I ran as fast as I could to the place, that Thea mentioned, from afar I could hear the sounds of the battle. When I reached the destination, I saw Thea and Aven, fighting for their lives, while the others started to flee from the monsters. Without hesitation, I rushed into battle. Grabbing my bow and arrows, I shot some monsters, who were way too close to them. I saw a smile on Thea's face, but Aven didn't give any welcome signs for my arrival.

After some time, we managed to kill all the creatures in the area. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Thea wanted to thank me, but Aven stopped her and aimed his gun at me.

- What are YOU doing here?! - He asked angrily.

I was about to answer, but Thea pushed Aven away and started screaming at him, what really surprised me. I decided to step away, while these two were arguing with each other. Thea clearly tried to defend me and Aven just wanted to kill me. I got used to people wanting to kill me, it was sad to think about, but luckily, Thea took away Aven's gun, so he won't be able to shoot me.

- I'm so sorry, Joker... - Thea started. - And thank you... You saved us here.

- You are welcome. - I replied.

I saw how awkward the situation was for Thea, I understood, that she wasn't really against me, but she had no choice but to just remain silent. I wanted to leave, but then I felt her grab my hand.

- Maybe you want to stay a little longer? - Thea asked. - We have a small campsite not far from here.

- A campsite? For what reason?

- We are monitoring the area for enemies. Emma thinks, that something bad is coming.

I was confused, but agreed to stay even when I knew, that some people won't be happy about it.

At the campsite I felt everyone's eyes on me, penetrating me with hate. However, somehow I didn't care, what others were thinking about me anymore, I couldn't change everyone's mind and for sure I couldn't change who I am.

I joined Thea near the fire while glancing around to see, if Aven was somewhere close.

- Don't worry, Joker. He went to get some rest. - She smiled and I smiled back. - So how are you doing? - She asked awkwardly.

- I'm alright, thank you... but I don't think it was a good idea for me to come here.

- Why?

- Thea, everyone hates me or is scared of me. Don't you remember? I'm a Ghost, a "destroyer of the worlds".

- Not everyone thinks like that, Joker. - She looked at me with warmth in her eyes.

- What do you think about me? - I asked out of curiosity.

- Me? - I noticed, how her cheeks turned red. - Well, for sure, you can be kind to others... - Thea moved closer, which made me a bit nervous. - You are really interesting.

- Interesing? - I asked, while I could see my own reflection in her eyes.

Then she quickly looked around and stood up with a big smile on her face. I've never seen Thea smile like this

- Follow me, if you want to hear more.

I watched her go into one small empty house, that was still in the campsite, but at the same time far away from everyone. I had mixed feelings and suspected, what she was going to "tell" me and I wasn't sure, if I should follow her. On the other side, the temptation got the best of me and I headed towards the house. I opened the door and immediately got pulled inside. She pushed me against the wall, her body pressed to mine. My heart was in my throat, I froze in place.

- So, Joker... - She whispered into my ear. - What should I do to you?

Thea's hand slipped under my shirt, warm fingers traced patterns on my chest. It felt... sensational and made me completely speechless. Seeing, that I'm unable to form a single sentence, she kissed me. A kiss was short, but eager, inviting. It felt wrong, but at the same time so relaxing and thrilling. Thea slowly stepped back, not breaking eye contact with me, while taking off her little poncho. She lowered herself onto the blanket, placed on the floor and smiled at me with a tempting look.

- What are you waiting for? - She said.

I knew, that I couldn't turn away now, my heart was ready to burst and I started walking towards her, removing my own clothes.

The morning sunlight, shining through one of the broken windows straight at my eyes, forced me to wake up. I saw Thea already awake on one of the chairs, putting her boots on. She looked at me with a smile.

- Good morning. - She said.

- Good morning... - I replied, while stroking my messy hair.

- You should put your clothes on, Joker. - She threw my stuff at me, chuckling. - Even through I enjoy what I see, I don't want others to see you like that.

I've put my clothes back on, feeling somehow like I wasn't myself anymore. I felt my cold skin, yet I felt like it wasn't my own. What I did last night wasn't a good thing and I knew that even before doing it, but it didn't stopped me. I never knew I could do something like that, cheating and feeling good about it.

