I don't know what on God's good earth I'm going to say that will butter him up enough to get him to help us, or rather me because that's who he's going to be pissed at.

    Oh and pissed he is as we enter that dank, poorly lit house and stand at the threshold of his room.

    My mind was occupied elsewhere, but I know I need to say something to get him to help us.

    He just glares at me for the first few tense seconds as I stand in the entryway, arms cross against his heaving chest and a face- though concealed in the dark- bearing the aftermath of our past exchange. I notice Fry isn't anywhere in sight today- not that I'm missing him. His voice is still scratchy and hoarse when he coldly addresses me.

    "What the hell are you doing back in my house?"

     Okay, I know I'm here for help and I'm not at the advantage I could be right now, but I can't bother even feigning an apologetic attitude or caring about the bruising on his face and neck. Just listening to his broken, fake accent is like being subjected to the torture of nails being dragged across the world's longest chalkboard.

     "Door was opened." I shrug indifferently.

     "Well, fuck, just come in like you own the place." He glowers. "Where's your boy toy? He run away to fuck somebody else?"

      "Keep your temper in check. We're here to get these two home. Breathe. You don't need a record of assault."

    "That's none of your concern," I bite back. "I'm here for some help."

     He jerked back in his seat like I slapped him. A dubious expression crossed his face as he hoarsely cried out. "Are you insane!? Help you!? Look at my fucking face, that's what happened the last time I helped you. Fool me once shame on me, you aren't screwing me over a second time."

     Sighing, I walk into the room, place my hands on the table, and lean forward, my voice dropping.

    "Look, this isn't about me, this is about them," -I jab my thumb in the direction of where Elle and Sephora stand, looking uncertain- "We don't have to agree on anything. In fact, we probably never will, but this is not about us. Be the hero you always want to be and get these two home."

     Narrowing his eyes at me, we have a silent stare off for a minute before he finally gives, still glaring at me.

    "Fine. But this isn't for your pathetic ass."

     I return his glare with a scathing look of my own. Waving them in, the two of them approach the table with apprehension.

    "Whatcha need?" He asks, leaning back haphazardly in his seat.

    Sephora glances briefly at me before tentatively reaching into her bag for the materials she's brought along.

    "I have some ingredients needed to concoct a potion that will transport me and my friend back to our universe safely, but as I am unfamiliar with this universe and its magical components I'm at a loss of how to complete my brew. I heard you can aid us in finishing this. Is it true?"

    Sitting up, he gives her one of his gag-worthy grins like he's letting her in on a secret; she clearly inflated his ego with her words.

    "Of course, magic in this universe is my specialty," He gives her a knowing smile but it passes over her head.

    At the sound of that, she returns his smile.

    "Thank you. I cannot express my thanks enough."

    "It's nothing really. Just trying to help those who can't help themselves."

    "Please, can somebody shoot me in the eyes so I don't have to witness him act like a moron?"

    While he starts digging through some cardboard boxes under the table, he continues talking to her.

    "You wouldn't happen to be from a universe called- what was it? Edalirwen, would you?"

    "We are." She answers.

    Setting a small wooden box on the table, he gives her another crocodile toothed grin- trying to be charming I supposed.

    "It's nice to see that good things do come from that universe."

    Ah, poor, Sephora. Though Jerry might have the subtle of a hippo in a hot pink tutu, his blatant flirting flies right over her head. Probably the closest and longest he's ever been to wooing someone from the opposite gender.

     "So," He opens the box. "I think this is an easy fix. You're lucky I'm a resourceful man who keeps many potions and things on hand at any given time. By the way, what's your name?"

    "Sephora."

    "Damn, that's a hell of a name, and I mean that in the best way. I'm Maelor but you- and only you- can call me Jerry."

    I can't help my visible eye roll and audible sigh at this point. It earns me a steely look from him, but I return it with a stony one of my own.

    He gets to work dumping some ingredients from his own stockpile into a wooden bowl where he uses a pestle to grind it up finely. Sephora gets together some of her ingredients as well and begins working alongside to mix different liquids and substances together- it has her excited. While they work, with Jerry tossing in some unnecessary flirting that Sephora barely registers (good for her), I stand back and watch. Elle hangs near me, watching with keen interest as well.

    If this worked and the potion could be used, I knew the next steps would be crucial.

    Aelita now has all she needs to complete her ambitions- I was certain destruction could arrive at any minute in the day- but the pieces were just that, broken pieces not put together. How long would it take her to unite the thing?

