Echo floated in darkness. He could feel his heart beating sluggishly. It skipped slightly. His breath caught.

"Echo Reich..." a smooth, calm voice whispered.

Echo didn't reply. He didn't move. He felt tired and heavy.

"I'm here to make a deal with you," the whisper purred. "My name is Paradai..."

In his groggy state of mind, Echo barely understood. "Paradise?"

The whisper laughed. "Close enough... I am here to help you live. You're dying."

Echo whimpered and shifted. He was starting to feel dizzy as well. "What... what's the catch?"

"You let me control you sometimes. Not always... but sometimes. In exchange, you live and gain my skills."

Echo squeezed his eyes shut. A shudder ran through him. "Ah... alright."

The darkness vanished as Echo opened his eyes. He looked up into someone's face. Panic suddenly overtook his mind as he realized he wasn't in control. His head turned slowly without him wanting it to.

Wax's face was blurry. He was saying something, but the sound was muffled. He couldn't be understood.

"Wax..." whatever had spoken to Echo made him speak the name.

Several years later

The door closed behind Echo with a thump. He collapsed like a puppet with cut strings as Paradai let go of his control.

Echo lay on the floor for a minute before he realized he could move himself. He got up and punched the wall. "WHY CAN'T YOU LET ME BE FREE?"

"You agreed to this..." Paradai hummed in Echo's mind. "I could pull away from you at any time, Shale."

"I'm NOT Shale," Echo snapped. "I am Echo. I am-" his voice cut off as Paradai took control. Strained silence filled the room as the two battled.

"E-Echo."

Paradai withdrew again with an angry sound.

"One day... one day I'll be free of you," Echo closed his eyes and took a shaky breath. A tear fell from his lashes as he thought back on the day. He had genuinely loved Ashelle, but Paradai had forced him to dump her.

Echo dropped into a chair and buried his face in his hands. "Leave me alone... please..."

"No."

Echo felt his heart shatter. His shoulders shook. "You made me push Wax away, you've made me dump countless girls, I've done... I've done so many things because of YOU!"

There was silence. Echo hunched over. "Kill me. Please. I don't care anymore."

Paradai hissed. "No."

Echo pressed his hands over his ears. He knew it wouldn't help at all, but he felt better doing it. He was alone, trapped, and helpless.

There would be no saving.

For the first time in his life, Echo prayed.