REVENGE AND ASCENSION

They were done waiting. They had waited weeks. Now, they were free to do what they had been waiting to do. Ellie and the others stood nearby and watched as Philip plummeted through the sky before finally smashing onto the concrete, his body bursting like a water balloon, the blood splattering the walls and floor with red. Ellie grinned savagely as, like she expected, Philip arose. He looked down at his body, turned, and his eyes found the group of spirits. Ellie was ready to attack. Ready to finally have her revenge. But then…the killer shrugged and began running away. Ellie stood still, watching him run in surprise. "Shouldn't we head after him?" murmured Luke, and Ellie nodded. She led the group as they sprinted after him, following his shadow in the dawn, the sun slowly rising in the distance and casting beams of light down onto the ground.

"Where the fuck is he going?" grunted Thomas as they ran, trying to catch up to Philip, who kept sprinting ahead. He never glanced over his shoulder at the spirits. "I want that bitch's heart," Leila growled next to Ellie, their panting filling the street as they charged. Finally, after what felt like weeks of nonstop running, they drew to a halt outside what looked like an abandoned restaurant. No, Ellie thought, staring at the once-red neon sign above the double doors which read TRINITY. They were here…although how, Ellie was not sure. She had always assumed that Trinity was in Brisbane but, looking around at the surroundings, she realised it had been here all along. In Southbank. "I remember this place," Eddie whispered as they slowly approached the front doors, and Ellie nodded, "We all do," she whispered back.

They entered through the doors, glancing around at their surroundings. It took a few minutes until Jasper pointed ahead at a glowing red light. It came from underneath a nearby closed door, and upon opening it, the group found a stone staircase leading downwards. "Well, I'm bringing up the rear," Leila muttered as she moved to the back of the group. Ellie rolled her eyes and led the way downwards, keeping her fists clenched out of nervousness as they followed the red light. They finally reached the bottom, and Ellie glanced around anxiously, expecting something to leap out at them. "You realise we're ghosts, right?" Thomas murmured and, laughing, Ellie nodded and continued leading the way. She was a fast walker, already several paces ahead of the group, who struggled to keep up. She could feel they were close. Surely they could do it now. They could finally put an end to the killer for good.

"Be careful…I have a feeling he's nearby," Luke whispered, looking around nervously as they slowly crept further into the red illuminated basement area. Ellie led further ahead, and with an ear-splitting screech, a long metal sheet shot out from the wall and slammed into place against the opposite wall, trapping Ellie on one side and the group on the other. "Guys!" Ellie shouted, slamming her fists against the cool metal, which felt surprisingly solid against her skin. "Oh, they can't hear you," came a sly voice from behind, and Ellie whirled, finding herself face-to-face with the killer. He slapped his hand through the air, and it collided with the side of Ellie's face, sending her stumbling to the side in pain. "Just had to be sure," the killer rasped as he turned his back to her and approached a table in the centre of the room.

He picked up a book, and Ellie gasped when she realised the killer could interact with objects from the real world. "Don't be surprised. I had this room built as a back-up, in case my plan failed, and I died. From here, I can finally orchestrate the decimation of Brisbane and everyone who had a hand in killing me." The killer flicked open the book and began scanning the pages with his worn eyes, only for the book to fly from his grip seconds later as Ellie kicked it away. He reached out to grab her by the throat, and Ellie ducked away, quickly rolling along the ground until she was a safe distance away before rising to her feet and raising her fists. "Girl you don't know what you're doing," the killer hissed angrily, glaring at Ellie hatefully. "I'm not letting you do anything that will hurt others!" Ellie yelled defiantly.

The killer groaned and he too raised his fists, the two staring at one another, silently daring each other to make the first move. Ellie took the bait, charging forward and raising her fist to strike the man who had taken everything from her. He was too quick. The killer raised his fist and leapt forward, not giving Ellie time to duck as he plunged his fist against her skull. Ellie hit the ground, groaning in pain as the killer easily stepped over her and picked the book from the ground, opening the pages and reading the words in a language that Ellie didn't recognise. The killer finally grinned and then took a step back, indicating around the room with his semi-transparent hands. Ellie raised her eyebrows as the killer grinned, waiting for something to happen…but nothing did. "What was that meant to do?" she snarled savagely.

The killer shrugged, chuckled and then turned to her, his eyes narrow and cold. "It's a calling card for my backup plan," he murmured, and then the ground split apart. Ellie trembled, lost her balance and fell against the closest concrete wall, the vibrations making her legs tremble violently as cracks spiderwebbed along the smooth floor. "What's happening!" Ellie cried out, the floor near her feet giving way and collapsing on itself, making Ellie yelp in fear and press herself harder against the wall. Suddenly, the concrete just a few metres away burst apart and a scaly, clawed hand reached out, its long talons hooking into the concrete and beginning to pull the rest of its body out. Ellie watched in a fascinated horror as the monster fully emerged from the ground, snarling and sending spit flying in several directions. "Beautiful, aren't they?" whispered the killer, fascination in his voice as he stared at the creature.

More emerged from the ground, all of them roaring and clawing at the walls. It seemed they were both invisible to them, but that didn't make Ellie any less terrified. "What have you done?" she breathed, shrinking back against the wall as the killer laughed mercilessly, smiling widely. "If I can't win my own war, then I'll rip my enemies to shreds using the literal spawns of Satan!" he shouted triumphantly, watching as the monsters desperately tried to escape, to wreak havoc onto the world above. A metal shriek rang around the room, and the other spirits emerged, staring around the room wide-eyed. Some monsters made a dash through the open metal sheet and disappeared up the steps into the restaurant above them, but the metal sheet did not reclose. "How did you open the door?" Ellie immediately asked as she glanced at them, but they all shrugged in confusion. "We thought you opened it," Luke said slowly.

