She cries.

Her sobs echo in the empty chamber, and her tears contrast oddly with her deathly pale face. She is glowing strangely, emitting an unearthly light, and in her hands she clutches a locket that is held tightly to her chest.

"Mommy! Daddy!" She wails, flinging herself to the ground and pounding her fists on the floor over and over. "Come back! COME BACK!!!!!!!!"

As expected, her pleads go unanswered and she continued to cry uncontrollably. Finally, sense hits her and she sits up, now simmering in anger. She throws the locket to the ground and it shatters under the strength of her throw. The shadows of the room seem to point to her, warning the world of her treachery yet to come.

"I will avenge you!" She swears, fists clenching at her sides. "I will bring you back and those who killed you shall pay! I will make them suffer! I will make them cry! I promise!"

"Well, that's more like it," hisses a voice with great malice. The girl jumps, startled upon the new arrival and hesitantly steps backwards.

"Whose there? I'm not afraid of you!" She adds quickly.

"Oh, I expect you wouldn't be. It is me who should be wary of you, my dear, as your strength is plentiful." Her voice is snake-like and scares the girl, and she feels a hand come down on her shoulder. Trembling, she looks up at the speaker.

It is a woman. Her hair is black, very black, darker than the starless sky, and she is pale, paler than the girl, almost transparent. Her fingers are long and her nails are curved and claw-like, but what scares the girl the most is her eyes. They are red and menacing, making her appear as though she was a tiger about to pounce, and they seem to be looking right through her. They are the eyes of a snake.

Yet she is powerful. She can feel the power radiating from her, circling round the room, and she speaks somewhat warmly towards the girl-warm but icy, like her mother. And she could be a powerful ally, she knows.

"Who are you?" The girl whispers, as in her state of awe and shock it is all she can manage.

"A name is a powerful thing that can be used in many ways against you." Informs the woman. "Can I entrust you with my name?"

The girl nods slowly.

"I am Echidna!" She proclaims, spreading her arms wide as if about to embrace someone. "And I have come to help you. Together, we can avenge the death of your parents and bring the downfall to those who caused it!" The girl's eyes brighten as the thought of vengeance. It sounds so sweet, like chocolate, and she craves it.

"All you must do," Echidna continues, "Is trust me. So, what do you say Child? Shall you help me? Shall we bring the end of those so unworthy of their existence?"

"Yes! Yes!" She agrees, bouncing inwardly. "We will! I'll help you Echidna! I promise!"

Echidna grins, and her grin makes the girl reconsider her thoughts. But it is too late now, she knows. Echidna extends her hand and the girl does the same, grabbing her hand as though she was about to shake it.

And the room bursts into ghostly light, a light seen throughout the universe.