William handed Sebastian an envelope the next morning. "Here you go."

Sebastian unsealed it and took out 5 tickets. "Underwater museum? Why all of a sudden?"

"Since you're here for a vacation, I want you and your friends to enjoy and have fun. I know you all were still upset about yesterday incident but life has to go on. A friend of mine came early this morning to pass these to me."

Sebastian doesn't know if this is a good idea, he's not sure if his friends were fine with these. Besides Francis has yet to leave his room.

"I'm sure Keanu doesn't want to see you all like this," William added.

Sebastian nodded and headed back upstairs in slow steps. He entered his room and sat next to Delsin who was watching TV along with Ezio. He showed them the tickets.

"An underwater museum tickets?" Both looked.

"He want us to go there," Sebastian scratched his head. "You guys ok with these? I mean everyone seems down after what happened yesterday."

"I'm not really sure," Ezio handed the tickets back. "Not until Francis's back to his normal self."

"Yeah he's still locked up in his own room. I tried knocking on his door but no response…again," Delsin switches the TV off.

"He wasn't like this before," Sebastian turned to Ezio. "Did something happened to him back at the funeral?"

Ezio hesitated, he don't know whether if he really should tell the others including Francis about that same weird nightmare he had these two days. He dreamt about it again yesterday night. Worst still it was a continuation from the previous; like a TV series.

In the first night, Francis asked Ezio to kill him. Yesterday Ezio dreamt that he couldn't bring himself to do it and Francis attacked him, triggering the Eden in Ezio's possession to activate and killed the Salem warlord in one blast. He watches in anguish as his friend plummeted onto the ground dead. This twisted turn of event results great traumatic emotional stress in Ezio that his hair turned white in the dream.

After that Ezio woke up with tears rolling down his cheeks…

The dream was so real that it troubled Ezio a great deal and left him wondering whether he did really killed Francis in the end.

"Ezio?"

He snapped out of his troubled thoughts by Sebastian's voice.

"What's wrong? You suddenly went into a daze."

"I was? I'm sorry," Ezio placed his hand on his forehead. "Maybe I'm just tired. So many things happened."

"Yeah. I agreed on that," Delsin folded his arms across his chest.

Sebastian looked at them then to the tickets. (Maybe it's a bad idea after all…) He got back up on his feet. "I'll return these back then."

"Why?" A voice suddenly spoke from behind causes Sebastian to almost jump in fright. He turned around just to see Francis standing behind him. (Since when did he came into my room?)

"Francis!" Ezio quickly got up and gave his friend a small hug. "You're finally out of your room. I was so worried."

Francis tilted his head slightly and smiled. "Sorry about yesterday. I needed some time to be alone to do some thinking. I didn't mean to shut everyone out."

"It's alright," Delsin gave Francis's back a soft pat. "We understand."

"Francis there's something I want to ask you," Ezio clenched his hands tightly as he was afraid. (What if he saw that very vision when he was at that grave yesterday? Could that the reason why he shut himself away? Or he's just being reminded of his past?)

"The grave on the cliff yesterday. Did it…" he gulped. "…show visions to you or anything?"

Francis shot Ezio a peculiar look. "What vision?" He asked confusingly. "What are you rambling about? I just only got curious on why there's a lonely grave there so I went to explore until you came. I was about to ask why you were so nervous and dragged me back to the jeep in such panic at that time?"

Ezio came up with an excuse, "I got kind of queasy back then so I just want to leave as soon as possible that's all."

Francis eyed him in suspicion, but gave it a pass as he took the tickets from Seb's hand. "I did love to go there. Would like to have a change of pace. Besides, going to an underwater museum might lighten up our glum mood."

Ezio, Sebastian and Delsin exchanged looks with one another. They had the same thought of him being another different person, they pondered if he's just pretending to be himself to keep them from worrying.

Francis noticed the queer stares they were giving him and he swayed slightly on his feet. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"

"Nope…" Delsin remarked. "Nothing."

Francis quickly paced behind their backs and pushed them forth towards the door. "Then let's not waste any time. Off we go."

Ezio, Delsin and Sebastian took their usual seats in the jeep whilst Francis adjusted the rear mirror. The moment his reflection reflected to his view, he paused and stared longingly at it.

Ezio notices and stared at the mirror along with him. "Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing, just checking my hair," They waved goodbye to William as they set off.

"Hello Mr Puffy," Delsin tapped on the tank, poking fun of a puffer fish gaping at him; it instantly puffed up into a ball-shaped and floated away. Delsin chuckled at the sight of it; poisonous yet extremely adorable. He got the urge to pick the little being up with his hand and squeezed it.

