The Dybbuk

Truth in the Fear

Proceeding.

(I WILL DO MY BEST TO DESCRIBE JFK AP! NEVER BEEN!)

(-)~!~(-)

"PLEASE!" A woman screeched in agony, crawling along the ground, reaching for an invisible lifeline. "HELP ME!" He skin was covered in wounds that vanished as soon as they appeared. "Baby…I'M SORRY!" An invisible kick smashed into her ribs, making her cough up blood.

A man staggered from an alley, falling against a lamp post. "No…you couldn't have…" He pleaded, tears falling down his face, "You called me…you didn't die in Iraq, KEITH!"

The nightmares were growing worse. At least 20 fatalities were discovered. 40 casualties with minor to severe injuries. Others were sitting in corners, whimpering to themselves.

(-)~!~(-)

Madison trembled, feeling chills roll over her spine. That was strong.

Elisa in Goliath's arms, Madison in Hudson's, and Bronx carried by Broadway – The gargoyles, Eris, and Puck soared over the vast acres of the John F. Kennedy Airport. Just from the air the group was impressed by vastly spanned airport, how it covered so much land in one setting. Very beautiful. Very discouraging.

Normally the Airport is running nonstop, no late flights, no non-incoming planes – JFK Never sleeps. "Well at least we know it must be here." Lexington announced. "Why else would they close an entire airport?"

"Or maybe the Dybbuk just scared everyone away." Brooklyn stated discouragingly. Madison hugged the new box in her arms, feeling a tiny bit sick.

"Over 5800 acres," Elisa groaned, crestfallen by their luck, "Ten terminals, a dozen parking lots - There's no way we can search this whole place before sunrise."

"Then we need to narrow it down." Goliath instructed sternly. "Soar over the lots." He declared. "If the Dybbuk is here, let's eliminate the least obvious-"

"UGGGHHH!" Madison shivered, clapping her hands to her shoulders.

"What's wrong?" Eris comforted her.

"Eyes…" She trembled, sinking into herself. "Everywhere…" In her minds she envisioned blood red eyes hovering around them, watching from the ground. "Watching…"

"The Dybbuk knows we're here." Puck snarled, curling his fingers into tight fists. "She's watching us."

"Then it means she's going to attack." Hudson announced. Madison's eyes opened. An emerald green glow filled her eyes. "Or is preparing for one." Madison turned her head, gazing to the large terminal buildings below. Hm? "We've got to narrow our search before she strikes." Mirage like steam emitted. As if someone were burning fuel. Fuel?

"Then let's search the parking lots!" Broadway commanded, chills crawling over his skin. Madison furrowed her brow, leaning over further in Hudson's arms. The airport is closed. "We're losing night light." Why would…

"THERE!" Madison wrenched over, almost falling from Hudson's arms. "Terminal four!" Her voice cracked. The emerald glow in her eyes flared like a flame. "She's in there!" She growled.

"Easy." Puck touched her shoulder. "Keep the emotions under wraps." He instructed ominously. "Your powers can flare out of control."

Madison breathed and nodded, clearing the tension. "Okay." Goliath motioned his hand downward. "Let's go."

(-)~!~(-)

Entry into a secure private build was easier than the group expected. The heavy security that was posted were all collapsed and unconscious. Lexington and Bronx discovered a few muttering in their deathless slumber, pleading for their nightmares to go away.

The gargoyles, Puck, Madison, Elisa, and Eris meandered through the front door. Dark, open, empty. No guards, no spectators – nothing. Madison didn't need to tell them what was obvious. The heavy air, the sense of feeling watched – The Dybbuk was in that terminal. And she knew they were in there.

Eris and Puck nodded to one another. "Potentia descendit. Erado." (Power down. Erase.) They inhaled and puffed a thick cloud of yellow lime smoke. The smoke drifted into the floor, ceilings, and walls. Circuits in the cameras and everywhere else were shorted out. Not electronic were operational.

Madison placed the new box on the ground. Using the knife Eris let her borrow, Madison slowly began to etch the Star of David into the back. The box needed to be blessed in order to be effective. Madison knew a little Hebrew and was familiar with blessings. Hopefully it would be enough.

