Michael and Sharon got to work. It became clear early on that she had a lot of experience directing people in this kind of thing. He knew nothing about what they were doing, and as it went on, he ended still not knowing anything more. He just served as her eyes and her hand, since through it all she insisted on keeping ahold of his other one.

He just explained what everything looked like, and she walked him through what to do. Pour from the fluorescent green liquid into the bowl to the left until it’s almost spilling out. Pour that into the vase near the back, and then drop the vial filled with red liquid in after it. And on and on. After about an hour of mixing, they ended up with two vials of liquid and a strange rod that had somehow formed out of pure liquids being mixed together. Sharon assured Michael it was all very scientific, but he did not understand it at all. It definitely seemed like just mixing potions to him. Sort of like he’d assume a witch would do.

“Alright, now just…hand me the rod…followed by the vials.”

“You know, this would’ve been much easier if I had both hands, right?”

Sharon didn’t say anything in response. She just squeezed his hand tighter and set the book down on the table they were out before holding out that hand expectantly.

Michael sighed and rolled his eyes.

Sharon gave him a small pinch on his arm.

“Ow!”

“Don’t think I did not…notice that. I know…you rolled your eyes…”

“Wait, how did you. Or I mean. Yeah. Sorry.”

With that small bit of awkwardness seemingly over he handed her the rod then each vial one after the other. As she received each piece, she stuffed it into a pocket, or her belt. Then she finished by picking up the book and holding it under her arm.

“We should move along…” she paused for a second and in a gentler voice added, “I know the others…had decided to research…this facility later…but now that it is…just the two of us…would you like to…check it out…just the two of us?”

Michael’s first instinct was to deny her suggestion. After all, it had already been decided, but for some reason he paused. It was obvious what Sharon’s preference was, and she asked so earnestly. It was somehow hard for him to outright say no.

“I mean, that could work, but I’m worried about the others.”

Sharon frowned before sighing and shaking her head, ending with a look of defeat on her face. “Of course you are…You could not just…forget them for a…few brief moments…Alright then we…should find them first…Head towards your…right near the spiral…pillar, and I shall…open a path forward…”

Michael felt a flutter of relief hearing her agree to find them. This time he squeezed her hand a little firmer, and in response she looked away and towards the ground. Michael couldn’t see it, but her cheeks had become slightly flushed.

In silence Michael led them to where Sharon had instructed him to go. She awkwardly balanced the book between her and her arm as she stretched it out and placed her hand on the wall. She chanted another cryptic phrase and it opened like before, with a thin crack spreading into a broad archway. Although, this time instead of another room, it opened to a long hallway.

A few minutes of walking later, Sharon stopped Michael again and opened another path. This continued for almost ten minutes, with Sharon opening up paths and leading them left, right, down, up, and all around. Michael knew it’d be impossible for him to find the way back on his own. They had taken so many turns he was sure he’d get lost pretty much instantly.

Finally, an archway spread open to reveal Avialian and Carolyn, who looked like they were arguing about something. Not only that, but they somehow had made it back into the room filled with monstrous statues.

Michael sheepishly grinned as he waved at the two women. Meanwhile Sharon shifted even closer to his arm. He could practically feel the heat from her cheek as it stood merely a hair’s breadth away from his arm.

“Carrie! Avialian! Boy, am I glad to see you’re both alright.”

The two of them glared daggers his way for a second, before Carolyn leaped towards him. He was afraid she was going to murder him for a second, before she wrapped her arms around both him and Sharon, pulling them in tight. The modicum of space Sharon had given Michael was shattered in an instant as they were all hurled together. This close proximity turned Michaels’ face bright red as Carolyn refused to let them down and started to squeal.

“O M G! I like totally thought I’d never see you again!”

“Yes, it is quite a relief for you to return to us. For both of your return, of course.”

Carolyn briefly pulled away to look Michael in the eyes. It became immediately obvious by the puffy redness under her eyes that she had been crying recently.

“Don’t like ever scare me like that again! I mean, you’re like the king of survivalist junk, but this is a supernatural ruin thing. Way out of your like expertise Mikey!”

“He was with me…” Sharon said as she gripped Michael’s hand possessively, “and I am…an expert on…this sort of place…”

Carolyn looked down at Sharon, and slowly released her grip on the two of them. As she did, Sharon also released Michael’s hand. It almost felt weird to him having it to himself again after it was her captive for so long. Then, to everyone’s surprise, Carolyn Scooped up Sharon in a big hug. Sharon was the most surprised and looked like she had just seen a fish stand upright and speak English.

A flurry of thank yous flew out of Carolyn’s mouth as she rocked Sharon back and forth. Before she finally set her back on the ground and released her from the bear hug. Sharon looked a little dizzy, and very confused as she stumbled slightly to get used to being on the ground again.

Carolyn let out a contented sigh and put her hands on her hips as she looked towards each of them. “Like it feels great to all be back together again, right guys?”

Everyone else still seemed too shocked to say anything back, so like her usual self, Carolyn kept the conversation moving right along.

“So like we should head to see Avialian’s family right? I mean, gotta introduce her new man to daddy, right?”

Michael had already been thrown a bit off by her emotional outburst but swinging back so quickly into teasing him gave him some whiplash. His already red face turned darker red, and he covered his eyes with his arm as he leaned his head back and let out a groan.

“I think you misunderstand our familial structure, Carrie.”

“I do not believe…that was the point…of her comment…”

“Guys, can we just go? I feel like you’ve been teasing me more since we got here Carrie.”

“Well like duh. Of course I have. It’s like totally my favorite way to defuse stressful situations! Makes things totally easier to deal with and junk.”

“So you’re not going to stop until this is over with?”

“Like so not likely. Well, unless you totally man up and choose one of us to go exclusive with. Until then, you’re like totally free game Mikey!”

Michael groaned louder and rushed started to move away. “Alright then! Enough of that, let’s get going to the big city and move things along.”

Carolyn rolled her eyes, but with a smile moved to follow Michael. Avialian and Sharon were the only two left behind, until Sharon sighed and put her head in her hand as Avialian called out, “Actually, that is the incorrect way. If you want to head in towards the inner sanctum, you need to go the opposite way.”