- Joker? Are you alright? - Thea asked, worried.

- Hm? Sorry, I was just thinking...

- I know, that you are regretting it and I'm sorry, that I pushed you, but... - She stopped for a moment and moved closer to me. - You are something special, Joker.

- I'm not really regretting it.

She looked at me with surprised eyes. - What? Aren't you married?

- I am, but... It's just complicated. - I walked away from Thea to take my weapons, then I looked at her. - I just don't know who I am anymore.

- What do you mean?

- This place is changing me. It's like pulling me away from what I was to something... different.

- Is that something "different" a good thing or a bad thing?

I took a moment to think about it and when I wanted to answer, loud voices from the outside took away our attention.

We went out to see what is going on, some people turned around to look at us what made me feel uncomfortable. Then Aven and Emma have emerged from the crowd, walking fast in our direction.

- What are YOU doing here?! - She screamed at me. - Didn't I told you to stay away?!

- You only said to stay away from your place, so technically, I didn't do anything wrong. - I said in a sassy voice, which made her even more furious.

- And what are you doing with him?! - Emma switched her focus on Thea.

- I just... - She tried to speak, her voice trembling.

I stepped in front of Thea, getting more irritated. - What do you want from us? I left your little dirty place and I helped your people, before monsters could eat them alive and you are coming here, screaming at us? I see no one taught you manners.

- How dare you! - She screamed even louder and attempted to slap me, but I grabbed her hand before she could do that. I could feel my blood boil from anger.

- Leave! - Aven yelled, while pointing a gun at me and pulling Thea away. - Unless you want a hole in your brain.

- And do you think this will kill me? - I said, still holding Emma's hand. - Come on. Try me.

The tension was high and everyone was staring at us. Thea deftly snatched the gun from Aven's hand. I glanced at her and saw tears running down her cheeks.

- Stop that! - She shouted at us. - Please!

All of us looked at her in surprise, Aven slowly stepped away from me and I let go of Emma's hand. I felt bad for Thea and realized, how I acted just a moment ago.

- My apologies... - Emma said, looking noticeably calmer. - I've overreacted a bit. - She held out her hand to me. - Thank you, Joker, for helping my people and I'm really sorry.

I looked at Emma's hand and then at her. I wasn't buying her apology, but everyone was waiting for my move and I knew, if I would refuse it, everyone would be against me, so I shook her hand unwillingly.

- You are apologizing to him? He should do that! - Aven said, clenching his fists.

Emma put her hand on his shoulder and shooked her head. - Come on, Aven. Leave him alone. - Then she looked at Thea. - Thea, when you will have some time, please, come see me. We need to talk.

Me and Thea felt like it wasn't over yet with her bullshit, but at least she left us alone and took Aven with her.

We took a walk in the forest to calm down. I could see, that this situation wasn't easy for her and I wanted to make her feel better, but I didn't know how, so I just smiled and said, that everything will be alright. She smiled a bit and then stopped walking.

- What now, Joker? Do you have any plans? - She asked.

- Plans?

- Are you still looking for your brother? Or are you going back to your world?

- I... - I couldn't even tell myself, I wasn't sure, if I should go back and what to tell her at that moment. - I don't know.

Suddenly, she put her hand on my cheek and looked deep into my eyes. We stayed quiet for a couple of minutes, then I finally decided to make my move and kiss her. It still felt wrong, like a thousand knives pierced my heart, but something was pushing me to do things, that I wouldn't normaly do. What was happening to me?

Later Thea went to see, what Emma wanted from her, but she told me to stay at the campsite and I agreed. I took off my chain with a ring on it, while looking at it I was thinking about everything, what has happened. I wasn't such a good person, as I have initially thought. I placed the ring in my pocket and sat down near the campfire. I started feeling sleepy, so I closed my eyes to get some rest.

A quick and rapid shake woke me up, it was Thea. She was terrified.

- What happened? - I asked.

- Zadie is gone! - She screamed.

- What?! How?

