After it happened… after the children died, the group fell into deep grief and despair. Rita, Daisy, and Pierro are the only children who survived… But what happens now… with this broken, desperate group? As for Pierro… he is still unconscious.
(Thunderstorm)
(Thunder!)
Sophie: "...(silent)."Dante: "(Silent)…"
The thunder and rain are loud.
Jill: "...(Silent)…"Liza: "(Silent)"Rita: "...hhh…"The Gift: "Hahhh…"
The Gift stood up.
Sophie: "Where are you going?"Liza: "Hmm?"The Gift: "We need food… I'll go look for it…"Kenn: "I'll come with you."Sophie: "Me too."Kenn: "Stay here… with Daisy…"Sophie: "Oh… okay…"
They left the cave.
Daisy: "...(silent)…"Liza: "It seems like she and Rita are… very hurt."Sophie: "They lost most of their friends in 30 minutes… I'd also feel terrible…"Liza: "Mhm…"Jill: "She was still on my back… Himari…"Sophie: "Maybe I should've paid more attention…"Rita: "Ghhh."
Rita stood up.
Rita: "What is this!?... Grief doesn't help!"Sophie: "Hmm?"Jill: "Rita…"Rita: "Crying doesn't help, it won't bring them back… we have to go to those bastards… and kill them!"Sophie: "Aha… so even more people can die, is that it?"Rita: "Ugh…"Sophie: "I get how you feel… but think about it… revenge only causes more pointless chaos. More will die… and who knows, maybe all of us. You said tears won't bring them back… revenge won't either."Jill: "She's right… besides, we don't stand a chance… they're strong… they have tough skin… and they're damn smart and fast…"Rita: "And Milim."Sophie: "Milim wouldn't want us to go after her and risk our lives… understand that, Rita…"Liza: "Besides, she's the princess of Fiolen… of the Crimson… it won't be easy."Zoe: "First of all… we need to find a way out of here… away from here… away from this damned place. Many of us have already died… Hänsel… one of them, Emilia is still missing, probably dead too, Dylan hasn't spoken and is so quiet since then that we barely notice he's there… Do you really think I care about that Milim right now?"
Rita got angry, slammed her hand against the wall and started to bleed.
Sophie: "Damn… Rita…"Jill: "…Are you crazy…"
Jill stood up and grabbed her hand.
Jill: "Hahh… we need a bandage… does anyone have something?"Sophie: "Uh."Liza: "Here…"
Liza took her hairband and loosened her ponytail.
Liza: "Give her my hairband…"Sophie: "…Uh…"Zoe: "Uhm…"Jill: "…Woo…wow…"Rita: "…you look even prettier without it…"Liza: "What?"
Liza's hair was long down to her back; they're seeing it like this for the first time.
Liza: "Uh… just take it."Jill: "Oh… thanks…"
She took it and wrapped Rita's hand with it.
Rita: "I miss them…"Jill: "I know…"Rita: "What am I supposed to do… I'm alone…"
Jill: "We're here… Daisy and Pierro survived too…"
The storm grew stronger… the rain dripping down like the group's grief. The furious lightning matched the moment of despair and fear. A forest full of dangers, no food… no water, only tears, fear, despair, and grief…
Zoe: "Oh… I hope The Gift and Kenn come back."Sophie: "Are you hungry?"Zoe: "No… I'm just worried."Sophie: "Mhm…"Liza: "Hahhh…"
Pierro slept on Liza's shoulder… she gently stroked his head from time to time.
Liza: "How old is Pierro?"Rita: "He's the youngest of us… he's only 8… years old…"Sophie: "So Daisy is older?"Rita: "Oh… you didn't know… Daisy is the oldest after me… she's 11…"Sophie: "What… I thought she was 9 or 8…"Rita: "Her voice is too soft and she's too cute, I know…"Sophie: "Hehe…"
Daisy slept in Sophie's lap.
