The song for Wag's chapter of Amniosis is "Home" by NateWantsToBattle.

Today's Warning Forecast: 100% chance of mind games, mixed anxiety and feelz, and a 50% chance of happy reunions

*Waglington's POV*

Ever since getting a good look at this place from the blood pool at its base, I had been getting major déjà vu. I had seen this place in two of the visions I'd had when I almost died, and I still vaguely remembered the layout. From what I saw, it had changed, and I wondered at that. The outside wasn't glass like it should have been. So the others couldn't see what they were up against. I didn't think to enlighten them until we were already separated, and then my communicator wasn't working.

Perhaps part of my absentmindedness was due to having my connection to Memento so suddenly broken. I hadn't even felt it break at the time, but I was painfully aware of it now. This place was also suppressing my magic in a way that felt suffocating. The others didn't seem to feel it at all. Even if having our bond broken didn't prevent Memento from accessing my magic, I doubted he would be able to use any spells to defend himself at present.

Another part was my steadily growing anxiety. Donella was very good at what she did, and she hadn't been able to split us up without killing one of us. How did this place accomplish it, and what power did it have to do so? Were we really out of danger, or if we stayed apart too long, would we still meet that fate? Or would it just be one of us? It didn't bear thinking about.

Whatever the case, I decided to tell my friends what I knew as I walked into the lever puzzle room. Explaining how I knew was going to be the tricky part. When I called for my friends, I discovered that they had gotten here first. I could hear Tucker and Sonja through the walls on either side of me. Great, we're still separated. I completely forgot about telling the others about the maze as I flipped a lever, causing a chicken to spawn in the glass tube against one wall. "Kevin?"

As I stared at my deceased pet now clucking and walking around, I heard Sonja scream, "Boris, no!" On the other side of me, Tucker was yelling about Sonja being trapped.

Sonja had her favorite pet, and Tucker had his girlfriend. I snickered as I realized that Boris ranked higher than Tucker in Sonja's opinion. Wait, what does that say about me? I have Memento now, and I would still do anything for Martha or my brothers. I thought back to what I had given up to save Matt's life. Surely I love them more than Kevin? I was nonplused as I stared at my former pet.

After reassuring Tucker that Sonja was in fact safe—he had been sounding on the verge of a breakdown—I focused on solving the puzzle. There was a distinct fried chicken smell to the room by the time I ran through the door that had opened. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat chicken again. The wooden tunnel I ran along went through a small maze and quickly turned into a winding tower of parkour. I grinned looking up at it. I've got this.

A few minutes later, I'd reached the top, out of breath but elated that I hadn't missed a single jump. This crypt isn't so bad, I thought as I stretched. Looking around, I found myself in what looked to be a dungeon or prison. The cell doors were all open, and I could see statues of each of my friends in the stone brick and iron barred cells. A ladder came out of a hole in the floor of each cell. My ladder came through a hole in the floor under the staircase that led up to the exit. I didn't have a cell or statue. My smile faltered as I thought about entering the crypt. I hadn't had an assigned path then either. Whatever power ran the crypt had to add a way in for me as an afterthought. Perhaps this place had been meant for only the "sky people". Then why had it let me through the arch in the first place?

Do you fit in?

I froze, and the hair on my arms and nape stood on end. If I were Memento, my back probably would have arched too. What?

Are you a part? Do they accept you?

I was caught off guard by the questions and seriously thought about them before I wondered at their source. "Of course they do." I fit in fine... Right? I was a wizard, and they were mortals. Yeah, we were an odd bunch, but I was one of them, wasn't I? I remembered them hunting tirelessly for me when I was in trouble and regained some of my confidence. They're my friends. They risked their lives to save me, and I would do the same for them any day of the week.

I heard a deep chuckle in my mind, and I shuddered involuntarily in fear. You couldn't even keep a chicken safe. Some wizard...

I couldn't really say anything to that, and doubt started to sink in.

The voice took my silence as an opportunity for another jab. "Best builder in the land", and you have the worst house.

This voice dared question my building skills? Now I was incensed. "Yeah, in this world where I don't have my powers. Put me back in Mianite, and I'd build circles around you and anyone else." Truthfully, I had been a bit lazy. I had the ability to fly now and plenty of supplies, but the only things I'd helped build were the dam with Tucker and a few game setups with Tom. I hadn't done any solo projects at all. Okay, maybe I accept that one, I admitted as my temper cooled.

