15: In Which Maka Finally Follows Crona and Realizes Everything's Worse Than It Seems

It had been a couple of weeks since Maka had seen Crona. Yet they came by one sunny day with another prescription for Dr. Stein. Maka was overjoyed to say the least.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Crona! Not since we all went to the beach together. How are you?"

"I'm okay," they replied. "I actually got sick for a bit. But I'm feeling better now."

"Did you run out of medicine? Your guardians should have called in! I would've made a delivery to the orphanage."

Crona flinched. "That's okay. I'm better now, so I can come get my own things."

Dr. Stein stepped out from his side of the store. He had a large paper bag full of herbs.

"There you go. I put in a bit more than usual, since you've been gone for so long. No extra charge," he added as Crona began digging through their pockets. "You're a regular. Think of it as a bonus."

"Thank you, doctor."

Stein nodded and went back to his apothecary. Maka turned to smile at Crona.

"We're all having lunch. You should join us."

"Lunch? At two?"

Maka laughed. "Yep! Once everyone knew my break started at two, they started coming by every day to eat with me. It's become a bit of a tradition now. Well, a tradition after nine days. It was Soul's idea, and everyone was on board. You should join us! It'll be fun!"

"Well…okay. I have some time."

Crona took a seat in between Maka and Tsubaki. They made an open-faced sandwich and listened in on the intense conversation happening between Black*Star and Kid over the importance of mathematics in schools.

"I'm just saying, if everyone needed to know all those equations then they would appear in our day-to-day lives," Black*Star was saying. "I don't think I've ever used anything but addition and subtraction in the real world. And everything else can be done by calculators and cash registers!"

Kid was not pleased. "There is always the possibility that some of that 'useless' math we learn in school will spark an idea in someone. Do you think engineers use only addition and subtraction? There's much more to it. If you want to design planes and cars with Kilik and Soul, then you may want to brush up on your sums."

"That's it! I'm gonna show you what's actually important to learn!"

Black*Star made to leap across the table, but was held down by Tsubaki. The Japanese girl turned to Crona with an apologetic smile.

"You know we're not usually like this," she said, trying to calm everyone at the table. "Right?"

Liz groaned. "Who cares? I mean, if you like math, great. If not, I hope you're good at something else, but also great. The only skill Patty's got is coloring, and that's fine by me. Isn't it, Patty."

The girl gave her sister a thumbs up before going back to doodling on the edge of her napkin.

"Enough talk about school," groaned Soul. "I don't want to think about it. We've only got a month of summer vacation left. Let's do something cool together. I was thinking we could play a game of basketball on the court down by the bay."

There was a lot of enthusiastic agreement. Maka had only heard of the sports from television. Apparently it was becoming pretty popular in America. She'd never played it before, but agreed.

"It sounds like fun, but you guys need to teach me the rules."

Soul said, "Yeah, leave it to us."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't." They stood. "I should go now."

"Crona?"

"I'm sorry," they repeated before ducking out.

Liz came up beside Maka with a frown. "What's up with 'em? I know Crona's not the chattiest person on earth, but even they're more friendly most of the time."

"I don't know," Maka replied, frowning also.

The same thing continued for the next few days. Crona would stop by the café for lunch with the group as always, but they would immediately excuse themselves and leave the moment any talk of meeting outside of lunchtime came up. It got to the point where everyone was worried. Maka tried to intercept them outside of the café during lunch, but the child was quick and managed to evade Maka each day.

Then they vanished for two whole days. Everyone was worried. Crona had slowly become a regular face among their group. Not seeing them was nerve-wracking.

One rainy evening Crona came in. Maka wanted to run out from the back of the store to say hello, but something about the child's demeanor held her back.

Their wavelength was off.

It had always been faint, but today it was erratic. Maka frowned. She knew Crona was ill, but surely an illness wouldn't do that to a person.

It seemed Dr. Stein thought the same thing.

"Crona, is everything okay? You don't look too good."

"I don't feel well," they admitted.

They definitely didn't look well. Crona's already skinny body looked more stickily. Their skin had a greyish tint to it, and their eyes were rimmed with red.

Miss Marie came over as well. "Would you like some tea? Maybe something to eat?"

"No, thank you. I'm only here to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Marie exclaimed. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean what I say. I'm leaving. I won't be coming back. So I came to say goodbye."

"This must be some sort of joke," Maka heard Miss Marie say.

"Let me give you a ride to the orphanage," offered Stein. "There's no reason to get wet on a day like this. I know it's a pretty long walk too."

Crona shook their head. "I'm not going there. I wanted to come here to tell you the truth. The medicine doesn't help me. It never has. I don't want it anymore. But it's too late now, right?"

"Crona? Please explain."

The child fidgeted under Stein's gaze, but shook their head defiantly.

"Thank you for everything, Dr. Stein, Miss Marie… Maka?" Crona seemed shocked to see the witch when she came out from the kitchen.

"Crona, wh—"

They quickly turned away and walked out of the shop, the bell jingling cheerily behind them. Maka stood there, surprised. Never had Crona walked out on her like that.

"What's going on?" Maka demanded. "Why does Crona's wavelength feel so off?"

Dr. Stein was frowning. "I have no idea. There's something wrong. Crona's wavelength has always been a bit muddled. I figured it was just a side effect of the medicine. Being sick, taking medication, it can all lead to alterations in one's soul since their life is in danger. But today was different. Maka, you felt it too, didn't you?"

"This isn't just sick," said Maka firmly. "There's something wrong with Crona's soul."

Marie looked worried. "We should stop them. Which way did they go?"

"Left." Stein frowned. "But that's odd, the orphanage is to the right."

Marie was going to grab her raincoat. "I'll stop them."

