The day had evaporated into a blur of responsibilities and concerns back in Belkeep. Freya's relentless worry over Krid had become a focal point of our conversations, her protective instincts flaring in the wake of Krid's recent experiences. Despite Krid's assurances of her wellbeing, Freya's anxiety refused to be quelled—a sentiment I understood but struggled to pacify. "I’ve known Krid her entire life!" I had found myself asserting to Freya, a hint of frustration bleeding into my voice. The insistence that Krid was fine should have been enough, I reasoned; yet, the paternal instinct in me knew all too well the depths of concern that could not be so easily assuaged.

The complexities of maintaining communication between Belkeep's leadership, myself, and Fedor—the enigmatic new Guardian—had morphed into a taxing ordeal. Each exchange felt like navigating a minefield, my patience fraying at the edges as I sought to maintain a semblance of control and coherence amidst the confusion.

Sanity, or what was left of it, dangled precariously as I recognised the urgent need to bring Gladys into the fold in Clivilius. The weight of these compounded pressures found me in the dim light of the kitchen, where frustration finally boiled over. A curse escaped my lips as I nearly lost my footing, the sudden movement causing me to lurch forward. Instinctively, I grabbed the kitchen bench, steadying myself against the potential fall. The moment served as a pointed reminder of the physical toll these stresses were beginning to exact. "I really need to stop using this bloody fridge as an entry point," I grumbled under my breath, a mix of irritation and self-reproach colouring my tone. The fridge, once a novel means of transition, now felt like an emblem of the turmoil that had come to define my days.

Regaining my composure, I ventured forth from the kitchen into the living room, each step carrying a weight of determination that seemed to anchor me amidst the swirling uncertainties. "Gladys?" My voice, softer than intended, hung in the air, a testament to the tension that pervaded the space. The silence that greeted me was almost tangible, pressing down with an oppressive force that seemed to slow time itself.

My gaze, drifting almost involuntarily towards the world outside, snagged on the sight of a dark car stationed ominously across the road. A pulse of instinctive caution surged through me, propelling me into action as I ducked out of sight. The quiet of the room was now charged with a silent alarm, my heart thudding against my ribs as I crawled towards the window for a closer inspection.

Peering out, I could make out the figure of a man seated in the car, his head bowed in a manner that suggested his attention was anchored elsewhere. A small part of me wanted to believe he was just another passerby, perhaps lost in thought or waiting for someone. Yet, the tension that had taken root within me refused to be dismissed so easily.

My vigil at the window stretched out, minutes ticking by as I watched the stranger with a hawk's eye. Then, as if on cue, the man lifted his head, binoculars in hand, sweeping the façade of Gladys's house with a scrutiny that sent a chill down my spine. A flicker of relief passed through me as I considered my advantageous position. The street's incline and the house's setback location provided a natural cover, a small mercy in a situation that felt increasingly like a chess game with unseen players.

The realisation that, even armed with binoculars, the man's efforts to surveil the interior would be thwarted by the layout of the land was a small victory in the grand scheme of things. Yet, it underscored the ever-present need for caution, for vigilance against the threats that seemed to multiply with each passing day.

"Gladys, are you here?" My voice, a mix of concern and caution, echoed softly through the hallway as I crouched, navigating the familiar yet now foreboding space. The gentle patter of Snowflake's paws against the floor offered a sliver of normalcy in the otherwise tense atmosphere, her emergence from Gladys's bedroom a small, comforting presence in the unfolding mystery.

After a brief moment of connection with Snowflake, offering her a gentle scratch behind the ears, I turned my attention back to my search for Gladys. "Gladys?" My whisper, sharper this time, cut through the silence as I entered the darkened room. The act of standing, stretching my back with a soft crack, was a momentary release from the tension that had built up. "I'm getting too old for this stealth crap," I murmured to myself, a half-hearted attempt to lighten the situation with humour.

The drawn curtains added a layer of gloom to the room, compelling me to cautiously let in what little daylight remained. As the dim light filtered in, my eyes quickly adjusted, taking in the details of the room. The sight of an open suitcase on Gladys's bed, half-packed with neatly folded clothes, was a silent testament to intentions unspoken, plans halted midway.

"Where were you going, Gladys?" The question slipped out in a whisper, more to myself than anyone else. "And why didn’t you finish packing?" The unfinished state of her packing spoke volumes, suggesting haste or an unexpected interruption. The possibilities that raced through my mind were numerous and unsettling—police, Luke, her parents' house, another Guardian—each scenario carrying its own set of implications and dangers.

"Not the police," I muttered, trying to eliminate options. The idea of law enforcement seemed unlikely, considering the sustained surveillance. A disheartening realisation struck me. "Assuming it's the police watching the house," I mumbled, reluctantly re-adding them to the list, alongside a new spectre—an "unknown entity."

