《The Wellor System [A Supernatural Mystery Isekai LitRPG]》 Chapter 1: The Doorway to Another World Fragments of glass scattered across the plank floor. Florence squeezed the handle of her leather briefcase. She inched backward and towards the doorway. Sunlight poured in through the balcony, reflecting onto an army of empty glass bottles of giggle juice within the room. The wallpaper with a wilted lotus flower design peeled off from the walls. But in front of her was her sister, who had the same old blond unkempt hair and gray baggy eyes. Her sister sat on the bed wrapped in a blanket, her cheeks flustering as she slumped over her lap. Even from a distance, her sister¡¯s body odor wafted through the air, tickling Florence¡¯s nose. Her sister looked up and grinned. ¡°More,¡± she said in a high-pitched voice. Florence shook her head. ¡°Did you not have enough already?¡± ¡°I need it!¡± her sister shouted. ¡°Give it to me!¡± The floor creaked outside the room, getting louder. A shiver ran down Florence¡¯s spine. She bit her lip. Suddenly, there was a gentle tap on the oak door. Her heart stopped. She knew she was not supposed to be here, especially at this time of day. But she had to do it. She could not turn another blind eye¡­ not again. At that moment, the door swung open. She wheeled around. However, standing in front of the entrance was Martine. She tapped her black heels on the floor. Her knuckles pressed on the belt tied around the apron over a dress. Wrinkles formed at the corner of her yellow eyes as she glared at Florence. Florence shifted her weight from left to right, rustling her apron. She chuckled, cupping her mouth. Martine stomped into the room, each step getting closer. In a swift motion, she flicked her finger on Florence¡¯s forehead. Florence recoiled. ¡°Seriously? Why are you always like this?¡± ¡°Well, at least I found you.¡± Martine smiled. The wrinkles around her eyes disappeared. She then placed her hands behind her before letting out a sigh. ¡°You know¡­ you are really in deep trouble right now.¡± Out of the blue, a deafening thud, followed by a clattering of glass, vibrated Florence¡¯s eardrums. Martine¡¯s eyes widened. She gaped at something that happened behind Florence. At this point, Florence spun around, discovering her sister wrapped in a blanket and drooling on the floor. But, more importantly, her sister¡¯s face almost landed on the fragments of glass inches away. Florence carried her sister without a second thought, gently lowering her on the bed. Footsteps got closer to Florence, and from the corner of her eye, she saw Martine peeking into what was happening. Immediately, her sister stretched her arms out of the blanket, revealing her bloody bandaged forearm. She said, ¡°More¡­¡± ¡°Florence¡­ finish up whatever you have to do,¡± Martine said. She walked away from Florence, exiting the room. ¡°I will be waiting for you in the corridor.¡± Setting the leather briefcase next to the bed, Florence opened it, and she reached inside to pull out a dressing pad, gauze bandage roll, and a scissor. Her sister¡¯s body trembled, staring at those three medical items. ¡°I don¡¯t want it,¡± she said. Pressing her arms against her chest. ¡°Look at me. Nothing is going to hurt you,¡± Florence said. ¡°Because I am here now with you. You are going to be safe.¡± Without responding, her trembling sister curled up and turned away from Florence. ¡°Tell me whatever you want. Well¡­ except for that one thing,¡± Florence said. And again, her sister remained silent on the bed. Florence nodded, kneeling and packing everything she had into the leather briefcase. However, before she could leave¡­ The blanket rustled. Afterward, someone tapped on Florence¡¯s shoulder. She looked up to find out it was her sister. Her sister pinched Florence¡¯s cheek and pulled it upwards, forcing a smile on Florence¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s a lot better. You really should do it more, just like our mother and brother used to do,¡± her sister said. Florence nodded. However, if their mother and brother weren¡¯t¡­ gone. Things might be different. The pinch on Florence¡¯s cheek disappeared, and her sister¡¯s eyes closed. Standing back up, Florence adjusted the blanket to adequately cover her sister. She then picked up the leather briefcase and trudged to the doorway. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Before she left, a rumble shook the entire building. She glanced around but spotted nothing. Everything in here stayed the same. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Martine asked somewhere in the corridor. Florence exited the room. ¡°Absolutely, everything is fine,¡± she said. She closed the door behind her. She looked down the corridor, which had the exact wallpaper as the one inside the room, expecting to see Martine. But it was another person within arm¡¯s reach instead. That person was a sparkling-eyed young gal with ginger hair tied into a ponytail. Her hands raised up to the ceiling. On one of her hands, she released her dagger, which clattered on the floor. However, oddly enough, she wore a navy blue hooded shirt, ripped jeans, and boots. The ginger-haired young gal said, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Aisling. Please don¡¯t kill me.¡± Florence¡¯s mind went blank. ¡°Please?¡± Aisling asked. Florence blinked. ¡°Pardon?¡± Suddenly, another rumble shook the building. The light bulbs above flashed on and off. Florence lost her footing, leaning against the wall. ¡°So you aren¡¯t gonna use that laser gun implanted in your body to kill me?¡± Aisling asked. Still appearing to be completely unfazed by what just happened. ¡°Or is that bag of yours gonna transform into a plasma chainsaw.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Laser gun? Plasma chainsaw?¡± Silence filled the air. Aisling swept her arm downward, whamming Florence¡¯s head. Florence stumbled backward and rubbed her head. ¡°Was that even necessary?¡± she asked. Aisling smiled, bursting into laughter. She snatched up the dagger and sheathed it. ¡°Well, at least now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯re not one of them.¡± Suddenly, an incoherent screeching echoed in every direction, cutting her laughter short. Immediately, she grabbed Florence¡¯s wrist and breezed away. Both sides of the walls loomed and crowded them into this narrow space. Hints of sharp slash marks scratched on the wallpapers. While they went deeper, more corridors manifested out of nowhere and branched off. Aisling gasped as she and Florence turned the corner, reaching the door at the end of the corridor. But, finally, they burst into a vast empty room. A biting wind blew through a massive opening in the wall and swooped their hairs up. Immediately, through that hole in the wall, Florence¡¯s jaw dropped as she stared at the skyscrapers with the harsh and futuristic architecture of steel and glass scraping the clouds. An array of colored lights from the streets below illuminated the dark sky. Even from this high up, the wailing of sirens vibrated her eardrums. It was not a place of shelter but a place of the unknown. The bile rose up her throat, losing her breath. The tight grip around her wrist faded away. From the corner of her vision, Aisling sauntered towards the photo and a fresh lily at the edge of the room. She picked it up and placed it into the pocket of her hooded shirt. Aisling took a deep breath, in and out, and asked, ¡°So what¡¯s your name?¡± Florence froze. Not a single word came out from her. Afterward, Aisling repeated the same question. But, again, Florence was unable to respond. While this happened, Aisling pulled out a flat metallic cuboid with a dozen camera lenses from her ripped jeans pocket. She then walked with bouncy steps as she tapped on the dark screen on one side of the cuboid. Finally, Florence came to her senses. She asked, ¡°Why am I here? I mean, I was like¡­¡± Aisling flipped her cuboid and showed it to Florence. Florence read the message, which said something about a group of three occult detectives working on a contract for the Wellor System. Wait¡­ three occult detectives? Aisling might be one. But where were the others at right now? ¡°Pardon me, but how does this have anything to do with me?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Look. I know this might be kind of overwhelming.¡± Aisling moved the cuboid closer to Florence¡¯s face. ¡°But to answer your question, yes, you¡¯re involved. And please tell me your name.¡± Florence pressed her palms together and bowed to Aisling. Then Florence trudged to exit the room. But immediately, she was stopped as Aisling grabbed her by the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re gonna do exactly what I think you¡¯re gonna do,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Are you gonna do it before you¡¯ve got your stats up and running?¡± Florence shoved Aisling¡¯s hand aside. Florence removed her black heels and pushed her feet against the floor, dashing into the corridor. ¡°Come back! My partner is gonna be here soon!¡± Aisling shouted. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you wait a bit?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence replied, waving her hands. ¡°And by the way, my name is Florence.¡± Out of the blue, a rumble sent a shockwave throughout, followed by an incoherent, high-pitched screech echoing in all directions. The light flickered. Immediately, Florence wheeled around. However, nothing had changed at all, with only Aisling pursuing her. ¡°Do you really wanna go back there?¡± Aisling asked, pinching Florence by the ears and dragging her back. ¡°Plus, you¡¯re gonna have to complete the Wellor System¡¯s contract first.¡± Florence resisted and moved in the opposite direction. ¡°Aisling, you poor little bunny,¡± she said. ¡°I will be dead if I do not head back now.¡± Both of them struggled and pulled at each other for a short time. ¡°That¡¯s not how it works,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And couldn¡¯t you wait a bit. My partner might be here soon.¡± At this moment, Florence¡¯s brain clicked. ¡°Aisling, did you see another gal with yellow eyes in the same clothing as me that came out from the same doorway as I did before we met?¡± Aisling stopped, tilting her head. ¡°Did you see anyone else that came here?¡± Florence asked again. ¡°I promise¡­¡± Aisling smiled. ¡°You¡¯ll¡­ eventually meet her again.¡± Florence¡¯s muscles tensed up. She knew Martine exited the same way she did. So, what did Aisling mean by that? Afterward, a distinct bang reverberated in the distance, rattling Florence¡¯s spine and unfreezing her muscles. ¡°On a positive note, I think we¡¯re not alone anymore,¡± Aisling said. From afar, the scratching on the wallpaper zoomed closer with each second. However, nothing could be seen making all the commotion down the corridor. Aisling grabbed Florence¡¯s wrist in an instant. The plank floor creaked underneath Aisling¡¯s boots as she breezed past numerous doors while dragging Florence to come along. ¡°So here¡¯s the deal,¡± Aisling said. ¡°If you help us with this supernatural case, then I¡¯ll help you¡ª¡± Suddenly, she let go of Florence¡¯s wrist. Aisling flew into the air, crashing through the oak door. Splinters dispersed everywhere. Without hesitation, Florence ran to help Aisling. But before Florence could do it, a strong wind pushed her down. A transparent force pulled at her fingers and knocked the leather briefcase and black heels out of her hands. Something invisible and sharp dug into her forearms, penetrating her skin and veins. A dull ache pulsated in her muscles. The air got sucked out of her lungs, preventing her from screaming. Although nothing was on top of her, she couldn¡¯t move, and the air above her body became heavier. A warm gust blew onto her face, sending goosebumps across her skin. This might be the end¡­ Chapter 2: Escape In the corridor, Florence stared at the ceiling. Something invisible and sharp stabbed into both of her forearms. Aisling, who got thrown and crashed through a door, was now nowhere to be seen. A warm puff of air blew onto Florence¡¯s face. Her heart sank, and she realized she couldn¡¯t force herself to throw a kick. However, footsteps on the creaky plank floor got closer. Bang! A bullet whizzed over Florence. A loud shriek echoed on top of her. The scratching on the wallpaper reappeared, getting farther away by the second. Immediately, blood gushed out from the deep, pained puncture on her forearms. While she pressed hard with her hands against her wounds, an inky bobbed-haired woman holding a revolver rushed at a steady pace towards her. This woman¡¯s lips tightened into a thin line. She wore an unbuttoned black leather jacket over her ragged white shirt. Despite all of this, she maintained square shoulders and a straight back. While she put her revolver into her shorts pocket, her violet eyes had no life in them as she made eye contact with Florence. ¡°Who are you?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yuze,¡± the inky-haired woman replied. She picked up Florence¡¯s leather briefcase. Yuze stretched her hands out to Florence and helped her to get up. ¡°I help,¡± Yuze said. She stared at Florence¡¯s injured forearms, pointing at the briefcase. ¡°Absolutely, thank you,¡± Florence said. ¡°Wait a minute. How did you know that is mine?¡± A smirk spread on Yuze¡¯s face, but she instantly concealed it with both hands. She walked through the smashed door. Florence trudged in weakening steps following Yuze. However, to Florence¡¯s surprise, Aisling was in another corridor with her eyes shut, not another room. Yuze kicked Aisling in the stomach. Aisling screamed and jumped to her feet. She grabbed the handle of her dagger and unsheathed it. ¡°Where¡¯s it!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yuze replied. ¡°It¡¯s gone.¡± Aisling smiled, and she hugged Yuze around the neck, bringing them closer together. Aisling ruffled Yuze¡¯s hair. ¡°Took you long enough!¡± ¡°You¡­ do whatever you are doing now,¡± Florence said. Her eyelids grew heavier while she applied pressure on her wounds. At this moment, she pointed down the corridor with her elbow. ¡°I will be¡­ heading back.¡± In response, Aisling tilted her head, peering hard at Florence. ¡°Aisling?¡± Yuze asked. ¡°Nope.¡± Aisling laughed, putting away her dagger. She let go of Yuze¡¯s neck. ¡°I already¡­ told her everything.¡± Looking straight at Yuze, Florence asked, ¡°Pardon me, could you give me my briefcase?¡± However, a rumble rocked the entire building. The light flickered. Instantly, right after that, a screech echoed, bouncing off every surface. Seconds later, scratching on the wallpaper wailed behind Florence, getting louder each second. Florence spun around. But¡­ nothing. Sweat trickled down the nape of her neck, stiffening her muscles. Even now, she couldn¡¯t sink her teeth into her lip. Whatever this thing was¡­ it was chasing after them again. A scream next to her almost pierced her eardrum. She was then dragged further away by her wrist. The plank floor blurred below her, jetting past various doors for what seemed to be an eternity. With every turn around the corner, another long, endless corridor greeted her. She faced forward, realizing that the one tugging her was Aisling. At the same time, hurried footsteps followed behind her. Thud! Florence wheeled around. Her eyes widened at Yuze, who somehow fell down. ¡°Yuze!¡± Aisling shouted. She released her grip on Florence¡¯s wrist and rushed towards Yuze. Yuze withdrew her revolver from her shorts pocket. A click from the cocking of a revolver. Her arms extended, aligning the front and back sight of the revolver, aiming at the ceiling. An explosion of gunshot erupted in front of Florence, shaking her. At this moment, she pounded her feet across the plank floor, running towards Yuze. A shriek echoed above Yuze. Immediately, the scratching on the wallpaper retreated. As Florence and Aisling got closer, they stopped at Yuze¡¯s side. Blood oozed out from the tooth marks on Yuze¡¯s left thigh. ¡°Stupid ability,¡± Yuze said. Aisling knelt down. She smiled, glaring simultaneously at Yuze without saying anything. Yuze cleared her throat. She pressed her hand down on her injuries. However, the blood kept flooding out from her laceration between her fingers and forming a puddle of blood. ¡°We have got to get to a safer place first,¡± Florence said. A tingle spread through her punctures on both forearms as she stared at the bite injury on Yuze¡¯s left thigh. ¡°Also, you need to pressure it harder. Since, you know¡­¡± Nevertheless, for some reason, Yuze looked Florence in the eye. ¡°What do you mean by that? It looks kinda alright to me,¡± Aisling said. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. She got down on her knees and pressured her elbow on Yuze¡¯s bite mark, slowing down the bleeding. Yuze threw her right arm over Aisling¡¯s shoulder, and Florence had to remove the pressure on Yuze¡¯s injured thigh as they got back on their feet. But Florence saw that Yuze had learned her lesson and had used enough force to reduce the bleeding. Aisling yanked Florence¡¯s leather briefcase from Yuze¡¯s hand. However, they had no time to waste, so they took small steps together. During this time, Aisling¡¯s steady breathing morphed into a wheeze. Out of nowhere, a bellow blasted through the air, sending electricity through Florence¡¯s body. A light flashed before her eyes. The entire building flipped upside down, causing her to lose her footing. She, Aisling, and Yuze suddenly appeared in the middle of an uncrowded hall resembling a shining villa where partygoers would flock like moths. A feast overflowed with baked meatloafs, curried chicken salads, and beverages on the dining table. At the opposite end of the hall, an oil painting of a red eye hung high above an archway leading into a corridor. A sweet scent drifting from the crates of oranges at the corner stimulated Florence¡¯s nose. She blinked at the chandelier, emitting a dim light as her sight blurred. A moment ago, she was in the corridor. So, how did she even end up here? The bile rose up in Florence¡¯s throat. She zipped her lips tight. The surge of sickness and pain building inside her. But she choked with an acidic fluid that filled and burned her mouth, spilling out and splashing onto the plank floor. A sharp, winy stench filled the air. Aisling coughed, clenching her chest and abdomen. ¡°At least we didn¡¯t get separated from each other this time.¡± ¡°I am not sure what was happening here,¡± Florence said. ¡°Pardon me, what are you talking about?¡± However, before Aisling could open her mouth, a dull thump landed behind Florence. They whirled around, and the wallpaper with a wilted lotus pattern design leered at them. ¡°Did anyone else hear that?¡± Aisling whispered. Scratch. A claw mark manifested on the plank floor a few inches from Florence. She stumbled backward as her arms numbed. And next to her, Aisling¡¯s and Yuze¡¯s faces turned pale. Together, they dove under the dining table nearby. Florence sank her teeth into her lips. The meals were blown off the edge on her left, splattering against the plank floor. Glass beverages and porcelain plates fractured, and metal cutlery clattered. Scratching grew closer. Besides Florence, Aisling covered her mouth while trembling. Yuze held onto her revolver, swinging open the cylinder. However, from what Florence could tell, the chambers had zero ammo. Yuze reached into her black leather jacket pocket, clicking her tongue. A puff of wind blew down Florence¡¯s neck, making the end of her hair stand up. She clenched her apron, hoping this would not be the last time she saw her sister. The dining table that they ducked beneath wobbled and floated into the air. Then, it flew across the hall and crashed against the wall. The wind howled. A thick layer of air wrapped around Florence¡¯s neck, crushing her trachea. She choked and clawed her neck to no avail. Suddenly, a powerful and invisible force yanked her, sending her flying above the chandelier. Gravity tugged her back down, and she crashed straight through one of the dining tables. Pieces of piping hot meat burned her skin. Some of the curry got into her mouth, tingling her taste buds. She let out a groan, picking herself up. However, Aisling and Yuze got propelled towards Florence, knocking her over. Aisling gasped. ¡°The good news is that we¡¯ve none¡­ at all.¡± ¡°How is that good?¡± Florence asked. Aisling hushed, placing her finger on her lip. A puff of warm air exhaled, followed by a sniff onto Florence¡¯s face. However, it wasn¡¯t Aisling or Yuze. It was something in front of them that couldn¡¯t be seen. The clawing reappeared again, but this time getting quieter. Whatever this was, it didn¡¯t appear to have seen Florence, Aisling, and Yuze. Aisling snatched a fork nearby that had clattered onto the plank floor. She stood up, helping both Florence and Yuze to get back up. Together, step by step, tiptoeing to the archway. Nevertheless, beneath Florence, the plank floor creaked. The scratching stopped. When they were about to depart from the hall and enter a corridor, Yuze collapsed next to Florence. Right away, Aisling crouched down, pulling Yuze back up. Florence looked over her shoulder. The claw marks materialized as each one approached her. She wrapped her arms around Yuze¡¯s cold and clammy waist, supporting her balance. The plank floor creaked as they limped down the corridor and towards the intersection. One corridor led to an elevator. Its metal doors open. However, the other corridor had no end in sight. There may still be a way for Florence to return to work and take care of her sister. Her vision blurred as she turned her head towards Aisling¡¯s and Yuze¡¯s wounds. How could Florence simply ignore them in this condition? She couldn¡¯t. She had to do something. ¡°We¡¯ve gotta keep moving now!¡± Aisling said, breathing heavily. Florence and Aisling carried Yuze to the elevator, each step becoming more burdensome for Florence. Behind them, the scratching grew louder, approaching them faster. They lunged themselves into the elevator. Aisling¡¯s arm stretched out as she leaped towards the columns of buttons displaying numbers from zero to a hundred. She clicked the lowest floor level. The elevator whirled to life, sliding the doors to a close. Nonetheless, it halted halfway. Something invisible in between the gap howled. An invisible force slashed at Aisling¡¯s abdomen. Blood trickled out of her small gash. She let out an ear-piercing scream, tossing the fork through the slit between the doors, clattering on the plank floor. However, it somehow glided from right to left by itself. The door finally closed. ¡°Give me my briefcase, Aisling,¡± Florence said. Aisling, now pushing down on her own wounds, released her grip around the leather briefcase and dropped it next to Florence. Florence opened her leather briefcase with a finger flick, removing the dressing pad, gauze bandage roll, and scissors. Blood flowed out from the puncture on her forearms. Immediately, unfolding the dressing pad, she slapped it on one of her bleeding punctures. Then, she unraveled the bandage, wrapping it around her wounds and tying a reef knot on the pad to keep it in place. The longer end of the bandage was snipped. Again, she performed the same procedure on her other forearm. Aisling leaned against the wall, holding onto the elevator handrail. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ going back there any time soon.¡± ¡°Is that place¡­ haunted by a ghost or something?¡± Florence asked. She picked up another dressing pad from her leather briefcase. ¡°And was it like trying to kill us?¡± ¡°Yup, I guess you could kinda say it¡¯s haunted,¡± Aisling responded in a quieter voice, looking away from Florence. ¡°But I kinda doubt that it wants us dead.¡± Thud! Yuze nodded off, falling flat. A gush of blood exploded from the bite injury on her left thigh. At that moment, Florence wiped her hand on her apron. Then she pushed the dressing pad down, stopping the bleeding tooth marks on Yuze¡¯s left thigh. ¡°But¡­ how does that thing we just encountered have anything to do with our case?¡± Aisling asked. Florence wrapped the bandage around Yuze¡¯s bite wound, tying a reef knot as a final touch. ¡°You have to figure it out yourself,¡± she said. ¡°More importantly, you must get to the hospital first!¡± Eventually, she cut the longer end of the bandage. Her nail pressed beyond Yuze¡¯s wound for five seconds until it went pale, then released the pressure. Within two seconds, the color of Yuze¡¯s skin returned. Immediately, Florence lifted Yuze¡¯s leg above the level of her heart. After that, she turned towards Aisling, pulling her hooded shirt high enough to treat the wounds on her abdomen. ¡°Well¡­ Florence,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We¡¯re actually gonna have to get your stats sorted out.¡± But no words came out as she opened and closed her mouth. Florence blinked. Everything in front of her twisted and spun. Fluid profused out from her bandage, tickling her skin. Her vision blurred, becoming darker and¡­ darker. Until¡­ everything went black. Chapter 3: Error Florence¡¯s eyes flew open. She rested on the freezing granite floor of a massive and empty lobby. Her arms wrapped around the leather briefcase, holding it close to her chest. On her left, a range of colored lights seeped past the large glass panel, drawing her attention. Outside, on the side of the skyscraper plastered with numerous translucent advertisements written in different languages, various colored lights emitted. Next to her, Aisling leaned into view and said, ¡°You¡¯re finally awake.¡± A throbbing ache erupted from Florence¡¯s skull. She pushed herself off the ground to a sitting position. Yuze sat at the reception counter on the opposite side of the room. In her hand was a metal cuboid with dozens of camera lenses watching Florence. Florence rubbed her head. ¡°Both of you have to go to the hospital now.¡± ¡°So you feeling alright?¡± Aisling asked with a bright grin. ¡°She dead.¡± Yuze kicked her legs into the air. ¡°Could tell, Aisling.¡± Florence¡¯s eyes widened, and jaws dropped as if this chill ran along her veins, leaving her stunned. ¡°Yuze, I¡¯m not asking you,¡± Aisling said. The stabbing numbness of the puncture on Florence¡¯s forearm reignited, stiffening her muscles. ¡°Absolutely¡­ Actually, I am fine. But¡­ more importantly, why are you not going to the hospital now?¡± Yuze¡¯s face remained neutral, ranging from her eye to mouth. ¡°So what about you, Florence?¡± Aisling pointed her finger at Florence¡¯s wounds. ¡°You also need treatment, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Florence struggled to massage her bandaged forearm, stained with dried blood. ¡°That is none of your beeswax,¡± she said. A pause of quietness filled the air. Both Aisling and Yuze stared at Florence. Aisling tilted her head, hands covering her smile. Moments later, she giggled and coughed simultaneously, breaking the silence. But, soon, she steadied herself. ¡°What does beeswax have to do with me?¡± she asked. Florence rolled her eyes. ¡°Beeswax as in business.¡± ¡°Cute,¡± Yuze said. However, she stared at her metal cuboid with camera lenses that looked at Florence and Aisling. ¡°Just ignore her,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And also, feel free to call Yuze an idiot cyborg. She likes it for some reason.¡± Yuze shoved her metal cuboid into her black leather jacket. Her cheeks blushed bright red. She averted her eyes from both Florence and Aisling. At that moment, Yuze fiddled with the collar of her black leather jacket. ¡°You see that, Florence.¡± Aisling pointed at Yuze. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I meant.¡± Aisling grabbed Florence by the dress and dragged her towards the glass doors. Florence¡¯s feet squeaked against the marble floor, stopping the momentum. Immediately, Yuze pushed herself off the reception table, limping behind them. ¡°Hey! Aisling, what are you doing?¡± Florence asked. No response was given. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence asked again. Without replying, Aisling turned her head, looking over her shoulder at Florence. Still, why wasn¡¯t Aisling answering at all? The glass doors slid open. Aisling stepped outside, tugging and forcing Florence to set foot on the pavement. Large groups of people went in different directions, bumping into Florence. The leather briefcase pushed closer to her chest. For some reason, within the deafening sirens and honks, an eerie silence permeated through every stranger walking past her. High above the sky, the dark clouds floated, and zero stars twinkled. The blazing-colored advertisement fended off the moonlight from reflecting on the skyscrapers with futuristic architecture made of glass and steel. Cameras with a speaker wired to the top of a pole, watching the streets and ready to make an announcement. Aisling stood still and pulled Florence¡¯s dress. ¡°You really gotta believe me when I told you that by completing the contract. You¡¯re gonna be back home in your original world soon.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but I have got to head back immediately,¡± Florence said. She tried to push the grasp of Aisling. But Florence¡¯s energy drained away, numbing her limbs and preventing her from doing it. Florence shook her head. She had¡­ no¡­ must head back. She couldn¡¯t leave her sister alone all by herself. All those reckless chuckings down numerous giggle juice that her sister did, mainly when Florence worked to the bones for hours. And, of course, her sister used to not act in this behavior. Well¡­ at least not before the Great War¡­ Finally, hobbling behind Aisling, Yuze said, ¡°Stats.¡± Aisling glanced over her shoulder and nodded. The color on Yuze¡¯s face paled. Her eyes drooped. She stumbled with shaking steps and collapsed, falling towards Aisling. Nonetheless, before Florence could react, Aisling wheeled around, catching Yuze in her arm. ¡°Be careful,¡± Aisling said. Florence crossed her arms. ¡°I have already told both of you to go to the hospital. Do not go off on your investigation or this stats nonsense.¡± No one answered her at all. Yuze¡¯s left arm flung over Aisling¡¯s shoulders. Together, they moved unevenly down the pavement and through the quiet mass of people. At the same time, lugging Florence behind them. ¡°Hello?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Are any of you listening?¡± Aisling coughed and then took a deep breath. ¡°Yup, I did hear that,¡± she said. ¡°And I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be fine. But¡­ for Yuze¡­ I¡¯m just gonna let her decide.¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ okay.¡± Yuze shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Florence blinked, struggling to understand what they said. ¡°But¡­ if none of you get immediate medical treatment¡­¡± ¡°You heard what we just said. Plus, it¡¯s gonna be alright,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And if both Yuze and I go to the hospital. You¡¯re gonna go back in the corridor to find the door back home¡­ isn¡¯t that right?¡± Now, Florence¡¯s eyes widened. She clenched hard on her leather briefcase, digging her nails deep into it. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna survive if you go back now,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Did you forget I already told you there¡¯s another way out of here?¡± On the pavement, Florence shifted her weight from right to left. ¡°Absolutely¡­ I guess you are correct,¡± she said with downturned eyes. With a tug on Florence¡¯s dress, Aisling dragged her through the crowd while assisting Yuze in limping. Skyscrapers ran alongside the street, surrounding and looming over everyone. Each step took more energy for Florence, but the air around her thickened and rested on her shoulder. ¡°Yuze, could you help me get my phone out?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°How will that be possible?¡± Florence scrunched up her eyebrows. ¡°Are those supposed to be connected to a wire?¡± No one answered her. Yuze reached into Aisling¡¯s ripped jeans pocket, taking out a metal cuboid with dozens of camera lenses. Florence¡¯s eyes widened. Never had she seen a phone shaped like a cuboid, which was also portable. Yuze¡¯s thumb tapped on its dark screen, ringing it, and held it next to Aisling¡¯s ear. A few seconds passed, and Aisling shook her head. ¡°Where¡¯s she?¡± ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Co-worker for a certain job. She went out tonight and is gonna get something important for work.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what is this thing which is essential for work?¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest here¡­ I¡¯ve no idea. We didn¡¯t get any details on it.¡± ¡°Sick,¡± Yuze said. She swayed side to side, depositing the phone back into Aisling¡¯s ripped jeans pocket. Aisling pulled Yuze closer, cuddling her. Along with Florence, they trudged down the pavement and through the crowd. A little later, Aisling halted in front of a store entrance. ¡°Pardon me? Why are we stopping here?¡± Florence asked. She stared through the glass panel at the empty interior. The glass door opened automatically as they approached. Aisling entered, dragging Florence, helping Yuze inside, and stepping on the white marble floor. In front of them, a male receptionist with pale hair and skin stood behind an oak desk. A smile appeared on the receptionist¡¯s face without squinting his eyes. ¡°Hello,¡± he said. ¡°How may I help you?¡± Florence, Aisling, and Yuze limped to the receptionist. ¡°May we get a new phone?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Wait.¡± Florence scratched her head and brushed her blond, unkempt hair aside. ¡°Are we not supposed to get this stats thing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. You¡¯ve come to the right place,¡± the receptionist said. ¡°By the way, which type would you like?¡± ¡°The cheapest version,¡± Aisling said. Yuze pressed down on her bandaged left thigh. ¡°Second-hand.¡± The receptionist nodded. He turned towards the typewriter on the desk, which had a transparent and blurry screen, and typed on the keyboard. Once he finished typing, he spun around and walked into another room. ¡°Aisling, what¡¯s the other way for me to return home?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Could you tell me how to go back, please? And does this stats thing help me in any way?¡± ¡°Well¡­ you¡¯ll see it after the supernatural investigation is completed.¡± Aisling gave Florence a cheerful smile. ¡°And about the stats¡­¡± However, the receptionist exited the other room before Florence could question Aisling more. In his hand was a metal cuboid with a cracked dark screen and dozens of camera lenses. The receptionist said, ¡°This smartphone will be one hundred million dollars.¡± ¡°How¡¯s that cheap?¡± Florence asked. Aisling pulled out her own smartphone from her ripped jeans pocket. ¡°It¡¯s not that much for today¡¯s standards.¡± She tapped her smartphone on the typewriter, making a buzzing vibration. ¡°Sorry,¡± the receptionist said. ¡°Your transaction failed. Would you like to use a different payment method?¡± Aisling slammed onto the desk. Sweat trickled down her brow. ¡°Yup, could I use my credit score?¡± The receptionist positioned his fingers on the typewriter, clicking while he typed. A ding rang through the store. ¡°Thank you for using our service. Your purchase has now been processed,¡± he said. An elbow from Aisling jabbed at Florence¡¯s waist. The camera lenses glared into Florence¡¯s eyes. She wrapped her fingers around a smartphone, gawking at it in her hand. ¡°So is this it?¡± A blue rectangular box popped out on the smartphone¡¯s cracked dark screen¡­
NAME: FLORENCE WATSON
STATS
DEXTERITY [ERROR]
EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT (EQ) [ERROR]
INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ) [ERROR]
MEMORY [ERROR]
THOUGHT [ERROR]
CREDIT SCORE [ERROR]
¡°Is this¡­ supposed to happen?¡± Florence asked. Aisling smiled, putting away her smartphone in her ripped jeans pocket. ¡°At least this is gonna be better than nothing,¡± she whispered into Florence¡¯s ear. ¡°By the way, I was wondering?¡± The receptionist took out a package tied with a red ribbon from underneath the desk. ¡°Do you want an expansion pack for your phone?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows, scratching the back of her head. ¡°What is an expansion pack?¡± ¡°Just¡­ don¡¯t,¡± both Aisling and Yuze said, glaring at Florence. The white marble floor tapped as Florence swayed where she stood. Her upper teeth sank into her bottom lip. ¡°We¡¯re gonna get out of here,¡± Aisling said. Florence slipped her new smartphone into her apron pocket. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Time?¡± Yuze asked. She wrapped her left arm tighter around Aisling¡¯s shoulder, trying not to let go. ¡°There¡¯s still time.¡± Aisling turned towards the exit, swinging her arms. ¡°So we¡¯re gonna go to the harbor at District Nine.¡± In preparation for leaving, Florence spun around, trudging towards the exit. Outside, Martine peered through the glass panel. Florence widened her eyes. A jolt of electricity crept underneath her spine, dazing her in place. A booming explosion like artillery shell bombardment from somewhere afar shook the ground. She lost her balance, thudding her head on the white marble floor. She winced and gritted her teeth. When she looked up, Aisling hugged Yuze as both of them fell. The array of colored light emitted outside changed to flickering red. The speakers attached to the poles blared, warning everyone to stay calm. Screams and shouting vibrated Florence¡¯s eardrums. Loud stomping footsteps hurried down the street. A chill tingled Florence¡¯s spine. Not just because of what happened¡­ But¡­ Martine was no longer there. Chapter 4: Emergency Where did Martine go? Florence winced, staring through a glass panel at the crowds hurrying in one direction. All those translucent advertisements on the skyscrapers flickered red, each announcing the same thing¡­ A shutdown of District Nine. Next to her, Aisling groaned on the white marble floor, hugging Yuze in her arms. Florence turned towards both of them. She asked, ¡°Are any of you hurt?¡± Aisling grinned. ¡°We¡¯re alright.¡± Together, Florence and Aisling supported Yuze back to her feet. They moved slowly and steadily, getting closer to the exit. ¡°What is going on?¡± Florence asked, pressing her palm on the glass panel. ¡°Shutdown? What is that supposed to mean?¡± Aisling gaped at Florence. A lump formed in Florence¡¯s throat, suffocating her. She took one shaky step towards the exit. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of it before?¡± Aisling asked. Florence shook her head. Yuze smirked. Her face leaned nearer to Florence. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re gonna stay here for a bit,¡± Aisling said. The air thickened. Florence inched to the glass door, stepping away from Aisling and Yuze. ¡°Calm down.¡± Aisling smiled at Florence. ¡°I know what you wanna do.¡± ¡°I beg my pardon. But I will be¡­ you know.¡± Florence wheeled around, pounding her feet across the white marble floor. She then burst through the exit, landing on the pavement. Shoulders bumped into her. She spun in circles, scanning everyone¡¯s face. Pillars of black smoke spewed out from an infernal in the distance. The flames seem to melt the skyscrapers nearby. Amongst the fleeing crowd, Martine weaved between the mass of people, approaching the pillars of black smoke. Florence¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°Martine!¡± she shouted. Martine continued down the street with Florence¡¯s voice drowning amid the screaming and the blaring speakers. Florence¡¯s palms were covered in sweat. She trudged at a fast pace, pushing past the sea of people. The wind whipped her blond, unkempt hair back, raising her heart rate. The injuries she received itched, draining all of her remaining energy. However, no matter how much she struggled¡­ Martine kept moving farther away. It was not long before Florence collapsed on the pavement, drowning herself in the escaping crowds. The boots trampled her body. She curled into a ball, protecting her head with her leather briefcase. Every stomp on her wounds sent a searing electric shock across her nerves. With one knock, a metallic tingling tickled inside her mouth. Everything¡­ blurred, turning red. Suddenly, a hand clutched on her dress, yanking her up. ¡°Seriously?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Why won¡¯t you listen to me?¡± Florence blinked. In front of her was Aisling, supporting Yuze in standing up straight. Yuze groaned. ¡°Nice.¡± Florence pointed at Martine. ¡°Over there.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t have to be in such a hurry,¡± Aisling said. She slung Florence¡¯s arm over her shoulders and assisted her through the street. The waves of people jostled against Florence. Her leg muscles strained, and she cried out loud. Nonetheless, she approached Martine, and the crowds slowly dispersed in hurried footsteps. Next to Florence, Aisling¡¯s breathing morphed into a wheeze. Sweat trickled down Aisling¡¯s neck, splashing onto Florence¡¯s bandaged forearms. But Yuze rested her head on Aisling¡¯s shoulder, snoozing amidst panicked screaming and blaring speakers. When Florence was near Martine, pillars of black smoke engulfed the buildings. The metals clanged, and the gears screeched, overwhelming the fading screams in the now eerily empty street. In front of Florence, Martine slipped between a company of pink humanoid machines. She climbed over an onyx fence glimmering under the flickering red lights. ¡°Players, please do not panic,¡± all the pink humanoid machines said in a static voice. Florence squinted her eyes at those pink humanoid machines. What do Players have to do with it? ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Aisling said. The pink humanoid machines packed themselves together, blocking the remaining gaps between them. Florence shoved them aside, but they didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Please remain calm,¡± the pink humanoid machines said harmoniously. ¡°This is for your safety.¡± ¡°Let me in immediately,¡± Florence said. She stepped forward, but Aisling tugged her back. Yuze opened one of her eyes, shaking her head. The pink humanoid machines straightened themselves. ¡°This is for your safety. There are some¡­ minor inconveniences in District Nine. So we are undergoing some peacekeeping operations in that area.¡± ¡°Then why¡¯d you let her through?¡± Florence stretched her finger out, pointing down the street at Martine. ¡°Tell me why?¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Sorry, I do not understand what you mean.¡± A chill stimulated Florence¡¯s nerves, sending goosebumps across her skin. She turned towards Aisling and Yuze. However, Aisling only squinted her eyes, jaw open wide. Whereas Yuze tilted her head sideways as she rubbed her nape. Florence continued pointing down the street leading into District Nine. ¡°A gal is literally right over there.¡± However, Martine¡­ vanished. Within Florence¡¯s stomach, the bile rose up, burning her throat. Suddenly, a ball of fire exploded in District Nine, sending a shockwave through the street. The skyscraper¡¯s glass panel vibrated. Even the ground beneath Florence¡¯s feet rumbled. Aisling trembled. ¡°Please be patient. The shutdown will end as soon as we solve these minor inconveniences,¡± the pink humanoid machine said. A sudden ringing tone quivered in Aisling¡¯s ripped jeans pocket. She pulled her phone out and held it to her ear. ¡°Hi,¡± she said. ¡°Yup, I¡¯ll remember to bring her with me.¡± Immediately, she turned around, prancing away from the barricade while dragging Florence and Yuze. ¡°Let me go!¡± Florence shouted, unable to pull away from Aisling¡¯s grasp. ¡°Florence, the last thing I need is you being dead.¡± Aisling slipped her phone into her ripped jeans pocket. ¡°Plus, we¡¯ve got to be somewhere other than here for our job.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said. ¡°You cannot be serious.¡± Florence blinked, clearing her throat. ¡°Why are we doing this?¡± Aisling slanted her head up, staring at the moon about to set on the western horizon. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest here; you¡¯ll have to wait and see what will happen next.¡± Florence bit her lips, calming her nerves. At least she was making some progress in getting back home. Still, before returning home, she had to find Martine no matter what. ¡°Florence, you gotta forget about it.¡± Aisling looked over her shoulder. ¡°Those androids are gonna deal with the situation.¡± ¡°I¡­ do not understand¡­ why?¡± Florence asked. Another explosion within District Nine quaked the ground and buildings nearby. Aisling jumped high up in the air, closing her eyes shut. Her body trembled on the spot. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence asked. She tapped Aisling on her shoulder. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you?¡± Aisling hummed. Her head rocked back and forth. Yuze¡¯s face paled. ¡°Don¡¯t ask.¡± They turned at the corner of the street, continuing to trudge onwards. The speakers blared, filling the silence between them. ¡°Needs time,¡± Yuze said. She pointed at Aisling. ¡°You do not have to tell me that.¡± Florence folded her arms around herself. ¡°Pardon me, I know this might be late, but is this the future?¡± Yuze¡¯s cheeks bulged, tightening her lips. ¡°What?¡± Florence asked. She clutched hard on her leather briefcase, turning her fist white. Martine, how did she disappear? Could it be possible that the person who entered District Nine was actually her? No, of course not; it must be her. She had to be here somewhere. Nevertheless, Florence ended up in front of another skyscraper entrance leading into a small room. Inside, metal junk was piled all over the concrete floor, workbench, rusty fridge, and spiral staircase. Not a single soul was seen, but a brown blur flashed across the room. There was nothing special about this place, with clutter jammed into this glass box of a room. ¡°Yup, this should be the place,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Already?¡± Florence scratched her bandaged, aching forearms. ¡°Are you certain this is where we need to be?¡± Aisling placed her palm on the dented steel door. Immediately, a message appeared denying entry. She smashed her forehead on the exterior of the skyscraper. ¡°How did those messages appear on the door?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Pardon me, does it always happen?¡± Yuze smirked. Instantly, Aisling tightened her grip on Florence. Florence gritted her teeth, holding her cry in. Aisling dragged Florence and Yuze across the pavement, forcing them to come along. They took the turn at the corner leading into an alley. Florence covered her nose with the stench wafting from a mountain of garbage bags leaning against the skyscrapers. Florence limped until Aisling suddenly halted. ¡°What is wrong?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± ¡°Nope, I just remembered¡­ some other stuff?¡± Aisling glanced up. ¡°So don¡¯t worry about it too much.¡± Yuze snickered. Her violet eyes were in a daze, looking at the ground. Aisling coughed, her hands cupped on her mouth. She stretched her arm up towards the air vent cover beyond her reach. ¡°Anyways, who wanna go?¡± ¡°Is it me, or is this a load of baloney?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Hungry?¡± Yuze¡¯s legs trembled as if she could not support her weight. ¡°Baloney, nah. But food, yeah.¡± For a moment, every muscle in Florence¡¯s face tensed. Unable to utter a word out of her mouth. ¡°So nobody wanna volunteer?¡± Aisling asked, turning her head towards Florence, then Yuze. Of course, Florence didn¡¯t answer, not knowing what was inside. It might as well have been asking for trouble. Yuze pointed at Florence. Florence¡¯s jaw dropped open. Aisling climbed the mountain of garbage bags, releasing her grip from Florence and Yuze. ¡°Florence, I think you might¡¯ve to step on me,¡± Aisling said. She stretched her hands out to the air vent cover, which was too far away. Florence shrugged. ¡°Why me?¡± Yuze brushed and twirled her inky bobbed hair. ¡°We don¡¯t have all day.¡± Aisling looked over her shoulder, smiling at Florence. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get moving.¡± Florence crossed her arms. ¡°Are you not worried?¡± She stared at Aisling¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Would this be too much for you?¡± ¡°Spicy,¡± Yuze said. Aisling furrowed her eyebrows at Yuze. ¡°What?¡± Yuze smirked. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m gonna forget everything.¡± Aisling sighed, turning back to Florence. ¡°Help me out here¡­ please?¡± ¡°Absolutely, but you should step on me instead,¡± Florence said. Yuze rubbed her bandaged left thigh. She eyed the ground intensely. Her lips closed tightly together, stifling a chuckle. ¡°Yup.¡± Aisling slammed her palm onto her face. ¡°If you¡¯re fine with it.¡± Florence clambered up the mountain of garbage bags, rattling and clattering the trash. A rotten stench puffed on her face with each stumbling stride approaching Aisling. ¡°You sure?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Of course.¡± After reaching the peak, Florence leaned against the wall and bent her knees. ¡°Give me the signal whenever you are ready.¡± Aisling exhaled through her pursed lips. Then she planted her feet, hunched over, on Florence¡¯s lap. The rushing of blood rang in Florence¡¯s ears. Her nails clawed deep into her leather briefcase. She grunted with this crushing weight standing on her. ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t sneeze,¡± Aisling said. She unsheathed her dagger, inserting the blade tip into the screw head and twisting it counterclockwise. Once all the screws were loosened and taken out, she opened the cover. Her hand slipped inside the air vent. ¡°Could you hurry up a little?¡± Florence asked. Aisling inhaled deeply before an expulsion of air exploded through her nose. ¡°I wish.¡± Above Florence, the hitting of a metallic ringing came from within the air vent. ¡°Oh no,¡± Aisling said. She leaped off Florence¡¯s lap and landed on the ground with a thud. ¡°So¡­ you want to know the good or bad news first?¡± ¡°No,¡± Yuze said. Aisling twirled her dagger as she glared at Yuze. Immediately, Yuze put her hands high in the air. Florence slid down the mountain of garbage bags. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Well, we do have another way in.¡± Aisling ruffled her own hair. ¡°But let¡¯s just say something might¡¯ve happened to it.¡± ¡°Please do not tell me you are trying to break in,¡± Florence said. Chapter 5: A Brown Blur The advertisements along the street shine their red flickering lights in the garbage-bag-packed alley. A blaring speaker from the street filled the eerily silent conversation between Florence, Aisling, and Yuze. Florence held onto her leather briefcase, pushing it towards her chest, gaping at Aisling. ¡°Tactically, this is not someone else¡¯s apartment.¡± Aisling sheathed her dagger. Her sparkling eyes stared straight at Florence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it because we¡¯ll enter our apartment.¡± ¡°Nifty,¡± Florence said. An image of the metal junk heaped inside the small room that she saw appeared in her mind. ¡°Pardon me, but are you certain this is an apartment?¡± ¡°Our apartment?¡± Yuze asked. Aisling threw a kick, hitting Yuze¡¯s knee. Yuze covered her knees. She muffled her squeal, stumbling backward with a smirk. Now, the blood soaked through the entire bandage tied around her left thigh. ¡°That is even worse than breaking into someone else¡¯s apartment,¡± Florence said. In tip-toeing steps, Aisling danced toward the flickering red light. She rested her hands behind her back, and her ginger ponytail swayed from side to side. Florence followed Aisling. But with all the beating Florence suffered, her muscles and nerves screamed. She tripped, falling face-first into the mountain of garbage bags. Light footsteps got louder and closer to her. ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t be leaving you alone,¡± Aisling said, pulling Florence out of the mountain of garbage bags. She placed Florence¡¯s and Yuze¡¯s arms over her shoulders, assisting them both to move slowly. ¡°Wait, why are we going to your apartment?¡± Florence asked. ¡°How is this related to our job?¡± ¡°So what makes you think this is not gonna be part of our job?¡± The trash inside a garbage bag rattled, Florence tumbling over it. She raised her eyebrows and blinked at Aisling. Maybe Aisling and Yuze had to make some preparations first. Or, somehow, this apartment had something to do with their supernatural case. But how would Aisling have known that? She¡¯s not a fortune teller who can pinpoint what happens in the future. So why was she so certain their current job was here? Yuze blinked. ¡°Weasel?¡± Aisling wrapped her arm around Yuze¡¯s neck. Yuze¡¯s face paled. She slapped Aisling¡¯s elbow. They all turned around the corner, emerging out of the alley and into the empty street. They limped towards the apartment embedded into the skyscraper. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Aisling clutched her abdomen. Then she knocked on the dented steel door. ¡°Hello?¡± A stream of saliva splashed on the ground as Yuze opened her mouth. ¡°Old,¡± she said, with her eyes shut half closed. Aisling coughed, retracting her arm from Yuze¡¯s neck. The speakers blaring slowly died out, and Florence put her palm on the dented steel door. Suddenly, an electric shock went through her body. Her hand jerked back from the door. She dropped to her knees, shaking uncontrollably. ¡°What happened,¡± Aisling said. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be possible that you¡­ Never mind, just forget about it.¡± A tingling numbness lingered throughout Florence¡¯s limbs, and her heart fluttered. Florence wheezed. She stood up with help from Aisling. The small rusted flakes peeling off the door hinges and lock. Still, Florence¡¯s legs trembled, and her muscles were paralyzed from the electrical shock. ¡°Pardon me, but that is some serious health hazard,¡± Florence said. Aisling kicked, denting the steel door. She said, ¡°You see that! We¡¯re making some progress. We just gotta kick it a few more times.¡± She tugged Florence and Yuze closer, embracing them in her arms. ¡°This is going to take ages.¡± ¡°You wanna suggest a better plan, Florence?¡± Florence fell silent. What else could they do to get inside? She scanned the surroundings from top to bottom. However, the only way in was through that dented steel door in front of her. She took a step back, peering through the glass panel. A sudden brown blur zoomed across the metal junk within the small apartment space. She blinked, but the brown blur disappeared. ¡°Hey!¡± Aisling waved her hand. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have to come out soon.¡± ¡°I really need those cheaters,¡± Florence said. ¡°Florence, why do you wanna have them?¡± ¡°Am I seeing things?¡± ¡°Nope, you¡¯re not seeing things.¡± ¡°So you are telling me that it was a ghost.¡± ¡°I guess you can sorta say that.¡± A shiver went down Florence¡¯s spine. A ghost? She jumped, shaking the stress building up in her chest. Aisling grabbed the back of Yuze¡¯s neck, moving motionless Yuze like a puppet. ¡°Cheer up! All fun,¡± Aisling said. ¡°No worries. You¡¯ll not die.¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Florence burst into laughter. Aisling cracked a broad smile, releasing her grip on the back of Yuze¡¯s neck. A rusted flake from the hinges and the lock floated down to the pavement. ¡°Actually, you might be right, Aisling,¡± Florence said. ¡°The kicking down your door idea does not sound bad after all.¡± ¡°It took you long enough to figure out what I was planning.¡± Aisling slammed her boot against the door, banging and denting the surface. The hinges and locks snapped. With another powerful kick, the door fell, crashing into the heaps of metal junk inside the apartment. Florence, Aisling, and Yuze entered the apartment together, limping past the spiral staircase and workbench covered with metal junk. Aisling whistled. ¡°Unbelievable that my plan actually worked.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Pardon me, how do we deal with this ghost?¡± Florence asked. ¡°The answer is it depends. Some ghosts are dangerous, and some are harmless. But all of those ghosts¡­ Well, you¡¯ll see them yourself soon enough. Plus, you can tell what they¡¯re like by looking at them.¡± ¡°Could you give me an example or something?¡± Immediately, Aisling shoved Yuze onto Florence. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Florence asked. ¡°You¡¯re gonna check here, and I¡¯m gonna check upstairs,¡± Aisling said. She breezed away, each step becoming a leap, waving her hand at Florence. Florence fell on her bottom. She stretched her arm out, reaching for Aisling, who had climbed the spiral staircase. ¡°This is ridiculous¡­ I mean wonderful,¡± Florence said. ¡°So it is just you and me now, Yuze.¡± Yuze bobbed her head. Her shoulders slumped forward. ¡°Yuze?¡± Florence asked. Silence rang through the room as Yuze closed her eyes. Her head dipped, drifting to the side. Florence crawled towards the workbench, carrying Yuze on her back, brushing the heaps of metal junk. She rested Yuze on the workbench, and the coldness and clamminess of Yuze¡¯s skin spread to her. Yuze breathed in shallow breaths. ¡°Come on,¡± Florence said. She opened her leather briefcase, snatching the scissors. She snipped, unraveling the bloodied gauze bandage around Yuze¡¯s left thigh. The soaked dressing pad fell. The blood burst out from Yuze¡¯s bite wounds. Florence scanned the room for anything useful as she pressed hard on Yuze¡¯s injuries. However, Florence didn¡¯t spot a single first aid kit, thread, or needle anywhere. ¡°Aisling,¡± Florence said. But¡­ Aisling didn¡¯t come. Time was running out. Without anyone else to help, Florence couldn¡¯t scramble to find the medical equipment or rinse her hands. Now, only an option remained. She reached for her leather briefcase, seizing the gauze bandage roll and dressing pad with one hand. A familiar scratch reverberated in the corner of the apartment. She turned her head towards it, spotting no claw marks. Her heart palpitated. Then, the junks wriggled. Beneath the pile emerged a brown cardboard box, standing the same height as hers. Its two hole-like eyes stared at her. This time, a loud scratch wailed within the cardboard box. It drifted towards her. The cardboard box flew, hitting the ceiling. It revealed a gal wearing a white blouse and a black skirt, holding a guitar. She tripped, squeezing the toolbox and duffle bag with a dangling name tag. Her hazel hair reached her waist, hiding her albino face as she avoided eye contact. Florence opened her mouth wide. The blood pushed against her palm. Given the circumstances, she couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Please¡­ I know¡­ I mean¡­ I don¡¯t know anything,¡± the gal with a guitar said. ¡°Do not attack me or whatever a ghost does,¡± Florence said. ¡°By the way, is there a first aid kit here?¡± ¡°I really¡­ I didn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You did not do what?¡± ¡°I¡­ I mean¡­ I didn¡¯t steal the key. It dropped from the air vent.¡± The duffle bag ruffled. A loud scratching came from within. The gal with a guitar cuddled the bag, silencing whatever was inside. She then withdrew a key from her blouse pocket, showing the key to Florence. ¡°Pardon me, could you also bring me a needle and thread?¡± Florence asked. The gal with a guitar trembled under her white blouse and black skirt. ¡°I think¡­ I might not have any of this stuff.¡± ¡°Please, tell me there is a bucket.¡± ¡°It¡¯s upstairs. In the bathroom¡­ I think.¡± Florence read the name tag dangling on the duffle bag. ¡°Thank you, Stella,¡± she said. ¡°Would you mind if you could apply as much pressure on Yuze¡¯s injury while I go upstairs?¡± Stella nodded, shuffling over to Florence. Florence pulled her hand away. Stella dropped both the duffle bag and toolbox, and she pressed on Yuze¡¯s wound. The heaps of metal junk clattered as Florence tottered towards the spiral staircase. She held onto the handrail, stumbling up the steps. Her bandaged forearm throbbing in pain. Once she reached the top, Aisling sat on the messy bed in a cramped room, slumping her shoulders and tucking her head down. A rotting smell floated from the bathroom, pulling Florence¡¯s face into a grimace. ¡°At least we got a clue where she might be.¡± Aisling held the photograph in her hand. She rubbed her forehead. ¡°That ghost. Where¡¯s she now?¡± ¡°A friend of yours is downstairs. Is she the one?¡± Florence asked. Aisling bolted upright. She waved, smiling at Florence. ¡°Who?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Stella,¡± Florence said. ¡°Stella?¡± ¡°The one downstairs.¡± ¡°I guess I did sorta say she¡¯s a ghost.¡± The messy bed squeaked as Aisling leaped off it. She hopped past Florence, breezing down the staircase. Florence limped through the opened door and entered the bathroom. She untied the bandages around her swollen forearms and let the dressing pad slip. But unlike Yuze, Florence¡¯s bleeding stopped. From the hanger, she snatched and threw the towel into a bucket. She turned the tap on. A stream of warm water flowed out, filling the cylinder container and soaking the towel wet. She grabbed a soap nearby, scrubbing between each side of her fingers. Back and forth. Keeping her hand higher than the elbow at all times. She then cleansed her arm. Repeating the procedure on the other hand and arm just like Martine would have done. Florence¡¯s hands and arms passed through the flowing warm water, rinsing from her fingertips to her elbow. She pinched the bucket with her elbows, carrying it downstairs. Florence trudged over to Aisling¡¯s side, standing before the workbench. Still, Stella kept her head down, pushing on Yuze¡¯s bleeding wound. ¡°Look, everything is going to be alright,¡± Aisling said reassuringly, wrapping her fingers tightly around Yuze¡¯s hand. ¡°I am back,¡± Florence said. ¡°Stella, are you ready?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ I mean¡­ I¡¯m ready,¡± Stella said. ¡°On the count of three, you stop applying pressure on Yuze¡¯s bite wound.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡­ I understand.¡± ¡°One, two, three.¡± Stella stopped pushing. The blood flooded out of Yuze¡¯s wounded left thigh. Florence¡¯s hands flew into action, grabbing the towel and cleaning Yuze¡¯s injury. Then Florence yanked the dressing pad, slapping it onto the bleeding bite mark on Yuze. Florence wrapped the final patch of gauze bandage around Yuze¡¯s wounds, tying a reef knot to keep it in place. ¡°This should be all done,¡± Florence said, looking at Aisling. ¡°I need to tell you something important.¡± ¡°Could we not talk about it now,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I understand that you wouldn¡¯t want to do it. But Yuze should be brought to the hospital immediately.¡± ¡°I know¡­ I wish we could do it.¡± ¡°So do not beat your gums. You have got to do it now.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? I didn¡¯t beat my gums.¡± Yuze nudged at Aisling¡¯s side. ¡°Yup, what¡¯s it?¡± Aisling asked. She leaned in closer to Yuze. ¡°Food,¡± Yuze said. Aisling spun around, ambling to the rusted fridge and opening its storage door. Inside, a slice of bread dotted with fungal growth sat alone. She grabbed it and tossed it into the air. It flew towards Florence, hitting her in the face like a brick. Florence winced as she caught it in her hands. ¡°Gonna be honest here, this is better than nothing,¡± Aisling said. Florence handed the slice of moldy bread to Yuze. Yuze shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± ¡°Are you certain this is what you want?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Florence, you wanna put it in your mouth or what,¡± Aisling said. Florence, with her mouth open, stared at Aisling. Aisling shrugged. ¡°You do realize this could send someone to the hospital or even heaven,¡± Florence said, waving the slice of moldy bread. Stella drifted away with her arms, reaching for the cardboard box on the metal junk heaps. ¡°Where¡¯re you going?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Please¡­ I don¡¯t want you to take me there today,¡± Stella said. ¡°So when we find the ghost, are we supposed to perform those exorcisms?¡± Florence asked, pointing at Stella. ¡°It is not like I know how to do it.¡± Stella looked over her shoulder, furrowing her brow, squinting at Florence. ¡°Speaking of that.¡± Aisling took out her phone from her jeans pocket. Immediately, she laughed, hugging herself. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I kinda know what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°I swear¡­ I didn¡¯t do anything¡­ I¡¯ll give your key back if you don¡¯t bring me there,¡± Stella said. Aisling lifted and carried both Yuze and Stella over her shoulder. Stella swung her legs and arms from left to right, pounding Aisling. ¡°Wait, what are we doing exactly?¡± Florence grasped for her leather briefcase. ¡°Let¡¯s just say we¡¯ll be kinda fine if we do it in time,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Plus, you¡¯ll see it yourself soon.¡± Chapter 6: Quota The skyscrapers and the red flickering light blurred as Florence hurried through the streets. She squinted her eyes as the sun rose over the eastern horizon. Her palm sweated, smearing it on the handle of her leather briefcase. The crowds emerged from the skyscrapers, flooding the street like nothing had happened in District Nine. However, from a distance, the pillar of black smoke still filled the sky above District Nine. Aisling carried Yuze and Stella, gripping and dragging Florence by the wrist. Stella still clutched on the duffle bag and the toolbox, swinging from left to right. The guitar strapped on her back wobbled. ¡°Pardon me? Aisling, you really have to explain yourself,¡± Florence said. Aisling weaved through a dense group of people. ¡°Yup, if you couldn¡¯t tell, they want Stella.¡± ¡°How would you rate this heaviness from one to ten?¡± ¡°Rude.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°You gotta be kidding me. Weren¡¯t you talking about Stella?¡± ¡°Of course, I am not only speaking about her.¡± Aisling spun around with a sweat trickling down her face, staring back at Florence. ¡°You do not look fine,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Aisling said. Stella covered her face behind the duffle bag. ¡°I want to¡­ I mean, could you put me down or something.¡± Aisling turned at the corner of the street, dragging Florence past the Wellor Tower. ¡°Pardon me, but I am a bit lost here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, you¡¯re gonna be fine,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°The coast¡­ kinda.¡± ¡°How is it going to help?¡± ¡°For our job.¡± ¡°How does it¡­ Never mind, if I have to assume, the salt from the ocean might work for the exorcism.¡± ¡°Close enough.¡± By the time they weaved their way through the street, taking a step on the coast made of concrete. A salty and sulfurous odor twisted Florence¡¯s stomach. The tides crashed against the seawall, running parallel to the shore. In front of Florence, two islands stood alone in the ocean. One with a lighthouse. The other has a wall of skyscrapers packed close together but rusting on the edges. Florence turned towards her left, where a guard post and fences surrounded a staircase that led underground. Amongst the crowds, groups of pink androids marched around the area. A bloke with a television for a head stood near the top of the steps, leaning against the large cluster of steel beams. He wore a wrinkled orange polo shirt and olive shorts. His thin hands rubbed his lower back. In front of him, a pink android held onto five wooden crates. ¡°Right over there,¡± Aisling said. She dragged Florence towards the stairwell, getting closer to the bloke with a television for a head. Florence blinked, tumbling past an empty truck and a group of patrolling pink androids. ¡°Jack, this was part of the deal,¡± the pink android said to the bloke with a television for a head. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Jack tilted his television for a head up, crossing his arms. ¡°But we couldn¡¯t avoid it.¡± ¡°This is not enough.¡± ¡°But if the Wellor System doesn¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°No more excuses. This is unacceptable.¡± ¡°None of the NPC will survive if this keeps going on.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up,¡± Aisling said. She shook the fence, tugging Florence along. ¡°So could we kinda not do it here or something?¡± ¡°You know what will happen if it doesn¡¯t happen,¡± the pink android said. ¡°Especially if you disobey us.¡± Jack knocked his knuckles on the clusters of steel beams behind him. ¡°This is all we¡¯ve got. I know this is only one-tenth of the required steel beams. And also, there are still some missing things, like the glass panels.¡± The pink android¡¯s arm transformed into a rifle, pointing at Jack¡¯s face. A humming electricity charged within the barrel of the gun. Jack raised both of his hands up. ¡°Yes, I agree. I¡¯ll follow your instructions.¡± ¡°Good,¡± the pink android said, handing over the five crates to Jack. Aisling shook the fence again. ¡°What is the matter?¡± The pink android turned around, looking at Aisling. ¡°Could you let us in or something?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Why would I do that?¡± ¡°Because we work here.¡± ¡°Makes a lot of sense considering how pathetic your stat scores are.¡± The pink android opened the fence, letting them come in. ¡°What is happening exactly?¡± Florence asked, tugging at Aisling. ¡°Well, if I¡¯m correct, those androids store everyone¡¯s data in their database. So, in other words, they can identify us with our biometric information,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Where did they get that from? By the way, I am actually asking about the other one.¡± ¡°What?¡± Florence furrowed her eyebrows, biting her lower lips. ¡°Excuse me, could someone please help me?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Sorry.¡± Aisling releases her grasp on Florence¡¯s wrist, nudging her. ¡°Florence, I¡¯m sure you know what¡¯ll happen next.¡± Florence¡¯s upper eyelids relaxed, dropping her jaw open. She turned back at Aisling. ¡°Please?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Pardon me, how are you certain this is part of the job?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°You cannot be serious? How did we go from trying to investigate and perform an exorcism on a ghost to this?¡± ¡°Well, because this isn¡¯t work related to occult detective stuff. But a part-time job instead.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°It always has been.¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Why were you not being honest with me in the first place?¡± ¡°Well, I was kinda telling the truth. You just didn¡¯t ask me if we have another occupation.¡± Florence snatched the crate from Jack, throbbing her inflamed forearm. She bit her lips, holding her breath in. Florence yawned, dropping her eyes closed. She lost her balance, falling and rolling down. The crate flew out of her hand, thudding to the end of the staircase. ¡°Are you alright, Florence?¡± Aisling asked. Florence groaned. ¡°I guess that¡¯s a nope.¡± Aisling breezed down the stairs, with Jack following behind. A ringing echoed in Florence¡¯s ears. She stared at the ceiling, and her vision blurred. She pushed herself off the ground and stood up, brushing her dress. ¡°You ain¡¯t that careful girl.¡± Jack shifted the crates in his arms. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Florence said. She rubbed her body, aching in pain. ¡°Ouch.¡± Aisling hopped as she went up to Florence¡¯s face. ¡°Gonna be honest, you might not want to look behind you.¡± Florence wheeled around, stumbling into a cobwebs-filled room. The lamps above her head dimmed as Aisling leaped over the turnstiles, strolling under the archway while still carrying Yuze and Stella. ¡°Florence?¡± Jack rested his head. ¡°So, you¡¯re new here?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Aisling always brings someone new every week or month.¡± ¡°What¡­ happened to them?¡± ¡°I ain¡¯t sure. They just disappeared.¡± Florence knelt down and picked up the crate lying on the ground, squinting her eyes at Jack. ¡°Guys, could you kinda hurry up a bit?¡± Aisling jumped up and down on the other side of the room. ¡°What¡¯s taking so long back there?¡± Jack stepped forward, pushing aside the cobwebs. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re coming right now.¡± The crate in Florence¡¯s arms wobbled as she followed suit. She went underneath the turnstile and entered through an archway into an extended platform. Aisling and Jack leaped off the platform, landing and clattering the crushed rocks beneath their feet. They walked into the tunnel, where several pipes snaked above their heads. Florence quickly followed them. ¡°Pardon me, but why are we here exactly?¡± she asked. Yuze nodded with her eyes half-opened. ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Charity¡­ I guess,¡± Jack said. ¡°Just have to deliver these crates.¡± Yuze nodded with her eyes half-opened. ¡°Already?¡± ¡°Yup, Yuze, could you now help us or something,¡± Aisling said. She coughed. ¡°Aisling, you should apologize to her,¡± Florence said. An eerie rumbling reverberated through the tunnel. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Aisling said. Florence shuffled past a metal door with an electric warning sign. ¡°Are you certain?¡± ¡°This happens occasionally,¡± Jack said. ¡°I want to go home.¡± Stella shoved her face into the duffle bag. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here.¡± ¡°Same,¡± Florence said. ¡°Honestly, how did I even get dragged into this?¡± Aisling chuckled, shaking uncontrollably. ¡°So, Florence, feel free to ask me anything if you need help,¡± Jack said. ¡°Do you know how to get to District Nine?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Hey.¡± Aisling spun around. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest. Could we do something fun later?¡± ¡°For you Players, it might be difficult,¡± Jack said. Florence tripped over a random wire running across the tunnel. ¡°So there is another way in?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°There isn¡¯t another way.¡± ¡°Actually, there¡¯s sort of a way,¡± Jack said. ¡°What is it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°How am I supposed to do it?¡± ¡°Jack, could we talk about this later?¡± Aisling smiled, furrowing her eyebrows. ¡°We gotta focus on the stuff we¡¯re doing right now.¡± Jack stopped in his tracks, facing an intersection, rubbing his lower back. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he said. ¡°Go deeper into this underground tunnel, and you should be able to reach the Walled Island. Then, island hop to Beacon Island. And then from there, you should follow bubbles from the Prince Underground Railway to District Nine.¡± ¡°Is there something else?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Do you guys like chocolate?¡± Aisling kicked some of the crushed rocks into the air. ¡°White? Milk? Dark?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have any,¡± Jack said. ¡°Did you hit your head or something?¡± Aisling coughed. ¡°I guess that¡¯s a no,¡± Jack said. A rumble rang above within the pipes. ¡°How are any of you feeling?¡± Florence shifted the weight of her body from left to right. ¡°Are there any potential problems you want to say?¡± Jack looked down from one tunnel to another. ¡°Splitting up sounds nice.¡± Aisling shook her head. ¡°Could we talk about chocolate instead,¡± she said. ¡°Everyone kinda likes chocolate, isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°This sounds fine to me,¡± Florence said. Jack whistled. He marched towards the left intersection. ¡°I¡¯ll be going this way. Both of you go the other way.¡± ¡°This is bad. I don¡¯t think we wanna do this,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Jack, hold up for a minute. Are you trying to slack off?¡± Jack dove deeper into the left tunnel, waving one hand while the other held onto the crates. ¡°Is anyone gonna listen to me at all?¡± Aisling asked. Florence shrugged, making eye contact with Aisling. ¡°Whatever.¡± Aisling strolled over to the right tunnel. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll do what he wants.¡± Florence followed Aisling. The crushed rocks clattered as Florence dragged her feet across it. More humanoids with unusual features coated in soot and thin to the bones sat on the side. With their damp, gleaming eyes, some of them stared at Florence carrying the crate. But others glanced with sharp intensity as the muddled whooshing echoed within the pipes on the ceiling. Some of these people had mechanical implants, others had animal-like features, and only a few were chess pieces made of stone. ¡°Pardon me, I know this might not be the right time to say it,¡± Florence said. ¡°But what happened to these people?¡± Aisling winced. ¡°Don¡¯t call them that.¡± ¡°Why? How would calling them people be considered inconsiderate?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such term like people here. If you¡¯re talking about them, the closest thing will be an NPC.¡± ¡°This is slightly balled up.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see anyone kinda balled up here?¡± The pipes shook and rattled above their heads as Florence and Aisling stopped. ¡°What was that?¡± Florence asked. Aisling scanned her surroundings. ¡°Nothing,¡± she said. ¡°Florence, you might wanna open the crates.¡± Florence nodded, lowering the crates onto the crushed rocks. She opened it, revealing a bountiful of oranges stored inside. A fragrant sweetness floated out, tickling Florence¡¯s nose. A female NPC crawled on the ground, grabbing Florence¡¯s dress. ¡°Food. Give me food.¡± Florence handed over a single orange to the female NPC. ¡°Food has arrived,¡± a male NPC said. He crawled towards Florence. ¡°Please, give it to me now.¡± ¡°No! These fruits are mine,¡± another NPC said. The mob of NPCs crept closer and surrounded Florence. Together, the NPCs piled on top of the crates, pushing Florence and Aisling aside. A fist out of nowhere smashed into Florence¡¯s nose. She gritted her teeth, cupping the spot where she got hit. ¡°Could all of you form an orderly line?¡± ¡°Could you guys kinda listen to her,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Give it to me.¡± The female NPC snatched an orange. ¡°I need it now.¡± ¡°Everyone calm down,¡± Florence said. A kick slammed into her face. Above her head, the ceiling hissed. Droplets of muddy water splashed on the back of her neck. A screech echoed from the bulging pipes, popping the screwdrivers out of their place. It swelled, getting bigger by the second. A river of muddy water exploded from the pipes, drenching Florence and everyone around her. The tide alone pushed each individual deeper into the tunnel. But, still, all the NPCs fought each other, hoarding as much orange for themself. ¡°Yuze,¡± Aisling said. ¡°A little up here will kinda help.¡± Florence stumbled to her feet, scanning her surroundings. The mob of NPCs stopped, turning their heads to stare in horror at the rotting hands bursting out from the muddy stream. It grabbed and pulled Yuze¡¯s leg. The rear of Aisling¡¯s feet dragged across crushed rocks, wrestling back Yuze. Stella fell from Aisling¡¯s shoulder, plunging into the mob. All the NPCs screamed and scattered away from those rotting hands. Florence pushed her leg, her arms wrapped around Aisling¡¯s waist. ¡°A bit of help would be kinda nice,¡± Aisling said. Stella held onto her duffle bag, scrambling and tripping. She breathed heavily, pointing at those decaying arms. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ I mean¡­ I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°About what?¡± Florence asked. She clutched harder around Aisling¡¯s waist. ¡°Hey, answer me?¡± Florence and Aisling levitated from the ground, pulling closer to the muddy stream. ¡°Stella, help us a bit,¡± Aisling said. Stella wheezed, pointing towards where the hands clutched onto Yuze. ¡°What was it,¡± Florence said. A body wearing an olive helmet emerged from the water leaking from the pipes. The skin on its face peeled, exposing the fractured bones below. It chewed, grinding his teeth against his tongue. Its hollow red eyes stared at them. The collar of the tattered coat wrapped around his neck. Florence froze, releasing her hold on Aisling¡¯s waist. The body dragged Aisling and Yuze into the spewing muddy stream, but all of them disappeared. Another bundle of arms lashed at Florence, digging his nails into her skin and yanking her into the falling stream with a splash. Florence sank. The weight on her chest grew heavier. The hands still clenched onto her, dragging her deeper into the abyss below. Her vision clouded. She closed her mouth tight. But, still, bubbles of air escaped up her lungs. She kicked and punched with little effect. The liquid around her sapped her body¡¯s warmth. The silhouette of her sister lingered, stretching her arm out and grabbing onto Florence¡¯s dress. Wait¡­ how was Florence¡¯s sister here? Chapter 7: Feno Florence¡¯s eyelids flew open. Her head rested against the leather briefcase. Her dripping-wet sister sat next to Florence under an unfamiliar chiseled ceiling. Her sister pushed her palms on Florence¡¯s chest over and over again. Florence coughed, spitting water out from her mouth. Her sister yelped. ¡°Pardon me, where am I?¡± Florence asked. She blinked, scratching around her inflamed forearm. But, instead of her sister sitting beside Florence, it was Stella. The door with an electric warning sign creaked open at the end of the main room. Jack entered, carrying the soaked Aisling and Yuze. Then Jack hurled Aisling onto the oak dining table and Yuze into a bin next to a towering lily painting. Aisling rolled to her side, vomiting a volume of liquids. Jack stomped across the floor, reaching into his orange polo shirt pocket. He took out a finger-sized metal stick with a plug and tossed it onto the oak dining table. ¡°How did all of you mess this up so badly? And, by the way, thanks for giving me that USB drive, Stella.¡± ¡°Are you asking me?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yes, you. But also literally everyone here, excluding me, of course.¡± ¡°I was only trying to help out because both Yuze and Stella¡ª¡± ¡°So what?¡± Florence turned around, glancing over at Aisling. Aisling whistled, avoiding eye contact with Florence. ¡°I mean¡­ I was, you know,¡± Stella said. She hugged her duffle bag. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s okay,¡± Jack said. ¡°You can take your time.¡± ¡°How about me,¡± Aisling said. Jack clenched his fist, turning his hand white. He glared at Aisling. ¡°Not me if I¡¯ve to kinda guess,¡± Aisling said. A loud scratching inside the duffle bag reverberated throughout the air. Florence shivered, cupping her nose as she sneezed. Those crushed rocks clattered within the tunnel. From the corner of Florence¡¯s eyes, an individual with brown hair obscuring their physical appearance walked through the entrance with an electrical warning sign. Aisling smiled. ¡°Feno, Jack is being mean again.¡± ¡°Pardon me, is that a bipedal bear?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Rude, by the way, Florence. She¡¯s not a bipedal bear.¡± ¡°Pardon me, did you say that she is a gal?¡± Feno crossed her arms, shaking her head at Florence. The bin with Yuze still inside wobbled, tipping it over and rolling towards the oak table. She stretched her arms, crawling and wiggling herself out. ¡°Yeah, woman,¡± she said. ¡°Good, at least those two know,¡± Feno said. A droplet dripped from Florence¡¯s hair, splashing on the floor. She pushed herself back to her feet. Her damp dress was shrouded in coldness. She inhaled and exhaled. The bodies coming out of the pipes on the tunnel ceiling still haunted her. Aisling rubbed her face. ¡°So could we kinda not talk about that?¡± ¡°So¡­ I saw this body or something,¡± Florence said. ¡°This is exactly what I meant.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Jack cupped his television head, coughing and wheezing. He clutched his back, hunching his shoulders. His feet tapped on the floor as he hobbled towards a door leading into another room. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about Jack,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Sometimes he is kinda like that.¡± ¡°It is just that those things reminded me of¡­ well, those bodies.¡± Florence scratched the back of her head. Yuze groaned. She cuddled her bandaged left thigh, which was now soaked. Aisling lowered herself down from the oak table, landing next to Yuze. ¡°Florence, I think she needs your help again,¡± Aisling said. Florence trudged towards them, kneeling next to Yuze. Then Florence grabbed the soaking wet bandage, untying it, squeezing the water out. No blood bleed from Yuze¡¯s open bite wound on her left thigh. Florence tucked her leather briefcase, containing only a scissor, under Yuze¡¯s head. Florence sighed. ¡°Thank god.¡± Aisling¡¯s jaw dropped open. ¡°This is not alright. You gotta help her now,¡± she said. Her fist whitened, slamming Yuze on the stomach. Yuze wheezed. ¡°Could you be more gentle with her, Aisling?¡± Florence asked. Yuze nodded. She stretched her hand out, pinching Aisling on the cheek. A moment of silence dawned between everyone. ¡°Come on, Florence, how could you say that?¡± Aisling clicked her tongue, clenching her abdomen. ¡°Why¡¯re you scolding me but not her?¡± Footsteps sneaked behind Florence, getting closer by the second. ¡°Everyone calm down,¡± Feno said. ¡°No,¡± both Florence and Aisling said at the same time. Feno crossed her arms, twirling her hair. ¡°Sorry,¡± Aisling said, raising her palms in the air. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest; I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°At least Yuze is getting slightly better,¡± Florence said. ¡°Of course, this is compared with the last time I checked on her. But she must get to the hospital.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°You have to believe me when I say it.¡± Feno clapped, clearing her throat. Aisling gave a thumb down, turning back at Feno. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Florence said. ¡°Those bodies from the leaking pipes¡­ I thought I could have forgotten about it.¡± Aisling scratched her chin, tilting her head. ¡°What body? This doesn¡¯t make any kinda sense.¡± ¡°Carnivorous trees,¡± Yuze said. She sat back up, leaning against a leg of the oak table. She averted her gaze away from the towering painting of a lily. However, she still squeezed Aisling¡¯s cheek. Aisling slapped Yuze in the face. ¡°Stop acting like a bearcat, Aisling,¡± Florence said. ¡°A bearcat?¡± Aisling squinted her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Stella sat quietly in a corner, covering her face with the duffle bag. ¡°Could we keep¡­ I mean, not argue a bit,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve got what you wanted, Feno.¡± ¡°Yes, that would be nice,¡± Feno said. ¡°Yup, I completely forgot about that.¡± Aisling placed her palm on her forehead. ¡°Why am I such an idiot?¡± ¡°Big idiot.¡± Yuze smirked, her lips shivering. ¡°Dummy Aisling.¡± This time Aisling furrowed her brow, poking Yuze¡¯s injured left thigh. Yuze rolled to the side, cupping her mouth as she screamed. ¡°Enough of this nonsense,¡± Feno said. ¡°Did you bring the thing that¡¯s needed, Stella?¡± Stella jumped to her feet. ¡°Of course¡­ I mean, indeed I¡¯ve.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s it then?¡± The duffle bag ruffled, and Stella hugged it. But soon, she stood up, pointing at the USB drive on the oak table. ¡°Thanks,¡± Feno said, looking at the oak table. ¡°Actually, could you put your bag right over there?¡± Stella nodded. ¡°I want to talk about something important,¡± Florence said. ¡°Spit it out,¡± Feno said. Aisling waved her hands. ¡°Could we not?¡± ¡°Back in the tunnel, I got pulled in by the body, and then I somehow felt like I was sinking into this massive body of water.¡± Florence bit her lips. ¡°But how would that be possible? First of all, the body is dead. Lastly, it would not be possible for those leaking pipes to create a lake there.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s always a possibility,¡± Feno said. ¡°It might be a ghost.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it doesn¡¯t kinda look like that,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I think at least we should talk about this somewhere else.¡± ¡°Is it a ghost or not?¡± Florence glanced around her surroundings. Stella set the duffle bag next to the USB drive on the oak table. ¡°I¡¯m sure it is a ghost¡­ I think?¡± ¡°Many trees,¡± Yuze said. Everyone looked at Yuze. ¡°You¡¯ll get used to her soon, Florence,¡± Aisling said. Florence raised one of her eyebrows. ¡°You are talking about her hallucination.¡± A smug smile plastered on Yuze¡¯s face. ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Anyways, do any of you want ice creams?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have any here.¡± Feno tugged at the end of her hair. ¡°You should¡¯ve already known that.¡± Aisling curled up into a ball, falling onto her side. She laughed, hitting her head on the floor. ¡°Feno, are there sugary drinks here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Look around you for a minute.¡± Feno spread out her arms. ¡°Do you think we¡¯ve got this luxury around here?¡± ¡°Does not look like it.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Yuze groaned, putting her thumbs up. ¡°Hey, you guys.¡± Feno pointed at Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. ¡°I need to talk with you guys, so come outside right now.¡± ¡°Actually, am I getting paid for this?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m kinda sure Feno will,¡± Aisling said. Feno pulled a phone out of her hair. ¡°No, have you seen her stats at all? It¡¯s horrendous.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Florence said. ¡°I was talking about the charity work in that tunnel outside.¡± ¡°Yup, I¡¯m sure¡­ Wait, what?¡± Aisling stuffed her hands into the pocket of her hooded shirt. ¡°But last time you¡­¡± ¡°Trees,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Do you seriously think I could avoid hiring another employee? Couldn¡¯t have been more realistic.¡± Feno tapped her right foot on the floor. ¡°But why?¡± Florence asked. Feno sighed, staring blankly at Florence. ¡°Florence¡¯s stats,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I¡¯m sure it wasn¡¯t so bad.¡± Feno showed them the phone¡¯s cracked screen, which displayed Florence¡¯s stats. ¡°Did you see this? All of her stats are errors.¡± ¡°How did you get my stats?¡± Florence reached for her apron pocket, but her phone was no longer there. ¡°Where did it go?¡± Feno tossed the phone back to Florence. ¡°Pardon me, is this mine?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Feno nodded. She turned around, walking to the entrance with an electrical warning sign. ¡°Aisling and Stella come with me now.¡± Aisling ambled toward Feno. Stella also inched her way to them, her legs trembling with each step. Feno glanced at Stella. Immediately, Stella quickened her pace, following Feno out to the tunnel. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Florence said. ¡°How did you get my phone? However, before she could get any answers, everyone left.¡± Florence stood up, smoothing out the wrinkles on her dress. Now what? Somehow, she found herself stuck here. She shrugged. Of course, given the circumstances, she might discover clues or anything that would get her one step closer to her sister. Florence wheeled around, tumbling through a door connecting to another room. Jack didn¡¯t move inside, sitting on a stool and staring at the refrigerator. He removed his orange polo shirt and rubbed a red eye tattoo on his lower back. A ball flattened below his feet. ¡°Pardon me? I want to know about a certain thing from you,¡± Florence said. A ball whistled past her face. The crushing of bricks boomed behind her. She wheeled around. A hole with the size of a ball was found in the wall. She turned back, her mouth wide open, staring at Jack. ¡°Sorry,¡± Jack said. ¡°I thought there was a ghost.¡± ¡°I am certain this is not how you eliminate a ghost,¡± Florence said. ¡°How would you know? Ain¡¯t you new here?¡± ¡°I am just saying.¡± Jack looked over his shoulders, not speaking a single word. ¡°How many sugary drinks do you have?¡± Florence asked. The refrigerator door creaked as Jack opened it. The interior lamp shined, reflecting on the empty metal shelf. ¡°I should have listened to Feno,¡± Florence said. She slumped her shoulder. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Jack wore his orange polo shirt back on. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Because you told me.¡± An eerie silence floated between them for a few minutes. Florence¡¯s heart sank. Jack closed the refrigerator door. ¡°So why are you asking me that?¡± ¡°For Yuze,¡± Florence said. ¡°I am trying to make her feel better.¡± A clanging of metal rang behind her. She turned back. At the doorway, Stella peeped through it, holding onto the toolbox. ¡°Hello,¡± Jack said. Stella yelped, trembling her legs. ¡°Feno¡­ I mean¡­ she asked me for help.¡± ¡°You are already back?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Did Feno ask you out?¡± Stella shuffled, shifting her weight from left to right, ruffling her skirt. Florence shrugged. ¡°Was it weird?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jack said. ¡°She did pay me to fix¡­ wait, what was it again?¡± Stella pulled out a phone that was broken in half. ¡°Even though I¡¯m¡­ I mean, not qualified for it.¡± In the main room, Yuze crawled into view. ¡°Disgusting plants.¡± ¡°Go and do it now, Stella,¡± Jack said. ¡°Before she comes back.¡± Stella nodded, jumping in the air. Her feet pushed against the floor, and she ran away to get on with her work. ¡°Florence, I know things might be hard for you,¡± Jack said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you want. However, feel free to stick around.