Shale had fallen silent and stopped walking. Venn turned around in confusion. "Shale? You coming?"

Shale didn't respond. His expression was completely blank, his eyes staring out at nothing. Reed stopped and looked back. He frowned. Venn walked to Shale quickly. He looked worried.

Shale gave no reaction at all when Venn put an arm around the older boy's shoulders. "Shale? Hey." He snapped his fingers in front of Shale's face. "Can you hear me?"

Shale suddenly slumped against Venn. He took several deep breaths. "Give me... a dagger..." his voice shook and the words sounded tight. The ethereal near glow that had been in his blue eyes was gone, leaving them looking normal.

Reed moved closer. "Are you alright Shale?"

Venn handed Shale a short dagger. Before Venn realized what he was doing, Shale cut the palm of his hand then let the dagger fall.

"Shale! What are you doing?!" Reed exclaimed. He ran over, digging in his bag for bandages.

Shale pulled away from Venn, curling the hand he had cut into a fist and squeezing hard. "No. No. Don't try to bandage it yet." Shale's eyes were wide and desperate. "Please. Listen to me."

Reed slowly put the bandages back into the bag. "Okay. Calm down."

Venn stepped toward Shale, reaching out one hand. "Are you okay?"

Shale shuddered and squeezed his fist tighter. Blood dripped from his hand. "No! I'm not okay! I'm possessed by some kind of spirit who calls himself-" his words choked to a stop. He kept trying to say the name, but couldn't.

Reed narrowed his eyes. "You're possessed?"

Shale nodded vigorously. He tried to say something else, but no sound came out. He ran his uninjured hand through his hair in frustration. It was as if his voice had left him completely.

Venn looked confused. "Shale... what can the two of us do?"

Shale shrugged helplessly. He looked between the two pleadingly. His voice came back when he next spoke, but it was strained from effort. "I don't know. Just please, help me. I can't... I can't live with this, but I'm being forced to..." his voice broke, and he specifically turned to Reed. "Please..."

Reed paused, meeting Shale's desperate gaze. Venn could tell he was unsettled and nervous.

Shale's face suddenly changed. He became calm. The ethereal glow coming back to the blue eyes. He looked between Venn and Reed, then down at his hand. "What just happened?" He sounded genuinely confused.

Reed moved closer. "Let me see your hand."

Shale held out his injured hand. "I don't know what that was. I feel so strange."

Reed made a show of studying the wound, then yanked Shale close to him and pushed one hand flat against Shale's chest. He said something fast and quiet that Venn didn't catch.

Shale stiffened. The blue glow vanished again. Black tendrils appeared wrapped tightly round Shale's body. Shale fell to his knees, shuddering. He grit his teeth and struggled against the inky tendrils.

Venn stepped forward, intending to help, but Reed stopped him. "Wait. I don't want this thing attaching to you. I dont think it could, but still."

Venn watched helplessly as the blackness almost seemed to be pulled away from Shale, who's face had scrunched up in pain.

After what seemed like an hour, the last black strand snapped free. Shale slumped forward. Reed stepped forward, Venn stayed back uncertainly.

Reed knelt in front of Shale. "Shale?"

"The name's Echo," the young man raised his head and looked at Reed with deep blue eyes. He smiled faintly. "Thank you. I am forever in your debt."

Reed leaned forward and hugged Echo tightly. "Don't thank me."

Venn walked over slowly and sat next to Echo. The three sat in calm silence. Echo turned his gaze up to the sky, and let out a long breath.

He was free.

At last.