I know this chapter is a bit shorter, but it was the best place to stop. Plus, I'm still making up for vanishing for so long.

And while I did borrow some ideas/details from the third video that just came out, those are limited to Vivi and Mystery at the moment. Everything else has been planned for years.

"Arthur, you idiot!" shouted Vivi as the two people she loved vanished into the darkness. "What were you thinking?

"He's keeping Lewis occupied so he doesn't hurt anyone," Mystery barked sharply. "He's buying us time. Don't waste it. You know the spell. Break though the man's magic."

Glaring at them, the necromancer asked, "Do you think I am powerless without my slaves? I can handle a girl and her mutt."

The words were met with an animalistic growl. His eyes began to glow red behind his glasses, Mystery calling on a fraction of his power. The glow spread until he was surrounded by the aura of magic. Benjamin took a step back even as he chanted a new spell, his fingers wrapping around his amulet.

Green flames flickered to life around him, flying towards Vivi without a gesture from the man. Self-preservation instinct kicking in even as she marveled at the skill behind the attack, she threw herself out of the way. She rolled across the ground and away from his supernatural fire. Red light flared up to block the attack further, even as she continued with her attempt to dodge. What was it with people and technicolor supernatural flames? Vivi came to a rest next to the metal bat.

"Focus, Vivi. I'll protect you from his spell," said Mystery. The red light wrapped around her like a second skin, warm and humming. "You need to break his."

He was right. But breaking the spell on the other ghosts took a lot of time, reading a spell she was unfamiliar with and having to concentrate to get the words right. And there were a lot more distractions this time. She couldn't do that. Not before Lewis managed to grab Arthur or Benjamin managed to shout another order.

She needed something else. She needed to break through his shield and take the amulet instead.

Hesitating a moment, Vivi dropped the spell book and snatched up the bat. She knew the words that she needed, having memorized them like all the spells that Mystery taught her, but it never worked very well in the past. It was never enough to crack through whatever piece of magic that she practiced on.

So maybe it was time to try something a bit different.

Instinct and something that felt like a half-remembered memory guiding her, Vivi began to chant the spell meant to cut and break through magic. But she didn't aim it at Benjamin's power. Not yet. She wasn't throwing herself against that obstacle just yet. She didn't try to break through. Vivi poured her gathering magic, emotions, and willpower into the metal bat. She kept repeating, adding layer upon layer of magic to the object. Making the spell stronger.

She hadn't known what she was doing or if it would work when she started her improvised plan, but a pale and icy blue glow began to wrap around the metal bat. Her expression hardened as her determination solidified, her voice never faltering. She kept reciting the spell.

As terrified and worried about the boys as she might be and even though the necromancer continued to throw supernatural fire against Mystery's defenses, Vivi didn't flinch. A grin even spread across her face. She was actually enchanting an object. Everything that she knew said it was hard. But it was working. And it should be stronger than what she could do against his shield directly.

My sword would be better against this foe.

Vivi frowned briefly at the strange thought, but didn't let it distract her. She kept pouring her energy and her emotions into the spell, fueling the magic with everything that she was feeling.

Her undying love for Lewis, powerful and unstoppable. Her loving friendship for Arthur, unbreakable and just as intense in a different way. Her familial love for Mystery, unwavering even with the revealed secrets. Her worry for both her boys. Her anger over what the necromancer did to her boyfriend. Her protective fury against those who would harm those that she cared for. Her fear of what would happen if she failed. And her refusal to lose anyone ever again.

The icy blue glow intensified with every second and every syllable.

But as the light and the power from the bat reached a state where it almost felt strong enough to do what she needed, a terrified yelp rang out and sent a cold chill up her spine. Then, risking a quick look away from the chanting necromancer, she caught sight of a magenta glow through the fog.

Lewis.

Arthur knew that he was lost. He knew that he'd gotten turned around in the dark, in the fog, and among the trees. He knew that he was stumbling in circles and that there was no way to tell if he was running towards or away from Lewis anymore, the ghost not even providing footsteps to flee from. Arthur had nothing to guide him.

But he kept moving. Struggling to catch his breath, stumbling over exposed roots, and pushing through grasping branches, Arthur refused to stop. Fear could keep him moving long after the muscles in his legs burned from the effort. He was fast and desperate. Benjamin might have ordered Lewis to grab him as quickly as possible, but Arthur was always the fastest member of the team. Especially when properly motivated.

Of course, Lewis could now fly…

Another rock shifted under his foot, nearly sending Arthur to the ground as he stumbled clumsily to stay upright. Both arms shot out, catching his balance on one of the trees. The brief pause, his shoes no longer crunching the leaves and his panting not quite so loud, meant that he could hear Vivi's voice raised somewhere ahead of him. And if he could hear her reciting the spell, then he must have gotten turned around enough to end up near the necromancer again. He thought he could almost catch a glimpse of the campfire light through the shadows and the fog. And he was almost certain that darker section of ground must be the road.

