"I have a mission for you, Kettle. Do you think Ginette will take you to go and visit the boys?"

"She wants to, or so she tells me, but from what I can gather, she's waiting on permission from the Devil."

"Hm. I'm sure he'll let you go up soon. Morale boosts can do wonders for one's physical health. Even he knows that... In any case, hold onto this bread for me, keep it secret and safe. When the Devil gives you permission to see the boys, take it with you, and feed it to them. If anything has a chance at keeping them alive, it's that."

"Of course, you have my word, Miss Chalice."

- Chapter Eight: Sleepless Nights -

10:00 PM, Injection Day.

"The screams finally stopped 5 hours after the procedure. The boys are far from stable, but in the peace and quiet, I can think a little clearer.

The Devil ordered me to move them up into the Devil's Palace -near him. He's absolutely paranoid that this ghost girl from the Calix Animi is going to come back. So, he's requiring me to keep them in a populated space at all times.

Moving them out of the laboratory was literal hell on earth. I couldn't bear to look Elder Kettle in the eye as I took them away. I don't know how I'll ever look that man in the eyes again after everything I've done.

Right now, the Devil has placed us in the staff common room, people are always coming in and out of there. The Devil says it's good for keeping them safe, but I hate it. I can't focus on keeping them alive with people poking and prodding me every five seconds. At least it's my co-workers and not casino patrons. The Devil won't bat an eye at me telling them to piss off.

In any case, my biggest struggle is staying awake. I don't think I've slept more than 2 hours in this last week, and with this ordeal, I won't be sleeping any time soon. I don't have time for it. I'm trapped throwing buckets of water onto a raging wildfire, trying to keep them alive. I don't know how much longer I can do this."

- Excerpt from the personal journal of Ginette, the Devil's appointed scientist.

Cuphead had never felt like he was going to die before, but now he was sure he would. Whatever the Devil had done to him, it left him injured far worse than any physical blow, leaving him to endure a slow and miserable recovery process that seemed to get nastier before it got better.

On the first day, Cuphead's fever raged, going from bad to worse. He threw up almost on cue at the beginning of every hour. He didn't eat and Ginette resorted to having him drink lots of water and juice. She seemed to be just as miserable as he was.

On the second day, the pain went from bad to worse. Whenever he'd flutter into consciousness, he was met with pain unlike anything he'd ever experienced. It hurt to breathe. His throat was raw and his body seared in pain with every rise and fall of his chest. His body was puffed up, swollen, and red, Cuphead could barely recognize himself.

He was laying on a cot next to an unconscious Mugman in a strange room he'd never seen before. It was big, with a roaring fireplace, couches, and game tables. A spot towards the back of the room had been cleared for them. This new room was always busy with others passing through, peering down at the brothers.

Meanwhile, Ginette was at her wit's end with her coworkers. They'd always been a little annoying, but now they were downright detestable. She'd just gotten Cuphead back to sleep when Chips Bettigan waltzed over to irritate her further.

"Holy shit..." Chips exhaled, stopping dead in his tracks to get a good look at the damage. "What did ya do to 'em, Gin?" He laughed, slapping her across the back.

Ginette was in no mood for a visitor distracting her and shot him a glare. "Will you be quiet? It only took me an hour to get the kid back to sleep. Zip it, and go annoy someone else while you're at it."

"Calm down there, eh toots? I ain't judgin', I'm impressed 's all. Us all workin' the casino have been wantin' to get back at these brats real good, but ya outdid us good with this."

"It's not something to be proud of, Chip."

Chips looked dumbfounded by Ginette's attitude. "What? They did it to us first. Ain't it right to give 'em a taste of their own medicine? It's gettin' even, Gin. You ain't going soft, are ya?"

Ginette's annoyed scowl turned into a sharp glare. "No. I'm not. I just know the difference between payback and overkill, unlike you."

"Eesh." Chips said, sauntering away. "Ya give a dame a compliment on a job well done and they go after ya... Ah, women."

Day Two - Post Procedure.

"Am I going soft? I thought not, but now I'm beginning to reconsider.

In the beginning, when the Devil first gave me this mission, I was excited. I'd finally get payback from those cocky brats who'd beaten me and my friends to bloody pulps. But, the deeper I got, the more I loathed my mission.

Then came the testing. Oh, that damned testing nearly broke me. I've been trapped here for sixty years, but I've never been forced to administer such suffering. Watching my creations send innocents into agony. It goes against everything I ever stood for in my life. I learned science and chemistry to help people. Not to hurt them.

