Chapter Sixty-Two

Chapter Sixty-Two

Hanna watched the ice slowly melt away, water pooling on the floor. Misty got up from her seat and returned with a towel. DJ thanked her, but Hanna didn’t say a word. Nor did she offer to help unfreeze EDJ in any way. She was thinking about all the clues they had up until now. Lui’s body dissolved into particles and ended up in a mirror. He could move around like it was its own room, but not by much. Chains. He mentioned chains and broken glass. I wish I could hear him better. I wish he wasn’t in there at all. Of all the people in that castle this could have happened to, why’d it have to be you? You were supposed to be home already. I shouldn’t have left. I shouldn’t have yelled. I shouldn’t have let her out. She was glaring at EDJ, but didn’t realize she was chewing on her chapped lips again. Hanna glanced back at the mirror. “Lui… are… are you ok in there?” 

“I guess… slightly… painful… though.” Lui shrugged. He looked down at his arms.

Painful? What if we go to all this trouble and we can’t get Lui out? What if we never… Hanna stood up and stepped closer to the frozen block. Lui continued speaking, though no one heard him. When his head lifted again, she had already walked away. He sighed, disheartened and crestfallen with the severe lack of clear communication. 

“How are things coming along with the ice?” Hanna asked, stepping closer to DJ with her arms crossed. 

The Original was kneeling next to his Evil Other, tapping the ice and leaning in to listen. “His face is still covered, but I think I can actually hear him breathing a little now.” He adjusted the angle, ready to pull the frozen figure away from the heat source as soon as the ice gave way. He knew better than to trust a pyromancer near an open flame, frozen or not. “I think he’s coming around.” 

Clumps of ice and slush dropped to the floor with a splat as the last bit around EDJ’s head melted off. With a burst of life, the Evil Other woke up gasping and coughing violently. DJ yanked the ice block away from the fire and set it upright. 

“Gwuah!” EDJ shook his head and blinked, trying to get his bearings. “What happened? Where am I?” 

“You’re in my cabin on Everest,” Misty offered from her seat. 

“And who are you?” EDJ asked, gray hair and shoulders soaked through from the melted ice. 

“Misty,” she answered with a smile and a little wave.

EDJ blankly stared at the stranger in confusion before he realized DJ and Hanna were also in the room. A sly smile crossed his face when he spotted Hanna’s sour expression. “Hah! I knew you’d come back for me eventually. Couldn’t stay away, could you?” 

“I certainly tried,” she muttered bitterly. 

EDJ observed his environment, as much as he was able to while still 90% frozen. Brand new cabin, serious Original, angry Hanna, friendly stranger. Something was missing, but he couldn’t place exactly what. Aside from the fact that he was no longer in the familiar surroundings of his own castle, of course. “How can I be of service, Hanna?” he asked with a polite smile. 

She snorted in contempt. “We both know helping me is the last thing you want to do. However, we have no other choice…” She turned around to collect something.

The Evil Other looked DJ up and down as the Original remained silent and calm. “Do you always have to stare at me like I just drowned your-”

“How do we get someone out of a mirror?” Hanna interrupted, turning back with the ugly book in hand. 

EDJ stared at her. If he was expecting a specific response, this was not on his list. “Why should I tell you?” he asked cooly, pretending he had any idea what she was talking about. He raised a brow at the large, yellow tome in her arms. “What do you think you’re going to do with that?” 

“Trap you into a mirror if you don’t cooperate,” she answered confidently. 

Now he was thoroughly confused. “With a haunted house prop?” he asked. 

Hanna shifted awkwardly. She flipped the book open before anyone could stop her. Thankfully, every page was blank. “I could always smack you over the head with it,” she threatened, lifting the book as if to do so for the fun of it before tossing it on the couch. 

Hehehe, honestly, I could tell her ‘gullible’ was written on the ceiling and she’d- The missing piece finally hit EDJ. “Hang on. Where is the little carbon copy at?” he asked, looking around. DJ took one large step aside, giving his EO a full view of the mirror on the armchair. Lui watched him from behind the glass. EDJ’s once blank stare turned into a wicked grin as he realized the extent of the situation. “Ah, I see.”  

“Tell us how to get him out,” Hanna demanded. 

“Why?” EDJ repeated with a smug smirk. 

