《Little nightmares: reality and fantasy.》


 Volume one: nightmare or reality? Chapter One: The Prelude to the Nightmare .

    "Painful!"


    "My head! My head is pounding!"


    "Where did I put the medication pills?"


    Eve tried to feel the wooden table searching for her medication, but strangely, she felt that what she was touching wasn''t a table. Instead, it was a smooth surface different from her rough-surfaced bedside table. Eve opened her eyes to see what she was touching.


    "Why... why did the table vanish? And where is my bed?" she said with tension and anxiety, her headache increasing. As she searched for the light switch supposed to be next to her bed, she stumbled and realized it had disappeared completely. When she raised her head, she saw black fog surrounding her. Shock and fear paralyzed Eve to the point where her limbs went numb. But the worst part was hearing screams resembling children''s cries echoing everywhere in this dark void.


    "No, it''s happening again! This nightmare haunts me every day. These screams, please stop this," Eve pleaded.


    She tried to move her head to find any escape from this torment, but the more she tried, the worse the situation became.


    "My head, I can''t bear this pain."


    "I''ll try to stand, calm down, breathe," she whispered to herself.


    After struggling, Eve managed to stand. She walked cautiously and quietly, fearing any sudden threat. This wasn''t the first time Eve found herself in a place like this, but her recurring headache made her tense and unsettled.


    "The place is damp and cold. Where''s the door?"


    Eve looked around, left and right, to find the wooden door. Despite being just a nightmare, she felt extreme fatigue. Her steps became heavier until she saw the door in front of her.


    Eve couldn''t contain herself when she saw her only refuge in this darkness. She began to run towards it, forgetting all her fears and pains when she realized she would escape. She had the chance to see what was behind that door as she usually woke up when it opened.


    Eve felt a sudden strange sensation, as if she were being watched. She slowed down as she approached it. Eve glanced around, seeing strange stars, their appearance obscured by the thick black fog.


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    Approaching the door cautiously, Eve noticed it was a wooden one, with a brownish-yellowish hue, with a shape somewhat resembling a curved line. Eve reached out to open the door, and at that moment, the curved line turned into a horrifying eye.


    Shock struck Eve.


    Everything around her changed, revealing the shapes of the stars turning into grotesque eyes, moving their pupils in all directions until they settled, staring at Eve with emotionless gazes.


    Eve froze in place out of fear. She staggered backward, looking around.


    "What... what is happening here?"


    Eve began to hear whispering echoes: "Come back!"


    Unable to control herself, Eve turned and ran, but the eyes appeared before her wherever she turned, wherever she went.


    Eve stopped running, realizing that escaping was impossible.


    She felt her legs go numb, so she sat down. Eve couldn''t bear these screams and the sight of the eye. The painful headache returned, and the black fog gathered around her.


    "Even if this is a nightmare, it will haunt me for life."


    Eve''s headache intensified, so she put her hand on her head. Tears streamed from her eyes. She couldn''t control herself.


    Eve tried to stand.


    "Calm down, don''t delve too deep into it, Eve. You''re the reality, and it''s the imagination," she said calmly.


    Eve began to walk slowly and cautiously, placing her hands on her head in hopes of easing the headache, ignoring everything around her. She lifted her head slightly and saw the door in front of her. She noticed the eye was now still, not moving. She had escaped her inevitable fate, exhausted and in severe distress.


    "I don''t feel relieved. Is it from this headache or from these eyes? Or is the door the cause? I feel uneasy with myself, but why?"


    These deep thoughts within Eve brought her misery and despair.


    Eve approached the door feeling deeply depressed. A light shone from the crack in the door. Eve closed her eyes due to its brightness, hoping to see light after this torment.


    Opening her eyes, Eve found herself lying on the floor in a very large room. To her right was a wardrobe filled with clothes almost her size. Beside her lay a wedding dress stained with blood, a formal black suit with a hat, and another one in purple. Strangely, all these clothes were oversized.


    Eve turned to the other side, finding a box under a wooden desk.


    She stood up and approached the box gently. Opening it, she found several clothes like ballet attire, a brown coat, a yellow one, as well as a long white skirt, a small anchor, and white fabric.


    Eve felt a slight headache and looked behind her, finding a picture drawn in ink, as if it had passed three decades or more. Eve focused more on the thing drawn in the painting, resembling a figure with a black coat, a melting face, and a hat somewhat similar to its predecessor.


    Eve trembled after staring at the painting. She turned back and saw a large door, a chair near the desk. This chair was familiar to her, but more importantly, she had to open the door.


    "Why does this place feel familiar to me? Why do I even try to open the door? Perhaps the reason is the false curiosity and will."


    Eve climbed onto the chair, then jumped and grabbed the door handle. When she let go, the door opened, revealing a large corridor filled with doors and pictures of strange creatures, making Eve shiver with fear. She looked cautiously left and right, her slow pace indicating her fear.


    Eve noticed a turn to the left of the corridor. She hurried towards it, peering around the corner. She found two creatures advancing towards her. She couldn''t see them clearly because of the fog in the corridor. However, the real feeling of fear began. Her heart started beating fast.


    "Do you think she''s wandering in an exposed corridor like this?"


    ***********


    "Shut up, you idiot. She might hear you because of your loud voice."


    Eve felt deep fear after hearing this conversation, realizing danger was inevitably approaching.


    "Now, perhaps escaping might help."

 Chapter 2: Inside the Nightmare

    Eve felt extreme anxiety and fear. She now realized she was being chased. Eve retraced her steps and ran as fast as she could, barely hearing the faint footsteps behind her.


    Eve had to find a way to escape. She turned left and pushed open a door to enter another room, similar to the large room before it. To her left, she spotted a ventilation shaft suitable for her small size. She hurried towards it and quickly bent down to enter the opening.


    After a moment, Eve heard the footsteps of the pursuers approaching the room, which intensified her fear greatly. She couldn''t control herself; breathing became difficult, and her instinct was to cover her mouth to avoid making any sound.


    "I wonder, what is chasing me? I need to hide," she thought to herself.


    Eve glanced around and froze in place from the sheer horror of the creatures before her. They were completely grotesque monsters, their dark eyes hinting at a desire to inflict pain. Their skin resembled melting wax, or rather, it hung loosely as if someone had forcefully stretched it. They had slightly yellowish dual-toned skin. One was shorter, the other taller , they are wearing shabby clothes , with burgundy -  colored hats . Their large hands were capable of grasping someone her size.


    *******


    The tall monster exclaimed loudly, "How do we catch her? ... There are several cracks and crevices she could slip through."


    "You fool! Lower your voice ... It''s a bad habit of yours," scolded the shorter monster.


    "Sorry ... Speaking of which, how will we catch her when we don''t even know what she looks like?" asked the taller one, turning angrily to the questioner.


    "You clearly weren''t listening. She''s a girl with long brown hair covering her left eye, wearing a short brown skirt with a white blouse... I''ll show you when I see her. Let''s search the room," replied the other monster.


    Eve was astonished by the monsters'' conversation, realizing they knew details about her attire.


    "My clothes! They''ve changed! How did they know what I was wearing?... I need to retreat quickly," Eve thought.


    Eve stepped back and decided to continue crawling through the shaft, wondering, "How did my clothes change? I didn''t notice this initially. I was wearing my nightwear. Who could have informed them?"


    Eve pondered this as she crawled for a long time until she reached a junction. To the right, she could see clearly; the distance wasn''t short. To the left, it was pitch dark.


    Eve chose to go right, where the exit seemed closer. Upon reaching it, she tried to descend but fell. Though the distance was high, the pain was minimal.


    Eve lifted her head to look ahead and found herself in a room similar to the first, filled with pictures: distorted buildings, areas, children, and monsters. Eve shuddered at the sight of the monsters nearby, particularly noticing that beside the monsters were pictures of children. This sparked a thought that perhaps these were children she had seen before but had forgotten.


    "These children look familiar... Ah, this pain, my head... I need to get out of here," Eve muttered, holding her head with tears streaming down her face. She stood up and rushed towards the door, pushing it forcefully to open it, causing a loud bang as it hit the wall.


    ********


    Every monster in the place turned towards the source of the sound and hurried towards it.


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    *******


    "What... what have I done," Eve said with regret and firmness.


    Eve turned to her right and saw the two monsters that had been chasing her, fear and regret clearly visible on her face.


    ******


    "Come on, let''s catch her."


    "No need to shout."


    *****


    Eve turned towards the other direction and started running.


    Relieved that she was faster than these two monsters, Eve was surprised when the shorter monster managed to extend his right hand. He tried to catch Eve, but she jumped and landed on his arm. She then advanced to jump again on his head and then landed on the ground. However, she hit his right eye with her foot and then jumped.


    But the taller monster caught her. And it was a shorter monster reaction that Eve slapped, accidentally slamming her friend. He slipped and fell to the ground and fled.


    ******


    Eve continued her path until she reached a crossroads.


    She looked to her right and saw two other monsters searching inside the rooms. To her left, a long corridor stretched out. In front of her was a door similar to the one she encountered before.


    "Oh... it''s back," Eve muttered nervously as she approached the door. Gathering her courage, she jumped to grasp its handle. As she let go, it opened, revealing a room almost identical to the previous one but set up as a bedroom. A bed was on the right, a wardrobe on the left, and a desk in front of her.


    "All these rooms are nearly identical... why?" Eve wondered aloud.


    Eve cautiously approached the bed and jumped up to lie on it, staring up at the ceiling.


    "I''m in... my bedroom? Is this my room?" Eve exclaimed, surprised.


    She jumped off the bed to inspect the furnishings. To her amazement, all her clothes and belongings were here. It dawned on Eve that she had shrunk in size, and the monsters were not gigantic but proportionate to her. Each room resembled her own almost exactly.


    Eve began to feel around herself and noticed a strange chain around her neck, purple in color. Something else caught her attention on her chest. Lowering her head to see, Eve discovered that the pendant she wore bore an eye emblem.


    "What''s around my neck?" she said, shocked.


    Eve tried to remove the necklace but couldn''t, finding it odd that she hadn''t noticed it until now.


    Suddenly, Eve heard a noise behind her. She slowly turned her head and saw several monsters watching her. Unable to control herself, Eve ran, sliding under one of them, then quickly stood up and started running.


    "I have to run faster... I can''t believe I just pulled off that move," she thought to herself.


    The grotesque monsters began to chase Eve, each using their long arms to try and grab her. Eve started leaping, dodging, and evading the monsters'' grasps. She noticed that the monsters were almost identical and possessed similar abilities.


    "This works in my favor," she noted.


    Looking back, Eve realized their numbers had increased. Suddenly, she collided with something in front of her, her exhaustion overcoming her as she couldn''t get up. She couldn''t see well who or what she had collided with, but it was the same monster she had seen in the painting in the starting room.


    "Stay away... please," Eve pleaded, exhausted.


    The monster extended its hand to her calmly.


    Eve felt a strange sensation; this monster in front of her did not attack. The other monsters halted upon seeing this. She reached her hand towards it, and it gently grasped hers.


    "If you really want to help me... tell me," she said.


    *******


    "Who are you? ... Hello!"


    She woke up frightened from her sleep.


    She turned to find her parents holding her carefully.


    "What''s going on?"


    "It''s fortunate you woke up. Your father and I found you screaming and thrashing in your bed, so we rushed in and held you so you wouldn''t fall."


    "Are you okay?" her father asked, tense.


    "I''m not... ah, my head, stay away from me... don''t come closer."


    Eve screamed in pain, repeating the same words.


    Her father shouted, "Quick, get the pills, they''re on the table."


    "Here you go."


    "Take the medicine, Eve."


    Eve felt relief after taking the medicine.


    "The headache has lessened. Don''t worry, you can go."


    "If you need anything, don''t hesitate," her father said calmly.


    "Goodnight," her mother said.


    The parents left the room, and Eve''s mind remained scattered by what had happened in the nightmare, wondering to herself, "What was that place I was in? And who was the person I collided with? I can''t remember his face completely, but I felt familiar with him."


    Eve went back to sleep, unaware that her parents had been watching her through the door and had closed it after she slept.


    *******


    "Bill, I''m worried about Eve. A whole week she''s been suffering from these nightmares... I fear she might experience what happened to her brother," Maria said, her voice filled with tension and panic.


    Bill reassured his wife, saying, "Don''t worry, Maria. Eve will be fine... We''ll take her to the psychologist tomorrow. He''ll tell us about her condition... Don''t be afraid."


    "I hope what you''re saying is true because what happened to her brother... It was worse than you can imagine."


    And thus began Eve''s story with these disturbing nightmares. Eve, the young girl, was about to enter a new phase in her life.

 Chapter Three: The Psychiatrist (Part 1)

    Maria walked down the hallway of the house towards Eve''s room. She knocked on the door, calling out, "Eve... Eve, are you awake? Eve... wake up... come on."


    *******


    Eve woke up, looked around, then realized her mother had awakened her. She got out of bed and headed to the door to open it, responding to her mother, "I''m awake... good morning."


    "Good morning, Eve... tell me, are you feeling okay? Does your head still hurt?"


    "Don''t worry, I''m fine," Eve reassured her mother.


    Maria smiled at Eve and entered the room. She went to the closet on the right, opened it, and took out a black skirt, a white shirt, and some other clothes, saying, "Wear these after you shower."


    "Um... okay," Eve replied, sounding puzzled.


    *******


    Eve sat down at the table and started eating fried eggs and bacon.


    "Delicious... hmm, so good," Eve exclaimed happily.


    "I''m glad you like it," her mother said, sitting down to drink her coffee.


    Eve started to look at her parents as if they were hiding something from her. Her father put down his coffee cup calmly and asked Eve, "What did you see while you were asleep?"


    Eve tensed up upon hearing this question and didn''t respond.


    "Don''t worry, this won''t bother us," her father reassured.


    Eve began to recall what had happened in her dream¡ªsuffering, fear, and chills. She remembered those strange monsters chasing her, her bizarre clothes, and those distorted images, as well as the monster that had helped her. Eve felt a slight headache and placed her hand on her forehead, saying, "I don''t remember much... sorry."


    "I understand... and I understand your reluctance to tell us. Take your medicine," her father said calmly.


    Eve went to fetch her medicine from the kitchen and returned. She sat down and took her medicine.


    "Eve, we''re taking you to see a psychiatrist," her mother said anxiously.


    "There''s no need... it''s just nightmares," Eve replied.


    "We''ve decided, and that''s final... also, don''t oppose this decision," her father said sternly.


    Eve nodded to indicate her agreement. Then she thought to herself sarcastically, "You''re more frightening than those monsters."


    *******


    Eve left the house with her parents, then stopped and turned to look at the house.


    "Is this what the house looks like? It''s like I forgot its appearance," she said, bewildered.


    Maria called out, "Eve... hurry up."


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    Eve turned to her parents, hurried to the taxi, and got in. After closing the door, Bill told the taxi driver, "Take us to the hospital."


    "Alright," the taxi driver replied.


    ********


    "Thank you for the ride... Here you go, this is the fare," the father said calmly and happily.


    "You''re welcome," replied the taxi driver. Then he noticed Eve talking with her mother and asked Bill, "Is that your daughter... right?"


    "Yes... yes," Bill confirmed.


    "Kids these days are very quiet. Interestingly, I''ve taken three families to the hospital today as well," remarked the driver.


    "You''re right," Bill responded.


    "Maybe all the excitement is wearing them out these days," the taxi driver added jokingly.


    "Perhaps," Bill agreed silently to himself, ''Eve isn''t like these other kids, she stays in her room reading books.''


    "Anyway, I wish them well... I''ve kept you waiting too long... I hope your daughter feels better soon," the driver said.


    The taxi driver started the car. Bill turned to Maria and Eve, saying, "Let''s go inside... and Eve, please remain calm."


    "Okay," Eve replied, then thought to herself with confusion and seriousness, ''Even though I was the one calm in the car.''


    The parents and Eve entered the hospital and headed to the reception desk, where the attendant greeted them, "Good morning, sir and madam, how can I assist you?"


    "Well... um... my daughter has been experiencing severe headaches lately... and she''s also been having nightmares," Bill responded.


    Suddenly, the attendant''s expression changed. He said, "Ah... you''re looking for a psychiatrist, correct?"


    "Yes, but... how did you know?" Bill asked, surprised.


    "We''ve had three other families come in with the same issue... unfortunately, our psychiatrists are overwhelmed, and there''s no available space for your daughter," the attendant explained.


    "What?" Bill responded, bewildered and shocked.


    Maria felt disappointed and said, "Then... perhaps it''s better if we go back."


    "But..." Bill interrupted Eve''s words sadly, "I''m sorry, Eve."


    "Okay," Eve replied dejectedly.


    "Wait a moment, please," said the receptionist, then added, "Since when has she been having these nightmares?"


    "About a week," her mother replied.


    The attendant glanced at Eve and asked, "What is it that you''re afraid of, little one?"


    "I''m not sure... but I don''t like dark hallways... or... I feel like someone is watching... or something like that," Eve hesitantly replied.


    "I see... there''s a doctor who recently joined us, trained under a renowned psychiatrist specializing in treating patients with nightmares... if you have no objections, we can reserve a room for her and add her to the doctor''s patient list," the attendant suggested.


    "We would be grateful for that... and no, we have no objections," Bill replied.


    "Yes, our daughter''s well-being is paramount," Maria added.


    The attendant entered Eve''s information into the system and scheduled an appointment for Bill, saying, "Tomorrow at 9 AM, your daughter will be admitted to her room... or... yes... registered with her information."


    "Right... yes... thank you," Bill responded with relief.


    "Let''s go, dear," Maria said to Eve.


    *******


    The receptionist asked his colleague, "Why did you recommend that doctor? He''s a pupil of that psychiatrist... not to forget, that person has a bad reputation... so why list her with his pupil?"


    The receptionist replied seriously, "It''s our policy, my friend, not to discuss such matters outside the hospital... besides, the girl''s condition is unstable... that doctor is skilled with such unique cases, and moreover... what the parents wrote in her record was unusual... and also... I couldn''t answer one of the questions."


    *******


    The parents and Eve got back into the car to return home. Maria looked at Eve, who seemed upset, and said, "Don''t worry, my dear, the examination won''t be painful."


    "Mom, did something bad happen to Uncle?" Eve asked.


    "If you heard me... oh... in truth," Maria hesitated.


    "Tell me... will I be okay? Please," Eve asked, tears welling up in her eyes.


    Maria smiled, stroked Eve''s head, and said reassuringly, "Don''t worry, I''m sure your condition... isn''t as difficult as you imagine."


    The scene brought tears to Bill''s eyes.


    *******


    The receptionist handed the psychiatrist''s schedule to the doctor, saying, "Here you go, sir."


    The doctor took the schedule, adjusted his glasses, and said, "Hmm... what do we have here for tomorrow? Name: Eve Addis, age: ten years old. Condition: headaches with nightmares. Good."


    The doctor placed his hand on the receptionist''s shoulder and said, "You''ve made an effort in selecting the right child."


    The receptionist scratched his head, saying, "It was tough finding someone with this condition."


    "Well then, Eve, let''s see your peculiar case tomorrow... I''m excited," the doctor concluded.


    *******


    Eve felt a strange feeling towards the receptionist, as if he were hiding something important from them.


    "I''m sure he''s hiding something," Eve said with intense confusion and curiosity.


    "Eve... hmm, you seem distracted," Maria said.


    "Oh... I''m sorry, what do you want?" Eve replied.


    "When we get back... I''ll bring you pie, and also... don''t worry about tomorrow, I''m sure there''s a solution for this," Maria said softly.


    Eve smiled, then turned to look out the car window, thinking to herself, ''I know you''re trying to comfort me... but you won''t understand... what I feel... inside... at all.''


    Eve continued to ponder deeply, trying to remember that strange person who had saved her from those monsters.


    "I''m really starting to fear... myself... and my imagination," Eve thought.

 Chapter Four: Appointment with the Doctor (Part 2)

    "Stay away... from me!"


    "Leave... from here."


    Eve woke up screaming, then turned to find her parents holding her.


    "Wha... what''s happening exactly?" Eve asked wearily, rubbing her eyes.


    "How long will we endure this problem?" her father muttered with frustration.


    ******


    Eve sat at the table, beginning to eat her usual breakfast. She glanced at her mother and then her father, noticing how exhausted they looked.


    "Don''t drink too much coffee... it might be causing your fatigue," Eve commented, chewing her food.


    "Don''t talk and chew your food... and you have no right to speak at all, Eve," the parents yelled in annoyance and anger. Then her father added, placing his coffee cup on the table, "What''s important, Eve... is... knowing the reason for your fears."


    Upon hearing this, Eve set down her fork and knife. She lowered her head and said, "I don''t know, I don''t really remember my nightmares well."


    Maria stood up, started gathering things from the table, and said, "It''s alright... come on, get ready."


    "Alright."


    *********


    Eve left the house, then turned around, her expression changing to confusion.


    "What?" she muttered.


    "Come on, Eve, let''s hurry," Maria called from the car.


    "I''m coming."


    *********


    Eve and her parents entered the reception room. The receptionist turned and said, "You''ve come at the right time."


    He raised his hand, pointing to the door on their left. "This way, Eve," he said.


    The attendant escorted Eve to her room. Eve turned to him and said, "Sir, you didn''t tell us about the children who suffer from this condition... what happened to them?"


    "Well... some are still here... and others, we say..."


    "Moved?"


    "Yes."


    Eve looked forward again. "I see."


    *********


    "Will she be alright... I''ve been worried since these nightmares started," Maria said with fear.


    "I hope her condition hasn''t worsened."


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    "What do you mean?" Maria asked, puzzled.


    "Nothing... never mind."


    "Anyway... I need to call my sister and check on her."


    While Maria was speaking, Bill was deeply lost in thought, saying to himself, ''Eve... if what I suspect is true now... know that we tried... I''m sorry, Eve.''


    "I know the phone is in my bag... but I can''t find it," Maria searched in her black bag for her phone. Then Bill turned back and said, "Let''s go back home."


    Maria was surprised and turned to him. "What about Eve?"


    "It seems she''ll stay in the hospital."


    "I''ll stay with her... she..."


    Bill interrupted Maria, saying, "Your presence with her might make things worse."


    "But..."


    "We have to go... perhaps."


    Maria''s expression changed immediately upon hearing this, then she said, "I understand."


    *******


    "If... is the psychiatrist an expert in nightmares?"


    "Not entirely... but he has treated patients."


    "How many has he treated?" Eve asked the attendant with surprise.


    "Two."


    "And what... happened to them?"


    "They were... transferred to another hospital," the attendant said, looking at Eve.


    Eve began to feel increasingly nervous as they approached her room.


    Eve glanced at the worker''s left hand, spotting a yellow file with her name on it. The worker stopped, pointing to the room on his right.


    "This is your room, Eve... Tenth wing, Room twenty-three."


    The worker opened the room, and Eve entered, surveying her surroundings. It was small: a bed on the right, a table with a cupboard on the left, and in front of her an open window. Beside the bed was a strange device covered in white.


    "Rest a little... in ten minutes... the doctor will come," the worker said, checking his watch¡ªit was twenty-nine minutes past nine.


    The attendant left, and Eve walked towards the window, looking out at a large courtyard where children were playing. She smiled.


    "I wish I could enjoy like them," Eve thought to herself.


    "Don''t worry, you''ll play with them tomorrow too," a man''s voice assured her.


    Startled, Eve turned to see a man behind her and shrieked.


    "Don''t scream... we''re in a hospital... it''s me."


    "And... who are you?" Eve asked the man, bewildered.


    "Don''t worry, my dear... I''m the psychiatrist who will treat you," the doctor said warmly.


    The doctor smiled at Eve. He was a man with black hair, streaked with some white strands, wearing a white coat and black trousers, with medical glasses.


    "Let me help you up."


    "No... no need, sir."


    Eve shook her dress after standing. The doctor adjusted his glasses and said, "It''s early for the session... I just came to meet my new patient... Your name is Eve, right?"


    "Uh... yes."


    Suddenly, nurses entered carrying a bag of clothes.


    "Is the girl Eve Addis here? Come quickly," one nurse hurriedly said.


    "What''s going on?" Eve asked nervously.


    "Come with us... you need to bathe... and change your clothes," the nurses said, one of them grabbing Eve.


    "But I already bathed... and changed my clothes."


    ********


    The doctor entered, saying to Eve, "Oh... I forgot to mention, this hospital values cleanliness... so... be obedient."


    ********


    "Ah... it''s been twelve hours waiting for the session," Eve said, lying on her bed.


    Eve heard a knock on her room''s door, got off the bed, and opened it. It was the doctor.


    "Hello, Eve."


    "Uh... hello, sir," Eve replied, then thought to herself, ''I don''t know why I feel tense and disturbed around him... his smile hides something... I''m sure of it.''


    The doctor looked at Eve and asked, "Why do you stare at me like that? Is there something that scares you about me?"


    "No... I... just... uh... I''ve never stayed long in a place other than my room," Eve said nervously and shyly.


    "Alright," the doctor replied kindly. He began patting her head, then stopped. Checking his watch, he said, "It''s half past nine... it''s not bedtime yet... so... we''ll start the session."


    "What... but I always sleep at eight-thirty... every day," Eve said in surprise.


    "Okay," the doctor replied gently and coolly, smiling. He brought a chair and headed towards the bed next to that strange device. Eve stared at it, thinking, ''This doctor is hiding something.''


    The doctor gently tapped the bed and said, "Please sit down... or... before that... close the door."


    "Uh... okay." Eve nodded in agreement. As she moved to open the door, she jumped and grabbed the lock. The doctor''s facial expressions changed, becoming new.


    "... I''m sorry... I don''t know what happened to me... I''ll close it."


    The doctor looked at Eve as she closed the door. Eve headed towards the bed and sat on it. She raised her head.


    "So... what are we going to do, Doctor?" Eve asked the doctor.


    "In this hospital... we doctors are used to calling patients... children... by our names... so, Eve... you can call me Otto."


    "O-Otto." Eve was astonished to hear this name. Strangely, she began to hear whispers urging her to stay away from him.


    ''Stay away... stay away... from him... he''s... dangerous.''


    "No... no... these whispers... are coming back," Eve said to herself upon hearing these whispers. She put her hands on her head and started screaming, "Stay away from me... I don''t want this."


    ********


    "What... what''s happening, Eve?" Otto asked with concern.


    Eve began to thrash in her bed. Otto stood up, trying to calm Eve, but he couldn''t.


    Otto put his hand in his pocket and took out a strange capsule. He placed it in Eve''s mouth.


    "Calm down... take this capsule," Otto said, trying to reassure Eve.


    After swallowing the capsule, Eve felt tired and drowsy. She fell asleep. As for Otto, he was astonished and perplexed.


    ''This is strange... this has never happened with them before,'' Otto thought to himself. He placed Eve on the bed, looking at her, feeling a strange sensation.


    Otto covered Eve with a blanket, then turned towards the door. He turned off the room''s light, then opened the door, looking back at Eve.


    "Goodnight, Eve... pleasant dreams." He then exited the room to find the receptionist waiting for him. He asked, "What happened, Otto?... I heard screaming."


    "You did well in choosing the right person," Otto replied.


    "I don''t understand yet... what''s the benefit of a child suffering from these nightmares?" the receptionist asked.


    "Don''t worry... you''ll know everything once everything is over... my friend," Otto replied in a strange manner.


    ********


    Eve began muttering strange words as she slept.


    "At last... the time has come... widen... approach... oh door."


    Something began to appear on Eve''s forehead, like a black dot or something similar, but what was not taken into account was that this would be a turning point in Eve''s life.


    "Approach... oh door... do not go."

 Chapter 5: The Session (Part 3)

    Eve woke up from her sleep, then looked around.


    "Oh... Where am I? ... I remember."


    Eve headed towards the window to open it. As she opened it, a refreshing breeze swept in.


    "Ah... The morning breeze is so pleasant." Eve turned back to the bed and found a notebook on the table. She sat down on the bed,


    picked up the book, and upon opening it, found a note that read: "Eve... After you wake up... Draw what you saw in your nightmare, Otto."


    "Alright... I''ll draw," Eve said.


    ******


    Eve carried her food tray, looking around.


    "Wow... What a large place... I didn''t expect a restaurant in a hospital... That''s good service, too."


    Eve noticed children and patients around her whispering about something, or rather, about her. Eve looked for a place to sit but noticed the children trying to ignore her.


    She sat alone, feeling as though even those plagued by nightmares didn''t want to be around her.


    "It''s clear they fear me... Perhaps because of last night''s incident. If Otto hadn''t stopped me... I would have done what I did to my father." Eve began to remember; she had wanted to jump from a known window. However, Eve was on the verge of laughing.


    ********


    "This is the girl who almost went mad."


    "She caused quite a stir."


    Eve began to think as she watched the two girls talking about her.


    "I can''t stay here... I feel uneasy... Everyone stares at me strangely... As if I... as if I."


    Eve struck her childhood with her hands, making a loud noise that made everyone turn to her.


    "I''m used to this... even when I was..." Eve said this as she looked at her food.


    "I''m full."


    ********


    "Mr. Otto... this was a brilliant idea... Now... you can know Eve''s feelings," said the receptionist with astonishment.


    Otto smiled with a strange smile, then said, "Based on what Eve drew in the notebook... she has just started."


    *******


    "All right Eve... How was your day?" Otto asked Eve.


    "It was fine... I managed to hold on through the whole day," Eve replied to Otto, in a state of anger and melancholy.


    "But your facial expression tells a different story," Otto replied to Eve.


    Otto glanced at his watch and said, "It''s 9 PM... It''s time for the session."


    "At last... It''s session time!" Eve exclaimed joyfully, jumping on the bed out of excitement.


    Otto sat on the chair and took out a notebook.


    "Now Eve... you will tell me what happened to you in the dream... don''t worry," Otto assured her.


    "I don''t know... I..." Eve said, feeling somewhat tense.


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    Otto pulled out three candies from his pocket.


    "Do you think I''m a little girl? This won''t work on me," Eve responded.


    "Oh... I thought this might work on you too," Otto replied with surprise.


    "Too," Eve said without realizing it. After saying that, her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in surprise.


    "What did you say, Eve?" Otto asked.


    "Nothing... nothing."


    ******


    "You are now my sleep assistant... before sleep... you will definitely tell me a story," Otto said to Eve.


    "No need, sir, to encourage me like children until I tell you what I dreamed," Eve calmly replied.


    "Very well... start narrating, and I will record everything you say," Otto said calmly.


    Otto''s look at Eve was strange, and she began to think and talk to herself.


    "A strange feeling."


    "I''ll start then, Otto," Eve took a deep breath, then began narrating her nightmare.


    "On the first day... the nightmares began similarly throughout this week... the nightmare started with a normal beginning... I found myself in a dark place... I tried to figure out where I was... I called out... I screamed into that void..."


    Otto recorded this information and then asked her, "Does it always start the same in all your nightmares?"


    "No... it was different on the second day... when I saw him."


    Otto''s expression changed, and he asked, "Him?"


    "The door... wooden," Eve replied coldly.


    "Impossible... how did you see the door even though you..." Otto interrupted Eve.


    "Even though I... what?" Eve was puzzled as soon as she heard his words.


    "Sorry... Eve... please continue... take this," Otto gave Eve a candy to calm her down and continue the narration.


    Eve raised her hand, gesturing refusal, and replied calmly, "I''m not that small to this extent... I''ll continue... where was I?... I remembered... after I saw that door... everything changed... I heard whispers... warning me... not to approach it... but after facing those whispers, something else appeared... those eyes... they began to chase me... this situation continued for two full days... so I told my father."


    Otto interrupted, saying, "That makes sense... you told your parents a week ago... right?"


    "Yes."


    "But... why didn''t you tell them before?" Otto inquired.


    "That''s because... because... because I didn''t want them to..." Eve said nervously.


    "It''s okay... continue," Otto replied.


    "Okay... three days ago... I opened it... but found myself in a room resembling my bedroom... but the strange thing was the image of the disfigured man..."


    Otto stood up from the chair, then went to his desk and brought a book with post-nightmare drawings. When he sat down, he opened the book to Eve, showing drawings of grotesque creatures, and Otto began asking Eve about the creature she referred to.


    Otto continued to describe the characteristics until his finger stopped at the image of a disfigured man, his face dangling like melting wax, with a black coat and a black hat.


    "This is the man... Otto."


    "Impossible... impossible," Otto said in a strange way.


    "What... what''s impossible?" Eve said, nervous about Otto''s demeanor.


    "I... I''m sorry, Eve... I don''t know what''s happening to me... ha," Otto said apologetically.


    Eve patted Otto''s head reassuringly and said, "Don''t worry... I''ll continue... alright, where was I... oh yes... then other monsters started chasing me... as I remember... they wore crimson red clothes... and there were two types... the tall one was clever... and the short one was stupid and wore a long red hat... but both types could extend their hands... and the strange thing... this disfigured face monster saved me... then I woke up."


    *********


    As Eve recounted this part, Otto remained lost in thought.


    ''How could Eve see him in the dream... and within a week... and how did she see the wooden door... and what''s strange about that...''


    "Otto, did you hear me? Otto?"


    "Oh... I was lost in thought... please repeat what you said."


    "I said he saved me from those monsters," Eve said angrily.


    "Who?" Otto asked.


    "The man with the dangling face."


    Upon hearing this, Otto''s pupils contracted for a moment, then he replied to Eve, "He saved you?"


    "Yes... why?" Eve asked anxiously.


    "Please... draw the creature with the long hands."


    "You mean the one who can elongate its hands?"


    "Yes... yes."


    ******


    "I''m done, Otto," Eve said calmly.


    Otto took the notebook and headed to his desk. Upon reaching there, he found the receptionist waiting for him, seated on a chair.


    "So... how did the session go?" the receptionist asked.


    "My friend... I don''t understand... you told me her condition is similar to Ethan and Noon''s," Otto said angrily.


    "I''ve confirmed... her condition matches theirs... you told me the child should fear dark passages and feel watched... and Eve has been like this for a whole week."


    Otto sat on his office chair, placing his hand on his head as he pondered.


    "Otto... I''ll leave now... see you tomorrow."


    "Goodbye."


    After the receptionist left and closed the door, Otto took out papers from his desk drawer, including two brain radiographs and some notes. Otto began reading those notes, but he couldn''t find what he was looking for.


    "This makes no sense at all... my mentor didn''t mention crossing the threshold from the first nightmare... and also... her body didn''t disappear... why... hmm."


    Otto searched through the papers. By chance, he found a file labeled ''First Nightmare''.


    "I didn''t notice this file."


    Otto opened the file, finding several drawings and a paper with text written in childlike handwriting.


    "Written by a child... I''ll read it tomorrow... hmm."


    Otto fell asleep, but someone knocked on the door. They called out to Otto, and it was Eve who entered the room, covering herself with a blanket.


    "Otto... I wanted to ask you about... oh... he''s asleep."


    Eve put the blanket on Otto.


    ''Goodnight.'' When Eve turned around, she saw the note written in childlike handwriting.


    ''What''s this... it seems like a thank you note from a child.''


    Eve took the paper and started reading. As she progressed, her facial expressions began to change, shrinking in shock.


    ''Impossible.''


    *****


    Otto woke up when he heard someone opening the door.


    "Is... is anyone here... seems like I''m imagining... oh, a blanket... I see."


    Otto entered Eve''s room, finding her asleep. He placed the blanket over her, then left. However, Eve was awake, with signs of fear and shock evident on her face.


    ''Impossible... Otto... is this what you''re hiding from me.''

 Chapter Six: The Friend and the Truth (part 4)

    "Ah... my head."


    Eve turned her head left and right, finding nothing but a black fog surrounding her. She placed her hand on her head, then shook it and began to look around with a strange gaze. She saw something peculiar in front of her, focusing hard to discern what it was.


    "Could it be?... It''s the door... Yes," Eve said, realizing that the exit from this void had appeared.


    Eve hurried towards the door, and as she reached for the handle, she felt someone grasp her hand. Eve squinted her eyes. Out of fear, she jerked her hand away to pass through that door.


    *******


    Eve woke up from her sleep, rubbing her left eye and finding some strands of hair dangling over it.


    "That''s strange?... No problem... I''ll fix it."


    *********


    Eve was having breakfast alone at the restaurant, watching other children trying to avoid her.


    "I''m so bored... Ugh," Eve muttered wearily.


    Eve heard some whispers, so she turned around and saw four girls talking and whispering to each other.


    *********


    "That''s the girl I mean."


    "The girl who is alone... Lona," Mimi asked her.


    "The one with the long black hair... right," Lona raised her finger and pointed it at Eve.


    "Honestly... I can''t believe this girl almost went crazy."


    "Oh... Lily... so you don''t believe what the doctor told us?" Ron replied.


    "No... but... she doesn''t seem crazy at all... I can''t even believe it." Lily said this in astonishment.


    The girls laughed at Lily''s words.


    ''They don''t believe me,'' Lily said to herself.


    Lily picked up her food and headed towards Eve.


    The girls were surprised by Lily''s behavior.


    ********


    "Do you mind if I sit here?" Lily asked Eve.


    Eve turned to Lily, then looked back at her food, and replied with food in her mouth: "Why do you want to leave your friends over there? ... And why don''t you avoid me like the others?"


    "I don''t care about those stupid rumors... and I don''t judge a book by its cover," Lily said confidently.


