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[quote=Penny][color=goldenrod][b]“RUN!”[/b][/color][/quote]

The Apparition inside of Caelea kept using her as a puppet to grin as they fully understood what Penny meant. And did exactly what she wanted.

It fled, disappeared in the blink of an eye. Leaving behind only disturbed dust that only gave a direction. The complete opposite of Penny and the others.

Hearing Penny's voice was that brought Zoey back to the real world... the hellish reality of what just happened still making her [i]weak[/i]. She didn't care what happened, she just wanted to go home. Penny and the others were cutting and running but not Zoey... she had to make sure the big guy got out of here. Because she wasn't sure if they could come back [i]a second time[/i]. Mr. Hound was generous enough already. Zoey forced herself to her feet as she looked around. She had to figure out what the fuck was going on before they tried to escape. However Caelea was just standing there... and then it disappeared.

Odessa heard the command and was tempted to go with them, however after peaking over the car she noticed that Zoey wasn't leaving. And the Apparition that abscised Caelea was gone. Odessa wanted to take that thing out, but she didn't have the strength at the moment. When she got her strength back she promises that she'll do everything in her power to get that thing out of Caelea's body. She deserved better than being used as a meat puppet.

When the Abscised left, so did the children that filled the streets playing that Odessa seemingly pushed to the back of her mind. They were in front of her, but... not. The sun was shining but something was wrong here. She shook her head as the street suddenly ran barren and it reminded her that she was here. Alone. Odessa sighed - a redundant effort - as she saw Zoey running for the barrier. She wouldn't let her die.

At least not again.

Hagan was still on the ground sobbing uncontrollably - unaware that the Abscised had left them already. His abstraction acted completely autonomously, lashing out at everything that got close. He couldn't believe this. It was like a fucking dream, no, a nightmare. Hagan's tendrils destroyed everything in sight...

"Hagan!" He heard Zoey's voice, "Stop!"

Hagan paused for a second - and the barrier dropped - and that was enough for Zoey to run up and embrace Hagan. Throwing herself on his back as she hugged him. "Hagan, it's going to be okay! Keep it together!" Zoey said herself in between tears... even if she didn't entirely believe it herself. They had to try anything at this point! 

"I... I can't let that thing getaway!" Hagan shouted.

"You gotta calm down!" Zoey shouted, "Please."

"... It's gone, Hagan - I can sense it leaving," Odessa softly said as Hagan turned his head towards her. "You'll get your chance... we just need to make sure we aren't left behind."

Odessa sighed again.

"... Strength in numbers."

Hagan sighed as Zoey got off of him as Hagan stood straight up and looked. Seeing that it was gone calmed him down... at least with nothing for his barrier to lash out at, it would turn off. He then looked at Odessa as not one word left his mouth... he stormed past her towards Penny and the others as they regrouped somewhere...

[hr]

Odessa tripped... not on anything but she was simply too fatigued after pushing herself so far. She felt the stinging pain of the asphalt but nothing else. Odessa looked up as she saw Zoey offering a hand and Odessa was hesitant for a second... and when she touched Zoey's hand she felt something saddening. Odessa sighed as she was helped to her feet as she started walking, then she felt the tingling in her skull that other Extra-Normals were in the area. However, it was a familiar presence to her as Odessa grabbed onto Zoey's hand and lead her in its direction. 

The group was quite a way down the street and there was no signs of the Abscised. It was likely that it was not around, or not coming back. It was disgusting the thought that Apparition was puppeteering her... but there was nothing they could do at the moment. Odessa had a thought, a particular idea... that was interrupted when Zoey went over to Penny and hugged her. Loudly sobbing into her friend as Odessa could only sigh.

"... I can't believe she's gone!" Zoey said, pausing only for a second. "It... just doesn't seem real."

Odessa placed her hands together as she watched... she wondered if it was the right time, but she had to bring it up at some point. "... I don't think this [i]is[/i] real," Odessa just out and said it, catching everyone's attention. "... When Caelea was killed, the[i] Hound[/i] didn't show up." She shook her head.

"And he's [i]always[/i] there when someone dies."