Dahlia froze as she tightly kept her eyes closed, not daring to look up
Thechildren tensed at the childlike voice but didn't dare open their eyes
"Don't stress Dahlia... you have come so far... so don't get scared!" She thought internally as she bit her lower lip to ground herself
"Take us to the mortal realm" Dahlia replied to the entity
The entity tilted it's head as it looked up at Dahlia. It smirked seeing her not looking at him
He found her fascinating
"Very well then, I am sure you know what you need to offer in order to return?" He asked as he purred
"Yes, I offer half of my mana to you as sacrifice" Dahlia said
The children were surprised, especially Xinhua
"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!!! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THIS MEANS!!! YOU CAN LOSE YOUR LIFE BY OFFERING HALF OF YOUR MANA THAT IS YET TO SHOW UP!!!" Xinhua exclaimed as his voice raise in tone
"I know... but this is the only way back... so... I offer my mana-"
"There is no mana in you which you can offer. No offerings, no going back in your world" The entity said simply as it shrugged it's shoulders
Dahlia froze up along with the many children
Everyone was trembling in fear as cold sweat formed from their foreheads, their grips on each others arms tightened
Dahlia's breathing hitched as she lowered her head, tears forming, "Wait... no... I have come this far... so... why...?" she thought
She could hear many children started to whimper as Hunji's body was frozen, his eyes also welled up with tears. He gripped the arms he is holding, trying to give them slight comfort
Even tho he needed it the most
"I shall get going" The entity said as it hummed in amusement, before disappearing in thin air
Dahlia tried stopping the entity but with what now...?
The mist finally cleared away as the children opened their eyes
Some were trembling in fear, clutching to one another for comfort
Some were crying
Some even were dazed, looking down. Their eyes were empty
While others were glaring at Dahlia
"Were we not supposed to go home?! What happened?!" One of the children said, his tone filled with anger yet had a touch of fear
"I... I..." Dahlia started to panic as her grip on the bag's strap tightened
Suddenly Hunji stepped up as he tried to keep himself in control from not breaking down
"Guys... it's no use in being angry at her. First we need to make a escape... before those things come and capture us all again" he said as his voice trembled slightly
"HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ESCAPE!!!! THAT THING IS NEAR!!!! IT IS OVER FOR US ALL!!! AND IT IS ALL HER FAULT!!!! SHE BETRAYED US!!! SHE WANTS US ALL DEAD!!!" Another one of the children yelled out and pointed her finger at Dahlia. Tears trickled down her cheeks
"What-! I would never-" Dahlia tried defending herself but seeing all the hostile and solemn expressions on everyone made her stop
She noticed many the cold stares and distrustful look
Dahlia knew she had broken the trust she worked so hard to build
"Just send her away to those monsters alone! Let her die!" Another one said, his tone filled with anger. Many agree with that statement
"Stop it! I know we all are angry at her! But we can't let our anger consume our logical thinking! We need to make a escape now!" Hunji raised his voice as his hands clenched to fists, his shoulders trembling slightly
Meanwhile in between the chaos
One of the children just stared at Dahlia, who's head was down
His amber eyes slightly widened as he mumbled, "Pink... hair...?"
He soon looked down at his hand, he had pink hair strands
Then looked back up at Dahlia, then his gaze softened slightly, "Was she the one..." he thought to himself
Suddenly he was pulled out of his thoughts when hearing someone speak up
"He is right, you need to make a escape. So, follow me. I know a place where those things can't capture you" Fenry said as he came out from his hiding place quickly
"Wait- how can we trust you-" One of the children was about to protest before everyone heard growls from far away
Making everyone jump slightly
The Ghouls were getting closer
Everyone was trembling, some were crying and some were at the verge of fainting from fear
"Your choice and make it quick. Be captured or stay safe hidden" Fenry said firmly
Everyone hesitated before Hunji soon goes towards Fenry, "I am trusting you only this once, but if you betray us. I will make sure you regret it" He warned
Fenry let out a slight chuckle hearing the warning
Silence
.
.
.
