Through the Frosted Mirror

The Victoria Housekeeping team arrived at the edge of a Hollow teaming with danger, its warped Etheric energy distorting the very air around it. Their mission was straightforward: rescue a group of Hollow Investigators who had gone silent days ago. The tension in the air was palpable as the team crossed the boundary, their weapons, and Bangboos at the ready.

Von Lycaon's sharp voice cut through the oppressive atmosphere. "Stay focused. No mistakes. If the investigators are alive, they'll be deeper inside. Ellen, take point."

Ellen Joe nodded, her giant scissors resting against her shoulder as she led the way, her shark-like tail swishing with wary precision. "Got it. Let's just hope this isn't another wild goose chase."

Rina's Bangboo companions, Anastella and Drusilla, floated beside her, analyzing the twisted terrain. Corin Wickes followed closely, her chainsaw-broom at the ready, her skittish movements betraying her unease.

The team pushed through the Hollow's warped corridors, the air thick with Etheric corruption. Faint signs of a struggle—shredded equipment, bloodstains, and shattered Ether crystals—guided them toward their target. But as they entered the core of the Hollow, the unfortunate happened.

"Oh no," Corin whispered, her voice trembling.

Before them stood the Hollow Investigators, or what was left of them. Their bodies were grotesquely mutated, their features barely recognizable under the jagged black crystals that sprouted from their flesh. The Ether cores in their chests pulsed with a sickening light, signaling their complete transformation into Ethereals.

Von Lycaon's voice was firm but heavy with regret. "They're gone. Prepare to engage."

The battle was swift but brutal. The corrupted investigators moved with unnatural speed and ferocity, their attacks, a twisted mockery of the skills they once used to protect New Eridu.

Ellen's scissors clashed with crystalline claws, her icy powers freezing her foes mid-strike.

Rina's electricity surged through the battlefield, disrupting their movements. Corin's chainsaw roared as she cut through the chaos, her fear replaced by grim determination.

When the dust settled, the team stood amidst the shattered remains of their enemies. Corin's hands shook as she lowered her weapon, her face pale. Ellen's usual sharp demeanor was replaced by a somber silence.

"Let's get out of here," Von Lycaon said, his tone softer now. "We've done all we can."

As the team prepared to leave, the ground beneath them groaned. A fissure opened without warning, its Etheric energy radiating an intense pull. Ellen barely had time to react as the ground gave way beneath her.

"Ellen!" Rina screamed, reaching out, but it was too late. Ellen's body was swallowed by the fissure, and the Hollow warped shut behind her.

When Ellen awoke, the world around her was unrecognizable. The chaotic environment of Hollow Zero stretched endlessly in every direction. The Etheric corruption was overwhelming, warping the space-time continuum into a nightmarish labyrinth.

She pushed herself to her feet, her tail swaying to keep her balance. "Great," she muttered. "Lost in the one place no one's supposed to survive."

Her instincts screamed at her to keep moving, to avoid staying in one place for too long. But the vastness of the Hollow made every step feel like a gamble. She couldn't risk venturing deeper, but she also couldn't afford to stay still.

A faint sound broke through her thoughts: a child's sobbing. Ellen's eyes narrowed as she gripped her scissors. "That's not possible," she whispered.

Still, caution prevailed. She followed the sound, moving carefully through the warped terrain. The sight that greeted her stopped her in her tracks.

A little girl, no older than six, sat in the middle of a clearing, her tiny frame trembling as she cried over the bodies of two adults—her parents, from the look of it. The scene made no sense. There shouldn't be anyone here besides Ethereals and maybe a few lost investigators.

Ellen approached slowly, her voice soft. "Hey, kid. Are you hurt?"

The girl looked up, her tear-streaked face filled with fear and confusion. She didn't answer, instead clutching at the lifeless hand of her mother.

Ellen's heart clenched. This was no place for a child. Whatever the reason for her presence, it didn't matter now. The priority was getting her out alive. Ellen crouched down, keeping her voice gentle. "It's okay. I'm here to help. We're going to get out of here, alright?"

The girl hesitated before nodding slowly. Ellen extended her hand, and after a moment's hesitation, the child took it. "Stay close to me," Ellen said. "I'll protect you."

Ellen's mind raced as she led the child through the treacherous landscape. The presence of the girl raised countless questions, but there was no time to dwell on them. The Hollow's dangers loomed at every turn, and the air was thick with the oppressive weight of Etheric corruption.

As they moved, Ellen glanced down at the girl, who clung to her hand with a desperate grip.

"What's your name?" she asked gently.

"M-Mira," the girl stammered.

"Alright, Mira. I'm Ellen. We're going to get out of here together, okay?"

Mira nodded, her tears slowing, but her fear was still evident. Ellen tightened her grip on her scissors, her resolve hardening.

She had no idea how they would escape Hollow Zero, but one thing was certain: she wouldn't let anything happen to this child. They would survive, no matter what it took.

The Victoria Housekeeping team returned to their headquarters in grim silence. The mission had been a disaster. What was supposed to be a straightforward rescue operation had turned into a nightmare. They'd fought their way through corrupted Hollow Investigators, escaping with their lives. But the worst part was the hole left in their formation: Ellen was gone.

Von Lycaon's voice was steady as he addressed the team. "We'll file the report immediately. The government needs to be informed of her disappearance… and where she might have ended up."

