-I owe you something, and I want to give back. I want to take you with me.- The priestess said while she was hugging me. 

The way she wrapped her arms around me was oddly gentle, like she was afraid to break me. I didn’t even remember the last time someone hugged me. My mind went to my family, left back on earth, and the corners of my eyes were suddenly wet.

I was tempted to hug her back, but then I remembered that I didn’t like to be hugged, especially by a stranger who introduced herself in my room without my consent. 

I awkwardly moved away from her. -Well, I appreciate the effort but please… uhm… I would like you to not invade my personal space anymore. Thank you.- 

She wasn’t embarrassed at all. -Of course. I will respect your boundaries. I’m sorry if I caused you any distress.- She nodded sympathetically, a hand on her heart, if she still had internal organs.

“Well, that was weird.” This time her manner of speech was almost detached, like she was a professional talking to a patient. 

Something clicked in my head. “Bet she was a therapist.” 

Many of the Sunset Church priests were therapists, before dying. Coward as I was, I ran away from therapy my entire life, back on Earth. I wondered if being literally kidnapped by a therapist now was some kind of karmic payback.

-I don’t even know you. How could you own me something? Do you remember?-

She shrugged her shoulders. -Nope. I just know that I want to help you.-

I sighed, massaging my temples. -Ok, You want to help me? leave.me.to.my.brains. Then we are even. How does it sounds?-

She considered it for a moment, then she shook her head. -No, I don’t think that’s what I wanted to do when I decided to come here. My instinct say that I should take you with me.-

-But where?- 

-Well, I don’t exactly remember that right now, but I think you will like it! Yep.- She nodded just once, with determination. I didn’t know if she was convincing me or herself. 

We were in a loop. I temporarily gave up talking with her and went outside in the hallway. The vampire was still snoring on the ground. I hated to touch someone else, but there wasn’t much choice. I kneeled at his side and I awkwardly poked his shoulder. -Sir? Hello? Could you wake up, please? I need your help…- 

No answer, just stronger snores. I had the suspicion he was pretending and It took all my willpower to not punch him. I walked inside the room again. The skeleton priestess was now watching something outside the window with intense curiosity. 

-Do you know what that black fog is, that one in the distance?- She asked, looking down.

“Great, just what I need.” The last thing I wanted to talk about at that moment was the Dark Void, but I was tired of being confrontational. Opposing required too much effort.

“She’s probably the undead equivalent of a very old granny with dementia. I should just indulge her” I told myself.

-That’s the Dark Void, ma’am.- I said wearily. -it’s like an entropic deadly fog, but don’t worry, it’s just at the bottom of the towers-districts. We are safe up here.-

-Does it ever move? or grow?-

-Well, it grows but very, very slowly. I think just few centimeters every year, for now.-

-For now?-

I hesitated, a deep, ancestral fear growing in my chest. “old granny, old granny, old granny. Be kind, be kind, be kind!” I repeated to myself. 

-It's the biggest crisis for the city, actually.- I said reluctantly -And it will grow exponentially every year. It’s made by the residue of all the necromancy used. The problem is everything is run by necromancy here. The transportations, the devices we use, our food, the whole economy… Even our bodies kept alive thanks to necromancy flowing in our veins.-

-Are you saying that is inevitable? Does it mean that fog will swallow the city one day?- Her tone of voice was inscrutable.

“Yes, we’re all doomed. We’re all doomed all over again, like we were on Earth.”

My heart started to beat faster and faster and before I even realized I was hyperventilating. “oh, no no no, not now!” I closed my eyes but terror fell on me like a heavy stone on my chest. I was having a panic attack.