"There's something they're not telling us," Mario muttered as he stepped in stride beside Heaven. She looked over her shoulders and shrugged-not really caring.

"If it's important, they'll tell us." Her mind was still reeling from some strange fog that had clouded her, and she was struggling still to regain her breathing. Whatever went down while she and Mario were asleep, the others saved them. "You know, even Rosalina sees the good in them. Nobody's perfect. They wouldn't maliciously hold information from us."

"Oh, they wouldn't? You mean like how Daisy didn't tell you about the blood loss at the hospital a couple years ago until maybe a few months ago? Or how about Waluigi, Iggy and Rango restraining your sister?"

"We're all past that, Mario."

"As am I, but I'm just saying…" His pride was a heavy hitter, that much was certain. She knew if he wasn't careful in his emotions here, the Seven would find them-and Pride being the worst of all-she did not want to have to face him. Heaven never understood his distaste for the group-it ran well before she ever met Daisy, Iggy, and the rest. Hell, she was certain it stemmed from before Trina ever met them-and if that were the case-it would have to be a fairly old grudge because Sinjin and Trina knew each other when they were only ten years old!

"What is it that you don't like about them, Mario?"

"You mean besides the vanity?"

"I know there's a lot about how they've interacted with me and my family that you don't like, but besides that…I don't think you've ever liked them. Why?" When she looked over, his jaw tightened and his shoulders rose. "Mario?"

"There's nothing to talk about. You're right, we're a team, so let's just focus on that. I don't need a reason not to like somebody. I remain cordial, isn't that enough?"

"Sure. There are people I don't like just because they rub me the wrong way."

"Exactly. They have always assumed themselves to be the best thing since sliced bread, long before you or Rosalina ever knew them. Maybe they'll see things differently-it seems like they're really going to be tested down here." He had a point, she could see how each of them had something that they had to work on-perhaps it was accepting that they were as flawed as anyone else.

"Yeah, but so are you." She pointed to his sword, reminding him as well of his weapon of Hell. "Don't let your pride destroy you, Mario. I don't want to see something happen to my brother-I know Rosalina won't be happy if she's forced to lose you." He gazed down at his blade with a frown and Heaven peered ahead, stricken with her inner grief. "When we get her back, she's going to need you."

"I understand. Trust me, I'm perfectly aware of whether or not I'm sinking."

"We all have something." Heaven listened quietly to her friends talking amongst each other-none hearing the conversation she was having with Mario. She was pleased about it too, because she didn't want them to know what was going on through her mind or with Mario. "For me, you know I'm still dependent on everyone. If I were alone here…"

The image that shot through her mind paralyzed her for a split second. She was imagining herself standing in the middle of a circle of demons, cowering as they all descended upon her.

Mario raised an eyebrow as she shook away the visual and continued moving. "You okay?" Her arms trembled as her hands became soaked with a cold, clammy sweat.

Heaven swept her hair over her shoulder and replied with a weak smile. "Yeah, it's nothing." In Hell, the demons-or maybe just Samil, she wasn't sure-they knew their inner fears. The inner anxieties and demons that they held inside. In that sense, Hell itself was the arena-or maybe the arena was their minds-as this place could use their darkest desires against them. "Just remember that we are all a team, and we need to bear this in mind because Samil's going to throw everything at us, right?"

"Whatever he can, yes. You hate water, so don't be surprised if we find ourselves having to cross some deep lake put in our path by Samil." A shiver ran down her spine as Mario glanced to the friends behind them. "If that were the case, you know I-and surely all of them-would help you get across."

"You don't think that'll happen though? Our worst fears being used against us? I mean it was just a thought for me, but if it's more of a possibility than that?"

"We should all just be prepared. I don't know what your friends went through while we were asleep, but it clearly deeply affected them. How it affects them exactly, I don't know, but I can see it on their faces. Something happened, and they just don't want to talk about it."

