Midnight, deprived of sound. Aqua's own heartbeat sounded like a ticking bomb in her ears. She didn't know when the transition from being asleep to awake happened. In a crescendo, the murmur of spectral whispers, more urgent than before, called for her.

She sat up. Even the ocean was quiet. The voices of the dead beseeched her to go back to sleep, to wake Richard, to protect herself, but she couldn't hear them, no matter how loud they spoke. A shadow emerged from the trees and set her heart into a frenzy. She was about to wake Richard when the shadow adopted a shape. It was a short, chubby shape, with curly hair as dark as the night. It walked until the moonlight illuminated it, and Aqua saw her own hazel eyes in the figure.

Kay.

Aqua gasped and slowly got to her feet. She didn't run, but rather stumbled towards her, her little sister. Could it really be her? Kay smiled, and Aqua reached for her face, almost afraid that she'd go through her like a ghost, like in her dreams. Aqua let out the breath she was holding when she realized it really was her sister, and she pulled her in an embrace, letting the tears fall in Kay's hair.

"It's really you, you're here!" Aqua kept repeating. She beamed, kissing her sister's cheeks, crying.

"Of course it's me, silly."

"Oh, I've missed you so much," Aqua said, tears falling down her cheeks. "I've been looking for you for days, I was so scared…"

"I know, I know. But there's no time for that, we have to go," Kay whispered and pulled Aqua into the jungle, taking her by surprise.

"Where? Are you alone?"

"Mom is with me, and Gaia," Kay said in a voice that was just above a whisper. Aqua thought this was strange, for her sister was always so loud. She dismissed the thought, just happy to have her sister back.

Then she noticed that they were walking on an opposite direction from Aqua's camp.

"Wait, Richard…" she started saying.

"No! I don't trust him," her sister replied.

"I do. He's nice, Kay Kay, I really like him."

"You shouldn't, he's dangerous," Kay's voice was a hurried whisper, as if she were afraid of being caught.

"Richard?"

"Yes, he and Jacob." Aqua was surprised her sister knew who Jacob was. "We have to get rid of them, they're dangerous," Kay said. Aqua was confused, so she stopped walking. Kay didn't look happy about it.

"What do you mean? How do you know Jacob? Kay, what's wrong?"

"Get. Away. From her," Richard's furious voice chimed in, preventing Kay from answering. Aqua turned to him, confused, but when she saw the rifle aimed at Kay, her blood went cold. She pushed the rifle's forearm and faced Richard.

"What are you doing?! She's my sister!" she cried. Richard had fire in his eyes, and he didn't avert them from Kay, who stood still, unfazed.

"That is not your sister," Richard growled.

"What are you talking about?! Of course she is!" Aqua was still crying, baffled.

"See, sis? I told you he was dangerous. He's going to get you killed if we don't kill him first. Remember Isabella, Richard?" Kay's voice was icy and almost frightening. Richard tensed at the mention of Isabella, and Aqua wondered who that could be. She started getting nervous, unsure what to believe anymore.

"I'll tell you one last time, stay away from her," Richard uttered angrily, with clenched teeth, taking a step towards Kay.

"Or you're going to kill me?" she said, mockingly. Richard fired two warning shots at Kay's feet, making Aqua scream.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" she screeched in desperation. Kay was right, her initial suspicion was correct, Richard really was dangerous. Kay lifted her hands, looking slightly annoyed.

"As you wish," she said. And talking to Aqua, "But I'll see you soon enough. Mom, Gaia, and I are waiting for you." She smiled and wandered off. Aqua made a move to follow her, but Richard caught her with one arm, while the other still aimed the gun. Aqua fought against him, but he was too strong.

"Let go of me! Kay! Kay! Don't touch me! KAY!" she screamed, struggling, and she fell to her knees, dragging Richard down with her.

"Aqua, stop!" Richard struggled back, and she slapped him with all her strength. He finally gave in, and Aqua crawled away from his touch, and turned to the spot where her sister had been. It was pointless. In the dark of the night, she had vanished. Again.

Aqua's breathing turned heavy, her blood turned to fire, rage growing in her, ready to explode. Unconscious of her own actions, she attacked Richard. She jumped at him, screeching and scratching. He skillfully shielded himself, managing to take hold of Aqua's wrists.

"WHY?! That was my sister, you son of a bitch!" she screamed. Richard rolled over, putting his weight on Aqua and pinning her down.

"Listen to me! That was not your sister!" Richard screamed back. This renewed Aqua's anger, and she fought with unbelievable strength, managing to scratch Richard's arms and face. He repeated the same thing, over and over. She's not your sister, she's not your sister, she's not your sister. It's the monster, it's the monster, it's the monster. Aqua yelled and yelled, calling Kay's name, but never got an answer.

"I know her, I touched her, I know it was her! Kay!"

"Your sister is dead!" Richard's voice roared above Aqua's. She stopped fighting when she processed his words. The angry tears turned to sad tears, tears of disbelief. Like a deer in the headlights, Aqua froze, eyes wide open, dumbfounded. Richard slowly let go of her hands, and she remained lying where she was. A knot had formed in her throat, and her whole body felt weak.

A few minutes went by before Aqua could move. Sitting up, she avoided Richard's gaze.

"How could you know that?" she whispered.

"That was the monster. He adopts the form of someone who has died, and he plays tricks with your mind," Richard explained somberly. "I'm really sorry, Aqua, but I'm afraid your mother and sisters are…" Aqua didn't hear the end of the sentence, for her brain went fuzzy, muffling the sound of his voice and making the world spin around. She felt very light, empty, like she could float away with the slightest breeze.

With Richard's help, she stood up and staggered back to their camp. Richard followed close behind. She collapsed on the wet sand, the ocean water hugging her with every wave. Down in her knees, she let out the most heartbreaking cry Richard had ever heard. He let her cry alone until he noticed she couldn't hold herself up anymore. So he took her in his arms, carried her back to the bonfire, and lay down with her. She wept, protected by Richard's embrace, until there was nothing else in her, a broken, empty vase, swept away by the darkness of unconsciousness.