Move. He needed to move. Arthur knew that he'd already stayed still too long. He couldn't stop. Shoving himself away from the tree, he started running again.

And immediately hit something large and sturdy. But before Arthur could fall backwards from the surprise impact, something grabbed him and pinned his arms at his sides, earning a startled yelp from Arthur. Even as he was lifted off the ground, he heard frantic, horrified, and echoing words spill out.

"No, no, no, no, no, no. Please don't make me do this. I don't want this. Someone stop me. I'm sorry. I can't. Please stop me."

Even as he struggled to break free of the strong hands pinning his arms in place and with his feet kicking at empty air, Arthur managed to see what was happening. Directly in front of his eyes was a familiar heart-shaped locket, now tarnished to a dark bluish-gray and covered with dozens of small cracks around a couple of unsettlingly deep ones. The sight almost hurt more than the black chains still wrapped around it. And as he looked up, Arthur saw the most terrified and desperate skull staring back at him.

"I'm sorry, Arthur. I can't stop. I can't stop myself."

Cold with fear and shaking in the unbreakable grip, Arthur knew that. He knew what it felt like to be forced to do something and helpless to stop it. It was a fate he wouldn't wish on anyone. And no matter how much Lewis might be trying to fight it, they were floating in the direction that the cliff must be waiting.

"No, no, no," whimpered Lewis in absolute terror and panic, his glowing eyes darting wildly. "Stop me. Stop me, please."

"Vivi!" His voice cracking with fear for himself and Lewis, Arthur shouted desperately into the fog. "Mystery! Hurry up! Get the stupid amulet!"

He didn't want to die. Arthur desperately didn't want to die. Not like this. But he definitely didn't want to make Lewis go through what was about to happen. Maybe Arthur still deserved punishment for what happened, but Lewis didn't deserve this. He'd already suffered too much.

If Lewis was forced to do this, it would break him completely.

His powers were limited in this form, but Mystery had enough to shield Vivi from the necromancer's flames. Fire was a popular weapon, effective against natural and supernatural threats. It was only logical for the man to know the spell. But he wouldn't let it harm her while Vivi laid spells on the bat.

A clever idea from his clever pup. Vivi might even be brighter than her ancestors.

But then the frightened yelp followed by Arthur's shouts rang out and Mystery's hackles rose further. Lewis had the young man and would soon go through with the necromancer's orders. They were running out of time. Another of his pups was about to die.

They needed to end the spell now.

Vivi swung the bat and the green shield flared up to meet the impact. A cracking sound echoed slightly, like ice fracturing underfoot on a frozen lake. Breaking, but not yet broken. She swung again, doing more damage and gaining a worried look from the chanting necromancer. The fireballs slowed as the man focused more on his shield. Vivi was making progress.

But not fast enough.

He knew what he needed to do. Mystery didn't want to. It would draw attention. Dangerous attention. Her attention. If she found him, if she found them, then he would lose all of them. She was too dangerous for them to face. Too dangerous, too angry, and too relentless.

But if he didn't risk it, Mystery would lose another pup to death. And he refused to let it happen. Not again.

Calling on his power, Mystery's body began to shift. Stretching and growing, he lost his canine shape within seconds to become something more vulpine. And as each tail quickly uncoiled, Mystery regained access to more and more of his power. As he reclaimed his true shape and his full magic, he directed it towards the shield spell. And he snarled at the necromancer, the man growing pale even as he continued to recite the spell.

This man would not harm his pups. His kits. Mystery wouldn't lose them.

He and Vivi would break the shield and take the Eye of Osiris, freeing Lewis. Even if he had to rip the amulet and the necromancer's throat out with his fangs. It would not be the first death that he caused and this one would be far more warranted than some.

It hurt. Both a dull ache and a sharp pain as the cracks in his anchor deepened and widened competed with the crushing pressure of the black chains binding him. Lewis instinctively wanted to claw at it, to try and make it stop. He wanted it all to stop. He needed someone, anyone, to stop him.

You will grab this young man as quickly as possible and drop him off the cliff.

He fought and struggled against the order with all his will. With his entire soul. But even as he tried to resist, he continued floating forward and his grip never loosened around Arthur. His outstretched arms held his best friend firm.

"I don't want to do this, please stop me, help me, I can't, I can't."

His eyes kept darting around. He saw fog. He saw green, red, and blue lights. He saw the edge of the cliff through the darkness, growing more distinctive and clear as he approached.

