The Ring

0019

Chrisssa felt a wave of emotions as she walked the halls. She figured she wanted to change out of her training clothes, and instead freshen up before she saw Michael.

A part of her felt unstable. With the knowledge of Kandor being into her, what would that mean for Michael? Would Kandor kill him? Kandor murdered his own father, so why wouldn't he not want to get rid of the one thing holding him back from having what he'd wanted for eleven years? The situation made her head hurt. She wanted to be in fresh clothes, underneath thick comforters, and for everything to melt away. Chrissa figured that maybe if she slept it off, she'd deal with it better.

When she opened the door to her room, she was met with soft sobbing. The dim glow of the moon danced into the blue stained glass window, and its light had cascaded over a red-haired girl who had been sitting cross-legged on her bed.

"Mars?" She asked, and her voice softened a bit as she sat beside her, "and why are you crying?"

"It's Max. He's gone," the girl said in panic.

"Well he's a knight of the manor, is he not?" The dark haired girl pointed out, "perhaps he's out later than usual."

"No. This is different," Mars shook her head, and her monolid eyes welled up in tears. "I slept with him last night and when I woke up I found this," she said, and straightened out a white crumpled paper. "It was right next to me."

Chrissa took the paper, and analyzed it.

"Dear whomever which this letter's hands it is placed upon, The beautiful thing about life is death, for the polarities of reality are what creates it into such a wondrous thing.

People must die, and in return, they sometimes are born again. People must die, at the expense of others. Some expenses are higher than others, of course.

So here is my expense to you. Give yourself to me, in order to receive your precious lover back. I am located in the south of the land, in the farthest of caves near the south ocean. Where the Sirens, and Merfolk reside. If you do not come in three days time, your lover will be murdered.

Greatest wishes,
— S.

"Who could possibly want this?" Chrissa explained in shock, as she looked up at Mars. It sounded ridiculous. Why would someone want to take Max? And who is 'S'?

"Mars, are you involved in the dark markets?" Chrissa asked cautiously. The dark markets was the underground world, where the classless lived. There existed no rules in that part of their world. It was where nobody had been divided, and was crawling with half bred creatures. It terrified Chrissa. It was a place she never wanted to end up. Sometimes people would go there to make deals with the people that lived there, in exchange for different things.

She shot her a wild expression, "you think i'm crazy? Of course not! This is completely random." Chrissa physically relaxed. The red haired girl began to shake back and forth with her legs brought up to her chest. "Chrissa, you've gotta help me. You're the only one who knows, and I trust you." The girl spoke with fear in her voice, "and you're the only person I know who has access to dublin. Or used to, at least. M-maybe you could bribe them? I love Max. I would do anything to have him back. Yeah he's annoying at times with his corny jokes and stupid remarks but I miss him and I need him because he calms me down and the thought of him leaving this world—"

"Okay, okay you must calm down," she said slowly, and grabbed her hand. "Max will be fine." She spoke, not even believing her own words. "I know he will."