- I don't know! She- She was here not that long ago and now she is gone! - She was stammering. - I picked her signal on the communicator! I think I might know her location, b-but I can't go there alone.

Somehow her tone seemed weird to me, but I agreed to help to find her sister.

We were walking through the forest to the location on Thea's communicator, She was quiet and I felt questionable.

- What Zadie was doing at the campsite? - I asked.

- She... She didn't wanted to stay alone. I thought it would be safe... - She said with trembling voice.

- What about Emma? What did she want from you?

- Nothing much... She told me to stay away from you...

- Are you sure? You seem... stressed out by something.

- Yes. I'm sure.

I knew that it wasn't everything, she was hiding something from me, but I didn't know what. I stopped asking questions, since they lead nowhere.

Some moments later we've reached a pair of weird doors, it looked like the entrance into a bunker. The doors were rusty and unappealing, like no one has opened them in a long time. Thea's communicator started making sounds, letting us know, that we have reached our destination.

- Why would Zadie go to a place like this? - I asked in a nervous voice.

- Maybe someone took her there? - She looked at me with scared eyes. - We need to help her!

Together we opened the door and were greeted with an awful smell. It smelled like something was rotting inside, which made me feel a bit sick. Thea pulled out her flashlight and we began to descend the old, slippery stairs. My hand was ready on my knife, just in case, if someone was down there. The further down we went, the colder it got, I was able to see my own breath, but Thea kept walking without saying anything. Reaching the end of the stairs, we noticed a big metal door.

- There is no way, that Zadie went here by herself... - I said, starting to feel, like it wasn't a good idea to come here.

- Then someone had to take her here! - She said quickly. - Help me open this door.

-Wait! What if this is a trap or something?

- There is no time, Joker!

She rushed to open the door and I had no choice but to help her. When we did, we saw just the darkness, not even flashlight could help to see, what was beyond the door.

- We should go back... this doesn't look good... - I said with fear in my voice.

All of a sudden, Thea pushed my inside and quickly locked the door behind me.

- Thea?! What are you doing?! - I screamed at her, banging on a door.

- I'm so sorry, Joker...

I tried to open the door, but it didn't budge. I glanced behind me and then I saw a pair of red eyes, watching me. Chills ran down my spine.

- Thea! Open the door! Now! - I screamed again.

- I can't... Forgive me.

- What about your sister?!

- She wasn't here... I lied.

- WHY?!

The lights went on, revealing a giant monster inside the room, as well as many weird dark creatures standing in front of it. Behind the giant I've noticed a couple of cocoons, connected to the monster.

- Emma forced me to do it. If I wouldn't, then Zadie would be in trouble... - She finally said. - Emma would order to kill her.

- Thea, listen to me! Open the door and I will help you out! Emma won't do anything to your sister! - I cried out. - Do you really want me to die here?!

She stayed quiet for some time and then answered shortly. - I'm sorry, Joker.

I heard Thea walking away from the door and despite my cry for help, she didn't stopped and left. I turned around to face the monsters waiting for me, pulled out my knife and was ready to defend myself. They launched at me with a terrifying screech. I fought for my life, slaying monsters, one after another, but they just kept going. I noticed them emerge from one of the cocoons, dark, slimy creatures with only one desire... to kill me.

I was exhausted and didn't see the end to the fight. I'd kill one monster and another would appear. I couldn't catch my breath and then, suddenly, a massive tentacle hit me, sending me flying to the other side of the room. My body slammed against the wall, almost making me lose my consciousness. The pain was too strong, making me unable to stand up. I turned my head and there, in front of me, my ring was lying on the floor. It had fallen out of my pocket.

I tried to reach it, but I was too weak. The tentacle grabbed my leg and started pulling me towards the giant. I couldn't do anything, my weapons were gone, lying somewhere in the room. My powers have left me, I was alone. I looked up, while the monster was dragging me on the ground, the other creatures stopped moving and were staring at me with those dead, red eyes. They knew it was over, I lost and they won. The tentacle pulled me up in the air and I could see the giant up close. I closed my eyes in fear and the last thing, that I felt, was cold and piercing pain inside my whole body.