"Leave that poor little fella alone," Sebastian felt sorry for it.

"Awww but…" Delsin watches as it swims away to a distance with its little flippers.

Ezio was astounded by the underwater natural beauty that he doesn't mind staying here the whole day till closing time. At the same time he was keeping a close watch on Francis due to the disturbing dreams he's experiencing lately. His sudden change in behaviour also troubled him.

Preoccupied in his deep thoughts, he accidentally bumped into someone, causing both to stagger. The young man dropped his sling bag and books scattered out. Ezio quickly apologised and helped out.

He happened to glimpse the books content which turned out to be urban legend folklores and some records of supernatural sightings. The young man he knocked onto was searching the ground for something desperately.

"My glasses…glasses…" he said in a nervous tone. Ezio found it beneath a bench, picked it up and passed to him.

"Thank you," he puts on and pushed it up on his nose bridge.

"Here," Ezio then handed him the books. He did a thankful gesture and stacked them neatly into his sling bag.

You're a folklorist?" Ezio asked curiously. "Your books were all folklores."

The young man looked up at him and nodded in response before focusing back on his bag again. As Ezio observed him carefully, he appears to be in his early twenties. Maybe younger or older than Delsin or himself. Plus he doesn't look very western but more Asian. Chinese? Korean? Japanese perhaps?

Ezio watches quietly as the young man took out an odd-looking equipment shaped like a small box. He took a closer look and was surprised it turns out to be a camera; antique and unique looking.

The young man checked thoroughly then to the lens before letting out a relief sigh.

"Is your camera damage?" Ezio concerning asked. "If it is, I'll compensate for the repairs."

"No it isn't. No worries," he smiled back.

"Really sorry about what just happened," Ezio apologized again.

"It's ok," the young man waved off. Without a word, Ezio offered a handshake. "Name's Ezio. Nice to meet you. You're?"

"Ren Hojo," He returned the handshake. "Nice to meet you."

"I see…a Japanese. You here for a holiday?"

"Yes," Ren beamed with pleasure. "At the same time I'm researching folklore around this area. You here for holiday too?"

"Yup. With a group of friends," Ezio turns and points to Sebastian, Delsin and Francis who were still admiring the beauty and fishes way at the back.

"That's nice," Ren tilted his head.

"You alone?" Ezio asked.

"Yeah. Anyway I have to get going. It's really nice to meet you." He bowed, bid goodbye and left.

Ren vanishes to the crowd as Ezio watches. He then returned to his friends' side and stood beside Francis.

"Saw you spoke with a guy just now," Francis said. "Who's he?"

"A Japanese Folklorist here for vacation." Ezio turned his gaze towards the direction where Ren went off to.

"A Folklorist? Interesting. It seems the chess pieces are gathering."

"Um...what are you talking about?" Ezio eyed at him.

Francis grinned. "Shall we go see the sharks?"

Ren quickly turned to the corner where there's no one around and took out his camera. Its filament was glowing blue and humming a sound that's was only hearable to his ear.

He frowned when he was chatting with Ezio and checking the cam for damage; it began to react suddenly that resulted him to hide it back in his bag. He didn't want Ezio to see the camera's strange phenomenon.

He tightened his grip on it with a scowl on his face. He held the camera close to his eyes and viewed the crowds through the viewfinder. "You're telling me there's few here?"

He walked forth. "Then led me to them."

"Have you both seen Francis?" Ezio walked towards them.

"Weren't you both together a few minutes back?" Delsin looked back at him.

"We were. We went to see the sharks but when I returned from the washroom, he was gone. So I thought he's back here with you guys."

Did you try contacting him?" Sebastian asked.

"I did but all I got were static sound," Panic starts to overwhelm Ezio slowly.

"Ok calm down," Sebastian said. "I'll give him a call."

He dialed Francis's number and as what Ezio said; it didn't ring but rather a loud static sound played out that Seb quickly withdrew his cell phone away from his ear.

"Ow…Delsin, try yours."

Delsin shook his head in response, indicating that he's getting the same outcome.

"Let's go look for him together. Besides Francis can take care of himself."

(Not after those dreams…) Ezio thought to himself.

Ren was walking among the crowd when the humming sound of his camera got louder in his ears, signaling him that a spiritual energy was nearby. Without a word, the folklorist shifted his camera left, right, front and back trying to locate the source. He came to a sudden halt the moment the camera lens focused on a young man with silver-haired standing near a door at the back at the corner of the museum.

