Ryan said:
"Are you ready? I'll loosen my control over you a little… Actually, it's already weaker. Focus and distinguish between the voices."
Then he turned to the stone and said:
"Back to work."
Liana began listening and said:
"I hear the thoughts of two people."
Jamal said:
"It must be me and you… so there's no one else?"
Liana answered:
"No, I hear a man's voice and a girl's voice."
Selene said:
"Since you're connected to her, her powers won't work."
Ryan then said:
"So the man is Jamal… but who's the girl? Focus on her voice and listen to what she says."
Liana heard the girl saying:
"They came again… and this time they brought an annoying girl with them."
Liana thought angrily:
"Annoying? Me?"
Then she heard the girl say:
"I need to scare them so they run away again before I use my power."
Liana told Ryan what she heard, and he whispered:
"Alright, here's what we'll do: Liana, keep listening. We'll act normal and won't run no matter what happens. When her power runs out, tell me immediately."
Liana nodded:
"Got it."
The mysterious girl began causing all sorts of disturbances: things falling, strange noises, moving furniture—but nothing worked.
Then the girl said:
"What a bunch of pests… why didn't they run? I need to go upstairs to regain my energy."
Liana informed Ryan, and he said:
"It's time."
Ryan and Jamal went upstairs and searched room by room until only one was left.
They entered the room but found nothing, then heard footsteps behind them.
Ryan shouted:
"Jamal! Get her!"
Jamal ran quickly, grabbed her from behind, lifted her up, and said:
"Ryan! We got her!"
She was a teenage girl with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Ryan said:
"Finally, we caught you… who are you?"
The girl said:
"I… I'm a ghost!"
Then she slipped through Jamal's hand and disappeared through the floor.
Jamal shivered:
"What the…?!"
The girl was now downstairs trying to find an exit, but all the doors were locked. Eventually, she reached an open doorway where Liana stood motionless.
The girl ran toward her, trying to shove her aside, saying mockingly:
"This will be easy."
But with an impressive judo move, Liana grabbed her and slammed her to the ground. The girl passed out.
Liana said:
"Who's annoying now?"
Ryan and Jamal arrived, and Ryan asked:
"How did you do that?"
Liana said:
"I have a black belt in judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu."
Ryan said:
"Nice."
Selene said:
"Not the time for praise… we need to find the stone and remove it before she escapes."
Ryan said:
"Right. Liana, check her."
Moments later, Liana said:
"I found this earring in her ear."
Ryan said:
"Great. Take it off."
Jamal brought a rope from the basement and they tied her securely. Ryan took the stone and performed the steps Selene had taught him to reveal its power.
Jamal asked:
"What's its power?"
Ryan said:
"It allows the user to become transparent and intangible."
Jamal said in surprise:
"So that's how she tricked us…"
Ryan smirked and said:
"The final step: she has to put a drop of her blood into the stone to complete the ritual."
Liana called out:
"Come here! She's waking up!"
The girl opened her eyes, saw the ropes, and smirked:
"You think this will stop me?"
Then she screamed:
"Where's my earring?!"
Ryan said:
"With me."
The girl said:
"Give it back! It's precious to me!" She began crying.
Ryan said:
"Alright, I'll give it back… on one condition."
She asked:
"What is it?"
He held out the stone:
"Put a drop of your blood in it."
She agreed immediately without thinking and placed a drop of blood inside. Ryan smiled and they returned the earring to her.
The girl said:
"Thanks… you idiots!"
She vanished from the ropes and ran to the door, but crashed straight into Jamal.
She said:
"This won't work on me!"
Ryan shouted:
"Stone… stop working."
She tried to phase through Jamal, but couldn't. Jamal grabbed her and placed her in front of Ryan.
Ryan said:
"You won't escape now. I control you. But we won't imprison you… you'll stay with us by choice."
The girl said:
"I won't listen to you!"
Ryan touched a lock of her hair, and a vision of Selene appeared before her eyes.
Terrified, she said:
"Who is that?!"
Selene explained everything to her, and that she would be in danger if she stayed alone.
The girl looked at Ryan and said:
"Fine… I'll join you."
Then she laughed loudly and shouted:
"Did you really think I'd say that?! Let me go! I'll live the way I want!"
Ryan said:
"Alright… I won't force you. Jamal, let her go."
The girl looked shocked:
"You're really letting me go?"
Ryan said:
"Yes. Just remember… this is your home too. If you're ever in danger, come back to us."
She left screaming:
"Idiots…"
Ryan said:
"Finally… everyone pick a room and rest. Tomorrow Jamal and I are going to the university."
Liana asked:
"And what about me?"
Ryan said:
"I have a mission for you… keep an eye on that girl. If you hear anyone trying to attack or kidnap her, stay close and call us."
Liana said:
"Understood… you can count on me