"Where could she be?" Rina murmured, her usually serene face marred by worry. Anastella and Drusilla hovered close to her, silent for once.

Corin Wickes sat hunched on a bench, her broom-chainsaw propped beside her. "She's strong," she said, her voice shaking. "She'll find a way out. Right?"

Von Lycaon gave her a reassuring nod, though his own doubts weighed heavily on him. "Ellen's survived worse. For now, we focus on ensuring no more complications arise. Rina, you and I will handle the government report. Corin, you need to break the news to her friends."

Corin's eyes widened. "Me? Why me?"

"You're closest to them," Von Lycaon said. "And they'll need someone who can deliver the truth with compassion."

As Corin sighed shakily, Rina added, "We also need to notify her school. A believable excuse, nothing that will draw attention."

Hours inside Hollow Zero felt like days. The oppressive atmosphere was unlike anything Ellen had ever experienced. It wasn't just the jagged, shifting terrain or the ever-present Etheric haze. It was the silence—a silence so deep it pressed against her ears, broken only by the occasional distant sound of something moving.

Ellen adjusted her grip on her weapon, scissors glinting with an icy sheen that mirrored her steely resolve. The weapon shifted in her hands, morphing briefly into its whip form, the blades snapping into segments connected by a freezing chain. Her scarf, a gift from one of her friends, fluttered gently in the Hollow's unnatural breeze. It was a small comfort, a reminder of the life she had to get back to.

Mira, the little girl she'd found, clung tightly to her hand. Her wide, tear-filled eyes darted around nervously. Ellen's tail twitched as she kept a vigilant watch, her instincts screaming at her to stay on high alert.

Ellen's mind churned as they moved cautiously through the Hollow. "Why aren't we showing signs of corruption?" she thought, glancing down at her own hands. The Etheric environment should've started affecting them by now. Her thoughts turned to the strange ritual that had fused her soul with the old Ellen. Could that be protecting her? But what about Mira? There was no logical explanation for the girl's immunity.

The sound of something interrupted her thoughts. She crouched and placed a hand on Mira's shoulder. "Stay here for a second," she whispered.

"Please don't leave me!" Mira whimpered, gripping her arm tightly.

"I won't," Ellen said softly. "I just need to make sure we're safe."

She approached the sound cautiously, her weapon ready. As she rounded a corner, a pack of Ethereals burst from the shadows, their crystalline forms reflecting the dim light. Ellen's eyes narrowed.

"Mira, inside. Now!" she barked, pointing to a nearby store with shattered windows.

The girl hesitated, tears streaming down her face, but obeyed. Ellen positioned herself between Mira and the Ethereals, her tail lashing aggressively. The first creature lunged, but she sidestepped and brought her scissors down in a powerful arc, the blade crackling with frost as it cleaved the creature in two.

Another Ethereal charged her, but Ellen shifted her weapon into whip form. The icy segments lashed out, wrapping around the creature and freezing it in place. With a sharp tug, she shattered it into pieces. A third Ethereal tried to flank her, but she spun, her tail slamming into it with bone-crushing force before finishing it off with a precise slash of her scissors.

The fight was chaotic, the Hollow's twisted terrain making every move dangerous. Ellen ducked under a swipe from a towering Ethereal, her scissors snapping back into their compact form. She lunged upward, embedding the blade into the creature's core before releasing a burst of freezing energy that left it motionless. By the time she was done, shards of corrupted Ether littered the ground. She exhaled heavily and turned back toward the store.

Inside, Mira sat curled up, clutching her knees. But something was wrong. An Ethereal stood mere feet from her, its faceted body eerily still as it stared at the child. Mira's gaze was locked with the creature's, her expression strangely calm.

"Mira!" Ellen called, snapping the girl out of her trance.

The Ethereal's attention shifted to Ellen, and its demeanor changed instantly. It hissed, crystalline limbs cracking as it launched itself at her. Ellen didn't hesitate. She met its attack head-on, her scissors cutting through the air with a freezing slash that left the creature shattered.

Mira ran to her, throwing her arms around Ellen's waist. "I thought you'd leave me too," she sobbed. "Like my parents."

Ellen knelt and hugged the girl gently. "I'm not going anywhere. I promised, didn't I?" She pulled back slightly, looking Mira in the eyes. "We're going to get out of here. Together."

Mira nodded, wiping her tears. Ellen stood, her grip on her weapon firm as she surveyed their surroundings. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she had to protect this child, no matter what.

Rina finished typing up the report, her expression unreadable. Von Lycaon placed a hand on her shoulder. "We've done all we can for now," he said. "It's in their hands."

Corin returned, her face pale. "Her friends took it hard. Real hard. But I think they'll hold it together."

"And the school?" Von Lycaon asked.

"Principal bought the excuse. For now," Corin replied.

Von Lycaon nodded, his expression grim. "All we can do now is wait and prepare. If there's any chance of getting her back, we'll take it."

Rina glanced out the window, her thoughts with Ellen. "She'll come back," she said quietly. "She has to."

(Hey guys its me sorry I've been gone for so long I was just enjoying the holidays and taking up some well needed out of school time since school starts tomorrow I spent my last day making a chapter for ya. I hope y'all been great and had a great year. I know I'm late to this, but HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Hope everyone stays safe and has an amazing year. See ya!)