The camera filament glows even brighter and the sound got louder. Ren quickly zoomed the lens towards the man to get a good focus and took a picture.

The instant photo slipped out and Ren took a glance at it. The picture of the young man turns out to be normal, nothing out of the ordinary. Ren wonders if his camera malfunctioned or he himself made a mistake. It was then the young man in the still photograph suddenly came to life, turned his head towards Ren smiling at him and spoke,

"Will you walk with them?"

Ren jumped back in fright that he dropped the photo. He watches as it swished to the ground. Though frightened, he slowly approaches and scooped it up. The picture was back to its normal self however when he looked towards the young man's direction, he managed to catch a glimpse of him in time disappearing behind the door.

He rushed his way there. The word 'Basement. No entry' was written clearly across the door. Ignoring the warning sign Ren turned the knob and opened slowly. It was pitch dark inside that he turns on the camera light just to reveal a stairway leading down to darkness.

He could hear footsteps echoed at the bottom then no more. Stony silence greeted him.

(Why in the world would he go down there?) He thought to himself. The camera glowed in response. Ren sighed, "You're kidding me right? You want me to follow?"

It glows again.

"Fine. I will do what I'm told and you will do yours as well."

He was about to step in when a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder causing him to whirl around to see who was it. He was expecting a security guard but to his surprise, it turned out to be Ezio instead with two others of his friends.

"Ren?"

"Ezio?"

"What are you doing?"

"Checking the basement," Ren gestured to the door. "I saw a young man went down there seconds ago. So I went to check it out."

"The young man you just saw, how does he look like?" Sebastian immediately stood forth. Ren was taken aback by the sudden questioning.

"Sorry," Ezio apologized. "This is my friend Sebastian and the one next to him is Delsin."

Delsin waved in return.

"Back to the subject, could you tell us about the young man?"

Ren just showed them the photo. "I took a shot of him before he enters."

They were startled to see it was Francis. There's no mistake; it's him all right. His unique hair color stands out but the question is why did he went to the basement all of a sudden without notifying others?

"Of all places, the basement?" Delsin had a quizzical look on his face. Sebastian pushed open the door and stared down the stairway as it gives out an eerie atmosphere whilst cold wind was blowing uo. Sebastian took a step back and swallowed hard, he noticed he had been developing phobias on certain things since his escape from Ruvik's twisted world.

Elevators, dark narrow corridors, stairways and rooms including hospitals were now his greatest fear. He can't even stand being in the dark, he will make sure every single light is on before entering.

Ezio proceeded forth without hesitation. "I'm going after him."

"You sure?" Delsin stopped him. "We don't know what's down there."

"I'm still going. You all can wait here till I return," Ezio continues. They watched on as he faded slowly into the darkness below.

"Wait up," Delsin hurried down the stairs. Ren followed next, leaving Sebastian alone up there. He hesitated for a while before deciding to go after them. There's no way he will leave them behind.

"Wait for me!"

Little did they know that the door behind them vanishes completely, leaving naught but a wall. No trace and no one around seems to be aware of the bizarre happenings around them.

The four of them reached the basement ground and analysed the map which was pinned on a notice board. The structure layout was like a maze with different corridors branches out in various directions. They could hear the echo sounds of rats scattering and water dripping somewhere. Even the light was dimly lit and greenish in color, filling the entire place in its greenish glow as well as cold breeze breezing around.

Delsin scanned around the area, he got this extremely uncanny feeling. He was also bothered by the thoughts that something was wrong with Francis. He pondered if his strange movement and disappearance had something to with Guillermo.

He walked to the front and leered at the creepy corridor right in front of him. Once they entered through, there's a possibility they might encountered something unearthly. At the corner of his eyes, he saw Sebastian wasn't himself; he had intense fear shown on his face and shivering uncontrollably. He was pacing back and forth while looking around like there's something there with them, unseen by others.

"Sebastian?"

He didn't respond. His eyes still focused on the surroundings, muttering something under his breathe.

"What's wrong pal?" Delsin grabbed hold Sebastian's hands trying to calm him down. Delsin instantly stood stock-still and he found himself in another place unknown to him.

Delsin took out his cell phone from his pocket and turned on the flash light. He shone around and found that he's in some kind of hallway. Doors were lined up horizontally down on the right while to the left were high windows. It was raining heavily outside as he can see rain drops splattering on the window glass followed by lightning flash. He proceeded to examine one of doors and found it had a sliding peephole.

