Chapter Twenty-Three: Talking to Self:

Anna still walked in the darkness. Her eyes shifted back and forth.

“Hey, are you still here?” she whispered.

“Yeah,” the Mother said back.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m managing. You?”

“Annoyed, but fine.”

“Any plans to end this?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Can you work faster?”

“Got any ideas? I’m open for anything right about now.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Heh.”

“Look, I’m trying. Not my fault this Muraki guy is hard to track.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s hard to say. He’s not staying still. He keeps moving his energy.”

“Moving his energy?”

“That of hiding it well.”

“Hm. That is a problem.” Anna felt a buzzing in her pocket that made her jump.

“Gah!” she shouted. The woman looked down at her pocket.

“Oh,” Anna said. She pulled out her phone. The Mother squinted as she told a look around.

“One missed call,” Anna said.

“Anna,” the Mother said. “Look up.”

“Hm?” Anna asked, lifting her head. Black wavy lines floated through the air.

“What is this?” she asked. White noise filled her ears. The Mother took a closer look.

“Do you notice something about this air?” she asked. Anna’s head moved back and forth as she looked around.

“What am I looking at?” she asked. Anna reached out to touch the air. To her shock, she touched glass. The cold made her shiver.

“See it now?” the Mother asked. A crack formed along where Anna touched. She breathed on the glass and the crack deepened.

“So that’s how,” she said. The Mother nodded once.

“You thinking what I am thinking?” she asked.

“I might,” Anna said. “Want to get out of here?”

“Hell yes!” the Mother said.

“Got any ideas how?”

“I have a few.”

Anna smirked. “Do tell.”

“I’ll do you one better. Let me show you.”

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-Midnight-

Tsuzuki sat alone in his room. He knew that he couldn’t call her. The shinigami held his phone in his hand. Earlier, Anna sent him a text.

“I’ll be home late. Might be morning. Don’t wait up for me. Love you,” she wrote. Tsuzuki sighed.

Anna-chan…

Kirika-chan started to cry. Tsuzuki looked up.

“Coming, sweetie,” he said. The shinigami got up and walked out of the room.

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Meanwhile, Anna smirked to herself. Her face was cut up and covered in blood. She staggered back panting. But, she couldn’t rest.

“That’s done.” Anna said. She put up her arm in the air. With one whispered the Mother and tsukai vanished into thin air.