I went to breakfast feeling like a zombie, probably acting like one too. Sterling and Emi tried to strike up conversation, but I ignored both of them. I picked at my food, unable to eat much, feeling sick and still scared; I left the table early. I started for the common room, but then changed my mind. I didn't want to be there, there where it was so open and … unprotected. I went to my room instead.

I sat back on my bed, pulled the blankets to me and put the headphones on again, losing myself in the music. I kept all of me off the floor, as if there was some monster under the bed that might come and eat me if I put my feet down. No one disturbed me. I was glad, because any disturbance might have caused me to jump out of my skin then and there.

But I knew it had to come. Sooner or later, something would happen, something fatal, and then, well, there it would be. I knew it would happen that day. I didn't want to think about it, but it was all my thoughts would focus on. Each moment seemed like an hour, each hour like a day as I waited for something to happen.

And near noon, something suddenly occurred to me. It only took whatever higher power was messing with my life one month, I reflected. Thirty-one days to totally and completely wreck my life. I almost wanted to laugh, because for a log time, I had thought I'd been in control of everything – of the power, of my life – and now it was perfectly clear that I wasn't the one in control at all.

--

Eossi

Eossi knows it is now that he must act. Now that the other spirit has shown Jana her own reflection, Eossi knows that his rival will try and kill her soon. He can't let that happen; he can't let such a potentially powerful spirit into the hands of his enemies. His brain races all night as he tries to think of what to do. As much as he can dislike humans sometimes, he doesn't want to cause undue pain, especially after everything Jana has been through of late.

He knows it doesn't really matter anyway, but maybe thinking about this is more of a distraction than anything else. A distraction because he knows he will probably have to face the other spirit the next morning. He doesn't want to do that, but he knows it is inevitable.

He, too, has a restless night and begins his day feeling extremely up-tight. Today, though, things will all end. He will be able to return home … If I can return at all. He isn't sure he'll be able to, but he holds to this hope, because maybe if he wants it bad enough, he can will it to happen – will himself to get home with his essence still together.

Eossi tails Jana closely that day. He can see the effects the reflection has had on her. She is tired and scared and she spends much time in her room. He sees everything she's written in her notebooks – journal entries and stories and poetry alike – but he doesn't read them thoroughly. They are all reflections of her own feelings, and he can see her feelings well enough.

The other spirit's presence stalks about, too. Eossi can sense him, flitting around, waiting for his chance to strike. Eossi knows it will be soon, but he does not know how soon. He waits, tense, on edge, knowing that soon it will be over. Half of him cannot wait. The other half wants to abandon his charge right now and flee and not have to fight at all. He remains, stoically ignoring that half of his mind.

It is near nightfall that the other spirit decides to strike. Tatjana is in her room again with her headphones in her ears, lying back on her bed, eyes flicking about restlessly. Eossi sees the other spirit creep stealthily in through the door and gets ready for him to act. He is sure that whatever that spirit does he can counterattack – the question is how fast he can react.

His rival does not go for him first, though, instead heading straight for Tatjana. Eossi springs into action at once, sending his essence in all directions: half toward Tatjana, half toward the other spirit. The essence around Tatjana shields her from mental proddings from his rival and the essence directed at his opponent will distract him. Eossi hopes this works.

--

Tatjana

Something changed near 7:00, I could feel it. It was almost like there were multiple presences floating around … there was an air of latent hostility that seemed to follow me wherever I went. I returned to my room when I felt it, as if my room could give me some protection. Of course, it couldn't. But it gave me a false sense of security, and that was what I really needed.

--

Kaid

Kaid tried to attack the girl near nightfall, but he hadn't counted on the other spirit getting in his way. The wave of essence he threw at Kaid set him back for a moment, but not for long; he drove it away with his own and went for the girl again. He didn't want to lose her, not now. He would destroy her and move on to another fresher human, one with a strong mind and many images to share with him. He hadn't yet risen in the ranks, but he hoped he would be able to by the time he finished this job. He just had to get rid of the other spirit tailing him, that irksome Annihilation Forcer … If nothing else, he was persistent. But persistence wasn't everything, and persistence wouldn't get him through if that was all he had.

--

Eossi

The other spirit tries again for Tatjana, but Eossi just barely blocks him. The other seems angry – or maybe he is simply in a hurry, Eossi cannot quite tell. Either way, he isn't sure how long he will be able to hold out. Eossi tries to figure out why the other spirit seems so much more powerful than he was before … is he using some of his victims' power to enhance his own? Eossi wonders briefly. It's a clever idea, he had to concede, although not one he would have used.

