Twist!

"Moloch's territory was impenetrable," Darryl said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I had searched high and low for my wife, using my brain and every technological resource I had at my disposal, but I hadn't been able to get a single clue. I couldn't even get close. But then, as we ventured deeper into the heart of his territory, something changed. A subtle shift in the air, a tingle at the back of my neck." He looked at Moran, his eyes full of hope. "What do you think it means?"

"I did mention it to you, didn't I?" she said, an amused smirk spreading across her face. She sat down and picked up her robe, which had pooled at her feet. "Although I can understand if you didn't quite catch the memo, since you were preoccupied with other matters."

"It's hard to believe that you're one of us now, Moran," Darryl said, his eyes locked on hers. There was an unspoken question in his gaze, as if he were trying to gauge her sincerity.

"I've proved more than I can to you, that I'm no longer his spy. You know what? What you should be thinking about right now is how to defeat Moloch, you think you can defeat him!" Moran's voice was so loud, it showed that she was so emotional. She realized that Darryl wasn't buying her pure truth.

"I've done everything I can to prove myself to you. I'm no longer a spy for Moloch. In fact, I want to help you defeat him! You need to focus on that, instead of questioning my loyalties!" Moran's voice rose in volume, betraying the intensity of her emotions.

"Why won't he be able to defeat him? We've seen how he let him go because he's not ready to fight him, he's trying to buy more time for himself to train. But we won't let that, we would attack him in two days time." Hugo bolted out, he wasn't sure of what Moran was really talking about.

"Yeah, I know what you're thinking, can we possibly beat him? We saw how Moloch let him go - he's trying to buy time to train and build his strength before he faces us again. We don't have the luxury of time, so we need to strike now." Hugo's voice was gruff and determined, but there was an undercurrent of doubt in his words.

"You think Moloch is going to stand idly by and let him defeat him? He's already got the upper hand - he's got his wife as a hostage! You don't think he'll use that to his advantage?" A cruel laugh echoed through the room, as if it were coming from every corner at once. Moran's powers as a sorceress were undeniable, and the haunting sound of her laughter seemed to underline that fact.

•••

Everett stood in the dimly lit funeral home, staring at the coffin that had been prepared for him. He felt strangely numb, as if his emotions had been switched off. He had always assumed that, when the time came, he would feel a sense of panic or dread. But instead, there was only a strange, empty feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Do you think I could really come back to life?" Everett's voice wavered as he spoke. He wanted to believe in the possibility, but a part of him doubted that such a thing was even possible. Was it foolish to place his hopes in something so uncertain and risky?

"Is that what you should be thinking? You should be thinking that, what if I finally gets to resurrect and gain an almost formidable powers? You should be thinking ahead, what if Moloch collapse before Darryl? Then Darryl would surely defeat us too, except you take this hard part. It might be hard, but just think of the positive outcome." Athena rushed her words, not wanting Everett to doubt anything.

"Everett, you have to consider the possibilities! What if this is the key to defeating Darryl and Moloch once and for all? I know it's a big risk, but the potential rewards are so great! Can you imagine a world without Darryl Moloch's tyranny? You have the power to make that happen, if you're brave enough to take this leap of faith." Athena spoke passionately, trying to convince Everett that he could do something truly extraordinary.

"But still, he should be allowed to think about the opposite outcome. What if the result comes out negatively?" Aria joined the discussion, as she was just standing there, silent for too long.

"That's a fair point, Aria," Athena conceded. "Everett, it's true that there are risks involved. But I believe that the potential benefits outweigh those risks. And, of course, the choice is ultimately yours. But don't you want to be free of Moloch's tyranny? Don't you want a world where you and your loved ones can live without fear?" Athena's eyes were pleading, and her words were laced with emotion.

Aria's expression turned cold as she fixed her gaze on Athena. "I think you're being selfish," she said bluntly. "You're not thinking about what's best for Everett, you're only thinking about what's best for you. You're trying to convince him to take a risk that could cost him his life, just so you can get what you want."

Aria was on a roll now, her words tumbling out in a rush. "You say you want to defeat Moloch, but is that really true? Or are you just using that as an excuse to manipulate Everett? I think you're taking advantage of his good nature, and I won't stand for it." She glared at Athena, her hands balled into fists at her sides.

As Aria finished her tirade, Athena's expression turned steely. Without warning, she thrust her hand forward, her long nails digging into Aria's shoulder. "You know nothing of what I really want and what my goals are," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous.

As Athena turned to face Everett, her eyes were no longer the warm brown he was used to. Instead, they were a piercing, eerie white, like twin pools of blank ice. In an unearthly voice, she commanded, "Everett, enter the coffin." And to his own horror, Everett found himself unable to resist her command. He stumbled towards the coffin, his body moving of its own accord.

The moment Everett's feet crossed the threshold of the coffin, the lid slammed down, seemingly of its own volition. Aria let out a gasp and lunged towards the coffin, but it was too late. The lid had sealed itself shut, trapping Everett inside. Aria pounded on the lid, screaming, "Let him out! Let him out!" But it was no use. The coffin remained shut, and Everett was trapped inside.

Aria whirled to face Athena, fury blazing in her eyes. "What have you done? You can't keep him in there! Let him out!" But Athena remained cool and composed, as if what she had just done was perfectly normal.

"Calm down, child," she said, her voice dismissive. "He'll be fine. This is for his own good. He needs to be cleansed and purified. Just for the days would do, and he would be as powerful as Darryl, trust me."