"Yeah-they'll talk when they're ready." It wouldn't surprise her if demons had been plotting to kill the friends, or separate them somehow. The less of them that there were, then the less likely she and Mario would be successful. "Another thing, if Samil or the demons since any hostility among us-and yes I am talking to you." Mario huffed and crossed his arms. Her eyelids slid down halfway. "-They might just use that against us. So if we are going to be a team-we need to be a united team."

"Isn't the phrase-a house divided amongst itself cannot stand?"

"Yeah, that's the phrase. Proverb, actually, I think."

"If it weren't for the limitation on my sword, I could probably tear through all these demons and get to Samil myself." She laughed once and reached over, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm just saying. There's nothing I'm going to let stand in my way."

"When are you going to trust them, Mario? Give them a chance to show you they're not as bad as they seem." He scoffed under his breath and Heaven withdrew her hand. In his eyes she could see something deeper than she understood, but what it was she couldn't understand. "Did they do something to you? You say it has to do with stuff that happened even before you knew Rosalina. So…was it something school related? I mean, what? Did Daisy take a carton of milk from you in third grade or something?"

"Nothing so trivial. I'm not petty enough to hold grudges over stuff like that, Heaven ."

"Trust and lack of honesty will only stop us from getting my sister back, Mario. If there's something, anything that you're holding back, then don't." His brow furrowed and the corner of his lips sank down. "Look Mario. Screw my friends, okay? I don't mean that in a bad way, just…in a way to say whatever you need to say and get off your chest for Rosalina's sake, do it. She's your fiancé. She can't afford to be endangered because you, or I harbor any resentments-or even that the friends might doubt or dislike any one of us. If there's anything that needs to be said, let it out."

"Would you be willing to do the same thing?" She froze and her eyes widened as he turned is head to her. She could feel her heart throbbing violently in her chest as a dull ache spread over her body. "Think about it Heaven, I'm not the only one with secrets. Neither are they and neither are you."

"I…yes, but…" Her hands began to tremble and she slipped them into her pockets, turning away and tightening her facial muscles. "There are some things I just don't want them to know."

"Exactly. Like your crush on that boy, Daniel ? The thing that keeps popping up, right? Or that your best friend was, is, and always will be Sofia and no matter what your friends do-"

"Enough, okay?" She took a deep breath and released a heavy sigh. "I have dependency issues, I know. I've got fears, that's true. There's even regrets I harbor and whatever, but honestly? What does it matter? Who does it affect besides myself?"

"I think it affects them too. What about getting your life on track? Graduating and going off to college. The only way to get into the college you want to, the one with that science program? They won't accept Hollywood Arts diploma, right?"

She clenched her fists and narrowed her eyes, her body tensed and her chest ached. "Mario. We are in the middle of Hell." She held her breath and threw her glare at him from the corners of her eyes. "We don't need to be separate or divided, and certainly we don't need to be arguing over something that demons and whatever other forces in hell can use against us!"

"I wasn't trying to argue."

"I know, I just don't want to talk about certain things."

"I'm in the same boat." He crossed his arms and started to walk ahead. Heaven watched him closely and drew out a sharp exhale after a loud huff. What did she care if he had a problem with his friends? They all had issues, sure, and there were often times people didn't need to have a reason not to like someone. At the same time, she always knew him to be incredibly patient, he didn't just not like somebody. If ever there was someone he disliked, he had a reason, and usually it was a damn good reason.

"Why does it feel like my sister can never date someone that likes my friends?" She rolled her eyes and stopped herself on that sudden thought. In an instant, she wondered if Hell spanned over entire dimensions. It was impossible, but there were men that crossed her mind that she knew for a fact had never been involved in either hers or Rosalina's life. "What in the…hell was that?"

As she walked, the surrounding environment became shrouded in a haze. Her brow furrowed and her heart began to pulse as an ominous feeling overtook her in this new darkness. Five figures appeared before her, all in black shadows. The center figure revealed himself by stepping out of the shadows. Mario.

