How are you lovelies? I've been gone for the longest, I know, but time flies. I hope I'm not speaking to an empty auditorium, but if I am then thank you chairs, thank you. This is a one women show, please come again.

Disclaimer: I do not own Winx Club!

Previously on What A Trip!

Everything was deadly still for a moment, like time stopped completely and each breath of air took a lifetime to take in.

Finally a dark shadow seemed to slither pass the crippled door. At first it was barely noticeable but then a starch white bruised hand made contact with the doorframe, followed by an arm.

A few whimpers were heard as the girls tried to hold back screams that should have rang out already.

Its movements were slow and choppy as the crippling figure moved towards them. It was the same girl from earlier as Stella and Layla so bluntly pointed out.

"She was there when Musa disappeared." Bloom whispered into sky's arm.

It was even more unnerving, as it was the first time many of them had seen her. They had they're expectations but of course seeing it unfold in front of them was something completely different, and let me tell you she did not disappoint.

"We should run, we should totally be running." Stella managed to stutter.

"Riven." She whispered tugging on his shirt lightly.

"Nobody move." He warned, gritting his teeth and narrowing his gaze.

It happened in the blink of an eye. One second she was across the room. The next she was screeching in their faces, barking like a savage animal, but as Riven previously stated, she wasn't making any attempt to cross the circle.

In a moment of calm she cocked her head to the side. Beady, hollow, white eyes scrutinized them before a grin plastered against her chapped, broken lips, revealing a pair of rotting, decaying teeth. Her long hair shielded her face in a dark curtain of choppy tangles.

Her gaze was fixated on Riven as he stood no more than two feet from her, each sizing the other up.

The only thing that ran through his mind before all hell broke loose, was "she looks too real."

Next thing any of them knew, a large butcher knife appeared in her hand, having slid down the sleeve of her dress, being driven straight in the direction of Riven's chest with an angry cry.

He was able to block it in time seizing her all too physically there wrist. He was surprised that he was able to touch her, even more so that she was able to cross the circle, only leaving him to conclude one thing.

"Run!" He yelled over his shoulder, and with a few hesitant glances they stayed put. Most of the group too shocked to move. What was happening? She got through the circle; did this mean she wasn't a ghost? Was Riven wrong?

Riven was having trouble redirecting the blade as her physical strength was one to be reckoned with. He managed to redirect it but she came back tenfold slashing through the air and at one point his shirt.

He managed to deflect it long enough to land a punch straight against its jaw, sending it tumbling a few feet, landing on its hands and knees. Only it didn't stay down long. It whipped its head back, growled and sprinted on all fours back, ready to pounce.

"HEY!" Helia's outburst was enough to get its attention momentarily, before he shown a bright light at the thing's direct line of sight, causing it to shriek in pain and sprint straight back into the closet she ran from.

"Riven!" Bloom cried, taking in his bloody shirt and palms, directing everyone else's gaze to it.

"It's not mine. She was covered in it." He mumbled, walking towards the closet door.

"Don't Riven! You don't even know what it is." Stella fought against Brandon's grasp.

"Sure we do. It's human."

Musa's mind was reeling. That hit to the head was really something. Stupid, excuse her language, bitch!

Now Musa was never one to want to punch someone in the face but if her hands weren't tied to her ankles she wouldn't think twice about it.

Her eyes were getting fairly good at adjusting to the dark, but the stench of the place still had a habit of making her kneel over and hurl on occasion. If her stomach wasn't completely empty by now, she wouldn't be surprised if she started upchucking her insides soon.

Waking up for the first time was terrifying. Rats scurried past her, and the carcasses of whatever animal she was lying nearby was enough to put her out again. It wasn't till the third time that she was able to keep herself conscious enough to take in her surroundings.

She was seated in, well she didn't know what, a small little hole in the wall with brick walls and wooden planks holding it up. Rats ran rampage and the ropes holding her hostage were digging painfully into her wrists and ankles, but that didn't stop her from rubbing them raw in an attempt to get out, and that's when she heard it for the first time.

She wasn't sure what it was at first but whatever was coming sounded a lot bigger than the rodents running about. Her eyes were barely adjusted, but a bit of light managed to seep through the cracks in the walls, barely enough for her to see, and well she wished she hadn't.

It was her, the girl, ghost whatever it was she was. Only she wasn't a ghost since she herself was crawling across the floor in an attempt to get through the hole in the wall. The only entrance and exit to wherever it was she was. If the stench she gave off wasn't enough to put her off, her appearance was. She was even more deadly looking up close. Her eyes where pupil less like a white veil covered them, her teeth rotting and her pale skin millenniums paler than her own, allowing her to stand out in the dark room.