"We're going to need to split up." Elisa announced. "Here," She passed out headsets, "Don't ask me how I managed to walk out with ten of these, but I did." In truth she just walked in and walked out.

"Thank you." Goliath bowed his head. "Let us begin our search." Goliath ordered. "You three," He pointed to the trio, "Remain here with Madison." They saluted. "Hudson – you, Eris, and Bronx take the west wing." They nodded and ran off. "The three of us will take the east."

"Let it be put on record," Puck announced stiffly, "I am only taking orders because of a personal venture."

"Noted." Madison assured him with a wave of her hand. She smirked back to the elf, "Now how about you make yourself useful and get to searching." Her grin became brazen, "I can't do everything."

Puck threw his head back, scoffing at her suddenly bold bravado. "Careful, Madison." He chuckled. "Wouldn't want you to get too cocky." Madison waved a hand, signaling he had nothing to worry about it. Puck shook his head and floated into the air, drifting to the east wing. Elisa and goliath shrugged and followed after him.

Finishing the carving, Madison placed a hand to the box and began to chant. She listened subconsciously, hearing the footsteps grow more and more distant. Her sense of isolation seemed to grow, despite Brooklyn, Broadway, and Lexington searching the area right behind her. "Please hurry."

(-)~!~(-)

Bars, gift shops, restaurants – the terminal had a number of different places for soon-to-be passengers to pass the time, splurge a little before having to board a grueling and prolonged plane ride over the country and to the next.

Puck dove over and under the beams, searching the ceiling for any signs of the box. Yes, Goliath and Elisa found it strange. But Puck was no stranger to humans hiding things in strange places. The ceiling would actually be low maintenance.

Goliath inspected the restrooms, searching the stalls. Elisa searched the security stations. So far, nothing. Puck found nothing as well. They still had the gates, but so far their hope was failing.

(-)~!~(-)

Eris took the liberty of investigating the restaurants inside the terminal. Skipping dinner and all, she could eat while she searched. She'd pay for it…on Xanatos's tab.

Bronx sniffed throughout the gift shops. He wasn't all too careful with maneuvering through. He broke a few knickknacks, shelves, and ate the gift baskets.

Hudson searched the bars. He would become bewildered by the number of drinks on the wall, but immediately search the bars up and down. Their search came up empty as well.

The three proceeded to the gates. A few planes were parked, so there was a possibility the box was on the plane it came in on. "Not that I don't have faith in the lass," Hudson mumbled, keeping his echoing voice quiet, "But are we sure that Madison is sure the Dybbuk is here?"

"She hasn't been wrong so far." Eris responded, keeping her eyes peeled. "Besides with the way she jumped, I wouldn't be surprised if Elvis was haunting this place."

"Mystics are…rather…in tune with the dead."

"They are in tune with nature." Eris corrected. "And departed souls – or rather spirits – are a part of nature."

"Sounds right." Hudson chuckled. "The living rejoin the earth once departed and on occasion visit us when we need them." He rested a hand on her shoulder. "But I doubt they return to try and kill us." Eris tensed her shoulders, sinking her head in. "You didn't kill yer mother, Eris."

"If she wasn't pregnant with me she never would have died." She droned with self-loathing.

Hudson sighed heavily, "Eris…" He swooped in front of her, leaning forward, "If your mother was pregnant with you in the first place it means she wanted you."

"How do you know?"

"Because if she didn't want a human god for a child…" He caressed strands of her hair from her face, "Abortion was no stranger to the middle ages." Eris lowered her head, still unable to not think how she was still part of her death. Hudson titled her chin up, having her see the warm smile. "If your mother could see the woman you've grown into, I'd swear she'd be as proud of you as I am."

Eris giggled, "Thanks, Hudson." She wrapped an arm around him.

"Mah pleasure, lass." He purred, holding her close.

(-)~!~(-)

Madison exhaled cheerfully, patting a hand to the little jewelry box. "That's that." She congratulated herself. The trio landed behind her. "The box is blessed." She announced triumphantly.

"Wish we could say we were successful." Lexington panted. "There's no sign of the box."

"None?" Madison gaped.

"We searched the bathrooms, the lockers, the shops, the beams, and even the restrooms." Brooklyn listed, exasperated. "Nothing. Not even a speck of foreign dust."

