The seal opened with a subdued click and the gears of the pocket watch whirred manically as darkness streamed out through its face, dissipating in the afternoon air. Rosette could feel it tugging at her, taking bits of her life out with it as it went, but at that point it was a small price to pay. She just wanted it gone.

The darkness came faster, pouring out through the watch and bringing with it every sensation it had suppressed. The sharp pricks of the needle, the mind-searing agony of the fight between darkness and watch, the chill of doors of darkness, and the rough impact of landing on a cobbled street all hit Rosette at the same time. Her body jerked and stiffened and she screamed, long cries of agony as that sensation gripped her mind, wiping every sense a burning white and refusing to let her go.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the last of the darkness streamed out of the watch, the white-hot pain flying away with it. Breathing ragged and throat raw, Rosette kept control of her aching body long enough to raise a hand to her chest, snapping the seal on the watch firmly shut. Exhausted and too sore to do anything else, she simply fell limp against her partner. "Chrno," she gasped weakly, tears streaming down her face from the ordeal. She could see him there, feel him, but after everything that had happened, she needed to know. "Chrno..."