While waiting for my invisible accuser to say something else, I climbed the stairs to test the door. It was made of solid iron and locked tight. I bet something would happen once the others arrived. They were still missing. I should probably help my friends, I thought, walking into Jordan's cell and looking down his tunnel.

Do you have a friend? Do you really?

I winced as images flew through my mind of Jordan only coming by to visit me when he needed to test a spell or had a question, Tom trying to coerce me into making him spells, and Sonja and Tucker largely ignoring me even though I was Sonja's neighbor. Jordan and Tom were bright; they would have figured out how to make those spells on their own eventually. They only came to me because it was convenient. I was superfluous. Then I remembered Martha; I had been there for her when no one else was. Through my headache, I mentally replied, Martha cares about me.

Martha loves Steve, and you know it. The voice said matter-of-factly. You were her rebound. Memories of Steve and Martha happy together and of Martha sad when Steve left her for one of his trips came to mind. My heart started to ache worse than my head.

I know I'm her second choice, but come on. Speaking of sad... I looked down Jordan's tunnel again and remembered how horrid he'd looked in my vision. Worry surfaced amid my misery, and I wondered if maybe this voice was trying to distract me from aiding the others. With that thought, my doubt turned to anger. You know what, f*ck you. I've got more important things to do than listen to this. I tried harnessing enough of my restrained power to build a mental wall to keep the voice out. I managed, though it made my headache worse. Then I called down the tunnel, "Jordan, you can make it! The maze doesn't go much farther. Just a bit of parkour, and you'll be at the end, I promise!"

"What good is the word of a wizard?" The voice asked, amused. I started to ready a rather snarky mental reply when I realized that I had actually heard it that time, and it sounded familiar. I gulped and turned around to see a figure in the shadows under the staircase. The figure wore grey and black robes that blended into the darkness where he leaned against the wall. Then I looked where his eyes should have been, and I froze. I literally couldn't move, and I could barely breathe. Even my thinking grew sluggish. No...

The figure laughed menacingly and repeated his question. This time I was forced to relive the painful memories of my failing Latreia and my hurting Martha. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I frantically struggled to break free. Visibly, I didn't move an inch. Unlike our previous encounter, the robed man did not release me from his hold as he walked over to me. His footfalls echoed ominously off the stone brick. The room's torchlight seemed to shrink at his approach rather than illuminate him; the phenomenon reminded me of a black hole sucking in all the light it touched. He stopped less than a foot in front of me and tilted his head, scrutinizing me from the abyss of his hood. It felt like he could see into my soul. I felt immeasurably small and powerless pinned under his gaze.

After staring at me for what felt like ages, he said in a tone my oxygen deprived mind couldn't make sense of, "I didn't think I'd see you here." I could have sworn I saw dark lips curl into a smile, and he reached for a familiar sword on his belt. He stopped with his hand on the hilt as if listening. After a few moments he let out an irritated sigh and released his sword and me. I collapsed on the ground and tried to catch my breath and blink spots and tears from my eyes.

The figure crouched in front of me and lifted my chin with an ice cold hand that I only now noticed was as dark a grey as my own. He forced me to look at him as grey encroached on the edges of my vision. "Another time, wizard..." He dropped my chin and walked back into the shadows of the stairway, disappearing as if he had been a shadow himself.

I lay on the warm stone where I had fallen, heart pounding and breaths coming in ragged gasps until I heard grunts and scrambling from one of the tunnels. A shouted curse let me know that Tom was on his way. I pushed myself shakily to my hands and knees. I was so tired now, and my magic wasn't replenishing my energy. He must have drained my magic before he left, I thought belatedly. My mind was a bit slower than my body to recover from whatever spell he'd held me in. I shifted myself into a sitting position against the bars of Jordan's cell and rested for a moment, thankful the heat had evaporated the tears from my face. When I heard Tom climbing his ladder, I forced myself to my feet.

Tom finished the climb and stood looking around the prison for a moment before he noticed me amid the statues. "Wag! How'd you get here before me?! Did you use your magic to cheat?" He accused as he walked over to me where I leaned in the doorway of Jordan's cell.

My wit had fully returned by now. I buried my heartache for later and chuckled as I replied, "No, I'm just better at parkour than you. Better than the others too by the look of it. At least you've beaten the other mortals. It's not really fair to compare yourself to a wizard now is it?"