"We're on zilch too." Elisa called over the headset. "There's no sign of the Dybbuk Box."

"Same here." Eris called. "The only suspicious thing I found was an unfinished crab and lobster special."

"There has to be something we're missing." Broadway stressed. "Some place we haven't thought to look at."

"We haven't searched the planes yet." Puck announced. "Maybe it's there."

"No." Goliath disagreed gruffly. "So far the Box has been hidden where one wouldn't think to look."

"Goliath's right." Hudson interjected. "We need to think outside the box even further." Madison immediately began taking a quick glance around. "Maybe a trap door…" Madison's sights fell on the rubber tracking with a strange bag on it. "A secret compartment…or…"

"The baggage claim." Madison breathed dazedly.

"What's that?" Lexington questioned.

"THE BAGGAGE CLAIM!" Madison abandoned the new box, dashing to the track. Broadway grabbed the box, and he and the other two followed after her. "People are always leaving their luggage on this thing." Madison jumped onto the track, running to the hut it came out of. "So maybe…" She hummed, crawling through the rubber tendrils into the vast array of tracks. "Jack pot!" She blurted, somewhat discouraged. "There are loads of bags back here." Brooklyn and Lexington crawled in after her. Broadway couldn't fit so he passed the box to Lexington. "I don't know where to start.

"Hang out a sec." Puck requested. "Come 'ere." Elisa protested, but not before the sound of a vortex silenced her. Madison, Lexington, and Brooklyn exchanged bewildered glances. "Hey cuz!"

"WAIT!"

A vortex appeared next to Madison and the two young gargoyles. Puck emerged with Elisa and Eris in hand. Their eyes spiraled, dizzied by the sudden transport. "All hands on deck now." He announced cheerfully.

"Oh…kay…" Madison droned on. "In case I'm wrong," She spoke over the headset, "Maybe the planes should be searched."

"Alright." Goliath acknowledged. "We will signal if we find something."

"Ugh…" Eris shook the nausea away, "Give a little warning." She groaned impatiently.

"I said hey." Eris flared her crimson eyes, approaching with an orb in her hand.

"Okay." Madison intervened, extending hands to keep the two at bay. "Let's split up and search the bags." He persuaded, urging Eris to keep calm. "Puck, why don't you stick with me? We'll search the lower levels."

"Sounds fine to me."

"Lex, you and Brooklyn take the middle."

"Aye, aye captain." Lexington and Brooklyn saluted and leapt to the mid-section.

"Eris and Elisa take the upper levels. Remember! We're looking for a wine cabinet!"

"Yes ma'am." Eris grabbed hold of Elisa and soared to the top. Puck grabbed Madison under the arms, drifting her to the ground. She placed the jewelry box next to a support beam, hoping that would be a good spot so she could search.

(-)~!~(-)

Goliath and Hudson searched the gates on the east wing. Some didn't have planes parked. They were still out. But those that did have planes, their doors were ripped off their hinges so the four gargoyles could search the prospective planes. Their search yielded nothing or little results. The situation was becoming critical. Time was nearly up…and there was nothing to show for their hard work.

(-)~!~(-)

Eris and Elisa searched the obvious crates and luggage bags first. Something that would fight an old wine cabinet, but give the appearance it wasn't inside. It was already falling onto 4:45AM, and all anyone was finding were tourists clothing and junk. Elisa managed to find a pound of cocaine in someone's luggage. She put a marker on it. Seeing as how she couldn't legally confiscate it.

One by one Lexington and Brooklyn tore the luggage open, throwing clothing, accessories and other miscellaneous objects all about. A shirt fell onto Madison's head. A nice Cuban top. Madison sneered up, arching a scolding brow. "Hey guys!" She called up. "Try not to make a mess!"

"Sorry!" They waved and moved onto the next bag.

"Oye vey." Madison rolled her eyes, unzipping another bag. Once again she stuck gold with clothing and a three pairs of Gucci glasses. "Well these people are rich." Madison mumbled in envy.