Hanna brought her face close to his, pure hatred in her voice as she whispered, “Because, I hold your very life in the palm of my hand. Don’t think for a moment that I won’t cause you as much pain as humanly possible. Because I will, if that’s what it takes for me to get him out of there alive.” When she pulled back, Misty was watching her with an expression of deep concern. 

Instead of being intimidated, EDJ started laughing. He laughed so hard the sound filled the entire room. When he finally stopped, he shook his head. “You?! Inflict pain on me?! You wouldn’t dare hurt me! Not when I’m the only one who can tell you how to rescue your precious Lui.” The look on her face after that last line was priceless, causing EDJ to go into another maniacal laughing fit. 

Hanna’s voice did not waver, in spite of her red-faced, furious glare. “Tell us how to get him out before I run out of patience.” 

EDJ stopped laughing long enough to collect himself and give a semi-serious answer. “Well, I’m no expert, but maybe if you say, ‘mirror, be gone’ and throw it against a jagged rock, you might see some interesting results.” 

“Are you out of your mind?!” she exploded. “That could kill him!”

“It might,” he agreed, watching her with a sadistic smile. “Then again, killing him would only shorten his agony… and why would I want that?”

Agony? Painful. Hanna’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.“You…” she faltered, anger, disbelief, and doubt her ever-present companions. “You want him to suffer? Why? Lui is innocent here.” 

“There you heroes go again.” EDJ rolled his eyes. “Thinking you get to decide who deserves to suffer and who doesn’t.” 

She glared daggers at him until the Original broke her line of sight, stepping between them. “Don’t do anything reckless,” DJ warned her in a low voice. 

Hanna glanced from DJ back to the frozen enemy. “Heartless,” she vehemently hissed. EDJ grinned as though he found it a compliment. “You deal with him then,” she said to DJ before twisting around and marching to the other side of the room. 

“Running away?” EDJ loudly mocked. “Ok, your choice. You can watch him suffer!” He laughed again. 

Hanna stormed outside, slamming the door behind her, and paced in circles in the snow. Calm down. You’re of no use to anyone like this. EDJ’s just trying to get on your bad side again. Don’t let him trick you. He might not even know how to get Lui out at all and here you are letting him play you like a fiddle. She stopped and took a deep breath. Idiot. He knows all your weaknesses. He’s going to use every single one of them against you. How are you supposed to come up with a plan to help if you’re all riled up like this? She took another deep breath of frosty mountain air. She reached down and scooped up a clump of snow, packing it together between her hands. She formed the snow into a ball and stared at it. “Ugh! You're useless!” She smashed her face into the snowball, hoping the ice would make her flushed cheeks go back to a normal shade. After wiping her face off and taking one more deep breath, Hanna re-entered the cabin. Deciding not to engage with EDJ, she went to the mirror. “Lui…” she started. “Is it true… what EDJ said about being in there?” 

“You… mean… painful?” he responded. “Only… little… really… except… for… chains…” If he was truly in pain and agony, he smiled in spite of it. It was the same smile he gave when Hanna found him stranded at the North Pole. The same smile he used in Svalbard and again in the castle. He used it when he faced off against Shard and after they defeated EDJ. It was the smile that told Hanna everything was going to turn out okay, if she just held on a little longer. It gave her hope. Little did she know it would be the last time she ever saw that smile through the mirror again. 

Chapter Sixty-One

Chapter Sixty-One

Misty was examining the mirror on all sides when Hanna returned to the living room. Misty paused to glance at her, noticing she had taken the time to clean off her light armor and brush her hair. Girl sure likes her pigtails. Hanna sat on the couch directly across from the mirror. She looked concerned, but did not say anything so Misty continued her investigation. By all appearances, the object was like any other rectangular mirror, aside from the face staring back at her that was not her own. 

“Lui, right?” Misty asked “How ya doing?”

“Ok… but… trapped… still…” the face replied, voice still weak but a bit better than before. “You… help… ?” It was as though even he could tell all of his words weren’t getting through, but his expression was hopeful. 

Poor guy. Misty smiled. “I’ll do my best.” We all will. “Is there anything you can tell us about what’s in there that might help?” Hanna moved closer to hear the conversation better. 

Lui turned, looking around inside the mirror. It was harder to hear him when he wasn’t directly facing them. “Chains… glass… broken… That… help?” 

