Chapter 7

"Your other half is gone, Chosen One," says Senkhara, making herself visible in Nina's dream.

"Other half?" asks Nina. "Joy?"

"Yes, I'm afraid you won't be able to fulfill your duties without her. She was very vital the process."

"Process? What process?"

"The process of connecting the world of the living and the world of the gods. You see, it pains me and many others to be trapped as mere ghosts, going unseen to most. With her we could have once again walked among the living."

"How exactly was Joy supposed to do this?" asks Nina.

"She was the descendant of Isis, the sole link between our two worlds." With that Senkhara disappeared into the air.

Nina wakes up just as Patricia comes bursting through the door. "I had the weirdest dream," she says.

"Really?" So did I," says Nina. "What was yours about?"

"There was this ghostly lady and she was just standing over me, smiling. I kept asking her questions but she didn't say anything. Then, right before she left, she put her hand on my arm. When she let lifted it away my arm was glowing. When the glowing died down a little bit I could make out a name written in cursive. Then, after she was gone, I heard, 'It's your turn now. Go, finish the task'. When I woke up the name was still there." Patricia rolled up her shirt sleeve revealing four neatly written letters that spelled out 'Isis'.

"Oh my gosh," Nina whispers.

"What is it?" asks Patricia.

"Isis. That's the name of the god that Joy was a descendant of."

"Why would she be in my dream though? And why would I have to 'finish the task'. What task?"

"I- I think you might be like taking Joy's place as Isis or something."

"That can happen?"

"At this point," says Nina, taking a deep breath, "I wouldn't doubt it."

"I just don't understand. Why me?"

"Maybe it's because you were closest to her."

"Yes, that could have something to do with it but I think there's more."

"Senkhara!" the girls shout, startled by the sudden appearance of the ghost.

"You see her too now?" Nina asks, looking at Patricia who nods in response.

"Did you by any chance eat that stew Vera prepared the other day?" asks Senkhara.

"Um yeah, why?" asks Patricia.

"Interesting. Are you aware of what was in it?"

"Uh, beef?"

"Not beef, but the flesh of your departed friend." With that Senkhara was gone.

Nina and Patricia look at each other in horror. "We-," says Patricia shakily, "We ate Joy." Then both girls burst into tears.