"Do you understand me?"Cornelius demanded.
"Yes," Evelyn whispered, barely audible.
"Good.Now go find those three spirits and get me the information I need.This is more important than your...delusions of contribution."
With obvious reluctance, Evelyn began to drift away from the gathering, her form growing more translucent with what appeared to be suppressed emotion.
The scene crystallized everything wrong with their relationship, revealing the systematic abuse that had been hidden behind professional collaboration.Cornelius had transformed creativity into exploitation, turning artistic partnership into psychological domination.
"Come on," Uma whispered to Honey and Maisie."Something's not right here.We should follow her."
The three women quietly slipped away from their vantage point, trailing Evelyn as she moved toward the outer edges of the convention area, clearly searching for someone.
Meanwhile, back at the book signing area, Cornelius turned his attention to Vivienne, who was still entertaining her audience with tantalizing hints about the evening's possibilities.
"Ms.Crawford," he said, approaching with his most disarming smile, "I couldn't help but overhear your fascinating conversation.You mentioned something about...opportunities for adventure?"
Vivienne's eyes sparkled with mischief."Oh, Mr.Lennox!How lovely to meet you properly.Yes, I may have heard some delicious rumors about ways to experience the living world more...directly."
"How intriguing," Cornelius approaching with his most disarming smile."I don't suppose you'd be willing to share the details.I think I heard the very same just last evening.But wasn’t certain they were real possibilities."
"Well," Vivienne giggled, clearly enjoying the attention, "I suppose I could tell you what I've heard.Those three attractive fellows from last night mentioned something about magical vapors that allow for more...tangible experiences."
"Yes.They were saying something to that effect.Do you believe them?”Cornelius asked, his interest intensifying.
“I sure do,” Vivienne confirmed with a wink."Though of course, I’ll have to see for myself to really believe.Tonight, they plan to show me.”
Cornelius leaned in closer, his voice honey-sweet but carrying an undertone of command."You will show me exactly where, won't you, Ms.Crawford?"
"Of course, darling!"Vivienne agreed."It sounds absolutely thrilling!We’ll meet up later.”
As their conversation concluded, Gloria finally approached Cornelius with Dottie and Darlene, all three clutching one another with excitement.
"Mr.Lennox!"Gloria burst out, rushing forward as Vivienne drifted away."We're such enormous fans!Could you possibly answer a few questions about your books?"
Cornelius turned toward them with his magazine smile, though his eyes were already looking past them toward more important matters."I'm terribly sorry, ladies.I have urgent business to attend to.Perhaps another time."
"But we just wanted to speak with you," Dottie said hopefully, holding up her book."We've read everything you've written—"
"Another time," Cornelius repeated more firmly, his magnetism already fading as he prepared to leave."I really must go."
And with that, he glided away toward the glamping area, leaving the three women standing there with their crushed expectations.
"Well," Gloria said after a moment, her voice flat with disappointment."That was...brief."
"Not very friendly, was he?"Darlene observed.
"Nothing like his characters," Dottie added sadly."They're always so fascinating and attentive."
The three fans watched their novelist hero disappear into the woods, their romantic notions about meeting their favorite author thoroughly deflated.
Deeper in the woods, Uma, Honey, and Maisie continued to follow Evelyn's increasingly frantic search.The small ghost was trembling in and out of visibility as she drifted between the glamping tents clearly becoming more distressed with each empty one.
"Finn?Chet?Beau?"Evelyn called out softly, her voice becoming more desperate."Please, I need to speak with you!"
She paused by a particularly elaborate tent, her shoulders shaking, and that's when Uma realized the spirit was crying—or whatever passed for crying among the dead.
"Excuse me," Uma said gently, stepping forward."Are you alright?"