Ellie turned back to the killer curiously, but his eyes were wide and…scared. She couldn't believe it. This psychopath was actually scared? "You're not here…you're all in my head," the killer began muttered, shaking his head wildly as though trying to shake away an annoying wasp. "Oh, they are very much real…just like I am," came a playful, child-like voice from behind, and the spirits turned. It was another spirit, this one with sharp blue eyes and brown hair that flicked up at the front. And he looked angry. Very angry. "You!" moaned the killer in despair, stepping back until his back hit the wall behind him. The boy nodded, and then outstretched his hands, giggling as though he had just watched a very amusing TV show. Ellie felt her very skin crawl, and then change. Her flesh twisted and warped, her eyes rolling into the back of her head and her teeth growing long and sharp.

The others transformed as well, and when Ellie finally looked around in her new form of agony, she saw their monstrous features and death-like stench. She couldn't move, or at least her new body didn't listen to her commands. She took a step toward the killer, as did the others, the child behind them giggling madly as they did so. "My rage burns eternal, and now you shall as well!" Ellie didn't speak the words, but her new mouth did, the tongue whipping through the air violently as she spoke. "I want the taste of your flesh in my mouth!" Next, Thomas stepped forward, his new voice gravely and deep. "I am the burning memory of him. The child shall have his revenge!"

Next it was Leila's unwilling turn. "I will rip you apart in your new home! I will carve out your heart and feast upon your soul" Then, Eddie, his twisted face glimmering in the overhead lights. "You will suffer at our hands…and we will burn to keep you in pain!" he shouted, and then took another step closer, his breathing loud and menacing as he continued. "If your spirit is not broken, I shall destroy it completely!" Thomas stepped back into line, and then Jasper stepped forwards. "I am your wickedness made flesh! I have been given life to be your tormentor! The one you should not have killed will be your destruction!" Luke did not step forward, but he too was twisted and warped, his eyes glowing a mad red. The killer was sobbing uncontrollably as he stared at all of them, eyes wide in terror. It truly was a pitiful sight. Slowly, their features returned to normal, skin healed and perfected once again.

Then, a crackling sound filled the room, making Ellie, the spirits, the monsters and the killer all look up in surprise at the speaker embedded on the wall. "Those monsters in the hallway, do not attempt to escape. I have prevented you from every escaping this place," came a voice that Ellie had missed hearing so dearly, a voice that had always given her hope in her darkest times. "Danny?" she whispered, but Danny gave no answer. He continued speaking. "For all of you demons, I am sure you will return to hell to swallow whole the master who has kept you trapped here. A fire has been lit, I am sure it is seconds away from reaching you." Even as Danny spoke, Ellie could smell the smoke and burning above, followed by the howls and shrieks of the monsters who had tried to flee.

"Do not fight it," Danny still continued, "embrace your return to have revenge. As for the six of you brave spirits, an escape has been mapped out for all of you. I do not believe you want to escape, even if it will slow your complete deaths." Danny began coughing into the speaker now, taking several moments to compose himself before choking on. "To my bravest little sister, I have watched your progress, and I regret seeing you leave. That is why I am coming with you." Ellie shot her head up, eyes wide in realisation. "No," she whispered. "I am nearby, and I will perish. I know that all of you have had your revenge, and now there is nothing more left for you. Nothing but peace. As the fire burns, your spirits will be separated from this Earth, and you shall finally have peace…I do hope to see you on the other side, little sister."

With a final crackle, the speaker died, only silence ensuing. A shadow came along the concrete nearby, and Elli whipped around as the surrounding monsters crumpled into ash, their roars cutting off as they separated from the Earth. It was Danny. "Hey, little sister," he said with a smirk on his face, and Ellie's eyes grew wider still. "You can see me?" she whispered before running forward to hug Danny, knowing she would pass straight through him. She did not. Her arms enclosed around Danny, and she leapt back in surprise. Danny chuckled and pointed to the ceiling, a sad expression in his eyes, "I'm just like you, Ellie. I'm now dead too." Ellie shook her head in disbelief, only for Danny to nod in confirmation. "Guys," came a whisper from behind, and Ellie turned to find Luke, one of his feet encased with the flames as they crept down the corridor toward them.

Slowly, Luke's form disappeared, a smile on his face as he vanished into the air. Even as Ellie watched, the ones she had grown close with Ascended. Thomas took a step towards her, and slowly disappeared. Jasper closed his eyes, and he too vanished, like a leaf on the wind. Next came Eddie, who shouted something before he as well disappeared, seconds after he touched the flames. The words clung to Ellie's mind as she murmured, "Thank you, too." She gripped onto Danny tightly as now Leila stepped towards them, giving a small smile. "See you in a few," she murmured, and then she popped out of existence. Ellie turned to Danny, tears in her eyes, and Danny hurriedly wiped them away. "It's ok, sister," Danny whispered, his eyes burning with satisfaction as he watched the killer shriek and disappear in a pile of fire. The flames were so close. Their time was up. "Together?" Danny whispered, and Ellie nodded. "Together," she repeated, hugging onto her brother tightly as their worlds turned white…then they were gone.