Eossi knows that if he doesn't want Tatjana to fall into the other spirit's hands, he will have to do something quickly. He sends more of his essence out at the other spirit, hoping that will distract him, and heads for Tatjana. The thing he is planning is not the cleanest method in the worlds, but it will have to do. It is quick, and that is what he needs. Before the other can regain himself, Eossi reaches out for Tatjana and then gestures as if pulling something from her. Tendrils of grey essence leak quietly from her body and into his fingers. The trickle speeds up, and Eossi can see the other spirit shake off his essence and come toward them. Eossi tugs more forcefully and Tatjana finally realizes something off is going on. She yelps, but Eossi has not enough time. He pulls again, and Tatjana's spirit begins to break loose from her body. She looks abjectly terrified, and Eossi cannot blame her. He tugs again and her spirit breaks loose, scattering wildly about the room from the force of the tug he's given her.

--

Kaid

Kaid couldn't believe he'd been fooled by such an amateur trick. He fought with the essence around him and finally managed to shake it off, only to see the other spirit attempting to free Tatjana's spirit from her body. Kaid didn't want that to happen at all – to lose such a valuable spirit would be devastating – and he headed for the other spirit as fast as he could. But he didn't quite get there in time; just when he reached them, Tatjana's spirit broke loose and scattered before coming back together.

Kaid knew she could see both his rival and himself now. She froze for a moment, confused and panicky, then turned and tried to flee. Kaid and his opponent both took off after her, except Kaid had other plans. He wasn't going to be trapped here, not with the other spirit around as well. They reached the common area and Kaid turned a sharp right, speeding away before anyone realized where he had gone. He reached and passed through the exit, taking flight and heading quickly away, fleeing into the night. He didn't know where he was going, but anywhere was better than there.

--

Tatjana

I wasn't doing much – just sitting on my bed and worrying – and then the room started to grow colder. It was so subtle I almost didn't notice, but it was there … and I could feel it. It frightened me, and I was almost ready to start running when something … well, it almost tugged at me. It was a compelling tug, one that seemed to say "come on, come here…" And who was I to resist? Anyway, the call was so soft and soothing …

I think I knew something was wrong, but I didn't know what. My vision grew blurry, shapes fuzzing and distorting. Then my hearing faded, the Celtic music in my ears going dim, muffled, vanishing. I was blind and deaf, but that call still came to me. I followed it still, because I could see light and I could hear sounds from there.

And it was odd, because I was just … just so free, so suddenly, completely free … and I didn't know what to do. Surely this wasn't quite death … or was it?

But I didn't care. Those two hostile presences – no, one hostile presence? – were in the room with me. I turned and finally saw them, two beings made up of smoke and wisps …

Ghosts?

I turned and fled up the hall, confused but excited by the freedom I was suddenly feeling. Those others, they were nothing. I was probably dead – but it felt amazing. I couldn't quite figure out why it had scared me so before … Why should it have?

No reason. No reason at all.

--

Eossi

Eossi doesn't care about the other spirit. He has freed Tatjana and kept her safe from his rival, and isn't that all that matters? Eossi's job as not to track the other spirit.

And he is homesick and tired of Earth and its nasty, murdering inhabitants … And he wants to return to where he really belongs.

He did his job to the best of his ability. Surely that is enough.

Eossi leaves the building and heads for the de-escalators. He has daydreamed about this for a long time … But he is pleased that now he will be able to return home. Hopefully no one will give him such a job again.

--

Kaid

The mirror where Kaid had set down was small. It was possibly even smaller than the one in Tatjana's house. He felt so cramped – like he was curled into the tightest ball he could manage and was still pressed for space. He hated this place … But still, there were so many humans and so many images, and they would help him rise in the ranks. And there was no rival spirit following him anymore. Despite being huddled up so tightly, Kaid was pleased. He had finally shaken his unwanted companion, gotten rid of Jana … It was a fresh start. And surely this time he would do better. It couldn't be that hard. Tatjana had been different. Less strong-minded. Anyway, she was only a child. There was more use to be gained from these middle-aged people who called themselves movie-makers. And when he was prepared, he would move on again. He'd do it until he had gained the new, higher rank he deserved.