¡± Florence bowed, returning to the doorway and trudging into the main room. A loud ruffle and scratching rang in her ears. No. Not in her ears, but somewhere from the wobbling duffle bag on the oak table. She lifted her foot, tiptoeing closer. Her hand stretched out, grabbing onto the zipper. She opened the duffle bag in one pull, revealing a pair of glowing eyes within a void glaring back at her. A hiss echoed. Chapter 8: Cat A black and white blur jumped out of the duffle bag on the oak table, flying past Florence¡¯s head. Something thudded behind her. She wheeled around. But she found a cat with black and white fur patterns standing on all fours on top of Yuze, staring at Florence. Yuze¡¯s head rested on Florence¡¯s leather briefcase. With one hand, Stella opened her toolbox at the corner of the main room, glancing at the commotion. The guitar on her back slumped as she dropped Feno¡¯s phone. ¡°What¡¯re you looking at,¡± the cat said in a deep bloke voice. ¡°There¡¯s nothing special here.¡± Florence blinked. But the cat still stood there in front of her. She slapped her face. ¡°Great, how did my pleb always bring someone new from the lunatic asylum.¡± The cat slammed his paw on his face. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± ¡°I am going insane,¡± Florence said. Her jaw dropped open. ¡°Aye, you¡¯re going mad. I¡¯m totally your imagination.¡± An eerie silence rang in the air. ¡°Cat,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Not imagination.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what did you say?¡± Florence asked. ¡°That cat is¡­ I mean, it can talk.¡± Stella reached her hand inside the toolbox. The tools clattered as she searched for the right one. Florence rubbed her eyes. However, the cat was still there and straightened his back. ¡°I¡¯m Sam the Great,¡± the cat said. He stood up with his hind legs. ¡°I¡¯ve sailed across the seven seas in search of the greatest treasure of catnip.¡± ¡°Not again,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Shut your mouth, pleb.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Florence raised one of her eyebrows, staring at Sam. Sam pointed his paw at Florence. ¡°Now, bow down to me, you pleb,¡± he said. ¡°Do as I say, as I¡¯m the greatest therapist known to all the kittens.¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°You are a talking cat.¡± Sam extended his claws, cupping his mouth. ¡°Unbelievable, you¡¯re one of those plebs?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Aye, of course, it is you.¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°Everything you did as I¡¯m Sam the Great.¡± Yuze tugged at Sam¡¯s tail. Sam hissed, leaping high into the air. He flipped, landing on the floor with his paws. ¡°Chess player,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Aye, also that as well.¡± Sam wagged his tail. ¡°You¡¯ve done a good and bad job, pleb.¡± Pressure built up in Florence¡¯s chest. Her throat constricted, stopping any air passage from all the insanities that happened to hallucinate a talking cat. Her mind could no longer process this. She grinned. Her lips shook. One of her eyes widened, but the other squinted. ¡°What¡¯s up with that face you¡¯re making, pleb?¡± Sam asked, sinking his teeth into Florence¡¯s dress. Florence laughed. ¡°Here we go again,¡± Sam said. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know anything about the Great Massacre of my kind or even the greatest treasure known on this planet.¡± Stella grabbed the guitar strapped to her back and plucked the strings, making a jazz-like tone. Florence shook her body, relieving the pressure building in her chest. ¡°Why is Stella suddenly playing?¡± Sam hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare interpret her, pleb,¡± he said. ¡°You do realize I have a name.¡± ¡°What about it, pleb? In the end, you¡¯re still a pleb.¡± The metal door with an electrical warning sign creaked open. Aisling hopped into the room, skipping across the floor. She leaped at Sam, embracing him in her arms, pushing Florence¡¯s aside. Florence fell on her bottom with a thud. Sam growled, extending his claws. His pupils dilated. ¡°Who¡¯s this kinda dumb cutie over here,¡± Aisling said. She patted Sam¡¯s head. ¡°Get your hands off of me,¡± Sam said. He dug his claw into Aisling¡¯s forearm. ¡°You already know who I am, pleb.¡± Aisling screamed, letting go of Sam. Sam growled, revealing his sharp teeth. ¡°You shall better know your place, pleb,¡± he said. Florence lowered herself. Her knees rested on the stone-cold floor. Jack walked through the doorway from the other room, massaging his lower back. ¡°What¡¯s with all this fuss?¡± he asked. ¡°Stella, Feno¡¯s phone ain¡¯t fixed yet. Isn¡¯t it right?¡± Stella yelped, jumping up to her feet. Her body shook, ruffling her blouse and skirt. She nodded, cuddling her guitar. Florence rubbed her face. ¡°Why even bother with that broken phone?¡± ¡°Does it look like we could buy a new one?¡± Jack scratched the side of his television head. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Well¡­ I mean, it¡¯s literally broken in half,¡± Stella said. ¡°But I won¡¯t¡­ I mean¡­ I¡¯ll be able to fix it.¡± ¡°You would be unable to fix it.¡± Florence slumped her shoulders. ¡°You don¡¯t want to know what happens if it wasn¡¯t repaired,¡± Jack said. Florence shook her head. Jack leaned against the oak table. ¡°Fair enough, there ain¡¯t any way Feno¡¯s phone could be fixed.¡± ¡°How about we get back on topic?¡± Florence asked. ¡°If you do not have any sugary drinks, is there any medical equipment sitting around here?¡± ¡°What does it look like?¡± ¡°I guess that is a no.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Sam sniffed Florence¡¯s leather briefcase, purring out loud. He rolled onto his back, scratching the air like a wild lunatic. ¡°Not again,¡± Jack said. ¡°Catnips,¡± Sam said. ¡°Do you¡¯ve catnips?¡± Florence cupped her mouth. How could Sam act like this? Of course, Florence¡¯s leather only contained a scissor. It¡¯s not like she would carry such a herb around. ¡°I¡¯m sorry on Sam¡¯s behalf,¡± Jack said. Sam got back up onto his paws, scratching the floor. ¡°Where¡¯s the catnip?¡± Stella continued playing her guitar. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Sam is like that most of the time,¡± she said, with each word synching the plucking of guitar strings. Yuze stared blankly at the ceiling. ¡°Trees. Too many.¡± Aisling clicked her fingers. ¡°I just remembered something. Jack, do I need to pick up your daughter?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be great. But did you ask Feno about it,¡± Jack said. Aisling shrugged. ¡°Yup, she did. She just took me outside to talk about that.¡± She tilted her head, brushing her hair. Florence raised her hand. ¡°Go ahead, feel free to say what you want, Florence,¡± Jack said. ¡°Pardon me, could you just go yourself?¡± Florence asked. Jack lowered his television head, avoiding any eye contact. ¡°If he could. He would have done it already,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Plus, this would be simple for Players. But not so much for most NPCs.¡± ¡°I do not get it.¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Well, things might be a bit complicated. It would be nice if all of you could go,¡± Jack said. Sam stretched his body, yawning. ¡°Where¡¯s the catnip, pleb?¡± Silence rang through the main room as everyone turned their attention to Sam. But immediately, Sam curled up into a ball and closed his eyes. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re gonna be coming with us,¡± Aisling said. She winked and poked Florence on the side. ¡°I did not agree to lend a hand,¡± Florence said. ¡°Unless this is related to me returning home, which I could tell it does not.¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°Please, help me,¡± he said. ¡°For my daughter.¡± He grabbed Florence on the shoulder, shaking her. His nails clawed deep into Florence¡¯s skin. Florence winced. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you how to get home. I promise.¡± Aisling said. She stepped in between Florence and Jack, forcing them apart. But Jack wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Pardon me, could you not at least release me first, Jack?¡± Florence asked. Jack slumped his shoulders, releasing his grip on Florence. But it only reminded Florence of those soldiers begging to see their injured comrades. From the thought of it, the stench of chlorine burning the skin filled Florence¡¯s nostrils. The wheezing ringed in her ear. Even if the soldier¡¯s friend survived¡­ certain stuff couldn¡¯t be healed. If only Florence could have done more, then none of this horrible fate would have happened to the soldier¡¯s friend. Florence took a deep breath. ¡°My apologies; I have changed my mind,¡± she said. ¡°I guess I will help you.¡± A glimmer shone on the screen of Jack¡¯s television head. He jumped towards Florence, hugging and squeezing her chest. ¡°Need¡­ air,¡± Florence said. Jack let go of Florence, gently pushing her away. ¡°Good, that¡¯s nice,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest; I knew you would say that, Florence.¡± ¡°So it will be Aisling, maybe Stella, and me going to Jack¡¯s daughter if I am correct,¡± Florence said. ¡°Well, Yuze could kinda come, but¡­¡± Everyone turned back at Yuze, who was lying flat on the floor. None of her limbs moved. She snored, sleeping with a smirk plastered on her plain face. Aisling placed her palm on the side of her hip. ¡°Let¡¯s not wake her up.¡± ¡°I guess you are right,¡± Florence said. ¡°Well, we are gonna be leaving now.¡± The plucking notes of a guitar stopped. Stella fidgeted her hair, facing away from everyone. ¡°But¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t want to go yet.¡± Aisling ambled in a dancing step towards Stella¡¯s side, kneeling down next to Stella. ¡°You can do it,¡± Aisling said. She embraced and leaned closer to Stella. ¡°Even if you ever feel a bit jittery, remember to inhale and exhale slowly.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I mean, it¡¯s hard,¡± Stella said. Florence glanced around the main room, eyeing the duffle bag on the oak table. She walked with a fumbling step and grabbed the duffle bag, giving it to Stella. ¡°Why?¡± Stella asked. ¡°Cover your head with it,¡± Florence said. ¡°If you feel the urge to hide from others.¡± Sam hissed. ¡°Hey, what¡¯re you doing with my bed?¡± Stella stuffed her head into the duffle bag, covering her face. ¡°This is¡­ I mean, it feels a lot like my bedroom.¡± ¡°What kind of bedroom do you even sleep in?¡± Florence blinked, raising her eyebrows. ¡°Aye, it was indeed this small,¡± Sam said. ¡°By the way, I won¡¯t be coming at all.¡± ¡°He is a cat, after all,¡± Aisling said. She leaned close to Yuze, holding her hands. Aisling stood up, releasing her grip on Yuze. Florence and Aisling guided Stella out of the main room and into the tunnel. The crushed rocks clattered beneath them with the dim lights flickering on the ceiling. The pipes above their heads still ringed the faint screeches of those bodies drowning in sewage water. A moment later, they finally exited the tunnel, climbing to the platform. They went over or under the turnstiles and then hiked up the staircase. Once they reached the top, a sea breeze rustled their hair. Waves crashed against the seawall, sending sprinkles of droplets splashing on them. The pink humanoid android opened the fence door, glimmering under the sun. However, those steel beam clusters had been moved somewhere else. Aisling ambled through the opened fence door, tugging Stella along. ¡°This is gonna be fun.¡± ¡°Where is Jack¡¯s daughter?¡± Florence asked. She inhaled fresh salty air into her lungs, following behind Aisling. ¡°Evening cram school,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Cram school?¡± ¡°You gotta be kidding me. Have you not heard of it?¡± ¡°Absolutely not, at least from where I was born.¡± ¡°In a nutshell, they are specialized schools that train students to achieve specific goals for their Wellor System examination.¡± ¡°This sounds brutal.¡± ¡°You could just ask Stella about it.¡± Stella yelped, pulling at her duffle bag. Florence, Aisling, and Stella walked through the street with skyscrapers of steel beams and glass panels towering over them. Red flickering signs on each side of the building warn about the dangers in District Nine. It took them a while to arrive at a skyscraper identical to the rest. ¡°Are we here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ I mean, I can¡¯t see.¡± Stella pointed at herself with a duffle bag covering her head. ¡°So don¡¯t ask me.¡± ¡°Yup, we¡¯re here,¡± Aisling said. Aisling stepped closer to the glass door, which automatically slid open. She tugged Florence and Stella into a hall inside the building. A crowd of students with droopy eyelids packed the hall. Their postures portrayed weariness that seeped deep into the bone. They smiled, lacking the youthful glimmer in their eyes. Florence, Aisling, and Stella walked past several students slogging sluggishly across the marble floor. Those students wore blue and white sailor uniforms like those worn during the Great War, but none resembled Jack. Aisling stopped Florence and Stella in their tracks. In front of them, a female student slept on a bench, her brown hair partially covering her pale face. ¡°What is the problem, Aisling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Wake up, Renee,¡± Aisling said. She poked at the sleeping female on the forehead. Chapter 9: Daughter A crowd of students walked with a sluggish step, exiting the main hall in this skyscraper. Florence, Aisling, and Stella stood before Renee, sleeping on a bench. Florence raised her eyebrows, her jaw dropping open simply because Renee didn¡¯t bear any resemblance to Jack at all. ¡°Seriously, wake up, Renee,¡± Aisling said. Renee curled herself into a ball, hiding her pale face behind her arms. ¡°Hey,¡± Aisling said, shaking Renee. ¡°If you don¡¯t wanna wake up, then there won¡¯t be any pancakes left.¡± Renee jetted up from the bench, stretching her arms and legs. She rubbed the back of her ear, opening her red eyes as she gazed at Aisling. ¡°Finally, you¡¯re awake,¡± Aisling said. Renee rubbed her red eyes. ¡°There ain¡¯t any pancakes here. Could you give me at least a few more minutes to sleep?¡± ¡°Pardon me, how are you certain this is Jack¡¯s daughter?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Jack? Where is he?¡± Renee yawned, cupping her mouth. ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± ¡°Not again. Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Aisling said. Renee slumped her shoulders and closed her eyes, snoring out loud. ¡°All of you are gonna break my back at this rate,¡± Aisling said. She picked up Renee and gave her a piggyback ride. ¡°Nifty.¡± Florence scratched around the forming scab on her forearm. ¡°If I guess, we¡¯ll have to take her back to Jack.¡± ¡°Actually, we¡¯re gonna be taking her to school,¡± Aisling said. Florence blinked at Aisling. Florence stuffed her hands into her apron pocket, raising her eyebrows. Didn¡¯t Renee attend class during the evening? ¡°Renee, come on,¡± Aisling said. She waddled towards the glass doors. ¡°You¡¯re going to be late.¡± ¡°Late?¡± Florence asked. With her head inside the duffle bag, Stella shifted from left to right, wobbling the guitar on her back. She waddled away from Florence, Aisling, and Renee. Florence pulled her hand out of her pocket, reaching and grabbing Stella¡¯s wrist. Stella screamed, trembling her body. Aisling wheeled around, hopping back to Florence and Stella. Stella fidgeted her fingers, lowering her head. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°If we are not going to Jack,¡± Florence said. ¡°Do not tell me we are taking Renee to morning cram school.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Aisling turned back to the glass exit doors. ¡°But it is kinda close enough.¡± Renee drooled, leaning closer to Aisling. Aisling pulled up her upper lip as Renee¡¯s saliva trickled down Aisling¡¯s neck. Florence clasped her hands together. ¡°How about I help you a bit, Aisling.¡± ¡°Nope, I¡¯m fine,¡± Aisling said. Her feet tapped across the floor towards the glass door exit, carrying Renne. ¡°You do not look nifty,¡± Florence said. She followed Aisling, guiding Stella with her. The door slid open, and they walked outside. The metal and glass skyscrapers reflected under the sun, causing Florence to close her eyes half shut. The beeping and blaring of sirens rang in her ears. Her head spun. The red warning sign flickered above her. The crowd of players bumped into her. ¡°Pardon me, why couldn¡¯t Jack pick up Renee?¡± she asked. Aisling glanced at a camera with a speaker high up on the pole. ¡°Maybe one day, he might do it himself.¡± ¡°Go, pony,¡± Renee said, her eyes shut closed. She sluggishly pumped her fist into the air, wobbling on Aisling¡¯s back. ¡°Run¡­ and be free.¡± Aisling laughed, weaving her way between the Players. ¡°That kinda sounds a lot like a dream,¡± she said. ¡°Just like how I want to return to my home with my sister instead of being here,¡± Florence said. ¡°Me¡­ too,¡± Stella said. ¡°The home part¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Florence, I¡¯ve kinda repeatedly told you the same thing.¡± Aisling glanced over her shoulder. ¡°You can only go back if you complete a contract as an occult detective. Then, if you¡¯ve done it, I¡¯ll tell you how.¡± ¡°So, why are we doing any investigation?¡± Florence asked. She looked at one of the shops selling fish tanks within one of the skyscrapers. A whistle rang in her ear canal. But she stopped in her path, bumping into Stella behind her. Those bodies wearing a helmet and army uniforms were trapped inside the fish tanks, banging their fists on the glass. Their glossy red eyes stared at Florence. Bubbles of air escaped through the bodies¡¯ mouths and noses. Within Florence¡¯s stomach, the bile rose up, burning her throat. She choked, holding herself together. Stella shivered in her blouse and skirt. ¡°Hey, are you guys alright,¡± Aisling said. Florence shook her head, reliving the buildup of pressure. ¡°Absolutely, I am fine.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Florence blinked. But those bodies vanished. The door of this fish tank shop opened. Stella fidgeted the side of her skirt. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m fine¡­ I think,¡± she said. Aisling smiled, continuing down the pavement with Florence and Stella following along. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Florence looked behind her, and fifty inches away from her stood those bodies amongst the crowd. She quickened her pace, tugging Aisling on the arm. ¡°What¡¯s it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°They are following us,¡± Florence said. She pointed at those bodies. Aisling spun around. Her face paled, widening her eyes. She stopped in the middle of a street with her hands trembling. ¡°Guys, why are we stopping?¡± Stella sniffed the duffle bag covering her head. ¡°I can¡­ I mean, I can¡¯t see anything. So, you know.¡± Aisling coughed, covering her mouth. ¡°Florence, are you seeing things?¡± ¡°I wish I was,¡± Florence said. She blinked, but those bodies didn¡¯t vanish. ¡°They are absolutely still there.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Stella asked. Aisling continued on forward with shuddering steps. ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Florence followed Aisling, pulling Stella along. A single droplet dripped down those bodies¡¯ chin, splashing on the concrete ground below. Those bodies stretched their arms out, pursuing Florence, Aisling, Renee, and Stella. ¡°We have got to go now,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup, we kinda have to hurry up a bit,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Any plan in losing them.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Renee wrapped her arms around Aisling¡¯s neck. Aisling wheezed and then coughed. ¡°Can¡¯t breathe.¡± After a moment of those bodies following behind them, Florence, Aisling, Stella, and Renee stopped at the gate of another skyscraper. Beneath their feet, the maw of the storm drain opened wide. Players dressed identically to Renee slogging past them and entering the building. Florence read the sign hanging above the entrance. ¡°Wellor High School,¡± she said. ¡°Yup, this is where Renee has to be,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± Renee said. She yawned, stretching her arms out. ¡°I¡¯m sick.¡± Stella sniffed, pulling her blouse. ¡°My tummy¡­ I mean, my stomach hurts.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even eat anything, Stella,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Would it even be possible for you to have a stomach ache?¡± ¡°How about I check on you later, Stella?¡± Florence asked. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± Stella clutched her abdomen. ¡°I think that will be the case.¡± ¡°It would be kinda nice if Florence treated me like that,¡± Aisling said. Those bodies inched closer behind Florence, Aisling, Stella, and Renee. ¡°We gotta hurry,¡± Aisling said, patting Renee on the thigh. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s about time.¡± Renee snored, rubbing the back of her ear. ¡°Seriously, why now?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Same.¡± Stella raised her hand. ¡°I mean¡­ I want to go home and sleep.¡± A droplet splashed on Florence¡¯s neck, tickling her back. Her bones clattered. A shadow in the shape of those bodies loomed over her from behind. A puff of gas blew, rustling her hair. This chill grasped and clawed around her throat, preventing air passage. A hand rested on her shoulder. ¡°Help¡­ me,¡± those bodies said. ¡°Why?¡± She wheeled around. However, those bodies vanished. In their place, a gal with curly hair dressed in the sailor uniform stumbled backward, retracting her arm from Florence. ¡°Are you a cosplayer?¡± the gal with curly hair asked. ¡°Summer, what¡¯s up,¡± Aisling said. She aimed a finger gun at the gal with curly hair. Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°A cost player?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not cost player,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Is cosplayer.¡± Florence scratched the back of her head. Summer pointed at Florence. ¡°You look like a maid from one of those gacha games.¡± Florence pointed at herself. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yep, I¡¯m talking about you.¡± ¡°But I am not a maid.¡± ¡°Yep, whatever. Could I take a selfie with you?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Summer reached into the pocket of her sailor uniform, pulling a phone out. She wrapped her arm around Florence, raising the phone up. The screen showed Florence and Summer standing in front of the high school. Summer tapped her thumb on the bottom of her phone as she smiled. But Florence didn¡¯t grin. ¡°Why so serious?¡± Summer put the phone into the pocket of her sailor uniform. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you at least smile?¡± ¡°Pardon me, what is a selfie?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Boomer.¡± ¡°A bomb where?¡± ¡°Gosh, you¡¯re even worse than a boomer.¡± ¡°Slow down. I do not understand a word you are saying.¡± Summer crossed her arms, glaring at Florence. ¡°It is either me or you that is having a stroke,¡± Florence said. ¡°By the way, is there a hospital nearby?¡± ¡°Good, keep stalling.¡± Summer leaned closer to Florence¡¯s ear. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here at all.¡± ¡°You still have to go,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Wait, you can hear me?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± Summer squinted at Aisling, tightening her lips. Aisling wheezed, clutching her abdomen, lowering Renee to the pavement. Renee yawned, cuddling Aisling¡¯s leg. ¡°You gotta listen to me,¡± Aisling said. She shook her leg, failing to get out of Renee¡¯s hug. ¡°No.¡± Renee drooled, trickling saliva down to her chin. ¡°Give me a few more minutes.¡± ¡°Seriously, you gotta go to school now.¡± Renee snored, digging her nails into Aisling¡¯s skin. Aisling downturned the corner of her mouth. ¡°You gotta be kidding me,¡± she said, pinching Renee¡¯s cheek. ¡°How about I help you wake her up, Aisling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Look, I do not want to stay here forever. I am on the same boat as Stella.¡± Stella shrugged, pointing at herself. ¡°Absolutely, just like Stella, I need to return home immediately for my sister,¡± Florence said. ¡°Same.¡± Stella nodded, fidgeting her fingers. ¡°I¡­ I mean, I agree. But not the sister part.¡± ¡°Stella, ignore Florence,¡± Aisling said. She scratched her nape. ¡°Forget about it; she is talking about other stuff.¡± The bell rang, vibrating Florence¡¯s eardrums. Renee jolted up, wiping a saliva trickling down from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes closed half shut. She pounded her feet across the path, dashing towards the high school entrance. ¡°Renee, remember to take care of yourself.¡± Aisling waved her hand. ¡°Also, did you forget anything important?¡± ¡°Sorta,¡± Renee said. ¡°What do you mean sorta? Get back here right now.¡± Renee wobbled side to side, waving her hands as she entered the skyscraper that was apparently a high school. ¡°Nice, see you guys later,¡± Summer said. She quickened her pace in following Renee. Aisling slammed her face onto her palm. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± she said. ¡°Pardon me, what about we get on with our investigation?¡± Florence asked. Stella crouched, hugging herself. ¡°I¡­ I need the bathroom, seriously.¡± ¡°Yup, we¡¯ll get on with the investigation stuff,¡± Aisling said. ¡°If nothing is gonna happen, as in more part-time jobs.¡± ¡°You have got more.¡± Florence widened her eyes. ¡°Is this not enough?¡± ¡°Actually, we have five of these part-time jobs¡­ I think,¡± Stella said. ¡°Well¡­ I mean, there are five for her and four for me¡­ I think.¡± Florence¡¯s jaw dropped open. Unbelievable. How could Aisling, Yuze, and Stella work so much? Aisling smiled, chuckling in a small voice. ¡°Yup, you¡¯ll get used to it.¡± She patted Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But I did not say anything just now,¡± Florence said. ¡°Well, gonna be honest, it¡¯s kinda written all over your face.¡± ¡°Pardon me, could we get on with the investigation?¡± Florence turned away from Wellor High School. These bodies stood inches from her face this time, grinning from one corner of her eye to another. Those bodies inhaled and exhaled, nodding their heads. Their faces melted, streaming into the maw of the storm drain beneath Florence¡¯s feet. ¡°What was that?¡± Florence said. From the corner of her eye, Aisling gripped the handle of her dagger, unsheathing it halfway. Aisling put her dagger back into its original place. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about that for now.¡± Chapter 10: Cafe As the clock struck twenty, nothing happened for the next few hours. Rising columns of smoke in District Nine obscured the moon high above. Florence couldn¡¯t believe what was happening in front of her. The tense caffeine smell floated across the cafe, waking up her nerves. There was a clattering of porcelain and spoons as the Players sipped their drinks, sitting on the chairs around a round table. The coffee machine winded to life, scratching the cabinet below, and Aisling pressed the buttons. A flow of latte dispensed from the coffeemaker, filling a cup. Stella adjusted the duffle bag, hiding her head, standing behind the counter, trembling her legs, and taking customer orders. Of course. Florence remained completely stuck as she leaned against the wall behind her, standing beside Aisling. ¡°Why am I here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you,¡± Aisling said, grasping the handle of a cup. ¡°Plus, how else are we going to survive? It¡¯s not like we could instantly solve the case for our investigation.¡± ¡°You are wasting my time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kinda the first one I¡¯ve ever seen who wants to go home after being transported to a new and whimsical world.¡± Stella shuttered. Her hands trembled as she typed on the typewriter with a screen on top. Aisling took a sip of latte. ¡°Could you go and help Stella?¡± ¡°You do know I do not work in this cafe,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup, I do.¡± Aisling waved at one of the staff holding a tray and handing a drink to their customer. ¡°Hey, Steve, one of my friends wanna get employed here,¡± Aisling said. Florence gritted her teeth. ¡°I did not say that.¡± ¡°Give me a minute or so,¡± Steve said. ¡°I¡¯ll check if your friend is qualified to work in this cafe.¡± Aisling gave a thumbs up. ¡°Let me guess if I get employed and help you in this cafe,¡± Florence said. ¡°You will then go on with investigating our occult detective investigation. However, all of this will not happen. Am I right?¡± ¡°Yup, for the first part.¡± Aisling clasped her hands together. ¡°But the last part is definitely a nope.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up? Did you say that someone wants to be hired, Aisling?¡± Steve asked. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Florence. Florence wheeled around, and Steve stood inches away from her face. Steve grinned, revealing his uncanny teeth. ¡°So you want to be hired,¡± he said. ¡°Absolutely not, I am only waiting for Aisling,¡± Florence said. Aisling leaned forward, reaching into the pocket of Florence¡¯s apron and pulling out Florence¡¯s phone. Aisling handed it to Steve. ¡°Give it back,¡± Florence said. ¡°Let me introduce you to Florence,¡± Aisling said, pointing at Florence. ¡°She wanna work in this cafe.¡± Steve tapped his thumb on Florence¡¯s phone. Florence tried to snatch her phone from Steve. But he sidestepped, dodging her. She stumbled, knocking a round table over. The cups shattered, spilling the drinks across the floor. Steve scratched his head. ¡°Why are all your stats errors?¡± ¡°I do not know,¡± Florence said. ¡°Unfortunately, we couldn¡¯t hire you.¡± ¡°It is not like I care about being hired or anything. But you do realize this is ridiculous, right?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. The Wellor System requires that any Player has a certain number of stats in each category to be employed.¡± Florence pushed herself off the floor, standing back on her feet. She brushed her dress and apron. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Steve said. ¡°I forgot to add that the stats requirement could differ depending on the occupation.¡± Aisling tapped on Steve¡¯s shoulder, handing the coffee to him. ¡°Thank you so much, Aisling,¡± Steve said. He grabbed the cup of coffee and placed it on a tray. Florence stomped on the marble floor towards Steve, snatching her phone back from his hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be this aggressive,¡± Aisling said. Florence closed her eyes, clenching her fist. ¡°What do you know about me? I have got a sister¡­ Did you seriously think I have got the time for this?¡± ¡°First of all¡­ you should kinda check your phone?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Aisling grabbed another cup, nudging in Stella¡¯s direction. Stella yelped. She slammed her hand onto the counter, shaking the typewriter with a screen on top. ¡°Stella, are you doing fine?¡± Florence asked. Stella froze, not moving a single bit. Florence trudged to Stella¡¯s side. ¡°How may I help you, perhaps?¡± Florence skimmed her hand across the counter. The duffle bag covering Stella¡¯s head shook, rustling the fibers. ¡°If you want me to do something, feel free to speak up,¡± Florence said. A burst of air rushed into the cafe as Summer pulled open the glass door entrance. She stepped onto the marble floor, walking towards Florence and Stella. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Stella dropped to the ground, lying down flat, thudding her head. ¡°Two cappuccinos, please,¡± Summer said. ¡°Also, could you guys put it in a takeaway cup?¡± ¡°And you are ordering a cappuccino in the evening?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yes, so what about it?¡± ¡°Do you have to sleep?¡± Summer laughed, hugging herself. ¡°Pardon me, what is funny about this?¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Who needs to sleep anyway,¡± Summer said. ¡°What sort of society do you think we live in?¡± Stella shivered. Her arms wrapped around herself, curling into a ball. She wobbled back and forth. Summer leaned over the counter. ¡°Is Stella okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to help her.¡± Florence shrugged. ¡°But it is clearly not working.¡± A scream from Stella busted through the cafe, vibrating Florence¡¯s eardrums. The legs of round tables and chairs scraped against the marble floor, and cups and spoons clattered and wobbled. ¡°Was it Stella¡¯s scream or something else?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I¡¯m quite sure there is another explosion in District Nine,¡± Summer said. ¡°I don¡¯t know what the hell is happening.¡± From the corner of Florence¡¯s eyes, Aisling glanced at Florence¡¯s forearm. However, Aisling quickly looked away, minding her own business. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence yawned. ¡°How are things going on over there?¡± ¡°Nothing much. Kinda just waiting for the next order to come up,¡± Aisling said. Summer whistled, waving her hand. ¡°Could I get two cappuccinos?¡± Stella smacked her hands onto the counter, giving a thumbs up while shaking as she pulled herself back up. ¡°Coming right up,¡± Aisling said. Florence reached into her apron pocket for her phone. She tapped the screen, which remained dark and eerily silent. ¡°Why is this not working?¡± Summer leaned over Florence¡¯s phone, double-tapping and swiping her finger across the screen. Then it winded to life, lighting up. Images of different shapes and sizes with various names written at the bottom appeared on the display. ¡°I see,¡± Florence said. ¡°What am I supposed to do next?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really a boomer, Florence,¡± Summer said. ¡°I do not get it. All of this is new to me.¡± ¡°You never heard of the word boomer before?¡± ¡°How do I check the amount of money that I have?¡± A finger swiped across the screen of Florence¡¯s phone, sliding to a new set of images, pointing at the wallet image. ¡°It¡¯s right over there,¡± Aisling said behind Florence. Florence wheeled around. She hiccuped, skipping a heartbeat. Two cardboard cups clung onto Aisling¡¯s right hand, inches away from Florence. ¡°Thank you,¡± Florence said, tapping where Aisling directed. ¡°If we have time, I will buy a giggle juice.¡± ¡°Does the drink make me laugh?¡± Aisling asked. She handed the takeaway cups to Summer. The phone slipped from Florence¡¯s hand, thudding on the marble floor. Her jaw dropped. The screen showed a ten trillion dollar debt. ¡°I understand how hard this might feel,¡± Aisling said. She smiled and slapped Florence on the back. Florence glared at Aisling. Aisling raised her hands, stepping away from Florence. ¡°It is not like I care or anything.¡± Florence crossed her arms. ¡°But how did I get ten trillion dollars in debt?¡± ¡°Please¡­ don¡¯t kill me if I tell you,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Why would I do it?¡± ¡°Generational debt. Even though you¡¯re kinda not from here¡­ Sorry.¡± Summer cleared her throat, holding the two cappuccinos. ¡°That would be ten thousand dollars.¡± Aisling coughed, smiling. ¡°Would you wanna pay through cards, crystals, or credits?¡± ¡°Ten thousand dollars. You have got to be joking,¡± Florence said ¡°Crystal,¡± Summer said. She reached into her pocket, taking out the warm blue crystals on her palms. Aisling grabbed those crystals. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± ¡°See you later,¡± Summer said. She slogged towards the glass door, pushing it open. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here,¡± Stella said. ¡°I can kinda tell.¡± Aisling patted Stella on the back. ¡°Could I look at those crystals?¡± Florence asked. Aisling dropped the crystals onto Florence¡¯s open palm. As the crystal contacted Florence, an electrical tickling spread throughout her skin. A humming vibrated from it, ringing in her ears. Strangely, this somehow made her warm from the inside. ¡°I have never seen this in my life.¡± Florence pinched the crystals between her fingers. Aisling shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ll kinda get used to it.¡± Florence handed the crystal back to Aisling. Aisling slipped it beneath the counter. ¡°So, where did they get this from?¡± Florence asked. Aisling glanced at a customer who glared at them. Florence bit her lips. ¡°I do not get it.¡± ¡°Just¡­ forget about it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say it¡¯s¡­ never mind.¡± Stella banged her head against the typewriter with a monitor, clicking and rattling the keyboard. With a thud, she slipped and collapsed to the marble floor. ¡°Look, I¡¯m gonna tell you a bit more later on if you¡¯re interested, Florence,¡± Aisling said. ¡°But not right now.¡± ¡°Absolutely, it would be appreciated if you could do that,¡± Florence said. Aisling ambled to the coffee machine. Florence shifted her weight from left to right. ¡°Pardon me, when are we going to leave?¡± ¡°Till midnight.¡± Aisling shrugged. ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± ¡°Taking care of Yuze. What are you gonna expect?¡± ¡°Absolutely, of course, we have got to help her. Why am I being this stupid?¡± Aisling kneeled down, opening a cabinet beneath the coffee machine. She grabbed a broom and dustpan. ¡°After Yuze, what will happen next?¡± Florence asked. Aisling ambled towards shattered porcelains and spilled drinks. ¡°I¡¯m procrastinating like I don¡¯t know¡­ I gotta clean this up and do my other part-time jobs. Maybe I¡¯m gonna get some sleep if I can.¡± Florence furrowed her brow, wrinkling the corner of her eyes. ¡°What?¡± Aisling swept the marble floor. ¡°I still gotta survive.¡± ¡°I cannot believe you have done this,¡± Florence said. ¡°Guys¡­ when could I go home,¡± Stella said. ¡°Nope.¡± Aisling pushed the fallen round table back to its own legs. ¡°There are kinda a few hours left.¡± She took the dustpan and brush, dumping the cracked porcelain into a bin. Chatting of customers flowed through the air, ringing in Florence¡¯s eardrum. But underneath this, a faint squalling came from within the coffee machine. ¡°This is not what I meant,¡± Stella said. Aisling shrugged her shoulders. ¡°You asked. So I answered.¡± ¡°Everything is not copacetic,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is just one random thing that suddenly happens and gets in the way.¡± Aisling ambled to the coffee machine, opening the cabinet below, and tossing the brush and dustpan inside. ¡°Are any of you listening?¡± Florence threw her arms up. ¡°This is ridiculous.¡± Aisling snatched a porcelain cup. ¡°Would any of you like a cup of espresso?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± The coffee machine winded to life as Aisling clicked the button, dispensing brownish liquid into a cup on the drip tray. Then, holding onto a cup handle, she offered it to Florence. ¡°A bottle of giggle juice sounds much better,¡± Florence said. ¡°Come on, drink up,¡± Aisling said. She pushed the espresso on Florence¡¯s chest. ¡°A bit of caffeine wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± The espresso reflected those bodies opening their jaws wide. They cried and laughed, rippling the drinks. All of them leaped out. Florence screamed. She stepped back, knocking the cup away. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°Florence, what got into your head?¡± ¡°Did you not see that? Those bodies,¡± Florence said. Her heart raced. ¡°Those bodies again?¡± ¡°It is literally right over there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Florence rolled her eyes, stomping her feet across the marble floor. She kicked open a glass door and exited the cafe. ¡°Florence, come back,¡± Aisling said. She ran to Florence, stopping right at the entrance. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong this time.¡± Chapter 11: Tunnel The blaring sirens and footsteps flew past Florence as she stomped through the street with skyscrapers looming over. She clenched her fist, digging the nails into her palm. But before she knew it, she arrived at the coastline. Waves crashed against the seawall, sprinkling water into the air. She breathed in and out. The saltiness tingled at the tip of her tongue as the wind blew. She turned to her right, looking at the column of smoke and fire blazing throughout District Nine from afar. ¡°What am I doing here,¡± she said. The loud grinding of gear rang in her. Behind her, the androids marched and paroled near the fence encircling the staircase going downwards. Across the ocean, an alluring light shone from within the Walled City, tempting her to go over there, even if it meant getting a step closer to home and her sister. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here, pleb?¡± someone asked from behind. Florence wheeled around. In front of her sat Sam, the cat licking his black and white patterned fur. ¡°It should be me asking you that question,¡± Florence said. ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m not allowed to be here?¡± Sam bared his teeth. ¡°Also, get out of my sight, pleb.¡± ¡°That is certainly not nice of you.¡± ¡°Aye, what about it? You¡¯re getting in the way of me enjoying this view.¡± Florence bit her lips. ¡°I said get out of the way, pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°But you are a cat,¡± Florence said. ¡°So, does that obligate you to intentionally block my view?¡± ¡°You were not even behind me a moment ago.¡± ¡°Aye, so what? This is my favorite spot.¡± Florence kneeled down. Her hands stretched out to Sam. He hissed, scratching her hand. She retracted her arm away from him. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, pleb,¡± Sam said. Florence inhaled a breath of air. ¡°What was that for?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re a bald monkey, pleb.¡± Florence patted the dress and apron as it rustled. She looked straight at Sam, making eye contact with him. ¡°What?¡± Sam said. Florence pointed at herself. ¡°I am not bald.¡± Sam yawned. He stretched his paws out, sticking his bottom up into the air. ¡°Aye, you¡¯re,¡± he said. He stood on his hind legs, flexing his muscles. ¡°Look at me; this is what a fine furry specimen looks like.¡± Florence rolled her eyes. Another breeze blew, jumbling her hair and rustling her dress and apron. She shrugged, folding her arm as she shivered. Sam sniffed. ¡°You cold? Pathetic,¡± he said. ¡°So, why are you even here,¡± Florence said. ¡°Thinking about my previous life as a pirate. Plus, I got a chess match coming up in like maybe an hour¡­ and catnips.¡± ¡°A chess match?¡± Sam tilted his head, wagging his tail. His pupils dilated. He stuck out his tongue, dripping saliva onto the ground. Florence rolled her eyes, picking Sam up. But he clawed at her hand, leaving a scratch mark on her skin. She released her grip around him. ¡°Did you forget what I said?¡± Sam landed on his paws, hissing. ¡°First of all, I am not buying it,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡¯m not even trying to sell you anything, pleb.¡± ¡°This is not what I meant. Just¡­ stay here or do whatever you want.¡± Florence trudged with heavy footsteps towards the fence, reaching into her apron pocket. ¡°Hey, do you know where you¡¯re going,¡± Sam said. ¡°Maybe,¡± Florence said. She pulled out her phone, swiping her fingers up the screen. Small images with words at the bottom appeared on the screen. But none of this matched what she wanted to find. ¡°Where is my stat?¡± Sam meowed, chasing after Florence. ¡°What do you want now?¡± Florence tapped on the phone, figuring out how to check her stats. ¡°Were you not supposed to be enjoying your view or thinking about your chess match?¡± Sam nodded. ¡°Aye, what about it? I like to do whatever I want.¡± ¡°Where is it?¡± ¡°Where is what?¡± ¡°I could not find it.¡± Sam extended his claws, digging and tugging on Florence¡¯s dress. Florence turned towards Sam. ¡°Pardon me, what do you want now?¡± she asked. ¡°Give me your phone,¡± Sam said. Florence, with a plain face, stared at Sam. She lowered her phone, loosening her grip around it. ¡°By the looks of it, you¡¯re clearly lost like an actual pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°But¡­ you are a cat,¡± Florence said. ¡°Aye, you don¡¯t have to repeat it. Just give me your phone.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but¡ª¡± ¡°Just do it already.¡± Florence kneeled down and showed her phone to Sam. Sam pressed his paws on a bar chart image. Then Florence¡¯s stats flashed on the screen. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Sam widened his eyes. ¡°Error?¡± ¡°Do not ask me why,¡± Florence said. Weird that her stats were still in error. Wouldn¡¯t the Wellor System have identified and corrected this mistake for her? She stood back up, slapping her feet across the ground towards the fence guarded by those pink androids. ¡°How may I help?¡± one of those androids asked. ¡°I would like to enter,¡± Florence said. Sam raised his paws in the air. ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Why would you want to enter?¡± the android asked. ¡°I want to go to the Walled City,¡± Florence said, pointing at Sam. ¡°I don¡¯t know about him, though.¡± A blue ray of light shoots from the android visor, scanning Florence¡¯s face. The fence door creaked open. ¡°You may come in,¡± the android said. ¡°Good luck, you¡¯ll need it.¡± Florence and Sam walked through, going down the staircase to a platform. Florence swept her hand across, brushing away the cobweb blocking her path. ¡°Why did the androids say good luck to us?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Not me, but you.¡± Sam sneezed. ¡°Go figure. Am I right?.¡± ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a cat.¡± Florence halted, widening her eyes and staring at Sam. Sam kept strolling forward, going under the turnstile. He bounced towards a dimly lit platform. ¡°Keep moving, pleb.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Florence said. She forced herself to take a step, going over the turnstile and following Sam. ¡°Why did the androids only check and ask me questions, not you?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already said it yourself like¡­ twice, I think.¡± ¡°Right¡­ I almost forgot something important that I had to do.¡± Florence and Sam leaped off the platform, clattering crushed rocks below as they landed. The rushing of sewer water muddled a faint scream within the pipes above, ringing in Florence¡¯s ears. In front of them, they inched forward into a tunnel. A moment later, they reached a door with an electrical warning sign. Florence gripped the handle, pushing the door open with an eerie creak. They stepped inside, where Yuze rested next to the oak table. ¡°Do you actually know where you¡¯re going?¡± Sam asked. ¡°I get the general idea,¡± Florence said. ¡°But I just have to check on someone before I leave.¡± She trudged towards Yuze. Florence lowered herself to the floor, pushing her fingers on Yuze¡¯s carotid artery in the neck. Yuze¡¯s heart pulsed sixty times in one minute, tickling Florence¡¯s skin. Yuze¡¯s eyes stayed half open, glancing at Florence. A dried-up scab plastered on the bite wound of Yuze¡¯s swollen left thigh. Her skin now burns hot on the touch. ¡°Done yet, pleb,¡± Sam said. Florence pushed herself back to her feet. ¡°Absolutely, everything. I am certain her body is responding fine¡­ for a few days at least. But it is hard to say if we cannot get her to nearby hospitals.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I cannot diagnose her alone. There needs to be a full medical team on hand to help.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m asking why Yuze is fine, pleb.¡± Sam yawned. ¡°Pardon me, I will just go¡­ now,¡± Florence said. Sam curled into a ball with his front leg resting on his belly. ¡°Whatever, go do what you want.¡± Florence turned around, trudging onwards and through the opened door with an electrical warning sign. The crushed rocks shifted under her feet, inching deeper into the tunnel, stepping past a collapsed pipe. The light flickered. A loud scratching on the wall and shuffling of crushed rocks echoed from afar behind her. She spun around. But¡­ nothing. She inched back. A drip splashed on her head, shivering her spine. A brown slug-like substance trickled down her face. She covered her mouth tight as a rancid odor filled her nostrils. She tilted her head, looking at the ceiling where a pipe leaked those liquids. Fingers wrapped onto her shoulder. She jolted her head back down. It was then Aisling appeared. Blood swashed from Aisling¡¯s mouth. An ear-piercing screech rang in Florence¡¯s ears, with Aisling dragging the tip of her dagger across a wall. ¡°I finally found you,¡± Aisling said. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Florence hugged herself. ¡°I think¡­ you should go to the hospital.¡± Aisling coughed, spitting out blood. ¡°Definitely,¡± Florence said. ¡°Also, could you know?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯m fine.¡± Aisling wiped her mouth, sheathing her dagger. ¡°Copacetic, how did you find me?¡± Aisling tapped the side of her skull a few times. ¡°Absolutely, you have got a thick skull. A really thick one,¡± Florence said. Aisling smacked her palm on her forehead. ¡°This is not what I meant.¡± Florence slumped her shoulders, turned around, and continued trudging, plunging further into the tunnel. But Aisling tightened her hold on her, preventing her from moving. ¡°What do you want?¡± Florence asked. ¡°They¡¯re gonna be coming,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We need to wait for them.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Yuze and Stella.¡± ¡°Who told you I was here?¡± ¡°Yuze.¡± ¡°You are joking, right? I am certain she was still asleep.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me why. But she could tell you were there a moment ago, even if she is sleeping.¡± Florence blinked at Aisling, taken aback by Aisling¡¯s comment. Around the corner of this tunnel emerged Stella, supporting Yuze as she limped closer to the back of Aisling. But one of Stella¡¯s hands held four packaging boxes, which she hid behind. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Florence asked. Yuze maintained a blank face with the hue drained out. ¡°Pizza delivery.¡± ¡°To District Nine,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We must first go through Walled City and Beacon Island.¡± ¡°Is this legal,¡± Florence said. She shoved Aisling¡¯s hand away. ¡°Yes¡­ I mean, no¡­ I think.¡± Stella shifted her weight from left to right. An eerie silence rang throughout the tunnel and into Florence¡¯s ears. ¡°Is this legal at all?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I mean, you were about to do it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Gonna be honest, we¡¯re kinda breaking the law and not breaking it simultaneously.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but why?¡± ¡°Food delivery.¡± Aisling reached into the pocket of her ripped jeans, bringing out a phone. She swiped her finger up, tapping on the screen. Then she flipped it around, showing what looked like four different receipts, each with its own prices ranging from the millions. ¡°So, we are killing five birds with one stone,¡± Florence said. Aisling shrugged. ¡°Not really. We still got a debt to pay.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said, gazing at Aisling and Stella. ¡°I wonder.¡± Florence turned around, trudging away from them. ¡°Copacetic, we should get going.¡± ¡°Wait for us,¡± Aisling said. She put her phone back into the pocket of her ripped jeans and chased after Florence. The lights suddenly switched off, plunging them into a void. The world suddenly spun upside down. Florence¡¯s stomach twisted. Something underneath her foot cracked. She tilted her head down. At this moment, the light flickered back on, and right below, the skulls of a human stared straight at her. Bones scattered above the crushed rocks, and a rusted gate towered before her. ¡°Where did all of these come from?¡± Florence asked. Aisling coughed, clenching on her chest with a fist. ¡°Florence, what kinda reaction is that? I thought you were gonna scream or vomit like me when I went this deep in this tunnel for the first several times.¡± ¡°It is only a bunch of bones, nothing much.¡± ¡°Nope, I¡¯m not talking about that.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°We entered the territory haunted by a ghost. So, a few side effects might be happening right about now.¡± Suddenly, the bile from her stomach shot up her throat. She bent over, hugging her abdomen. She zipped her lips shut. But this gooey and rancid vomit managed to leak out of her mouth. ¡°Here we go,¡± Aisling said. ¡°This is what I was talking about.¡± Florence sniffed. ¡°Haunted by a ghost? Why have you not told me earlier?¡± ¡°Dumb,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Yuze means that she is stupid, Florence,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Not me¡­ at all.¡± ¡°What about all of you?¡± Florence vomited again. ¡°Why are any of you not vomiting?¡± Stella gagged, pushing the stack of packaging boxes closer to her face. Aisling winked, smiling. ¡°What do you think it is?¡± Suddenly, the rusted gate creaked open. Lights flushed in, blinding Florence. An uproar of cheers bursted in as well, ringing her eardrums. ¡°NPCs, please welcome our next contestants for this month¡¯s chess championship,¡± someone said in an almost static voice as if speaking through a microphone. Chapter 12: Chess 2.0 Florence covered her eyes from the blinding lights. Suddenly, a gust from behind pushed her into an enclosed stadium. Her face slammed into the smooth and dense cheesecake floor. A mouthful of sweet and cheesy tingled on her tongue. An uproar of cheers rang in her ears. She lifted her head up with chunks of cake stuck on her face. Aisling clenched her abdomen, eyeing the chocolate-themed chess board with each piece carrying a rifle on top. Florence turned to the right, where Yuze took a bite off the waffle wall. Stella screamed, holding the four packaging boxes over her head. She dove under a black candy skull at one end of the chessboard. A white skull, also made of candy, stood on the other side. ¡°Please welcome our new contestants,¡± someone said from above. ¡°Apparently, it looks like a bunch of Players to me.¡± Florence tilted her head up. A television monitor hung on the ceiling, showing a rat with a pink ribbon tied on the tail holding a microphone. The crowds with various features, ranging from animal to machine to stone qualities, whistled and clapped. They sat on waffle seats, celebrating as a radio-headed bloke climbed up the staircase escorted by two guards with dog ears towards the jelly-like guillotine. ¡°I want to say to all of the NPCs here that our champion is still not here yet,¡± the rat said. ¡°Idiot cat. Before I forget, please do not say rifles go boom, and also remember to give your bet on who will win today.¡± Florence waved at the screen. ¡°Where is the exit? I am in a bit of a rush.¡± ¡°Of course I do. But you¡¯ll be competing.¡± ¡°Could I not.¡± The crowd booed, throwing desserts at Florence. A few splattered on her. ¡°What was that for?¡± Florence wiped her face. ¡°You can¡¯t leave¡­ or else,¡± the rat said, pointing at the radio-headed bloke beside the guillotine. ¡°This will happen to you.¡± Those guards with dog ears secured the radio-headed bloke into a pillory of this jelly-like guillotine. ¡°Wait,¡± the radio-headed bloke said. ¡°I¡¯m innocent.¡± Florence pointed at the jelly-like guillotine. ¡°Pardon me, how are you certain this works?¡± ¡°Shut up, traitor,¡± the rat said. He gave a thumbs down. The radio-headed bloke screamed. ¡°Wait, give me a minute.¡± Those guards pulled the lever, releasing the blade. It sliced through the radio-headed bloke¡¯s neck with a single and clean pass. The head squashed onto the cheesecake floor below. Aisling salivated, dripping onto the cheesecake floor as she stared at the chocolate chessboard. ¡°I think you got your answer, Florence,¡± she said. She wiped her mouth and walked to Florence. Florence cleared her throat. ¡°I think¡­ I would rather not.¡± ¡°You shall not exit until you play in this chess tournament,¡± the rat said. ¡°But if you fail to win¡­ I guess you¡¯ll be next on the guillotine.¡± Behind Florence, a wind burst into the stadium, propelling Sam forward. He flipped in the air and landed on his paws. The rat raised the microphone in the air. ¡°Finally, our champion has arrived.¡± The crowds burst into excitement, jumping out of their chairs and shouting. Inside, Florence¡¯s brain clicked, remembering what Sam told her about him being a chess player. ¡°I thought he was joking this entire time,¡± she said. ¡°Nope, this was not a joke,¡± Aisling said. She smacked Florence on the back. ¡°To be honest, he was kinda telling you the truth.¡± ¡°Now, if all of you on the field could stand next to the massive candy skull on the opposite end of the chessboard,¡± the rat said. ¡°That would be nice.¡± Aisling pounced, ripping a handful of the chocolate chess board and taking a bite. The rat slammed his head with a microphone. ¡°Stop eating it.¡± Aisling shook her head with a handful of chocolate stuffed in her mouth. ¡°Whatever,¡± the rat said. Sam hissed. ¡°Give me catnips.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡± Stella peeped through the eye socket of the black candy skull. ¡°I do want to¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t want to be here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have catnip,¡± the rat said. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m not playing.¡± Sam rolled to his back, clawing the air with his paws. ¡°I think we might have to do it,¡± Florence said. ¡°Today¡¯s main course will be the guillotine,¡± the rat said. ¡°If you really refuse to compete in this chess tournament.¡± Sam meowed, dilating his pupils as he eyed the rat. ¡°Fine,¡± the rat said. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll give you some.¡± A compartment winded open underneath the television, dropping the catnips. The catnips floated down. Sam wagged his tail, opening his mouth to get as many as possible. He sniffed, chewing the herbs. His pupils dilated even more. ¡°I think he might be intoxicated,¡± Florence said. ¡°More.¡± Sam rolled and rubbed his body over the catnip. ¡°Give me more.¡± ¡°Great,¡± the rat said. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll give you more catnip and one hundred thousand dollars if you win.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Florence, you see why I don¡¯t wanna get to District Nine in such a hurry,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Mainly because of this. If we lose, we¡¯re dead, and Sam will win us one hundred thousand dollars. But if we win, we¡¯re kinda dead, and I guess it¡¯s time to say goodbye to the prize.¡± Florence scuffed. ¡°This is ridiculous.¡± ¡°She knows.¡± Yuze stuffed bits of the waffle wall into her mouth. ¡°I kinda hate reading tournament arcs,¡± Aisling said, folding her arm. ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable that now I¡¯ve gotta participate in one.¡± ¡°What is a tournament arc?¡± Florence asked. Aisling turned her head, dropping her jaws open. She stared blankly at Florence. ¡°Old,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Florence, you really haven¡¯t heard of it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Are you my grandmother or something?¡± ¡°Rude.¡± Florence¡¯s heart sank, pointing at herself. ¡°I am not that old. I am still young.¡± ¡°Seriously, all of you should get into your positions,¡± the rat said. ¡°Who?¡± Yuze asked. The rat crosses his paws, remaining silent. Yuze pointed at herself. ¡°Us?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m talking about you and the other contestant,¡± the rat said. Florence trudged to the black candy skull, but no one else did; they all kept doing their thing. ¡°Hello? Are any of you deaf or what?¡± the rat asked. ¡°Nope.¡± Aisling waved at the television monitor hanging on the ceiling. ¡°I could kinda hear you nice and clear.¡± ¡°Oh, really. Then why aren¡¯t you moving to your position at all.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Great, now you decide to be deaf.¡± Yuze burped, pressing her abdomen. She slumped to the floor, hugging herself to sleep. ¡°Yuze?¡± Florence trudged to Yuze¡¯s side and poked her cheeks. ¡°Wake up.¡± ¡°Too much.¡± ¡°Too much of what?¡± Florence tilted her head up, patting Yuze on the forehead. Now, she had found a caved-in hole in the waffle wall. ¡°I see,¡± Florence said. She glanced over her shoulder. Behind her, the television monitor flashed, displaying a bar chart, with the white bar significantly higher than the black one. ¡°It seems our audience had given their bets,¡± the rat said. ¡°Now, let our chess games begin.¡± Sam pounced onto the white candy skull. ¡°Pawn to E-Four.¡± The white pawn moved forward two spaces, scraping her feet against the chocolate chessboard. ¡°Pardon me, I need a minute,¡± Florence said. The rat squeaked. ¡°For the love of god. Stop stalling.¡± ¡°Catnip,¡± Sam said. Florence tucked her thighs under Yuze¡¯s head. The rat growled. ¡°There are literally three of you going up against one cat. Couldn¡¯t any of you play or what?¡± ¡°Is actually four,¡± Aisling said. A loud bang reverberated inside the black skull as Stella yelped. But as quickly as it came, she fell silent. ¡°Whatever.¡± The rat rolled his eyes. ¡°You just have to play these chess games. Nothing more, nothing less. It¡¯s as simple as that.¡± Aisling paced around the enclosed stadium as an eerie silence grew. Florence turned her attention back to Yuze, checking the temperature on Yuze¡¯s forehead. It was burning hot to the touch. ¡°Guards,¡± the rat said. The two guards marched away from the guillotine, going down the staircase. ¡°Pawn to E-Six,¡± Florence said. However, the black pawn didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Why is my pawn not moving?¡± Florence asked. The black pawn wheeled around. ¡°Did you think that I¡¯ll move there?¡± Florence blinked. She froze, completely speechless as to what happened. ¡°If I move up there, I¡¯ll literally get blocked by her,¡± the black pawn said, pointing at the white pawn. ¡°Is it me, or is that thing just talking to me,¡± Florence said. ¡°Unbelievable, this is some interesting turn of events.¡± The rat sneezed, slapping his chest. ¡°Bless me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really interesting,¡± the black pawn said. ¡°Apparently, none of you have ever seen a magnificent lady like me.¡± Florence squinted, staring at the black pawn. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± The black pawn clicked her tongue. ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever seen a lady before?¡± Florence shook her head. ¡°Good, continue to remain quiet,¡± the black pawn said. Sam sniffed a line of catnips on the white skull. ¡°Pawn to D-Four.¡± This time, another white pawn shifted her weight forward, moving two tiles up. ¡°Pardon me, it should be my turn,¡± Florence said. ¡°Sorry, lad,¡± the rat said. ¡°Chess got an update. So, a few rules have been changed¡­ more or less.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°A few years ago. Wait a minute, how did you never hear of it before?¡± The muscles within Florence tightened, glancing over to the jelly-like guillotine. She could imagine her sister laughing at her because Florence died in this ridiculous manner. Sam reached into the eye socket of the black skull, withdrawing a card from within. ¡°I call forth my Black Forest Dragon.¡± ¡°How are you certain this is chess that we are playing?¡± Florence asked. A roar rumbled throughout the sweet air. From the television, it winded opening, releasing a dragon. The crowds cheered, throwing whatever they could find upwards. A wind blew over Florence as the dragon flapped its wings, descending towards the center of the chocolate chess board. Its scales shimmered in a sponge-like texture under the light. A whipped cream and cherries decor was spotted along this dragon¡¯s spine. ¡°It should be my turn,¡± Florence said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said previously?¡± The rat snarled. ¡°Unbelievable.¡± Aisling ripped another chunk of the chocolate chessboard. ¡°Florence, aren¡¯t you surprised by this stuff?¡± ¡°What do you think I am trying to do?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Hey, what¡¯re you doing?¡± The rat threw his microphone. The eardrums of Florence rang. She winced, cupping her ears. Then she pointed at herself. ¡°No, I¡¯m not talking about you,¡± the rat said. ¡°I¡¯m talking about that one Player who is eating the game itself.¡± Aisling took a bite out of the chocolate chessboard. ¡°Hey, stop eating it right now,¡± the rat said. The lump of chocolate dropped to the cheesecake floor as Aisling raised her palm above her head. ¡°As my Black Forest Dragon is on the field, I¡¯m allowed to summon one more piece to the field.¡± Sam meowed, waving his tail. ¡°I shall summon forth my Sachertorte Hydra.¡± A dense chocolate melted out from the maw of the Black Forest Dragon. A puddle formed below, morphing into a separate with three heads coated with dark chocolate icing. A thin layer of apricot jam ran between the upper and lower half. Spikes of whipped creams ran along from its nose to tail. Sam purred in a low pitch from his throat. ¡°I¡¯m not done yet, pleb,¡± he said. ¡°Now, Black Forest Dragon and Sachertorte Hydra attack.¡± ¡°Is it me, or is this borderline unfair?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Why does he get to move this many times?¡± A stream of fire burst through the mouth of those dragons, incinerating the ten black pawns. The chocolate melted. ¡°Please, someone tell me this is not chess,¡± Florence said. ¡°No,¡± the rat said. Florence bit her lips, slamming the black candy skull. She slumped down to the cheesecake floor, hiding her face between her knees. She lifted her head and discovered Stella with her eyes closed. Stella slumped over the stacks of packaging boxes. ¡°Rifles go boom,¡± Aisling said. All the chess pieces pulled out their rifles, lining the rear sight on each other¡¯s heads. They pointed the barrels at each other, and clicks echoed throughout the enclosed stadium. An eruption of cheers exploded from the audience, waiting for what would happen. A chess piece pulled the trigger. Bang. A bullet exited the muzzle, flying through the air. Chapter 13: Hide and Run A bullet whizzed, piercing through the head of a white bishop. All at once, a blaze of gunfire exploded within the stadium. Leads thudded onto the melted chocolate chess board. Cheers erupted as the Black Forest Dragon and Sachertorte Hydra breathed a stream of fire at the ceiling. Florence dropped to the cheesecake floor, lying flat on her stomach, covering her head and neck. Then Stella squeezed the four packaging boxes inside a white candy skull, wriggling out of it. The rat squeaked on a television screen above them, holding onto his tail with a pink ribbon tied to it. Sam sniffed, rubbing on the catnip and chewing a mouthful. Yuze snored with chunks of waffles and candy flying in the air. Aisling crawled while dragging Yuze towards Florence. ¡°Pardon me, what have you done?¡± Florence asked. Aisling coughed, taking a bite on the cheesecake floor. She opened her mouth to speak, but the screams, cheers, and gunfire drowned her voice. ¡°What?¡± Florence asked. Aisling opened and closed her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Florence screamed with bullets flying over her head. ¡°I cannot hear you.¡± Aisling pinched and leaned closer to Florence¡¯s ear. ¡°Cheat codes¡­ kinda,¡± she said. ¡°You got an escape plan?¡± Florence asked. ¡°This is my plan.¡± ¡°What?¡± Stella jolted up, slapping Florence and Aisling in the face. Aisling squeezed her cheeks. ¡°Ouch, that kinda hurts,¡± she said. She smiled, squinting at Stella. ¡°I¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t mean it¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Stella said. Florence winced. ¡°I do not see how we could escape this mess.¡± ¡°Look, if everyone is kinda dead, we could escape from here,¡± Aisling said. ¡°It¡¯s kinda a checkmate if you ask me about it.¡± Florence, with a blank face, stared at Aisling. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Aisling said. ¡°What sort of ridiculous joke is that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Is not that bad. I¡¯ve kinda said stuff even worse than that.¡± A black rook scooped across the cheesecake floor, aiming a rifle barrel at Florence. Florence closed her eyes, and her eardrums rang. A burning lead scathed across her skin. Her throat constricted, holding the scream in. Someone gripped her wrist. But, all at once, the shout, cheers, and banging of gunshots fell into an eerie silence. She opened one of her eyes. A lead barreled, stopping inches away from her face. For a certain reason, all those other bullets also froze mid-flight. Sam and all of the NPCs stopped, expressing an unnatural expression. Even the streams of fire shot from those two mythical reptiles froze solid. Out of the blue, Aisling yanked Florence, pulling them closer together. All at once, everything kicked back to action. From the bullets splatter through the deserts and sweets to the roar of cheers. The black rook collapsed to the cheesecake floor, oozing a dark liquid from a gun wound in her head. ¡°Hey, you alright,¡± Aisling said with a strained voice. Florence winced, covering the scratch on her cheek. ¡°Absolutely, but what just happened.¡± ¡°Ability,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Nah.¡± ¡°Nothing much.¡± Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. Her face drained from any color. ¡°If all of you¡¯re fine, that¡¯s fine with me.¡± The black rook crumbled into dust, revealing a blue crystal with a warm glow. ¡°Money,¡± Yuze said. ¡°I swear I have seen this before,¡± Florence said, pointing at the blue crystal. ¡°If I remember correctly, I saw this in a cafe or something.¡± ¡°Insert blue candy joke here,¡± Aisling said. Florence furrowed her brow, staring at Aisling. ¡°You really can¡¯t take a joke at all.¡± Aisling wheezed, clutching her chest. ¡°You boomer.¡± ¡°Is boomer a type of¡­ you know?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Never mind¡­ you¡¯re just hopeless.¡± ¡°Hopeless? How?¡± Yuze rolled over to the blue crystal, grabbing it. Then she stuffed it into the pocket of her black leather jacket. ¡°Pardon me, but do you have an escape plan?¡± Florence asked. ¡°By the way, please tell me that crystal will help us?¡± Aisling turned towards the gates. ¡°Nope, it¡¯s totally useless in this situation. But we kinda need to do something else first.¡± ¡°Do not tell me you are trying to go back?¡± ¡°This place is literally haunted by a ghost. Anything is possible.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°We wait for them to kill each other, and then we¡¯re gonna dash for the exit.¡± Florence and Aisling stared at each other in an eerie silence forming between them. The crowd of NPCs cheered. Bullets fired, whizzing through the air. Aisling squinted, tilting her head and opening her mouth wide. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Should we exorcize the ghost haunt this place?¡± Florence asked. Aisling waved her hands. ¡°I don¡¯t think we should.¡± ¡°Ability,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Bad.¡± ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t quite catch that.¡± ??Florence blinked and scratched the back of her head. ¡°Why should we¡­ not do that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. Don¡¯t think about it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°The ghost that haunts this place is kinda none of our business.¡± Stella yawned, sitting up and stretching her arms into the air. She rubbed her eyes as leads flew past her. Immediately, Aisling grabbed Stella, yanking her to rest on the ground. ¡°Be careful,¡± Aisling said. ¡°How about we focus on getting out of here?¡± Florence rubbed her forehead. ¡°Instead of just sitting around and doing nothing,¡± she said. Stella yelped, covering her head with the four packaging boxes. ¡°What¡­ I mean, what¡¯s happening right now?¡± ¡°You miss,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Many things.¡± ¡°Everyone, we have got to focus on the task at hand,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup, go ahead.¡± Aisling waved her arm. ¡°Crawl over there if you wanna be an insane and suicidal maniac.¡± Florence pointed at herself, wondering what Aisling was talking about. ¡°Forget about it.¡± Aisling palmed her head, covering her face. A ball of fire exploded behind the chocolate chessboard. The white king¡¯s head whirled, landing on Florence¡¯s palm. ¡°Hello,¡± the white king said. Florence, Aisling, and Stella screamed. Aisling grabbed the white king, tossing him into a crossfire. The white king yelped. ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Aisling said. Florence inhaled and exhaled, counting down from one to three in her brain. ¡°Could all of you chess pieces stop shooting at each other.¡± Aisling coughed. She squeezed her neck. Blood poured out of her mouth, splashing on the cheesecake. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m fine,¡± Aisling said. ¡°It¡¯s kinda some side effects of my¡­¡± ¡°Of your what?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Honestly, I think it will be better for us to get you to the hospital.¡± Aisling wiped her lips and chin, smiling at Florence. ¡°Look, something is wrong with your lungs, Aisling,¡± Florence said. ¡°But I cannot possibly diagnose and treat you by myself. You need others¡¯ help from the hospital for you to recover. You understand me?¡± ¡°If we could kinda avoid it first, then yup¡­ I guess we could go there,¡± Aisling said. ¡°How about we use that crystal Yuze just got? Maybe that crystal could help you or all of us somehow?¡± ¡°Yup, we could use it. But¡­ I think we have to use it somewhere else.¡± ¡°Where?¡± The firing of guns died down. Florence carefully pushed herself off the cheesecake floor. A desolate land filled with crumbling chess pieces on the board facing her. Holes riddled across every single of the waffle wall. One of the audience booed. ¡°Hey, this sucks. Give me a refund right now.¡± ¡°I guess we are done here?¡± Florence asked. The gates creaked. A gray king scrapped his feet across the cheesecake floor, stopping inches from the chess board. ¡°Is it me, or is he in a different color?¡± Florence asked. The gray king scooped a handful of the crumbling black queen. ¡°What¡¯ve you done?¡± Everyone in the enclosed stadium turned towards Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. ¡°I think we should be heading out soon,¡± Florence said. She pumped her legs, slapping her feet across the cheesecake floor, reaching the gates with Aisling, Yuze, and Stella following. ¡°Florence, what are you thinking about doing this time?¡± Aisling said, grasping Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you can leave¡­ like at all,¡± the rat said. ¡°Everyone arrest those Players.¡± The entire stadium stayed eerily silent. Everyone watched the television screen hanging on the ceiling displaying the rat. ¡°Do I have to speak Spanish or something for all you NPCs to understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± The rat pulled his ears. ¡°The first one to catch those Players will win today¡¯s reward, dead or alive.¡± An uproar rumbled. Sam and the crowd turned into a mob, jumping off where they once sat, screeching their lungs out. They dashed towards Florence. Aisling and Stella screamed. Yuze jumped into Aisling¡¯s arms, and together, they fled from the enclosed stadium. But instead of returning to the tunnel filled with bones, they sank into something fluffy beneath them. Before Florence knew it, the mass of cotton candy below swallowed her. A burst of sweetness and caramel popped into her mouth. Suddenly, she fell through, splashing into a river of cloudy yellow liquid. She kicked and thrashed, descending deeper into the tangy notes. Her eyes stung, closing it shut. A hand grabbed her wrist, pulling her to the bank of a river covered in smashed biscuits. ¡°Pardon me, why is this different than before?¡± Florence asked. Aisling sank, wiggling her body, failing to stay afloat. ¡°I¡¯m kinda sure you know why this is happening.¡± ¡°How is this Candy Wonderland haunted? Am I supposed to not see the ghost just like in the Wellor Tower?¡± ¡°You kinda already saw that ghost who haunted this candy land.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Aisling shrugged, yanking Yuze and Stella out of the river. Sam crawled to the opposing bank of the river, heaving with every single step. ¡°Coward,¡± he said. ¡°Come back here, plebs¡­ and Stella. I¡¯m not done yet.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Why are you chasing us, Sam?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Are we not on the same boat?¡± ¡°What boat? I don¡¯t see one.¡± Sam extended his claws, pointing at all of them. ¡°I¡¯m the only one paying our debt, bills, necessities, and rent.¡± Aisling unsheathed her dagger. ¡°You wanna fight? Then get over here.¡± ¡°Pardon me, we should not fight each other now,¡± Florence said. Yuze nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°It¡¯s kinda none of your business,¡± Aisling and Sam said. The mob plummeted from the cotton candy above, splashing into the cloudy liquid. They kicked, swashing towards Florence, Aisling Yuze, and Stella. Sam wiggled his tail. ¡°Let the fun begin.¡± A droplet trickled down Florence¡¯s face. She pushed herself up, swooshing her fingers through the foundation made of smashed biscuits. Her hair whipped across her face. Her feet smacked across the ground, dashing away from those chasing them. ¡°Give us a break,¡± Aisling said. On her back, she carried Yuze, catching up to Florence. Behind them, Stella held onto the four soaked packaging boxes, escaping in the same direction as them. The lollipops sticking from the ground loomed over Florence. The smashed biscuits crunched beneath her feet as she dashed past it. ¡°I do¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t want to be here.¡± Stella sneezed, covering her face with the packaging boxes. Her legs trembled with every step of the way. ¡°Same,¡± Florence said. ¡°Where is the exit any way?¡± Aisling smiled, a cloudy liquid trickling down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m going to be honest; just run in a random direction.¡± Both Florence and Aisling turned their heads, staring at each other. Florence slipped, slamming her head against the stick of a lollipop with a bang. Aisling kneeled. She grabbed Florence on the dress, dragging her to her feet. They moved forward in rapid steps as Sam and the mob of NPCs chased behind them. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella stumbled with quickened paces upon an opening, stopping to a halt. A shadow loomed over them. In front of them, the rat held a microphone and stood behind a green cloth. The rat spun away from the camera, looking down at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. Sam and some NPCs screeched to a stop, bumping into Florence. ¡°Florence, this is the ghost that haunts this place,¡± Aisling said. The rat quivered his tail. ¡°I see. So, you¡¯re finally here.¡± Chapter 14: Candy Wonderland On each side of Florence, lollipops sprouted from the crushed biscuits. A shadow grew as it loomed over her. The ground shook, clattering her bones. The cotton candies above drifted like clouds, watching over what would happen. The rat approached Florence, flinging his tail from right to left. Stella trembled, crouching and covering her face with the four wet packaging boxes. An eerie silence penetrated the sweet air as Yuze snored on Aisling¡¯s back. Everyone, including Sam and the mob of NPCs, cheered. ¡°Where is the exit?¡± Florence asked. Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°Wrong time to ask.¡± ¡°Did you seriously think you could escape?¡± The rat growled. ¡°You¡¯re going to stay here in this candy wonderland.¡± ¡°Pardon me, I am slightly busy,¡± Florence said. ¡°Could you perhaps show us the path that leads into the Walled City?¡± Stella yelped, jumping high up. ¡°So, you¡¯re gonna shut your mouth or what,¡± Aisling said. Stella peeped over the stack of packaging boxes with her jaw dropping open. She pointed at herself. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about you,¡± Aisling said. She glanced over to Florence and then the rat. ¡°Me?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Why do you even want to go there?¡± The rat hissed. ¡°You filthy Players.¡± All of them remained in silence. ¡°You¡¯re going to answer me,¡± the rat said. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to answer. You¡¯ll eventually spit it out one way or another.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°It is none of your beeswax. Plus, I have nothing in my mouth that I have to spit out.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? You don¡¯t even have beeswax.¡± ¡°I do not mean it literally.¡± Sam hissed, stepping away from the towering rat. The rat¡¯s eyes popped out of his sockets. ¡°What do you want now, Sam?¡± ¡°My reward, aye,¡± Sam said. ¡°Later.¡± ¡°Catnips and money. Give it now.¡± ¡°Again.¡± ¡°Aye, where¡¯s it?¡± Florence raised her hand into the air. The rat rolled his eyes. ¡°Just¡­ stop,¡± he said. ¡°This is just¡­ absurd at this point. Don¡¯t any of you think so?¡± Every single NPC nodded in unison. ¡°See, even those idiots agree,¡± the rat said. He rubbed the pink ribbon on his tail, turning his head to Florence. ¡°Anyway, what makes you think you can easily escape me?¡± Sam hissed. ¡°Give me. Right now, pleb.¡± ¡°How about showing me the entrance to the Walled City? That would be nice,¡± Florence said. ¡°I am a bit busy.¡± ¡°Wrong timing to say it, Florence,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Do you think I care?¡± The rat squeaked. ¡°If I guess, you¡¯re one of those occult detectives or Players who want fame and glory.¡± Florence took a step back. ¡°How did you¡­ what?¡± ¡°I think¡­ I mean, I think we should go¡­ now,¡± Stella said. Aisling coughed, wheezing. ¡°Yup, this is gonna be great,¡± she said. ¡°How about no?¡± The rat scratched his face, salivating from the corner of his mouth. ¡°You shall entertain me until you die. Also, did you forget what you had done?¡± The mob of NPCs gasped, covering their mouths. ¡°Pardon me, I know we might have ruined this chess competition¡­ I guess,¡± Florence said. ¡°So, I want to apologize on Aisling¡¯s behalf.¡± Aisling squinted with a smile. ¡°Hey, what did I do?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t just ruin it. You destroyed it,¡± the rat said. ¡°Literally, borderline psychotic.¡± ¡°Well, I actually did not,¡± Florence said, pointing at Aisling. ¡°She did it.¡± A gal with reindeer horns sprouting from her raised her hand in the middle of all the NPCs. ¡°Where¡¯s our reward?¡± ¡°Unbelievable,¡± the rat said. ¡°Kill them.¡± Yuze lifted her head with her eyes half closed. ¡°Kill who?¡± ¡°Yup, this is a bit confusing,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You.¡± The rat nibbled his nails. ¡°Kill those Players, now.¡± The mob around Florence screeched. Sam hissed, pouncing on Aisling and clawing her face. She screamed, wrestling him, releasing her grip on Yuze. Yuze fell, crunching the crushed biscuits below her. Aisling stumbled, tripping over Yuze. Still, Sam managed to stay put on Aisling¡¯s face. At the same time, all the NPCs ran, jumping onto Florence, squashing her beneath their weight. The air pushed out of Florence¡¯s lungs, depriving her of oxygen. Stella yelped, excavating a tunnel beneath her. Florence struggled and choked. Everything faded, fainting into darkness. She crawled and kicked. But not moving in the slightest. A shiver ran down her nerves, and goosebumps spread across her skin. An encouraging whisper from her sister echoed in Florence¡¯s ears. After everything that had happened in the past, from the cries and screams of the Great War, this was the ridiculous way to end. No¡­ she couldn¡¯t simply let go. She must continue on to survive. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Fingers wrapped around her inflamed forearm, pulling her out. The weight that piled on her disappeared. The whispering faded, turning into silence. Her vision cleared up. The rat didn¡¯t move with his jaw open inches from her face. Everyone in her surroundings didn¡¯t budge. Then she got pushed to the side, facing cotton candy frozen high up. Aisling laughed, clenching her abdomen. ¡°Hey, you wanna wake up or what?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Sorry, I just can¡¯t hold myself in.¡± ¡°Holding yourself in for what?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Absolutely not; I am just wondering why it is like¡­ I do not know what is even going on?¡± Aisling wheezed, crouching on the ground. Blood oozed out of her mouth, splashing on the ground. At the same time, the NPCs screeched behind Florence. Stella peeped through the hole she made. Yuze snored. ¡°I told you to go to the hospital countless times,¡± Florence said. ¡°I lost count of it.¡± ¡°How haven¡¯t you realized that I saved you with this time manipulation deus ex machina thingy three times¡­ or something¡­ I kinda can¡¯t remember.¡± Aisling inhaled and exhaled with a shaky breath. She grabbed Florence on the wrist and ran towards Sam. Sam dilated his pupils. ¡°Hold up. I was like¡­ wait, what? When did you get over there?¡± Aisling scooped Sam under his belly. He slapped her. Sam hissed. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tactically your owner,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You got it the other way around, pleb.¡± ¡°Really? Gonna be honest, this is kinda not interesting coming from you.¡± The rat swung his tail. Aisling ducked, yanking Stella out of her hole. Florence¡¯s head jolted back as she got slammed in the face. She soared, dragging Aisling and Stella along. They landed next to Yuze with a crunch. ¡°Well, that was convenient,¡± Aisling said. A trickle of blood oozed from the nostril of Florence, tickling her as it went down to her chin. She wiped. ¡°Pardon me, but how exactly?¡± Sam sank his teeth into Aisling¡¯s flesh. Aisling screamed. She released her grip around Sam. ¡°Get your hands off me, pleb,¡± Sam said. A bloke with machine arms lunged at Aisling. Aisling ducked. ¡°What was that for?¡± An ox horn sticking out of a woman¡¯s forehead charged over Aisling, slamming her face onto the rat¡¯s fluff. ¡°How did you¡­ you know?¡± Florence asked. Aisling pulled Florence to her side. A fist Florence scratched past her cheeks. ¡°Would you like to stop talking for a moment?¡± Aisling slammed her foot between the legs of someone behind Florence. Florence wheeled around. A male NPC with fish gills on his neck moaned, clutching the spot where he got kicked. He thudded to his knees. Tears trickled down his face, splashing onto the crushed biscuit¡¯s ground. ¡°Brutal,¡± Florence said. ¡°Do I have to repeat myself?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Because I don¡¯t wanna do it.¡± Yuze opened her eyes, pulling her revolver out, aiming it at the male with fish gills on his neck. The revolver clicked. But¡­ nothing¡­ not even a bullet flew out of the barrel. ¡°I forgot,¡± Yuze said. Her stomach growled. ¡°I should have reminded you to bring it next time, Yuze,¡± Aisling said. She coughed, sidestepping a swing from the rat¡¯s tail. ¡°Idiot.¡± The ground vibrated. A smug smile plastered onto Yuze¡¯s face. ¡°How do we get out of this situation?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Everyone stop talking,¡± Aisling said, lifting Yuze and Stella up. ¡°Do all of you really wanna fight and chit-chat simultaneously? Because it¡¯s kinda distracting to do both.¡± The rat¡¯s tail swept across the ground. Crumblets of the crushed flew off, blinding Florence. ¡°No,¡± the rat said. ¡°Come on.¡± Aisling clicked her tongue, gripping onto the handle. ¡°This is just¡­ stupid.¡± Florence glanced at the sheathed dagger. ¡°Why are you not using it?¡± Stella screamed, shaking uncontrollably. Aisling coughed, inching backward to the forest of lollipops. ¡°What thing?¡± ¡°Your dagger,¡± Florence said. ¡°Great, trying to kill us faster, I see.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Also, do you wanna shut your mouth or something?¡± Sam hissed, crouching down with his head outstretched. He prowled, closing the gap between Aisling. Aisling rolled her eyes. She pinched at the scruff of Sam¡¯s neck, picking him up. Sam hissed. ¡°Let me go, pleb.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°How about yes.¡± The rat squeaked. ¡°Sorry, but he is my employee.¡± ¡°You got it the other way, pleb,¡± Sam said. He extended his claws, scratching the air. But with each swipe, he missed his target on Aisling. Aisling breezed into the forest of lollipops, dragging Florence, Stella, and Yuze, bringing Sam as well. Florence looked over her shoulder. The NPCs chased after them, but for some reason, the rat froze with a wide grin. Florence sneezed. ¡°Pardon me, why are they still standing over there?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Do you really wanna find out that badly?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± The towering lollipops blurred, stalking Florence. The cotton candies above in the sky zapped past her head. Each step sped towards a single direction, going deeper into this candy forest. Sweetness filled her nostrils as she inhaled and exhaled, not looking back at the land rumbling and NPCs screeching behind her. Aisling, still pinching Sam, dragged Florence, Yuze, and Stella into the same opening. Somehow, they circled back where the rat grinned. The rat opened his arms. ¡°Welcome back.¡± ¡°How did we even get over there?¡± Florence pointed at the ground. ¡°Just¡­ how?¡± ¡°Because this place is haunted, pleb,¡± Sam said. The rat squeaked. ¡°Couldn¡¯t I have some fun with you until you die?¡± Yuze salivated. ¡°Lollipop.¡± The rat stomped, trembling the crushed biscuits below his feet, outstretching his claws. Florence squinted at the rat, dropping her head down. ¡°What? This is supposed to be the part where all of you scream,¡± the rat said. With her hold tight on Sam, Aisling breezed past the rat, pulling Florence, Yuze, and Stella along. Stella yelped, hiding her face. ¡°How did you expect me to be scared,¡± Florence said. ¡°Especially in a place like this where I could take a literal bite out of anything and not die.¡± Aisling raised her hand up. ¡°Could we all agree this is totally scary¡­ not.¡± ¡°How are you certain that this place is haunted? How did we even end up in the same place before?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Yup, this essentially confirms that it¡¯s haunted by a ghost, even though I already kinda knew it.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re asking me now.¡± ¡°This rat does not fit my definition of a ghost.¡± ¡°Gonna be honest here, that is a ghost. But it is kinda hard to tell what it used to be.¡± ¡°Definitely a rat.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that at all.¡± Sam hissed, clawing the air aimlessly. ¡°Hey, what¡¯re you doing?¡± The rat slammed his tail on the crushed biscuit¡¯s ground. ¡°Come back. It¡¯s pointless trying to run.¡± ¡°This is ridiculous.¡± Florence groaned as her legs throbbed. ¡°Why is it so hard to get back home?¡± ¡°I thought, didn¡¯t you just say you want to go to the Walled City,¡± Stella said. ¡°You too. Why¡¯re all of you like this?¡± Aisling wheezed. ¡°Believe me, you don¡¯t want to know what happened between me and Yuze with Florence.¡± ¡°It was not that bad,¡± Florence said. ¡°Bad,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Bad boy.¡± Sam dilated his pupils. ¡°Me. No, you are the bad boy.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but I think Yuze looks like a gal,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup, because she is one,¡± Aisling and Sam said. Every second, the rumbling inched closer. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam re-entered the forest of lollipops again, with the mob screeching and chasing behind them. Florence grinned, opening her eyes wide. At this point, something clicked inside Florence¡¯s brain, and the lollipops blurred together as she fled past it. ¡°What¡¯s with that face, Florence?¡± Aisling tilted her head. ¡°Whatever you¡¯re thinking right now. We¡¯re not gonna do it.¡± ¡°I have got an idea,¡± Florence said. ¡°Please don¡¯t give it or info dump your backstory here.¡± ¡°Do NPCs look up?¡± ¡°This is stupid¡­ we¡¯re not doing whatever you¡¯re planning.¡± Chapter 15: High Up On a Lollipop A few hours passed. Florence wrapped her inflamed forearms high up a lollipop, hanging onto her dear life. Beneath her, the NPCs wandered with their feet crunching on the crushed biscuits. The cotton candy drifted above, far beyond her reach. Yuze snored, sleeping on Aisling¡¯s lap at the top of another lollipop. Aisling¡¯s face drained from any color as Sam sank his teeth into her hand. Stella trembled, sending tremors across the sweet-scented air. ¡°This is really your idea, Florence,¡± Aisling said. She squinted, glaring at Florence. ¡°The rat did not say we could not climb up one of those lollipops,¡± Florence said. Stella closed her eyes shut, curling up into a ball. ¡°I¡­ I mean, I¡­ I guess.¡± ¡°You see that,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Even Stella doesn¡¯t wanna be here.¡± ¡°Pardon me, I am indeed very sorry.¡± Florence groaned as her muscles ached. ¡°Anyways, where is the exit out of this literal candy wonderland.¡± She scanned around the surroundings. Each direction covered miles upon miles of lollipops sprouting from the crushed biscuit ground. Not a single door or a sign pointing at the exit. She sighed, licking the candy mounted on a stick. The sweetness tingled, lasting for a while on her tongue. ¡°At least we¡¯re gonna survive more than a few days in this place,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Just ensure we don¡¯t overeat it¡­ or else we¡¯ll cancel our life subscription.¡± ¡°What life subscription? I do not understand what you meant,¡± Florence said. ¡°Death. That¡¯s about it.¡± ¡°This¡­ certainly makes sense.¡± Sam muffled a meow with Aisling¡¯s hand stuffed in his mouth. He slapped, clawing at her hooded shirt. ¡°What now?¡± Florence asked. Stella covered her with the four packaging boxes. ¡°I wish¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Look, this isn¡¯t my idea,¡± Aisling said. ¡°So, don¡¯t look at me. Ask Florence about it.¡± ¡°Pardon me? No one is looking at you,¡± Florence said. Yuze yawned, reaching into the pocket of her shorts and pulling out her revolver. ¡°Point this?¡± she asked, twirling it around her finger. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a handful?