Chapter Twenty-Four: Into the Swirling Abyss:

Ann opened her eyes when she heard the wind hurling around her ears. She lifted her head and found empty darkness around her. What is it now?

“Oh, good,” a small voice said. “You’re awake.” Ann jerked her head forward. A little girl about eight stood inches away from her. The Goth woman narrowed her eyes at her.

“It’s you,” she said. “But where are your rabbit ears?”

“Don’t get up,” the girl told her. “Don’t look down.”

“What do you mean?” Ann asked. The little girl leaned into her ear.

“We are above the abyss,” she whispered. Ann’s eyes widened in shock.

“Wait, what?!” she asked.

“Shhh,” the Bunny Girl whispered. “Not so loud.”

“But why am I here?” the Goth woman asked.

“I came to collect you,” the girl explained.

“Collect me?” Ann asked. “Why?”

“There’s no time,” the child whispered. “Come on!” She grabbed the Goth woman by the hand and dragged her off with her. Ann glanced around her in the emptiness. She opened her mouth to speak.

“Don’t ask questions,” the child hissed. “Keep up!” Ann drew her mouth closed as she looked down at her feet.

“Thank you,” the child said in a stern tone. She put out her other hand and chanted a spell under her breath. A tall doorway opened up before them. “This way,” she whispered. The child led Ann through.

They reappeared in a coffee shop. The child looked through the crowd. She spotted a skinny pale arm flagging them down.

“There,” she said. The Bunny girl dragged Ann along with her. “Stay by me.” A minute later, they made it over to the table. The man in white smiled at her.

“Good, you made it,” he said. “Come join us for cheesecake.” Ann made a face at him. This is a joke, right?

“No, no,” Lucifer said. “Not a joke. Come, eat with us.” The Goth woman looked around to see her little companion gone.

“Come on,” Kami-sama pushed. “Take a seat.” Ann frowned as she dropped her shoulders. Like I have a choice, she thought. Both men smiled as she pulled out a chair.

“There you go,” Kami-sama said. Ann rolled her eyes at him.

“What do you want now?” she asked. Lucifer cut her a slice of cheesecake.

“Here, have some,” he said. The Goth woman shook her head.

“Not hungry,” she said.

“Pity,” he said. Ann frowned as he picked up his fork.

“Okay,” she spoke up. “I’m not here for cheesecake and chatting, right?”

“No,” both men replied as they dug in. The Goth woman frowned at her “captors.” Figures, she thought. She leaned in closer to the men.

“So, what do you want with me?” she asked again. The man in white set down his fork.

“Ah, yes,” he spoke. “Did you bring it?”

“Bring what?” Ann asked.

“The box,” he said. “Did you bring the box?”

“Oh,” Ann said. “Sure, here.” She reached into her bag and pulled out her black box. The man in white grinned at her.

“Excellent,” he said. Kami-sama took the box and stashed it in his jacket. Lucifer snorted at him.

“That was my box, you know?” he asked.

“No, it’s mine,” the man in white said. “You stole it from me.”

“Do you have any proof?” Lucifer challenged.

“Anything else?” Ann asked. Both men looked up at her.

“Oh yes,” Lucifer said. “Can you swim?” Ann raised an eyebrow at her.

“Why?” she asked. Both men grinned at her like naughty little school children. Lucifer reached under the table and pushed a small gold button. Before she could even part her lips, the black swirling abyss that had been below her feet this whole time opened its hungry jaws and sucked Ann inside its belly. Lucifer and Kami-sama looked down at the results.

“Bye-bye,” they said. The man in black stuck up his hand in the arm.

“Waitress!” he called. “More green tea cheesecake, please!”