Nowadays, I don't know what I want anymore. I thought I wanted revenge, but it had a very bitter taste. I think I want to be numb. To all of this. But, I know if I was numb, who'd be here to stand up to the Devil when he goes too far?"

The first time Cuphead mustered up the strength to speak was the third day. Pirouletta had delivered a fresh pot of soup and Ginette gently took Cuphead's chin, raising the spoonful to his lips.

"Don't touch me." He croaked.

Ginette froze, caught off-guard, but not upset. "You can speak?" She laughed a little, in disbelief. "That's progress!" Her hand still remained on his chin. "I'm glad you're feeling a little better, kid, but you need to eat."

"I said don't touch me. And don't touch my brother either. I remember who you are, and what you did."

The optimistic expression withered from Ginette's face. "I know. I'm sorry. But, I can't disobey the Devil's orders. Same as you. And right now, I have to make sure you eat."

Cuphead sipped the soup, then spat it directly in Ginette's face. "Get away from me."

Ginette's eye twitched, but she said nothing, forcefully putting the refilled spoon back into Cuphead's mouth. Caught unawares, Cuphead instinctively swallowed the liquid. He tried to bite her hand in response but she was too quick.

"You're a bit feral, aren't you, kid?" Ginette sighed, wiping the bits of soup off her face.

"I told you not to touch me, you didn't listen. And don't call me kid." Cuphead said, struggling to move. Each little jostle sent flashes of red hot pain coursing through his body, but he wouldn't let her see him weak.

"Hm, not just feral, also very demanding. A bold move for someone who's half dead." Ginette said, scooping him up in her arms.

That set Cuphead off. "Hey! I said, don't touch me!" He squirmed against her, trying to get free.

"Easy, easy, kid. I'm adjusting your bed to get you comfortable, that's all."

Cuphead glanced over to see her using a bit of magic to make his bed. She removed the blanket stained with soup and got him a new one as well as a wet cloth for his forehead. That surprised him.

With an exhausted sigh, Ginette sat on the side of his cot, still holding him. "Listen. I know you don't like me. And, guess what? I don't really like you either. Getting beaten up by you and your brother wasn't a great first impression, I admit. But, I'm here to take care of you, okay? The Devil ordered it, so even if I wanted to strangle you in the middle of the night, I couldn't. All I'm asking is that you let me keep you alive. Nothing more. Nothing less. Can you do that for me?"

Cuphead rolled his eyes. "Okay. Fine."

"Excellent." Ginette set him down on the bed, tucking him in. "Now why don't we try eating some food again?"

"Whatever you say, lady."

"Great. Thanks, kid." Ginette said, smiling sincerely. It was weird. For someone who said she didn't like him, Ginette was pretty nice when Cuphead wasn't fighting her. He didn't trust it.

"I said don't call me kid." He huffed.

"Oh please." Ginette laughed. "I'm seventy years older than you. I think I can call you kid."

That threw Cuphead for a loop, but he didn't say anything. He didn't want Ginette to get the satisfaction of knowing he was intrigued.

Day Four, Post-Procedure.

"Things are marginally better. Both brothers are eating and drinking. An excellent sign.

Cuphead likes to move about and talks quite a bit, which is surprising. I don't like admitting it, but, I'm beginning to not detest these boys. While when I first met them, they beat me senselessly, I do realize they had little choice in the matter. For these past few months, I chose to be bitter at them. It was a scapegoat of sorts. But seeing them now... They're just children.

They remind me so much of my little brothers and sisters. I wonder how old they all are now... No child should be forced to do what the Devil made those brothers do. I see that now. But, there's not much I can do to help except care for them while I can."

While Cuphead got better with each passing day, Mugman was not so lucky. His fever was up to 108° and he'd only wake up for bouts of 10 minutes at most. He was almost certain he was going to die. The boy didn't remember much besides entering the lab and the injection. How many days had passed since then?

Luckily, he wasn't alone. He would hear Cuphead talking sometimes. It was a relief to hear his brother's voice. If only he had the strength to turn his head, and signal to his brother: "I'm here! I'm still alive!"

Ginette's presence was also an enormous comfort to Mugman. She was always sitting at his side, spoon-feeding him soup several times a day and keeping him clean. Mugman wasn't sure if she'd left them even once. She looked exhausted, but he'd never seen her sleep. When she wasn't caring for him or Cuphead, she'd be writing notes on their progress -or lack thereof- and sneaking sips of booze when she thought no one was looking.