¡± Aisling slumped, losing the twinkle in her eyes. But, still, she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s just that every single time I¡¯ve to save¡­¡± ¡°Pardon me, Aisling, how about you get some rest?¡± Florence asked. Yuze aimed the revolver downwards. ¡°Threaten them?¡± ¡°Save my file¡­ that was what I wanted to say,¡± Aisling said. She shook her head, a twinkle returning in her eyes. ¡°By the way, you are a literal walking definition of an idiot.¡± Below them, a bloke NPC with a car engine sticking out of his legs kicked the stick. Tremors vibrated up, shaking Florence on top. She slipped, losing her hold on top of the lollipop. Her teeth clattered as she dropped down. She wrapped her finger around her wrist, stopping her from falling. She tilted her head upward. Aisling with her hand stretched out, gripping onto Florence. ¡°Thank you,¡± Florence said. ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Aisling coughed. ¡°Where are we supposed to go now?¡± The NPC with car engines on his leg slammed the stick again. ¡°Where did those Players and Sam go anyway?¡± Sam meowed. But, again, Aisling muffled him. A speaker stabbed into the larynx of a female NPC peeped from the back of another lollipop stick. She waved at the bloke NPC with a car engine sticking out of his leg. The bloke NPC with a car engine sticking from his leg crossed his arms. ¡°Have you seen them, Radio Box?¡± ¡°Totally not,¡± Radio Box said without moving her mouth. But, instead, those words of hers uttered in static from the speaker that stabbed into her larynx. ¡°What about you, Engine Legs?¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s whatever. They just disappeared.¡± ¡°Those Players definitely have those abilities?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they¡¯ve it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. They would have already used it if they had it.¡± ¡°Whatever, they probably couldn¡¯t run far away from us.¡± Florence watched Radio Box and Engine Legs talking to each other. Aisling leaned closer, blowing a puff of air into Florence¡¯s ears. A chill shivered down Florence¡¯s spine. She turned her head, looking straight at Aisling. Aisling stretched her finger, thrusting her arms towards the left. But, again, it was only a dense mass of lollipops spread across miles upon miles. Not a different detail could be detected at where she pointed. Florence shook her head, making a talking hand gesture like a person¡¯s opening and closing mouth. Aisling tilted her head. Then she slipped her hands between her armpits, flapping her arms. Immediately, she pushed her shoulders up, glaring at everything around her. In utter shock, Florence slapped her own face. She set the tip of her finger on her own lips. Aisling nodded, raising her palm high up. She hushed, smacking Florence on the face. Florence cupped her cheeks as it burnt red from the hit. Her stomach twisted. The bile rose up her throat. Yuze smirked, pushing herself up. A black box manifested on a¡­ certain finger as she pointed it at Florence and Aisling. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Sam shoved Aisling¡¯s hands away from his mouth, meowing as loud as possible. Both NPCs below stopped talking, wheeling around to find the noise source. ¡°You see,¡± Engine Legs said. ¡°I told you they should be close by.¡± Radio Box threw her hands into the air. ¡°Yeah, I can tell. It sounds like Sam.¡± Florence froze, cupping Sam¡¯s mouth. ¡°This ain¡¯t right,¡± Radio Box said. ¡°Maybe the Players are above us.¡± Both NPC tilted their heads toward the cotton candy drifting in the sky. ¡°Hey, what are they doing up there on the lollipop?¡± Radio box waved her hands. Sam waved his paws. ¡°Whatever, I don¡¯t really care,¡± Engine Legs said. ¡°I mean, he said that they can¡¯t run, but not about climbing up a lollipop and hiding.¡± ¡°This is stupid¡­ how¡¯d we not think of that.¡± ¡°Did you expect any of them to know how to climb?¡± ¡°Not really¡­ But, whatever, I guess we found them.¡± Florence looked at Aisling. ¡°Florence, don¡¯t look at me,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Anyways, do you have a plan,¡± Florence said. ¡°What do you expect me to do? Jump down and break my legs?¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Radio Box knocked her feet on the stick. A shockwave went up the lollipop, shaking Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam. ¡°Hey, let me try again,¡± Engine Legs said. ¡°Could you let us down from here before you continue kicking this lollipop?¡± Florence leaned over the edge. ¡°I would like to talk with you for a minute.¡± Aisling clenched her abdomen. ¡°Gonna be honest, what was the point of that?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ and no,¡± Radio Box. ¡°Engine Legs, you do the honor.¡± A smile twisted on Engine Leg¡¯s face. His foot cut through a stick of the lollipop. Splitters flew in every direction. The lollipop tilted sideways, plummeting towards the crushed biscuit ground. Aisling and Stella screamed, hugging each other. Sam muffled a meow. ¡°Yes and no, as in literally getting all of you down from the lollipop by letting him kick it down.¡± Radio box waved her hand. ¡°Also, by the way, I¡¯m not sorry.¡± ¡°My god, why is this even happening?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Language,¡± Florence said. Yuze closed her eyes, snoring with a smirk. Florence clung to the smooth surface of the lollipop, tensing up her muscles. The ground zoomed closer. The lollipop exploded as it smashed onto the ground, propelling her forward. She crashed and rolled, kicking up the crushed biscuits. She grunted, pushing herself up. But, immediately, Aisling dropped out of nowhere, smashing into Florence¡¯s back. Sam flipped in the air, landing on Florence¡¯s head with a thud. In crunching steps, those two NPCs inched nearer to Florence. Aisling unsheathed a dagger, aiming the tip of it to her throat. ¡°Don¡¯t take a step closer to us,¡± she said. She moved her thighs closer together, squeezing Florence. ¡°You think you could play this game?¡± Radio Box asked. She pulled a knife from her pocket and held it to her neck. ¡°I could also play it.¡± ¡°Yeah, I could do that, too,¡± Engine Legs said. He snatched the knife from Radio Box¡¯s hand and pointed it at his head. ¡°Aisling, stop? It¡­ you know,¡± Florence said. ¡°I dare you,¡± Engine Legs said. ¡°Do it.¡± Aisling furrowing her brow. ¡°Nope, you do it first, coward.¡± Florence raised her hand. ¡°I am a bit concerned about something, everyone. Do any of you know where Stella and Yuze went?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth, pleb.¡± Sam extended his claws, slapping Florence. He hissed. ¡°Stop ruining this reverse Mexican standoff with knives.¡± ¡°Over there,¡± Aisling said. She pointed at Yuze and Stella lying on the crushed biscuits. Radio Box cracked her knuckles. ¡°Focus, Players.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Florence and Aisling asked at the same time. ¡°Yeah, which one are you talking about,¡± Engine Legs said. ¡°There¡¯s more than one here.¡± Radio Box stomped on the crushed biscuit ground. ¡°Are all of you stupid or something? Because, at this point, I¡¯m sure stupidity runs deep in your family.¡± Aisling shook her head. ¡°Quite sure it runs in your family, too.¡± Florence sighed, crawling out from the gap between Aisling¡¯s thighs. ¡°I¡¯m going to find the exit or something.¡± ¡°Come on, I know you want to do it,¡± Engine Legs said. He stared into Aisling¡¯s eyes. ¡°Holding yourself hostage like that.¡± Florence trudged away from Aisling, and Engine Legs argued. The lollipops towering over them bent from right to left. The ground rumbled, kicking the crushed biscuits up. Scratching echoed throughout the forest of candy on a stick. Then, a claw stuck out of the forest of lollipops. Florence froze, unable to move a muscle. From the forest of lollipops, a gray blur bounced towards her. A shadow loomed over her. She tilted her head up. In front of her, the rat standing on his back paws while he grinned at her. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t notice all of you for a moment,¡± the rat said. ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve captured those Players¡­ again,¡± Radio Box said. ¡°Wait, did I say I want you guys to catch them alive?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ wait¡­ you did want us to kill them at one point. So¡­ Do you want me to do the dirty work?¡± ¡°About that¡­ I no longer need them. So, feel free to keep those Players.¡± Radio box threw her hands up. Then she crossed her arms, shaking her head. The rat scratched the back of his ears. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me that?¡± Radio Box smacked her lips together. ¡°Also, before I forget, are we getting our reward for capturing those Players anyway?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you already? It was canceled.¡± ¡°What? When?¡± ¡°I got bored. Also, I¡¯m sure you already know why¡­¡± ¡°So, now you¡¯re telling me I¡¯m not getting my rewards because you got bored.¡± The rat nodded. The knife slipped away from Engine Leg, thudding onto the ground, pushing aside the crushed biscuits. ¡°Yes, everything you just did was completely pointless,¡± the rat said. Radio Box clenched her fist, turning it white. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ why.¡± The scratching rang throughout the forest of lollipops. Florence wheeled around, but only those sticks stabbed into the ground greeted her as if nothing had changed. Aisling diverted the tip of her dagger away from her throat. ¡°So, I guess you don¡¯t want us¡­ entertain you¡­ kinda.¡± ¡°It would be nice if you could show us the exit,¡± Florence said. The rat squeaked. ¡°What else do you think? Well, let¡¯s say someone else convinced me,¡± he said. He wagged his tail. The pink ribbon slid off him, revealing a red eye tattoo on his skin. ¡°As I, Buttercup, could¡­ wait, what was it again?¡± ¡°Come on, seriously?¡± Radio Box stomped away from everyone. ¡°Hey, wait a minute,¡± Engine Legs said. ¡°You forgot your knife.¡± ¡°How about my paycheck, rat?¡± Sam asked. ¡°No,¡± Buttercup said. ¡°Also, by the way, you¡¯re fired.¡± An eerie silence rang through the air as Sam dilated his pupils. ¡°Your expenditure is way too costly,¡± Buttercup said. ¡°I can¡¯t pay for all of it.¡± Sam hissed. ¡°What? Impossible, pleb.¡± ¡°Okay, let me see, your salary is over ten million dollars. And that¡¯s not including all your catnip expenditures and that one hundred thousand dollar prize pool.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that much. It¡¯s only a few dollars.¡± ¡°Yeah, coagulation. It¡¯s in the millions, you blockhead cat.¡± Sam hissed, extending his claws. He pushed his butt up, ready to bounce. Buttercup squeaked as thunder rumbled through the cotton candy. ¡°The exit is behind all of you.¡± Florence looked over her shoulder, and a staircase going up into a void magically manifested itself. ¡°How did you do it?¡± Aisling sheathed her dagger. ¡°It always has been. It¡¯s just that the ghost decided now to reveal it and not continue hiding it.¡± ¡°Look, I literally haunt this place if you can¡¯t tell. Still, I must pay rent to our ghostly landlords. But¡­ just don¡¯t ask,¡± Buttercup said. Florence and Aisling lifted Yuze, Stella, and Sam and carried them to the staircase leading into a void. Chapter 16: Walled City The thudding of footsteps echoed across the stairs. Florence climbed up one step at a time. Next to her, Aisling heaved, inhaling and exhaling. The arms wrapped around her back as she carried Yuze and Stella. Sam meowed in a low pitch every second, standing on Aisling¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I wish this was an actual video game instead of being real life,¡± Aisling said. ¡°What is a video game?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest here. You sound like my grandma¡­ or was it great grandma?¡± ¡°I am¡­ not that old.¡± A sudden bright light flashed, spinning Florence around. Her stomach twisted and twirled. She slipped, cracking her skull to the floor. Her eyes adjusted. Now, no longer trudging up the stairs. Instead, she found herself in a tunnel. She pushed herself up with the crushed rocks poking her palm. A dim light flickered above her on the ceiling as muffled screams ran along the pipes. The bile rose up her throat, exploding out of her mouth. The vomit projectile soared through the air, splattering onto the wall. ¡°You¡¯ll eventually get used to it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Pardon me, how much longer till we get to the Walled City?¡± Florence asked. ¡°What do you mean? We¡¯re already here.¡± ¡°But this is where we enter that haunted or that candy wonderland?¡± ¡°Yup, and we just got closer to the Walled City.¡± Aisling breezed away, getting deeper into the tunnel, carrying Yuze and Stella. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Florence threw her hands up, slamming her palm to her thighs. She trudged, following Aisling. ¡°How do you know we are close?¡± Aisling smiled, holding her abdomen. She shrugged, winking at Florence. Florence scuffed. ¡°Is that supposed to be a yes or no?¡± Sam tucked his tail, slapping Aisling on the face. ¡°Bad cat,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Bad Player,¡± Sam said. ¡°You got me fired, pleb.¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m kinda surprised you didn¡¯t get fired earlier.¡± ¡°Aye, what did you say to me?¡± ¡°Great, now you¡¯re acting kinda deaf.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not deaf, pleb. You are.¡± Florence cleared her throat, holding her knuckle close to her lips. ¡°What now, pleb? Speak up, aye,¡± Sam said. ¡°Could both of you and Aisling calm down? Take in deep breaths,¡± Florence said. Aisling and Sam turned their heads towards Florence. They glared at her with an intense stare that could murder someone. Florence raised her hands up. ¡°Sorry, do not kill me.¡± Silence rang throughout as no one spoke a word. A moment later, they exited the tunnel¡¯s maw. Aisling grabbed the edge, climbed up, and rolled over. She then helped Florence, Yuze, and Stella climb to the platform. Their feet slapped across the dust-caked floor as they approached the elevator doors. The button clicked, flashing red. ¡°If I have to guess, this is the elevator to the Walled City,¡± Florence said. Yuze smirked. ¡°The underworld.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her,¡± Aisling said. She nudged Yuze on the side. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Yuze shook her head. ¡°That means yes, by the way,¡± Aisling said. Florence folded her inflamed forearm. ¡°How are you certain about this?¡± ¡°Yup, because I¡¯m always right,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Always wrong,¡± Yuze said. Aisling smacked the back of Yuze¡¯s head. Yuze shut her eyes, groaning and smirking. A ring echoed from the elevator. It winded to life, sliding the door open. Aisling stepped inside, and it wobbled up and down. ¡°Time to go.¡± Florence, Yuze, and Stella followed. The door slid closed behind them, and the gears screeched, elevating them higher. Aisling scratched her chin, tilting her head. Her face paled, and the twinkle in her eyes flickered. Then Yuze hugged and patted Aisling on the back. Florence slumped against the wall, gliding to the floor. ¡°Aisling, do you feel well?¡± ¡°Nothing in particular,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Just got some questions that need answering.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°First of all, I¡¯m gonna be honest here¡­ please don¡¯t punch me.¡± ¡°Why would I punch you?¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I forgot to bring our masks.¡± ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°To hide our identity. Even though I¡¯m kinda surprised that they didn¡¯t kill us back there.¡± ¡°What? I am a bit lost here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say most do and some don¡¯t. Also, does Buttercup seem a bit strange? And one final thing¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Aisling reached into her hooded shirt¡¯s pocket, pulling out a fresh lily. Her other hand contained a photo of a smiling lady with pale hair and skin in a white dress standing on a harbor. Her eyes were red, and she stared straight at Florence. Florence pointed at the lily. ¡°Is it me, or does that seem slightly too fresh?¡± Sam hissed. ¡°Of course, it does,¡± he said. ¡°Do you even have a brain, pleb.¡± ¡°Probably, someone somehow managed to sneak past the haunted part of Wellor Tower and place it in that room,¡± Aisling said. Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°So, how is this concerning to you?¡± Stella yelped, hiding her face behind the four packaging boxes. Aisling lowered her head. ¡°Well, this photo¡­ I wish this girl in the photo wasn¡¯t the one I¡¯ve in my head.¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± Florence asked. The screeching of the gears as the elevator came to a stop. The door slid open. A burst of air poured into Florence¡¯s lungs. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella stepped outside, their footsteps echoing throughout the street. The night sky loomed over them, watching their movement closely. The skyscrapers towered over everyone. The walls on each side squished them tight. However, steel and glass on certain parts of the building went missing, as if NPCs had carved them out. Florence scanned her surroundings, but no one was spotted except Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam. Sam slapped Aisling¡¯s face while standing on her shoulder. Aisling smiled, clenching her fist white. ¡°Sam, I¡¯m gonna send you to an adoption center if you do that again.¡± ¡°Try me,¡± Sam said. ¡°I¡¯m quite sure it¡¯s the other way¡­ pleb.¡± He slapped Aisling on the cheeks. ¡°Nice to see you guys again,¡± someone said from behind Florence. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect all of you to be here now.¡± Florence wheeled around. Here, Jack and Feno stood behind Florence. Jack placed his palm on his hip. ¡°How was my daughter doing?¡± ¡°Is it me, or does Jack not look like Renee?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup, she is doing fine,¡± Aisling said. ¡°At least she didn¡¯t get hit by a truck this time.¡± Jack gave a thumbs up. ¡°Thanks.¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Pardon me, why... I do not know where to begin?¡± ¡°You,¡± Yuze said. She pointed at Jack and Feno. ¡°Money where?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already given your salary,¡± Jack said, crossing his arms. ¡°You just have to wait for the next one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not gonna be enough to pay for our expenditures,¡± Aisling said. ¡°That¡¯s not including our debt.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Feno said. ¡°Aisling, how much are you getting paid?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Around ten thousand dollars,¡± Aisling said. She thumbed at Yuze and Stella. ¡°Same as them.¡± Florence slapped herself on the face. Her head sank. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± ¡°How are all of you alive?¡± Florence asked. Aisling shrugged. ¡°Pardon me, does anyone else live here?¡± Florence scanned the surroundings. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± ¡°They¡¯re behind you,¡± Feno said. Florence looked over her shoulder. Again, it¡¯s a narrow street with no one else in sight. A knock on the stomach pushed her tumbling backward. The world around her blurred and spun. The bile rose up, burning her throat. She splashed onto an oily liquid substance. She blinked, clearing up her vision. The stars shone, twinkling on the night sky with brush strokes painted across it. An intense swirling pattern rolled high above her like waves. Still, a layer of oil paint ranging from red, blue, and green covered the skyscrapers for some reason. Aisling kneeled down next to Florence. Florence puked, cupping her mouth. ¡°I am getting really sick of this,¡± she said. ¡°Of course, there absolutely has to be a haunted place here. At this rate, I am not surprised.¡± ¡°Yup, that¡¯s nice to hear from you,¡± Aisling said. She smiled and pulled Florence back to her feet. Florence glanced at the glass panel of a skyscraper covered in oil colorants. She spotted an exact portrait painting of herself from the corner of her eye, waving her hand. And the reflection did the same. She flinched, taking a step back. The painting of herself was inches away from her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Aisling said, placing her hand on Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t bite.¡± ¡°Absolutely, but it follows what I am doing,¡± Florence said. A thump echoed across the street with a splash. Florence spun to the sound source. A ball bounced on the pavement towards her feet. In front of her, a boy NPC with compound eyes froze with his hand outstretched. Florence picked up the ball, trudging towards the compound-eyed NPC boy. She kneeled down and handed it over to him. Out of nowhere, a fist cracked on Florence¡¯s face. She jolted back, falling backward. The boy wheeled around. He slammed his feet across the ground, fleeing with each step, creating a splash. ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence covered the spot where she got hit. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± Feno scratched her back. ¡°Yes, you did.¡± ¡°Pardon me?¡± ¡°For being a Player, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°But I was only trying to help.¡± ¡°You do realize that doesn¡¯t change anything. You¡¯re still a Player.¡± From the corner of Florence¡¯s eyes, a shadow flickered in an alley. She spun around, but the silhouettes disappeared into thin air. ¡°Gosh, do all of you wanna chit-chat about this stuff now.¡± Aisling smiled, grabbing Stella¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s keep on moving.¡± ¡°But¡­ I mean, if we go¡­ I think we shouldn¡¯t go there,¡± Stella said, clenching the packaging boxes. ¡°I think¡­ I mean, we should head back home.¡± Aisling breezed forward down the street, pulling Stella along. ¡°Hey, wait a minute. I think this is a bad idea,¡± Stella said. Yuze clawed her left thigh with the bite wound, limping to Florence¡¯s side. Yuze winked, smirking as she wrapped her arm around Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So, you ain¡¯t what to go or something, Florence,¡± Jack said. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± Florence shook her head. ¡°Absolutely not, I am fine. I guess you could say.¡± Florence and Yuze moved across the pavement together, following behind Aisling, Stella, and Sam. As they got deeper into this oil-painted city. Human skeletons with worn-out clothing popped up in several places, hanging above their heads. The eye sockets of those bones glowed red, watching them closely. Stella trembled at the sight of what could be assumed to be the remains of those Player adventurers. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Feno said. ¡°It¡¯s just a decoration for the vibes.¡± Florence sighed. ¡°Absolutely¡­ Wait, what are the vibes?¡± ¡°Yup, by the way, I¡¯ve no idea where I¡¯m going.¡± Aisling hopped ahead, swinging her arms. ¡°I guess I¡¯m gonna wish good luck to us.¡± Stella yelped. ¡°I think you should slow down,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ve zero clue how to explain what vibes mean to you, Florence,¡± Feno said. ¡°Should I be surprised at this point,¡± Florence said. ¡°At what?¡± Aisling and Feno asked. ¡°Not peace,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Only death.¡± Florence dipped her head. ¡°Not surprised about everything.¡± A high-pitched scream rang between the skyscrapers. A brown blur flashed past Florence, blowing her hair aside. She blinked, rubbing her eyes. Feno slammed her feet with a splash across the pavement. At lightning speed, she turned on the corner of a street. Immediately, Jack dashed after Feno. Aisling dragged Stella, sprinting toward Jack. Sam hissed, clinging to Aisling¡¯s hooded shirt. ¡°Could you slow down?¡± Florence asked. She trudged with Yuze limping beside her, chasing after Feno and Jack. Chapter 17: A Oil Painted City The skyscrapers blurred. Florence trudged past it hurriedly, chasing after Feno, Jack, Aisling, Stella, and Sam. Her feet splashed onto the oil-painted pavement. She dragged Yuze along the street, who fell behind the rest. The four packaging boxes wobbled side to side in Stella¡¯s arms. Feno halted. In front of her, the NPC boy with compound eyes clutched his knees. The dust poured between his fingers, piling up on the ground. He rolled to his side, tears rolling down his cheeks. Florence bit her lips. The blood pulsed through her inflamed forearm. She shoved her way through. ¡°Let me help,¡± she said. ¡°Why would you?¡± Feno kneeled down. ¡°You¡¯re not one of us after all.¡± ¡°I know a thing or two about taking care of wounds.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask you this question. Have you ever managed to heal this sort of injury before? Now, answer me.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Feno picked up the boy NPC with compound eyes and lifted him up. She then turned around and faced Florence. ¡°But¡­ I didn¡¯t answer you,¡± Florence said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Aisling smiled, tilting her head. ¡°There is nothing you can do. Feno can handle it on her own.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said. Florence lowered her head. ¡°You know I can help,¡± she said. ¡°I just¡­ do not want them to be disappointed.¡± Aisling squinted. ¡°Who¡¯s them?¡± Florence trudged forward, lending her hand to Feno. But Feno simply walked past Florence without making any eye contact. Florence grabbed Feno¡¯s hair, not letting it go. ¡°Just leave it to me. It¡¯s none of your concern,¡± Feno said. ¡°What about it?¡± Florence tugged at Feno¡¯s hair. ¡°Let me do it, please.¡± ¡°Have you ever taken care of an NPC?¡± ¡°Well, absolutely not. But if I guess NPCs¡¯ physiology is similar to people¡ªexcept this boy has compound eyes and bleeding dust?¡± ¡°What¡¯s people?¡± ¡°Apologies, I mean people, as in Players.¡± Feno moved forward. ¡°Florence, I think you should kinda keep going,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanna get to District Nine and solve this supernatural case so you can kinda go back home to your sister?¡± ¡°Absolutely, but I could certainly still stop by and help others along the way,¡± Florence said. She followed behind Feno, holding onto the boy NPC. ¡°Especially while I am trying to return home to my sister.¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°You don¡¯t even know anything about him. So, why should you help him?¡± ¡°By the way, those things in the boxes¡­ is kinda getting cold,¡± Aisling said Florence looked over her shoulder. The corner of her mouth downturned. Certainly, she still must take care of her sister and fulfill her duties in her occupation back home. But she couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to the boy NPC. She shook her head, continuing onwards, following Feno, tugging Yuze along. ¡°Florence, come back right now,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Hello? Are you listening to me, or are you deaf or something?¡± ¡°She is not deaf,¡± Jack said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it literally.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ fair enough.¡± Yuze leaned closer to Florence. Florence lagged behind with this increasing pressure on top of her. Feno lifted her head up and sighed. ¡°Fine,¡± she said. ¡°Florence, you can come. Just stop bugging me, okay?¡± Florence widened her eyes, grinding to a halt. Inside her chest, her heart danced. ¡°Why¡¯re you standing there? Keep moving,¡± Feno said without looking back at them. Florence slapped herself on the face. ¡°Great,¡± Feno said. ¡°She went insane.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not insane.¡± Florence clenched her fist, waving it in the air. ¡°Am I?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. You can come with me if you want.¡± ¡°Absolutely, you need my help.¡± ¡°By the way, I didn¡¯t say that.¡± Feno turned to a skyscraper nearby and walked towards it. The door slushed open, letting her into the building. Florence pulled Yuze along, going after Feno. Splashing footsteps reverberated throughout the chamber, which was decorated with portrait illustrations. Aisling and Stella quickly followed from behind, with the entrance slushed shut. ¡°How are you certain this is where we could find some of the medical supplies?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yeah, there isn¡¯t much.¡± Feno glanced over the oil portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas. ¡°This should do the trick.¡± ¡°Seriously? You wanna bother her again,¡± Aisling said. Sam meowed and bounced onto the floor, wagging his tail. ¡°Catnip. Does anyone have catnip?¡± ¡°Pardon me, could everyone stop for a minute?¡± Florence held her hand up, pointing at the compound-eyed boy NPC lying in Feno¡¯s arms. ¡°Why¡¯re we taking him here?¡± ¡°Of course, there isn¡¯t,¡± Feno said. ¡°Does this place look like a drug store?¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°It doesn¡¯t,¡± Florence and Sam said. Yuze rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°Weapons?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Feno said. She stared at Yuze for a second before turning away. ¡°Catnip,¡± Sam said. Florence clapped, holding her hands together. ¡°Pardon me, could we stay focused on helping this boy?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have that here,¡± Feno said. The entire building rumbled, dripping droplets from the ceiling. ¡°Hey,¡± someone said with a booming voice. ¡°Are all of you going to just stand here and talk?¡± Florence spun around, rustling her dress. But everything remained the same, not a single change in sight. ¡°Yeah, you over there,¡± a booming voice said. ¡°I¡¯m right over here.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Florence asked. An eerie silence followed. Feno¡¯s hair rustled, and she turned towards the portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas. Then, everyone else around Florence followed Feno. ¡°Pardon me, where are you going?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yes, I could hear you nice and clear,¡± Feno said. The portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas crossed her arms, furrowing her brow. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Florence pointed at the portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas. ¡°Did she just move?¡± The young lady in blue pajamas sighed, rippling the oil paint on the portrait. ¡°Are you blind?¡± ¡°She ain¡¯t blind,¡± Jack said. ¡°Yup, but incredibly stupid,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Not just any kinda stupid. It¡¯s those that can kill you.¡± Florence waved her around, stomping the floor. ¡°Language.¡± Aisling widened her eyes, shrugging at Florence. ¡°Do not act like that,¡± Florence said. ¡°You know what you have done.¡± ¡°Nope, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Absolutely, you are right. How could I possibly not see that?¡± ¡°Nice sarcasm, man.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a man. I¡¯m a woman.¡± The portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas cleared her throat. Her fist slapped on her chest. ¡°I just want to borrow some medical equipment,¡± Feno said. Florence gaped, raising her eyebrows. ¡°You notice that you¡¯re asking for a painting, which can also talk¡­ apparently.¡± ¡°Of course, I can do that.¡± The portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas yawned, inspecting the scratch on the compound-eyed boy¡¯s knee. ¡°Just give me a sec,¡± she said. She kneeled down, receding from view out of that portrait she once stood in. ¡°Great, thanks a lot anyway,¡± Feno said. Florence crossed her arms. ¡°Pardon me, was she about to go to sleep?¡± Yuze shook her head, leaning her body onto Florence. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Florence, ignore her,¡± Aisling said. ¡°She zoned out.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Like¡­ I¡­ I mean, a really long time.¡± Stella trembled. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry that I didn¡¯t tell you sooner.¡± ¡°Is it just me, or did Florence kinda get a head trauma,¡± Aisling said. Florence held her hands up. ¡°Wait a second, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°She used to be a nurse¡­ a really incompetent one,¡± Feno said. The young lady in blue pajamas returned from the portrait to view, furrowing her eyebrows. She held a bandage, a bottle of saline solution, and a cotton wipe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Aisling said. She leaned closer to Florence¡¯s ear, eyeing the young lady inside the portrait. ¡°She is deaf.¡± ¡°I heard that,¡± the portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas. ¡°Thank you.¡± Florence stretched her hand to the portrait of a young lady in blue pajamas. ¡°Can you give us those medical supplements? Young lady, you should get some rest.¡± ¡°Florence, give yourself a break,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Don¡¯t you wanna try to give that aunty inside the portrait a chance to deal with it?¡± The portrait of a young lady laughed, wrapping her arms around her abdomen. ¡°What is funny about this?¡± Florence asked. The laughter died down. A young lady in blue pajamas sighed, lowering her chin. She leaned on the edge of the portrait border. ¡°Who needs sleep anyway? Also, by the way, I¡¯m not that old.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You do notice that the clothes that I am wearing are not pajamas. But these are scrubs that I¡¯m wearing.¡± Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. She glanced away from all of them. ¡°How can that young lady in the portrait care for this boy?¡± Florence asked. The portrait of a young lady stretches her arms towards Florence, handing the supplies over. ¡°Pardon me, is this a yes or no?¡± Florence asked. ¡°How am I supposed to know?¡± ¡°You know.¡± The portrait of a young lady smiled from the corner of her mouth. ¡°I no longer do this sort of work anymore. I¡¯m a ghost, after all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in danger.¡± An eerie silence floated through the air as everyone turned towards Florence, staring at her. Florence chuckled. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± ¡°You gotta be kidding me. You actually did it,¡± Aisling said. The portrait of a young lady clicked her tongue, shoving the medical supplies onto Florence. ¡°Pardon me, was this a yes or no?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Both,¡± the portrait of a young lady said. ¡°Fine¡­ I¡¯m even more confused.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Feno spun around. She lowered the compound-eyed boy to the floor, rippling the oil paint on the ground. Florence kneeled down next to Feno. Feno rustled her hair. ¡°Florence, do it quickly now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m going to take good care of him,¡± Florence said. ¡°Florence, it¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to complete all the side quests at a slow pace.¡± Aisling massaged her shoulders, leaning onto the wall. ¡°At this rate, we¡¯re never gonna get to District Nine. Or even complete our occult detective contract at this point.¡± ¡°I¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t get it,¡± Stella said. ¡°Why¡¯re you saying it in a video game term?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°How am I supposed to understand any of you? So, could all of you speak English?¡± ¡°They¡¯re speaking English,¡± Feno said. ¡°It ain¡¯t like everyone here has one brain cell left.¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°More importantly, why isn¡¯t there a single chair nearby?¡± Florence rolled her eyes, unwinding the cotton swabs. She twisted open the cap of a saline bottle, pouring a solution out onto the cotton swabs. Without a second, she slapped it onto the scratch on the compound-eyed boy¡¯s knee. The compound-eyed boy screamed. Under his clothing, a blue glow shimmered in his chest. His knuckles cracked on Feno¡¯s face. Feno covered the spot where she got hit. ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it,¡± the compound-eyed boy said. Florence wrapped and tied the bandage around the boy¡¯s knee, covering the wound. From his nose, a nasal mucus flowed down to his lips. ¡°What is your name anyway?¡± Florence asked the compound-eyed boy. ¡°Mantidae,¡± the compound-eyed boy said. He sniffed. ¡°My name is Mantidae.¡± ¡°Mantidae, listen to me carefully. You¡¯ll be fine. Just make sure that you learn from your mistake.¡± Mantidae nodded. ¡°Good,¡± Florence said. ¡°Sorry, I just thought that you¡¯re going to¡­ well¡­ you know.¡± Mantidae made a slitting throat gesture. ¡°You know that.¡± ¡°Absolutely not. Why would I do such a thing, silly.¡± At this moment, Florence realized she had forgotten the ball. But she left it behind somewhere in the street. ¡°Hey,¡± Mantidae said. ¡°I¡¯m very good. The ball is not mine anyway.¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Florence said. She pushed herself off the floor, swashing the oil paint below. The skirt of her dress rustled. On the corner of her eyes, Sam pounced from Aisling¡¯s shoulder, splashing to the oil-painted floor. Sam purred, prowling towards the portrait of a young lady. The portrait of a young lady waved back and forth. ¡°What else do you all want?¡± ¡°Catnip,¡± Sam said. ¡°Do you have catnip?¡± ¡°Why would I have that?¡± Sam hissed. His tail stood up, twitching rapidly from left to right. He spun around, facing away from the portrait. ¡°By the way, I want to tell you a secret,¡± the portrait of a young lady said. She smiled like someone on the brink of insanity. Behind her, a reddish blur blended into the background. ¡°Follow the smell,¡± she said. ¡°What smell?¡± Florence asked. ¡°And you seem¡­ different.¡± But in the blink of an eye, the young lady in the portrait vanished. She was no longer there. What remained was¡­ an empty canvas. Chapter 18: No Exit A nutty but bitter artificial fragrance floated through the podium within this skyscraper. Now, the empty portrait spied on Florence, even though the young lady was no longer there. From the corner of Florence¡¯s eye, Mantidae rolled around, swashing the oil-painted floor. Jack chased Mantidae without any success. Sam curled up into a loaf, hissing at the empty portrait. Florence raised her eyebrows as she glanced around her with Yuze leaning onto Florence¡¯s shoulder. Next to them, Stella rolled her eyes up and fell to the oil painted with a splash. The four packaging boxes slipped from Stella¡¯s grip. Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. Florence kneeled to the ground, pressing on the side of Stella¡¯s neck. The thumps tingled her fingertips. Then she pushed Stella on her back to the floor. Feno crouched beside them, rustling her own hair. ¡°At least she is not dead,¡± Florence said. She leaned close to Stella¡¯s face. Stella breathed with a quiet snuffling of air through her mouth, trembling her lips with every outlet of air. Each one tickled on Florence¡¯s cheeks. ¡°It happened¡­ again.¡± Aisling smiled, chuckling under her breath. ¡°Cute.¡± ¡°Pardon me, did I just hear that correctly?¡± Florence asked. She pushed Stella¡¯s legs above her heart. Yuze smirked. ¡°Crush.¡± Aisling squinted at Yuze, whose cheeks turned bright red. Then, she pushed her bottom lip forward, avoiding eye contact. ¡°Definitely crush,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°It¡¯s totally not.¡± Stella blinked, getting up into a sitting position. ¡°I think we should get going,¡± Florence said. She lowered Stella¡¯s legs. Yuze gave a side eye as she continued smirking. ¡°Totally, yeah.¡± ¡°Nope, nope, nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Get out of my head.¡± ¡°Who¡¯re you talking to?¡± Feno placed her palm on her head. ¡°You aren¡¯t hallucinating, right?¡± Florence brushed the skirt of her dress as she stood back up. The fabric of her clothes rustled together. ¡°Hey, kid,¡± Jack said. He breathed strenuously, stopping momentarily with his palm slapped on his knees. ¡°Mantidae, come back. You¡¯ll get hurt.¡± Mantidae continued rolling. ¡°Lol, no.¡± ¡°Who is this Lol that he is talking about?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It¡¯s not who.¡± Feno sighed, crossing her arms. ¡°It¡¯s a¡­ what do you call it again?¡± ¡°If I remember correctly, the young lady inside that portrait told us how to exit this place,¡± Florence said. ¡°It was something about following the smell.¡± ¡°Yup, I¡¯m sure this is what we¡¯ve gotta do,¡± Aisling said. ¡°By the way, Jack and I will not be coming with you,¡± Feno said. ¡°Since, you know¡­ charity work.¡± Stella fidgeted her skirt with one hand, picking up the four packaging boxes, then nodded. ¡°Alright then,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll see you later, Feno.¡± She hopped towards Sam, wrapping her arms under his belly and picking him up. Sam hissed, slapping Aisling¡¯s hands with a clap. But Aisling didn¡¯t flinch at all. ¡°Let me go, pleb,¡± Sam said. Aisling breezed towards the exit with Sam in her arms. ¡°Yup, sure thing, princess,¡± she said. ¡°Watch¡­ what¡­ you¡¯re¡­ saying, pleb.¡± ¡°Why did I even bother to adopt you?¡± ¡°Nay, you didn¡¯t adopt me. I adopted you.¡± Florence followed Aisling, tugging Yuze and Stella along. The door slushed open, letting them out of the building. They entered the pavement, their steps splashed on oil paint. A wind whistled across the street as Florence closed her eyes to absorb the nutty, bitter, artificial flavors up her nostrils. ¡°Pardon me, I don¡¯t mean to be rude; where are the other NPCs?¡± Florence opened her eyes wide. ¡°If I had to guess, then the tunnels and this place within the Walled City must be living quarters for the NPCs.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Aisling said. ¡°There should be more around this area.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I guess it¡¯s kinda nothing, really. There used to be¡­ more.¡± Aisling shoved Sam onto Florence¡¯s face. Sam hissed, clawing at Florence¡¯s face. Florence screamed, covering her face and pushing Sam away. ¡°What was that for?¡± Florence asked. ¡°And you are¡­ telling that now.¡± Aisling shrugged. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask.¡± She cuddled Sam in her arms. ¡°Get away from me, pleb,¡± Sam said, suffocating. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. A red blur flashed past them. Stella yelped, hiding her face behind the four packaging boxes. Florence breathed deep, sucking up the nutty and bitter fragrance up her nose and down to her throat. From the corner of her eyes, the oil-painted glass of the skyscraper vibrated in a ringing sonata. Suddenly, that young lady in blue scrubs from the portrait manifested next to Florence¡¯s reflection on the oil-painted glass surface. ¡°What¡¯s up,¡± a young lady in blue scrubs from the portrait said. ¡°Backflip.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence asked. ¡°So, anyways, good luck trying to find the exit.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not helping at all.¡± ¡°Good luck.¡± The young lady in blue scrubs melted away. Stella pulled out her guitar, playing it with a symphonic rhyme. Florence gasped. ¡°Stella¡­ how?¡± Stella lowered her head, hiding her eyes behind her bangs. She plucked at the strings at the speed of light. But, still, she managed to play some sort of music despite going this fast. ¡°Yup, she did. Honestly, I almost thought that her heart was gonna jump out,¡± Aisling said. She placed her palm on Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯ll take some time to get used to it.¡± ¡°Well, what should I expect now,¡± Florence said. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Sam sniffed the air. Immediately, he bared his fangs, jerking his head back. ¡°Tell me where the exit is, Sam,¡± Florence said. ¡°Since you¡¯re a talking cat.¡± Sam yawned, stretched his body, and pointed his bottom up. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m indeed an NPC, pleb.¡± ¡°This is absolutely not what I said. I said you¡¯re a cat.¡± ¡°So, what am I?¡± ¡°A cat.¡± ¡°Exactly, an NPC.¡± Florence slapped herself on the face, not believing what Sam said. What else could she do? Nothing. ¡°But¡­ if you offer something of value,¡± Sam said. ¡°I may consider it.¡± Florence tugged her hands into the pocket of her apron. ¡°You want catnip.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You can¡¯t have it.¡± ¡°Catnip.¡± Sam meowed, widening his eyes and pupils. ¡°Pretty please.¡± ¡°Absolutely, I¡¯ll consider it,¡± Florence said. ¡°Nope, we aren¡¯t gonna do that,¡± Aisling said. Yuze smirked. ¡°Broke.¡± ¡°Only if you give me catnip, pleb.¡± Sam inhaled before he sighed. ¡°Catnip sounds nice.¡± ¡°Is it me, or does he sound incoherent,¡± Florence said. ¡°Like if he got spifflicated.¡± Aisling tilted her head, opening her mouth wide. ¡°What now?¡± Sam salivated, leaking saliva out of the corner of his mouth. ¡°Catnip.¡± Stella played rhyming notes on her guitar. ¡°See, even Stella agrees,¡± Sam said. ¡°Didn¡¯t she say¡­ pardon me, what did you just say?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. Aisling coughed, wheezing with every ounce of breath. ¡°Nope, you aren¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s what he actually said.¡± ¡°Give me catnip.¡± Sam foamed, drooling from his mouth. His body shook uncontrollably. ¡°I need¡­ them.¡± ¡°Should we be worried?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. ¡°He is just pretending.¡± ¡°Good acting,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Are you certain about this? To me, he looks like he is suffering from catnip withdrawal,¡± Florence said. Sam placed his paws on his chest, gasping. ¡°I¡­ need¡­ catnip.¡± Aisling coughed, looking over her shoulder. ¡°How are we supposed to find the exit? I mean, there is only this consistent smell floating around here,¡± Florence said. ¡°But why must we follow the smell to find the exit?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say it¡¯s difficult to remember where the exit is. Just like every other haunted place that I¡¯ve gone to.¡± Aisling turned the corner of a street. ¡°Well, it¡¯s better than nothing, though.¡± Florence blinked with an itch in her eyes as the world around her suddenly spun. However, she and others somehow appeared in the same skyscraper lobby where Jack, Feno, and Mantidae were still. ¡°Because¡­ of this,¡± Aisling said. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Oh, hello,¡± Jack said. He chased Mantidae, not managing to catch him. Feno shrugged. ¡°I really shouldn¡¯t be surprised to see you again.¡± Florence dropped onto her knees on the oil-painted floor, cupping her mouth. Her stomach twisted and turned. She clenched her teeth with the bile in her stomach rising up and burning. She swallowed that fluid back down. Then she inhaled and exhaled, standing up straight. ¡°I¡­ I mean, I don¡¯t want to be here.¡± Stella sighed, shrinking into herself. ¡°I just want to deliver. Then get out,¡± she said, looking at the four packaging boxes she held. ¡°Pardon me, are we actually going to be able to leave this place?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Because I can¡¯t stand around and get stuck here. Also, should I be concerned about this?¡± Aisling gaped her mouth open, jerking her head back. ¡°Should I be worried about¡­ you know.¡± She pointed at Mantidae, rolling away from Jack, who chased after him. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Florence said, ¡°but I guess boys will be boys.¡± ¡°Nope, that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You know one of them is a fully grown male adult, and the other is still a child. Doesn¡¯t that concern you?¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re too innocent or stupid.¡± Florence and Aisling stared at each other silently for an eerie second. Sam was still foaming from his mouth, shaking uncontrollably. There was nothing Florence could do. Certainly, she could try to find the exit, but how was she supposed to get out? She could only sniff out this nutty but bitter artificial fragrance floating around the entire place with no change in the intensity of the scent. ¡°Catnip.¡± Sam rolled onto his back. ¡°How are you so addicted to catnip? You¡¯re a cat. You¡¯re not supposed to get addicted,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Then why is there the word cat in catnip?¡± Florence lowered her head, scratching her temple. ¡°But I think we should try to figure out where the exit is¡­ never mind¡­ that was a stupid question.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Can¡¯t do.¡± Florence sniffed the air, sending tingles down her nostrils to her lungs. This smell seemed familiar, like a cleaned patient¡¯s room. Small conversations and alarms rang in her ear, returning her to that place. No¡­ it couldn¡¯t be that makeshift medical facility. Then her brain clicked, widening her eyes when she realized it. ¡°Catnip,¡± Sam said. Florence glanced around her surroundings. ¡°Is there a hospital nearby?¡± ¡°Both of you are insane,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I will head out of here¡­ if I could do it in the first place.¡± Yuze tilted her head. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Seriously, where is the hospital?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope, no hospital for you.¡± Aisling clutched her abdomen, pulling the corner of her mouth upwards. ¡°There is no reason to go there.¡± ¡°Nah, find,¡± Yuze said. Florence sighed. ¡°Absolutely not what I meant. I¡¯m not asking someone else that here but also not here at the same time.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I mention that this place changes?¡± Aisling pinched her nose, shaking her head. ¡°Please, tell me that I¡¯m not repeating myself.¡± ¡°No¡­ I mean, yes,¡± Stella said. ¡°You know, that young lady.¡± Florence pointed at the empty portrait hanging on the oil-painted glass panel. ¡°Right over there. The one who wore the blue scrubs or something that was there a moment ago.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Aisling said, ¡°but she¡¯s definitely going to help at all.¡± Florence dropped to the ground. Her hand clawed her head, rustling her hair. What else could she do now? Ridiculous¡­ absolutely mad. No matter where she went, she somehow did not find that exit. What was she supposed to do if the advice was to follow the smell? But the fragrance reminded her of a hospital, with coughs echoing through the hallway. Now¡­ where could she find the exit? Chapter 19: At the Same Place Florence couldn¡¯t believe it. She somehow circled back to that same lobby in an oil-painted skyscraper. Everyone else here, from Aisling, Yuze, and Sam, didn¡¯t seem unfazed, as if this was a regular Sunday, except for Stella, who thudded to the floor, dropping the four packaging boxes. Jack heaved with stomping steps, chasing Mantidae, who rolled around the room. Feno shrugged, walking up to the empty portrait. She screeched to a stop in front of it, folding her arms. ¡°Pardon me,¡± Florence said, ¡°what are we supposed to do now?¡± ¡°Well, I suppose there¡¯s one way,¡± Feno said. Sam turned his back. His pupils widened. He slammed his paw on his chest. ¡°Catnip. It must be catnip. I can almost claw it.¡± ¡°How is your cat getting high?¡± Florence asked. ¡°First of all, he is not high,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Secondly, he is just being dramatic.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Sam hissed, with saliva leaking out the corner of his mouth. ¡°Catnip.¡± ¡°Never mind¡­ I absolutely can see it now,¡± Florence said. Aisling tilted her head, inhaling and exhaling with trembling lips. Her eyes closed, and she coughed as she cupped her mouth. ¡°She is still here,¡± Feno said. ¡°Great, there goes another one.¡± Aisling wheezed. ¡°It¡¯s a miracle that I¡¯m still alive with these idiots.¡± ¡°Who is here, Feno?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Also, Aisling, who are the idiots you were talking about?¡± ¡°Me and Sam,¡± Yuze said. She jabbed her chin onto Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Hey, did you forget who pays for the bills and rent, pleb,¡± Sam said. He extended his claws and pointed at himself. ¡°Catnip.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m just gonna give up,¡± Aisling said. Florence glanced to her right, where Jack chased after Mantidae, rolling on the floor. Then Florence slapped herself on the face. Fantastic, absolutely nothing went according to plan¡­ Only if they got a coherent strategy in the first place. She bent down, wishing or praying for herself to find the exit. Feno stomped, splashing the wet oil paint. ¡°Come out,¡± she said. She spun around. ¡°I know you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°In complete seriousness, Feno, who are you talking to?¡± Florence asked. She shrugged. ¡°It is¡­ getting concerning.¡± ¡°Who else am I talking about?¡± ¡°That is what I was asking.¡± ¡°You¡¯re smart enough to figure it out.¡± ¡°Pardon me if I guess¡­ is it that young lady who was in the painting a moment ago.¡± Feno nodded. Florence sighed. ¡°Of course¡­ it was her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a ghost.¡± Feno rustled her hair as she yawned. ¡°In other words, if we¡¯re within their domain, they can sense our presence.¡± ¡°Nice info dump, by the way,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Also, it feels like they can control whatever they like in their domain,¡± Florence said. ¡°For example¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to tell me,¡± Feno said. ¡°All of us already know that.¡± The oil-painted glass door vibrated like someone slammed their fist on it. Outside, a howl echoed into the skyscrapers, ringing in Florence¡¯s ear. She crouched over, gritting her teeth. She covered her ears with that howling, getting louder every second. Next to her, Stella thudded to the floor with her eyes rolled up her sockets. Sam raised his entire body, prowling towards Stella. His ears pulled back and flattened against his head, and his whiskers stuck out like needles. He narrowed his pupils, focusing on the general direction of the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. Jack and Mantidae screeched to a halt. They both gazed around the place as if this never happened before. Aisling unsheathed her dagger with her fingers turning white. Her footsteps echoed closer to the glass-painted door, splashing on the oil-painted floor. ¡°Aisling, where are you going now,¡± Florence said. ¡°Nothing really.¡± Aisling sniffed, rubbing the tip of her nose. ¡°It just¡­ something feels off.¡± ¡°I knew it,¡± Sam said. He stuck his head into the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just me who could smell something was off¡ªcatnip.¡± ¡°Aisling did not smell it. She felt it,¡± Florence said. ¡°And I am quite certain that everyone else also felt that.¡± ¡°No,¡± Yuze said. Stella yelped, jolting back up. She waved her arms. ¡°Ignore her,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Who is her?¡± Florence asked, spreading her arms out. ¡°There is more than one of her in this building.¡± ¡°Yuze, obviously.¡± ¡°Never mind¡­ you are starting to make sense for once.¡± Sam pulled his head out of the pocket. His fangs clamped onto a bottle filled with herbs rustled inside it. Then he released it, letting the bottle roll and slush through the oil. He extended his claw, scratching the cap at a clockwise angle. But¡­ nothing. The cap managed to stay on the bottle with zero dents and scratches. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Aisling looked over her shoulder as she went forward. ¡°Is that catnip?¡± ¡°Catnip,¡± Sam said. ¡°I knew it.¡± Stella blushed, turning her cheeks bright red. She jumped up, snatching the bottle of catnip. A gust of wind burst the glass door open, snapping its hinge. It flew across the hall, crashing straight onto Aisling¡¯s face. She slid across the floor, jerking her head back. Bang. Her body slammed on the oil-painted glass panel at the opposite end. She slumped with her head dipping lower. ¡°Catnip,¡± Sam said. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for not giving me catnip, pleb.¡± Aisling clicked her tongue. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not dead.¡± Florence trudged to Aisling. When Florence reached Aisling¡¯s side, Florence wrapped her fingers around the glass-painted door, pushing it with all her might. Her muscles strained. She could feel her blood pumping through her veins. But¡­ no matter what, the glass-painted door moved a tiny bit. Then she glanced over her shoulder. Yuze clenched her left thigh. She limped with each step, getting closer to Florence and Aisling. Then Yuze smirked, reaching into the pocket of her black leather jacket. She pulled out a phone, pointing the camera lens at Aisling. The cap clattered on the oil-painted floor. Sam lifted the opened bottle of catnip between his paws, pouring the dried herbs onto himself. He snorted up the catnip, lowering his head and closing his eyes half closed. He licked and pawed at the remaining plant. The glass-painted door shot to the ceiling as Aisling smacked her feet onto it. She jumped back up, clutching her fist, turning her fingers white. Sam licked a pawful of catnip, chewing it. ¡°You¡¯re gonna hand over those catnip to me, Sam,¡± Aisling said. Sam shook his head, prowling away from Aisling. But before he could get out, the glass-painted door fell down, crashing in front of him. He hissed, leaping back. Aisling rushed towards Sam, pounding her feet across the oil-painted floor. Sam wheeled around, baring his teeth and growling at Aisling. Florence raised her hands up, approaching them carefully. ¡°I think both of you should wind down.¡± ¡°Me like catnip,¡± Sam said. ¡°You see that. This is what¡¯s gonna happen after you sniff and chew those catnip,¡± Aisling said. She threw herself towards Sam. But he sprang over her, pawing at her face. ¡°Stupid cat,¡± Aisling said. Her chin collided onto the floor with a splash. ¡°That¡¯s what you get, pleb,¡± Sam said. Florence waved at them. ¡°Everyone, did none of you forget what I said.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth,¡± Aisling and Sam said in unison. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Hey, stop following what I¡¯m saying.¡± Yuze clapped in applause. ¡°Actually¡­ I think¡­ I mean, I think it¡¯s not Sam¡¯s fault,¡± Stella said. ¡°All of you plebs heard that, right? It¡¯s not my fault,¡± Sam said. He drooled over the bottle, growling every second. His eyes closed fully shut. Aisling snapped her fingers. ¡°Hey, wake up.¡± Sam bounced onto his feet, slurping the saliva. He shook his head from side to side, growling out loud. ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Pardon me, but could we all focus on the task?¡± Florence asked. Sam stood up on his hind legs. ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± he said. ¡°Here we go again.¡± Aisling rubbed her forehead. ¡°What is it?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°I do not understand.¡± ¡°For more catnip,¡± Sam said. He tilted his head upwards, sniffing the air. Yuze gave another round of applause. ¡°I really should stop right here.¡± Florence slapped her thighs as she laughed under her breath. She stomped across the floor in heavy steps, heading away from all of them. ¡°If none of you are trying, I will do it myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s beneath us, pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°Absolutely. Sure. You are a cat, after all. You do not have to help me.¡± ¡°Nay, I mean that the exit is underneath here. Literally, pleb.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± At this moment, Florence¡¯s face brightened. However, no stairs or elevator leading underground could be seen. Stella curled into a ball and slumped on the floor. She chuckled and fidgeted with the side of her skirt. Aisling shrugged, smiling. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect this to happen?¡± Sam meowed. ¡°Who could have known that?¡± He poked at Stella, who rocked back and forth while cuddling herself. ¡°But she would.¡± Stella nodded. ¡°See,¡± Sam said. ¡°Even she approves.¡± The smile on Aisling faded away, furrowing her brows. ¡°Stop twisting her¡­ action.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to be here,¡± Stella said. ¡°I want to go home.¡± From the corner of Florence¡¯s eye, Yuze smirked as she slipped her hands into her black leather jacket pocket. ¡°Look, we¡¯re just gonna have to make this delivery,¡± Aisling said. She pointed at the four packaging boxes in Stella¡¯s arms. ¡°Then we¡¯ll be all done and ready to go home.¡± ¡°Also, you forgot about the investigation in the harbor of District Nine,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup, and that too.¡± Silence rang along the hall for a solid second, and everyone stared at each other. ¡°Aisling forgot,¡± Yuze said. Aisling coughed, clearing her throat. ¡°Totally didn¡¯t forget¡­ kinda.¡± ¡°Anyways, how are we supposed to go underground?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Sounds suspicious, doesn¡¯t it,¡± Feno said. Suddenly, Jack groaned, rubbing his back. ¡°It does seem odd that Sam could tell the exit is beneath us.¡± Sam lowered his head, nose pointing downward. He sniffed the oil-painted ground. ¡°Couldn¡¯t any of you smell it? Also, that sound¡ªit¡¯s clearly coming down under, pleb.¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. ¡°Pardon me, but how can you hear sounds and smell things from beneath the floor?¡± ¡°Catnip.¡± ¡°I am quite certain it does not enhance your senses.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you tell that I¡¯m a cat, pleb? One of the best hunters in the animal kingdom.¡± ¡°I know you are a cat. But how can you tell it is below us, beneath this floor?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Florence sighed. Her hand rested behind her head. She crouched, hiding her face between her knees. What was even the point? Unbelievable that she somehow ended up just arguing with a cat. ¡°I agree with Florence,¡± Feno said. ¡°I¡¯m sure everyone here couldn¡¯t smell and hear anything from down under.¡± ¡°I can kinda smell something. But I don¡¯t hear anything in particular,¡± Aisling said. Sam raised his paws. ¡°I can.¡± ¡°Excluding him,¡± Feno said. She pointed at Sam. Jack hunched as he leaned beside the empty portrait, rubbing his lower back. ¡°Yes, and it might be too dangerous to venture underground in this sorta place.¡± Florence scratched her chin. What else could she do to find the exit? Then, the portrait rippled, drawing her attention to it. Did the young lady in blue scrubs appear outside of the picture? Maybe the opposite would also be true, as in entering the portrait. But could it lead underground where the exit might be? ¡°Ideas,¡± Yuze said. Florence trudged closer to the empty portrait. She stretched her hands to it, pushing against the bumpy surface. ¡°Florence, don¡¯t do it,¡± Aisling said. Footsteps splashed behind Florence. She glanced over her shoulder. Her palm sank into the picture. She tugged at her arm. In one blink, the portrait engulfed her up to the elbow. Someone from behind wrapped around her waist. The portrait swallowed her whole, and she descended deeper into this dense, chunky matter. Chapter 20: Peanut Time flew by as Florence fell through this thick substance. Only hours or days had passed. How would she know that without a single ray of light penetrating this dense matter? In a heartbeat, a burst of light exploded beneath her. Then, for some reason, her hair slapped her face with the wind blowing past her. She blinked. Instead, she freed herself through the dyed clouds, plummeting closer to the oil-painted ground. Her heart jumped out of her chest. Someone tapped her back. She looked over her shoulder, finding Aisling falling closely behind. ¡°Sup,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence flapped her arms. ¡°We are absolutely dead.¡± Stella burst out of the oil-painted clouds. She screamed, hugging the packaging boxes, and a fainted Yuze. Aisling smiled, giving a thumbs up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will happen.¡± ¡°Medically speaking, we are not fine,¡± Florence said. ¡°We might as well classify ourselves as deceased.¡± ¡°Nothing makes sense here. So, seriously, you gonna have to stop worrying about it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Sam dove out of the oil-painted clouds above, spreading out his body. His face said it all like a typical Tuesday morning. ¡°Why should we not be worried?¡± Florence put her hand on her head, rustling her hair. ¡°We are going to die.¡± ¡°At least, if we die now, it¡¯ll be painless,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We¡¯re absolutely dead in every way possible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not kinda that bad.¡± The oil-painted ground zoomed closer. Splash. Florence closed her eyes, but her bones didn¡¯t crack, and her muscles and nerves didn¡¯t ignite in pain. She opened her eyes to find herself completely intact. Not a single scratch in sight. Her face got pushed into the ground as Sam landed on her head with his paws. ¡°Give a round of applause, pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°As I¡¯ve arrived¡­ or landed¡­ or whatever. Never mind, scratch that. Could all of you forget what I just said?¡± Florence tilted her head up. ¡°Why am I still alive? Also, how did you even come down so quickly?¡± Three different thuds onto her back. She groaned, swinging her fists in the air. ¡°You see, I told you it is weird,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Nothing makes sense here¡­ at all.¡± Yuze blinked, rubbing her eyes. She yawned, laughing. ¡°Come.¡± ¡°Pardon me, why are all of you this heavy?¡± Florence asked. Aisling slapped Florence¡¯s rear end. But three weights pressured down on Florence¡¯s spine. Another one was on top of her head. Florence wiped the oil colorant from her face. ¡°Sorry, I did not mean to say that out loud. So, I beg my pardon that you please kindly get off my back.¡± Sam sniffed, pointing his nose upwards. ¡°The exit. Is a lot closer than before.¡± At this moment, a tense, nutty, but bitter artificial fragrance drifted across the plain, punching straight up Florence¡¯s nostril. Aisling slid off Florence¡¯s back, standing up on her feet. ¡°It¡¯s definitely close by,¡± Sam said. ¡°I don¡¯t see anything,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Like, where is the exit supposed to be here somewhere?¡± ¡°Behind us¡­ I think.¡± ¡°What?¡± Aisling spun around. She stumbled backward in splashing steps, tripping over Florence. ¡°Watch out,¡± Florence said. She turned towards where Aisling looked at. In front of her, a peanut towered over her, casting a looming shadow. ¡°Sam, that¡¯s not a door,¡± Aisling said. Sam hissed, jumping down from Florence¡¯s head. He bared his fangs. ¡°Of course, I know what a door is, pleb. I¡¯ve got the intelligence of a Player.¡± From the corner of Florence¡¯s eyes, the nut quivered. ¡°Yup, I can tell,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Intelligence of a six-year-old.¡± ¡°Very rude, pleb.¡± Sam pawed his face. ¡°It takes forever to train a Player properly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m quite sure this is supposed to be the other way around.¡± ¡°Aye, sure thing, pleb.¡± The nut shook again. This time, a crack spread across the shell. ¡°Guys,¡± Stella said. ¡°I think¡­ I mean¡­ the peanut.¡± Yuze whistled. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Should we run?¡± Florence asked. The nut shivered, sprouting two human legs from the side. The nut stood up on its feet, staring them down. The oil paint splashed under Sam¡¯s paws as he prowled closer to the nut. Within seconds, Aisling scooped Sam under his belly, picking him up. ¡°Wonderful. Sam is now a bird,¡± Florence said, ¡°even though he is still clearly a cat.¡± ¡°Let me go, pleb,¡± Sam said, whacking his tail at Aisling. ¡°You¡¯re letting my prey get away.¡± Aisling¡¯s eyes sparkled as she smiled. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know that peanuts are kinda like those small birds you hunt.¡± ¡°I mean¡­ we should go,¡± Stella said. Yuze grabbed Florence¡¯s hair, whipping it. ¡°Pardon me, but what are you doing, Yuze?¡± Florence asked. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Go horsey,¡± Yuze said. She slapped Florence. ¡°Go.¡± A muffled Jack in the Box music played within the nut. It trembled, spreading wider cracks across the shell. ¡°We definitely gotta run¡­ now,¡± Aisling said. Three beaks blasted through the shell of that peanut. The mouths gaped open, sticking their tongues out and screeching. Florence, Aisling, and Stella screamed. Yuze took her phone out, pointing the camera lenses at all of them. ¡°Is that supposed to be a peanut or a bird?¡± Florence scurried up to her feet. She carried Yuze and Stella, dashing away from the peanut with human legs and beaks. Aisling coughed. ¡°Seriously? Do you want me to break the shell of that peanut and find out?¡± Her feet splashed on the oil-painted floor, catching up next to Florence. ¡°Pardon me, what is Yuze doing?¡± ¡°Filming us¡­ Honestly, kinda obvious if you asked me.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°Just now.¡± ¡°Absolutely not; I am asking when a phone could film.¡± ¡°Way too long ago.¡± ¡°So, what else could it do?¡± ¡°Procrastination. Wait a minute¡­ why¡¯re you asking this now?¡± Florence glanced over her shoulder. The peanut chased behind them, snapping its beaks. Sam pushed his paws on Aisling¡¯s hands under his belly. Then his maw opened wide, sinking his teeth into Aisling¡¯s forearm. Aisling winced. She smiled, thinning her lips. ¡°Let me go, pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°Yup, sure.¡± Aisling coughed. ¡°I really should feed you to that peanut chasing us.¡± Florence raised her hand. ¡°I suggest that we should not threaten each other like that.¡± ¡°I¡­ I agree,¡± Stella said. ¡°This pleb is right over here,¡± Sam said, pawing at Aisling. ¡°Stop preventing me from playing with my prey.¡± Aisling sighed. ¡°Who? At this point, I just wanna give him up right now,¡± she said. ¡°Would that not be too cruel?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Never give up, Aisling.¡± Sam meowed. ¡°Exactly, I agree with this, pleb.¡± ¡°Scar chasm,¡± Yuze said. She rested her head on Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Aisling.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not scar chasm.¡± Aisling cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s sarcasm.¡± In an ear-piercing screech, the peanut lunged over them. A long shadow flew past them. The ground quaked as the peanut crash-landed before them with a thud. Splash. Splash. Splash. The peanut prowled closer. Saliva dripped down from its beaks, splashing on the oil-painted ground. ¡°We are certainly dead. Are we?¡± Florence inched backward, away from the peanut. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t have to state the obvious here,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We do kinda know that.¡± Sam pushed his chest up. ¡°I¡¯m your god, pleb.¡± The peanut screeched to a halt. It bowed, pushing its knees to the ground. Sam wagged his tail. ¡°Now, do a backflip.¡± ¡°How are you certain that¡­ thing will do it?¡± Florence slipped, her legs kicked up. Her chin slammed against the back of Aisling¡¯s head. Yuze and Stella crushed on Florence¡¯s spine. Florence clenched her fist, turning her fingers white. She grinded her teeth, groaning. The peanut jumped, flipping backward. It swished in the air, landing on its feet with a splash. Florence clapped. ¡°I am¡­ not certain if that thing is supposed to be a peanut or human or bird¡­ or even a dog,¡± she said. ¡°Also, Stella and Yuze, please kindly get off my back?¡± ¡°Am I that heavy¡­ I mean¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Stella said. ¡°Bad girl,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Really bad.¡± ¡°Absolutely not what I meant. I should be the one apologizing.¡± Florence slapped her face. ¡°Just add to it. I am not quite certain about this peanut¡­ being our exit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely an exit. Even though it might not look like it,¡± Sam said. ¡°Yup, sure.¡± Aisling rubbed the back of her head. ¡°Whatever¡­ Eamon just¡­ don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Who is Eamon?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Secondly, how are we supposed to get out of here? Lastly, how did we get into such deep beef with it?¡± Yuze sniffed. ¡°Beef where?¡± she asked. She stood to her feet and stomped on Florence¡¯s spine. Florence screamed, smacking her hand. ¡°Okay, then do another backflip,¡± Sam said. Again, the peanut backflip without breaking a sweat. Well, mainly because its shell does not have any sweat glands. ¡°Honestly, how¡­ Did you order the peanut to do that?¡± Florence groaned. ¡°Are you secretly a peanut trainer this whole time? Pardon me, Yuze. Could you not stand on my back?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m indeed one, pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°Not just because of that. But I¡¯m also the sixty-ninth and ninety-six chess world champion.¡± Aisling squeezed her nose. ¡°No one cares.¡± ¡°Cat therapist,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Yeah, and also that as well,¡± Sam said. ¡°I almost¡­ forgot about it.¡± ¡°Sorry, but who is Eamon?¡± Florence asked. Aisling scratched the top of Sam¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern.¡± The peanut backflipped¡­ again for no apparent reason. ¡°You see that?¡± Sam meowed, pointing at the peanut. ¡°I made it do a backflip again without saying a single word. It¡¯s such a good peanut. I would feed you a peanut if I had one.¡± ¡°That is¡­ weird.¡± Florence jerked her head back, widening her eyes. Aisling frowned, squeezing Sam around his chest. ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ breathe,¡± Sam said. ¡°You know what you said,¡± Aisling said. ¡°What did I even do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest here. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re egoistic, stubborn, or just plain stupid.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a small and innocent cat. What else could I possibly do? Commit war crimes or something?¡± Yuze jumped off from Florence¡¯s back, landing with a splash. ¡°So¡­ could you stop suffocating me, pleb?¡± Sam asked, pawing at Aisling¡¯s forearm. Aisling shook her head. ¡°I would rather have you kinda faint.¡± ¡°Anyways, I do not want to repeat this again,¡± Florence said. ¡°But could all of us focus on getting out of this place? I need to get back home soon after finishing this supernatural investigation. And that is if we could exit this place.¡± ¡°Never,¡± Sam said. ¡°You almost forgot our delivery,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Very important, by the way.¡± Florence turned her head, looking over her shoulder with this ache lingering on her spine. Stella remained on Florence¡¯s back, not budging as she held those packaging boxes for some reason. ¡°Stella. Hungry,¡± Yuze said. Aisling spun around. ¡°Nope, I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°It¡¯s definitely that pleb¡¯s fault,¡± Sam said. ¡°Which one?¡± Florence asked. Then her brain clicked, remembering what she just said to Stella. ¡°Never mind, I think I know who you are talking about.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Aisling flapped her hand up and down. ¡°Stella is going to be fine¡­ I think.¡± ¡°How are you certain about this?¡± Florence asked. She poked Stella¡¯s forehead. Stella wobbled back and forth, sliding onto the oil-painted ground. ¡°Yup, she is definitely fine,¡± Aisling said. ¡°It certainly does not look like it,¡± Florence said. She wrapped her arm under Stella¡¯s armpit and picked her up to her feet. ¡°What?¡± Stella blinked, shaking her head. ¡°Sorry¡­ I might have¡­ I mean¡­ you know.¡± Yuze nodded, slipping the phone back into her pocket. Florence scratched around the scab on her forearms. ¡°Pardon?¡± The peanut convoluted. With a crack, its shell shattered. Its legs limped, collapsing to the oil-painted ground. In a splash, its beaks fell off. However, no pod rolled out of its shell, not even an organ or organic matter resembling life. Only a roughly sketched red eye faded into an empty void inside its external hull. An eerie silence rang. Sam squeezed his way out of Aisling¡¯s hug. With his claws extended, he scratched Aisling¡¯s face. Aisling cupped her face, pacing back and forth. ¡°Stupid cat. What was that for?¡± ¡°You, pleb, murdered my peanut,¡± Sam said. He retracted his claws. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°Stop lying. I know you did.¡± Florence raised her hand. Aisling smiled. She closed her eyes, tilting her head. ¡°Sorry. I might have kind of lost my¡­ you know.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how about we all jumped inside the peanut?¡± Florence asked. ¡°No, my peanut.¡± Sam pushed his paws up to his ears. ¡°How could this have happened?¡± ¡°This is insane,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And that¡¯s kinda why we¡¯re doing it now.¡± Florence shrugged. ¡°Countdown?¡± Yuze smirked, kicking Florence on her bottom, thrusting her into this void inside the peanut. Florence gripped Stella¡¯s blouse, pulling Stella along. Stella screamed, losing her footing. ¡°Lady first,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Pair.¡± Sam wiped his nose. ¡°Do any of you pleb have catnip? I really need to drown myself in catnip right about now.¡± ¡°What was that for? This is absolutely not what I meant by jumping in together,¡± Florence said. Around this point, Aisling, Yuze, and Sam appeared as dots, getting farther away from Florence¡­ Chapter 21: Beacon Island Florence fell with the wind howling in her ear. Her hair whipped across her face. She held onto Stella in the void. The world spun around Florence. Her stomach twisted. A buildup of bile rushed up her throat. Thud. She and Stella crashed onto a concrete floor. The rough surface poking on their backs. Florence blinked, clearing her vision. Thousands of red eyes plastered across the brick wall with a spiral staircase going upwards held together with bolts. She jumped up into a sitting position. A scream echoed above her. Out of nowhere, Yuze and Aisling wrapped their arms around Sam, manifested out of thin air, dropping straight onto Florence¡¯s lap. ¡°Hi,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Long time no see.¡± ¡°It is really not that long.¡± Florence coughed with the bile leaking from the corner of her mouth. ¡°Pardon me, but where are we exactly?¡± Sam hissed as he drooled. ¡°Beacon Island, pleb.¡± An ear-piercing scratch reverberated on Florence¡¯s left. She wheeled around, her muscles tensed, and her brain vibrated. But those sketched red eyes greeted her as she urged herself to curl into a ball¡ªnot that it mattered, with her ear canal still ringing. Sam wiped his drool away. ¡°Catnip. I can hear those sounds,¡± he said. ¡°I need catnip.¡± ¡°Do you seriously think we have it?¡± Aisling pulled out her dagger. ¡°Does it look like we can buy it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Why can¡¯t I have catnip?¡± Sam extended his claws, swinging them through the air. Stella pushed herself to her feet. She blinked, rubbing her eyes. Her blouse and skirt rustled like nothing had happened. The ear-piercing scratches died down. Florence breathed in and out, calming her nerves down. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask me,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Even though it kinda does sound familiar.¡± ¡°Odd,¡± Yuze said. ¡°I think¡­ I mean, didn¡¯t both of you go here before.¡± Stella fidgeted with her skirt. She glanced at Aisling and Yuze before quickly averting her eyes away from them. ¡°How did we end up here? And¡­ those eyes on the wall,¡± Florence said. ¡°I have seen them before.¡± Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°I know. But I gotta admit that I kinda don¡¯t wanna be what I think it is supposed to be.¡± An eerie silence floated through this lighthouse as everyone remained still with the waves. Florence swallowed the bile to her stomach. ¡°Pardon me, could you perhaps tell me what your thoughts on this red might be?¡± Aisling let go of Sam. She turned to the staircase, breezing towards it. ¡°Aisling, could you at least answer my question?¡± Florence asked. Aisling halted, her hand inches away from the railing. ¡°We should not talk about this here,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯re kinda still listening.¡± ¡°Who are they?¡± Without answering her, the stairs creaked with Aisling going up the spiral. Florence spread her arms out. ¡°Why are you not telling me? How is it that bad?¡± Yuze smirked, poking Florence on the cheek. Florence turned head, facing Yuze, who rested on Florence¡¯s lap. ¡°Hey, all of you.¡± Aisling clenched the handrail, leaning against it. ¡°Could you guys come up here with me?¡± ¡°Come,¡± Yuze said. Florence rubbed Yuze¡¯s injured left thigh, tracing her fingertips around the scab. ¡°I will get there soon enough. It is just going to take some time.¡± ¡°No¡­ I mean¡­ Yes, I¡¯ll come with you, Aisling,¡± Stella said. With a hurried step, she rushed towards Aisling and climbed up the stairs. Florence scooped her arms under Yuze, lifting her up. Yuze tilted her head. ¡°Kiss?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Kiss as in should I kiss you,¡± Aisling said, now at the top. ¡°Florence, that¡¯s what Yuze kinda meant to say.¡± Yuze laughed. ¡°Please, do not do it,¡± Florence said with a stern face. ¡°I guess you can cash me if it makes you feel better.¡± Yuze gaped at Florence. ¡°Cash? We don¡¯t have that,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I thought you would have figured it out yourself. It had been a long time since someone used it. Shouldn¡¯t that be obvious?¡± ¡°That is not¡­ Never mind, forget about it, please,¡± Florence said. Yuze shrugged, covering her lips. ¡°Why?¡± Florence trudged, her feet tapping across the floor while carrying Yuze. A moment later, the steps creaked, and Florence climbed up the staircase. Each fiber in her body ached. Still, she followed Stella, who reached the top. An eerie scratch echoed. This time, it reached a point where Florence¡¯s eardrums could burst. She buckled down, leaning against the handrail. From the corner of her vision, a red blur jolted past her and Yuze. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Florence wheeled around. Only those red eyes on the wall looked back at her. She sighed, coughing. She continued upwards without a thought. The red eyes blinked as a scratch on the wall echoed. She froze, her foot inches away from the next step. Did¡­ those eyes just move? Or was it her imagination? She turned her head, facing the wall, where thousands of eyes stared at her. ¡°Do you¡¯ve catnip, pleb?¡± Sam said. ¡°How could you ask such a question now?¡± Florence swallowed her saliva down her throat. ¡°How about you ask for those catnip later?¡± ¡°Shut it. I¡¯m not asking any of you, pleb.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ who?¡± ¡°You know, those red eyes on the wall.¡± The pupils of those red eyes dilated, widening the lenses. ¡°Should we run?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nah,¡± Yuze said. An eerie silence rang. Florence swallowed her courage, forcing herself to go up the creaky stairs. Those red eyes glared at her, following her every move as she climbed. She tilted her head lower, hiding her eyes from those red eyes. However, somehow, she reached the top without a single scratch inflicted on her. This salty tingle filled her nostrils and lungs. A powerful gust blew on her, rustling her hair. From here, standing at the top of this lighthouse, a chill rested on her face. The sun peaked up the horizon, reflecting a warm orange on the ocean¡¯s surface. The waves sloshed and slurped. Aisling and Stella leaned on a ledge, facing the city with skyscrapers scraping the clouds above. Columns of smoke rose across District Nine, with the occasional explosion here and there. A fleet of ships with cargo docked and not leaving the harbor of District Nine. Aisling scratched her chin. ¡°I just can¡¯t get my finger on something.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but what was that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Those¡­ eyes.¡± ¡°Fingers? You have,¡± Yuze said. She pointed to Aisling¡¯s fingers. ¡°Nope, I¡¯m not talking about that,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I can tell I still have it.¡± ¡°How can this¡­ thing be in the lighthouse at all?¡± Florence panted. ¡°Just how?¡± Aisling reached for the handle of her dagger and pulled it out. The ray reflected on the sharp edge of the blade. ¡°Pardon me, could someone answer my question?¡± Florence asked. ¡°You know, the one about the red eyes?¡± Aisling sheathed her dagger. ¡°Well, if I¡¯m gonna be honest here, those things aren¡¯t such a big problem.¡± Yuze nodded with a smirk. Aisling extended her index finger, pointing at District Nine. She grabbed Florence on the shoulder, pulling her closer. ¡°How are you certain about this?¡± Florence asked. ¡°You see what I see,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Right over there.¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ but also not really.¡± ¡°So which one is it?¡± ¡°Both.¡± Florence followed the direction where Aisling¡¯s finger pointed at. However, just like before, columns of smoke rose up all across District Nine, submerging the red glow from the skyscrapers. Even the reflections on the steel and glass vanished under the thick fumes. The visible air waves danced above the water, reaching the top of the buildings. Then something caught her eyes¡­ a trail of bubbles fizzing across the ocean surface from Beacon Island to District Nine. ¡°Look at it more closely,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Did you notice what I see?¡± ¡°Pardon me if I remember this correctly. Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be something about the Prince Underground Railway that connects here to District Nine?¡± Florence bit her lower lip. ¡°I mean¡­ there are certainly bubbles bubbling up to the surface. If that is the case¡­ you know.¡± ¡°Yup, fair enough. But not exactly¡­ never mind. It¡¯s just like we¡¯re living in someone¡¯s nightmare.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I get what you are saying. Sometimes being alive is itself a nightmare.¡± Aisling dropped her jaw wide open, squinting at Florence. ¡°I am just saying,¡± Florence said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Aisling curled her first two fingers on both hands at eye level. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna quote you on that.¡± ¡°Rabbit ears,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Dinner.¡± Sam gawked. ¡°I could feel it. Give me catnip.¡± ¡°You do realize we don¡¯t have any,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Stella?¡± Stella nodded, burying her face into the packaging boxes. ¡°Exactly,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Why?¡± Sam swished his tail, drooling. He quickly turned his head towards Aisling¡¯s face. ¡°I need catnip. Did you forget who pays for your needs, pleb?¡± ¡°It is obviously us, the Players, that pay the bills, rent, debt, and all the necessities.¡± ¡°Sure. That¡¯s if you can even pay for it at all.¡± ¡°I wonder why we could barely avoid it?¡± ¡°How dare you blame me, pleb? You should know your place.¡± Florence coughed, clearing her throat. Her foot slammed against the floor with a thud. An eerie silence followed. Aisling and Sam closed their mouths shut, not moving an inch. ¡°Pardon me, could all of us cooperate with each other nicely?¡± Florence pointed at District Nine. ¡°Would it be nice if we could get across there? And get the investigation done.¡± ¡°You kinda forgot about the delivery,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Pleb, the catnip,¡± Sam said. ¡°My treasure of catnip might be over there as well.¡± ¡°Is it me, or does it seem like Sam has an addiction,¡± Florence said. Aisling shook her head, clenching her fist close to her face. ¡°Nope, he is not even close to addiction.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuze said. She patted Sam on the head. ¡°Totally addicted.¡± ¡°Repeat it to my face, pleb.¡± Sam quickly turned his head, glaring at Yuze. ¡°Everyone, we need to stay focused,¡± Florence said. ¡°So, could everyone here take a deep breath? In and out.¡± ¡°No,¡± Aisling and Sam said. Aisling frowned, crossing her arms. She sighed, dipping her chin lower. Stella rolled her eyes up, collapsing onto Aisling. The packaging boxes slipped out of Stella¡¯s hold. One of which splashed into the sea below. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I think it might be you, Aisling,¡± Florence said. ¡°I did not do anything. I swear.¡± ¡°We lost one of our deliveries. Do you even know how much it cost?¡± ¡°How is this even my fault?¡± Aisling pushed her lips forward. She spun around, facing away from Florence. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Florence asked. An eerie silence rang at the top of this lighthouse for a few seconds. ¡°Never mind. I get it now,¡± Florence said. She stepped on the ledge and leaned over it, the waves swooshing against the walls of the lighthouse below her. ¡°Florence, stop it right there,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I know what you wanted to do.¡± Yuze smirked. ¡°Do it. Want to?¡± She rested her head on Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, pleb,¡± Sam said, pawing and pushing at Yuze¡¯s forearm. ¡°At least, let me go first.¡± Without another word coming out the mouth of Florence, she took a leap of faith. Sam screamed. His whiskers lashed from right to left as the wind blew. Florence, Yuze, and Sam plunged into the depths in a splash. Florence opened her mouth with air bubbles escaping out of her lungs. The dissolved salt rested on her tongue, tingling through her nerves. With a quick glance, in the depths, a hollow red glow shines on the ocean floor. A muffled whistle rang in her ears. But, slowly, she floated back up, bursting out of the ocean. She blinked with Yuze still hanging onto Florence¡¯s back. Sam hissed, shaking his fur. Water droplets flew everywhere, splashing onto every inch that they could. He slapped both Florence and Yuze on the back of their heads. From the top of the lighthouse, Aisling waved one of her hands. She shouted inaudible nonsense. ¡°Pardon me, what did you say?¡± Florence asked. Aisling pressed her palm on her head, pushing her hair up. Skeleton-like fingers wrapped around Florence¡¯s ankles. In one pull, she sank under the waves. She kicked and thrashed. With a quick glance, this man with peeling skin, who wore an olive helmet and tattered coat, clawed at Florence¡¯s ankles. The water muffled Florence¡¯s scream. She sank deeper. The bubbles of air escaping from her mouth and nose. This darkness grew. Darker. And¡­ darker. Chapter 22: District Nine A pressure shaped like a palm pushed hard on the lower half of Florence¡¯s sternum. Florence threw up. Her eyelids flew open. She clenched her fist, sand running through her fingers. The blinding sun high above blurred her vision. The saltiness lingered on her tongue. A smoky, sweet whiff filled her nostrils and floated down her lungs. The swishing of waves vibrated her eardrums. Another pressure pressed down on the lower half of her sternum. She blinked, sitting in an upright position. She rubbed her eyes, clearing her sight. In front of her, Aisling, with her hands cupping her mouth, sat on top of Florence. The water dripped down from Aisling¡¯s hair and clothes, splashing on Florence¡¯s lap. Stella washed out from the waves, holding onto the soaked packaging boxes. But one of them was still missing. On the right of Florence, Yuze and Sam spread their bodies out across the sand with their belly pointing to the sky. ¡°You really have one brain cell,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And a thick plot amour if I¡¯ve ever seen one.¡± Florence brushed her wet hair aside as droplets of seawater flowed down her face. ¡°Did you want me to give you some space?¡± ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t tell you to leap off at the top of a lighthouse.¡± ¡°Look, I was also admittedly trying to kill two birds with one stone.¡± ¡°If that one bird is trying to drown yourself. Then, if I¡¯m gonna be honest here, you fail miserably.¡± Florence threw her hands up into the air. In a swift motion, she slapped the sand. ¡°Idiot,¡± Aisling said. Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Say it,¡± Yuze said. She smirked. ¡°Again.¡± Aisling smacked Yuze right on the stomach. Yuze groaned, rolling to her side. She chuckled under her breath. ¡°About the other packaging box,¡± Florence said. ¡°How are we supposed to get another one for... the delivery?¡± Aisling pulled out a soaking wet packaging box behind her, waving it at Florence¡¯s face. ¡°How did you find it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It would be better if we don¡¯t get deep into it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°This is a long story.¡± ¡°Pardon me, where are we exactly?¡± ¡°In your mom¡¯s basement.¡± Florence nodded, tilting her head to the side as she stared at Aisling. ¡°Sorry, I just needed to get that out of my system,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I am just going to pretend you did not say that.¡± Florence leaned, sliding her fingers through the sand. ¡°So, could you tell me where we are, seriously?¡± ¡°District Nine.¡± ¡°Wait, already.¡± Florence spun around. Skyscrapers of glass and steel scraped the sky above, towering over her. None of the sunlight could penetrate through the columns of smoke that snaked in between those buildings, rising up higher. The glass panels reflected red from the warning signs. ¡°If I have to guess what you are about to say,¡± Florence said, ¡°we are going to make a delivery.¡± Aisling nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what about the investigation.¡± ¡°Should I give you the good or the bad news first? To be honest, there isn¡¯t any good news.¡± Florence and Aisling eyed each other silently, with explosions echoing through the street. ¡°Harbor,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Other side.