“Lui…” Hanna narrowed her eyes and frowned. “Are you saying the only way we’re going to get you out of there is to… break the mirror?” 

Lui looked startled as he spoke. His voice came through distorted and half-panicked. “I… don’t… know…” He paused and moved a little inside the mirror, trying to move closer to the glass. “You… see… me?

Hanna nodded, a somber expression on her face. “Yes, I… I see you.” She stood up and went to DJ, who was rummaging through the stack of books he had set aside. “DJ, we need a solution now. I will either open that book myself or go get EDJ.” 

He let out a weary sigh. He knew that resolute look. He had said his piece and she decided against it anyway. It wasn’t a battle worth fighting at this point. He shrugged and pointed to the window as he spoke. “If you’re determined to use it, at least try it on EO first. We need to collect him anyway. I bet he would make a lovely picture…”

Hanna nodded. “I'll go get him.” She headed toward the door, but stopped and turned back. “Misty, can you come with me?”

“Sure, let me grab my coat.” Misty hopped up and went to get her parka. 

While Hanna waited, she looked at the mirror. “We’re going to get you out, Lui.” I promise. She couldn’t tell if he heard her or not, but he put on a brave smile. 

*********

It was still dark. As dark as it can get on a snow-covered mountain at the top of the world in May. For some reason, there was no storm at all when Hanna and Misty drove back up to the ruins of EDJ’s castle on a shared snowmobile. They were grateful for the shift in weather, but the abrupt cut off was almost suspicious. At least, it would have been to anyone paying attention. As usual, Hanna was not. Misty pulled up to a stop outside the castle rubble. True to Hanna’s words, smoke and light from within the ruins proved the fires were still burning. Everything outside the castle was covered in a new layer of snow. Misty pulled out a flashlight and handed it to Hanna. “Here.” 

“Thanks.” Hanna accepted the object and stared at it for a moment before turning back to the helpful woman. “Misty, I…” Misty paused and waited for her to finish her sentence. Hanna took a deep breath and tried again. “I misjudged you. I am sorry. You have been very helpful and kind and generous. I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for me and my friends. We would have died out here if you hadn’t shown up when you did.” 

Misty smiled. “Don’t worry about it. Like I said, I’m here to help.” 

Hanna turned on the light and swept the beam back and forth, looking for the large boulder. The rock was her only landmark aside from the castle. “Where are you from?” she asked with genuine interest. 

“Minnesota, originally.” Misty stepped off the snowmobile and sunk into the fresh snow a little. “What about you?” 

“Ukraine,” Hanna answered. “Not originally.” 

“Ukraine,” Misty repeated thoughtfully. “I don’t think I’m familiar with that place. Where is it?” 

“Eastern Europe. Right next to Russia.” Hanna didn’t mind the question. Most Americans she ran into weren’t familiar with her part of the world. Not that she was any more familiar with theirs either, if she was being honest. 

“Oh, that’s cool.” Misty took large steps through the snow as she searched while Hanna preferred to fly above it. “I didn’t pick that up in your accent.” 

Hanna stopped and turned to her with a curious smile. “And I wouldn’t have guessed Minnesota based on yours.” 

Misty let out a soft laugh. “Heh, well, you know what they say about judging books and covers. What about your friends? Where are they from?” 

“Iceland. They went to some big fancy military academy there or something.” Hanna turned to continue looking. They found the boulder, but the fresh snow was banked against the side she left EDJ on. She knelt in the snow where she was fairly certain she left EDJ’s body and started digging. 

“Is that where you guys met?” Misty asked, also stopping to help dig in the snow. 

“Not initially,” Hanna explained. “I met Lui at a satellite school stateside. He’s DJ’s Other.” 

“His what now?” 

Hanna froze with wide eyes. Crap, I don’t think I was supposed to tell her that. I forgot most people don’t know about Others. How am I supposed to explain what an Other is? And what an Original is? How do I tell her I’m an Evil Other? Should I tell her? Lui and DJ trusted me with that information and I just blurted it out like it was nothing. Wasn’t the academy supposed to be a secret too?! I don’t remember! Idiot! Forgive me. “Brother,” she lied, quickly resuming her task. “His brother.” 

“Oh… cool.” Misty continued digging. “And you said EDJ kidnapped them?” 

“More or less,” Hanna muttered, not wanting to try digging herself out of already muddled specifics and inconsistencies. 

