key at Lucy and it hit her in the face. “Take it, Whore.” Dion snarled. “Came here to try and be nice, but I guess that isn’t happening.” Dion scoffed, before sauntering off. Lucy snapped and leapt at him, grabbing him by his hoodie. “That’s it. You better get the fuck out before I take this key and throw you through that portal with your limbs torn out!” Lucy hissed. Dion glared at her before straightening his clothes and teleporting out of the house. 

Stephanie heard the commotion and went to check on Lucy and Copper. “What’s going on? I heard yelling!” Stephanie asked worriedly. “It’s nothing you have to worry about, Stephanie.”

”But-“ 

Copper snapped her fingers, silencing Stephanie before smiling awkwardly. “Come on, ladies, let’s get the boys and go get some dinner. I’ll buy it. My treat.” Copper laughed, trying to brush off the subject. 

Stephanie felt the twisting return to her stomach. 

“Great. There it is, again.” Stephanie muttered. “Where are we going?” Stephanie asked, as she followed them out the door. 

Dion, meanwhile, hid behind the house, with his phone in hand, calling all of his living fellow members from Drakov’s old gang. Then he saw Stephanie, and her pendant around her neck. “Is she in kahoots with the new pendant bearers? Who’s that one brat she’s with?” Dion whispered to himself. “Damn, she’s fine, too.” he mumbled, before continuing his call. The phone went to voicemail. He left the message. 

“Meet me in the alleyway behind the old WW Rec Centre.” Dion whispered. “We have some business to attend to.” 

Chapter Text

An hour later…

“Hey, Mom, I’m just finishing up dinner at the Japanese place. Me, Lucy and Copper took Theo and Andy out there. I’ll be stopping by the gas station to get something to drink and I’ll be home shortly. Love you, Bye.” Stephanie chirped into the voicemail of her mother’s phone, as she stepped out of the restaurant. She stepped into Copper’s truck, and watched out of the windows at the darkening sky. 

“Is everything going okay, guys?” Stephanie asked softly. “You guys have been acting a bit off.” Copper gripped the steering wheel and Lucy leaned back in the passenger seat with an exhausted groan. “Sorry.” Stephanie whispered.

“No, no, it’s fine, I just don’t know if I should mention this. I don’t really want you involved in my bullshit.” Lucy grunted. 

“Lucy, you know me and what I’m gonna do. Please tell me.” 

The car stalled in the gas station. Stephanie and Lucy walked in, going into separate isles. Stephanie walked over to the sodas, grabbed one and grabbed a candy bar and a bag of taffy from the isle behind her. Stephanie hummed to herself as she walked to the checkout, payed for her things and walked out to wait for the others to return and head home. The chilly autumn wind nipped at Stephanie’s ears and fingertips, as she sat down on the cold bench. She pulled out her phone and looked through some notifications. She stood up and paced. Her phone began to ring. She saw a number she didn’t recognize. Stephanie squinted in confusion and muted the call. She was about to put it back in her coat when it started ringing again. 

It was the same number.

Stephanie shrugged. “Maybe it’s Theresa. She did get a new number.” Stephanie took the phone to her ear. “Is this Stephanie Sheridan?” The voice chuckled through her phone. Something didn’t feel right. “Yes.” Stephanie answered hesitantly. “Who’s this?” 

“A friend.” He finally quipped. His breath sounded shaky, not emotional or weak, but like he was after something. “I hear you have a lot of friends, yes?” 

Stephanie nodded uncomfortably. She stood still and stiff, gripping her phone in her hand. “You seem to be the anxious type. Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.” The man on the other end cooed. Stephanie nodded, not fully convinced. “Okay.” 

Lucy splashed some water on her face at the bathroom sink, before looking into the mirror and putting her glasses back on. “Hey, Copper?” Lucy asked, while Copper was texting by the other sink. “Yes, Luce?” 

“Do you think I’m weak?” Lucy asked hesitantly. “Hell no, Lucy. You are the strongest woman I know. Why would you think that?” 

Lucy slumped by the bathroom stall. “Well, with Dion being back, it’s like I’m right back in Drakov’s old apartment, with Dion there, making me do what he wanted. Now, I cannot even protect Theo from him.”