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Our investigation is on the other side of District Nine¡¯s beach,¡± Aisling said, flapping a soggy packaging box. ¡°So, we¡¯re going to do our deliveries first.¡± Stella huffed, crawling towards Florence. ¡°Dry me, pleb.¡± Sam rolled onto his paws. He licked his wet fur, gagging and meowing. ¡°Also, clean me because I pay your rent and bills.¡± Aisling stood, placing the soggy packaging box behind her head. ¡°Nope. Good luck, I guess,¡± she said. She scattered the sand beneath her, breezing towards Stella. ¡°Help,¡± Yuze said. ¡°You cannot be serious,¡± Florence said, pushing herself up. ¡°How are we supposed to deliver those boxes in such conditions? How about we contact the customer who could not deliver it? And then we could immediately head to the harbor for our investigation.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Aisling said. She wrapped her arm under Stella¡¯s armpit, lifting Stella up. ¡°I¡¯m paying the rent and bills. Not Sam.¡± ¡°Catnip addict,¡± Yuze said. Sam hissed, baring his teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not an addict. Catnip is a necessity for my survival.¡± Florence scratched around the scab of her forearm. ¡°This is unbelievable,¡± she said. ¡°Could we at least get it done as soon as possible?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°It won¡¯t take long¡­ hopefully,¡± Aisling said. She carried Stella, breezing towards the columns of smoke snaking between the skyscrapers. Florence stretched her limbs out. A crack on her upper back shivered down her spine. She groaned, smacking her forehead before following Aisling and Stella. ¡°Fine, I guess I have to go with this pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°I can feel it. It¡¯s an adventure to snort some catnip.¡± He rushed towards Florence, leaping onto her dress. He climbed and clawed his way up to her shoulder. ¡°Wait,¡± Yuze said. Aisling waved her hand without looking. ¡°Good luck.¡± A scattering of sand inched towards Florence. From the corner of her eye, Yuze limped and caught up to Florence. They went deeper into District Nine. The skyscrapers towered over them. Columns of smoke rose from ignited cars and infernos inside dumpsters, casting a long shadow. The street was void of any Players, with only the crackling fire accompanying them. Even the cameras with speakers on the pole smashed to bits. ¡°Pardon me, I know it is a bit too late to ask,¡± Florence said. ¡°But¡­ what happened here.¡± Aisling shrugged. ¡°This happens occasionally. It could be many different things, to be fair.¡± ¡°Toilet papers,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Wait, what toilet paper?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup, I almost forgot about that.¡± Aisling laughed, covering her face. ¡°You¡¯re gonna see it yourself sooner or later.¡± Yuze nodded, leaning and wrapping her arms around Florence. Florence bit her lips. ¡°This is certainly concerning. How does toilet paper get to do anything?¡± The metal clanging reverberated, getting louder and closer. Aisling screeched to a halt. She stretched one of her arms out, stopping Florence from advancing. A crackle of electricity tensed up the surroundings. Aisling tugged Stella to the alley at a quickened pace. Yuze sank her nail deep into Florence¡¯s skin, pulling Florence towards Aisling. Their footsteps echoed. Florence groaned. ¡°Why are we going in here?¡± Aisling pushed her finger onto her lips. Her chest rose and fell. She hushed, cupping Florence¡¯s mouth. The clanging of metal resounded. The muzzle crackling with electricity emerged from the corner of the alley. Aisling pushed Florence, Yuze, and Stella down behind a burning dumpster. Florence fell, scraping her bottom against the rough surface. Aisling¡¯s arms trembled to the touch. At the same time, Sam chewed on Florence¡¯s hair. A dark silhouette of a humanoid emerged from the street, growing bigger every second. A company of pink androids with one of their arms transformed into a rifle came into sight, halting and looming over them. Florence held her breath, not contacting a single muscle. Her heart raced. Only the crackling fire filled the eerie silence as she dared not move an inch. Suddenly, an explosion of shockwaves busted through the narrow passage. A brand new column of smoke snaked up to the horizon. Those pink androids wheeled around, marching out of the alley. The clanging of metals faded. ¡°Where are they going?¡± Florence asked. ¡°What? I can¡¯t hear you,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Those androids. Why did they leave?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But if I¡¯m gonna be honest here, it will be better for us not to know.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Aisling jumped up, brushing her ripped jeans. She strolled away from the pink androids, tossing one of the lost packaging boxes to Stella. Florence leaned against the glass panel wall. She took a breath. In and out. Then she stood up with her back rubbing against the surface with a squeak. She helped Yuze to get up as she clenched the bite wound on her left thigh. ¡°Pardon me, which way are we heading next?¡± Florence asked. Aisling glanced over her shoulders, shaking her head. Her footsteps echoed. ¡°What do you mean, no? Answer me,¡± Florence said. She trudged while helping Yuze limp towards Aisling. ¡°Could you at least not leave me in the dark?¡± ¡°Not dark,¡± Yuze said. ¡°I mean¡­ I think we¡¯ll deliver this to the customers.¡± Stella stood up, holding all the packaging boxes in her arms, stumbling towards Aisling. ¡°But¡­ I mean¡­ I think we should just go.¡± Aisling rested her hand behind her head. ¡°If we stay behind and keep talking like that, we might as well turn into ashes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Florence asked. The fire crackled. With nothing much left but to keep moving onwards. Several minutes had passed. As expected, a smoky-sweet whiff accompanies Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam wherever they go. The columns of smoke still raised from the fire scattered across District Nine, suffocating them. Without other Players in sight, Florence could only fidget with her thoughts. Aisling stopped at the front glass entrance of a skyscraper identical to the ones around it. ¡°I think we¡¯re here,¡± she said. ¡°Is that correct, Stella?¡± Stella thudded to the ground. ¡°Stella?¡± Florence kneeled down. She tapped Stella on the cheek. ¡°How could I help you?¡± ¡°Give her a minute or two to recharge. Her social battery is kinda low,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Pardon me, what is a social battery?¡± ¡°Is in the name. You can kinda figure it out yourself.¡± Aisling scooped Stella up to stand. The glass door slid open, and Aisling tapped her feet across the floor, helping Stella enter the building. Florence supported Yuze in limping inside, following Aisling and Stella. The lobby floor creaked beneath them, void of furniture. They climbed up the stairs to the eleventh floor, where a hallway with doors and doorbells ran along on each side. The droplets from the soggy packaging boxes splashed onto the floor, forming a long trail. Aisling and Stella stopped. Florence bumped into Aisling and Stella. ¡°I am sorry for my mistake,¡± Florence said. She bowed and placed her hands on her lap. Aisling put her arms behind her back, slipping her hands away from Stella. Stella stared at a poster on the wall displaying a four-piece band advertisement for a performance in the Prince Underground Railway. One of the gal guitarists in a blouse and skirt with white hair reached her waist, hiding her red eyes behind her bangs. At the back of this group, a pink-dye-haired female member played the drum with her drumsticks. But the final two members couldn¡¯t be seen clearly with this paper being worn out. Aisling reached for the doorknob. ¡°Is it this one?¡± ¡°No¡­ I think it is farther down the hallway,¡± Stella said. ¡°How could there be a poster inside this building?¡± Florence pushed her palm on her hip. ¡°Either they are desperate, or¡­ actually, I am not that certain.¡± Aisling and Stella knitted their eyebrows with their lips loose, glaring at Florence. ¡°I am just saying,¡± Florence said. ¡°Bad girl,¡± Sam said. He chewed Florence¡¯s hair. ¡°Catnip.¡± Aisling and Stella continued onwards, with Florence, Yuze, and Sam behind. Shortly, stopping in front of a different door. ¡°I think¡­ I mean, this is the place,¡± Stella said. ¡°How are you certain it is this place?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Why not double-check the address first¡­ wherever it is written before we enter?¡± Stella shook her head. ¡°Well¡­ why bother checking the address anyway?¡± Aisling clenched her fist, knocking on the door. ¡°Stella had already been¡­ you know.¡± Stella nodded. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Florence said. ¡°How did you know where the location is without checking it?¡± ¡°I think this is not the time to ask this kinda question,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I know. This might be late, but what are we delivering?¡± ¡°Pizza.¡± ¡°Why did you not tell me that we are making a delivery to the mafia?¡± ¡°What?¡± The door creaked. Inside that room, a pink-dyed-haired gal sat on a wheelchair, blocking the entryway. She scratched her forearms, covered in scars. Her fingers convulsed, pinching a lever on the armrest. The blanket on her lap rustled. ¡°This is your delivery,¡± Aisling said. She jabbed the packaging boxes that Stella held in her arms. The pink-dye-haired gal widened her eyes. ¡°Stella¡­ is that you.¡± Chapter 23: Mai and Haru An eerie silence tensed up in the hallway. Florence slapped herself on the cheeks. She stared at the pink-dye-haired gal in a wheelchair with a blanket covering her lap. Next to Florence, Yuze leaned onto Florence. At the same time, Aisling smiled with a spark, smacking Florence¡¯s back. A trail of droplets splashed on the floor, with Stella squeezing the soaked packaging boxes. Sam meowed, leaping off from Florence¡¯s shoulder. He wheeled in the air and through a doorway, landing on the pink-dye-haired gal¡¯s lap. ¡°Mai.¡± Stella hid her face behind the soggy packaging boxes. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Mai brushed her pink-dyed hair aside as her finger convulsed. ¡°Whatever, it is ruined anyway. Just¡­ get in. Like, literally none of you should be here right now.¡± ¡°What about the payment?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Or are you going to put a bullet in all our heads?¡± Aisling kicked Florence on her bottom. Florence yelped, jumping up. She covered the spot where she got hit. ¡°I guess you don¡¯t have your phone with you, Mai,¡± Aisling said. Mai nodded. She shoved Sam under the blanket. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it in just a few minutes. By the way, it would be nice if you visited my house. Because all of you look like you swam in the ocean for way too long. And I really don¡¯t want to deal with those androids roaming around.¡± ¡°This is because we did,¡± Florence said. ¡°Pardon me, how did you know?¡± Mai pulled a lever on the armrest, driving her wheelchair towards the phone on a round dining table. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella followed, stepping through the doorway and entering a glass room. A caramelized brown sugar and zesty citrus scent wafted from an oven on the other side of the glass room. A line of utensils lined up on the glass panel, reflecting under the light. A black-haired lady in an apron over flower-patterned pajamas was washing her hands in the sink. She sidestepped to her left, gripping the handle, opening a door with a glass window. She reached in without an oven mitt, grabbing a baking tray of orange drop cookies. Then, without flinching, she placed it on the stove with a clang next to a closed door. Florence jerked her head back. ¡°How is she¡­ wait, what?¡± Mai stretched her hands out and snatched the phone off a round dining table. But the phone slipped, clattering on the floor. Her fingers convulsed as she extended her arm to the phone. She groaned with her chest rising and falling. Stella took the phone to the floor, returning it to Mai. ¡°Thanks,¡± Mai said. ¡°So¡­ like, how have you been?¡± Stella tossed the soggy packaging boxes onto the round dining table. She fidgeted with her skirt, avoiding eye contact with Mai. ¡°Cookies,¡± Aisling said. The floor creaked beneath her. She reached for the orange drop cookies. ¡°Could I¡¯ve one?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± the black-haired lady said. She looked over her shoulder with a plastic smile and slapped Aisling¡¯s hand. ¡°I mean, you ruined our pizza.¡± Mai tapped the screen of her phone. ¡°This just feels like a literal scam,¡± she said. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve just paid for it.¡± Aisling¡¯s phone rang in the pocket of her ripped jeans. She picked it up and tapped on the screen. ¡°Aisling, did you receive it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup.¡± Aisling stuck her phone into the pocket of her ripped jeans. ¡°Also, Mai, this is not a scam. We must do more than two things we shouldn¡¯t do here.¡± ¡°That makes it more like a scam,¡± Mai said. She leaned back on her wheelchair. Aisling pushed her palm onto her face. She dropped to the floor with a thud. Her stomach growled. Yuze drooled. ¡°Cookie.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t have it,¡± the black-haired lady said. ¡°Pretty please,¡± Aisling said. She crawled, clutching onto the black-haired lady¡¯s flower-patterned apron. ¡°Please.¡± The black-haired lady rolled her eyes. ¡°Fine. But you can only have one each.¡± Yuze wiped her eyes without tearing up. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°At least we could kinda survive for three days.¡± Aisling spread herself across the floor, rolling to her back. ¡°That¡¯s if we¡¯re able to survive this long.¡± ¡°Fine, you can have all of it,¡± the black-haired lady said. Yuze smirked as she kept wiping her eyes without crying. Aisling jumped up and landed on her feet with a thud. ¡°Really? Thank you so much,¡± she said. She grabbed the black-haired lady on her shoulders and shook her. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you before,¡± the black-haired lady said. She turned her head towards Florence. ¡°Are you perhaps also Stella¡¯s friend? And what¡¯s your name?¡± Stella yelped. Her hands covered her mouth. The floor creaked beneath her toes as she inched away from Florence. Florence scratched the back of her head, rustling her unkempt hair. ¡°Florence. I¡¯m actually new here¡­ not exactly with Stella.¡± ¡°Sorry for my rudeness,¡± the black-haired lady said. She paused with her mouth open, not speaking a word aloud. ¡°You can call my mother Haru,¡± Mai said. ¡°Pardon me, did you say that she is your mother?¡± Florence asked. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Aisling coughed. ¡°Yup, that is her mom. Well¡­ kinda.¡± Stella blinked, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Haru, I¡¯ll¡­ I mean, I¡¯ll just check on you,¡± she said. ¡°This will take a few minutes¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Stella, I can check on Haru as well. That is if you want my help,¡± Florence said. Stella dragged Haru to another glass room filled with the guitar and a drum set. The glass door slammed shut behind them. A porcelain jar wobbled, and a picture of Haru sat on a shelf above the drumset. The crunch of orange drop cookies penetrated through the air. ¡°Stella, answer me,¡± Florence said. She stomped across the floor. But the glass door slammed shut in front of her. She knocked, pushing the handle. Aisling breezed over, tapping on Florence¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Do you want a cookie?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. Aisling stuffed an orange drop cookie into Florence¡¯s mouth. Florence chewed with a satisfying crunch. The zesty but sweet fragrance melted on her tongue. In one heartbeat, she swallowed the baked sweets. ¡°See, this is kinda good, right?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have probably asked this first. Are you on a diet?¡± ¡°You are absolutely right. It is that sometimes¡­ I do not know.¡± Florence coughed, hitting her chest. Then she pushed her forehead against the glass door. ¡°And¡­ no, I am absolutely not on a diet.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s kinda nice to know.¡± ¡°Look, I do not know what is going on with Haru. But there seems to be some sort of health problem inflicted on her. And I could check or even help her if necessary.¡± ¡°Just let Stella handle it.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± On the opposite side of the glass door, Stella dragged Haru across the room. Then, Stella went behind the drum and laid Haru on the floor. Yuze chomped the orange drop cookie, limping over to Florence¡¯s side. ¡°Well, at least that is kinda one job done, I guess,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And all of you should take a shower,¡± Mai said. ¡°Like I could smell you from over here.¡± Florence sniffed herself. ¡°I don¡¯t smell anything.¡± ¡°One more,¡± Yuze said. She gnawed another orange drop cookie. ¡°No more.¡± Aisling looked over her shoulder. Her jaws dropped. ¡°Yuze, you¡¯ll get diabetes at this rate.¡± Yuze shook her head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Florence asked. She spun around. The cookies seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving a trail of crumples on top of the baking tray and stove. Aisling furrowed her eyebrows, thinning her lips. She turned slowly towards Yuze. Yuze licked her lips, turning away from Aisling. ¡°Yuze,¡± Aisling said. She sank her nails into Yuze¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know what you did.¡± ¡°Nah.¡± Yuze avoided eye contact with everyone. ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Guys, please don¡¯t do it here,¡± Mai said. Aisling smiled, smacking Yuze on her spine. ¡°Nope, why would I even do that? Wouldn¡¯t you agree with it, Yuze?¡± Yuze stumbled backward. The legs of the round dining table screeched across the floor, and she shook her head. Aisling withdrew her dagger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not gonna hurt you.¡± Yuze limped in circles around the dining table as Aisling chased behind her. The glass door creaked. Stella emerged from the other glass room. ¡°So, about Haru¡­ I mean, Mai, I want to discuss something important to you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Mai pushed the lever on the armrest forward, riding her wheelchair towards Stella. ¡°Like we could talk about it inside.¡± Stella fidgeted her skirt. Her face paled. She inhaled and exhaled, but in the end, she nodded. ¡°Nice,¡± Mai said. ¡°How is Haru doing?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It seems like there are some health-related issues with her.¡± Stella blinked, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Well¡­ I mean, that wouldn¡¯t be necessary.¡± Mai and Stella entered the glass room, leaving Florence behind. The glass door slammed shut. Florence wheeled around. In front of her, Aisling, with her dagger out, still chased Yuze around the dining table. Yuze jubilated, flailing her arms. ¡°Aisling, could you please put that dagger away?¡± Florence clasped her hands together. ¡°The last thing we need is Yuze to be dead.¡± ¡°She ate all of my cookies,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to kill her.¡± ¡°That is exactly why I am telling you to put it away.¡± ¡°Look, it¡¯s just gonna be quick and painless.¡± Nevertheless, Aisling still pursued Yuze in circles around the dining table. Florence slammed her palm on her face, rubbing the side of her forehead. Her heart raced. Then, from behind, someone settled their hand on her shoulder. A metallic chill spread through the dress and her skin. She wheeled around. Haru stood at the doorway with her arm extended towards Florence. ¡°I¡­ did not hear you coming out of there just now,¡± Florence said. ¡°I beg my pardon. I should have asked you this first. How are you feeling right now? Are there no headaches or any other problems?¡± Haru tilted her body to the side with a muffled squeak between her joints. ¡°Thank you. But you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°How are you certain about this? I think you should rest a bit more.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m¡­ fine. I just want to confirm if you brought any NPC here.¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ not. Why would I do such a thing?¡± Haru shoved Florence aside. Her heavy footsteps creaked the floor as she stepped between Aisling and Yuze. Stella curled into a ball in the other glass room, sitting beside Mai. Florence trudged through the doorway. She scraped the tip of her finger against the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it caked in dust. She dropped to her bottom next to Stella. Stella yelped, cupping her mouth and sliding away from Florence. ¡°Honestly, I do not know why I told Haru that I did not bring an NPC in here,¡± Florence said. She glanced at Sam, who had hidden under the blanket on Mai¡¯s lap. ¡°Even though there is literally one in here.¡± Mai leaned against the backrest of her wheelchair, stretching her arms upwards. ¡°It¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t tell her,¡± she said. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just your gut feeling.¡± ¡°Absolutely not¡­ Well, I guess. Maybe.¡± ¡°Out of curiosity, do you know what¡¯s happening outside?¡± ¡°Absolutely no idea. All I know is that there is a lockdown.¡± ¡°Maybe it is because people are fighting over toilet paper¡­ again.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Stella overlapped her arms, making a cross sign, sliding between Florence and Mai. ¡°Was it that bad?¡± Florence chuckled. ¡°Stella, you do actually remind me of someone. Well¡­ at least when she is not drunk.¡± Stella lowered her hands. Her cheeks turned red like Florence¡¯s sister¡¯s whenever she did anything embarrassing or drank too much. ¡°Stella, have you given some thought about it?¡± Mai stared at the musical instruments coated in dust. ¡°About starting all over again?¡± Stella pinched her chin between her knees. Her arms wrapped around her legs. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± Mai said. Stella nodded, rubbing her eyes. Florence pushed herself up to her feet. Her dress rustled. She yawned. Her eyelids drooped heavier. ¡°Pardon me, may I go to your bathroom, Mai?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to ask. Like you can go whenever you want,¡± Mai said. ¡°By the way, the bathroom is behind a closed door next to the stove.¡± The floor creaked beneath Florence. Her trudging footsteps passed through the doorway. She went around Haru, putting herself between Aisling and Yuze. Florence wrapped her fingers around the handle, opening the door with a creak. She pushed herself in, leaning over the sink. The lever flicked upwards. The water flowed out of the faucet, swirling down the drain. She closed her eyes, splashing herself on the face. The droplets flowed towards her cheeks. She opened her eyes again. But the mirror reflected Martine standing behind Florence. Chapter 24: Danger The running water whirled down the drain, drowning the silence. Florence wheeled around. She pressed her palm against the sink behind her. In front of her, Martine leaned on the shower panel, crossing her arms. ¡°I did not expect to see you here,¡± Florence said. ¡°Also, how did you get in?¡± Martine shrugged. ¡°Maybe it is your imagination.¡± Florence lunged forward. Her unkempt hair lashed out. She stretched her hands, hugging Martine. A crack vibrated through the air. ¡°My¡­ spine,¡± Martine said. Wrinkles formed on her face as if every muscle contracted in the front part of her head. Florence slopped her head down, unraveling her arms around Martine. ¡°Sorry, I did not mean to do that,¡± Florence said. ¡°I know,¡± Martine said. ¡°There is something else more urgent that needs your attention.¡± A clang of metal rang on the floor. Florence rotated her head. At the doorway, Aisling dropped her jaw open. Her dagger reflected white and red as it rested next to her feet. She dipped her chin lower, squinting at Florence. ¡°Just pretend I¡¯m invisible.¡± Aisling smiled with sparkling eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t see me if I don¡¯t move.¡± ¡°I can certainly still see you, Aisling,¡± Florence said. Martine relaxed her face, dissipating the wrinkles. ¡°Who is she?¡± she asked. ¡°You know, the one over there.¡± She pointed at Aisling. ¡°You definitely can¡¯t see me,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I¡¯m the invisible woman.¡± Florence pushed her palm against the shower panel. ¡°This gal right over there is Aisling.¡± Aisling jerked her head back, widening her eyes. ¡°Pardon me, what is the matter?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Aisling coughed, covering her mouth. She picked up her dagger, sheathing it. ¡°I think you might need¡­ some sleep?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re kinda talking to a shower like a moment ago.¡± ¡°Pardon? Could you not see Martine right over here?¡± ¡°What?¡± Behind Aisling, Haru crept closer. She placed her hands on Aisling¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Could you really trust these people over there?¡± Martine wrinkled the corner of her eyes. ¡°We do not have any other choice,¡± Florence said. ¡°They will only tell us how to get back home after I help them with their investigation.¡± ¡°Whoever told you that could be lying.¡± ¡°But what other choice do I have? First of all, I am not leaving without you. Secondly, I have a sister to take care of. So, I cannot doubt Aisling in times like this.¡± Florence blinked, her eyelids growing heavier. Then, before she knew it, Martine vanished in front of Florence. Aisling breezed over towards Florence. Florence stepped away from the shower. ¡°Where did she go?¡± ¡°You wanna come out of the bathroom with me, Florence,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And you should really take a rest or something.¡± The heavy footsteps of Haru echoed. The running water died down with a flick of a lever. ¡°Haru, grab me a cup of water, please,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Of course,¡± Haru said. She exited through the doorway. Aisling wrapped her arms around Florence, tugging her through the opened door. Then Aisling guided Florence to take a seat on top of the dining table. ¡°Were you trying to murder Yuze a moment ago?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to do that at all,¡± Aisling said. She pointed into the other glass room filled with musical instruments, where Yuze rested her head on Stella¡¯s lap. ¡°She is not dead.¡± Stella brushed the guitar, which had her name carved and was dust-caked. Next to her, Mai sat in a wheelchair, petting Sam underneath her blanket. ¡°So, you wanna give yourself an hour-long break?¡± Aisling also sat on the round dining table, swinging her legs back and forth. ¡°I do not need a break,¡± Florence said, yawning. ¡°When are we going back to the investigation?¡± ¡°After we shower and get some sleep.¡± ¡°I certainly cannot avoid doing that.¡± A ball of flames erupted on the streets, vibrating the glass panels. Columns of smoke from that explosion snaked up to black clouds above. Aisling wrapped her fingers around Florence¡¯s hand. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Florence asked. In stomping footsteps, Haru walked over with a glass of water. She handed it over to Florence. ¡°Thank you¡­ I guess,¡± Florence said. She sipped from a cup. A metallic bitterness lingered at the tip of her tongue. She gagged, hitting her chest. Then, with one sniff, an inky smell filled her nostrils. Aisling smiled, thinning her lips. She laughed. ¡°Does it feel great?¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± ¡°But it does make you feel more refreshed.¡± ¡°Also, absolutely not.¡± Aisling snatched the cup, gulping the water down her throat. She coughed, covering her mouth. ¡°You see that. This is what I mean,¡± Florence said. Aisling lowered her head, sticking her tongue out. ¡°Yup, I can taste it.¡± ¡°Those NPCs,¡± Haru said. She turned her head towards the inferno and smoke engulfing the skyscrapers. ¡°Causing all of this trouble again.¡± ¡°How are you certain that the NPCs are causing this?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Or¡­ you know¡­ what was it again?¡± ¡°Toilet papers,¡± Aisling said. She trembled, shaking the cup. Haru crossed her arms. ¡°That could be the case.¡± A round of applause erupted inside the other glass room. Mai rode her wheelchair through a doorway with the corners of her mouth turned up. Haru spun around as something under her clothes squeaked. ¡°Do you need my help, Mai?¡± ¡°No, I could do it myself,¡± Mai said. ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Of course I can. I¡¯m no longer a baby.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still a little baby to me.¡± Mai rolled her eyes. She pushed a lever on the armrest, driving her wheelchair towards the kitchen sink. ¡°Kids these days¡­ unbelievable,¡± Haru said. Mai stretched her hands for the faucet. Her fingers twitched. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m twenty-three.¡± ¡°And you are still living with your mother,¡± Florence said. Aisling inhaled and exhaled. In and out. She clenched a fist, punching Florence in the stomach. Florence groaned. She bent over, covering her abdomen. ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°You know what you did,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Nice roast, by the way,¡± Mai said. ¡°Very nice.¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°What roast?¡± ¡°Roast where?¡± Yuze burst out the door from another glass room. Aisling rubbed a cup on her forehead. ¡°Why roast?¡± Mai raised her hands up. ¡°Who wants a roast?¡± Everyone fell silent. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Haru turned their heads towards Mai. ¡°Sorry¡­ bad joke,¡± Mai said. She sighed, lowering her hand. ¡°Anyways, please don¡¯t mind her being like that,¡± Haru said. ¡°But on a more serious note, are you sure you never brought an NPC here?¡± Aisling shook her head. ¡°Why would I?¡± Under the blanket on Mai¡¯s lap, Sam shivered. Florence coughed, sliding down from the dining table. The floor creaked. Her body blocked Haru¡¯s view from a direct line of sight to Mai. Mai tilted her head with a deep hum coming beneath her pajamas. ¡°Is there anything that you want, Florence?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Florence said. She glanced over her shoulder. Sam struggled, peeking his head out. But Mai pushed his head back down the blanket, her arms convulsing. His hiss was muffled under the sheet. ¡°What was that?¡± Haru said. ¡°Nothing.¡± Mai bared her teeth, hissing. ¡°I just¡­ I like to pretend that I¡¯m a cat¡­ sometimes.¡± Stella waddled out of the other glass room with the guitar. She stood on her toes, peeking over Yuze¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Who¡¯s a good kitty?¡± Aisling leaped off the dining table. The floor creaked beneath her feet. She swung the cup, breezing over to Mai¡¯s side. ¡°Give me a meow, would you?¡± Mai meowed. Her nose wrinkled. She hunched over Sam under the blanket. ¡°Good girl,¡± Aisling said. She scratched Mai on the head. ¡°Okay, I guess¡­ I mean, you know.¡± Stella plucked the guitar, returning to the other glass room filled with musical instruments. Haru shifted from right to left. The humming grew beneath Haru¡¯s clothing. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t bring an NPC here?¡± ¡°Absolutely, we did not bring any NPC in here,¡± Florence said. ¡°And this is the third time that we said it.¡± Haru stomped across the room, thudding with each step. Her joints screeched like gears grinding. She shoved Florence aside, marching towards Mai. Florence gripped Haru on the shoulder. But Florence bit her lips, her fingertips burning red. Her feet scraped over the floor as she clanged onto Haru. ¡°Mai, what is under your blanket? Tell me now,¡± Haru said. Mai cuddled Sam under the blanket on her lap. ¡°Well, there is actually kinda nothing,¡± Aisling said. She placed the cup on a stove and next to a baking tray. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you,¡± Haru said. ¡°So, what is under your blanket, Mai?¡± ¡°Well¡­ nothing much.¡± Mai gripped her shoulder, twitching her fingers. She squeezed Sam on the chest. ¡°It is a¡­ teddy bear.¡± Sam hissed. ¡°A teddy bear that¡­ can hiss,¡± Mai said. Haru extended her hand towards the blanket. ¡°When did they start making teddy bears that can hiss?¡± Florence stopped Haru in her tracks, clasping onto her wrist. The static crackled between their aprons. Florence placed her hand on Haru¡¯s forehead, searing to the touch. A chill shivered down Florence¡¯s nerves. ¡°What do you want?¡± Haru dilated her pupils, and her mouth gaped open. ¡°Feel free to answer.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how are you feeling today?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Are you feeling okay today?¡± ¡°My body is in excellent condition.¡± Florence shook her head, giving a side eye to Aisling. Aisling shrugged, waving her hands. She jumped up and down, her index finger pointing out of her clenched fist, the palm facing herself. The finger moved in a hook motion. ¡°Pardon me, are you telling me to come over here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Do you want to call the androids?¡± Haru banged her head on the dining table, wobbling the soggy packaging boxes. ¡°I can¡­ call them right now.¡± Florence pulled Haru¡¯s wrist. Immediately, Aisling slapped her feet across the floor. Her arms outstretched, wrapping around Haru¡¯s shoulder. Haru still slammed her face on the dining table nonstop. Hurried footsteps came behind Florence. A palm pressed against her. Stella squeezed in between Florence and Aisling. Then Stella gripped Haru on the collar of the flower-patterned pajamas, yanking her. ¡°Yuze, grab that stuff¡­ I mean, get that equipment in the drums,¡± Stella said. ¡°What equipment?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Wait, why is it in the drum?¡± Yuze rushed into the other glass room filled with musical instruments. She dove behind a drum set. Florence sank her teeth into her lips. ¡°Could someone please explain to me why Haru is doing this?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s kinda complicated,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Well¡­ to be more specific, it¡¯ll be more difficult to explain it to you.¡± ¡°How about making it simpler?¡± ¡°Not even close. Sometimes it feels like I¡¯m talking to a grandma half the time?¡± ¡°Pardon me, I am not that old.¡± With another bang, Florence, Aisling, and Stella flew into the air. They flipped over Haru, crashing on their nose. Florence groaned, covering her face. Stella screamed. She curled into a ball, wailing around. Next to her, Aisling scrambled to her feet. Drops of blood splashed on the floor. She wheezed, wiping her nosebleed with her thumb. Haru smashed her forehead through the top of the table. ¡°Who wants cookies?¡± ¡°I want one,¡± Sam said. He crawled out of the blanket. ¡°Preferably ones with catnip.¡± Haru turned towards Sam and Mai. The grinding of gears vibrated from Haru¡¯s joint into Florence¡¯s ear. ¡°This is bad,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Not just kinda bad. But really bad.¡± Sam hissed, extending his claws. His tails pointed to the ceiling. Before he could lunge, Mai stuffed him beneath the blanket on her lap. ¡°Hand over the NPC, now,¡± Haru said. She marched over to Mai. Aisling pounded her feet across the floor. She tackled Haru without her budging. In a blinding swoop, Haru gripped Aisling by the throat. She wheezed, clawing at Haru¡¯s fingers. Haru dug her nails into Aisling¡¯s neck, lifting Aisling up. ¡°Haru, what are you doing?¡± Florence asked. An eerie silence filled the air with Aisling¡¯s choking. Florence seized the soggy packaging boxes on the dining table. She dashed towards Haru, smacking her head. Droplets splashed all over the place. The soaked pizza burst out of the packaging boxes, flying across the room. Haru blinked. However¡­ one of the pupils in her eyes turned red. Chapter 25: Red Crystal The soggy packaging boxes dropped to the floor. Water leaked out of it. Florence grabbed a baking tray with it screeching over the top of a stove. She clashed it on Haru¡¯s head, denting the tin. A clang rang in Florence¡¯s ears. But Haru does not seem bothered, tightening her grip around Aisling¡¯s neck. Aisling choked, clawing at Haru¡¯s hand. Stella screamed, pinching her nose. She curled into a ball, rolling under the round dining table. Mai sank her nails into the lever on the armrest of her wheelchair. The tire screeched next to the kitchen sink and a line of utensils above it. One of her arms wrapped around Sam under the blanket on her lap. In the other glass room filled with musical instruments, Yuze knocked the drum set. She wedged her finger at the edge of the bass drum. Above her on the shelf, the porcelain jar and a photo of Haru wobbled. Florence bit her lips. She clenched on the baking tray, paling her fingers. She swung at Haru. In one swoop, Haru uppercut Florence in the jaw. Florence flew into the air, her teeth clamped together, and a crack burned on her chin. Then, gravity pulled her back down, crashing her on the round dining table. The baking tray clattered. Stella yelped, jumping up. She hit her head against the surface. ¡°Mom¡­ Haru, stop it right now,¡± Mai said. Her fingers convulsed. ¡°Just let her go.¡± A low humming grew beneath Haru¡¯s pajamas. Her joints creaked like gears. She slammed Aisling against the glass panel wall, cracking it. Shards flew out of the building. A wind blew in, rustling Florence¡¯s hair. Aisling swayed her legs back and forth. Her ponytail whipped the back of her neck. ¡°Stop, please,¡± Mai said. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill her like that.¡± ¡°Unless you hand that NPC over. I might reconsider it,¡± Haru said. Florence rolled off the round dining table, plummeting onto the floor with a creak. In a shaky step, she pushed herself up to her feet. Out of the blue, a metal box smacked between her nose. She grunted, falling to her knees and covering her face. Yuze rushed through the doorway. She raised her fist, swinging it over her head. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t do it,¡± Mai said. Haru clenched her fist, thrusting it on Yuze¡¯s throat. Yuze gasped, grabbing her neck. But, before she could recover, a slap on the head greeted her. She thudded to the floor with her eyes closed, falling unconscious. The metal box clattered next to Florence. She picked it up, unlocking it with a click. Inside the container, a cluster of repair tools sat. ¡°A bit of¡­ help here¡­ would be nice,¡± Aisling said. ¡°What is with this one?¡± Florence grabbed a screwdriver. She downturned the corner of her mouth. ¡°Pardon me, you want me to¡­ you know, use this.¡± ¡°No¡­ I mean¡­ I think you should give it to me,¡± Stella said, crawling towards Florence. ¡°Help¡­ me,¡± Aisling said. Sam hissed, forcing his head out of the blanket on Mai¡¯s lap. ¡°Give me that NPC,¡± Haru said. She sank her nails deeper into Aisling. Aisling screamed, kicking her legs. ¡°Or else you know what¡¯ll happen next,¡± Haru said. ¡°What¡¯s up with this stupid threat, pleb? You would have killed her if you wanted to do it.¡± Sam meowed with his tail, standing up straight. ¡°Plus, you¡¯ll be doing us a service by throwing her off this building.¡± ¡°Sam, I¡¯m¡­ gonna¡­ buy¡­ catnip,¡± Aisling said. Sam leaped off from Mai¡¯s lap, approaching Haru. He put his paws up into the air. ¡°Come back to me, Sam.¡± Mai stretched her arms out. ¡°Like, couldn¡¯t you not do it.¡± ¡°Sometimes you just have to sacrifice yourself to get those catnips,¡± Sam said. Haru lifted her foot above Sam¡¯s head. Florence leaped. Her hands reached in front of her, and the metal box was on her palm. The gadgets clattered inside the container. In a blur, the tool chest split in half. Haru¡¯s foot sliced the tip of Sam¡¯s whiskers. Florence squeezed her arms around Sam. Her bottom squeaked across the floor as she scrambled away from Haru. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nothing much,¡± Haru said, her eyes flickering red. I¡¯m just doing some peaceful harvesting.¡± Aisling withdrew her dagger, stabbing it on Haru¡¯s nape. The blade clinked against Haru¡¯s skin without leaving a scratch. Haru relaxed her grip on Aisling¡¯s throat. An ear-piercing scream penetrated the air. Aisling plummeted. She grabbed onto the ledge, groaning out loud. Her dagger scattered across the floor. Stolen story; please report. ¡°What sort of beef do you have between Sam and Aisling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°They did not do anything to you.¡± ¡°You really want to talk about that,¡± Haru said. She stomped on Aisling¡¯s fingers. Aisling screamed. ¡°As for this one,¡± Haru said. ¡°Useless.¡± A click echoed throughout the room. Florence turned to the source of that sound. Yuze pointed the barrel of a revolver at Haru¡¯s head. ¡°Not her,¡± Yuze said. ¡°Pathetic.¡± Haru snarled. ¡°Did you seriously think that would do anything to me?¡± Her feet pounded across the floor, charging at Yuze. In a single strike, Yuze jerked her head back, bleeding from her nostrils. The revolver clattered over the floor towards Florence¡¯s side. Haru wheeled around. ¡°Give me that NPC.¡± Florence shook her head, scrambling away. She kicked a revolver, spinning to the wheelchair. Her back collided with a leg of the round dining table. Haru rushed forward in a blur. Her fist connected with Florence¡¯s chin. Florence flew across the room, crashing into the line of cooking utensils. Her head hit the faucet of a kitchen sink. Various knives, spatulas, and pots clattered behind her. A tug on her blond, unkempt hair jerked her head back. She bit her lip, stuffing Sam under her apron. Inches away from Florence¡¯s face, Haru hummed with a grip on Florence. ¡°Give me that NPC,¡± Haru said. ¡°Don¡¯t make me force it out of your hands.¡± ¡°Did you think that I would do it?¡± Florence grinned. ¡°That is if I would do it in the first place.¡± Haru clenched her fist. Her knuckles smashed into Florence¡¯s nose, and Florence bled from her nostrils. A trail of blood sipped between her lips, leaving a metallic flavor lingering on her tongue. At this moment, Sam slipped out beneath Florence¡¯s apron, slapping his paws across the floor. He dove under the round dining table. In a swift motion, Florence grabbed Haru¡¯s shoulders. Haru wrapped her fingers around Florence¡¯s throat. Florence kicked and thrashed from the scorching grip. Her airway constricted. The passage of oxygen was restricted from going to her lungs. ¡°Your stats are pathetic. All of them are just errors,¡± Haru said. She snarled at Florence. ¡°Did you think that I would have any regret in killing you for getting in my way?¡± A cluck of a wheelchair and a thud reverberated next to the stove. ¡°Like both of you, stop right there,¡± Mai said. Florence and Haru turned their heads toward Mai. Mai pointed the barrel of a revolver at her head. Her finger twitched on the trigger. ¡°Put that gun down,¡± Haru said. Her eyes stopped flickering red. She relaxed her hold on Florence¡¯s neck. ¡°Do it now.¡± ¡°Why? Just¡­ like, stop for once,¡± Mai said. ¡°You know what those NPC did in the past.¡± ¡°But¡­ like, not all of them are the same.¡± ¡°Did you forget what those NPCs had done?¡± Haru froze, dilating her pupils. Her body limped. Like the grinding of gears beneath her pajamas, the hums died down. She fell forward, crashing onto Florence¡¯s ribcage. Florence groaned from the searing burn, swinging her legs up. She pushed Haru¡¯s body, setting Haru down to the floor. Behind Haru, Stella stood with a screwdriver and a glowing red crystal in one hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice you there. Also, where did you get that from? Florence asked. Stella shrugged. ¡°I mean¡­ which one?¡± ¡°Hello,¡± Aisling said. She still held onto the ledge. ¡°Is anyone there? I need someone to help me.¡± Florence pointed at the glowing red crystal, ¡°I have seen something similar before. But why is this one glowing in a different color?¡± ¡°Help,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Is anyone gonna come here or something?¡± Florence rolled onto her feet. A gust blew into the room, whipping unkempt hair aside. She trudged towards the edge. Aisling smiled, dangling onto her dear life. ¡°Finally, someone is here to save me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t help her, pleb.¡± Sam hissed under the round dining table. ¡°You don¡¯t want to¡­ I know it.¡± Florence crouched and bent over the ledge. She wrapped her fingers around Aisling¡¯s wrist. Florence gritted her teeth. Her muscles strained as she pulled Aisling up slowly. Stella came over as well, hugging and tugging Florence at the hip. In one final yank, Aisling climbed back up. The floor creaked as Florence and Stella fell to their bottom. Aisling wheezed, scratching her nails across the surface towards Sam. Sam jumped, banging his head beneath the round dining table. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ I mean, Florence,¡± Stella said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to know what this crystal was supposed to be?¡± At this moment, Aisling leaped at Sam. He hissed, bolting in circles away from her. ¡°Absolutely, I want to know,¡± Florence said. She trudged nearer to Stella. Stella scratched her chin. ¡°Well, I mean¡­ how should I say this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, take your time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say that it is a Memory EXP crystal¡­ I think.¡± ¡°A Memory EXP crystal? Wasn¡¯t there another one similar to this one but blue?¡± ¡°Those blue ones¡­ I mean¡­ they¡¯re Natural EXP crystals¡­ I think.¡± From the corner of Florence¡¯s eye, steam floated from a hole at Haru¡¯s nape. ¡°Pardon me, how is a hole on Haru¡¯s nape steaming? I am certain that was not there a moment ago,¡± Florence said. ¡°Help me right now, pleb,¡± Sam said. Behind his tail, Aisling chased after him. Mai lowered her head as she opened the cylinder of a revolver with zero bullets sitting inside. ¡°What¡­ I was like totally ready to die.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Yuze put her thumbs up. ¡°Empty.¡± ¡°Yuze, this is wonderful,¡± Florence said. ¡°Since when are you awake?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get fooled by her, Florence,¡± Aisling said. She dove under the round dining table, catching Sam. ¡°She always has been.¡± Sam hissed, pawning at Aisling¡¯s face. ¡°Anyways, those crystals.¡± Stella tossed the Memory EXP crystal up and down. Then she glanced at the porcelain jar next to a photo of Haru in the other glass room. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know¡­ I mean, the name explains itself¡­ I think.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to confuse you¡­ I¡¯m¡­ I mean¡­ sorry.¡± ¡°Pardon me, could you slow down? My brain is going to explode at this rate.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ This is one of the first times I get to use my bachelor¡¯s degree.¡± A knock vibrated the front door. Everyone wheeled around. ¡°What was that?¡± Florence asked. Aisling crawled up to her feet. ¡°Gosh, I really want to take a shower.¡± A bang rocked the entrance. ¡°All of you¡¯ve got to get out of here right now,¡± Mai said. Florence rubbed the scab on her forearm. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Haru. I mean, it is Haru,¡± Stella said. ¡°She must have sent a warning signal to the Wellor System, which would inform them that a threat or an NPC is here¡­ I think.¡± Aisling pushed the round dining table. Its legs screeched across the floor, blocking the front door. She pointed at the cracked-open glass panel. ¡°We could jump out of there,¡± she said. ¡°This is baloney,¡± Florence said. ¡°Who are they? How did they get here so quickly? And secondly, I am not jumping out of there.¡± The entrance shattered. The debris scattered. Those pink androids¡­ with one arm transformed into a crackling rifle, stood in the hallway, aiming at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Sam. Chapter 26: Leap of Faith The wind blew through the shattered glass panel wall and into the room. The air crackled with electricity from the muzzle of rifles. Rays of electricity sliced through the round dining table in half, setting it up in flames. The fire alarms rang. Florence and Stella dropped to the floor with their hands over their heads. The floor beneath the pink androids trembled, and one of their arms transformed into a rifle. The palm of Florence¡¯s hand sweated. She couldn¡¯t understand how those pink androids came here so fast, so she pulled her unkempt blond hair back. Aisling, with Sam in her arms, dove towards Florence and Stella. Yuze retracted her arms to her chest, putting away the thumbs up of hers. ¡°We¡¯re so dead,¡± Aisling said. She kicked Florence in the stomach, pushing her away. Florence groaned, bumping into Stella. Beams of electricity seared over Aisling¡¯s knee. Aisling screamed, smothering the fire spreading over her ripped jeans. She swayed and rolled on the floor. But it only encouraged the flames to grow larger. The floor creaked beneath Florence as she crawled towards Aisling. Florence gripped Aisling on the shoulder, pulling her. The pink androids charged up another shot. But before it fired, Mai dragged her body across the floor. Then she pushed herself onto Florence, Aisling Stella, and Sam, covering them. The sparks from the rifle barrels winded down. The pink androids turned away, aiming through the rear and front sights at Yuze. The crackle of electricity echoed. ¡°Why did that happen?¡± Florence asked. Aisling groaned. She pushed her head onto Florence. The tears and snot soaked into the fabric of Florence¡¯s apron. ¡°Can¡¯t¡­ breathe,¡± Sam said. He squirmed between Florence and Aisling. ¡°Get the¡­ dagger. Give it to¡­ to her.¡± Aisling sniffed, cracking her voice. ¡°Who?¡± Florence asked. She tossed the burning ripped jeans off Aisling onto the stove. ¡°How am I supposed to know if everyone here is a she?¡± Now, Aisling¡¯s skin on the knee reddened and blotched. Another ray of electric energy flew across the room. Yuze rolled to the side. The spot where she used to be got smoldered. ¡°Aisling, tell me,¡± Florence said. An eerie crackle filled the air. Florence unsheathed the dagger from Aisling. The blade vibrated in the rhythm of those fire alarms. Yuze waved her hands. ¡°Over here.¡± ¡°Stop taunting them,¡± Florence said. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± A beam of electricity burst from the barrel. Yuze slid to the stove, narrowly dodging it. ¡°Not them,¡± Yuze said. She pointed at Florence. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Pardon me, why are you taunting me?¡± Florence asked. Stella snatched the dagger from Florence¡¯s hand, throwing it to Yuze. ¡°I don¡¯t see how this would help us at all,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yuze¡­ you can use it,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Just get us out of here.¡± Stella fidgeted her skirt. ¡°I mean¡­ Florence, I should have explained what she meant. ¡°I am sorry. It is not your fault,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is just that Yuze¡­ you know.¡± ¡°Could all of you stop chit-chatting? That¡¯s if you don¡¯t want to be killed,¡± Mai said. A powerful burst of electricity shot out of the rifle. This time penetrating through Yuze¡¯s shoulder. Yuze collapsed to the floor with a thud. The dagger clattered on the floor. She took off the black jacket that burned. Her hand cupped the smoke coming from her wound. She closed her eyes, curling into a ball. ¡°You got to go now,¡± Mai said. ¡°My stats are better than yours. So, I¡¯ll hold them off for a while.¡± ¡°What? Why? I mean¡­ you don¡¯t have to do it,¡± Stella said. She grabbed and pulled Mai back. Florence shook her head. ¡°That is certainly insane. Do not do it, Mai.¡± ¡°Nope¡­ Mai will not get harmed by them,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Since¡­ you know¡­ just like what she said.¡± The static tingled Florence¡¯s skin. The pink androids¡¯ marching deeper into the room shook the floor. ¡°Listen to me, I can handle it,¡± Mai said Florence downturned the corner of her mouth. She furrowed her eyebrows, wrapping her head around this situation. ¡°Absolutely, if this is your decision, then¡­ I guess I have to respect it,¡± she said. I¡¯m sorry you¡¯ve got to do this.¡± ¡°Mai, you can¡¯t,¡± Stella said. ¡°Please, just I¡­ I mean, don¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got to go through there,¡± Aisling said, pointing at the shattered glass panel wall. ¡°That is the only way.¡± ¡°Have you gone mad?¡± Florence asked. ¡°You certainly do have a death wish. Plus, how will we survive from taking a leap of faith from all the way up here?¡± ¡°Could you stop asking questions?¡± Mai said. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. A shadow engulfed Florence, Aisling, Stella, Sam, and Mai. Before Florence realized, a pink android jabbed the rifle at her. Her head swung backward. Blood oozing out of her nose sipped into her mouth, and the metallic flavor lingered on the tip of her tongue. The muzzle pointed between her eyes. She froze with her muscles paralyzed. Within the barrel, the next shot charged up, ready to fire the next shot. Mai spread her arms out, blocking clear shots from the pink androids. The electricity inside the barrel died down. The zapping statics tingling on Florence¡¯s skin fainted away. ¡°Hand over the NPC, now,¡± one of the pink androids said. ¡°For the peaceful harvesting.¡± ¡°Never,¡± Mai said. She sniffed, pushing her back to Florence. Florence pinched her nose. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ where should I even begin¡­ Mai?¡± Stella extended her fingers out, reaching for Mai. Florence and Aisling worked together to drag Stella, with every inch getting closer to the shattered glass panel wall. Stella yelped, kicking and thrusting in every direction. A zapping energy expanded within the barrel. The company of pink androids aimed down the sight at Florence. The static bounced on her skin as she got farther away from them. Mai pressed her weight onto one of the rifles. But it didn¡¯t budge a single bit. ¡°Do not get in my way,¡± one of the pink androids said. ¡°Mai? If you don¡¯t listen to my orders, your stats will be lowered as a consequence of your disobedience.¡± The floor squeaked beneath Florence, closing into the shattered glass panel wall. The gust rustled her blond, unkempt hair. Stella squirmed. Her nails dug into any surface that she could find. ¡°Let¡­ me go,¡± she said. ¡°From what I can see, Mai will be fine,¡± Florence said. ¡°The pink androids are not going to harm her.¡± ¡°She¡­ Mai, I mean¡­ she is going to be fine.¡± Aisling coughed and wheezed. ¡°Her stats should be high enough to stop the pink androids from hurting her.¡± Yuze, still covering the hole in her shoulder, knocked the dagger clattering over to Aisling¡¯s side. Aisling gripped onto the handle as she wiped her snot off her face. The zapping and crackling grew, ringing in Florence¡¯s ears. Yuze nodded, stretching one of her palms out. In a smooth sweep, Aisling gashed Yuze¡¯s palm. Blood dripped from the tip of a blade. Yuze clenched her fist. She squeezed the blood out. Droplets plummeted down from the tenth floor, splashing onto the pavement below. Rays of electricity erupted from the muzzle. At this moment, Florence, Stella, Yuze, and Aisling, with her arms around Sam, leaped off the ledge. Gravity pulled them nearer to the ground. The wind whistled from a high to low pitch in Florence¡¯s ears. Those rays of electricity slowed down, with Florence counting its zig-zag pattern zapping her ankle. She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth. Maybe¡­ this might be the end. Not being able to see her sister again after all of this was pathetic. Her sister¡¯s odor filled Florence¡¯s nostrils. Florence could still vividly envision her sister¡¯s unkempt blond hair and baggy gray eyes. Something with a fiber-like structure wrapped around Florence. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Her heart jumped out of her chest. A flora of plants engraved itself onto the concrete below, slowing her descent. She sniffed. This pungent odor and sweetness tickled her nose. The vines cuddled around everyone, slowing their descent. The company of pink androids leaned over the edge. They readied their rifles, aiming through the rear and front sight. A spark charged up in each of the muzzles. Aisling coughed blood. Her face paled. In sonic speed, the vines swung. The columns of smoke and burning fire from the street blurred. Florence and Stella screamed. The air rushed out of Florence¡¯s lungs. Aisling wiped the blood off her lips. She sheathed her dagger, and the color on her face returned to normal. Amidst all of this, Yuze snored, falling asleep. ¡°What is happening?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Are you seriously asking this now? Never mind, just hold on,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I will explain it to you later¡­ if we have spare time.¡± ¡°Why am I here? I want to go home.¡± ¡°Everyone wants to do that, but you can say we¡¯ve got a job.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. So¡­ yup.¡± A ray of electricity sliced through the vines. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam rolled on the street, the rough surface scratching and stabbing their skin. Florence wheezed as the smoke filled her nostrils. The company of pink androids jumped off the tenth floor and crashed onto the pavement, cracking it. The ground trembled beneath them. Without breaking a leg, they rushed closer to Sam. A new batch of vines whipped, restricting the pink androids. A squeak reverberated inside them, but with a swing of a limb, they uprooted the plants. Aisling stood up with her legs wobbling. Her hand was over the seared part of her skin, now swollen and blistered. She wiped the tears off her face, scooping Sam up from under his belly. Then, she poked her toes at Yuze¡¯s side. Yuze pushed her palm on the pavement. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Come on¡­ we¡¯ve to¡­ go¡­ now,¡± Aisling said. She coughed. ¡°What¡­ is that?¡± Florence pointed at the flora down the street. ¡°It wasn¡¯t there for a moment¡­ how?¡± Stella lifted Florence up under her armpits. A burning pain erupted in Florence¡¯s ankle. She fell back, scraping against the rough ground. The maw of a Venus fly trap plant gaped wide, snapping up one of the pink androids. But a burst of light exploded inside the plant¡¯s jaws. Its head erupted in flames, slamming down onto the pavement with a thud. The pink android emerged completely unscathed from the fires and smoke of its burning corpse. ¡°Gosh,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I really¡­ shouldn¡¯t have taken this¡­ pizza delivery.¡± A spark illuminated inside the rifle. The company of pink androids aimed through the rear and front sight at where Florence stood down the street. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella pounded their feet on the ground. They dove into a nearby alley, flying past a burning dumpster. A bright light exploded behind them. The rancid odor flowed from a pile of garbage deeper inside this narrow path. Florence thudded on her face. She cracked her nose, bleeding out of the nostrils. Yuze and Stella landed on their stomach. Only Aisling scraped across the rough surface. Somehow, she managed to still hold onto Sam. The pink androids marched through the narrow gap between the glass panel walls on both sides. The flaming rubbish trembled with each clanging step the pink androids took. Sam extended his claws. Then he scratched Aisling on her cheeks. Aisling groaned, letting go of Sam. Sam landed on his paws. He dashed deeper into the alley. ¡°We should try to circle back to help Mai,¡± Florence said. She stood up, but immediately, she fell on her bottom. The ache burned her ankle and spread through the nerves. ¡°After we get¡­ back Sam¡­ obviously.¡± Aisling with her face covered, banging her head. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± A shadow loomed over Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. A crackle echoed behind them. They wheeled around. Everyone stared down the barrels of rifles. Boom. Florence froze as a lighting spark flashed towards her. Stella tackled Florence. Rays of electricity shot over them. The back of Stella¡¯s blouse burned into ashes, revealing a scar on her shoulder blades. Yuze slammed her bleeding palm on the ground. From the splash of blood, plants sprouted. The vines and roots leashed onto the pink androids, pulling them towards any surface that could be found. A leaf whipped, propelling Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. They rolled on the ground with bumps on the surface, poking at them. From the corner of Florence¡¯s eye, Sam sniffed a pile of garbage. He dove into it, clawing deeper. ¡°He is over there. We gotta get him,¡± Aisling said. Her hand cupped on her seared knees. She pushed herself up, crawling towards Sam. Without another word, Florence, Yuze, and Stella followed. As Florence approached the piles of trash, Sam dug out a bloke NPC with a torn jacket and wires for hairs buried under all this garbage. But on this NPC¡¯s belly, a red eye tattoo stared at her. Chapter 27: The NPC with Wires for Hairs Columns of smoke rose from the fire burning within a dumpster. The fumes floated around the air, filling Florence¡¯s nostrils. Florence gagged. The nerves in her ankle screamed. She raised her eyebrow at the bloke NPC with a torn jacket and wires for hairs under the rubbish. A red eye tattoo on his belly stared at her. Next to her, Aisling groaned, and the tears on her face dried up. She covered her knee¡¯s swollen and blistered skin, leaning onto Florence. The squeaks and grinding of gears echoed. The company of pink androids with one of their arms transformed into a rifle pushed against the vines and roots. Yuze rolled her eyes, dropping to the ground with a thud. She uncovered the hole in her shoulder. Stella scooped Sam under his belly from a mountain of trash, cuddling him in her arms. ¡°This pleb smells disgusting,¡± Sam said. ¡°Or is it just the flaming hot trash over there?¡± ¡°Pardon me, which pleb are you talking about?¡± Florence asked. Sam pointed at the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. Then Sam pawed Florence¡¯s face. Florence cupped the spot where she got hit. ¡°What was that for?¡± The pink androids uprooted the vines and roots in a swing. ¡°I think¡­ we should go,¡± Aisling said. ¡°How about that bloke over?¡± Florence asked. She glanced over to the NPC with wires for hairs, limping backward. ¡°We should probably get him as well.¡± Sam hissed. ¡°Do you seriously think those plebs will notice that pleb over there, pleb?¡± ¡°I think¡­ I mean, this is a terrible idea,¡± Stella said. ¡°Two NPC detected,¡± the pink androids said. ¡°Yup, definitely kinda bad.¡± Aisling wrapped her arms around Yuze, picking her back up to her feet. ¡°This is kinda getting way too much like a clown fiesta.¡± ¡°What is a clown fiesta?¡± Florence asked. The rifle barrels charged with electric energy as the pink android aimed them through the rear and front sights. ¡°Bad idea,¡± Aisling said. Florence reached her hand into the pile of garbage, pulling out the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. The empty cans and glass bottles clattered across the rough surface. Then something hard poked her abdomen. She tilted her head down. A metal beam stuck through the bloke NPC¡¯s stomach. Blood dripped, splattering onto Florence¡¯s apron. ¡°Come on, we really gotta go now,¡± Aisling said. She waved her hands, slapping her feet across the narrow path and dragging Yuze. Florence wrapped her arms around the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. She followed Stella, who quickened their pace behind Aisling and Yuze. ¡°Are you trying to be a suicidal manic, Florence? You gotta leave him,¡± Aisling said. Her breaths become shallow. ¡°How about no?¡± Florence tripped on the rough surface, landing on her face. ¡°Do you think that I care enough about it?¡± The pink androids towered over Florence, casting a shadow over her. They aimed the rifles, aligning the sight to the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. Florence jumped in, pressing her forehead on one of the muzzles. The electric energy charged within the barrel vibrated her skin. She closed her eyes, and the electric crackle rang in her ears. ¡°Florence, get away from there, now,¡± Aisling said. Her footsteps echoed louder. A whistle penetrated the air, flying past Florence. Her hair rustled. The muzzle pressed on her forehead disappeared. A squeak hummed inside the pink androids. Florence opened her eyes. A bundle of wires now connected to the spine of all those pink androids. They aligned the rear and front sight at each other. In a synchronized fashion, a beam of electricity exploded from the barrel. Their joints melted. At the same time, they collapsed onto the narrow path with a thud. Florence followed those bundles of wires from the pink androids to the bloke NPC¡¯s scalp. The bloke NPC rolled onto his side. He glared at Florence. Aisling limped with heavy steps, dragging Yuze across the rough surface towards Florence. ¡°Florence, are you alright?¡± Aisling said. ¡°I am¡­ fine,¡± Florence said. She shook her head, clenching onto the apron, turning her fingers white. But the nerves in her burnt ankle still screamed. ¡°I think it might be better to check¡­ if Mai is okay,¡± Stella said. Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°You sure?¡± Stella nodded. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Florence said. She smiled, giving Stella a thumbs up. ¡°If¡­ you know, I think it¡¯ll be that way. Just¡­ some reassurance.¡± The end of a bundle of wires detached from the pink androids¡¯ spine with a click. The cables retracted to the length of the bloke NPC¡¯s shoulder. The bloke NPC gripped the metal rod stuck through his stomach. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Hey, do not pull that out.¡± Florence sank her nails around the scab on her forearms. ¡°You do not want to know what happens if you do try to pull it out.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that. Plus, I¡¯m not that stupid,¡± the bloke NPC with wires for hair said. ¡°Come on, we seriously gotta get out of here.¡± Aisling wheezed, cupping her mouth. Florence stretched her hand out for the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. The bloke NPC pressed his palm on the ground, forcing himself to his feet. Yuze blinked, rubbing the back of her neck. Then she patted her pockets. ¡°One problem.¡± Aisling shrugged, stuffing her hands into the pocket of her hooded shirt. ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± Yuze smirked. ¡°You forgot about it? Isn¡¯t that right,¡± Aisling said. Stella fidgeted her skirt. ¡°I think¡­ I mean, we should probably go back up there.¡± ¡°I guess that is it. We all will go back there,¡± Florence said. ¡°You gotta be kidding me.¡± Aisling smiled, placing her palm on her abdomen. ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯re gonna do that instead.¡± The bloke NPC with wires for hair slammed onto the glass panel wall, sending vibrations across it. His hands gripped a metal rod stabbed through his stomach, turning his fingers white. ¡°How about I help you? Of course, that is if you wanted to do it in the first place,¡± Florence said. The bloke NPC shook his head. He slid along the glass panel wall with a squeak. In one misstep, he slipped. Florence reached out. She snatched onto the torn jacket of the bloke NPC before he collapsed to the ground. Aisling inched backward. From a distance, her skin paled more than usual. Suddenly, she bent her knees, collapsing onto the ground with a thud. She inhaled and exhaled, wrapping her arms around her abdomen. ¡°Aisling,¡± Florence said, limping towards Aisling. ¡°How does your abdomen feel right about now?¡± Aisling groaned. Florence crouched. She lifted the hooded shirt, unwrapping the bandage around Aisling¡¯s abdomen. The claw-like gash, with black spots surrounding it, formed scabs. Florence poked the dark, hard, and leathery part of Aisling¡¯s skin. Aisling pulled her hooded shirt down, covering her wound. She avoided eye contact with Florence. ¡°Why did you not say anything to me?¡± Florence asked. ¡°About your injury on your abdomen.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s nothing much¡­ kinda,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You do realize¡­ that in your current condition, you need to get it treated in the hospital immediately.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because¡­ well, you just won¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°This is not the only thing that you should worry about. Just look at your leg for a moment.¡± Aisling glanced at the electrical burn on the skin of her knee. ¡°You see that, right?¡± Florence asked. Aisling shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with that?¡± ¡°Well, there might be severe internal tissue and organ damage from the electrical burns as well. Believe me, it is unpleasant. Also, it is not just you. But me and Yuze, too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of that? You could already tell why we are here in the first place.¡± ¡°Even if we are in debt. They are probably still going to treat us with proper medical care.¡± Aisling sighed, kicking an empty can rolling across the path. ¡°How is it?¡± Florence asked. Aisling sat upright, crossing her legs. She rested her chin on her palm. ¡°You¡¯ll see it soon enough.¡± Florence gazed blankly at Aisling. Yuze smirked. She then covered it up. Stella raised her hand, trembling in the air. ¡°There is¡­ one¡­ I mean a few problems.¡± ¡°Tell me if you wanna say it,¡± Aisling said. She sniffed, squeezing her nose. ¡°This sucks.¡± ¡°Behind you,¡± Yuze said. She rolled her eyes up, falling unconscious. Florence turned around. One problem arises. The bloke NPC with wires for hairs vanished¡­ nowhere to be seen. ¡°I see,¡± Florence said. ¡°I guess that is one less problem to deal with.¡± Stella clasped her hands together, shrinking into herself. ¡°I mean¡­ Please don¡¯t be offended by what I just said.¡± ¡°Here we go,¡± Sam said. ¡°It will be entertaining to look at plebs. Isn¡¯t that right, Stella?¡± Stella patted Sam between his ears. Sam purred. Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Wait a minute? Did he just say Stella as Stella? But not pleb.¡± ¡°Yup, you heard it correctly,¡± Aisling said. Sam sank his teeth into Stella¡¯s hands. Stella didn¡¯t retract her hand away from Sam as she stroked him. ¡°Do you know what? I think all of us should keep going,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup, sure. I¡¯m just gonna let you know¡­ that you gotta have to carry me over there.¡± Aisling yawned, closing her eyes. Stella nodded. ¡°Pardon me, could I get this straight?¡± Florence collapsed on the glass panel wall, sliding to her bottom. ¡°Why am I even here?¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t ask me, pleb,¡± Sam said. He squeezed out of Stella¡¯s hug and landed on his paws. Stella waddled to Aisling and Yuze, lifting both of them up. Within seconds, her cheeks reddened as she heaved. Florence pressed her palm on the ground, pushing herself up. Her ankle burned, but she limped to Stella, helping her carry the weight of Aisling and Yuze. ¡°Yes, my fellow pleb and Stella,¡± Sam said. ¡°Keep working until your spine breaks, even though I earned more money than you all combined.¡± Florence¡¯s and Stella¡¯s footsteps echoed through the narrow path between the glass panel walls. Empty cans and melted android limbs clattered to the side. Aisling¡¯s and Yuze¡¯s feet dragged across the ground. Florence and Stella walked past a dumpster lit on fire, and Sam followed them from behind. Florence gagged. The rancid odor entered her lungs. She exited the alley and entered the street set in flames. From the intense heat, sweat trickled down to her chin. Then she circled back to the identical skyscrapers made of steel and glass where Mai lived. In the eleventh level, smoke and an inferno spewed from a shattered glass panel wall. Stella inhaled and exhaled, raising her chest up and down. ¡°Keep moving. I know you can do it, Stella,¡± Sam said. ¡°The last thing I expected to do is listen to a talking cat.¡± Florence dipped her chin lower. ¡°Why am I here anyway?¡± Stella shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t ask, pleb. Keep me moving,¡± Sam said, scratching Florence¡¯s leg. Florence yelped, retracting her foot away from Sam. ¡°Pardon me, what was that for?¡± Florence asked. Sam hissed. His tail pointed to the sky. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I just said, pleb.¡± ¡°Sam¡­ I mean, calm down,¡± Stella said. ¡°There is no need to be like this¡­ I think.¡± Sam purred, rubbing his cheeks on Stella¡¯s legs. ¡°Great, I guess we are going in,¡± Florence said. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re doing that,¡± Sam said. ¡°You don¡¯t want to anger this smart and magnificent talking cat.¡± Florence sighed. She and Stella entered the building through the entrance, dragging Aisling and Yuze in. Sam followed with his tail wagging. After limping across the lobby void of furniture and climbing up the eleven flights of stairs, Florence wheezed. Her lungs sucked up as much air as possible to maintain oxygen level. The sweat covered her body. The fire alarms rang in her ears. The hallway blurred together as she went past the doors and doorbells. Stella screeched to a stop in front of an opened door. She released her grip on Aisling and Yuze. Aisling and Yuze¡¯s weight pressured Florence to plummet to the floor with a thud. Through that doorway, the fire engulfed the room. The metal utensils melted. Ashes rested on the floor. But Mai couldn¡¯t be found anywhere. Chapter 28: Vanish The fire alarm rang. The sweat covered Florence. The energy drained from her muscles A flame engulfed the entire room. The smoke flowed out and into the hallway, filling her nostrils. The melted metal puddles bubbled and glowed orange. The faucet and stove collapsed within themselves as the heat intensified. Ashes rested on the floor. Her heart sank with Mai nowhere to be seen. But why? Why would the pink androids do such a thing? Aisling and Yuze weighed Florence down, compressing Florence¡¯s lungs. Stella leaped into the inferno, disappearing through the fumes. Sam meowed and pounced on top of Aisling. ¡°Stella,¡± Florence said, stretching her hands toward where Stella went. ¡°Come back here right now.¡± ¡°Hey, stop being lazy, pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°Do something.¡± Florence pressed her palm on the floor with a creak, but gravity pulled her back down. Her ankle burned and swelled. Sam hissed. ¡°Stop slacking off for once,¡± he said. He pawed Aisling¡¯s head. Aisling coughed, rubbing the back of her skull. She blinked, drooling from her mouth. ¡°Pardon me, could you please get off my back, Aisling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Aisling slurped her saliva. ¡°What¡­ happened?¡± ¡°For the love of all kitten deities. Do something useful for once, pleb,¡± Sam said. Florence clawed, her nails screeching on the floor. She did not move an inch. ¡°I am trying to do exactly that.¡± Aisling rolled off Florence¡¯s back. Florence pushed Yuze. But she didn¡¯t budge a single inch. ¡°Do something pleb,¡± Sam said. ¡°This is a command.¡± Aisling waved her finger around her paling face. ¡°Do you see this? Right here? Do you seriously think I¡¯m not trying?¡± The floor creaked. Florence gritted her teeth. Her muscles strained. The nerves in her wounded ankle screamed as she stood up, forcing Yuze off her back. Sam meowed. ¡°Come on, pleb. Hurry up.¡± ¡°Sam, please,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We¡¯re trying our best here. If you really want to do this faster, then go ahead, jump in the fire, and save Stella.¡± ¡°Yes, sure. I¡¯m totally huge enough to drag Stella out of there.¡± ¡°Fair¡­ enough.¡± ¡°Exactly. She is probably going to embarrass herself before I can pull her out. And I probably will suffocate in the process.¡± Yuze twitched her finger. Her eyes opened halfway. However, other body parts didn¡¯t move like she had frozen into a statue. Florence pushed herself to her feet, trembling her legs. She breathed in and out and dove head-first into the inferno. The heat sucked the air out of her lungs, drying the liquid in her body. In every direction, the flame grew, engulfing each inch of the room. Stella spun around, searching for Mai. But Mai and her wheelchair seemingly vanished into nowhere. ¡°Mai,¡± Stella said. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°Stella, come to me right now.¡± Florence stretched her hands out, limping forward. ¡°Is dangerous here. You¡¯ve to come to me now.¡± Stella shook her head, fidgeting her skirt. Her eyes reddened. She cupped her mouth and nose, looking down at the floor as the fire expanded into the other glass room. The musical instruments went up in a blaze. Florence coughed. The smoke engulfed her entire body, from the toes to her head. A creak echoed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss. I¡­ just do not know how to put this in words,¡± Florence said. She bit her lips, clenching her fist. A faint scream from that¡­ war rang in her ears. The blackened skin of their bodies flashed before her. Even now, the charred flash scent tingled her nostrils. ¡°But just remember, I¡¯m here for you. And we could chat about it if you want to do that after we get out of here.¡± Stella took one step forward. She slowly reached for Florence. The ceiling creaked. In a blink, it collapsed. The debris plummeted towards Florence and Stella. Florence leaped forward with all her strength. The nerves in her injured ankle screeched. She tackled Stella away. The rubble scraped past Florence and Stella. Florence coughed, cupping her mouth and nose. ¡°I mean¡­ you got¡­ lucky over there,¡± Stella said. Florence glanced over her shoulder. Behind her, the steel and glass burned, blocking her exit. The smoke suffocated her as it rose up to the exposed pipes. Her vision blurred. Above the inferno, Sam hopped over it. He landed on Stella¡¯s head with a dagger in his mouth. The blood dripped from the tip of a blade, splashing on Stella¡¯s blouse. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to come here as well, Sam,¡± Florence said. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Sam dropped the dagger, clattering it on a surface. ¡°What is taking you so long?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ find Mai,¡± Stella said. ¡°I just hope¡­ she¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± A tree bark snaked its way through the inferno. The roots wrapped around the pipes above, pulling it. A stream of sewage discharged between the cracks. The flames died down. The droplets splashed onto Florence and Stella, soaking their clothes wet. Some water slipped between Florence¡¯s lips, leaving a rotten metallic flavor lingering on her tongue. She gagged, covering her mouth and curling into a ball. From the entrance, Yuze stretched her fist out. The blood leaked between her fingers, splashing onto the tree bark. Her chest rose and fell. She rolled her eyes up, collapsing onto the floor with a thud. Sam bit the handle of a dagger. He dashed out of the room, splashing his paws on the sewage. Florence grinned, wrapping her arms around Stella¡¯s shoulder. Stella rubbed her bloodshot eyes, jerking her head back. In the end, Florence and Stella splashed their way across the puddle of water. They went through the opened door and entered the hallway. Aisling leaned back on the floor with her arms closed. Her mouth foamed, spewing the fluid out next to Yuze. ¡°Wake up, pleb,¡± Sam said. He sheathed the dagger onto Aisling, slapping her on the face. ¡°The fire is already gone. You can stop pretending to be dead.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she is dead,¡± Florence said. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± With Stella¡¯s help, Florence pulled Aisling and Yuze to their feet, dragging them down the hallway. Florence pressed down on the gashes on Yuze¡¯s palm, stopping the blood from flowing out. Sam pounced, extending his claws. He dug his nails into Stella¡¯s skirt, climbing up to her shoulder. ¡°How are you feeling, Stella?¡± Florence asked. ¡°As in¡­ you know, say whatever you feel like.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Stella glanced at a poster of the band as she walked past it. She straightened herself, maintaining a rigid posture. ¡°I mean¡­ I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡± ¡°If this is what you want, then sure. I will respect it.¡± ¡°It¡­ just that¡­ you know. I mean¡­ she must be alive¡­ I know it¡­ I can feel it.¡± Florence zipped her mouth shut. Back in that room¡­ In the best-case scenario, Mai would depart from this world in peace. She and Stella continued onward, reaching the stairway in silence. They descended it with a creak on each step. Florence inhaled and exhaled in shallow breaths. Her swollen ankle ached and shrieked. The signals jumbled from one to another of her nerves. Her leg muscles spasmed. She then found herself plummeting as gravity pulled her. Her skull cracked on the handrail. With each thud, she rolled down the steps. Her body slammed onto the glass panel wall. She blinked, rubbing her head. A ring echoed in her ears. Stella rushed down, cupping her mouth. She kneeled in front of Florence. ¡°Where¡­ am I?¡± Florence asked. Sam hissed, slapping Florence¡¯s face. ¡°What was that for?¡± Florence covered her cheeks. ¡°For being clumsy, pleb,¡± Sam said. He stood on his hind legs, pumping his chest and pointing up the ceiling. ¡°You deserved it. And be proud of it, as I had slapped you in the face.¡± Stella fidgeted her skirt. ¡°I mean¡­ are you okay?¡± ¡°I am not certain about it,¡± Florence said. Her skull throbbed. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if that was my electrical burn or I hit my head too hard.¡± ¡°I believe this pleb had indeed revived some brain damage,¡± Sam said. ¡°Stella, it¡¯s in the best interest of all of us to dispose of her in the dumpster.¡± Aisling snored with the foams bubbling in her mouth. ¡°I mean¡­ this is a bad idea,¡± Stella said. ¡°No, it¡¯s a perfect idea,¡± Sam said. He brushed his whiskers on Stella. ¡°Pardon me, I think¡­ I will agree with Stella,¡± Florence said. ¡°Please do not dump me.¡± Stella nodded. She smiled, but without reaching the corner of her eyes. Sam meowed. ¡°Whatever you say, Stella.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you some catnip,¡± Stella said, scratching Sam¡¯s chin. ¡°But I think I¡¯ll get it for you whenever convenient.¡± Sam purred, swishing his tail. He pulled his ears upright, winking at Stella. Florence turned the corner of her mouth downwards. Her eyes widened. A lightbulb flicked on in her brain. ¡°Wait¡­ did we forget about something?¡± ¡°Yuze¡¯s revolver,¡± Sam said. Florence smacked the back of her head on the glass panel wall. Just¡­ how could she have forgotten about that? Sam climbed down from Stella¡¯s shoulder, pouncing onto Yuze. He then scaled down to the pocket of her shorts, extracting a revolver out with his teeth sunk into the grip. ¡°How is it there?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sam said. ¡°Why are you asking me, pleb? As far as I know, this isn¡¯t her ability. So don¡¯t ask me how the revolver got there in the first place.¡± ¡°Since when did you know it was there?¡± ¡°Forever ago.¡± ¡°And none of you decided to tell me this vital information.¡± Stella and Sam nodded. ¡°Also, I mean¡­ please, don¡¯t tell this to Aisling,¡± Stella said. ¡°She¡¯ll get¡­ well, you know.¡± Florence forced herself up. Her back squeaked against the glass panel wall. ¡°What do I know about what now?¡± Sam backflipped, landing on his paws. ¡°Whatever you do, do not tell her,¡± he said. His ears flattened. He extended his claws, arching his back and holding his tail upwards with the hair raised. ¡°Or else something else will happen to you, pleb.¡± Florence stumbled, grabbing Yuze¡¯s gashed palm. ¡°Are you going to tell her or not?¡± Sam said. ¡°Maybe,¡± Florence said. ¡°What do you mean by maybe?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Florence descended the staircase, tugging Stella with her. Aisling¡¯s and Yuze¡¯s toes tapped on the steps as Florence and Stella carried them down. ¡°Don¡¯t annoy me, pleb,¡± Sam said. He followed Florence and Stella. Florence sighed. ¡°Why did I even try to save you from those pink androids back there in the first place?¡± ¡°How dare you say that to me, pleb.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ intrusive thoughts.¡± After a few more flights of stairs, they reached the lobby, void of furniture on the ground level. They inched closer to the glass door. From the smoke and fire emerged a company of pink androids. A clanging of metals echoed, vibrating the glass panel walls. Florence and Stella stepped back, carrying Aisling and Yuze, Sam tailing from behind. ¡°What should we do about them?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I mean¡­ this is bad.¡± Stella rubbed her eyes. ¡°Like really bad.¡± ¡°Pleb, go and sacrifice yourself,¡± Sam said. He headbutted Florence on the leg. ¡°So that Stella and I can escape. But you will receive a glorious death for our namesake.¡± ¡°I am not doing it,¡± Florence said. The glass door slid open. The pink androids transformed one of their arms into a rifle crackling with power. Florence, Stella, and Sam retreated up the stairs until those pink androids disappeared. Florence bit her lips. ¡°How could we escape from here?¡± ¡°Or perhaps you could use my genius plan,¡± Sam said. ¡°Absolutely not means absolutely not. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Fine, whatever you say, pleb.¡± The squeaks and grinding of gears grew louder in every direction. The floor reflected the crackling electricity from those pink androids¡¯ rifles. Florence shook on Yuze¡¯s stiff shoulder. An eerie silence came out of Yuze. Sam hissed. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± ¡°I do have a plan,¡± Florence said. ¡°And it involves Yuze.¡± ¡°I mean¡­ you do realize this wouldn¡¯t work,¡± Stella said. She squeezed Yuze¡¯s cheek without forming wrinkles on her skin. ¡°Just¡­ I mean, look at her.¡± ¡°Plus, this pleb over here overused her ability. So, don¡¯t expect her to wake up anytime soon,¡± Sam said. The tip of a muzzle poked the back of Florence¡¯s skull, causing an electrical shiver to run through her spine. ¡°Give us the NPC and those two Ability Users, or I¡¯ll send you to our maker,¡± the pink androids said. Chapter 29: Ambushed Florence raised her hand up with a rifle pointed at her head. A crackle reverberated throughout the staircase. The back of her hair stood up. Her arms stiffened, wrapping around Aisling and Yuze, carrying them with help from Stella. A droplet splashed onto the steps as Aisling foamed. Sam lurked, crouching between Stella¡¯s legs. The pink android aimed through the front and rear sights of the rear sight at Florence, Aisling, and Sam. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear us,¡± the pink androids said. ¡°Hand over that NPC and those Ability Users.¡± ¡°Could all of you speak one at a time?¡± Florence sank her teeth into her lips. Her heart raced. Blood flowed into her brain. ¡°Because I do not want to answer every single one of you, even though all of you asked us to do a certain thing simultaneously.¡± Sam hissed, dilating his pupils. ¡°Go away,¡± he said. His whiskers bristled. ¡°We didn¡¯t ask you, NPC,¡± one of the pink androids said. It pointed the muzzle toward Sam. Stella brushed her hazel to cover her puffy and reddened eyes. Her skirt rusted. She hugged Aisling around her neck. ¡°Well, we got something better to offer,¡± Florence said. ¡°We do not care about whatever you are trying to offer,¡± one of the pink androids said. ¡°Just hand over the NPC and those Ability Users.¡± ¡°You want the NPCs and¡­ Ability Users. I know where you can find more of them.¡± An eerie silence settled over the staircase, muffling the crackle. The pink androids lowered their rifles. ¡°Tell us more about it.¡± ¡°I mean¡­ how do you¡­ I mean, you know?¡± Stella asked, leaning closer to Florence¡¯s ear. ¡°In¡­ I mean¡­ that place you¡¯re thinking about?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Absolutely no idea. And what is even an Ability User?¡± Stella¡¯s face paled and crumpled. ¡°Stop this chit-chatting nonsense,¡± the pink androids said. ¡°Answer us.¡± ¡°Well, you see,¡± Florence said. ¡°We only know its general facility, but not exactly where it is.¡± ¡°So, where is it?¡± ¡°I will tell you that if you let all of us go.¡± One of the pink androids jabbed their rifle at Florence¡¯s swollen ankle. Florence clutched the spot where she got hit. Her nerves shrieked. She stretched her lips thin, holding the moan in her throat. ¡°It¡¯s in the port¡­ I mean, the harbor.¡± Stella pulled at her blouse, closing her puffy and bloodshot eyes. ¡°You know, the one in the District¡­ I mean, District Nine¡­ I think it¡¯s somewhere there or something.¡± ¡°Wait, how? Never mind, just forget about what we just asked,¡± the pink androids said. ¡°Now, why are you sure this is where they gather?¡± Stella shuffled her feet on the steps. ¡°Well, I think it will be better if we show you,¡± Florence said. The pink androids waved their rifles. ¡°Why?¡± Florence pinched Aisling¡¯s cheeks. Aisling blinked, rubbing her eyes. Then she clutched her fist, jumping into a fighting stance. ¡°I recommend that you calm down,¡± the pink androids said. Aisling lowered her fists. She wheezed in a shallow breath. ¡°Where am I?¡± ¡°You passed out for a moment back there,¡± Florence said. ¡°You got a lot of catching up to do. So, do you want the good or bad news first?¡± Aisling tilted her head, squinting at Florence. ¡°We¡¯re still here,¡± the pink androids said. ¡°Could you get back on topic?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Florence said, stomping Aisling¡¯s toe. ¡°Why are we certain that they are in the harbor?¡± Aisling winced, grinning. ¡°Probably, it¡¯s gonna be¡­ something about¡­ you know, they¡¯re taking essential supplies from District Nine,¡± she said. ¡°Then I¡¯m not sure how they¡¯ll get off District Nine, though¡­ kinda.¡± ¡°Anything else,¡± the pink androids said. Aisling leaned closer to Florence¡¯s ears. ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Florence asked. ¡°You do realize that I kinda made it up,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I can tell. I think the harbor may be related to our occult detective contract.¡± ¡°Yup¡­ kinda not really. I¡¯m unsure if it¡¯ll help us with our investigation.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what do you mean by not really?¡± A squeak reverberated from the joints of those pink androids. ¡°Yup,¡± Aisling said. She stood upright, covering her burnt knee. ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± ¡°What are you discussing?¡± The pink androids poked Aisling on the head. ¡°Nothing much. We are just discussing whether we are certain that the NPCs and other Ability Users are over there,¡± Florence said. ¡°We will guide you there if you do not arrest Aisling, Yuze, and Sam.¡± The pink androids nodded. They parted away from each other, unblocking a path down the staircase. The steps creaked. Florence, supported by Stella, carried Yuze and Aisling down to the ground-level lobby. Sam stayed below Stella, following them. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The pink androids trailed close from right, left, and behind them. The glass door slid open. The skyscrapers towered over everyone. Columns of smoke spewed out from the flames across the street. Florence waved away the foul and burnt fumes entering her nostrils and lungs. The ball of fire exploded from a distance. A shockwave whipped her hair. It rang in her ears. She leaned closer to Aisling¡¯s ear. Aisling coughed, trembling and cupping her mouth. ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope, I¡¯ve no idea how to lose them,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We are about to get chilled off by them.¡± ¡°What?¡± In the alley, wires glimmered in the shadows, moving in a snake-like pattern. Florence stopped. She wheeled around, staring into the now-empty void within that path. One of the pink androids poked Florence¡¯s back. ¡°Keep moving.¡± The pavement thumped as Florence limped forward. Crackle. Crackle. Crackle. She spun toward the sound. The muzzles of rifles sparkled with electricity, aimed right at her, Aisling¡¯s, Yuze¡¯s, Stella¡¯s, and Sam¡¯s heads. ¡°Watch out,¡± Florence said. She pushed them away, her leg muscles spasming. She halted in the line of fire, clenching her thigh. From the alley, a bundle of wires burst out. It wrapped around the pink androids, tugging their rifle. Shots fired. The beams of electricity strayed away from Florence, but one of them zapped across the side of her face. Her hair lit on fire, and her cheek burned. An electrical shock sped through her facial nerves. Her muscles tensed in one side of her head, drooping her eyebrow, eyelid, and the corner of her mouth. A sulfurous odor floated in the air, tingling her nose. She patted her hair, quenching the flames. The wires clicked onto the spine of those pink androids. The muzzle of their rifles turned towards themselves. Another blast of electricity melted the pink androids¡¯ joints. They collapsed to the pavement with a thud, cracking the smooth concrete. The wires retreated back into the alley. From the shadow, a bloke NPC with wires for hairs emerged. He gripped the bloodied metal rod stuck through his stomach. Then he dropped to the ground. ¡°I think there is a slight problem with your face, Florence,¡± Aisling said. Florence waved her finger at the paralyzed half of her head. ¡°I can tell.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°I said that I can tell.¡± ¡°You gotta speak properly.¡± ¡°I am speaking properly.¡± ¡°Never mind. I¡¯m just gonna pretend that you¡¯re pronouncing each word correctly.¡± Florence limped towards the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. But Aisling grabbed onto Florence¡¯s shoulder. Florence stopped. ¡°Pardon me, how may I help you now?