My back against the wall, panic started to set in. I was in Venomania. Hundreds of miles away from my home and Len…

All the girls before me were fast asleep now. That was a good thing. I couldn't stand to look into their cold eyes anymore. Only the sound of breathing broke the silence. Barely any light showed through the windows. I seemed to have remained against the wall for a long time. It only felt like a few seconds. The red-haired girl was the closest. What was her name?

I contemplated attempting to speak with her, but a part of my body recoiled at the thought. Obviously, they weren't in their right mind.

I rummaged through my memory. Everything was cloudy and blurred. Just, the purple man. Gakupo my mind told me. Gakupo with a cloak on then Gakupo without a cloak on or anything for that matter. I concentrated on right after I saw Gakupo. Just as the blurred images began to come into focus, a blistering headache pierced my skull.

I immediately covered my mouth so I wouldn't scream. Only a small gasp for breath was let out. My eyes bolted back and forth, looking for a sign of stirring. My eyes soon got heavy as the pain surged through my body. Whispers echoed through my head.

Sleep. Sleep. Isn't Gakupo so kind? Yes, so kind and so thoughtful. You should sleep so you can be with him. Come on. Sleep. SLEEP.

I forced my eyes open, grasping onto a stone on the wall. Using all the concentration and fortitude I had in me, I held back the enclosing lies. I chanted Len's name in my mind to block them out. My body was on the verge of exploding when, as suddenly as it came, the pain stopped.

I sucked in air. It stopped. Thank God that it stopped. Some girls started to rouse awake again, but only a few. I counted nineteen in all, including the red-haired and green-haired girls next to me. Their dead eyes wandered aimlessly.

I jumped when the enforced wooden door clanked open. It was Miku. She held a candle in her right hand.

With a monotonous voice, Miku called, "Come."

The girls who woke up stood slowly and started to walk whimsically to the staircase. I spotted Yuka and hesitantly stood up with the rest. Another girl stood even more hesitantly and obviously. She had dark blonde hair and a long lace outfit. My eyes brightened. She must have her senses, too!

Perhaps, too obviously. All the other awake girls pivoted toward her. I awkwardly did the same. The girl's eyes widened, and she started stepping backwards, terrified.

"Help. Help. HELP ME! WHAT'S GOING ON?! PLEASE HELP ME!" the girls stepped closer, me following. "WHERE AM I?! WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?! PLEASE, ANYONE?!" I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

Miku stepped faster than the others. The girl screamed at the top of her lungs. Miku pursued like a pouncing cat.

"PLEASE!" she pleaded as Miku dragged her across unfaltering, sleeping women.

"PLEASE! My name is Sharon Hailston. I have a family. Please, stop," Sharon pleaded. "My brother. He lives in Julin. He doesn't know where I am. He'll be worried! PLEASE!" she screamed again, flailing her arms. "ANYONE! PLEASE!"

Her screams echoed up the stairs. A truly terrifying scream rung in the air. I closed my eyes just short enough to pass as a blink. I'm so sorry that I couldn't help you, Sharon. I'll go to your brother when I escape.

Escape? Who said anything about escaping?

Well, you have to, obviously. To go back to Len.

I was jolted out of my thoughts by the sound of shifting feet. The girls were moving out.

Since I wasn't immediately attacked by the surprisingly strong zombie girls, I assumed I was supposed to follow the select few. Walking drowsily, we all went up the stairs and into the hall. I tailing behind everyone else.

Our bare feet sounded awkward against the marble floors. The other nineteen walked dreamily but with purpose. I studied them until we reached our destination.

The dining room was beautiful. If it wasn't for my situation, I would be fully admiring the gorgeous chandeliers and crystal vases going straight down the middle of the mahogany table. There were twenty-one seats in total for the other girls, me, and one other. I could guess who that one other would be.

The seats slowly became filled. I moved as slowly as possible down one column until all the chairs were taken except for one next to Yuka and the especially extravagant one at the head of the table. I slipped into the chair next to Yuka, and the room waited.

Gakupo walked in from the opposite end of the dining room.

Arms outstretched, Gakupo smiled and exclaimed, "Hello, ladies~!"

"Hello, Master Gakupo!" everyone replied at the same time, including me (Once again, it felt natural).

He was wearing a long purple jacket that flowed behind him as he walked. A cravat was tucked into his black vest. His aura screamed wealth and whispered political power just loud enough to scare you.

Walking swiftly, he pulled out the throne at the head of the table and sat down like he was eating with kings.

"I hope all of you had great day~" Gakupo cooed in that always flirting voice. "How was your day, Miku~?"

"Fantastic," she answered and brought her perfect aqua hair to her back. She sat to Gakupo's left, a place of honor, it would seem. "But, sir, Sharon has a little mishap."

"Oh, I see," Gakupo continued seriously, "And was she able to be…reinforced?"

"Sadly, no, sir. She was particularly adamant."

"That is a shame," he answered in fake mourning, "Anyway! How about we eat now, yes~? And Miku, I'm sure you disposed our problem properly?"

"Of, course, sir, it has been thoroughly taken care of."

"Great~!"

I twitched ever so slightly. Everyone was too busy beaming at Gakupo to notice. Remained adamant? Reinforced? Disposed?

Where am I, and how long can I keep this act up?