Misty scooped as much snow away as she could, but had to stop because her hands were starting to freeze under her gloves. “Why them? How is he related?” 

Hanna dug until she hit a block of ice. She sat back and huffed, anger returning. “He used them to get to me.” Standing up and stepping back, Hanna used her ice magic to sweep the snow aside and lift the block of ice into an upright position. At some point in the storm it had fallen over, which is why they found it fully covered. 

Misty blinked at her, gloves and coat now soaked with freezing water. “Why didn’t you do that to begin with?” 

Hanna ignored her and checked the ice block. EDJ was still frozen inside. She turned to Misty. “Did you happen to bring any rope?” 

*********

The two women dragged the block of ice into the cabin. Misty went to the back bedroom to change into dry clothes while Hanna brushed off her hands. She circled the frozen figure in the middle of the room as though he were a new house decoration. “Well… now what?” DJ set down the book he was reading and went over to EDJ to inspect the ice block. Even encased in ice, he could feel the Evil Other’s menacing presence. He glanced at the suspicious tome still sitting untouched on the coffee table. If it really did have the power to trap people in mirrors, was it wise to use it on his Evil Other? If they risked opening the book, were there instructions inside that would help? Hanna was also staring at the book on the table. “If it really is a trap… How do you think it would cause someone to be stuck in a mirror in the first place?” 

“Some sort of evil joke,” DJ answered casually. That was his hope. The thought that this was all a prank conjured by his Evil Other’s twisted sense of humor gone horribly wrong was almost acceptable. Nearly every alternative involving this type of magic left a nefarious taste. A type of magic even the experts refused to teach. If it is a trap and not something else entirely... “I don’t know any more than that. I think the only way to really find out would be to talk to EO himself. Where do you want to start?” DJ asked. 

“I guess we could put him closer to the fire and monitor how much the ice melts. Or…” Hanna turned around. “I don’t suppose there’s a chisel around here somewhere…”

“Let’s go with the easier and safer option,” DJ offered. He started scooting the frozen figure toward the fire before she jumped in to help him. They managed to get EDJ angled toward the fireplace so the ice around his head would melt fastest. Misty returned from the back room and sat in an armchair to observe. 

While waiting for the ice to melt, Hanna moved to the mirror. “Hey, Lui. You ok?” 

“Ok…” Lui leaned to the side to see past her with a look of confusion. “EO… be… mirror… too?” His mouth continued to move. If he was speaking complete sentences, she couldn’t hear them. All she caught was “EO… here?” 

“Yeah, he’s here,” she answered. “Is something wrong?” 

“He…” Lui started then paused a moment, all the while watching the frosty, ice block. “Evil… scarily… so… he… responsible… for… this…” 

Hanna nodded. “Don’t worry, Lui, we won’t let him escape. We’re just going to melt him enough to get information. Ok?” she ended with a smirk. 

He looked back at her, recognizing that resolute look. Lui raised his eyebrows and said “OK… You… make… him… pay?”

I will make him pay. Even if EDJ is only partly at fault here, he started all this. I’m going to end it. He hurt Lui. He hurt DJ. Who knows how many others he’s hurt or tried to. The traps, the tests, the monsters, dragging out my evil side, and now this. It’s both our fault Lui’s trapped like this. But after everything he’s put us through, EDJ deserves every bit of what’s coming to him. He’s going to tell us how to get Lui out if it’s the last thing he does. “Most assuredly, I will make him pay,” Hanna responded before glancing back to see the melting ice progress so far. She missed Lui’s frown and his next whispered words entirely. 

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty

DJ stood up and looked around the cabin, catching sight of a bookcase in the corner. Maybe there is a book that says how to get people untrapped from mirrors or something. He went to the case and started scanning book titles. He picked one off the shelf and flipped through it. Haunted Mountains: Fact or Fiction. He put it back and kept looking. Sleeping Beauty. Snow White. Cinderella. Beauty and the Beast. Hamlet. Campfire Cooking. Eyes of Elijah. History of Thorae. The Door Without. Through the Looking Glass. He pulled the last one off the shelf. I don’t know if it will help, but it can’t hurt. He continued through the titles. He pulled another one down. Good vs.Evil: Tricks of the Trade. He set the books aside on the closest table to go through later. 

