I am so sorry for the confusion. I missed a chapter and am just now getting around to fixing it. Again, so sorry.


We weren't allowed in the bridge. The meeting was for official ninja.

"No, it's cool," Nancy had said when we heard that. "We just helped save the world and all. That doesn't really make us ninja now does it."

We were sitting on the edge of the deck, looking over the city. It was quiet and I didn't hear anything from the bridge. After what had just happened, I was utterly shocked by the lack of yelling. Alex was right through. The past doesn't define a person. Doesn't define…

I turned my gaze towards the middle of the city.

Everyone deserved a second chance. I remember when I messed up, freeing Kim and unleashing the Overlord. I got my chance to fix it. Sure, I'd broken a few ribs that for some reason tingle now when I'm taking a test, but I still made up for it. When I go back to school…school. Had I been expelled for using my powers? Were we in the Underworld longer than I thought and I missed a couple days? I had perfect attendance! Well, since entering third grade.

Lucas came out and sat next to me. "Hey, kids."

"Shouldn't you be in the meeting?" Nancy asked.

"I should, but Zoey asked me to leave," Lucas said.

"And you do what she says because you love her," I said.

Lucas smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah, I do." He watched me thoughtfully for a moment. "Echo, what you did back there was very dangerous."

"Which part?" I asked.

Lucas looked down at his lap. "Yeah…I mean all of it. I was referring to the Marks though. Show me your hand."

I held out my hand where the mark was still there, a dark outline that looked like I colored a Ω on my hand with Sharpie. I lightly touched it. "It doesn't hurt," I said. "It did at first, like pain in my hand. Then up my arm."

"The Mark is the reason it was so hard for Zoey and I to escape," Lucas told me. "The skeletons use it to track their prisoners. That's putting you in danger right now."

"I had to help you guys," I said. "I–"

"Hey, I get it," Lucas told me. "Just…geez. I should be thanking you. The thing is that all the pressure from three Marks is gonna be tough on you."

I traced the outline, feeling a tingling sensation shoot through my body. "I don't know how I was able to handle it in the first place, but I'm sure I'll grow use to it."

Caleb snapped his fingers and we looked to him. Echo, we can share it. The three of us.

"What did he say?" Lucas questioned.

"That's a great idea, Caleb," Nancy said. "I know I could, but what about you?"

He nodded.

"Guys, really, I'm fine," I said.

"No, it's better if we share it," Nancy said. "It'll be different than when you took them. Okay, come on." She moved more towards the center of the deck. Caleb and I followed her and we sat in a circle. Lucas just watched.

What's your plan? Caleb asked.

"Echo, put your hand out," Nancy said.

I put my hand in the middle of us, palm up. "Okay."

Nancy grabbed Caleb's left hand and put it to the side of my hand, putting her right one on the opposite side. "On three, we all put our hands together. One. Two. Three!"

We put our hands together. It did feel different this time. It felt like instead of carrying a huge burdan, I was carrying a smaller one. It was still there, but just not as hard. Since the Marks of the Underworld combined in my hand to one, it was one-third that each of us had (learned that in school last week).

Joey walked down from the bridge. He had a serious look on his face. "Lucas, Zoey refuses to let any of us go near her. She says she only wants to speak to you," he said.

Lucas jumped up lightning quick and ran to the bridge.

Joey came over and sat down on his knees. "I see you split it," he noted. "Echo, may I ask you a question?"

"You just did," I said, honestly afraid to be near Joey. His powers were very powerful. He said it was dark magic so I expected nothing less, but it still frightened me.

Joey kinda shifted nervously. "Have you ever been in the Dark Forest?"

I hesitated a moment too long. Joey seemed to know that I had been there.

"That's how you could take all the Marks at once and make it into one," Joey said. "Skeletons are the souls of anyone who ended up in prison because they committed a very bad crime. The Mark of the Underworld is like an imprint of evil. You're time in the Dark Forest immuned part of you from it."

"Hey, now wait a minute and back up," I said. "Caleb almost ended up in the Underworld, but he never–"

"Hey, calm down," Joey said, glancing to the sky. "He felt guilty I'm guessing. Children who die at a young age don't get judgement. They make their way to the Spirit Realm, or heaven, but if they have something weighing them down, the skeletons take advantage and try to pull them to the Underworld."

I did feel guilty, Caleb signed. I still feel guilty. I'm the reason my real parents are dead! Wouldn't you feel guilty by that?

Joey paused for a moment, like it took him longer to understand what Caleb signed. Then he nodded. "Yeah. I would. My father was killed because of his powers and my mother was killed for trying to save my father. Before my mother left, she told me I had a choice. I could either do something or I could let my father be killed. I was ten, totally not ready to decide between life and family."

"You chose life," Nancy guessed.

Joey nodded again. "Sometimes, there's just a part of you that let's you know you're not ready to die. You have to listen to it, because it's usually right."

Caleb stared at Joey, like he could totally relate, which I guess was true. He also looked like he was about to burst into tears. I moved closer to him, giving him a look that told him I was there for him.

"Echo, I have something for you," Joey said. He pulled out a crystal. It was completely clear, I almost didn't know it was there. "I used this on my powers a few times. Now that I have full control, I don't need it. With this prophecy and everything, and you being in a public school, you need it more. It suppresses your powers to a point where you can control them. The more you learn to control, the less is suppressed." He tossed it to me, a silver clain appearing through it. It automatically set around my neck and the crystal turned to a stormy grey.

"Cool," I said, staring at it for a moment. I looked up. "Thanks, Joey."

Joey smiled. "No problem. Oh, and if you ever want to talk to me, see that little button on the chain? Press it and I'll come see you."

"Wait, you're not staying?" I questioned.

"I'm sorry, but no," Joey said. "I…I don't stay any place too long. Not a lot of people like dark magic. It's cool though, I'm not a people person."

"I totally get it," Nancy said. "Not a lot of people want me either. I'm too much work for an eight-year-old. I'm fine at the orphanage though."

"How are you too much work?" Joey asked.

"Well, I have insomnia. I'm awake for a long time and when I finally get to sleep I am out. I literally wake up fifteen minutes before the bus comes," she said. "Lots of adults don't seem to like that."

"Huh," Joey said. "Well…" He stood up. "I have something I have to do before I move on. Something about bombs and I have to remove them. I'll see you guys around. And Echo."

"Yeah?" I asked.

He smiled. "Think about that prophecy. If you can come up with another meaning, that can change everything." Then, without another word, he vanished.


As I said, I'm sorry for the confusion. Please review, and don't flame.