-Tali-

  The corridors of cold metal never seemed to end. They just kept on going. She of course knew they ended, she had walked them earlier. She just hoped she had remembered which corridor it was correctly. They had discussed a plan on the way to where Ela was. Kaelen would deal with Sister Mirror and Lord Nerve whilst Tali protected her sister and dealt with Sister Flight. They hoped they didn't even have to fight any of the members if they could avoid it. She had asked him to not kill them if he didn't have to, but he had reminded her that chances were they would be trying to kill him.

  Kaelen: How much further is it?

  Tali: Not much, just round this corner is where we were being kept.

  They turn the corner, the corridor continues on, but two metal doors sit either side of the corridor. Tali goes to open one of the doors, and sees nothing.

  Tali: Ela's gone... I thought that might have happened.

  Kaelen: What happened?

  Tali: Lord Nerve brought Ela for me to see, and when she sent her away, he did so with Sister Flight.

  Kaelen: So what now?

  Tali: I'll continue down this corridor, see if I can find them. See if you can find Lord Nerve and Sister Mirror.

  Kaelen: And they'll be where exactly?

  Tali: I don't know. Try going back to the big room, Lord Nerve might be there waiting for me to deliver your body.

  Kaelen: Alright. Are you sure you don't want help with Sister Flight?

  Tali: I'll be fine.

  Kaelen: Before you go-

  Kaelen held out a bow and set of arrows.

  Kaelen: If her title is anything to go by, you'll need this.

  Tali: ... Thank you.

  She wasn’t really sure what to think of the bow upon receiving this. She wasn’t really sure of what to think about everything that had happened over the past few days, that talk they were going to have would have a lot of questions, and knowing Kaelen not that many answers. She didn’t have time to think this over any more, she needed to save Ela. She took the bow and arrow and turned to leave, Kaelen doing the same heading back towards the atrium like room.

  -Kaelen-

  "-meaning we'll be a lower level than normal when we enter the Big Top."

  Weren't you the one who suggested getting her on our side? Now you're complaining that she's fighting Sister Flight by herself.

  "I know, I just wanted to make sure we're both on the same page. We've lost valuable levels in order to get some help."

  If she can get us past that invisible thing then I don't think it matters.

  "We'll just have to see how effective it is when we get there."

  Lord Nerve: This has gotten out of hand. It seems I'll have to deal with you here and now.

  -Tali-

  She had won her fight with Sister Flight, but just barely. She felt like she was about to die, she was definitely on the brink of death. But despite her victory she had still ended up in this situation.

  Tali: -Sister Mirror... Put her down. Please.

  Sister Mirror: Oh? Why should I do that?

  Tali: We don't have to fight.

  Sister Mirror: You just killed Sister Flight.

  Tali: I don't want to kill you too. Just give me my sister back and we'll be fine.

  Sister Mirror: You haven't even commented on my promotion. I feel offended.

  Tali: It's a very nice promotion.

  Sister Mirror: Maybe I'll just take her.

  -Kaelen-

  It's show time.

  "Are you even a good actor?"

  Good enough for this plan to work.

  "I don't see why we have to pretend we've not already been in this situation before. It's not like we're not allowed to tell anyone that we've been dying."

  It'll be a good card to keep secret if we need it. If we can get our enemies to underestimate us we're more likely to die less.

  "I guess."

  -Tali-

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kaelen walking into the room.

  Kaelen: What's going on here?

  Tali: She has Ela.

  Kaelen: I can see that.

  Sister Mirror: To clarify, I saved her. This little girl here let her fall almost to her death, but I stopped it at the last moment.

  Kaelen: I'm guessing you caused it.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Sister Mirror: Actually, little Sister Initiative here was the cause. She killed Sister Flight, dropping poor little Elara Vaelric to her death. Which I prevented.

  Kaelen: Is that true?

  Tali: Unfortunately.

  Sister Mirror: See? I say no lies.

  Kaelen: Curious. Who are you?

  Tali: Sister Mirror.

