"S-Sam," his dozy eyes had gone wide in surprise. "S-Sam, is that y-you?" He repeated, slowly pushing himself up with one arm to face her.

His eyes were fast to examine the woman standing before him and there is no denying that she's, in fact, Samantha. Once again, he felt the same twinging sensation he felt a while ago sailing in his chest. He couln't believe his eyes that he had to walk closer and placed a hand on her pale face.

"It's you," Scott's hands trembled—is it fear? No—it's guilt—that sheen tears started forming in his eyes. The woman didn't say a word; she's looking deeply into his eyes, frowned, and opened her mouth to speak.

"You're not supposed to go upstairs," she whispered, snapping Scott back into his senses from drowing into mixed emotions. "You must stop before reaching this point of no return."

Scott didn't catch what she meant; he moved closer, shaking his head. "I'm bringing you back with me, don't worry. Everything will be fine."

Samantha held his hand placed on her cheek. Although she's not talking, her eyes is saying something a lot more. Her eyes closed, feeling the warmth of Scott's hand, and opened them not long after.
"The dead can no longer be brought back to life," Samantha's voice dropped low. "If someone from the other world walks back with the living once again, it's already the devil itself. You must stop searching for the dead let alone call for their names. If one of them hears you, all of them will come after you."

Scott lost himself in the middle as he's still in jumble from the happenings shaving against his face. Although what Samantha said didn't make sense to him, he was thinking that she wants them to give up on her—something he can't do—not just yet or not at all.

"You have to go before it's too late," Samantha placed Scott's hand down and moved to her right as though she's leading him towards the way out. Scott only stood there, staring at her. He's sure everything's too dark; however, for some reason, he could clearly see Samantha's beautiful face.

"I can't leave you," Scott's voice suddenly broke into silent sobs.

"And I can't let you die," Samantha held his hand tight. "You're my only way left to send everyone a warning to never open a portal towards the world filled with tortured souls."

"I c-can do that. I'll tell everyone to stop, just come with me."

Samantha only looked more poignant. "My soul had already started disappearing. Soon enough, I will cease to exist in both worlds. That's the harrowing path the cursed are bound to take and there's no helping it."

Scott's shoulders dropped. At the moment, he just wanted to wake up from a nightmare; at least what he's hearing from Samantha isn't real and that he could still find a way to get her back.

"Now, please do me a favor and stop yourself from entering your grave upstairs."

Scott blinked and wasn't given the chance to speak when Samantha pulled him towards the living room just across the family hall where he saw Kaiser. He stopped to look at his friend in confusion.

"Am I back?" He said and turned towards Samantha; nevertheless, she's no longer there. His hand was left in the air, yet he still feels her holding him. A grim line drew on his lips.

"Fine," he thought. "If this is the only way for me to pay for my sins, I'll gladly do what you want me to."

Scott shrugged towards Kaiser who's staring at the wall to where he saw the dead body pinned which is no longer there as well.

"Hey, anything?" Scott asked casually, but Kaiser didn't answer. He's about to call him the second time when he remembered what Samantha said.

"Now, please do me a favor and stop yourself from entering your grave upstairs."

His eyes widened and looked at himself who was covered with blood. "Fuck!" He cursed and sprinted towards the stairs when he accidentally ran through Kaiser. He gasped when he literally went through his body.

Truly, he's not back yet and that his physical body should be upstairs—somewhere.

He didn't had the time to check on Kaiser; he continued running and froze in dread when he saw himself on the stairs—and on his shoulders, sat the woman hideous woman back at the basement. All that time, it was the woman who added those weight.

Scott gasped, shaking himself back in reality. His physical body is about to reach upstairs, so without second thoughts, he ran as fast as he could to reach.

The woman suddenly turned towards him with her horrifying appearance, but he didn't falter and grabbed a hold of the back pack he was wearing. His only plan was to stop himself; however, he slipped and fall down the stairs together with his body.

The last thing Scott saw was the woman standing at the last tread to where they at a few seconds ago and then he heard a loud thud followed by complete darkness.

He thought he had already died this time around but then again, he heard Samantha's voice.

"Breathe, Scott. Breathe!"

###

"For the last time," Kaiser growled, scratching his forehead in vexation. "I was the one who saved and woke you up back there!"

