Chapter Eight: A Voice.
"Ahem" Kid cleared his throat comically before turning towards Angela "disregarding the family drama for now, did Maab give any thought to what I asked her yesterday?" Angela looked at the Reaper for a moment as she mentally shifted gears before replying "oh. Yes she has a few people in mind who would have the power and ability to cast such a strong curse, she said that you were free to tag along to search them out with her but that judgment and punishment will be hers to pass down" with a scoff Kid turned to his weapons with a can-you-believe-this-I-am-a-Reaper look on his face "tag along she says, very well. While the group here retrieves Maka we will assist in the search for the person responsible for all this trouble" with a nod to Soul the three of them left to rendezvous with Maab.
"Will the spell still work with three less people?" Soul asks Angela as she opens the book in her hands "it should" she shrugs while flipping through the pages "less people for me to have to keep connected anyway, Maab said that as long as the ones who go in stay physically connected the spell should work just fine" after another moment of flipping pages Angela finds the one she was looking for and looks up from the aged pages, bright red eyes grab her attention as Soul questions "In?" after a few slow blinks Angela nods "I suppose I didn't get to tell you that part because uh… Mr. Albarn… came in." she rattled awkwardly "The way the spell works is, I read off an incantation that will send your consciousness into Maka's, from there you will be able to search for her inside her own mind but you must find the part of her that is locked away. Once you find her you say the magic words and I pull you out! Easy peasy!"
Tsubaki and Blackstar nod in tandem and get to work by moving the neighboring bed up next to Maka's while Soul goes over the plan once more with Angela. "Before we go any further, I have to ask you guys something" Soul murmurs as he readjusts the sheets on his side of Makas bed "what do you think of Maka?" Blackstar and Tsubaki regard each other as Tsu perches on the edge of the bed to kick off her boots "Maka is hard to describe, she's kind, and brave. She's smart and compassionate. She understands people better than I think she realizes. She's the reason that we were able to open Mifune's school for witchlings as our first step toward unity with the Covens. Maka believed that with my nurturing heart and Blackstars playful spirit the children would feel safe and empowered enough to grow to their fullest potential. She has always been pushing us to do good and even pushed me toward…" Tsu trails off as her eyes wander over to Blackstar who stood at the window with his arms crossed and a thoughtful look on his face, a soft pink blush began to rise up her cheeks "...other things as well."
They both turned then to Blackstar as he began to take off his own shoes "Maka is like a splinter" he grumbled in reply "Blackstar!" Tsubaki admonished before he continued as if he hadn't heard her "she gets under your skin and stays there, a piece of her with you everywhere you go" Tsubaki dipped her head in understanding as his words settled on her "you know" he sighed after a moment "A person can only have that many tiny bits and pieces of themself to give away by being pretty broken to begin with" Blackstars observation drug out into a lingering silence that was only broken by Soul chuckling to himself "Okay. that's all i needed to know, you're probably going to see everything. Every hidden thing that she never wanted anyone to see… not even me." Soul glanced up at the waiting faces of his friends to find that glimmer of Maka-like courage shining there, that splinter of her that they all had now. That gift. Turning in the bed to face Maka, Soul leans in close enough for his lips to brush the shell of her ear "when this is all over Maks-" he whispers softly, while tucking a strand of ash blonde hair back into place behind her ear "-if I never see this damn infirmary again for as long as we live, it'll be too soon".
"Are you ready now?" Angela asks impatiently from the foot of the bed "ready as I'll ever be,wait a minute. what words do I have to say so that you know to bring us back?" With an exasperated sigh and a roll of her eyes Angela looks at him for a moment before allowing the smallest of smiles to slip through "Soul is super lame" a huge grin splits Souls face in two as he barks out a laugh and carefully lays down next to Maka. Soul laces the fingers of one hand with Makas as he holds his other hand out to Tsubaki's waiting palm. As Angela starts the incantation Soul initiates the group resonance, his soul reaching out and brushing against Makas once more.
Fumbling with the liquid nature of their semi-conjoined souls he tries desperately to stay connected "C'mon Maks, let me in" his plea is strained and as he begins to feel their connection slip away panic begins to push down on his chest, a familiar cold dread begins to creep along his skin until he feels it. It's just like before, except this time it's unmistakable. Makas fingers tighten around his and just like that he's in front of the door. "Is that the door Angela said she opened that first night?" Tsu asks in awe as the door begins to creak open, the smell of old books and lilacs encases them as the three of them step through the door and into a brightly lit vestibule.
The vestibule itself had straight white tile flooring that gleamed in the light of the room and chestnut wainscotting that broke away at each hallway. The hallways however were all different "what the…?" Blackstar begins as they take in the room around them "I guess I shouldn't have expected the inside to look like my red room, but this is completely-" Souls mutter was mostly to himself as doubt began to cloud his thoughts once more 'cool...cool. Be cool Evans. Soul repeats to himself over and over, hoping beyond hope that just thinking it will calm his nerves. Maka had been in his red room so many times before, had met his demon and seen the truth of him. This felt different though. They forced their way in, consent and choice had always been very important to Maka and even though this was for her sake Soul still felt a bit of guilt ebb into his heart at the thought that she was given no choice in this.
Makas' most authentic self would be laid bare, not just to him but to two of their friends as well. It felt like crossing an invisible line in the sand and he made a promise to himself then that he would make it up to her. 'Once were both back home' he decided. "Soul?" a voice called from somewhere beyond this room, causing him to tense in anticipation and disbelief "Soul?" the voice called again, scattering goosebumps across his arms "Maka!" he called, all pretenses of being cool and uninterested far behind him. Soul took a single step forward before he felt Tsu tug on his hand "we have to stay together Soul" she reminded him gently with a squeeze of his fingers.
"That voice, it's Maka right?" Blackstar asked once Soul was able to center himself "yes" he breathed with a quick shake of his head "But I don't know which direction it came from, hell I don't even know where to start searching in this massive place" looking around Soul counted eight separate hallways leading off into separate directions "That one" Soul's eyes were brought to Blackstar who was confidently pointing one gloved hand down the hallway closest to them on the left "The freaky voice came from that hallway, im sure of it" he states with certainty. Turning, Soul gives the hallway a once-over. It's nothing but peeling and yellowed floral wallpaper and brown-ish shag carpet "w-well" Tsubaki stammered as she gripped their hands tighter "we've got to start somewhere right?."