    "Huh..." Eve was surprised by Lily''s words, and what caught her attention was the word "rumors."


    ''Rumors... does this mean...'' Eve thought to herself.


    Eve smiled and said: "Sit down."


    "Really... thank you... sitting with you is better than sitting with those arrogant ones... oh... by the way, my name is Lily... and you are?"


    "Eve... My name is Eve."


    "Eve... strange name... seems old," Lily said in astonishment.


    *******


    Maria and Bill entered Otto''s office.


    "Good morning," Otto greeted them.


    "Good morning, Doctor," Bill replied.


    "Today I asked both of you to come regarding Eve," Otto said, looking at Eve''s records.


    "Regarding Eve... is she okay?" Maria asked, her concern evident.


    "Don''t worry, madam... she''s fine," Otto reassured her.


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    "Doctor... I suspect you''re hiding something from us," Bill challenged Otto, aware that he was not being entirely truthful.


    "Uh... well... I think you both know Eve''s condition well, but..."


    "But what..." Maria interjected, clearly upset.


    "Just wait a moment... let''s hear him out," Bill urged Maria.


    "I understand your concern, madam... but... it seems you''re also hiding... something from me about Eve... I need to know if Eve has experienced any trauma or something of the sort... she''s somewhat different from other children."


    Maria glanced at Bill, both displaying signs of worry.


    "Actually..."


    "Our daughter Eve..."


    ********


    "I ¡­ adopted."Eve told Lili.


    "What... you... adopted...".


    "I was adopted by a couple... from an orphanage... and as for my name... they found it written on a piece of paper inside my bag."


    "Oh... don''t worry... our situations are similar."


    "What... so... you''re adopted too?"


    "Yes, but not from an orphanage... my aunt adopted me when my parents died... usually, couples adopt a child if they don''t have children of their own... or when..."


    *******


    "We lost our son..." Maria said.


    "His name was Victor... and this is his picture," Bill said, handing a photo of his son to Otto. He was a boy with light brownish-yellowish hair.


    Otto looked surprised and then said, "But why did you want to keep Eve''s adoption a secret? Eve has never told me about this."


    Maria replied, "We didn''t keep it a secret... but..."


    ******


    "I wanted to become part of a family... so I asked my parents to consider me just someone in need of family warmth... and that''s why... I don''t want to talk about it."


    Lili was shocked by Eve''s words and felt annoyed, saying, "I''m sorry... but why didn''t you tell me this, even though we''ve just met?"


    Eve smiled, stood up, picked up her plate, and said, "Intentions... I can tell exactly what your intentions were... you only intended to treat me as a friend... though I don''t like talking to my peers... I am happy... because you intended to become a friend of mine."


    "Eve..." Lili exclaimed.


    "Oh... I have to go... I''ll meet you at the playground... see you."


    "See you... I won''t lie... now I feel confident."


    *****


    "Wow!... Isn''t it amazing? Lili made friends with the crazy ones," Luna mocked.


    The girls started laughing at Lili, then left.


    "Ugh... I hate bullying... I can''t stand this."


    *******


    Eve was walking down the hallway. It was nine o''clock in the evening, heading towards her room, lost in thought, her serious expression evident.


    "Could it be true... impossible... is he trying... to..."


    Eve opened her room door and found Otto waiting for her, seated on a chair, reading through some papers from the files he kept.


    "Here you are, Eve... you''re usually here before I arrive."


    Eve started approaching Otto slowly as he said, "Your parents came today... I didn''t expect you were going through a tough time... but... you should have told me that you..."


    Suddenly, Eve grabbed a paper from Otto''s files, visibly angry. Otto was surprised by Eve''s actions.


    "What are you doing, Eve... how dare you... do this," he said angrily, but froze in place when he saw Eve''s seriousness.


    "Why... why... did you spread those rumors about me, Otto? What exactly is your aim? Are you trying to make things worse for me? Tell me the truth," Eve said loudly, visibly upset.


    "Stop it, Eve... I will explain this," Otto replied, clearly in a bad mood.


    Eve lifted the paper she had taken. It was a text written by a child suffering from a condition similar to hers but had rushed writing. She said, "This text... written by a child in my condition... except he was rushed... Are you trying to make my fate like his, Otto? Answer me... come on... answer..."


    "That''s enough, Eve," Otto shouted angrily at Eve.


    Eve was flustered, feeling chills. Then she softened and bowed her head, crying.


    "You have no right to take my things... and also... if you have any problems... tell me... lack of sleep makes me moody... so... forgive me."


    Otto took the paper from Eve''s hand. Then she lifted her head and said, "You didn''t answer me... why did you spread rumors about me?"


    "To... know if you usually avoid people or not."


    "You should have just asked me, Otto," Eve said in disbelief.


    "You didn''t answer my question that time."


    "What question?" Eve asked, surprised.


    "Why didn''t you tell your parents about the nightmare from the first time?"


    "The answer is simple... because I didn''t want to confuse them from the worst days... I... I''m adopted... I know."


    Eve turned to Otto and said, "So... my parents told you."


    ******


    Eve lay on the bed and began narrating, "Otto... today''s dream was strange... At first, I found myself in that corridor... then a hand from the darkness tried to stop me... but I managed to slip away... However, I found myself inside a giant room, managed to open the door by myself... but... the place was strange... I found a spiral staircase."


    "A spiral staircase... one of the children drew this picture... is this it?"


    Otto handed the picture to Eve, who said, "This isn''t a spiral staircase... these are several intertwined stairs... and also..."


    Eve felt some pain in her head and said, "The pain... my head."


    "Here... take the tablets," Otto offered Eve the tablets, but she refused, saying, "No... it''s okay... I''ll continue... After descending those stairs... I reached a giant hall, filled with blue lamps... resembling cells."


    "Cells...?" Otto exclaimed in surprise.


    "Yes," Eve replied.


    "And was there... something... inside them?" Otto inquired.


    "I glimpsed something... resembling... a face."


    Otto was shocked by Eve''s words. She turned to him and asked, "What... Otto... what''s wrong?"


    Otto was lost in thought with himself, Eve''s words hinting at something dreadful. He didn''t understand what was meant by this.


    "Otto... Otto..."


    "Oh... sorry, Eve."


    "What happened... you froze in place."


    "I was just lost in thought... please continue."


    "Alright... there were strange inscriptions on those cells... and strangely, they made sense to me... they were numbers."


    "Numbers, huh... do you remember them...?"


    "Somewhat..."


    "Draw them... in the notebook."


    Otto gave Eve the notebook, and she began drawing. They were various scribbles, different from each other. Otto realized these scribbles had meaning¡ªthey were interconnected and seemed to intertwine.


    Eve handed the notebook back to Otto and continued her narrative, "I looked up... and noticed that these cells... were connected by transparent threads, forming a halo... because I touched it... and suddenly... I saw... a ribbon... of a girl''s life... her name was..."


    Eve''s pupils dilated. In that moment, Eve realized something crucial. She quickly jumped up and hurried out of the room, with Otto following her.


    ********


    Eve headed to the reception desk and asked the worried attendant, "Where is Lili''s room?"


    The receptionist replied, "There are many girls with that name. Can you specify?"


    "A girl adopted by her aunt, with black hair... Sorry, I don''t know her surname."


    "No problem. Her room is on this floor... Room number eighteen... Here''s the key."


    Eve took the key and headed towards Lili''s room.


    The receptionist called out to Eve, "Wait... You haven''t got permission to visit her."


    *********


    "No worries... I''m with her," Otto said to the receptionist as he followed Eve.


    *********


    Eve opened the door to the room, but they were too late; they didn''t find her in her bed.


    "We''re late," Eve said, shocked.


    "She''s... gone," Otto exclaimed.


    "Lili... my friend... where is she?"


    Overwhelmed by shock, Eve couldn''t bear it and collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness. It was then that Eve realized what she saw wasn''t just a normal nightmare.

 Chapter Seven: The Letter and the False Truth (Part 5)

    "Sorry... I couldn''t find you... and I''ve started seeing the dark void even while I''m awake... I know it''s a risk, Otto... but I will see freedom after crossing the threshold... you won''t be able to catch up with me... there won''t be another chance after this one... this torment will disappear... after all... goodbye... Otto."


    This was a message left by one of the boys before he disappeared, and this is what Eve kept thinking about when she fell to the ground. She didn''t expect that what she thought about for a moment would become a reality.


    *********


    Eve was sitting on a chair in the children''s playground, pale-faced. She started looking around. She began thinking about yesterday; she couldn''t believe what had happened to Lily.


    ''Why... do my friends... disappear like this?''


    ********


    "I can''t believe a patient has disappeared... explain to me how this happened," said the hospital director, seething with anger.


    Otto and Lily''s doctor were sitting on chairs in the director''s office. Lily''s doctor stood up and said, "Director... I left Lily moments after the session... then I heard that she had disappeared."


    The director slammed the table and said, "You should have kept a close watch on her, Robert... now how are we going to explain this?"


    "There is no solution... it''s best to inform the police," said Robert.


    "What?" the director asked.


    "And what about Miss Lucifer''s parents?" Otto asked.


    "I think lying won''t help... I''ll tell them the truth... perhaps she has run away... or..."


    "Stop," Otto interrupted Robert.


    The director turned to them upon hearing Otto''s words, "Well... is everything alright?"


    "No... nothing, Director," Otto replied.


    "We''ll take our leave," said Robert as he exited the office with Otto.


    *******


    "I didn''t expect one of your patients to discover Lily''s disappearance," Robert said to Otto.


    "If I had known Lily was going to be kidnapped... I would have asked Mike to transfer her to my patient list," Otto replied to Robert.


    Robert, angered by Otto''s words, grabbed him by the shirt and said, "Listen, you sly fox... I''m not like you, trading innocent souls for the sake of someone dear."


    Robert let go of Otto''s shirt and continued walking. However, he stopped and said to Otto, "I might be somewhat like you... I helped you to falsify the truth... about Ethan and Noon... hmm... I''m going to ask you for a favor."


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    "What?"


    "If you... can... finish what you started... then find him."


    Robert handed Otto a photo of a blond-haired child.


    "If you can," Robert said as he left.


    ******


    "Tell me, girl... what did you do to Lily?" Luna said mockingly as she pointed her finger at Eve.


    "I knew you were crazy enough for it to spread to anyone," Ron said.


    Mimi replied, "She''s right."


    Everyone started laughing at Eve, who was sitting on a chair in a foul mood. She said, "If you''re done with this chatter... you can leave."


    Luna leaned towards Eve and said, "Huh... I didn''t hear you well..."


    Suddenly... Eve slapped Luna in anger... everyone was shocked by what Eve did, including Luna and her friends.


    "You are the reason for what happened to Lily... always... always... bullying her... treating her like a servant... you called me crazy... but I won''t forgive you for what you did to her... you fools..."


    ********


    "What are you doing there, Miss Addis?" the security guard called out to Eve.


    Luna stood up and pointed towards Eve, saying, "This girl started bullying me."


    Eve was shocked by Luna''s words and said, "I didn''t bully you... believe me, sir... I..."


    The security guard interrupted Eve and said, "Enough, Addis... by the way, your doctor has asked to see you in his office."


    "But... uh... okay."


    Everyone started looking at Eve with even worse looks than before. She had seen nothing but injustice and hatred from them up until now.


    ********


    Eve knocked on Otto''s office door.


    "Come in," Otto replied.


    Eve entered Otto''s office, then sat on the chair, and said, "What''s the matter, Otto?"


    "Eve, listen to me carefully..."


    "Why?"


    "I think the cause of your nightmares is that headache... you¡¯ve been suffering from... so... we will do a radiographic imaging of your head... to see if there is...


    "You¡¯re lying, Otto... the headache... is what causes these nightmares."


    "I''m not lying... in fact..."


    "The message."


    "What message?" Otto asked.


    "Those records... that you have... you promised you wouldn¡¯t hide anything from me."


    "Eve... I''m sorry I didn''t tell you... staying up late affects me... Eve... the nightmares you¡¯re having are actually..."


    "Otto... why do you stay up late?"


    "I¡¯ll tell you later... in fact, I wanted us to do an X-ray... to find out the cause of your recurring headaches, Eve."


    While Otto was arranging his records and saying this, Eve was thinking: ''I don¡¯t understand... why, Otto... why, Otto... are you trying to hide the truth from me... if what he says is true... my fate will be like those two... and if he¡¯s lying... then they might have...''


    "Who are Noon and Ethan?"


    "Oh... who told you about them?" Otto asked Eve.


    "Never mind... just tell me."


    "Alright... they are the patients I was treating, I think I have their pictures."


    While Otto was searching through his papers, Eve saw a picture on Otto''s desk. It was a family photo, with parents and their two children, a boy who looked like Otto, and a girl with braided hair. But, she felt that she had met this girl before.


    "Otto... who is this girl?"


    "Oh... she''s my sister... actually, this is a picture of me with my family."


    "Oh... I''m sorry for intruding," Eve placed the picture on the desk.


    "No... it''s okay... you can see it... or... did you find Noon and Ethan''s picture? Here."


    Eve took the picture, and when she saw them, she was shocked, noticing they seemed familiar to her. Suddenly, she felt a slight headache.


    "Otto... I don''t feel well."


    "Take the medicine...?"


    Eve took the medicine, then Otto asked her, "Why didn''t you take the medicine, Eve?"


    "Wait... Otto... maybe... maybe I forgot."


    "You forgot to take the medicine... or..."


    "No... I actually forgot that I had medicine."


    "What," Otto exclaimed.


    ********


    Eve was asleep, while Otto was examining the X-ray images of Eve''s brain. Otto pointed to a specific area in Eve''s brain.


    "Hmm... here... as I expected... So, I think it''s time to use you, my dear device."


    Otto looked at the device covered with a white cloth. Then he wondered about the thing she mentioned in the morning.


    "The message... do you mean... Ethan''s message... did you read it... impossible."


    Otto realized that Eve had read Ethan''s message before he disappeared. And here, he understood that it was time for Eve to delve deeper.

 Chapter Eight: The Past and the Threshold (Part 6)

    Eve was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, sighing in that dark room. The signs of shock were evident on her face, her eyes looking downward with trembling pupils. The human mind could not comprehend whether these were eyes watching, or simply Eve''s eyes.


    Eve kept hugging the purple ring wrapped around her neck, lost in thought.


    ''What''s the point... of staying alive...sigh.''


    *******


    Otto was looking at the radiograph of Eve''s brain. As he suspected, he found a strange tumor in her brain. He placed his finger on it, comparing it to the tumor in the other radiographs.


    "Hmmm... The strange thing is... how could Eve see the threshold before getting used to that place?...sigh... I''ll ask him when he appears to Eve next time."


    *******


    Otto entered Eve''s room and unveiled the device hidden under the white cover. It was a machine with a small screen, described as having three sections.


    **Section One:** This section contained a set of wires connected to the small screen. These wires linked the screen to both the second and third sections.


    **Section Two:** This part resembled earphones but had needles. These needles were placed on specific areas of the brain, particularly around the tumor. Remarkably, these needles did not harm the skull or brain; they didn''t even touch the skull. It was an amazing technology! This section was connected to the child''s brain. However, this technology had not been invented or discovered by anyone.


    **Section Three:** Similar to the second section, but designed for Otto, it was rarely used.


    Otto connected the second section to Eve, and it started working immediately. The device did not need to be plugged into electricity; it operated on another type of energy. The screen began to display a strange video.


    "Now... it''s adjusting... Okay... it''s time to see what''s in Eve''s mind."


    Otto saw the black fog, the perspective that Eve was seeing. He placed the earpiece from the third section of the device, inserting only one needle.


    Otto started hearing Eve''s voice, murmuring to herself: "I don''t understand... why should I stay here... huh." It was Eve''s mumbling to herself.


    The fog began to dissipate, revealing what was behind it: the wooden door. As soon as Otto saw the door, he inserted another needle and started speaking to Eve in her nightmare.


    "Eve... can you hear me?... Eve."


    ******


    "Eve... are you here?" Eve looked around, turning her head left and right.


    "Listen, Eve... the door... you need to cross through it."


    "What... no... impossible... everyone disappears there... I don''t want to... no," Eve said, her voice filled with tension, fear, and severe headache.


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    "Don''t resist, Eve... what''s beyond it is what will free you from your torment."


    "What?"


    "The headache... that you''re suffering from... your relief lies beyond... that door."


    "My relief... from the headache... is beyond the door?"


    "Yes, Eve... resist, resist... don''t mind those eyes... they''re... they''re just your imagination."


    "My imagination... I can''t."


    Eve couldn''t bear the pressure and fell to the ground. The pain was increasing more and more, so much that she put her hands on her head.


    *******


    "Impossible... this is my only chance... to get her through... if I don''t seize it... it will be lost," Otto was bewildered, unsure of what to say and what not to say.


    ******


    "Be brave, Eve... be brave."


    Eve lifted her head slightly, then stood up. She began walking step by step, resisting the whispers and eyes. Eve''s eyes began to change little by little, from brown to black, while her hair transformed from black to very long brown, so much so that her bangs covered her left eye.


    ******


    Otto noticed this change as he saw what Eve imagined. Eve was thinking about what would happen to her if she continued this progress.


    ''What am I doing... why... why am I doing this... what''s the point?... what''s the point?...sigh... I''ve never felt happiness... I hid my sadness and pain... under a cloak of lies and deceit.''


    "Keep going, Eve... keep going."


    Eve began to remember her past, from the moment she found herself lying on the hospital bed that day. She couldn''t recognize herself or her past. She started recalling the person who saved her and the doctor who spoke to him.


    ******


    "She almost died... if you hadn''t saved her from that train... but she doesn''t remember anything... is she your daughter?"


    "No... I''m not her father."


    ******


    "So, little one... we found a bag with you... it had some food and a little water... and a paper that might have your name on it... do you know your name?"


    "No... I don''t know."


    "Okay... your name is... Eve."


    "Eve?"


    *******


    The man was holding Eve''s hand as they walked.


    "Excuse me... thank you for everything, sir."


    "You''re welcome."


    "Where are we going?..."


    "We''re close, don''t worry," said the man who saved her.


    *******


    ''All those years... I spent not even knowing who I am... in the hospital... in the orphanage... with Mr. and Mrs. Addis... and now I''m back in this hospital... again... it will remain... a time loop... until I die...'' Eve said with regret as she tried hard to reach the door.


    ''Keep going, Eve... come on.''


    *******


    "Sir... are you going to leave me here... in the orphanage?" Eve asked the man.


    "Unfortunately... I''m not your father... and I can''t take care of you... so be strong."


    "Okay," Eve said with disappointment.


    *******


    "Eve... if you stop... the threshold will disappear... and you won''t see it again."


    "Okay... I''ll try... sigh."


    Eve was close to what they called the ''threshold.'' She continued walking, resisting, and changing. Then, she placed her right hand on the door handle, feeling tense and afraid.


    "Otto... I think I can''t do it."


    "Keep going... I''m with you... by your side."


    Eve sighed and began to slowly turn the door handle. Suddenly, someone placed their hand on Eve''s hand to stop her, and she was startled. She looked up. Astonishingly, it was the man in the black coat, with the drooping face.


    Otto was shocked by this situation; he couldn''t believe his eyes: "Impossible... why did you stop her, Ferryman?"


    Eve was stunned because this monster who had saved her from those other monsters was known to Otto.


    "Wait... he''s part of my nightmares... so how did you talk to him, Otto?"


    The Ferryman raised his hand toward Otto''s voice, and all the eyes turned to Otto as if he were their prey.


    *******


    Otto felt scared, as the sight of those eyes made him feel watched and targeted. Then, the Ferryman addressed him with just one thing.


    "I advise you... to stay away from Zero."


    *******


    "What?" Eve said in astonishment.


    When the Ferryman clenched his fist, the device''s screen shattered.


    "What?... The screen... it''s broken... impossible."


    Otto couldn''t believe what had happened. The man who wanted children to cross his threshold did not allow Eve, or as he called her... ''Zero,'' to cross.


    "Impossible... why... why didn''t he accept Eve? He... promised me."


    Eve did not wake up from her sleep despite what had happened, but she realized that these nightmares were a warning of something bigger.


    "Eve... Zero... stay away from him... this... is impossible."

 Chapter Nine: Regret and the Past (Part 7)

    The night that Eve would never forget. Eve couldn''t comprehend what Otto had done. Was it a fantasy or reality? Eve was sitting on the bleachers in the playground. Everyone passing by her felt worried. Eve''s eyes were completely empty; she couldn''t understand what had happened, or how.


    "Eve... Eve... can you hear me?" Otto shook Eve as he said these words.


    "Oh... sorry... I was a bit lost in thought."


    "I think you were thinking about last night... I''m sorry I forgot to tell you about my device."


    "It''s alright."


    "Here... I think this will give you some energy," Otto said as he handed Eve some candy.


    "Oh... thanks... sigh."


    ''This candy... it reminds me of the past,'' Eve said to herself, and she began to think about what had happened to her.


    ********


    Just before dawn, there was a man walking in the forest. He was wearing a jacket and carrying camping gear.


    "Sigh... I won''t be able to camp if I don''t find a suitable spot," the man said.


    He was walking in the mountain forest at the foot of the mountain, passing through trees and shrubs, until he reached a railway track.


    "Well... I think this place is good... wait, I saw something between the trees up there... where are my binoculars...?"


    The man started searching for his night-vision binoculars in his bag. When he found them, he began looking through them to see what he had spotted.


    "Where is it? ... Wait... I see it... it''s... a bag?! ... Sigh... it seems someone dropped it... wait... there are candies in it... I''ll try to knock it down."


    The man prepared a slingshot. Even though it was pitch dark, he was a good shot and relied on his instincts, even at night.


    "Alright... here we go." He launched the shot and hit the bag.


    "Oh... wow... did I hit it?"


    The shot hit the bag, and it started to fall down the slope. But there was the sound of something heavier rolling down. The man moved towards the bag beside the railway track, and when he was about to pick it up, he spotted a girl unconscious on the railway track, bleeding from her head. It was Eve.


    "Oh my God... could it be... Miss?"


    He knelt on his knees and started shaking Eve to try to wake her up.


    "Wake up... wake up," but to no avail.


    "I think this... is this girl''s bag... oh my God... what have I done... I have to take her to the hospital." The man picked up Eve and took her to his city''s hospital.


    ********


    Eve slowly opened her eyes and began to see her hands as she lay on the bed, as if she had never had hands before. She quickly lifted her head to find herself in a hospital room. Eve started looking right and left, up and down. Her features showed signs of astonishment; she didn''t say a word. Eve''s state was like that of a newborn. She heard the sound of someone knocking on her room door, and she felt confused, so she didn''t open the door.


    "Miss... are you awake?" The voice sounded like someone in their thirties.


    "Ah... ah."


    "I heard a mumble... I''ll come in, please."


    Eve felt a little nervous when the doctor and the man who saved her entered.


    "She would have died if you hadn''t saved her from the train."


    "Well," ''Actually... I just found her by the railway track... I lied so they wouldn''t blame me,'' the man said to himself.


    The doctor turned to Eve and asked, "Alright, young lady... do you have any pain in your head?"


    "Yes... a little."


    "Okay... do you remember anything before this happened to you suddenly?"


    "No... no."


    "Is this annoying man next to me your father?" the doctor asked sarcastically.


    "What?" the man replied angrily.


    Eve began to laugh, "No, actually... oh... I''m sorry."


    "It''s alright," the doctor replied kindly to Eve.


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    "So... you don''t remember anything?"


    "I''m very sorry, sir... I don''t remember anything."


    "Alright... young lady... we found a bag with you... and we found a paper in it with a word... I think it''s your name... it has the word ''Eve'' written on it. Do you know anything about this word?"


    "No... actually..." Eve answered nervously.


    "Okay... this girl suffered a head injury... it seems like she fell on her head or something like that... naturally... we don''t know if she has a family or not... so... she needs to stay in the hospital for a week," said the doctor as he flipped through Eve''s record.


    "Doctor, after she is discharged... she won''t have a shelter... and I don''t know her family... what should I do?"


    "Adopt her."


    "What? I can''t afford my own living expenses... how can I afford to support this girl?"


    "Hmm... alright... so, young lady, would you like to know your name?"


    "Uh... yes."


    "Okay... we assume this is your real name... and it is... ''Eve''."


    A sigh of confusion from Eve. "Eve."


    "Alright... we can change the name if you want..."


    "No... I mean..." Eve said, interrupting the doctor.


    "Okay, no problem... if that''s what you want."


    *******


    At ten o''clock, Eve was with the man who saved her, heading towards the town center. The man was holding Eve''s hand tightly. Eve didn''t know where they were going until they arrived at an orphanage.


    "Sir... are you going to leave me here?"


    "No choice... sigh... I can''t take care of you."


    "Okay," Eve replied coldly.


    ******


    "So you''re the new girl... what''s your name?" the matron asked Eve. The matron was in her forties, somewhat large in build, wearing casual and slightly modern clothes.


    "My name is Eve."


    "Alright... come with me."


    Eve followed the matron. She took her to the bathroom.


    "Alright, Eve... I''ll help you with your bath..."


    "No... it''s okay... I can bathe myself."


    "Alright."


    ********


    "Come, change your clothes, Eve."


    "Alright."


    "Your clothes were strange... a coat with tattered clothes... were you homeless?" the matron asked as she helped Eve put on her new clothes.


    "I don''t know... didn''t the man tell you about this?" Eve asked, puzzled.


    "No... the man didn''t tell me anything... I thought he was your father and wanted to leave you here, so I didn''t ask... why?"


    "That''s strange," Eve said, confused.


    *******


    In the restaurant, there was a group of children her age sitting with her.


    "Welcome to our group, Eve... from now on, we''ll be like family. My name is Emma," said a girl with short, tied-up hair, wearing glasses.


    "Alright... alright, Emma... enough of that... the important thing is... tell us your story, Eve," said a boy with white hair.


    "Don''t be nosy, Alex... that''s rude... forgive him, Eve... we haven''t introduced ourselves. I''m Kate... and he''s Alex," said a girl with short hair.


    "I''m Leo."


    "And I''m Anna... and this is my brother," Anna said as she put her hand on her brother''s arm.


    "I''m Adam... Anna''s brother."


    "And I''m Alice... and I''d be very happy if we became friends." Alice was a girl with silver hair and gray eyes.


    "Oh... alright... maybe... I''d be happy," Eve said with hope, wishing to find happiness.


    ********


    "So, dear children... meet the newest member of your family... Eve... she is about ten years old... so I ask you to treat her kindly, alright?"


    "Yes, matron," the orphanage children replied.


    "Alright... now, Eve."


    "Oh... I''m happy to meet you all," Eve replied coldly.


    ********


    Alice began to get closer to me little by little. We would clean together, walk together, and talk from time to time. I started to bond with her; we played together, shared and ate our food together. I won''t lie to myself, Alice kept me company when we were scolded together, and I comforted her when she was afraid.


    "I think... I''ve made a new friend... someone who pulled me out of my loneliness... but."


    **********


    At night, Alice and I were sleeping in our room. I couldn''t sleep, so I got out of bed to ask Alice to sing me a lullaby. But when I went to wake her, I couldn''t find her in her bed.


    "Alice... Alice... where are you?"


    *****


    I searched for Alice, but I couldn''t find her. I informed the matron and the others about this, and we kept looking for her for an entire month. We notified the police about it. After a long investigation, the police concluded that this was not an abduction, but a case of disappearance. This case was old, and I didn''t know about it, as there were many rumors about children disappearing in the sixties. However, in this time, no one cares about these cases anymore, and some of the records related to them were erased for reasons I really don''t know. But I didn''t care anymore because after her disappearance, the children started accusing me of making her disappear.


    *******


    I started hearing the children whispering among themselves.


    "Don''t go near that girl."


    "I think she''s a witch or something."


    "That girl... she''s crazy."


    "Crazy... crazy... crazy... crazy... crazy..."


    The children began to hate and avoid me, and I realized that my moments with Alice would never return. Until the day they came.


    *****


    "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Addis," the matron greeted them.


    "Hello, we want to adopt a ten-year-old child who is proficient in reading and writing," Mr. Addis said.


    "Don''t worry, sir. We teach the children reading and writing."


    "That''s good," replied Mrs. Addis.


    ******


    "Alright, I have gathered all the ten-year-old children in this room for you."


    "Alright," said Mrs. Addis.


    "Thank you," said Mr. Addis.


    Mr. and Mrs. Addis walked around the room, looking at the children. Suddenly, they noticed a girl with completely empty eyes, looking depressed. She was in a pitiful state. That girl was me.


    "What is wrong with this girl?" Mrs. Addis asked.


    "Oh... she''s a bit depressed... I''m not sure why she''s so sad... but I heard that the girl who was kidnapped was her friend."


    "So, little one... what''s your name?" Mrs. Addis asked me.


    "Eve," I replied coldly.


    *****


    "Bill... I want to adopt this girl," Mrs. Addis said to her husband.


    Eve was surprised by the woman''s decision and stood up, astonished.


    "But... why would you want to adopt a crazy girl who brings bad luck... besides, I... I don''t know anything about myself... I''ve lost my memory for a while... you will suffer from me and my bad luck, so why... you won''t be able to handle me at all...?"


    "Eve... don''t speak like that," the matron said.


    "You know, Eve... I had a child your age... and he was like this... so... I won¡¯t have trouble raising you... so... won¡¯t you hug your mother now?" Mrs. Addis said, interrupting the matron.


    Eve slowly approached Mrs. Addis, and when she got close, Mrs. Addis hugged her. Eve felt a familiar sensation; the woman''s hug was like Alice''s hug.


    ''Perhaps this could be a new and good beginning for me,'' Eve thought to herself.


    *****


    Mrs. Addis was holding Eve''s hand as they were leaving the house. Eve turned to look at the orphanage; everyone was staring at her from the windows.


    "Eve... aren''t you going to say goodbye to your friends?" Mrs. Addis asked.


    "Huh... they were actually... waiting for me to leave," Eve said with a smile on her face.


    *******


    Eve turned to Otto, then stood holding the candies. She said, "Otto."


    "Yes," Otto replied.


    "I will do whatever you say... and I will help you with your goal."


    "Really... you will?" Otto said, surprised.


    "On one condition," Eve said, raising her hand and pointing with one finger to emphasize the condition, adding, "You must tell me what happened to Lily in the end... It will be a winning deal... in the end." Eve finished her statement with a devilish smile, as if her words were those of an adult. Otto felt a shiver from her words, as if a demonic aura surrounded her. Otto''s thoughts drifted for a moment, then he said, "Consider me, Eve... agreeing to this deal."


    Eve had no other choice; she needed to know why her friends had disappeared. So Eve began to show her other side to find out if she had any connection to their disappearance. Eve suspected that her nightmares might have a tangible effect on those who come near her. If her suspicion was correct, her nightmares could be a sign of something even more terrifying. Now, all she had to do was wait for that session.


    "Alice... Lily... if I am the reason for your disappearance... I will make things right," Eve said to herself, but this time, she was serious about it.

 Chapter Ten: The Truth, Now It鈥檚 Real! (Part 8)

    "Dreams...Nightmares...The Past...The Present...The Future...Darkness...Void...Eyes...Children...This is what I cannot bear."


    It was a deep mutter from Eve inside the dark void. She was sitting on that gray ground, with light shining above her head. She was like a captive bound in chains, while those hands were caressing her black hair. Eve was tired and could not lift her head.


    For a moment, Eve felt a strange sensation, so she turned left and right, then looked ahead of her.


    "I...I feel a strong energy around me...Is it...just my imagination?"


    *****


    In the morning, Eve was sitting on her bed, watching TV in her room. Unlike other children, Eve watched the news and did not enjoy cartoons. Otto entered Eve''s room, surprised to see her watching TV at last.


    "Finally...you turned on the TV...What are you watching?"


    "News," Eve answered coldly.


    "Usually, children watch cartoons...so why don''t you watch them? Your parents bought you this TV hoping you''d relax...Eve...are you listening to me?"


    "Sorry...I¡¯m just...trying to find old news about the disappearance of children...or at least...information or statements...but I notice they don''t talk about it...or rather...they forget about it...or avoid it...what do you think, Otto?"


    Otto sighed and said as he took the remote and changed the channel, "Stop this, Eve."


    "Hey...let me watch the news, Otto," Eve said in annoyance.


    "Go ahead...watch cartoons instead...your brain is too small for these things," Otto said as he handed the remote back to Eve.


    "Huh...fine," Eve replied, irritated.


    Eve watched the cartoons, annoyed, but her mind wandered as she thought about that dream. She began to ask herself questions that might be illogical about it. What made it stranger to her was her recurring forgetfulness about some of her dreams, and the feeling that accompanied them, and most importantly, her distancing from reality.


    "What¡¯s wrong, Eve...did you like the show?"


    "Don''t play dumb, Otto...there''s no way I''d like a show full of illogical things...I might even see a whale flying with wings now,"  Eve said sarcastically, only to actually see a whale flying with wings.


    "Seriously...I should stop talking sometimes," Eve said worriedly.


    "Sigh...you take things too seriously, Eve...It''s just...a cartoon, though you have a wilder imagination than...ordinary children," Otto noticed something that made him change his tone.


    "Wait, Eve...I''ll go to the office," Otto said as he left the room.


    "Wait...wait for me, Otto," Eve said, jumping off her bed to follow Otto.


    ******


    Eve reached the office, and when she opened the door, she found Otto preparing some tapes and a recording device. Eve moved closer to the desk to get a better look.


    "What are you doing, Otto?"


    "Ah...I¡¯m setting up the recording device...I used this device with Noun and Ethan only once...I recorded all the sessions with them...but I remembered something important in them...especially in the first recording."


    Eve looked at the video tapes and said, "Otto...Have Noun and Ethan started forgetting some of their nightmares...or memories in this reality?"


    "What?" Otto said in astonishment.


    "Or...have they...started feeling...like they don''t belong in this reality?"


    "Eve...do you really feel that way?" Otto said, puzzled.


    "Honestly...if that''s how they feel...then my feeling is different."


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    "What do you mean?" Otto suddenly felt concerned.


    "What I mean is...I don''t belong anywhere...I feel like my soul is...trapped...in that void...I feel a void within me...It was a recurring feeling...At one point, it made me want to...end it all." Eve''s expression changed. Otto felt a chill when Eve spoke like this, her coldness during the conversation suggesting she wasn''t just a ten-year-old girl.


    Ignoring these points, Otto said, "Eve...don''t say that again...Eve...this is wrong...Did you really think of trading your life for death?" Otto felt as though he had uttered words that were beyond Eve''s comprehension, but Eve replied without hesitation, "No, no, Otto...it was because of the headache...though I tried once in the orphanage...but I realized it was wrong..."


    At that moment, Eve remembered herself trying to jump out of the window, saying, "Damn world...I don''t need to live anymore...goodbye." It was a dramatic scene, until Alice came and grabbed her hand.


    ''If Alice hadn''t been there...I''d be a soul now, stuck in a grave,'' Eve began talking to herself.


    Otto was surprised that Eve didn''t shy away from his words, so he changed the subject, saying, "Anyway...it''s not time for the session yet...questions like these aren''t conducted here...I''ll explain everything now...and don''t worry..."


    "What...?" Eve replied, anxious and confused.


    "I''ll tell you the truth...this won¡¯t remain a secret...so come on...there''s no one in the hallway, so it¡¯s okay to talk here."


    "Alright," Eve replied, tense.


    ******


    Eve was sitting on a chair in the office alone, waiting for Otto to return. Otto came in, holding a small mirror. He sat down on his chair and began to explain.


    "I¡¯ll liken this to a mirror. This mirror reflects your face...but your nightmares reflect the reality you hate...or your worst fears...This is normal...But this mirror...it could take on a new path...Imagine if this mirror were a gateway."


    "A gateway?"


    "Yes...You probably won¡¯t understand me...since you don''t usually watch cartoons...this gateway...imagine it taking you...to...another world."


    ******


    The receptionist was organizing his papers at the front desk when someone called out to him in the voice of an older man.


    "Good morning...I''d like to speak with you."


    The receptionist looked up and said, "Alright...Oh...Mr. and Mrs. Addis...I didn''t expect your visit...how can I assist you?"


    "We¡¯d like to speak with you privately," said Mr. Addis.


    "Alright...please follow me...there''s a room where no one is, follow me."


    ******


    Bill and Maria entered a private reception room...it had two modern sofas and a wooden table.


    "Please, have a seat."


    "Alright."


    Bill and Maria sat on the sofa, and then the receptionist sat down and said, "I suppose you didn''t come to visit your daughter...so why are you here?"


    "Sir...there''s a danger to our daughter...right now,"** Maria said, concerned.


    "What?".


    "Maria...you rushed it...I know you''re worried...but calm down," Bill said, reassuring Maria.


    "What exactly...do you mean?" the receptionist replied cautiously and anxiously.


    "Sir...our daughter...is at risk of disappearing."


    "What?"the receptionist exclaimed, shocked.


    "My wife''s brother, when he was young... and our son... they both suffered from these nightmares... and after a while... they disappeared from their beds... people searched for them... but... to no avail... But... I bet Otto... knows Eve''s condition well... He has encountered some of these mysterious cases."


    "What?" said the receptionist, shocked.


    *******


    Eve was stunned for a moment and said, "This is impossible... do you mean..."