Delsin slide the hole opened and peeped inside. Nothing, no one except an empty bed. He immediately realized that he's in an asylum. The layout and structure were definitely those of an asylum.

But why was he here? How did he end up here?

He shone the flashlight towards the far end of the hallway and saw an elevator with its doors open welcoming him to step in. Without hesitation, he headed towards it.

He was halfway down the hallway when one of the ward doors suddenly burst opened and someone came running out. Delsin jumped by the sudden sight at the same time the stranger was bolting towards his direction.

Delsin peered at the frightened man and to his horror, it turned out to be Sebastian himself; he was running away from something or someone.

"Sebastian," he ran to him however Sebastian didn't hear nor see Delsin instead he 'went through' him like a ghost. Delsin stupefy for a few seconds before turning back to see Sebastian was looking back with overwhelming fear as he tries to get away.

Delsin was about to chase after him when a deep voice behind him shouted loudly.

"You cannot escape!"

He turned back again to see an extremely tall slender man dressed in black smart suit with strange glow pursuing Sebastian. His face concealed in shadow and dark fog, making it hard for Delsin to get a good view.

"Guillermo?" Delsin said. (No this man is different. It's not him.)

The tall man walked past the young Conduit and raised one of his hands, the glow which engulfed him cast hand shadows on the wall. The shadows eerily came alive and lunged for Sebastian.

Sebastian was unable to evade the shadow hands as they seized his arms and legs, immobilizing him on the spot. He struggled violently, trying to jerk himself free from the strong grips. His captor closed in that Sebastian ended up losing his balance and fell onto the ground.

"No! Don't come any closer!" He cried out. The man ignored his pleads and grabbed him by the arm, pulling Sebastian closer.

"No running away," he grinned sinisterly to him.

"Sebastian!" Delsin dashed forth with his chain whip ready. "Leave him alone!"

Delsin was getting closer when another figure with hood suddenly materialized right in front of him stopping him abruptly in his tracks. The hooded figure then stares into Delsin's eyes making him cowered in terror as the penetrating stare he gives was enough to send chill and fear down the spine.

Delsin could see a smirk slowly formed on the figure's face. It was then that very figure removed his hood, revealing himself; a young man with pale skin with white hair.

Though terrified by his presence, Delsin was able to speak out, "You re…?"

"It begins," was the man's reply.

The vision ended as Delsin let go of Sebastian's hand and stumbled backwards. He casted his eyes back down at his hands then to Sebastian who's now leaning against the wall, panting.

"What was that?" Delsin asked.

"I don't know….I don't know," Sebastian replied, wrapping his chest tightly with his arms. "I really don't know."

Delsin began to fret for him. That vision he saw was unsettling; Sebastian being pursued by this unknown entity. And that hooded man he saw at the last, who was he? Since Sebastian was psychic, he definitely possessed the strong power of clairvoyance, extrasensory perception and sixth sense.

(What if these visions he shown me could be future events that would happen?) He thought. He needed to do something for Sebastian, had to keep him safe no matter what. Whoever those two were in the vision, he's never going let them lay their hands on Sebastian.

"Hey," Delsin tried to cheer him up. "You'll be alright. Nothing's going to happen to you. I'm here at your side."

Sebastian looked to him.

"I promise," Delsin nodded his head. "I got your back. You can count on me."

"Don't worry Seb. I got your back. You can count on me." Joseph gave Sebastian a thumb up.

(Joseph…)

Ezio sadly didn't witness the entire happenings as his back was facing them and busy memorising the map layout. He only happened to see Delsin comforting Sebastian.

"Is something the matter?" He approached both.

"Oh um…Sebastian's not feeling well," Delsin said. He dared not tell Ezio of the vision Sebastian showed him.

Ren remained quiet throughout as he observed the scene played out for him. His camera was glowing strongly at Sebastian's direction. The humming sound emitted was louder this time round that he quietly took a snapshot of Sebastian.

The photo developed and was disturbing; it shows countless of ghost faces surrounding him. Ren was sure if he should show them the photo. After a careful thought, he decided to wait for the right time.

He gazed to the direction of the corridor before turning back to check on others, seeing both were busy attending to Sebastian, Ren took this opportunity to trigger his abilities. He touched the basement wall and stroke gently, he could detect the presence of Zanei emitting from it, a form of psychic traces left behind by people. He concentrated hard and the shadow of Francis formed beside him. He watches as it walks down the corridor before making a turn to the right.

The others didn't saw as it was only visible to Ren's eyes, he made his way back to Ezio and points to the direction where the shadow headed.