She'd been drunk the first time the brothers met her, so Mugman wasn't surprised. Elder Kettle told him once that some people would rely on alcohol to deal with pain. Was Ginette in pain? He didn't have enough energy to ponder the question. He groaned, his head was pounding. His voice sounded so strange. Like a gurgle. Ginette's head whipped around, she slammed down her bottle of booze and hurried back to his side.

"It's okay, it's okay. Don't strain yourself, Mugman. Easy. Drink some water."

Mugman smiled feebly, unable to speak. Ginette was so kind to them, especially when no one else was there. She'd sing songs under her breath, make sure the boys were comfortable. Mugman wondered if this was what a mother was like. He'd never had one before. One of the few things that kept him going was pretending Ginette was his mother, taking care of her sick children. Mugman never voiced this, of course, but it was a comforting fantasy. Much better than the reality of his situation...

He met her eyes, mouthing the words: "Thank you."

Ginette froze, her mouth agape. Were those tears welling up in her eyes? No, she was drunk, that was all it was. She wiped them away and squeezed his hand reassuringly. Mugman quickly faded back into sleep. It had taken all his energy just to groan and mouth a few words. Would he even be able to say goodbye to Cuphead before he died? He hoped so.

Day Seven, Post-Procedure.

"For the first time, Mugman made a sound tonight. I thought he was choking at first, or it was a gurgling death rattle, but to my relief, he hasn't passed on yet. His fever remains dangerously high despite my best efforts, but maybe this is the herald of change.

Once I heard the sound, I hurried over to his side and he was actually awake! Then, he mouthed two words, looking up at me with nothing but appreciation in his eyes: "Thank you."

I think I have actually gone soft, cause seeing him mouth those two little words brought me to tears. Something changed inside me. A warmth came alive in my heart that I haven't felt in a long long time... The last time I felt that strange warm feeling was before I lost my soul. I'd come home, the town's new doctor. I helped deliver a baby. Seeing that little child brought warmth to my heart. A protectiveness. A pride. Love.

I have to hide it. If the Devil finds out, he'll use it against me, I'm sure of that."

After Cuphead's first disagreement with Ginette, he didn't try and fight with her again. Firstly, he couldn't do much in terms of fighting. All she had to do was pick him up and that was the end of it. And second, as much as he didn't trust her, she didn't seem to want them dead or in pain. She was always very mild and kind toward them, even if she tried to hide it. At first, he tried to keep pretending to hate her. It was as much of a win as he would get. But that didn't last long.

It was early in the morning on the tenth day. Cuphead was lying in bed, bored as ever. Ginette was humming a song, sitting over at her desk, testing out different combinations of chemicals.

"It's in case the Devil orders me to administer a second dose." She told Cuphead. "I doubt he'd be that stupid, but I have to prepare for the worst-case scenario."

"Speakin' in worst-case... If he was gonna make us get a second dose, when do you think he would?" Cuphead asked. His eyes were fixed on the colorful liquids.

"If he was that dumb, he wouldn't order it anytime soon. My guess would be if at all, he would in a couple of months." Ginette said, giving Cuphead a reassuring smile. "I'm sure it won't happen, kiddo. I just want to try and be prepared. In any case, it gives me something to do. I'm sure you get that, you're probably much more bored than I am."

"You got that right." Cuphead sighed, glancing over at Mugman. "I just wish Mugsy would wake up... Things would be a lot better then."

"Me too, kid, me too..." Ginette said, setting down her equipment, and sitting beside Cuphead. "You worrying about him?"

He nodded.

"He's woken up a few times while you were sleeping," Ginette said. "He'll be okay, it may just... Take him a little longer to get there."

"Okay..." Cuphead said, not sounding convinced. Mugman looked so weak, struggling to just breathe. What if he didn't make it?

Ginette noticed his unease. "I can try and wake him up if you'd like. I don't know if he'll be up to talk, but I'm sure he'd be happy to see you up."

"Could you?" Cuphead exclaimed, perking up at that. "I... I'd really like that."

"I'll try my best," Ginette said, picking up the asleep Mugman. While Cuphead had recoiled when Ginette picked him up, Mugman instinctively nuzzled into her arms. She noticed Cuphead staring and said, "He still isn't able to move his head. From what I can tell, he's in a lot of pain. It's easier for him to see you if I prop him up on me." As she spoke, Ginette shook him awake. "Hey... Mugman, it's your brother. He wants to see you."

Groaning, Mugman's eyes fluttered open. "Mmm... Cuphead? Is that you?" His voice sounded distorted and weak, not at all like the Mugman that Cuphead was used to. But it was his brother. That was all that mattered.

