Imbalance

It was Izumi who noticed it first.

“Something’s gone wrong,” she said. The other angels looked up.

“What did you say?” Natalia asked. She and the others took a feel of the air.

“You’re right,” Yoshiko said.

“Where the hell did he go?” Liz asked. The angels didn’t have an answer. This wasn’t good.

“We’ve got to get him back, Natalia said.

“But how?” Himeko asked. The other angels didn’t have an answer.

“What’s going on?” Ben asked behind them. Yoshiko looked up from the circle.

“You can feel that too?” she asked.

“Feel what?” Ben asked. Izumi gave her a cross look.

“Of course he can’t, dumbass,” she said. “He’s a human!” Yoshiko rolled her eyes.

“I know that,” she said. “I was just wondering.”

“Don’t,” the other angel said.

“Enough!” Natalia said. Izumi and Yoshiko went quiet. The leader took a breath. The other angels had uncertain looks on their faces.

“Don’t worry! We can still salvage this,” Natalia said. Her words weren’t too convincing.

“And how are we supposed to do that?” she asked. “If we break the circle now, he’ll be trapped on the other side permanently.”

“I know that! I’m thinking of something,” she said. Meanwhile, Baby Doll slipped off into LaLa Land again. Izumi squeezed on her hand.

“Baby?” she asked. “Are you still with us? Baby? Baby?” The angel didn’t respond. Izumi’s grip loosened as she started to worry.

“Stay focused!” Liz shouted. Izumi tightened her grips on Baby Doll and Yoshiko’s hands.

“So what do we do?” the angel asked. Natalia took in another breath.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “We have to find him and get him back. And don’t ask me how. We just have to try.”

“While we keep up the circle?” Himeko asked.

“Yes!” the leader shouted. “We have to find him and guide him through before it’s too late.” The angels’ grips grew tighter.

The whole time, Baby Doll’s soul slipped to the other side. There was one way that she could go.