”Lucy. Lucy, you kicked him out, he can’t get within a foot of us without getting scathed.” Copper said as she lifted Lucy’s chin. “You aren’t weak. If you so much as see someone getting hurt, you are the first to attack the attacker. Dion is a reasonable fear for you.” Lucy only stared. “Come on, Lucy, Honey…” Copper whispered, a smile on her face. “What do you always tell Right?” 

“Fear doesn’t make you weak.” Lucy muttered, her lips barely parting to say it. 

“That’s right. Now, the boys are ready to go, so let’s go meet with Stephanie. 

The two of them left, gathered Andy and Theo and left the store, and were met with a terrifying situation. 

Chapter Text

Stephanie was still leaned against the outside wall of the gas station, still awkwardly and suspiciously listening to what this man had to say. Her guard was gradually falling down, contemplating if she should take his word for it that he was actually a friend. 

“Did I tell you that you are absolutely ravishing?” The man asked flirtatiously. Stephanie’s stomach twisted. “No…?” Stephanie said softly and dryly. “Why do you ask?” Stephanie asked anxiously. “And how do you know what I look like?” 

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I wouldn’t hurt you.” Stephanie felt a cold sensation come up in the back of her throat. Her thumb hovered over the end call icon. She could even see the dread in her body escape through the cold mist that left her lips.

”I am going to worry about that, who the hell are you? I haven’t even gotten your name.” Stephanie demanded. “Tell me!” 

She felt a rough pair of hands on her shoulders, and then the voice on her phone echoing with the voice behind her. 

“I can tell you right here, Baby.” Stephanie lifted her head and was met with Dion’s face. “Let go of me, Sir!” Stephanie snapped. “Unhand me!” She tore her way out of Dion’s hands. “Who are you?!” Stephanie demanded, her powers kicking in and her wings spreading out. “Name’s Dion, Dear. Well, aren’t you an Angel?” He taunted, caressing one of her wings with his knuckle. 

“I’m heading over to the old rec centre. Come with me.” 

“No thanks. I have to get home-“ 

He grabbed her wrist and Stephanie began to pull away. “I’m not asking.” 

Stephanie punched him, sending him to the ground. Lucy and Copper ran out, and saw what was left of the scene so far. Dion was regaining his bearings and was about to reach for Stephanie. Stephanie ran to Lucy and Copper, and they bolted into the car. “Move, Copper, move, move, MOVE, MOVE!” Stephanie rasped, and the car sped off for the house. 

Stephanie slumped down into her seat, her head spinning. “That nutcase nearly kidnapped me.” Stephanie rasped. 

“Of course he did.” Lucy muttered. “Of course he went after her.” Lucy sighed in frustration as they pulled into the drive. They walked in, helping Stephanie catch her own bearings, to alert the others of what just happened. 

Chapter Text

“Emergency Meeting!” Lucy shouted, before ringing the bell to get everyone’s attention. It startled Flash, who was asleep on the couch, as everyone else walked in. 

”What’s so bad that it couldn’t wait until morning? We went to bed extra early for reasons.” Dmitri mumbled, gripping his robe in his tired fists. “Grigori and I have work.” 

“Well, Steph almost got kidnapped. Does that work?” Lucy scoffed. Dmitri’s face blanched as he dropped into his chair. Grigori gripped the chair in horror. “What?” Grigori asked bluntly. 

“Who wants me to go beat the fuck out of them?” Richard roared. “Who did this?” 

Lucy pulled out Reginald’s key. “Somehow, my ex, Dion, got a hold of this key, and he’s pissed off at me. He tried to take it out on Steph for some reason.” Lucy explained. “But he’s an assassin, from me and Andre’s early days following Dad’s death. He was loyal to our boss, and he was very abusive to me. Andre got sick of it and killed him before my son was born.” Lucy hesitated before continuing. “I don’t know what he wants from me, but I know I don’t want him getting to any of you. So, here’s what we’re going to do. You guys go find Reginald and his family and give him back his key. Copper, you stay with Theo, and I’ll take care of this.”

