"This really," I panted as we headed down the strange turns and twist of the underground paths, "is getting old." I stopped suddenly, as exhaustion ran throughout my whole body, it yelling for me to halt.

"Claire?" Elliot called back to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said straightening up again. Noticing Oz's concerned expression I past if out. "Let's go."

I don't understand. What's this sudden tug on my chest? What's the pain that's rushing throughout me? That's when we saw even more red cloaked men. Great it was just their day to show up for work, huh?

"Claire," Oz said as I stood in front of him, Radiant Garden in hand.

"I'm the bodyguard remember," I said clearly going after the red cloaks with Elliot and Echo.

"This is too time consuming," I jogged after finishing right behind Oz and being between him and Elliot. Suddenly a felt a harsh tug on my heart as I skipped a step and fell to the floor on all fours. "Come on," Elliot said bringing me up. Yet the tug on my heart felt tighter and stronger until I noticed it struck me with force. My eyes widened in recognition. This forceful retreat…a string was cut. It felt just like Liam's sudden cut as well. Could it be…that someone died…? "Claire!" he hissed to me not wanting to raise his voice there.

"What happened," Oz called, stopping with Vincent.

He's the chief in this mission right now, "Someone…died." I tried not hesitating as I said the next words finally noticing the silent tears that came down my cheeks.

Even when I hadn't told anyone, it didn't take away the truth I was. The truth that I held of being a Baskerville even if it was when I was eight years old. Even with the short span of four years I managed to connect to them like any Baskerville did with their comrades.

With this timeless connection, I was easily able to know who had perished in battle.

"Fang," I said slowly taking it in as I turned to Oz. Sure I'd kept this a secret from everyone, but I trust he's smart even to figure this out by his own. "Fang Baskerville is dead."

It wasn't until then that I felt the thread I'd placed on Lily started to rapidly flee in high speed. Gaining my composure I said what I concluded, "The Baskervilles have fled. The fight outside is done with."

"Then that means Gilbert must be on his way," Elliot said hopeful.

I glance at Oz with a grim face and understood the problem, "Even if that is so," I said what I presume would sum up everything his face showed. "We cannot waste time waiting around doing nothing. We must stop that ritual from happening. Us is all we have to do it with."

Oz got his pocket watch out and opened it checking time. "Then," he said turning to go, closing the watch and putting it away, "We must keep going."

"Claire, we've found Liam's presence. It seems Eques sent him away for his life with in too much jeopardy to withstand this."

I nodded, "Liam's been found."

He smiled and nodded, "None of their forgoes will be in vain." We stopped in front of the corner and I noticed that the window like openings gave us a view on the level below, "There." We moved to see but still hiding ourselves.

Then I saw it the rather weird seal all around the sealing stone. They were preparing for the ritual. A sudden jolt went throughout my body. The magnitude so forceful I actually fell to my knees holding myself.

"Claire!" Elliot's voice barely reached my head as I noticed I was hearing something above it.

…I'…ound…ou…

I've never heard that voice before. Such voice…sweet…soft…

…pure…

…I've found you…

My sight and hearing was suddenly gone for a second. I felt someone place their back against mine. Then their head against my own. Who are you?

There's really nothing special about me to know, Claire. All I will say is I'm sorry about being the bringer of this kind of misfortune towards you.

Misfortune? What do you mean?

He never let go of me… Even when I asked him to live on even if I were gone. His regret got to me and my soul lingered in the world empty without a place to be. Until…I found you…

Found me?

The night of the ritual, exactly a hundred and fifteen years ago, on the last stroke of midnight I found a beating less heart. A child that was born without a life to live.

"Me?" I found myself saying those words out loud.

Take care of him…don't get lost of who it is you truly love…

I finally found my sight as the girl's last words hung on me.

Don't let my love get tangled in your own…

"Leo…" Elliot's voice heard my voice but above it Oz's voice woke me up completely from the girl's trance, "Alice! Yura, what did you do to Alice!" He called over to Elliot, "Elliot! Go help Leo! Take Claire with you! I will take care of Yura…"

"Who do you think…you're talking to!" he yelled back getting my hand and dragging me along. My mind was completely blank to anything going on. Oz was mad which was unusual yet comprehensible. Elliot was pissed at Oz and worried of Leo. Yet what about me?

What's happening to me? I'm getting too caught up with everything. No…

This isn't me. This isn't who I am.

No…please listen to me!

"Fuck you!" I called aloud noticing Elliot's strange look on me as I yank his hand off mine. "You're just like all the others who took place in us! Jack! Glen! All of them took our lives and put us in this mess!"

Listen! If you ignore me, you'll never know what to do when you find Glen!

"Elliot!" I called going after him and yanking him over to me. I had to get this girl out of my mind until we can escape from this place. Until Leo and Alice are safe. Until Break is better and Yura's dealt with.

"What're you-" but his sentence ended soon enough as I shut him up when I met his lips. Confused he simply followed my lead and kissed me as well.

Wait…!

But her voice faded soon with the kiss we engulfed in. yet it ended soon enough when he pulled me away from the shoulders.

"It's not the time for this Claire," he said softly, "We have to hurry save Leo."

"Thanks," I said finally getting my mind to myself. "Let's get going now."

"Y-yeah," he said hesitant as we went more underground. Finally getting into a level underground we found a couple more of the red cloaks. With Radiant Dawn on my left and Elliot holding his sword we went to it. Yet when we finished something pulled down to my being.

"I'm getting tired," I murmured to myself. I looked over to Elliot and saw his shocked expression. "Elliot, what's wrong?" I turned to where he was looking. Then my own widened. "You…you're…" yet I couldn't speak another word.

"You made it in the end, Elliot," her sweet, gentle voice alike his when he has such gentle aspect. Yet this time it wasn't the same tone of the woman I admired so much. "You've brought that vermin along with you, well no matter." She looked over at us with that gentle smile, "Please, come closer. Let's perform…this miracle together."

I glanced over to the table were Leo was laying down. This wasn't the time to hesitate. I raised my blade to her. "I really don't want to do this Madame Nightray," I saw truthfully, "So please get out of our way."

"Gladly, Yura gave me this to stop this vermin," pulling out with her left hand a small rock with a dark glow. A sudden shock went through my body and I dropped to my knees as the pain extended and augmented gravely. "A double contractor as yourself is greater by the sealing stone even if only an imitation of the stone."

Radiant Dawn fell from my hands and disappeared as I clutched my chest as I was having a hard time breathing. My hearts hurt and so did in taking air. I glance over at Elliot, somehow unable to move or talk. That's when I noticed the shock he had. He simply said one word, "Mo…ther?"

Sorry its so short. I've barely figured this much but I hope it's enough to keep up the good work.