"I knew you'd be back," The voice greeted us coolly, a wet ribbon slithering through the damp air. It smelled like the dust rising up out of ancient dictionaries, mixed with the sickly sweet smell of rotting flower petals. It filled my nose and shot bullets of fear through my stomach. My heartbeat punched holes in the darkness.

I closed my eyes tight, insides curling up like a pale grub beneath the dead weight of a stone. "This is nuts."

Jesse moved in beside me, and I caught the slightest scent of him- and suddenly my skin stopped bristling on my bones, and my heart stopped trying to escape. He was there. I wasn't alone. I found his hand, fingers numb, familiar with the way our palms fit together.

"We are enlisting your help." I heard Paul's voice say sharply, and I jumped- he was so close.

"Oh, a favor for the pretty couple," The sexless voice hissed, the high lilt of a child's lisp.

"That's right." Paul replied. "But we're not asking for a favor."

"What for, then?" The thing giggled.

"I want you to cut off from Denis Washington." Paul said coolly, the darkness around us humming softly. It's all around me, its enveloping us- I breathed in the black, and felt it cling thickly to the interior of my lungs. It was so claustrophobic, there were no walls, only this terrible energy, pressing in tighter and tighter.

"Ah," The thing sighed, echoing all around us in a chorus of mockery. "If only I could separate from Denis as easy as you so blatantly command."

"Can't you?" Paul asked. Jesse shifted beside me and I blinked in the black- I'd nearly forgotten his hand in mine. I looked down to where our fingers would be interlocked, wondering at the simple comfort. I knew I should release my hold, but I was filled with the small whimpers of animal fear- and the whispers of terror made their way down my skin, seeping into my fingers and keeping them locked tight around his.

"I only wish," The thing's oily voice was filled with quiet bemusement. "But I cannot break the bond that your uncle has made with The Soul."

"The Soul, what is that?" I heard myself ask fiercely- I'd heard that name before- in some shadowy crevice of a dream or some unconsciously heard whisper.

"The Soul comes soon to the call upon Denis Washington's soul," The thing mused, "It comes in exchange. For Denis Washington's spirit in return, The Soul will assist in the destruction of the boundary between humans and ghosts. I am one of its thousand grandchildren. Denis has harnessed me and tethered his leash so that I may communicate with The Soul for him. Once The Great One comes, Washington may begin his war."

"He wants to get rid of the boundary between humans and ghosts-" Paul began.

"What war?" I interrupted impatiently. "War with who?"

"The final war is coming. Darkness wishes to embody the light- Denis Washington will finally allow the spirits of the dreamland to inflict violence on humankind. Soliders invisible to their victims- but easily as violent. Soldiers that can melt through walls and listen to the most private of conversations." The thing sounded bored, as though listing a grocery list. "Power is important to you imbeciles. Denis Washington will devour the flesh of the universe and still be hungry."

I was shocked into silence.

Paul was never.

"He wants to use ghosts as his army?" He repeated dubiously. "That's crazy."

"Crazy as ABC, 123, that's how easy it can be-" It broke into hysterical laughter.

Call me mirthless, but I didn't understand that particular sense of humor.

"He wants to allow ghosts to physically touch and speak to humans?" I finally whispered.

"Mmm," It snickered, "Delicious isn't it?"

" Perfection." Paul snapped. "And How does my brilliant uncle plan to control all these legions?"

"That's where you come in, the puppeteers in the worlds greatest battle," It whispered. "As mediators between the dead and the living, you two will be able to control the earth's spirits- once The Soul teaches you how. Generals in Washington's army."

"Ha. Good luck with that." I growled. "We're leaving. Now."

"Not without my treat!" It wailed.

There was a short silence-

"Treat?" I asked, unsure.

"That delicious soul you brought!" It moaned. "I answered all your questions."

"Excuse me?"

"The SPIRIT you have with you," It squealed.

"Its begging for me- I can smell it here," The thing pleaded. "Let me have it. I'll be quick."

"JESSE?" I realized.

"Its aroma fills the room," It whimpered, "I gave you what you wanted."

"So," Paul said in the darkness, "Suze?"

"Are you even CONSIDERING this?" I demanded.

Jesse muttered, "Of course he is, its even better than him getting rid of me himself."

"It wants to eat him!" I cried. "Are you nuts?"

"Not entirely. Clearly its not going to be happy unless we feed it." Paul pointed out.

"As if I give a damn," I retorted. "End of discussion."

Paul sighed. "Its always worth weighing the options."

"Sorry," I spoke up, louder. "We'll, uh, let Denis feed you, kay?"

"But I'm so hungry," It moaned. "And Denis won't allow me to eat living flesh."

Skin crawling, I felt adrenaline course through my veins, nausea overwhelming me.

"Lets go."