A gust of cold air swept through the cabin once more as Misty entered. “Whew, sorry about that!” she said, bolting the door. “Feels like I’ve been in and out this whole time!” She went to the kitchen while pulling off her coat. “How’s the pie coming along?” 

“Pie?” Hanna stared back at her. “What pie?”

“I got ingredients for chicken pot pie.” Misty looked into the pot simmering on the stove. “What are you making?”

“Chicken noodle soup,” Hanna answered. 

“Oh, that works too.” Misty didn’t sound bothered in the slightest. “Do you want help?” 

“No.” 

“Okay, let me know when it’s done. Thanks for cooking! It smells great!” Misty went back to the living room and threw more logs on the fire. Hanna stirred the pot in silence. Her confusion over what was supposed to be prepared was amplified by the lack of resistance from Misty. She was so used to opposition, it threw her off when there wasn’t any. Part of her was disappointed. 

“Ah, much better.” Misty warmed her hands by the fire. She turned to see what DJ was doing. She watched him pull books off the shelf and set them aside. She went over to investigate. “What are you looking for?” 

“Nothing!” DJ jumped, not realizing she was standing directly behind him. 

Reading the titles of the stack of books on the table, Misty asked, “Are you looking for a book to help your friend?”

“Maybe.” DJ regained his composure and turned around. “That sounds like a distinct possibility. Is that ok? I should have asked first before reorganizing your books…”

“It is her cabin,” Hanna muttered under her breath, still stirring the soup. 

“Oh, sure, go ahead.” Again, Misty did not sound bothered. She stood for a minute in thought before suddenly snapping her fingers. “I think I know of something that will help! Wait here. I might have a clue.” She left the room. 

“Oh boy, a clue,” Hanna muttered sarcastically, searching the cupboards for bowls. “Find two more and you can use your handy dandy notebook.” 

DJ shot her a look, but smiled politely when Misty returned. The friendly woman walked out of the back bedroom with a few new books in hand. She set them on a coffee table at the same time that Hanna was setting down bowls of steaming soup on the same table. “Do you think any of these would help?” Misty asked, taking a bowl of soup and sitting on the couch. “I found them outside. They flew out of the castle when it blew up, I guess. I didn’t get a chance to read any of them, but they looked important and dangerous. There’s a safe in the bedroom so I took the books and locked them up so EDJ wouldn’t get them. I thought they might help me get him to stop destroying my cabins.”

One of the books immediately caught DJ’s attention. He reached over and took it, examining it before even touching the food. The book was faded, tattered, and held together with rubber bands. One corner was a bit singed, but the academy insignia on the front was unmistakable. He removed the bands and opened the cover. The date on the first page read ‘11-07-02’. It was obvious the book hadn’t been opened in quite some time. A few of the pages stuck together. As DJ carefully tried to turn them without damaging the book further, something slipped out of the pages. A photo. One taken seven years ago of a group of young cadets. DJ picked it up and stared at it with wide eyes. He kept it.

“Speaking of,” Misty was saying in the background to Hanna. “Do you think that castle is still up in flames or do you think it’s gone out by now in this storm?”

“Unlikely,” Hanna responded, taking a magazine from the table and flipping through it. The cover read, ‘Evil Will Conquer the World Because I Am the Greatest Ruler Ever.’ “Fire has a weird way of surviving in harsh weather conditions. It’s going to be a while before it completely goes out.” 

Misty lightly blew on the bowl of hot soup to cool it off. “Eh, I guess you’re right. It takes me forever to fully put out my campfires. I’m always worried they’re going to accidentally start a forest fire or something.” 

“Did you find anything in there that will help get Lui out?” Hanna asked DJ, setting down the magazine and reaching for her own bowl of food. 

“Nope.” DJ closed the book, secured the rubber bands around it, and tucked it into his armor. Hanna raised a brow at him, but did not say anything. She ate her bowl of soup in silence, having already cooled it to a tolerable temperature. “What’s this one?” DJ asked, pointing to the last book on the table as he reached for his bowl of soup. 

The final book looked like an old tome with metallic decorations, a twisted face in the center, and bound in sickly yellow leather. The title was simply, “Magic Mirrors for Dummies.” While the title itself was innocuous, the cover was suspicious enough to make anyone stop and seriously question the content. Anyone except Hanna. “I think we should check it out,” she offered.