"This is ridiculous," I confided in Snowflake, who seemed blissfully unaware of my growing paranoia, comfortably nestled among the clothes. Her serene demeanour was a stark contrast to the storm of thoughts whirling through my mind. "Where is your mother, Snowflake?" I asked the dozing cat, half-expecting an answer or a sign.

The idea of heading to Luke's house crystallised in my mind, a clear point of action amidst the swirling maelicstorm of questions and fears. "I have to go to Luke's house anyway," I found myself saying aloud to Snowflake, as if the cat could comprehend my words. The hope that Gladys might be there, that this piece of the puzzle would fall into place and alleviate some of the worry gnawing at me, was a thin thread of optimism in the dense fog of my current state of mind.

Turning my attention back to Snowflake, who seemed the very picture of tranquility, I couldn't help but voice a plea, half-hearted as it was. “Let Gladys know that I am looking for her, that I’m worried about her, won’t you, Snowflake?” The words slipped out, a blend of earnest concern and the kind of desperate hope that had me speaking to a cat as though it could carry my messages. The moment the request left my lips, the absurdity of it struck me. Conversing with pets was one thing—a comforting habit acknowledged by many—but tasking them with messages, as if they could understand and act upon them, was another level of folly.

"I really have lost my sanity," I muttered to myself, a self-deprecating acknowledgment of the situation's effect on me. Exiting the room, I left Snowflake to her comfort amidst the half-packed suitcase.

The transition from the vibrancy of the Portal's exit to the engulfing darkness of the room was jarring. The once animated hues that had filled the space with an almost ethereal light now gave way to an oppressive gloom, a stark reminder of the uncertainty that lay beyond the familiarity of the Portal's embrace. I paused, a brief concession to the need for my eyes to adjust, to shift from the brilliance of the Portal to the murkiness of reality. The hesitation was fleeting, my resolve propelling me forward with steps that felt both determined and wary.

Passing through the doorway, I turned into the tiny enclave. "Gladys," the name escaped my lips sharply, a call into the uncertainty before me. In the same breath, the Portal Key slipped from my grasp, an unexpected loss of control that mirrored the suddenness of Gladys's appearance. My arms, acting on instinct, reached out to steady her, to prevent her fall—a physical response to the unexpected collision of our paths. "What are you doing here?" The demand was sharp, a reflexive response born of surprise and concern, momentarily forgetting that it was her presence I had been seeking. "And where's Luke?" The question lingered, an additional layer of worry adding to the already tense atmosphere.

There was an urgency in Gladys's eyes, a palpable fear that seemed to dance in the dim light. "There's an intruder. You need to get out of here," her words, whispered with a fervency, cut through the confusion, a clear and present warning that shifted the dynamics of our encounter. Her hands, pushing against my chest, were not just a physical urging but a desperate plea for action, for escape.

In that moment, the room, the house, and everything within it transformed from a place of potential safety to a zone of danger. The intruder, an unseen yet palpable threat, cast a long shadow over our reunion, turning it into a confrontation with an immediate risk that neither of us had anticipated.

The urgency of Gladys's warning resonated deeply, a clarion call to action that overrode any lingering questions about her whereabouts or Luke's. The need to protect, to respond to the danger she had alerted me to, surged to the forefront of my thoughts. The darkness of the room, the fear in her eyes, and the unknown threat that lurked somewhere within the confines of the house coalesced into a singular focus—safety.

As Gladys urged me backward, her warning echoing in the charged air, the reality of our situation became starkly clear. We were not just caught in a web of mysteries and hidden dangers; we were actively being hunted, our every move possibly watched, our every decision potentially a matter of life and death.

As we retreated into the darkened confines of the downstairs living room, a mix of protective instincts and adrenaline coursed through me. Grasping Gladys's arm, I guided her with a sense of urgency that matched the pounding of my heart. "Do you know who it is?" I whispered, my voice low and steady despite the tension building around us. My question, while simple, was laden with implications, the answer holding the potential to drastically alter my next move.

"It's Detective Karl Jenkins," Gladys responded, her voice a hushed echo of fear and uncertainty. The name, spoken so tentatively, seemed to hang in the air between us, a harbinger of complications we could ill afford.

Ignoring the questioning look she gave me, I ushered Gladys toward the cramped storage space beneath the staircase. The darkness of the closet beckoned, offering a temporary haven from the imminent threat that loomed just beyond our sanctuary. "Wait for me in here," I instructed, my tone leaving no room for debate. "I'll deal with Karl."

Gladys's eyes, wide with a mix of fear and confusion, met mine. "What do you mean, deal with?" she asked, a hint of apprehension colouring her words. The question was valid, the implications of my statement not lost on either of us. But before further explanations could be sought, a creak from the floor above acted as a sharp reminder of the immediacy of our predicament.