”But if he’s a pendant bearer, what’ll happen if he tries to fight you?” Marianne asked. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Lucy added, and glanced at Stephanie. “Are you sure you don’t need any help?” Stephanie asked softly. 

“Positive.” Lucy replied. “He’s my problem. Not yours.” 

After the news was given, Stephanie went to lay down, still shaken up from the incident. Sia came to lay down next to her. Stephanie smiled at her cat as she curled up by her, bringing Stephanie a little comfort. 

“I hope Lucy is right.” Stephanie whispered. “We don’t usually do outright solo acts and get out of them unscathed.” Stephanie told herself, as she pet her cat’s head. Stephanie laid back and stared at the TV. “How did Reg even lose his key?” Stephanie asked herself, before going to sleep, her cat in her arms.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile…

Reginald, Right and their families had reached one more small town in the Utopia, one that was near a place called the City of the Fallen. A glowing, faded sign with that name peaked Reginald’s curiosity. “What’s that place?” 

“That is where the Fallens go. You know what a Fallen is, right?” Lillian asked. “Isn’t that what Adrik is?” Elisha asked curiously. “Yes, it is.” Lillian confirmed, before walking along the small Utopian city they remained in. “But I doubt that your in-laws would be in there. And even so, unless you don’t mind walking through a slum…” Luke commented. “Lucas Sr., don’t discourage them. I knew plenty of high ranked Fallens that lived right on the cusp, and they were outright friendly people.” Lillian added. 

Reginald ignored the conversations, trying to keep his focus on meeting back up with his family. Their voices drowned out as his memories drifted back, something that he’d thought he had gotten controlled. The screams and the sounds of water crushing buildings filled his ears as his stomach twisted and his face coated over with sweat. 

Reggie! 

“D-Dad?” Reginald rasped, gripping the edges of his overcoat in his trembling fists. A gentle yet firm hand touched his shoulder. 

“Reginald!” Right called, getting his attention. Reginald slowly turned to Right, leaning his head in. “Right, I’m sorry. I have had us on a goose chase, trying to tie up a loose end that’s my own problem, haven’t I?” 

Right tilted his head. “Reg, what do you mean?” 

“We have been out here for days, trying to get a hold of my parents just because of that stupid thing in the godforsaken maze a while back!” Reginald shuddered. Right held Reginald in place. “Reg, we are giving our new abilities a try. This is doing us all some good. It’s about time you’ve laid that demon to rest.” Right whispered as they walked, his arm slung around Reginald’s shoulders, as a means of comfort, just like when they were teenagers. 

Reginald’s hand hovered over Right’s, seeking this comfort. They passed by house, after house, after house, unaware that the whole group, namely Reginald, had garnered attention from someone who’d been staring out from the window of one of the houses. They closed the curtains and ran for the door and sped down the steps, calling out to them. 

Reginald sighed disappointedly and glanced at his exhausted wife. “Righty, ‘Lisha, we might as well just head home, shouldn’t we?”

”Maybe we should. We haven’t called. Stephanie, Marianne and Jean are probably worried sick.” Elisha explained. Reginald hesitated, swallowed the yearning lump in his throat, before reaching into his coat pocket…

…For nothing. Reginald took his hand out of his pocket and reached into another one. Nothing. He found crumpled papers in one pant pocket and a wrapped peppermint in the other. “Where’s my key?” Reginald queried, his body tense with dread. “What do you mean where’s your key?” Right asked. Reginald kept looking into his pockets, turning them inside out to check further. “Reg, the fuck you mean “where’s your key”?!” Right asked again, his voice rising. “I mean I can’t find it!” Reginald panicked. 

“You what?!” Elisha snapped. “You lost your pretty key?” Annie asked. “Papa lost his little key.” Emma confirmed. “Seriously, mate?!” Lucas grumbled. “You never know who could get their mitts on it! You’re lucky we were in the Utopia!” 

“I know! I know! But you guys have yours, right?!” Reginald faltered. “Calm down, I have mine.” Sonya reassured. Right and Elisha lifted theirs as well.” 

“Yay!” Annie chirped. “Yeah, yay…but what about mine?!” 