    "The mirror that became a gateway to the Mirror World... it''s like the nightmares that became... a threshold... to the World of Nightmares... If you don''t believe me, listen to what I didn''t tell Non and Ethan... What makes you special... is that your mind is almost like an adult''s... the way you talk... deep thinking... even your patience with my continuous lying... Non and Ethan couldn''t handle knowing I was hiding something from them... but you didn''t... Listen carefully," Otto began explaining to Eve, but this time, in a serious tone.


    *******


    ¡¶The human mind is a mysterious enigma... endless, Eve... Delving into it is like staring into a dark abyss with no known bottom... It is said that the mind hides great secrets... it is the engine of everything we do... every step... every heartbeat... But... sometimes... a mere disruption occurs, what science calls a tumor... This is what gnaws inside you, Eve... A tumor in your brain. This tumor is the source of the pain that grips your head... the nightmares that haunt you... But it''s not just a tumor... it''s a key... A key buried deep in your mind... and in the minds of all children... If you seek liberation from this torment... you have no choice but to cross that threshold... to where the unknown awaits you, Eve... Your eternal rest lies there... Isn''t that right?... Zero.¡· Among 1223 nightmare patients, Eve was the only one Otto was honest with and told her the full truth. Eve''s pupils contracted in shock; what she had seen and heard was a truth hard to believe. She realized then that her nightmares were another world.


    Eve felt a disturbance in her head and began screaming, clutching her head with both hands, saying, "Otto, you''re lying... lying... lying... No... worms... worms in my head... worms in my head... I don''t want them to devour it... no." Eve collapsed to the ground, thrashing as if someone were torturing her. Otto tried to hold her, but he couldn''t.


    Otto felt that he had made a grave mistake. He tried in every way to calm her down, but he failed.


    *******


    Bill, Maria, the receptionist, and nearly the entire medical staff working near Otto''s office heard Eve''s screams. Everyone, including the three mentioned earlier, rushed to the source of the noise. Just before they arrived, the screaming stopped. When they looked inside, they found Otto injecting Eve with a syringe, which seemed to be a sedative. Eve, in that state, was like someone who had experienced the throes of death¡ªsaliva dripping from her mouth, tears flowing incessantly, and eyes with bloodshot veins.


    People were shocked by this scene. Otto turned toward them, his expression devoid of emotion. He stood up, carrying Eve in his arms. The doctors approached him, asking what had happened. He replied that she had suffered from a headache, and her medication didn''t help, so he gave her a sedative.


    Everyone stepped back, giving Otto space to leave. He was heading to Eve''s room. Suddenly, the receptionist called out to him, and Otto turned to see Maria and Bill with him.


    When Maria and Bill saw their daughter unconscious, they were shocked.


    "We would like to talk to you, doctor," Bill called out to Otto.


    "Now is not the right time... We''ll talk later."


    *******


    At night, Otto was sitting in his chair, looking at Eve as she slept. Otto regretted telling Eve the truth in such an unethical way, as if he were threatening her. He felt like one of those conmen who had studied with him about these nightmares. Otto looked at the recording device and started to stare at it. Slowly, an idea came to his mind.


    *******


    Otto went to his office, turned on his laptop, and edited all his tapes. Then, he went to Eve''s room carrying some CDs. After entering the room, he set up the CD in a special player, connected regular headphones to it, and placed them on Eve''s ears.


    "I think... this is the only way... to make Eve... experience what Non and Ethan did... Ah... wait... Non... she asked me to call her by that name... because the word ''Non'' means ''no one''... because she felt comfortable when I called her that... But Eve didn''t feel comfortable when I called her Zero... wait... ''the Fearman'' gave Eve that name... Could it be... that Fearman gave Non this name... huh... what do I know... maybe she liked me calling her that... a deep sigh... I got so used to calling her that... I almost forgot her name."

 Chapter Eleven: The Beginning, The Sounds of Nightmares (part 9)

    Eve''s footsteps were faint, like raindrops slowly falling from cracks in the rooftops, gathering into dark puddles. In the dark void, where the mist hung in the air, the sounds felt like the echoes of infinite loneliness, or perhaps the echoes of a lost inner depth. This was what Eve pondered as she listened intently to the sound of her small steps.


    "The place... it''s a bit cold," Eve said in a hoarse voice, exhausted.


    She sat down on the cold, gray ground, trying in vain to warm her body. The mist surrounded her from every side, as if she were trapped in an endless nightmare. She tried to focus on finding a way out, but confusion and fear crept into her heart. At that moment, Eve remembered something.


    "Wait... wasn''t I with Otto...? My head... ah."


    She began to hear the groans and screams of children, sounds that had always haunted her. She tried to resist those sounds, which seemed to come from the depths of her memories.


    "Why have these screams returned? I thought they had disappeared... but they''ve come back... to haunt me... ah."


    Eve fell to her knees from the intense pain, feeling her body changing in a strange and frightening way, but the pain in her head was overwhelming. She opened her eyes slowly and saw light seeping through an open door.


    "This... is very strange... it''s usually... closed."


    Eve quickly stood up and started running towards the door, but the closer she got, the more her body changed. When she crossed the door, everything about her changed, even her clothes transformed from nightwear into a strange outfit.


    *******


    Otto was sitting, watching Eve intently. Suddenly, he heard her faint groaning, and hurried to change the CD.


    "It''s the right time," Otto said to himself, hoping this was the only solution.


    ******


    Eve woke up to find herself in a strange room, filled with pictures of eyes staring at her. The atmosphere was suffocating, and the thick mist heightened her sense of alienation. She cautiously approached the door, and when she opened it, she looked left and right but saw no distorted creature as she had expected.


    She continued walking down the narrow hallway, but the feeling of strangeness did not leave her. She reached a dead end, but noticed a small ventilation opening on her left.


    "Finally... a passage that fits me," Eve whispered as she began to crawl through it.


    Crawling was exhausting and difficult, as if her body hadn''t moved in years. The strange smell stung her eyes, and the ventilation walls were dilapidated and full of cracks. Eve placed her hand on one of the cracks, and the wall broke; she quickly grabbed one of the edges, but it crumbled, and she fell into a dark abyss.


    Eve woke up to find herself in a large room filled with cells. She felt her body and, fortunately, she was okay.


    "Sigh... I thought I was going to die..."


    Suddenly, she heard a door creak open. She slowly turned to find someone wearing a tattered cloak. He was staring at her from behind a veil of thick mist. Eve raised her head to see him; the monster was covering its face with a lifeless mask. The creature raised its deformed hand.


    "What is he doing... as if it''s... a signal."


    Eve looked up and saw a rusty ventilation pipe collapsing toward her. She jumped back, barely escaping it.


    She quickly stood up and started running, but the creature was fast, appearing beside her in an instant. Eve screamed, "You''re really fast... but I''ll keep up with you."


    Eve suddenly changed direction toward the door, with the creature following closely behind. But she stopped when another pipe fell in front of her, making her lose hope of escape. She felt exhausted and collapsed to the ground. Suddenly, she heard a strange voice calling her. She looked to the side and saw a small creature waving at her, hiding between two cells, with an open ventilation opening behind it. It was very small, with pale green skin and a head like a moving mushroom.


    Eve quickly got up and grabbed the small creature, crawling with it through the opening until they hid far from the monster.


    "If it weren''t for you, I''d be dead... thank you, little creature," Eve said, hugging the creature. It made a sound like a goblin, mixed with a faint moan; it had suffered a lot.


    Eve continued crawling toward a light at the end of the corridor, and when she emerged, she found herself in a small room full of cracks. The creature hurried toward the nearest crack.


    "Wait," Eve called, but the creature did not respond. She searched her pocket and found some candy, placing them in front of the crack, saying, "These are for you... they were in my nightwear pocket... I hope you accept them from me." The creature took the candy, and Eve smiled before heading toward the door.


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    She pushed the door slowly and turned right to see dozens of copies of the entity that had tried to kill her.


    "I''m really unlucky," Eve said sadly and disappointedly.


    She rushed to escape from them, but they began to chase her. They moved their hands in the air in a strange way, making the walls draw closer like magnets. Even the floor wasn''t spared from their tricks, as protrusions formed, hindering Eve''s movement. She climbed one of the protrusions and started jumping from one to another on the wall until she reached a protrusion on the ceiling and dangled from it to jump to the opposite side.


    She jumped on one of the monsters'' heads and fell to the ground, and the monsters continued to fight each other, thinking that Eve was among them.


    ''I really am keeping up with them in intelligence,'' Eve said, praising herself.


    Eve got up to find a door that had suddenly appeared. She had no other choice but to dash towards it. One of the monsters noticed her movement and waved its hand to form another protrusion. Eve jumped on it and then jumped again to grab the handle, opening the door. She found herself back in the void, and turned to see that entity.


    "That bastard... shaped the protrusion to help me open the door," Eve thought to herself.


    She let go of the handle, and the door disappeared.


    ******


    Eve''s groaning resumed as she slept. Otto removed the headphones from her ears and connected his device to monitor her mind.


    "The time has come now."


    ******


    Eve wandered again in the void and heard Otto calling her. She quickly headed towards him.


    "I''m here, don''t worry," Eve shouted.


    Otto turned to her, surprised, and said, "Eve... is that really you? What happened to you?"


    Otto leaned in to check on her condition.


    "Don''t worry... I''m fine... just my clothes are changing."


    "No... you''ve changed completely... your face... your hair... even your skin."


    "What... I didn''t notice that... my body is changing."


    "In any case... where is the threshold, Eve?" Otto said, turning to the right.


    "Otto... I crossed it several times, and I just crossed it again."


    "What?" Otto said in shock.


    "Yes, but I crossed one of the strange doors and found myself here."


    "That doesn''t make sense... how?"


    *******


    "I brought her here," a voice filled with terror came from behind them.


    Otto turned to find the owner of the drooping face approaching them. Eve felt a deep fear and hid behind Otto.


    "Return her to the real world."


    "What?... What do you mean...?"


    "Didn''t you understand my words... or do you want me to return her by force?"


    "Are you trying to deceive me?... I fulfilled your request, and here is the third child with me."


    "What? What do you mean, Otto?" Eve asked in astonishment, not understanding anything.


    "Didn''t you understand, Otto? Zero is important to both of us... so return her... or have you forgotten who helped in creating this device you''re using now... didn''t my assistance remind you... and this warning is the best proof... take my advice... and you won''t regret it," the Ferryman said.


    "Impossible... if I return her... I won''t find another child like her... I''ll go back to square one... are you trying to stand in my way...?"


    "Otto... what is happening -"


    "...and also... you know that I will do anything... to get my sister back from you... have you forgotten that, Ferryman?... I will enter her into your world... no matter the cost."


    "Otto..." The shock seeped into Eve''s depths as she realized what was happening. She took a step back, her eyes hesitant to face the truth that was beginning to unfold.


    "Eve..."


    "So... you used me?... You just wanted me to cross the threshold to achieve your own goals? You deceived me... I trusted you... but you..."


    Otto tried to intervene, "Eve... if you cross it... you won''t suffer from that headache... didn''t you say... you would follow my orders... to save Lily?... Isn''t that right -"


    But she cut him off, anger and fear overwhelming her: "I know that... but you didn''t say... that you also want to save someone dear to you... I felt that... I knew you were lying from the beginning... you didn''t want to tell me... thinking I would back out... I was patient... I really was patient... if you had told me... I would have agreed immediately... but... you know what?... It doesn''t matter anymore... the only thing you told me... is that my salvation from the headache... lies behind that door... that''s the only thing... I believe."


    Eve quickly turned and began to run, trying to escape from everything, but the Ferryman moved swiftly,


    appearing before her as if he had emerged from nowhere. Eve stopped suddenly, her legs refusing to move. She was frozen with fear, not knowing what to do. She slowly retreated, knowing he would do anything for his goals.


    The Ferryman extended his hand towards her and said in a voice tinged with darkness, "Come on, Zero... return to your world."


    Fear gripped her, but she knew she had no choice but to comply. Despite everything, she was torn between her desire to stay and the fear of what would happen. She said in a trembling voice, "I know there''s no other choice... but... I promised Otto I would do what he told me... my life doesn''t matter to me as much as I want to correct what I did to Alice and Lily... I wanted to take them because of me... so leave me alone... you disfigured one."


    Suddenly, the eye around Eve''s neck lit up, radiating a strange and dazzling light. The Ferryman froze in place, as if this light was his weakness. At that moment, the threshold appeared suddenly.


    "Eve... now!" Otto shouted.


    Eve saw the threshold before her and rushed towards it with all her might. As she moved away from the Ferryman, he broke free from his restraint and rushed towards her, trying to catch her. Suddenly, the threshold shattered after Eve crossed it. It was as if her strong desire to leave was the cause. The Ferryman turned to Otto, with clear anger in his eyes.


    "You foolish human... without Zero."


    Otto asked in astonishment and fear, "What do you mean?"


    The Ferryman replied in a voice full of mystery and terror, "Zero... is she."


    ******


    At that moment, the connection between Otto and the Ferryman was severed, and Otto''s consciousness returned to the real world.


    "What a shame... the connection was lost because Eve''s body... I''ll remove the needles."


    He was removing the needles from his head. At that moment, he was surprised to find that Eve''s body was still on the bed. Her body hadn''t disappeared.


    "Impossible... Eve didn''t disappear... didn''t her body transfer?... It''s really her body... I''m not hallucinating... how... wait... no soul... only her soul transferred... but her body didn''t... it''s hollow now... why?"


    Things began to become clear to Otto. He remembered the incident that happened to Eve, her memory loss, her feeling of incompleteness, the changes in her body, her contradictory personality, and her strange thoughts. "My clothes always change in the nightmare... I didn''t notice that... my body changes... I sometimes feel that I''m not complete... my salvation from the headache... is beyond the threshold..."


    Then the shocking truth came, "Her body didn''t transfer... because her soul... transferred to that body... no... the Ferryman takes the entire child during the transfer... is it because... he didn''t accept Eve... or does the Ferryman... want to keep her body here from the start... wait... Eve said that Lily and that other girl... transferred because of Eve... very important to me and him... the connection was cut during her crossing... is it because..."


    Suddenly, Otto heard a knock on the room''s door.


    "Come in."


    The receptionist entered, in a state of surprise and confusion.


    "I see you are puzzled by something... What happened?"


    "Otto... there''s something strange... one of the children... woke up and said that the headache is gone... and that he didn''t have any nightmares... I received his report at ten, and moments after reading it, I rushed to tell you. Here it is."


    Otto took the report.


    "What... ''Very important for me and for him''... Eve... did she."


    "Did you notice something?... Wait... what are those needles on Eve''s head?"


    "¡­ Transfer her quickly... she has fallen into a coma."


    "What...?"


    "Hurry up!"


    "Yes, sir."


    And after a month of Eve falling into a coma, the children no longer suffered from headaches and nightmares.

 Chapter Twelve: The Abyss of the Spider.

    After a full month of Eve being in a coma, no child suffered from headaches or nightmares anymore.


    *******


    Eve was crawling inside one of the ventilation shafts. The tunnel was dark, with some light filtering through its cracks. Eve''s hands had turned red from the intense cold, until she finally saw an end to this path.


    "At last¡­ here¡¯s the end," Eve said this in a different tone of voice.


    Eve hurried toward the exit with all her might. She peered out to find a strange place¡ªa chasm with some light filtering in from above, as if from a full moon, with a light mist hanging in the air. But what stood out were the ropes stretching from nowhere, like a spider¡¯s web made of strong ropes extending from above to below. Since Eve found no other way out of the tunnels, this was the only path.


    Eve jumped to grab the nearest rope. She managed to hold onto it, and luckily, these ropes were close to each other, and the mist wasn''t too thick, though it slightly obstructed her vision. Eve tried to stand and walk on these ropes, managing to grab another one. She felt a light breeze, and moments later, Eve found herself flying between the ropes.


    "What just happened?" Eve remembered the light breeze.


    "There''s something beneath that weakens the current¡­ could this place¡­ be the center that connects the ventilation shafts?"


    When the current returned to its normal state, Eve quickly grabbed the nearest rope.


    ''I must be more careful in this place¡­ who knows¡­ since this place is important, it might be dangerous for me.''


    Eve continued her way toward the top, noticing that the higher she climbed, the closer the ropes got to each other. She took advantage of this by grabbing the nearest rope and clinging to it, then grabbing another repeatedly. She felt something dripping on her head but didn''t pay attention to it, focusing instead on climbing higher. Every minute, the violent current returned, which Eve used to ascend further. However, this eerie atmosphere inside frightened Eve, forcing her to be cautious with every step.


    "With this current¡­ I''ll reach the top quickly," Eve said, exhausted and with a deep sigh.


    Ten minutes passed, and Eve felt a light breeze again. She jumped, and suddenly the strong current returned, helping her move upward. Eve grabbed one of the ropes but felt it was sticky, barely able to hold on. She let go of one hand and found it covered in a red liquid.


    "Disgusting¡­ what is this sticky stuff?" Eve shuddered.


    She smelled it and said, with bewilderment and shock, "Blood¡­!"


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    A drop of blood dripped onto Eve''s head, causing her to slowly look up, only to find bags tied to those ropes, dripping blood. Eve froze in place from fear, as if paralyzed, sweating cold sweat.


    Eve looked at the nearest rope, and with all the pressure, she saw it as distant as the sky and the earth, but she jumped nonetheless. Eve kept climbing and jumping from one rope to another until the strong current came again. Eve let go of the rope, allowing it to lift her upward. She grabbed a rope that had one of those large bags attached to it, clung to it, and then jumped to grab another rope. Suddenly, that bag fell, making a sound upon impact after a while, causing great anxiety and confusion for Eve.


    "I must not back down," Eve said with anxiety and exhaustion.


    Eve wanted to stand on that rope to jump, as the minute would end soon, but she couldn''t. Her hands had stuck to that rope as if it were coated with glue.


    Eve felt panicked by what happened, tried to let go of the rope, but couldn''t. She swayed forward, and her foot stuck to another rope. She was trapped in those ropes like a butterfly caught in a spider¡¯s web.


    Eve struggled with all her might and noticed something strange¡ªevery time she moved, all the ropes moved, as if they were connected.


    "Wait¡­ weren''t the ropes just a few centimeters apart¡­?"


    The feeling of an impending end crept closer and closer. She was trapped¡ªbetween the powerful current and these webs. Was climbing upwards a bad choice or the right one? If she descended, she wouldn¡¯t see the ropes, and the fear of the unknown would overwhelm her. But climbing upwards was also one of the worst choices. These thoughts took control of Eve¡¯s mind. She didn¡¯t know what to do, as if all of this had been planned¡ªto push her to climb higher, only to be trapped like insects in a spider¡¯s web.


    ¡°Was this a trap¡­ to catch anyone who enters here¡­? Wait¡­ no.¡±


    Eve quickly looked up to see something approaching her. It moved along the ropes like a spider on its web. Fear gripped Eve¡¯s heart. She couldn¡¯t move due to the exhaustion from climbing.


    Yet, she resisted. The shape of the entity became clearer as it got closer. It was enormous, with eight arms and two severed legs. Its face hung more grotesquely than the Ferryman¡¯s, like a hybrid between a spider and a human. It held in its front hands the crushed bodies of two children, both about the size of Eve.


    ¡®No¡­ what should I do¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ escape from it¡­ no¡­ I can¡¯t.¡¯ Eve thought to herself, in a state of utter despair.


    Eve suddenly felt that light breeze on her back, wet with sweat, as if it gave her a glimmer of hope for survival. But it was false hope in her eyes, as the creature had reached her, ready to grab her with its deformed hand.


    At that moment, the current surged with more force than ever before, freeing Eve from its grip and sending her floating in the air. Even the creature wasn¡¯t spared, as the current pushed it upward, as if it was targeted by it. In that moment, Eve noticed on the circular wall to her right eyes drawn on it, their twisted pupils fixed on her.


    When the current stopped, Eve tried to avoid touching those damp ropes as she fell.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try to pass through those gaps.¡±


    But the creature didn¡¯t give up, beginning to descend into the depths to catch its prey. The light gradually faded, and Eve grabbed onto a rope. Unfortunately, the ropes were spread apart, but she spotted a ventilation shaft. An idea crossed her mind as she looked at the nearest ropes.


    The creature drew closer and closer. Despite her intense anxiety, Eve worked to calm herself. She breathed slowly, sweat pouring down her forehead.


    Just moments before the creature could grab her, Eve let go of the rope, landing on one of the ropes and putting all her weight into it, then jumped, grabbing another rope near the vent. She swayed forward, then let go, managing to grab the edge of the vent. The deformed creature lunged toward the vent as Eve quickly entered it before the creature collided with the wall. It reshaped its arm into a spider-like limb, jamming it into the vent. Had Eve not hurried inside, it would have been the end of her, as the creature¡¯s limb grazed her right shoulder. The creature was on the verge of falling, dragging Eve with it. Eve clung with all her might, and the creature finally let go, leaving her in a wretched state. A deep wound in her shoulder began bleeding profusely.


    ¡°That bastard¡­¡± Eve muttered, exhausted and in extreme pain.


    *********


    Eve continued crawling through the tunnels, her blood leaving a chaotic trail on the ground. She couldn¡¯t bear the pain any longer, so she sat down to rest for a bit. Her strength was completely drained, and she felt her vision blur.


    "My wound is still bleeding¡­ I need to stop it¡­"


    She collapsed, unconscious, in those tunnels, like a mouse hiding from a cat after being wounded¡ªalone, waiting for someone to save her. Or rather, waiting for her inevitable fate.

 Chapter Thirteen: The Mirror Room

    ''What is this...? What happened? Why am I... unable to move? Why do I feel... weak? What exactly happened? Why do I feel something... pulling me? Did... did I survive... that monster? It doesn¡¯t matter... Even if I survived... I will die... sooner or later.''


    *******


    Eve felt something lurking at her wounded shoulder and suddenly woke up to find herself in another place, a room the size of her body¡ªor rather, a mouse''s home. To those monsters, she was merely an intrusive mouse. She felt pain in her shoulder and couldn¡¯t bear the intensity of it.


    She turned to her right and saw a small dwarf binding a cloth around her wound. Eve touched her wound with her left hand; it was bandaged with great care.


    "Thank you, little one... Wait... Are you the dwarf who saved me before?" Eve said, trying to stand up. She rushed towards him and hugged him, saying, "Thank you for helping me again, little one." Eve was joyful and happy.


    She put down the little creature and headed towards a crack in the wall to exit this place, only to turn around and find the dwarf following her.


    "Is this your hideout, little one? I mean, this place we''re hiding in," Eve said.


    The dwarf nodded as if to say ''yes.''


    "Can you understand what I¡¯m saying?" Eve asked, puzzled.


    The creature nodded in confirmation.


    ''Does he understand human language? If he does...'' Eve thought at that moment.


    "Little creature... come on... let''s go," Eve said. The small creature quickly complied, walking towards her with delicate, swift steps, making strange sounds, "No...z."


    "You really make those sounds... so I don¡¯t stumble while talking to you, little one... I¡¯ll call you Mushroom... I kind of like mushrooms... Do you like it?" The little one began to jump as if pleased.


    "I''ll take that as a yes... But first... I want to ask you... have you met any children... or humans here?"


    The creature approached one of the walls, picked up a piece of chalk from the ground, and started drawing. It drew two human figures holding hands, then what looked like an island with a volcano, a drawing similar to that of a child¡¯s scribbles.


    "I don¡¯t understand the second part of your drawing."


    The creature added a line as if representing the sea.


    "Meaning... a volcanic island... in the sea?" Eve asked, confused.


    The creature shook its head and then drew something underneath the island, almost like an iceberg, showing a mountain on the surface and much larger beneath the sea.


    "You mean it¡¯s like an iceberg?"


    The creature shook its head in denial and then pointed to itself.


    "Do you mean... affiliation... or are you... trying to guide me?" Suddenly, an idea struck Eve. She drew two human figures.


    "Do you mean you want to guide me... to a safe place?"


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    The mushroom nodded in agreement and then drew something else: a group of eyes watching the human figures and a mask in the midst of darkness.


    "Ah... Sorry... I don¡¯t understand... But this means..." Suddenly, Eve remembered that place, those eyes, the thick fog, the cold sweat on her forehead, and that dark void. Eve felt a tightness in her chest and said, "Do you want to return... to your homeland?"


    The mushroom nodded in agreement and pointed to its drawing.


    "What... is this...?" Eve realized she had misunderstood. She sighed deeply. "But... I don¡¯t know the way out... Wait... Do you know the way out, Mushroom?"


    The mushroom nodded in affirmation.


    "Okay... Lead me there... if you want."


    The mushroom grabbed Eve¡¯s hand, and she said, "I¡¯ll take that as your approval."


    Eve looked through the crack; it was another corridor.


    "Fog... but the situation is safe... Hold on to me, little one..." Eve said as she carried the dwarf.


    Eve walked cautiously and with great tension through the misty corridor. The dwarf stopped in front of a door on her left. Eve noticed that the door handle was too high. She tried to reach it repeatedly but couldn¡¯t.


    "It¡¯s too high... I don¡¯t want to continue this foggy path... It feels... uncomfortably damp," Eve said, looking at the corridor. The dwarf tugged at Eve¡¯s skirt as if trying to tell her something.


    "What?" Eve asked, puzzled. Suddenly, an idea struck her as she looked at the mushroom and the door handle.


    She picked up the mushroom and took a position as if she wanted to throw something.


    "When I throw you... grab the door handle... I¡¯ll catch you when you let go... Ready?"


    The dwarf nodded in agreement. Eve said, "Let¡¯s start... Go."


    She threw the mushroom, which grabbed the door handle, opening the door. It let go, and Eve caught it.


    "A well-behaved mushroom."


    Eve and her moving mushroom pushed the door open to find a dark room with strange mirrors on both sides.


    "Oh... another place," Eve said with annoyance.


    The mushroom started making strange noises and pointed to the dark end.


    "What are you trying to tell me... It¡¯s as if you¡¯re insisting on the end."


    The mushroom continued pointing towards the end. Eve, surprised, asked, "Wait... Can you see in the dark?"


    The mushroom began nodding in agreement and kept pointing towards the end.


    "Okay... we¡¯ll go... let¡¯s hurry..."


    The creature rushed towards the end, guiding Eve. The sound of glass cracking as mirrors fell was suffocating for Eve, as if it heralded a new victim. She turned to one of the mirrors and saw her reflection, shocked inside but not showing it outwardly. It was the first time Eve had seen her own body. She tried to lift her bangs from her left eye, but the mushroom interrupted her by tugging at her skirt.


    "Okay... okay."


    The mushroom pointed to a ventilation opening, and Eve proceeded. She looked to her right and left, feeling tense. What made it stranger were the distorted mirrors, with cracks appearing on the glass as if swallowing the light.


    The mushroom started running clumsily.


    "Don¡¯t worry..."


    A soft voice came from the mushroom.


    Eve smiled and said, "Even though you¡¯re not human like me... I don¡¯t feel lonely with you."


    A voice indicating loneliness and sadness came from the mushroom.


    "I¡¯m trying to find important people to me... I¡¯m the reason they¡¯re in this place... Even though I... didn¡¯t do anything material for them... but... it feels... like an instinctive feeling... so..."


    The mushroom¡¯s voice showed surprise and concern as it wobbled and pointed to one of the mirrors.


    "What..."


    The creature ran awkwardly towards a giant mirror on her right. Eve followed quickly, saying, "What¡¯s going on with you, Mushroom... since we entered, you¡¯ve been¡ª" Eve was startled by the giant mirror in front of them.


    The creature stood motionless, staring at its reflection in the mirror. Eve turned to it, shaking it and saying, "Mushroom... what¡¯s wrong? ...Deep sigh... I¡¯ll open it myself, and you can come to me afterward."


    Eve continued on, leaving the mushroom still standing in front of the mirror.


    "Did I make a mistake? ...It didn¡¯t work... This is strange."


    Eve stopped and looked at a very familiar mirror on her left. She approached it to see her reflection. She wanted to see her left eye. As she tried to lift her bangs, suddenly, her reflection smiled and laughed hysterically. Eve felt fear and a chill run down her spine. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead. She saw the mushroom through it, with strange, distorted hands trying to pull it into the mirror. She turned around and was surprised to see nothing there. Turning back to the mirror, her reflection pointed towards the mushroom and began speaking in strange words: "Ze...ro... Ze... ro... Why am I still? ...Don¡¯t you see?"


    Quickly, Eve rushed towards the mushroom, jumping to pull it away from the hands. It disappeared suddenly.


    Eve fell to the ground, looking around and calling out for the mushroom, finding it inside the mirror, being pulled and beaten, trying to escape. Eve was shocked. It was then that Eve realized those hands had taken the mushroom.


    "Mushroom... hold on." Her heart pounded fiercely, fearing what had happened.


    She tried to enter but couldn¡¯t. She kept holding the mirror, placing her hands on it, trying to find another mirror like it, multiple times, but to no avail. Sadness and regret were evident on her face. She approached the mirror, looking at the mushroom trying to escape. She fell to her knees, placing her hand on the mushroom¡¯s reflection.


    "Come on... come on... open, you damned mirror... Take me instead of him... I don¡¯t want... to see anyone hurt... because of my actions... Open... come on... open," Eve said, hitting the mirror.


    Suddenly, a distorted hand grabbed hers from behind. Eve was startled, turning to see the reflection reaching out to her. Eve found herself being pulled into the mirror, as if it was threatening her with a new danger.

 Chapter Fourteen: Pain .

    Something was chasing Eve, its slow footsteps making her body shudder. The hallway was enormous and distorted, with a giant door at its end. The damp atmosphere made the door seem impossibly far for Eve.


    As soon as she reached it, Eve jumped to grab the handle, but it was a great disappointment. When she opened it, Eve found herself in another place. It was a fragmented world, made up of platforms scattered apart, suspended in an infinite void. The platforms were square-shaped, some with broken edges, while others swayed precariously. Stairs were scattered here and there, twisting, ascending, and descending without any logic or order, as if defying the laws of physics. None of these stairs were stable; they moved slowly, as if every step could shift the direction of the entire world.


    The surrounding walls, if they could be called that, were nothing but vast spaces of giant mirrors that reflected everything, but in a distorted and unclear way. Eve''s reflections appeared fragmented or twisted¡ªsometimes tall and thin, other times short and fat¡ªmaking her feel trapped between reality and illusion.


    In this world, there was no clear light or true source of illumination, only a faint glow emanating from the reflective floors, enveloping everything in a damp, cold mist. Doors were scattered everywhere; some hung in midair, others were fixed to invisible walls. Each door differed in shape and size¡ªsome made of worn-out wood, others of cracked glass.


    The atmosphere here was suffocating, as if the air was heavier than it should be, and the humidity clung to everything, sticking to Eve''s body and making her movements slow and difficult. Sounds were muffled, coming from far away, as though from the depths of deep wells, reverberating throughout this world without being able to pinpoint their source.


    There was no other way to escape. She turned around to find a creature her size, completely deformed. Its body was like black mold, with two bloodthirsty red eyes.


    "No escape¡­ don''t make me¡­ use violence¡­ Zero." The black mold spoke in a voice that was a mix between a girl''s and a monster''s.


    Sweat drenched Eve''s face. She couldn¡¯t do anything to escape from this entity. Eve glanced downward and saw a platform with a door on it, a little far from her. An idea crossed her mind.


    "It''s a gamble¡­ but¡­ I have to try¡­" Eve thought anxiously and fearfully.


    Eve quickly leaped, but the mold creature grabbed her hand with one of its tentacles. However, Eve squeezed the tentacle with her other hand, finding it so slimy that she managed to tear a part of it off the creature¡¯s body.


    Eve fell downwards, trying to grab the edge of the nearest platform, but she couldn¡¯t.


    "Impossible," Eve said, disappointed.


    ******


    The creature glanced down, Eve had disappeared from its sight as she plummeted into the depths of the abyss.


    "What a fool," the monster said, this time in the voice of a girl.


    *******


    Eve¡¯s eyes snapped open. She was lying on one of those platforms. Eve felt something wrapped tightly around her head, as if something had crushed it. It was a bandage covering her left eye. She touched it with her hand, realizing she was resting on something soft.


    "A bandage... this wasn¡¯t here before... Ah... my head," Eve muttered wearily.


    "That¡¯s because I wrapped it for you¡­ you reckless girl." As soon as Eve heard this voice, she jumped up quickly, distancing herself from it. She turned around to find a strange girl, with blonde hair, pale brown eyes, and worn-out clothes¡ªan old green sweater and a long black skirt. The girl was sitting on the ground, holding a white ribbon. She smiled in a way that seemed cheerful, as if the freckles on her face gave her that gentle expression, and her bright features seemed unfazed by the strange, otherworldly surroundings.


    "Sorry for chasing you like that¡­ I had to hunt you¡­ violently¡­ Zero," the blonde girl said with regret and sadness.


    Eve displayed a mixture of surprise and bewilderment, saying, "What...?"


    "Yes¡­ as you heard... I¡¯m sorry¡­ When I¡¯m in that filthy form¡­ I can¡¯t control myself¡­" the blonde said, full of regret.


    "Who are you?" Eve asked in confusion. "And why are you apologizing¡­ this doesn¡¯t make sense¡­ what kind of monster apologizes to its prey¡­ go on¡­ attack me¡­ I know these twisted assassination tactics¡­ come on¡­?" Eve was both baffled and cautious.


    "Don¡¯t worry¡­ it¡¯s just a small wound," the girl reassured Eve.


    "Where... am I?" Eve asked, still in shock, before recalling the fungus.


    Eve glanced around: "Alright, I need to find the fungus... I have to leave... but¡­ what made you chase me so brutally¡­?"


    Eve began to stand and slowly retreat toward the stairs.


    "It¡¯s not here..."


    "Huh...?"


    "Stop moving¡­ you jumped from above, and your fall was violent¡­ yet¡­ you only got a small scratch on your head. I couldn¡¯t bring you here while you were injured¡­ Please¡­ don¡¯t be reckless and act brave again¡­ huh¡­ what¡¯s wrong with you?" the blonde girl asked.


    Eve was in a state of shock, sensing something very strange about this girl.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Familiar... she¡¯s really odd¡­ it¡¯s like she¡¯s a peaceful monster¡­ no... don¡¯t judge a book by its cover, Eve¡­ she¡¯s tricking me¡­ without a doubt," Eve thought to herself, planning carefully.


    Eve turned to a staircase that connected one platform to another. At the end of the stairs, she spotted a regular-sized door on the other platform. "This is my chance..." Eve hurried toward it.


    "Wait, Zero... please don¡¯t go!" the blonde girl called, following Eve.


    When Eve opened the door, gravity shifted. She was about to fall; everything had reversed. Eve found herself coming out from the top, and luckily, she didn¡¯t let go of the door handle. Eve looked up to find the door she had come through was now fixed to the ceiling. Her hand slipped from the handle, but the black mold tentacle caught her.


    "You¡¯re so impulsive¡­ Good thing I caught you," the blonde girl said happily.


    "No!" Eve looked around, spotting a nearby platform to her left with a door on it. Eve tried to swing to the left and squeezed the tentacle to cut it. She grabbed onto the edge of the platform.


    "I made it..." Eve said, exhausted.


    She stood on the platform and quickly opened the door. The blonde girl had transformed, her body now fully covered in mold, turning her into a deformed monster.


    ******


    Eve kept moving from one door to another, and from one platform to the next. Everything changed the moment she opened a door, finding herself in random places, with each door leading to a different corner of this world. Eve suddenly felt overwhelmed¡ªeach door led somewhere different, and the blonde girl with the moldy tentacles kept following her as if she knew the place like the back of her hand.


    Eventually, the girl caught Eve.


    "Please¡­ Zero¡­ everything we¡¯ve passed through is just a small part of this place... The Ferryman wasn¡¯t wrong about you after all... You¡¯re incredibly stubborn," the blonde girl said, shaking Eve with one of her tentacles.


    ''It''s pointless to stay in this endless place... Fine¡­ it seems the Ferryman has some sense in this... (a stifled laugh) now that I¡¯ve checked¡­ I need to escape¡­ I need to distract her.'' "Alright¡­ I¡­"


    "Listen to me... I don¡¯t want to hurt you¡­ or anything else¡­ I¡¯ve heard you¡¯re very important to the Ferryman¡­ No other child has ever gotten his attention like you, Zero... So¡­ come with me," the blonde girl said, both pleading and overjoyed as she held Eve with her tentacle.


    "Impossible¡­ you moldy girl," Eve said sarcastically, trying to break free from the slimy tentacles.


    "Do you want the creature to stay alive?" The girl asked, her voice filled with sadness and concern.


    "What?¡­ Damn it¡­ she knows¡­"


    "The moving mushroom fairy is your little friend¡­ The Nomes are loyal but were not treated kindly¡­ It knows the way out of this place¡­ and I don¡¯t think¡­ you¡¯d want to see it crushed, would you?" the blonde girl said, smiling.


    "Nomes¡­ she means the mushroom¡­ So¡­ she¡¯s been watching me," Eve thought to herself. "What do you want from me?"


    "Good¡­ so you¡¯ve accepted, then¡­ My master wants to see you," the blonde girl said.


    ''This is what I feared¡­ from the start,'' "Sorry¡­!" Eve said calmly.


    "And why are you apologizing, Zero?" the girl asked, confused.


    "Moldy girl¡­ it might be reckless of me to tell you this¡­ but I don¡¯t want to see the Ferryman."


