We merged. It was insane. It was excruciatingly painful, but there was something else as well. A kind of warmth, it spread through me as though it were embracing me. It made me feel safe, like nothing could hurt me. Then it hit me, that warmth was G. I wanted that moment to last forever. Suddenly I felt it start to slip. Oh no you don't! I won't let go that easily! I held on to that warmth with a strength unlike anything I had ever seen. Suddenly the pain was gone; all that was left was that warmth. The warmth dulled but it had stopped fading. I sighed. It was over. It had worked. We lasted the full 5 minutes. We did it!

The room was silent the whole time this was taking place. As soon as the 5 minute mark passed, however, everyone cheered. I- no, we looked around at our friends cheering and hugging each other in excitement.

"Hahaha! You did it Max! You did it!"

"Yay! We can finally, finally leave this place!"

"G, it worked! You did it!"

"Alright Max, G! You guys did it!"

Suddenly I heard G's voice in my head. He sounded excited.

We did it Max, we did it!

I smiled. Yeah we did, didn't we? I'm glad, now I can help you guys pass on.

Yeah.That time he didn't sound so excited.

"What's wrong G?" I asked out loud.

Nothing, I'm fine.

I sighed, "I'm not stupid G. Don't lie to me. What's wrong?"

It's just, I'm gonna miss you guys is all.

"I'll miss you guys too." I sighed.

Rosalina was the first to stop celebrating and get serious. "OK, now that that's decided what happens next?"

James looked at her and pointed up at the ceiling. "Well now we just have to defeat the demon."

Kira's jaw dropped, "Wait, he's upstairs? But there wasn't anything there, I looked everywhere!"

The ghosts all turned to look at her in horror. "You went upstairs?!" Bethany shouted, "Are you insane?!"

"Whoa, sorry. I didn't know." Kira said as she backed away from them.

"Sorry, it's just, we're glad you're OK." Bethany clarified.

Are you ready Max?

Oh yeah! The demon! "Hey guys, I'm ready to kill the demon. Just take me to him and leave the rest to me."

James looked up, "Oh yeah, right. He's on the third floor."

Rosalina looked up in surprise, "Third floor? I didn't see a third floor from outside. Did you guys?"

We all shook our heads.

Zach looked up at Rosalina, "That's because the demon put an illusion around the top of the house. This is actually a three story building." He explained. "That's how strong he is."

"Looks like I've got my work cut out for me." I laughed. "Well, better to get this over with, let's go!"

No! Your friends need to stay behind! It's too dangerous!

I frowned, "Ha! No way G! Besides, they would never agree to that."

Rygart looked at me, "What wouldn't we agree to?"

"G said you need to stay behind because it's too dangerous. You guys would never agree to that."

Archer smiled, "She's right G, I don't, and never will, agree to that."

"Neither would I." Rosalina said.

"Me neither, I'm coming and you can't stop me." Rygart challenged.

"Hahaha! Nothing in the universe could stop me from coming with you!" Kira laughed.

Saphira sighed, "I'm not staying here alone, so I guess I'm coming too."

But-

I sighed, "G, just stop, you can't win this."

Fine. But please, be careful.

"No problem, we'll be careful. We will be careful, right guys?" I asked, turning to my friends.

They all replied in unison. "Right!"

"Yosh, ikuzou!" I cheered.

We made our way to the hidden stairs on the second floor. They were behind a false wall. As we made our way up the hidden stairs to the third floor the demon got more active. He kept screaming at us; GET OUT!GO AWAY!DIE! We could hear him moving things around and knocking things over.

Zach cowered behind me. "Wow! He sounds mad! I've never seen him this active before."

I bent down to comfort the boy, "Hey don't worry. You won't have to be afraid of him much longer. Not once I'm through with him."

He looked up at me with tears in his eyes, "But what if you can't beat him? What if he's too strong? Then what?"

I put my hand on his head. "That would never happen. I promised you I would help you pass on, if I let him beat me now I would be breaking that promise, and I don't break promises. Right guys?"

Kira grinned, "The day Max breaks a promise the world would probably end."

Rosalina laughed, "Hahaha! That's so true."

I looked back down at Zach, "See, I keep my promises."

He looked up at me, the tears still in his eyes, but he was smiling. "Thanks Max!" He hugged me and I hugged him back.

Thanks Max. I hate seeing him cry.

Don't mention it. I didn't want to see him cry ether.

Once we made it to the third floor all activity stopped. It was deathly quiet.

"OK, I think I like it better when he's shouting." Saphira whispered.

"Which room is he in?" I asked.

"The room at the end of the hall. Be careful OK?" James answered.

"Yeah got it, thanks." I said, starting down the hall.

That one right?

Yeah, that's the one. Are you sure you're ready.

As ready as I'll ever be. You?

I've been waiting for this moment for years. I'm ready.

Alright, let's go.

I opened the door. Inside was the strangest creature I had ever seen. It looked like a dog but was the size of a large bear, with black-as-night fur that was sticking up at odd angles. It turned to me and growled. I saw its teeth flash, white and sharp as daggers. All of that was nothing compared its eyes; they were a deep, almost glowing scarlet. If looks could kill, I would have been dead then and there. I stood there staring at it for a good 3 minutes. I could tell it wanted me dead, why it didn't kill me right then I may never know. As we stood there staring at each other it spoke to me.

So you're the girl that has given my slaves such hope.

Slaves! How dare he! He'd only said 1 sentence and I already wanted to absolutely destroy him. "So you're the demon that's trapping my new friends here." I growled at him. I actually growled at him.

Friends! Hahaha! What an interesting joke. Oh, you're serious! You actually fell for their tricks? They don't have friends!

I glared at him. "Is that's what you think?! Do you honestly think I'd be risking my life fighting you if they weren't my friends?!" I screamed.

So you do intend to fight me. Do you honestly think you have any chance at winning?

I sneered at him, "I don't care what my chances are! I can't afford to lose! My friends need me and I intend to help them!" I was seething.

Max calm down. He's just trying to make you mad.

If that's what he's trying to do, it's working. He has officially pissed me off. I don't think I've ever wanted to kill someone more in my entire life.

If I am to fight you I wish to ask you something first.

"Sure…" I said hesitantly.

I wish to know the name of the human who had the gall to challenge me to a fight to the death.

"Max, my name is Max." I answered.

Well then Max, as the first human to challenge me to a duel, I shall give you the honor of knowing my name. I am the demon Ragnarock. Remember that name, because it is the name of your killer!