"I'm assuming you're here for the magical relic I uncovered some years ago," their host said to Kai, crossing his arms across his broad chest and leaning against the doorway to the living room.

The stocky man had taken them inside and told them to sit in the living room while he stood assessing all of them (he didn't add the last part, but that's what he'd been doing). Chase, Abby, and Kai were seated together on a large brown sofa that was in the middle of the small living room, while Gabriel and Linda were seated in a smaller chair, Linda perched on the arm. Amy was sitting on a kitchen chair the man had pulled into the room. He'd introduced himself as Ezekiel, but told them to call him Zeke.

"We all are," Chase answered for Kai, crossing his arms and gazing sternly up at the man. "But not for the reason you think." He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. 

"What do you think I believe you're here for?" Ezekiel challenged, raising his eyebrow skeptically at Chase. 

"You think we're here to get said relic," Chase said, "and use it to free Darkness itself from the cage that traps it. Am I correct?" he said in the same challenging tone, raising his eyebrow at the man with a small smirk. 

"Why do you need it, then?" Zeke asked instead of answering, but Kai figured that meant Chase had been right. "I don't think I trust you enough to simply hand it off to a group of teenagers." 

"Pardon me," Linda interjected with a slight raise of her hand. "I am not a teenager, thank you very much. And neither is our friend back at our camp, who could come here with a wolf that's loyal to us." 

"Hmph," Zeke scoffed, uncrossing his arms and returning his attention to Chase. "What makes you think I'm going to give it to you all? I have no reason to trust any of you, especially him." He gestured toward Kai.

Kai knew that Zeke had every reason not to trust him, but it was beginning to get annoying how many times he would mention it. "Because we need it to prevent The Dark Lord from rising," Kai said instead of expressing his annoyance. "Chase and Abby's father is Shintaro, the gatekeeper of the Abyss. If you know so much about the key and it's ability, then you should know what the Abyss is." Kai paused, and when Zeke nodded, he continued. "Shintaro isn't with us currently, but he assigned us to get to the relic before someone else could. If the key falls into that someone's hands, the whole world is in grave danger. Darkness will rise and take over everything, and believe me, you don't want to meet Darkness himself. We're here to take the key and stop this all from happening. If you give it to us, you'd be playing a big part in the rescue of everyone that lives on this earth." 

Zeke stared at him thoughtfully, his eyes narrowed. Finally, he spoke. "You're the ones who are going to prevent this?" 

"We're certainly going to try," Gabriel said gruffly. "What good is it if we sit back? It's not like anyone else will." 

"Very true," Zeke said with a sigh. "People today are too lazy to prevent terrible events from taking place. They're too scared to get off their butts and figure out the problem." He trailed his eyes over the group in his living room. "I suppose you're not those kind of people." 

"Not at all," Abby said determinedly. "We're going to end this. No one else is going to suffer in the hands of Darkness." 

"While I admire your determination," Zeke said roughly, "I don't know if you would be able to. Whatever you're getting yourself into... Not all of you will come out of it. I think you should all go home and do your best to stay safe. Whatever - whoever - is coming... I don't think anyone can stop him." 

Kai felt chills run down his spine, but he ignored them with a frown. "You're not going to help us?" he asked in disbelief. "Don't you want to have freedom? Don't you want to live a life without literal Darkness? Think of what would happen if we sat back and did nothing! This whole place would be doomed. The Dark Lord would play with us for eternity." 

Zeke frowned at him again, but thankfully, he seemed to be considering Kai's words. "If I do help you all, you must promise not to speak of me. I've had bad run-ins with plenty of Darks, and I don't want to get on their radar again." 

"If?" Abby pressed innocently. "You have to help us! Do you want your world to fall apart? You could die at the hands of a Dark if you don't help us. You could live the rest of your life in bondage, at the hands of The Dark Lord. I honestly don't know what else, but it won't be peaceful. Don't you want to live your life?" 

Zeke stared at Abby for so long, Kai thought he was going to tackle her this time. He braced himself on the edge of the couch, but the only move Zeke made was closing his eyes and putting his fingers to the bridge of his nose. 

"You're just like my wife," he muttered quietly, but he sighed again and looked up. "Fine. I will give you the key, but as soon as you have it, you have to leave this town and go as far as you can. Don't bring the fight here." 

Abby jumped up with a shout of glee, a happy grin plastered on her face. She rushed forward and hugged Zeke, though she could hardly wrap her arms around his chest. "Thank you so much! We are going to defeat him." 

Zeke blinked in shock and confusion, his arms raised slightly at his sides. He made no move to hug her back, but his expression changed to crestfallen. "Didn't you hate me a moment ago?" 

Linda waved her hand dismissively. "She only hates people for about five minutes, tops." She stood as well, with Gabriel right behind her. 

Abby let go and backed away, still beaming gratefully at Ezekiel. "Thank you," she said again. "We'll figure this out. You'll see." 

"Bah," Zeke spat, waving his hand. "Good luck, then." He turned around and trudged into the hallway behind him, leaving them alone for a moment. 

Abby whirled around in a happy twirl, and Kai jumped up to catch her when she overbalanced. She giggled joyously as she wrapped her arms around him. 

"How can you be so seriously happy all the time?" Chase asked with a shake of his head. He stood up and picked up the backpack, slinging it over his shoulder again. "We're about to head off to the biggest battle ever, and you're giggling like a maniac." 

This only made Abby giggle harder. 

Zeke returned to the living room with the gem in his right hand, holding it gently but almost at arm's length. Kai noticed Chase grimace in pain and frowned to himself, sighing as Abby stood up straight again. 

Kai was about to take it carefully from Ezekiel, but he stopped himself when he remembered the voice that had spoken to him the first time he'd held it. He flinched back and let his hand drop to his side. 

"Linda, why don't you keep it," Kai said hesitantly, looking up at her. 

She shrugged and took the key carefully, and even she flinched just a little. She pocketed it and patted her leg triumphantly. "Now we leave. Thank you, Ezekiel. Your help won't be for nothing." She nodded at him and started toward the door, with the rest of her friends following.

"I told you, girl," Zeke said roughly, "just Zeke." 

Linda scoffed and reached for the door handle, but a triumphant cackle outside of the house made them all freeze. 

The laugh raised in volume, and they all heard the clatter of chains against the gravel outside. 

Kai's heart began to pound in his chest, wrists, and ears. His stomach clenched tightly. He clutched Abby's hand in panic. 

"Come out, my little puppets," a female voice sang. "I believe you have something I need!" 

Kai gasped sharply, and Zeke cursed under his breath. Abby clamped her hand over her mouth, Chase gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, and Linda and Gabriel flinched. 

Dread settled upon all of them.

Moon was here.

~

OH MY WORD I CAN'T FREAKING STOP UPDATING THIS BUT NOW I HAVE TO BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO EAT NOOOOOOO-

BUT MY BABY SHINTARO!!!

I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE YOU COME BACK!!!

NOHGLKSHDGkjhsklgjahksdgjlalkjdghakljsdghkjHKJSGHLKJSHLKS

Well... We'll have to bear it together until the next chapter.

*takes deep breath*

*screeches*

*sadly says my outro*

peace...~~ ToT 

(This would have been out last night, but it was actually Wattpad who was being stupid. Thanks for waiting for this!! Hope you enjoy!! Oh, by the way, Abby was a bad boss in the last chapter XDXD)