"No call for jealousy, my dear." Puck teased, hovering Indian style behind her. "Remember," He erected a finger, "We're here to stop a catastrophe, not admire and envy what others have." He summoned two suitcases and briefcases to him. Snapping his fingers he popped them open. "WOW!" He gasped. Madison pouted her lower lip, grumbling under her breath. "The new IPad mini and an apple laptop." Madison's vein in her head pulsated. Puck looked in the other case. "And this one has every last iPhone and touch screen device ever created. Including the droid and sprint. Ooh…" He discovered a photo, "And this girl here is lovely." Madison dragged the young imp to her level. He gawked at her irritated expression with confusion. "What?"

Madison saw the photo of an African American, Caucasian women in a two piece. Closing the cases, Madison placed the cases on the track and scooted them out of his reach. "We are not here to admire and envy what others have." She mimicked him in his voice. Puck grimly smiled, not too flattered by the attempt. She flicked his forehead. "So stop ogling! And start helping!" She stomped off, opening another case.

"Pfft…" Puck rolled his eyes, "Jealous much."

Madison threw a Rolex at his head from the photographer's briefcase. "NOT EVEN IF YOU PAID ME, ELF BOY!"

Eris, Elisa, Brooklyn, and Lexington surreptitiously watched from above as Madison stomped off to the other side of the room. Eris and Elisa giggled, scoffing as they tried to stifle it. Brooklyn elbowed Lexington and whispered, "Sounds like Eris and Macbeth."

"I'm sorry Brook!" Brooklyn froze. Eris leaned on the track and drummed her fingers with a dark smile. "What about me and Macbeth?"

"NOTHING!" Brooklyn scrambled away. Lexington rolled on his back, laughing heartily.

Madison glanced up, infected by the laughter. She couldn't help smiling. Unbeknownst to her, underneath a compartment meant to power the luggage tracks. A little wine cabinet…sat open…little doors burnt. "In…fi…dels…" Blood red eyes flared in the dark box.

"GAAH!" Madison clawed her head.

(-)~!~(-)

Goliath entered into his next plane. Hudson moved onto the next plane. Their search results were as empty as the planes they searched. Things were looking down.

"Hello, Goliath." Goliath whipped around. An older gargoyle in a stone form tackled him to the floor.

Goliath recognized the form the stone gargoyle wore. "Coldstone." He rumbled.

"TIME TO PAY FOR YOUR BETRAYAL!" He dug his claws into Goliath's chest. Goliath roared in agony.

(-)~!~(-)

As he exited from his prospective plane, Hudson heard Goliath's cry and ran to him. The Arch-Mage descended from the ceiling, blocking his path. "Now, now, old one." The Arch-Mage chortled. "That is a private party. I'm afraid you'll have to tend to me."

"Then by all means, spirit," Hudson drew his sword, igniting a moonlit gleam along the steel, "Come at me with everything yah have." His eyes glowed bright white. "I'll put yer ass in another ditch!" He shifted to a stance. "AND THIS TIME YOU WILL NOT RISE UP AGAIN!"

(-)~!~(-)

"GRRR-RAHF!" Bronx snarled biting into a tentacle flailing from the back of a suited man. Other tentacles and hands constricted Broadway, pinning him to the floor. Another tentacle shot from the back, restraining Bronx into the air.

"GET OFF ME!" Broadway howled, plowing his palm into the blank white face of Slenderman. "GET OFF ME!" He roared, boring his fingers into the face.

(-)~!~(-)

Madison cringed on the ground, growling in pain as the throbbing in her head grew severe. "Madison?" Puck knelt to her side. "Are you alright?" He reached a hand out for her. A black and green tentacle wrapped around his wrist. "WHAT?!" Madison shot her glance up. Puck was yanked him away from her. He dug his heels into the metal floor, being dragged toward a familiar box. "NOO! NO! NOT THE BOX!"

"PUCK!" Madison ran to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling back as hard as she could. She managed to gain some leeway, but the box constricted the other wrist and gained momentum back. "BROOKLYN!" Madison blurted.

Brooklyn threw a box labeled fragile over the side. He gaped in fright, watching Madison and Puck be dragged to a weird box. "I'M COMING GUYS!" Brooklyn jumped to the ground. Lexington, Eris, and Elisa tossed their luggage aside, in time to see Brooklyn descending to Madison and Puck.