    "What¡­ I understand the Ferryman plans to take you¡­ but¡­ I¡¯m not his servant... Don¡¯t be afraid," the girl said with delight.


    "What¡­?" Eve was shocked.


    "My master isn¡¯t who you think he is, Zero¡­ So¡­ you can come with me without any obstacles¡­ I hope you¡¯ll join me, Zero¡­ If you do¡­ you won¡¯t see that Nomes cooked up as a meal for my master."


    ''This girl¡­ the way she speaks¡­ it¡¯s like she¡¯s not even threatening me¡­ I think she¡¯s lenient,'' Eve thought, both tired and perplexed.


    The blonde girl started to squeeze Eve with her moldy tentacles.


    "Zero¡­ I don¡¯t want to torture you¡­ but I have no choice¡­ I don¡¯t want to hear your bones crack¡­ so¡­ come with me," the girl pleaded, miserable.


    "No," Eve groaned in pain, feeling as though she was being crushed.


    "You¡¯re so stubborn¡­ why don¡¯t you want to come with me? That creature will be cooked," the blonde girl screamed, demanding.


    "If that¡¯s what you want¡­ I suppose my master won¡¯t mind breaking your legs," the girl said, applying more pressure to Eve¡¯s legs.


    ''I can¡¯t¡­ take this anymore,'' Eve began to feel her legs weaken. She kept resisting the pain, but her struggle only intensified her suffering.


    "You don¡¯t want to kill the Nomes, right? This girl¡­ she¡¯s sensitive¡­" Eve thought, enduring the pain.


    "Of course¡­ I don¡¯t want to kill it¡­ so¡­ accept my offer," the girl said sadly.


    "I can¡¯t¡­" Eve resisted.


    *A deep sigh* "It seems you¡¯re a selfish girl¡­ Zero¡­ I wanted to convince you the easy way¡­ but¡­ that won¡¯t work on selfish people like you¡­ disgusting," the blonde girl¡¯s expression shifted from kindness to sharp intensity.


    "It¡¯s a perspective¡­ but..." When Eve heard this, she was shocked. Being called a selfish girl made her reflect: ''If I really think about it... I am quite selfish¡­ I used the mushroom to guide me... and left the real world without saying goodbye to my parents¡­ and also... I abandoned my friend... Lily¡­ Isn¡¯t this really ridiculous¡­? I¡¯m not even the cause¡­ I had nothing to do with their disappearance¡­ but¡­ why do I feel this guilt...?'' "This feeling has come over me¡­ I¡¯m being foolish and convoluted right now¡­ I¡¯m seeing myself as a heroine for this foolish ambition¡­ and a nasty parasite of this feeling of guilt¡­ even though I wasn¡¯t the cause of their entry¡­ a part of me¡­ wants to live for them¡­ and another¡­ exploits my stubbornness and selfishness¡­ to find a way to end my life," Eve said, remembering her friends.


    "I don¡¯t have time for this nonsense¡­ I¡¯ll break your legs," the girl started to apply pressure on Eve''s legs. Eve screamed in agony. "Please¡­ let me go¡­ I don¡¯t want¡­ to see you forced to harm me."


    "I¡¯m sorry¡­ I have to do this."


    Eve couldn¡¯t endure the pain; breathing was becoming difficult. Her strength was fading, sweat pouring down her face, her groans loud. She could no longer bear it. Her vision was becoming increasingly blurry.


    Suddenly, she noticed a light emanating from her chest. The pendant around her neck was glowing brighter and brighter. Eve noticed this glow and remembered the last time when its light weakened the Ferryman.


    ''I weakened the Ferryman with it¡­ if I use it¡­'' Eve thought anxiously.


    "What¡­ what is this thing¡­ why is it glowing¡­" the moldy girl said, extending one of her tentacles to touch it. Eve, distracted, shouted, "Don¡¯t touch it..."


    As soon as the blonde girl touched the pendant, it began to shine with intense light, like a flare. The light weakened the moldy girl, and both girls fell to the ground. The mold began to fade from the girl''s body, returning her to her human form. Eve quickly stood up and looked for an escape. She spotted a familiar door below. The platform was far away, so Eve started jumping from platform to platform with agility and grace.


    ''That door¡­ maybe it will get me out¡­ huh¡­ I¡¯m starting to get used to my body now¡­ this is good¡­ but¡­ what¡¯s the secret of this pendant¡­?'' Eve thought, looking at her pendant.


    ******


    The blonde girl stood on her feet, watching Eve. "Stop¡­ you don¡¯t know the way out," she cried out, trying to use her tentacles but unable to manifest them.


    "Where are the tentacles¡­ what happened¡­ agh¡­" The girl took another route through the doors.


    *****


    Eve reached the door, and as soon as she opened it, she found herself in a different place. The distance to the ground was very far; there was an ocean below, with strong waves and fierce winds. Eve¡¯s foot slipped, and she grabbed the edge. The door was hanging on a round wooden wall, as if it were suspended from a tree. Eve¡¯s hand slipped, and quickly, the blonde girl grabbed her hand. The girl looked extremely worried. Eve looked at her in shock.


    The girl began to pull Eve up, saying, "You¡¯re such a reckless girl¡­ please¡­ stop this thinking, Zero." In that moment, Eve realized something.


    Both girls fell from exhaustion. Eve lifted her head and said, "Thank you¡­ moldy girl."


    "Hah... Pain."


    "What...?"


    "Call me Pain... Zero... You asked who I am."


    "Yes," Eve thought, ''Pain... this girl is strange... revealing herself so quickly... huh...'' Eve stood up, looking at Pain with sympathy, and extended her hand, saying, "Come on... I¡¯ll help you up."


    Pain raised her head and reached out to Eve. Quickly, she moved to embrace her, saying, "Please... come on, Zero... the Nomz won¡¯t be harmed... I promise."


    "Pain... but," Eve said, surprised.


    "Please."


    "But... if I leave... I might not be able to save the mushroom... or the Nomz... and I think... maybe... I won¡¯t get another chance if I leave Pain..." Eve thought, "Alright."


    "Really... that¡¯s great!" Pain said, jumping with joy.


    ''What a foolish girl,'' Eve thought to herself with a laugh.


    "Hah... what¡¯s wrong with you, Zero?" Pain asked Eve.


    "Oh... no... nothing important," Eve said, shaking her head.


    "Oh... alright... follow me," Pain said, heading toward the stairs.


    ''She¡¯s really foolish... she hasn¡¯t even restrained me.'' Eve thought, looking at Pain with confusion and admiration. "Alright, I won¡¯t lie to myself... but her behavior... feels very familiar to me... I¡¯m coming."


    ''She reminds me of someone.''

 Chapter Fifteen: The Lord of Mirrors

    "It took some time... but why do I have to be carried like this?" said Eve to herself, puzzled, as she was bound by tentacles of pain.


    "Again... I¡¯m really sorry... but this is to make sure you don¡¯t escape¡­" said Pain, apologizing deeply.


    "I know... I know... no need to repeat this every five minutes," Eve said irritably.


    Pain was moving from one platform to another, carrying Eve, who was lost in thought: "I can''t deny I''m taking a risk now... but... I must ensure the safety of the fungus... or the gnomes... And also... it''s foolish to escape and sneak around in a place with no end... I wouldn¡¯t survive here... But... there¡¯s only one way... based on what I¡¯ve seen... I assume... there''s a chance to survive... and that is..."


    "Pain... is it...?"


    "We¡¯ve arrived, Zero," said Pain, opening the last door. Eve lifted her head to see a gigantic mansion. No, it was a house with an old Victorian-style architecture, surrounded by many old streetlights.


    The house was floating on a giant platform. Pain extended one of her tentacles to one of the streetlights and grabbed it tightly, then began pulling the platform they were on toward the house. They crashed into the large platform.


    "Here... is the center... of this world," said Pain, pointing to the house.


    "So... this is the place of the Lord of Mirrors," said Eve in awe.


    "Yes... it''s quite famous, isn''t it?" said Pain happily.


    "Heh... ''It''s a given,''" Eve said with a nervous smile.


    Pain approached the door, which was a giant wooden one adorned with huge eyes. Pain extended one of her tentacles to open it, then lowered Eve down.


    "After you, Zero," Pain said, opening the door.


    Eve entered the house. The entrance was immense, and the space was furnished with Western-style furniture. The carpet was intricately designed in shades of red and white, and there were distorted pictures of eyes, children, and monsters hanging on the walls. Crystal chandeliers holding burning candles, dark red fabric adorning the stairs, and giant windows decorated with colored mosaics. It felt as if they were in a house in London from the 18th century.


    The air was slightly dry but otherwise ordinary. However, the images on the walls had a terrifying aura for Eve. She turned right and left as she moved deeper into the house of unknown fear.


    Pain closed the door behind them, and when Eve looked at her, she noticed her clothes had changed to Victorian maid attire. Eve was stunned for a moment.


    "I think my master is upstairs... probably in the kitchen," Pain said, beginning to ascend the stairs.


    Eve followed her, saying, "In the kitchen... aren''t you the one who prepares his food... since you''re his servant?"


    "When I leave the house to look for intruders... he stays in the kitchen cooking."


    "That''s wonderful... really... Is your master deformed or normal like you?" Eve asked, looking at the distorted pictures and feeling as if those eyes were watching her. A chill ran down her spine, so she quickly diverted her gaze.


    "I can''t describe his appearance very well... you''ll see him... don''t worry," said Pain happily.


    ''Why do I feel so tense... no... stay calm, Zero... I need to be cautious... but what if... she wanted to take me to the kitchen... as a...'' Eve thought to herself, imagining herself as a luxurious dinner dish.


    ''No... no... stay calm... and don''t forget the plan. My goal now is the gnomes... I must find them and then...,'' Eve was lost in her thoughts until something caught her attention. A picture resembling what the gnomes had drawn¡ªthe volcanic island¡ªbut it was slightly different. The volcano appeared to be made of iron, and there were no trees or plants on it. The picture was unclear and distorted.


    Eve stood still and said, "This is... the volcanic island."


    Pain turned to her and approached, saying, "This picture... it''s of one of the connected regions in our world..."


    "Connected regions... you mean... the volcanic island?" Eve asked in surprise.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Pain laughed and said happily, "You can call it the volcanic island."


    "Okay... I think so," Eve replied cautiously.


    "And these pictures... they are of children who were linked to the Mirror World..."


    "Linked... like you, Pain?"


    Pain continued to ascend the stairs. ''That''s right, Zero...'' Pain thought to herself sharply and seriously.


    "Hurry up, Zero... we¡¯ve taken too long," Pain called out to Eve.


    "Uh... okay... ''She''s not what I expected... there''s something strange about Pain... she seems so composed when we entered...'' Suddenly, Eve spotted a picture that seemed familiar. It depicted a child who appeared to be huge, with a hunchback, wearing a dark blue cloak that covered their head and face.


    Eve pointed at the figure, asking, "Who is that person in the picture above?"


    "Do you mean the one with the deformed body... ha... why do you ask?" Pain teased.


    "Stop with the heavy teasing, Pain, and tell me," Eve said, her face filled with anger and fear.


    "Okay... okay... I¡¯ll tell you... this child... is one of the first children linked to the Mirror World..."


    "Linked to it...?" Eve asked, confused.


    "Yes... and the deformity that happened to him... it¡¯s because of his imagination..."


    "So... his imagination turned him into this... but... how?"


    "I don¡¯t know exactly... that''s what my master told me... when I started working for him... Oh... and he also mentioned something about a bet or something like that... I don¡¯t really remember well... but... my master said... that this child... was very special... but... he didn¡¯t tell me why."


    "Hmm... Pain... why did your master want to meet me?"


    "My job is to serve my master... and guard this place... unfortunately... I don¡¯t know the exact reason... I¡¯m sorry," Pain said regretfully.


    "Hehe... ''Disappointing expectations''... no worries," Eve said with a nervous and strange smile.


    "Pain... do you use electricity... or...?" Eve asked curiously.


    "We don¡¯t use it on the first floor," Pain replied happily.


    "Oh... okay, ''there might not be any electric traps at the front door... but you could be lying... but I¡¯ll take advantage of her stupidity... unless she''s pretending to be dumb... sigh....''"


    The two girls were walking down a corridor lit by dim lighting. There were many strange doors. Pain turned to the right, but there was no door, and began speaking: "Master... I¡¯ve brought Zero... she¡¯s here," Pain said calmly and happily.


    "Bring her in," came the distorted voice of a man in his fifties or older.


    "Okay..."


    Pain turned to Eve and waved her over, saying, "Come, Zero..."


    "Uh... okay," Eve said nervously.


    Eve stepped toward the threshold of the kitchen. She lowered her head, saying, "Thank you for having me..." As she raised her head, her pupils contracted, and a chill ran down her spine. There was a monster wearing formal clothes¡ªwhite shirt, honey-colored pants, and a red bow tie that looked like a butterfly¡ªbut what froze Eve in place was its head, which resembled tree roots. It had no head at all, only roots extending from its neck to the ceiling, crossing it as though part of an illusion. Its skin was deformed, and the skin of its hands was extremely wrinkled.


    Eve couldn¡¯t speak. She felt a heavy weight on her feet. Cold sweat dripped down her forehead, and her heart raced with anxiety. Usually, Eve could gather herself in such situations, but this time, fear consumed her from head to toe. The monster held a green bowl, mixing and stirring it with a wooden spoon.


    ''Although it¡¯s not the fairy man... why do I feel like this... why... why...?''


    The creature placed the bowl down and said, "I didn¡¯t expect to see you, Zero... time really passes quickly," the creature said as it moved toward Eve.


    "...What... what do you mean by that?" Eve began to slowly retreat, feeling the weight in her feet, but her caution moved her bare feet.


    Eve felt something strange on her chest, as if something were burning. She clutched her necklace. The more the creature approached her, the hotter it felt on her chest. The object inside the necklace was glowing.


    ''No... not the right time... no... no...''


    "Don¡¯t touch me," Eve screamed in fear, clutching her necklace tightly and turning her back in panic.


    "Ha... okay," the creature said as it left the kitchen.


    "Pain... prepare food for our guest... and don¡¯t forget to put the vinegar in the oven."


    "Of course, Master," Pain replied happily.


    Pain turned to Eve, saying, "Come on, Zero... you¡¯ll shower before..."


    Suddenly, Eve collapsed onto her knees, trembling. Pain rushed over to Eve to comfort her.


    "Are you okay... you¡¯re shaking... Zero..." Pain looked at Eve¡¯s face, drenched in sweat. She murmured softly, "I almost lost control... I almost lost control..."


    Pain helped Eve to stand up, reassuring her, "Don¡¯t worry... nothing will happen to you... you¡¯re safe here."


    "Pain..." Eve said in surprise.


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    "Don¡¯t worry¡­ I won¡¯t cook you for dinner¡­ you¡¯re our guest," Pain said with great happiness and joy.


    Eve began to look at Pain with a mix of confusion, bewilderment, and shock.


    "Hey... hey... my fear has just increased a lot more," Eve said, smiling with a strange expression.


    At that moment, the Lord of Mirrors was sitting on his chair in his office. It was a disordered office with a traditional, non-modern style. One of the roots extended across the Mirror World, spanning a great distance, reaching the borders. He had a version of himself in one of the mirrors where Eve was, and that version was speaking to the Fairy Man.


    "Did you find her?"


    "Yes... my servant brought her to me... I didn¡¯t expect it to be such an easy catch."


    "What do you want?"


    "I mean... I have everything... a place to live... a world of my own... and a servant who obeys my commands... but... there¡¯s something missing."


    "And what is it?"


    "It¡¯s power... I want more than I have... bring me the minds of children that will give me the absolute power I dream of... and take your little game with you... and if you don¡¯t accept my condition... I¡¯d be glad to add a child to my collection."


    The Fairy Man clenched his fists angrily at what he had heard.


    "You¡¯d better be in your best condition¡­ or else."


    The Lord of Mirrors¡¯ consciousness returned to him as he thought. Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door.


    "Come in."


    Pain opened the door and said, "Dinner will be ready soon... oh... what are you doing... the place is so dark in here."


    "Pain... how was Zero for you?"


    "Huh... I mean... she¡¯s nice... but she¡¯s kind of absent-minded... and she might also be lonely."


    "Hmm... why do you think that?"


    "Well... her nature... kind of reminds me... of someone who was just like her... her personality... is unique... and her temper... very familiar... I won¡¯t lie... staying with her... makes me feel at ease," Pain answered happily.


    "Huh... I see... Pain... I have to tell you something."


    Pain was walking down the hallway, holding new clothes for Eve. She seemed absent-minded, with traces of shock visible on her face.


    ''Is this the purpose of bringing her here? I... I¡¯m confused.''


    "Pain... have you finished drying my clothes?" Eve called out to Pain.


    "Yes... I¡¯ve... finished drying them... I¡¯ll come now," Pain replied.


    What the Lord of Mirrors had told her was unsettling for Pain. She kept thinking about it while helping Eve put on her clothes.


    "Pain... you seem absent-minded," Eve said in confusion.


    "No... I¡¯m fine... ummm... Zero..."


    "What... did something happen... tell me..." Eve said as she buttoned her shirt.


    "Actually... would you mind reading me a book after dinner?" Pain asked nervously.


    "A book... (smiles)... sure... I¡¯ll read you a book," Eve said happily.


    "Really... that makes me so happy..." Pain said as she helped Eve, but anxiety took over her.


    ¡®Zero... I... I¡¯m sorry.¡¯


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 The Sixteenth: Pain, or... (Part 1)

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    In a dark place where echoes could not be heard, Zero and Pain lay in the middle of a very long wooden plank. The only connecting divider between the world of mirrors and the world of distorted rooms.


    The Master of Mirrors stood beside the mirrors as if preparing to greet the Master of the other world, who stood on the opposite side, tightly holding an old-fashioned suitcase.


    The cloaks draping the two girls were identical, so much so that even the Fairy Man found it difficult to tell them apart. He asked the one with roots suspended from nowhere in a heavy, rough voice: "Why the shawl on the girls... You know this shawl is of the type..."


    "Don''t worry... Everything is fine... Did you bring the order?... I think it''s in that worn-out suitcase?" said the Master of Mirrors.


    "Let''s finish this quickly," the Fairy Man replied.


    Zero took heavy steps toward the Fairy Man, while Pain stepped back toward the Master of Mirrors.


    Their small steps were unnaturally synchronized, and Pain thought to herself, "When will this play end...?"


    <hr>


    The day before that, Zero and Pain were walking down the corridor, each holding large plates.


    "Thanks for helping me... Zero... but I''ll take care of this..."


    "No, no... I''d rather stay with you... instead of being with your master... I''m still amazed... How did he manage to eat without a head... it gives me the creeps."


    Pain laughed, saying, "Even I don''t know, Zero..." Pain said playfully.


    "It''s a mystery that will never be solved," Zero said with disappointment.


    "You''re right."


    <hr>


    "How are you going to wash the plates... everything for us is huge," Zero said, looking up in the kitchen.


    "It''s easy... I use my tentacles," Pain said, showing her tentacles.


    Pain began using her tentacles to wash the dishes at an incredible speed. Zero was astonished by this, and she turned to her right to find several drawers. She climbed them to reach the sink and added some detergent, saying, "You forgot the detergent."


    "Ah... You''re right... I forgot... We were cleaning the dinner plates with this mixture," Pain said.


    "Mixture... What mixture, Pain?" Zero asked, descending.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "A mixture of this detergent... and that... and I add three drops of this... and I won''t forget this secret ingredient," Pain said, pulling out all kinds of detergents and even a lemon as her secret ingredient.


    "Right... You use lemon juice... or orange juice... I always used to tell her about these things when we cleaned," Zero said, remembering the days in the orphanage when Alice would help her clean.


    "Who are you talking about?" Pain asked in confusion.


    "Ah... Sorry... I mean my old friend."


    "Old... friend... That''s great... What was she like?" Pain asked with excitement.


    "She was very cheerful... Her actions were silly... but she showed some intelligence... She was sensitive... and loved talking about foreign TV shows a lot... When I read my books... she''d come over to tell me about them," Zero said, reminiscing.


    "What kind?" Pain asked eagerly.


    "You''re talking about TV shows... well, from what I remember... she liked dramas... and that kind... which I hate... What was it?"


    "The ro..."


    "Don''t say it... please..." Zero interrupted Pain.


    "Alright... Alright... I really like what your friend likes," Pain said as she continued washing the dishes.


    "Ah... really?" Zero said in surprise.


    "Yes... Her personality is really lovable... I think if I were in your place, Zero... I''d find a way to go back to my world... just to stay with her... forever."


    Zero looked at Pain, who was washing the dishes, and smiled. "You''re right... That''s what I would do... It''s not my regret that''s pushing me to this... I think my friendship with them... made me want to leave my world... I want to save them... I want to stay with them... forever... I really want to see them."


    "Zero... You..." Pain said in astonishment.


    "What...?"


    "Umm... It''s nothing... I..." Pain''s mind drifted, and suddenly, she broke the plates she was holding.


    "Oh my God... What have I done?" Pain said regretfully.


    "Don''t move... I''ll get the broom."


    "Don''t move... You''re barefoot... you''ll step on the glass... How do you not feel the pain...?"


    <hr>


    In the end, Zero brought the broom, but the cost was high.


    "I brought the broom, Pain," Zero said, her feet covered in all sorts of cuts and wounds, with heavy bleeding.


    "How are you still able to walk?" Pain asked in panic.


    <hr>


    Pain was bandaging Zero''s wounds when Zero touched her bandaged left eye and asked, "What happened to my eye exactly... Pain?"


    "Ha... You''re really reckless... Well... It seems a bit swollen... and your head was bleeding... so I bandaged both together," Pain said as she cleaned Zero''s wounds.


    "So that''s it... Oh... Thanks," Zero said, standing on her feet.


    "Sit down... I''m not finished yet..." Pain said.


    Zero sat down and began looking around, saying, "An old-fashioned bed... a handwoven mattress... a locker made of worn wood... and the decorative rug... What a bedroom that mixes the Victorian era... and the modern era... with yellow lighting... my favorite."


    "This is my bedroom... Do you like it... I''m done now," Pain said.


    Zero stood and said, "I love it... This design is beautiful."


    "I don''t like this design... but it reminds me of the past... Well... it''s time for you to read me a book," Pain said as she stood.


    "I''m up for it," Zero said happily, suddenly remembering her escape plan: "Eiii... I completely forgot about the gnomes... and lowered my guard... How foolish of me."


    "Pain... Before anything... I want to see my gnomes," Zero said firmly.


    "Why didn''t you tell me... I completely forgot about them," Pain said, taking Zero''s hand and running quickly, holding Zero with her tentacles. "I''m sorry, gnomes," she shouted loudly and regretfully.


    <hr>


    The gnome was eating meat in his small cell. Zero was relieved to see the gnome safe.


    "See? ... He''s fine." Pain said calmly and confidently.


    "Hey... No problem," Zero said with a fake astonishment.


    "Alright... Let''s go back to my room... Zero."


    "Okay."


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 Chapter 17: Pain, or...(Part 2)

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    Zero was helping Pain iron her clothes.


    "Again... I''m sorry for making you tired," Pain said with regret.


    "Again... staying with you is better than staying with my master."


    Zero finished ironing the clothes at an incredible speed. Pain was stunned by Zero''s skill and said in admiration, "Where did you learn this?"


    "In the orphanage... I used to iron the clothes most of the time," Zero said, turning to the laundry basket. "I forgot this... it''s... a nightgown," she added, staring at it in surprise.


    "When I entered this world... I entered with this gown... it was my only nightgown... and it''s my favorite... it''s the only memory I have of my old world... Do you like it... huh... Zero...?"


    At that moment, Zero thought in shock: ''This gown... this gown... is... it...?''


    "Zero... Zero... what''s wrong?" Pain asked, shaking Zero.


    "Oh... I''m sorry... I spaced out for a bit."


    "It''s bedtime now... and before that... read me this book," Pain said, holding a strange book with a colorful cover. Zero looked at it and then felt nauseous and threw up.


    "Zero... are you okay?" Pain asked, worried.


    ''I doubt the type of story in this book,'' Pain thought wearily.


    <hr>


    "Well... this is the end... was your reading good?" Zero asked, sitting on Pain''s bed.


    "Your narration of the events was moving... what a truly touching story... wasn''t it?" Pain said, shedding happy tears.


    "Yes... yes... please pass me the bucket," Pain said, feeling nauseous.


    <hr>


    "If you want to sleep with me, it''s fine..." Pain said, agreeing to Zero''s request.


    "Thank you... I don''t want to sleep alone in a room... or else..." Zero began imagining herself in danger from the Ferry Man.


    Pain shook her head, signaling her approval, and with a broad smile, she said, "Yes... I will sleep on the floor."


    "No... I will sleep on the floor."


    "I won''t let my guest sleep on the floor."


    "But... I think you¡¯re my captive."


    The discussion continued until they both collapsed onto the bed from exhaustion.


    <hr>


    Later, Zero was in the library, holding a candle. She walked between the shelves, picking up a book each time, reading a part of it, and then putting it back. Each time, she said:


    "Civilization of ''Negurath''... no... Kingdom of ''Shazaroth''... a kingdom that fell in the 18th century... no... Kingdom of ''Kathra''... its stages of development and progress... this is expected... since it¡¯s another world, it¡¯s definitely a different history... Nation of ''Erdon''... a king ruled his land for over seventy years... The great ''Valeraks'' Empire... Civilization of ''Drasix''... known as the scholars'' kiss... no... the throne of ''Oyal''... Kingdom of ''Zoraka''... City of ''Tiracos''... State of ''Alkorath''... no... no... no... no... I don¡¯t want to read these things... I wish I could find you, oh book... well... now..."


    Zero pulled out a book and read its title: "The Mythology of Greece... wait... Ancient Greek Myths... Finally... Mythology... but... this is strange... the history is different... except for Greek history..."


    Zero jumped with joy, holding the book, and began reading. Time passed, and she reached the last chapter.


    "The last chapter... Hades: He is considered the symbol of darkness and death, and he controlled the souls of the dead and their fate in the afterlife according to Greek myths... Hades was also associated with the Styx, the river of the dead, through which souls passed on their journey to the underworld... by a boat led by an ancient figure named Charon, the ferryman or..." At that moment, Zero was shocked by what she read, "Impossible... the Ferry Man... how? How? The Ferry Man existed in the real world... Impossible... no... it really exists, but... this is mentioned in the real world too... what does this mean... wait, Zero... don¡¯t judge the book by its cover... I¡¯ll continue... Charon was paid by the dead souls... often he was paid with a small coin called ''Obolus'' for his services in transporting souls across the river to the kingdom of Hades, who was considered its ruler..."


    "I need to calm down... but... if my theory is correct... then I must still be in the real world... but the history hasn¡¯t been altered or changed... I¡¯ve read this passage before... but... when? I remember hearing this name... ''Charon''... where did I hear it... wait... if I compare what¡¯s written in the book with what¡¯s happening to me... and if I¡¯m supposed to be one of the dead souls, and the Ferry Man is the one transporting me to the realm of the dead... but... on the other hand... wait... the payment... when I entered this world... I didn¡¯t pay anything... is he trying to return me to the real world because I didn¡¯t pay the price... no... I don¡¯t think so."


    "Zero..." At that moment, Zero was startled, but it was Pain.


    "What are you doing here, Zero?" Pain asked sleepily.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I couldn¡¯t sleep... so I thought I¡¯d at least read a book," Zero said nervously and anxiously.


    Pain noticed the title of the book Zero was holding and took it from her, saying, "Ah... Greek Mythology."


    "Are you interested in it?"


    "No... but I know a little about it... but I know the connection between Hades and Persephone."


    "That¡¯s expected from you," Zero said with a laugh and disappointment.


    "I don¡¯t remember much about it... but... there¡¯s a fleeting memory... when you didn¡¯t finish the last chapter for me," Pain said, recalling the scattered fragments.


    Zero looked into Pain¡¯s eyes and said, "Pain... when you entered this world... what was the price or payment you gave to the Ferry Man?"


    "Payment? ... What payment? ... Ah... I think I gave him something..."


    "What was it?" Zero asked in surprise.


    "I don¡¯t remember..." Pain said playfully.


    "It¡¯s okay..." Zero said, disappointed.


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    Eva was sitting, having breakfast with the Mirror Master. Zero was staring at him strangely and asked, "Where is your servant?"


    "She''s having breakfast in the kitchen."


    Quickly, Zero stood up and left the room, saying, "I''ve finished my breakfast... I''m leaving."


    ''I still don''t understand how to eat.''


    Zero headed straight to the kitchen. When she didn¡¯t find Pain there, she went to her bedroom and found her talking to herself.


    "What should I do... what should I do... I can''t do this... the Ferry Man will come today..." At that moment, Zero was shocked.


    "What should I do... I have to do this... should I do it now...?" Pain was talking to herself anxiously. At that moment, Zero headed directly to the sleeping cell. She tried to open the door but couldn¡¯t.


    She felt anxious, and her suspicions were right: What should I do... what should I do... it''s my fault... I stayed here and became involved with Pain... it''s my fault... what should I do now... Zero kept thinking repeatedly, cold sweat dripping from her forehead.


    Suddenly, she heard Pain''s voice from behind her: "Zero... what are you doing here?"


    At that moment, Zero froze in place, her heartbeat faster than ever, her breath short, unable to bear it. She turned and said, "I''m checking on my little friend... they die quickly, don¡¯t they... heh."


    "You''re right... the Nomz really do die quickly," Pain said, teasing Zero.


    She''s really clueless.


    "Zero... let''s go to the pantry... I need to get food for cooking lunch."


    "Uh... okay... I have a request... I would like... to bring the Nomz with me... please," Zero said cautiously.


    "Okay."


    She''s really clueless.


    <hr>


    The three entered the pantry, and the Nomz rushed forward. Zero stepped in to find the pantry was completely empty. She didn¡¯t understand and said, "Huh... Pain... there''s nothing here."


    Quickly, Pain jumped up holding a metal rod, intending to knock Zero unconscious.


    <hr>


    Pain stepped backward, thinking to herself: Let¡¯s finish this act.


    Zero stood next to the Ferry Man, shackled in Pain¡¯s decay.


    The Mirror Master ordered Pain to bring the bag.


    Suddenly, Pain leaped back, falling into the depths of the void. The Mirror Master was astonished by his servant¡¯s actions. Then, Zero turned to the Ferry Man and said, "Sorry... I have to go..." and found herself turning into decay before disappearing. The two entities could not comprehend what the girls had done.


    "What is happening?" the Mirror Master said in shock.


    "I expected this... the two girls... one disguised as the other..."


    "What do you mean... I could tell them apart... and this wasn¡¯t the result I expected."


    "The cloaks..."


    "What?"


    "Those cloaks reflect the power of the two girls... they... were made by your servant."


    "Impossible..." the Mirror Master said in shock.


    <hr>


    At that moment, the fake servant was hiding the Nomz in her cloak. She held his hand as they fell into the void. Then the fake Zero grabbed Pain¡¯s hand. The decay disappeared from the bodies of the two girls.


    "I didn¡¯t expect your plan to succeed," Pain said in disbelief.


    "Neither did I, Pain," the fake Zero replied.


    <hr>


    When Pain had intended to strike me with the rod, my necklace lit up like a light bomb, weakening her.


    "How... I thought it wouldn¡¯t work... when you don¡¯t see... your enemy."


    "It works when I¡¯m scared..."


    "And why... are you scared?"


    Fake Zero extended her hand to help Pain and said, "I am really scared... of what I¡¯m thinking... Pain... I think... don¡¯t worry... please... help me."


    "Did... did you find out...?"


    "I know you want to lose consciousness... you want to take me... to the Ferry Man... you don¡¯t want this... so... help me."


    <hr>


    Pain opened a gateway in the void and they passed through it. The Mirror Master turned around to see that the Ferry Man had disappeared.


    "Do you want to take that bet again... well... Pain... I am your master... and I order you... to capture Zero... alive or dead."


    <hr>


    When the two girls and the Nomz crossed the gate, they found themselves in the normal Mirror World. Zero noticed something was chasing them¡ªit was the Ferry Man. Pain held Zero¡¯s hand, which was carrying the Nomz. Pain started jumping from platform to platform, saying, "Zero... the only exit from this place is the familiar door and the desire to leave."


    "What?"


    "Zero... do you remember... that door... when you almost fell into the sea?"


    "Yes."


    "This time... just imagine leaving the Mirror World."


    "Okay."


    Suddenly, Pain stopped on one of the platforms and lowered Zero, who turned to her in concern, "What¡¯s wrong, Pain?"


    Pain started feeling dizzy and said, "Do you remember... the bond... we talked about?"


    "Yes... why?"


    "Run..."


    "Why...?" Zero said in shock.


    "I¡¯m connected to the Mirror Master... and everything he orders me to do... I carry out to the letter," Pain said, and the decay began to cover her body.


    Zero stepped back and said, "Pain... what¡¯s happening?"


    "Zero... run quickly..." Pain said, her body now completely covered in black decay. This form showed no mercy. Quickly, Eva grabbed the Nomz''s hand to carry him, then started jumping from platform to platform.


    At that moment, the Ferry Man passed by Pain, and she heard him say: Bring her... alive... or dead.


    Quickly, Pain leaped ahead, trying to catch Zero.


    Eva kept jumping from platform to platform, looking left and right, trying to find a familiar door. Suddenly, the Nomz pointed toward an iron door on a distant platform.


    "What... that door... is it the exit?" Eva said, worried and confused. He nodded in agreement.


    Eva rushed toward the door, only to find Pain approaching her, now looking like a decayed monster thirsty for blood. Eva tried to use the doors to mislead her, jumping from one platform to another randomly. She got closer to the door.


    Eva jumped to the final platform and ran as fast as she could to open the door. Hope to get out... hope to get out... hope to get out... she thought as she opened it, but Pain had caught her. She threw the Nomz toward the door, and he passed out of the Mirror World, then fell to the ground.


    Pain clutched Eva¡¯s neck tightly, her sharp, jagged edges aimed at her.


    "Fool... you should have run... I hope you were happy saving the imp... but... don¡¯t forget that your life is at stake."


    Suddenly, Eva grabbed Pain¡¯s hand that was holding her, saying, "Pain... I know that... inside you... there¡¯s an innocent soul... so... don¡¯t let that bastard... make you forget who you are... like what happened to me... my friend... I believe I¡¯m right... come to your senses... Alice."


    At that moment, Pain stopped.


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 Chapter 18: I Was Wrong (Pain, or...) Part 3

    Pain fell at that moment, and the rot vanished from her body. As for Zero, she was in shock.


    Quickly, Zero stood up, carrying Pain on her back, and opened the door, only to find herself still in the world of mirrors.


    "Impossible... Where is the exit... It was here just a moment ago," suddenly, Zero remembered something. "The desire to get out... Damn... I got distracted... But... I didn¡¯t choose this door... It was the Nomos... How foolish of me... The Nomos was my key to escape."


    At that moment, Zero turned around to see the Fairy Man. The instant he reached out his hand, the necklace lit up, weakening that entity.


    "Now." Eve began jumping from one platform to another, opening doors to move from place to place, looking in every direction for an exit, until she spotted a modern-style door and headed towards it.


    The moment she opened it, she found a dark space where she almost fell. She turned around to glimpse the Fairy Man getting closer.


    "What should I do..." The Fairy Man was almost upon her when she jumped away.


    She closed the door, preventing the Fairy Man from passing through.


    *******


    "And this is the end of this chapter..."


    "It was a great chapter... I didn¡¯t expect Hades to feel these emotions for Persephone... And his confession... That was the best part," said Alice, deeply affected.


    "You''re talking about yourself, girl," Eve (in her real-world body) said with disgust.


    "Alright... Finish the last chapter for me... I want to know what happens next," Alice insisted eagerly.


    "I''m sorry... I¡¯ll leave that chapter for tomorrow," Eve said proudly.


    "That¡¯s too bad... What if we were both adopted... How would I know the ending?" said Pain, shaking Zero.


    "Alice... I won¡¯t finish this book without you... Even if we separate... I¡¯ll find you... And we¡¯ll finish this book together."


    Alice was moved by Eve''s words and said, "Thank you... I''m excited... to read... with you... Let¡¯s wait for the final chapter, *Charon and Hades*."


    And yet, tomorrow was truly the day we parted ways.


    *******


    Zero woke up to find herself floating in a dark abyss.


    "Where am I... Where... Where is Pain... Pain... Where are you... Pain...?"This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    She looked around, saying, "I think jumping wasn¡¯t a wise choice." Suddenly, the darkness faded, and Zero found herself in her old bedroom. She stood up, looking around, her face filled with shock.


    *Impossible.*


    Quickly, she opened the door and went straight to the kitchen, where Maria was holding a pie in her hand.


    Zero approached her, her face still filled with shock.


    "You woke up early today..."


    "Huh...?" Zero said in surprise.


    "There¡¯s no school today... Do you want milk or tea... Huh... Why are you standing there like a statue... You have no energy today... Why not visit your friend?" Maria said as she prepared the table. Meanwhile, Zero was struggling to comprehend the situation and said, "Who?"


    "Goodness... Did you lose your mind? Alice..."


    "Pain... Where is she?" Zero asked in astonishment.


    "Who is Pain... Huh... Listen, little one... What¡¯s wrong with you... You look like you''ve been through a war or something... Did you... see a nightmare?"