Sophie: "How cute…"Rita: "Pierro… is actually… Helma's little brother…"Jill: "Ugh…"Zoe: "…fff…uck… what are we supposed to tell him when he wakes up…"Rita: "If he wakes up…"Sophie: "Hey!"Rita: "Sorry…"Sophie: "Hahhh…"Liza: "He's still breathing… I think he's unconscious from that hit earlier… his forehead was bleeding, remember."Sophie: "We should change his bandage soon… don't you think, Jill? Your parents were doctors… what do you think?"Jill: "Hmm… I'd say that's a good idea… to avoid bacteria and infections."
(Meanwhile)
The Gift and Kenn were out searching for food…
Kenn: "…Hahh…"The Gift: "…So… only this, huh."Kenn: "Two rabbits… and a squirrel…"The Gift: "Better than nothing… hmm?"
The Gift spotted a strange animal… it looked like a deer but much smaller, its antlers were extremely twisted and it had one horn in the middle.
The Gift: "A rehorn."Kenn: "What… why horn?"The Gift: "Because it has one… obviously…"Kenn: "Oh…"The Gift: "Or because it's as horny as you… when you think about Sophie."Kenn: "Hey…"The Gift: "Hmph… So how are you two doing?"Kenn: "We haven't kissed yet."The Gift: "Well… that's kind of obvious… oh, and by the way… if you two plan to do it at some point… please… wait until we have a place where we can't see you. Or hear you. Although… I'd like to see it… but anyway."Kenn: "Why would you want to see it, are you sick?"The Gift: "Hey… Sophie's pretty."Kenn: "You do realize you're talking about my girlfriend…"The Gift: "…So what…"Kenn: "I should probably punch you for that… or insult you… but… somehow I get it… you're just trying to make some jokes…"The Gift: "Hmm… you planning on doing it?"Kenn: "Of course…"The Gift: "(Sweats)… don't say it that directly… you're scaring me…"Kenn: "What… she's my woman… of course we'll do it at some point…"The Gift: "Okay, okay… just don't overdo it… someone like you could get a whole village pregnant."Kenn: "Hey…"The Gift: "Oops…"
He hunted the animal that was still standing there, not noticing anything because of the rain and loud thunder, and quietly threw his spear, hitting it.
The Gift: "Hahaha… at least that worked."Kenn: "Nice… what do you think it tastes like…"The Gift: "No idea, I've never hunted rehorn before…"Kenn: "As long as it tastes like something."The Gift: "Wrong… as long as it fills us up."
(Thunder!)
Kenn: "Ugh…"The Gift: "It's getting rough out here… let's get back."
They headed back.
(A few minutes later)
Kenn: "I'm back…"Sophie: "Hey…"Kenn: "Hey…"
He kissed her cheek.
Sophie: "Hmm… how was the hunt?"Kenn: "Well…"The Gift: "We've got… two rabbits, a squirrel and a rehorn."Sophie: "I thought those were rare."The Gift: "They are…"Rita: "Squirrel, huh? You can eat those?"The Gift: "…Yeah… they're not exactly delicious… but… you can eat them."
They lit a fire.
Sophie: "And Daisy… she can't eat meat… because of her throat… or rather… her neck…"The Gift: "Hmm."Jill: "I have an idea… the squirrel. The Gift, give it to me."The Gift: "Here…"
She took it.
Jill: "It's small… I think we can cut the meat into tiny pieces and turn it into a soup… But I'll need some herbs…"
Jill stood up.
Jill: "I'm going."Sophie: "Alone?"Liza: "Wait… I'll come too…"
She stood up.
Liza: "Let me help you."Jill: "Okay…"
They left the cave.
The Gift: "Hmm…"Kenn: "So… how are you doing? Good?"Sophie: "Mhm…"
She smiled at him.
Sophie: "I'm fine…"Kenn: "I'm glad… that you're okay…"Sophie: "But… the children… I feel sorry for them…"Kenn: "Hahh…"
He looked at Daisy and patted her head gently.
