Chapter 2

The first rays of dawn were painting the distant horizon a sickly yellow when Liam finally stumbled through the thinning crowd.

He looked like hell, even for a spirit.

His form was dim, flickering badly, and he clutched a small, tarnished silver locket in one hand.

A memento from the mortal world. Idiot.

Those things drained you, tethered you, made you weak.

"Chloe!" he gasped, his voice thin.

Chloe' s head snapped towards him, relief flooding her face.

"Liam! I knew you' d make it!"

She dropped her hands, and the Ectoplasmic Flame died instantly.

The Rift, free of her restraint, slammed shut with a deafening WHOOMP.

A wave of despair washed over the remaining spirits.

Then, the sun crested the horizon.

Screams.

Pure, unadulterated terror.

Spirits caught in the direct light began to smoke, their forms dissolving like sugar in water.

Chloe grabbed Liam, pulling him into the shadow of a tall building.

I' d already positioned myself there, Pip cowering beside me.

"What have you done?" a spirit shrieked at Liam, his edges already fraying. "Because of your trinket, we' re all doomed!"

Liam flinched, looking guiltily at the locket. "It was my mother' s... I couldn' t leave it."

Sentimental fool.

Chloe rounded on the accusing spirit. "Shut up! It' s not his fault!"

Her eyes, though, darted around, fear finally dawning.

"There has to be a way back," she muttered, more to herself than anyone.

Then she looked at me. "Ethan. You' re a Patroller. You know things. How do we get back?"

Here we go.

I feigned thought. "The Rift is sealed until next year. We' re trapped."

Panic rippled through the small group of survivors huddled in the shadows.

"No!" Chloe insisted. Then, her eyes lit up. "Wait! The Beacon Charm!"

She fumbled at her neck, pulling out a small, intricately carved bone charm.

I recognized it. I' d given it to her, back when I still cared.

Back when I was a fool.

"This can call a Harbinger, right?" she asked, looking at me, desperate for confirmation.

I nodded slowly. "It can. But Harbingers are... particular. And it only works at midnight."

"Midnight! We have to wait until midnight?" Pip wailed.

"It' s better than dissolving," Chloe snapped. She held the charm aloft. "We have a way out. We just need to be careful until then."

Liam leaned against her, looking relieved. "You always know what to do, Chloe."

She preened a little, even in this mess.

I kept my face impassive.

The Beacon Charm. She had no idea.

I' d crafted it myself, long ago, when I was already a Marshal.

It wasn' t just a beacon. It was a tether.

And the Harbinger it called would answer to me, and only me.

"We need to find a safe place," Chloe announced, taking charge. "And... we need to stay strong."

I saw a predatory gleam in Liam' s eyes.

"Vital essence," he murmured. "The living are full of it."

Chloe hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Just a little. To keep our strength up. We can' t fade before the Harbinger comes."

They were already justifying it. Perfect.

They wandered off, Chloe supporting the weakened Liam, looking for unsuspecting mortals.

Pip looked at me, horrified. "They' re going to drain humans? That creates Spiritual Taint! The Harbingers will refuse them!"

"Perhaps," I said, my voice flat.

Let them dig their own graves.

I settled back into the shadows, conserving my energy.

My plan was unfolding beautifully.

They thought they had hope.

They had no idea they were already dancing on my strings.