    "Uh... maybe," Zero said nervously.


    Maria patted Zero''s head, saying, "It¡¯s okay... Nightmares are just illusions... Live in the normal world... and forget about these fears... I think staying up late is making you too anxious... I''ll go prepare the bath for you so you can relax a bit..."


    "Uh... okay... But... I think the nightmare... is real..."


    *******


    Pain woke up to find herself floating in a dark place. She looked around.


    "What... happened? ... How did I get here... Ah... My head... the headache... It¡¯s been a long time since I felt it... Wait... Where is Zero?"


    Pain began swimming through the air, calling out for Zero.


    *I don¡¯t remember what happened... Can I find her... The last thing I remember... *Alice*?* Suddenly, Pain stopped mid-air. "Why did she call me... by that name?"


    Suddenly, the fog cleared, revealing mirrors surrounding her, reflecting Pain''s demonic image, and she heard whispers. "Pain... Don¡¯t forget... our promise... Do what I say... Or else..."


    "Ah... Sorry, Master... I almost let it control me after I said that silly name... I think I... got lost... in my act... with that sweet face."


    *******


    Zero was walking in the garden, looking around in bewilderment.


    "What¡¯s going on?... It¡¯s like nothing happened at all..."


    *******


    "My friend..." Alice was calling out to Zero. Zero looked up and saw Alice coming toward her.


    *Ah... Pain... No... It''s Alice... That hair... those eyes... the skin... Her body is different from Pain¡¯s... This... is strange... Even though Pain and Alice¡¯s personalities align... this... doesn¡¯t make sense...*


    Suddenly, Alice jumped on Zero, saying, "I haven¡¯t seen you since yesterday... I missed you."


    "You almost killed me..." Zero said, confused.


    *****


    Alice and Zero were sitting on a bench, eating pies.


    "Yum... Your mom¡¯s pies are so delicious! I can¡¯t resist them."


    "Don¡¯t talk while eating..." Zero thought to herself, *This is strange... For me to be fully in my right mind... If I were someone else... I¡¯d go insane... *Um... Alice...*


    "Yes...?"


    "I want to ask you... Didn¡¯t something happen to us...?"


    "Like what...?"


    "Didn¡¯t we go to some other place... A strange... and scary one..."


    "What place...? No... We didn¡¯t go to a haunted house..."


    "No, no... I don¡¯t mean those fake haunted houses... I mean... a place that was actually distorted and terrifying..."


    "Umm... No... Did you see a nightmare... again?"


    "Uh...? Maybe."


    Suddenly... Alice leaned in close to Zero¡¯s ear, whispering, "You¡¯re right..."


    "Huh... what¡ª" Suddenly, Alice put her hand over Zero¡¯s mouth, saying, "Shh... I know... Zero..."


    Alice gave Zero a tap on the forehead with her finger, saying, "Goodbye..."


    Suddenly, reality shattered around Zero, as a deformed hand emerged from the cracks.


    Zero fell to the ground, staring at the hand, and the Fairy Man appeared in front of her.


    "Not again... Damn," Zero began running toward the garden exit, but the Fairy Man had already beaten her to it. She tried to head toward the other exit but found him there too, so she hid between the bushes.


    Zero started sweating coldly, clutching her necklace tightly.


    "How did he get into the real world?... Everything was so strange... I think I¡¯m still in the world of mirrors... I need to get away from the Fairy Man... I think he¡¯s gone," Zero said as she stepped out from her hiding place. Suddenly, the Fairy Man charged at her with incredible speed, freezing Zero in place. She couldn¡¯t avoid his grip, and it seemed like it was too late to escape. Is this the end?


    "Why do I feel like something is... carrying me?" With incredible speed, Pain managed to rescue Zero from the entity''s grasp.


    "Keep your deformed hand away from my friend," Pain said as she carried Zero.

 Chapter 19 : Hope Despite the Pain

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    Pain''s gaze was like that of a beast hunting its prey. The tone of her voice began to change gradually. Zero slowly retreated backward towards the tyrant, her vision blurred as the crimson light blinded her right eye. Pain lunged towards her, transforming one of her tentacles into a sharp blade. Zero jumped to the right and began to run towards the darkness.


    "What am I going to do... There''s nothing to jump on... or a tool to fight with... The darkness is total... I can''t fight... and on top of that... why didn''t the necklace work even though I''m scared?" Zero said this as she clutched her necklace, beginning to return to her normal state.


    Suddenly, she heard something moving towards her. She jumped repeatedly from her place, hearing something piercing through the wood. She looked around in all directions. Suddenly, she felt something coming towards her from behind. Quickly, she lowered her head to find a knife in front of her, slowly melting and turning black. It moved behind Zero, so she turned to find knives floating in the air around her, heading towards her at an incredible speed.


    Zero began to avoid these knives with precise movements, dodging all those blows, until one of them scratched her cheek.


    "Damn it... is that all you''ve got?" Zero said wearily.


    ''How am I going to face her... I don''t even know her weakness... I was stupid when I believed she was Alice... I should have thought... there''s no place for emotions and feelings in this world... I should have watched her... to know a point... wait... Pain isn''t really a human... but a monster that takes the souls of children... if that''s true... then that explains why she''s sad... all those children are suffering... and lying to themselves... this world is hell for anyone who wants to dream again... I found it... maybe I should exploit... this... no... because Pain doesn''t have that feeling anymore... maybe I should just watch her...''


    Suddenly, one of the knives hit Zero. "Damn it... she hit me... I have to run away..." Zero turned behind her to find Pain smiling strangely. She quickly grabbed Zero by the neck, throwing her to the ground, and squeezed her neck tightly as she said, "There''s no point in resisting... all their emotions have disappeared... it''s time for you to join them..."


    "Zero... goodbye," Pain stabbed Zero directly in the heart with a real knife. Zero screamed in pain as she resisted. Pain got up and smiled cruelly.


    "No chance of escape... the poison in that knife is strong... it will prevent you from moving... wait... I don''t want to take a damaged body..."


    Then she headed towards the cells.


    "Master of Mirrors... I don''t need you anymore... take these... because I have what no one has been able to defeat for years..." Suddenly, Pain felt a stab in her back, it was the same knife she had used. She turned around to find Zero still standing, raising her left hand as if she had aimed something, and breathing heavily, with blood everywhere around her. She was bleeding profusely from her mouth, so she wiped it and said, "Something that hasn''t been defeated for years... am I that important, Pain...?"


    "Zero... you weren''t affected... that poison is strong... how...?"


    "The fight isn''t over yet, Pain... I won''t die before I take Alice."Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Damn it... when will you stop being stubborn... just die." Pain said this and lunged towards her, directing the tip of her tentacles towards Zero. Zero was no longer able to move, so she fell to her knees from exhaustion and pain. Pain''s form looked like a reaper to her.


    ''Move, my body... why don''t you move... I''m going to die now...'' Zero said this as she received a stab from Pain, and fell prostrate on the ground. Pain grabbed her by the hair and said, "Zero... you''re like the children... even though you''re more than that... did your escape from this place make you weak?"


    "Ah... Pain... what do you mean... I don''t understand... what does this mean?" Zero said in severe pain and confusion.


    "What happened to you... it''s as if you forgot everything."


    Suddenly, Zero was shocked, as she hadn''t told Pain this: ''Wait... what do you mean... from all this... for years... forgetting... weakness... and what do you mean by leaving this place... can it be... impossible... I don''t believe it... Pain... what does this mean... what''s your relationship to what''s happening... we only met a short time ago... and you say... that I haven''t been defeated for years... could all this hell be your doing... or did the Fairy Man and your master do something?... Tell me exactly... what''s the point.''


    "Zero... I have no intention of going against what I was asked to do... all I can say is... Zero... or should I remind you of your destiny... ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö." At the moment Pain whispered that, something moved in Zero''s body, so she fell from exhaustion, as she began to bleed more than before.


    "Sorry, Zero... but... this... is your destiny..." Pain said this as she headed slowly towards the cells.


    In that moment of humiliation, the light of those cells danced with Pain''s footsteps, as if it was a harbinger of her inevitable end.


    "What''s happening to me... why am I so stupid... was this my destiny from the beginning... was all this my doing... I!.... I made my life like this... or is all this a lie... a lie!.... I wish I... at least... fell without a struggle"


    { You''re right }'', suddenly, Zero felt as if time had stopped. He bent down to her and said in her voice: "That''s right... I wish you were dead... a failure like you doesn''t deserve to stay alive..."


    At that moment, Zero froze in fear, so she turned her head slowly towards the source of the sound, and her stabbed heart was still beating strongly, and sweat was dripping more and more. She found a girl who looked like her, covering both her eyes with her bangs, except that her left eye lit up with a strange color. It was like a bomb ready to explode.


    "Did you forget...? Oh... yes... you forgot everything in the end... let me remind you of one thing... death for you... is to forget... who you are... oh... my... doll." At that moment, Zero screamed loudly, as she struggled against that voice, to delve into her memories, a memory filled with blood and corpses.


    At that moment, the necklace lit up more strongly, so Pain turned to see the light in front of her. "What the..."


    Pain got up to find Zero standing again, but this time, there was something inside her, motivating her, making her continue. It was a strange black aura surrounding her, and something was shining on her forehead. It was a black line, like an incomplete drawing.


    Zero looked at her hands, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.


    "Impossible... you''re very stubborn, Zero," Pain lunged with all her might towards Zero, directing her blade towards her, so Zero blocked it with the symbol of her necklace.


    "For this necklace... it finally has another use."


    "Annoying... stop resisting..." Pain said this and retreated quickly backward, the light of the cells suddenly disappearing, making it difficult for Zero to see.


    "It''s hard to fight her in the dark... I have to find a way to fight her..." Suddenly, Zero began to feel a strange sensation in her left eye, as if she was seeing something with it.


    "My eye... maybe { try it yourself } maybe... if I cover the vision with my right eye..." Suddenly, Zero began to see a circular area with light.


    "Ha... it worked... maybe that girl wasn''t bad." Zero said this as she headed towards it.


    Zero took the eye on her necklace and said, "Pain... I''ll prove you wrong... we''re not done with our fight yet... come on... show yourself... because we... haven''t settled our score yet"

 Chapter 20 : The Old Friend

    Zero looked around, clutching her necklace. She sensed something moving in the darkness.


    "I must focus... that''s what that girl told me... a devilish creature that uses filth to hide in the darkness... but sometimes it only uses this disguise in such situations... I must investigate..."


    Suddenly, Pain appeared behind her, and quickly, Zero pointed the necklace at her, causing it to glow suddenly. Pain fell, and the filth began to fade gradually. She had dropped the knife, and quickly, Zero rushed towards her to take it.


    Pain retreated, and the light began to fade.


    "Damn it... the light is fading... I must get away from the darkness..." Zero said this as she looked left and right, and found another place with a little light, so she headed towards it.


    "All I have to do now is wait for the right moment... I must focus," she said this as she looked around with all her readiness. Suddenly, mirrors began to form around her, and Zero began to feel uneasy.


    The mirrors began to show Pain, showing Zero the knife and fear took over her body.


    ''Where is she now... Could she be in the mirrors?... Well... I won''t know until I try.'' And quickly, she rushed towards one of the mirrors, striking it with the knife. Before the shards fell to the ground, they evaporated into thin air.


    "You''ve made a mistake, Zero." And quickly, Zero turned to block her blow with the knife, and yet, she was injured in the arm.


    Pain directed her blade towards Zero, and rushed towards her with all her strength, so Zero directed the necklace towards her, causing it to glow and throwing Pain to the ground.


    Zero raised her head to see something on Pain, it was crimson.


    ''What is that thing...?''. And quickly, Zero grabbed the knife and rushed towards Pain, stabbing her in her injured back, causing a crimson color to appear in it, so Pain screamed loudly, making Zero retreat backwards, directing her blade towards her, Zero did not understand that, it frightened her, Pain got up from her place retreating backwards.


    "What just happened?... As if she''s injured... Ah, the light is fading...", Zero said this heading to another place while thinking: "In the beginning... I injured her with the dagger... and now... I felt that there is something she''s hiding... maybe... I found a weak point... I just have to be patient." She said this as she held the necklace, and quickly, Pain rushed towards her, so she directed the necklace towards her, and its effect increased on Pain, and quickly, she rushed towards Pain taking out the dagger, stabbing her in the back, to see something inside her.


    And quickly, Pain directed a blow to Zero, knocking her to the ground, so Pain rushed towards her directing her blade towards her, and at that moment, Pain''s powers collapsed, so she retreated backwards to hide in the darkness.


    Zero got up from her place and sweat began to drip on her face. "Luckily, she is injured from the beginning... I must continue." Zero said this heading to another place.


    ''I have to endure... there''s little left at most... I must be patient... if my suspicion is not wrong... then I have to inflict more damage on her... and then...'' And at that moment, Pain rushed towards her, and quickly, Zero directed her necklace towards her, throwing her to the ground and she fainted, and Zero rushed with all her strength, aiming her knife at her back.


    Zero put her hand in Pain''s back, to hold something, so Zero pulled it with all her strength, to see a human hand.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ''I expected it...'', Zero pulled the child that was inside, and Pain confronted her with her filth, but Zero continued to pull. "Come on... I have to... do it." Zero said this as she tried hard to pull her, to finally get that child out, and Zero opened her eyes, to find herself pulling Alice''s body from Pain''s back.


    "I can''t believe it... Alice is in my hands..." Zero in shock.


    Pain got up from her place and her back was bleeding heavily, breathing was difficult for her, but she rushed with force towards the two girls directing her filth towards them, "Give her back to my spirit..."


    Zero held Pain, carrying her, and rushed towards the luminous place.


    ''Just one blow... just one blow...'' Zero said this as she looked around focused, so Pain jumped towards her, so the necklace glowed to weaken Pain more, and Zero put Alice on the ground.


    And quickly, Zero rushed holding the knife. "There is only one choice now... Pain... I am selfish indeed... because I will not give up my goal... so... I will not let you live... so die," Zero said this and stabbed Pain in that eye.


    At that moment, Pain felt as if she was about to explode, so she directed her gaze at Alice, smiled and said: "You are so stubborn... but I... will put an end to it..." Suddenly, Pain pointed a dagger at Alice.


    Zero did not understand what she was doing, everything was passing slowly for her, everything for her had gone, all that effort had gone, hope had definitely disappeared from Zero''s heart...


    "Impossible... damn it... all the effort I made... has gone... damn it... why?... why?... why do I have to live miserably all my life?... What did I do to deserve all this suffering?... why?... why?" Suddenly, Zero heard her voice saying: {Maybe... because you...} At that moment, Zero saw hanging corpses around her, they were other visions, which stimulated Zero''s body.


    Without realizing, Zero found herself stopping that knife without touching it, or moving, only, she raised her hand towards it.


    Pain was shocked at that moment, so she directed her gaze at Zero.


    "Zero."


    "Ah... what?" looking at Pain.


    "I think I''ve made a mistake..."


    "Huh... what do you mean?"


    "You''ve changed... for the better," at that moment, Pain closed her eyes, and her eyes were still filled with tears, her body began to melt, turning into dead filth.


    Zero realized that she had died, and she watched her body disappear. "Pain... goodbye."


    Nothing remained except her clothes, and that eye that was on her forehead, the darkness began to fade gradually.


    *******


    At that moment, Alice opened her eyes, raised her head to see herself, then turned to find Zero sitting on the ground looking at those clothes, so Alice crawled towards her, to take that eye, but when she reached out to take it, Zero preceded her, as she put her hand on it, Alice raised her head to find Zero covered in blood. Alice froze in her place.


    "You don''t have to bear that pain... Alice... take Pain''s clothes and wear them... I don''t want you to get cold in your pajamas," Zero said this and the eye disappeared.


    "H... Zero... I..." Alice tried to get up, and suddenly Zero rushed towards her hugging her.


    Alice didn''t realize that, the features of surprise were evident on her face.


    "Alice... you''re okay... mercy... I''ve missed you so much, Alice." Zero said this and her eyes were filled with tears.


    "Zero... I... I''m sorry... I tried to help you... but I failed... Pain seduced me... and I forgot what I wanted... fear overwhelmed me... I''m sorry..." Alice said sadly and crying.


    "It''s okay... I don''t want to see you cry... be happy... I''m here... with you... so... don''t worry..."


    At that moment, Zero fainted from exhaustion.


    Alice felt worried, and began to shake her, trying to wake her up, "Zero... wake up... wake up... Zero... are you okay... Zero... Zero"


    *******


    At that moment, the Master of Mirrors was watching what had happened through the broken mirrors.


    "Pain... you''ve failed me... you could have taken her..."


    "I... I''m sorry, my lord... I think she might have lost her memory... but something... brought it back... not all of it... she doesn''t remember everything that happened." Pain in the mirrors and her body was made of filth.


    "Damn it... it was our chance... and now... the other beasts will take her... can you find the location of the second bait?"


    "According to your orders, the location of the second bait is no longer available to us... ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö has taken it... and I can''t take ''Remorse'' spiritually separated."


    "¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö... my luck is very bad... never mind... and don''t care about what Zero took from you... there is still another group that you will return to, O Pain... instead of killing you."


    "I appreciate your kindness, my lord... I will return to it now." She said this and the filth evaporated from her body, to return to those cells.


    ''... I have no choice... but to catch them myself.'' Said the Master of Mirrors, the mirrors had broken.

 Chapter 21 : Zero ... and the twist .

    Zero was walking in a dark void, her hands stained with blood. Her walk was the walk of a body devoid of a soul. The look in her eyes suggested shock and coldness, empty as the vacuum of space.


    Zero raised her head to see a wooden door in front of her, with an eye staring at her. Without knowing why, she started running towards it, as if a beast was rushing towards its prey.


    When she opened it, she began to float in that void, to find closed eyes around her, which opened one after the other, with images of her memories, from her awakening, to her last memory with Otto.


    Zero looked around her, and the emptiness of her eyes began to disappear.


    "Here...these...are my memories...all of them," she said as she looked at her picture with her parents.


    Suddenly, the picture shattered as if it were glass, those shards scattered around Zero evaporating, and shock overwhelmed Zero''s body, "What...no...what''s happening."


    Suddenly, those pictures began to break one after the other, Zero looked around her, and she said: "No...stop...stop...stop...no...I don''t want any more...stop...", she said this screaming and aching, and the headache had started to kill her.


    She turned slowly towards her picture with the doctor and the person who found her in the forest, Zero rushed towards those pictures.


    "Please...not this one...stop," she said as this picture finally broke


    Do you want to know what was written on that paper?, the doctor''s voice.


    Yes...yes....


    It was written....


    *******


    Suddenly, Zero woke up with worry evident on her face. She turned to find Alice in pain clothes and treating her wounds.


    "Hey...Zero...you''re awake..."


    "What...? Where are we?" Zero said this as she looked around in panic.


    It was a place like a large and spacious room, with pale paint and a worn wooden floor.


    "We''re still in the same place...Zero...luckily, Pain kept these bandages in her clothes," she said as she cleaned Zero''s wound on her chest.


    "I''m done now..." Alice got up from her place, and she helped Zero to stand up and put on her clothes.


    "Ah...thank you."


    "Zero..."


    "What...is there something...Alice."


    "Thank you...for saving me...before Pain took my body...I thank you...and I''m sorry...for putting you in danger..."


    "(Sigh)....It''s okay...Alice...we''re friends...and we promised to help each other...always." Zero said as she patted Alice''s shoulder.


    "Hey...this is strange..." Alice in confusion.


    "Hey...what''s strange, Alice," Zero with hidden anxiety.


    "Zero...I don''t deny your help...but...do we know each other," Alice in confusion.


    "I mean...I''ve never seen you before...but you know who I am...and you even know my name...despite my forgetting it...I never remember myself...and what happened to me in the past...Zero...who are you." Alice in confusion and worry.


    "''Maybe you don''t know who I am...because of my new body...my body in the real world is different...it''s okay'' Alice...maybe you don''t know who I am...but we were friends in the past...my name wasn''t Zero...but it was.-"


    ********


    "Zero...and this will remain your name here," this voice was coming from behind Zero, so she turned to see the Fairy Man, and he was approaching them.


    Zero advanced while protecting Alice.


    "Hey...it can''t be...the owner of the dangling faces...how did he get in? Isn''t it just Alnm...who controls this place?" Alice in fear.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "Maybe her death...allowed the Fairy Man to enter."


    "How will we escape now," Zero turned around looking for an exit, suddenly she felt a strange feeling in her hand, so she spread it to find the drawing that fell from Pain''s forehead, at that moment, she was overwhelmed by fear and astonishment.


    ''By God...what''s going on...'' Suddenly, her hand began to move on its own, pointing behind them, her hand was pointing to a deformed wooden door made of mold and it was moving and flowing.


    "Here''s the exit," Alice in fear.


    "Run...I''ll hinder his movement," at that moment, the Fairy Man rushed towards Zero, so she grabbed her necklace pointing towards him.


    The necklace glowed weakening the Fairy Man. And quickly, Zero started running towards the exit.


    And after only a few seconds, the Fairy Man rushed towards her.


    Alice was reaching out to grab Zero before the exit closed, and quickly she grabbed her, pulling her, so the door closed.


    The two girls fell on the platform from exhaustion and anxiety, and they were sweating cold sweat.


    "I didn''t expect us to survive...your necklace is amazing...and even your strange powers."


    "Yes...although it''s not mine," Zero said this as she looked at her hand.


    The two girls got up from their place, to find themselves in the world of mirrors.


    Zero''s hand began to move again, pointing in a certain direction.


    "It seems we''ve found the exit...Alice...I hope you''re agile."


    "In fact...I''m not used to moving...it seems I haven''t moved for a while," Alice said this and her limbs were trembling.


    ''Heh...a whole month or more...'' Zero in surprise.


    "Well...you''re not heavy in the end...I''ll carry you." Zero said this as she carried Alice on her back.


    Alice began to feel anxious and trembling.


    "A..Alice...what''s wrong with you?" Zero in strangeness.


    "I''m not used to being carried by someone...it seems embarrassing and worrying." Alice said this in pieces


    "Enough, Alice...I carried you several times...and now...hold me tight...because I can''t control my hand."


    Suddenly, Zero''s hand moved in that direction, and a rope of mold came out of it, and it stuck to one of the platforms.


    "Great...like Spider-Man...how did you do that?" Alice in amazement.


    "I assure you that I have nothing to do with this," Suddenly, Zero was pulled towards that platform very quickly.


    "What...happened...just now?", Zero in surprise and shock.


    "Do it again..?" Alice playfully.


    "Alice...I can''t control it," suddenly, the hand repeated the ball over and over, and they were moving from one platform to another.


    "Hold on tight." Zero with worry.


    "This is fun...I''ve never had so much fun." Alice said this with joy and laughter.


    ''(Sigh).....She''s Alice after all.''


    The hand stopped moving, and the two girls found themselves on a platform with a strange door.


    Zero looked at it curiously and said, "Strange...this door is unfamiliar...what about you?...A...Alice," Zero turned to Alice, to find her looking at it in a strange way.


    Alice went down towards the door.


    "This door...familiar..."


    ''Familiar?...I''ve never seen this door in my life,'' Zero in surprise.


    "Bedroom...yes...my old bedroom...I remember it...hey...Zero...I started...remembering...the orphanage...and my friends...some of them...Emma...Alex...Kate...Leo...Anna and Adam...I started to regain my memories..."


    "Ah...are these...your friends?"


    Alice turned to Zero: "There are many...I started to remember...I feel happy...I can finally call myself...Alice...that''s what they called me...this is my name...literally...I remembered who I am...I''m no longer called Pain...I''m back...it''s like I''ve come back to life."


    "Alice." Zero in surprise.


    "Zero...thank you...you helped me...but you didn''t answer me...you know my name...who are you...?"


    "Alice...I am." Suddenly, Alice spotted a monster heading towards them.


    "....The Fairy Man." Alice in shock.


    "Impossible...Hurry and open the door." Zero turned away.


    "Okay." Alice rushed towards the door, jumped and grabbed the handle, and opened the door.


    "What are you doing...come on...come." Alice in worry.


    Zero grabbed her necklace and said, "Don''t worry...''I''ll paralyze him...'' when I signal you, close the door...lock the door...or run."


    "What?" Alice in surprise.


    At that moment, as the Fairy Man approached, the necklace lit up, weakening him.


    Zero rushed towards the door, and when she crossed it, suddenly, her hand was stuck in the air, Zero turned to see it fixed in place.


    "What''s going on?" Zero in surprise.


    She spread her hand to find that seal on her hand, that eye, with the broken pupil.


    She pulled it and Alice, but to no avail. At that moment, the Fairy Man regained his strength, and rushed with all his might to grab Zero, Zero was helpless, she found no solution.


    ''What should I do...I''m stuck...I''m easy prey...there''s no solution...''


    At that moment, the knife fell from her pocket, so Zero found a solution.


    ''This is it.'' She said this and took the knife.


    "Zero...no."


    And quickly, Zero cut that hand, Zero screamed loudly from the pain, and said: "Now."


    And quickly, Alice closed the door at the last moment.


    Alice turned to Zero, to find her hand cut off, she rushed towards her.


    "What did you do...your hand..." Alice in fear.


    "Don''t worry...I''ll be...ah...fine," she said this with a groan, and blood was flowing on the ground, in a pool of it.


    "I...am the reason." Alice said this crying.


    "Don''t say that..."


    "Zero...I should have taken that seal quickly."


    "Alice...if I had taken it...you would have remained captive."


    "I don''t care...if my salvation is at the expense of others...then my death is better," she said this and she was crying.


    Zero''s heart trembled, and her tears began to fall.


    "Alice...I am...like you...I...too...was the reason for your entry into this hell."


    Alice raised her head: "Don''t be silly...I''m the one who wanted to enter."


    "I am also the reason...whoever I befriend...they disappear...we were friends...and you disappeared...and also...I made friends with another girl...and on that day...she disappeared..."


    "You''re foolish...no one can make another disappear by befriending them...that''s illogical."


    "It''s my feeling, the instinctual one..."


    "What?" Alice said this and calmed down.


    "Alice...I''ve made sure...I''m just a doll...this is my destiny...Pain said it...she told me who I was...I don''t know my past...I''ve lost my memories...that I''m part of the Fairy Man in the end."


    "Zero...you''re like us...Pain...she''s lying...you''re not part of anyone...you''re free...you''re deceiving yourself...just because your friend and I...were taken to this world...because we believed you...it''s our desire...so...don''t blame yourself...and don''t put all this heavy burden on your shoulders...I''m with you...Zero...you''re not part of the Fairy Man...this is just an excuse...to torture yourself...tell me...say...who are you?"


    "Alice...we are friends...I...am unfamiliar to you...because this is not my body...Alice...my name is......wait." At that moment, Zero stopped talking, and shock was on her face.


    "Zero...why did you stop?...say..."


    Zero turned slowly and said, "Alice...I''ve...forgotten my name."


    At that moment, Zero realized that she had forgotten some of her memories.


    "Impossible." Alice in fear.

 Chapter 22 : The Living Hand

    Alice tore a piece of her clothes, trying to stop the bleeding.


    "It''s no use... Alice... Ah," Zero felt a severe pain, a pain she had never endured before.


    "Stop moving... I have to stop the bleeding..." Alice said as she removed the shredded flesh.


    Despite the horror of the scene, Zero could bear the sight, but chills ran down her spine, and cold sweat covered her face.


    Alice managed to stop the bleeding and bandage the wound, fear and anxiety creeping into her heart.


    "I''m done... How do you feel?" Alice asked worriedly.


    "It hurts... but it''s the best solution... for now... but it''s not my only problem," she said, shaking her arm.


    "Calm down... Forgetting your name... it''s not the end of the world... And don''t worry... you haven''t lost all your memories... Zero... If we knew each other before... then we have the same memories... Zero... don''t be afraid... I''m here... I''ll help you... I''ll be with you... always." Alice said, extending her hand to help Zero stand up.


    Zero smiled, took her hand to stand up: "Thank you."


    The Fairy Man grabbed Zero''s severed hand, then threw it on the platform with great anger.


    *********


    "Fool... the seal was a trap of his own making," he said, then vanished into thin air.


    *********


    The two girls were walking in that corridor, fear and caution were evident on Alice''s face, but Zero''s mind was focused on what Pain had told her.


    "Was what she told me true?... Or was it just a trick to provoke me... That word [¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö] Does it have a connection?... I... I''m confused... I don''t understand what it means... Is it a title... or something bigger?"


    Suddenly, Alice noticed something moving, fear gripped her heart, but Zero pushed Alice behind her to protect her, and grabbed her necklace, and cold sweat began to flow.


    At that moment, a rope descended from above, Alice turned to it, and at that moment, she raised her head to find Nomz waving to them, inside the ventilation openings.


    "Zero... look," she said, shaking Zero.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Zero turned to find Nomz had thrown the dangling rope to them.


    "That''s good."


    Alice climbed up that rope until she reached the opening.


    "Zero... try to hold on to it... we''ll pull the rope."


    "Okay."


    Alice and Nomz held the rope, and they began to pull, and only a few moments passed before something caught on Zero''s foot.


    Zero was surprised, so she turned to find a severed hand gripping her leg, and blood was pouring onto the ground like a waterfall.


    Fear gripped her heart, and she began to stagger and try to drop it, but she held on to her foot tightly.


    "Get away... leave me alone... Alice hurry."


    "What''s going on... Stop moving... We can''t pull you," Alice looked at Zero to see that hand clinging to Zero''s foot.


    "Damn it... Hurry up, Nomz..." Alice said as they pulled hard until Zero reached the opening, and quickly they began to pull the hand hard, but it was very stubborn, but they managed to remove it.


    And quickly, that hand jumped back into the dark tunnel.


    "Ah... Zero... Isn''t that your hand?" Alice asked wearily.


    "It''s definitely mine," Zero said in surprise.


    "Thank you, Nomz..." Alice said, but Nomz was surprised and did not reply.


    "Ah... What''s wrong?" Alice asked as she tried to take his hand, but he hid behind Zero.


    "(Laughter) He doesn''t know you used to be Pain... You look different." Zero said this and patted the dwarf."


    "Oh... that makes sense."


    The two girls and the dwarf began to crawl in that tunnel, and it was difficult for Zero, as she was leaning on her severed hand, she began to feel pain, but Nomz helped her, as he was small, and made her lean on him.


    "Ah... guys... I can''t see because of the darkness... Do you have anything, Nomz?"


    Nomz shook his head to say no.


    "Our luck is bad." Zero said disappointedly.


    Suddenly, the two girls and Nomz began to hear the sound of something moving rapidly in the openings.


    Zero''s heart began to race, and Alice was joined by fear more than ever.


    Suddenly, that hand jumped on Alice, and quickly, Zero grabbed her necklace, and it glowed with a power that weakened the hand, so Nomz saw the way well.


    The hand retreated back into the darkness again, but Nomz began to guide Alice.


    "Ah... Where are you taking me... Zero... Lean on me."


    Nomz stopped and turned to Zero, pointing to his chest.


    "I think he''s trying to say make the necklace glow," Alice said playfully.


    "This is not the time to joke... Although what you said is true... but I don''t control the necklace... it works on its own."


    "I told Pain that it glows when you''re afraid."


    "I think it''s more complicated than that... but... I think it glows... at the right times."


    Suddenly, the hand jumped, targeting the little Nomz, so he grabbed him and began to drag him, but Alice grabbed him in time.


    "Zero... come on," Zero grabbed the necklace, and it glowed with greater power, so the hand fled.


    At that moment, Nomz stood up and started running.


    "Wait... Nomz... Zero... I''ll help you... Wait," Alice said as she prepared Zero.


    The two girls saw Nomz standing at an opening, with fog hanging in the air more than ever.


    Nomz pointed down, so Alice threw the rope but it didn''t reach the ground.


    "Zero... go down first... I''ll lower the rope more when you''re ready."


    When Zero went down, Alice went down and said, "Thank you, Nomz... the place is strange down there... maybe you should stay here."


    Nomz pointed to indicate agreement, then continued on his way.


    "Don''t forget to bring us at least a lamp."


    Alice went down, and looked left and right, she couldn''t find Zero.


    "Zero... where are you... Zero." Suddenly, she saw Zero sitting on the ground, so she rushed to her.


    "I was looking for you... why did you stay away from me... wait" Alice noticed that Zero was trembling in her place.


    "Zero... what''s wrong?"


    "Alice... run away..." Zero turned to Alice, that hand had attached itself to Zero''s face, Alice''s eyes narrowed at that moment, Alice froze in her place, unable to move, as if her feet were paralyzed.

 **Chapter 23: The Living Hand (Part 2)**

    Alice was shocked and terrified. Suddenly, the hand jumped towards Alice, and in the nick of time, Alice deflected the hand with the knife.


    Alice gripped the knife tightly, but her hands began to tremble.


    "You''re really strong... Pain," Alice heard this voice, coming from that hand, she couldn''t comprehend, and at that moment, that eye appeared on the hand, and gradually changed, becoming a hideous face.


    "(Trembling) Impossible... You... You''re not an ordinary hand," Alice said in fear.


    Suddenly, mold began to wrap around that hand, forming a deformed entity of mold, Alice felt paralyzed in her limbs, and a heaviness in her feet, as if she were sinking in the mold.


    "You should have stayed with me... not betrayed me... oh Pain."


    In the blink of an eye, something rushed towards Alice, throwing her to the ground, she raised her head to see Zero standing.


    "Zero... Impossible... Zero," Alice said in fear and shock.


    "I won''t waste much time this time...(cracking the monster''s fingers)..... Zero... Show her how a puppet is obedient."


    At that moment, Zero rushed like a beast to hunt its prey, directing a punch towards her, so Alice blocked it with the knife, causing a deep wound to Zero''s arm.


    "Damn it," Zero rushed towards Alice, directing several blows at her, Alice tried to fend them off but she couldn''t, so she threw her to the ground, and quickly, Zero grabbed Alice''s hand, waved it to finally point it towards the wall.


    The monster began to applaud, "That was fun... now... Zero... finish it."


    Alice tried to move her hand, but Zero had pointed the knife at her hand, Alice screamed loudly, as if she had been crushed, so she rushed towards her, grabbing her neck and squeezing it.


    Alice raised her head slowly, to see Zero''s devilish face, she was like an embodiment of a beast, Alice did not expect that the seal was a trap. "Zero... please... don''t let the Mirror Master control you... cut the strings... you''re not a puppet... you''re a free girl," Alice said this and blood was pouring from her mouth.


    "Hurry up, Zero... finish her off..."


    At that moment, Zero whispered in Alice''s ear, saying: "Fool... I move myself."Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    At that moment, Alice was shocked, she couldn''t believe it, how could her friend betray her so easily, so she raised her head to be more shocked, something was coming out of Zero''s bandaged eye, light, fog, Alice couldn''t see it clearly.


    "You... you''re not Zero..." Alice said in surprise.


    "I am... ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö."


    At that moment, Zero felt something coming towards her, so she jumped back.


    She raised her head to find the Fairy Man carrying something, a black fog.


    "Stop this... Zero... Your condition has worsened... Let it disappear... this devil..."


    Suddenly, that fog rushed from the Fairy Man''s hand towards Zero, wrapped around her to burn what was inside her, so that aura entered her bandaged eye, and a seal in the shape of an eye appeared on that bandage, so Zero fainted.


    The Fairy Man turned to the monster, saying: "As for you... to hell with you," at that moment, the mikraby rushed towards the monster, burning that mold, so that hand appeared.


    The mikraby grabbed it, and his fog burned it, and only that seal remained, and he threw it on the ground, in front of Alice, and it began to erode gradually.


    Alice noticed the seal as she tried to remove the knife, and turned to find the mikraby heading towards Zero.


    "I won''t lose you again," and as he extended his hand to take her, a blade of mold pierced his hand.


    So he raised his head to find Alice had placed the seal on her forehead, carrying another blade of mold.


    "Leave Zero... oh mikraby."


    The mikraby raised his hand and his fog rushed to burn Alice, but she had resisted it with her mold, which covered her whole body.


    "Pain... go back to your place," suddenly, winds began to blow Alice, pushing her back, the resistance was difficult, it was a strong and violent wind.


    "Impossible... What should I do... this deformed... I can''t move forward... What... should I do... Wait... I feel... something hot... the seal... it''s glowing... Wait... why do I see Zero in front of me... Wait... her shape... is changing... Wait... this girl... is familiar... Wait (I will be happy... if we become... friends..) Is Zero she...? ... Wait... I feel the wind starting to subside... Is it possible?"


    At that moment, Alice rushed towards the mikraby directing her blade towards him, so he evaporated into thin air, and appeared behind her to catch her, but she retreated in time.


    "Strange... you''re still here... you were supposed to go back..."


    ''I understand... I think... part of Zero... is inside me... protecting me.'' Alice said this to herself and quickly, Alice rushed towards Zero, grabbed her, and jumped upwards, to enter the ventilation opening, to find Nomz had returned and was carrying a flashlight, so he was surprised to see Alice in that state.


    "Don''t worry... I''m Alice... Take Zero to a safe place... okay."


    Nomz pointed in agreement, and began to pull Zero.


    And quickly, Alice confronted the mikraby''s fog, and landed on the ground with her tentacles.


