Luthia starts to say something, but then she stops, completely immobile.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you moving?"

You turn to the others, but they aren't moving either.

"What's happening?"

Smoke begins swirl out of nowhere in the middle of the room, a think purple haze. It swirls and swirls as it grows larger, until it forms a great disk. Then, a familiar person steps out.

"So Josh, I see that you aren't enjoying yourself."

Your eyes open wide, it was the man from the shop, the one who you saw in a dream.

"You! You weren't lying, that was really you I saw?"

The man straightens his pointed hat.

"Yes, I did this. It is a punishment. After all, you stole from me Josh. I run a business. A business doesn't do well when people take things and don't pay."

You're so wrapped up in fear and confusion that you lash out at him, forgetting what he could do to you.

"This is your punishment? This isn't fair! I'm going to die! I didn't do anything wrong, I just took something!"

The man scratches his chin; his face becomes a bit more sour as he frowns.

"I don't think you are learning anything Josh. You aren't even sorry."

The sorcerer reaches into his robe and pulls out a large gem, he begins looking into it.

"I was never going to let you die, you wouldn't have learned anything dead, but now that you know this, perhaps this punishment won't work out anymore, will it?"

You don't know if you want to yell or cry. In your panic and desperation, you jump out of the tank, forgetting your current state.

"Please forgive me, I'm sorry, please!"

You drag yourself across the floor, begging, ignoring the pain in your tail.

The man continues to look into the gem.