Author's Note: We're back to Ju and Yao again. This time, I finally gave her some direction. She was just stumbling around on a loop, you know? Oh and look, Qi is back. I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do with her. Speaking of which, I don't know what to do with this series next season. I might have to either do a time skip or change the direction of the story. I don't know how much further I can take the Tea Leaves storyline. I will have to see as we pull our way to the season finale at the end of February. Speaking of which, it looks like we will be checking in on how Alfred and Steve are doing. For now, enjoy this week's match.

Match Thirty-One: Qi, Two Queens, and a Promise:

-Ju-

Something else has been bothering me for quite some time now. This whole time, it's like we are being followed. I'm not talking about the circus freaks in this house. Nor am I talking about the other creepy weirdos following us. This one feels familiar.

I turned my head.

"Ju?" Yao asked. I waved him off. I walked over to the glass in front of us. That can't be her. I tapped on the glass.

Qi stood on the other side in orange and blue robes. She had her eyes down. Flowers were pinned up on the side of her bun. I shivered at the sad expression on her face.

"Qi? Qi, is that you? Where have you been? Are you alright? What happened to you?" I asked. She slowly lifted her head. Her empty eyes made my stomach drop. This wasn't her but it was at the same time. I wanted to save her, but I didn't know how.

I noticed her saying something to me.

"What? What did you say?" I asked.

She put her hand up to the glass.

"Ju, no!" Yao shouted behind me. Qi's fingertips touched where mine were on the other side. I felt a slight twinge in my chest.

Then my mind went dark.

I opened my eyes and found myself in a dark room. (Original, I know.) I sat on a clear chair. Qi sat across from me. She had her eyes down again. I pressed my lips together.

"Qi, what is going on?" I asked. "Talk to me." She didn't speak at first. I wanted to ask her again but held my tongue.

"I thought you were dead," I said.

"I was," she said.

"So… What happened?"

"He brought me back."

I made a confused face. "Who brought you back?"

"Dr. Faust."

That name sounded so familiar. I tried to think back to where I heard it. Have we met before? I couldn't think about that at the moment.

"What is going on here? Why are we trapped in this house?" I asked. I waited with desperation. I kept thinking about my son. Qi looked into my eyes but she said nothing.

"Noelle misses you," I said. "She's really worried about you." There was no answer, but I could've sworn I saw something flicker in her eyes. She's still in there.

"How do we get out of here?" I asked. Qi didn't answer me. I felt myself trembling. It took my all not to scream at her.

She said something I didn't catch.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"I'm so sorry for what is coming for you," she said. I froze. My brain went to the worst-case scenario. Part of me hoped that I heard that wrong.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked. She didn't answer me. I could've sworn that I saw her smirking at me. I blinked and shook my head. I rubbed my forehead.

What the hell was going on?

That's when she reached out and took my wrist. Stars filled my vision. Everything went silent.

And then a tear ripped through the darkness.

There's no malice here. I don't think she can feel anything anymore. I don't know what is going on inside her head. What happened to her?

I am so sorry to do this to you.

I turned my head. "What do you mean by that?" A pair of arms wrapped around my shoulders.

I never wanted this for you. I tried to protect you from them. I never expected them to still get to you.

"So you know about the deal?"

Yeah.

I closed my eyes. "And you know why I chose what I chose, yes?"

Yes.

"Am I evil for that?"

No.

"Thank you." Then she said something that might have just saved everyone from my rash decision. I turned my head.

"What was that?" I asked. I didn't catch most of what she said. I only heard the last thing she said.

I will help you get through this. We can't stay here for long.

"What?" The air around me disappeared in a snap. I thought I was going to choke. Before I knew it, the rip had sealed closed.

Yao was the one to pull me back.

"Ju! Ju! Ju!"

I whipped my head around. My husband had a concerned look on his face. I blinked for a moment.

"Yao?" I asked.

"Are you okay? What happened?" he asked.

"I think I got it," I said.

"What are you talking about? Got what?" my husband asked. I looked him in the eye. I pressed my lips together.

"I think we're going to be alright." I turned and looked at the glass behind me. Qi wasn't there anymore. It all came together. We needed to get out of this house. We need to go home. I needed to get Qi back to Noelle. I… no, we all needed to end this nightmare madness.

"There might be a way out of here," I said. "She told me what we needed to do." I took him by the hands.

"We have to try and end all of this," I said.

"You aren't making any sense. What are you talking about?" Yao asked. I didn't know what I was talking about either. All I knew was what needed to be done.