"On the stage." Val replied.

She then got onto the stage, and looked around, as he moved the lights and checked the camera, almost spending 10 solid minutes on it.

"Right." he said.

"I need you to look like you're a confident woman that's not scared of anything." he told her.

"You're walking down this alley, even though people have said it's dangerous, but YOU DON'T CARE! You need to BE somewhere, and NOBODY is going to stop you!" he declared.

"Mid-stride, NO hesitation, you are GOING through this alley, and THAT is THAT!" he barked.

As he spoke, she could certainly hear the passion in his voice. It was clear as day, But now there was a certain undertone to it. One that stated that this was how it was going to go... and she had better listen to him.

As she did what she was told, the camera started snapping, almost at a mile-a-minute, with him barking orders for different attitudes and scenarios... it was pedal-to-the-metal already, and showed no signs of slowing down.

-About 5 hours later-

Jake and Mira were talking to each other, the latter coming to cover for the former so he could go on his (late) lunch break, when he suddenly received a call.

"Eh?" he mumbled.

He took it out and saw that it was Izea calling him.

"Izzy...?" he asked quietly, before answering.

"Hey, what's up?" he said into the cell phone.

"I AM THE PHOTOGRAPHER!" he heard Val shout back.

"This is MY photoshoot, and what I say, GOES!" he yelled.

"Do NOT talk back to me!" he yelled further... loud enough that Mira could hear it emanate from the phone.

There was a brief argument, before they heard more shouting... stomping... Val's voice getting even LOUDER... before there was a sound that sounded almost like a slap... then there was heavy static... a crash... a thud... and then the call dropped.

The phone went dead.

"Izzy!? IZEA!" Jake exclaimed, before hitting the 'call back' button...

...and hearing it go right to voice mail.

Mira then saw his face pale at that point.

Jake just nodded.

"Got it!" he responded.

He then dashed off to go do so, with Mira stepping behind the desk.

However, after about a minute of her being there, the desk phone rang, and the light indicator showed that the phone it was coming from was using the number as an emergency contact.

And the display was strange as well.

It showed Izea's name and number as the caller.

"H-hello?" a male voice answered.

Mira recognised it as the voice she'd heard earlier... but it seemed that they were VERY stressed out right now.

"Is... is this Miss Izea's emergency contact?" he asked.

"There's been an incident." he continued.

"...send help!" he then exclaimed.

"She's on the floor! She's not moving!"

The man was silent for a moment, before giving the address... of the warehouse he and Izea were in.

"I... I got mad." he said.

"She... she started to not listen... she talked back..." he went on.

"I... I slapped her. Hard." he told her further.

"But my mana was in it for some reason. There was a spark of electricity and her eye is burnt and... and it looks like her chest is, too. But I didn't hit there. She collapsed after that." he continued.

"Please, hurry! She's... I don't know if she's breathing or not!"

"N-no. No security." he replied.

"And... and I think she's breathing. It's... it's shallow, though." he told her.

At the same time, Jake had just finished explaining the situation, when Sharp received the update from Mira. He read it, his expression deadened slightly, and he made a call to the agent they had on standby.

"Roxie, get in there." he told her.

"NOW." he said.

"Izea's down, and for all we know, she has minutes left, IF that." he added.

"Huh?" Val asked, before looking at the phone.

"Um... Izea is being sent in 5 seconds." he said.

"I was told to tell you to make sure Angela is ready." he said further.

"...." he was then silent, and fell on his ass.

"I..." he stammered.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"Are you... here for me, as well?"

Val seemed to be having... mixed emotions.

On one hand, he appeared to be terrified of her. He wanted to run out of fear. It also seemed like he wanted to run, but to try and get away, maybe on the off-chance he could save his own skin here. However, he seemed to be utterly fascinated as well, almost drawn to her... which wasn't surprising, giving she had that effect on people. Men, more potently. But she also saw massive guilt behind his eyes. Guilt for what? Probably what he did to Izea, but she couldn't say for certain. Not at the moment, anyway.

In the end, it seemed like the combination of guilt and fascination was stronger than his fear and desire to get away, and he just got off his ass, but fell to his knees, hanging his head in shame.

"...easy." he said.

"I get the feeling that, even if I were to run, I wouldn't get anywhere. And if I were to try and attack, even if I succeeded, things would just get worse than they already are." he told her.

"So... do with me what you will." he finished, resignation in his tone.

Val was silent, and sighed.

"...all right." he replied.

He then turned and looked at the portal... before sighing once more and heading into it.

As soon as he did, Roxie heard a yelp from him, and she knew why.

He was essentially travelling through hell.

That was something that would leave a mark.