    "Where is Zero?", he said this and turned to the direction where Nomz took her, Alice realized that the Fairy Man could track Zero, so she directed all her tentacles to the mikraby.


    "Listen, mikraby... I advise you... to stay away... from my friend Eve."


    ********


    Meanwhile, Zero woke up to find Nomz pulling her while carrying the flashlight, so she got up quickly asking Nomz: "Little one... where is Alice...?"


    Nomz did not answer her, but pointed to the way.


    "Is she there?", Zero asked worriedly.


    Nomz shook his head to say no, and pulled Zero towards that path, until they reached a crossroads.


    Suddenly, the necklace moved on its own, pointing forward, Zero was surprised by this.


    "What''s going on?", Zero said in surprise and worry.


    So Nomz pulled her to that path, continuing to crawl until the necklace pointed downwards, and quickly, the necklace rushed downwards, breaking the rusty iron, so Zero fell, but Nomz threw the rope for her to hold. It was a dark place, a dark abyss, but the necklace still pointed to that place.


    Zero turned to Nomz, and smiled, saying: "Thank you for everything... Please help Alice."


    At that moment, Zero let go of the rope, and fell into the abyss.

 Chapter Twenty-Four: Hope

    Zero walked in a black void. Her eyes were devoid of life, and her hands were stained with blood. Suddenly, something shook Zero''s consciousness, and she looked around to find a destroyed world. Distorted clouds covered the sky, buildings were completely demolished, and shock overwhelmed her heart. But the worst was yet to come: bodies of people, tortured in the most horrific ways, and blood forming a lake.


    Zero fell to her knees, feeling a pain in her head. She placed her hands on it, and those screams returned to torment her head even more.


    "Stop... stop... I don''t want to... stop."


    Suddenly, everything changed. Zero found herself in a small, destroyed village filled with corpses. She looked left and right to see a child murdered by the tree in front of her.


    Something moved Zero to get up and go towards it. At that moment, everything shattered, as if it were a glass pane.


    "Wait."


    **********


    And quickly, Zero woke up, fear evident on her face.


    She looked left and right to find herself in a dark void. She looked at her severed hand and found it intact.


    ''This isn''t a dream.''


    Suddenly, the necklace began to move as if it were a compass, pointing backwards. Zero got up.


    "Where are you leading me?" Zero said, confusion filling her face.


    Suddenly, she collided with a wall, but strangely, the necklace had penetrated it.


    "What... what is this?" She placed her hand on the wall. It felt like black jelly, yet Zero couldn''t penetrate it. She pushed it with all her might, but she didn''t pass through.


    "Strange... how can I pass through... huh... I''m just wasting my time... huh... wait... maybe if..." Zero brought her head closer to the wall, leaned against it with her head, and thought, "Those visions... the whispers... the screams... this suffering... this torture... the guilt... that innate feeling... wait... why do I see myself... carrying something in her hand... no... it''s a head... whose?... Does the necklace want... to show me the truth?... No... I think... it wants to warn me... no... or maybe... it''s trying... to lead me... to something..." Zero said this as she moved forward, still closing her eyes and walking, without knowing her destination, until she crossed the walls.


    She opened her eyes to find a cell floating in the air. It was emitting a dim and distorted light. Zero was surprised by the smallness of the sight, so she approached the cell. Suddenly, she felt like she was climbing stairs. She looked down to find herself putting her foot in the air, yet she continued to climb until she reached the cell.


    The necklace began to be drawn towards the cell.


    "Wait a minute."


    Zero looked at the cell and caught a glimpse of something inside it. Zero was surprised and swallowed her saliva. Without feeling, Zero put her hand into the cell to grab something, but it was stuck.


    So she inserted, without feeling, that injured arm, hoping to pull that thing out, and was surprised to see a new hand appear for her. Zero was shocked, and began to pull that thing with all her strength.


    "Come on... get out... come on... don''t be... stubborn." In the end, she fell to the ground and managed to pull it out. Zero turned to it. It was a wooden stick, at the top of which was a hole in the shape of an eye, its pupil was a glass ball filled with strange engravings in the shape of eyes, and at the bottom, it resembled a wooden peg.


    "What is this thing... huh... my hand... it''s back..." Zero said this in surprise.


    The necklace began to be drawn towards the stick as if it were a magnet, so Zero grabbed the stick to bring it closer to her.


    As soon as she touched the glass ball, Zero felt a strange shock.


    She turned around to find a wooden door with an eye engraving on it. This door was not there before. Zero got up from her place, feeling nervous, and suddenly, she heard a whisper telling her, ''Don''t be afraid.''


    Zero looked left and right, but found no one.


    Zero approached the door, and cold sweat began to drip on the floor. Suddenly, the door opened on its own, as if welcoming its old master.


    " (Inhale and exhale) Okay..." At that moment, Zero crossed the door.


    Zero found herself floating in the void, and suddenly, the stick began to move on its own, rushing upwards like a rocket. Fear and surprise filled Zero''s heart, and she finally emerged from that dark abyss.


    Zero saw the ventilation opening, so she rushed towards it.


    The Nomz looked out of the opening and was surprised to see Zero alive.


    "Little one... beware." And at that moment, Zero smashed that part of the ventilation pipe, and luckily, she had grabbed the Nomz in time.


    The stick stopped moving, so Zero landed on the pipe, carrying the Nomz.


    "Don''t worry, Nomz... I''m fine... look at my hand... Alice will be happy... oh... Alice... I forgot about her... where is she now." Zero said this and realized this matter too late.


    The Nomz pointed backwards, so Zero turned to find the same door open.


    "I think... Alice is behind the door." Zero rushed towards the door, and it closed forcefully at the end.


    ******


    The door appeared from nowhere in the intended place, so it opened for Zero and Nomz to come out, and it evaporated into the air.


    "..Alice... are you...?" Zero said this, looking around, to find blood covering the place.


    Shock was evident on her face, and slowly, she looked down to find Alice lying on the ground,


    and bruises and wounds covered her body.


    Zero fell to her knees and crawled slowly towards her friend, placing Alice''s head on her lap.


    "What... Alice... Alice... wake up... Alice... please... wake up... tell me you''re okay... please... Alice... Alice." Zero said this as tears streamed from her eyes, she kept shaking Alice and calling her, but to no avail.


    Zero brought her head closer and wept bitterly, and as for Nomz, he was shocked.


    Everything was torture for Zero, but the pain of losing Alice was greater. It was the first time Zero had cried for another person since she lost her memory, and yet, she felt something familiar, this feeling, she had felt it before.


    At that moment, the Fairy Man appeared from nowhere, and Nomz tried to warn Zero and drag her to a hiding place, but she did not move, and out of fear, he hid behind her.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    The Fairy Man approached her, bent down to her, and extended his hand towards her.


    "Zero... I tried to warn you... this world... is no place for you... they wanted to dream... to sleep again... go back to your world... and forget... to sleep again."


    At that moment, Zero stopped crying, so she extended her hand slowly to grab his hand, raising her head towards him slowly.


    Suddenly, the Fairy Man retreated backwards very quickly, before Zero could touch him.


    "What''s wrong... huh... my hands..." Zero said this, and a black aura appeared on her body, she felt a heat on her forehead, and a stamp of a distorted eye appeared. Suddenly, the stick was drawn to Zero''s hand like a magnet.


    Zero was shocked, and did not understand what was happening.


    "Huh... the stick." Zero looked at the stick in amazement, to find the black fog around her wrapping around her.


    Fear gripped Zero''s heart, and she began to feel a headache, and at that moment, everything stopped. Zero felt that time had stopped, and she found a girl who looked exactly like her, as if she were her twin, standing in front of her. The smile on her face was strange, and Zero''s heart began to beat fast


    The girl approached Zero and leaned closer.


    "Zero... trust me... don''t resist."


    At that moment, Zero raised her head, her eyes lifeless.


    The Fairy Man lunged forward to grab her, but the black mist burned his hand, and he stopped in his tracks.


    Zero turned around to find an open door. Quickly, she grabbed her friends and carried them. She crossed the door quickly.


    Zero began to move from door to door, crossing one to find herself in similar rooms, where she found those monsters, so she escaped from them, looking left and right to find the door, until she reached a strange place, a huge room with a suffocating atmosphere.


    Zero looked left and right, but she couldn''t find any door.


    "Strange," Zero said, puzzled.


    Suddenly, Zero felt something strange, so she raised her head to find a falling ruin, so she retreated backwards quickly, to glimpse on her right many monsters with torn robes,


    She turned quickly to the other side, to find those monsters with outstretched hands.


    Suddenly, other monsters appeared that she had never seen before, they were from all directions, distorted in shape, some with stretched faces, with a human shape, and others resembled shadows to some extent.


    Zero found no escape, those monsters began to advance towards her little by little.


    She turned to find the door open, Zero had to cross it, but she didn''t do it this time, because she realized that the monsters would inevitably follow her, and quickly, Zero threw Alice and Nomz inside the door, Nomz didn''t understand what she did, so he got up and headed towards Zero.


    "Stop... stay here... don''t follow me," and quickly she closed the door to disappear.


    Zero turned around to find the monsters rushing towards her, at that moment, the black mist came out of her stick, burning those monsters.


    "It''s time, Zero... come on..." At that moment, Zero rushed towards those monsters, those creatures did not understand what happened, to hear the scream of one of them, and he was completely torn apart, another monster was torn apart, and another.


    "What''s going on," and at that moment, the floor shattered, so Zero began to attack.


    Zero pounced on one of the monsters, hitting it with her stick, and it exploded as if there was a bomb inside it.


    The monsters were shocked, how could a little girl do all this.


    A strange smile appeared on Zero''s face, and in the blink of an eye, some of the creatures began to explode into pieces one after the other, Zero stopped in her place, and most of the monsters exploded, forming a pool of blood, she turned to find one of the remaining monsters rushing towards her, so she stopped its movement to mutilate it, turning it into a ball of flesh and bones.


    Zero''s attention was drawn to her stick, that ball, a strange black dot appeared inside it.


    Zero smiled, and the monsters rushed towards her, one of them saw a bright light, at that moment, the necklace glowed strongly, turning the monsters into ashes.


    Zero got up from her place, completely covered in blood, she turned to find the door again, so she crossed it to find Nomz next to Alice waiting for her, in a large place full of cells.


    Zero looked around and said, "This is the place."


    "Strange... it was supposed to be here... where is it...?"


    Zero fell to her knees in exhaustion, so Nomz rushed towards her with all his worry and fear.


    "Don''t come near me... please," Nomz stopped in his place, suddenly, something rushed towards Zero, but she stopped it in its place, Zero raised her head to find that she had stopped the Fairy Man, at that moment, her necklace began to glow gradually.


    "Fairy Man... don''t get in my way." The necklace glowed with double strength, and the Fairy Man evaporated into the air, disappearing in front of Zero.


    Zero got up with difficulty and headed towards Alice, she fell on her knees, Zero looked at her, her vision changed completely, she saw her in a strange way.


    "She''s not dead... but she''s an empty shell..." Zero turned to see something strange in one of the cells, it was a familiar aura.


    Zero got up and headed towards it, climbing on the air as if she were climbing a hidden ladder.


    Zero put her hands into that cell to find a pure spirit in her hands, so she went down and went to Alice, brought this aura to her mouth, and entered Alice''s body in the end.


    "I hope... this works," Suddenly Alice opened her eyes slowly, to find Zero and Nomz beside her.


    "What... what is... where are we... huh... Zero... are you okay... why is this aura on you... what happened... Zero."


    At that moment, Zero rushed towards Alice, hugging her.


    "Huh... Zero..." Alice smiled.


    "Alice... you... you''re okay... huh" At that moment, Zero''s hand began to move involuntarily, so she pushed Alice without feeling.


    "Huh... Zero... what''s wrong with you..." Alice worriedly.


    Zero began to hear whispers.


    ''Kill... continue... why did you stop... kill... kill... why did you stop... continue Zero... she continue.'' At that moment, Zero resisted, she didn''t listen to that girl, so that aura disappeared, and the seal appeared on her bandage again.


    "I''m... sorry... I wasn''t... in my right mind... Alice... I''m sorry for not helping you... fear overcame me... and I allowed that devil to control me," Zero said with regret as she pressed hard on her hands.


    "It''s okay... you never gave up on me, Zero... you even helped me... Zero... thank you."


    "Alice... huh," At that moment, Alice began to evaporate little by little, Alice did not understand what was happening, Zero smiled and said, "Huh... Alice... I''m really happy for you..."


    "What... what do you mean?" Alice wondered.


    "Don''t worry... I think I succeeded," Zero said, looking at her stick.


    "Huh... what''s that stick."


    "It''s the key... Alice... I think I''ve found a way... to bring you back..."


    "Huh... to bring me back to what?"


    "Alice... Goodbye," Zero said this with a smile on her face.


    "Wait... wait for me... Zero... Zero," At that moment, Alice disappeared completely.


    "Why do I feel this feeling... in my chest... as if something from my heart has disappeared... is it... guilt...? (Sigh)... I think so..."


    Zero turned to find a ladder that had suddenly appeared, Zero grabbed Nomz, carrying him, she raised her head to find a giant door, with strange drawings, shapes, eyes, and distorted bodies.


    Zero climbed those stairs, her footsteps made an endless echo, Zero advanced towards that door and it opened, the light coming out was very strong, so Zero put her hand to see.


    Zero crossed that door, her eyes were shocked by the bright light.


    My eyes adjusted slowly to the bright, warm light, and a gentle sea breeze caressed my face, soothing my troubled heart. I gazed peacefully at the beach before me, where leaves danced in the air before falling around me. With each step I took across the green plain, it felt like I was traversing between two worlds: the world of the living and the world of the delusion that controlled my mind. The Fairy Man''s words still echoed in my head, and deep down, I realized that I was not just an ordinary person but an intruder in this strange world. My hand clenched tightly, my eyes fixed on the horizon, my heart trembling with every beat, while tears slowly streamed down my cheek, like the tears of all my lost pains and dreams.


    Yet, despite those tears, the look of determination in my eyes never wavered, but instead, it burned brighter. I took another step towards the edge of the cliff, where the sea stood before me like a mirror to my broken heart, as if everything in this world was against me. I stood there, looking down at the boat anchored in the sea, and smiled a peaceful smile, even though I felt an entire world crumbling around me. I said to myself, "Do you think you can truly confine my freedom? That''s not something that can be done so easily."


    I looked at the sea with eyes full of determination and sharpness, and said in a voice barely audible except to the wind, "I don''t care if life rejects me or if the world forgets my existence. I am not the one who needs this world. Rather, this world is the one that needs me."

 ## Chapter 25: Unveiling the Truth (Part 1).

    "(Yawning)... I haven''t slept in ages..." Zero said, having just woken up.


    Zero was sitting in a boat with her little friend and a group of small, sleeping dwarves. The weather was foggy, and the sea looked like a distorted illusion.


    "(Shivering) Brrr... I''m cold..."


    Zero raised her head to look up at the cloudy sky. She glanced at the dwarf and patted his head.


    "He''s tired... he hasn''t rested at all... and he never hesitated to help me... he seems to have many brothers... and yet... he''ll always be special... to me... it''s been two whole days... since I got on this boat... I hope Alice has returned safely to the real world."


    ******


    Alice found herself in a dark void, turning left and right.


    "What happened... where am I?" Alice spotted something in the darkness, a broken mirror.


    At that moment, Zero rushed towards it, but the mirror began to move away from her.


    "Wait... oh threshold... don''t go... no... don''t go."


    *****


    Alice woke up quickly to find herself in bed. She looked left and right, she was in a room with two beds and a children''s wardrobe. There was an open window next to her. Alice jumped out of bed to look out the window.


    There was a playground below with children playing in it. At that moment, Alice realized she was back in the real world.


    Suddenly, two girls opened the room door.


    "Do you think I''ll go?... Impossible... Do you want something bad to happen to me?... I''m scared for myself?" Ana said this.


    "You''re right... since she disappeared... Alice?" Emma said this, and at that moment, they found Alice, a girl looking out the window, so they turned to her, realizing that the one in front of them was Alice.


    "Hey... Emma... Ana," Alice said, confused.


    At that moment, the two girls screamed loudly, shocked and frightened, and quickly ran out saying, "Ghost... it''s Alice''s ghost..."


    Alice couldn''t understand what was happening to them, so she started to cover them with a blanket, saying, "Why are you running away... I''m not a ghost."


    "Emma... she''s behind us," Ana said in fear.


    "Just hurry up."


    Everyone started looking at them.


    "Hey... what''s wrong with Eika and Ana?"


    "Who is that maid?"


    "Are they playing a game?"


    "Crazy."


    "Wait... isn''t that the maid girl... Alice?" one of the boys shouted.


    ******


    The nanny was writing a request for a trip to visit patients in the hospital in her office.


    "Huh... maybe this will be a good idea."


    The nanny heard a knock on the door.


    "Come in." Suddenly, one of the children rushed in, saying, "Nanny... come here..."


    "What?... What''s going on?"


    "Come and see for yourself," the child said, pulling the nanny.


    The nanny found the children huddled together, to find Emma and Ana scared of a girl wearing a maid''s uniform, so she turned to her to find Alice.


    "Don''t be scared of me... I''m your friend... Alice," Alice said, trying to calm them down.


    "Hey... Alice," the nanny said in surprise.


    "Who?... Nanny... tell them I''m not a ghost."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    At that moment, the nanny fainted.


    ******


    "No... I can''t believe it... Alice... is that you?" the nanny said, sitting on a chair and putting an ice pack on her head.


    "Yes... nanny."


    "Where have you been all this time?" the nanny asked angrily.


    "Uh... I..." Alice said nervously.


    "Three whole months, Alice... and the police couldn''t find you... we thought you were kidnapped... and what about these ragged clothes you''re wearing... could it be... that you ran away from the room?... Answer me now."


    "Uh... in fact... I... what should I do now... what will I say... if I tell her the truth... she''ll send me to a mental hospital... what will I say... what... uh... I went to..."


    "To where?"


    "To... my uncle''s house."


    "Huh... your uncle''s house?"


    "Yes."


    "Three whole months?"


    "Yes."


    "So... I''ll call him... and I''ll ask him," the nanny said, holding the phone.


    "No... don''t call..." Alice said in alarm.


    "Huh... and how can I believe you, Alice?... I''ll talk to your uncle."


    "He''s very sick, miss..."


    "Huh? Is he really sick?... Why do you need to go to him?... "


    "Nobody takes care of him... his children are working abroad... and he''s divorced as you know."


    "If that''s true... then why didn''t you tell me?"


    "Uh... what should I say... uh... I found it... I told Zero... I mean Eve... it seems she forgot to tell you."


    "Ah... you mean Eve Addis."


    "Addis?" Alice said in shock.


    "Didn''t you tell her?... She was adopted."


    "What... really?" Alice said in surprise.


    "She was adopted by a couple two months ago... and I heard... that she had been admitted to the hospital."


    "Did Eve go to the hospital?... Was she hurt?... Wait... didn''t she disappear?... What happened to her?" Alice asked worriedly.


    "I heard... that she had fallen into a coma."


    "Coma."


    "Yes."


    "Tell me... where does she live now," Alice said impulsively.


    "Why are you asking?... (Sighs)... She mentioned that she lives in the suburbs of the neighboring city... I''ll get her address... it''s in the desk drawer."


    And quickly, Alice rushed to the desk looking for her address, until she found it.


    "Wait... what are you doing, Alice?" the nanny said angrily.


    "Uh... I found it... sorry... I have to go," Alice said as she put on her shoes.


    "Wait... Alice... the distance to her house is long..."


    "Don''t worry... I''ll manage," Alice said as she walked out the door.


    ******


    Alice walked away from the orphanage, it was an isolated place. She hid behind the trees.


    "Okay... this place is good."


    Alice looked at her hands and said, "I hope I can do it."


    Alice began to press her hands hard, thinking, ''I have to calm down... but I don''t understand... Eve didn''t move to the world of nightmares... but she crossed the threshold... why didn''t her body disappear... wait... her body in the real world... is different from what I saw... I suppose... that Eve''s soul has moved... wait... the Ferryman... he wanted to bring her back to the real world... maybe that''s the reason... did the Ferryman move Eve by mistake?... or did she move by mistake?... uh... I can''t understand.''


    Alice opened her eyes to find decay on her hand.


    "Huh... my power hasn''t disappeared," Alice said happily.


    At that moment, Alice moved with her senses, slowly towards Eve''s house.


    *******


    Bill was sitting on the couch watching the news, while Maria was washing the dishes. They were feeling frustrated, until the news was suddenly interrupted.


    < Breaking News: In the city of ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ¡ñ, a strange creature was seen moving across rooftops, pictures of this creature were taken, it resembles in its way of moving the spider-man, but it is in the form of a human wearing a maid''s uniform, the authorities are trying hard to catch him, some suspect that he is an alien, so we ask all residents of neighboring cities to stay in their homes. >


    "Did you hear that, Maria? It seems we won''t be able to visit Eve tomorrow."


    "That''s a shame," Maria said as she put a cup of coffee in front of Bill.


    "We checked... it seems that Eve''s nightmares... and our son''s... and your brother''s... are not natural at all."


    "Bill... the strange thing is that Eve didn''t disappear... maybe I''ll ask my mother about my brother again... but I''m sure... that our son wasn''t kidnapped."


    "Huh... Maria... we have to accept this fact."


    Suddenly, they heard a knock on the door. Maria got up and went towards the door.


    She opened the door to find a little girl wearing torn maid''s clothes, it was Alice. She raised her head and said, "Are you Mrs. Alice? Eve''s mother."


    Maria felt shocked and scared at that moment, so she screamed loudly saying, "The alien is here..."


    At that moment, Bill spit out the coffee, and rushed to the door, to find Alice trying to calm Maria down.


    At that moment, Bill took the stick to hit Alice.


    "Die, you devil," at that moment, Alice''s tentacles came out to stop Bill.


    Bill felt shocked and scared, so both Bill and Maria stepped back.


    "Uh... don''t worry... I won''t hurt you... (the tentacles disappeared)," Alice turned towards the TV, to find herself in the breaking news.


    "Okay... that makes sense... don''t worry... listen... I won''t hurt anyone... or just... to talk to you... about Eve."

 Chapter Twenty-Six: The Opera House (Part 2)

    The weather was foggy, but Zero had spotted the land, so she woke up the Nomz to row with her.


    The boat docked, and Zero jumped off, turning to the Nomz, saying: "Come on... Aren''t you coming?"


    The Nomz lowered his head, as if apologizing, so Zero approached him, wrapping the cloth she had bandaged him with last time around his neck.


    "I''m sorry if the smell of blood bothers you... but keep it... until I know who you are... we will meet."


    Zero hugged the Nomz, then pushed the boat into the sea as she waved goodbye to her Nomz companions until they disappeared into the fog.


    Zero turned to see a grassy plain in front of her, interspersed with swamps.


    "Okay," Zero raised her stick and said, "Here we go... Show me the way... to Lily."


    Nothing happened, the stick did nothing.


    "Strange... the stick is supposed to do things like that... maybe... oh... Lily must certainly call herself by a title... I don''t know Lily''s title... but I... saw part of her memories... well, ''maybe she mentioned her name... well... I have to focus... what is her title... hmm... a sign... rain... crows... leaning buildings... oh, the lake is ablaze... wait... a vibration sound... that vibration... familiar... a vibration coming from him... that feeling... it affects me... maybe it''s ''regret'' her title is regret."


    Suddenly, a line appeared from the stick itself, it was ethereal in color, Zero followed that line.


    Zero continued to follow that line until she found a lake, Zero looked around, to find a small hut.


    Zero headed towards it, then jumped to grab the handle to open it, it was just a fish storehouse, Zero entered, to start coughing, dust and moths filled the place, and the ragged floor made an annoying creak.


    Zero spotted a rubber boat on the top shelves, so she climbed the shelves to take it, suddenly, she heard the sound of footsteps coming towards her, so she quickly climbed back up the shelf, trying not to make any noise.


    A man entered wearing tattered clothes, wearing a fishing hat, Zero couldn''t see his face, he turned to the other shelves with drawers full of fish bait, then turned to the shelves that Zero had climbed.


    His face was very wrinkled, then he started looking for something, he didn''t find it, so he raised his head, and Zero quickly retreated backwards so he wouldn''t see her, so he noticed the rubber boat, the man was short so he couldn''t take it, so he went out.


    "Maybe he wanted to bring a ladder." Zero threw the rubber boat on the ground making a loud noise, so she jumped to fall on the ground, and quickly, she took the boat and hid behind the door, the deformed man heard the sound so he rushed inside, he didn''t find anyone there, so he returned and had brought the ladder inside.


    He fixed it then climbed it to start searching, so Zero crept out slowly to get out of the hut, so she ran towards the river, pulled the rope hard so the boat was ready, she got in it and started rowing with her stick, until she was away from the land.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Zero continued to row, she couldn''t see because of the fog, suddenly she started hearing the sound of water flowing, it was incredibly strong, the sound was getting closer, closer, closer, so she turned behind her, to find a barge coming towards her.


    At that moment, Zero started rowing away from it, and luckily, the barge had slowed down, and she was able to escape it, suddenly, she saw something else from a distance, so she started rowing, to see a port.


    "The port... what a moment." Zero hurried to row, to reach it, she spotted an iron ladder, Zero jumped and started climbing it, and when she wanted to climb, she noticed many deformed port workers, so she lowered her head so that no one would see her, until she reached that barge, the workers all headed to prepare the crossing, so the deformed tourists started getting off that barge, and others were boarding it.


    The deformed were wearing fine clothes, as if they were from the bourgeoisie, Zero took advantage of this crowd to sneak in quietly, until she got out of it, to find herself in front of a huge city, its sky was full of locomotive smoke, as if it were a city from the Victorian era, but the street lights were the opposite.


    Zero felt admiration, as if it were a city coming from the Industrial Revolution era in Europe.


    Zero wandered around the city and looked around in amazement, everything was gigantic for her, no one of the deformed people noticed her, except those who were sitting on the ground.


    "Strange... no one attacked me... hmm... that''s great... oh... I forgot... oh stick... take me to Regret." That ethereal line appeared, no one noticed that.


    Suddenly, Zero found a piece of Dinken on the ground that was the size of her hand, it was worth five hundred Dinken.


    "How beautiful."


    Zero turned to find an old-fashioned bus, she rushed towards it, one of the deformed was standing in front of the door.


    Zero swallowed her saliva, then took courage and approached him.


    "Sir."


    The deformed turned towards her.


    "Is five hundred Dinken enough for the ride?" Zero said this as she handed him the money.


    The man''s hand started extending towards Zero, Zero felt confused, and sweat ran down her face.


    But the deformed man took the money, and gave her a ticket that was her size.


    "Oh... thank you," Zero said this as she climbed the stairs, Zero entered the bus, then sat on the ground.


    She turned to find a deformed man and he was extending his hand, saying: "Come up."


    At that moment, Zero advanced, and climbed on his hand, to find him helping her climb the chair to sit.


    "Umm... I thank you, sir."


    The man shook his head then turned to the other side, Zero sat down and looked at the monsters smiling.


    ''Maybe... some of the monsters still have a bit of humanity inside them.''


    ******


    The bus stopped in front of a very large building, Zero got off, and amazement was evident on her face.


    Zero stood in line.


    The ticket agent started taking the tickets, "Next... next... next... next... ha..." the man didn''t find anyone, suddenly, he heard a girl''s voice calling him from below: "I''m here."


    The deformed worker bent down, to find Zero holding the ticket, he took the ticket, so Zero entered the hall, it was like a very large opera house. Zero turned and looked at the place in amazement.


    "From here, little one."


    Zero turned to find one of the workers showing her her place, it was in the front row, Zero headed towards it


    and tried to climb, but she couldn''t, to find the person who helped her in the bus extending his hand now to help her, so she climbed on his hand to sit on the chair.


    "Umm... I thank you, sir."

 **Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Dolls**( part 3)

    "Thank you, sir," she said. Suddenly, darkness engulfed the place, and all the lights focused on the stage. The audience eagerly waited for the show to begin.


    The curtain rose to reveal a strange figure, as if it were unreal. It was a uniform shade of gray, its body, clothes, and everything. It said, "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen... Today... you will see the best show ever."


    Suddenly, the man disappeared and a strange girl appeared. She was a small girl, about the same size as Zero. She was wearing somewhat tattered clothes, had ordinary skin, green eyes, and silky black hair.


    The girl moved her hands in a strange way, as if she were manipulating puppets. Suddenly, smoke gathered between her hands, forming dolls of people from the smoke. They sat on chairs made of smoke, holding ethereal, unreal musical instruments.


    The girl stepped forward, and began to move her hands rhythmically. The dolls began to play the instruments.


    ''Wow... this girl is amazing,'' Zero said admiringly.


    Suddenly, other lights illuminated a small platform on which stood another girl. She had pale blond hair, wore somewhat tattered clothes, had fair skin, and eyes of a transparent blue color.


    The bandleader changed the piece, and the other girl began to sing. Her voice was like a dream, captivating everyone in the room.


    ''.... Wow.... Wonderful.... (Smiling).... Her voice is beautiful... I''ve never heard anything like this song before...''


    Zero looked to the right and left to find the audience frozen in place, "Strange..." she finished watching, focusing on the bandleader, then turned directly towards her. Suddenly, the girl looked at Zero in a strange way, staring at her suspiciously.


    ''Huh... what''s wrong with that girl?'' Zero wondered.


    The bandleader turned to the singer and shook her head, and the two girls stopped playing and singing.


    They began another song and music, the singer''s voice was sweet, making Zero sink into her depths, as if her consciousness had been drawn from her body. This presence delighted the audience, as if it were the first time the audience had heard this song.


    The bandleader began to look at the audience intently, finding no one moving, so she began to gradually reduce the piece until silence reigned.


    None of the audience clapped at all, and the musical band disappeared.


    Zero was lost in thought, not moving a muscle. She was as if she were a still statue, and the expression on her face was strange, as if she were hypnotized.


    The bandleader looked to the right and left, then looked at the singer, and pointed her finger towards the wings.


    The singer nodded and tried to get down from the platform towards the bandleader.


    ''Slowly and carefully... be strong,'' the bandleader said to herself.


    Meanwhile, the crystal ball in Zero''s wand glowed brightly, and her eyes regained their luster, as if she had awakened.


    ''Huh... what happened... what happened... did the show stop?'' Zero said to herself, then raised her head to find the singer trying to get down without making any noise.


    ''Is this part of the show..?'' Zero wondered to herself.


    Zero turned towards the deformed man, and was surprised to find a wooden doll on his lap. It was pale, with a head of curly hair, wooden hands with sharp iron nails, and was wearing a torn white dress.


    Zero felt a shiver, she didn''t like the presence of that doll.


    A strange feeling crept into Zero''s heart, so she turned towards the stage, and caught a glimpse of two small people lowering the curtains, ''I''ve had enough... I''m going out.''


    Zero jumped off the chair, making a loud noise, and the bandleader turned towards her.


    "What did you do?" the bandleader said angrily.


    Zero didn''t understand what was going on, and found something strange rushing towards the singer. The doll showed its sharp claws, directed towards the singer.


    "Impossible," the bandleader said in shock.


    The singer raised her head, and found the doll coming towards her, mumbling, "Victim number one hundred," she froze in fear, and fell to the ground.


    ''It''s... over,'' the singer said, and hope had vanished.


    "No," Zero screamed, Zero felt a strange feeling at that moment, she had realized something important, and time suddenly stopped in front of her.


    "Huh... no... not again," Zero said fearfully.


    And her evil twin appeared. "Zero... look... it''s all because of you."


    Zero turned towards her slowly, and cold sweat was on her face.


    "You...?," Zero said with a shiver.


    "You''re the reason... what will happen... do you think humanity is still in the hearts of these monsters?"Stolen novel; please report.


    "What do you mean?... What do you mean?" Zero asked fearfully and puzzled.


    "Zero... haven''t you realized yet?... Haven''t you understood?... Remember what you heard."


    Zero didn''t understand what the strange girl meant, so she shook her head slowly, "I don''t understand... what do you mean?"


    The girl approached her, and muttered to her, at that moment, something moved inside Zero.


    ***


    "Is this... what you mean... by everything?" At that moment, Zero rushed to block the doll''s blow.


    The singer raised her head, and shock was evident on her face.


    "Run... now," Zero said as she resisted the doll.


    The girl got to her feet, and began to run towards the wings.


    The doll turned towards the girl, so she retreated backwards, and rushed towards her with force, passing Zero.


    Suddenly, smoke appeared in a thick form, and the bandleader grabbed the singer''s hand, pulling her towards the wings.


    "I''m counting on you," the bandleader said, and the two girls disappeared from sight.


    The doll couldn''t spot the girls, only finding Zero behind it, pointing her wand. She stabbed the doll with the lower part of it. Zero glimpsed something inside the doll, but it slipped from her grasp.


    The smoke disappeared, revealing Zero and the doll on the stage. The audience was surprised.


    "What''s going on?"


    "What happened to the show?"


    "Where are the girls?"


    "Is the show over?"


    Zero didn''t know what to do, and found the doll coming towards her. Zero parried with her wand.


    The doll tried to hit Zero, but couldn''t. Zero kept hitting it on its extremities, until it finally shattered into pieces. Zero put her hand into the doll''s back, pulling out something shiny, like a crystal.


    Zero turned to the audience, who were cheering loudly for her, except for that person who had helped her, as if he were looking at her with a look of anger and hatred. Zero felt a chill, and bowed so that the curtains would finally be lowered.


    Zero turned to the left and found two children in identical tattered clothes coming down the stairs, one with curly black hair and dark skin, and the other with ordinary skin and brown hair. Neither of them noticed Zero.


    *********


    "Hurry up... we have to catch up with them," said the brown-haired one, heading towards the wings.


    "Hey... wait..."


    ********


    "Huh... where are they going?... Never mind... but... why did the wand draw me to this place... is Regret here...?"


    At that moment, Zero couldn''t find the line.


    "Huh... this is strange... did I take the wrong path (looked towards the wings)... I should follow them now."


    Zero followed the boys, finding them in a room full of tattered boxes. The dust was so thick it was suffocating, but Zero refrained from coughing so as not to reveal herself. They were at a closed door.


    The brown-haired one put his hands on top of each other and the other climbed on top of him, so the curly-haired one grabbed the handle and opened the door.


    The brown-haired one took out a strange-looking device, resembling a smaller wireless communication device.


    "Did you reach the lake?" the boy said, speaking into the device.


    ¡ã We arrived... but Moan is feeling dizzy... hurry up. ¡ã


    "Okay... (closed the line) ..... Lost... we have to hurry."


    "But... shouldn''t we cooperate with that girl, End?"


    "No time for that... Do you want to become dinner for that manager?"


    *****


    Zero was listening to the boys, hidden behind the boxes.


    "Huh... the manager?" Zero wondered.


    *******


    "But she helped us and Moan." Lost said.


    "Didn''t you see how nice the manager was to that girl?... Maybe this is a trick from him... We have to hurry."


    The boys headed towards the forest, it took them a quarter of an hour to see the lake, and the girls on the boat, waiting for them, and they found Moan lying on R¨ºve''s lap, in pain and sweating.


    The boys boarded the boat.


    "Is Moan okay?" Lost asked worriedly.


    "Her condition has worsened... I don''t know what to do."


    "We have to leave now... if we want to save Moan and ourselves."


    "Wait... where is that girl?" R¨ºve asked, looking around.


    "I told End to wait for her... but he..."


    "It''s just a trap..." End said, holding a stick.


    "We have to wait for her," R¨ºve said angrily.


    "Foolish... we have to hurry if you want to save Moan."


    *******


    Zero followed these two until she reached it herself. She held her wand and repeated the word ''Regret'', hoping it would lead her to Lily, but the line didn''t appear.


    ''Huh... the line didn''t appear now either... why?''


    Zero saw the children getting into the boat, and Zero rushed towards them, emerging from the forest.


    "Wait for me... don''t go," Zero said as she ran as fast as she could.


    The children turned towards her, except for the singer who was severely dizzy.


    "Wait... isn''t that the girl?" R¨ºve said.


    "Hurry up, Lost... let''s leave her... it''s just a trick from the manager," End said.


    "No, End... she helped us escape... we have to help her... < Come on... hurry up >," R¨ºve said, calling to Zero.


    *******


    Zero reached the boat.


    "Come on... get in." Lost extended his hand to help her aboard.


    "I hope you haven''t tricked us, my friends ." End said maliciously.


    "End... stop," R¨ºve said, scolding End.


    ''This is your malice,'' Zero said to herself.


    Suddenly, Moan began to hurt more than before,


    "Moan....... please... hang in there," R¨ºve said, trying to calm her down.


    Suddenly, the children heard a strange sound coming from the forest, the children turned towards the source.


    "Looks like we''re late," End said.


    Suddenly, many identical wooden dolls came out of the forest, Zero was shocked.


    "Let''s row quickly... huh... what''s wrong with you?" Zero turned to them, and found them motionless.


    "There''s no hope... it''s over." , End said, staring at her intensely.

 ## Chapter 28: Unveiling the Truth... `Alice with Eve` (Part 4)

    ¡°I feel so strange... Something is driving me crazy... that instinctive feeling... I feel... like I''m dreaming again... I don''t see any nightmares anymore... Is this what it feels like to dream without those nightmares?... What... a wonderful feeling.¡±


    Suddenly, Alice received a blow to her head and woke up startled to find her classmates laughing.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Alice? You¡¯ve been sleeping a lot in class these days... Please avoid staying up late.¡±


    ¡°Uh... yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Alice nodded.