Tears welled up in Cuphead's eyes and he reached out to his brother even though it was painful to move. "Yeah Mugsy. It's me..."

Mugman looked terrible, his eyes were bloodshot, his whole body covered in patches of red, but he had the biggest grin on his face. "Thank goodness you're okay."

The brothers talked for hours -Cuphead did most of the talking, but Mugman would chime in every now and then. Ginette was impressed to see them staying awake for this long. The Devil even sent hot cocoa down. Usually, any mention of the Devil would sour the mood, but today was an exception.

"Y'know, Ginette? I didn't expect you to be so nice." Cuphead said, sipping his hot cocoa. "When I first saw you in the lab, I figured you were gonna try and kill us, but I guess not.

Ginette grimaced. "Yeah... In the end, I'm just as trapped as you are, kiddo. Believe me."

"You are?"

"Mhm. Once upon a time, long long ago, I wasn't much older than you when I got swindled into selling my soul away. The Devil's been at this game for thousands upon thousands of years." Ginette gestured to the staff common room. "Everyone you see walking through here: They all have their own story of how they got tricked by the Devil." She bitterly chuckled. "We're all not too different from you boys."

"Even King Dice?" Mugman asked.

"Yep." Ginette said. Her face contorted a little at the mention of his name. "I was here when King arrived... He's a lot different now than how he used to be, that's all I'll say on that. This place has a reputation for changing people." She looked at the brothers. "Don't let it change you, okay?"

They nodded. "I'd rather die than change," Cuphead said. "I never wanna give the Devil that satisfaction."

"If only it were that easy." Ginette thought, but she said nothing. She didn't want to shatter their dreams. Maybe they could escape in a way she hadn't yet thought of, though she doubted it.

It was about 1'o clock in the morning on the thirteenth day when the Devil came to visit. The boys were asleep and Ginette was having a drink, leaning out the open window. She winced when she saw the Devil and bowed.

"What can I do for you, boss?" She said, downing the rest of her drink.

"How are they doing? Up for another round of doses? Unless, of course, they've shown signs of the serum working."

Ginette's frown turned into a fully-fledged glare. "Another dose? Boss, have you lost your damn mind? They're already half-dead as it is. You want me to put this last nail in the coffin, do you?"

"Watch your tone, Gin-"

"Oh? I watch my tone? What about you watch what words come outta your mouth! You cannot seriously be this stupid."

"Ginette. Stop. You're drunk. Don't get ahead of yourself and say something you don't mean, hmm?" The Devil chuckled, giving her a warning look.

In response, Ginette rolled her eyes and looked away from him. "Yes I'm drunk, but I mean every single word I'm saying.

I... I don't want these kids to die, boss. And another dose? That's a death sentence, plain and simple."

"I understand. You care for these boys. Much more than you thought you would." The Devil said, putting a hand on her shoulder. She recoiled. "This is exactly why I chose you for this task, Ginette. If anyone would do their damnedest to take care of those boys, it's you." He smiled warmly, looking from the boys to her. "Don't think I forgot your request from all those decades ago."

Ginette's blood went cold.

"Ahh, what was it you wanted? Oh yes, a family." The Devil gestured to the boys. "And here they are Ginette. Congratulations. Two little boys, who've never had a mother. Orphans. All you have to do to have your perfect little family is keep them alive." He grinned. "A perfect motivator, wouldn't you think?"

"Quit playing with my emotions and trying to put thoughts in my head." Ginette hissed. "They're not my sons. They don't like me and I don't like them."

"Of course." The Devil slyly replied. "But then, why would you care about them living so much, hm? I'm not playing with your emotions, dear. I'm stating the obvious."

Her face went red at that comment. Was she really this soft and manipulatable? The Devil reached down and scooped up Mugman. Ginette intuitively went to step between the Devil and the boy but stopped herself midway.

The Devil laughed. "There's my point proven." He held Mugman's asleep body out to her. "Go on, take him. I know you get anxious when I hold him. I'm sure all mothers do that, yes?"

"Stop it." Ginette said, quickly taking Mugman from him. The boy snuggled into her arms the moment she took him, making the Devil's smile grow even wider.

He approached Ginette, grabbing her hand and placing it on Mugman's chest. "Feel his heart beating. Rather weak, isn't it?" He met her eyes. "You have one week to perfect the serum before the second dose. And if you fail, I need not punish you. I think all the punishment you need will be from holding your dear Mugman's lifeless body."

"Get. Out." Ginette snarled, clutching Mugman tighter.

"As you wish, dear." The Devil said, mockingly waving to her.

