FINAL GATE (#3 GHOST PORTAL series)

TWENTY-FIVE

They took some distance from the door. Distance from the distorted demonic voice, and the frail, horrified timbre of Jessamine.

She's alive. She's herself. And she wants to come back?

Ada swerved from one end of the basement to the other. Her expression was concealed, her chin dipped down, but every few seconds she uttered something, grimaced, whispered "no, not that," then fell silent.

There was no response from the other side of the door. Jessamine and the demon must have known they needed a minute to figure out what to do, and they'd graciously accorded them some time.

But the clock was ticking, and with every passing instant, Jessamine was in danger. The world was in danger.

Someone needs to sacrifice themselves.

"So, what are our options?" Avery hadn't wanted to interrupt Ada's thought process, but he grew restless, starting to pace as she was. "Could we ask Jamie, maybe? He's dead, he's a fresh soul, probably strong?"

He hadn't expected Ada to hear him over her mumbling, but to his surprise, she shook her head. "No, not Jamie."

"Okay, so someone who's been in Limbo longer, then?" Avery grimaced. "Jamie mentioned there were some old-timers or something down there. Spirits who never figured out their unfinished business. Or Amy? She may be stronger, having gotten the hang of being a ghost for a while now."

Again, Ada shook her head. "She wouldn't work either. And the so-called old-timers... they won't do it. No, we... we have to think deeper."

Avery scoffed and threw out his arms. "Deeper? How much deeper can we get? The fuck does that mean?" She had no reaction to him. "Fine, then it's your turn to give a few names, yeah? I have no idea what I'm doing here, what the requirements are. Me? Do they want me?" He gulped. "Do I need to die and be shoved into that realm to take Jessamine's place? Because I'll do it, though I won't be happy about it."

A bead of sweat dripped down the side of his face, tickling him. He swiped at it, then felt the heat radiating off his skin. He was feverish, and now that he thought of it, his stomach ached, something ominous brewing within.

It was him they wanted; his body knew it, was reacting to it. The door craved him, ever since he escaped the first time. It wanted revenge, it wanted to gobble up Avery's soul and make him its own.

And of course, the demons had hungered for him, they'd poked and prodded at him as if he were fresh meat. They wanted him, too. Wanted him in their ranks to continue planning their disastrous world domination ideas.

It was terrifying, to be required in such a sinister way. But if Avery were to die and then be sucked into the demonic dimension, it'd save Jessamine from her current fate. It'd save the planet.

"I mean it. I'll do it," said Avery, stretching out his arms, showing his wrists to Ada. "You can slice into me now, bleed me out, then once I've had my last breath, you can," he absorbed a trembling gulp of air, "push me in. I'll replace her, I'll sacrifice myself for her. I... love her."

Pain shot across his forehead, and warmth flowed to all his extremities. Admitting his love for her, again, took a lot. It dug into his psyche, messed with his senses. That, or the door really was calling to him, and was accepting his terms before he'd even formulated them coherently.

Ada took some time to acknowledge his offer. She pursued her muted muttering that made no sense, swerved back and forth a few more times, then paused. She whooshed over to him, blocking him in his pacing; somehow, he hadn't stopped walking despite the agony in his limbs and his spreading dizziness.