¡± ¡°What do you mean? I don¡¯t need help,¡± Aisling said. She dug her nails into the surrounding skin around her burnt knee. Her lips thinned. ¡°Never mind, maybe I do need a bit of help.¡± ¡°So, what is it that you want?¡± ¡°Just go do what you want to do first. You can treat me later. And remember to be careful.¡± Aisling released her grip on Florence¡¯s shoulder. Florence nodded, limping towards the bloke NPC with wires for hairs. ¡°Pardon me, how are you feeling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Perhaps, do you need my help?¡± The bloke NPC with wires for hairs tilted his head up. He chucked, turning his finger white. ¡°What happened to you? You look like you just got a failed plastic surgery.¡± ¡°Stop joking around here. Take this a bit more seriously. Did you seriously think you could just walk out on us like that? And if I¡¯ve to guess, it must really hurt to walk or run. Especially when you have a literal metal rod stabbed through your stomach.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How about I give you some treatment to patch up your discomfort? But not that stab wound you got. It will be better if you leave it until we get to a hospital.¡± ¡°I actually can¡¯t hear you. All your words jumbled together.¡± Florence smacked her forehead. She spun around, looking at Aisling. Aisling shrugged. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m Basilisk,¡± the bloke NPC with wires for hair said. Florence turned towards him, lending her hand to him. Basilisk shook his head. He pressed his palm against the ground, stumbling to his feet. ¡°I¡¯m Florence,¡± Florence said. ¡°So, your name is Florentine,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Florence.¡± ¡°Florenz?¡± ¡°I said, Florence.¡± ¡°Florencia?¡± ¡°It is not that either. Just¡­ never mind.¡± A whistle echoed throughout the street. Florence wheeled around. Aisling waved her hand. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve got to go now.¡± ¡°Give me a minute,¡± Florence said. Glancing over her shoulder, she asked, ¡°Where are you going, Basilisk?¡± ¡°I think you should stop talking momentarily,¡± Basilisk said. Florence held her urge to scream. Half of her face swelled and ached. But, in the end, she dragged Basilisk along, inching closer to Aisling and others. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have to get to the harbor before any more pink androids come here,¡± Aisling said. ¡°The harbor,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Bad¡­ idea. Don¡¯t go there.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Florence, you should really stop talking,¡± Aisling said. ¡°That¡¯s gotta be painful.¡± ¡°I mean¡­ it does look like that,¡± Stella said. ¡°Absolutely not, I¡¯m certain that it is fine,¡± Florence said. The nerves in the corner of her mouth stabbed itself like burning blades. ¡°Maybe¡­ a bit.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to pretend I understand what you¡¯re saying,¡± Aisling said. Florence swallowed hard, crinkling one of her eyes. But half of her face remained paralyzed, and it was not getting better. Just¡­ Why couldn¡¯t anyone understand her? Was it that bad? For a moment, Stella brushed her hazel bangs to hide her eyes like Florence¡¯s sister after losing someone close to her. Florence cleared her throat. ¡°Stella, are you certain that you are doing well? You know, if you ever feel like talking to someone,¡± she said. ¡°Just remember I am here for you.¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡± Stella shook her head, rustling her hair. ¡°What¡¯re you saying?¡± Aisling smiled, waving her hand. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m still here. We really should get going.¡± ¡°You¡­ shouldn¡¯t go there,¡± Basilisk said. He breathed in and out heavily. ¡°Why?¡± Florence asked. She, Aisling, and Stella limped down the pavement, dragging Yuze. But before they could get a step further. The wires wrapped around their body, squeezing them. Florence moaned, the pressure on her spine increasing. Crack. A breeze of relief spread through her back. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ just forget it,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Whatever you do. Do not go to the harbor. You hear me?¡± ¡°Why, though? We really gotta go,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You can¡¯t stop us just like that.¡± Basilisk pulled down his eyebrows, narrowing his eyes. His nose wrinkled. The wires wrapped around Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella, retracting back to Basilisk¡¯s scalp. ¡°You want to¡­ what? Just forget it,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I want anything,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I said, you can¡¯t stop us from going to the harbor.¡± Basilisk gagged, covering his mouth. ¡°Pardon me, is it my problem, or is it him?¡± Florence asked. Aisling shrugged, crossing her arms and shaking her head. ¡°Why am I even asking? I guess that means you are absolutely certain about it,¡± Florence said. Basilisk groaned, gripping his torn jacket. He pulled at its fabric. A droplet of sweat trailed down to his chin. Another tug on the collar revealed a red eye tattooed on his shoulder. He dropped to his knees with a thud, pushing his palm on the concrete. ¡°Basilisk?¡± Florence asked. She stretched her hand out, limping closer to Basilisk. ¡°How about I help you a bit from now on?¡± ¡°Look, if all of you want to go there,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°I might as well accompany you there.¡± Chapter 30: The Harbor on Fire Hours had passed. Columns of smoke from the flames rose to the tip of the towering skyscrapers. The rancid fumes surrounded Florence, suffocating her. Half of her face swelled, burned, and paralyzed. Her eyebrow, eyelid, and the corner of her mouth drooped. Even though her eye bags grew heavier, her burnt ankle still ached with the nerves screaming under it. Along with Aisling, Yuze, Stella, Sam, and Basilisk, Florence limped down the pavement in growing heavy footsteps. As they got closer to the harbor, balls of fire erupted not once but twenty times every second. The shockwaves pushed Florence over. Her hair rustled. The wind whistled next to her ears. She landed on the ground with the rough surface poking her bottom. She pressed her palms against the pavement, forcing herself to stand up. But another shockwave blasted down the street, knocking her down. Aisling grabbed onto Florence, pulling her to her feet. Aisling smiled. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Florence shook her head, her lips numbed. ¡°I really have to go to the hospital after I return home¡­ and check up on my sister¡¯s well-being.¡± ¡°Gonna be honest here, what did you just say?¡± ¡°Just give me giggle juice after this.¡± Basilisk clenched on the bloodied metal rod stabbed through his stomach. ¡°What did you want to say to me?¡± ¡°We weren¡¯t talking about you,¡± Aisling said. Yuze snored amidst this conversation between Aisling and Basilisk. ¡°So, you¡¯re talking about me,¡± Basilisk said. Aisling furrowed her brow. ¡°Nope, we weren¡¯t.¡± Stella looked at the glass panel walls of the skyscrapers with her puffy eyes. She straightened upright, stiffening her arms around herself. But her face crumpled with every step she took, supporting Aisling and dragging Yuze forward. Florence tapped Stella on the shoulder. Stella yelped, jumping off the pavement. A tickle lingered inside Florence as her heart danced. She then gave Stella a double thumbs up. Stella smiled without reaching the corner of her eyes. ¡°I¡­ I mean¡­ I¡¯m fine. Please, believe me¡­ that you don¡¯t have to¡­ worry.¡± An explosion erupted around the corner of this street, and a shockwave vibrated the ground. Florence lost her footing and fell to her knees, but again, she picked herself up. Aisling closed her eyes. She dug her nails deep into Florence¡¯s skin. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence asked. An eerie silence followed with the crackling of fire running along the street. Aisling stuffed and rubbed her face on Yuze¡¯s neck. Still, Aisling trembled from head to toe. Basilisk halted. The wires on his scalp extended outward, blocking Florence, Aisling, Stella, Yuze, and Sam from advancing. Florence raised her eyebrows. From the corner of her eye, a silhouette of a humanoid clad in armor reflected on one of the glass panel walls. She blinked. However, that mirror image vanished instantly. Basilisk gulped air down his throat. ¡°Did any of you see that?¡± Florence nodded. ¡°I know you can¡¯t hear me properly,¡± she said. ¡°So, I am going to say no, even though I agreed with you through nodding.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to assume you agreed with me.¡± ¡°This is incredibly far from the truth but yet so close.¡± The wires retraced back to Basilisk. Then he waved his hand, limping around a corner of the street. Yuze¡¯s feet dragged across the pavement as Stella and Aisling carried her. Florence, Aisling, Stella, and Sam followed Basilisk. A salty wind contaminated with rancid smoke slapped their faces. In front of them, the yard covered in an inferno melted the crates. The clouds above reflected in a metallic orange. The cargo ships set in a sea of flames towered over the port. The NPCs, with skins to the bone, hid behind crates and trucks. They peaked at the edge of their cover, aiming down the sights of their guns and pulling the trigger. Bullets whizzed through the air. A clang reverberated on the pink androids. The crackle sparked within the rifle of those pink androids. A burst of electricity zapped out of the muzzle, melting through the trucks and crates. The power riddled the NPCs with holes, electrocuting them into the cinders. The pink android charged with thudding footsteps. They ripped the Natural EXP Crystal from the chest of those NPCs. Basilisk grunted. The wire flailed on his scalp. He extended the end towards the pink androids in the yard down the street. Florence gripped Basilisk¡¯s wrist, drawing his attention. She gritted her teeth, shaking her head at him. She did want to save those NPCs over there, but those NPCs with those injuries spread across their bodies¡­ You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. The ground tremored. Those pink androids spun around. Their rifles charged with electric energy, aiming towards the street through the rear and front sight. Basilisk wrapped the wires around Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam. Then Basilisk whirled his head around, throwing them into a nearby alley. Florence rolled into this narrow path between two towering skyscrapers. Her skin scratched and scraped across the rough surface. Bang. Her skull slammed against the side of a dumpster, rattling the decomposing material inside. A sulfuric stench stung her nostrils. She blinked, rubbing her head. Rays of electricity zapped through the street. Basilisk attached the wire to the buildings, swinging into the air, and disappeared from Florence¡¯s line of view. Florence struggled onto her feet. Her ankle shrieked. She groaned, leaning onto the glass panel wall, pushing her palm on her knees. The dumpster rattled as Aisling gripped onto its side. She pulled herself up with additional support from Stella. Yuze rested face-first on the ground. She snored amidst the explosion and zapping of electricity. Her limbs stiffened like a tree bark. Florence pointed down the alley where the rotten food poured out of the garbage bags. ¡°If we¡¯re gonna go down there, I think we¡¯ll not get closer to the harbor,¡± Aisling said, winking at Stella. Stella nodded. She brushed her hazel bangs, hiding her puffy eyes behind them, and then faced the ground. ¡°Pardon me, this is not what I meant.¡± Florence waved her hands above her head. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°So, you wanna risk your life¡­ again?¡± she asked. Florence shook her head, throwing up her palms into the air. Aisling dropped her jaws open. ¡°Gonna be honest, I almost believed that you were going to do some suicidal stuff. Wait¡­ you aren¡¯t going to do it?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I think¡­ Florence wants to know which path we could take to get to the harbor,¡± Stella said. ¡°Isn¡¯t¡­ that right?¡± Florence nodded, putting her thumbs up. Aisling limped deeper into the passageway, covering her swollen and blistering knee. Florence and Stella hauled Yuze to her toes, placing her stiff arms over their shoulders. Their footsteps echoed on the concrete, catching up to Aisling. Sam tailed behind them. Stella wrapped her arm around Aisling, supporting her in moving forward. Another passage revealed itself, diverging from the main alley. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam entered these paths. Bodies with their skin scorched leaned down along the glass panel walls. Those faceless heads with red eyes tattooed on them stared right at Florence. Yet this charred smell choked her. A clang reverberated, ringing behind her. She wheeled around. But not a single scorched body moved a bit. Aisling coughed, clenching her abdomen. ¡°Hopefully, it¡¯s nothing much.¡± A shiver ran down Florence¡¯s spine. Her stomach twisted. She refused to believe that she imagined a clang. So, where did the primary source come from? Stella tugged Florence¡¯s dress. Florence turned towards Stella with the corners of her mouth downturned. Then Stella buried her face into Florence. ¡°Mai,¡± Stella said. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Florence pulled Stella closer, embracing her with a hug. Their footsteps reverberated beneath them. Moments later, Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam emerged out of the passage filled with charred bodies. A heat wave of salty and smoky air smacked them on the face. An inferno raged. The pore in Florence¡¯s skin secreted sweats. Spread across the ground, blackened bodies of NPCs rested next to melted lumps of metal. However, not a single pink android came into sight. Florence fanned herself, wiping her wet face. She, Aisling, and Stella limped into a gap between a stack of containers lit on fire. A clang rang inches away from Florence. She wheeled around. But this time, a sea of flames blocked the path she used to enter. Aisling trembled, inhaling and exhaling. She dug her nails into her skin, stopping the tremor. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence asked. She tapped Aisling on the shoulder. Aisling shook her head, clenching her abdomen. She scanned one container to another. ¡°I¡¯m sure. It¡¯s here somewhere.¡± ¡°Pardon me, I know this is a bit late. But what are we looking for exactly?¡± ¡°Yup, it¡¯s hopefully quite obvious.¡± Aisling reached into the pocket of her hooded shirt, pulling out a photo. In this picture, a lady with red eyes and pale skin smiled at a harbor. ¡°You think that this gal is somewhere here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Gonna be honest here, I¡¯m not quite sure,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I just need to find it or something.¡± Florence, Aisling, and Stella looked at Sam. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t look at me.¡± Sam licked his paws. ¡°Do you seriously think I can sniff it out, pleb and Stella?¡± ¡°I guess he means he can not sniff it out,¡± Florence said. The corner of her mouth ached and numbed. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°What did you say again?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I think Sam can¡¯t sniff it out here,¡± Stella said. ¡°Isn¡¯t¡­ that right?¡± Sam dilated his pupils, dipping his lower. ¡°Unfortunately¡­ yes.¡± ¡°This is what I just told you, Aisling.¡± Florence waved her arms, stomping the ground. The numbness on the corner of her mouth stung her nerves. ¡°How is it this bad?¡± The sea of fire blocking the path behind them flooded, inching closer. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Sam pointed his nose up, sniffing the air. ¡°Explain it later,¡± Aisling said, her chest rising and falling. Her legs shivered. ¡°We¡­ should probably run¡­ now.¡± The inferno approached Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam. The stacks of containers collapsed, crashing onto the path. Without another exchange of words, Florence limped rapidly towards the end of this gap. The clang and clank rang. The flames crept up on her from the right, left, and back. The melted puddles bubbled and glowed orange. Sweats covered her body. Her muscles contracted. In one last push, she leaped, slamming face first on the floor. The inferno erupted behind her, scorching her back. The blaze winded down. The ends of her hair singed. She extinguished it, turning her head to the right. Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam somehow made it out alive, their bodies flat on the ground. The back of Stella reddened and blistered near the scar on her shoulder blades. Florence crawled over to Stella¡¯s side. Stella rolled onto her side, breathing heavily. She stretched her arms out, creating space between her and Florence. Aisling pressed her palm on the concrete from the edges of Florence¡¯s eyes, pushing herself up. Droplets of sweat dripped down from her nose. She slouched, drawing her shoulders together. Her arm wrapped around her chest over the heart. Florence pointed at Sam. She waved her finger at him, pointing to the burning ships and the containers on fire. Sam hissed, flattening his ears. ¡°How dare you threaten me like that, pleb,¡± he said. He tucked his tail into his body and lowered his head. Florence shook her head, waving her hands around. Sam growled, hiding under Stella¡¯s skirt. ¡°I think¡­ it¡¯s too late,¡± Aisling said. ¡°But¡­ there is still a chance that we could find some clues in this harbor,¡± Florence said. ¡°I know we can do it.¡± Stella raised her hand up. ¡°I mean¡­ so what now?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m kinda not sure,¡± Aisling said, crossing her legs and sitting on the ground. She sank her nails into Florence¡¯s forearm, which was covered in scab. Florence widened her eyes, turning towards Aisling. ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡­ I can¡¯t,¡± Aisling said. She clutched her chest, avoiding looking directly at Florence. ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s kinda¡­ no longer possible.¡± Chapter 31: Fire The sea of fire raged around Florence, soaking her in sweat. Columns of smoke rose to the clouds above, engulfing the sky. The fumes irritated and burned her throat. The containers collapsed, crashing onto the ground. Sam growled under Stella¡¯s skirt. On the concrete, metal ooze bubbled and glowed orange next to Yuze, snoring out loud. Florence bit her lips, digging her nails into Aisling¡¯s shoulder. Why? Why could Florence not return home to her sister just because the evidence for the occult detective case got burned? Stella cupped her mouth, pulling back her torso, rustling her blouse and skirt. But it didn¡¯t draw Florence¡¯s attention as she glared at Aisling. ¡°Look, I know how you¡¯re feeling right now.¡± Aisling smiled. ¡°You gotta believe me here.¡± Half of Florence¡¯s muscles were paralyzed and burned, stinging her nerves. ¡°I didn¡¯t come here just to give up.¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± ¡°Pardon me, I am already calm. It is just that someone back home needs me, and I can not leave her alone for my life.¡± The crackle of a fire filled the eerie silence between them. Aisling closed her eyes, losing the spark in it. She tilted her face down to the ground, burying her blistered knees in her palms. ¡°Sorry,¡± Florence said. Her grip loosened. She slid her palm down from Aisling¡¯s shoulders. ¡°I know you probably do not understand a single word I am saying now. But if I have to go through an inferno just to get to her, I am willing to do it. So, please tell me if there is another way to solve this occult detective case.¡± Aisling giggled. ¡°You sound ridiculous. Just kinda give it a break or something.¡± Florence lowered her brow. She slanted her head upwards, taking in deep breaths that burned her throat. Above her, something whizzed through the air, swinging. It zoomed closer in a blur. From it, the ends of the wires snapped onto the ground with a crack. It tumbled down, crashing on the concrete and rolling towards Aisling. Aisling¡¯s jaws dropped open. ¡°Basilisk, where did you even come from?¡± Basilisk, with a metal rod still stabbed through his stomach, stumbled onto his feet. However, the skin and flesh on one of his arms burned away, leaving the bones behind. The wire strands detached from his scalp, floating down to the ground. Florence stood up as her ankle swelled and ached. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡­ it¡¯s here,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°That¡­ monster.¡± Aisling smiled. Her face paled. She clenched on her thighs, turning her fingers white. ¡°What monster?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Wait¡­ since when are the monsters here?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I didn¡¯t hear what you just said clearly¡­ since¡­ you know,¡± Stella said. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it literally.¡± Basilisk retracted the wires back to his scalp. ¡°I meant it metaphorically¡­ or something.¡± A clang rang. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve got to go now,¡± Basilisk said. He limped towards one of the burning ships. ¡°Where are you going exactly?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I do not want to state the obvious here, but I think that ship certainly could not sail since¡­ you know, it is literally on fire.¡± Aisling picked herself up, wrapping her arms around Florence¡¯s arm, limping behind Basilisk. ¡°What is the matter?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Stop trying to talk for once,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We kinda can¡¯t hear you anyway.¡± ¡°I know¡­ that is why I keep talking.¡± ¡°Here we go¡­ again.¡± Florence glanced over her shoulder. Behind her, Stella carried Yuze across the yard, heading towards the burning ship with Sam following her. Another clang rang. From the inferno, a silhouette of a humanoid wearing armor emerged within the blazes. It stretched its hands out in the direction of Florence and Aisling. ¡°What is it doing?¡± Florence pointed at the silhouette of a humanoid wearing armor. ¡°Why are we running from it?¡± Aisling pouted, her feet stomping across the ground. ¡°If you¡­ don¡¯t¡­ stop talking¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ zip¡­ your mouth¡­ shut¡­ for once.¡± Jets of fire shot out from the flames, melting the containers. They cracked through the air towards Florence, Yuze, Stella, Sam, and Basilisk. The wires tangled and weaved together, forming a shield. It extended from Basilisk¡¯s scalp, blocking the waves of fire. The plastics on the cable melted, slushing onto the ground. Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam limped quickly past Basilisk. They turned the corner, and the blaze blew past them, blackening the concrete. The heat tingled Florence¡¯s skin. Aisling inhaled and exhaled, raising her chest up and down. Then, she wrapped her fingers around Florence¡¯s forearm, which was covered in scabs. The jet of flames died down. Florence peeked over a ledge. This silhouette of a human clad in armor came from the burning containers. It marched with clanging steps. Florence hid back to cover as her heart raced. In front of her, an inferno engulfed the ship towering over her. ¡°I mean¡­ what now?¡± Stella cuddled herself, sliding onto the ground. Yuze snored. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t¡­ know,¡± Aisling said. Her lips shivered as she smiled. Basilisk held three of his fingers out. Florence shook her head. She overlapped her arms into a cross on her chest. Basilisk curled his fingers inwards, one by one, forming a fist. His feet slammed against the concrete, propelling him. Florence flew her hands up into the air. She rustled her blond, unkempt hair, shrinking into herself. Sam sniffed. ¡°Catnip,¡± he said. One of his ears swirled. He jerked his head back, dashing after Basilisk. ¡°I mean¡­ catnip?¡± Stella got back to her feet. She dragged Yuze across the ground, following Sam. ¡°Wait,¡± Florence said. But Stella moved farther away. Florence stretched her hand out. With limping steps, she inched forward. Her arms pulled back, stopping her. She spun around. Behind her, Aisling grabbed onto Florence¡¯s forearms caked with scabs. Aisling trembled. Her eyes closed shut. She did not move from where she stood as the blaze and a silhouette of a humanoid clad in armor approached closer. ¡°Aisling?¡± Florence asked. ¡°We have to go now.¡± Aisling shook her head, swinging her ponytail back and forth. Florence took in a deep breath. In and out. Then she embraced Aisling, lifting her up. The flames and a humanoid silhouette clad in armor were now just inches away from Florence and Aisling. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Florence slapped her feet across the concrete. Her ankle burned. Her nerves howled with every step of the way. The clang and clank rang. She dared not look back as she focused on Basilisk, Sam, Stella, and Yuze entering the burning ship. The heat danced on Florence¡¯s back. Her muscles strained, pushing herself to the limits. She took a breath or two and threw Aisling into the burning ship. Then Florence leaped inside. Jets of flames soared, scorching her back. She flinched. With a creak, her face dropped onto the floorboard. She dug her nails into the plank. She pressed her forehead, stumbling to her feet. The blaze raged around her and Aisling. The smoky stench from the fumes filled their lungs. Aisling stiffened her limbs, lying flat on the floor. Florence, with her shoulder, picked Aisling up. She wiped her face covered in sweat. Her ankle shrieked louder as the gravity and Aisling¡¯s weight pulled Florence, creaking the floor below her. Sam pursued Basilisk, who limped down a hallway with opened doors spewing smoke. However, a glimmer shone from the staircase at the end of the corridor. Stella tugged Yuze alone, following Sam. The ceiling above Florence squeaked. Then, it collapsed within itself. She leaped forward. The rubble behind her smashed through the floor. The splinters scattered. The inferno rampaged, invading the unburnt spaces and narrowing the gap. The woods burned into charcoal, and the metal melted into liquid form. The planks creaked beneath Florence. Farther through the hallway, Basilisk went up the stairs as Sam trailed. Stella hauled Yuze up as her feet smacked against the steps. A whizz echoed through the crackles in growing intensity. Florence¡¯s knees sizzled. She gritted her teeth, holding the scream in her throat. Her nose cracked against the floorboard. The blood flowed out of her nostrils towards her chin. She glanced behind her. The flames engulfed her knees, searing her skin. She pulled her leg. But she still remained in the grasp of those flames. With only Yuze¡¯s feet gliding and smacking on the steps near the end, Florence screamed. Yuze stopped colliding against the stairs. However, she moved upwards at the end, disappearing from Florence¡¯s view. Florence slammed the floor. A creak reverberated in front of her. She lifted her head. Through the smoke, Stella descended down the stairs. She slapped her feet across the plank surface, then glided onto her knees with a squeak towards Aisling. ¡°Go without me,¡± Florence said. Stella grabbed Florence and Aisling on the wrist, pulling them. But the grip on Florence¡¯s knees tightened, searing her skin. Florence bit her tongue. Her face crumpled. A clang rang behind her, inching nearer. Her heart sank. She pointed at the opened door with smoke pouring out along the corridor wall. ¡°Just leave me. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Stella stumbled back, dragging Aisling through the doorway into a room. A pinch scorched Florence¡¯s nape, lifting her up. Her skin sizzled. Her nerves shrieked. Everything around her blurred into a blob of orange and red. She hyperventilated, choking on the rancid stench of the fumes. Her feet swished and kicked through the air. A pinch on her nape spun her around. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor faced her with only an inch of space between them. ¡°Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. It slammed Florence onto the wall, cracking it. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her?¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ who are you talking about?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Can you be more specific?¡± The humanoid silhouette clenched Florence¡¯s neck. The air passage in her throat closed, restricting the smoke going through the air passage. But also stopping the last few oxygen left from entering her lungs. She slapped the humanoid silhouette clad in armor on the forearm. Her palm sizzled. Immediately, she threw up her hands, waving them around. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her?¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor snared. It glared at the same door that Stella dragged Aisling through. ¡°I¡¯ll not ask again if you don¡¯t answer me right now. Do you understand?¡± Florence drooled from the corner of her mouth. ¡°I¡­ need¡­ to breathe.¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor raised its arm. The inferno swirled. Creak. Creak. Creak. From the smoke emerged Basilisk with the wires flying towards the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. His skin burned even though none of the blazes contacted him. The cables curled around the humanoid silhouette clad in armor fingers, tugging it. The grip on Florence¡¯s neck softened, plummeting her into the floorboard. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor swung Basilisk like a whip, smashing him into the walls. Splinters and shards of metal flew. Florence scrambled to her feet. Her head spun. She massaged her skull, zigzagging in limping steps towards the door that Stella and Aisling entered. Florence¡¯s muscles strained. She collapsed through the opened door, crashing beside Stella and Aisling. Stella yelped, cupping her mouth. Aisling froze with her eyes widened, lying on Stella¡¯s lap. ¡°Do not worry,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is just me.¡± Stella rubbed her puffy eyes, standing up to her feet with a creak. Then she grabbed Aisling on the wrist. Florence picked herself up onto the creaking floor. She placed her palm on Aisling¡¯s armpit, supporting Stella in carrying Aisling out. The inferno closed in on them inch by inch. Basilisk whizzed through the corridor towards Florence, Stella, and Aisling. Florence and Stella ducked. Basilisk flew over them, crushing the staircase. Florence and Stella stumbled towards Basilisk, dragging Aisling with her feet screeching along. Every strand of wire left on Basilisk separated from his scalp. His forehead glimmered under the blaze. ¡°I mean¡­ this is nice,¡± Stella said. ¡°Well¡­ I mean, sort of.¡± Florence coughed as the smoke choked her. ¡°I do not really think so.¡± ¡°Leave me here.¡± Basilisk groaned. He gripped onto the metal rod that stabbed through his stomach, turning his fingers. ¡°I can handle that monster. Go now.¡± A clang and clank rang. The flames whirled like a storm, inching closer with every second. Florence pressed on the tip of the metal rod. It pushed and scratched against her palm. She shook her head, smiling with half of her facial muscles paralyzed. Basilisk rolled his eyes. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll not do it.¡± Together, Florence, Stella, and Basilisk ascended the cracked stairs. Each step creaked beneath them. A jet of firestorm swept towards them, smashing through the planks and metal, narrowly missing them. They emerged out of it, entering into the deck set ablaze. They limped at a quickened pace toward the bow. The NPCs, with their skin to the bone, blew the flames from spreading further. However, this only enraged them. Two of those NPCs opened the crates, checking the content inside. Then they thumped the boxes shut, fastening them with chains. The salty but smoky air sucked into Florence¡¯s lungs. The blur that obscured her dissipated. Sam hissed, standing on top of Yuze. His claws extended. He swiped at the scrawny gal NPC with horns and hooves. The NPC with horns and hooves aimed her pistol at Yuze. A click on the hammer echoed amidst the crackle. Sam hissed. ¡°Put that gun away,¡± he said. ¡°She is my pleb. Only I can decide when she dies or not.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± The gal NPC placed her finger on the trigger. She bleated. ¡°You know what they did to us.¡± ¡°So, what about it? We already got what we wanted here.¡± ¡°We? You bunch of wild fellas never did anything useful.¡± ¡°Did you forget what I did? The amount of stuff I must go through in that District just to get something important for all of us.¡± ¡°Sure, that important thing you¡¯re looking for is catnip. Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I mean, no.¡± The gal NPC with horns and hooves turned her head. She clenched her jaw, protruding it, and her face flustered. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Wonderful, you just brought more Players.¡± The gal NPCs with horns and hooves waved her pistol. ¡°What¡¯re you trying to do with them?¡± ¡°They more or less tried to save me, Holland. But also¡­ something else.¡± ¡°What¡¯s it?¡± A clang and clank rang. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor emerged from the staircase. A firestorm spiraling around silhouettes, obscuring its face or specific details. ¡°The monster is here,¡± one of the NPCs said. Holland stomped her hooves, shattering the floor beneath. ¡°I need some of you to push our supplies off the bow. And the rest of you hold your ground against that monster as long as possible.¡± All the NPCs screeched to a halt, dropping whatever they were doing. The bow creaked. Some rushed around, pushing the crates into the sea, creating a splash with each drop. The rest of them readied their rifles. They steadied their position, holding the handgrip with their non-firing arm. The butt sat on their shoulder, placing their fingers on the trigger. They aimed at the humanoid silhouettes clad in armor through the iron sight. A click echoed as they pulled the safety. Bang. The bullets whizzed through the air. Sparks erupted on the humanoid silhouette. But it still marched on, swirling the inferno. Basilisk pulled the collar of his torn jacket, revealing a red eye tattooed on his shoulder blade. ¡°You know who.¡± Holland bleated. ¡°Seriously¡­ can¡¯t she just tell us sooner,¡± she said. She pulled out a flare gun, firing a caliber upwards. The clouds engulfed in columns of smoke illuminated red. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor emerged from the inferno. The iron glittered from head to toe without the flames and fumes obscuring its appearance. But the burned scarred face remained uncovered. ¡°Tell me,¡± it said. ¡°Why¡¯re all of you with her?¡± The bullets clattered on the armor of the humanoid silhouette. The flames rose behind, jetting towards the left side of the bow, engulfing the NPCs. The rifle clattered on the floor. The NPCs screamed, flapping their arms. They stumbled, the plank beneath them creaking. The screech turned to silence. They halted. All of them collapsed, their flesh combusting into ashes. One bullet shot through the skull of the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. Blood poured out from its wound, dripping onto its iron. ¡°Mai,¡± Stella said. She stretched her hand to the inferno where no soul stood and stepped towards it. Florence hugged Stella, tugging her back. ¡°Let me go,¡± Stella said. ¡°I can see her. She is right there.¡± Boom. An explosion erupted from the humanoid clad in armor, burning the remaining NPCs inches away to dust. A shockwave and fire knocked Florence and Stella off the railing. Florence plummeted into the bubbling waves. Her ears rang. Her sight blurred as dozens of red glow came nearer to her. Fingers wrapped around her, pulling her deeper. She dozed off into the abyss slowly, sinking into the corals below. Chapter 32: Infighting The swooshing and splashing of water rang in Florence¡¯s ear as her stomach twisted. Her scorched ankle and knees throbbed. She opened her eyes, massaging her aching forehead. A blinding red light wiggled and shone through the trees above her. She sat upright with her bottom on the plank bench, cupping her mouth. The bile rushed up her throat, but this burning, sluggish liquid fell back down. Her chin tapped her knees. Her nerves shrieked, stinging and paralyzing half of her face. In front of her, Yuze slept on Aisling¡¯s shoulder while sailing in a canoe. Florence glanced around. Next to her, Stella hid her puffy eyes behind her bangs as she patted Sam, purring on her lap. At the rear of the watercraft, Basilisk had a metal rod stabbed through his stomach as he paddled along the river. His bald scalp glittered. He followed a trail of boats with skinny NPCs wrapped in bandages sitting next to crates fastened in chains. Multiple clicks penetrated the air as Holland fidgeted the pistol at the vessel¡¯s bow. Aisling She squished her cheek with her electrical burnt knee. ¡°So, you¡¯re finally awake, Florence.¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± Florence asked. Yuze snored, cuddling Aisling. ¡°Welcome to the Prince Underground Railway¡­ Well, at least what¡¯s left of it,¡± Aisling said. Florence scratched the back of her head. ¡°How is this an underground railway?¡± Holland glared over her hunched shoulders, clenching her jaw. Aisling buried her face between her legs. Florence leaned against the side of the canoe, putting her palm behind her back. She inhaled and exhaled, slowing down her heart rate. ¡°At least the good news is that whoever chased us¡­ is, you know.¡± Holland bleated. ¡°I wish.¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what did you mean by that? Medically speaking, it should be dead.¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Since¡­ You know, it got shot in the head, and then its entire body exploded.¡± ¡°Believe me, I¡¯ve no idea what you just said¡­ literally,¡± Basilisk said. Aisling lifted her head up. ¡°The monster¡­ By the way, Florence, you shouldn¡¯t look behind you.¡± Out of curiosity, Florence turned around. Hundreds of pale faces, mouths open, bubbled below the waves. A void consumed their eye sockets. They banged their fists against the river¡¯s surface without punching through it. Florence jumped back. The canoe wobbled. ¡°Hey, watch what you¡¯re doing, Player,¡± Holland said. ¡°See,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I told you so.¡± Florence clutched her chest with her heart skipping a beat. ¡°The fact that we survived the encounter with that monster just feels like taking a bunch of Ls.¡± Holland stroked her horns. ¡°Especially with all of you Players around.¡± ¡°Who is Ls?¡± Florence asked. The paddles splashed in an eerie silence between them throughout the trip down this flooded tunnel. Minutes passed. A light shone at the end. Aisling coughed, breaking the silence. ¡°So, Florence, why do you want to return to your sister?¡± ¡°My sister? Well¡­ how should I say this,¡± Florence said. ¡°She is certainly not going to survive on her own.¡± ¡°Why did I ask you that? All the things you said are kinda unclear. Just tell me later when you recover. And let me know your sister¡¯s name, too.¡± ¡°This is easy. My sister¡¯s name¡­¡± Florence wrapped her brain. But her sister¡¯s name¡­ What was it again? She pressed and massaged her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Aisling smiled, chuckling. ¡°It happens to the best of us.¡± The canoe emerged from the flooded tunnel, ramping onto the shore with a thump. The bloodied clouds shadowed the uninjured NPCs unloading the crates onto the sand. They carried those wooden boxes up to a gravel hill. The chains clattered, but Jack waved his hands at the top of the peak at the NPCs. Stella rustled her hair, burrowing her head into Sam. Sam purred, holding his tail upright and curled. ¡°I really don¡¯t want you to do this.¡± Holland leaped off the boat and landed on the beach. The waves rushed between and around her legs. ¡°Unfortunately, I still have to explain it to them,¡± Basilisk said. Holland waved her hand without looking back. She stomped her feet across the sand and up the slope. ¡°What is it exactly?¡± Florence asked. Basilisk sneezed, covering his nose. The canoe rocked. ¡°Terrible¡­ absolutely terrible.¡± From crowds of injured NPCs limping and carrying the crates up the hill, Jack trekked down it. His feet shuffled through the gravel to the sand. He reached the shore, placing his palm on the bow of the boat that Florence was in. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°You were late,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°It ain¡¯t much. Just some charity stuff with Feno,¡± Jack said. Florence raised her hand up. ¡°No,¡± Jack and Basilisk said. ¡°We¡¯re tactically being taken here as hostages.¡± Aisling crossed her legs. ¡°So, that definitely kinda a no.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how about the other injured NPCs?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Perhaps I could help to monitor them medically.¡± Basilisk rolled out of the canoe, splashing into the waves. Jack made a circular motion with his index finger pointing at his ears. Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Who is it exactly?¡± Sam meowed. ¡°Do you¡¯ve catnip, pleb?¡± ¡°Which one? Because I ain¡¯t sure who you¡¯re talking about,¡± Jack said. The waves washed Basilisk onto the beach. He stumbled onto his feet, gripping the metal rod that had stabbed through his stomach. Then he reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of catnip with white dots sprinkled on it as he leaned on Jack. Sam wiggled his way out of Stella¡¯s grasp, sneaking towards Basilisk. Then Sam sniffed the catnip. He gagged, sticking his tongue out. ¡°No wonder you smell so bad.¡± ¡°Good luck¡­ I guess,¡± Basilisk said. Then he disappeared into the crowd of injured NPCs hauling those crates. Aisling tilted her head. The boat creaked. She stretched, leaning her back against the side. Florence jumped into the water. The face shrilled below the waves washing between her feet. Then she moved up the shore. The sands hissed beneath her with each step. ¡°Hey,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Florence eyed the peak of the gravel hill. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you want to go up there?¡± Aisling stuffed her hands into the pocket of her hooded shirt. She sighed, sliding off the canoe, carrying Yuze. Sam chirped, clawing his way up to Stella¡¯s shoulder. But Stella blinked, rubbing her puffy eyes. ¡°Stella?¡± Florence asked. ¡°How are you feeling right now?¡± Stella shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just focus on yourself first,¡± she said. She got off the boat, shuffling her feet across the sand. ¡°Look, I am sorry about Mai¡¯s¡­ you know¡­ her¡ª¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Could we focus on something else? Like I literally can¡¯t hear you speak normally.¡± Florence nodded. She followed Stella along with Aisling as they trekked up towards the hills. The sand hissed beneath them. Even when their feet made contact with gravel. It shrilled at them with every step. After reaching the peak, Florence slammed her palms on her thighs. She breathed heavily. In and out. At the bottom of this hill, a crowd of bandaged NPCs with their skin to the bone gathered. A table sat on a gravel plain amidst the masses. Florence, Aisling, and Stella descended the slope, dragging Yuze across it. They shoved through the injured group of NPCs with machine parts attached to their bodies. Each of those NPCs glared at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. Some clicked their tongues, rolling their eyes. Others shrieked, bouncing away from Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. Most NPCs crossed their arms, glaring at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella as they passed. Florence reached the table where four NPCs sat around it. The closest one to her wore a stitched robe with an antenna sticking out of his neck. He stared down the squirrel covered in gray fur with a bushy tail standing upright. ¡°This expedition is a colossal failure,¡± the squirrel said in a feminine voice. Behind that squirrel, a hoard of mammals growled and squeaked, from cats to dogs to rabbits and deer. ¡°What is wrong with all of you guys here?¡± On the right, an NPC with frog-like eyes sat cross-legged. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say, my fella.¡± The other NPCs with animalistic features cheered behind the NPC with frog-like eyes. On the left, a gray queen chess piece stood near the table. She smashed a hole through the table, and splinters scattered over the gravel. A gray king shivered and cowered behind her and the army of gray chess pieces. The squirrel squeaked. ¡°First of all, you set the entire District Nine on fire,¡± she said. ¡°Secondly, half of my expedition force got wiped off the face of this planet.¡± ¡°Not yours,¡± the NPC with frog-like eyes said. ¡°It¡¯s ours.¡± The gray queen squeezed her staff. ¡°Pathetic, we didn¡¯t start it.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s all calm down. We didn¡¯t start it.¡± The NPC with an antenna sticking out of his neck spread his arms out. ¡°Only those who truly believe in our Mechtus, our true savior and machine god, will survive the day.¡± The NPC with frog-like eyes pinched its nose. ¡°My fella, here we go¡­ again.¡± Florence leaned closer to Aisling¡¯s ears. ¡°Could you give me a minute?¡± Aisling scratched her chin. ¡°And then I¡¯ll answer what you want to ask me.¡± Florence moved away from Aisling, giving her space. A crate slammed onto the table, shaking its legs. Holland unfastened the chain around the box with a clatter. From it, canned meat, fruits, and vegetables, as well as the Natural EXP Crystal, flooded out. ¡°This is essentially what we got,¡± Holland said. The gray queen stomped, waving her staff around. ¡°That¡¯s it? How am I supposed to feed my populous of the great Chess Empire?¡± ¡°First of all, this isn¡¯t yours.¡± The squirrel rubbed her chest. ¡°And I¡¯m sure you know we made a deal with the other Systems.¡± ¡°This does not belong to the other Systems or even the Wellor System,¡± the NPC with frog-like eyes said. ¡°My fella, this is rightfully ours and should be split evenly among us.¡± ¡°We got only a few hundred of these crates,¡± Holland said. ¡°This is exactly why it should be given to the great Chess Empire,¡± the gray queen said. ¡°As I¡¯ll make sure that we¡¯ll reclaim the land that was taken from us all.¡± The chess pieces erupted in cheers, pumping their guns into the air. But the gray king trembled, burying his face into the gravel. ¡°Never,¡± the NPC with an antenna sticking out of his neck said. ¡°The Natural EXP Crystal should be buried with respect to the deceased. And most of the food source¡­ must be given to the children of Mechtus.¡± The squirrel thrashed her bushy tail, pulling a pistol out of it. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to hand the resources over to us. It¡¯s an order.¡± A click echoed. The NPC with frog-like eyes grabbed a machine gun from beneath the table and slammed the tripod mount on top. ¡°And I didn¡¯t ask you to give the resource that is rightfully ours to the other Systems.¡± ¡°Do you want to fight? I¡¯ll give you one if you don¡¯t give the resources to the Great Chess Empire,¡± the gray queen said, rallying the other chess pieces. Every NPC took out whatever weapons they could find, waving and aiming them at each other and throwing insults at each other. Basilisk emerged from the mob of NPCs with machine parts, slamming his palms on the table. But the shouts intensified between the groups of NPCs. A shriek reverberated. A breeze blew past Florence, rustling her blond, unkempt hair. A claw mark appeared on the table with an ear-piercing scratch. From the mob, a gray pawn floated up into the air. She flung her arms and legs around. A gust sliced her throat open. Her chin dipped as her arms and legs dropped dead. The weapon clattered. A wind smashed through the floating gray pawn chest. The stones turned to dust. The Natural EXP Crystal scattered. An eerie silence fell between Florence, Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and all the other NPCs. Someone tapped on Florence¡¯s back. Florence wheeled around. ¡°Who do you think it is?¡± Feno sniffed a lily in her hand. ¡°Do you know it yet?¡± Florence rubbed the back of her head as she glanced away from Feno. ¡°Sorry for asking¡­ just forget about it. I didn¡¯t mean to bother you at all,¡± Feno said. Chapter 33: Unfortunately... More Infighting The bloodied clouds cast over the bottom of the hill in an eerie silence. Florence rubbed the back of her head. On one side of her face, her eyelid, eyebrow, and corner of her mouth drooped. She averted her attention away from Feno. What did she mean when she asked that specific question? It didn¡¯t make sense. The gravel hissed beneath Florence as she wobbled her feet, her burnt ankle and knee screaming. A crate, piles of Natural EXP Crystals, and canned foods sat on the table with a claw mark. A gray pawn floated above it in the air. The Natural EXP Crystal ripped out of her chest. The crowd of NPCs whispered to each other in incoherent words. Amidst all of this, Basilisk¡¯s scalp glimmered. He gripped onto the metal rod that stabbed through his stomach. Next to Florence, Aisling scratched her chin. She tapped her feet on the ground. Yuze snored, leaning into Aisling¡¯s shoulder. Stella rubbed her puffy eyes as Sam munched on her hair. ¡°So, what brings you here today?¡± Feno sniffed a lily in her hand. ¡°Anything special in particular?¡± ¡°Hostages,¡± Florence said. But the nerves under her skin howled as she moved her lips, paralyzing her muscles. ¡°Hotdogs? As in, like the food?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± ¡°I should¡­ really stop talking to you. Anyways, hope you get better¡­ especially your face.¡± Florence turned around, sliding her palm down her neck. Basilisk, the collar of his torn jacket, revealing a red eye tattoo on his shoulder. A wind whistled in Florence¡¯s ears, rustling her hair. ¡°Everyone, listen up,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Our leader had contacted me about a certain¡­ inconvenience, and I¡¯m sure you already know it.¡± The NPC with an antenna sticking out of his neck pulled up his sleeve. Beneath it, a red eye was tattooed on his forearm. ¡°Does this look like a leader to you, my child? And why should I listen to you when you call yourself Basilisk? Such a cringe-worthy name. Your name should be Wire Hair, my child.¡± ¡°Anyway, several problems must be resolved before initiating our leader¡¯s plan.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me when I talk to you, my child.¡± ¡°Firstly, regarding the food source situation¡­ we should split it evenly. That at least will take a week before it runs out.¡± ¡°Hello? Stop ignoring me?¡± ¡°Secondly, about the Natural EXP Crystal, I think¡­ just like what the squirrel said¡­ it would be better to trade it to the other Systems.¡± ¡°You¡­ heretic. How dare you suggest such an idea.¡± A click echoed. The squirrel whistled, putting back the pistol into her bushy tail. She brushed her gray fur. Behind her, the animals dropped their weapons from their mouths and hands. The gravel shrilled beneath them. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± The gray queen smacked the staff on her palm, shaking her head. ¡°All these resources you¡¯ve taken are rightfully part of the great Chess Empire.¡± ¡°Do you have memory loss or something? I don¡¯t know where to begin?¡± the squirrel asked. By the way, there is spare food in that Candy Wonderland for all of you.¡± She leaned forward, sniffing the cans in front of her. ¡°Plus, we did all the heavy lifting for this, buddy. So it belongs to us.¡± The NPC with frog-like eyes laughed, clasping his hand. He leaned into the clawed table. ¡°Did you hit your head too hard or something?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t do anything,¡± the gray queen said. ¡°Did you even see those¡­ pets running around District Nine trying to get our necessities?¡± Sam raised his paws. ¡°What did you use to get that stuff back? Weapons and ammunition. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± The squirrel thrashed her tail. ¡°And where do you think we got it from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say when you aren¡¯t fighting on the front line,¡± the NPCs with frog-like eyes said. The gray queen swung the staff over her shoulder. ¡°Exactly.¡± Basilisk slammed his palm on the table, rattling the canned foods and crate. ¡°All of you didn¡¯t even fully commit to sending your NPCs. I wonder where they might have been,¡± the squirrel said. ¡°Could you let me finish? Or do you want to face the wrath of our leader again?¡± Basilisk pointed at the red eye tattooed on his shoulder. The eerie silence penetrated the air. ¡°Thank you,¡± Basilisk said. He looked over to Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. ¡°Lastly, we¡¯ve got to deal with them before committing to our leader¡¯s plan.¡± The bandages rustled. Every NPC turned around, glaring at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. Aisling scratched her chin. Then she pointed her index finger upwards to the bloodied clouds. ¡°I figured it out¡­ kinda.¡± ¡°How did I even get here?¡± Florence raised her hands up. ¡°Wait¡­ why are you saying that at such a time?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯ll be better if we keep them as hostages,¡± Basilisk said. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°This is outrageous.¡± The gray queen smashed a hole in the table with her staff. ¡°We should kill them.¡± Holland shoved her way through the crowd, stomping behind the NPC with frog-like eyes. ¡°I think it¡¯ll be better for all of you to agree that we should keep them as hostages,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°What did those Players do to you?¡± Holland drew her shoulders close together, waving her arms around. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± The NPC with an antenna sticking out of his clasped his hand, pressing onto his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ve got a better idea. We should convert them to the children of Mechtus.¡± ¡°All I know is that they¡¯re probably here for our Natural EXP Crystals,¡± the squirrel said. ¡°Pardon me, could we not be involved in this?¡± Florence asked. Holland bleated. ¡°Speak properly, Player,¡± the NPC with frog-like eyes said. Basilisk limped around the table. ¡°We could use them as bargaining chips to get what we wanted.¡± ¡°Never,¡± the gray queen said. ¡°They must be executed for what they did to our parents.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t,¡± Aisling said. The squirrel straightened her back. ¡°For more money¡­ I mean¡­ weapons.¡± ¡°Medical supplies,¡± Basilisk said. He held his hand behind his back, pacing back and forth. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s quite obvious. Just take a look around you.¡± The NPC with an antenna sticking out of his neck shook his head. ¡°By following our machine god, Mechtus, any injuries or disease can be healed, my child. There is no need for this¡­ silly medical nonsense.¡± ¡°We already have those supplies back in that oil-painted city for all of you.¡± the squirrel said. ¡°Why do we¡¯ve to go out there and get it? How about we get those Ability Leaves instead?¡± ¡°Why would we need that?¡± Basilisk slammed his feet on top of the table. He patted the pockets of his torn jacket. ¡°It¡¯s not what we¡­ never mind.¡± ¡°I think this is a bad idea,¡± Florence said. Aisling stomped on Florence¡¯s toes. Florence gritted her teeth. Her nerves screamed. ¡°Pardon me; using us as bargaining chips would be a good idea.¡± Aisling jostled Florence on the side. Florence leaned closer to Aisling, blowing into her ear. Aisling tilted her head. Her eyes widened. ¡°What¡¯re you doing? ASMR?¡± ¡°What is ASMR?¡± ¡°What did you just try to say?.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just going to get a bit off-topic. You said that you figured something out. Perhaps you could inform me about it.¡± The ground tremored. The gravel shrilled beneath Florence, dancing below her feet and between her toes. From afar, a single column of black smoke rose over the hill. A click echoed. The squirrel reached into her bushy tail. She pulled out a pistol, aiming it at Basilisk. Aisling eyed the red eye tattoo on Basilisk¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What was that?¡± The squirrel rapidly shook her tail, and the gun trembled in her paws. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Not me,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Probably the monster.¡± ¡°To be fair, I¡¯ve seen that specific red eye tattoo before,¡± Florence said beside Aisling¡¯s ear. ¡°But how does that relate to our supernatural case?¡± ¡°Monster.¡± The squirrel squeaked. ¡°How did you not kill it already? Aren¡¯t you an Ability User?¡± Aisling pointed at the long claw mark on top of the table. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ this claw mark.¡± Florence squinted, raising her eyebrows. ¡°How was it even¡­ wait, this looks similar to the haunted part of the Wellor Tower. ¡°The monster?¡± Basilisk clenched his fist. He bent himself closer to the squirrel. ¡°If you never fought against it, how would you know this monster is killable?¡± The squirrel squeaked. ¡°I need answers. No excuses.¡± ¡°Could we actually just execute those Players already?¡± The gray queen crossed her arms. ¡°I¡¯m getting tired of waiting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you wanted. But not everyone here wants to do it if you can¡¯t tell already,¡± Basilisk said. The gray queen rolled her eyes. ¡°How was that¡­ thing there?¡± Florence asked. Aisling cupped her lips. ¡°This is starting to make sense¡­ kinda¡­ I think. Also, Florence, you should stop talking. Since¡­ you kinda know it, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean, maybe? This no longer makes sense to me¡­ at least.¡± The gray queen coughed, clearing her throat. ¡°Sorry, we were just talking about something,¡± Florence said. She shrugged. ¡°Nothing much. But a very one-sided conversation.¡± ¡°So, could you get to the point, my fella?¡± The NPC with frog-like eyes blinked. ¡°Or are you just going to keep yapping here?¡± Florence pointed at herself. ¡°Not you,¡± the NPC with frog-like eyes said. ¡°I¡¯m talking about Basilisk.¡± ¡°It¡¯s important that we did what I¡¯ve said first before we even started what our leader planned to do,¡± Basilisk said. He limped towards Holland, placing his palm on Holland¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Believe me.¡± The squirrel wrapped her finger around the trigger. ¡°Do we really have to get the medical supplies?¡± ¡°I know you want to do it. Shot him,¡± the gray queen said. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ve got to do it,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Not the shooting part. I¡¯m talking about medical supplies. We can¡¯t just limp in there with our injuries.¡± The NPC with frog-like eyes pumped his fist into the air. ¡°Then we shall share our injuries and pain equally.¡± Everyone looked at him with a blank expression plastered on their face. Basilisk shrugged. ¡°Anyways, Jack, have you got it ready?¡± An eerie silence followed, penetrating the air. ¡°Jack? Come out wherever you¡¯re,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°I¡¯m over here.¡± Jack waved his hands amongst the crowd of NPC with machine parts bursting out of them. He stretched his hand out with a plug the size of his finger towards Basilisk. ¡°Here it is.¡± Basilisk grabbed the plug from Jack. ¡°What¡¯s that going to do?¡± The gray queen scrambled the gravel below her with a staff. ¡°Tickle, you know that USB will not give them a dent or anything else.¡± The chess pieces behind her chuckled. But the gray king burrowed into the ground until it reached his hips. ¡°What is a USB?¡± Florence asked. She leaned closer to Aisling. The chess pieces now erupted in laughter. They clenched their abdomen, rolling in the gravel. Basilisk sighed, pushing his palm side of the metal rod stabbed through his stomach. ¡°Gray rook, go to H-Five and do a backflip down that hill.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. I¡¯ll totally¡­ not.¡± The gray rook smacked her knees, hunching over the gray king. Suddenly, her spine straightened upright. She slid up the hill, knocking over the chess pieces with the gravel shrilling beneath her. The laughter died down into an eerie silence. ¡°You see that,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°Next time, I will use that specific phrase if you don¡¯t listen to me.¡± The gray queen snarled. ¡°How¡­ dare you threaten us like that?¡± ¡°To be fair, just look around you, Basilisk,¡± the squirrel said. ¡°Do you seriously think we would listen to you if this situation keeps happening repeatedly?¡± Basilisk pointed at the canned food on the table with the USB. ¡°If the plan succeeds, we no longer have to get this each time we run out of supplies.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sense equality in this deal,¡± the NPC with frog-like eyes said. Holland grabbed a Natural EXP Crystal, twirling it around. ¡°All of you know what happens if we don¡¯t comply.¡± The squirrel squeaked. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate.¡± The ground tremored. The gravel bounced up to the ankles. Florence wobbled, losing her footing. Smokes poured over the hill, where a blazing orange shone on the other side, engulfing the bloodied clouds. From the peak, the gray rook backflipped. She rolled down the slope, kicking up the gravel. ¡°The monster is here.¡± Chapter 34: Destruction Screams rang in Florence¡¯s ears. The stream of smoke rose over the hill, engulfing the bloodied clouds. A silhouette clad in armor emerged from the peak. Now, it wore a string of Natural EXP Crystal around its neck. The NPCs with skin to the bone scattered in limping steps. The gravel hissed beneath them. The waves of NPCs shoved Florence on the shoulder. She stumbled back. The nerves in her ankle and knee shrieked, grabbing onto Aisling. But Aisling trembled, sinking her nails into Florence¡¯s forearm covered in scabs, pulling her closer. Sam hissed, flattening his ears. He clawed up onto Stella¡¯s head. ¡°Everyone ready your weapon,¡± Basilisk said. He climbed onto the table with claw marks. The crate, a pile of canned food, and the Natural EXP Crystal clattered. Still, amongst all of this, Yuze snored. Florence glanced over her shoulder. Hundreds of NPCs scrambled away. Even the one sitting around the table a moment ago vanished. Jack, Holland, and a handful of NPCs grabbed the rifles, developing a steady position and handgrip. They pushed the butt on their shoulder, clenching the pistol grip and pulling their elbows in. The front and rear sight aimed at the silhouette clad in armor. Bullets whizzed through the air. The lead sparked against the armor. A firestorm erupted behind the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. The inferno flooded down the hill, melting and burning everything in its path. Florence wheeled around. She limped away, dragging Aisling and Yuze with her. At the same time, Stella dropped to her bottom, blinking and rubbing her puffy eyes. The ground tremor. Florence¡¯s ankle ached and shrieked. She fell forward, sliding her chin through the shrilling gravel. The sharp rocks scratched her skin. She rolled onto her back. Behind the flames and the silhouettes clad in armor, a tsunami rippled with gaping, eyeless faces that reached the sky and cast a long shadow. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor spun around. The flames swirled around it, forming a burning hammer in its palm. In a swoosh, the waves evaporated. The gaping and eyeless faces ignited into charred husks, and no liquid submerged them. The ground rumbled. The gravel sank. The sky shattered like glass, flooding the land below. ¡°Everyone, full retreat and regroup,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°We need to go now.¡± The water pouring from above rushed down the hill. It smashed into Florence and everyone around her, soaking their clothes wet. Her skin burned under the dress and apron. The saltiness tingled her taste buds. She twirled in the rushing fluid as it filled her lungs. She emerged from the surface, gasping for air. Droplets flowed down her hair and face. Then she submerged back under the liquid. Fingers wrapped around the back of her dress. With a pull, she busted through the waves. She spit the water out of her mouth, glancing over her shoulder. Basilisk stood knee-deep in the water, clenching onto the back of Florence¡¯s dress. ¡°Pardon me, what is happening?¡± Florence asked. ¡°This haunted place¡­ the ghost. I¡­ I can¡¯t believe it.¡± Basilisk clutched the metal rod that was stabbed through his stomach. He closed his eyes. ¡°How could it even happen?¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying that the monster¡­ just exorcized the ghost?¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve known¡­ that monster is an Ability User.¡± Basilisk reached into his pocket, hand holding a USB. The fluid hurried between and around his legs. He pulled out a leaf, planted it, and put the USB onto Florence¡¯s palm. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Why are you giving this to me?¡± ¡°Stop trying to talk for once,¡± Basilisk said. His bald head glimmered. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you what this is?¡± ¡°Since¡ª¡± ¡°Just shut it and go. Just think of this as repayment for what you tried to do for me.¡± Basilisk twisted his hip. He tossed Florence, Aisling, and Yuze flying into the air over all the other NPCs, limping away. Florence screamed. She clenched her fist, squeezing the leaf in her palm. Her face splashed across the surf, knocking over the NPCs in her path. She rolled onto her back with Aisling still holding onto her. The water bubbled. Somehow, the inferno grew without being doused inside the water. Then, a stream of fire erupted out of it, jetting towards the NPCs with weapons. The vapors rose from the NPCs¡¯ soaked bodies. In a blink, all of them ignited in flames. They shrieked, rolling and splashing around. ¡°Go now,¡± Basilisk said. ¡°What¡¯re you do¡ª¡± His mouth gaped open. The firestorm engulfed him whole from behind, charring his skin. He dropped to his knees with a splash. A metallic and burnt stench glided through the air from him. Florence gritted her teeth. She tilted her head down, biting her lips. Her body urged her to dive into the inferno. Although her sister waited for Florence back home, she still needed to save as many lives as possible. Not that she ever wanted to see those charred bodies again¡­ If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Wires shot out from the burning body of Basilisk. It rooted itself into the gravel. Within the crowd, Jack shoved past the limping NPC. He grabbed Florence on the soaked dress, dragging her away along with Aisling and Yuze. The wires extended, slithering across the surfaces. The gravel in touch with those cables wheeled itself closer to Basilisk¡¯s body, consuming the flames. Florence widened her eyes. Her bottom swished across the liquid. ¡°How¡­ is he alive?¡± ¡°He ain¡¯t alive,¡± Jack said. ¡°This is bad. Much worse.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Just keep moving. I can¡¯t hear you anyway.¡± The wires wrapped around the bodies of the burning NPCs, inviting them to the fold. The bloodied clouds above their heads morphed and twisted into a bundle of cables. It leashed, stitching the shattered sky. The water pouring in slowed to crawl. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor descended the hill, trudging through the liquid. The inferno swirled, following behind it despite being drenched in wetness. Once the humanoid silhouette reached the bottom, the cables with gaping maws at the tip pounced on it. It halted. Its limb budged, melting the binding of the cord into a lump. Florence stumbled to her feet as Jack pulled her, Aisling, and Yuze. Their feet dragged deep across the gravel, rippling the water. All the NPCs moved with them, running limping steps away from the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. But Stella and Sam disappeared amongst the crowd. ¡°Where are they at?¡± Florence asked. ¡°They were with us a moment ago.¡± The ground shook beneath them. The gravel twirled, forming a spiral depression on the surface. The NPCs slipped. They clawed and swooshed at the wet pebbles, sinking deeper into them. Their screams submerged, fading away under the ground. Florence bumped into Jack. He screeched to a halt inches away from the ledge. ¡°This never happened before here,¡± Jack said. ¡°How about we try to jump into it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Well, it certainly did work the last time I did it. But¡­ I am not saying we should try to jump in now.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t actually quite hear you.¡± ¡°I wish.¡± However, the humanoid silhouettes clad in armor and the inferno twisting around it stomped closer. ¡°I think¡­ we should probably do it,¡± Florence said. She leaped into the spiraling sinkhole, pulling Aisling, Yuze, and Jack inside. The depressed ground splashed beneath their feet, and the current carried them. The gravel rattled under the water, rushing between and around their legs. Florence tilted her head up. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor leaned at the edge of the depressed ground. A jet of fire whizzed. It plunged towards every individual within the sinkhole. Florence inhaled, sucking up the air into her lungs. Her lungs expanded. Then she dove into the depths, dragging Aisling, Yuze, and Jack along. Air bubbles escaped from her nostrils and mouth up to the surface. The fluid and gravel smacked her on the side. A fiery orange glowed above her and zoomed closer. The flames submerged into the water in a splash, burning the NPCs. The NPCs let out a muffled shriek, flailing their arms. Their skin was charred and blotched, falling off from their body. The liquid boiled as the blackened epidermis diffused through it. Florence¡¯s skin swelled. Her nerves shrieked. A whistle rang in her ears. Fingers wrapped around her aching ankle. She tilted her head down. An army of bodies in green uniforms and helmets, with skin peeling off, pulled her into the depths. They sank their nails deeper into her skin. Their eyes glowed red, falling into the abyss beneath them. Their mouths opened and closed, their words and groans muffled. A chill ran down her spine. She froze as her muscles tensed. Her eyes widened. The air forced its way up her airway, escaping her lungs. The light dimmed until the darkness consumed everything around her. The surroundings flipped upside down. Her stomach twisted. Suddenly, this liquid around her dissipated. She plummeted, hitting her back on the concrete. Wait¡­ since when did the ground become concrete? The rough surface poked her back. She blinked, wrapping her arms around her abdomen. A spiral staircase ascended to an opening in the ceiling. Red eyes dotted across the wall, their pupils dilated, stared at her. She placed her palm on the floor, pushing herself into a sitting position. Aisling still gripped Florence¡¯s forearm, covered in scabs. Around them, Yuze, Stella, Sam, Feno, Jack, and Holland scattered across this circular room, resting on the floor. A red crystal-like glow illuminated through the soaked fibers in the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. But, still, the other NPCs couldn¡¯t be found anywhere here. ¡°How is it only us that makes it out of there?¡± Florence asked. Jack wheezed, rubbing his lower back and television head. Dripplets trickled down his screen, splashing onto the concrete. ¡°Where is Basilisk?¡± Holland spun around, scanning the surrounding area. Her hooves pounded on the concrete. ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I don¡¯t know where¡­ I should begin,¡± Stella said. Florence relaxed her fist, showing Holland the USB and a leaf. ¡°Why do you have this?¡± Holland bleated, arching her body. ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ where I should begin,¡± Florence said. Holland stomped her hooves, charging forward. She rammed into Florence¡¯s forehead. Florence¡¯s skull cracked. Her head jerked back, slanting her spine, slamming onto the concrete. Blood trickled down her face. A metallic smacked on her tongue as some sipped between her lips. ¡°You killed him, didn¡¯t you,¡± Holland said. She snatched the USB from Florence¡¯s palm. Florence wiped the blood off her face. ¡°Look, I know how you are feeling right now.¡± ¡°Did you just insult me, Player?¡± ¡°Calm down.¡± Holland smashed on Florence¡¯s nose with a crack. Florence bled from her nostrils, covering it up. She groaned, gritting her teeth. A long shadow cast over her. She glanced up. Holland lifted her hooves up into the air right above Florence¡¯s head. Jack leaped in, wrapping his arms around Holland and pulling her back. ¡°Let me go. Those Players murdered him.¡± Holland swung her hands. The USB twirled through the air, clattering on the brick wall. ¡°It ain¡¯t them,¡± Jack said. ¡°It¡¯s the monster that did it.¡± ¡°Why are you siding with them?¡± ¡°I ain¡¯t saying that. I¡¯m telling you the truth.¡± Holland jostled her elbow in Jack¡¯s stomach. A static played on Jack¡¯s screen in his television head. He clenched onto Holland, wrinkling her clothes and whitening his fist. In a blur, he slammed her against the wall with a thud. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s be civil here.¡± Feno leaned against the handrail. She pulled out a lily under her hair, sniffing the anthers. ¡°I¡¯m going to skewer you with my horn, Jack,¡± Holland said. Aisling relaxed her grip around Florence¡¯s forearm, which was covered in scabs. Then Aisling pressed her palm and forehead on the floor. She slowed down, her chest rising and falling. Her arm trembled, changing to a shiver. ¡°Come on, let me do it. Are you seriously going to stop here for those Players?¡± Holland bleated. ¡°So, what about your daughter? Do you even care about her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get her involved here,¡± Jack said. ¡°This is bad,¡± Aisling said. Florence rubbed the back of her head. ¡°Is it the red eyes?¡± Aisling leaned closer to Florence¡¯s ear. ¡°Those eyes¡­ are like they are everywhere,¡± Florence said. ¡°And that gray pawn back there¡­ how did it get killed by that thing in the haunted area of Wellor Tower?¡± ¡°I actually can¡¯t really hear you in your current state.¡± Aisling nodded. ¡°Anyways, who is even behind this ghost domain? In other words¡­ I think¡­ we never left the Wellor Tower.¡± Chapter 35: Clues? The red eyes dotted around the circular room stared at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. Florence shivered with her skin burning from her soaking wet clothes. The droplets and blood trickled down her face, splashing on the concrete floor. The crashing of waves echoed. Holland bleated as Jack pushed her into the brick wall. The spiral staircase creaked with Feno leaning against it. She sniffed a lily in her hands. Sam meowed, shaking his body. A sprinkle of water flew across the room. Then he rested on Stella¡¯s lap, scratching his head with his hind leg. ¡°Let me go,¡± Holland said. She clenched onto Jack¡¯s wrist. Florence¡¯s nerves in her ankle and knee screamed. Half of her facial muscles drooped, unable to move. From a glance, a red glow illuminated the wet fabric in the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. Florence placed her hand on the back of her head, squeezing her cheeks between her knees. Aisling¡¯s words still lingered in her brain. What did she mean by they never left the Wellor Tower¡­ It doesn¡¯t make sense. Florence hunched over, pulling the ends of her blond, unkempt hair. ¡°Traitor,¡± Holland said. She spat a strand of saliva, splashing on Jack¡¯s face. ¡°Look, we¡¯re on the same boat,¡± Jack said. ¡°Just calm down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already calm.¡± ¡°You ain¡¯t even close to calm.¡± Florence raised her hand up. ¡°Great, look at that,¡± Holland said. ¡°Looks like one of your fellow Players wants to ask a question.¡± Jack rolled his television head. ¡°She is not my employee.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Exactly. Wait¡­ never mind¡­ that is sarcasm. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Florence shrugged, pointing at the red eyes dotted all over the wall. She waved her hand above her head. Jack and Holland looked at Florence, then back at each other. Holland pawed her hooves on the brick wall. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you like to hire this type of crazy.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hire her,¡± Jack said. ¡°I¡¯m kinda sure they do not understand what you just told them,¡± Aisling said. She leaned closer to Florence¡¯s ears. ¡°But at least this is getting better.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m talking about our investigation. Not your face,¡± Aisling said. Florence dipped her chin. Her jaws dropped open. ¡°Let me do it, Jack,¡± Holland said. ¡°I know you want me to do it.¡± ¡°There ain¡¯t any point in this.¡± Jack stared at his feet. His voice strained. ¡°You do realize killing them wouldn¡¯t help us at all.¡± Holland swiftly raised her hooves. She kicked Jack, cracking the screen on his television head. Jack fixed his neck. Not budging an inch. His fist whitened, tightening on Holland¡¯s clothes. A glimmer shone under Holland¡¯s shadow. A click reverberated throughout the circular room. ¡°Jack, watch out,¡± Feno said. A bang flashed beneath Holland, shivering Jack into a flinch. Blood flowed from the bullet wound in Jack¡¯s left foot. The casing clattered on the floor. Jack released his grip on Holland. He dropped to his knees, pressing down on his bleeding injury. The concrete thumped beneath Holland with a pistol in hand. She lowered her head, staring and pointing her horns at the red glow in the soaked pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. Florence untied the belt around her waist and scrambled to her feet. The pounding footsteps echoed along with the crashing waves, drawing closer to Jack. In a blur, Holland kicked Florence in the stomach. Florence groaned, covering the hooves stamped on her abdomen. Holland stomped onwards. She placed her finger on the trigger, aiming through the sight at Stella. Sam hissed. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± ¡°That Memory EXP Crystal in your pocket doesn¡¯t belong to you,¡± Holland said. She glared at Stella. Stella fidgeted her skirt, rubbing her puffy eyes. ¡°I mean¡­ it actually belongs to someone else.¡± A click echoed through the room. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to give it to me,¡± Holland said. ¡°I¡¯m ordering it to hand it over.¡± Stella put her knees up, resting on her arms. She faced the floor, sniffing as the corner of her mouth downturned. ¡°Do you think I care? Just do it.¡± The pistol clattered. Holland dropped to the floor with a thud, clenching onto her knees. She rolled to her side. A bleat echoed. She pulled up the legs of her pants, revealing and clawing at a red eye tattooed on her skin. Florence tapped on Aisling¡¯s shoulder, pointing at the red eye on Holland. ¡°I know.¡± Aisling wheezed. ¡°But which one of amongst them is the ghost?¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Florence shrugged. ¡°Yup, exactly,¡± Aisling said. Holland clenched her fist, whitening her knuckles. She punched herself in the face. Then she pushed herself onto her hooves, snatching the pistol into her palm. Feno crossed her arms. ¡°I think you might¡¯ve crossed the line. So, take a break or something.¡± ¡°Give me that Memory EXP Crystal,¡± Holland said. She lunged at Stella, smashing onto her forehead. Stella flew, crashing into the brick wall behind her. Her shoulder slumped. She curled into a ball, hiding her head between her knees and arms. ¡°This crystal you¡¯ve doesn¡¯t belong to you,¡± Holland said. ¡°Could you stop lecturing her? She already kinda knows it.¡± Aisling hugged herself, stumbling to her feet, her knee still blotched and reddened. ¡°Is that right, Stella?¡± Stella sniffed, rocking from side to side. ¡°I mean¡­ do I¡¯ve to explain it myself?¡± ¡°So, you do know how this Memory EXP Crystal is made,¡± Holland said. She stomped her hooves, cupping the red eye tattooed on her skin, marching towards Stella. Florence crawled onto her back. Which one should she even help now? Stella or Jack? Florence gritted her teeth, sinking her nails into her palm. Holland wrenched on the collar of Stella¡¯s blouse. Then Holland lifted Stella up, dangling her feet into the air. ¡°Stop it, Holland.¡± Aisling unsheathed her dagger. ¡°Do you hear me?¡± Stella lifted her face up, averting her eyes away from Holland. ¡°You murderer,¡± Holland said. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± Stella sniffed. ¡°That is all I¡¯ve left of¡­ you know.¡± Holland huffed, pushing the muzzle of her pistol on the side of Stella¡¯s skull. ¡°Don¡¯t do it,¡± Florence said. She crawled with her nails screeching on the rough surface, inching closer to her. Sam snarled, baring his fangs. He pounced, biting into Holland¡¯s leg. Holland bleated. She swung her hoove, shaking Sam off. The nerves in Florence¡¯s knee and ankle screamed as she dragged her skin across the floor. The concrete beneath poked her belly. She blinked. In a blur, Aisling stood behind Holland. Then Aisling pressed the tip of her dagger onto the veins in Holland¡¯s neck. Florence screeched to a halt. Holland pawed her hooves. She huffed, arching her body over Stella. ¡°Let her go now,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And drop that pistol.¡± ¡°As if I would.¡± Holland laughed. ¡°Why would I care? We did all those raids back in District Nine just to survive. You Players don¡¯t give us the necessary nutrition to let us get by.¡± Feno looked up at the red eyes dotted across the brick wall. ¡°Holland, you should probably do as she said. Or else our leader will be mad at you. And you already know what happens if our leader is mad.¡± Holland tossed the pistol away, releasing her grip on the collar of Stella¡¯s blouse. Immediately, Stella slipped away with her arms around herself. ¡°Good,¡± Aisling said. ¡°So, what¡¯re you going to do now?¡± Holland raised her hands. ¡°Rip my Natural EXP Crystal out? Isn¡¯t that right? And let me guess, you¡¯ll eat it or change it to a Memory EXP Crystal?¡± Jack groaned. His fingers and palms were caked in blood. ¡°Believe me, this wouldn¡¯t be the first thing she does.¡± ¡°I would rather sell your Natural EXP Crystal. Not changing yours to a Memory EXP Crystal,¡± Aisling said. Holland clicked her tongue, slamming her head. Stella yelped. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t move,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to run away,¡± Holland said. ¡°If anything is obvious, then it would be that I¡¯m not a master of stealth.¡± A blur under Holland¡¯s shadow thrusted at Aisling¡¯s blotched knee. Aisling screamed. Her leg swayed sideways. The dagger clattered. She clutched her knee, falling onto her shoulder with a thud. ¡°You see, I told you,¡± Holland said. ¡°I¡¯m not stealthy.¡± A shriek rang above Florence. The scratching on the ceiling reverberated with gash marks appearing on it. Holland crouched, reaching for the pistol. She flinched, clawing the red eye tattoo on the skin of her legs. Feno crossed her arms. ¡°I told you what would happen if you don¡¯t listen.¡± ¡°This is stupid,¡± Holland said. ¡°Those Players are going to kill and starve us to death if we don¡¯t fight back, Feno.¡± ¡°And our leader disagrees with it.¡± ¡°That is what you and this leader would say. Clearly, this charity of yours is not solving our problems at all.¡± ¡°Tell me, what would happen when us NPCs take over the Wellor System through this radical action of yours?¡± ¡°Who cares about it? We¡¯re just trying to survive through whatever means possible.¡± Feno leaned away from the spiral staircase with a creak. Her hair rustled, and her footsteps grew louder. She picked up the USB lying on the concrete floor. At the same time, Florence clutched on her belt. She turned around, inching closer to Jack. She brushed his hand away from the gunshot wound in his left foot. Blood flowed out of his injury. She straightened her belt, wrapping around his left foot. Then she tied a reef knot, tightening the binding with a pull. The bleeding stopped. Static played on the screen of his television head. ¡°Our leader should tighten that leash around your neck,¡± Feno said. Florence glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Do you think our leader approves of your action? Tell me, Holland,¡± Feno said. She kneeled down, dangling the USB in front of Holland¡¯s face. ¡°Do you even know what this does?¡± Holland huffed. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I know?¡± Aisling coughed, wiping her mouth. She wiggled towards Florence¡¯s side. ¡°So, why did you set District Nine?¡± Feno clenched her fist. ¡°Why did all of you do it?¡± ¡°Those pink androids and that monster did it,¡± Holland said. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of¡ª¡± Feno slapped Holland in the face. Holland¡¯s head jerked to the side. ¡°You caused it in the first place,¡± Feno said. ¡°I¡¯m sure the Wellor System will never ever send supplies to my charity again. And did you think our leader wouldn¡¯t have noticed your actions?¡± Holland bleated and laughed. ¡°Sure, this charity of yours isn¡¯t effective. You failed us.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You pathetic little¡ª¡± Holland wheezed, digging her nails on her neck. She rolled to her side until her gasp fainted away. Her fingers relaxed. Her pupils dilated. The saliva drooled from the corner of her mouth. Feno stood up, spreading her arms out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she is not dead.¡± ¡°I think the ghost is watching us,¡± Aisling said. She leaned close to Florence¡¯s ears. ¡°Anyways, who do you think this is?¡± Florence shrugged, pointing at the half of her paralyzed face. ¡°Yup, sure,¡± Aisling said. ¡°It is you. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Florence shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just joking,¡± Aisling said. She flicked her finger on Florence¡¯s forehead. ¡°Whoever it is, they might have red eyes. But ¡­ where do we begin searching for them?¡± ¡°It ain¡¯t that great,¡± Jack said. He squeezed his television head in between Florence and Aisling. ¡°What¡¯re you two talking about anyways?¡± ¡°Nothing much¡­ kinda.¡± ¡°Really? Is it ain¡¯t that much for real?¡± On the other side of the room, Stella stared blankly at the ceiling, rubbing her puffy eyes. She reached into the pocket of her blouse and took out the Memory EXP Crystal. Florence got up on her feet, limping towards Stella. Blood oozed out of Stella¡¯s nostrils. Florence kneeled next to Stella, sliding down the brick wall. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ fine,¡± Stella said. She fidgeted the Memory EXP Crystal between her fingers, turning her head away from Florence. ¡°I know she is not¡­ I mean out there.¡± Florence pinched the sleeve of her dress, wiping the blood off of Stella¡¯s face. ¡°What¡­ am I talking about?¡± Stella shook her head. ¡°Just forget about it.¡± The room rumbled. Sam released his bite into Holland. He dashed and dove into Stella¡¯s lap. A ray of intense orange glow flooded into the room, blinding Florence. She blinked, tilting her head upwards. At the top of the staircase, the humanoid silhouettes clad in armor towered over them. Chapter 36: Trapped The crashing of waves echoed inside the circular room. An inferno emerged behind the humanoid silhouette clad in armor, standing at the top of the spiral staircase. A string of Natural EXP Crystals sat around its neck. Florence clenched her fist around a leaf, pressing against the brick wall with red eyes and smearing sweat on it. But Stella rubbed the Memory EXP Crystal on her forehead, rustling her hair. Sam curled into a ball on Stella¡¯s lap, tucking his tail between his hind legs. Aisling gasped, clenching her chest and wrinkling her hooded shirt. Her lips thinned. She sat still on the concrete floor next to Jack, staring at the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. The heat descended the steps, dancing on Florence¡¯s skin. The sweat secreted from her pores evaporated on her skin. The nerves in her swollen ankle, knee, and half of her face shrieked. Feno flinched. Not looking behind her as she loomed over, Holland fainted on the concrete floor. In the middle of the room, Yuze snored. The spiral of stairs creaked. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor descended it, and the swirling flames followed behind. A jet of fire flew, zooming closer to Stella and Sam. Florence lunged at Stella and Sam, pushing them away. The fire spat as it exploded on the wall. Waves of heat crashed into her, spreading across her skin. The smoky stench of burning fabric filled her nostrils. The fumes built up inside the room, rippling through the air. The red eyes dotted across the brick walls turned their pupils towards the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. Feno turned around, facing away from Holland. Florence coughed and choked, gripping her throat. Her head wobbled. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her?¡± The humanoid silhouette took another step down, reaching halfway through the staircase. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t get it.¡± Jack groaned. ¡°It ain¡¯t much. But how did that monster keep finding us?¡± A firestorm behind the humanoid silhouette clad in armor erupted tendrils, lashing out in every direction. The brick blackened. The handrail burned bright red. One of the many tendrils whipped towards Sam. He hissed, flattening his ears. His tail pointed upwards. Stella wrapped her arms under his belly, rolling away. A blaze ignited at the end of her hair. She yelped, smothering the flames. The inferno sliced through the air, speeding toward Feno, Jack, and Holland. Florence jumped to her feet, but she plummeted to her knees. Her muscles relaxed, giving up. The nerves under her skin screeched from her swollen ankle, knee, and half of her face. The flaming tentacles were now just inches away from engulfing Feno, Jack, and Holland. Amongst the crackle, a screech rang within the room. Scratches manifested along the wall with a shrill. The inferno dispersed into scattered wisps. A claw mark gashed across the chest of the humanoid silhouette with a shriek. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor wobbled, leaning against the handrail. Florence¡¯s lips dried up. The saliva in her mouth evaporated. She blinked, smacking her tongue and rubbing her eyes. A creak reverberated. The staircase underneath the humanoid silhouette clad in armor collapsed. It plummeted, spiraling downward. The screws and steel clattered. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor smashed against the floor, cracking the concrete. Aisling trembled. Her eyes widened. She cupped her ears, burying her face between her blotched knees. Her bottom scraped against the floor until her back hit Jack. Florence stumbled to her feet. Her swollen ankle and knee stung the nerves under her skin. She bit her lips, limping forward, eyeing the necklace of Natural EXP Crystals. ¡°What¡¯re you doing, pleb?¡± Sam growled. He extended his claws, swiping it. ¡°Come back here and protect me.¡± Florence squeezed the leaf on her palm. ¡°Pardon me; I am trying my best. Could you not tell that?¡± ¡°Florence, don¡¯t go over there,¡± Feno said. ¡°That monster¡­ you saw what it can do.¡± Florence limped, slapping her feet across the room. With every step, she inched closer to the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. The Natural EXP Crystals glowed blue, glimmering under the descending flames. Someone from behind gripped her wrist, tugging her back. She looked over her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯re you trying to do?¡± Feno shook her head. She squeezed Florence¡¯s wrist, whitening her hand. Florence opened her palm, relaxing her grasp around the leaf. Feno rustled her hair. ¡°Do you¡¯ve any idea what this does?¡± ¡°I have absolutely no idea,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Are you trying to eat that Ability Leaf and the Natural EXP Crystal together?¡± ¡°Absolutely not¡­ nobody told me about it. I just want to look closer at that monster you¡¯re talking about.¡± Flames spat through the gap between the humanoid silhouette¡¯s armor. Feno pushed Florence down to the concrete floor. The inferno swallowed the room. The end of Florence¡¯s hair burned. Her skin reddened, sending her nerves screaming. Acrid fumes wafted through the air. A screech rang. The gust rustled Florence¡¯s dress, extinguishing the blaze on her hair. Then the wind howled, cutting with claw-like marks through the flames swirling above her. The fire died down, and the humanoid silhouette clad in armor stood up. ¡°I guess¡­ I got my answer,¡± Florence said. ¡°Listen to me,¡± Feno said. She flipped Florence around, facing her, clutching her shoulders. ¡°Whatever you do, do not ever eat that Ability Leaf with the Natural EXP Crystal.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but why?¡± ¡°How did you not already know?¡± A firestorm from the back of the humanoid silhouette clad in armor surged toward Feno and Florence. Florence and Feno rolled out of the way. The heat danced on Florence¡¯s skin as the blaze blew past her. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her? Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. ¡°Pardon me, how does it keep finding us?¡± Florence asked. ¡°And does it always ask this question whenever we encounter it?¡± ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t really know,¡± Feno said. ¡°Jack, do something.¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°Just give me a moment¡­ like maybe a few minutes or hours.¡± The inferno twirled into the palm of the humanoid silhouette clad in armor, forming a towering hammer. ¡°We definitely don¡¯t have time for that,¡± Feno said. The hammer crackled, smashing against the floor into pieces between Florence and Feno. Cracks spread through the concrete and up the brick wall. Jack wiggled his wounded left foot. ¡°Do you see this?¡± ¡°Of course, I can,¡± Feno said. ¡°I¡¯m not blind.