UNITED

"Aargh!" Siana groaned as she clutched her head in pain. "What was that?"

"That must hurt with ears like yours," remarked the demon.

"Wha-?" She felt around her head for her ears and found them not on the side where they normally were, but on top of her head, triangular shaped with thick fur covering them. Shaking her head with disbelief, she said "Come on!" and rushed in the direction of the sound.

Catching up the demon cried "Why are we running?"

"Someone might be in trouble!"

"So?"

"So? They might need our help! Y'know, life or death situation?"

They were now moving down a long street, and at the end was what looked like a tall house crossed with a lookout of some sort. The lights were on.

The demon laughed. "No one dies around here."

Siana stared at him as they reached the house and climbed the long hard steps to the door. It was open, and as the panting demon came up behind her she peered in, not wanting to look like a fool if nothing was wrong. But there was something wrong, for in front of her a tall bony man knelt with his back to them.

"Jack?" the demon said cautiously.

He turned, and Siana saw that he was not a man, but a skeleton in a suit that would have made Riks scream with glee. He wasn't scary; well, not compared to the outraged fish woman. More sort of…creepy. He stood up to his full height (which was very, very high) and Siana saw what he had been crouched over. Behind him lying on the ground, with ghoulish make up and a ghostly dress was none other than-

"Annabelle!"

Siana ran to her friend's side, shaking her lightly. "What's wrong? Is she-"

"She's fine," replied the skeleton named Jack. "Took quite a scare. Partly my fault," he said apologetically.

Siana's glared at him, as he gently picked up Annabelle.

"She needs a warm bed and rest," he said quietly and went up the stairs to the room above.

"Siana?"

Turning she saw cropped blood-red hair, a corset made of bandages and black skirt.

"Valary!" She screamed, jumping up and grabbing her with a tight hug. Valary just stood there, shocked but happy until Siana let her go.

"What're you doing here? What happened? Where's Riks?" she badgered.

"Riks? She's here?"

"Yeh, she's the one that brought me here! Ooh, I am so going to kill her the next time I- where's your hand?" She pointed at Valary's right arm. Valary grined at Siana's sudden change of subjects.

"Uh, over there."

Siana looked at the stack of books on which lay Valary's rather dismal hand. However at its sudden attention it sat up (huh?) and waved before lying still again. She stared for a moment then grinned, looking at Valary.

"Hey that's cool! How'd you do that?" She wandered over to it.

"I didn't do anything. It's like it's alive."

"Yeh yeh," said Siana obviously not believing her. "where's the remote for it?"

"Uh, Siana-"

But Siana had picked it up and was now shaking hands with it.

"That is so cool!" She giggled. "How do you do?" She made big mock shakes, then tried to put it down.

"Hey, it's stuck."

"Here." Someone gently took the hand. Siana glimpsed long auburn hair and large eyes before the person turned and started stitching the hand onto Valary. Siana watched, wincing every time the woman stuck the needle into Valary's arm, but she didn't scream in pain. In fact she was giggling saying how much it tickled as the woman knotted off the thread and popped it away into a pocket in her nightdress.

"Siana this is Sally, Sally- Siana." They shook hands as Valary introduced them.

Valary tested her hand, contracting and relaxing her grip.

"Wow, thanks!"

"You're welcome," she beamed.

"Wait," Siana said slowly. "That was…for real?"

At that moment Jack walked lightly down the stairs and came in front of Siana and Valary.

"I think," he said slowly looking at them, "we need to explain ourselves."

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Siana is based on my friend who is also called Siana. She is very fun to be around with. Booya!