  Sister Mirror: I got a new mask, do you like it?

  Kaelen: I didn't see your previous mask.

  Sister Mirror: How unfortunate.

  Kaelen: So are we going to get to fighting or what?

  Tali: Don't hurt Ela.

  Kaelen: Relax, I won't.

  Sister Mirror: No.

  Kaelen: No? What do you mean no?

  Sister Mirror: I'm not fighting you. Not here and now anyways. You've killed four of our members Kaelen Calder, I'm not going to challenge you without making any preparations.

  Kaelen: And what? You think I'll just let you get away with Ela?

  Sister Mirror: Oh you will. Follow me and I slit her throat.

  Tali: Kaelen.

  Kaelen: I know. I won't follow you.

  Sister Mirror: *giggling* Good boy. Now stay.

  Kaelen: Excuse me?!

  Tali: Kaelen! Don't!

  Kaelen: Tch. Just get going. But know, I'll find you, and when I do you'll die.

  Sister Mirror: Well that is the goal. For you to follow me later so I can kill you when I'm more prepared and prove I deserve this promotion.

  Kaelen: Promotion?

  Tali: The masks show rank.

  Kaelen: Really? How many ranks are there? What's at the top?

  Sister Mirror: Ah ah. No more questions Kaelen Calder.

  Kaelen: And why did you guys kidnap me? Did you kidnap the other sixteen? If so, why? What's all of this for?

  Sister Mirror, annoyed: I said no more questions.

  Tali: Kaelen, please stop.

  Kaelen stopped talking, and didn't fight back as Sister Mirror simply walked away holding Ela. There was nothing they could do as long as she was holding her. Kaelen had failed her. The two of them walked in silence back to the city and into Kaelen's house. For the entire day of walking not a word was shared between them. She had failed. Sister Mirror had kidnapped her sister and gotten away. She was in a worse state than when she joined the Circus Lights. Her sister was missing and it was Kaelen's fault. If she hadn't listened to him and just continued fighting then Ela would be safe right now. It was all his fault. She liked Kaelen, she really did. But she loved her sister, and in choosing to side with Kaelen she had swapped her for him. A complete and utter, total failure in every sense of the word. She didn't think there was anything he could do to fix all the damage he had done over the past five days. But he had promised her a talk, so a talk they would have.

  -Kaelen-

  He had no idea where to start. He knew she was angry at him, hated him even. And in all honesty she had every right to be. He had failed her despite his future knowledge. They had lost her sister, even thought that was the one thing he had promised her in return for helping him. They had lost her because he didn't want to reveal that he could die and come back just yet. He cared for her, and it tore him up inside to hurt her in any form, she just wasn't seeing reason back then. But now? He understood. Never once had he actually helped her in any way. She was always helping him get by when he refused to make a bad sword and what had he done in return? Get her sister kidnapped. That's it. So he would fulfill the few promises he still could and would have a small talk with her, and accept all the blame she threw at him. After all, he fully deserved it.

  "As I said, we should have told her. We should be using our knowledge of the future to prevent things Kaelen."

  It's too late now. Now it's time to answer some questions.

  -Tali-

  Tali Fabricated a chair and sat down, Kaelen did the same.

  Kaelen: So. Where do you want to start?

  Tali: Tell me. What happened to you before you saw me with Lord Nerve?

  Kaelen: As you know, I went to the festival. I found somewhere no one was and saw my own poster on the missing people board.

  Tali: So it was up before you even got kidnapped?

  Kaelen: Yes. Then Brother Shade kidnapped me after hitting me on the head with a bat or something.

  Tali: Hence the blood.

  Kaelen: What blood?

  Tali: I went looking for you and found some blood and drag marks in an abandoned part of the festival.

  Kaelen: Sounds about right. Then I was transported to the Perimeter in complete darkness.

  Tali: Complete? What do you mean?

  Kaelen: Then there was no light whatsoever, just blackness. A void.

  Tali: That's not-

  Kaelen: Oh, it's possible. More than you'd expect.