Zen pulls up to the cemetery. Something is wrong. The seal is pulsating and changing size. He has to get back there. As he slides out of the car he keeps checking for any creatures. He darts past the cemetery gate heading straight for the seal. He keeps glancing from side to side checking for any creatures. It’s empty. So far it looks like the gate into the Abyss is holding, even if the seal is not.

The next section of the cemetery comes into view. He slows down to a light jog as he nears the old section where the Death Walkers are buried. Zen stops at the gate to the next part of the cemetery watching the seal, mentally marking how far out the seal is expanding. The last thing he needs right now is to get trapped behind the seal as it expands. The statues are lost inside the seal, but it doesn’t seem to be reaching this part of the cemetery. He reaches for the latch on the gate. It screeches open loud enough to wake the dead.

Zen lowers himself to the ground expecting trouble from the noise. There is no way that something hasn’t escaped with this kind of disturbance. But what is causing it? He stays low and crawls towards his right trying to reach the other side of the Death Walkers cemetery. The seal just stops short of the final section of the cemetery. Halfway there Zen spots a group of creatures leaning and falling over the tombstones near the gate into the last section. Some of them have escaped after all. They are whispering among themselves and pointing towards Solace. Great. He regrets complaining about needing more excitement. This is not what he had in mind when he said more excitement. At least they haven’t spotted him yet, giving him the advantage.

Before getting any closer Zen stops needing to plan his next move. They’re in his way if he wants to get into the seal without going in it. He could turn around now and call the elders but that would leave these creatures to go to Solace and find whatever is catching their attention. He hides behind a tombstone as the seal shifts and grows. He peers around the corner to see what the creatures are howling in excitement about. The green seal is shifting, becoming almost transparent.

His breath catches in his throat. The black metallic cage glitters in the light, taunting him. Zen shouldn’t be able to see the cage surrounding the entrance into the Abyss. A couple creatures, still in their wisp form, dance around the bars to the cage. He’s frozen in place as the seal continues to grow reaching its breaking point.

The creatures’ laughter pulls him out of his trance. He peers over at them. The creatures are shedding their human appearance for something more impish. A weird mix of an imp and the gargoyle like appearance of the more powerful creatures. They’re close to leaving. Zen needs to decide what to do and fast. He can’t let them reach Solace and find whatever it is that drew them out of the Abyss. He is not going to fail a second time. But what could he do with the seal in this state? If he tries to knock them into the Abyss they can walk right back out and come after him. The other option is to break the rules and attack them but that brings another set of problems.

The sun is beginning to set. Zen uses the shadows to sneak along the tombstones to get behind the creatures. As he makes his way around he keeps a look out for any stragglers. So far it looks like all the escaped creatures are staying together. Staying on the tombstones of his people. He slides his gun out staring at it. He knows it’s made of some material from the Abyss, designed to only harm creatures. But he can’t remember how it works. Will it stop after hitting one of them or does it keep going? Zen has to risk using it. This is going to be less diplomatic but it’s better than them reaching Solace. Besides, what could the elders really do to him that they haven’t already?

As he takes aim, something hard slams into his head. Zen crumbles from the impact. He tries to keep his eyes open as the world spins. The creatures surround him, smiling. Another one holds a rock over him as the world goes dark.

                                                             ~~~~~~

 Zen’s head is pounding. He opens his eyes trying to focus and remember what is going on. But all he can see is green. Green? His thoughts snap back into focus as he tries to move. Somehow he’s on the inside of the seal, and near the center. He tries to think what there is inside the seal to even tie him to. The only thing he can think of is the final statue for spirit, but if that is the case it meant the gate into the Abyss is less than ten feet to his back. Way too close for his comfort - he needs to get out of here.

Also where are the creatures that attacked him? Have they made it to Solace or did the seal fix itself and they got sucked back into the Abyss. If Zen is to get out of here, it is important to know which path the creatures took. His ability to get out of here depends on it. If he is trapped on this side of the seal there’s no one to protect Solace.

What is holding him to this stone? Zen stops struggling and looks down to see what is holding him in place. His own chains stare back at him. This day is just getting better and better. He tries to get some footing and slide up the statue to escape. As he works on his escape, Zen notices a red fog creeping along the ground. What the --? It’s coming from behind him, from the gate.

He starts to slide around the statue, wanting to see what is happening. If something is going to attack him from the Abyss he at least wants to see it first. It feels like hours by the time he’s able to slide around, facing the entrance to the Abyss. The cage over the entrance to the Abyss is gone. Zen stares into the small orb trying to decide what he is looking at. A dark forest full of old gnarled trees look back at him. Is this the Abyss or another gate forming somewhere in this realm?

The fog keeps growing, rising, almost choking Zen. He hears the creatures returning behind him, shouting in glee. This couldn’t possibly get worse. He starts fighting against the chains holding him to the old stone statue, ignoring the entrance to the Abyss. The noise behind him turns from happiness to fear. Zen looks up, wanting to see what is bothering the creatures. The trees no longer float in the strange orb. Now it is a bright yellow light and he swears the orb is growing. He leans back trying to put more space between him and the orb. If he gets sucked into the Abyss he’s done for. He can’t get back without an Astro pulling him out.

Zen holds his breath as the orb continues to grow, swallowing him in the light. It feels like his skin is on fire but it’s too bright to see anything. He’s lost. There’s no way he is getting out of this. He starts to hear screaming from somewhere, a girl. Has someone from Solace gotten trapped here to? Before he can call out, the orb shrinks. He blinks as the world returns to normal, like nothing happened. As the shock wears off he tries to get himself loose again. He starts to slide around the statue to make it easier to ignore the orb.

Some of the creatures come through the seal, walking towards him. One break - that’s all he wants is one break. One of them reaches out for him with its clawed hand. Zen leans away from the creature. A bright light flashes past them. The chains fall off and he flies through the air. His breath is knocked out of him as he bounces off the ground.