“Hmm.” DJ’s expression was wary, if not downright distrustful, of the object. “That might work,” he said cautiously. “But I think it could also be a trap designed by EO.”

“You think he’s smart enough for that?” Misty asked genuinely, being the only party member not to have direct interaction with EDJ. 

Hanna tilted her head and grimaced. “He does like his traps.”

“Or it could just be a weird looking book,” Misty offered. “Why do you assume it’s a trap? I mean, you went to his castle, blew it up, and he’s been frozen in ice this entire time. I feel kinda bad for him.” Hanna and DJ both gave her a disapproving look. “...What? If you’re that worried about it, let me take it outside and look at it. You can watch through the window and see if anything happens. That way if something does happen, it will happen to me instead of one of you guys.”

“You would be willing to do that for us?!” DJ asked in surprise. 

“No way,” Hanna jumped in. “I said I wouldn’t get you involved, Misty. You’ve done enough for us already. If anything bad is going to happen, it should happen to me. I’ll take the book.” 

“It might save Lui though,” Misty countered. She pointed at Hanna. “You need to be here to help them. And DJ needs to be here to help you and Lui. I’m the outsider here. I want to help.”

“I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for us,” Hanna responded harshly. “We’ll find a way for you to help without putting you in harm’s way. 

“What’s the worst that could happen?” Misty asked. 

Hanna rattled off a list. “Obliteration. Incineration. Laceration. And if the worst that happens to you is that you also get stuck in a mirror, that would only leave us with two mirrors.” 

Misty frowned at her. It’s my job to help these people. I’m going to find a way to help them. She set her empty bowl on the table. “Well, then if I get stuck in a mirror too, maybe I could tell you guys how to fix it since I would be on the inside. Or maybe we can just ask EDJ?”

DJ spoke up. “That might be difficult considering his present condition.” 

Misty shrugged, letting her arms flop down as she ran out of ideas. “I don’t know. I’m just trying to help.” 

Hanna’s shoulders fell. “I’m sorry,” she said, tone shifting away from aggravation. “I think we’re all still stressed and on edge. It’s been a long day…” She offered Misty a sincere smile. “Thank you for trying.” 

DJ nodded. I don’t like this. What if it really is a trap? We don’t have the resources to deal with this. 

“I don’t blame you,” Misty offered. “It is getting pretty late. We could always sleep on it and start fresh tomorrow. The cabin has three bedrooms. That with the couch should be plenty of comfortable sleeping arrangements.” 

“That’s good to know, but we’re not staying,” DJ said, standing up from his chair and picking up the empty bowls. 

“You’re not?” Misty asked. 

Hanna turned to DJ. “We’re not?” 

“No,” he answered. “As soon as the storm lets up, we’re getting off this mountain.” He took the bowls to the kitchen and set them in the sink. He turned to find Hanna standing in front of him, arms folded. 

“You’re in no condition to travel,” she said in a low voice. 

“Neither are you,” he responded, matching her volume. He glanced at Misty and let out a long breath. “We should have called in help hours ago, Hanna. I’m not getting any signal here. If there was a satellite or cell tower nearby, it was probably in the castle. We’re of no help to Lui stuck in here and I know you don’t trust leaving EO alone out there. If we can all get back to Iceland, the academy has plenty of resources to sort through this.” 

Hanna was quiet as she processed his words for a moment. “You think they can get Lui out of the mirror?” she asked quietly. 

DJ shrugged. “It’s worth a shot. I know the longer we stay, the more opportunity EO has to escape. As unlikely as that might be.” 

Hanna finally nodded in agreement. “Fine. I’m gonna go clean up and then we can check on the weather.”

Chapter Fifty-Nine

 

Chapter Fifty-Nine

The cabin door slammed open with a gust of wind, waking up everyone inside. Hanna jumped to her feet, sword drawn within a split second. DJ was right behind her, being the farthest from the door. Misty stumbled inside with someone following her. The two of them closed the door with some force against the howling wind. It was dark outside. Hanna did not put away her weapon, but stepped forward and stared the new stranger down. “Who’s this?” she asked, once again automatically placing herself between her friends and the stranger. 