    ¡®In truth... I¡¯m not used to this... since I haven¡¯t been to a regular school in a while... when I was in the orphanage... after my uncle admitted me there due to his chronic illness... I wasn¡¯t used to living there... we weren¡¯t allowed to roam outside... so... we were taught in the orphanage... and the outside world was like a dream... all that... because of child abduction incidents.¡¯


    *****


    ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping a lot lately, Alice,¡± one of Alice¡¯s friends said as they were having lunch in the cafeteria.


    ¡°Try to avoid this habit... Miss Ilya can¡¯t stand this kind of behavior.¡±


    ¡°(Laughing) Okay... I¡¯ll try to avoid staying up late... even though I don¡¯t stay up late... sleeping has become easy, actually... I¡¯m no longer afraid of seeing nightmares... in fact... I don¡¯t see these nightmares anymore.¡¯¡­¡±


    *******


    ¡®At first... I didn¡¯t adjust to living with Eve¡¯s parents... and even in school with my classmates... but now... I feel a sense of belonging... I think... it¡¯s been a whole month... since I came back to this world...¡¯


    ¡®When I entered the orphanage... I felt a radical change in my life... I was seven at the time... I couldn¡¯t talk to anyone... but some of my peers wanted to ease the pain for me... living in the orphanage became easy... I made many friends... we played together... everything became normal for me... until Eve came... she had just moved... she didn¡¯t know her name... her family... the nanny told us that she was found in the forest... and she told us something about a train or something... but what I understood... is that she had suffered a radical change in her life... just like me... so... I wanted to ease her loneliness... I wanted to get closer to her... I wanted her to share her pain with me... so that we could understand each other... until she uttered her first pain... < Alice ... I feel incomplete... as if my soul has been split in half.>... I understood from her words... that she wanted to know the truth about herself... but this is difficult... considering her unknown past... I tried to help her... but... that Ferryman... took me away from her... and prevented me... from getting close to her again... until he kidnapped me.¡¯ Alice thought about this as she headed towards the bus.


    ****


    Alice knocked on the door, and Maria opened it for her.


    ¡°Oh... welcome back, sweetie.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Mom.¡±


    ¡°How was school?¡± Maria asked as she closed the door.


    ¡°It¡¯s good... I guess,¡± Alice said as she took off her shoes.


    ¡°Okay... try to finish your homework quickly... because tomorrow... we¡¯re going to the hospital.¡±


    At that moment, Alice was shocked and jumped up, saying, ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital? Huh... does that mean... we¡¯re going to visit Eve?¡±


    ¡°Yes... of course.¡±


    And at that moment, Alice went to Eve¡¯s room to do her homework.


    *****


    Bill returned from work at ten o¡¯clock in the evening, to find Maria washing the dishes.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Hey... welcome back,¡± Maria said, turning to him.


    ¡°Uh... where¡¯s Alice?¡± Bill looked left and right.


    ¡°She¡¯s in Eve¡¯s room... sleeping... she finished her homework quickly... and now... she¡¯s fast asleep.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing... these days¡¯ children... don¡¯t usually have these qualities.¡±


    ¡°Alice is one of them... it¡¯s just motivation... I told her we¡¯re going to visit Eve tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense... by the way... although she¡¯s been here for a whole month... I still haven¡¯t convinced myself to adopt her... don¡¯t get me wrong, Maria... but... won¡¯t anyone think this is strange... to adopt a child for the second time... and also... I don¡¯t feel comfortable seeing her... she seems like a strange girl to me..."


    ¡°Bill... that¡¯s a bit harsh.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean her behavior... I mean... our first meeting with each other.¡±


    ¡°You mean... when she came to our house for the first time... actually... I admit that that was strange... but the next day... those tentacles didn¡¯t come out... and a report was issued about that incident... I think... we weren¡¯t conscious that day...¡±


    ¡°Despite that, Maria... I feel a strange feeling towards her.¡±


    ¡°I think insomnia is affecting you... I suffered a lot because of what happened recently... take some rest... you¡¯ll feel better... I¡¯m sure.¡±


    ¡°... I think... you¡¯re right, Maria... I¡¯ll go to sleep now,¡± Bill said as he went towards the room.


    *****


    ¡®... In fact... I feel this too,¡¯ Maria thought to herself.


    *****


    Alice woke up from her sleep and looked left and right, she raised her hands and looked at them.


    ¡®Hmm... I can¡¯t bring out the decay anymore.¡¯


    ******


    Alice put on her new clothes, and the three of them left the house heading towards the taxi, to arrive at the hospital.


    *******


    The three entered the reception, Bill went to the receptionist.


    ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Hello Mr. and Mrs. Addis... or... what do we have here... is this your daughter too?¡±


    ¡°This is, in fact,¡± Maria.


    ¡°I¡¯m Alice Addis... nice to meet you, sir.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m also pleased to meet you, Alice... your daughter has good manners... Eve¡¯s room is locked... the key holder will come to open the door for you.¡±


    The receptionist turned around to find the key holder coming.


    ¡°Hey... he¡¯s here... Mike come... Mr. and Mrs. Addis have arrived... open the door for them.¡±


    ******


    ¡°No need to shout... come on.¡±


    ******


    At that time, Alice was looking at this employee.


    ¡®According to what I saw... this is a friend of Eve¡¯s fraudulent doctor... this is good... I think today is the day of payback.¡¯ Alice thought to herself.


    ******


    The key holder opened the door, and Alice entered first. She looked ahead to find a human lying on the bed, it was Eve¡¯s hollow body. She approached him, to find various tubes connected to him.


    Alice brought a chair and sat on it near her friend, she didn¡¯t say a word.


    The worker turned to the couple, saying, ¡°Won¡¯t you come in?¡±


    ¡°Uh... we¡¯ll come in later,¡± Bill.


    ¡°This is what Alice wanted in the end... to see Eve.¡±


    The receptionist turned to Alice and said, ¡°Is she a close relative?¡±


    ¡°You can say that... Is the doctor here?¡± Bill.


    ¡°He¡¯s working in another department today... but he won¡¯t miss seeing you... his office isn¡¯t far... (turned to Alice)... you come with me.¡±


    ¡°Wait... isn¡¯t it okay for her to stay with Eve?¡± Maria.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Alice is a sensible girl... she won¡¯t do anything.¡± Bill.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if someone older stays with her... okay... I¡¯ll call someone to stay with her.¡±


    ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t mind.¡±


    *****


    As soon as the adults left, Alice looked left and right, she saw nothing to worry about.


    ¡®This is my chance.¡¯

 ## Chapter 29: Alice and the Truth (Part 5)

    Alice approached Eve and took her hand.


    "For me... no pulse... but the device... indicates that her heart is beating... strange... but the body... it''s completely different (she leaned closer to see her left eye). Her eye is fine... as I remember... when I was in pain... her eye was very swollen... or to be honest... it was closed... with skin... even if I thought of opening it... she would bring the knife."


    She touched her forehead. "Nothing strange here... and most importantly... the fact that Eve didn''t move with her body... and took another body indicates that her soul has moved... and as for her body... it''s dead... but... she still has a chance to return to it... I think... that this body has not lost its connection with her soul... Oh my analyses (Alice had read all of Eve''s books a few days ago, but she got bored and watched TV)."


    "Thinking about it... Eve told me... when I was in pain... that she didn''t want to go to the real world... her goal was to find Anna... and another girl... who is she?... I think Mr. Mirror asked about her... I remember her real name... Lily... but what''s her nickname?... Come on, remember... remember."


    Suddenly, Dr. Robert entered the room, holding a small toy in his hand.


    Alice was not surprised, but the strange thing that caught her attention was that she also had one.


    ''The person that guy called... wait... this person is familiar... isn''t he...?''


    "Hello, little one... would you like...?"


    "Tell me... are you... are you Eve''s doctor?" Alice interrupted him.


    "Wait... what?"


    "Tell me quickly... are you?"


    "Wait... don''t be rude...'' Wait a moment...''... it seems that Eve has told you about me... obviously... I''m a brilliant doctor... I''ve treated many children who suffered from those nightmares......"


    While Robert continued to chatter and try to deceive Alice, Alice suddenly became furious and shouted, "Shut up, you bastard... you may think I''m just a little girl asking... but I''m serious now... you don''t know much, Mr. Otto... you think you''re the only one who understands anything... but you''re just a miserable man... trying hard to enter the world of nightmares... at the expense of Ethan and ''No one'' and Eve... Do you know how much pain and suffering there is in that world?... that last refuge from you adults who are devoid of feeling for us children... Do you think the world of nightmares is a normal world?... It''s now more like... an entity... watching with those eyes... enjoying seeing us suffer... You didn''t think about the tumor we suffered from... you didn''t think about the harm we are exposed to... you didn''t think that what you''re doing could harm us... (Sobbing and crying)... You do this for your own benefit... to live happily... while... we children... live in misery... now the sound of our moaning is a song there... (She fell on her knees.)... Forgive me, Eve... because I have realized what you felt... when you disappeared... ... I and Lily... (Screaming and crying)," Alice said this and fell on her knees, crying bitterly, as if the pain she saw had been emptied at that moment.


    "Wait... don''t cry... I didn''t mean to... I..."


    ******


    Suddenly, Otto opened the door with Mike, Maria, and Bell behind him, and Maria entered the room heading towards Alice.


    "Alice... what''s wrong with you?... (Turned to Robert).... What did you do to her... to make her cry to this... extent?" Maria said angrily.


    Alice raised her finger towards Robert and said, "Mom... tell them... it''s because of Otto... all this happened to Eve..."


    "Alice... what do you mean... raise your head," Maria.


    Alice raised her head, turning to see the real Otto at the door looking at her in shock, Alice was surprised.


    "Wait... you are Otto... then (turning to Robert) you''re not Otto..."


    "Huh... I tried to tell you," Robert.


    "You liar (a blow to the head and a scream)... why did you hit me, Mom?"


    "Apologize to everyone, Alice..." Maria said angrily.


    "Yes... sorry."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    *****


    Alice was sitting on the chair, and in front of her were her father, the two doctors, and the receptionist.


    "Explain this, Alice... what happened to you?" Maria.


    "Explain it quickly."


    Robert looked at Otto and thought, "Your time is up, my friend."


    *****


    "I''m sorry... for the tenth time... I didn''t mean to cause trouble... I didn''t intend to do this... I cried for no reason... but I cried because of something else."


    "What is it, Alice?" Otto.


    Alice raised her head and looked at Otto.


    ''So... this is Alice... the girl who ignited Eve''s desire to leave... Eve mentioned that Alice had disappeared under mysterious circumstances... and Eve suspected that the nightmares... were the reason... if this is true... then how did she return to the real world... come on... speak quickly... so I can know the way... even if it''s at the expense of my reputation,'' Otto thought to himself.


    "First of all... I want to explain something... (Sighing and exhaling) Mom... I think... you have a brother who disappeared... right."


    "Wait... how-... yes... ''Who told her this... was it Bell?''" Maria said strangely.


    "I think... he may have told you about some of the details he saw... before he disappeared."


    "Yes."


    "Describe to me... the creature he saw a lot."


    At that moment, Otto realized what Alice was aiming for, so he wanted to stop her, but Maria and Bell said, "Don''t try..."


    "I won''t lie... because I wasn''t listening to him when he told his stories... but... he loved to tell about a creature of his imagination... he had sagging skin... a classic hat... a black coat... he loves to repeat that phrase {Go towards the threshold... to dream again... and get rid of the old sleep}."


    ''Wait... this phrase...'' Otto said worriedly.


    "Okay... Mr. Mike... I want you to bring me a children''s drawing book... just in case."


    Mike felt worried, so he turned to Otto and said, "It''s okay." Otto.


    So he went to one of the cabinets and gave it to Alice, and she started flipping through the pages slowly, until she stopped, then she turned to Maria and showed her the picture, saying, "Tell me... does he look like it?"


    Everyone looked at that creature, everyone was shocked at that moment, Bill didn''t understand.


    "Wait a minute... Maria... what do you mean?... huh," Bill was surprised to see Maria''s face, sweat started to appear on her face, and the features of shock were evident on her face, she felt a very high heat at that moment, as if something inside her had caught fire.


    "Exactly... I expected this... I think you understand what I mean."


    "Wait, Alice... I don''t understand... what do you mean...?" Bill said in confusion.


    "Don''t rush, Dad... this creature you see... is very common among children... so... it was said that there is a kind of dream that makes a person see the same thing that another person sees... I think it''s called shared dreams... or something like that... and yet... it''s just a theory... to explain this phenomenon... but... something strange has been observed in some countries recently... you and your friend may have seen this creature together... then you dreamed about it together... but... this doesn''t mean that it''s a shared dream... and you might think so... if you also dreamed about your friend there... let''s say that I haven''t seen this creature before... and my friend hasn''t seen it before... and yet... we dreamed of each other that we see this creature at the same time..."


    "Wait... what do these dreams have to do with it?" Bill.


    "Imagine... that all the children in the world see this monster together... and that all the children follow him."


    At that moment, everyone understood what Alice said, except for Bill who said, "It''s just a theory, little girl... it''s just imagination."


    "It''s not like that... this creature... its job is similar to a gatekeeper... my mother mentioned that he loves the phrase {Go towards the threshold}... and it can be said... that he has another job... which is... ... taking those who suffer... from those nightmares."


    At that moment, Maria was shocked, and even her pupils contracted.


    "Wait... do you mean by your words?... Are you kidding me, Alice?... Do you really believe this nonsense?... (Bell turned to the doctors then Maria)... Wait... do you really believe this (shocked, turning to Alice)... Do you mean...? huh".


    "Believe it or not, it''s hard to believe what I''m saying, but... this is the truth... that creature... is the Ferryman himself... from ancient Greek mythology... and his mission... is to transport children suffering from those nightmares... or... those who suffer from tumors and severe headaches to another place... called... the world of nightmares... this is what happened to your son... and to Maria''s brother when he was ten."


    At that moment, Bill stood up and said angrily, "What nonsense... how can I believe this?... Where do you get these nonsense from...?" At that moment, Bill was shocked , he couldn''t finish his sentence, Alice had brought out those tentacles again with great difficulty.


    "If you don''t believe what I said now... ask my uncle if you visit him... I lied to my nanny when I told her that I had gone to my uncle''s house... I was also kidnapped... but I came back... thanks to Eve... who left her body... to enter that world..."


    At that moment, everyone was shocked, but Otto remained calm, he smiled strangely, as if this was not his only concern.


    ''It seems that luck is on my side this time... I have found... the next target.'' Otto thought to himself.

 ## Chapter 30: The Only Choice (Part 6)

    "Do you believe me?... This is the truth," Alice said.


    "Alice... what kind of a silly idea is that?... This is completely illogical..." Bell said angrily and confused.


    "Wait, Bell... tell us, Alice... where did this idea come from?" Maria turned to Alice.


    "I told you... this is exactly what happened to me..." Suddenly, Alice felt a pat on her head, so she raised her head to find Otto smiling.


    "It seems your daughter... has judged a book by its cover... that''s what Eve told me... but the reason may have been something else..." Otto said as if nothing had happened.


    "Huh... what do you mean?" Alice asked in surprise.


    "Alice... have you ever had a strange nightmare?"


    "Don''t change the subject... I know everything."


    "If what you''re saying is true... then why are the nightmares gone?"


    At that moment, Alice realized a mistake, she didn''t know that the nightmares had disappeared.


    ''What does this impostor mean?'' Alice thought in shock.


    Otto raised his head towards Bell and Maria, and said, "I''m sorry for the misunderstanding, Mr. and Mrs. Addis... Sometimes... we transfer patients to other hospitals... due to the worsening of the patient''s condition... We have found a brain tumor that appears in children frequently these days... and we have faced difficulty in treating this tumor, although treating brain tumors is impossible, and in return, we failed to treat some cases... and this led to some patients falling into a coma, unfortunately... It can be said... that what Alice is saying now is the same as what Eve said... And for your information, I noticed that Alice has the same previous symptoms... (turning to Alice)... Tell me... did you suffer from these nightmares...?"


    Alice felt confused by what Otto said, so she looked down and said, "Yes... I... I suffered from them..."


    "And now... are you suffering from them... now?"


    "In fact... ''I was wrong''... no...'' I was hasty''..." Alice said nervously.


    Doctor Otto approached Bell and said, "I think Alice is still suffering from those nightmares... If you notice anything strange in her behavior... don''t hesitate to bring her here... but... I can''t guarantee that her treatment will be easy... so it may take some time."


    "Oh... okay... that makes sense in the end... (got up from his seat towards Alice)... Currently... Alice is fine... maybe what she said a while ago is crazy... but as you know... this is children''s imagination."


    "Oh... you''re right, Bell... despite what she said, but she''s young... her thinking is like other children... you understand what I mean, doctor." Maria said with worry and false confidence at the same time.


    "Okay... if you need anything... I''m happy to help you."


    ''Liar...'' Alice said with annoyance.


    *****


    Bell, Maria, and Alice left the hospital, heading to a taxi, but Alice felt the urge to go to the bathroom.


    "Mom... Dad... I have to go to the bathroom," Alice said shyly.


    "Don''t be late," Maria said worriedly.


    ******


    Alice came out of the bathroom and washed her hands, she looked right and left, and took the right corridor, passing by some rooms to complete her way, suddenly someone pulled her into one of those rooms, the place was empty of people, the person put his hand on Alice''s mouth so she wouldn''t scream.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Alice couldn''t escape, he was holding her tightly.


    ''Damn... what''s going on... I can''t escape... what should I do?'' Alice thought to herself as she tried to escape, and he whispered in her ear, ''You''d better retract what you said, girl.''


    ''Huh... this voice... that man... the receptionist,'' Alice thought anxiously.


    ''First... listen to me carefully... don''t mention what''s happening to you now... second... find any way to enter the hospital as a patient... third... tell your parents... that you agree to be one of Dr. Otto''s patients... fourth... do what he tells you... and don''t resist... finally... if you violate anything I told you... say goodbye to your friend... believe that no one can do this... except you and Otto.''


    At that moment, the man let go of the girl, and sweat began to appear on her face, so she ran to open the door and went out quickly, until she stopped to catch her breath.


    "Phew... that was scary... what should I do now?" Alice said this and her heart was racing with fear.


    Then she turned to find Maria behind her.


    "You''re late, Alice... where have you been all this time?"


    "Uh... I got lost... I couldn''t find the exit... I''m sorry," Alice said nervously.


    Suddenly, Maria bent towards Alice and said to her, "Alice... did you mean all that talk?"


    "Huh... what? ''This is a problem...''..." nervousness.


    "I don''t know if Eve told you anything about me... or about Otto... but... how do you know about the visions my brother saw... answer me."


    Alice was nervous at that moment, she couldn''t answer this question.


    ''What should I do... how will I answer... this is not the time to freeze, Alice... think... if I believe... then they will-... and if I lie... they will find out everything... just if I call my uncle... it will end... and I won''t be able to help Eve... okay.''


    "I''m not sure... well... I think... those nightmares are similar among children... and I think... the reason is what Otto said... I was wrong... in the end, Mom."


    "You''re on Otto''s side now... right?"


    "Huh... no..." Alice said nervously and surprised.


    "It''s okay... Alice... come on," Maria said this and took Alice''s hand.


    At that time, Robert was watching what had just happened, so he raised his phone to his ear and said, "Everything went well... the girl accepted our offer... it''s your turn, Otto."


    ¡ãOkay... leave it to me... don''t worry.¡ã Otto from the phone.


    ******


    Maria sat on the sofa, and in her hand was her smartphone, she pressed the call application to call Alice''s uncle.


    "I hope he answers his phone."


    ¡ã(Click)... Hello... who is this?¡ã.


    "Hello Mr. Niels... how are you these days?"


    ¡ãOh... Mrs. Maria... isn''t it?... I''m fine these days... how are you... tell me about Alice... is she okay?..."¡ã


    "She''s fine... Mr. Niels... or... I wanted to ask you, sir."


    ¡ãDon''t hesitate... ask me anything you want... don''t hesitate.¡ã


    "Hmm... okay... Alice... three months ago... was she with you at that time ''answer no... answer... no answer no''...".


    ¡ãYes...¡ã


    At that moment, Maria was shocked and said, "Are you sure?"


    ¡ãAt that time... I was sick... and my illness increased, which prompted her to visit me all summer... why?... Is there something wrong, Mrs. Addis?... Mrs. Addis¡ã


    "Oh... oh... I was distracted a little... thank you... see you later."


    ¡ãSee you later, Miss Addis-¡ã.


    Maria closed the line, and confusion had filled her heart.


    ''Strange... she was serious when she said that... what she said was logical... did she lie to us at that time... she looked nervous... no... was that doctor right in what he said?... Was I wrong?''


    "I don''t understand anything anymore." Maria said in frustration.


    ******


    In the middle of the night, Alice woke up, to look around her, with looks that suggested coercion.


    "''In the end... I have no choice...'' (A loud scream from Alice)..."


    At that moment, Bell and Maria woke up, and quickly headed towards Alice, to find her screaming and tears streaming down her face.


    Maria rushed towards her, and asked her with all fear and panic, "Alice... what''s wrong with you... what''s wrong with you?"


    "I don''t want...(sobbing)...... I don''t want... I don''t want to sleep... ''... I''m aware of what I''m doing... forgive me... I can''t... I''m sorry... this matter... is not in my hands... I... I apologize...''..."


    Alice realized at that moment that there was no other choice but to submit to Otto''s orders.

 Chapter 31: The Puppet Master

    <div>


    At that moment, my heart began to pound like drums inside me. The beat of my heart was like the sound of a danger alarm.


    "There''s no hope... it''s all over," End said, cold sweat dripping down his face.


    ******


    Zero froze in place. The children''s eyes were filled with despair. They had completely lost hope of survival. Her twin whispered, ''Don''t resist... come on... why are you standing there... come on... get up... show them what you''ve got...'' Zero began to resist these whispers, and when she turned around, she saw the dolls rushing towards them like meteors about to fall on them.


    Zero didn''t realize what had happened until she found herself turning half of them into shattered pieces with superhuman speed. She got to her knees and turned to the children, saying, "It''s not over yet... trust me."


    At that moment, a strange smoke spread throughout the area.


    "Run away quickly," R¨ºve said, emitting the smoke from her hands, her face filled with worry and fear.


    The dolls began attacking Zero, but she easily fought them off, smashing one after the other with her wand. Some of R¨ºve''s dolls intervened to help her, until the smoke cleared, and Zero saw a person in front of her. He began to raise his hand to move something, and she saw something dangling from his hands. When the smoke cleared completely, she found the man who had been with her on the bus and at the show, with strange threads dangling from his fingertips.


    "Huh... that man," Zero said in surprise.


    "Run, girl," R¨ºve screamed.


    Zero turned to the children and found them frozen in fear.


    ''What''s wrong with them... are they that scared?'' Zero said to herself, turning towards them. When she tried to get up, she suddenly stopped in place without moving. Zero wondered what was happening, so she turned to the creature and he moved his fingers. Zero suddenly stopped without feeling anything.


    ''Wait... what''s happening... why... I can''t... control my body,'' Zero said strangely, and her limbs moved involuntarily.


    She turned to the children and said, "You... why?... What''s going on?... Tell me."


    She turned to the creature and found him moving his fingers.


    "Wait... is it him?" Zero realized, looking down to find threads tied to her limbs.


    "Is he controlling me?"


    The creature began to direct Zero towards the children, but Zero began to resist strongly, but she couldn''t. She began to walk towards the children, and expressions of worry and fear appeared on the children''s faces.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    *****


    "Don''t get any closer...(turning to R¨ºve)... didn''t she wake up? She''s still unconscious." End said.


    "No... she hasn''t woken up yet." R¨ºve said worriedly.


    "What do we do now?" Lost asked.


    End turned to Zero and said, "Resist..."


    "I can''t...'' what do I do... what do I do... what do I do... what do I do... he''s controlling me... I can''t stop... he''s going to use me... he''s going to force me to kill them... what should I do... <It seems you finally listened to me>...''."


    Zero heard this whisper, and turned to her right to find the evil twin.


    < I knew you would do it. >


    "You... again..."


    "Stay away from me... it''s enough that one person controls me..."


    < (Laughing) ... Zero... you''re right... but... don''t you want to help?... Don''t forget who helped you... to escape from those monsters... think carefully... >, the twin walked in front of her with a disturbing smile.


    "I won''t listen to you this time... you''re like those monsters... you want to control me..."


    < Hmmm... you''re right... you can say that (heading towards the threads) but I''m different from them... Zero... what I''m going to do is not to help... but to convince you... that I''m stronger... than those monsters... that I''m not like them at all.>.


    At that moment, the twin cut those threads. Zero couldn''t believe what she saw, and she stopped, barely holding her wand to fight.


    The children were surprised by what had happened, as they thought Zero had cut the threads.


    "What just happened?" Zero asked in confusion.


    "Come on... hurry up and get on."


    "Don''t stop." At that moment, Zero rushed towards the boat and climbed aboard.


    ********


    "Put... the earplugs in," Moan suddenly whispered to R¨ºve.


    "Huh... guys... put the earplugs in," R¨ºve said. Everyone covered their ears except Zero.


    "Wait... why?" Zero asked in confusion.


    "You''ll understand everything," End said.


    Zero covered her ears, then turned to find the monster coming towards them. At that moment, she began to sing. Zero didn''t understand what was happening until the monster''s steps began to slow down.


    "Huh-" Zero was about to speak, but End put his hand over her mouth to stop her from talking.


    ''I understand... so that''s how it is,'' Zero thought to herself. Suddenly, Moan fell from exhaustion, so they pushed the monster with all their strength.


    At that moment, Zero grabbed her necklace, and it glowed, weakening the monster.


    "Row," Zero said forcefully, so the children began to row hard to get as far away from the monster as possible.


    "We have to row harder," Lost said.


    "We can''t row any harder than this," R¨ºve said.


    "At least... we have to get away from the monster... and from this place," Zero said as she helped Moan.


    Zero turned around to find another group of dolls swimming towards them.


    "Damn it.... come on... let''s hurry."


    Zero began to hit all the dolls that came near the boat.


    "Girl... try to keep them away from Moan," R¨ºve said.


    At that moment, one of the dolls jumped and landed on the boat, rushing towards Zero. She knocked Alice onto the boat, trying to put her hand in the pocket of her skirt, so Zero punched her, shattering her wooden head into pieces.


    "She didn''t rush towards the singer... but..." Zero put her hand in her pocket, and took out the glass ball.


    ''.. Huh... I understand,'' at that moment, Zero brought the ball close to her wand, and suddenly, the ball entered the glow of the glass crystal, emitting an ethereal green light. Zero understood what was happening, and turned to find a large group of dolls jumping towards her.


    "We''re doomed," Lost said.


    "What are we going to do... End?" R¨ºve asked.


    ".. I... I don''t know," End said.


    "What?" R¨ºve said in surprise.


    "Don''t worry... just... put on those earplugs."


    The children were surprised by what Zero said.


    "What do you mean?" R¨ºve asked.


    "Trust me... do it," Zero said, closing her eyes and repeating, "Moan... Moan... I understand."


    At that moment, Zero hit the bottom of the boat with the lower part of the wand, making a loud sound like a bell, shattering all the dolls, and all the broken pieces fell into the sea.

 ## Chapter 32: Seeking Refuge (Part 1)

    "Pain and weakness... fear and sadness... confusion and loss... Why do I feel this way? I feel a strange feeling inside me... as if something... wants to drag me into nothingness... behind those eyes... inside the room... my little secret lies... I want to stay... alone... so that... regret disappears from my heart... Why do I always find myself... in emptiness..."


    These words echo in my mind constantly, why?


    *****


    Zero woke up suddenly to find End and Lost trying to wake her up. As for Moan, she was unconscious and R¨ºve was beside her.


    "Huh... what happened?... (Moment of realization)... Is everything alright?" Zero asked, looking around.


    "Don''t worry... we''re far from the opera house," Lost said.


    Zero felt relieved and got up, heading towards Moan. She asked R¨ºve, "Is she okay?"


    "I don''t know... this has never happened to her before."


    "Did it start after she left the opera house?"


    "No... it happened when she ran away from that doll."


    "I understand." Zero held the jewel in her wand. Zero didn''t pay attention to the black dot inside it, and took out the ball she had taken from that doll.


    "Ah... this ball..." the children didn''t understand what Zero meant, and End was worried, so he grabbed her hand.


    "Don''t... do anything to it," End said worriedly and warned.


    At that moment, Zero smiled strangely and said, "Why are you so worried... I have no use for killing you at all."


    End''s worry increased more than before, and confusion filled the hearts of the others, until Zero felt a headache, and she realized what she had said. She put her hand on her head and said, "Sorry... I didn''t mean what I said."


    "It''s okay... we understand you," R¨ºve said in surprise and worry.


    "Okay... (turning to End)... Can you let go of my hand... this is bothering me," so End let go of her, and caution appeared on his face.


    Zero grabbed the ball, then grabbed Moan''s head, and put the ball in Moan''s mouth. The children were shocked, and Moan even swallowed it.


    "Ah... isn''t what you did dangerous?" Lost asked worriedly.


    Zero stepped back and said, "Don''t worry... just wait a little."


    R¨ºve looked at Moan, and worry appeared on her face.


    Zero turned to her and said, "Nothing happened."


    Suddenly, Moan woke up. The children couldn''t understand what had happened, so she turned to them and yawned, saying, "I fell asleep during the show... huh... how did we get to this boat?"


    At that moment, happiness filled the hearts of both Lost and R¨ºve.


    "She woke up," Lost said.


    "Tell me from..."


    "You''re fine," R¨ºve hugged Moan.


    "''Ah... I did it (turning to Zero)... I did it,'' End said to himself.


    ******


    "Huh... did all of this happen while I was unconscious... I''m so unlucky," Moan said sadly.


    "I wish I was unconscious like you... I almost died of fear," Lost said jokingly.


    "The important thing is... (turning to Zero)... we wouldn''t have escaped without you," R¨ºve said happily.


    " ... I didn''t do much... and I should thank you for trusting me," Zero said.


    "Don''t be humble, girl... you were amazing when you were smashing those dolls with your wand... especially that glowing necklace... you looked like a hero," Lost said enthusiastically.


    "Ahem... you forgot about me and Moan... if we hadn''t put on that show... we would all be dead," R¨ºve said, and she and Moan looked at him angrily.


    "I know... but she destroyed all the dolls of the opera house manager... and that''s much better... plus... you two froze with fear when you rushed towards the dolls like that." Lost said provocatively.


    "What do you think, R¨ºve... it''s our turn to smash something," Moan said with a devilish smile.


    "You''re right... and I think I found someone to smash his head," R¨ºve said with a devilish smile.


    ******


    At the same time, Zero was saying to herself, ''This... is strange... if I didn''t do all this... but (she raised her head, suddenly seeing the evil twin disappearing, waving to her with a disgusting laugh)... damn it... I let him control me again... at this rate... he will control me... before I find Regret... wait... I forgot about that... it doesn''t matter... when we reach land... I will go to Regret''s place... first of all (Zero raised the wand and repeated the word ''Regret'' in her mind, and the ethereal line appeared in the same direction they were heading)... this is strange... if the direction hasn''t changed since we got on the boat... then the line has changed direction... it doesn''t matter... the important thing is to find Lily... but... I still don''t know something... why did that devil mention that strange name in the opera house... it sounded familiar to me... what was it... it was that name... I think... ah... the audio recording... I remember... Oto played an audio recording for me and no one else... I think he played it for me while I was asleep... he mentioned... several names... and he is one of them... which one did that devil mean... Noone... Ethan... Jerter... the long-haired one... what is it... ah... I remembered...'' Zero turned to the children to find them arguing fiercely around her.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Please... stop this," Zero said.


    ******


    "First of all... my name is R¨ºve..."


    "And I''m Moan..."


    "Call me Lost... and this jerk is called End," R¨ºve said.


    "You can stop calling me a jerk," End said annoyed.


    "Ah... my name is Zero... nice to meet you... thank you for letting me get on this boat with you... and I''m sorry for making a mess during the show... sorry..."


    "No need to thank us... and don''t worry... we managed to escape from that prison," Lost said.


    "We were so tired of doing those tasks... I''m really glad we escaped," Moan said.


    "And on top of that... we can hide from these monsters in the shelter," R¨ºve said.


    "Shelter?" Zero asked in confusion.


    "Huh... we thought you were heading to the shelter too," Lost said.


    "The shelter is a place isolated from the monsters... our friends told us about this place... and one of our runaway friends sent them a map of this place," Moan said.


    "But most of us couldn''t escape... and they were killed on stage," R¨ºve said.


    "Thinking about it is scary," Moan said fearfully, and R¨ºve patted her on the shoulder.


    "I almost died at the hands of that doll," Lost said.


    "Stop freaking her out, you idiot," R¨ºve said angrily.


    "Stop bothering me," Lost said.


    ********


    "Huh... the fight started again." End said.


    "Your friends are very lively." Zero chuckled.


    "We were told that the opera house isn''t the only one that practices this kind of torture." End.


    "Huh... ''... they mean...'' ... what exactly do you mean?" Zero.


    "(Sighing) ... I mean killing children during the performance... it seems you haven''t visited all the areas."


    "Hmm... areas like this -" At that moment, Zero stopped talking: ''I understood what he was referring to.''


    ******


    "Stop fighting... and let''s row to the right." End


    *******


    Darkness fell after a while, everyone fell asleep, but Zero stayed awake, looking at the stars, and the sea was like a vast, unknown desert.


    ''... Huh... was it worth calling myself a fog... And yet... I don''t want the same thing to happen that happened in the world of mirrors... Maybe hiding the truth of my name... is the best option to avoid the Ferryman... This world is strange in my eyes.. If it weren''t for that devil... I would have been ignorant of many things... like controlling the necklace... and fighting with a stick... as well as how to use it.. and that that ball contained Moan''s spirit... in addition... to the way out... of this world... Strange... the path of our destination is the same as the path of my destination... Is this really my path... I feel like something is wrong... This destination is incorrect... Can the stick malfunction... No... this is impossible... according to my knowledge of magic types... these are magical tools that don''t malfunction (I read all fantasy books and novels about magic, just as a hobby)... or maybe it malfunctions... if the one who casts it makes a mistake... I will review the matter from the beginning... When locating someone with this tool... first, I think about the person... second, I mention that person''s title... third, I see that line in front of me... Well, it''s time to apply... (Zero closed her eyes) I must think... of Lily... Okay... wait... Should I think about her appearance... Wait... how was it?... Okay... it''s hard to remember... Wait... I... I remember her shape... It was... yes... it was like this... Lily''s shape... And now... the Regret... the Regret... and now... I should see the line... I hope the direction changes.''


    Zero opened her eyes slowly, and her heart was pounding, until she found the line as it was.


    "Oh... nothing happened." Zero disappointed.


    "What didn''t happen?", at that moment, Zero flew from her place in terror.


    "Oh... End." Zero.


    "Haven''t you slept yet?" End wonderingly.


    "I have no desire to sleep." Zero.


    "It seems you haven''t gotten used to sleeping here."


    "Do you mean sleeping on the boat?"


    "No... I don''t mean that... You know what I mean." End.


    "Hey... I didn''t understand what you mean?"


    "You know that I know what you''re hiding."


    "''Hey... he wants to kill me with his curiosity''... Stop talking to me like that... I know you don''t trust me... It doesn''t matter... What matters to me is that your friends have agreed to ride the boat... In addition... you took my knife... Would you like to take something else?" Zero annoyed.


    "Huh... There is no hope of talking to you calmly... It''s okay... I''ll listen to you... maybe I''ll answer you." End understandingly.


    "Ooh..."


    "Anyway... it seems you know the truth about this world." End.


    "What do you mean by the world?"


    "I know you know what I''m saying.... Answer."


    "I didn''t understand what you mean... Explain it to me." Zero indifferently


    "Please be serious... I know you''re trying to hide something... This might help us escape."


    "I don''t know anything... I''m just a girl wandering trying to escape only from those deformed monsters."


    "If this is your goal.... then why do you deny all those things about us."


    "Stop pressuring me, End.... At least you''re just a girl with her friends trying to escape from somewhere.... While I''m trying to -" At that moment, Zero''s mouth completely froze, as if she had fallen into End''s trap gradually.


    "Hmm... why did you stop?... Answer." End.


    "Uh... I talked too much... I''m going to sleep now." Zero sweating.


    "Finish your words first."


    "I want to sleep... I haven''t slept in a long time."


    Zero lay down on her side.


    ''Huh... what a cunning child... her way of speaking was strange and illogical... She has a personality that is difficult to talk to... In my opinion... I think she acts according to the situation only... And that her personality is this way... It''s okay if she''s not aggressive or anything like that... But I''m worried if she''s a puppet for that manager... And yet... I have to watch her closely... even if it takes staying up all the way...'' End said this to himself.


    Zero felt confused by what she had told End, as if she had improvised in every word she said, but what occupied her mind more was finding Lily.


    ''I wonder if?... I will find Lily in that hiding place... I feel scared... to think about this... Lily... I''m the reason you entered this world... and I will be the reason for your exit... Just wait... oh Regret.''