Xinhua soon goes towards Fenry, taking a hold of Dahlia's hand and dragging her with him. Dahlia's eyes widened at his actions. "We don't have any choice. We will follow and" Xinhua soon looked behind at everyone who was behind, glaring at them
"You guys can join or die. Your choice" Xinhua spat out the words
Dahlia was soon calmed down as he drags her with him. She let out a soft exhale, feeling troubled and guilty
As Fenry leads Hunji, Xinhua and Dahlia away
The children hesitate before they quickly follow suit
Soon everyone was back together again
...
Finally, they arrived at an abandoned castle
The castle was weird, it was dark green in color. Broken windows, no curtains nor any furnitures inside. There also weren't any doors
Rotten smells... insects everywhere
It was harder to walk around with all the insects crawling
Darkness engulfed the whole castle making it difficult to see
"What... is this... place...?" Xinhua mumbled as he got chills run down his spine by just seeing it along with everyone except Hunji and Fenry
"You think this place is safe?" Hunji asked
"Yes, it is how I always hide from the Ghoul that owns me. When... things get a bit intense..." Fenry answered as his tone becomes low on the last part. He lowers his gaze on ground, his eyes hidden behind his bangs
Hunji doesn't says anything as he looks back at everyone
"Ok, everyone listen up. We all are in this together. And-" Hunji glanced at Dahlia
"No blaming things on her. She has gone through the same situation as us all. She came here to save us, so tell me. What person who is out of their mind would come in this place in order to take us all back to our world?" He asked firmly as he looks at everyone one by one
Taking in their reactions
Some had conflicted look, some were wary and some were just in fear
"She made a mistake. And we all know it... but tell me. Don't none of us make mistakes sometime? None of us are perfect" He pointed his finger at Dahlia
"And you all heard her talk to that entity, she was willing to even gave away herself. Just for us to go back home" Hunji again spoke as his tone was slightly raised
"If none of you don't believe in her, then don't. But I believe in her" He declared without hesitation nor doubt
"And so do I!" Xinhua also declared
Dahlia felt touched hearing his words. Her heart started to beat faster
Some hesitated as they gripped the edges of their clothes tightly, trembling
Some even looked away, probably from guilt
While others were calm and still throwing dirty looks back at Dahlia
.
.
.
After debating for a while, some of the children started taking her side, they were guilty for even doubting her
"I am sorry... we were just scared..." One of them said as their voice trembled slightly
"Yeah... I-... I... I just wanna... go home... I miss my parents..." Another one said, who was clearly younger. It broke down as it cried
"Shh... It's ok, we will go back home. Don't worry..." Another comforted the other who broke down, hugging it tightly
Some also finally broke down and began to cry as well
Dahlia's heart clenched at hearing their cries
She closed her eyes tightly as she looked away, trying her best to be strong
...
But many remained still, as they are wary of her
"Fine, believe her for all you want! I know for a fact, that I will never gonna believe her. Unless I can go back home. If I can go home. I will paint my face black and roam around the village saying apologies to her" One of the children said who were against Dahlia
"Ok then, be prepared to paint your whole face black" Xinhua said bluntly
The one who said it just gritted his teeth, annoyed
"You-"
"Ok, that is enough for today. Let's get some rest, you all must be tired with all this running around" Fenry intervened as he tried to diffuse the tension
"Fine..." Xinhua and the other one stops
Soon everyone left
Dahlia was with Xinhua as they both slept on the cold floor. She wrapped her arms around Xinhua to keep him warm
...
