"Run, run away! They are coming," the man screamed as he approached the two.

Eleanor glanced past the man and saw no one. "Who coming?"

But just as he was about to reach them, the man vanished into a pile of black leaves very much similar to the one Eleanor had picked a moment ago. She jumped in fright when the laughter continued but this time very close.

"Damn Houdini's," cursed Fred. "Eleanor we need to move. It's too open here and we'll get slaughtered if we fight the Houdini here."

"What are Houdinies? Some kind of splicer?"

"Yea and the hard to find and kill kind too. Get behind me and watch behind us."

"How do you know so much about their kind."

Fred could feel his anger rising but he quickly suppressed it. "Because they're the one that killed, that took my wife from me."

Eleanor turned around and grabbed Fred's shoulder. He paused for a moment and looked at her. "I know you didn't know about that. I made peace with her death a long time ago but we- DUCK."

Fred grabbed Eleanor's head right before an orb of fire surged over them.

"Sorry about that."

Eleanor shrugged keeping her eyes on their surroundings.

"Eleanor, listen, we need to find a wall to put our backs to. It's the only way to fight them."

"Right. Following you."

As they quickened their pace the laughter continued on both sides. One of the voices Eleanor could swear was a woman's laughter but she felt too scared to figure it out. They walked down the hallway and through another until they came to some stairs. Fred opted to see where they lead and Eleanor agreed.

At the bottom of the stairs they rounded a corner to find themselves ankle-deep in water.

"Tch, wrong turn," Fred scolded himself.

Eleanor looked around the small, flooded corner of, what she thought to be the basement and found letters glowing on a foliage covered wall. In disregard towards Fred's admonishment, she uncovered the symbols and read the jumbled name.

"Saternine?"

More laughter continued to echo throughout the basement. It seemed as if they were surrounded.

"Eleanor this place is no good. Let's go somewhere else."

She turned around and grabbed his wrist. "No this place is perfect. We'll be able to see their footsteps in the water."

Fred face looked of surprise. He did not expect the girl to be this cunning. "Fine, we'll do it your way. But still back to back, agreed?"

"Yes."

The laughter filled the room with a sense of dread but the silence that followed with even scarier still. Suddenly two sets of footsteps raced through the water and back out. Fred fired towards one and missed while Eleanor shot a bolt of electricity.

"Woah Eleanor, careful you don't fry us in the water. Wait a minute that's it." Fred whispered something into her ear and they both slowly made their way onto a table that lay against the wall.

"Ready," Eleanor whispered.

"I am."

"Hah, those Houdinies are not as scary as I first thought," Eleanor taunted.

"I know right. They can't hide in water at all. Just a couple idiots who can't swim. What? No laughter? Cat hid your tongues?"

Eleanor began giggling at that last one until the water began splashing around.

"Eleanor now," shouted Fred.

Eleanor spread her fingers and watched the current twitching between them leap to the surrounding water. The electricity jumped from particle to particle in the water until it found it mark. The man they had previously seen now thrashed as the current fried his body. Fred pointed his weapon and pumped the man with three shots for good measure. The current finally died down and took the Houdini with it. The atmosphere regained its popular mood of pure silence.

Fred got off the table and began searching the man.

"What are you looking for?"

"Mostly money. Houdini splicers always seem to have a lot of it. And jackpot!"

"What about the other one," Eleanor asked again. It was not that she did not want to move, it is that she was afraid to move from their safe location.

"I think we just killed her mate but I don't think we'll see er won't see any more of her today. Anyway I think we should call it a day for the moment."

Eleanor thought about what he said. "I am hungry," she stated.

"It's decided. We'll find a spot and eat. Then take turns to rest."

"Ladies first?"

Fred chuckled. "I don't think your aunt could truly forgive me if I didn't."

A couple minutes later they found a spot hidden under a huge set of stairs and ate a small meal. Eleanor yawned and stretched like a cat then laid her head on her backpack. She did not know how long she had been dosing but it seemed like seconds because a moment because Fred began poking her shoulder. When she tried to yawn he clasped his hand on her mouth and motioned for her to be silent.

There appeared to be a man walking through the area. The man had slicked unkempt hair and a dirty tan shirt. He held a small rifle that pointed everywhere the nervous man thought someone might be hiding.

"Do you think that's him," whispered Eleanor.

"One way to find out."

Fred carefully exposed his head and stood up. "Hey mister," he called out.

(Bang)

The round shot wide and missed Fred by ten feet. Fred, meanwhile, motioned his hands over his head. "I'm not armed. I just want to know who you are."

The man half bearded face studied Fred then kept looking around. "You first."

"I'm Fred Tumble. You?"

"I'm Stanley Poole. I'm here looking for Eleanor Lamb."

Eleanor got out from underneath the stairs. Stanley's eyes lit up instantaneously. "Hey, long time no see. I didn't know if I was going to meet you guys or not but since your father gave me a second chance I thought why not. You've really grown up Eleanor. I-I…"

Stanley ran up to Eleanor and got on his knees. He clasped her hand and began crying. "I'm sorry," he cried out. "I'm so sorry for what I did to you. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Eleanor stared at the man incredulously. "What did you do to me?"

Author's Notes: Anybody remember Stanley Poole. He's the $%^& bag that probably everybody playing the game took a spear to. Initaily i did to but not before saving. He wasn't worth killing... Not enough money on him. lol