She wanted to scream but it was like her body was in a state of shock, fear griping her throat in deadly clutch. She couldn't even breathe.

The girl, thing, studied her for a second before reaching out a blood stained hand, fingernails resembling claws, to pull at her hair. Even still Musa remained still, not knowing what to do. Was she real? Who was she and why was she here, what was she doing here?

It didn't make any sense but Musa didn't have time to ponder it, for the second a rat scurried past her, the girl in the walls, as Musa had dubbed her, reached out to snatch the thing up. At that point Musa did screech as she held out the thrashing creature to her. She attempted to scoot back but her back was already to the wall.

She shook her head viciously as the rat was placed centimeters from her face.

"No!" Musa screamed attempting to kick her but it deemed useless. She pressed her cheek to the wall, in an attempt to get as far away from it.

The girl gave her a calculating look before looking down at the rat in her grasp. Coming to a conclusion she simply grabbed on to the squirming animal with both hands before sinking her teeth into its underbelly.

At this point Musa's mind promptly shut down allowing her to pass out, back into oblivion.

It had become a somewhat typical occurrence now, but the crazy wench must not have gotten the point, that no she didn't want to eat a damn rat, and slamming her head into a wall was not enough motivation for her to do so.

She needed to get out of here, and if her throat wasn't already raw from wrenching and not drinking, you best believe she would be screaming her lungs out.

Sighing, she carefully rested her head against the filthy wall in an attempt to get some peace.

She had faith in her friends, they'd be here soon enough. Right?

"What are you doing?" Tecna asked.

The guys were currently following Riven's lead in trying to investigate the closet the girl ran into.

"Well she had to go somewhere. It's not like she could just disappear." And as he said this a certain plank came apart in his hand.

"Check it out." He mumbled, pulling the entire board off the wall. As soon as he did a disgusting smell penetrated the air.

"What is that?!" Stella spat, grasping her nose and retching back in horror.

"That would be death." Riven sighed, halfway in the small crawl space.

"You're going in?" Brandon asked.

"Correction we're going in." He gave Brandon a look that left no room for argument.

"Oh man." He sighed, silently whispering a prayer, before taking hold of the flashlight Sky offered him.

"The things we do for each other." He mumbled before biting down on the flashlight and getting on his hands and knees, following Riven's lead.

"Be careful snookums, and bring Musa back!" Stella called after them.

"Shouldn't someone else go? I fell useless!" Layla stomped.

"It's a pretty small entryway. You don't want to block their escape route in case something goes south, or make it too crowded. Two is fine." Timmy elaborated.

"So what now?" Bloom asked

"Now, we wait."

"It smells like the dragon stables after a month of neglect, and burrito feedings, if they were to eat burritos." Brandon complained, crawling on his hands and knees through the narrow crawlspace.

"Keep a look out Brandon; we can reminisce and complain later, after we get Musa back." Riven shushed him, coming to a slightly taller passageway in the walls, where they were finally able to stand for the most part. Crouching down slightly they shone their flashlights into the empty spaces. What they saw didn't amuse them.

"What are they?" Brandon asked, crouching down to expect the bones and tuffs of fur littering the ground. The light from their flashlights illuminated shadows across the room, making everything seem all the more creepier.

"I think we just stumbled upon someone's kitchen." Riven answered, expecting what looked like a rat's skull.

"Don't play." Brandon snapped at the prospect of indeed stumbling upon the dead chick's kitchen. He ignored what looked like a piece of Toya's cat lying around.

"Let's keep moving. Keep your guard up and let's watch each other's backs." Riven suggested, making his way into the next room.

"Musa!" Brandon called out in what was a whisper/scream voice, causing Riven to turn and glare at the specialist.

"What? Either we find Musa or the demented chick first, no sense in avoiding it. We're bound to come across one or the other at some point, and everything else aside I'm hoping its Musa's face we come across first." He shrugged continuing to call out to her.

"Just keep a look out and give it a minute or two before calling out again. We're on its turf right now; we don't know what we're up against." Riven nodded. He had a bad feeling that was starting to creep up his spine.

"Do you get the feeling we're being watched?" Brandon suddenly perked up, crawling through a small opening into another room, right behind Riven.

"Shit!" Riven gasped, tumbling back against Brandon in an attempt to back out of the small crawlspace, catching on quickly Brandon tumbled back through the opening allowing Riven passage. It was just in the nick of time too. Any later and Riven might have been without a head.