But he didn't see any way out. He didn't see any loopholes or tricks to get around the order. The best he could do was approach as slowly as possible, the command to hurry only technically for the part about grabbing Arthur. He could slow himself, but he couldn't stop.

He couldn't stop. He couldn't stop what was happening.

And they weren't going to stop him in time.

That realization deepened the cracks in his anchor further, making Lewis shudder. Vivi and Mystery were trying, but it wouldn't be enough.

He was going to kill Arthur. Exactly how he died, falling off a cliff at the hands of his friend. Lewis was about to kill him and he couldn't stop. He was going to murder his best friend.

Just like he tried to before. Like he wanted.

But not anymore. It was a mistake. Lewis didn't want this. He didn't want this.

"I can't, I can't stop, please."

Not a cliff. Not Arthur. Don't make him do this.

Could a ghost have a panic attack? If he actually needed to breathe, he would be hyperventilating by now. If he could cry in this form, tears would be streaming down this face. But he was at least gasping and his body was shaking from desperate sobs.

He was too close. He was getting so close now. The cliff edge was right there.

Vivi! Mystery! Anyone! Stop him! Please stop him!

"Stop me, someone stop me, I can't—"

"Lewis."

Arthur's voice, both clearly scared and yet steady, broke through Lewis' increasingly desperate thoughts and choking emotions. He forced himself to look away from the nearing cliff edge and towards his best friend's face.

Arthur could never hide his emotions. Especially fear. And even if he wasn't struggling any longer and just dangling in Lewis' grip, he was clearly terrified. But Arthur was smiling at him. A comforting, resigned, and reassuring smile that hurt to see.

"It's okay," continued Arthur, keeping his words calm and soothing. "It's okay."

No, it wasn't. How could he say that? How could Arthur claim it was okay? Lewis could see the cliff edge over his friend's shoulder, far too close to ignore. And unless something happened now, it would be over within a few seconds. They were out of time and he couldn't stop.

"This isn't you, Lewis. It isn't your fault. You're not doing this. It's not you."

His steady, calm, soothing words and his broken, resigned, reassuring smile weren't right, not when Arthur should be scared out of his mind. He should be panicking and freaking out. Arthur should be fighting against the strong ghostly hands holding him outstretched and carrying him towards his doom.

But his best friend was trying to comforting him. Arthur was somehow forcing himself to remain as calm as possible and push past his own fear. He was trying to do what little that he could to make Lewis feel better. Arthur was trying to help, trying to reassure him that Arthur didn't blame him for what was about to happen. The realization left Lewis caught between the urge to laugh or sob. He was about to murder Arthur and yet he was the one trying to reassure Lewis.

"I'm sorry," he choked out, his voice echoing and wavering. "I'm sorry."

"Close your eyes," said Arthur. A few frightened tears slipped out, sliding down his face even as he tried to keep his words steady and calm. But still smiling at him despite everything, Arthur said, "Close your eyes and don't watch. This isn't you, Lewis. Please don't watch."

Maybe he was a coward, but Lewis listened to the request. He closed them. He could hear the others, struggling against each other with magic. He felt himself stop moving forward and he felt Arthur shaking in fear. But he didn't look. He didn't see.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

He couldn't control his body. As if he was a puppet and someone else was pulling the strings. He couldn't control his body, but he still felt it.

Lewis felt his outstretched hands let go.

A frightened scream fell away before cutting off abruptly, as if a knife sliced away the sound. It felt like a stab to the heart. Or at least his anchor. Horror, guilt, despair, and a thousand other intense emotions slammed into him. Stronger than he could bear. Lewis grabbed the locket with a pained sob, collapsing as he heard and felt his anchor crack so hard that it nearly split in half.

Arthur was… He…

Another pained sob shook his frame, too many cracks and the powerful emotions rolling over him with the intensity that only a ghost could hope to achieve. He didn't want this. He never wanted this.

But he did want this once. He tried to kill him, revenge and fury blinding him and too strong to ignore.

Not anymore. Not like this. Lewis didn't want…

He murdered Arthur.

The inhuman, echoing, deafening sound that tore out of him could only be described as a ghostly wail of despair. Magenta flames flared and guttered without rhyme or reason, his emotions too volatile and his pain too much for him to control anything. And his fingers curled tighter around his breaking anchor, trying to fight the feeling of everything falling apart. It almost seemed like fragile thing would shatter completely without his desperate grip and the black chains binding the cracking locket together.

Then, without warning, Lewis felt the black chains crumble into nothing. The necromancer's spell was broken. They did it. He was free.

But it was too late.

...Imagine how surprised I was when they released the third video and I saw the parallels to what I had planned for this story...