"Why are you bothering?" He remarked with a sharpened grin. His arms extended out and he looked to the two men on his right, then the two on his left. "We're just going to take her away from you. You're better off leaving her with Samil." Her breath caught in her throat and she moved her hand to her chest.

"No."

"You and that mother have done nothing but cause her grief," Spoke one of the two men on the right of Mario. Her eyes widened and she violently shook her head.

"N-No, that's not true!"

"That friend of yours?" Spoke the second man on the right. "Waluigi? He'd sooner see her dead than to see her saved!"

"That's a lie!"

"Is it? We could show you."

One of the men on the far left laughed, giving her a start. "Working in Sunset Heights would give her a happier life."

"Or even New Donk," remarked the second man on the left. "Just give up, your pursuit is hopeless. Rosalina doesn't even want to be with you."

Whoever these visions belonged to, Heaven knew they couldn't be right. Even Mario wouldn't talk like this. She grabbed her head and clenched her eyes shut, screaming aloud in the darkness. Was she alone? As her heart raced, she felt someone's hand on her shoulder.

"No!" She screamed and shot her eyelids up only to find herself surrounded by her friends, and Mario kneeling before her with his hand on her shoulder and a concerned look in her eyes. She was panting heavily and gazing back at him with a subtle whimper. "M-Mario? You'd never say that…never…"

"Never say what?" His face softened and his lips fell into a frown. "Are you okay? One minute you were walking, the next you just collapsed."

"What? I?" She looked around her, muttering to herself as he helped her to her feet. "Sorry." It had to be something Samil was doing, trying to shake her up by using her fears against her. Any demon in hell could do this. "It was a trick of Hell, nothing more."

"Okay. Well, as long as it's nothing serious. Just remember, like you were saying, we're all a team."

"Yeah, I know." She dusted off her pants and looked up at Mario. They walked ahead once more to talk while her friends were out of earshot, she didn't want them to hear what happened. "Mario. Can I…can I tell you what happened?"

"Sure."

"There were five men, four I couldn't recognize because they were hidden in the darkness, and the fifth was you." He raised an eyebrow at her and she bowed her head, fixating her gaze on the path in front of her. "I had a sense they were all related to Rosalina, but I don't think that's possible. Yeah, it's impossible, but they were all agreeing with you that Rosalina wanted nothing to do with me." She took in a quick breath and held it as her eyes darted to Mario. His lips parted and his eyebrows rose upwards. "That all she wanted to do was leave me because I made her life miserable, and one of the other men said mom did the same thing, and well…you all said it would be better if I just left Rosalinato die."

Mario stopped walking and she followed suit, he gave her a concerned look and slowly hugged her. "Come here, listen." He leaned back, patting her arms and looking into her eyes with a reassuring smile. " Rosalinahas never and will never say something like that. She loves you, okay? More than life itself." Her heart lifted up and her eyes began to water.

"But I-"

"As much as you say she's your lifeline, you are hers. I hear her say that all the time. I don't think I, or anyone else, would try to take her away from you-and I know for a fact she would never allow that to happen. Not in this world at least, not for all of the grief that you or those friends of yours may have ever given her."

"It felt…so real…"

"You said it yourself just a few minutes ago, Heaven . We're in the middle of Hell, so who knows what tricks that Samil or his demon followers will try. All you need to do is listen to yourself and follow your own way, what you know is correct. If ever you have doubts, concerns, or anything else…let me know. Okay? You're my sister too."

She sniffed and nodded back, hugging him tight. "Thank you." Everyone was relying on her to be stable, so she had to be exactly that. There was no time for grief, no time for falling or succumbing to her fears. Yes, a part of her had been afraid of losing Trina whenever she got married, and a big part of her was still dependent on her.

This was to the point that when Rosalina first started dating, she never got along with the men Rosalina would bring home. The fact that she'd been friends with Sofia when Rosalina and Mario had been friends made things difficult when the two began to date. She finally became okay with it, but a part of her was still afraid.

Samil had to know this, and with that, he had to be using that fear to get to her.

It wasn't going to work.