Shining his flashlight forward, they caught the glimmer of the blade that was previously just inches from Riven's face. Tumbling back he managed to escape the second onslaught. He dodged the blade expertly before stumbling over some debris, straight into Brandon, causing them both to stumble over. Both flashlights went crashing into the floor, leaving the specialist with little light to guide themselves with.

"Back to back." Brandon whispered, both falling into formation. Knives were drawn and both men listened intently to their surroundings.

Musa perked up at the sound of footsteps. She'd gotten used to listening for the tall tell signs that her capture was approaching. These however sounded different, unlike what she'd grown used to, these didn't drag, nor sounded barefoot. There was too much of an echo, indicating these pair, yes pair, wore shoes!

Surely it was her friends coming to help her. Just as she was about to call out to them, she heard what sounded like a struggle taking place. She bit her tongue, as much as she wanted to call out, she couldn't risk distracting them. This chick was no joke. Instead she held her breath and waited for things to calm down.

There was a loud crash followed by two smaller echoes, then silence. She held her breath hoping they were in her favor.

It was quiet, too quiet. Taking a chance Riven reached down to grab the nearest flashlight that fell. Flashing it through the room he let out a breath when he realized they were alone.

"It's gone." He swallowed, nudging Brandon forward again.

"Sure, make me go first." Brandon mumbled, picking up his own flashlight.

"Fine, I lead, you follow." Riven smirked easily over his shoulder, leaving Brandon with an uneasy feeling.

"Why do I have a feeling I just set myself up?" He sighed, once again following close behind.

"Musa?" Riven called cautiously. When he didn't get a response he sighed heavily before turning back around.

"Okay let's check the-

"RIVEN!"

"Was that Mu-"

Before Brandon could even finish his question Riven was already well into the next room.

"Well don't leave me!" He called sprinting after him.

Musa wasn't sure if she finally lost it or not but she could have sworn she heard her name being called prior to whatever made the footsteps stop earlier. It couldn't be anyone but them, could it? Oh who was she kidding, it could have been a number of things.

Leaning against the wall once more she listened intently for anything that might help her. She was beginning to lose hope when she heard it.

She was being called for, but not by just anyone. She recognized the deep rasp of that voice anywhere.

"Riven!"

He didn't waste any time getting to her. Within seconds he was through the small opening and within view of the desperate fairy.

"Muse!" She barely had time to let out a gratified sigh before being indulged in his arms.

"Riven." She sobbed happily into his shoulder. Despite all the circumstances she'd never felt more content then in that very moment.

"Are you hurt? What happened? God I thought I lost you." He whispered against her neck.

"I'm okay." She nodded, pulling back to get a good view of him. What she wasn't expecting was to be pulled into a searing kiss that if it weren't for the binds around her wrists she would no doubt be pulling him closer to her with her hands lost somewhere in his hair. She got lost in it for a second before a thought hit her.

Abruptly she pulled back, slightly panting, before scrunching up her nose. "Do you have any idea how many times I've puked down here? That's gross!" She said pulling back further.

"Yeah I think I'm stepping in it." He smirked kissing her forehead before untying her wrists and feet.

"Damn, those ropes did a number on you." Brandon whistled coming up from behind them.

"We've had worse." She shrugged

"True that." He smiled, each specialist taking one of her hands to help her back to her feet.

"Ugh" She groaned, feeling her joints pop from being in a crouching position for so long. Stretching as best she could, her legs felt numb.

"Hold on babe." Riven stopped her, handing her the flashlight he carried.

"Keep vigilant and if you see anything, scream alright?" He asked, slightly crouching for her to climb onto his back. Thankful that she wouldn't have to walk she held on tight but kept her eyes and ears open for anything as they made their way back.

Elsewhere...

Now Yaya considered herself a fairly ration person under fairly rational situations. This however was neither fair nor rational. She had to find her sister, or else she could kiss her trust fund goodbye. She knew her mother well enough to know she would not even quiver at doing so. Then how would she be able afford all the rainbow socks she could want? Surely her sister was more than capable of taking care of herself, but even her poor little demented sister could not face the horrors of an actual ghost alone. It was her job to find her. That and rescue her animal collection.

She was seconds from rounding the corner in an attempt to make it to her sister's room. It just so happen she wasn't going to be making it that far.

So there you have it. I've been absent for a bit. I'm well aware. I apologize and hope to do better in the future. The next chapter will consist of Musa's reunion with the group and a wrap up on the story. It's finally coming to a close. I wonder what kind of theories you've all cooked up for the end.

I would really appreciate some feedback since I've been out of the game for so long. As motivate for your thoughts and in celebration of the grand finale I will reward all reviewers with the little bit of the next chapter I have written. Criticism is welcomed, and as always I hope you enjoyed.