¡± The flames slipped through the fissures. It sizzled underneath Florence¡¯s belly. Florence scrambled, sliding onto her back. ¡°I think¡­ we should get out of here.¡± The ground bulged. Then, the magma erupted, reaching the ceiling. Florence squealed, straightening her spine. She slid her bottom across the room. A static played on the screen of Jack¡¯s television head. ¡°Feno? I ain¡¯t ready yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Feno said on the other side of spewing magma. ¡°Our leader protected me¡­ again.¡± Ear-piercing scrapes rang from the armor. Out of nowhere, claw marks gashed across the wall, floor, and humanoid silhouette. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor roared, swung its arms back and forth, and its heavy footsteps echoed, shaking Florence to the core. The wind snuffed out the blaze excreted from the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. ¡°Our leader, thank you very much for¡­ saving us,¡± Feno said. Sam meowed. ¡°Any ideas on how to get out of this mess, pleb?¡± ¡°Pardon me, does it look like we have any ideas on that?¡± Florence asked. The humanoid silhouette bellowed, letting out a heatwave of fumes through the gaps of its armor. The smoke pushed Florence back, smashing her skull into the brick wall. A strand of unkempt hair rustled, falling on her face. She clenched her fist, whitening her knuckles. A liquid leaked from her head. In front of her, everything blurred into a black, orange, and red mesh. Her eardrums rang, muffled those shouts, screams, and crackles. She blinked. The haze cleared out of her eyes. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor stomped towards her. The concrete beneath them vibrated. Everyone else around the circular room fainted, suffocating from the thick smoke lying scattered under the staircase. The leaf tickled Florence¡¯s skin, tugging her arms towards the necklace of Natural EXP Crystals. She forced herself up to her feet. Her swollen ankle and knee shrieked. In a groan, she wiped her face, leaving a red fluid on her fingertips. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her? Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. ¡°Pardon me, could you stop asking me the same question?¡± Florence asked. ¡°This is not getting us anywhere. Isn¡¯t it?¡± The armor clanged as the humanoid silhouette charged. It clenched its fist and thrust toward her, causing fragments to grow beneath it with every step. Florence tossed herself out of the way, thudding onto her side. An explosion ember spilled between the armor of the humanoid silhouette¡¯s forearm. The force alone rustled Florence¡¯s hair and the fibers of her clothing. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her? Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. It grabbed the collar of her dress, yanking her closer. Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare not answer me,¡± the humanoid clad in armor said. ¡°So, tell me. Why¡¯re you with her?¡± Florence stretched her arm out with the leaf in her grasp, clutching on the necklace of Natural EXP Crystals. She pulled it. But the string didn¡¯t snap. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor swung its head. It cracked her nose. Blood flowed out of her nostrils and down to her chin. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor pulled its fist back. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you answer me?¡± ¡°How do I begin to explain myself?¡± Florence coughed with half of her facial muscle shrieking. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know where to begin.¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor pummeled Florence. Its knuckles repeatedly crashed her cheekbones, and the bruises swelled on her face. ¡°So, are you going to answer me?¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor threw another punch. Florence jerked her head forward. Her teeth gritted against the necklace. The string snapped. The Natural EXP Crystals fell, spiraling down the air. She opened her mouth, biting down on a Natural EXP Crystal, swallowing it with the leaf on her palm. Her throat stung with each constriction, pushing the Crystal and leaf towards her stomach. ¡°Why did you eat it? Tell me,¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. ¡°Are you insane?¡± Florence shrugged. ¡°Maybe I am crazy? Eating the Natural EXP Crystal with Ability Leaf gives the one who consumed it an ability. Well, at least that is what I heard one of you said¡­ I think?¡± ¡°What did you say? Speak properly.¡± ¡°I know.¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor clutched around Florence¡¯s neck. Florence gasped, suffocating. The stream of air stopped flowing into her lungs. She scratched and pulled on the fingers around her throat. A loud cough and slapping of palms reverberated. ¡°Over here, you monster,¡± Jack said. He waved his hands. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor looked over its shoulder. ¡°How¡­ impossible?¡± Jack pointed at his television head. The static played on his now cracked screen. Shards of glass fell out from him. He whistled. The rupture spread wider across his screen. ¡°I see,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. A screech rang throughout the circular room. A scratch mark slashed the concrete floor. A wind blew past Florence, knocking the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. It smashed through the wall, sending it into the waves. Hands with their skin peeling off from the water emerged from the bubbling depths. The fingers wrapped around the humanoid silhouette clad in armor, dragging it down. The smoke vented through the hole. Jack hobbled towards Florence. Florence looked at Jack. But her face was paralyzed and ached with the beating she received. ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell me you ate it,¡± Jack said. Florence shook her head. Jack placed his hands on top of his television head. ¡°So, you did eat them.¡± Florence nodded. ¡°Seriously.¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°Great, I¡¯ve got another Ability¡ª¡± A water spout erupted from the waves, and the humanoid clad in armor emerged. Chapter 37: Believe me... Practice Does Not Make Perfect The smoke vented out of the hole in the circular room. Florence clenched her fists, rubbing it into her right thigh. The red eyes dotted across the brick wall watched her. The bruises and burns on her face stung her nerves under the skin. The waves rushed in, washing over her feet. In front of her, the humanoid silhouette clad in armor marched out of the bubbling water. Her swollen ankle and knee wobbled, aching with every inch of movement. She grabbed Jack, who was standing next to her. Aisling, Stella, Sam, Feno, and Holland lay on the cracked concrete floor and fainted under the spiral staircase. ¡°I think this will be good practice for you, Florence,¡± Jack said. ¡°It ain¡¯t much. But it¡¯ll work.¡± Florence pointed at herself, widening her eyes. ¡°Yes, graduation,¡± Jack said. ¡°You¡¯re an Ability User¡­ unfortunately.¡± Florence shrugged, thrusting her hand forward in a stabbing motion at the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. Jack rubbed the side of his television head. ¡°I ain¡¯t sure what you mean by that?¡± A jet of fire sped towards them. Jack pushed Florence. The flames crackled past them. The heat lingered on Florence¡¯s skin. Florence thudded onto her side. Her eardrums rang with crashing waves and the clangs of metal boots. She rubbed the side of her skull, pushing herself up. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor entered through the hole. Blazes of tendrils whipped around in the air from the gaps of its protection. It towered over Florence and Jack. Florence waved her hands in the air, widening her eyes at Jack. ¡°What¡¯re you trying to do? Sign languaging that monster to death,¡± Jack said. Florence slapped her forehead, stinging her nerves. The tendrils lashed out, spitting across the air. It emitted wisps of embers. Florence lifted her apron up and above her head. The blazes blackened the fibers of her clothing. ¡°Think, Florence.¡± Jack jabbed his finger at the side of his television head. ¡°What¡¯s your biggest fear?¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°You know what I¡¯m talking about,¡± Jack said. The flames darted towards Florence. Immediately, she rolled out of the way as it scorched the cracked concrete floor. ¡°I really ain¡¯t ready to be barbecued alive today.¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°And I¡¯m sure I ain¡¯t ready to eat one.¡± Florence widened her eyes, staring right at Jack. Jack scrambled onto his feet. ¡°At least, I¡¯m being honest,¡± he said. ¡°Where¡¯s our leader anyway?¡± Florence shook her head, waving her hands. She pointed at her own mouth. Her facial muscles throbbed, freezing in place. The ground rumbled beneath her, budging her bottom. The fires slipped in between the fissures, snaking to Florence and Jack. Florence tumbled backward. From where she just sat, an inferno erupted. It spiraled upwards, scorching the ceiling. The concrete pieces spiraled through the air, shattering against the brick wall. A blast shoved her. She rolled, colliding into Feno and Holland. Florence groaned, tapping Feno¡¯s shoulder. But, still, Feno didn¡¯t open her eyes. The clanging of metal boots rang, approaching closer to Florence from behind. Florence grabbed and shook Feno on the arms, jerking her head back and forth. A tug on Florence¡¯s hair pulled her back. Her head slanted up where a shadow cast over her. Standing behind her, the humanoid silhouette clad in armor glared down at her. ¡°Why¡¯re you with her? Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. Florence yelped, catching it in her throat. Her muscles tensed. An eerie silence filled the room as the flames crackled. A few seconds later, a whistle echoed. From the corner of her eye, those bodies in olive coats and helmets emerged from the waves. Those bodies marched through the hole in the brick wall as their skin peeled off. Their chest was covered in gun wounds, oozing out blood and pus. Droplets of water dripped down from the bayonet that was stabbed through their bones and muscles. The redness faded away from their eyes. Their mouths gaped wide, crying out loud. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor wheeled around, letting go of Florence¡¯s hair. Florence froze. Her muscles tensed up. The air exited her lungs. She fell onto her bottom, scrambling across the floor until her back bumped into the brick wall. Her spine shivered. She clenched her heart, inhaling and exhaling acrid smoke. The bodies charged, tripping with their arms stretched out towards Florence and the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. Florence closed her eyes, covering her head with her arms. Fingers wrapped around her shoulder. She flinched. ¡°Look at me. Nothing will hurt you,¡± someone said in a familiar voice. ¡°Because I am here now with you. You are going to be safe.¡± She opened her eyes, turning towards the source of that sound. In front of her face, Martine smiled, wrinkles appearing in the corners of her eyes. Florence sniffed. ¡°How?¡± The fires slithered out of the glowing fissures in the concrete, wrapping around those bodies¡¯ legs. A steam hissed as the water evaporated. The olive coats got set in a blaze, burning those bodies to the bone. A putrid stench wafted from the char. ¡°You see, none of this is your fault,¡± Martine said. ¡°Sometimes it just happens, and sometimes you cannot do anything about it. But sometimes you just have to do what you can and keep moving forward.¡± Some of the bodies fell face-first to the floor. But most forced their way forward, trampling those who went down. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Florence shook her head. The humanoid silhouette, clad in armor, wheeled around. The body¡¯s knuckles cracked against its head. The bones snapped, piercing through the skin of those bodies¡¯ arms. None of them flinched. They stared down the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor grunted. A jet of blaze shot out from the gaps of the protection. The fire burned through those bodies, turning them into ashes. But the flames then crackled towards Florence. Martine lunged, pushing Florence away. The inferno separated Martine and Florence. Once, it died into wisps, leaving only soot on the brick wall. But¡­ Martine vanished? Florence slapped her own face. Her mouth and skin dried up. The waves of searing heat unfurled across her skin, boiling her blood. Her nerves shrieked as if she underwent combustion. The stench of burning cotton filled her nostrils. Jack dashed. He kicked the humanoid clad in armor between the legs. A bellow rang. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor dropped to its knee with a clang, covering its crotch. Florence sank her nails into the ground until her fingers whitened. Her mind raced. Martine¡­ that smile of hers with those wrinkles at the corner of her eyes¡­ no longer could Florence ever talk to her. Or even spoke to her ever again. Could it be possible that¡­ Florence shook her head. She wrapped her brain around her situation, focusing on what must be done now. She chewed her lips, slowing down her heart rate to no avail. The fire climbed up her apron and dress. Immediately, she gritted her teeth, ripping the lower part of her clothing away and stopping the spread of the flame. Behind the humanoid silhouette clad in armor, Jack stomped on its back. ¡°How did you know that?¡± Florence asked. She let out a shaky breath. ¡°I can¡¯t hear you,¡± Jack said. The crack on the screen spread out in his television. ¡°Could you try not to speak? It ain¡¯t because of¡­ you know.¡± Florence shrugged. Jack snapped his finger. ¡°Exactly.¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor pressed its palms against the concrete floor. Jack swung his foot again, slamming it into the humanoid silhouette clad in armor between its legs. The humanoid clad in armor dropped flat, covering its crotch. ¡°Works like a charm.¡± The cracks on the screen in Jack¡¯s television head spread. The glass from his monitor fell, shattering on impact. ¡°Anyways¡­ have you figured out how to activate your Ability.¡± Florence shook her head, circling her face with her finger. ¡°I guess¡­ you still figured it out,¡± Jack said. He placed his knucks on his hip, kicking the humanoid silhouette clad in armor for the third time. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor groaned. ¡°It ain¡¯t great. But we can¡¯t just keep kicking his nuts every single time,¡± Jack said. Florence stumbled onto her feet. Her legs trembled. She waved her hands around, pointing at the hole in the brick wall that led into the ocean. ¡°I mean, what else are we going to do? Fly?¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°Of course, our exit is through there.¡± Florence pushed her hair back, rustling it. ¡°What? It ain¡¯t that bad,¡± Jack said. Florence crouched, breathing in and out. The acrid fumes stung her throat. She stood back up, brushing her dress. A tap on her foot sent shivers up her spine. She tilted her head down. Feno somehow dragged herself across the ground without Florence noticing. Then, with her hands stretched out, Feno poked Florence on the toe. Florence kneeled, patting Feno¡¯s head. ¡°This took longer than expected,¡± Feno said. ¡°Also¡­ what exactly happened?¡± A static played on the screen of Jack¡¯s television head. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. And believe me when I say that.¡± He punted the humanoid silhouette clad in armor on the crotch¡­ again. A howl rang throughout the circular room. Florence placed her hands in front of her, spreading her fingers apart. ¡°So, you want me to stop? Or do you want me to give you a high five?¡± Jack asked. Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Of course, she meant it as in stopping kicking that monster in that area,¡± Feno said. ¡°It couldn¡¯t have any children at this rate.¡± Jack scratched the side of his television head. ¡°Are you sure that it can have offspring?¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Because if it can, I do not want to find out what its children could do with fire.¡± Florence coughed, limping towards Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam, who still lay on the concrete floor. She glanced over her shoulder. Jack raised his foot above the crotch of the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. A bright orange glow exploded behind Florence. A wave of heat propelled her, rolling towards Aisling. Jack flew across the room from the eruption, spinning through the air. His television head smacked onto the center of the room. The pressure of that moment thrust Feno and Holland through the brick wall. The rubbles splashed into the waves, and flames engulfed Feno. She and Holland submerged into the water. Florence bit her lips, pulling Aisling to her feet. Then Florence carried Aisling, limping towards Yuze, Stella, and Sam. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor stood up, stomping closer to Florence and Aisling. The tendrils of flames lashed out. It spat in front of Florence, blocking her path. The clanging of metal boots rang behind her. She spun around. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor towered over Florence and Aisling, casting a shadow over them. It wrapped its fingers around Florence¡¯s neck. Florence choked, gasping for breath. Her feet lifted off the ground. Her grasp on Aisling softened. ¡°Why? Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. Florence kicked the humanoid silhouette clad in armor between its legs. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor roared, falling to its knees. It clenched its crotch, releasing its grip on Florence. Florence dropped to her bottom with a thud. She dragged herself, carrying Aisling. Florence inched nearer to Yuze, Stella, and Sam, who still fainted on the concrete floor. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor charged at Florence. Smokes vented through the gaps of its armor as the whips of blazes slithered out. Florence picked up her pace. Her swollen ankle and knee screamed at her with each limping step. A spear of fire propelled towards her. She ducked. The projectile flew past her in a spat. She tripped, sliding her face across the ground toward Yuze, Stella, and Sam. Above them, the spiral staircase creaked. Florence glanced up, scooping Sam under his belly. She wrapped her other arm around Yuze and Stella, lugging them over her shoulders. The tendrils of flames pulled at the supports for the steps, and in the blink of an eye, the stairs collapsed. Florence tripped, dodging the debris that clattered behind her. Her muscles ached. The extra weight on top crushed her. A static played on Jack¡¯s television screen as he cracked his knuckles, pulling himself up. Florence crawled towards the waves, rushing through a hole in the brick wall. Her nails clawed at the concrete floor as it trembled, and the stomping of metal boots inched closer behind her. A grip tightened on the back of her neck, burning the fingerprints on her skin. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Tell me,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. It lifted Florence, pushing Aisling, Yuze, Stella, and Sam away. She screamed. Her leg swayed, clinking on the armor. Jack dashed forward. His fist cracked against the plating on the humanoid silhouette¡¯s neck. He kicked the humanoid silhouette clad in armor on the ankle, tripping it. The grip on Florence slipped away. She twirled upwards through the air, crashing back down on the Aisling. A clang shook the concrete floor. Florence pushed herself to her feet. She hauled Aisling and Stella. Jack ran over to her side. He wrapped his arms around Yuze and Sam, carrying them towards the hole in the brick wall. Florence gritted her teeth as she followed right behind Jack. A whistle echoed. The waves lapped on their feet. The bubbles emerged from the liquid surfaces. Jack tossed himself into the water with a splash, dragging Yuze and Sam into the ocean. The hands with skin peeling off emerged from the tide. It gripped Jack, Yuze, and Sam. They sank into the depths. Florence limped knee-deep toward the waves. She set Aisling and Stella floating on the bubbling sea. The fingers surfaced, clawing their nails at Florence, Aisling, and Stella. A bright glow burned behind Florence. She glanced over her shoulder. A jet of blaze scorched her back. She collapsed face-first in a splash. She submerged deeper into the sea, holding tightly onto Aisling and Stella. The water flooded Florence¡¯s mouth. A salty flavor exploded in her tongue. Everything around her faded into darkness, stinging her skin. Someone¡¯s voice echoed in her ear canal. It said, ¡°Stella¡­ wake up.¡± Chapter 38: Someone elses past Someone shook Florence on the shoulder. Florence blinked. The ache on her swollen knee, ankle, and half of her face faded. But blood leaked out from a gash on her forehead, sipping in between her lips. A metallic flavor tingled the tip of her tongue. Everything around her blurred. The honks of cars echoed. ¡°Stella, wake up,¡± someone said. Florence blinked, cleaning up her vision. She found herself lying on the ground, staring at the clouds above. A ray of light shone through the alley between the skyscrapers that towered over her, glimmering the steel and glass of those buildings. A stale, rotten egg stench floated from a dumpster within the narrow path. She turned her head to the left. She widened her eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. In front of her, Mai breathed in and out like nothing had happened. But, somehow, she managed to kneel down next to Florence. ¡°Stella, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Mai said. She hugged Florence. Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°I am not Stella,¡± she said. Her voice trembled¡­ but did not sound like her own, as if it belonged to Stella. ¡°What? Did Chloe hit your head too hard?¡± ¡°Pardon me, how did you understand what I just said? Who is Chloe? And how are you not sitting in your wheelchair?¡± Mai pushed her pink-dyed hair up. Then she buried her face in her palms. The gal in a zipper jacket with collars covering half of her face came into Florence¡¯s view. The gal slipped her hands into her pockets, carrying a four-stringed guitar. On her shoulder, the kitten with black and white fur meowed. She slanted her body sideways, winking at Florence. ¡°Like what¡¯ve you done, Chloe?¡± Mai asked. She wheeled around towards the gal in a zipper jacket. Chloe pulled her hands out of her pockets. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t ya blame it on me. Because I¡¯ve no idea what happened here.¡± ¡°Martine¡­ why now?¡± Florence exhaled, digging her nails into her palm. ¡°This is wonderful. Like, just look at what you¡¯ve done, Chloe,¡± Mai said. ¡°Stella didn¡¯t just lose her memory. She also went completely nuts.¡± Florence rubbed her cheek, eyeing a glass panel of a skyscraper. A red-eyed gal with pale skin and hair in a white blouse and black skirt sat where Florence¡¯s reflection should be. She carried a guitar on her back, similar to Stella¡¯s. Florence tilted her head down, and the exact clothing of the one in the reflection greeted her. The kitten leaped down from Chloe¡¯s shoulder, landing on Stella¡¯s stomach. Then the kitten sniffed, crawling into the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. ¡°Stella? Are you like¡­ okay?¡± Mai stood up. She stretched her hand towards Florence. Florence extended Stella¡¯s arm out, shaking uncontrollably, and grabbed onto Mai. Florence struggled to get up as she controlled Stella¡¯s body like she was learning to walk again. ¡°Please, don¡¯t tell me she became a baby,¡± Chloe said. ¡°I wish I was one.¡± Florence chewed Stella¡¯s lips. She leaned onto Mai, letting out a muffled Stella¡¯s cracking voice. Stella¡¯s eyes dampened, stinging the nerves. ¡°But I am absolutely not one.¡± Mai thinned her lips. ¡°Like¡­ is it me, or does it feel like Stella is now a completely different person?¡± ¡± Ya are joking, right?¡± Chloe shrugged, putting her hands back into the pocket of her shorts. ¡°Please, tell me what I want to hear.¡± Mai put on a blank expression, staring at Chloe. ¡°Okay, I get it,¡± Chloe said. ¡°When someone gets a concussion.¡± She pointed at Florence. ¡°This usually happens.¡± ¡°I am as confused as you are,¡± Florence said. She wiped Stella¡¯s nose. ¡°I¡¯m not like¡­ talking about that,¡± Mai said. ¡°It¡¯s just like¡­ Stella seems to be a bit odd.¡± Chloe rolled her eyes, hunching her shoulders. She stomped her feet across the ground, exiting the alley. ¡°Wait for us,¡± Mai said. She chased after Chloe, carrying Florence. They emerged into the street. The crowds of Players bumped against them as they moved along the pavement. ¡°Pardon me, could you slow down just a little?¡± Florence asked. She wrapped Stella¡¯s twitching arm around Mai¡¯s shoulders. Mai shoved through the crowd toward Chloe. In the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse, the kitten twisted and turned. ¡°Should I be worried?¡± Florence asked. She raised Stella¡¯s eyebrow. The kitten popped its head out from the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. Its whiskers caked in catnip. ¡°I really should reintroduce you to your kitten,¡± Mai said. ¡°I know who this is,¡± Florence said. Her muscles spasmed. She moved Stella¡¯s palm towards the kitten, patting it between its ears. ¡°This kitten is Sam. Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Wait, what? Like¡­ is this some kind of joke?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± Florence, Mai, and Chloe entered one of the many skyscrapers an hour later. They climbed to the tenth floor, where a winding hallway with doors greeted them. ¡°This seems¡­ familiar,¡± Florence said. ¡°Impressive; ya still remember this place after that concussion,¡± Chloe said. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°What?¡± Mai waltzed down the corridor, past a poster plastered on the wall. ¡°Like, how is that impressive?¡± Chloe screeched to a stop, bumping into Florence and Mai. ¡°What now?¡± Mai smiled. She rested her chin on Mai¡¯s shoulder. Chloe looked from her right to the left. ¡°Which one was it again?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like the one on your right.¡± ¡°Cool.¡± Chloe reached for the door, opening it with a creak. Florence, Mai, and Chloe entered a room containing a round table stacked with pizza packaging boxes in the center. Metal utensils dangled above the kitchen sink along one side of the wall. The grease stained the stovetop brown, but the caramelized brown sugar and zesty citrus scent that wafted from an oven disappeared¡­ More importantly, there weren¡¯t any signs of burnt damage caused by the fire. ¡°Well¡­ this is unexpected,¡± Florence said. Mai sighed. ¡°What?¡± A gal came out of the other glass room filled with a drum set and the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it. She chugged a bottle of giggle juice down her throat. Her cheeks reddened. An alcoholic odor wafted from her body. Her braids swayed as she stumbled towards Florence, Mai, and Chloe. ¡°Lucy, at this rate, ya are going to get alcohol-associated liver disease,¡± Chloe said. Lucy exhaled, raising her bottle of giggle juice into the air. Her braids swayed from side to side. She smiled at the pile of pizza packaging boxes. ¡°Nothing bad¡­ is going to happen. Just give me¡­ another jug.¡± ¡°Hey, who¡¯re ya talking to anyways? We¡¯re over here. Not there.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ what? It¡¯s just that you guys smell a lot like those pizza boxes.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t smell like pizza. Plus, ya have eyes. Ya can literally see us.¡± Florence sniffed, shifting Stella¡¯s head closer to Chloe¡¯s hair. A savory, woody scent wafted from Chloe and tingled Stella¡¯s nostrils. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± Mai brushed her pink-dyed hair. ¡°Like, is this some kind of fetish?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. She shook Stella¡¯s head. Lucy cupped her mouth, collapsing onto the floor with a thud. She burst into laughter, spilling the giggle juice. ¡°I think we should go to the hospital,¡± Florence said. Chloe shrugged. ¡°Do we look like we can avoid it by going there? And let¡¯s not forget about yours and Lucy¡¯s stats.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how bad is it?¡± ¡°Bad, as all of your stats are low. It would be a miracle if they actually provide any sort of healthcare to you and Lucy.¡± Lucy belched. ¡°Do any of you¡­ Never mind, just forget about it,¡± Florence said. She pointed to the gash on Stella¡¯s forehead. ¡°You would not have any medication for this.¡± Chloe pressed her palm against her hip. ¡°At least you got one thing correct.¡± ¡°Hey, guys,¡± Mai said. ¡°We should probably stop yapping around. And just start today¡¯s meeting.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Wait¡­ what?¡± Chloe spun around. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ today.¡± Mai nodded. Chloe shed tears, wiping them with her fingers. ¡°Sorry¡­ but I¡¯m actually a bit busy today.¡± ¡°Get rid of that smirk on your face,¡± Mai said. Chloe pointed at the collar that hid her mouth. ¡°What? That¡¯s exactly the point,¡± Mai said. ¡°I could already feel it like inches away.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but how exactly do you feel a smirk, Mai?¡± Florence asked. She raised Stella¡¯s eyebrows. Everyone in the room looked at Florence. ¡°This is going to take a long time to explain,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Chloe, like, stop exaggerating,¡± Mai said. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t take much time.¡± Lucy took a sip from the empty bottle of giggle juice. She reached into her pockets. ¡°I forgot to bring my crystals or phone. Could you guys buy me a beer?¡± ¡°No,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Does it look like I can afford it?¡± Lucy flailed her arms and legs, squealing out loud. ¡°Great, now there are two babies,¡± Chloe said. ¡°What? Come on, it isn¡¯t that bad,¡± Mai said. She kicked Chloe on the back. Chloe spun around. She furrowed her brow, glaring at Mai. ¡°So, anyways about today¡¯s meeting,¡± Mai said. ¡°We really should like¡­ start talking about it.¡± Chloe crossed her arms and shrugged. She pinched Lucy¡¯s ears. Lucy screamed. Chloe dragged Lucy up to the round table stacked with pizza packaging boxes. ¡°Pardon me, what is this meeting about exactly?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Lucy¡¯s crippling alcoholism,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Mai shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re actually just going to discuss tomorrow¡¯s band performance,¡± she said. ¡°Since¡­ you know, something popped up.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°What is this something exactly?¡± An eerie silence pierced the air. Mai, Chloe, and Lucy turned around, staring at Florence. ¡°I understand now,¡± she said. ¡°It is me. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Chloe clapped. ¡°Coagulation. You figured it out.¡± ¡°Well, to put it mildly. You actually composed the music for us, Stella,¡± Mai said. ¡°But since now you¡¯re calling yourself Florence or something. I don¡¯t think¡­ You know where your composed music is.¡± Florence scratched the back of Stella¡¯s head as she nodded. Mai turned around. She lowered her brow, staring at Chloe in the eye. ¡°What?¡± Chloe shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s not like I know what changed about her neurons, which might have led to this.¡± ¡°Anyways, we¡¯ve got to figure out where her composition is now,¡± Mai said. Chloe hunched over the round table, slamming her forehead onto the stacks of pizza packaging boxes. Mai glanced over to Florence. ¡°Pardon me, how do you want me to figure it out?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Because, to be honest, I have no idea.¡± ¡°We¡¯re so screwed,¡± Chloe said. She screamed, muffling it with the cardboard. ¡°Never give up,¡± Mai said. She patted Chloe on the back. ¡°Like we can still do it.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Lucy gave a thumbs up. ¡°I¡¯ll never give up my alcoholism.¡± ¡°I am certain that this is not what she meant,¡± Florence said. Lucy groaned, slipping to the floor with a thud. She rolled to her side, pulling at Chloe¡¯s shorts. Chloe snatched a pizza packaging box, slapping it on Lucy¡¯s head. Lucy yelped. She curled into a ball, hiding her face between her knees. Chloe snarled. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°I just want to ask for a cup of water,¡± Lucy said. She burped. ¡°Go and get it yourself.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so hard on me.¡± Florence raised Stella¡¯s hand up. Mai grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t have to put your hand up. Like just spit it out.¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ Where should I begin with this?¡± Florence put her hand down, rustling Stella¡¯s skirt. ¡°I¡­ think we shouldn¡¯t¡­ you know.¡± Lucy spread out her arms and legs on the floor. ¡°Help¡­ me,¡± she said. Her puppy eyes stared at Chloe. ¡°I¡¯m just asking for water.¡± Chloe rolled her eyes. ¡°Could you not give me that look, please?¡± Lucy cooed, latching onto Chloe¡¯s legs. Chloe rubbed her forehead. ¡°Just¡­ fine. I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± she said. A smirk plastered onto Lucy¡¯s face. ¡°Could you also get me some peanuts?¡± Chloe hunched her shoulders, walking towards the kitchen sink. ¡°Hey,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Don¡¯t ignore me.¡± ¡°Peanut?¡± Chloe waved her hands. ¡°Go and get it yourself.¡± Mai placed her palm on Stella¡¯s shoulder, drawing Florence¡¯s attention. ¡°Hey, by the way¡­ do you still remember how to¡­ you know, play a guitar.¡± Mai smiled, closing her eyes. ¡°Please tell me you still remember.¡± ¡°I¡­ actually never¡ª¡± ¡°Like seriously?¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± Mai tilted her head up to the ceiling, gripping her upper arm. She groaned, pressing her lips together. ¡°Pardon me¡­ I would like to apologize,¡± Florence said. Mai sighed, placing her thumbs up. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ We just have to find your musical composition and have you relearn the guitar within one day.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± Mai pushed her fingers against Stella¡¯s lips, hushing Florence. ¡°But I am not ready,¡± Florence said. ¡°Like, just do it,¡± Mai said. She smacked the guitar carried on Stella¡¯s back. ¡°We¡¯re going to begin in three, two, one. Go.¡± Chapter 39: Guitar The ear-piercing strum penetrated the air. With a pick between Stella¡¯s fingertips, Florence sat on the round table stacked with pizza packaging boxes. Somehow, she remained stuck inside Stella¡¯s body going through this nightmare. Well¡­ not literally, but stuck as in a possessed way. With Stella¡¯s arms around the guitar, Florence brushed Stella¡¯s fingers over the strings. The thrashing and rolling in the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse vanished. On Florence¡¯s left, Chloe crossed her arms. On the opposite side, Mai gripped her upper arm. Her facial features rested in a neutral position. Then she blinked. Lucy cheered. She pumped her hands, facing the glass room with a drum set and the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it. The cup of bubbling water and an empty bottle of giggle juice in her grasp glistened under the light. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know where I should even begin,¡± Mai said. She slid her palm down her arm. ¡°It¡¯s normal,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Sometimes a concussion could do that. But¡­ I have never seen it this bad before.¡± Florence pushed Stella¡¯s bangs aside, rubbing the scab formed on the gash. Mai shook her head. ¡°Like I¡¯m just¡­ never mind.¡± ¡°I can tell,¡± Chloe said. She turned towards Lucy, who stumbled across the floor. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about her.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lucy spun around. The redness glowed from her cheeks. ¡°Pardon me¡­ I am sorry,¡± Florence said. ¡°I just¡­ I can not do it.¡± Mai held her palms out, waving them around. ¡°Please don¡¯t go back and hide in a cardboard box. I¡¯m begging you.¡± Florence raised Stella¡¯s eyebrows. Mai clasped her hands together. ¡°Like pretty please,¡± she said. ¡°Stop it,¡± Chloe said. ¡°What¡¯s the point of this? We still have to find our musical composition.¡± ¡°Should we split up?¡± Florence asked. ¡°This sounds a lot like the plot of a horror movie.¡± Lucy burped. She gulped down the cup of water as it gurgled. ¡°So, don¡¯t do it.¡± Chloe tapped her foot on the floor, wrinkling her nose. She jerked her head back, staring at Lucy. ¡°What?¡± Lucy sniffed, cupping her nose. ¡°I seriously don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Come on, Lucy,¡± Chloe said. ¡°You¡¯re not twelve years old. You¡¯re an old hag at this point.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not an old hag.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not one, then give me that bottle of alcohol.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°It¡¯s literally empty.¡± ¡°Do you want to drink it? So that you can experience the cycle of happiness.¡± ¡°That¡¯s called alcoholism.¡± Mai yelped. ¡°Pardon me, what is the problem?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Where did Sam go?¡± Mai clasped her hand, scanning over the floor. ¡°Like, I swear, he was here a moment ago.¡± ¡°Probably ran away,¡± Chloe said. She glared at Florence. ¡°I wonder why?¡± Florence raised Stella¡¯s hands up. ¡°What?¡± Mai pressed her palm on her head, kneeling down, rustling her hair. ¡°We¡¯re so screwed.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. You finally realized that,¡± Chloe said. Mai screamed, burying her face between her knees. ¡°I¡­ am not certain where I should even begin,¡± Florence said. She rubbed the back of Stella¡¯s neck. Lucy laughed. ¡°He is probably our secret stash of catnip.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have one,¡± Chloe said. ¡°The last time I saw him, he was in Stella¡¯s pocket.¡± Florence tilted her head down. But the pocket of Stella¡¯s no longer held Sam¡­ only a wisps of catnip and balls of fur. Florence gulped down air into Stella¡¯s lungs. Where did he go? Was her guitar skills that bad to the point he had to run away? Florence shook Stella¡¯s head, biting her lip. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s decided,¡± Mai said. She slammed her hand on the round table. ¡°I¡¯m going to look for our musical composition. And Chloe is going to look for Sam.¡± Chloe pointed at herself. ¡°Why me? And why not¡­ never mind.¡± ¡°Are you going or not?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not my mom. So, why should I?¡± ¡°Listen to me; I have always been your mommy.¡± An eerie silence floated through the room. Chloe coughed, breaking the silence. ¡°Step on me mommy¡­ I mean, fine, I¡¯m going to look for Sam.¡± ¡°Why do you want to get stepped on by her?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Thank goodness,¡± Mai said. ¡°Chloe, you¡¯re this down bad? Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Pardon me, what do you mean by that?¡± Florence asked. She raised Stella¡¯s eyebrow. Chloe untangled her arms, placing her hand on her hip. ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ just¡­ never mind that,¡± she said. She pointed at Florence and Lucy. ¡°The last thing I need is having those two getting lost. And Sam¡­ getting peacefully harvested.¡± ¡°Come on, I know my direction.¡± Lucy turned around, facing away from all of them. ¡°So don¡¯t worry about it.¡± ¡°Hey, we¡¯re actually behind you,¡± Mai said. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Lucy burped, looking over her shoulder at Florence, Mai, and Chloe. ¡°By the way, Stella, you must remember how to play the guitar again,¡± Mai said. ¡°I think it will be better for you to find a new guitarist,¡± Florence said. ¡°I know that I certainly look somewhat like Stella. But I promise you that I am not her.¡± Chloe kicked the round table, its legs scraping across the floor. She stomped her way out through the exit, entering the corridor outside. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her.¡± Mai tilted her head sideways with a smile. ¡°Like¡­ she is¡­ well, you know.¡± Florence nodded. ¡°Absolutely, I can see it.¡± ¡°Anyways, Lucy should be able to help you relearn the guitar.¡± ¡°I have to explain¡ª¡± ¡°Okay, see you later.¡± Mai spun around. Her feet flew across the door. Florence stretched Stella¡¯s arm out. But Mai rushed through the doorway, leaving Florence and Lucy behind. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s just you and me now,¡± Lucy said. She leaned onto Florence with her arms folded around her. ¡°Where do you want to begin?¡± ¡°I am not certain about that,¡± Florence said. An alcoholic odor wafted from Lucy¡¯s body, reminding Florence of her own sister. Her sister¡­ How long would it take to return back to her? It would be a miracle if she stayed alive. But¡­ did she care for herself properly, like eating or showering. Or changed the bloodied bandages wrapped around her forearm. Florence sank Stella¡¯s heart. Then Florence exhaled, thinning Stella¡¯s lips. Lucy grinned, handing over the empty bottle of giggle juice to Florence. ¡°Want a sip? It helps a lot,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Thank you¡­ But it is empty. Pardon me, perhaps I could get a new one,¡± Florence asked. Lucy laughed, slapping her thighs. Florence widened Stella¡¯s eyes, sweeping Stella¡¯s fingertips over the body of a guitar. Lucy yanked the empty bottle of giggle juice away from Florence. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding¡­ But, honestly, I¡¯ve never seen a concussion this bad.¡± ¡°Why? I do not get it,¡± Florence said. ¡°Well¡­ you¡¯re actually underage to drink alcohol.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Lucy coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°I want to inform you of something,¡± Florence said. ¡°Is that¡­ I am not Stella. Well¡­ at least the one you know.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lucy giggled, hugging her stomach. ¡°You must be really nervous. Really typical of you.¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Our band performance.¡± ¡°Did I not tell you already? I am not Stella.¡± Lucy gripped onto Stella¡¯s shoulder, shaking Florence. Lucy jittered her head back and forth. Her nail sank into Stella¡¯s skin. ¡°Pardon me, what is the matter?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I¡¯m just checking.¡± Luck chuckled with her cheeks red. ¡°You definitely look a lot like Stella. But¡­ whatever, I guess.¡± ¡°I know. But I am not her.¡± ¡°Seriously? I didn¡¯t expect you to change this drastically. Or¡­ maybe you are an evil spirit that possessed Stella like those tropes in horror movies.¡± Florence nodded as Stella¡¯s stomach twisted. Lucy shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just joking¡­ I¡¯ll just let your imagination decide which one I¡¯m talking about,¡± she said. She placed the empty bottle of giggle juice on the round table. ¡°Well¡­ I actually remember something you told me a long time ago.¡± ¡°But I am not her,¡± Florence said. ¡°Finding a new guitarist now will be better for you.¡± ¡°You, as in Stella. The one whose body is being possessed by you right now.¡± ¡°I did not possess her body. Well¡­ maybe to a certain degree. Wait a minute¡­ you are actually being serious?¡± ¡°Yeah. But I¡¯m not sure where I should start with it.¡± Lucy waved the cup, stumbling away from Florence. Lucy¡¯s body swayed from side to side. The droplets splashed onto the floor. ¡°Come back,¡± Florence said. ¡°You are going to hurt yourself.¡± Lucy waved her finger, opening the door with a creak. She entered the other glass room, picking up the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it from a rack. A muffled gurgle echoed. But submerged under the spilled water, those bodies with olive helmets and blood-soaked coats stared at Florence. Bubbles of air escaped from the bodies¡¯ noses and mouths, popping up on the surface. Florence froze. Her mind raced along with her heart. Stella¡¯s muscles stiffened, unable to move under Florence¡¯s command. ¡°I know,¡± Lucy said. She wobbled out of the other glass room, carrying Stella¡¯s name etched on the guitar. ¡°But you still have to learn it.¡± An eerie silence followed. Lucy hopped onto the round table, sitting next to Florence. A thud vibrated beneath them. The pizza packaging boxes teetered. Lucy reached into her pocket, pulling out a pick. She twisted the tuning pegs, tightening the strings. In a swift strike, the string rang in a high pitch. She stared at the guitar with Stella¡¯s name engraved on it. Then Lucy turned the pegs, loosening the strings and lowering the pitch. Those bodies climbed out, stretching their arms to Florence and grabbing her. A shiver ran up Stella¡¯s spine, sending goosebumps across her skin. ¡°So what¡¯s your name?¡± Lucy shrugged. ¡°I know you¡¯re not Stella. Actually, scratch that¡­ I¡¯m Lucy, by the way¡­ even though you already know that.¡± Florence could not speak as the words got stuck in Stella¡¯s throat. Lucy burped. A sharp stench flowed out of her mouth. She sipped bubbling water from the cup. Florence whimpered as those bodies¡¯ nails dug into Stella¡¯s legs. Stella¡¯s heart pounded. Then Florence clenched the side of the round table, sinking Stella¡¯s nails into its surface. ¡°Hey, is everything okay?¡± Lucy hiccuped, plucking a string of the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it resting on her lap. ¡°Is this some sort of ritual you do to unpossess her body?¡± Florence shook Stella¡¯s head. ¡°I guess you¡¯re stuck here with us now,¡± Lucy said. ¡°By the way, do you know how to tune your guitar?¡± ¡°Help me,¡± one of the bodies said. It pulled at Stella¡¯s skirt. Florence remained in an eerie silence as the groans from the bodies rang within her ear canals. Lucy sighed. She slapped the guitar with Stella¡¯s name engraved on it, resting on her lap, hiding her face behind her braids. ¡°It¡¯s fine¡­ I guess. I just don¡¯t want to make any more regrets¡­ that¡¯s all.¡± She turned her head around, grinning towards Florence. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure when I started to change my mindset¡­ Maybe it was when I first met Stella.¡± The bodies gaped at Florence, breathing on Stella¡¯s neck. The tip of Stella¡¯s tongue dried, creeping deeper into her mouth. Florence flinched as the beads of sweat formed on Stella¡¯s forehead, trailing down her face. ¡°Whatever,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Just spit it out. Bottling it up is not going to help.¡± ¡°Why did you leave me behind?¡± one of the bodies asked. It brushed aside Stella¡¯s pale hair. A cold wave settled on Florence, twisting Stella¡¯s stomach. The bile rose up, burning Stella¡¯s throat. But Florence gulped those bitter fluids back down. Lucy grabbed onto the guitar on Florence, taking it off from her. Lucy burped, twisting the tuning pegs. ¡°So, have you played a guitar before?¡± But¡­ again, Florence could not utter a single word. Lucy swept the strings with a pick, vibrating a high pitch. ¡°Yeah¡­ this should be okay for now,¡± she said. She gave a guitar back to Florence. With those bodies tugging at Florence, she breathed in and out irregularly. She forced herself to take the guitar. But only Stella¡¯s eyes and fingers twitched as the rest of her body never followed Florence¡¯s order. ¡°Hey, if you don¡¯t want to do it¡­ it¡¯s fine,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Just take your time.¡± Florence tapped on the round table. Lucy chuckled, cupping her mouth. She placed the guitar that she took from Florence down on the floor. ¡°When I first started¡­ it¡¯s embarrassing, to say the least.¡± An eerie silence wafted through the room. Florence nodded, closing Stella¡¯s eyes. A strumming of guitar strings played. Florence¡¯s breathing steadied, slowing down Stella¡¯s heart rate. Then Florence opened Stella¡¯s eyes wide, turning towards Lucy. Lucy hummed, rocking her head side to side in the rhythm of her music. This song¡­ where did Florence hear this one before? A warm embrace engulfed her, pushing away that cold weight on her. The laughter and clapping rang in her mind just like whenever her brother played the guitar for her and her sister. One by one, those bodies moved a step back, releasing their grip on Florence. Lucy yawned, gaping her mouth wide. She smacked her lips, twirling the pick between her fingers. ¡°Maybe this is the key to it,¡± Florence said. She picked up the guitar on the ground. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± Lucy grinned with her cheeks still red. ¡°It helps a lot. Isn¡¯t that right? And also a bit of alcohol like beer or vodka would help too.¡± ¡°Lucy, could you teach me how to play guitar?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ what?¡± ¡°I think¡­ maybe¡­ that will help. And it may be the key to unpossessing Stella¡¯s body. So, may you please teach me the guitar?¡± Lucy stopped twirling the pick, staring at Florence. ¡°Pardon me, did I say something offensive?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Sure.¡± Lucy grinned, pressing her fingertips against the fret on the neck of the guitar. ¡°I¡¯m ready whenever you¡¯re ready.¡± Chapter 40: Practice Does Not Make Perfect Did it work? Absolutely not, with Florence still possessing Stella¡¯s body. Especially those bodies who stood around, staring at Florence. The ear-piercing strum vibrated through the air, shaking her to the core. She pressed on the frets of the guitar as Stella¡¯s arms trembled. And one by one, those bodies that surrounded her a moment ago melted away, trickling back into the spilled water on the floor. Florence groaned as the strings snapped on Stella¡¯s fingertips, blistering Stella¡¯s skin. Blood leaked from the wound, splashing between Stella¡¯s legs on the top of the round dining table. The sweat from Stella¡¯s palm smeared onto the neck of a guitar as Florence clenched it. The guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it was strapped onto Lucy. Lucy grabbed Stella¡¯s wrist, tugging it. Lucy reached into her pocket, taking out a band-aid. She pulled open the backing on the adhesive side. The pad was placed onto Stella¡¯s bleeding fingertips as Lucy stuck the bandage. ¡°Yeah, it should be okay.¡± Lucy rested her red cheeks on her knuckle. ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. ¡°At this rate, I¡¯m not going to unpossess Stella¡¯s body or even get back there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible to master the guitar in one day.¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ you¡¯re right.¡± Lucy closed her eyes, dropping into the stack of pizza packaging boxes. The cardboard rustled. She put her hands behind her head, kicking her feet up. ¡°What am I supposed to do now?¡± Florence pressed Stella¡¯s chin on the head of a guitar. ¡°I can not just sit here and do nothing.¡± ¡°Keep practicing,¡± Lucy said. ¡°But there is like one day left until the performance. And I am still somehow stuck inside Stella¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s going to be fine.¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Lucy laughed. Tears streamed from her eyes. She wiped it with the back of her hands. ¡°I am sorry.¡± Florence rose from the round table, clasping Stella¡¯s skirt. Stella¡¯s legs wobbled. ¡°I did not mean it like that,¡± she said. The world around her spun, dropping the pressure inside Stella¡¯s skull. Florence collapsed onto the floor with a thud. She froze as the throbbing scream spread through Stella¡¯s muscles. ¡°Stella¡­ I mean, Florence,¡± Lucy said. She jumped to Florence¡¯s side. ¡°What happened?¡± Florence groaned. ¡°I¡­ do not know.¡± Lucy grabbed a bottle, pressing its mouth on Stella¡¯s low lip. An alcoholic scent tickled Florence as it flooded Stella¡¯s nostrils. But no liquid filled Stella¡¯s mouth. ¡°Sorry¡­ the wrong one,¡± Lucy said. She set the bottle aside and grabbed the cup. Then, she helped Florence gulp down the water. Florence sat back up, rubbing Stella¡¯s skull. ¡°Thank you.¡± Lucy ginned with her cheeks still burning red. ¡°What was that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± Lucy shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not an expert. But if I¡¯ve to guess¡­ you¡¯re probably fine.¡± ¡°You called that fine?¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just trying to be positive here.¡± Florence forced herself to stand up. But Stella¡¯s leg muscles froze in place, unable to move. ¡°Need some help?¡± Lucy stretched her arm out, setting down the cup beside her feet. Florence nodded as Stella¡¯s fingers twitched. Florence gripped onto Lucy, leaning into Lucy. ¡°Well¡­ at least the good news is that I can move certain parts of Stella¡¯s body,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Not sure what I¡¯m supposed to add after that.¡± She moved Florence to sit on top of the round table. ¡°How about I continue practicing the guitar¡±? ¡°Slow down a bit. You¡¯ve got to take your time.¡± Lucy hopped back on the round table, knocking the pizza packaging boxes to the floor. ¡°I am not certain about this at all.¡± Florence tapped on the body of a guitar. ¡°You know¡­ just how long will this take.¡± ¡°Just be patient with yourself,¡± Lucy said. ¡°I do not think I have any time left.¡± ¡°Hey, when I started playing the guitar, it took years for Stella to teach me.¡± ¡°Pardon me, I do not mean it like that?¡± ¡°I know it sounds weird. But¡­ you shouldn¡¯t be in a rush because everything takes time. Even if you¡¯re trying to learn guitar¡­ or anything else.¡± A knock shook the entrance. Florence and Lucy turned towards it. The door opened with Mai peeking inside. She waved a stack of paper around. ¡°Look what I just found.¡± ¡°That¡­ is fast,¡± Florence said. ¡°What? It took me hours to find it.¡± ¡°Pardon.¡± Lucy reached into her pocket, pulling out a phone. She looked at its screen, tapping it. ¡°Pardon me, what is the time now?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It¡¯s around eleven P.M.,¡± Lucy said. She looked at Mai. ¡°When did you leave exactly?¡± ¡°Like¡­ maybe six P.M.,¡± Mai said. ¡°Wait, it has already been that long,¡± Florence said. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Mai smiled, stepping backward into the corridor behind her. She glanced back and forth between Florence and Lucy. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Florence asked. Mai put her thumbs up. ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Come on, come in here,¡± Lucy said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in particular that¡¯s happening here.¡± She slapped the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it. ¡°We¡¯re just practicing it.¡± Florence raised Stella¡¯s shaking hands, opened Stella¡¯s palm, and showed the blister on Stella¡¯s fingertips. ¡°This sounds¡­ looks¡­ and smells suspicious.¡± Mai gripped the handle, closing the entrance in front of her. Lucy dropped to the floor with a thud, stretching her arm out to the door. ¡°Hey, wait a minute. Don¡¯t go,¡± she said. ¡°If you¡¯re going out anyways, make sure to buy some alcohol for me.¡± The door opened. Mai stepped into the room, slamming the entrance close behind her. ¡°That is¡­ fast,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡¯m never going to buy alcohol for you.¡± Mai pressed her fist against her hip. ¡°Do you understand, Lucy?¡± Lucy burped. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s no biggie.¡± Mai tapped her feet across the floor, stopping in front of Lucy. Lucy grinned, tilting her head up. Mai threw the musical composition at Lucy¡¯s face, rustling the papers. ¡°That¡¯s violent,¡± Lucy said. She pushed the sheets aside. ¡°I could be more violent.¡± Mai cracked her knuckles. ¡°That¡¯s if you want a taste of it. And just a reminder, I¡¯m not your maid. Do you understand?¡± Lucy¡¯s jaw dropped open. ¡°What?¡± Mai shrugged. ¡°Like, is there something wrong with me?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°I hope your mom was here. At least she would give me some cookies.¡± Mai kneeled down, picking up the music composition. She placed it next to Florence on top of the round table. ¡°Where is Haru anyway?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Could we not talk about her? Since¡­ you know¡­ we have a performance tomorrow,¡± Mai said. ¡°Sorry¡­ that was a bad excuse. But, seriously, how do you remember after that awful concussion?¡± Lucy stood up, pulling at the strap of the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it. ¡°I¡¯m quite sure not all concessions do that.¡± ¡°Could we get back on the topic of Haru?¡± Florence scratched the pick along the guitar¡¯s body lying on Stella¡¯s lap. ¡°I certainly do not see her around here.¡± Mai pinched her nose, pacing around the room in circles. Florence scratched the back of Stella¡¯s head. ¡°Pardon me, did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t talk about it here.¡± Lucy burped, getting up onto her knees. She covered Stella¡¯s mouth. ¡°Could we all agree on that?¡± ¡°Nothing, really,¡± Mai said. She tilted her head down, avoiding eye contact. ¡°But she¡¯ll be back¡­ soon enough.¡± ¡°How about let¡¯s talk about something else?¡± Florence clasped Stella¡¯s hands. ¡°Maybe¡­ let¡¯s talk about my horrible guitar skill.¡± Lucy laughed, clenching her stomach. ¡°Pardon me, what was that for?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lucy waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s really nothing. Just don¡¯t be too harsh on yourself.¡± ¡°You need a bucket,¡± Mai said. Florence pointed at Stella¡¯s face. ¡°Not you, Stella,¡± Mai said. Lucy cupped her mouth. Her skin paled. She pounded her feet across the floor, dashing towards the bathroom. She kicked the door open with a slam. A loud gag echoed from the toilet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her,¡± Mai said. She placed her thumbs up, winking at Florence. ¡°She is going to be okay.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°How is that okay?¡± Lucy stumbled out of the bath. She clutched the neck of the guitar with Stella¡¯s name carved on it. Her fingers turned white. A layer of bile cakes her lips. ¡°You see,¡± Mai said. ¡°She is totally okay. Like really okay.¡± Lucy wiped her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I certainly do not agree with your statement,¡± Florence said. ¡°Anyways, we sort of get some band practice done.¡± Mai placed her palm on the back of her head. ¡°Considering the circumstances, probably tomorrow or at the location where our performance will be done.¡± Lucy rolled her eyes behind her sockets. She crashed on her back with a thud. Mai tapped her toe on the floor. The knocks filled the silence as Florence stared at Lucy. Bubbles rose up from Lucy¡¯s gaping mouth. Florence pressed Stella¡¯s palm on the side of the round table. But before she slid down, Mai gripped onto Florence. ¡°I think she needs some help,¡± Florence said. ¡°She is going to be okay,¡± Mai said. ¡°Like this happens all the time.¡± Florence turned Stella¡¯s head, staring at Mai. ¡°What?¡± Mai shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not like this was the first time this happened.¡± ¡°Pardon me, should we go to the hospital?¡± Florence asked. Mai sighed, taking a seat next to Florence. Then Mai crossed her legs, leaning forward. She pressed her chin against her palm. Florence hunched over a guitar on Stella¡¯s lap. ¡°How are you certain about this?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of it? We¡¯re like¡­ not after that¡­ just¡­ never mind,¡± Mai said. She whipped her pink-dyed hair back. ¡°Anyways, let¡¯s be real here. Where¡¯s Chloe at?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not going to let me take Lucy to the hospital. At least let me help her manage her symptoms.¡± ¡°Like, could you answer my question first?¡± Florence slipped onto the floor, crawling under the round table towards Lucy. A grip tightened around Stella¡¯s ankle. Florence glanced back. Mai smiled with her eyes closed. The sweat on her palm smeared Stella¡¯s skin. ¡°You just got a concussion,¡± Mai said. ¡°Look after yourself first before others.¡± ¡°But she needs help,¡± Florence said. ¡°Fine¡­ if you want it, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°No, but.¡± Mai dragged Florence out from under the round table. Then, Mai scooped Florence up and placed her on the pizza packaging boxes. ¡°How are you certain about it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°As in, you taking care of Lucy.¡± Mai shoved her hands into her pockets. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like this is the first time ever,¡± she said. She walked towards Lucy, crouching beside her. From the corner of Florence¡¯s eye, the dust-caked the shelf above the drumset. But, strangely, the porcelain jar and a photo of Haru were no longer there. Florence squinted at it, leaning forward and over a guitar sitting on Stella¡¯s lap. ¡°I¡¯m still waiting for it if you¡¯re wondering, Stella,¡± Mai said. ¡°Not sure when it¡¯s going to arrive.¡± Florence nodded. ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°Did she ditch us?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°No, it couldn¡¯t be. I hope they¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know where to begin at this point.¡± Mai scratched her chin. She poked Lucy on the cheek. ¡°Pardon me, where exactly is our performance?¡± Florence asked. ¡°One of us got a severe concussion. The other is like always dead drunk,¡± Mai said. She poked Lucy on the cheek again. ¡°Another might be dead in the worst-case scenario. How did we get into this situation?¡± ¡°Is that a location? Or are you just talking to yourself?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all going to die.¡± ¡°Now, this no longer makes sense.¡± Lucy¡¯s eyes flew open. She sat straight up, stretching her arms forward. A muffled scream spat out the foam in her mouth. ¡°Look at that. She is back,¡± Mai said. ¡°Where am I?¡± Lucy massaged her forehead. ¡°Why am I here? I was in the alcohol paradise.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s unfortunate.¡± ¡°Bring me back. Please.¡± Lucy lunged at Mai, shaking her on the shoulder. ¡°Pardon me, it will be nice if someone answers my question,¡± Florence said. ¡°Where are we going for the band performance?¡± Mai rested her chin on her knees. ¡°It¡¯s going to happen in the Prince Underground Railway.¡± ¡°Pardon me, could you perhaps repeat it?¡± ¡°Prince Underground Railway. This is also where we¡¯ll do our band practice. And also¡­ where our band performance will be done.¡± ¡°But that place is haunted by ghosts. So¡­ how are we supposed to perform and practice there?¡± ¡°What?¡± A chill spread through Florence, sinking Stella¡¯s heart. This could not be¡­ right? Chapter 41: Not Haunted Honks rang throughout the street. The ray of sunlight beamed down, reflecting on the glass and steel of the towering skyscrapers. Florence leaned against a pole at the entrance of a staircase leading underground. A guitar strapped on her back weighed her down. Above her, a sign illuminated red with the words ¡°Prince Underground Railway.¡± And, of course, she still found herself stuck inside Stella¡¯s body. Stella¡¯s legs trembled. The murmurs of chatter whispered next to Stella¡¯s ears as the crowd of Players trudged past Florence. The fumes entered Stella¡¯s nostrils, tingling Florence. On her right, Mai tapped her phone while holding the drumsticks. The screen stayed still inches away from her face. Her arm wrapped around Florence, supporting her. Lucy gulped giggle juice from a new bottle with her cheeks burning red, resting her head on Mai¡¯s shoulder. The guitar with Stella¡¯s name carried on Lucy slopped. ¡°Where¡¯re they?¡± Mai bit her nails. ¡°What¡¯s taking them so long?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. They¡¯re probably fine,¡± Lucy said. ¡°How are you certain about this? Also, we should not be here,¡± Florence said. She clenched Stella¡¯s skirt, turning her fingers white. Mai shook her head. ¡°Just ignore her, Stella.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lucy burped. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I am not talking about¡­ never mind,¡± Florence said. She pinched between Stella¡¯s eyes. ¡°Forget it.¡± Mai sighed, putting her phone into her pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lucy pumped her fists up into the air. ¡°Who¡¯s ready to rock.¡± The crowd, without a spark in their eyes, minded their own business. The Players hunched their shoulders, trudging past her. She lowered her fist, whistling as she glanced up at the sky. ¡°Lucy, stop that,¡± Mai said. ¡°We¡¯re nowhere close to it.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what do you mean by rock?¡± Florence asked. Mai and Lucy turned towards Florence, squinting at her. ¡°Sorry,¡± Florence said. She raised Stella¡¯s hands up. ¡°Hey,¡± someone said behind her. ¡°Ya shouldn¡¯t be here waiting for me.¡± Florence, Mai, and Lucy spun around. In front of them, Chloe stood covered in soot from head to toe. Her hair was a disaster as if she had been through a tornado. Even the four-string guitar strapped on her back blackened. ¡°Pardon me, what happened?¡± Florence asked. Chloe patted the bulge in the pocket of her jacket. ¡°This guy right here. Wait¡­ why¡¯re we here?¡± ¡°Come over here,¡± Mai said. ¡°Give me a hug, Chloe.¡± Chloe furrowed her brow, leaning away from Mai. Lucy sipped from a bottle of giggle juice. ¡°So, now we rock?¡± ¡°Mai, did ya seriously buy her another bottle of alcohol?¡± Chloe crossed her arms, rolling her head. ¡°Just¡­ whatever, I guess.¡± ¡°What is rock anyway?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I am certainly lost here.¡± Mai carried Florence, dragging Lucy down the flight of stairs. ¡°I believe we should not go there,¡± Florence said. She mustered herself to push away from Mai. But Stella¡¯s muscles contracted, restraining movement. Florence gritted Stella¡¯s teeth, unable to do anything as Florence went deeper underground. Behind her, Chloe followed. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be so nervous,¡± Lucy said. She slapped Florence on the back. ¡°Florence, everything will be fine once you get on the stage.¡± Mai squinted at Lucy. ¡°I meant to say¡­ Stella,¡± Lucy said. Mai descended to the end of the steps, entering a corridor stretching for miles. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± The perfume fragrance, mixed with a caramel-like aroma, wafted out from the terrace of shops. Players sat around the coffee table, sipping their cup of Joe¡¯s. Some of them queued up and ordered from the counter. Others took their drinks from the store, joining the crowd trudging through the corridors. ¡°Pardon me, how are there this many coffee shops here?¡± Florence asked. Chloe shrugged. ¡°Why¡¯re ya asking us?¡± Mai shoved through the crowd, carrying Florence and Lucy along the tiled floor. ¡°Slow down.¡± Lucy eyed a cup of coffee in one of the shops. ¡°Could you give me a minute?¡± ¡°Lucy, I already bought you alcohol. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t need another drink,¡± Mai said. She coughed, clenching her fist before the collar covering her mouth. She furrowed her eyebrows. Lucy shook her bottle of giggle juice. ¡°But¡­ it¡¯s not alcohol.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the point,¡± Mai said. ¡°I believe that we should turn back,¡± Florence said. ¡°I might have forgotten something¡­ important.¡± ¡°Yeah, unfortunately, it¡¯s your guitar skills and memory,¡± Chloe said. Lucy bobbed her head. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Finally, something that I actually agree with you.¡± Mai pushed her pink-dyed hair aside. ¡°Chloe, just give her a break or something like that.¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. They went deeper into the corridor, moving through the crowd, until finally, they reached the line for a security checkpoint, where the pink androids checked every Player passing through. Florence swallowed. Then she gripped onto Mia, shaking her. ¡°What?¡± Mai moved forward with the queue. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Florence nodded. ¡°I think we should turn back around now.¡± ¡°Come on, everything is going to be fine,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Well¡­ not exactly everything,¡± Mai said. ¡°Let¡¯s hope she is not here.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Florence asked. Chloe stuffed her hands into the pocket of her zipped jacket. ¡°This is going to take a long time to explain. Especially after your concussion.¡± They moved forward, inching closer to the pink androids at the security checkpoint. ¡°You have to listen to me,¡± Florence said. ¡°Get out of here now.¡± ¡°I know that you don¡¯t want to do it. But you still have to perform on stage,¡± Mai said. ¡°That is absolutely not my point.¡± ¡°So¡­ are you afraid of those pink androids?¡± ¡°Absolutely not. It is the least of my concerns. Well, not exactly¡­ probably the second most of my concerns.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t worry about them. You¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯ve already done this dozens of times¡­ before your concussion.¡± In a blink, Florence, Mai, Chloe, and Lucy arrived at the front of the line. One of the pink androids approached them with clanging steps. Its stature towered over everyone, glaring down on them. Mai shoved her hand into the pocket. She pulled out a phone and tapped on its screen. Then she showed it to the pink android, winking at Florence, Lucy, and Chloe. Florence reached into the pocket of Stella¡¯s blouse. Stella¡¯s finger wrapped around the phone, spreading a chill across her skin. Florence took the phone out, skipping a beat from Stella¡¯s heart. With a tap, the screen brightened up. But¡­ Florence stared at it with Stella¡¯s brain freezing. The pink android yanked the phone from Florence¡¯s grasp. It tapped on the monitor, searching for her stats consisting of errors. She bit Stella¡¯s lips, holding a breath. On the screen, it showed Stella¡¯s low stats in all of the categories. ¡°All of you can pass through,¡± the pink android said, returning the phone to Florence. Florence breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°But you haven¡¯t checked all of us yet?¡± she asked. ¡°Seriously? Am I that hard to recognize now?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Mai pinched herself between the eyes. Lucy stopped reaching for hers and Chloe¡¯s pockets as she stared at the pink android towering over them. The pink android spread its arms out. ¡°It¡¯s me, Haru. Mia¡¯s mom.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, the last time I saw you. You were certainly not¡­ anywhere close to this kind of look,¡± Florence said. ¡°Why¡¯re you here?¡± Mai shoved her phone into the pocket. ¡°Please, don¡¯t answer that.¡± ¡°Well, tactically, I¡¯m dead. But, you know, I got brought back through transferring my memory into this body,¡± Haru said. She jabbed Mai on the side. ¡°Since this young lady couldn¡¯t barely pay for her expenses.¡± ¡°Plus, my friend here really just can¡¯t survive on her,¡± Chloe said. ¡°And, I almost forgot, she really misses her mommy. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± She elbowed Mai on the side. Mai glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Stop it. Others can hear us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be this embarrassed. I haven¡¯t shown your baby photos to your friends yet,¡± Haru said. ¡°Anyways, you should get going. Other Players are waiting behind you.¡± Mai nodded, passing through the security checkpoint. Carrying Florence and dragging Lucy through it. Chloe followed behind them. ¡°Pardon me, why was there a security checkpoint here?¡± Florence asked. Mai shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s better not to ask why they¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Hey, Mai, it¡¯d be nice if ya showed me your baby photo,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Also, I do certainly think it¡¯s a bad idea to come here,¡± Florence said. She glanced over to the company of pink androids at the checkpoint. ¡°Not just¡­ because of them.¡± ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m not going to show you those photos of mine,¡± Mai said. They pushed through the crowd, going deeper into the corridor. Silence exchanged between them as they continued onwards. Minutes later, they arrived at the front of the entrance for a place known as the Coffee Bar. ¡°At this point, I certainly can not tell if Players here are addicted to coffee,¡± Florence said. ¡°How cares about this sort of stuff?¡± Chloe hunched over, kicking the door open, stomping into the bar. ¡°Why bother saying it out loud.¡± ¡°Rude,¡± Mai said. She carried Florence and dragged Lucy through the entrance. In the Coffee Bar, a dozen tables shook. Its legs screeched on the tiled floor. The lights flicked above their heads as the ceiling trembled. All the seats faced the stage, with a drum set and microphone stand vibrating. A gal in a hooded shirt sat in one of the chairs, her ginger hair tied into a ponytail. Although she slumped her shoulders over the table, tucking her head down, hiding her face. But¡­ something seemed oddly familiar about her. She clasped her hands, twirling her thumbs. A mix of caramel and malty scent wafted from the cocktail station. But, still, no one sat near it amongst the array of glittering bottles and cups. Chloe dropped the four-stringed guitar on the floor. She turned around, facing the gal with ginger hair tied into a ponytail. The gal with ginger hair tied into a ponytail tapped her nails on the table. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Nothing much,¡± Chloe said. ¡°But is there anything that I can help ya?¡± ¡°Are you gonna leave me alone or what?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking.¡± The footsteps from the corridor outside filled the eerie silence in the room for a moment. Chloe pushed her palm against her hip. ¡°If ya want to order something, just tell me. And the music performed by various bands will be done during the evening at seven.¡± The gal with ginger hair tied into a ponytail shook her head. Chloe rolled her eyes, stomping to the cocktail station. ¡°Like we¡¯re going to get a one-star review after this one,¡± Mai said. ¡°Whose idea was to mix a speakeasy and a coffee shop,¡± Florence said. ¡°Who uses that term in this day and age?¡± ¡°Pardon me, which one are you talking about?¡± Mai moved Florence and Lucy to sit next to the four-stringed guitar. Lucy slammed her reddened cheek onto the table. ¡°Could I get some more alcohol?¡± ¡°You already got it,¡± Mai said. ¡°Plus, the last thing I need is you draining this place¡¯s coffer and my wallet dry.¡± ¡°Pardon me, Mai. Did you forget what I just asked you?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Alcohol.¡± Lucy slammed her bottle, which was half filled with giggle juice. ¡°It¡¯ll be nice.¡± Mai pinched between her eyes. She spun around, walking towards the cocktail station. ¡°Come back¡­ give me alcohol,¡± Lucy said. Mai waved her hand. ¡°Like¡­ didn¡¯t you hear me? I said no.¡± ¡°Pardon me, Mai, could you perhaps answer my question?¡± Florence asked. ¡°What do you mean by certain terms?¡± Instead, Mai slumped her shoulder, drifting past the gal with ginger hair tied into a ponytail. ¡°This is certainly great.¡± Florence slid the guitar off Stella¡¯s back. ¡°I can not believe I am still here in this body.¡± Lucy sipped her half-empty bottle. ¡°What¡¯re you even worried about?¡± ¡°This place feels off. If I remember correctly, the Prince Underground Railway should have been twisted into a domain haunted by a ghost.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lucy burst out laughing, smacking her fist on the table. ¡°I am being serious,¡± Florence said. ¡°This place will eventually become haunted from now to maybe a few months or years.¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t worry about it. That¡¯s impossible for any of this to happen during this time of day,¡± Lucy said. ¡°You have to believe me. I saw the aftermath of it. It could happen any second now.¡± ¡°What evidence do you have for it?¡± ¡°I do not¡­ have any evidence. But I am certain that it will happen soon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Didn¡¯t you see the pink androids outside? They will stop this place from being haunted by preventing the Ability Users from dying and becoming ghosts. That¡¯s if there are any Ability Users left.¡± The gal with ginger hair tied into a ponytail coughed, cupping her mouth and turning her head towards Florence and Lucy. But bruises covered the gal¡¯s face and¡­ ¡°Aisling? Is that you?¡± Florence asked. She widened Stella¡¯s eyes. Chapter 42: The Gal with Red Eyes Florence sat in a chair, staring at Aisling, who sat at a different table. The clomping footsteps rang from the corridor outside. The glass and porcelain clattered. The water splashed in the sink behind the cocktail station as Mai and Chloe cleaned the cups. But, somehow, Florence still possessed Stella¡¯s body with a guitar leaning against her trembling leg. Lucy swirled the giggle juice inside the half-filled bottle. ¡°How do you know her?¡± Aisling, with her face covered in bruises, tilted her head sideways. ¡°It is me, Florence¡­ I mean Stella,¡± Florence said. Aisling jerked her head back. ¡°Who¡¯re¡­ you?¡± ¡°Is she deaf or something?¡± Lucy yawned. She pointed at Aisling. ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. ¡°Hey, I can still hear you two,¡± Aisling said. Lucy slammed her palm on the table, standing up to her feet. The leg of a chair screeched against the tiled floor. ¡°Wait¡­ are you two besties?¡± ¡°Who is Besties?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope, we¡¯re nowhere close to that,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Seriously, when did I meet any of you before?¡± Florence raised Stella¡¯s eyebrows. ¡°What? Is not that weird,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We saw each other not long ago,¡± Florence said. She pointed at Stella¡¯s pale face. ¡°Maybe something is certainly different. But you should know who I am.¡± ¡°You kinda blurted out two different names. So, who¡¯re you¡­ exactly?¡± ¡°It is me Stella.¡± ¡°Stella¡­ Never heard of you before.¡± Florence dropped Stella¡¯s jaw wide open, gaping at Aisling. ¡°Maybe you misremembered me for someone else,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. She shook Stella¡¯s head. ¡°How about Yuze? Do you remember her?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s she?¡± Lucy, with her elbow, jabbed on Florence. ¡°Is it your love interest?¡± Florence spun around, raising her eyebrows as she stared at Lucy. Aisling shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t know. Never heard of her.¡± ¡°Pardon me, could you please ignore her?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Me? That¡¯ll be great.¡± ¡°Not you. I am talking about Lucy.¡± ¡°Gosh¡­ why couldn¡¯t it be me?¡± Lucy burped. She gulped the giggle juice down her throat, sighing and rolling her eyes behind her head, slipping off the chair. A thud shook the tiled floor as she landed headfirst, knocking her out. ¡°That¡¯s the worst kinda blackout I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± Aisling said. Florence leaned forward, grabbing Lucy under her armpit. Every muscle fiber in Stella¡¯s body contracted as Florence pulled Lucy without moving an inch. Then Florence gritted her teeth, glancing over Stella¡¯s shoulder at Aisling. Aisling lowered her chin, smacking her palm onto the table. She stood up, pushing the chair. Its legs scratched against the tiled floor with a screech. Her feet slapped against the floor as she breezed towards Florence and Lucy. ¡°I definitely haven¡¯t seen you before,¡± Aisling said. She squinted at Florence, leaning over and pulling Lucy back onto the seat. ¡°You can not be serious,¡± Florence said. ¡°I am not certain if you remember this. But this place is going to become haunted. But I do not know when it will happen in the future.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± ¡°Pardon me, we have been to that place together.¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°How about the occult detective contract? Do you still remember that?¡± Aisling brushed Lucy on the head as she drooled, rustling her hair. Then Aisling gripped onto the handle of her sheathed dagger. ¡°Calm down.¡± Florence opened Stella¡¯s palm, putting it forward. ¡°I mean no harm.¡± ¡°How do you know? And I suggest that you better be honest,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Unless you wanna risk your own safety. Then go ahead.¡± ¡°You told me about this occult detective stuff. And I am certain that we got forced into this position.¡± ¡°Since when did I tell you?¡± ¡°In your future. Not mine¡­ I guess.¡± Aisling¡¯s finger whitened around the handle. The blade inched out of the sheath, glittering under the light. ¡°Aisling,¡± someone said from behind them. Aisling wheeled around. She pushed the dagger back into the sheath. At the entrance, a pale gal leaned against the opened door, a lily resting on her white hair. Her arms wrapped around a swaddled baby with similar features. Their red eyes glowed like the young lady in that photo hidden in Aisling¡¯s hooded shirt pocket. The baby cried, gaping its mouth open and closing its eyes shut. Aisling clasped her hands, tilting her head. ¡°This is getting¡­ kinda weird. First of all, how do all of you know my name?¡± ¡°I guess¡­ you¡¯ll find out soon,¡± the pale-skinned and haired gal said. ¡°By the way, I would like to introduce myself as Reese Nofa Thilde. But you can just call me Reese.¡± ¡°Who in the right mind gave that name to you?¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Unfortunately¡­ my mother.¡± Lucy chuckled in her sleep, drooling from her mouth. Reese pulled a napkin from her pocket, wiping the saliva off Lucy¡¯s face. ¡°Thank you,¡± Florence said. Aisling pinched between her eyes. ¡°Gosh, this is not how I expected things to go.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here just to grab a coffee or something,¡± Reese said. ¡°Also, you need to check up on Yuile and Zelda.¡± ¡°Who¡¯re you talking about?¡± Florence asked. Aisling smiled, lowering her chin. She hugged herself, tapping her elbow. ¡°What do you want, Reese? How did you know so much about me?¡± ¡°That wish you made. It didn¡¯t go as planned,¡± Reese said. Aisling unsheathed her dagger, twirling it between her fingers. She gripped its handle, turning her fingers white. A glass fell from the cocktail station, shattering on the tiled floor. ¡°Chill. Other Players are watching,¡± Reese said. ¡°You better hurry up. The wish you made didn¡¯t work.¡± Aisling inhaled and exhaled with a wheeze, lifting her head up. ¡°What? I kinda don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°Hurry to the place where you last left Yuile and Zelda.¡± ¡°What do they have to do with my wish?¡± The room trembled like a train rode past them just beneath their feet. The bottles and cups clattered, and the chairs and table rattled. Florence froze as this vibration grew into an intense quake, slowly dying down to a rumble. Aisling sheathed her dagger, slapping her feet across the tiled floor. She fell, picking herself up, dashing through the unlocked doorway, diving into the crowd, and trudging through the corridor. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just you and me now,¡± Reese said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Florence?¡± Florence raised Stella¡¯s eyebrows. Stella¡¯s eyes widened. How¡­ Just how did Reese know Florence¡¯s name? Florence swallowed air down Stella¡¯s throat. Reese sat, crossing her legs next to Florence. ¡°So, now, we can finally talk alone.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how can I help you?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Because if you have any questions, I am afraid I cannot answer them.¡± ¡°I always knew you¡¯d come here.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that? And how is that possible?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m sure you should have already figured it out.¡± ¡°This is just getting ridiculous. How did one simple investigation dissolve into this mess?¡± From the periphery, Mai pinched between her nose. She whipped out a broom and a dustpan underneath the cocktail station. She brushed the broken glass out of the way. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about what is happening? Because I would be interested in it,¡± Reese said. ¡°Like¡­ I don¡¯t know how you and¡­ that other Player you called Martine got here?¡± ¡°Pardon me, how do you know her?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it already obvious?¡± ¡°What is so obvious about this?¡± A chill ran down Stella¡¯s, shivering Florence to the core as her imaginary light bulb switched on. She leaned forward, cupping Stella¡¯s mouth. Reese shrugged. ¡°So, you have figured it out. Haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You were always watching us the entire time,¡± Florence said. ¡°Is that correct?¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯m the one you¡¯re looking for. But maybe I¡¯m also not the one you should be looking for.¡± ¡°Pardon me, could you perhaps explain it a little better?¡± The baby cried, stretching its arms out. The blankets rustled, revealing a dim blue glow underneath the skin of the baby¡¯s chest. Reese chuckled. Then she hummed in a soothing voice, holding the baby closer to herself. She rocked the baby back and forth. But the baby¡¯s cries grew. ¡°Wait¡­ why did you laugh for a moment?¡± Florence asked. ¡°To answer your question, it¡¯s a yes and a no,¡± Reese said. ¡°Pardon me, what do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know. Maybe I¡¯m laughing and watching you or¡­ not.¡± ¡°This is getting nowhere. May you please give me a direct answer?¡± ¡°Why should I tell you?¡± ¡°First of all, I don¡¯t understand how I possessed Stella¡¯s body¡­ maybe somewhere in the past. And secondly, I did not ask to be involved in this baloney.¡± The corner of Reese¡¯s mouth upturned. She laughed, covering her lips. ¡°Just forget about it,¡± Florence said. She waved Reese off. Reese slumped her shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re really that lost. You can¡¯t even begin to comprehend what the Wellor System is doing to all of us.¡± ¡°Making our lives miserable is certainly the case.¡± ¡°Yes and no. You¡¯re just like all of them. This will be interesting to watch.¡± ¡°Who are them?¡± Reese bolted up. The leg of the scratched against the tiled floor. Her arms were still wrapped around the baby. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Reese turned around towards the exit, scratching the baby¡¯s chin. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. Isn¡¯t that right, Renee?¡± A rumble shook the room. An itch in Stella¡¯s eyes tickled Florence. She blinked, rubbing it. Then she stretched her hands to Reese. But Reese vanished in front of Florence without leaving behind a trace. Lucy groaned next to Florence. ¡°Reese, where did you go,¡± Florence said. Lucy rubbed the side of the head. ¡°What? I was¡­ in alcohol heaven just now. Bring me back there.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how is this the first problem you think of?¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Lucy slammed her forehead against the top of the table. She let out a muffled scream reverberating across the room. ¡°To be fair, you can certainly speak your mind out if you want to,¡± Florence said. She rested Stella¡¯s palm on her lap. ¡°Believe me, that will help very much.¡± ¡°I need another drink,¡± Lucy said. Her face was buried in her forearm. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ do it like this on stage.¡± Mai waved the glass cup over the cocktail station. ¡°Hey, Lucy, fetch this.¡± ¡°Ya are not going to do that,¡± Chloe said. She gripped Mai¡¯s wrist. ¡°She is going to die from an overdose before any liver-related diseases cause trouble for her.¡± ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m not¡­ even close to overdose or being drunk,¡± Lucy said. Florence leaned over the table, covering Stella¡¯s face. The air thickened around her, weighing down on her shoulders. ¡°Come on,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Nothing is going to happen up there when you start performing.¡± Florence inhaled and exhaled. ¡°This is certainly not the problem. It is¡­ something else.¡± ¡°Look¡­ I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ll unpossess Stella? I don¡¯t know how and when it will happen, but if you still can¡¯t do it¡­ might as well enjoy your time here.¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Lucy sloped onto Florence, jabbing her on the side. An alcoholic scent wafted from Lucy¡¯s body, embracing Florence like a hug. The saliva watered out of Lucy¡¯s mouth, soaking through the fabrics of Stella¡¯s blouse. Florence shook Stella¡¯s head, rustling her hair. Then Florence pushed Stella¡¯s bang upwards, revealing her forehead. What happened¡­ None of this made sense. Florence tapped Stella¡¯s foot on the tiled floor. The legs of a chair that Lucy sat on screeched. She kicked her feet, slamming her heels over the table. She poured the giggle juice down her throat. ¡°You do realize we could hear ya from here,¡± Chloe said. ¡°And, by the way, what¡¯s with that paranormal-possessing nonsense? I¡¯m sure ya are old enough not to believe those things.¡± Lucy spat a stream of giggle juice out of her mouth. ¡°You can hear it from there.¡± ¡°Of course I can. After all, I¡¯m not deaf. But I might be one after you say those things so loud.¡± ¡°Why¡¯re you like this?¡± Mai elbowed Chloe¡¯s side, waving the dripping wet cup dry. Chloe shrugged, rolling her eyes. ¡°What do ya want?¡± ¡°Focus,¡± Mai said. ¡°Finish washing up the cups before the customers come here.¡± ¡°Do ya mean our manager?¡± ¡°No¡­ but also yes.¡± The room rumbled. The legs of chairs and tables clicked on the tiled floor, and the glass and porcelain clattered. Mai stopped washing the cups. ¡°Is it just me, or does it feel like Lucy¡¯s stomach was rumbling?¡± An array of bottles on top of the cocktail station floated. ¡°Got it,¡± Mai said. She continued cleaning, but then she peered at the floating bottles. ¡°Wait¡­ what the¡ª¡± Everyone and every object in the Coffee Bar and the corridor outside was lifted off the floor. They flew, smashing into the ceiling. The cups and bottle shattered. The chairs and tables crashed, breaking apart into pieces. The lights flickered. Florence rubbed Stella¡¯s head. The screams and shouts rang in her ears. The sirens sounded, warning the Players¡­ about an evacuation. Chapter 43: The Hollow-Eyed Faces The sirens rang. Florence, who still possessed Stella¡¯s body, sank her nails into the ceiling with the tiled floor above her head. The splinters of chairs and tables scattered around her. The shattered bottles and cups glimmered under the flickering lights. Somehow, the room and the corridor outside flipped upside down, with Players scattered on the ceiling, defying the gravitational pull. Beside her, Lucy pushed the debris off her back. She held a shattered bottle in hand, waddling on her feet. Sam crawled out of the pocket of Chloe¡¯s zipped jacket. He meowed, prowling towards the shattered glass. His nose twitched at the bare scent wafting from the spilled giggle juice. Mai rolled over to her side, staring at the cocktail table on the tiled floor above her head. ¡°She¡¯s going to be so mad at us after this.¡± Sam stuck his tongue out, inching his head closer to the giggle juice. Chloe slid across the ceiling, catching Sam in her palm. ¡°We certainly have to get out of here now,¡± Florence said. ¡°As I have said numerous times previously.¡± Chloe ruffled her hair. ¡°Ya don¡¯t have to say the obvious.¡± Florence turned around. She flinched as the fumes floated into the room. The sea of Players screamed, scattering away in one direction down the corridor. The stomps of their footsteps shook the ceiling. More Players from the surrounding coffee shop poured into the crowd, following them. Mai gripped her shoulder. The glass, porcelain, and splinters scratched against the surface as she trudged to Florence. Then Mai wrapped her arm around Florence, lifting her up. ¡°If Stella actually had her memory back, I¡¯m quite sure she¡¯d faint like ten different times,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Not because of the chaos, but¡­ well¡­ just look at the number of Players out there.¡± ¡°Rude,¡± Mai said. A rumble reverberated through the air. ¡°Why are we standing here and doing nothing?¡± Florence asked. ¡°We have to go now.¡± Chole slumped her shoulders with her belly lying on the ceiling. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m standing up right now?¡± ¡°Chloe, I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± Mai said. ¡°Could I get another drink?¡± Lucy swirled the smashed bottle in her grasp. ¡°It¡¯ll be nice if I can get one.¡± Mai grinned and closed her eyes. Then she kicked Lucy on the bottom, sending her flying. Lucy crashed into the crowd, sinking deeper within it. A second passed. She popped her head out between the waves of shoulders, stretching her arms outwards. Mai waved her hand at Lucy. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t leave me,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Come back. Did you forget that we have a band performance there today?¡± But, soon, the crowd carried her farther away from the Coffee Bar. ¡°Well¡­ here she goes again,¡± Chloe said. Mai glanced over to Chloe, patting her on the back. Chloe sighed, rolling her eyes. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it myself,¡± she said. She shoved Sam into the pocket of her zipped jacket. Her arms spread open as she joined the fleeing Players. ¡°Nice, at least that¡¯s one less Player,¡± Mai said. ¡°I can also do it myself,¡± Florence said. She strained Stella¡¯s muscles to take a step forward. But, instead, Stella¡¯s legs trembled. ¡°Pardon me, please do not look down.¡± Mai grinned at Florence. Then Mai squeezed Florence between the crowd of fleeing Players. Elbows bumped into Florence¡¯s side. The ceiling quaked. The flickering lights cast a wailing shadow on the floor above. But for some reason, everyone around her stopped in their path. Stella¡¯s back sweated, soaking the blouse. ¡°Seriously, why now?