Meanwhile Hunji was with Fenry
"Do you have somewhere to be?" Hunji asked as he looked away
"... Not really... I know that if I go back... I will most likely be eaten alive" Fenry sighed as he smiled even in this situation, tho it was far stretched
"What do you mean...?" Hunji asked as he looked at Fenry. his eyes wide open
"You heard me... I will be eaten alive if I go back" Fenry shrugged his shoulders as it is nothing much
Hunji grabbed pushed him against the wall, catching Fenry off guard
"Tell me... why? What is the damn reason that it wanna eats you alive..." Hunji growled in anger
Fenry only stared back as he soon calmed down
"Cause... the Ghoul that owned me... saw you coming... he became really angry. And had locked me up in a cell. The next day... he was about to eat me alive so I escaped... He even..." Fenry hesitated as he looked down
Silence filled in
Broken only by the quiet snores from the sleeping children
Soft sobs
And the crawling of an insect was heard
"He did what?" Hunji asked quietly as his voice became firm yet filled with uneasiness
Fenry doesn't reply
Hunji not getting anything shook Fenry by his shoulders. "I SAID WHAT DID THAT THING DO TO YOU!!!!" He yelled out, his eyes wide filled with anger
Fenry clenched his jaw as he tried remaining calm
"It's nothing... forget it-"
Fenry was suddenly punched in the face by Hunji
His face was turned as his eyes were wide open
Meanwhile Hunji gritted his teeth tightly as he glared at Fenry
"I am asking... one... more... time... If you don't answer..." He panted as he gripped the collar of Fenry's shirt, Hunji's eyes blazed with intense anger
Piercing through him
"I will make you spill it out with force, so if you don't want it. Then just open your goddamn mouth, Fenry" Hunji growled out
Fenry felt shivers go down his spine, he gulped as he looked at Hunji for a while
.
.
.
"... It... was... one of those..." Fenry began but his voice cracked slightly
A lump formed on his throat which caused difficulty for him to speak
He groaned as his body trembled slightly
His eyes glistening slightly
"Lust... Ghouls..." He chocked out on those words
After those words escaped, tears began trickling down his face finally
Hunji froze, he finally got it what it meant
He just stared wide eyes at Fenry
His hands trembled as he lets Fenry go, stepping back
Fenry only kept his head lowered
Meanwhile Hunji looked away as he ruffled his hair in agitation
His hands trembling slightly as he was speechless, his heart racing
Hunji tried making sense of his voice but he just couldn't process it
"He... gone... through that...?" He thought as he just looked up at the ceiling
After staying still for a while, he goes towards Fenry and hugged him tightly as his shoulders shook. Tears welled up in his eyes
Fenry hiccuped as he hugged Hunji back as he let out a sob on his shoulder
"It... It is... the first reason... the... second... reason... he... forced me... to... eat their... holy insects... to... become... part... of this... world...." Fenry finally let it out, his voice broken. lacking it's usual playful facade he always kept
Hunji closed his eyes as he let Fenry cry on his shoulder
He didn't knew what to do... but... to just let him lend his shoulders to cry on for him
.
.
.
The next day
Dahlia was lending out food to everyone she gathered, like bread. But it was small and some water. She was also running out of things she gathered in her bag
Hunji, Fenry and Xinhua were around her eating silently
Suddenly, the amber eyed one stepped out from the group it was eating with
It went towards Dahlia and tapped her shoulder
Dahlia looked up, confused
But her confusion went away when she saw that familiar face again
It was Jeon
Dahlia tried to act like she doesn't knows him
"Yeah? What's wrong?" She asked
"... You were the one... that gave me that basket... didn't you?" Jeon asked as he narrowed his eyes
Dahlia chocked on her bread hearing his claim
Xinhua noticed and handed her water which she drank it quickly
"So... I will take that reaction as a "yes" then" Jeon hummed as he joined their group by sitting down with them
Dahlia let out a quiet groan
Xinhua, Hunji and Fenry were confused
"Eugh... how come you know that I am that person who lended you a basket?" Dahlia asked, trying to keep up the act
"It's cause the bread you gave me this time seemed familiar... likely from the same bakery... and... I noticed pink strands of hair on top of the basket" Jeon pointed out
"How come you know it was the same bread you ate?! Every bakery's bread tastes the same!" Dahlia huffed as she was out of words
"It's not the taste... I noticed cause this bread had this in it... like this one..." He shows her the bread having "B" carved in it. It was like the signature of the bakery she brought from
Dahlia facepalmed as she was caught
Meanwhile Jeon just eats the bread
"What is going on? Do you know him?" Xinhua asked as he raised his eyebrow and kept staring at Jeon
Dahlia doesn't say anything but nods only
"How come?" Xinhua asked again, his eyes widening only for a moment
Hunji and Fenry leaned in closer to hear the story
Dahlia hesitated a little before she begins, "Well... I stalked him basically... to see how I can come to this realm to save Xinhua... and basically those that ended up here like him..."