    Another question sat like a rock in the back of my mind. Would I go with them once this solution was ready to use? How far was my help supposed to go? I really only counted it as whatever assistance they needed here on Earth. Do I really want to go back to Edalirwen without a plan? I think not.

    "And there we have it," Jerry's ear bleeding voice says, interrupting my thoughts. "Just combine the liquid with the powder and it should work like a charm. Basic alchemy really."

    "Thank you," She graciously takes the powder from him. "You've done a great service for us."

    "That's not the only service I can do for you if you stick around long enough."

    "Yeah, enough of this pervy vibe."

    "Yeah, thanks," I say, stepping forward with no gratitude in my voice.

    His stares do nothing to unnerve me; I don't think anyone in the world could after withstanding Xalale's killer ones for so long.

    "We gotta get going." I start guiding Sephora away from the table, half concerned she might catch something from him.

     As Elle and Sephora start to head out before me, I can't resist the immature part of me that wants to twist the knife in like he did for me the last time I was preparing to leave.

    Standing in the entryway, I look back at him with a smug look.

    "It must suck. You can't get anyone to pleasure you, you can't even pleasure yourself with that..." I lift up my fingers for illustration. "Little package of yours. Well, I'll leave you to your 'session'."

    I'm terrible but I feel pretty good if I say so myself. I never even look back, but I can practically feel the temperature in the room launch up thirty degrees.

   
I've never seen Sephora so aglow with excitement before, it's a rare spectacle, but I know why she's eager to leave and get home. Elle is also giddy to get back home as well- to return to Coxen I'm sure.

    But there hangs over my head the thought of all of us going our separate ways. I'd probably never see them again after this- that depresses me a bit. But I refuse to dampen their spirits any more than I already have. I'm going to have to break the news eventually because they're rearing to go.

    Sephora still has to mix a few things to create the final solution so I meander back to my room alone- Elle wanting to stay in the kitchen and assist Sephora in any way she could.

    Though I really want to get on the computer, I, instead, take the time to lay back and relax. While I'm happy/sad to see them leave, I also worry about their safety when they do return. Plus, how were they going to stop Aelita? Could they do it in time?

    "Of course they can. This is Sephora and Elle we're talking about, they got Coxen to help, too."

    Though my fears aren't completely relieved, I'm tired of worrying (I swear I'm going to have gray hairs by the time this summer is over). I have faith in them. To keep my mind off the topic, I decide, in a spur of the moment, to write some goodbye notes for them, thanking them for their friendship. Cheesy, I know, but I don't make friends this easily so just as a way to remember me I'll step outside myself to do this; though they'll probably only be a paragraph long each.

     Reaching blindly into my bedside drawer, I claw around in there until feeling the writing pad. Just before I can pull it out, though, something cold brushes against my fingers- cold and metallic. Frowning, I pull out the object, immediately sighing in exasperation once remembering what it is and why it was in there to begin with.

    Sitting it on top the drawer, I pull out the pad and a pen, getting down to business, addressing the first letter to Sephora.

    Dear Sephora, this might sound a bit cliched or dramatic, but I owe you my life four times over-

   I can't continue, not with a bright glare distracting me from my letter. Giving an equally disdainful glare back at the ring- glittering like a diamond- I angle it slightly so to keep the glare out of my face then resume my letter.

    I've never met somebody quite like you. Your hair is probably the best part about-

    Okay, either I'm being way too ADD today or that ring is purposefully trying to distract me from my task.

    Abandoning the notepad, I pluck the sapphire gem ring off the drawer and glare down at it.

    "What do you want?" I grumble at it.

    "Like it can hear or respond to you, Mal."

    This ring is an annoyance in more than one way. Still, I knew better than to simply chuck it in the trash like it's nothing. The least I can do is store away this heirloom, never having to bother with it again.

    But as I get off of my bed to crouch down underneath for a place to shove it away, I freeze. There I am, squatting in place, staring down at the ring, my conscious nagging at me.

    "Okay, this is wrong."

     I release a sigh then sit back, still transfixed on the glittering jewelry. "This isn't mine to mess with."

    It was his. As much as my skin crawled with disgust at that, it was fact.

    Suddenly, my little voice is starting to become my Jimney Cricket.

    "You know, you could always return it and do the right thing."

    Yeah, I could...

    Or I could just give it over to Elle to return.

    Actually, scratch that. Why on Earth would I task Elle, who's terrified of Xalale, with giving back his ring? Maybe Sephora? She's as equally fearful of him as Elle, just more controlled in revealing it. I could tell them to give it to Coxen to return but he might give it back where the sun doesn't shine (I want to shove it where the sun doesn't shine).

    I'm in a dilemma now.