¡± Florence asked. She looked over Stella¡¯s shoulder. The smoke wafted from a ball of flames swallowed the corridor, inching closer to her. Florence stifled. Screams and shouts echoed and penetrated the ringing siren. Mai pushed forward, carrying Florence through the crowd. But as the Players around her screamed, their bloodshot eyes slowly closed half shut. Their eye bags darkened as they drooped. Then Mai screeched to the halt. A row of pink androids packed together towered over Florence and Mai. No gaps between the pink androids were revealed, leaving no space for anyone to pass through the security checkpoint. The male Player next to her showed his phone screen for the pink androids. ¡°I am sorry. This will not do it,¡± one of the pink androids said. It did not turn its head towards the monitor. The male Player thinned his lips. His phone slipped away from him, clattering on the ceiling. ¡°Why¡¯re you not letting me through?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious to you with your two digits stats?¡± ¡°My stats are high enough to enter. But why can¡¯t I leave?¡± Out of nowhere, Lucy rested her head on Mai¡¯s shoulder. Then Lucy rubbed her on Mai¡¯s face. Mai yelped, jumping out of her shoe. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a scaredy cat,¡± Lucy said. ¡°Anyways, could we go back or something?¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Mai pouted. ¡°How did you get there?¡± ¡°Pardon me, but I think we should get moving,¡± Florence said. She glanced behind. The ball of flames snapped, blackening the corridor¡¯s surfaces. With a mile left, it was inching closer. The crackle of fire expanded. The tendrils of fire engulfed the Player at the end of the crowd, consuming their flesh. The Players punched the pink android¡¯s chest without it budging. ¡°Absolutely. We have to go now,¡± Florence said. She wheeled around back in front of the pink android. ¡°Or else all of us are going to die.¡± One of the pink androids glared at her. ¡°Hey, I think we should let them through,¡± another pink android said on the left end of the row. The pink android on the right end of the row looked down onto the ceiling. ¡°Whoever started this could be anywhere in this crowd, Haru.¡± ¡°Haru, is that you?¡± Florence asked. She gripped onto Stella¡¯s skirt, glancing at Mai. ¡°You have to let us through. Or at least some of let some of us go.¡± Haru clenched her fist, avoiding eye contact. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare listen to her,¡± one of the pink androids said. ¡°You know what you¡¯ve signed up for.¡± Haru straightened her back, staring at the pink androids beside her. She stepped back. The Players pushed through the gap in the line of pink androids, flooding past the security checkpoint. Florence smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± Mai carried Florence through the breach, dragging Lucy by the ear. ¡°Hey,¡± Lucy said. She swatted at Mai. ¡°This hurts.¡± The pink android¡¯s arm shifted into a rifle, aiming it at Haru. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Haru said. ¡°I¡¯ve got to do this.¡± ¡°This was not the system¡¯s order. You traitor,¡± one of the pink androids said. A heavy clank rang behind Florence, Mai, and Lucy. Mai halted, closing her eyes. She inhaled and exhaled shakily as the crowd collided with her. ¡°Come on, we have to keep moving,¡± Florence said. She looked behind herself. She flinched. The line of pink androids¡¯ heads melted off their bodies, crashing onto the ceiling. Even¡­ Haru did not make it out. A tendril of fire snapped, flying over the decapitated pink androids. In a blink of an eye, Florence jolted upright with the flames burning the back of Stella¡¯s shoulder blade. Her skin hissed. Florence gagged, losing her breath. The charcoal-like smell glided from Stella¡¯s body. Florence dropped to Stella¡¯s knees with a thump, slipping away from Mai¡¯s embrace. ¡°What? Come on, we¡¯ve got to keep going,¡± Mai said. ¡°Stand up.¡± She wrapped her arm around Florence, yanking her onto her feet. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor emerged out of the inferno. The metal plating of its protective gear reflected reddish orange. The clank rang along with the crackle. A green light simmered inside the humanoid silhouette¡¯s chest, fading into darkness. The humanoid silhouette clenched its fist, scanning the masses of Players. Lucy gagged, covering her mouth. ¡°Where¡¯s Chloe?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Mai said. She dragged Chloe across the ceiling, carrying Florence. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out after we get out of here.¡± A tendril of fire snapped like a whip towards Florence, smothering the tiled floor above. Mai threw herself onto Florence, pushing her aside and propelling Lucy in the opposite direction. Florence slammed onto the wall, closing Stella¡¯s eyes half shut. A wall of inferno split the corridor in half. Florence coughed, inhaling the smoke into Stella¡¯s lungs. Then, a shadow loomed over Florence, engulfing her. The clanking of armor against the ceiling stopped. She wheeled around. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor towered over her. ¡°Why¡­ are you here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Where am I? I don¡¯t get it,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. It pulled its fist back into the flames behind. ¡°Why? How could¡¯ve this happened?¡± Florence scrambled backwards on Stella¡¯s bottom. But, still, Stella¡¯s leg spasmed, unable to stand up. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor smashed Florence, cracking Stella¡¯s nose. Stella¡¯s head jerked backward, slamming onto the ceiling. A stream of blood oozed out of Stella¡¯s nostrils. The nerves at the back of Stella¡¯s skull screamed at Florence. ¡°Stella,¡± Mai said. She pulled her sleeves up, wiping the blood off Stella¡¯s face. ¡°Absolutely, do not worry about me,¡± Florence said. Her vision blurred. The blazes faded into a reddish-orange haze, and the silhouette of a humanoid clad in armor loomed over her. Out of thin air, a blue and ginger rammed the humanoid silhouette, pushing it over. Mai wrapped her arm around Florence, picking her up. ¡°Hey, wait a¡­ minute,¡± Lucy said. ¡°We¡¯ve got to go now.¡± Mai stomped the ceiling. ¡°Can¡¯t you see what¡¯s happening around us?¡± ¡°But¡­ Chloe.¡± ¡°She is going to be fine.¡± ¡°Look, I can¡¯t just give it up yet.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re dead, there is no point in doing it.¡± A shatter of glass echoed through the crackle. The footsteps grew fader. ¡°Come back right now,¡± Mai said. ¡°Sorry¡­ I¡¯ll bring the band back together,¡± Lucy said. ¡°I promise.¡± Mai clicked her tongue. She turned around, limping across the ceiling, carrying Florence. Although Florence¡¯s eyesight blurred, underneath, the surfaces around her shifted into oval shapes like the hollow-eyed faces of humans. ¡°Idiot.¡± Mai coughed. Her steps slogged into a crawl. ¡°Honestly, how stupid do you¡¯ve to be to do that? And, seriously, how is this place getting longer?¡± ¡°Who was that just now?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Who else am I talking about? Chloe, obviously.¡± ¡°Not her.¡± Florence blinked, clearing her vision. She shook Stella¡¯s head. An explosion erupted behind Florence and Mai. The wind blew through the corridor, knocking them over. They thudded onto the ceiling, sinking into it. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Mai slushed through the once-solid surface as she submerged deeper. ¡°Why is¡­ this getting harder?¡± ¡°I absolutely do not think this is getting harder,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡¯m not that.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what are you talking about then?¡± A crack rang next to Florence, where Mai stood. Florence wheeled around. Mai breathed shallowly, raising her chest up and down. Her hand covered her lower back. But between her fingers, blood flowed out from where a handle stuck itself into her. ¡°Do not pull it out,¡± Florence said. She gripped Mai¡¯s wrist. ¡°You hear me?¡± Mai thinned her lips to a smile, closing her eyes. She sniffed. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I said, do pull it out. Do you understand?¡± ¡°My legs¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± Florence widened Stella¡¯s eyes. Then Florence bit Stella¡¯s lip. Mai clenched her chest, trembling her arms as half her body sank under the surface. She gripped Florence on the collar of Stella¡¯s blouse. ¡°Do not do it. We have to get out together,¡± Florence said. Mai shook her head. ¡°Just get out of here.¡± ¡°You still have a future.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so, especially with my terrible stats¡­ and¡­ you know¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°But you told me¡ª¡± A whip of fire snapped towards Florence and Mai. Florence inhaled, puffing out Stella¡¯s cheeks. Then Florence dragged Mai underneath the liquidish ceiling where the hollow-eyed faces floated under the surface. But the burn injury on Stella¡¯s shoulder blade stung Florence as she submerged herself. The flames dispersed above Florence and Mai, boiling the fluid. The bubbles of air escaped through Stella¡¯s nostrils and mouth. The hollow-eyed faces stared at Florence, screaming in a muffled voice at her. Everything around her dimmed as she sank. Until¡­ that red eyes manifested itself in front of her. Those red eyes¡­ glared at her within the darkness. Chapter 44: Back to Reality Florence bolted upright from the floor, stretching her hands out with scars dotted her forearm, pushing the blanket off herself. Wait¡­ her arms? No¡­ it could not be. The sweat covered her forehead. She patted her body, rustling the soaked and torn dress and apron. ¡°Give yourself a break,¡± Aisling said. She sat on the round table, crossing her legs. She pushed her palm against her cheeks, glancing over the painting of a lily hanging on the wall. ¡°You gotta stop pushing yourself too hard.¡± Sam purred, licking his fur at the opened door leading into another room with a refrigerator. ¡°Pardon me, where am I? I was like somewhere else,¡± Florence said. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious where we are?¡± ¡°This is¡­ the charity that you worked for. But¡­ how?¡± ¡°Also, try not to move too much.¡± ¡°Why?¡± A snore rang on the left of Florence. She turned around, scratching her right thigh. Next to her, Yuze breathed in and out through her nose with her eyes closed. Her arms and legs spread across the floor, invading the space where Stella curled up into the ball. Jack coughed, cupping the cracked monitor of his television head. He blocked the door with an electric warning sign and tapped his foot on the doorframe. Florence stretched her hand out, reaching for Stella¡¯s shoulder blade scar. The leathery texture rubbed against Florence¡¯s fingertips. What happened recently¡­ None of that was a dream. ¡°Well, at least you got better,¡± Aisling said. ¡°That¡¯s if I gotta guess.¡± Florence placed her hand on the injured half of her face, prickling her nerves under her skin. ¡°Pardon me, did you understand what I just said?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°How did my injuries heal this quickly?¡± ¡°It has been a month.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Aisling nodded with a smile. ¡°Pardon me, what were you doing in the Prince Underground Railway?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I¡¯m quite sure you already know why we were down there,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Sorry, but I am talking about why were you there back when it was not haunted?¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?¡± A burning screech erupted from the nerves under Florence¡¯s skin. She gritted her teeth, shrinking into herself. She covered the blisters bubbling on her shoulder blade. Aisling jumped down from the dining table, landing on her feet with a thud. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Florence nodded, biting her lip. ¡°I am certain that I am fine,¡± she said. She stood up in a stumbling step but immediately dropped to her knees. The muscles within her thighs contracted, stinging her nerves and preventing her from moving. ¡°Listen to Aisling, Florence,¡± Jack said. ¡°You still ain¡¯t recovered yet.¡± Aisling pushed Florence on the shoulder to rest on the floor. ¡°Aisling, there are a few questions that I want to ask you.¡± Florence rolled onto her side. ¡°If I may ask, how did you, Stella, Sam, and Mai get out there alive?¡± Aisling smiled, killing the sparkle in her eyes as she evaded eye contact. She hushed, pressing her finger on Florence¡¯s lips. ¡°What¡¯re you even talking about?¡± ¡°Could you stop doing that?¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°You know what I am talking about?¡± The wrinkles on the corner of Aisling¡¯s mouth disappeared. She kicked back, lying down next to Florence. ¡°Pardon me, how about you answer me for once?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I honestly kinda don¡¯t know how you know I was there in the first place?¡± Aisling placed her hands behind her head. ¡°I guess¡­ it¡¯s just that sometimes¡­ I don¡¯t know. Just forget about it.¡± ¡°I am absolutely not asking about that. It¡¯s just that¡­ would ghosts look the same as when they were back when they were an NPC or Player.¡± ¡°Gosh, this is what you¡¯re concerned about?¡± ¡°Sorry, I just wanted to finish this investigation immediately. Since, you know¡­ my sister. And I also have to find Martine somehow.¡± Jack slid onto the floor, leaning against the door with an electric warning sign. He stared at Florence, Aisling, Yuze, and Stella in an eerie silence. ¡°Kinda creepy.¡± Aisling hugged herself. ¡°Could you not do that?¡± ¡°What? It ain¡¯t like any of you are going to leave this place with the pink androids looking for you,¡± Jack said. Florence slapped her hand on her forehead, wiping the sweats off. ¡°Why would the pink androids be looking for us?¡± Stella yawned, cupping her mouth. She blinked, rubbing her brown eyes. ¡°Rise and shine, sweetheart,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Anyways, they¡¯re looking for us because we kinda might¡­ you know what¡­ I think you¡¯re smart enough to figure it out.¡± ¡°Aisling, you are not her mother,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t think we were here a moment ago.¡± Stella brushed her hazel bangs. ¡°I mean¡­ how did we get here?¡± Aisling raised her thumbs up. ¡°Well, at least I don¡¯t have to force Jack to smooch both of you.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what is a smooch?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Hey.¡± Jack snapped his fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t get me involved in this matter.¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Florence and Stella had been asleep for a whole month. Might as well give it a shot,¡± Aisling said. Sam hissed, baring his teeth. He slapped his paws across the floor, diving under the shades of the table. ¡°I am not certain how that would help?¡± Florence cleared her throat. ¡°Aisling, were you trying to derail me from asking questions about what happened that day?¡± Aisling bolted upright, crossing her legs. ¡°What? But¡­ you are already asking questions?¡± ¡°I am asking questions regarding what happened on that day.¡± ¡°Is it me, or are you losing more brain cells?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Stella sneezed, cupping her nose. ¡°Bless you.¡± Florence sat back up, pinching between her eyes. ¡°By the way, I want to talk with you about something.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, Florence, I thought you wanna ask me some questions,¡± Aisling said. ¡°So, what¡¯s it?¡± Stella¡¯s cheeks reddened. ¡°I mean, you can say it right here¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Good, but I want to discuss it privately with you,¡± Florence said. ¡°Hey, you all are seriously gonna ignore me like that,¡± Aisling said. She pointed at herself, tilting her head sideways. ¡°You do realize I¡¯m still here.¡± Stella nodded, looking over to an opened door leading into another room. ¡°You want to talk over there?¡± Florence asked. Stella nodded. ¡°This is kinda amazing,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m actually being ignored.¡± Florence and Stella crawled, their bottoms sliding, into the other dim room through the opened door. They stopped beside a refrigerator. Stella turned towards Florence, hiding her brown eyes behind her hazel bangs. ¡°I am sorry¡­ for asking to talk with you privately,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is that¡­ you know¡­ Aisling is not getting me anywhere.¡± ¡°I mean¡­ It¡¯s fine.¡± Stella waved her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s really nothing.¡± Florence pushed Stella¡¯s hazel bangs aside, staring at her brown eyes. Stella fidgeted her skirt, rustling it. ¡°What¡­ what do you want?¡± ¡°Just¡­ stop hiding behind your disguise,¡± Florence said. She pulled Stella¡¯s eyelids, squeezing the brown lens out of her red eye. ¡°I¡­ am sorry.¡± ¡°What¡­ I mean, what do you mean? You don¡¯t have to be sorry.¡± ¡°I could have done something.¡± ¡°Done¡­ what?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I save any of you? Lucy¡­ Chloe and you.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re¡­ I mean, how do you know those names?¡± ¡°I am sorry, especially after shattering your band. I hope that you accept my apology.¡± ¡°I think¡­ you don¡¯t have to be sorry. I mean¡­ you weren¡¯t even there back when it happened.¡± ¡°I was¡­ never mind.¡± Florence hit the side of her head on the refrigerator, drooping the corner of her mouth. She clenched the skirt of her dress, wrinkling it. Her fingers turned white. Stella looked down on her palm, twirling her thumbs. ¡°I guess¡­ it¡¯s for the better,¡± she said. ¡°Probably¡­ I should have given it up years ago¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Why? How could you say such a statement?¡± Florence asked. ¡°At least you are alive. You can still¡­ Wait, how did you¡­ survive through all of that?¡± Behind Florence, someone coughed next to her ear. Stella yelped, leaping backward and covering her eyes. Florence wheeled around. ¡°Why are you so surprised?¡± Aisling smiled, placing her hands behind her back. ¡°Am I that scary?¡± Stella shook her head. ¡°I mean¡­ I think you know why.¡± ¡°Could you not stick your nose in private matters, Aisling,¡± Florence said. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°Anyways, what¡¯re you guys discussing?¡± ¡°Well, I mean¡­ is nothing much,¡± Stella peered through the gap between her fingers. ¡°To be fair¡­ I¡¯m not that sure.¡± ¡°Why am I not getting any answers?¡± Florence asked. She turned her head away from Aisling. Aisling pinched Florence on the chin, rotating her head back. ¡°Pardon me, what do you want now?¡± Florence rubbed the back of her skull, rustling her unkempt hair. ¡°Or are you trying to do something else?¡± ¡°Let me guess, you kinda think she is the one for our case,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I am only asking¡­ for my own curiosity¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re kinda suspicious of me, her, and anyone else who survived it.¡± Aisling jabbed her index finger at Florence¡¯s chest. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be worried about Yuze? I mean¡­ look at her for a second.¡± Aisling scratched her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m kinda not sure how you¡­ Did you eat that EXP Crystal and the Ability Leaf?¡± Florence swallowed, nodding her head. Aisling clenched her fist, striking her palm. ¡°Whatever, we¡¯ll figure out your ability later. Wait¡­ is that the reason both of you¡¯re being a bunch of weirdos.¡± ¡°This is very rude of you to say that,¡± Florence said. ¡°Am I that strange?¡± Stella lowered her head, clasping her hands together. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sorry.¡± ¡°Nope, I didn¡¯t mean it like that,¡± Aisling said. She coughed. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s my throat¡­ again.¡± ¡°Pardon me, could we perhaps get back on track?¡± Florence asked. Stella curled into a ball, collapsing onto the refrigerator. ¡°I mean¡­ Why would it be your throat?¡± She hid her face between her knees. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re talking about me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about you,¡± Aisling said. She punched her chest. ¡°It¡¯s kinda something else.¡± Florence squeezed the contact lens between her fingers. ¡°I am a bit lost on who the one behind this case is,¡± she said. ¡°But if you, Sam, and Mai survived that incident, it might be one of you.¡± Aisling pressed her palms against her knees, standing up. ¡°Unless¡­ it is someone else,¡± Florence said. ¡°Come on, you shouldn¡¯t be doubting any of us.¡± Aisling shoved her hands into the pockets of her hooded shirt. ¡°Plus, that¡¯s kinda not how it works.¡± ¡°Pardon me¡ª¡± ¡°You do kinda realize that all those ghosts must be a dead Ability User. Then they¡¯ll kinda start doing their usual things like haunting or twisting the surroundings to their domain.¡± ¡°That still does not explain how you all survived it.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? We¡¯re still in one?¡± ¡°This is not what¡ª¡± Stella gripped Florence on the wrist, tugging her closer. ¡°So, wait¡­ what you wanna know exactly?¡± Aisling shrugged, pouting. ¡°Well, I guess it could be kinda disorienting for you.¡± ¡°How about you stop bringing me on this Ring Around the Rosie of yours?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Since when did I ever do that?¡± ¡°Every single time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating it at this point.¡± Stella pulled Florence on the wrist again. ¡°Pardon me, how may I help you?¡± Florence asked. She turned towards Stella. ¡°Feel free to say it now.¡± A purr rang between them. Florence lowered her head, peering down at Stella¡¯s lap, where Sam curled into a ball with his tail tucked in. Wait¡­ since when did he waltzed up next to Stella. But his pupils dilated as he stared at the opened doorway. ¡°I mean¡­ I don¡¯t think¡­ Well, there is just one particular problem,¡± Stella said. ¡°Quiet up, you plebs and Stella,¡± Sam said. He gave Florence a side-eye. Florence froze. ¡°What is it, pleb?¡± Sam hissed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡± ¡°I absolutely did,¡± Florence said. ¡°I mean¡­ I don¡¯t mean to offend you,¡± Stella said. ¡°But¡­ your sister¡­ Is she¡­ real? And¡­ Martine?¡± Florence nodded, leaning against the refrigerator. Stella pulled her bangs down. ¡°Are you¡­ sure about that? I mean¡­ are you not lying to yourself or us?¡± ¡°I am absolutely not lying to any of you,¡± Florence said. ¡°I¡­ I really hope you are telling us the truth.¡± ¡°I am. Pardon me, but we must get back on track to solve this investigation now.¡± A knock on the opened door echoed into the room. Florence, Aisling, and Stella spun around. Jack stood below the arch of the doorway. ¡°Are you done with your chit-chat yet?¡± ¡°Sorry about that, it¡¯s just that Florence wanna discuss¡­ a certain stuff,¡± Aisling said. ¡°We¡¯ll help if this is what you want?¡± ¡°Get over here, now.¡± ¡°Am I getting paid for this?¡± ¡°I doubt this should be the least of your concerns with those pink androids looking for you.¡± ¡°I know¡­ but I still kinda have to pay off the debt somehow.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something you should be more worried about than that. Well¡­ it¡¯s Yuze.¡± Chapter 45: Stuck An eerie silence filled the room. Florence pounded her head against the refrigerator, squishing the contact lens between her fingers. The blister on her shoulder blade burned as the fibers of her dress poked at it. Next to her, Stella covered her red eyes. The pounding of feet across the floor as Aisling breezed past Jack standing at the opened doorway. Sam arched his back, puffing his fur up, lowering his head to Stella¡¯s lap. His pupils dilated. ¡°Florence, I think you should come as well.¡± Jack pointed with his thumbs at the main room behind him. ¡°She needs you.¡± Florence pushed her palm against the floor. But her leg muscles contracted, refusing to stand up. ¡°Pardon me¡­ I might need some help here.¡± Sam licked his paws. ¡°Very typical for a pleb.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Jack said. He tiptoed into the room, stretching his hand out to Florence. ¡°Come on, what¡¯re you waiting for?¡± Florence grabbed Jack on the wrist. Then he pulled her to her feet, wrapping her arm over his shoulders. Sam hissed. ¡°Now, what,¡± Jack said. ¡°Don¡¯t come near me, pleb.¡± Sam bared his fangs. ¡°You smell.¡± Jack crept through the opened door, sneaking towards Yuze beside the oak dining table. The painting of a lily towered over her, trembling her lips. Her nails clicked on the floor. Florence¡¯s stomach growled as the citric fragrance wafted from squeezed oranges inside a crate at the corner of the room. ¡°Are you seriously going to ignore me like that?¡± Sam clawed the air. ¡°I¡¯m your master. How dare you disobey me.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Don¡¯t really care,¡± Jack said. In front of him and Florence, Yuze sweated bullets, soaking her clothes wet. She inhaled and exhaled at a fast pace. Her finger twitched, clicking her nail on the floor. Her legs and arms tremored. Aisling kneeled beside Yuze. Then Aisling placed her palm on Yuze¡¯s forehead. Yuze slapped Aisling¡¯s hand away. Jack shrugged. ¡°Any idea what the problem is with her?¡± ¡°I have no idea,¡± Florence said. ¡°Maybe she is having a nightmare¡­ or it could be somehow worse.¡± ¡°Are you sure about it?¡± ¡°Absolutely not.¡± A scream rang throughout the room. Yuze bolted upright, sitting on her bottom. Her chest rose and fell. The tremors of her limbs slowed down to a halt. She clenched her fist, draining the color out of her fingers. ¡°Did someone else just scream, or is it Yuze?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It was not Yuze or anyone in here,¡± Jack said. ¡°Sounds more or less like a side effect.¡± A thud echoed behind Florence. She looked over her shoulder. Behind her, Stella and Sam peeked from the opened doorway. Their jaws dropped wide open. ¡°What¡¯re you looking at, pleb? Isn¡¯t it obvious that it isn¡¯t me or her,¡± Sam said. ¡°She is not looking at you because of the scream.¡± Aisling folded her arms around her knees. ¡°She is looking at you because of your thick skull hitting the doorframe.¡± ¡°How dare you disrespect me, pleb?¡± ¡°Did you forget who pays for your rent, food, and bills?¡± ¡°I did. But now I can¡¯t because of you.¡± ¡°Look, we were just trying to do¡ª¡± ¡°How dare you speak to your master like that?¡± Jack whistled. Sam extended his claws, kneading his paws on Stella¡¯s skirt. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t interrupt me, pleb.¡± ¡°You ain¡¯t finished yet?¡± Jack shrugged. ¡°Anyways, that scream might be from either Florence or Yuze.¡± Aisling smiled, pinching her chin. ¡°Yup, that kinda could be a possibility,¡± she said. She cupped her mouth, coughing. Her face paled. ¡°Well¡­ what should we do now?¡± ¡°Perhaps we should just give her some breathing room,¡± Florence said. Yuze nodded, wiping the sweat off her forehead. Her eyes widened. She cuddled herself, stumbling onto her feet. ¡°Yuze, you don¡¯t have to force yourself like that,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Aisling, didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡± Florence asked. Yuze limped towards the dining table, dragging her feet across the floor. She slammed her palm on top of it, hunching her shoulders. ¡°What now?¡± Aisling glanced over to the crate of squeezed oranges. ¡°There¡¯s kinda nothing else to do.¡± ¡°Continue our investigation,¡± Florence said. ¡°We kinda can¡¯t go out there¡­ yet. They¡¯re still looking for us.¡± ¡°I understand your concern. But it wouldn¡¯t help if we sit here and do nothing.¡± Yuze rubbed the back of her neck. She twirled around with a smirk spread wide, giving a thumbs up. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you worry about it,¡± Sam said. ¡°You¡¯re probably going to get fired anyway. So, no point going back there.¡± ¡°She is kinda employed,¡± Aisling said. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her hooded shirt. Her eyes widened. ¡°Did anyone see a lily around here, or did I drop it somewhere?¡± Stolen story; please report. Florence scratched the back of her head, rustling her hair. ¡°Forced employment, to be precise.¡± ¡°Honestly, I thought you were unemployed the entire time,¡± Jack said. ¡°Since¡­ you know¡­ please don¡¯t strangle me to death.¡± Florence patted Jack on the back. Aisling pointed at herself. ¡°Is everyone going to ignore me or something?¡± A static rang inside Jack¡¯s television head. An array of red, blue, green, and yellow colors flickered on his fractured screen. He cracked his knuckle on the shell of his television, switching his monitor off. Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Pardon me, how are you doing it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jack said. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Aisling drummed her chin on her kneecap. ¡°Or are you blushing?¡± Jack raised his arm, pointing at the door with an electric warning sign. Aisling spread her fingers out, placing her opened palm in front of her. ¡°I¡¯m just kidding¡­ Please¡­ you don¡¯t wanna fire me.¡± ¡°Whatever,¡± Jack said. Yuze thinned her lips, stumbling in circles. Her palm dug into the back of her neck. Her head swayed from side to side. She collapsed, thudding onto her bottom. Aisling crawled towards Yuze as she planted her palm on the floor. Her jaw dropped open, tilting her head up, staring at the ceiling. ¡°Hey, you there or something?¡± Aisling crossed her legs. She poked Yuze on the cheek. ¡°You alright?¡± Yuze shook her head. She closed her eyes, slapping her face. Florence turned her attention towards the painting of a lily hanging on the wall. ¡°Actually¡­ who was she again?¡± Aisling shrugged. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I think¡­ I mean, you¡¯re going on with your investigation,¡± Stella said. ¡°Please, tell me you don¡¯t think it is me¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Reese¡­ that is her name.¡± Florence clicked her fingers. ¡°Pardon me, Aisling, could you pull out that photo of the young lady and show it to me?¡± Stella exhaled loudly through her mouth. She clenched her chest, wrinkling her blouse. ¡°Why?¡± Aisling reached into the pocket of her hooded shirt, taking a picture of that albino lady at the harbor. She showed it to Florence. ¡°Even though we know who she is¡­ it might not help us.¡± ¡°We need to find her,¡± Florence said. ¡°Why? She could be a victim. Not the ghost.¡± ¡°How would you know that? She certainly knows everything about you and me. You have seen her like a long time ago.¡± ¡°Yup. But being weird doesn¡¯t mean she is the ghost we¡¯re looking for.¡± Florence flapped her mouth without speaking a single word, grasping her wrist. Her eyelids fell shut. ¡°And¡­ there is kinda not enough evidence,¡± Aisling said. ¡°This is certainly why we should go out there now.¡± Florence pushed herself off Jack¡¯s back, landing flat on the floor. Her muscles strained. But with all her might, she picked herself up, stomping the floor. She leaned her weight against the dining table. ¡°Hey, could you look at yourself in the mirror first? Once you see it¡­ you¡¯ll kinda get it.¡± ¡°I have been in a coma for a month, dreaming of her past. I can¡¯t wait any longer.¡± She placed the contact lens on top of the dining table. Her nails scratched across it. She limped towards the door with an electricity warning sign. Her footstep grew heavier as she stretched her hand out for the door handle. But before she reached it, a hug wrapped around her abdomen. ¡°Seriously, just think for a moment,¡± Aisling said. She dragged Florence backward, peeping over her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re going to get yourself killed.¡± Florence kicked her feet into the air, swinging her arms around. Her elbow smacked right into Aisling¡¯s nose. Aisling jerked her head back. She dropped onto the floor with a thud, pulling Florence along. ¡°Let me go,¡± Florence said. ¡°Why are you stopping me?¡± Aisling coughed. ¡°If you want to return to your sister, then why do you stop at every opportunity to treat people?¡± Florence and Aisling grappled with each other. They rolled sideways, rustling their clothes. Both of them slammed into the crate, squeezed oranges with a creak. Florence pounded her feet against the wall, jostling Aisling on the ribcage. ¡°No fighting in here,¡± Jack said. ¡°If you ain¡¯t going to stop, I¡¯ll kick you out of here.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Florence said. She grabbed Aisling on the forearm, pulling away from her hold without budging. ¡°Please, you don¡¯t wanna do it.¡± Aisling smiled, wrapping her legs around Florence¡¯s hip. ¡°Pretty please.¡± Stella clutched onto her skirt, fidgeting the fiber between her fingers. ¡°I mean¡­ you¡¯re going to get hurt.¡± ¡°Good¡­ keep doing it, pleb.¡± Sam rested his head against his paws. ¡°Very good indeed.¡± Aisling smacked her feet off the floor, sending her and Florence flying up. Florence¡¯s head smashed into the wall with a thud. Her limbs fell limp. Her jaw dropped open. A ringing tone echoed inside her ear channel. She blinked, gritting her teeth as her cheeks poked against Aisling¡¯s ginger ponytail. ¡°Just use your head for a moment,¡± Aisling said. She forced Florence¡¯s hand behind herself, interlocking with each other. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°Pardon me, do I really need a reason?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Stop being like this.¡± ¡°Like what? Helping anyone else in need, including my sister, by the way.¡± Jack stomped towards them in pounding footsteps. He grabbed Florence¡¯s and Aisling¡¯s nape, picking them up like a mother cat and lifting their kittens off the ground. Florence groaned. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t throw us out,¡± Aisling said. ¡°And don¡¯t fire me¡­ Since, you know, this is probably my last one.¡± Jack trod towards the door with an electricity warning sign. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Those other two will support you.¡± ¡°This is absolutely wonderful,¡± Florence said. Aisling shook her head, widening her eyes, staring at the cracked monitor of Jack¡¯s television head. Jack kicked the door wide open. A creak echoed into the room and through the tunnel filled with pebbles outside. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Aisling stretched her arms and legs, pushing her feet and hands against the door frame. ¡°Let me explain.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to get caught anyway,¡± Jack said. He twirled around, tossing Florence and Aisling over the dining table. Stella yelped, covering Sam¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes, good,¡± Sam said. ¡°Get those plebs out of my sight.¡± Florence and Aisling landed on their backs with a thud. ¡°This is your last chance,¡± Jack said. Florence grunted, spreading her hands out. ¡°Kick me out of here, at least.¡± ¡°Do you have you have a death wish or something?¡± Aisling asked. Yuze crawled under the dining table. She reclined her head onto the knuckle, smirking at Florence and Aisling. A loud pop reverberated. ¡°Pardon me, what was that?¡± Florence asked. A tingling wetness soaked her shoulder blade, passing through the fiber of her dress. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯re you going on about?¡± Florence sat up. A tingle ran through her spine as a liquid oozed down her skin. ¡°Well¡­ the good news is that you got something else to worry about,¡± Aisling said. ¡°The bad news is that your back is bleeding.¡± ¡°This is absolutely wonderful.¡± Florence rubbed her forehead. ¡°I need to drain it.¡± ¡°Do you mean I¡¯ve to¡­ you know?¡± ¡°Pardon.¡± Florence turned her head towards Aisling, raising her eyebrows. ¡°Your back is kinda bleeding,¡± Aisling said. Florence smacked her face with her palm. ¡°That is it? Well, I guess the blister must be drained before I can clean it.¡± ¡°This is¡­ do you actually wanna do it with my mouth now?¡± ¡°Pardon me, what are you going on about?¡± Jack stomped over to the dining table. Then, a crack echoed through the air. He hunched over, rubbing his lower back. ¡°Jack, be careful for once,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Actually, there is someone else.¡± Florence pinched her chin, staring at her toes. ¡°Renee¡­ I think. Maybe¡­ she got something to do with it.¡± The dining table suddenly flew towards Florence. Aisling knocked Florence down. Florence closed her eyes. Her cheek slammed onto the floor. The dining table crashed into the wall behind Florence and Aisling. Splinters of wood clattered across the surface, stabbing into the fabrics of their clothes. ¡°Jack, what was that for?¡± Aisling coughed, muffling it. She pushed her palm on Florence¡¯s head. ¡°What? But¡­ that ain¡¯t me,¡± Jack said. Chapter 46: Frantic Plants Florence blinked, rubbing her eyes. She brushed the splinters off her dress, clattering the debris onto the floor. The back of her clothes soaked in her blood tingled her skin. The front of her body lay flat on the floor from head to toe. Above her, Aisling pressed her palm on Florence¡¯s back. Jack tiptoed towards the crate of squeezed oranges on the other side of the main room. But between him and Florence, Yuze rose to her feet. Yuze limped in heavy steps towards Florence and Aisling, scratching her nape. From the other room, Stella and Sam peeped their heads out through the doorway. ¡°What was that?¡± Aisling picked herself up, swaying from side to side. Her palm covered her abdomen. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± ¡°Renee,¡± Yuze said. A wind blew past Florence, screeching in her ears. Suddenly, Aisling crashed into the wall behind, cracking it. She slid onto the floor with a thud, and her head slanted downwards. Yuze picked a piece of the broken dining table off the floor. ¡°Why Renee?¡± ¡°Pardon me, we¡¯re not talking about that, Renee,¡± Florence said. She scrambled back until her shoulder blades poked the wall. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the baby¡­ back in that dream.¡± ¡°What baby?¡± Yuze stabbed her palm with a piece of a shattered dining table. Blood oozed out, splashing onto the floor. The roots and vines sprouted from the puddle of blood, growing into a towering tree. The leaves and branches with red buds scratched the ceiling above. Aisling raised her arm out, spreading her hands open. ¡°You don¡¯t wanna do it here.¡± A green blur whipped towards Florence and Aisling with a crack. Aisling hugged Florence, rolling on their sides. The vines crashed into the wall behind them, scattering debris across the room. Dust kicked up as the lights above flickered. Aisling coughed, waving away the fine powder. ¡°Yuze, why¡¯re you acting like this?¡± Buds blossomed from the plant¡¯s trunk into a red flower. Yellow powdery substances erupted out of the pollen sacs of the anther, wafting through the air. Florence raised her eyebrows, staring at the phenomenon in front of her. Her eyes swelled, tearing up. She scratched the growing itch on her face. Aisling coughed, grasping her chest, wrinkling her hooded shirt. She wheezed, hunching over Florence. The footsteps reverberated. In the fog of yellow pollen, Yuze clenched the piece of the broken dining table in her hand. She limped towards Florence and Aisling. The blood dripped from Yuze¡¯s fist, trailing behind her. Yuze kicked Aisling off Florence. Florence pushed her palm on the floor. She blinked, swaying her head from side to side. Her eyelids grew heavy. Her arms wobbled. Her elbows turned sluggish. In a blur, Yuze kicked Florence in the stomach. Florence gagged, hugging her abdomen. She curled into a ball, holding her scream in. Yuze grabbed on the collar of Florence¡¯s dress, picking her up. Then Yuze slammed Florence into the wall. The wall cracked behind Florence. Her feet dangled in the air. Yuze rubbed the back of her neck. The smirk on her face vanished. ¡°Why Renee? Not her,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her.¡± She poked the pointed end of the piece of the broken dining table at Florence¡¯s throat. Florence widened her eyes. ¡°Pardon?¡± Aisling dragged her face across the floor, pushing aside the splinters and the smashed parts of the dining table. She tugged Yuze on her ankle. Yuze slanted her head down, glaring at Aisling. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t¡­ wanna do it, Yuze,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I know¡­ you¡­ won¡¯t.¡± ¡°I absolutely¡­ do not think¡­ she can hear you,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is like¡­ how should I say this?¡± The pointed end of the piece of the smashed dining table sank deeper into Florence¡¯s skin. Florence gritted her teeth, grasping and pulling Yuze¡¯s wrist without her budging. A hurried footsteps echoed behind Yuze. From the clouds of yellow pollen, Jack rushed towards Yuze. He smacked it on her head with a squeezed orange in his hand. Her face crashed into the wall. Her grip on Florence loosened. Florence dropped onto the floor with a thud. Her muscles protested against the exertion demand, growing numb with each passing second. She sneezed, slanting her body sideways. Yuze pressed her bloodied palm on the wall. From it, the head of a Venus fly trap sprouted. Its gaping maw readied to swallow its prey whole, pouncing towards Jack. Jack leaped back. His feet screeched across the floor. ¡°Why? Stop me?¡± She spun around, wiping the orange juice left over the back of her head. ¡°No.¡± The Venus fly trap wrapped around her, snapping at the air with its jaw. He clenched his fist, raising it to his monitor level. His palm faced inwards towards him. He squared his shoulder, resting his elbow on the side of his rib cage. The head of a Venus fly trap plunged towards him. He ducked, guarding his television head. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The Venus fly trap zoomed over him. His feet pounded across the floor. He thrusted his fist into her left thigh. She gagged, opening her mouth wide. She bent over, dropping to her knees with a thud. A screech rang through the room. The yellow pollen swirled. The wind howled, flying past Florence and rustling her hair. The claw marks scratched across the floor towards Jack, getting closer to him by the second. He slid under the Venus fly trap. The stem split in half, thudding on the floor. A gash sliced across the torso, part of his polo shirt, lesioning his skin beneath. The blood trickled out of his laceration, soaking into the fibers of his clothing. He stumbled up, rubbing his lower back. He whistled, pressing one of his palms on his injury. Yuze raised her hand out, squeezing the blood out from her palm. She splashed it on the ceiling, where a pea pod sprang up to live. But, out of the blue, she crashed her knuckle on her face. A static played on the monitor of his television head. He smacked his feet across the floor and uppercutted her chin. She took off, flying over Florence and Aisling. The yellow pollen dispersed out of the way for Yuze. She slammed into the wall on the opposite side of the room in a boom. Jack dashed forward, holding onto the squeezed orange and stuffing it down Yuze¡¯s throat. Yuze screamed, pulling Jack¡¯s hand out of her mouth. She choked, clawing her neck. Her eyes rolled behind her head. The piece of broken dining table slipped from her grasp, clattering next to her feet. She collapsed with a thud, salivating over the floor. Aisling gasped, waving the yellow pollen away from her nose. She slid into a sitting position, leaning back on the wall. ¡°We¡¯ve to¡­ go¡­ now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jack wheeled around, wiping the saliva off his hand with his pants. ¡°You ain¡¯t doing so good there. So, don¡¯t try to do anything stupid.¡± ¡°None¡­ of this¡­ makes sense,¡± Florence said. The pea pod on the ceiling expanded. ¡°We¡¯ve to¡­ run,¡± Aisling said. She dug her nails into her palm, crawling towards Stella and Sam at the doorway. Jack gripped Yuze on her leather jacket, tossing her. He then slid towards Stella and Sam at the opened door leading into the other room. Then Jack rushed to Florence and Aisling, carrying them. His feet smacked across the floor as he dashed. The pea pod exploded, scattering green seeds in every direction. It slammed into the wall, floor, and ceiling, cracking its surface. Jack leaped into the other room, where Stella dragged Yuze in. He rolled over to the refrigerator like a log floating in the river toward the sea, his arms wrapped tight around Florence and Aisling. Aisling yawned, rubbing her eyes. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t wanna¡­ do¡­ it.¡± ¡°I¡­ know,¡± Florence said. ¡°Wait¡­ what do¡­ you mean¡­ by that?¡± Jack grunted, letting go of Florence and Aisling. He covered the lesion on his torso, pressing on it. The blood trickled out between his fingers. But one of the green seeds pierced through the left of his forearm, germinating within his flesh. Two leaves attached to a stem shoot up and out of his wound. Florence yawned. ¡°How¡­ is this¡­ possible?¡± ¡°So¡­ do you¡¯ve any idea how to take it out? Please, don¡¯t tell me that you ain¡¯t got a clue,¡± Jack said. ¡°Pardon me, I¡­ never treated these¡­ types of injuries before.¡± ¡°Could you do it then?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ but I usually treat fractures, septic complications, and sometimes¡­ gunshot wounds. And absolutely not¡­ seeds sprouting within your thigh.¡± ¡°So¡­ you can do it then?¡± Florence nodded, scratching the back of her head. Stella yelped, drifting away from Florence. Everyone in the room with a refrigerator looked at her. Their mouths upturned, wrinkling their eyes. Stella gasped, flapping her lips without saying a word, pointing at Yuze¡¯s nape. ¡°Calm down, Stella,¡± Sam said. ¡°Those plebs aren¡¯t going to hurt you.¡± ¡°Yup, I do agree with what he said. Except for the pleb part,¡± Aisling said. Stella twirled her hair. ¡°I think¡­ All of you should probably come over here and see it yourself.¡± Florence scanned her surroundings, rubbing her temple gently, circularly. The weight of exhaustion threatened to push her to sleep, so she inhaled and exhaled shallowly, slapping her face. ¡°Florence, what was that for?¡± Jack said. Florence nodded, drumming her lap, keeping herself awake with all her might. Jack waved his hand. ¡°Hello? Is anyone inside that head of yours?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Florence said. ¡°Pardon me, didn¡¯t you see I nodded to your statement?¡± ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have my glasses.¡± ¡°Pardon me, how are you supposed to¡­ you know?¡± Aisling coughed, dragging her body across the room towards Yuze. ¡°By the way, Aisling¡­ could I borrow your dagger?¡± Florence asked. ¡°And let me guess¡­ there are no bandages or dressing pads.¡± Aisling gave a thumbs up. ¡°Then come over here, now,¡± she said. She smiled, focusing on Yuze¡¯s nape. Florence inched her way to Aisling, Yuze, and Stella. Stella pointed at the red eye tattooed on Yuze¡¯s nape. ¡°I don¡¯t remember that ever being on her.¡± Aisling tilted her head, furrowing her eyebrows. She unsheathed her dagger, handing it over to Florence. ¡°Thank you,¡± Florence said. She grabbed the dagger. ¡°I know this red eye has something to do with the leader. But why is it even on her?¡± Aisling shrugged, pinching her chin. A metallic clang rang. ¡°What was that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°No idea.¡± Jack spread his arms and legs out. ¡°Could you come over here? I¡¯ve got a daughter to take care of.¡± Florence turned around, crawling towards Jack. Her fingertip tapped the handle of the dagger. The blade reflected her face with dark bags under her eyes. Jack slipped his hand behind his head. ¡°Any ideas on how to remove it?¡± ¡°Do I look like a surgeon who removes plants from my patient¡¯s body?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Not really?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Jack snatched the dagger from Florence. ¡°Give it back,¡± Florence said. Jack stabbed himself in his injured left thigh, carving the germinated seed out. He grasped the stem, pulling the roots out with chunks of flesh stuck onto it. The blood gushed out of his wound, splattering the floor. Florence¡¯s heart races. She leaped into action, pressing her palm onto Jack¡¯s surgical incision. The blood flowed between her fingers as a red puddle formed below Jack¡¯s left thigh. ¡°You see, I knew you could do it,¡± Jack said. He slipped the dagger into the pocket of his pants. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Florence bit her lips. ¡°You might lose consciousness or die if you do that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s either that or having a plant slowly eating away my flesh.¡± ¡°I am certain that plants don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°How would you know if it does that? Have you seen this species of plants before?¡± Five claps reverberated behind Florence. She glanced over her shoulder. A squeezed orange covered in saliva rolled on the floor. Yuze coughed with her body bent forward, resting in Aisling¡¯s arm. Aisling rubbed her palm in a circular motion on Yuze¡¯s back. Something creaked like someone outside opening the worn door. Sam pricked his whiskers and ears forward, angling his body towards the door. His pupils narrowed, and his hind legs coiled under him. ¡°Hey¡­ I mean¡­ don¡¯t be like that. Everything is going to be okay,¡± Stella said. She brushed her fingers through Sam¡¯s fur from the top of his head and down his spine. An eerie silence vibrated through the air. Stella stopped, remaining still in her position. ¡°Pardon me, is everything all right?¡± Florence asked. But Yuze, Stella, Sam, and Jack froze in their place. Not moving their bodies a single inch. Aisling lowered Yuze¡¯s head onto the floor. In a staggering step, Aisling rose up, leaning her weight against the wall. ¡°Aisling, what is happening?¡± Florence controlled her breath. Inhaling and exhaling slowly as her heart pounded in her chest. ¡°Could you explain it seriously without going in circles this time?¡± Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be honest here. It¡¯s time I let you in on a few little secrets.¡± Chapter 47: Time Freezes and Unfreezes Florence pushed her palm deeper into the incision on Jack¡¯s left thigh. The sweat trailed down Florence¡¯s brow as she stared at Aisling. Florence¡¯s shoulder blade stung with the back of her dress soaked in blood. Aisling heaved. Her hands gripped her shoulders. The weight of her body leaned against the wall. She staggered towards the refrigerator, slamming her knuckles on top of it. Yuze lay still on the floor, flat, facing the ceiling. Even Stella, Sam, and Jack did not show the slightest sign of movement from their bodies. ¡°Pardon me, what¡­ secrets exactly?¡± Florence asked. Aisling extended her index finger, pointing at one of the top corners of the room. Florence turned in the direction where untangling cobwebs at the top corner of the room greeted her. ¡°Could you kinda see it? It¡¯s right over there,¡± Aisling said. ¡°What is it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Please, tell me¡­ it is the cobwebs.¡± ¡°Nope, squint your eyes.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Just do it now.¡± Florence squinted in the direction that Aisling had pointed in. Florence¡¯s heart skipped a beat. At the top corner of the room, the outline of a humanoid hidden behind a blurry curtain of hot air could be made. The humanoid dug its stabbing nails into the walls with its long limbs. ¡°Pardon me, when was it there?¡± Florence dragged her bottom and feet backward. ¡°It always had been there,¡± Aisling said. She dropped her hand down to her thighs. ¡°Well, at least this is one of the many concerns.¡± ¡°How is this¡­ thing here?¡± ¡°Not sure. But I doubt this is the only trick up the ghost sleeves we¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°How are you so certain that this isn¡¯t a hallucination?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen this since day one.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Aisling coughed, falling onto knees with a thud. She wrapped her arms around her abdomen, spitting out blood onto the floor. ¡°Aisling, stay where you are,¡± Florence said. Her palm pressed down the incision on Jack¡¯s left thigh. ¡°I have to patch him up first¡­ somehow.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. He is going to be fine,¡± Aisling said. ¡°How could you say that? He is going to pass away if I let go.¡± ¡°Then tell me why he isn¡¯t bleeding.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Indeed, the pressure pushing against Florence¡¯s palm stopped momentarily. Even the blood did not leak through the gaps between her fingers. She slowly retracted her hand away from Jack. No drop of blood squirted out of the fresh incision on Jack¡¯s left thigh. ¡°How?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Did you seriously not realize why this is happening?¡± Aisling slid onto her bottom, slumping her back against the wall. ¡°Like, isn¡¯t it kinda obvious?¡± Florence closed her eyes, rubbing her temple. When did it occur to her before? The slow descent from the tenth floor to the street below as the wind whispered in her ears. And that bullet stopped for a second in front of her face at this chess tournament. Wait¡­ was that because of¡­ ¡°You.¡± Florence looked over her shoulder. ¡°It was you.¡± Aisling clapped her hand sluggishly. ¡°Congratulations, you figured it out. Took you way too long.¡± Florence scratched the back of her head. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to go now.¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°But first of all we¡ª¡± ¡°Fixed it already.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Jack¡¯s wounds.¡± Florence turned her head back to Jack. On his left thigh, the incision closed, forming a bright red scar. She pulled up his polo shirt. The lesions on his torso healed, leaving a hint of the claw injury inflicted on him. But at his lower back, a red eye tattoo on his skin stared at her. Aisling coughed. ¡°Look, it¡¯s all healed.¡± ¡°How did¡­ it¡­ like¡­ how?¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Is this you again?¡± The clothes rustled, and staggering footsteps echoed behind Florence. Florence spun around. Aisling stood up, leaning against the refrigerator. She cleared her throat, slamming her chest. Florence pushed herself onto her feet, trudging in heavy footsteps towards Aisling. ¡°The best case scenario is to leave, now,¡± Aisling said. ¡°You changed up your mind fast,¡± Florence said. She wrapped her arm around Aisling¡¯s waist. ¡°I remember that you were certainly insistent on not going out. Especially with those pink androids looking for us.¡± ¡°Well, things had kinda changed slightly after you mentioned her.¡± ¡°How are you certain that she is Jack¡¯s daughter? It could be possible that someone else named Renee.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying.¡± Aisling coughed up blood, splattering it on her lips and the floor A howl from the wind echoed. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. A screech rang behind Florence and Aisling. Florence and Aisling wheeled around. ¡°How did¡­ I mean, how did you get over there?¡± Stella waved her hands frantically in front of her. ¡°I mean¡­ you were like literally somewhere else¡­ I think.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what happened?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Sorry¡­ I might have¡­ you know,¡± Aisling said. She cleared her throat, smacking her chest. ¡°Sometimes that happens.¡± Stella ruffled her hair, pressing her palm against her forehead. ¡°Wait¡­ did I lose my consciousness¡­ again¡­ I think?¡± Jack stumbled onto his feet. He patted the scars on his torso and left thigh, playing static on the television monitor. Then he pumped his legs up and down. ¡°I might have forgotten to mention something,¡± Florence said. She inched her mouth closer to Aisling¡¯s ear. ¡°There is a red eye tattoo on Jack¡¯s lower back.¡± Aisling smiled, clasping her hands together. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you say it sooner? At least now I know that he might be under control by the ghost.¡± ¡°When did you vomit blood, Aisling?¡± Jack rubbed his lower back. ¡°And why do I¡¯ve no recollection of that ever happening?¡± Florence and Aisling stepped backward, inching to the opened door. ¡°Where¡¯re you going? As I told you, you can¡¯t leave,¡± Jack said. Aisling reached for her empty sheath. ¡°We¡¯re just¡­ wanna walk around¡­ this room for a bit.¡± Jack stuffed his hand into his pants pocket, pulling out a dagger. ¡°When did¡­ never mind,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Pardon me, how does a red eye tattoo get anything to do with this ghost?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re being kinda dense or stupid.¡± ¡°You do realize that having a tattoo of a red eye does not equate to him being controlled by the ghost.¡± ¡°Fair enough. I guess he could be just being himself.¡± Wet footsteps slapped the floor behind Florence and Aisling. A shadow seeped through the doorway and loomed over them. ¡°How about we ask him some questions?¡± Florence took another step back. ¡°Just to be certain that it is actually him that we¡¯re talking to.¡± Aisling looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. ¡°Don¡¯t look back?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Just listen to me for once.¡± ¡°I will be looking then. In one.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Two.¡± ¡°Hey, can you hear me or what?¡± ¡°Three.¡± Florence looked over her shoulder. Her muscles stiffened. Behind her, those bodies in army uniforms and helmets towered over her. The fractured bone punctures through their peeling skin. Open bayonet wounds spread across their chest without oozing blood. The droplets of water trailed down their fingers, splashing onto the floor. ¡°See, I told you,¡± Aisling said. She turned Florence¡¯s head back to face forward. ¡°Sometimes you never listen.¡± Florence inhaled and exhaled. Her chest rose and fell. ¡°How¡­ did those bodies get there all of a sudden.¡± ¡°Are you guys done yet?¡± Jack pressed his knuckles on his waist. ¡°Like¡­ I mean, yes, you can pace around the room if you want.¡± ¡°Yup, we¡¯re gonna do that,¡± Aisling said. She spun around, dragging Florence along. The bodies parted, allowing Florence and Aisling to pass through the doorway. ¡°Any idea on what to do next?¡± Florence bit her lips. Her feet screeched across the floor. Aisling shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m thinking here. Can¡¯t really tell if that is really him?¡± ¡°How could you not know?¡± ¡°Either that or the ghost has good acting skills.¡± The bodies tracked Florence and Aisling, trudging towards the lily painting on the wall. The splinters and pieces of broken dining table crunched beneath their feet. Aisling slowed pace, stopping in front of the painting of a lily. ¡°We¡¯ve to somehow lose him.¡± ¡°How are we supposed to do it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°You might not remember it¡­ but this is kinda a repayment for everything you did for me.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Aisling jabbed her elbow into Florence¡¯s stomach, pushing Florence backward. Florence ripped through the layer of paper in the painting. Her skull cracked against the concrete. She rolled down the staircase, thudding on each step. Her fingers wrapped around the handrail, halting her fall. The gravity pulled her down. Her grasp loosened on the railing. She plummeted to the bottom of the staircase. The wind whispered in her ears, rustling her hair. The darkness swallowed her. She landed on the cold floor of a corridor, kicking the dust up to the pipes on the ceiling. She coughed, waving her hand in front of her nose. An array of rifles and pistols loaded with magazines rattled on the birch cabinets caked in dust. The blood flowed down her face, sipping between each strand of hair. A scream echoed through the staircase. She got onto her knees and crawled to the stairs. ¡°Aisling? Stella?¡± A looming silhouette at the top of the steps descended, spiraling towards her. This shadow smashed onto Florence¡¯s spine. Florence gritted her teeth, falling flat on her belly. Something thudded on her left. She turned towards it. Aisling clenched her abdomen, lying on her back. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You landed on my back,¡± Florence said. ¡°How could you say that you did not do it?¡± ¡°Look, it wasn¡¯t my intention to do that.¡± ¡°But you certainly pushed me through that painting.¡± A drenched footsteps descended the steps. Each droplet of water splashed on the concrete echoed. Florence tilted her head up. Those bodies in army uniforms and helmets cracked their knuckles and necks. They gripped onto the fractured bones, pulling them out of their pierced skins. Their empty eye sockets glared at Florence and Aisling. They chattered their teeth in unison. ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ him,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Whatever kinda trick this is¡­ I¡¯m not¡­ I¡¯m not¡­¡± ¡°Him? Those are certainly bodies,¡± Florence said. Aisling leaped towards the birch cabinet, snatching one of the rifles. She lined up the front and rear sights, bracing the butt on her shoulder. Aiming at one of the bodies¡¯ foreheads. The muzzle trembled. Click. The bodies halted in their path. But no bullets exited the barrel. Aisling lowered the rifle in her hands. ¡°We should run¡­ now.¡± The bodies groaned. Florence and Aisling wheeled around, limping past dozens of firearms. Their breaths reverberated through the corridor. The soaked footsteps slapping across the floor chased after Florence and Aisling. Aisling gripped one of the birch cabinets on the side. She pulled at it, knocking it over. A thud echoed. The weaponry scattered. The bodies tripped over the obstacles, smashing their heads onto the concrete. A crack came from their fractured bones. But they never stopped running at full speed, pounding their feet across the floor. Florence and Aisling turned a corner in the corridor, limping past a rusted humanoid made out of metal. Florence strained her legs and lost her footing. She scratched her knees and elbows against the surface and fell flat. Aisling stopped, turning back. She wrapped her arm around Florence¡¯s waist. Then Aisling carried Florence deeper into the darkness that embraced them. The groans and moans followed them. Florence blinked. Her feet dragged across the floor. The sweat covered her face, dripping down her chin. The pipes rattled on the ceiling. Muffled screams echoed. ¡°Great,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Not again.¡± The screws popped out of place, clattering on the surfaces. A metal clank crashed behind Florence and Aisling. A mountain of water splashed on top of them, pushing them away. A foul ammonia odor filled the air. Florence¡¯s shoulder blade stung as a mass of liquid washed over her. The bodies¡¯ fingers wrapped around her arms and legs, tugging her into the pool, forming beneath her. Aisling thrashed with a dozen bodies¡¯ hands pulling her, swinging the rifle. The butt splashed against the water. ¡°Pardon me, could you do it now?¡± Florence asked. Her face sank below the surface, submerged in the depth. The bubble of air escaped through her mouth and nose. The lights left the corridor, growing darker¡­ And¡­ darker¡­ until the passing of time stopped. Chapter 48: Sewer Florence submerged under the sewage with no bubbles of air escaping her mouth. The water stung her injured shoulder blade. But, those bodies¡¯ hands stopped pulling her on the dress towards the dark depth for some reason. The bubbles of air stopped escaping through her mouth and nose. The liquid mass never flooded her throat, not filling her lungs. She thrashed, wiggling her way out of the bodies¡¯ grasps. She broke through the surface tension. The sewage droplets catapulted in every direction, stopping in midair before splashing on the walls. A foul odor irritated her nostrils. ¡°Aisling, where are you?¡± she asked. She stretched her arm in front of her amongst the darkness, scanning for Aisling. Florence then bumped something soft but wet, sweeping her hand across it. The wastewater sloshed. Aisling gurgled. ¡°Help¡­ me.¡± ¡°Aisling, there you are,¡± Florence said. She grabbed onto Aisling¡¯s hood. Then Florence dragged Aisling out of the sewage. Aisling gagged, vomiting her stomach content out and splashing onto the wastewater. ¡°Hold on¡­ I will try to find the way out,¡± Florence said. ¡°Yup¡­ go ahead,¡± Aisling said. Florence slushed her way through the dense liquid, dragging Aisling along. Aisling coughed. ¡°Sorry, that took some time to activate.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Florence said. ¡°That weird ability of yours with the freezing or whatever you do with time.¡± ¡°Well, not exactly.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more like I manipulate time.¡± ¡°Absolutely, that is what I was thinking. I almost forgot how you healed Jack¡¯s wounds.¡± Florence bumped her forehead against a hard surface in front of her. A creak echoed. She groaned, staggering backward and falling into the sewage. She stumbled back to her feet. Reaching her hand forward, she knocked into the doorknob. She gripped and twisted it, pushing forward. A gap widened up ahead. The lights slipped into the corridor. She squinted her eyes, covering them. The slush of wastewater turned into wet footsteps on concrete as she exited the corridor into a sewer tunnel. A ladder stood alone from miles away, leading up to the sewer drain cover. Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. The entire space around Florence and Aisling rocked. A wave crashed behind them, pushing them off their feet. They slid across the concrete, splashing their arms and legs around. The world spun around Florence, making her stomach clench. A bang rang in her skull as she slammed her head against the steel ladder. She clutched onto it, hanging on by the fingers. She shook her head, thinning her lips. Her eardrums with the sloshing of liquid. She gritted her teeth, drawing herself closer to the steps. But her fingertips slowly slipped away from it. Aisling coughed, spitting out the blood. Her eyes rolled behind her head. Florence gathered all her strength, climbing up the ladder. Her muscles strained with each grab and pull. She inhaled and exhaled the foul odor, stinging her throat. Her legs trembled with every upward movement. She placed her palm on the sewer drain cover, pushing it open. The metal screeched across the pavement. She bit her lips, forcing herself out as her muscles screamed at her, throwing her arm onto the ground above. From her left to right, skyscrapers of glass and steel towered over her. She squinted at the lights flicking on the signs under the starless sky. A hand grasped her ankle, tugging at her. She slipped, hitting her chin. A tapping rang as someone coughed next to her. She turned her head towards it. Summer crouched on the pavement next to the sewer drain cover, typing on her phone. ¡°A¡­ little help, here,¡± Florence said. She glanced below her where a tower of bodies climbed over each other, clasping for her ankles. Summer looked up from the screen. ¡°Wait¡­ is you.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°From the¡­ you know¡­ that wanted list.¡± ¡°Pardon me, I thought you were about to say¡­ that I am a maid cosplayer¡­ I think? Also, please do not tell the pink androids about us.¡± Another tug pulled Florence back down. She screamed, losing her hold. But before she splashed into the sewage, Summer wrapped her fingers around Florence¡¯s wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Summer said. ¡°The prison here isn¡¯t this bad.¡± ¡°Pardon me, will you help us here or not?¡± Florence asked. Summer hauled Florence and Aisling off into the air. The pavement beneath them thudded as Florence and Aisling landed flat on their backs. Florence closed her eyes. ¡°Where are the pink androids?¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°They are actually sorta not here. But they might be soon enough,¡± Summer said. ¡°Something about peaceful harvesting and liberating the NPCs from where they¡¯re living.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Sorry, do you want me to repeat it?¡± ¡°Absolutely not. Just¡­ you know¡­ I guess they have their own priority.¡± Florence pressed her palm on her right thigh, slumping against the glass panel wall. Her injured shoulder blades stung her nerves. She coughed, spitting the soiled water out of her mouth. Her dress and apron ranched with a foul odor, tingling her nostrils. Summer pinched her nose, wiping her hands. She inched away from Florence. ¡°A bottle of giggle juice would be nice,¡± Florence said. ¡°At least it would make this more bearable.¡± Summer sat on the ground, cuddling her legs, squeezing her chin between her knees. ¡°Honestly, I should be cram school right about now.¡± ¡°I get how you feel about it.¡± ¡°Nah, you got the wrong idea?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually waiting for Renee¡­ that¡¯s about it.¡± Florence and Summer stayed in eerie silence as they stared across the street. ¡°Where is she?¡± Florence asked. Summer tapped on the screen of her phone. ¡°Upstairs in the Wellor Tower.¡± Florence widened her eyes, turning her head towards Summer. Summer shrugged. ¡°What?¡± Florence slammed her palm on the pavement. ¡°She did what?¡± ¡°Went up the¡­ Wellor Tower. Wait¡­ is there a problem with that?¡± ¡°Absolutely, of course, there is a problem with this. Since she is a child.¡± ¡°I know that. You don¡¯t have to state the obvious.¡± Florence pushed herself up, leaning against the glass panel wall. She groaned with her wounded shoulder blade stinging her. She gripped her apron and dress, squeezing the water out. ¡°Where¡¯re you going?¡± Summer rubbed her forearm. ¡°Like I think¡­ you probably shouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Bless you,¡± Florence said. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t sneeze.¡± ¡°That is not the point.¡± Florence staggered down the pavement, shuffling her feet away from Summer. Summer cleared her throat. ¡°Pardon me, how could I help you?¡± Florence looked over her shoulder. ¡°Also, could you take care of¡­ never mind¡­ I will do it myself.¡± ¡°Wrong direction,¡± Summer said. She pointed in the opposite direction of where Florence went. Florence spun around, limping towards where Summer pointed. Then Florence kneeled down, picking Aisling up. ¡°Actually, you probably should take a break or something,¡± Summer said. ¡°Like take a shower or something first.¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ but I do not have any time for this,¡± Florence said. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re not going anywhere¡­ literally.¡± ¡°Pardon? Does it really matter?¡± Florence gave a side eye to Summer. ¡°Of course it does. After all, it¡¯s the Wellor System order,¡± Summer said. ¡°Plus, that bounty on your head is really nice.¡± Florence groaned, hunching her shoulders. ¡°You sound like you¡¯re in a lot of debt.¡± ¡°What? Of course not.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but could you at least help me carry Aisling?¡± Summer grinned, shoving her hands into the pocket of her sailor uniform. ¡°I probably should keep going,¡± Florence said. Summer waved her hand. ¡°See you soon.¡± Florence limped as her muscles strained, carrying Aisling down the pavement. Suddenly, Florence froze. Her heart skipped a beat. A mile before her, the pink androids turned a corner of the street, approaching Florence and Aisling. The pink androids transformed their arms into rifles, aiming them at Florence and Aisling. ¡°How are they here so fast?¡± Florence stumbled backward. ¡°I¡­ unless¡­ it can¡¯t be,¡± she said. The electric energy is charged within the barrels. The street rumbled. Cracks spread out across the ground. The sewage exploded beneath where Florence stood, sending her into the air. The wind whistled next to her ears. The debris scattered, smashing into the steel and glass. From the geyser, hands busted out, reaching for her. The fingers wrapped around her dress, pulling her back down. In a splash, she found herself drowning under the wastewater, with rays of electricity blasting through it. A burst erupted within the sewage, catapulting her. She hugged Aisling, tumbling across the street. Florence¡¯s rib cage snapped. She groaned, biting her lips, holding the screams in. Her nerves screeched. The fractured bone punctured her lungs, sucking the air out. She rubbed her right thigh, picking herself up to her feet. Her grip tightened on Aisling. Summer pulled her hands out of her pocket. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s totally not me.¡± Florence rolled into a trash-filled alleyway, wrapping her arms around Aisling. The electric beam crackled over their heads. The bodies leaped out of the geyser. They laughed, crashing into each other. The droplets from their torn army coats splashed onto the pavement. Florence sniffed, wiping her face. ¡°Why is she going there? Unless¡­ it can¡¯t be her.¡± ¡°What?¡± Aisling coughed, clenching her chest and abdomen. ¡°Just focus on getting out.¡± ¡°Reese¡¯s baby¡­ it had to be her.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Renee.¡± A screech echoed. The claw marks manifested on the glass panel walls on both sides of Florence. The garbage bags rustled. A warm blow brushed her face, whispering next to her ear. She froze in place, the sudden dense air weighing down on her shoulders. Three sharp tears slashed across her back. Her nerves screamed. She thudded on her knees, dropping Aisling onto the junks. Florence pressed her palm against the ground, exhilarating her breathing. A shadow loomed over her. Her throat tightened. She scratched her neck, gasping for air. Her finger reached for Aisling. But, still, an invisible grip stiffened on Florence¡¯s trachea. Florence kicked and thrashed, rustling the garbage bag around her. Her hand tremored. A transparent force around her windpipe stabbed through her skin. She clawed at the path as the air above her pressured her flat on the ground. Aisling slumped her shoulders into the pile of trash. The trail of blood dripped down from her chin to her hooded shirt. She loosened her clench on her chest and abdomen, bringing her arms to her sides. Her jaws dropped wide open. Florence¡¯s muscles relaxed. She slowed down her flailing to a halt as her limbs grew numb. The constraint on her neck loosened. A current of blood oozed out of her gash, flowing down to her collarbone. A screech rang on top of her. The wind whistled beside her ears, trashing the garbage along the alleyway. The shadow towering behind her dissipated. The ashes filled every inch of space in the narrow gaps between the skyscrapers. A marching of metal boots echoed. She coughed, clearing her throat filled with a sticky substance. Aisling rolled off the pile of trash. She scrambled, crawling towards Florence. Florence heaved, pressing her palm on her neck cut wound. ¡°I¡¯ll try to¡­ slow it down or heal it,¡± Aisling said. She coughed, spilling the blood out of her mouth and collapsing onto Florence¡¯s stomach. Florence¡¯s skin and muscles migrated, partially healing the gash on her neck. The pink androids halted their marching in front of Florence. The crackle from the pink androids¡¯ barrel of the rifles lit up the alleyway. Florence grinned, staring at the starless sky. ¡°I am sorry¡­ Martine¡­ sister.¡± The glow within the narrow path dimmed. The pink androids hummed, grinding gears. They transformed the rifles back into their arms, stretching their hands towards Florence and Aisling. Florence blinked. Her limbs seemed to melt into a puddle. Her vision blurred with those red eyes tattooed on the palm of those pink androids closing in on her. The pink androids gripped her forehead, picking her up. Her feet dangled in the air. Everything grew darker¡­ and¡­ darker. Until only red eyes stared at her within the abyss. Chapter 49: The Ghost Florence groaned, opening her eyes. The wounds on her back, neck, and shoulder blade burned. Her fractured rib cage poked at her lungs. A rope tied her up in a chair and rubbed against her skin. She blinked with the blinding ceiling lights shining down on her. In front of her, Aisling sat at a dining table overflowed with baked meatloaf, curried chicken salads, and beverages. A sweet scent wafted from a crate filled with oranges at the corner of the hall, tingling Florence¡¯s nostrils. But the rotting stench from her soaked dress and apron almost knocked Florence out. Florence hunched her shoulders as a portrait of a red eye hanging above the door watched the hall. A warm blow whistled next to her ears, rustling her hair. Aisling¡¯s head tilted onto her shoulder. Her eyes closed shut. A trail of blood flowed out of her mouth, dripping down her chin. A clank rang. At the end of the dining table, Renee hoovered her hand above a fork on a plate. She rubbed the dark bags under her eyes. Florence coughed, clearing the lingering sting in her windpipe. ¡°Is it¡­ you? Wait¡­first of all¡­ am I dead? ¡°Maybe,¡± Renee said. She pointed at the portrait of red eyes identical to hers. ¡°This really¡­ should¡­ stop happening.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Sorry¡­I am¡­ talking to myself.¡± Renee leaned forward, clasping her hands together. She tapped her fingertips on her knuckles. ¡°Renee, why¡­ are you doing this?¡± Florence asked. Renee shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s behind you.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows, looking over her shoulder. Behind her, Feno sniffed a lily in her hand. She crossed her arms, looming over Florence. Florence coughed, digging her nails into the fibers of the rope. But with each cut, the nerves around her wounds shrieked. ¡°You really should stop talking,¡± Feno said. ¡°That neck of yours¡­ let¡¯s just say that Aisling did her job.¡± ¡°Why¡­ but like¡­ pardon?¡± Florence asked. Renee jabbed the fork into a curried chicken salad with a crunch. ¡°Listen to her.¡± Something sharp but invisible to the eye stabbed into Florence¡¯s shoulder without penetrating her skin. She inhaled and exhaled, sinking her teeth into her lips, holding her scream in. Feno swung her arm, tossing a USB drive over Florence¡¯s head. The shell of the USB drive clattered across the dining table. ¡°Come on, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡± Renee chomped down on a piece of meat. ¡°Like¡­ it¡¯s sorta time to stop.¡± Florence stomped her foot, furrowing her brow. ¡°I¡¯ve got to do it,¡± Feno said. Renee pointed at the crates filled with oranges at the corner of the room. ¡°So, does that justify what you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°My child, it had to be done.¡± ¡°All of this¡­ doesn¡¯t have to happen. Do you hear me?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t listen to me¡­ they¡¯ll come after you next.¡± Renee slammed her palm on top of the dining table. The legs of a chair screeched across the floor. She lowered her head, hiding her expression behind bangs. ¡°What about it?¡± Feno pointed the stem of the lily to the USB drive. ¡°Just one more step and all of this could end.¡± Renee laughed, clenching her fists till her finger turned white. ¡°That¡¯s enough¡­ Do you think that I wanted this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to protect you.¡± ¡°Protect me in what way?¡± ¡°Every single thing.¡± Florence cleared her throat, wiggling within the wrap of the rope. ¡°Silence,¡± Feno said. She pulled Florence¡¯s head back. ¡°I am¡­ a bit¡­ lost,¡± Florence said. Renee dropped back to her seat. ¡°Look, whatever you do, just let them go. They¡¯ve nothing to do with any of this stuff.¡± ¡°I am not going to lose to this type of Player,¡± Feno said. ¡°Especially those with errors for their stats.¡± ¡°Here¡­ we go again¡­ with this stats baloney,¡± Florence said. Feno slammed Florence¡¯s forehand onto the dining table with a thud. The plates and cutlery clattered. The meatloaf, curried chicken salads, and beverages jumped a few inches into the air. Florence grunted, gritting her teeth. Her skull ached. ¡°If she hadn¡¯t saved you¡­ Then you would have died a long time ago,¡± Feno said. ¡°I think it¡¯ll be better to let them go home.¡± Renee pulled out a phone from the pocket of her sailor uniform. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t be much of a bother for you.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you going to do? Call the pink androids for help?¡± ¡°Nope. Please¡­ just don¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Feno loosened her grip on Florence. Then Feno snatched the USB drive off the dining table, stepping away from Florence. ¡°Wait¡­ are you¡­ not going to¡­ kill me?¡± Florence asked. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Feno crossed her arms. ¡°What does it look like to you?¡± ¡°Hand over that USB to me,¡± Renee said. She stretched her hands with her palms open to Feno. ¡°This doesn¡¯t have to happen? ¡°Pardon me¡­ could¡­ Can anyone explain anything¡­ to me?¡± Florence slumped into the backrest of the chair. ¡°And it would be nice if someone untied.¡± Feno shook her head. ¡°This is for your own good.¡± ¡°Hey, wait,¡± Renee said. ¡°Did you already forget what I said?¡± The floor creaked beneath Feno as she stomped towards the doorway. Renee stood up, pushing the chair back. Its legs screeched across the plank surface. She spread her arms out, stepping in the way of Feno. ¡°I¡¯ve got things to attend to,¡± Feno said. ¡°So, could you please get out of my way?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it many times already.¡± Renee sniffed, furrowing her brow. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this.¡± ¡°It must be done.¡± ¡°I¡­ just like¡­ I don¡¯t care if this system is broken or not. I just¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Renee froze with her mouth wide open in an eerie silence. The floor creaked. Feno sniffed the lily in her hand, walking past Renee to the doorway. ¡°If any of you dare to lay another finger on Renee, then it¡¯ll be your head next,¡± Feno said. She looked over her shoulder. ¡°Do you understand?¡± Florence nodded. She blinked¡­, but in front of her, Aisling disappeared along with a set of cutlery. A cough echoed through the hall. Florence turned towards it. Aisling coughed, vomiting out blood. She held the knife, trembling in her hands, inches away from Feno¡¯s neck. ¡°What did you expect?¡± Feno pinched the blade, moving it away from her. ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy.¡± A screech reverberated through the hall. The wind whistled past Florence, rustling her hair and dress. Aisling¡¯s feet into the air. Then Aisling flew towards the dining table, smashing into the meatloafs and curried chicken salads. The beverage spilled. The plates shattered, and cutlery clattered on the floor. Chunks of leaves and sauce splattered onto Florence¡¯s apron. Aisling rolled off the edge, thudding on the floor with a creak. Feno shrugged. ¡°Surprised, aren¡¯t you? Plus, I don¡¯t care if you try to hurt or kill me. But if you dare to harm Renee, you¡¯ve crossed the line.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Florence asked. Her voice became more raspy as the partially healed gash burning intensified. Feno turned her head to the portrait of a red eye, continuing onwards. Aisling stumbled to her feet, wiping the blood off her mouth. ¡°Stop¡­ right there,¡± she said. Her eyes rolled behind her head. She dropped to her knees, falling flat. Feno waved her hand, exiting the room. The world turned upside down around Florence. Her stomach twisted. She lost her footing, thudding onto the floor. She cupped her mouth, curling up into a ball as the bile raised up from her throat. Her vision blurred. She gasped, punching her chest with her throat burning. Around her, the hall morphed into a corridor with rows of doors running alongside. Hints of the claw marks slashed over the wallpaper with a wilted lotus design peeled off. Next to her, Aisling and Renee lay slumped against Florence¡¯s shoulders. Renee yawned. ¡°Not again.¡± Florence scratched the back of her head. ¡°This¡­ is¡­ absolutely¡ª¡± The partially healed gash on her neck snapped, oozing out blood. She collapsed onto her side, pressing onto her neck wounds. Renee staggered onto her feet, stretching her arms and legs. The floor creaked. She pinched between her eyes, staring at the winding corridor before her. ¡°Help¡­ me,¡± Florence said. ¡°Sorry.¡± Renee cupped her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m just making sure those things aren¡¯t coming for you guys.¡± She kneeled, undoing the tie around her neck, and then handed the neckwear to Florence. Florence pressed it onto her laceration, tying a knot. The blood flow stopped, dyeing the cloth red. Her muscles relaxed. She rolled over onto her back, spreading her arms out. But, still, the shoulder blade injury stabbed her nerves. ¡°I swear I¡¯ll beat her up after I get out of here,¡± Renee said. ¡°Knock me in here and give me this stupid time out.¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ does this¡­ happen¡­ often?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Shut your mouth. Do you really want to widen that cut of yours?¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ not.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to answer that.¡± A shriek reverberated through the corridor. The door shook. The scratching of nails on the wallpapers echoed. The claw marks tore through the corridor¡¯s surfaces around Florence, Aisling, and Renee. Florence froze, straining her muscles. The air next to her ear growled, rustling her hair. Renee glanced over her shoulder, pressing her index finger on her lips. Florence nodded, giving a thumbs up. A lingering warmth blew on her face, shivering her spine. She flapped her mouth open and closed, mimicking a snapping maw. Then she pointed down the path ahead, swinging her arms back and forth. Renee widened her eyes. She shrugged, dipping her chin lower. Florence waved her hands around. Her heart pounded. She jabbed at her chest, moving her finger across her neck. The floor creaked beneath them. Renee planted her face on her palm, massaging her temple. A roar rang in Florence¡¯s ear canal. A breeze knocked off her feet. Her chin smashed into the plank. The air pinned her down flat. Something sharp sank into her abdomen, stabbing through her skin and muscles. She gritted her teeth, thinning her lips. Her vocal cords vibrated as the scream built up in her throat. Renee overlapped her forearm over each other, pushing her index finger against her lips. A dense, transparent force slithered around Florence, halting her limbs¡¯ movement. She mouthed a cry for help, squinting at Renee. Renee shook her head, raising her hands up. Florence¡¯s jaw dropped wide open. She stuck out her tongue, pointing it to the ceiling. Renee rolled her eyes. Florence¡¯s nerves shrieked as her body slowly compressed into a pancake. The oxygen levels in the lungs decreased. Renee reached into the pocket of her sailor uniform, pulling out a phone. She tossed it over Florence¡¯s head. The metal shell clattered across the floor. A howl echoed above Florence. In a flash, more claw marks appeared on the wallpaper¡¯s surface. The scratching on the paper surfaces intensified, zooming away from her. The phone slid like the wind knocked it along, moving farther down the corridor. The blood splashed onto the floor. Florence pushed her palm onto her wounded abdomen, stopping the bleeding. Renee stretched her hands out in front of her, palms open, and stepped towards one of the doors without creaking. Florence moved her finger back and forth across her neck. Renee grasped the handle, pointing at the phone skimming down the corridor. She nodded, giving a thumbs up. Florence shook her head, waving her free hand. Aisling groaned, rolling onto her side. The planks creaked beneath her. The phone sliding halted to a crawl. A growl rang. ¡°Screw it,¡± Renee said. She opened the door. ¡°Everyone, run.¡± Florence and Renee picked Aisling up, limping through the opened door into another identical corridor. The scratching on the walls followed them. ¡°Where¡­ are we¡­ going?¡± Florence heaved, moaning out loud. ¡°Sorry.¡± Renee pulled Florence on the shoulder, turning to their right. Florence clenched her chest, pressuring the injury on her abdomen. Renee kicked down one of the doors leading to a pit with an abyss sitting below. She nodded, turning her head towards Florence. Florence shook her head. A shriek erupted behind her. The goosebump broke across her skin. She and Renee leaped in, dragging Aisling with them. They fell¡­ deeper into the darkness until it enveloped them. Chapter 50: The Reveal Hours had passed. Amidst the darkness, Florence fell through a pit, pressing the stab injury on her abdomen. At the same time, she held onto Aisling and Renee. The nerves around Florence¡¯s wounded neck, back, and shoulder blade screamed. Florence groaned as her fractured rib cage rattled. The wind whispered, rustling her hair. A snore echoed beside her. ¡°Who was¡­ that?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s totally not me,¡± Renee said. She yawned. ¡°So¡­ anyways, this is unexpected.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°Like, how did we end up in this situation?¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ no idea.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just asking myself. Not you.¡± Suddenly, a light erupted beneath them, blinding Florence. Florence squinted her eyes. Below her, a stack of oranges caked in green mold sat at the bottom. She squashed into the fruits, squeezing out the juices. Some of it splashed onto her tongue, where bitterness erupted on the taste buds. She gagged, sinking deeper into the pile. Renee pulled Florence and Aisling out, scattering the oranges caked in mold across the pit. Florence¡¯s face smashed into the plank floor. She yelped, rolling onto her back and covering her face. Renee yawned, cupping her mouth. ¡°Hurry up, we don¡¯t have much time left.¡± ¡°I¡­ know,¡± Florence said. She peered through the gap between her fingers. ¡°This is¡­ way past your¡­ bedtime. And, if I¡­ have to guess¡­ you are trying¡­ to stop¡­ Feno.¡± ¡°Yup and nope.¡± ¡°Pardon me, which one is it?¡± Renee got onto her feet, crossing her arms. She furrowed her brow, glaring at Florence. ¡°Your¡­ cram school¡­ I mean, you still go there¡­ right?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Yup, exactly that,¡± Renee said. She turned towards a wooden door that appeared out of thin air. ¡°We probably should go this way.¡± ¡°Absolutely not¡­ that just materialized¡­ from nowhere.¡± ¡°You got a problem with that.¡± Florence nodded, Renee dragged Florence and Aisling across the pit. The floor creaked. Renee raised her up, kicking the door swinging open. She entered into a room caked in soots. The entrance slammed shut behind her. The crackle from the fireplace illuminated the space, and the poker hanging near it reflected a warm orange light. She moved towards a wrinkled sofa, lying Aisling on one of the seats. The springs squealed. The overhead shelf vibrated, shaking the array of portraits covered in grime. Renee patted her sailor uniform, stretching her back. ¡°Pardon me¡­ I am quite¡­ certain this was not here before?¡± Florence asked. ¡°As in like¡­ I have been in here¡­ but not in this¡­ part before, if you know¡­ what I mean.¡± Renee shrugged. ¡°I can tell.¡± ¡°How can¡­ you tell? You are¡­ making it sound like¡­ you are the¡­ ghost in this haunted place.¡± ¡°Why would I be a ghost? That¡¯s like asking me if I can manipulate this haunted place here.¡± ¡°So¡­ you are not the¡­ one.¡± Renee dropped onto her bottom, curling into a ball. She pouted, pinching her chin between her knees. ¡°I would like to¡­ apologize,¡± Florence said. ¡°I did not¡­ mean it like that. I am just wondering¡­ how do you¡­ know it?¡± Renee covered one of her red eyes. ¡°Whatever¡­ I get it. It¡¯s sorta complicated.¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ that is it. I need to check for the¡­ red eye tattoo.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m not legal yet.¡± ¡°I meant it as in checking if Feno has it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you mean¡­ wait, what does a red eye tattoo have to do with this?¡± A creak echoed beneath Renee as she shifted her weight. Florence gritted her teeth, slumping into one of the seats on the sofa. Her feet tapped against the floor. She rolled her neck side to side, loosening the kinks. Renee placed her palm on her hips. ¡°So, are you going to answer me or what?¡± ¡°I will¡­ get into it,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is just¡­ that it seems¡­ important.¡± ¡°So¡­ in other words, you¡¯re still completely clueless about what is happening.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I did see it on Yuze¡­ and multiple NPCs. As well as¡­ in different locations around this city.¡± Renee sighed, stood back up, and brushed the soot off her sailor uniform. Then, she spun around and grabbed one of the portraits off the shelf. Then she wiped the grime off the picture and showed it to Florence. On it, Renee pointed at the albino lady with red eyes that Florence had seen at the Coffee Bar. ¡°It might¡­ be her,¡± Florence said. ¡°But¡­ I never saw her¡­ actually die and¡­ turn into a ghost.¡± Renee slipped the photo into the pocket of her sailor uniform. ¡°So, you do know her.¡± Florence nodded. ¡°Well¡­ how should I put this out?¡± Renee twirled her fingers. ¡°I actually haven¡¯t seen her in a while.¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Pardon me¡­ what do you mean¡­ by that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ this is certainly starting to make sense. You are¡­ Reese¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°That lady in the photo.¡± ¡°This is sorta getting really creepy.¡± ¡°That baby back then¡­ was you. It¡­ could be someone¡­ else with¡­ the same name. But¡­ with this¡­ you are¡­ certainly quite similar to her.¡± Renee hugged herself, gripping onto her shoulders. She pulled her eyebrows down, wrinkling her nose. Her lips loosened, revealing her teeth. Florence gave a thumbs up. ¡°Please do not worry.