Jeon was surprised at hearing her explain, "So... she has been watching me longer than I know... and... this was her reason...?" he thought as he felt a bitter feeling inside his heart
Fenry, Hunji and Xinhua were equally surprised
"Damn... I don't know what to call you... a hero or a complete fool" Fenry commented with a smile
Hunji smacked Fenry's head, "At least that is another point that we should trust in her"
Fenry groaned as he rubbed his head
Xinhua looked down only, "You really are selfless...." he mumbled to himself but Dahlia heard him
Dahlia only stayed quiet as she glanced at Jeon, feeling guilty
"I am sorry... Jeon..." Dahlia began
"I know... you are angry at me for not helping you... but... what can I even do then?" She looks at Jeon straight in eye
"I would've ended up like you... being transported to this realm... without having the chance in being prepared..." She sighed softly as she looked down
Jeon just stayed silent as he did not said anything and just stared at her
Fenry, Hunji and Xinhua looked between both Dahlia and Jeon
They didn't say anything and let the silence fill in
Everyone chewing on their bread quietly
Others sleeping, their snores
And quiet whispers from from others were the only things heard
"How... is... my brother...?" Jeon finally broke the silence by asking
Dahlia looked up at Jeon
Their eyes meeting one another again
"I take it, you didn't abandon him... did you?" He sighed deeply as he asked again, crossing his arms over his chest
"No... how can I leave a child behind?" Dahlia sighed softly as she looked down again
"It is being taken care off by my nanny... she is trustworthy... so no need to worry about him..." she said
"That is good then" Jeon only hummed as he went back to eating the bread
Fenry, Hunji and Xinhua also continued to eat their bread. Tho they were slightly awkward at how the conversation was going on between them
Dahlia was troubled as her stomach twisted with guilt
She hesitantly tried to eat her own bread
But the guilt had made her lose her appetite, soon she pushed away her bread
The bread that she just took a bite from tasted bitter as she forced it down on her stomach
Her hands clenching as nails dig into her palm
The four boys noticed
Xinhua pats her on shoulder, trying to comfort her
Jeon let out another sigh seeing it, "No need to feel guilty. You did what you saw was right" He began as he took a bite from his bread
"And I don't hold any grudges against you as you have helped my little brother... so no need to be so lost in that feeling" He said bluntly
"Hey! Don't talk to her like that-"
"Shut up, kid" Jeon cut off Xinhua
Xinhua flinched slightly at the intense gaze
He shut his mouth immediately
Dahlia noticed Xinhua hiding behind her from Jeon, she pats Xinhua softly
Comforting him
"What a kid... anyways, as you heard me saying that. So now let go over that stupid guilt and focus on getting us all out of here" Jeon huffed
"You hear that, noble brat" Jeon poked Dahlia's forehead as he leaned in closer
"Noble... brat?" Dahlia blinked at the nickname, she was dumbfounded
Hearing that Xinhua's mouth was agape
Hunji almost chocked on his bread from laughing out loud but holds himself back as he buried his face on Fenry's shoulder
Fenry looked away, trying to also hold back his laugh
"Oi, second noble brat... close your mouth... or else a mosquito will get in" Jeon remarked bluntly as he noticed Xinhua's reaction
Xinhua immediately closed his mouth as he was pissed too
He was about to retort but one look from Jeon was enough to shut him up
"Eugh... why call me that for?!" Dahlia's eye twitched as she forgot her guilty feeling. She swat Jeon's hand away from poking her forehead
Jeon looked back at Dahlia again from Xinhua
He only stared at her for a while
.
.
.
Dahlia groaned cause of his stare, without even saying anything
"What?! Something on my face-"
She was cut off in the middle of her sentence by how Jeon started to pat her head
"'Cause you're a noble... and seems your guilty feeling has gone away. So then, tell us... is there another way to get back to our world?" He smiled slightly at her