"I can do it!" said Maka.

The witch ran to her room where her broom was. Blair was there as well.

"Blair, come on!"

The cat looked up. "Where are we going?"

"We're going after Crona."

She dashed down the stairs with her broomstick. Rather than going through the shop Maka made a left and began going down the street. She heard footsteps following her. Then a gentle yet steady hand was on her shoulder.

"Maka, please calm down."

"I'm going after Crona."

"Maka, wait!"

"If anyone calls about deliver inquiries, tell them I won't be in until tomorrow!"

"Maka!" Marie stood before her, tears welling up in her eyes. "Maka, please, hear me out."

The witch paused. She'd never seen Miss Marie cry. She honestly never wanted to see it again.

"Franken just told me the way Crona's wavelength was altered isn't natural. No disease should warp it like that. There might be something or someone dangerous behind it. We can't guarantee your safety if you go after Crona."

"But Miss Marie," Maka interjected. "Crona could be in danger. I'm afraid for them. If I don't follow them, then we may never see them again. I know I shouldn't go off my gut feeling like this, but I think I can fix this. I could sense Crona's wavelength stronger than anything today.

"Just let me go after them. I promise I'll bring them back here if I can. It's the least I can do." When Miss Marie paused, she said, "Please."

There was a sort of defeated sigh coming from Marie. She released Maka's shoulder.

"You're right. I know I can't stop you. Just promise me you won't do anything reckless. I want to see both of you home safely, okay?"

"I understand."

Maka flew straight up. The air was chilly and wet from the misty rain. It created a fog around the streets that made it harder to see.

"You're going too high," Blair warned.

"Hush," Maka commanded. She took out her binoculars and began scanning the surrounding area. "Blair, I know you have much better vision than me. Help me spot Crona."

"Why don't you try to sense them again?" Blair asked. "Maka said she could sense Crona's wavelength today."

"Maybe I still can," Maka finished. "I'll give it a try."

It was definitely harder when there wasn't a specific place to focus on. But Maka was able to think about Crona.

Remember the way their wavelength felt. Remember how it jumped. Find jumps. They're the key to finding your friend.

It was faint since she was so high up, but Maka knew it the moment she felt it. The broom flew her in the direction she wanted to go without too much encouragement. So far so good. If Maka could just talk some sense into Crona then everything would be okay.

"Crona!" she called as the familiar skinny figure came into view.

"Maka?" The child turned, fear flashing through their eyes. Crona held up theirs hands as if to block out the sight. "I told you not to follow me! I don't want you to get hurt."

Maka landed before them. "What is there that's so bad you need to hide it from everyone? From me? I thought we were friends, Crona. Friends are there to help each other. Why won't you let me help you?"

"I don't need your help. I don't need your friendship! Just go away! You'll be safer without me!"

Everything about their tone practically screamed 'help me.' Maka refused to back down without a fight.

"I don't care about my safety!" she shouted. "All I want to know is the truth. Why are you suddenly avoiding us?" Maka dropped her broom and shook Crona by the shoulders. "You can't just walk out on us like that! Just tell me what's wrong!"

"I can't, I can't, I can't! If I do she'll hurt me, and then she'll hurt you and everyone else. Let me protect you from her."

"Who?" Maka demanded. "Who?"

"Well well. I didn't expect this to happen."

Maka looked up at the voice. Her heart rose up to her chest in shock.

"Lady Medusa?"

The blonde smiled. It was a completely different smile than the one she'd first given Maka almost a month ago. Gone was any façade of warmth; there was nothing but dark mirth in her wicked grin.

"Hello again, Miss Witch," she practically purred. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Neither did I." Maka was confused. "Lady Medusa, what are you doing here?"

"That should be my line, Maka, considering you're standing in front of my house."

Her house?

Maka looked up. She hadn't realized the stone wall she'd been walking next to was actually surrounding a dark mansion. Most of it was obscured. She turned back to Medusa, who was standing in front of the black gates leading to the house.

"I suggest you leave," Lady Medusa said.

Maka shook her head. "I wanted to talk to my friend. I won't leave until I'm done."

"Your friend? Surely you don't mean Crona here!"

Maka blanched. "You know Crona."

Medusa sighed. "Oh dear, this is getting far more complicated than I thought it would. I knew I should've never let the child out. Crona. Didn't I specifically tell you I didn't want you bringing other here?"

Crona bowed their head. "Yes Lady Medusa."

"And what did I say would happen if you brought someone with you?"

Crona's shoulders sagged. "That I would never see them again."

"Very good. Now come inside right this instant."

"Understood."

Crona stepped past Maka, who was petrified. This couldn't be happening. This woman, who seemed so kind and understanding when Maka first met her, couldn't be the person behind Crona's illness. She couldn't be!

"Crona?" Maka asked weakly. "Crona, you'll be okay, right?"

She was surprised to find herself in an embrace. Crona pulled away after a few seconds, the saddest smile on their lips.

"Goodbye, Maka Albarn."

Crona turned and walked inside, the gate closing behind them with a thump.

Maka fell to her knees. She felt numb all over, as if all the strength in her body suddenly deserted her. She only felt fear as tears filled her eyes. Blair was saying something, trying to comfort her, but it was all for naught. Maka finally took a shuddering breath.

She had a sinking feeling she would never see her friend again.

Ah, here is the end of a relatively short chapter before the monster one!
Never trust Medusa. Ever.

On that note, I have to put in a quick warning about the next chapter. It gets violent, and there is blood. I'm just putting that out there for anyone who isn't okay with characters going through major bodily harm and near-death experiences.

Next chapter: The kids hatch a plan to break Crona out. They weren't expecting what happened after that.