"I heard soft footsteps sounds from that direction," Ren said.

"You sure you want to tag along?" Ezio asked.

"Yeah…Besides I saw him went down here. I don't mind lending a helping hand."

"Thanks."

They searched high and low, even checked every single rooms they stumbled upon but still no sight of Francis anywhere.

Ren doesn't know where he went wrong. Using his gifts discreetly, he did saw Francis's shadow and secretly led Ezio and the others to it. The search was made easier as Ezio memorized the entire layout but where could Francis be? The basement was almost completely searched thoroughly.

Francis can't possibly made his way back to the exit. If he was, they will bound to bump into one another.

Ezio was anxious. He should have had kept a close watch on him and never left his side. He cursed at his own stupidity for leaving for the washroom in the first place when they were at the Shark Section, only to return to find him gone.

"Let's head back," Ezio said.

"Yeah…"

Delsin and Sebastian made their leave first. Ezio was about to follow when he noticed Ren keeps staring at a wall at the far end. He stood beside him and looked to the direction of where he's gazing at.

"Is there something?"

"That wall," Ren points. "There's something odd about it…" In his sight, he saw a dim blue glow swirling and his camera filament was reacting to its response. But to Ezio, he saw nothing. Ren slowly lifted the camera to his eyes and viewed through the viewfinder. It shows differently; rather than wall it shows a rusty metal door on it.

"A door," he said.

"Door?" Ezio raised an eyebrow. "I don't see any."

"You will now," He took a shot. Ezio watches bewilderedly as the metal door which Ren saw through the camera slowly appears.

"…how in the world…" Ezio walked slowly to it and turned back to face Ren.

"My camera can see and detect things that can't be seen by our naked eyes," Ren touches the door. "He might have went through here that's why we can't find him."

"But how did you know there's a door here? Ezio asked.

"I didn't know until my cam told me," Ren explained. Ezio cautiously opens it, a loud squeaking sound squeaked out. He looked inside and see another long passageway leading to nowhere. But the appearance was way different; it was cleaner and the lights were brighter and bluish instead of greenish.

(Did Francis really went through here?) He was sceptical, he wasn't sure if he should continue through. He threw Ren an unsure look then both Delsin and Sebastian returned again.

"Hey guys," Sebastian spoke out. "Let's go back to…the…." His voice trailed off. He points. "Was there a door here in the first place?"

"Ren found it," Ezio replied. "But…"

"We should check it out," Ren suggested.

"I'm not sure if we should," Ezio was still doubtful.

"What about Francis..?"

"I know Ren. I'm fret for his safety but this is just unexpected."

"We won't know unless we venture. I know this is too sudden but I guessed we have had no choice. I'll scout ahead first if it's safe, I will use my camera flash to signal you all."

He was about to head on when Ezio pulled him back. "No I'll go with you. I won't forgive myself if anything happens to you." He turned to Delsin. "You stay here with Seb. We will go ahead first, will signal you both if the coast is clear."

"Be careful," Delsin nodded.

Ren and Ezio walks down the passageway while both watches them from the doorway. Sebastian gripped Delsin's jacket sleeve tightly. Delsin gently placed his hand over to Seb's trembling hand to ease him.

"Ren?"

"Yeah?" He replied.

"Are you an 'Edener' or 'Conduit'? Ezio asked.

"Why do you ask about that all of a sudden?"

"Just want to know more about you."

"I'll tell you about it when time comes," Ren looked at him. "I'm sorry, it's just that I don't want to talk about this right now."

"Understandable."

They found nothing peculiar nor sensed anything amiss. Ren uses the camera flash to signal to Delsin and Sebastian. The four regrouped, resumed their search when a loud slamming sound was heard. They saw the door which they went through minutes ago was gone.

"What the!?" Ezio exclaimed.

The lights starts to turn off one by one, in split seconds they were engulfed in complete darkness.

"Damn!" Ren cursed when his camera slipped from his hands due to sudden occurrence.

Sebastian shrieked and Delsin immediately grabbed hold of his hand. Though they can't see each other but they still can feel each other presence. Delsin clasped Sebastian's hand tightly and Sebastian did the same.

"Don't let go," Delsin said to him.

Ren found himself fumbling in the dark for his cam. He was relieved the moment he felt its structure. As soon as he picked it up, Ezio yelled.

"Ezio?!"

The lights again went back on and the three of them found themselves fixated on the spot, staring at an empty space where Ezio once was.

"He's…gone."

End of Chapter 10