Roars vibrated back through the fog, interrupting Oriko and Kirika's argument. Both of them looked up, searching for the source of the sound. Kirika immediately spotted Kyubey, talking to Madoka.

"Hey!" She cried, walking slowly over to Kyubey, "What are you doing?" Kyubey looked up from where he was trying to convince Madoka.

"Is something wrong?" He inquired, an ear twitching. Kirika snarled at Kyubey.

"Of course, don't think you can go and kill us off then try to contract with Madoka, thinking it's alright." Kirika gave an angry slash at Kyubey, but his lithe form leapt to the side quickly.

"Madoka, you have to contract!" Kyubey said urgently, "You know that's what's best for you and Homura." Madoka looked uncertain, glancing from the angry Kirika to the innocent-looking Kyubey.

"Don't contract, Madoka," Kirika virtually yowled at her, "You don't know how awful things will be if you contract!"

"She's right," Oriko's voice followed Kirika's, as she stepped beside Kirka, "You don't know what will happen if you make a contract."

"And I suppose you do." Kyubey challenged Oriko, stepping towards her, his pale head tilted to the side in question.

"As a matter of fact I do," Oriko replied calmly, "When you granted my wish, incubator, you gave me the foresight to read the future. Now I know what to do. Now I know what my life is about." Kyubey turned to Madoka.

"Madoka, you shouldn't trust her," He told her, "You know that a simple contract is all that you need, and you can save Homura."

"I-I..." Madoka looked around desperately, unsure of what to do. Homura gave a small moan, as her soul gem grew even darker, the purple rays slowly fading.

"I'll make a contract," She cried, "Incubator, I wish for-"

BANG! The bullet shot clean through Kyubey's head, just as he was about to reach into Madoka's soul.

Madoka looked up in shock, and saw Homura, still lying down, a gun in her hand, its bullet having just been fired at Kyubey.

"D-don't be a fool." Homura's weak voice whispered, as she closed her eyes once again, the gun falling from her hands. Her soul gem trembled, on the verge of corruption.

"No!" Madoka fell to her knees next to Homura. She needed a grief seed.

"Do you have any grief seeds?" She called to Oriko and Kirika timidly. Oriko and Kirika slowly shook their heads. Madoka stared at Homura, tears threatening to fill her eyes. There was no grief seed. What could she do now? Th- Walpurgisnacht's grief seed! Where was it though? Homura had it, she remembered Homura fighting Kyoko for it, and- well, she got it in the end.

"Homura," She cried, shaking Homura's shoulders as gently as she could, "Your grief seed! Use it!" Homura's dull purple eyes slowly opened, as she stared at Madoka incomprehensively. Understanding flooded into her eyes, as she remembered. Slowly, she pulled it out of her pocket. Madoka thought she was going to cleanse her soul gem, but all she did was stare at it, before cracking a small smile. She lay back down, dropping the grief seed, her eyes closed.

"No, I don't want to. It doesn't matter. I've done so many bad things. I've killed Mami. I can't even keep my promise-"

CRASH! BANG! A hideous screech filled the air, as the labyrinth shook.

"What's going on?!" Kirika shouted, staring around her in bewilderment.

"Where's Ophelia?" Oriko immediately asked, "I have a feeling t has something to do with her." The crash shook the air again, and Madoka looked up, from where she crouched.

"What's going on?" Madoka asked, looking at Oriko and Kirika.

"We have to find Ophelia." Oriko said, staring at her soul gem hesitantly. Kirika glanced at hers, but dismissed it immediately.

"Don't worry, Oriko," She reassured, "You don't have to fight, I'll fight." Oriko shook her head.

"We're in this together, Kirika," She said stubbornly, "Come on." Striding her way through the fog, Oriko let her senses take her to Ophelia.

Yay! 1K reads, I'm so happy, so happy, I'm very very happy! Celebrating at the computer chair right now XD I know you all hate me for all those cliffhangers. I don't blame you. If I were you, I would be too XD Next chapter's going to be up, and it may pose more questions than answers *makes mysterious motions with hands* But most of it should be revealed in the sequel C:. So keep reading, and keep an eye out for the next book. This isn't the last chapter either XD

~M_illy