"BROOKLYN, LOOK OUT!" Elisa screeched. Brooklyn looked to the side. Slenderman launched through the air, tackling Brooklyn into a track. "Brooklyn!"

Eris curled over the track she was on and soared for Brooklyn. A woman, Harmony, came out of nowhere. Eris summoned her swords to her hands. Harmony summoned hers. She flew through the air. Their swords collided. Harmony rammed into Eris, pinning her to the wall. "HELP BROOKLYN!" She strained. "HURRY!"

Slenderman had Brooklyn in such a tight Nelson he was coming close to rupturing something in his neck. Elisa and Lexington began to climb down. Strong arms locked Elisa in a choke hold. The sharp jerk nearly broke her neck. "Going somewhere, detective?" Drakon cackled in her ear. Lexington stopped on the track inches above Brooklyn, caught off guard by Elisa's wail of pain. He was stuck between helping Brooklyn and Elisa, feeling the pressure weigh him down.

Skinny arms wrapped around his waist and clenched his neck. "GAH!" Lexington was hoisted from the ground. Slenderman had him.

"LEXINGTON! ERIS! GUYS!" Madison panicked. Everyone was being attacked. The Dybbuk was getting angry. Her powers grew to the point where everyone could see the others fears.

Puck had a foot to the ridge of the box and one to the lid. He pulled and yanked at the bindings. "MADISON!" Puck snarled, "You have to find that box! She's close!"

"But-"

"This box was once my prison!" Puck cut her off. "It was my prison for a hundred years!" Madison's eyes widened. "I escaped once! I'll do it again! Now find that box!"

"Okay." She whimpered. She released his waste. Puck lurched forward slightly, but managed to stand his ground. Madison tiptoed away, ready to jump back and help him. When she saw he was doing relatively fine, she returned to the search. "No…" She stopped. "No this…this isn't working." She took a step back. Looking over the scene and trying to ignore everyone struggling around her, Madison collected her thoughts and searched the evidence.

The Dybbuk Box was hidden in an airport – the last place one, like wealthy philanthropists placing bids on the said item, wouldn't think to look. They searched the topside of the terminal and found nothing suggesting the box was even going to be hidden there. The baggage claim was the least likely place to hide something of value. For roughly an hour, close to two, they searched, ripping open nearly every bag, case, and box they could find. "Think…think….the smallest hint!" She pressed herself. "The key is OUT SIDE THE BOX!" She blurted. "This…happened…moments after…" She pointed to the two stacked briefcases, "Puck and I open those…and I…" She trailed off, trailing her finger along the path she and Puck took, "We walked by…that power box."

It was a stretched. Madison marched for the box. Fear gripped at her heart but she ignored it. Standing in front of the power box, Madison stared at it. She stood at least three feet away. When she would inch closer, it was as if this invisible wall tried to push her back. Dread crawled over her skin. "You're here…aren't you?" Dropping to her knees, Madison looked under. There it was. Just sitting there. The box she, Eris, Puck, everyone had been searching for. The doors that kept it closed were burned into a pile of ash. "Okay…" She slid closer. She extended her arm. The tip of her finger touched the rim.

Red eyes flared. Madison retreated her arm back an inch. "INFIDEL!" A shrill voice screeched.

"AH!" Madison scooted back. A black mist darted from the box, fazing into Madison's chest. She fell back, lying on the ground spread eagle.

"MADISON!" Eris cried out. Harmony slammed her into the wall. Madison lied on the ground. Her eyes pitch black. "MADISON!"

(-)~!~(-)

Madison's eyes shot open. Her chest compressed. Air exploded from her lungs. She darted straight up, gasping desperately for air. Madison held a hand to her chest, soothing the rampaging nerves. Her fervent eyes scoped out the light grey abyss she had been dragged into. Dark grey masses swirled in a light grey abyss. There was no ground, yet Madison stood firmly on solid mass. She would try to walk, but it would probably be like walking on a treadmill.

"ERIS!" Madison wailed. "ELISA!" Her echoes were all that responded. "PUCK!" Her voice cracked. Madison wrapped her arms around herself, trying to contain the rising fear bubbling deep within her heart.

"Hi Madison." Jimmy giggled, merging from the abyss. "Good to see you again."