Kenn: "We'll take care of them… that's the least… we can do…"Dante: "Hhmmm… damn…"The Gift: "Hmm?"Dante: "The children… were with me when it happened… I should've watched over them better… damn it…"Sophie: "It's not your fault… it's… those Crimson… creatures… whatever they are… Why do they do this…"Kenn: "Hhhmmm…"
(Meanwhile)
The kingdom of Fiolen… kingdom of the Crimson…
Crimson merchant: "Human eyes… human eyes, only 30 coins… Human feet… for 50 coins… delicious… A stomach… from a pregnant woman, the baby still inside… a bargain… only 150 coins… Come, come… there's plenty."
Meanwhile… a protest.
Crimson: "Stop it… human flesh… stop human flesh… stop human flesh…"
Yes, there are some Crimson who are against eating humans.
Crimson: "First of all, it's unhealthy… second, they have feelings, they think, they have children, they speak…"
(Patch)
"Out of the way!"
someone shouted. He turned and saw… them. The Black Suits.
Cetyr: "Get out of my way… coward!"Crimson: "Hhhh…"
He stepped aside.
Cetyr: "We eat them… we cook them… it's part of our lives… not our fault they taste so good…"
He grabbed him by the neck and shoved a piece of human meat into his mouth, forcing him to swallow it.
Cetyr: "See?"Crimson: "Ugh… hahhhh…"
He suddenly started moving his hands like he wanted… more.
Cetyr: "It's tasty… and full of blood, isn't it! That's what we Crimson love…"
He let him drop.
Cetyr: "…As terrible as it may be… I don't care about humans… If we were weaker than them, they'd eat us… just like they do with animals. Do they really think they're allowed to eat others, but nothing is allowed to eat them? What stupidity!"
He walked on, toward the castle of Fiolen, Mercules, the castle of King Delzrad…
Cetyr: "My king awaits…"
He went inside.
Cetyr: "…Humans… I hate that word… In the world of Wonderland, there are many races… elves… trolls… oni, dwarves, giants… elves… hmph… there are hardly any now… because of humans… They think that because they're 'human', the other races don't have the right to live… Isn't that right… princess Milim…"
Milim: "Hmph…"Cetyr: "Have you already forgotten… what humans did to you… who killed your real mother?"Milim: "…Hunters…"Cetyr: "The hunter was a human."Milim: "Not everyone is evil…"Cetyr: "Wake up already… look what they do to animals… they lock them in tiny spaces, kill them, torture them and eat them with joy… there's no difference."Milim: "They don't torture them… they kill them and eat them, mostly…"Cetyr: "We don't torture either…"Milim: "The Eye and his group do."Cetyr: "Hmph… he did enough… he betrayed the king and ran off, used Mother Patrica's farm without us knowing… he and that… Asmedous… witch…"Milim: "You really think that's a good way to talk about your sister?"Cetyr: "Anyone who betrays the king… is no longer one of us… regardless of whether he or she is part of my family. The Eye is also my brother… remember…"
They walked on. The realm was made of earth—makes sense, it's underground—and many roots and huge stones. The castle itself was built like a classic castle… just with many colors. In the middle of the big gate there was a huge eye.
Cetyr: "It's me… Cetyr von Reinharden."
The gate opened.
Cetyr: "…You'd better not mention The Eye in front of the king…"
They stepped closer. The princess and Cetyr knelt.
Cetyr: "My king, I've found your daughter…"
He sat on the throne… only a dark silhouette, but you could see his eyes with red pupils, glaring, and his cloak… floating in the air with a huge eye in the center.
Delzrad: "…Foolish… daughter… how dare you… run away like that…"Milim: "..hmm.."Delzrad: "You will answer!"Milim: "I…"Cetyr: "My lord… please forgive her… she is here now…"
(Splatter!)
Suddenly his arm disappeared, cut off and falling to the ground.
(Splatter!)
Delzrad: "You dare… interrupt me, the king… Cetyr!"Cetyr: "Forgive me, my lord…"Delzrad: "I am asking my daughter… Do you understand that contact with humans is dangerous… Do you want to anger the Mother of the Abyss… the Witch of the Abyss! She gave me this strength… she is a dark fairy-tale being… you must understand that… you're not allowed to just leave like that…"
Dark fairy tales are beings with whom you can make contracts. They're evil, but not always. "Dark" just stands for strength and frightening power… and they rule over the Abyss.