Scott realized that he shouldn't really have to argue with Kaiser regarding the matter; the story is too unrealistic to tell anyways and he do not have the intention to convince him at all.

They got none; however, by the looks of it, Kaiser knew something inside Scott had snapped. The emotions he saw in him a while ago proves it all. It may be just confusion, but they're not risking any chances for Scott to take or their plans won't get anywhere.

"Fine," Scott heaved a sigh. "Let's just head over the coffee shop."

"Samantha's?" Kaiser had to ask and Scott nodded. "Why for?"

"I need to talk to her."

A grim line curved on Kaiser's lips, eyeing his friend who's already ready to speed away. He walked beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder—that's when their eyes met.
Kaiser tried looking deep and through Scott's eyes and as usual, he haven't seen anything again.

"What the hell, bro," Scott grimaced, pushing Kaiser with one arm.

"What?" Kaiser laughed. "I'm just checking something."

"Checking what?"

Kaiser went back to his motorcycle and hopped on. "You know I am deeply indebted with your father, right?" He started in a serious tone.

"And no matter what it takes—no matter who it takes, I will help carrying his plans and will take everyone down who will stand against his way," Kaiser turned to Scott and the way he looks at him indicates mutual agreement.

Scott knew it was an indirect warning and he was just relieved that he haven't told him the details of what happened to him in the house.

"It's getting late, we should go now," Kaiser's smile was pale and Scott nodded to agree before the two sped away. As they trail the road towards the coffee shop, Scott can't help, but rethink what he has been doing throughout the years.

Now that the matter had crossed his mind, the organization's goal slowly became a wonder to him. Why are they doing this? Why are they trying to enter the other realm? What's in there to get? All this time, Scott never actually knew what his father's objectives were and how is he following him without even asking.

Despite the confusion eating him alive, he still managed to keep his head straight. His plan is to talk to Kathleen to pass to her Samantha's warning. Even though he's against it, he can't seem to go against her will.

"I'll find another way then," he muttered, casting his eyes on the setting sun. The time read 6:34 PM when they arrived at the coffee shop and Scott's brows rose to see Takumi, Tomoya, and the woman he remembered to be the blogger who calls herself MaTet. They were only standing in front of the coffee shop, seemingly watching someone inside.

Kaiser haven't seen them yet and Scott didn't have the intention to let him know either.

"What now?" Kaiser asked, placing his helmet down.

"I'll just have to talk to Kathleen and then we'll leave right away."

"What's the purpose of it tho?"

Scott had not responded right away to Kaiser's astounding echo of skepticism, instead, he remove his helmet and place his back pack down.

"Wanna come?" He asked and Kaiser shrugged.

"Why not," he tried sounding uninterested, but Scott was so sure he's now looking after his next movements. The gush of emotions he felt a while ago has been plastered on his face and has been shown on his movements and Kaiser has evidently seen all of those. "He's hiding something," he thought and moved down his motorcycle.

Scott had all the intents to ignore Takumi and the rest. They parked a couple of meters away from their position, so they might haven't seen them anyways.

The shop was just across the street and they're about to cross when Tomoya suddenly scampered pass them in a high speed and confusion sent their steps in double to catch up to him.

Scott's brows met when Tomoya only stood there in front of Kathleen and Christian, visibly saying nothing, looked to his right and just froze. Scott and Kaiser were only meters away from the entrance when a guy from the customers stood up and pulled something from his back.

"SHIT!" Scott cursed when the man suddenly lifted his hand and aimed the gun towards Kathleen. Without second thoughts, Scott scuttled his way in, that he could only hear Kaiser calling his name.

The glassed door almost broke when he pushed it with too much force. All eyes has been shifted to him except for the man who intends to shot Kathleen.

All of the sudden, everything seem to have moved in slow motion.

He couldn't move as the voices in his mind are saying completely different things in order to survive his tight position; neverthless, his body followed none of those and didn't fully think enough when he jumped in front of Kathleen—and then a gunshot followed.

"SCOTT!" Kaiser's loud voice echoed louder than the gunshot while Scott fell cold on the floor.

Kathleen wasn't able to move at all—none of them were—except for Kaiser who had already pinned the gun man on the ground.

Kathleen wiped the blood spritzed on her cheek as her wobbling eyes slowly landed towards Scott. "W-What did you do?" Her voice broke.