"2.4 million," Cato said. "At least a third of Bastillio's population will die. In a single night."

  "And I thought a repeat of the Dark Year was the worst of our problems," Major Coleman sighed.

  The Dark Year—the year Bastillians collectively lost their minds and blamed the haunteds and the Shade for every problem that ever happened, to the point of killing them.

  "But that's just your guess right?" I argued. "You cannot prove that. And my being alive already contradicts your guess."

  "Yeah, Vergil lost his light," Cana said. He looked at me. "Didn't you? When you opened the seal?"

  I nodded. "I think so."

  He turned to the Reina again. "So why is he still alive?"

  "The way Vergil told me about his meeting with Azgarmoth," Reina said, studying me. "It seemed like he willingly gave his light. He made a deal."

  My friends came to my rescue, saying immediately that I had no choice and that I did what I did to save them. But Reina explained that she was not judging but simply offering an answer to our questions.

  "Maybe," she continued. She placed her balled hand on her lips in thought. "Just maybe. This ritual will forcibly extract the light from every person caught in it. And that forceful extraction is what will kills them."

  "If that was the case," Major Coleman said. "If all people have the light."

  "Bastillians," Reina corrected. "Not all people all over the world. Otherwise, the Shade would be spotted elsewhere too."

  "Wait," I thought that it was bound to us? That's why it only appeared where we are, right? And not just someplace else?"

  "That was our theory anyway," Major Coleman said. "Of course, as we are not cultists, we can only make guesses."

  "It is bound to you haunteds," Reina said. "But if you are asking me why haunteds are only found in Bastillio? Then I don't know. Even my grandfather doesn’t know.”

  "Okay," Leo said. "So Azgarmoth can make people do his bidding in exchange for something. Why does he need to enter the door, then? Seems like he can do plenty from behind it."

  "Azgarmoth is powerful, yes. But even with all his powers, he cannot do as he pleases in this dimension," Reina said. "Unless of course, someone gave him permission to do just that."

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Or let him in by opening the door," Dr. Yap added.

  "The reason why Azgarmoth only goes after the haunteds," Reina continued. "Is because it was the only thing he was permitted to do so by our founder, Daniel Cruz. The ritual binds Azgarmoth to the specific rules agreed upon by both parties during the ceremony. At least, according to our founder's writings, anyway."

  "But then Luca figured out that haunteds won't be necessary anymore," Major Coleman said.

  "Most probably," Reina said. "It was Azgarmoth who taught him that. Through dreams, through visions during the day. Just like how Daniel "came up"—she said, putting those words in air quotations— with the Shade ritual."

  "He didn't figure it out?" Scarlet asked.

  "He figured out the existence of Azgarmoth. Then he started dreaming about Azgarmoth, teaching him ways to make contact," Dr. Yap said. "How else can a human being alone come up with all the intricacies of a ritual designed to summon a being older than the universe?"

  "And with each passing night, the more Azgarmoth leaks his power to Luca and his ilk, the more the connection between them grows stronger," Reina continued.

  "What happens when a direct link is established?" Major Coleman asked.

  “The more attuned Luca becomes with his Master,” Reina said. “The more powerful Luca becomes, and those he shares his gifts with. Soon, those who swear their loyalty to him—the Lucarians—will soon be able to call on the full power of the Void.”

  “His Dzungaria attacked your base and there was nothing you could do against them,” Dr. Yap said. “And that was only twelve of them. Imagine an army of Shades.”

  “And that’s not the worst part,” Reina said. “As Luca’s power grows, so does Azgarmoth’s influence over him. Eventually, Luca will no longer be Luca.”

  “Okay,” Leo said, “What does that mean exactly?”

  “Through Luca’s body,” Reina continued. “Azgarmoth will be able to walk this earth."

  "Whoa, wait," Daruis said. "Are you talking about possession?"

  "According to our church beliefs," Reina said. "This "oneness" is more akin to 2 will occupying the same body at the same time."

  "Just like with Daniel," Cana said to me. "Remember?"

  "It was like seating at the back of the car while the Shade, in this case, Azgarmoth drives in front," I said. "Something to that effect."

  "They were bypassing the door," Cato concluded. "Only this time, Azgarmoth would be in full control."

  "Then Azgarmoth will finish what our founder started,” Reina concluded. "Open the door from this side, letting himself in.”

  "Once Azgarmoth's in," Scarlet said. "What exactly does that mean for us? For Bastillio?"

  "I don't know," Reina said. "I can tell you one thing for sure, though. If Azgarmoth crosses through that door, he will no longer need to make deals that restricts him."

  "Like a rabid dog out of his leash," Cato said.

  "He will be able to do whatever he wants..." Leo said.

  "And no one would be able to stop him," Darius agreed.

  "So what's our time line?" Major Coleman said. "Before a direct link is established?"

  "Well, his Dzungaria scheduled to meet up tomorrow," Dr. Yap said. "And that usually means that Luca has a new revelation. A new plan or directive from Azgarmoth."

  "You think Azgarmoth is visiting him tonight?" Major asked.

  "He never calls a meeting with his chosen twelve unless it's to share another revelation," Dr. Yap said. "And since we've established that he gets his wisdom from Azgarmoth, then yes, I believe he will be in commune with the Ancient One tonight. Maybe they already are communicating."

  "Well, we wouldn't want that," Major Coleman said. "So what's the plan?"

  "First things first," Reina spoke up. "We need to get Vergil his light back."