"And get me an assistant," Ginette called out after him. "If you want these boys alive next week, I'll need some help."

"Ooh, a demanding mother, It's rare to see you so bold." The Devil giggled. "Who did you have in mind?"

"Elder Kettle."

Crash!

Elder Kettle's cell door flew open with a bang. He leaped to his feet, preparing for what awaited him. But it was only an exhausted Ginette who greeted him.

"Today's your lucky day." She said. The poor woman looked like she hadn't slept in days. "You're getting to see your boys. Don't piss anyone off and the Devil will let you stay up there with them. I need your help to take care of them. Keep them alive. Do you think you can do that?"

Elder Kettle beamed with tears in his eyes for the first time in a long long time. "Yes. I think I can."

The pair hurried up the stairs and out of the dungeon. "I don't like leaving them for very long," Ginette explained. "It worries me too much."

Elder Kettle was intrigued by Ginette's kindness. She genuinely did seem to care for his sons. Perhaps the people here weren't all bad after all.

Ginette opened the door to the staff common room, letting Elder Kettle go in first. He was almost brought to tears. There they were. His boys. Both fast asleep. He couldn't help but smile. They looked much better than when he'd seen them last.

"You've done a good job caring for them." He said, sitting between the two cots. "I can't say I didn't suspect you at first, but. You have quite the heart, Miss Ginette, despite what the Devil makes you do."

Ginette gave him a feeble smile. "Save your compliments Kettle, I don't think you're going to like me after you hear what I have to tell you."

"Another dose?" Kettle gripped his cane so hard his knuckles were white.

Ginette was on the floor, refusing to make eye contact. "It's not my call... I told him over and over that it was suicide, but he won't listen to me. The most he would do for me is bring you up here so I could have you look after the boys while I work on stabilizing the serum. So... I took him up on the offer and here you are."

"How long do we have?" Elder Kettle murmured, looking at the boys.

"A week at the most. It's a complete shitshow -sorry for the language."

"And what if they start showing signs before a week is up?"

"Heh. If that happened, that would be a miracle." Ginette said. "Their bodies are undergoing intense changes. So, they don't have enough energy to stay alive and adapt to the serum in their systems. Now, if they were healed overnight, maybe then their powers would be able to grow, but I don't think that would happen. Statistically, it's a one-in-a-million chance, if that. But, in the hypothetical situation where they did magically heal overnight, maybe the Devil would stop pushing the second dose. He's impatient, that's the crux of it. If we give him the results he wants, he'll be pacified, but not till then."

Elder Kettle nodded, clutching the loaf of bread wrapped in blankets. This was his chance. "Why don't you get some sleep, Miss? I'll look after them and I promise not to wake them. Goodness knows they need their sleep."

Ginette's eyes lit up. "You would? God, thank you. You don't know how much I've needed this sleep." She stumbled into an armchair, curling up. "Just... Please don't try anything stupid, Kettle, okay? I want them rescued as much as you do, but if you tried anything, all that you'd get was pain and suffering."

"I know." Kettle murmured. "Don't worry... The Sight gave me quite the insight into the Devil's plan. I know better than to test my luck."

"Good... Thank you for understanding... I just. I don't want those boys to have to endure any more pain." Ginette said. She was slipping away fast. Within the next few minutes, she was asleep.

Elder Kettle took a deep breath. Waiting another half an hour to be sure she was asleep. He was sure Ginette would've tried to stop him, but he couldn't take that chance.

One by one, he shook his sons awake. Neither of them quite comprehended it was actually their Elder Kettle here and not a dream. Still, they ate the bread all the same. Mugman almost choked, but Kettle sat him up to help him keep it down. Then, he let them drift back off to sleep. They needed it. As much as he wanted them to be awake and realize it was him, now wasn't the time. They had to fight this. They had to heal.

It has halfway through the night when Ginette woke with a start. There had been a loud bang. Elder Kettle was on the ground like he'd fallen over. One of Ginette's cabinets had been knocked over, all kinds of chemicals spilling out of it.

She turned to Kettle, eyes wide. "What did you do?" She hissed.

He pointed to Cuphead, still asleep, stretched out across the cot. His feet were hanging off the edge, right where the cabinet used to be.

"He kicked it in his sleep." Elder Kettle whispered.

"No... No way." Ginette scrambled over, taking a look at the fallen cabinet. There was a foot-shaped hole in the wood. Like someone with inhuman strength had kicked it with all their might.

Ginette and Kettle stared at each other, astounded.

"Oh my god... It worked."