Delzrad: "Don't push it… Cinderella doesn't like that…"
Suddenly a portal opened.
Delzrad: "Ugh…"
A shape… a giant eye.
(Patch!)
A hand came out… then a person…
(Patch)…(Patch)
Delzrad: "Oh… Mother of the Abyss…"Cinderella: "You seem… angry, Delzrad…"Delzrad: "Oh… uh…"Cinderella: "Hehe…"
She turned around.
Cinderella: "So, you've found your daughter… I heard she tried to understand humans…"Delzrad: "Uh…"Cinderella: "You know I don't like that… right… You should punish her…"Delzrad: "…Uh…"Cinderella: "Oh… your daughter is too much for you, huh… Well then…"
She aimed her hand at Milim.
Cinderella: "…Le fieo… de Ros…"
Suddenly the hands from the portal grabbed Milim and pulled her toward them… you could hear Milim's screams… loud…
Cinderella: "Hehehe… hmm…"Delzrad: "Ugh…"Cinderella: "That's enough… Though it was only 5 seconds here, inside the Nightmare Gate… it was 5000 million years… full of torment… and torture… hehehe… hahahahahaha…"
She stepped back into the portal.
Cinderella: "Goodbye… and Delzrad… be more careful next time…"
She fully vanished, the portal disappeared.
Cetyr: "(Hmmmm)…"
(Meanwhile, back to Liza and Jill)
Jill: "Here… I found another one."Liza: "Me too…"Jill: "That should be enough…"Liza: "Mhm…"Jill: "Hmm…"Liza: "Say, Jill…"Jill: "Yeah?"Liza: "Do you think… Milim is okay?"Jill: "Hahh… I don't know… for now, we have to focus on ourselves and especially on the kids…"Liza: "You're right."Jill: "Things will be harder now… because we have children with us… But we can't just toss them away… we won't do what their families did…"Liza: "Mhm…"
They went back.
Jill: "We're back…"The Gift: "Perfect… the meat is finished now…"Jill: "Good…"
She made the soup, and when Daisy woke up she gave her a bowl, which she slowly drank. Pierro also woke up…
Pierro: "What do you mean the others are dead."Rita: "What do you think it means, huh? Dead! It means… they're not here anymore… period."Pierro: "That can't be true."Rita: "Oh, yes… it can. That's how it is now…"Pierro: "But… (tears)"Rita: "Crying… doesn't change anything either…"Pierro: "You're crying too…"Rita: "What…"
She touched her own cheeks.
Rita: "Ugh… But… why…"Sophie: "Hahhh…"Jill: "…Get some rest, you two… and eat now."Pierro: "I don't want to…"Rita: "You have to."Pierro: "No…"Rita: "Ghhh."
Rita got angry, grabbed a piece of meat, opened his mouth and shoved it in.
Pierro: "Ghhh…"
(Gulp!)
He swallowed it.
Rita: "There… perfect… that's that."Pierro: "I hate you!"Rita: "Don't yell so much…"Pierro: "You don't care… you can eat… and drink…"Rita: "Am I supposed to starve to death or what… if you don't eat, it doesn't help anybody… Unless… you want to die, then go ahead. Maybe you'll see them again… aha…"Pierro: "Ghhhh…"
He went to a corner.
Rita: "Mmm…"Pierro: "…(sobbing)…"Rita: "Hmm…"
(A few hours later)
Night came, time to sleep. They lay down, but Jill, Liza and Sophie were still cleaning up, with help from Kenn and Dante.
Sophie: "Huh…"
Sophie found a bowl. It was Rita's… but it was almost still full.
Sophie: "Ugh… she didn't eat either…"Jill: "Hmm… she only pretended to… she's just like Pierro… broken…"Sophie: "…Hmm…"Kenn: "They're still young and had to experience something like this… it's hard even for an adult… so imagine for a child…"Jill: "Mhm."