Kirika shut her eyes tightly, curling up even tighter, her hands over her ears, trying to block out that awful, painful sound. She couldn't move. She was trapped. Then suddenly it was gone. The crying was gone, replaced by an empty silence. A silence that Kirika found reassuring.

Looking up, Kirika realised there was no-one in sight. It could just be because of the fog, or maybe...The thought of it chilled Kirika to the bone. Scrambling to her feet, she looked around desperately.

"Oriko!" She yelled, there was no reply, "Oriko!" Silence was the only thing that greeted her, a silence which she had once found reassuring. She ran through the fog, searching, hoping, just for a glimpse for those pale skirts, and the familiar figure of the girl who was the only one she could trust.

"Oriko!" She yelled again, feeling even more scared and lost. She ran again, stopping abruptly, seeing a figure through the fog.

"Oriko!" She gasped, running towards the figure. As soon as she reached the person, she knew she had made a mistake. It wasn't Oriko, it was-

"Madoka?" Kirika glanced at Madoka strangely. Madoka didn't look okay. Her eyes were glazed over, and she stood there limply, as though something held her up.

"Madoka!" Kirika shook Madoka. Hard. It seemed to catch Madoka's attention.

"Kirika," Madoka's voice was empty, and faraway, "We have to help her, she's crying." As she said this, she grabbed Kirika's arm, and began leading her into the fog, her grip tight, and her face empty.

"Help who?" She asked, "Is Oriko in danger?" As soon as she said it, her stomach tightened in fear. Madoka shook her head emptily.
"The crying," Madoka repeated, "She's crying, it's so sad, I have to help her, we have to help her." Kirika had no idea what Madoka was talking about, but it really creeped her out. She stopped, pulling Madoka back.
"Madoka, we're not going anywhere, until you tell me what it is." Kirika glared at Madoka. Madoka stopped, looking at Kirika.
"The crying," Madoka repeated simply, hollowly, "We have to help." As she turned to leave again, Kirika saw something on her neck. A witch's kiss.
"Madoka, don't!" Kirika snapped, "You are going to get out of this place and stay out!" She grabbed Madoka by the arm and began dragging her back the way they came.

Something in the fog made her stop dead. The same brown door stood in the distance, only-

Now the door gleamed. It gleamed with magic. Magic that Kirika could see with her eye that was not there before. Without hesitation, she ran to the door, releasing Madoka, yanking it open, and charging through without a second thought. She stopped the minute she got through the door, her head spinning with shock.

Oriko lay in the room, but she didn't just lie on the ground. She hovered a metre above the floor, her body limp, and her hair and limbs dangling. That wasn't the scariest part though. Fog breathed out of her mouth and nose, falling in a silent waterfall from her body, building up below her, encasing her in a dull, constantly writhing tomb.

Kirika walked slowly towards Oriko's still form. She was only vaguely aware of Madoka at the door, murmuring about the crying.
Tentatively, Kirika reached out to the fog encasing Oriko. As soon as she touched the ghostly grey substance, it began slithering and swirling up her hand and claws. In shock, Kirika jumped back, yanking her hand away, shaking off the fog repulsively. So she couldn't touch it.
Frowning, she sent out her magic, weaving through the air around the fog. As her magic touched the fog, it fizzed slightly, like acid against acid. Slowly though, her magic began to eat away the fog, parting it, until it dissipated into the air.

As the last of the fog drifted away, Kirika cautiously reached out to touch Oriko's pale cheek. She screwed her eyes shut, imagining Oriko waking up, hoping that, if she thought hard enough, Oriko will wake up.
"Kirika?" Oriko's tired voice was the first thing Kirika heard.

Yes, yes, I know, peeps. You were expecting a continue on from that cliffhanger in the last chapter, and I was going to give you that, but then I realised it was probably best to let you know what happened to Oriko. Sorry for all you out there who wanted to know what happened to Homura (erhem, _Amaya_Akemi_ :)) And everyone, do not forget the vote button. You know, that little button with a star that let's you vote? Press it, if you like my story. You din't have to if you hate my story, but if you like it, you must press it XD Or I'll be stuck thinking no-one likes my story...
Goodbye for now!
~M_illy