Azrael: "I have to make a quick run to the office- is there anything else you need before I go?"
Emily: "No, thank you. Just letting me stay here is enough. I don't think I could handle being alone in the other house. Too many memories."
Azrael: "Of course. Try to relax; I'll be back later this evening. Call me right away if you need anything."

She answered him with a silent smile, her eyes closing slowly. Azrael left the house quickly, and with little effort crossed the barrier into his office. He was bathed in sterile office lighting, a relief from the oppressive glare of the noonday sun he'd just come from.

Azrael: "I cannot wait for this assignment to be finished. I swear if I pull another job where I have to dress in a stuffy suit I'm going to lose it. So what the hell is going on?"
Morris: "Sir, we've got a pair of Outsiders working their way through The Challenges. They've managed to make it past the first stage with little effort-they've already crossed the river."

Azrael: "Outsiders? Really?"
Morris: "They showed up a little over an hour after you left. I haven't been able to get much information on them other than a connection to your latest assignment. What do you think we should do about it?"
Azrael: "What's the word on the street? Has anyone else noticed them?"

Morris: "They're already catching some attention, but no one seems to be particularly alarmed by the situation."
Azrael: "Why would they be? Omnipotence breeds complacency."
Morris: "Would you like me to try to slow them down? Perhaps attempt to stop them?"

Azrael: "No, no… not yet anyway. Keep an eye on them, though--I still have some work to do on this soul and I really don't need them making this any more difficult."
Morris: "Of course."
Azrael: "I guess that'll do it for now. If anything changes I'll get in touch with you right away."

Morris nodded once before walking through an archway where he vanished in a snap of electric light. Azrael stood unmoving, blankly watching small embers fall slowly to the ground where he'd disappeared. The news of Outsiders perplexed him- how many years had it been since anyone from the realm of the living had dared to attempt to make their way to the underworld? The fluctuation of time between the realms meant that it could have been eons or hours, but still the audacity was astounding to him. He shook his head, mystified, and with a slight raise of his left eyebrow stepped back into the girl's world. While only a few minutes had passed for him, he'd allowed it to seem as though several hours had gone by there.