"Jimmy?"

"I see you survived the fire. Guess the same can't be said for me, right?" Madison didn't reply. She knew Jimmy was fake. But reacting may prompt the Dybbuk to try harder. "That was the one thing in your pathetic life you did right!" His eyes flared red beyond the glasses. "Once you met me…" Jimmy transformed into Eris, making Madison gape in awe, "You pretty much relied on me for everything." She giggled. Madison stepped back. "I saved you from those boys, I befriended you in middle school, secretly kept you safe with my god like powers," She crooned, circling Madison like she were prey, "You were my proverbial damsel in distress. I enjoyed it." Madison put her hands to her ears. "You even managed to get kidnapped!" Eris transformed into Puck. "BY ME!" He laughed heartily. "Then you got sucker punched like the little punching bag that you are! And in the end you pretended to be tough when in fact you were trembling like a cat surrounded by dogs. I was charmed by your weakness."

A powder blue mist separated from him, taking the shape of Eris on the other side of Madison. "As was I." She chortled. "I befriended you so I could feel strong. Surreptitiously I relished in your pain."

Madison shook her head. "No…"

"Then you told that sob story about me." Jimmy formed from the same blue mist. Madison was surrounded by three familiar faces. "Did you honestly think she cared? The only reason why she told you her secret was so she could get you to spill yours!"

"Then I could wipe your memories clean. As if none of this ever happened."

"As for me," Puck chortled, "The kiss of the hand was a meager charm. Pitiful humans with little parlor tricks aren't my type!"

"ENOUGH!" Madison blurted, her voice reverberating in the large area. All three voices silenced. Tears filling her eyes, Madison glared daggers to Eris, rising to her feet. "Do you honestly think I'd believe this bilge?" She quizzed defiantly. "Eris isn't shy! If she believe me a liability she would have regressed my memories back to the stone ages!" The Eris shadow evaporated. "As for Puck, I was flattered by the kiss to the hand, but I haven't known him long enough to develop the slightest admiration for him! SO BUZZ OFF!" Puck folded his arms and disappeared. "As for you," She faced Jimmy, "Your death was not intended," She shook her head, "But I'm not sorry in the least that you died." Jimmy's body began to flake away. "You were the most bitter and lonely boy in that entire school!" He hissed in pain, holding his sides. "And I am tired of feeling guilty for someone who would have killed me!" A hole formed into Jimmy's chest. "You, your father, your mother – all of you are nothing to me! NOW BE GONE!" Jimmy screamed in horror, fading into nothingness. "Good riddance." She growled. Meandering off. "Enough of this!" She screamed, knowing the Dybbuk was listening. "Where am I?"

"Myyyy domaaainnn…" A shrill whispering voice hissed. Madison turned around. A mangled, charred skin, old woman with a black cloak and hood on stood several feet away from Madison. Her boney hands clasped onto a wooden cane. The head was a thick swirled club. "Welllcomee…Younnng…Myysstic…"

Her speech was long and drawn out. Winded. Her breathing was raspy. She sounded exhausted. Madison kept her feet firmly planted. It was the same woman she had been seeing all night. "The Dybbuk…" Madison wasn't entirely sure…but she thinks The Dybbuk was weakening. Madison turned her whole body, facing the Dybbuk with her full person. She knit her brow, curled her fingers – I won't run. "They say you are spirits which exist because you have a task that has yet to be finished." She began, wishing to break the ice before the Dybbuk broke her. "Or you simply refuse to pass on." She locked her gaze with the Dybbuk's, showing she wasn't going to waver. "How does terrorizing others constitute your unfinished task?"

"My goalssss…were achieeeved." She hissed. "I tormented thosssse who…killed meeee…until they themselves passed onnn! I jussst decided…not to passss on afterward!"

"Then why?"

"Humansss summoned me…from the other siiide!" She roared. "Theyyy contacted meee…through a little…game youu…humansss play at your…little slumber gatherings!" Slumber gatherings? Madison thought about it for a second. Slumber party? "A gammme where…youuu ask questionsss…and a word…isss spelled out."

"Séances."