 Chapter 33: Zero and End ( part 2)

    The boat continued to sail in the sea, and the children were exhausted from too much rowing, until their strength collapsed.


    "R¨ºve... didn''t you think... of making dolls... to row instead of us?" Lost asked with extreme exhaustion.


    "Yes... do it now." Moan said with difficulty.


    "I told you... I can''t control the smoke unless it exists... I completely forgot to bring a lighter." R¨ºve said angrily and tiredly.


    "Maybe I can help... does anyone have something flammable?" Zero asked.


    "Zero... is it okay if it''s a rope?" Lost asked.


    "It has to be something easy to burn... the weather today is partly cloudy... Do you have a rope?"


    "You can say that." At that moment, Lost raised his hand, Zero didn''t understand the purpose of this, so she looked at him carefully, wait? It seems like he''s going to take out a rope, no, that''s illogical, wait, something is moving, suddenly Zero was surprised, for the ropes had literally come out of his hand, and Lost said, "The flammable one... I don''t have experience with types of ropes."


    Zero stepped forward, examining the ropes, ''These ropes... are real... they are not an illusion... It seems he has power too... Wait... this means... one thing?''


    "Oh... Zero."


    "Oh... sorry... I was distracted a little... This is the most suitable."


    ******


    "From all the rowing... I started to feel hungry." Lost.


    "You''re right..." Moan said intermittently.


    "Didn''t you get some food?" Zero asked this, and at that moment, Moan and R¨ºve realized that they had forgotten the food in the warehouse.


    "Fools... how could you forget the most important thing we agreed on?" Lost angrily.


    "Don''t blame us, Lost." R¨ºve.


    "My training was difficult... You don''t know the effort I made to put the audience to sleep... so we forgot the food." Moan.


    "Then you and End didn''t do anything to help us." R¨ºve.


    "Remember that the two of us were the ones who planned the escape operation... Preparing the stage was exhausting." Lost.


    "End was the one who planned... you just lowered the curtain with your ropes and nothing else." R¨ºve provokes Lost.


    ****


    "End... do they fight this way every day?" Zero wonderingly.


    "Yes... it''s one of their daily habits." End.


    *****


    "Stop fighting... you''ll find food in the shelter as soon as we arrive." End.


    "That won''t work." Zero said standing on her feet.


    "It''s hard to complete the journey and they are hungry... It''s just a matter of losing energy... Rowing is difficult if the rower is tired.... I bet..."


    "... that R¨ºve will get tired of controlling the smoke... I understand what you mean..."


    At that moment, worry seized Zero''s heart.


    ''Why is she so confused?...'' End with a look that made Zero confused.


    Zero calmed herself, "End... give me my knife," Zero said as she extended her hand.


    "Don''t even think about it."


    "Huh... don''t argue with me."


    "I told you... the knife will stay with me until we reach..."


    "..... Okay... I would... I hoped to just help you... but you will be able to solve this matter soon..."


    "Huh... what do you mean."


    "Easy... we have no food or water... and we are often hungry... In my opinion... if one of us dies of hunger... then his body will be dinner for us" Zero said this in a disgusting way, her icy gaze sowed anxiety in End''s heart, until a cold sweat began to appear, this was not expected from Zero.


    At that moment, Zero felt pain and a headache in her head.


    "Sorry... I don''t know what happened now... I think I didn''t sleep well... would you give me my knife?"


    End handed the knife to Zero and his hand was trembling involuntarily. Zero took it and said, "Do you like the meat raw or grilled?"


    At that moment, the children stopped arguing.


    "Do you have food, Zero?" Lost.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Or meat?" Moan.


    "You can say... that I''m about to get it." At that moment, Zero jumped from the boat to dive into the sea.


    The children were surprised by her reckless act, so they rushed to her, and looked at the place where she dived.


    "The water is very cold." R¨ºve worriedly.


    "Lost... can you make a float?" Moan.


    "Are you kidding me?"


    "What a crazy woman... ''I wouldn''t expect her to do this...''...." End.


    "Don''t worry... she''ll be fine." Lost.


    Suddenly, Zero popped her head out, and she was carrying four fish at once.


    "Sorry... I couldn''t catch more than four fish."


    ******


    Lost pulled Zero with his ropes, until she climbed aboard the boat.


    "What is this reckless behavior, Zero?" R¨ºve as she hit Zero on her head.


    "You''ll catch a cold like this." Moan.


    "Don''t worry about me... I haven''t felt any change at all (sneeze)." Zero as if nothing had happened.


    "Even if you entered the sea and it was cold... it doesn''t matter at all.... Remember..."


    "Huh..." everyone was puzzled.


    "Zero is unbeatable in swimming... She... is not like you."


    "Huh... are you repeating the same thing you said yesterday?" R¨ºve


    "You need to be taught a lesson." Moan.


    "What are you talking about?" Zero wonderingly.


    "Zero... please... tell him that we also did a good job." Moan.


    "Yes... he''s just making fun of us because you destroyed all those dolls." R¨ºve.


    "Now you''re provoking her." Lost.


    "We''re not doing that." Moan and R¨ºve together angrily.


    "Hehe... ''they act like children''......."


    "Come on... tell him..." R¨ºve.


    "... Huh... honestly... I... don''t remember breaking any dolls or anything like that... ''except for the doll in the theater..''.."


    At that moment, Lost, R¨ºve, and Moan were shocked, but this matter had caught the attention of End, who was still suspicious of Zero.


    ******


    Zero burned Lost''s ropes with the jewel in her staff and tried her best to cook the fish.


    "Huh... it caught fire." R¨ºve said.


    "I''m really surprised." Lost.


    "How did you manage to do this?" Moan.


    "I learned this while reading books about survival in the forest."


    "That''s expected of our savior." Lost boasted.


    ''.. (Sigh) ... I can''t believe it... I don''t remember much... I don''t remember breaking all the puppets of the puppet master director... All I remember... is my twin... who is trying to control me... I don''t know exactly... it''s just my imagination... And maybe I started to forget all my memories... It''s okay... what matters to me... is finding Lily.... I won''t forget everything... as long as I remember it over and over?''


    "Zero... the fish will burn and your hand." Lost said with fear and worry.


    *****


    The second night, we haven''t reached the land yet, it seems we will take a long time to reach the shelter, this is bad.


    Zero was lying down looking at her burnt hand.


    ''I''m not in my right mind... huh... my head hurts... (she raised her head holding her staff and closed her eyes)... show me the way... towards Regret..... (she opened her eyes slowly, to see the line in the same direction)... I don''t understand... I''m following the wrong path... or maybe I''m just imagining... if I think about it... I think this path won''t lead me to Regret... Lily... huh... I''ll try something else... Okay... what if I try searching... for R¨ºve... I''ll know if it''s broken or not... come on... (Zero closed her eyes, focusing on the surroundings, and she repeated the word R¨ºve over and over, sweat began to drip, fear had gripped her)... I hope the direction changes... (Zero began to open her eyes slowly, and worry appeared on her face, to find the line)... It''s still in the same direction... impossible... Is the staff broken... it can''t be... If the staff won''t lead me to Lily... then where exactly does it lead me? Could it be... the line points exactly to our destination... towards the shelter... Does the staff want to guide me to the shelter... or?... Wait... I remember... the line changed completely after I fought that doll in the theater... That doll didn''t harm my staff... so how?... (gasp)... ''Do you want... to happen to it... what happened to him.''... that damned devil tampered with my staff... Wait... but she... wait a moment... could it be that what the staff is pointing to... is.... huh''.


    Zero saw something shining next to End, it was the white moonlight hitting her eye.


    ''Oh... what is this thing...'' Zero approached it, to find her knife and End holding it.


    Zero extended her hand to take it, trying as much as possible not to make any noise, but the distance was long, Zero didn''t lose hope, and tried to reach it, until she got close to it.


    ''I''m almost... there...''


    At that moment, Zero was able to touch it, optimistic about her success, so she pulled it from End''s hand slowly and very carefully. ''I succeeded.''


    And quickly, End grabbed Zero, taking the knife from her hand.


    "What are you doing with your clumsy act?" End said, surprising Zero.


    Zero withdrew her hand, escaping: "I wanted to retrieve one of my belongings... you are strongly against it."


    "I told you... despite helping us... I won''t relax my defenses... Zero."


    ".... ''This boy is really stubborn... This knife is very important to me... I don''t want to leave it... I will accept giving up everything... except my staff... and this weapon... this won''t work... it''s okay...''..." Zero said this to herself, and she was hopeless, so she raised her head to find End handing her the knife, saying, "You can... take it."


    Zero was surprised by this situation, as if End had changed his mind automatically, so she took it and many doubts and questions were going through her mind.


    "What happened to you?"


    "You want to take it badly... isn''t it... it''s very important to you..."


    "Don''t you see that I can kill anyone with this..''.. and that''s what I don''t want..''.."


    "You don''t use the knife in combat."


    "Huh..."


    "But you use the wooden staff... isn''t it?"


    "Oh... yes... ''I started to hate using it really..''.."


    "And on top of that... I see... that you are trying... to avoid using it.." Zero wonderingly.


    At that moment, Zero was shocked, anxiety and tension began to creep into her limbs, a mixture of shock and surprise was controlling her. Silence prevailed between End and Zero, as if time was hiding secrets about to come out.


    Zero hesitated, but she gathered her courage.


    "End."


    "Hmm... what do you want?"


    "I wanted to ask you... do you mind?"


    "Huh... I don''t mind..."


    "Okay... no need to beat around the bush... Do you have power like the rest of your friends?".

 Chapter Thirty-Four: The Goal. ( part 3)

    The weather is cold, yet the children continue on their path towards the shelter, and they finally reach dry land. Zero kept trying to clear the bushes from the path using her knife, and Moan listened to all the sounds to determine their direction, and Lost took over monitoring from the trees, to warn them in case of any danger.


    "Woah... haven''t we arrived yet?" Moan whined.


    "Two full days at sea... and two days while we are stuck in the forest... counting all the days... we''ve only spent five days... and the map says... that we still have a day''s distance ahead of us."


    "Damn it... I''m going to lose my mind."


    "Try to endure more, Moan." Lost said.


    "Don''t worry... we will get out of the forest... if we just stop complaining and the heavy jokes... do you hear me?" R¨ºve said nervously and annoyed.


    "Zero... are we close to getting out?" End asked.


    "I don''t know... but... I think I glimpsed something," at that moment, Zero pushed aside the bushes, to find before her a barren plain, so she raised her head to see the sky overcast with clouds, interspersed with scorching sun rays. Zero moved forward, the place was completely devoid of life, and the distorted atmosphere creates in her a deep feeling, which can be described as strangeness, gloom, loneliness, for the group to advance. Zero raised her staff, to glimpse the ethereal line leading her forward.


    End stepped forward, saying: "We are on the right path?"


    "Yes." Zero turned to him.


    *******


    ''The view of the stars here is different at sea... (looking at her knife)... strange... why did I answer in that way.''


    *****


    At sea, two days ago, on that night.


    "Do you have power... like the rest of your friends?" Zero asked.


    "(Muffled laughter)... I am truly weak."


    "Ah... what do you mean by your words?" Zero asked, not understanding.


    "As if I would tell you this."


    "You don''t trust me... really."


    "I might tell you... but... on condition that you answer my question."


    "Which question?"


    "(Turning towards Zero)... Do you make your decisions yourself... or do you improvise in your actions?"


    "What is this strange question?" Zero asked in surprise.


    "....I am serious... it will become more... if you tell me about your feeling.... and you do what you are ordered to do."


    "Huh... what I am ordered to do."


    "You will understand the matter... as soon as you tell me... perhaps... my view of you will change... and perhaps... all doubts towards you will disappear.... and I will tell you.... about my power... but... keep the matter of this world... and my power a secret... from them.... for I.... do not want them... to realize... that they are between life and death."


    ******


    ''I don''t understand... my feeling....... I do what I am ordered to do.... perhaps.... I will feel as if I am ....''


    {I understand his feeling of anxiety.} At that moment, Zero jumped in fright, to find that twin sitting in front of her.


    ''He started appearing to me more lately... hah.. I am just imagining things... this.. is nothing but imagination.'' Zero thought anxiously and sweating.


    {As if I am just an imagination (laughter).... Zero... did you like my addition to your staff?}, the twin said, enjoying himself.


    "What is your purpose....? ¡­. Where are you leading me?" Zero asked angrily.


    {You know... don''t you...?}Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    At that moment, Zero woke up anxiously and very scared, to find everything as it was.


    ''Who would expect... that we can dream of nightmares... in the world of nightmares itself... (turning towards the children)... this... is more like a curse really.... I am without a fixed goal.... my thoughts are scattered and turned upside down.... I forgot most of my world.... and here I am wandering in a distorted world.... and I don''t even know who I am currently pursuing.... I am... lost....... I will never find Regret... in this way.''


    Zero lay down on the dry ground, looking at the sky shining, and the stars like lamps illuminating the universe, so her eyes teared up, reflecting the ethereal starlight.


    ''I will never know one day.... the taste of hope.''


    *******


    "Which direction now?" R¨ºve asked.


    "Perhaps towards the east... from here." Lost pointed on the map.


    "Fool... we will return to the forest in this way." R¨ºve said.


    "Then towards the west." Moan suggested.


    "We turned north after that..." R¨ºve added.


    "Zero.... do you have any way? ¡­. Zero."


    The children turned to her, to find Zero holding her staff tightly with her hands, as she tries to contemplate her surroundings within herself. Zero closed her eyes, and silence prevailed in the place.


    ''That devil... may have tampered with my path... or rather... completely changed my direction..... I think.. that my direction now... is the shelter.... and if I am not mistaken.... then I am currently following people I know.... could one of them be alive.... or that some of them.... are still alive.... if that is true.... then I will follow several stations.... before I find my goal.... this is what that devil wanted me to understand.... and if I am not mistaken.... I realized who I am following.... during the opera performance... could it be.... but he died..... did he manage to escape from that doll? ..... I do not know.. but Noone... woke up before realizing whether he died or not.... okay.... I know my path now.''


    ******


    "The path is from here," Zero pointed forward.


    The children were puzzled by her behavior, except for End, who looked at her suspiciously and doubtfully.


    So the children continued their journey, passing by many dilapidated buildings, and burnt forests, facing difficulties with some distorted animals, until they arrived at the place.


    ''The line ends.... at this point.'' Zero raised her head, to find the place empty, just a barren plain.


    ''What does this mean.'' Zero thought with muffled anger.


    "This is the place... but... there is nothing here." R¨ºve said in surprise and confusion.


    "Did you read the map well?" Lost asked.


    "Yes..." R¨ºve replied.


    "There is something wrong." Moan said.


    At that time, Zero was looking upwards, and shock was muffled inside her, so End stepped towards her, saying: "There is something wrong.... isn''t there, Zero?"


    "No.... (Zero rubbed her bandaged eye, to glimpse something strange, despite the ethereal line penetrating forward, it stops at a strange point, it was like a wall for her).. wait."


    Zero rushed towards that point, to stop in front of it, so the children followed her while they were confused.


    "What''s the matter, Zero?" Moan asked.


    "Is there something strange?" End asked.


    Zero felt a strange feeling, as she looked at that point, she was the only one who could see it. Zero swallowed her saliva, gathering her courage, so she stretched her hand towards that point.


    Suddenly, Zero''s hand disappeared, fear and astonishment struck the children''s hearts, so she pulled it back to find her hand was fine.


    "What just happened?" Lost asked.


    "Are you alright... Zero?" R¨ºve asked anxiously.


    "I understand." Zero said with realization.


    The children did not understand what was happening, to find Zero had jumped forward to disappear on her own, so the children were surprised for a moment.


    Lost gathered his courage, and jumped forward to disappear, to be followed by R¨ºve and Moan. End hesitated, but he jumped to disappear.


    End jumped to find the children astonished, so he stood on his feet, to be struck by amazement.


    "Is this... it?" Lost asked.


    "Yes." R¨ºve replied.


    "It is." Moan said.


    "The shelter." Zero said in astonishment.


    The shelter was a gigantic place, like a bunker during wars, a gigantic castle, but a huge palace, with a mixture of modernity and classicism.


    ''Here... my goal.'' Zero said this to herself with astonishment apparent on her face.


    "What are you waiting for... let''s go in." Lost said enthusiastically, rushing towards the entrance.


    "Let''s go... R¨ºve." Moan rushed towards him, pulling R¨ºve.


    "Hey... the shelter will not run away from us." End said.


    Zero raised her head, to glimpse something standing on the roof, the sunlight was blocking its shape, suddenly her pupils constricted, realizing what was happening.


    "Lost, stop." At that moment, that thing descended in front of Lost with force, to plant fear and shock in Lost''s heart, causing him to fall to the ground. It was a strange person, wearing a tattered robe, completely covering his body, and he was carrying his bow. The three retreated slowly backwards, fear controlling them. Suddenly, that person raised his bow to pull that string, to reveal at that moment arrows pointing towards the children.


    "Is this really the shelter?" Lost asked.


    "Impossible." R¨ºve said.


    The children said this while anxiety controlled them, at that moment, Zero raised her head while laughing, saying: "Don''t worry... it''s just.... just a simple welcome." Zero said this with a cold smile on her face.

 **Chapter Thirty-Five: The Guardian** ( part 4)

    Amidst that silence, he emerged from nothingness, planting fear of the unknown in their small hearts, making their very beings tremble more than before. That tattered black cloak, veiling that body, and the pale wooden bow. They remembered that feeling. A feeling like no other, creeping into their bodies, making the echo of their hearts pound as if about to explode, keeping pace with the footsteps.


    "Your places... do not move." The archer said, his voice suggesting coldness, yet it was akin to that of a teenage boy, taller than the children.


    The archer advanced towards them, circling them, scrutinizing.


    "End¡­ Do you think¡­ what is he planning?" R¨ºve whispered in fear.


    "I think he''s the Guardian." End replied.


    "The Guardian...?" Moan whimpered.


    "One of the escapees told me... that there is a guardian of the shelter... protecting it... from any danger."


    "But... why did he attack us?" Lost asked, bewildered.


    "The only problem... is that he might eliminate us... at any moment... (End paused for a moment, until the Guardian moved away from him)... If we show him a wrong move... that''s what she told me... ''The problem... is if he senses anything strange in us... and the worst... is that all this... applies to any of us...''" End explained.


    "Wrong move... like what?" Moan questioned.


    ****


    The Guardian retreated backward, lowering his bow until all the arrows disappeared, saying, "Enter."


    At that moment, everyone felt relieved and continued walking. Suddenly, the Guardian stopped Zero, tapping her shoulder, startling everyone who turned towards them.


    ''Damn it...'' End cursed inwardly.


    "What is the matter... Guardian?" Zero asked calmly.


    "Except for you... oh, owner of the necklace." And quickly, the Guardian raised his bow, aiming his arrows at Zero, retreating backward. Zero leaped forward, deflecting all the arrows with her staff.


    Zero gripped the lower part of her staff, striking the Guardian with it. He recoiled backward quickly to evade the blow.


    The Guardian raised his head towards Zero, only to find the ground Zero had struck had turned to ash.


    Zero raised the staff, a cold smile on her face, "Unfortunately... I couldn''t hit you -.. Ah." Suddenly, Zero felt a headache, raising her head to find a volley of arrows coming towards her. Zero evaded them with her agile movements, catching one, holding it before it could pierce her eye, confusion evident on her face.


    Zero raised her head, finding the Guardian about to strike her with his ethereal sword. Zero parried his blow with her staff.


    "Wait... hold on... you misunderstood." Zero said, stepping back.


    "I''m not who you think... hold on." Zero tried to explain, but the Guardian continued his attacks, making Zero realize he intended only to eliminate her.


    The Guardian raised his bow, aiming at Zero. She evaded them, until one of the arrows struck her right leg, causing her to fall to the ground.


    ''This is not the time to fall... stand up... come on... why... can''t I?'' Zero thought, weary and struggling. She looked down to find her leg had disappeared.


    Shock struck Zero''s heart. She turned towards the Guardian as he advanced towards her.


    Zero retreated backward, cold sweat beginning to bead on her brow, suddenly feeling a strange sensation. She could no longer feel her limbs.


    The Guardian approached her, fear seizing her heart more than ever.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Hold on... you''re mistaken... I''m not who you think," Zero tried to defend herself, but the Guardian did not respond, aiming his arrow at Zero, saying, "I have no choice... but to eliminate you."


    At that moment, Moan screamed loudly, shaking the place, affecting the Guardian. Zero turned towards the children, finding a set of Lost''s ropes had seized her, Lost pulling her away.


    ******


    Everyone in the shelter heard this scream, rushing to the windows to see what was happening outside, until a teenage girl cast a glance outside.


    "... What exactly is happening...? ... Is Geist unable to do his job? ... Hold on... only children... ... (Moment of realization)... Wait a minute... is that...? ... Damn it." The girl said, leaving the place.


    *******


    R¨ºve formed a group of dolls with her smoke, trying to buy time.


    "What exactly happened?" R¨ºve asked.


    "Zero... what did you do to get stopped?" End questioned.


    "I don''t know what happened exactly?... I didn''t even know this person had attacked me," Zero replied.


    ''This is bad... at this rate... our cover will be blown,'' End thought to himself worriedly.


    ****


    The Guardian managed to eliminate all the dolls, turning towards the children, ''This strike... is the final strike.''


    At that moment, End''s pupils constricted as he yelled, "Hold on... don''t do it¡ª"


    The Guardian aimed all his arrows at the children, until suddenly a strong light shone, causing all those arrows to evaporate. The light vanished, and the children found Zero standing on her feet with difficulty, clutching her necklace, exhaustion evident on her.


    "Zero." End called out.


    "Are you alright?" R¨ºve and Moan asked worriedly.


    "Why... why didn''t you enter?... I''ll get you into... more trouble... like this." At that moment, Zero couldn''t bear it, falling to the ground unconscious.


    The children rushed towards her, trying to wake her up, but unfortunately, she had lost consciousness, and a large part of her limbs had disappeared.


    The Guardian advanced towards them, aiming his arrows at them. The children froze in their places in sheer fear, creeping into their hopeless hearts, realizing they had failed to reach their final haven.


    "This is... truly unfortunate..."


    ******


    "Geist¡­ stop." At that moment, the Guardian stopped, turning towards the source of the voice. The children turned to find a teenage girl, wearing tattered winter clothes, with brownish-blonde hair, and a somewhat pale complexion.


    "Hold on... isn''t that?" End wondered.


    ******


    "Don''t interfere with my work... go back inside." Geist commanded.


    "Geist... they are escapees... from the Opera House... (Turning to End angrily)... You should have adhered to the instructions... don''t tell me you''ve forgotten them." Sunny said tiredly, heading towards the Guardian.


    "... Ah... I haven''t forgotten them." End replied in surprise.


    "End... who is this girl?" R¨ºve asked worriedly.


    "Yes... she is one of the escapees... she was responsible for the lighting a while ago... Sunny."


    "No need to introduce me that way," Sunny retorted.


    ********


    "I know I interfered with your work... but... these are my friends... and I''m sure... they are not as you think... they haven''t become part of the ruin."


    "And what is your explanation for this girl?" Geist asked, pointing to Zero.


    "Huh... which girl... step aside." Sunny said, turning to the children.


    The children stepped aside, revealing Zero lying on the ground.


    "Huh... who is this?" Sunny asked in confusion.


    "This girl... inside her is something... that does not bode well... and therefore... she must be eliminated," Geist said, aiming his arrow at Zero. Moan stood in front of Zero protectively, saying, "You''re wrong... Zero is not evil."


    "Yes... she never hurt us," R¨ºve defended.


    "Rather, she protected us... and helped us reach the shelter," Lost added.


    "Friends... stop it," End urged.


    ******


    "Step aside," the Guardian insisted.


    "Hold on," Sunny said, whispering something to him.


    "(Turning to End)... End... come on... tell him," Sunny urged.


    "Huh... what do you mean?" End asked, bewildered.


    "You know... (pointing towards Zero)," Sunny prompted.


    "Huh... in truth..." End said nervously.


    "Don''t stammer now, you brute," Lost snapped.


    "Tell him the truth," R¨ºve added.


    End grew more nervous at that moment, until he mustered his courage, "Zero..."


    Silence prevailed at that moment, as if End was hesitant in his answer. Zero''s fate was in his hands. He finally spoke, saying, "... Although I... (swallowing)... am still skeptical of her... but (a moment of silence and anxiety... gripped the children)... she hasn''t shown... any intention... to kill us."


    At that moment, worry and fear vanished from the children''s hearts.


    ******


    The children headed towards the entrance, when Sunny yelled to the children in the shelter, "Return to your rooms."


    Geist picked up Zero, carrying her inside, followed by Sunny, carrying that girl''s staff.


    "Should you have taken this staff?" Geist asked.


    "I''ll keep it with me... until the girl takes it," Sunny replied. "Sorry... but... I had to intervene."


    "He was worried... Sunny," Geist said in a low voice.


    "I don''t deny my mistake... but I trust End... but... that doesn''t negate what I felt, Geist."


    "Talk to the Leader... if he agrees," Geist suggested.


    "If she allows me to enter," Sunny said, disappointed.


    "Well... ask¡ª"


    "Impossible... I won''t ask that girl for anything... after what she did to those who were with me," Sunny refused.


    "Try... at least... so we don''t get into trouble."


    "Hah... fine... before that... take this girl to the clinic... Mirage will take care of her."


    "I hope you''re not mistaken this time, at least."


    ".. Don''t worry... if anything happens... I''ll take responsibility... ''I hope End... isn''t mistaken...''" Sunny thought worriedly.


    Despite all that had happened to the children, they had reached their goal. As for Zero, this was only her first stop.

 Chapter Thirty-Six: Doll and Mirage.

    It was a stroke of luck that saved a precious life, but the worst is that she remains an integral part of us. I wish I could forget the truth, but it must remain, under all of our eyes.


    ******


    "Why is all this happening to me? Why am I¡­ the one who bears the responsibility? Why do I feel guilty? Why haven''t you accepted me in this world? ¡­ Never mind¡­. I don''t need you¡­. I can stay alone."


    "Despite everything that is happening to me¡­ I started to forget what happened¡­ all those memories have been distorted... they no longer have any effect on me¡­ but you are the only one¡­ who can tell me about them¡­. How? How do you know everything that happened to me? This.. is impossible! You¡­ you are just an illusion¡­ a demon¡­ just a cursed R¨ºve¡­ How¡­ how?"


    A small soul, spinning in the same loop, trying to find a way out of its torment, and a struggle with despair pushes the subconscious to make a decisive decision, ignoring everything around it to preserve its goal, repeatedly pleading with itself, to find the only way, as a guide illuminating that surrounding darkness, inside a locked room of ethereal red color, sitting looking around lost, regretful, confused, shocked, afraid, hateful, vowing revenge, a deep feeling, creeping inside the heart of Lost Zero, to open his eyes, to find a part of him, extending his hand to it, calling him, to follow him in every movement, small or large.


    <Zero¡­. Don''t run away¡­. For running away¡­ will not work with nightmares¡­ they will remain¡­ haunting you¡­. until¡­>.


    Screaming, Moan, crying, pain, a voice inside me, forces me to restrain the hatred in my heart¡­.


    A memory from the painful past, which left an indelible mark on my soul, that red color around me has driven me to madness and screaming, with a sweet taste, craved by my vengeful self.


    *****


    Zero woke up with difficulty, slowly turning her head to find herself on a bed of normal size. The room was normal, of normal size, despite the peeling paint on the walls and the wooden floor and the stuffy atmosphere, but the dim sunlight seeping into the room made it a quiet place, planting in Zero''s soul a feeling of short-lived comfort and tranquility, to realize herself in a new place.


    Zero raised her head, looking around, saying: "What brought me¡­ here?"


    Zero turned towards her limbs, to find them in place, and she was moving them normally.


    "Ah¡­ Was¡­ all that a nightmare? ¡­ Hah¡­ This place¡­ brings back some¡­ cursed memories¡­ Ha.. I remembered¡­ that guard¡­ Ah¡­ my head¡­'' At that time.. I lost control of myself¡­ I don''t remember how the fight started¡­ but all I remember¡­ is¡­ the words¡­ of that demon.. <Unfortunately¡­. Your matter will End¡­. I didn''t expect more than this¡­. You didn''t even reach the hideout to meet ..> ..


    *******


    ''¡­ Stop deceiving me¡­. You disrupted the only thing that guides me towards Regret¡­ disappear¡­ you cursed Geist¡­.''


    <You are deceiving yourself¡­ (extends his hand to her)¡­. Don''t resist¡­. Come> ...''."


    *****


    "Damn it¡­. He deceived me¡­. His hidden eyes¡­ behind that silky golden hair¡­ make my soul¡­. lead to madness." Zero with muffled annoyance inside her.


    ''If I thought for a moment¡­. How can an illusion deceive me¡­ am I deceiving myself¡­. Is that Geist¡­ not just an illusion¡­. ? ¡­. He controls me¡­. Just as a puppet master controls his puppets¡­ I think¡­ that is my soul in the End¡­. That desire for madness¡­. (Zero gently slaps herself to wake up)... Strange¡­ (deep sigh)¡­. Never mind¡­. As long as I''m okay.''


    Zero looked around, examining the room well, it was a normal room, not as huge as before, to find in front of her a set of shelves with transparent glass doors, to glimpse a different set of first aid medicines, and to her right a window of normal size, she headed towards it to look through it, the place was very high, and the sunlight was hindering the view of the cloudy sky, hiding behind it the sun, to seep its rays penetrating that pale yellow cloud.


    "Perhaps I''m on the third floor." Zero said this as she looked down.


    *****


    "Ah¡­ you woke up then .." At that moment, Zero quickly turned to the source of the voice behind her, she did not find anyone in the room except her, and the shock stunned her heart beating fast for a moment.


    "¡­''Is this the voice of that Geist¡­ No¡­ this is someone else''s voice''¡­. Who are you? ¡­. (She turns around) ¡­ Was I hallucinating-" Suddenly, something fell from above onto the bed, and Zero fell to the ground from the intensity of the fright, her breath cut off for only a second.


    ''For goodness sake¡­ what was that?'', Zero in fright.


    Zero stood on her feet, advancing towards the bed slowly and cautiously, to find a girl her size, unconscious, with rosy cheeks, silky dark blue hair, and a dirty white dress, decorated with dark red lines and spots.


    "It''s¡­ just a girl¡­. How didn''t I see her above me (looks upwards, turning to the girl, to suddenly examine her right arm) ¡­ This arm¡­ is artificial¡­ it looks like it''s real¡­ the color is like her skin¡­ and the joints¡­ as if they are¡­ doll joints and her legs too¡­ Is she? -"


    Suddenly, that girl jumped off the bed, to stand on her bare artificial feet, Zero retreated barefoot, and worry was evident on her.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Ha¡­ did I doze off? ¡­ Ah.. you can walk¡­ that''s reassuring.", the girl.


    "Who¡­ who are you?" Zero cautiously holding her necklace.


    "Ummm¡­ what''s wrong with you¡­.? Maybe¡­ you''re just nervous¡­ don''t worry¡­ Geist didn''t use all his strength¡­ so¡­ I was able to heal you¡­ Ha¡­ why are you so nervous like this ..?.. Don''t tell me you''re¡­ afraid of me."


    "Eeeh¡­. You suddenly fell from above¡­. You jumped from the bed at me¡­. In addition to that I haven''t seen you before¡­.", Zero annoyed.


    "Logical reason¡­ but¡­ you don''t have to hold the necklace¡­ like that¡­."


    "Ha¡­ what do you mean?" Zero in confusion and surprise.


    "I mean¡­ I really don''t want to be hit by that light¡­ you understand me¡­ right?"


    "Ummm¡­ yes¡­ neither of us wants to fight¡­ I mean violence¡­. Okay¡­ as long as you didn''t intend to tear me apart in the End" Zero cautiously.


    ******


    "I apologize about Doll¡­. She likes to joke around¡­ to some extent."


    The two girls heard this voice, it was more like the voice of a teenage girl, and the girl turned towards the door threshold, saying with joy: "Finally¡­ you seem tired¡­.."


    Zero did not comprehend all of this, to shout saying: "For goodness sake¡­ what exactly is going on?"


    "Doll¡­ let the children know she''s awake¡­. I''ll take care of it."


    "Okay.", Doll leaving the room quickly.


    The girl advanced towards Zero, she was a girl with short silky orange hair, and black eyes, wearing a gray dress stained with black spots, and a pale white jacket.


    "Don''t worry, Zero¡­ you are in the shelter.", the girl patting her hair.


    ''She''s human¡­ a teenager¡­. This is reassuring.'' Zero.


    Zero was annoyed by this behavior, pushing the girl away from her, saying: "I''m not that young."


    "(Muffled laughter) ¡­ That''s strange¡­ from a girl who is ten years old as I guess."


    "(Sigh) ¡­ No need to ask me how you know my name¡­. Therefore¡­ who exactly are you¡­ and who is that girl.. Doll?".


    "Oh¡­ that girl¡­ she''s my little assistant¡­ my puppet¡­. Doll.. As for me¡­ the one in charge of this section¡­ of the shelter¡­ call me¡­. Mirage."


    "Ah¡­ Mirage." Zero in confusion.


    "Your friends told me about you¡­" Mirage said this as she carried Zero to put her on the bed.


    "Eh¡­ my friends? ¡­¡­. Are they okay? ...''You didn''t have to carry me in the End..''..."


    "Don''t worry¡­. They are eagerly waiting to see you." Mirage arranging the equipment.


    "Understood¡­ where are they? -"


    "Before that¡­. I don''t know if my assistant has treated all your injuries¡­. I will conduct a comprehensive examination for you¡­. To make sure you are safe¡­ I conducted this examination for your friends¡­. And treated all their injuries¡­ I hope you don''t mind¡­ Zero."


    "No problem¡­ no objection."


    ********


    Mirage began examining Zero, treating all her injuries and wounds, starting from her feet to the top of her head, focusing on her internal organs and nervous system, until she reached her head.


    ''Okay¡­. As for these wounds¡­. It''s okay¡­ they are not serious wounds at all like your chest wounds¡­. Nothing indicates a head injury¡­. That''s reassuring¡­. Okay¡­. Her right eye is fine¡­. And no harm in it¡­. But¡­ her other eye.'' Mirage to herself.


    "Zero¡­. What''s wrong with your left eye?" Mirage asking.


    "Ah¡­. My friend told me it was swollen¡­. So she put the bandage on me¡­ I haven''t taken it off yet¡­ for fear that it might be too early." Zero.


    "Okay¡­ I will treat your eye¡­. So I hope that ¡­. You don''t mind that." Mirage said this as she extended her hand towards the bandage.


    "No.... No problem." Zero.


    Mirage grabbed the knot to open it, and began to remove the bandage little by little, and as if the bandage that was wrapped with it was longer than she thought, to create in her heart a desire to tear it all, making in herself more pressure than before, and the air entering her chest seemed heavier than before, to feel Zero with a strange feeling pressing on her chest, as if it was about to explode, to feel helpless as she exhaled that air, and her heart began to beat faster. She felt a slight paralysis in her left hand, and coldness on her small fingertips, and sweat began to appear on her forehead, to feel heat rising little by little, breathing became extremely difficult, and as if her lungs were no longer able to work, and her heart was beating faster than before, and as if everything was about to perish, for something to strike in Zero''s soul, rejecting what was happening.


    ''Wait¡­ what¡­ just happened?'' Zero said this, pushing Mirage''s hands away, worry evident on her face, Mirage did not comprehend what was happening, so she approached her, asking her anxiously.


    Zero was silent for a moment, to reply in a soft voice that suggests a deep feeling in Zero''s disturbed, frightened soul: "Sorry¡­. But¡­ I prefer to stay with this bandage¡­. It is¡­ kind of¡­ comfortable for me¡­. I hope you understand." Zero as she puts the bandage back on before Mirage removes it completely.


    "No problem¡­ if it comforts you." Mirage understandingly.


    ******


    "¡­. Mirage¡­ I told them to wait a bit - .. Ha¡­ what''s going on? ¡­. Mirage .." Doll as she enters the room enthusiastically.


    "Don''t worry¡­. Zero is fine¡­. (Turning to Zero) ¡­ Zero ¡­don''t worry ¡­ welcome ¡­ with us." Mirage said this as she puts all her equipment in the closet.


    "Doll¡­. Take her to the group¡­. I have to go.", Mirage said this to Doll


    "Ha¡­. But¡­ who will take care of the clinic?" Doll anxiously.


    "It won''t take long¡­ Sunny will take over monitoring them¡­. I''m going" to suddenly turn into golden sands evaporating in the air, making Zero feel astonishment and confusion.


    "¡­ Hah¡­ okay ¡­.Zero ¡­ let''s go." Doll as she leaves the room enthusiastically.


    Zero got up from her place, and confusion fills her heart full of many questions.


    "¡­''¡­. At that time ¡­.'' ¡­ What just happened." Zero set off behind Doll, to start from a place that is not unfamiliar in her view, and she sees, and her soul is a flame of hope behind her distant goal, and as if fate in front of her began to emerge more than before, leaving in her heart, a splinter of her small dreams, confronting what is coming.


    ******


    "Hmmm¡­ this will be¡­ fun." A voice full of malice and hatred, coming from the heart of a person, waiting for the taste of freedom and pleasure, patiently, and with a disgusting smile.