This place feels empty, lifeless. The pressing darkness is familiar, but nothing else is.

As Avalon steps closer to Hakkai, they can see that his body seems to glow in the darkness, light both emanating from him and reflecting off of him. Their foot brushes against and through a skeleton lying on the ground.

They look where Hakkai points, unsure of what they should be looking for. “Where is this?”

Part of them thinks that the shadow looks … stronger than it should, or more corporeal. It feels more real than they do.

All they can do is watch as the energy blast penetrates the shadows. With their body intangible, their shapeshifting is useless.

As the creature’s arm whips towards them, Avalon reaches out to touch it. Then Hakkai is in front of them, and their hands pass through his torso for a moment.

Their surroundings fade away, pulled into darkness that stretches out endlessly in all directions. The energy that they had felt seems to lift away, detaching from them.

“The Rift,” they answer. They can see Rawne easily enough. Just like Avalon’s silhouette normally does, both of their bodies seem to glow as if simultaneously producing and reflecting light.

It feels strange to be here after using the Enclosure’s imitation for so long. They had gotten used to being in a place that looked like the Rift without feeling like they were barely existing. The detachment stands out to them now that they have lived without it.

“Yes.” Avalon stares into the darkness, wondering if something will emerge. This place feels foreign for some reason. “There were a few other spots around the ship that felt strange, but I never got close enough for this to happen.”

In the darkness, it is impossible to see the walls, but Avalon can almost feel them. They can tell that this place is not as endless as it usually is. “Do you recognize any of this?”

Their surroundings vanish, bleeding into another world. Avalon glances around, looking for the person whose mind they have been pulled into this time.

Despite the trees around them, something about this place feels dead and empty, as if everything is waiting to dissolve into shadows at a moment’s notice.

They decide not to try shaking his hand. As they step closer, their feet pass through the grass rather than trampling it. In time, Godric may find that he is also insubstantial.

“Where are we?”

“I see it.”

Avalon stays close to Shaw as they walk, careful not to get separated. They watch their surroundings carefully. Ahead of Avalon, a shadowy, faceless figure walks through one of the tourists, then disappears around a corner.

Avalon keeps walking, their only reaction being to check that their gun is still in its holster. They must be seeing things. The tourist seemed to think that was normal, if he even noticed. The day is warm; they could just be tired. They need to focus.