    "I mean, I could always give it back."

    That was the dumbest thing my brain has come up with in a long time. Personally give him back his ring? I'm either high or delusional or both.

    With irritation, I place the ring back on the table and pick back up my letter but only get three more words in before I scoop up the ring again.

    "Why must I burden myself with being a helpful human being?" I bemoan, truly reevaluating my sanity.

    In that moment, slipping the ring in the pocket of my jeans, I knew I'd have no need of the notepad anymore so I toss it back into the drawer then drag myself off the bed to the door.

    Somewhere inside me, I really, really don't want to do this, but I was raised with morals- unfortunately- so I was taught that you had to return something lent to you.

    Elle and Sephora appear just about ready when I arrive in the kitchen.

    "Mallory," Sephora looks over at me holding up a new vial with the completed solution. "It's finished. We are ready to depart and we wish you would see us out."

    My spirits are a little glum due to what I'm about to say and do.

    "You know, I was thinking. Is it too late to join you?"

    They both give me a double take at that, clearly thrown for a loop by my words.

    Elle gives me a reassuring smile. "Oh, Mallory, you don't have to do that, you've already done so much-"

    "No, I haven't." I sigh for different reasons now. "Both our universes are in jeopardy because of my carelessness. I haven't done anything yet. This is my mess and I won't let you be stuck cleaning it up again."

    They both share a look but give me an understanding face, neither having to say a word.

    So it's sealed, I'm going to "fix my mess" which mainly, in my mind, is compiled of giving Xalale back his ring; the manner in which I'm going to give it back still varies (I'm stuck between shoving it down his throat or shoving it up the other end, haven't really decided that yet).

    Another part of me feels like I'm secretly being dishonest with them in my reasons of going back. But it's insane to think about because I'm not really lying to them. I really do feel this is my fault, this is the mess that I need to clean up and correct, but that's not the primary reason. Is it stupid to have that second on the list under returning a ring?

    Probably.

    But I can't focus on those things right now. The three of us head outside behind the house getting ready to depart. We're a ball of excitement, nerves, and other hidden emotions.

    "I have faith in you," Elle says to Sephora who just uncorked the vial. "But I have to admit, I'm nervous. We don't know whether the ingredients will work the same as they do back at home."

    Sephora's brows furrow slightly in consideration of her words. "I know, but this is our only chance- we must use it."

    As she gathers her nerves to pour the solution on the ground, I take a moment to glance back at my home. Who knows when I'm going to be returning again? I don't even know for certain if I will. There's an even slimmer chance of return this time than the last.

    Taking a brief inhale-exhale, I put on a determined face and look between the two of them.

    "Ready?"

    They both return my adamant demeanor with one of their own.

    "Ready." Elle smiles.

    Sephora is already beginning to pour the contents out on the ground. "Ready."

    The solution starts out as a liquid from the bottle but acts like liquid nitrogen turning into mist once it hits the surface of the ground. The mist begins to envelop us-

    "Hey!"

    My attention is immediately torn away from the process when I hear a familiar voice call out from nearby.

    "Oh God, you gotta be kidding me, right?" If the voice belonged to who I thought it did we were in trouble.

    "What's going on here? Mallory?"

    Turning around to face the voice, I could just die. Why in this moment right now? Why not a second later?

    "Clifford, what are you doing here?"

    He's running over to us, a goofy grin on his face that looks even goofier with his eyes so wide in awe.

    "That's so cool! How are you guys doing that?"

    "Clifford, stay back!" I bark.

    He doesn't heed my strong toned command and steps closer. By now, Elle and Sephora have taken notice but they don't know that Clifford might screw this up for us. Sephora has finished pouring the last of the solution on the ground and the mist begins to thicken where it's not as transparent.

    Still, Clifford with his child-like mind and curiosity continues to approach despite my harsh warnings.

   "What's happening? Is this some cool magic trick?"

    I couldn't see him anymore and his voice was beginning to become muffled. In fear of him get pulled in, I try to reach out blindly and push him away but I don't know where he is.

    We're quickly beginning to transfer worlds.

    "Hey, where are you guys going?" He cries, slightly alarmed.

    "Clifford, keep back!"

    "Wait- me behi-"

    The mist becomes a dense fog that blinds me from seeing even Elle or Sephora. I could hear Elle calling out to Clifford, probably warning him to stay back as well. Just as Sephora fades from view, I see her mouth moving as if she's saying something to us but I can't make out her word. I can't hear or see anything or anyone now.

    Squeezing my eyes shut as white noise roars deafeningly in my ears, I pray this leads us somewhere safe.