"Correct!" Madison flinched. "Thossse four women…summoned meee! Thennn they…trapped me inn…THIS…BOX! They died…long before…I could…attiannn myyy…revenge."

"It was a game!" Madison blurted. "A game that got out of hand and girls with their heads in the clouds got in way over their heads!" She tried to explain, keeping her rage in control. "They died centuries ago!"

"BEFORE…I COULD…ATTAIN…MY…VEN…GEANCE!" Madison scoffed derisively, shaking her head. Vengeance. The worst poison transcending life, death, and here onward.

"Youu arrre…trouble young oneee." She extended a wrinkled and shaky finger, pointing accusingly to Madison. "Youu haave…beennn spyying…on mee…" There was an accent. Thick. Israeli maybe.

"I haven't done anything." Madison replied defensively but with a clam tone.

"Youu watch meee…" A dark grin spread over her charred lips, "Youu bring…creaturre'ss to…kill meee…"

"I haven't been watching you. You're just not hard to find."

"And youu…are not…haarrd…to capturrre…" She mocked. "Weakessst…of your kind…youu are."

"Forgive me if I'm not too insulted by a bitter old woman."

"Pardonnn mee…"

"You Dybbuk's think you're so great?" Madison's resentment made her voice shake. She stepped forward, challenging the witch. "You hide in the shadows! Possess people when they least expect it! Feed off their misery!"

"Brazzenn….child…" The Dybbuk snarled.

"I WILL BE BRAZEN!" Madison screamed. "You've caused so much pain and suffering from the comfort of your little box! Yet you stand there and have the nerve to call me weak!" The Dybbuk shrieked in outrage. A black mist raged from her body. Madison wiped her mouth. Her heart was racing. Her adrenaline pumped. The danger was rising. She didn't care. I'm not useless! I won't back down! "The only direct thing you've done all night is lead me too you! As far as I'm concerned, you're the weak one! YOU'RE PATHETIC!"

"SILENCE!" The Dybbuk lashed forward. Madison tensed her body. The Dybbuk tackled her to the ground. Her fingers clamped to her neck. Madison choked, gasped for as she fought back. She kneed the Dybbuk in the abdomen, rolling on top of her. She plowed a punch into the witch's face. "DIEEE!" The Dybbuk pushed off the ground, soaring into the air with Madison in hand. The Dybbuk and Madison wrestled in the air, ricocheting off the invisible walls, the floors, the ceiling. Madison felt the full brunt of the collisions but pressed on. She placed a foot onto the Dybbuk and kicked off, landing on her feet. She panted heavily. Icy breath expunging from her mouth. The Dybbuk looped around, the dark mist spiraling from her feet, giving her added speed. The icy blue filled Madison's eyes in a heated glow. The Dybbuk jetted for Madison with her mangled finger elongated like claws. Madison's rage built, her anger filled every fiber of her body. "DIE…MADISON HARLOW!" Madison shot her glowing eyes to the Dybbuk. All Madison wanted was for the Dybbuk to realize the stress and pain she was feeling. To make her disappear as punishment for what she's done.

The witch was ten feet away. Madison inhaled, and did the one thing she could in a situation like this. At the top of her lungs, with all her might, "AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Madison screamed. Icy wind spiraling around a barrel of blue flames roared from her mouth. The Dybbuk flew full force into the barrel, screaming as the ice and fire tore pieces of her charred skin away. Bits of her faded away. As Madison lost her wind, her strength, she collapsed to her knees, falling to her hands.

The Dybbuk's flaming body crashed and bounced on the ground behind her. Madison heaved for air, crawling sideways to watch as the Dybbuk burned into sparkling flaklets. "Noo…" She gargled, lying on the ground, "Howww….could this…happen…to meee?"

"You want…to know?" Madison panted. "Vengeance…is a…double edged sword!" She coughed, overwhelming her throat. "You finally…fell on…your end."

"Uggghhh…" The Dybbuk's body went up in flames, turning into nothing more than a puff of smoke. The abyssal world shattered apart, piecing away like broken glass.

(-)~!~(-)

The black in Madison's eyes drained from her eyes like melting snow. The natural brown shined through. Madison groaned dazedly, feeling her head pounding. "Ugh…" She massaged her temples, sitting up on her butt, "What happened?"