“Put that away,” Misty said, turning to face Hanna with mild annoyance. “This is Abby. She’s a medic from the closest aid station. I went to get help, remember?” The person introduced as Abby lifted a badge and pulled up the brightly colored trauma bag she was carrying. Hanna begrudgingly put her blade away and relaxed her stance. Abby appeared to be an older woman with a petite frame. She stood half a foot shorter than Hanna. The medic scanned the room, sharp dark brown eyes lingering on the winged cryomancer. Silently judging whether or not she was a danger. 

“Better check on DJ first,” Misty suggested, gesturing to the lancer. She also had a large bag with her. She set it on the kitchen island and retreated to the back bedroom. Whe Misty re-emerged, she was missing most of her winter layers. Now she wore jeans and a turquoise sweater. After all the time bundled up in coats, this was the first real chance Hanna had to notice Misty’s appearance. She was a smidge shorter than Hanna, but not as short as Abby. Her hazelnut hair was neatly braided and hung over her shoulder. She came out to the kitchen and started unpacking food supplies from her bag. “Hanna, can you help me with this?” she asked, mostly to get the frost woman out of the medic’s way. Hanna stood where she was, glaring at Abby for another minute before she relented and moved to the kitchen. Abby went to DJ, who sat down again. The medic set her bag down, pulled on a pair of gloves, and started asking him a list of questions. 

Hanna watched for a few more seconds before finally deciding her friend would be okay. She tied back her loose hair, knotty and dirty as it was, to keep it out of the food. She removed her gloves and washed her hands up to her elbows with soapy water. It took three washes before Hanna was satisfied. “I don’t like this,” she muttered.

“Yeah, well, she was the only one willing to leave the station with me,” Misty answered, handing her a clean towel. “A storm was starting to pick up as soon as I left the cabin. You don’t have to like it, but it’s the best we have right now.” She placed a cutting board, kitchen knife, and a few freshly washed vegetables in front of Hanna. On second thought. Misty took the cutting board and knife away, replacing them with packaged food Hanna could help open instead. She started chopping up the vegetables herself and threw them into a pot. Hanna didn’t seem to notice the switch in duties. “I never got to ask,” Misty started, making conversation while she prepped. “What are y'all doing on Everest anyway?” 

Hanna frowned. “I came to stop EDJ. Then things got complicated.” She turned to Misty. “Do you know anything about the castle or the person who owned it?” 

“Only that EDJ likes blowing up my cabins,” Misty answered with a laugh. It wasn’t until she noticed Hanna’s silent stare that she caught herself. “Well, you said the guy in ice was EDJ, right? I knew he owned the castle. There’s a public warning posted not to go near it. I told you I come up here every few years. The only reason I don’t come more often is because my cabins are always getting destroyed. That’s why this one is surrounded by trees. So he won’t find it. I have to get them rebuilt every time.” Hanna narrowed her eyes. Good grief, what’s it take to get this girl to believe you? Misty put a hand on her hip. “Why don’t you tell me how the castle exploded and its owner got trapped in a block of ice.”

Hanna bristled, blue eyes still narrow. “EDJ kidnapped my friends so I came here to stop him,” she said simply, leaving out a few key details. “Putting him on ice was my way of containing him until he could be handed over to the proper authorities. That was before the explosion happened, which was a complete accident, by the way.”

Misty blinked at her. “Wait, you were inside the castle right before it blew up?” The frost woman nodded. “You’re lucky you got out in time.” Misty paused. “How did you get EDJ out if he was already a popsicle?”

“I carried him.” DJ’s voice, silent up until now, echoed from the living area across from the kitchen island. Abby was poking and prodding him with medical instruments. His voice was even when he spoke, but it was clear from the look on his face he was incredibly uncomfortable. 

“You carried him?!” Misty repeated in shock. DJ nodded, jaw clenched and wincing sporadically. 

“Right after beating him in combat too,” Hanna added. 

“Let me get this straight…” Misty held up her hands and counted on her fingers. “You went to EDJ’s castle, fought him, beat him, froze him, and then carried his frozen corpse out of the castle before it exploded?” 

“...Yes?” Hanna raised a brow, not sure what was so surprising about the events listed. “He’s not dead though, if that counts for anything.”

Misty was still trying to wrap her mind around the situation. “That’s still like three hundred pounds of extra weight, counting the ice and armor. If not more! Have mercy, it’s no wonder you were unconscious!” She gestured to DJ then turned to Hanna. “You know that’s the reason why most of these frozen climbers stay on Everest, right?” She shook her head. “I can’t believe you carried him…” 

“I had to,” DJ responded. “If I didn’t, he would have blown up with the castle.” 