¡± ¡°I think I should sorta contact the pink androids,¡± Renee said. ¡°I do not mean it¡­ in that type of way.¡± ¡°Hey, stop making this weird.¡± ¡°You are¡­ the one¡­ who is overthinking here.¡± Renee slid her palm down her arm. She sighed. ¡°I¡­ see,¡± Florence said. ¡°Any idea¡­ where she is?¡± Renee shook her head. Florence closed her eyes, then opened them wide again. ¡°Absolutely¡­ that was a bit of a baloney for me.¡± ¡°Believe me, you are not a baloney,¡± Renee said. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Renee turned away from Florence. The floor creaked. Renee kneeled down, reaching her palm over the fireplace. ¡°She does¡­ certainly seem to know¡­ about me,¡± Florence said. ¡°Even though I had¡­ never seen her before when¡­ I first met her.¡± Renee yawned, stretching her arms upwards. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t need any fun facts about my mother.¡± ¡°Absolutely.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°How do we get out of here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve no idea.¡± Florence coughed, jumping out of her seat. The sofa squealed. Renee looked over her shoulder. ¡°What? Are you that surprised?¡± she asked. She smirked, turning her head slightly down. Her hair covered those dark bags under her eyes. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± Florence smacked her chest, clearing her throat. ¡°Certainly not surprised.¡± Renee laughed, cupping her mouth. Florence placed the back of her hand on her forehead. ¡°Where do¡­ I even begin?¡± ¡°So¡­ when did you meet my mother?¡± Renee grabbed the poker, stabbing it at the fireplace. ¡°Just curious about her.¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ but you just said you do not want to know fun facts about her? So, why are you asking me now?¡± ¡°Nothing, really. Just sudden curiosity.¡± Renee pressed her palm on her knees, standing up. The floor creaked. She turned around with her arms behind her back, swinging the poker side to side and walking towards Florence. Florence rubbed her palm on her right thigh. ¡°Around¡­ the time when¡­ you know¡­ the Prince Underground Railway when it got haunted by a ghost.¡± ¡°So¡­ who survived besides you?¡± ¡°We are absolutely¡­ getting off-topic here.¡± ¡°Think about it. Do you find it funny that Aisling is a bit weird, trying to hide something from you?¡± ¡°I guess.¡± Florence glanced over to Aisling with her eyes closed shut. Aisling rested on the sofa, lowering her head. The blood on her lips and hooded shirt dried up. It could be her with the countless times she diverted Florence¡¯s attention from the investigation. Just¡­ maybe. Florence pulled Renee closer. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Renee rubbed the back of her ear. ¡°Who¡­ are you exactly?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Renee, or is it¡­ the ghost I am¡­ talking to?¡± ¡°What? Do I look like a ghost to you?¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ not.¡± Florence pulled Renee¡¯s earlobe forward. Renee flinched. Behind her ear¡­ that red eye tattooed on her skin glared at Florence. ¡°You have¡­ got a¡­ lot of explaining to¡­ do,¡± Florence said. Renee swung the poker, stabbing it into the backrest behind Florence. The leather hissed. The radiation of the heat bounced off Florence¡¯s face, tingling her skin. Florence sprang towards Aisling. Florence wrapped her arms around Aisling, slamming into her and rolling off the seat. The floor creaked as they thudded onto it. The springs squeaked. Renee stepped on the cushion, pulling the poker. She raised it above her head. Florence rolled to the side. Renee struck with a crack on the plank board. ¡°Pardon me¡­ what do you¡­ want?¡± Florence asked. Renee yanked the poker out. The splinters scattered. Florence scrambled, dragging Aisling. Florence¡¯s back bumped onto the wall near the fireplace. She gritted her teeth as the nerves of her wounded shoulder blade screamed. Renee inched towards Florence and Aisling. Florence untied her apron, taking it off with the fabric rustling. The poker blurred before her eyes. She ducked, leaping onto Aisling. In a flash, the wall behind Florence crumbled. The derbies crashed onto her back. Renee kicked Florence on the chin. Florence¡¯s head jerked upward. The momentum carried her, sliding over to the fireplace. The pressure on her abdomen stab wound loosened, causing the blood to ooze between her fingers. She inhaled and exhaled, tangling the apron around her free hand. A flash of iron zoomed towards her. She blocked it, wrapping the apron around it. Her grip tightened. She pushed her weight onto the poker. Renee snarled, inhaling and exhaling. She slid one foot back, hurling Florence into the air. Florence yelped as her hair rustled. She crashed into the wall. The gravity yanked her down, dropping her to the floor with a thud. Her grasp strengthened on the apron around the poker. Renee thrust forward. The tip of the poker tore through the fabric, poking at Florence¡¯s chest. Florence gritted teeth. She swung her legs, knocking Renee over. Renee fell onto the floor, relaxing her grip. She retracted her hands, rubbing her temple. Florence tossed the poker away. The metal clattered across the room. Renee lunged at Florence, slamming her into the wall. The rubbles above them crumbled, falling on them. One of which smashed onto Florence¡¯s forearm, breaking her bones with a snap. Florence screamed. But, still, she grabbed Renee on the wrist, holding her in place. Florence¡¯s hand, covered in blood, slipped from Renee¡¯s skin. Renee thrashed, rolling together with Florence towards the sofa. Then Renee stuck Florence right on the abdomen stab wound. Florence¡¯s nerves screamed. Florence gagged, choking. She wrapped her arms around her stomach, pressuring her wounds, stopping the bleeding. Renee stumbled on her feet, wobbling side to side. She raised her leg up, stomping Florence on the face, breaking her nose. Blood flowed out of her nostril, trailing down to her chin and dripping onto her dress. Her head thumped against the floor. Renee lifted her foot one final time, striking Florence on the forehead. Florence narrowed her eyes, dampening her gaze. Her muscles twitched. She coughed as every inch of her nerves under her skin shrieked. Renee rubbed the back of her ear, raising her foot one final time. Florence breathed slowly. In and out. She tapped her fingertips, bracing herself. Renee whacked Florence¡¯s head. A mass of bruises swelled on Florence¡¯s face. Her limbs relaxed with the energy drained from her body. She glanced at Aisling, who rested near the pile of debris. Renee yawned, stretching her arms and legs. She inched towards the poker, gripping the handle. She whipped it, untangling the apron wrapped around it. The floor creaked as she twirled around to face Aisling. Florence bit her lips, pushing herself up. Her legs wobbled. She smacked her palm on her knees, steadying herself. She slammed her feet across the room, shoving Renee to the floor. Renee hit her chin on the plank surface, releasing her grip on the poker. A metallic clatter rang. Florence, with her own body weight, pressed down on Renee. Then Florence reached for the handle. But before her fingertips came into contact with it, she stopped. Her right thigh burned, urging her to sink her nails into her skin. The door creaked open. Feno stepped through, entering into the warm embrace of the fireplace, twirling the lily in her hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± she said. She brushed the hair that covered her face aside, revealing her red eyes. Her face¡­ was precisely the same as Reese¡¯s. Chapter 51: Death The fireplace crackled, filling the eerie silence. Florence sank her palm into her right thigh at the spot where it burned the most. Her palm sweated as the injuries on her neck, chest, back, and shoulder blades stung. The bruises swelled on her face. Her fingertips stopped inches away from the handle of a poker. Above the sofa, the array of portraits on the shelf glared at her. She pushed her weight down on Renee, staring at Feno with Reese¡¯s face as she stood in the middle of the room. Aisling rested in the pile of fragmented bricks. ¡°How?¡± Florence asked. Feno shrugged, planting the lily into the strands of her hair. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just heard me correctly.¡± Feno stomped towards Florence, kicking the poker under the sofa. Then Feno clenched Florence on the collar of her dress, lifting her up. ¡°So¡­ it was you¡­ all along,¡± Florence said. ¡°Took you long enough.¡± Feno smiled without wrinkling the corner of her eyes. She slammed Florence into the wall. ¡°It¡¯s me you¡¯re looking for¡­ Not her. And you¡¯ve got a lot of explaining to do.¡± ¡°This should be my line. Not yours.¡± ¡°Explain yourself.¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ why do I¡­have to?¡± A screech rang in the air. The scratching of nails across the walls echoed throughout the room. ¡°Or else¡­ you know what would happen,¡± Feno said. ¡°What is this¡­ supposed to mean?¡± Florence asked. She urged her hands to grab Feno¡¯s wrists. But Florence¡¯s muscles didn¡¯t listen to her commands. ¡°What am I¡­ supposed¡­ to explain here? Was it not clear what was happening here?¡± ¡°It was clear. I know everything.¡± ¡°Look, I can explain myself¡­ Wait¡­ you saw everything?¡± Florence bit her lips. She pieced together everything that had happened up until now. Her eyes widened. She opened her jaws, gazing at the lily on the strands of Feno¡¯s hair. ¡°You were trying to kill her, weren¡¯t you?¡± Feno furrowed her brow, baring her teeth. ¡°I gave you a chance, letting you see what the Wellor System does to us NPCs. But you just have to go after her just like the Wellor System¡¯s lapdog.¡± ¡°Absolutely not¡­ it is not¡­ what¡­ you think¡­ it is,¡± Florence said. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lie to me.¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ why would¡­ I lied to¡­ you?¡± ¡°Of course you would.¡± ¡°Look, I did not agree with the Wellor System on working for them¡ª¡± ¡°Lies.¡± Florence urged herself to raise her hand, but her muscles did not move an inch. ¡°I¡¯m the one you¡¯re looking for¡­ not her,¡± Feno said. She reached into her hair, pulling out the USB drive. Then she dropped Florence with a thud. The floor creaked. Feno stomped her way towards the sofa. She crouched, reached under it, and pulled out the poker. She spun around, slapping her feet across the floor to Aisling. Florence groaned. Her nerves commanded her limbs to move. But again, she could not budge an inch. She gritted her teeth as she watched Feno. Feno raised the poker above her head, halting in front of Aisling. A rumble shook the room. The shelf above the sofa shook, vibrating the array of portraits. The flames busted out of the fireplace, snapping at Feno. A screech rang. The wind howled, dissipating the flames. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor swirled into existence at its place, standing on top of the embers. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor cracked its knuckles. ¡°Why are you with her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you take a step closer,¡± Feno said. She swung the poker, stopping its tip inches away from Aisling¡¯s neck. A harsh orange glow intensified and shone out of the gap between the metal plates. An inferno erupted through it, diving toward Feno. Feno clicked her tongue, glaring at the incoming barrage of fire. A shriek reverberated. But¡­ in the blink of an eye, the flames that zoomed towards her dispersed into nothingness. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor flew backward, crashing through the wall. The dust kicked up. The rubbles scattered across the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way,¡± Feno said. The humanoid clad in armor stood up. The metal clashed against each other. It heaved, pressing its palm on its knees. Feno crossed her arms. ¡°Listen to my command.¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ what¡­ commands?¡± Florence asked. The wind whispered next to her ears, rustling her hair. A transparent hook secured her dress, lifting her and leaving her feet dangling inches above the surface. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor stepped through the hole in the wall. It waved the dust off its face. ¡°Do you seriously think I¡¯m one of them, you ghost? Like those NPCs and the ones that consumed the blue crystal you control.¡± Feno smacked the poker on her shoulders, closing her eyes but immediately opening it again. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor clutched its fist. Flames swirled into existence beneath its feet, engulfing it. ¡°Come on, please don¡¯t do it here,¡± Feno said. Renee slapped her face. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Seriously, out of all the time, you decide to speak up now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them.¡± ¡°Do you know how hard it is to control and oversee every single one of you?¡± ¡°Sorry, what did you say to me?¡± The fire snapped, speeding towards all of them. A screech rang. The wind howled, rustling her hair. The invisible force unhooked from her dress, dropping her on the floor with a thud. The flames split up like they had hit a barrier at the last second, going over and around them. ¡°Mom, seriously, stop this right now,¡± Renee said. ¡°You do know what would happen if I don¡¯t do anything now,¡± Feno said. ¡°When all those NPCs are peacefully harvested¡­ they¡¯ll come for you next.¡± ¡°Who cares about it? Because I clearly sorta don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Sorta don¡¯t? Are you insane?¡± Another barrage of inferno slammed into a transparent hurdle, flying over and around them. A shriek reverberated, shaking Florence¡¯s spine. This unseen blockage collapsed, letting the inferno through. Feno sidestepped, dodging the flames that scorched where she last stood. A strand of her hair lit up on fire. She patted at it, stumbling away, falling onto the sofa. The springs in it squeaked. The plank burned, filling up the room with smoke. The sting on Florence¡¯s right thigh evaporated. Her muscles contracted and relaxed, and she was able to move again. She gasped, pulling the collar of her dress to cover her nose. She rolled towards Aisling¡¯s side with the floor creaking them. Florence released her grip on her collar, pushing the debris off of Aisling. ¡°I told you already.¡± Feno extinguished the flames on her hair, leaving a smolder behind. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to pay for the property damage.¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. A leash made out of fire appeared out of thin air in its hand. Florence wrapped her free arm around Aisling. Then Florence used her shoulder as a cushion for Aisling¡¯s head. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you dare touch her,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. Feno pointed the poker at herself. ¡°What¡¯re you blind? Do I look like I¡¯m touching anyone?¡± ¡°Pardon me¡­ I think¡­ it is talking about me,¡± Florence said. ¡°She knows,¡± the humanoid silhouette clad in armor said. ¡°It is quite obvious.¡± ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Feno clicked her tongue. ¡°And you don¡¯t have to say it for me.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°You do not have to state the obvious.¡± The humanoid clad in armor swung its whip. The tip cracked across the shelf, knocking the array of portraits off. The frames were set up in ablaze. The glass shattered. Florence dropped flat onto the floor, pushing Aisling down. Feno ducked, covering her as the flaming rope lashed over her head. The wall behind her smashed into pieces from the force of the whip. The fragments of bricks scattered across the room. Florence coughed, cupping her mouth. The fumes filled her lungs, stinging the gash on her throat. She clenched her fist, whitening her fingers. Pressing her knuckles on the floor, she pushed herself up. The ceiling creaked, collapsing inwards. Florence wrapped her arms around Aisling, rolling away from the plummeting debris. One of which crashed into her legs, cracking her bones. A blaze erupted on the skirt of her dress. Her skin hissed. She sank her teeth into her lips, holding her scream in. She ripped the burning part of her clothing, tossing it away. A chill ran down her spine, shaking her to the core. Her eyebrows raised. On the skin of her right thigh¡­ a red eye tattoo that had never been there before now stared at her. The floor squeaked, crumbling beneath her. She, Aisling, Renee, and Feno fell through. Florence smashed into the floor below with a thud. The flaming rubbles crushed her beneath its weight. The sweat secreted from her pores evaporated off her skin. Her nerves and muscles shrieked as the fire seared her body. She stretched her hand out for Aisling, buried under a wreckage. A clanking of metal rang. The sofa from upstairs plunged Renee. Feno leaped off from her seat, pushing Renee aside. The full force of the sofa rammed into Feno with a thump. Only her hand with her fingers twitching stuck out under it. Suddenly, the flames that enveloped the building retreated back into the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor jumped down, landing on the broken fragments. It stomped towards Aisling, towering over her. ¡°Do¡­ not,¡± Florence said. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor pulled Aisling out of the pile. It hurled her onto its back, giving her a piggyback. The pebbles scattered across the room. A screech echoed. The wind howled. The wreckage shook, clattering against each other. The sofa flew off Feno, zooming towards the humanoid silhouette clad in armor. The humanoid silhouette clad in armor ducked as a blurring leather mass soared over its and Aisling¡¯s heads. The sofa thudded onto the wall. ¡°Give her to me,¡± Feno massaged her back. ¡°Right¡­ now.¡± The humanoid silhouette clad in armor clutched its fist. The flames ignited on its palm, crackling on its fingertips. It swung its arms, unleashing an inferno towards Renee. Renee blinked, groaning. She rubbed her temple. Feno wheeled around, smacking her feet across the broken pieces of bricks. She jumped, kicking Renee out of the way. Renee gagged, rolling on her sides and bumping into the wall. The fire split inches away from Feno as if it hit a barrier. But¡­ slowly, the flames twirled around her, consuming her whole. A scream pierced Florence¡¯s eardrums. Feno stretched her arms out of the fireball, stepping out of its center. But¡­ the blazes engulfed her whole body from head to toe. A charcoal-like and sulfurous stench wafted from her scorched skin, muscles, and hair. Her legs wobbled side to side. She dropped to her knees, rolling down the rubble. Florence sank her nails into the floor, clawing at it. She covered her mouth with her forearm, coughing out loud. The nerves under her skin screamed at her. The weight on her back pushed her down, preventing her from getting an inch closer to¡­ that body. Her chest stung as if a knife stabbed through her heart. Renee widened her eyes, gaping at the body set ablaze in front of her. Her shoulders slumped. Her face flushed. She clenched the skirt of her sailor uniform, wrinkling the clothing fiber and pulling at it. The humanoid clad in armor spun around with Aisling on its back. Then it crouched down, jumping through the hole in the ceiling, landing upstairs, disappearing from Florence¡¯s sight. Its metal armor plating clinked together. ¡°Feno¡­ mom?¡± Renee stretched her shivering hand out to the flames consuming the body. A nasal mucus slithered out of her nostrils. She sniffed, wiping it with her sleeve. ¡°Better luck next time,¡± someone with a familiar voice said next to Florence. Florence turned her head towards it. Beside her, Martine sat on a mountain of debris. She kicked broken pieces of bricks down the slope. Florence blinked. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I guess everything is done and dusted here.¡± ¡°When¡­ were you¡­ here?¡± Martine reached into her apron pocket, taking out a crystal with a green glow. Florence smiled as the corner of her eyes wrinkled. ¡°Glad to see you again.¡± ¡°You are not ready yet.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You should let it go.¡± ¡°Apologies¡­ but¡­ I¡­ what do you mean by that?¡± Martine wrapped her fingers around the crystal with a green glow, pushing it on her chest. She stood up. The debris tumbled down. She downturned the corner of her mouth, drifting away from Florence. ¡°Where¡­ are you going?¡± Florence asked. She extended her hand out towards Martine. ¡°Everything¡­ The investigation¡­ is done now¡­ we can go home, and I can go back to my sister. But¡­ Aisling¡­ she is the one¡­ can¡­ help us with that.¡± ¡°I am¡­ sorry,¡± Martine said. Florence¡¯s eyelids grew heavier, closing shut. The surroundings around her shook, collapsing within itself. The rubbles clattered. Everything became darker¡­ and¡­ darker¡­ Chapter 52: Hospital The lighting on the sterilized ceiling blinded Florence. She blinked, moving her hand closer to her eyes and stopping an inch away from them. A clank and a rattle rang. A cold sting gripped her wrist. She turned towards it, finding that she was handcuffed to a bed railing. Her head sank into the pillow. Something squeaked on her back as she adjusted herself. The aches over her body faded. And the wounds across her turned into scars that had been formed in a few weeks. A bitter undertone of artificial fragrance filled her nostrils. A continuous beep echoed throughout this glass room with patients resting on their mattresses. One bed away from her, Aisling, tied to bed rails, smiled and raised her thumbs up. ¡°What is with this bracelet?¡± Florence asked. ¡°That¡¯s not a bracelet.¡± Aisling closed her eyes, rolling onto her side. ¡°That¡¯s a handcuff.¡± ¡°I know what it is called.¡± ¡°I kinda know that already.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what do you mean by you know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying.¡± Florence slumped her shoulders, tugging at the chain of the handcuffs. She glanced around her surroundings¡­ but¡­ where did Renee and Martine go? ¡°So, about back then, when we¡¯re kinda back at that haunted place,¡± Aisling said. ¡°That¡­ monster¡­ well, at least what the NPCs called him has a name.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Pardon me, are you talking about that humanoid silhouette with those¡­ fire things.¡± Aisling nodded, curling into a ball and pulling the blanket over her head. ¡°Look, you do not have to force yourself to say his name,¡± Florence said. ¡°Nope, it¡¯s fine.¡± Aisling looked over her shoulder, smiling without reaching the corner of her eyes. ¡°His name is¡­ Eamon.¡± ¡°Nice.¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°I forgot to mention that we¡¯re getting arrested.¡± Florence coughed, clearing her throat. She punched her chest over and over again. But, for some reason, her fractured rib cage without igniting a stabbing pain inside her. Even the wounds on her neck, shoulder blade, and back no longer shrieked at her but tingled her nerves. Her face was pale as she sweated. ¡°Yup, that¡¯s because the doctor injected us with a healing serum and a lot of antibiotics,¡± Aisling said. Florence raised her finger. ¡°What is an antibiotic?¡± ¡°Have you ever gone to school and learned that before?¡± ¡°Could you perhaps just be a bit more straightforward?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really like a grandma. Are you?¡± Florence pulled the blanket up to her chest. The fibers rustled. She stared at the ceiling, where the light bulbs flickered as the blanket swayed above her head. ¡°There¡¯s kinda another problem,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s about your way back home to your sister.¡± Florence bolted up, sitting on her bottom. The mattress squeaked. ¡°How do I do it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s kinda the problem¡­ they took it from me?¡± ¡°What is it then?¡± ¡°Once we¡¯ve completed the occult detective contract¡­ the Wellor System will give us something known as a Wish Crystal.¡± ¡°How about we get out of here now and find it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s kinda the problem¡­ I¡¯ve no idea where they took it.¡± Florence dropped her jaw wide open. She slumped into the mattress with a squeak. From head to toe, the energy drained itself out of her body. She rubbed her temple, breathing bitter air down to her lungs. ¡°So¡­ Do you wanna introduce your sister to me?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Since¡­ you know.¡± Florence closed her eyes. ¡°It cannot be her¡­ wait, did you say they took it?¡± ¡°Yup¡­ Is everything alright up there with your noggin?¡± ¡°Absolutely, everything is fine.¡± Florence inhaled and exhaled, wrapping her own brain. What was her name¡­ again? She thinned her lips, clenching her blanket, turning her fingers white. She slowly opened up her eyelids. ¡°Hello?¡± Aisling waved her hand. ¡°Can you hear me?¡± Florence nodded. ¡°I¡­ but I guess you can say she is more or less a daisy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s kinda not convincing. Is her name really Daisy?¡± ¡°God¡­ I¡¯m such a bad sister.¡± Florence smacked her forehead, pushing her hair up. ¡°Nope.¡± Aisling chuckled, covering her mouth. Her body trembled as she laughed. ¡°You kinda remind me of¡­ never mind¡­ just forget about it.¡± The plank floor trembled, and the bed legs screeched. The light bulbs switched off, plunging Florence and Aisling into darkness. Immediately, the luminescence flicked back on. ¡°What was that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Aisling shrugged, rubbing her chin. She stared at her toe, sticking out the other part of the blanket. ¡°Wait, did those NPCs say¡ª¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The room rocked as the beds slid. The frames banged together. The mattresses shook with a squeak. Florence yelped as her hand slammed into the railing. She gritted her teeth, rubbing her forehead. ¡°Never mind¡­ I remember now,¡± Aisling said. She smiled, staring at the ceiling. ¡°They did say something about raiding the hospital.¡± Florence nodded. ¡°Absolutely, for medical supplies. Is that correct?¡± A faint bangs reverberated outside the glass room as a blur dashed down the corridor. Screams rang. Florence and Aisling turned their heads towards the shut steel door. Florence pulled at her handcuff. The chain rattled. The metal dug into her skin. She sank her teeth into her lower lip as the bond remained unbroken. A knock sounded against the steel door. Florence froze. Her muscles contracted. ¡°Yup, this is how it¡¯s going to end? Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Aisling smiled, sinking her body deeper into the bed. ¡°Well, nice, it¡¯s kinda nice to see all of you.¡± Florence kicked the railing, tugging at her restraints. ¡°Come on, we will blip off if we do not leave here.¡± Aisling waved her hand, pointing down at the ground. Florence inhaled and exhaled. ¡°This is absolutely¡ª¡± Bullets ripped through the glass walls. Shards scattered across the floor. Florence lay flat on the bed as the spinning hot leads whizzed over her. She gritted her teeth, holding her breath. The chain of her handcuffs shattered. A projectile scratched her skin on her forehead, searing her nerves. Blood trickled down her face. The air escaped her lungs as she clenched the blanket, turning her fingers white. Screams echoed in her ear channel. The ringing of the gunshot died down. An eerie silence swamped with whimpers. The steel door fell, crashing into the floor. A gal NPC with a phonograph for her face stepped into the room, pointing the rifle from one patient to another. ¡°Stay where you¡¯re and show your hands where I can see them. Or else I¡¯m sending you to Mechtus.¡± ¡°Hey, Phonograph-Face, wrong one,¡± an NPC said. It clucked out of Florence¡¯s sight. ¡°What?¡± ¡°This one is for those Players with terrible stats.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have said it sooner?¡± Phonograph-Face wheeled around, cracking her neck. A screech rang from the stylus scratching against the record. She stomped through the doorway, whitening her fingers around the rifle¡¯s grip. The footsteps echoed outside in the corridor, slowly fading away. Florence lifted her head up from the pillow, wiping the blood off her face. ¡°That is goofy.¡± ¡°Seriously, this is your first response?¡± Aisling tilted her head with her handcuffs shattered, getting out of bed. ¡°I kinda don¡¯t know¡­ just whatever. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Florence rolled out of bed, standing on her own two feet. Her legs wobbled. She blinked, collapsing on the floor with a thud. Aisling heaved, clutching her chest. She leaned against the wall. ¡°I kinda forgot to tell you something.¡± ¡°Pardon me, what is it?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say those healing serums will only patch up fifty percent of the way. Because of¡­ you know¡­ our stats.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to be surprised at this point?¡± Florence pressed her palm on the floor with a creak, pushing onto her knees and then to her feet. She stumbled, grabbing hold of the bed railing. Her forearms trembled. Aisling smiled, steadying her breath. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Do I look ready?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope, but we¡¯ve gotta get out of here now. Because if we don¡¯t¡­ you know¡­ either of the available options isn¡¯t kinda pleasant.¡± ¡°Give me a second.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Florence inhaled and exhaled, raising her chest up and down. As her muscles strained, she tightened her grip on the railing, whitening her fingers. She nodded her head. Aisling breezed around the bed, getting next to Florence. Then Aisling wrapped her arms around Florence¡¯s waist, supporting her weight. A tremor spread through the building, throwing Florence and Aisling off their feet. Thud. Florence¡¯s and Aisling¡¯s chin smacked against the The beds rocked. Florence groaned, resting one of her arms over Aisling¡¯s shoulders. Florence and Aisling struggled to stand up together, limping towards the fallen metal door and stopping before the exit. Aisling leaned forward, peeping out of the room. She jerked her head back, hiding behind the door frame. Gunshot rang. Bullets whizzed through the corridor. ¡°So¡­ any ideas.¡± Aisling coughed, punching her chest. ¡°Because I¡­ kinda need some time to¡­ you know.¡± ¡°Pardon me, do you want me to tell you the good or bad news?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Florence and Aisling turned their heads towards each other, making eye contact. ¡°We¡¯re screwed,¡± Aisling said. ¡°How about we try your time manipulation ability?¡± Florence scratched the back of her head. ¡°Will that be possible?¡± ¡°Nope. No way that we could make it.¡± ¡°Pardon me, so you have a better suggestion.¡± A shadow emerged from the corridor¡¯s surfaces, growing larger every second. The stomping of footsteps echoed. Florence and Aisling dove under one of the beds where patients rested. The mattresses squeaked as some of the patients shifted their weight. From the corner of Florence¡¯s eyes, a chicken feet from an NPC clawed its talons along the plank. ¡°Did one of you try to come out?¡± the NPC with chicken feet asked. A click rang. ¡°Or do you want to say hi to my little friend? Since all of you think of this chicken eyesight because I see more degrees than you Players can.¡± A screech reverberated. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with you, Phonograph-Face?¡± The NPC with chicken feet wheeled around. ¡°Did one of my fellas hit your head too hard?¡± Phonograph-Face stomped into the room. Her disc shrieked. ¡°I can hear you clearly, heretic.¡± ¡°Heretic, my face. I¡¯ve got a name, you know.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not I Know. Is Cluck Norris. You better remember that because my fella ain¡¯t lying about those rumors of mine.¡± ¡°What¡¯re you going to do? Cluck me to death?¡± A click rang. Phonograph-Face inched away from Cluck Norris as an eerie silence followed her. Cluck Norris kneeled, looking under the bed where Florence and Aisling hid. He turned his chicken head sideways, aiming a pistol at Florence and then Aisling. His finger rested against the trigger. Aisling smiled, showing her open palms. ¡°Hi, don¡¯t shoot¡­ we come in peace.¡± ¡°By the order of Mechtus, you cannot kill them,¡± Phonograph-face said. ¡°Who is that anyway?¡± Cluck Norris blinked as she growled. ¡°I¡¯ll totally convert to whatever this cult¡­ I mean this religious group of yours,¡± Aisling said. ¡°Pardon me, how do you know it is a¡­ religion?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Never mind, I see it now. But I would like to apologize because¡ª¡± Phonograph-Face crouched down, pulling at the bolt handle of her rifle. ¡°You can send that weird blond lady to Mechtus,¡± she said. Cluck Norris shrugged. ¡°Since when am I¡ª¡± His beak opened, but no word came out from his vocal cords. ¡°We gotta go now,¡± Aisling said. She snatched the pistol out of Cluck Norris¡¯s hand. Florence and Aisling crawled backward, wiggling their way out under the bed. Their hospital gown rustled as they stood up. Florence grabbed onto the bed railing with her legs trembling. Her muscles shrieked at her. Aisling wheezed, clenching her chest. She coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°What the heck?¡± Cluck Norris peeped his chicken head over the mattress, raising his hands. ¡°How did¡­ don¡¯t shoot.¡± Aisling stretched her arms, aligning the front and rear sight onto Cluck Norris. Her index finger wrapped around the trigger. The blood trickled out of her mouth. A rustle whispered. Phonograph-Face aimed her rifle at Florence. A bang echoed, shaking Florence to her core¡­ Chapter 53: Trust me... She is Not Insane Florence dropped to the floor with her hands over her head. The bullets cracked through the air, shattering the glass wall behind her. Shards scattered down to the street below. Screams rang. One of the blankets lifted into the air, wrapping around Phonograph-Face. She stumbled backward, knocking into one of the beds where a patient resting on it whimpered. Aisling aimed the pistol at Cluck Norris, aligning the front and rear sight to his head. She pulled the trigger. But an empty click echoed from the pistol in her hands. Her eyes widened, looking at the gun that she held. Cluck Norris growled, jumping into the air. He tucked his hands under his armpits, flapping his arms. His talons stretched out, swiping it towards Aisling. Aisling hopped backwards. The front of her hospital gown ripped. She tripped over her foot, tumbling towards a patient behind her. ¡°Watch it,¡± Florence said. She grabbed Aisling on the wrist, inches away from her, crashing into the patient. A sharp claw shredded through Florence¡¯s back. She groaned, gritting her teeth. Her nerves shrieked. Blood trickled down her skin. Aisling leaned forward, slamming her foot on the floor. She enveloped her arms around Florence. A gawk sounded next to Florence¡¯s ear. A yellow blur flashed past Florence, rustling her hair. Aisling choked, coughing out loud. She clawed at her throat, trying to pull away the Cluck Norris¡¯s toes around her neck. Florence and Aisling got lifted into the air, leaving their feet dangling. Aisling swayed her legs back and forth. Florence glanced over her shoulder, staring into Cluck Norris¡¯s gaping maw as he flapped his arms. She swung her elbow towards him. He tilted his chicken head, dodging the strike. He growled, pecking her on the back of her skull. She jerked her head forward, gritting her teeth. ¡°A¡­ little help¡­ here¡­ would be kinda nice,¡± Aisling said. She smiled, sinking her nails into Florence. ¡°Pretty please?¡± ¡°Pardon me, what does it look like I am trying to do?¡± Florence asked. ¡°How am I supposed¡­ to know? Am I a mind¡ª¡± Cluck Norris smashed Aisling into the ceiling, shattering the light bulbs. The glass clattered across the floor, and the wires cracked with electricity. Aisling coughed, slamming her foot on Cluck Norris¡¯s beak. Cluck Norris jerked his head back, stopping the flapping of his arms. Florence, Aisling, and Cluck Norris plummeted, slamming onto the floor. The bed next to them shuddered. A hell of bullets ripped through the blankets wrapped around Phonograph-Face, flying over Florence. The lead thudded on any surfaces it came into contact with, shattering the remaining glass walls around them. Florence closed her eyes, placing her hands over her head and nape. The shards scattered across the room. A knuckle cracked on her face, sending her sliding across the floor. She blinked, opening her eyes. Phonograph-Face tripped backward, falling onto the shards. A muffled rustle sounded beside Florence. She turned around. Aisling sat on top of Cluck Norris, pinning down his wrist. She swayed side to side as he thrashed around on the floor. His chicken feet smacked onto the bed railing with a clank. He growled, pecking her on the forehead. A scream escaped her throat. She retracted her arms from Cluck Norris, releasing her grip on him. He headbutted her in the face. Her body flew across the room, slamming into Florence with a thump. Florence groaned, pushing the back of her hand onto her unkempt blond hair. Phonograph-Face pulled the blanket wrapped around her, aiming at Florence and Aisling. Then Phonograph-Face kneeled, aligning the front and rear sight, pushing the butt of her rifle into the pocket of her shoulder. She inhaled and exhaled, resting her index finger on the trigger. Florence gulped, raising her hands up. Aisling grabbed Florence in her hospital gown. Together, they rolled out of sight, hiding behind one of the beds where the patient rested. ¡°Pardon me, what are you doing?¡± Florence asked. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°Saving our lives. Isn¡¯t that kinda obvious?¡± ¡°You are put¡ª¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m just making¡ª¡± A click rang. ¡°Yup,¡± Aisling said. ¡°I¡¯ll kinda deal with that phonograph, and you get that chicken.¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°But¡ª¡± Aisling hopped over the bed, breezing towards Phonograph-Face and tackling her down. A gawk reverberated next to Florence¡¯s ear. Florence bit her lips, turning her head toward that sound. Her heart jumped out of her chest. A chill ran down her spine. Inches in front of her face, she stared at the beak snapping at her. Cluck Norris flapped his arms, ascending up to the ceiling. Florence leaped back with her bottom thudding on the floor. She scrambled back through the fractured glass wall, sliding into the other patient¡¯s room. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. A blur zoomed in, smashing into her. Cluck Norris¡¯s talons sank into Florence¡¯s shoulder. Florence grunted, gritting her teeth. The blood leaked out from her fresh stab wounds, soaking into her hospital gown. Her vision blurred. In a blink, Aisling appeared behind Cluck Norris. She held a rifle in her head, cracking the butt over his head. His eyes rolled behind his head. He thudded onto the floor, lying flat with his tongue sticking out. His nails pulled out of Florence. Aisling stretched her hand out to Florence. ¡°That was¡­ how should I put this?¡± Florence asked. She reached for Aisling, grabbing onto her wrist. ¡°Pardon me, what did you do this time?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me that? You can kinda see it for yourself,¡± Aisling said. Blood flowed out of her nostrils. She helped Florence back onto her feet. Florence turned her head. Phonograph-Face lay on the floor in front of the metal door. The disc was smashed, leaving behind fragments on her body. Not a single finger or limb moved. ¡°Did you¡­ you know?¡± Florence raised her eyebrow. She pointed at Phonograph-Face. Aisling smiled, massaging her shoulder with a rifle. ¡°Are you gonna tell anyone about this?¡± ¡°What if I do?¡± ¡°You know what would kinda happen?¡± Aisling wiped the blood off her face. She laughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°I will absolutely not tell anyone about what you did here,¡± Florence said. Aisling breezed out of the room, stepping over the broken glass. She entered into the corridor, dragging Florence along. The lighting flicked on the ceiling. Those snags shivered on the floor as the building shook. Florence and Aisling stumbled, tripping over their own feet. Their heads smacked against the metal door. A buzz rang in her ear canal. Florence blinked, rubbing her temple. A tug on her arm pulled her onto her feet. She shook her head, clearing up her vision. She pressed lacerations on her shoulders, stopping the bleeding. ¡°We¡¯ve gotta go, now.¡± Aisling coughed, clenching her chest. Her arm wrapped around Florence. ¡°I¡­ Which way is it again?¡± ¡°I see why you constantly refuse to come here,¡± Florence said. ¡°That¡¯s not even the start of it. We still kinda have to pay nine quadrillion dollars for the healing serum given to us.¡± ¡°Terrible service¡­ Pardon me, did you say something in quadrillion?¡± ¡°Yup, sure thing, grandma.¡± Florence and Aisling tiptoed down the corridor. Gunshots sounded behind them. They wheeled around. An electrical blue and flashes of orange reflected on the glass walls. The air crackled. Aisling stumbled back, dragging Florence. ¡°Pardon me, are there more of them?¡± Florence asked. Aisling shrugged. ¡°How am I supposed to know? Yup, of course, there would be more.¡± She tugged Florence, breezing farther down the corridor. Bang. A bullet scathed Florence¡¯s cheek. Florence dropped on the floor with a thud, cracking her nose. Blood oozed out from the wound on her face. Aisling kicked down one of the metal doors, pushing Florence into another patient room. Then, she hopped in and slammed the door shut behind her. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here, pleb?¡± someone asked in a deep bloke voice. ¡°Nope, it should be me asking that,¡± Aisling said. Florence looked up, rubbing her eyes. In front of her, Lucy rested on one of the patient beds as she patted Sam, who was sitting on her lap. Despite that, those burn scars ran down from her chin to her neck and forearms. Sam hissed. ¡°Wait a second, are you plebs trying to get me fired again?¡± ¡°You kinda got yourself fired last time.¡± Aisling pointed at herself. ¡°So, why¡¯re you blaming that on us?¡± ¡°How¡­ How do you know me?¡± Lucy¡¯s cheeks flushed. ¡°Pardon me, since when do hospitals allow patients to drink giggle juice?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Giggle, what now?¡± Sam meowed, licking his fur. ¡°Did you escape an insane asylum or what?¡± Aisling glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes widened. Sam¡¯s pupil dilated as his tongue stuck out. Aisling pushed Florence onto the floor. Gunshots rang outside of the room. Lucy hugged Sam, rolling off the mattress away from the metal door. The glass wall shattered behind them, scattering the shards into the room. Bullets whizzed over Florence, Aisling, Sam, and Lucy. Florence and Aislingc crawled under the bed, hiding from the barrage. The fragments cracked under the NPC¡¯s goat hooves. A click echoed. Aisling jabbed Florence on the side. Immediately, Florence turned her head towards Aisling. Aisling pointed at herself and then at Florence, swinging the rifle at the approaching NPC. Florence shook her head. The mattress squeaked. Florence and Aisling froze. From the corner of Florence¡¯s eyes, the NPC¡­ no¡­ Holland crouched down, glaring at Florence and Aisling. Holland bleated. She pushed the butt of the shotgun into her shoulder pocket, aiming the barrel at Florence and Aisling. Florence and Aisling screamed, scrambling backward until the bed was no longer above their head. They shot up to their feet with their hands raised up. Leads flew between Florence¡¯s legs, thudding on the floor. A shiver ran up Florence. She jumped, vibrating the bone within her body. ¡°Put that gun down,¡± Holland said. Aisling threw the rifle onto the bed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s kinda¡ª¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your opinion.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed¡ª¡± Lucy hiccuped. An eerie silence floated through the air. Florence, Aisling, and Holland turned their heads towards Lucy, who was cuddling Sam in the corner of the room. ¡°Hi¡­ sorry,¡± Lucy said. She waved her hands. ¡°Apologizes, she is a bit drunk¡­ I think,¡± Florence said. Lucy yelped. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°Wait, what?¡± ¡°Okay, could all of you stop yapping here?¡± Holland held in the action release button, pumping the slide backward, then forwards. ¡°So, any last words?¡± ¡°Pardon me, are you supposed to be getting those medical supplies?¡± Florence asked. Cluck Norris limped through the corridor, stopping in front of the room that Florence was in. He heaved, pressing his palms on his knees. The shards cracked under his chicken feet. Holland glanced over her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s it now?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve got to go now,¡± Cluck Norris said. ¡°Were you not trying to kill us a moment ago?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Did we get what we¡¯re looking for, my fella?¡± Holland bleated, scratching her hooves on the floor. ¡°Or is it really that difficult to find?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s even worse,¡± Cluck Norris said. ¡°They¡¯re¡ª¡± A ray of electricity burned through him. He fell onto his knees. His head thumped onto the floor. His pupils dilated. Holland wheeled around. ¡°Cluck Norris?¡± But instead, an eerie silence filled with the stomping of metal boots followed within the corridor. Aisling lunged forward, wrapping her arms around Holland¡¯s neck. Holland gasped. Bang. Bullets thudded onto the ceiling, smashing the light bulbs. Other patients within the room screamed. ¡°Do not do it here,¡± Florence said. ¡°What are you going to do? Ground us?¡± Holland asked. She grabbed onto Aisling¡¯s hooded shirt, tossing her across the room. Aisling groaned as she slammed into the floor. Suddenly, a company of pink androids rushed down the corridor. A few of them stepped into the room where Florence was. The pink androids¡¯ rifle charged with energy aiming at her¡­ Chapter 54: Healing Serum Another beam of electricity soared over Florence. Lucy yelped, sitting in the corner of the room as she cuddled Sam. She pressed into the laceration on her shoulders. ¡°I said, do not fight here.¡± Aisling crawled under the bed, hiding from the barrages. While Holland leaped over the mattress where one of the patients rested, landing beside Florence with a thud. Holland bleated, pushing the butt of the shotgun into her shoulder pocket. She aimed the barrel at Florence¡¯s head. ¡°Not again,¡± Florence said. ¡°If you want to live, follow my orders,¡± Holland said. ¡°Or else¡­¡± Aisling crawled out of the bed, sitting next to Florence. Then Aisling closed her eyes, tapping her fingertips on the floor. ¡°Believe me, you do not want to take me as a hostage,¡± Florence said. Holland grunted, furrowing her brow. She bleated, putting her index finger around the trigger. Aisling grabbed onto the shotgun, pulling it upwards. Bang. Bullets flew through the air, thudding onto the ceiling. Holland rammed her forehead on Aisling¡¯s nose. Aisling yelped, holding onto the firearm and pushing Holland onto the floor. Holland and Aisling rolled around, wrestling and kicking each other. The bed frames screeched as Holland thrust Aisling into it. Another gunshot rang in the room along with the crackling electrical beam. Florence clapped her hands. ¡°Absolutely no fighting in here.¡± ¡°No,¡± Aisling and Holland said. A shadow cast over Florence, Aisling, and Holland. They tilted their head up, finding out the pink android plunged towards them. The rifle cracked Holland over her head. She fell lump onto the floor. The pink android gripped Aisling on the neck, squeezing her throat. Aisling gasped, clawing at the pink android¡¯s fingers. The barrel of the rifle buzzed with energy. Florence gripped the muzzle, pulling it with all her strength. But it didn¡¯t budge an inch. She sighed, looking at the pink android in the eye. The pink android swung its rifle, cracking her on the chin. She glided backward, smashing through the glass wall. The shards scattered across the floor. Aisling kicked the pink android on its crotch. The pink android groaned, thudding its head on the floor and releasing its grasp on Aisling¡¯s neck. The muzzle of its rifle burned bright. A beam of electricity zapped over her skin. She gasped as the air escaped her lungs. Her muscles spasmed. Aisling gasped, crawling away from the pink android. She wrapped her arm around Florence, picking her up. ¡°What¡¯re you doing, pleb?¡± Sam asked. ¡°Trying to escape this insane asylum?¡± Aisling glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because¡­ I mean¡­ how should I say this?¡± Lucy asked. Aisling wheeled around, breezing towards Sam and Lucy. Then she grabbed onto Lucy, dragging her towards the corridor while carrying Florence. A crack reverberated. Aisling fell to her knees with a thud, massaging the back of her hip. Her grasp around Florence and Lucy dropped. Aisling smiled, hitting her forehead against the floor. ¡°You shall never escape,¡± the pink android said, covering its pelvis. ¡°This is by the order of the Wellor System.¡± ¡°Do you want me to kinda crouch¡­ again?¡± Aisling asked. The crackle inside the rifle barrel died down, destroying the blue glow through the muzzle. The pink android buried its face under one of the beds. Aisling dragged herself out of the room and into the corridor, carrying Florence and Lucy. A rumble shook the building. Suddenly, the air heated up around them, dancing on their skin. Aisling¡¯s face paled. A trail of sweat ran down from her forehead to her chin. She heaved, raising her chest up and down. Her fingertips trembled on Florence¡¯s skin. ¡°Look, I am here,¡± Florence said. ¡°I do not think that¡ª¡± Aisling shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be fine.¡± She took one shaky step forward, leading Florence and Lucy down the corridor. After a bunch of twists and turns in this building, they ended up in front of the medical storage room. Inside, rows of wooden shelves were stored with opened boxes that towered over the shattered glass entrance on the floor. Needles, bandages, and pills were scattered across the room. Aisling stepped over the snags and shards, dragging Florence and Lucy in. ¡°Why¡¯re we here?¡± Florence asked. ¡°I know this sounds ironic¡­ but we really should get out of here.¡± Aisling shrugged, breezing down one of the aisles. ¡°What do you think we¡¯re looking for?¡± A rattle echoed behind one of the wooden shelves. Florence, Aisling, and Lucy wheeled around, facing it. Sam hissed, climbing out of Lucy¡¯s hug and up to her head. Aisling hushed, placing her index fingers on her lips. She kneeled down, grabbing a needle.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Florence shook her head and pushed her knuckle down on Aisling¡¯s shoulder. Then Florence pointed at the exit that leads into the corridor, waving her index finger at it. A click rang behind Aisling. Florence, Aisling, Sam, and Lucy turned their head towards the sound source. An eerie silence floated through the air. In front of them, Chloe adjusted her collar, covering her face¡¯s bottom half. She squeezed a metal box with two locks under her armpit. The pistol in her hand aimed at Aisling¡¯s forehead. Chloe¡¯s index finger tapped against the trigger. ¡°Chloe¡­ is that you?¡± Florence asked. Chloe¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How did you know my name? Are you working for the Wellor System?¡± ¡°Chloe¡­ I thought¡­ I thought¡­ you were¡­¡± Lucy sniffed, cupping her mouth as she gasped. Her shoulders slumped. She cried quietly, letting the tears roll down her cheeks. ¡°Hold up¡­ how did all of you kinda know her?¡± Aisling asked. ¡°Duck,¡± Chloe said. Florence raised her eyebrow. ¡°Pardon me, what¡ª¡± Aisling pushed Florence and Lucy to the floor, squishing Sam underneath them. Sam hissed, clawing his way out and gasping for air. A bang rang. A bullet whizzed over Florence¡¯s head, thudding onto something solid. She glanced over her shoulder, finding a gray pawn with a gunshot wound in her forehead. The sword slipped out of her grasp, clattering on the floor. Cracks spread across her skin. Her body collapsed into a heap of rubble. ¡°Thanks¡­ I guess,¡± Lucy said. ¡°If that doesn¡¯t ring the bell, we probably should get out of here?¡± Florence pushed her forehead against the wooden shelves with her palms pressuring the gash on her shoulder. But her muscles strained, unable to stand back up. Chloe clicked the two locks on the metal box, swinging the lid open. She slipped her hand in, taking out a syringe filled with a transparent fluid. She stabbed its needle into Florence¡¯s arm, pushing the plunger. Florence bit her lips, muffling her scream. But the wound on her shoulder and back-stitched itself back together, leaving behind a scar on her skin. ¡°We¡¯re done here¡­ I think?¡± Aisling scratched her chin, tilting her head. ¡°Yup, definitely done. By the way, could you give us some of those healing serums?¡± Chloe closed the metal box, locked it, and pushed it to her chest. She huffed, turning around so as not to face Aisling. Aisling sighed. ¡°Fine¡­ whatever. Do whatever you want¡­?¡± A rattle chimed behind one of the wooden shelves. Florence, Aisling, Lucy, and Chloe turned towards it. ¡°Pardon me, was it not you a moment ago?¡± Florence asked. Her palms slipped away from her shoulder as she glanced over to Chloe. Chloe shook her head, widening her eyes. A knuckle cracked through the back panel, punching Chloe in the face. She fell as her head slammed against the shelf. Her grasp on the gun loosened, letting it clatter to Florence¡¯s foot. Chloe groaned, massaging her temple. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± someone asked on the other side of the shelf. ¡°Why are you so soft, stupid gray¡­ wait, what¡¯s your name again?¡± Aisling coughed, cupping her mouth. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m kinda¡ª¡± A rattle on a tail zoomed over the shelf, wrapping around Aisling¡¯s neck. She gasped, clawing at the snake scale encased around her throat. Her legs swung back and forth as her feet dangled in the air. She crashed through the storage, scattering needles, boxes, bandages, and splinters across the aisle. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not one of those idiots?¡± A gal NPC with a rattlesnake head and tail asked. She peeped through the gaping hole, flickering her forked tongue. Her fingers paled around the straps of a bag filled with healing serum slung over her shoulder. Florence knocked the pistol sliding away from her, lunging at the gal NPC¡¯s rattlesnake tail. Then Florence tackled it, pulling at its tight wrap around Aisling¡¯s neck. ¡°What¡¯re you thinking?¡± the gal with rattlesnake head and tail asked. She smacked Florence and Aisling into the ceiling. ¡°Trying to be heroic?¡± Florence¡¯s hold slipped away from the gal¡¯s rattlesnake tail, crashing into the floor. Chloe launched herself towards the gun, snatching it off the floor. Her body slid across the aisle until it slammed into Lucy¡¯s feet. Lucy squealed, squeezing Sam around his neck. Then Chloe aligned the front and rear sight, aiming the muzzle at the gal with rattlesnake head and tail. A bang rang, vibrating Florence¡¯s eardrums. The gal with rattlesnake head and tail collapsed onto the floor. Her grasp on Aisling loosened, dropping her on top of Florence. Florence groaned, closing her eyes. She clenched her fist, punching the bottom shelf. The gal with rattlesnake head and tail hissed. ¡°Why¡ª¡± Gunshots shook the air. Florence¡¯s eyes flew open as she turned her head. A chill ran down her spine. Her stomach twisted. In front of her, the gal with a rattlesnake head and tail riddled with gun wounds lay in a pool of blood. ¡°Is anyone here going to say a word about what happened here?¡± Chloe asked. She stood back onto her feet. ¡°Pardon me, why did you do that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Why did you bump off her?¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?¡± ¡°You know what¡ª¡± A scream reverberated from the corridor. Aising groaned, rolling off Florence. Florence¡¯s eyelids flew open. She pressed her palm on the floor, pushing herself into a sitting position. A group of NPCs ran past her, going through the corridor. Beams of electricity chased after them, crackling through the air. A bright blue glow zapped past some of the NPCs. But a few of them collapsed on the floor with the ray of power pierced through their chest. Their screams slowly died away. Chloe scrambled onto her feet. Her fingers whitened around the handle of her pistol. She leaped toward Lucy, grabbing her on the wrist. Lucy yelped, jumping up to the ceiling. Then Chloe pulled Lucy away from the corridor, dragging her from Aisling¡¯s grasp. The stomping of metal boots rang louder and louder with every passing second. Aisling tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± ¡°What else do you think that I¡¯m doing?¡± Chloe asked. ¡°Do you have a better plan than me?¡± Florence raised her hands with her palms open. ¡°Pardon me, both of you should stop it right there?¡± ¡°Shut it,¡± Aisling and Chloe said, glaring at Florence. Florence took a step back away. ¡°Absolutely.¡± Chloe¡¯s eyes widened. She ducked, pushing Chloe down. Florence raised her eyebrows. ¡°Pardon me, what¡ª¡± The eerie silence grew as the metal boots stomped across the floor and stopped within the corridor. A push from behind knocked her over. Her chin smashed on the floor. She groaned, gritting her teeth. A crackle tickled up her spine, tingling her skin. A gasp rang throughout the room. Then, a thud sounded on her right. She turned her head towards it. Her eyes widened. Her stomach twisted, causing the bile to rise up her throat. In front of her, Aisling¡¯s pupils were dilated. Blood leaked out of her mouth, forming a pool. A muffled sizzle rose from a hole through her chest. Chloe crawled across the floor. The items within the metal box rattled. She unlocked it, reaching her hand inside and taking out a syringe. Then she stabbed the needle into Aisling¡¯s neck, pushing the plunger. The frizzle died down. The cavity in Aisling¡¯s chest closed, mending itself back together. She gasped, digging her nails into her palm. Chloe snapped her fingers. She clenched onto Florence and Aisling, dragging them down the aisle. A crackle rang behind them. Immediately, Florence glanced over her shoulder. The muzzle of a rifle aimed at her. Within the barrel, the blue glow burned larger. Her heart jumped out of her chest as her own weight dropped to the floor. In the blink of an eye, a beam of electricity zapped towards her forehead¡­ Chapter 55: So You Live In a Internet Cafe Florence¡¯s eyes flew open, staring at the smoke floating below the spots of mold spread across the ceiling. The onyx walls towered over her, but the top of it was left open. A splinting ache erupted from her forehead, shoulder, and back. An acrid and dead odor wrapped around her, filling her nostrils. A buzzing in her skull drowned the clicks and muffled chatter outside the room. She groaned, rolling onto her side over the carpet. Inches away from the tip of her nose was Aisling, who snoozed on the carpet floor. ¡°Did ya seriously wake up before I finish my business?¡± Chloe asked. She tapped the screen of her phone with her feet resting on the metal box with two locks sitting atop a desk. Lucy yelped, shrinking into herself with Sam kneading his paws on her lap. ¡°I¡¯m going to get ya some beer after this,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Or do ya like some ale?¡± Florence shrugged, raising her eyebrows. ¡°All of us?¡± Chloe stopped tapping the screen. She turned her head, glaring at Florence. Her fingers whitened around the frame of her phone. She sighed, shoving her hands into the pockets of her zipped jacket and leaning back on the door. The hinges creaked. ¡°Pardon me, how did we get here anyways?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Big mistake,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Unless ya want to get into deep trouble with the Wellor System. Do ya?¡± Aisling yawned, stretching her legs and arms. Her palm slapped Florence¡¯s face. Florence groaned, pushing Aisling¡¯s hand away from her. Chloe clicked her tongue. ¡°Do ya understand me?¡± ¡°Did we pay for our medical bills?¡± Aisling blinked, squeezing in between her eyes. ¡°Wait¡­ where¡¯re we exactly?¡± ¡°Should I not be surprised if the medical bills are in the trillions?¡± Florence asked. ¡°But, pardon me, where are we?¡± Chloe nodded. Florence sighed, lowering her head. Her shoulders slumped. She covered her forehead, shaking her head. Chloe crossed her arms. ¡°What¡¯s taking him¡ª¡± A knock rattled the door. Florence raised her head up, turning towards. Aisling rested on the wall with her palm behind her nape and winked at Florence. The carpet floor rumbled beneath them as Lucy jumped onto her feet. Her arms wrapped around Sam¡¯s chest. He choked, swiping his claws in the air. The hinges creaked as the door swung open. Towering over Florence, Aisling, Lucy, Chloe, and Sam was a¡­ ¡°Steve?¡± Aisling tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here?¡± ¡°Who is Steve?¡± Florence asked. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re fired,¡± Steve said. Aisling slapped her lips together, widening her eyes. She slanted forward, pointing at her nose with her index finger. Chloe slapped her fingers. Then she jabbed at the screen of her phone. ¡°Pardon me, is that the bloke from the cafe or something?¡± Florence asked. ¡°What is he doing here anyway?¡± ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t just kinda fire me like that.¡± Aisling spread her arms out. The hinges creaked as Steve pressed his elbow on the door. With one hand, he reached into the pocket of his jeans. Then he pulled out his phone, tapping on the screen. A ding rang throughout the room. Chloe slipped her phone back into the pocket of her zipped jacket. ¡°Nice.¡± Steve grinned, revealing his uncanny teeth. He wiggled his index finger in a rolling motion at the metal box with two locks resting under Chloe¡¯s heel. Chloe rolled her eyes, kicking his feet up. She grabbed the healing serum package and tossed it over her head. Steve snatched it out in the air. He gave a thumbs up, stepping backward. The door slammed shut in front of him. ¡°Not going to lie here, ya are all over the news,¡± Chloe said. ¡°And I¡¯m sure those pink androids are coming after you.¡± Aisling staggered onto her feet. ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t fire me like that. Could you hear me?¡± Chloe rolled across the carpet, blocking Aisling¡¯s path. ¡°What¡¯re you doing?¡± Aisling squinted her eyes, furrowing her brow. She stepped over Chloe, reaching for the exit. Chloe gripped Aisling¡¯s ankle, tripping her over. Aisling fell. Her chin hit the floor with a muffled thud. Florence stood up, opening her palm and putting it before herself. ¡°How about not getting too violent here?¡± Aisling groaned, rotating onto her back. She rubbed her knuckle against her chin. ¡°Ya called that violence?¡± Chloe clicked her tongue. She released her grip from Aisling¡¯s ankle. ¡°Give me a break or something. Couldn¡¯t ya?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Florence raised her eyebrows, pushing her fist into her hip. ¡°Come on, did ya seriously think I brought ya with me for your safety?¡± Chloe asked. Aisling covered her forehead, swinging her legs back and forth. ¡°At least, let me try to appeal to my manager.¡± ¡°So¡­ what about it?¡± ¡°I needed that money to¡ª¡± Chloe snatched her phone out, showing the screen to Florence and Aisling. A bright light blinded Florence. ¡°Ya have a lot of explaining to do,¡± Chloe said. Florence blinked, clearing her vision. In front of her, the phone monitor showed hers, and Aisling¡¯s and Yuze¡¯s contracts were renewed with the Wellor System. Florence raised her eyebrows, clenching her knees. It also said something about not trusting the ones closest to them. Chloe took a pistol from the pocket of her zipped jacket and aimed the barrel at Florence. The front and rear sights aligned with her forehead. A click rang. ¡°Pardon me, how did you receive that?¡± Florence raised her hands up with her palms open. Aisling shrugged, scratching her chin. ¡°That¡¯s kinda the biggest bluff that I¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°What did ya say to me?¡± Chloe said. She switched her target to Aisling, jabbing the muzzle between her eyes. Lucy yelped, curling up into a ball at the corner of the room. She shoved Sam onto her chest, muffling his meows. ¡°Do not shoot,¡± Florence said. ¡°I know¡­ where Stella and Mai are at.¡± Chloe turned her head towards Florence, glaring at her. Chloe¡¯s fingers whitened around the handle. Then she sighed, putting the pistol back into the pocket of her zipped jacket. Aisling smiled, clasping her hands together. ¡°I kinda knew you wouldn¡¯t do it.¡± Lucy widened the gap between her legs, peeping between her knees at Chloe. ¡°Where are they?¡± Chloe asked. ¡°Stella is at the tunnel connected to the Walled City,¡± Florence said. She clutched the side of her hospital gown. ¡°And¡­ Mai¡­ she went to a better place¡­ hopefully.¡± ¡°Did ya see her actually die?¡± ¡°Absolutely not¡­ I was not there in time. She might have been burnt alive in her own home, I am certain of it.¡± ¡°So, did ya actually get her corpse?¡± Florence closed her eyes, wrapping them around her mind, and remembered what had happened that night. An acrid stench burned her nostrils. The heat danced and tingled on her skin. But¡­ then she shook her head. ¡°In other words, she is not dead,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Pardon me, how would you know that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°It is not like you saw her get taken away. Is it correct?¡± Aisling smacked her lips, wiggling her toes. ¡°Chloe kinda got a point. Well¡­ how am I gonna explain this?¡± An eerie silence floated in the air, slicing through the conversation between Florence, Aisling, and Chloe. Florence¡¯s eyes darted back and forth from Aisling to Chloe. Florence sank her nails into her palm, pulling at her hospital gown and wrinkling it. ¡°It isn¡¯t because ya just entered District Nine,¡± Chloe said. ¡°But ya saw something that ya shouldn¡¯t have seen. That¡¯s the reason they¡¯re coming for you.¡± Florence bit her lips. ¡°Pardon me, what do you mean by that?¡± Chloe slanted forward, crossing her legs. She placed her palm on her knees, squinting her eyes at Florence. Florence jerked her head back, glancing away from Chloe. Aisling stood back up onto her feet. She thumbed at the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll just kinda¡­ you know. So, you guys keep on chit-chatting.¡± Chloe, without looking at Aisling, gripped her on the hospital gown. Aisling pouted, leaning against a wall. ¡°Am I a kinda kid or something to the point you must do that?¡± Chloe nodded, tugging at Aisling¡¯s hospital gown. Aisling yelped, wrapping her arms around herself. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°But in all seriousness, we have to go,¡± Florence said. ¡°What?¡± Chloe furrowed her brow. ¡°Ya had to be insane to go back out there.¡± ¡°Except for me, I won¡¯t get fired this time.¡± Sam stretched his paws out from between Lucy¡¯s legs. ¡°Especially not getting fired because of those two nutcase plebs.¡± ¡°Seriously, we¡¯re kinda not nutcases,¡± Aisling said. Chloe patted the pocket of her zipped jacket. ¡°Did ya all forget that I¡¯ve something else?¡± ¡°Pardon me, you do realize what happens next?¡± Florence asked. She stumbled onto her feet, patting her thigh. ¡°It would not be just us that they are looking for. Unless you want to meet a fate worse than death, as you said?¡± Chloe clicked her tongue, releasing her grasp from Aisling. Then Chloe smacked her knees, lowering her head. Sam meowed, squeezing his head out from between Lucy¡¯s legs. He brushed his whiskers, staring at Florence, Aisling, and Chloe. He meowed, dilating his pupils. Chloe smacked her forehead. ¡°What do ya want from me now?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Sam hissed, swiping his claws in the air. ¡°Get me out of here, pleb. Or are you too stupid to understand what I said?¡± ¡°So, do ya want them to take ya away from here?¡± ¡°Aye¡­ I mean, nay¡­ Why can¡¯t I find my words today? Did one of you plebs steal it?¡± Aisling spun around. She pinched Sam on his scruff, picking him up. He hissed, pulling his ears back. His claws slashed across the air, missing Aisling¡¯s face. Florence took a step forward. Her muscles strained. The nerves in her body shrieked. She collapsed, falling face flat onto the carpet floor. She groaned, lifting her chin up and massaging her forehead. ¡°Did you kinda forget about that already?¡± Aisling asked. A knock rattled the door. Florence, Aisling, Sam, Chloe, and Lucy turned their heads toward it. ¡°Pardon me, is there by any chance that you invited another customer here?¡± Florence asked. Chloe pulled a pistol from her pocket, hiding it on her back as she tiptoed to the exit. She shook her head. Her palm pressed against its surface, pushing it open with a creak. In front of her, Steve grinned, revealing his uncanny teeth as he stood in the corridor. But¡­ the metal box containing the healing serum given to him¡­ where did it go? He pulled his fist back. In a blur, his knuckle cracked against her nose. She flew off, crashing through the wall. The thin debris scattered across the carpet. Lucy yelped, wrapping her arms around herself. Aisling widened her jaw. ¡°What was that¡ª¡± The sole of Steve¡¯s foot smashed into Aisling¡¯s cheek. The back of her head slammed against the floor. She released her pinch on Sam, tossing him up to the ceiling. The rubbles trembled. He extended his legs out, diving toward Steve¡¯s face. Sam scratched deep into Steve¡¯s skin. But¡­ not a drop of blood leaked out of his gash. Instead, underneath it, the bone made of steel screeched against Sam¡¯s claws. ¡°Bad kitty,¡± Steve said. He snatched Sam on his scruff. Then Steve pulled his arm back as if readying to throw Sam across the other side of the world. Sam hissed, baring his teeth. ¡°Kinda do it. I dare you,¡± Aisling said with her voice muffled. ¡°Believe me, you¡¯re gonna be canceled after everyone witnesses this¡­ probably?¡± Steve set Sam aside on the carpet floor. Aisling sighed. ¡°Why does this always¡ª¡± Steve kneeled down, grabbing Aisling by the hair on her ginger ponytail. He stood up and yanked her up into the air. Her feet dangled inches away from the debris. She screamed, latching onto his wrist. Florence clenched her fist. ¡°Enough of this baloney. Or else I¡ª¡± Steve spun, swinging Aisling around himself. Her chest smacked against Florence¡¯s chin, sending her soaring up to the ceiling. Her head crashed into its surface before she got dragged back down¡­ Chapter 56: Great... Absolutely Wonderful Florence smashed onto the carpet floor with a crack. She groaned, stretching her arms up as Steve¡¯s grip tightened around her ankle. Blood flowed down her head. The debris fell upon her, crushing her bones. The fragments pierced her muscles. She gritted her teeth, clenching her fists that turned her fingers white. A bang rang in the room. The bullet spiraled out the muzzle of Chloe¡¯s pistol. The lead clanged against Steve¡¯s metal skull, reflecting up to the ceiling. Chloe stumbled to her feet and off the rubble. She wiped her nose and rushed toward Steve. Her body weight slammed into him without budging. She wrapped her arms around his waist. He gripped onto the collar of her zipped jacket, wrinkling the fibers. In a blur, she crashed into Aisling. Aisling soared to the door, shattering it open. Splinters scattered as she rolled across the floor in the corridor. Lucy yelped at the corner of the room, cuddling Sam. Chloe coughed with Steve¡¯s grip, holding onto the collar of her zipped jacket. The gun slipped from her grasp, dropping it onto the carpet. ¡°What is going on here? Are you trying to destroy everyone else¡¯s property around you?¡± A bloke peeped over the wall. His eyes widened, crawling back from where he came. ¡°Never mind.¡± Aisling massaged her temple, getting up onto her knees. Steve swung Florence. Her nails scratched against the carpet, trying to stop the momentum, but to no avail. She crashed into Aisling, sending her flying down the corridor. Chloe snapped her finger. Something hissed beneath Steve¡¯s feet. Suddenly, blue flames erupted under Steve, spiraling and expanding. A garbage disposal was sitting on the lower floor in the middle of it. He fell through it. The blue fire closed into him, slicing through his chest before dissipating into wisps of smoke. But for some reason¡­ there were not any burnt marks on the carpet. The floor remained intact, with no hole revealing the garbage disposal on the lower floor. Chloe clicked her tongue, getting back onto her feet. ¡°Great, since when was he an android?¡± ¡°How am I supposed to know?¡± Florence asked. Steve¡¯s pupils never dilated, staring at her. An alarm rang throughout the building. Aisling coughed, pushing her palm against the carpet floor to get back on her feet. ¡°Could you do that again?¡± ¡°If I could, I would¡¯ve already done it.¡± Chloe shrugged, picking her pistol up and shoving it into the pocket of her zipped jacket. She shook her head. ¡°Ya could use your brain a bit more. Couldn¡¯t ya?¡± Lucy shivered, rocking back and forth. Chloe slapped her palm on her face. ¡°Why can¡¯t ya be at least drunk?¡± She crouched next to Lucy, getting her up to her feet. Immediately, Chloe hurried into the corridor, dragging Lucy along. Chloe looked over her shoulder. ¡°Hey, ya over there. Get moving or something?¡± Florence nodded, wiggling her ankle from Steve¡¯s grasp. She crawled through the smashed door, digging her nails into the carpet. Her fragmented bones poked at her nerves with each contraction of her muscles. Chloe clicked her tongue, leaning her head up. ¡°Do I seriously have to do everything myself?¡± Aisling coughed, helping Florence to get on her feet. Then Aisling furrowed her eyebrows, glaring at Chloe. All the doors swung open along the corridor. Players in ragged clothes rushed out. They ran down the narrow path toward the exit, bumping into Florence, Aisling, Chloe, and Lucy. Lucy shrieked. ¡°Could ya not do that now?¡± Chloe asked. ¡°Watch your words, pleb.¡± Sam hissed, poking his head out with Lucy¡¯s arms wrapped around him. ¡°Unless you want to feel the full fury of my claws. Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Could we not have an argument and get out of here?¡± Florence asked. Another Player bumped into her from behind. Chloe rolled her eyes. ¡°Shut it, you¡¯re a cat.¡± ¡°So, what about it? You know who I am,¡± Sam said. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°We¡¯re never gonna get out of here. Aren¡¯t we?¡± Aisling asked. Chole spun around, grumbling under her breath. She stomped towards the opposite side of the Players¡¯ path and dragged Lucy along. ¡°Pardon me¡­ you¡¯re going in the wrong direction?¡± Florence asked. The footsteps running down the corridor silenced Chloe as she continued onward. Aisling wheeled around with the Players shoving into her. She followed Chloe, pulling Florence along as the flow of the crowd fought against them.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. A bang erupted from one end of the building. A set of doors soared under the ceiling, spinning around and crashing into the wall. The debris scattered over the corridor. The dust kicked up into the air. Some of the Players screamed. Aisling coughed, waving her hand in front of her nose. Florence glanced over her shoulder, raising her eyebrows. ¡°What is going¡ª¡± A beam of electricity zapped, slicing over the crowd. Some Players dropped to the floor with a thud. Their hands cover their heads and nape. Others hurried down the opposite direction from where Florence had gone. ¡°Come on, this way.¡± Chloe reached the end of the corridor, waving her hand. But right at the corner, a pink steel fist blurred toward her, cracking against her cheeks. She slammed into Lucy and Sam. The momentum itself launched them sideways, slamming into the wall. Florence and Aisling screeched to a stop. The pink android came around the corner. Its arm transformed into a rifle, aligning the front and rear sight at Sam¡¯s head. ¡°What now?¡± Florence asked. She extended her arm to grab Aisling¡¯s wrist, but all Florence could grasp was thin air. She turned her head just to find¡­ nothing. Where did Aisling go? Above the pink android¡¯s head, the ceiling shook. A crack spread across its surface. Dust floated down onto the pink android. Blood flowed out of Chloe¡¯s nostrils, dripping down her cheeks and staining her zipped jacket. She groaned, pulling her sleeve up and wiping it against her face. And one of her hands reached into her pocket. She squinted her eyes, glaring down the pink android. The barrel of the rifle crackled, glowing in a blue luminescent. Florence gritted her teeth, dashing toward the pink android. Blood trickled down her face. Her feet slapped across the carpet floor. But with each step she took, her bone cut off one of her muscle fibers. At the last stretch, she leaped, slamming her whole body weight on the rifle. Her arms wrapped around it. A beam of electricity flashed out from the muzzle, grazing her right elbow. It zapped toward Sam and Lucy. The energy penetrated the wall where smoke rose from the hole inches away from Lucy¡¯s shoulder. A burnt flesh smell tingled in Florence¡¯s nostrils. Chloe took out her pistol and pulled the trigger. A bang rang. The bullet thudded against the ceiling. The cracks widened, collapsing within itself. The debris plummeted, crushing the pink android. ¡°Hey, is everyone okay down there?¡± Aisling from upstairs peeped over the crater in the ceiling. She coughed up blood, wiping her mouth and clenching her chest. ¡°Florence, I think you should kinda¡­ check up on yourself first?¡± ¡°You absolutely do not have to worry about me. I did not get a single scratch on me.¡± Florence forced out a smile, raising her right arm to give a thumbs up. But¡­ up to her elbow¡­ it ended with a burnt stump. Lucy yelped, covering her face. Sam crawled out from her hug. His pupils dilated. He stared at Florence¡¯s feet, dropping his jaw open. His whisker lowered, pointing at the floor. Chloe clicked her tongue, standing up in a sluggish step. ¡°Give yourself a break¡­ I¡¯ll just find the healing serum¡­ he shouldn¡¯t have taken far from here.¡± The adrenaline drained from Florence¡¯s body. Her nerves and muscles screamed like a dozen knives had stabbed them. She thudded to the carpet. And in front of her¡­ was her right forearm and hand sitting under the rubble. Smoke rose from the stump of her right arm. The electrical crackle muffled the screams of the crowd behind her. She could not even muster a cry for help as the energy slowly slipped away from her body. Chloe scoped Florence under her armpit, dragging her across the floor. Lucy wrapped her arms around her chest, rocking back and forth. ¡°Come on, Lucy, pull yourself together,¡± Chloe said. ¡°Sam, could ya fetch her some beer or something?¡± Sam hissed, straightening his tail upright. ¡°Do you seriously want me to remove all the progress that I made in helping her to become sober, pleb?¡± ¡°This is not the¡ª¡± ¡°I said, I¡¯m not doing it if you can¡¯t read the room already.¡± ¡°Aisling, could¡ª¡± Aisling rolled her eyes behind her head, falling off the ledge. She crashed, rolling down the debris. ¡°Kill me.¡± Chloe sighed, slumping her shoulder. Florence moaned, pointing at the twitching pink android¡¯s finger under the rubble. Then it gripped her on the ankle, yanking her off her feet. It rose up from under the collapsed ceiling, pushing the debris aside. Sparks erupted from the pink android¡¯s neck. It turned around to face Sam, aiming its rifle at him. The front and rear sight aligned to its target. He hissed at the buzzing electricity building up in the barrel. The blue glow grew within the muzzle. A beam of electricity zapped between his paws. Smoke rose from the wisps of flame burning on the carpet. He jumped, swinging his legs and running into the crowd of Players. Chloe thrashed her arms around. ¡°Come back, ya cow¡ª¡± The pink android slammed her into the ceiling, cracking it open. Her limbs stiffened, not moving a bit. Dust floated down to rest on its shoulder and head. It raised its foot above Florence¡¯s head, casting a shadow over her. Lucy screamed. The pink android shifted the rifle toward her. She closed her eyes, dropping to the floor and drooling from the corner of her mouth. She urged herself to roll out of the way or something. But her body did not comply with her orders. The pink android¡¯s sole smashed into Florence¡¯s nose in a blur. Then everything fainted into darkness. A needle jabbed to the side of her neck, pushing this liquid into her veins. The wounds across her body stitched themselves back together. The shrieks of her nerves faded. Her eyes flew open. She blinked, shaking her head. Somehow, she was in a dimly lit concrete room, sitting in a steel chair that stung her skin. She tugged at her left arm, where a handcuff shackled her against the table nailed to the floor. But, still, her right forearm was no longer there. Instead, a patch of scarred skin formed around her arm stump. ¡°So, you¡¯re finally awake?¡± someone asked in a bloke¡¯s voice next to her ear. The needle pulled out from her neck. A brawny man stepped out of the shadow, brushing his beard. He twirled the syringe between his fingers. The leather trench coat wrinkled. Then he slammed his palm on the table, screeching its legs. Florence jumped. Immediately, the handcuffs dragged her back on the seat. ¡°Pardon me¡­ where am I exactly?¡± ¡°Florence¡­ isn¡¯t that your name?¡± the brawny man asked. ¡°William, by the way, that¡¯s my name.¡± ¡°Where are¡­ they? Why am I here?¡± ¡°You know why. Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Where is Aisling, Lucy¡­ and Chloe?¡± ¡°Who is even Lucy and Chloe? They¡­ never existed in the first place. As for Aisling¡­¡± William reached his hand under the table, taking out a metal box with two locks on it. He slammed it in front of Florence, clattering something inside its casing. The legs of the table screeched. ¡°I think it¡¯ll be in your interest to answer all of my questions truthfully,¡± he said. ¡°Or else¡­ Why am I saying it? You already know what¡¯ll happen.¡± Chapter 57: Brutal Interrogation... You Have Been Warned... Seriously The lamp flickered on the ceiling above Florence¡¯s head. She leaned against the backrest of the chair she sat in. A creak echoed throughout the dimly lit concrete room. The handcuff dug itself into the skin of her wrist, tying her up to the table nailed to the floor. William maintained this relaxed expression, scratching his nails against the two locks of the metal box on the table. He stared down Florence in her face. His left hand pulled down the right sleeve of his trench coat, hiding the burnt scar on his wrist. He grunted, furrowing his brow and curling his lips. ¡°What do you want?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Tell me,¡± William said. ¡°Did you see everything that the Wellor System ordered? And don¡¯t be a hassle about it.¡± ¡°Absolutely¡­ What about it? It is not like I¡ª¡± ¡°I know¡­ I know this is a hassle. You can¡¯t spread the word about what you saw there because no single Player will believe you. Do I stand corrected?¡± William snapped open one of the locks on the metal box. ¡°Pardon me¡­ why did those pink androids¡­ no¡­ why did the Wellor System hunt us down?¡± Florence shrugged, slumping her shoulders. ¡°If the System already knows that, the Players will absolutely not believe what we saw.¡± William nodded. ¡°Buddy, did you forget who is getting integrated here?¡± He pressed his thumb on the other lock. A click echoed, unlocking it. With a relaxed face, he closed his eyes and leaned forward. His shadows towered over Florence. Florence smacked her lips shut. Her air pipe constricted, stopping words from going up her throat. She inhaled and exhaled. But her heart pounded in her chest, rattling her bones in her body. She gritted her teeth, closing her eyes and shaking her head. A creak reverberated. William pulled Florence¡¯s eyelid open. ¡°That¡¯s really disrespectful of you,¡± he said. ¡°You know, you should always make eye contact when talking to someone.¡± He brushed Florence¡¯s hair between his fingers. In a blur, he banged her face against the table. Her nose cracked. Blood flooded out from her nostrils, dripping from her chin and soaking her hospital gown. He yanked her head back, slamming her into the backrest. A snap rang out between the bones in her spine. Florence groaned, shifting her feet from right to left. Her face ached. ¡°Pardon me, did¡­ I¡­ got a wrong number with me or something?¡± ¡°Here is the thing, buddy,¡± William said. ¡°You¡¯re just going to answer my question, that is it. Do you understand?¡± Florence nodded, looking into William¡¯s eyes. Her breath shivered. William released his grip away from Florence¡¯s hair. He leaned away from her, sliding his palm across the table. ¡°Absolutely, I¡­ we will never ever tell any other Players about what we saw,¡± Florence said. ¡°It is not like I got any friends here to tell them about it.¡± ¡°Where is Stella?¡± William clasped his hands, twirling his fingers. ¡°Pardon me, why her?¡± ¡°Because I said so.¡± William clenched his fist, plummeting it toward Florence. His knuckles smashed against her nose. Her head jerked. The chair where she sat tilted backward, slamming into the floor. The handcuffs dug into her skin, still tying her to the table. ¡°Did you already forget what I said?¡± William said. He kneeled down next to Florence, wiping the blood off her face. Florence groaned, cracking her neck. ¡°Absolutely, I understood every single word that you told me.¡± William nodded, brushing the front and then back of his hand on his trench coat. He stood up, stroking his trench coat. Florence inhaled and exhaled, counting to four. ¡°She is not¡­ here. Just like¡ª¡± William clicked his tongue, kicking her in the chin. Her jaw was dislocated. A sharp pain erupted in her face. Her nerves shrieked, which could pop her veins under her skin. She drooled from the corner of her mouth, spilling her saliva over the floor. She mumbled, but her words did not come out properly in any shape or form. ¡°Such a hassle. Come on, speak up,¡± William said. ¡°I can¡¯t hear you. Did you hear me, buddy? Or are you legally deaf?¡± Florence shook her head. William raised his foot, stomping the sole of his shoe into Florence¡¯s abdomen. Florence screamed. ¡°Now¡­ now don¡¯t get excited,¡± William said. He gripped the side of the steel chair, setting it back upright. Its legs screeched on the floor. ¡°I mean, what would be the fun in that?¡± He opened the metal box, spilling the healing serum across the table. He picked up one of the syringes, stabbing its needle into Florence¡¯s chin. His thumb pushed down on the plunger. The serum flooded into her bloodstream. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Her jaw snapped back to its original spot. The vessel in her nostrils stitched itself together, stopping the blood flow. The screech in her nerves slowly died down into a numbing murmur. She slumped her shoulder against the backrest, breathing heavily between her lips. In and out. William maintained his stoic expression on his face. ¡°This brings back those¡­ good old memories.¡± Florence raised her eyebrows, widening her eyes. ¡°Please do not¡ª¡± William gripped Florence¡¯s throat, stopping air from moving in and out of her lungs. She gritted her teeth, sinking her nails into his wrist. But she could not pull away from his tight grasp on her neck. Her face paled. Her muscles and nerves screeched at her to take in more oxygen. ¡°Let me finish first,¡± William said. ¡°Do you understand, buddy?¡± Florence nodded. William furrowed his brow. ¡°Good, you should have known your place just like all those trash.¡± Florence¡¯s vision blurred. Her eyes rolled behind her head. She slapped William¡¯s forearm. Her fingers wrapped around his right wrist, softer than usual skin, tugging at it. But she could not pull his grip away from her neck. The oxygen level in her lungs depleted bit by bit. Her muscles numbed, relaxing every single fiber in her body. ¡°You only open your filthy mouth at me when I ask you a question. And you better give me a satisfying answer this time,¡± William said. He pulled his arm away from Florence¡¯s throat. Then he wiped his palm on the table. The air rushed into Florence¡¯s lungs. She hunched over. The chains of her handcuffs rattled. ¡°Where is Stella?¡± William asked. ¡°She¡­ is safe from you, that is for sure.¡± Florence gasped for air. Her chest rose and fell. ¡°At home.¡± William clutched the metal box, turning his fingers white. He swung it. A gray blur smashed against Florence¡¯s skull, knocking her over. Her spine cracked. The chair screeched across the room. Her knees thumped onto the floor. One of the nails holding the table down popped out. Blood dripped down from her forehead, splashing onto her lap. But her body dulled, unable to move a muscle up to her neck. Not even a single fiber of it. Her veins and arteries in her chest throbbed, crushing her rib cage. A tremor spread through her bones. William snatched a syringe, stabbing the needle into Florence¡¯s nape. Her nerves within her vertebrae snapped back together, causing her fingers to twitch. The lesion on her forehead was stitched, stopping the blood from flowing out of her arteries. She sighed, gritting her teeth together. Inhaling and exhaling. A chill lingered at the tip of her hands. Her heart sank and danced at the same time. When¡­ would this stop¡­ ¡°We¡¯ve got eyes and ears everywhere. Of course, we know she isn¡¯t there,¡± William said. ¡°So, where is she with details of the location?¡± Florence cleared her throat. ¡°You will never find her. Especially with that ridiculous heavily armed NPC¡ª¡± William thrust the syringe towards Florence¡¯s pupil. Florence closed her eyes. A creak echoed through the concrete room. But¡­ for some reason¡­ her skin still has not been pierced. She opened her eyes, staring at the needle inches away from her. Behind William, a pink android stood in front of an opened door. He looked over his shoulder. ¡°That is enough. We found her,¡± the pink android said. ¡°Remember what we are supposed to be doing here. Also, it¡¯s offline now, so you¡¯ve got a few minutes.¡± William nodded, setting the syringe down on the table. ¡°Good. Carry on.¡± The pink android slammed the door shut. William turned his head, facing Florence eye to eye. She gritted her teeth, breathing in and out through her nostrils. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal,¡± William said. ¡°You¡¯re not going to investigate this new supernatural case in this renewed contract from the Wellor System. Do you understand?¡± Beads of sweat broke out on Florence¡¯s left palm. Her mind raced. Then she shook her head, widening her eyes. William slammed the table, clenching on one of the healing serums. His skin under his nails paled. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it to go after it. Just let it blow by and pretend you saw nothing.¡± ¡°Why¡­ I mean¡­ It is my only way back to my sister. The least you could do is give us more clues about the ghost we¡¯re going after,¡± Florence said. ¡°Because telling us to not trust our closest one is very vague. Plus, it would be absolutely nice of you to give us more hints so that I could get another Wish Crystal¡ª¡± ¡°Another Wish Crystal? Don¡¯t you have one already?¡± ¡°It might be¡­ Pardon me. I meant to say that someone else took it. I have¡ª¡± ¡°Someone took it? Who is it?¡± ¡°I have absolutely no idea. A¡­ someone else told me.¡± William clicked his tongue, releasing his grip on the syringe. He paced around the table, swiping his fingertips across its edge. His footsteps echoed in this concert room, shivering Florence¡¯s spine. Florence sniffed, biting her bottom lip. She raised her eyebrow. Her gaze followed William¡¯s movement. ¡°If I¡¯ve to guess¡­ That stolen Wish Crystal of yours is being sold in an auction house at District Peak,¡± William said. ¡°When I said house¡­ whatever¡­ you¡¯ll get the point later.¡± ¡°That¡­ is not helpful,¡± Florence said. ¡°I have no idea where¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯ll figure it out. Since it¡¯s one of those wealthy Players who live high above all of us. And, believe me, it¡¯ll make a lot more sense when you see it yourself.¡± ¡°I know what you are talking about. But¡­ pardon me, that does not give me much information about where this District is located.¡± ¡°Believe me, that place ego is so massive¡­ it¡¯s literally looming over our heads.¡± ¡°Pardon¡ª¡± William hushed, pressing his fingertip on Florence¡¯s lips. He stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her head. ¡°Don¡¯t be a hassle. Did you already forget what I said¡­ again?¡± William asked. ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Florence said. ¡°This is the last question¡­ how is Jack?¡± ¡°He is fine¡­ wait, you know him?¡± Florence looked over her shoulder, raising her eyebrows at William. He nodded. Someone from outside knocked on the door. William¡¯s face paled. His eyes widened. He inhaled and exhaled, gripping Florence¡¯s hair and slamming her on the table. Her forehead cracked through the table. Splinters scattered across the concrete room. She thumped on the floor. Her cheeks pressed against the floor. Her nerves screamed. Blood trickled down her skin. Her vision blurred. Her eyelids closed halfway shut. Footsteps reverberated. William moved away from Florence. He clutched the door handle, lowering his head. The hinges creaked. ¡°You know what to do now.¡± William shoved his hands into the pockets of his trench coat, walked through the doorway, and got out of there. ¡°Get it done now.¡± The pink androids moved into the concrete room. A clang rang. The gears inside their body winded. They extended their arms out, wrapping them around Florence¡¯s armpit and lifting her up. They put a sack over her head. A damp and ammonia stench filled up her nostrils. Something hard, like metal, slammed into her left temple. Her mind blanked. And¡­ without a blink of an eye¡­ everything fainted to black¡­