"Just keep quiet," I whispered, a final plea for her to trust me as I guided her into the darkness of the closet. The door closed with a soft click, sealing her away from the danger that encroached upon us.

Cloaked in the dark attire that had become almost a second skin, collecting my Portal Key from where I had dropped it when I bumped into Gladys, I blended into the shadows cast by the moonlight filtering through the window at the top of the stairs. Each step I took was measured, a balance of caution and determination as I ascended. Fear, though a stranger to me in moments like these, was replaced by a calculated resolve. The thought of escape to Clivilius lingered in the back of my mind, a silent reassurance amidst the uncertainty. Gladys's reluctance to embrace her destiny in Clivilius was a known factor, yet the unfolding events might leave her with little choice. The dichotomy of her future—as a Guardian alongside me or as a free Clivilian—was a decision that loomed large, yet it was one that could only be addressed once the immediate threat of Detective Jenkins was confronted.

There is another option, a soft, emotionless voice murmured in my mind.

There is? I found myself questioning the silent suggestion, intrigued despite the high stakes of the moment.

Karl, came the response, immediate and devoid of emotion, yet it ignited a spark of realisation within me. The idea of dealing with Karl in such a final manner, making him disappear without leaving any trace behind, was a thought that both alarmed and emboldened me. Of course! The idea blossomed with a mix of triumph and trepidation. The prospect, though dark, offered a solution that was as definitive as it was daunting.

However, as I reached the final step and emerged into the main living area, the grim contemplation was abruptly severed by the immediacy of the situation. My body acted on instinct, driven by a determination that had been honed over countless encounters of a similar nature. Striding confidently into the room, every sense heightened, I launched myself at Karl, hoping to leverage the element of surprise.

"Shit!" The expletive slipped through my teeth as my attempt at stealth proved futile against Karl's seasoned reflexes. The detective's agility in evading my lunge spoke of his experience, a reminder of the calibre of opponent I was facing. His quick manoeuvre into the dining room, his grasp on a chair, and the subsequent thrust of it towards me was a testament to his readiness for confrontation.

The dining chair, an unexpected projectile, forced me to reckon with the reality of the confrontation I had initiated. Karl's actions, defensive yet aggressive, underscored the perilous dance we were now engaged in—a dance that could end with dire consequences for either of us.

Sidestepping Karl's initial assault came naturally, my body reacting with honed instinct. My hand, quick and sure, found the leg of the chair he wielded, and with a precise yank, I disarmed him, the chair clattering to the floor. The brief triumph was cut short as Karl, anticipating my next move, launched himself at me. The collision was unexpected, the force of his head against my chest a shockwave of pain that sent us both tumbling to the ground with a thunderous crash.

Pain flared across my body as I lay half-bent on the floor, one arm cradling my aching belly, the other acting on its own accord, seemingly indifferent to the agony that screamed through my nerves. My fingers wrapped around Karl's foot as he scrambled to his feet, aiming for the hallway door. With a surge of adrenaline fuelling my actions, I yanked back on his leg, toppling him once more, the satisfaction of regaining control fleeting as we continued our struggle.

Back on my feet, the rush of adrenaline somewhat cushioning the pain, I seized Karl, dragging him across the floor towards the stairwell. The wall at the top was my target, a portal to Clivilius my goal. Yet, the plan was abruptly derailed as Karl, in a desperate bid for freedom, executed a semi-roll and a flip kick that tore his leg from my grasp. My balance lost, fear etched my features as my ankle twisted beneath me, the edge of the landing betraying me as I teetered on the brink of a fall.

In that split second of terror, Karl's hand found mine, a grim lifeline in the momentum of our descent. But there was no relief in the contact, no shared moment of reprieve. Instead, his weight only served to hasten our fall, my back slamming against the stairs with a force that drove the air from my lungs, Karl's elbow adding injury to insult as we somersaulted downwards, a maelstrom of limbs and plaster.

The descent was a tempest of agony and confusion, the world around us collapsing into a chaotic maelstrom of our entangled bodies and the debris cascading in our tumultuous wake. Then, an abrupt silence—a devastating crack thundered through my consciousness as my skull met the unforgiving edge of the doorframe. It was a sound that seemed to echo into infinity, a distinct, final note in the dissonant cacophony that had engulfed us. In that fleeting moment, as darkness clawed its way across my vision, a cascade of vivid memories flashed through my mind. Images of Gladys, her face a beacon of strength and vulnerability, mingled with the vibrant, beautiful faces of Freya and Fryar, their lives intertwined with mine in a tapestry of love, fear, and hope. The sharpness of reality dulled, the pain began to ebb away, replaced by an encroaching darkness that wrapped around me like a shroud. The edges of my vision frayed, the last vestiges of light and sound fading into a profound silence that promised no return, leaving behind a haunting echo of what was, and what could never be again.