Misty gave DJ and Hanna both a suspicious look. Something told her there was more to these strange people than their circumstances and appearances. She pointed at the mirror. “And what’s his story?” 

“He…” Hanna’s shoulders fell and her glare softened. “I don’t know.”

“He’s our friend.” DJ answered for her. “We think EDJ trapped him in the mirror, but we don’t know how. Or what to do to get him out.” DJ turned to the medic and nodded toward the mirror. “Can you do anything for him?” 

Abby shook her head. Finishing up, she pulled off her gloves, picked up her bag, and went to Hanna. “Are you going to let me treat you?” 

“Absolutely not,” Hanna answered with a snort, hostility returning in full force. 

The medic huffed. “Then I am done here.” She fished out a bottle of low pain relief and set it on the kitchen island. “Mild concussion, cuts, first degree burns. Monitor him for the next few hours. Watch for infection and internal bleeding. If symptoms worsen, take him to a hospital.” She went to the door and turned expectantly. 

“Oh, right,” Misty said, suddenly remembering she promised to take the medic back. “You guys can keep working on dinner. I’ll be right back!” She grabbed a parka and left with Abby. The weather outside sounded like it was getting worse. 

Hanna let out a breath, releasing the tension she was storing. She watched the door, trying to remember the last time she was treated by a medical professional. She couldn’t remember. An involuntary shiver went down her spine, ruffling her feathers for no discernable reason. She glanced at DJ. “Can’t stand doctors either, huh?”

“I don’t mind them.” He shrugged. “They have their job. I have mine. At the end of the day, we’re both trying to help people.” 

“Is that what you do at that fancy academy all day? Help people?” Hanna asked as she stared at the food still on the counter.

“I try,” he answered. He said no more, but turned to the mirror with a thoughtful look. He fished out his phone from a pocket.  

Hanna contemplated the random ingredients in front of her. Misty didn’t mention what she was planning to make and didn’t seem to be working off a physical recipe that could be used as reference. She looked at DJ. “I don’t suppose you have any idea what she was planning for dinner?”

“Nope.”

Hanna frowned. “You’re no help.” She started rearranging the objects on the island to best suit her preference of where things were located. 

“I’m lots of help,” DJ corrected with a soft chuckle. “Just not in this specific context.” 

Hanna grabbed the kitchen knife and resumed Misty’s half-finished chore of chopping vegetables. “I could almost make borscht, but I don’t see any beets. They’re kind of a main component in-” Her head snapped up and she pointed at DJ. “Don’t say it!” 

He blinked in confusion. “Say what? I didn’t say anything.” 

“You were going to make some smart comment about dropping beats. I could see it on your face.” 

DJ laughed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, shaking his head. “I didn’t make any faces.” 

Hanna glanced at the mirror with a frown before resuming her task. “It’s the same face Lui makes when he comes up with a clever pun,” she muttered too quietly for anyone to hear. DJ stiffly stood up and walked into the kitchen before she turned to him. “What do you think you’re doing?” Her tone was sharp and the hand with the knife hung midair. 

He glanced from the knife to her and back. “...helping?” 

“Not with that grimy armor, you’re not,” she retorted. “Besides, you’re supposed to be resting. Doctor’s orders.” 

“She didn’t actually say-”

Hanna interrupted. “I’m not going to have you collapse with exhaustion in the middle of the kitchen floor while I’m juggling frying pans. I may not be the best cook, but I am perfectly capable of making dinner by myself. If I need help, I’ll ask for it. Go check on Lui.”

“But you-”

She pointed to the living room. “Out.”

DJ raised his hands and backed out of the kitchen while Hanna went back to cooking. He went to the mirror still resting on the second armchair. Lui was awake now, looking back at him. DJ knelt in front of the glass. “How’re you doing, buddy?” 

Lui shrugged. Even though they were only a couple feet apart, the Original did not feel his Other’s presence at all. Can you hear me? DJ reached out through midspeak, but did not get an answer. It seemed the strongest connection they had to Lui at all was visual. Sure, sound was able to get through occasionally, but it was inconsistent at best. That paired with the lack of mental connection fed an increasingly worrisome suspicion in his mind. One he wasn’t sure he should vocalize until he had something more to go on. Hang in there, Lui.