"GRRAAH!" Madison glanced up. Puck, Eris, Elisa, Lexington, and Brooklyn were all bound by thick black tentacles. Their arms were tied tightly to their bodies, their necks choked. A black cloud steadily flowed from Dybbuk box. The tentacles flaring from it.

Madison scrambled to the new box and grabbed it. Running to the old box she pulled it from under the power box. From the box she removed two pennies that were from 1920's, a pear shaped candlestick, a wine chalice, statue made of two slabs of granite with word shalom engraved in it, and two locks of hair. Madison placed them into the jewelry box. The Dybbuk gradually began to reform from the smoke, cackling as she witnessed the life being stricken from her victims.

"HEY WITCH!" Madison snapped. The Dybbuk shot a glare back. "BACK TO YOUR BOX!" She held the box up. A powerful vacuum drew the Dybbuk in. She tried to fly away in her cloud, desperately scrambling to get away. Her tentacles faded, dropping everyone to the floor. Madison set the box down, coaxing the smoke and Dybbuk into the box and slamming the doors closed.

(-)~!~(-)

Coldstone and the newly arrived Iago and Desdemona vanished from Goliath. The Arch-Made turned into dust as Hudson struck him with his sword. Slenderman dropped Broadway and Bronx.

Macbeth, Demona, Derik, everyone in New York. Their night terrors vanished before their eyes. Leaving no trace or sign of their ever being present.

(-)~!~(-)

Madison released a long awaited sigh of relief, falling to her butt in exhaustion. The few on the floor started to come too, breathing in relief their horror was over. Puck and Eris sat back to back. Eris's Valkyrie form dissipated. Elisa was stuck on her back. Lexington lied on top of Brooklyn. Neither one wanted to move. But one question would force their hand. "Hey guys…" She moaned.

"Yeah…" Puck and Eris groaned, looking up with puffy eyes.

"What's up?" Elisa, Lexington, and Brooklyn responded.

"Can we go home now?"

(-)~!~(-)

"In recent news, New York was in a state of panic and mania as people ran about screaming at forces others couldn't see, but were very real. The mania has since passed and all seems to be returning to normal."

"Numerous casualties and injuries have been reported. At least 10 deaths have been determined. But rest assured the peace – or lack thereof – will be returned, and our condolences are sent out to those who have suffered losses this night. As for the injured, we prayer for your full recovery."

"As for the beloved Dybbuk Box, the Jewish treasure was discovered destroyed and with a pile of ash surrounded around it. Buyers have since then declined their bids, and was claimed by historians. It is to be analyzed and studied for authenticity. No one is sure why...but hearing that the box is being taken away has caused a certain chain of relief. I for one can confirm that."

"For now, New Yorkers, be glad your only mania will be all day traffic, loud noises, and the occasional hobo asking you for change."

Enter hobo, leaning on lady reporter, "HEY! YOU GOT ANY CHANGE?"

(-)~!~(-)

The gargoyles were resting peacefully in stone, overlooking their city and smiling they were able to protect it once more. Elisa and Eris returned home, immediately falling asleep on the couch and chair. Madison was delivered home by Puck. Her parents were fast asleep in their bedroom. Madison figured she'd sleep on the couch so she would be the first thing they saw.

"Not bad for your first lesson." Puck congratulated her, sitting beside her on the couch. "You're a natural."

"Thanks." She rasped, lying down. "Glad you…approve." She yawned. Her eyes bounced up and down. Sleep was ready to overtake her.

"Then without further ado," Puck hovered into the air, "I shall bid you a fond farewell," He bowed, "And wish you sweet dreams in your wonderland." Madison thanked him with a small smile, then peacefully drifted to sleep. "And know…" He traced a finger over her cheek, removing a strand of hair, "That your ancestors would be proud." Puck faded out, leaving Madison to her peaceful slumber. In her hands Madison hugged the little black book Puck handed her close to her chest. No jimmy, no fire, no Dybbuk.

Peace at last.

ALRIGHT!

IT'S MIDNIGHT! I'LL BE GONE FOR A WHILE! Other fics.

And I hope I didn't offend anyone with the Jewish thing or the Star of David. I needed a little culture in my fic.

Till next time!