“S.O.L, Reg.” Right sighed. “I’m sure my family will try to find it,” He continued as the portal for home emerged. “But until then, that’s your issue-“

“How’d you do that? An’ what did you lose? Might I help?” A new voice asked. Right stopped and the portal shut. “Who’s there?” Right asked, standing up tall and defensive.

”Don't worry, I won’t hurt you. I want to help.” The man reassured. He came in from behind, slowly and shyly as he approached a frozen, softly breathing Reginald. 

“Reggie. Is that you?” 

Chapter Text

Reginald and the man only stared for a couple of moments, before Reginald brought him into a light hug. 

“Okay, wow, yeah, that is very much Reginald’s old man.” Lucas announced with a soft chuckle. “Change the hair, ears, eyes and nose and they look damn near identical.” 

“So, you’re Edward Copperbottom?” Elisha asked. The “stranger” freed himself from Reginald and walked closer to her. “Yes. I take it my son has talked a lot about me? And who are all of you? How did you get here? What were you looking for when I came over?” 

“I’m his wife.” Elisha explained, and gestured to Right and Sonya. “These are our best friends, Right and Sonya and their family.” Then she whispered to Annie and Emma to come over, and Edward’s eyes lit up in a surprise joy. “I don’t think I’d need to ask.” He chirped. “Grandkids?” He whispered to Reginald’s. Reginald flushed and nodded. “Yes. And another on the way.” He whispered. Edward smiled at Emma, who was very excited to see him. His eyes locked on her hair. “If she had her mother’s hair, wouldn’t it be blue?” He whispered to Reginald. 

“First wife.” Reginald corrected. “She and Emma got taken from me too early. Emma is a spirit, too.” Edward tensed, and immediately took Emma into his arms. “That’s dreadful. Well, they are both precious,” He said, doting on the small girl in his arms. 

“You told me all about who you brought with you but not how you got here and what you were lookin’ for.” Edward asked. “Funny story,” Lucas interjected. “We have access to the portal that brought some of us here already, after that Collision not too long ago. Yes, that was us that accidentally resulted in that.” Lucas explained awkwardly. “Alright, then.” Edward hesitated. That wasn’t what he expected to hear. “You have an awful lot to explain to me, Reggie, I missed a lot of things.” He and Reginald laughed, as Reginald kept looking around for his key. “And…Dad, have you seen a key laying around?” 

Edward squinted, confused. “Key?”

”Yeah, that’s our way of getting the portal to appear. We have ours but it’s a safety reason that we alone can hold onto them.” Elisha explained. “And this dumb ass man lost his!” Sonya teased, nudging him. “Hey!” Reginald snapped. “I thought I had it in my overcoat pocket. I reached in to get it and it was gone.” Reginald explained. “What happens if someone other than you gets it?” Edward asked curiously. “If a twisted Fallen or an Evil gets it, a hell of a lot.” Right explained, his voice was tense and quick. Edward’s face blanched. “I’ll help you find that key. I’ll get my wife and we’ll help you.” Edward shuddered. “Reggie, do you and your wife and daughters want to come with?” Edward asked, as he already prepared to jog back to their house. “Yes, sure!” Elisha called, following suit. “Thank you so much!” 

They were all too late to find the key, but not too late to fix what they accidentally started.

Chapter Text

Back at the House…

Stephanie was at her desk, trying to keep up with their new threat and his crimes. He wasn’t even back in the Living Realm for three days and he was already wreaking havoc and crafting a group. 

Her hands shook against her keyboard, as she continued research on Dion. She typed in his name to look at old news clippings. One with familiar names caught her eye. She clicked in and saw several pictures and news reports. Killings, attacks, drug deals, all tied to this one man. Or, at the time, a boy in his late teens. Then she saw it; a picture of Dion, leaning into Drakov Virginia’s arm. He was smiling down at him like a father would his son. Dion looked less like a psychopath and more like a mischievous, troublemaking boy. 

However, what shocked Stephanie next was the photograph underneath that one. It was Dion with Andre and Lucy. Lucy was kissing his cheek, her hair was slightly longer and she looked a little more excitable than she usually did in present day. Andre was staring at Dion with a look of suspicion and disgust, like Dion had done something to him personally. 