Tom looked around again. Then he grinned and punched my shoulder as he said, "Aye, you cheeky wizard. So what did I miss? Whoa, are you okay?" I'd nearly fallen over when he playfully punched me.

I waved him off when he reached for my arm. "I'm fine, just tired. This place is really draining my magic," I told him a half truth.

Tom squinted at me. "Alright..." He said suspiciously. "You should sit down until the others get here. You look pretty pale."

I nodded and moved with as much dignity as I could fake to sit on the stairs. Tom followed just in case I fell. I thought he might say something else when we heard Jordan shout from his tunnel. Tom went to go check on him and left me to rest. I'd nearly fallen asleep when Jordan shook me. "Wag! Whatever you do, don't sleep here!" He shouted. His eyes were full of panic until he saw I was awake. "Phew, good. I got to you in time. Brrr. Man, you're cold," he said, taking his hands off me to rub them together.

"What gives, Jordan? The wizard's exhausted. Let him rest," Tom said while I yawned. He did reach over and put a hand against my forehead though. Apparently I was cold, because his eyes bugged out when he did. He dug a blanket out of his pack and wrapped it around my shoulders while Jordan talked.

"Call it a very strong hunch. This place messes with your mind," He said with a haunted look in his eyes. He was covered in a lot more blood than Tom or I, I noticed. I wondered what had happened to him. "Did you all have any waking nightmares on your way here?" He asked, looking between us as he rummaged in his bag of holding for something.

Tom's face went almost as white as a sheet. I take it that's a yes. I wonder what troubled him? Watching him, I noticed for the first time that his scabbard was empty, his armor was damaged, and he was covered in soot. He smelled a bit like smoke too.

"Maybe... How about you, Wag?" He quickly shifted the focus to me.

I was more awake now and answered, "My doubts were attacking me. It was terrifyingly depressing. My magic is totally drained too. And you, Jordan?"

"...Ianite" We dropped the topic after that.

Jordan dug out a healing potion he had in his bag and handed it to me to help with my fatigue and near hypothermia. Maybe that was from my magic loss? Even though Jordan's voice sounded rough, and his cough was worse than earlier, he insisted one of us take it. I only drank half, just in case we got into worse trouble later. It turned out that was a good idea, since Tom's arm had gotten burned. He gladly took the rest of the potion after it was clear I didn't plan on finishing. The potion did warm me up and give me the energy to wonder what was taking Tucker and Sonja so long. I pushed myself to my feet while Jordan and Tom were busy talking, and I walked over to Sonja's tunnel with Tom's blanket still around my shoulders. I couldn't see any sign of her from where I stood. After what Jordan had said about this place, I was worried. "Sonja!" I called. "If you can hear me, you're almost out. Just a little further to go. You can do it!"

Tom and Jordan walked over to Tucker's tunnel and did the same. Eventually, we heard both of our missing friends' voices coming from Tucker's tunnel. How? I shook the question away. At least they're safe.

Tom helped Tucker out of the hole and moved him out of the way for Jordan to help Sonja. Sonja looked almost as bad as Jordan in the blood department. When Tom caught sight of her, he screamed.

Sonja's smile at seeing us vanished. She froze for a moment before mischief twinkled in her eye. She turned and snarled at Tom. He responded by pulling Tucker in front of him as a meat shield. "Tucker, save me! Your girlfriend's lost it."

Sonja laughed at that and trapped both of them in a hug. "Sparklez! Wag! Help! This mushy stuff is going to kill me!" Tom begged as he tried to wriggle free of Sonja and Tucker's grip. Tucker gave Sonja a quick peck on the cheek, and Tom gagged loudly. Jordan and I laughed and kept our distance, lest we be doomed to the uncomfortable group hug as well.

*collapses into chair with satisfaction at having written so much in one week* ^.^ I've missed writing binges and talking to y'all. Sadly, my summer class is up and running. Last week was the first week. So I could afford to slack. Now I have to actually do my classwork. Ugh.. I will try to keep the writing mojo flowing, but I offer no guarantees that I'll get more than a chapter out ~once a week.

Wow. I've almost been working on this for a whole year now. I started writing this on the week no one was streaming because of E3 and server work (somewhere between June 14th and 22nd). I'd love to finish it before then, but I'll settle for close. I'm glad that y'all have enjoyed the ride, but we're not quite through yet.

Stop, Karen. You're making yourself tear up. T-^

Anyways, Have a great week, lovelies! Good luck on finals if you haven't had them yet, and congrats to those that are already finished.