Luna's tears dripped down onto Theia's forehead. A tint of concern colored Theia's voice as she said, "Luna?"
"Ah," Luna muttered, touching her tears and wiping them away. "I don't know why I am crying. I just… got scared and ran. What happened to her?"
"Do you have any idea?" Luna asked while glancing down at her.
"No," Theia said while looking forward.
"Why am I crying? I don't feel sad, and not even that scared. Huh."
"The feeling of sadness won't stop, Theia. So, will you hug me?" Luna suggested, her tears pouring down her face in contrast to her dazzling smile.
Theia looked up at Luna; her blushed cheeks were clear as Theia extended her arms forward towards Luna's neck and looked away from her eyes.
It took a second for Luna to realise what Theia wanted, but when she did, Luna's arm jolted forward. Luna took her into her embrace, hugging her tightly she chuckled and stood up. "Then, let's go to the basement, the last place left to explore!"
Luna opened the doors, and a bricky wall met her with a rather shabby appearance compared to the interior design of the palace. But Luna didn't mind; with Theia in her arms, she stepped into the room.
She walked down the stony stairs but paused and looked back, her face overwritten with questions. Why am I feeling okay now? Whenever I opened a door before, I felt as if I stepped in back then, I would've died. But now I feel nothing.
"Theia, is this place somewhat different from the rooms I was in before?"
Theia shook her head from side to side. Luna chuckled and said, "You could have just said so…" She patted Theia on the head and added with a smile, "You're so cute."
Theia tucked her head into Luna's clothing and hid her face from her, but Luna kept petting her head.
Mmm, this place is really large. There's no end to these stairs? Oh well.
Now that I think about it, why did I feel so sad? I mean, I did want to get to know her more, but not to that extent — to feel so sad. I wouldn't feel this sad unless it's someone from my family…
But even though we didn't talk much to her, I did find her kind and cheerful… Did she fulfill what she wanted to do and end herself so fast? No… it can't be possible to kill yourself that fast.
She was in a painting… So, was it something that was captured? Like a memory or a past?
Hmmm… well, we'll see once we get to the basement… If there's anything to see there.
Luna smiled as she walked down the stairs into the darkness.
…
Stopping down at the bottom of the stairs, there was a door into a room in front of them.
With a circular metal handle, it was a simple, dark oak door. Luna looked down at Theia; she just kept looking at the door with empty, lifeless eyes.
"Theia?" Luna asked. "Is everything alright?"
Theia looked up at her and nodded silently, but that didn't feel right to Luna.
She chose not to dig in, as she didn't know Theia well enough to do that.
"Okay." Luna patted Theia on the head. Again, Theia hid her face, burrowing into her clothing and clutching Luna's clothes as she had before.
"Haha." Luna laughed as she saw it happen. Brushing the exchange aside, she grabbed the handle and pushed the door. But as she did, the door was heavy and opened slowly, its hinges groaning as if they were in pain.
The room was barely lit, with a shelf on the right, a table to the left, and a passage planked and closed off.
Huh, what's that?
Luna, upon a second look, observed what seemed to be blood forming a peculiar drawing of a five-pointed star. Blood violently splattered around it on the floor. As if a person had once hanged there, and the rope's fibers sipped dry.
"Theia, this place scares me. I don't like this," Luna said.
As Theia heard those words, she jolted up and looked directly at Luna. While pushing on her chin, she said, "Let's go back."
"No… We can't just—please, hold my hand. Please, I'd feel safer if you do that."
Theia looked at Luna's eyes, which looked back, and then at her hand. She nodded, sat down in her arms, and grabbed her left hand.
"Thank you," Luna said. "Let's go in."
Theia's with a sad tone nodded at her words, and Luna came in.