“‘The Crimson Shards’?” Stephanie read the caption underneath, enlarging it to take a closer look at their uniforms. “I think I have seen these markings before. I have read about them.” She said to herself, taking a screenshot and writing down her find on a sketch pad. 

She scrolled some more and found a newspaper clipping that made her blood run cold. 

The Crimson Shards leader, Drakov Virginia, and elites found dead; Assassin Andre Virginia prime suspect. Younger sister Lucilia’s status unknown. The body of a Four year old boy found in the aftermath.  

“The day Andy died?” Stephanie asked herself, reading through the reports. She didn’t hear Right teleport in from the Spirit Realm, wondering if maybe Reginald forgot to pack his key. Right knocked on Stephanie’s door. “Ey, Kid, can I come in?” 

Stephanie’s hands hovered over the keyboard as she perked up. “Righty!” Stephanie gasped excitedly and leapt at him, tackling him in a hug. “We missed you! Are the others back yet? We need your help-“ 

“They are back in the Realm yet.” Right explained. “Good news is, we ran into Reg’s Mum and Dad. The bad news is…”

”Reg lost his key.” Stephanie finished. “Yes. ‘Ow’d you know that?” Right asked. 

“Because…I don’t know, maybe an Evil escaped and got here with it? Lucy took it from him. She has it. You’re lucky it wasn’t Drakov.” Stephanie explained intensively. 

Right’s face blanched. “Come again?” Right rasped. “Yeah.” Stephanie explained. “Apparently he’s Lucy’s dead ex and is apparently part of some mafia Lucy never told me she was a part of.” Stephanie explained exasperatedly. “The Crimson Shards, or whatever. He’s putting this group back together and is after something. I don’t know what, but he tried to kidnap me.” 

Right stood still, his jaw dropped. “I’ll go get the others.” Right mumbled, grabbing his head and teleporting back to retrieve Reginald and their families. 

Stephanie sat back down in her chair, and stared at her screen. A wave of curiosity hit her, and she went back to the search bar and began to type.

Lucy and Andre Virginia in The Crimson Shards. 

Chapter Text

Late in the evening, the portal opened, and Reginald, Right and their families stepped out. While the reunion would have been a happy affair on a normal circumstance, Stephanie was too enthralled in trying to figure out the whereabouts of the escapee and her intention to give the two families a break, given Right and Reginald’s mental state, Elisha’s pregnancy and Annie’s lack of understanding at her age, to let it register back. 

Louise relayed the events back to them, much to their horror. Reginald shakily gripped his key, cursing himself under his breath for his mishap. Stephanie was on her iPad, searching for more information about The Crimson Shards and writing what she could in her notepad. 

“Surely you need my assistance, right?” Reginald asked, tapping Stephanie’s shoulder to get her to look at him. Stephanie set the electronic in her lap and shook her head. “It’s okay, Reg. You guys deserve a break. Let us handle this.”

Reginald’s shoulders relaxed, before glancing back at Elisha, his children and his parents before nodding to her and mouthing a thank you. Lucy walked into the room, her entire form disheveled as she hastily texted and called people Stephanie wasn’t aware of. Lucy slumped into the sofa, next to Copper, her voice almost hateful as she spoke into the phone. Stephanie read another article, one written by Lucy several years ago. Stephanie gripped the sides of the tablet, shaking at what she read. The contents of the article weren’t only disturbing, the time frame she wrote them was way before Lucy and Andre could even have been alive. Stephanie reread it twice, making sure she didn’t miss something and misinterpret. Her lungs twisted as the air escaped them, and a cold bile rested in her throat. 

Stephanie shut off her tablet and dropped it back into her trembling lap. She glanced at Lucy, grabbed her notebook and vowed to question her. 

Lucy had just gotten off of the phone and was heading for her room. Stephanie took a shaky breath, adjusted her hair and slowly stepped towards Lucy’s room. 

The information couldn't have hurt in regards to stopping Dion’s plans, right? 

Right?

To Be Continued…