The knock echoed through the room. Calliope and Crona jumped at the unexpected sound, instinctively flinching into each other. "Calliope? Please, come with me. I have some things I would like to discuss with you. Oh, Crona, you are welcome to accompany us." Kid's voice sounded much more professional than usual. Something must have been on his mind, something serious.

"Okay, Kid. We'll be out in just a moment!" Callie called back, steadying her breathing. She stood and helped Crona stand from where they had been huddled on the floor between the beds.

"W-what do you think it is?" Crona muttered, low enough that it wouldn't be heard through the door.

Callie smiled at them, patting their arm gently, "I'm sure everything is just fine, love. No need to be nervous, alright?" But even though she tried to hide it, she was still rather anxious. Kid led them through the school, and several people watched as they walked past, some just smiled and waved, but then she saw Roxy, who had been laughing with Jane until she saw the trio. Callie saw her smile drop to confusion, then concern, then anger. Before she could get up, she saw Rose put a hand on her shoulder and whisper in her ear.

Callie frowned. Was Roxy angry with her? Had she done something to upset her? She searched her recent memory, but she couldn't think of anything. Last time she had spent time with Roxy, everything had been fine. They'd made cupcakes with Jane, not a week earlier. Was it because Callie hadn't attempted to contact her in a few days?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Crona brushed their fingers against her hand. She looked at them and they were giving her a small smile. She smiled back and took the offered hand. She decided to find Roxy after their talk with Kid, and find out what was wrong.

Kid remained silent for the duration of their walk, so Callie and Crona followed suit. It wasn't an awkward silence, but more of a nervous one. Kid's head was hanging, not held high as it usually was. His entire demeanor had changed, which was very disconcerting. How long would the silence hang in the air? Calliope's nerves were starting to get to her, and she felt her heartbeat coming harder, and felt her mind disconnect from her body. Of course, Crona noticed, and squeezed her hand gently, bringing her right back to herself before she had enough time to dissociate further.

They finally arrived at the door of the Death Room, which hammered in how serious whatever this situation was. Kid pushed open the door, and lead the other two towards the center of the room. Lord Death was there, sitting at a table in the shape of his mask. Kid sat by his side, and gestured for the others to sit opposite them.

"Lord Death," Calliope greeted, taking her sit, Crona sitting with her.

"Thank you both for coming today. Please, have some tea," He motioned to the two cups in front of them, steam and the scent of chamomile rising from them. Hands trembling, they both accepted, and held the cups, the warmth of it helping to steady their hands. Neither drank from it, simply stared down at the gold liquid.

There was only silence, for far too long for comfort. Callie furrowed her brow, took a breath, and lifted her head, setting the drink back down. "Please, tell me why I've been called here. Have I done something wrong? If so, I apologize very much and I will do whatever it takes to attone-"

Kid raised a hand, "Calliope. Please. You have done absolutely nothing wrong. You are not here for punishment. We…" His expression changed to one of concern, which made Callie's stomach tie into knots even tighter than before. "We…" He hesitated again. Breathing deep, he looked directly into her eyes, "We need your help."

"There's a witch. It seems she has amassed a large number of followers, similar to Arachne with Arachnophobia. A weapon/meister pair was sent to collect her soul, but we were not aware of the extent of her power, nor her entourage. They didn't stand a chance, but did manage to escape after eliminating several dozen of them. Our intelligence indicates that she's gaining followers of all kinds, including other witches. She...has managed to recruit Miss Marie as well."

Crona interrupted the explanation with a small gasp, "M-miss M-m-marie? Sh-she left us? But. But she wouldn't do that!"

Holding up a hand again, Kid continued, "I agree, I fully believe Miss Marie was not acting of her own free will, meaning this witch has something up her sleeve. Whether it be threats, or some kind of...mind control."

Calliope understood. If mind control was behind this, then she would be the only one who couldn't be affected. She was the only one who was able to fully and completely resist, and keep her mind to herself. Only she could. That was why they needed her. They wanted to send her. And oh, god, how that thought terrified her.

Instantly she began to tremble, full body shaking. Crona wrapped their arms around her, murmuring into her ear, asking her if she was okay, telling her to calm down, that everything was okay. The reapers only watched, waiting for the duo to calm down.

"What," she took a breath, trying to steady her breaths, "what do you need me to do?" She was hoping she was wrong. She didn't want to go. She didn't want to. She didn't. She didn't. She couldn't go. She just couldn't…

The sympathetic look Kid gave her was answer enough, but he still went on.

"Callie. We will not force you to do this. But we still must ask. You're the only one who can infiltrate without actually being affected by mind control. If anything goes wrong, we will do what we can to get you back. You must understand, this is the best way we can do this. With the least…"

Casualties. If she went, she could help. She could get the information they needed. She could protect others. All she had to do, was be willing to sacrifice herself.

She thought of Roxy, of Jane and Feferi. Of Crona and Ragnarok and Maka and Soul. Of all of her wonderful, beautiful friends. The ones who were always so kind to her. The ones whom she loved the most. And now, she could do something to pay them back for everything they'd done for her. Repay Roxy for saving her. Make up for all the horrible atrocities she had committed.

She couldn't say no.

She felt tears pouring down her face, her fear still present, but her mind made up. "I'll do it," she choked out.

"THE FUCKIN HELL YOU WILL!"

Roxy stormed into the room, glaring daggers at Kid.

"Hey, now, you shouldn't be in-"

"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" She cursed at Lord Death, stomping over to them. She grabbed the table and flipped it, sending it flying across the room, and took Kid by the collar. He didn't resist. He hated having to ask the cherub to do something like this. He understood Roxy's rage. But he did grab onto her fist as she tried to punch his face.

Calliope approached, sobbing now, "Roxy. Roxy, please. I want to do this. I want to help! I want to be able to do some good!"

The human threw Kid down with force and turned to Callie, holding her face in her hands, Eyes watering as she gazed into the cherub's. "Callie, Callie, Callie, you are good, you are so good, too good for this world, too pure, please, don't go, please, Calliope, please I love you so much please don't go." She pleaded, crying herself now.

The two slumped to the floor, holding each other and crying. The other three just watched, unsure of what to say. Roxy leaned into Calliope and kissed her softly, only for a moment. "Please Callie you mean so much to me, you're so important, please don't leave me, please."

They were a bawling mess, clinging to each other. Finally Calliope got a grip on herself, and held Roxy's face. "Please, lovely. I want to do this, I truly, really do. Please, let me. I cannot stand the thought of upsetting you so terribly. Please, Roxy, let me go."

This, of course, sent Roxy into another fit of sobs. She adored Calliope, she loved her so, so much. Calliope, being a cherub, did not have the emotional capacity to feel this kind of love. Anything besides kismesissitude was out of the question for her. But that did not keep Roxy from pining after the one person she wanted most in the world. Calliope was everything, soft, sweet, kind, and beautiful. Broken, yes but Roxy had saved her from that dreadful world. She fell in love the moment she looked into those striking lime green eyes. And letting her walk back into the fray, with no way of knowing if she'd be safe… Roxy almost couldn't bear the thought. But if it really was what Callie wanted, she couldn't ever hold her back.

Catching her breath, Roxy nodded solemnly. "Okay. Okay, if...if this really is what you want. God, Callie, please, please be careful. And if anything, ANYTHING bad happens to you, I will come for you. I'll save you over and over again. I promise you…"