I open my eyes, into another summer morning. I leave the bed and go to the bedside table, there is still water in the jug. I fill the bowl and wash my face in front of the small mirror on the wall. My face looks better today, I had peace last night.

I face the cross next to the mirror, a gift my family gave me when I chose this path. I say my prayers before changing my clothes.

The morning breakfast needs to be prepared for me and the priest, as well as for the needy. As usual, before starting this task, I will visit them to see how they are doing.

Adjacent to the church is a house that functions as an infirmary and retirement home. People with illnesses that cannot afford treatment, or elderly people that their families can no longer take care of, are the main frequenters. There are not many people, we cannot do much, but it is still a hard task. I had been sent by the convent for this experience and trial, so that I would be worthy in the future to become a wife of Christ.

The task is lighter lately, because there is someone very special. Claire is a little angel, bedridden due to typhoid fever. Her parents can afford her medicine, but, for that, they both work all day and cannot look after her.

I greet each person in the house and soon find what I expected: the child's big smile upon seeing me. It is great my happiness to see how much better she looks. I ask, "Didya sleep well last night?"

The child speaks up, "Yes, sistah Luci."

I am still a novice, I had already explained to her, but it was no use. I keep my smile and say, "This means that the medicine is workin'. Keep takin' it 'nd ya'll be back home soon."

"Ah..." Claire makes a pout. "But then ya won't come ta see me anymoah."

"But this isn't a place for a child ta stay," I reply and then ask, "ya miss playin', don'tcha? Also yah friends, yah parents. Ya'll be able ta see me when ya come ta the mass."

Claire starts moving her lips from side to side, it was her little quirk when she had no arguments.

I run my hand over her forehead to see if she was feverish, while I look at the small table beside the bed. The jug of water was almost empty, a sign that she had drink enough, but there was still more than half of the bread. "Ya didn't eat yestahday's bread?"

Claire speaks softly, "I couldn't."

"Dya have a tummy ache?" I ask.

She shakes her head.

"Ya hafta eat," I say, being quite serious, "even if I hafta put the food in yah mouth."

The child sighs and says, "It's just that I don't wanna get the sheets dirty again..."

I bring, with the tip of my foot, a basin that is under the bed. It is empty. "But ya're managin' ta go ta the toilet by yahself, aren't ya? I can put a diapah on ya again."

"I don't want a diapah!" Claire raises her voice.

I cross my arms as I understand everything. "So that's what ya're afraid of. Ya don't hafta worry, ya're bettah now."

Claire is still sulky.

I already know the remedy for that. I lean toward her and whisper, "Will ya have peanut buttah for breakfast? Theah's still some left."

The child's face immediately changes to one of amazement.

"But ya'll hafta eat it with that bread." It is a form of punishment, I know the bread should be dry and hard by now.

Claire looks at the bread, she should know too. Nonetheless, she nods.

"We're set." I smile, but then I look at the open window behind the bed. A car was coming down the road, raising a trail of dust. When it gets closer, I can see that it has military colors. When I can no longer see it through the window, I pay attention to the sound. I feel the car pass in front of the house and then stop. My heart tightens.

"Sistah Luci?"

I look at Claire. She is curious and I realize that my smile has gone.

"Who is?" The child asks.

She is a very smart little angel and had noticed what had caught my attention. I try to give my best smile. "Looks like we have a surprise visitor. I'll look for the priest 'nd then... Peanut buttah breakfast!"

Claire raises her arms, happy. "Yaaay!"

I give one last nod to her and hurry out of the house. I enter the church through the side door and walk to the main entrance.

The big, heavy wooden doors are slightly open. I stand close to them and can hear voices coming from outside. I can recognize the priest's voice, but I cannot discern what they are talking about. Through the small opening I am not able to see anything and I see no choice but to open it further.

Then I see the priest standing near the car, talking to men in military uniforms. One of them is clearly an officer, wearing a fancy hat, the other two are soldiers, carrying rifles and helmets.

One of the soldiers looks at me. His face is still that of a boy, he can only be a few years older than me, maybe even the same age. He greets me, tipping his helmet.

My heart quickens.

"Lucinda!"

And my heart speeds up even more when I hear the priest. He, like the officer, is looking at me.

"Go back inside."

I quickly close the door and remain inside the church, praying and waiting. When men in military uniforms are involved, the news can be very bad.

Soon I hear the sound of the car leaving and the priest enters the church. I ask, without hiding my distress, "What happened? What did they say?"

He is different from me, an old man with a calm voice. "They want more hands ta help with their hospital ship."

I end up assuming. "So, we..."

"No, Lucinda," the priest says, "I told them that we're too busy, we already have too many people ta take care of."

I do not understand why he lied. "But if someone comes ta us for help, we always seek ta do somethin', even if it's little."

The priest stated, "Takin' care of sick or old people is different from gunshot wounds."

I shake my head, still convinced that this was not right. "I know how ta stop bleedin', clean wounds, make bandages. We can save lives."

"We will not get involved in this war!" The priest raised his voice.

I am surprised by the reaction.

He says, "We will not help men who are killin' each othah."

We would be saving lives, I still do not understand the priest's position. Then I see him take off his glasses and wipe the dust that was on the lenses, something I know he does when he is nervous about something, something he is hiding from me. I try to deduce from what I know, "Is this 'cause the Japanese would be near the coast?"

"So, even you heard that." He smiled as he put his glasses back on. "Those are rumors ta impress young folks like ya. That's how the army gets new recruits."

No, it could not be just that. I say, "Theah're whole families leavin' the city."

"God bless them." The priest returns to the door. "I won't be in for breakfast."

"Wheah're ya goin'?" I ask.

"The chemist. I asked him ta book some medicines that're in short supply heah. The military are takin' everythin'!"

I watch him leave, feeling that this was the way he found to end the matter. I stop thinking about it and go to prepare breakfast, with peanut butter.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

It is night, the only source of light in my room are the stars in the sky, visible through the open window.

With my vision accustomed to darkness, kneeling beside the bed, I pray. My heart is heavy, the war is every day more present in our lives, it kept growing, threatening to devour the whole world, to devour Claire's smile.

I whisper, "God, what can yah servant do? This conflict is so great and vast, and my actions seem so small and insignificant."

[You can make a wish.]

He is here. He has come back to torment me. I look out the window and see the shadow of the spawn of hell, with its pair of glowing red eyes.

He leaps and lands on the bed. [Have you considered further what I told you?]

I stand up and step back. He may look like a small animal, but evil has many forms. "Get out, demon! I told ya I didn't wanna see ya evah again."

He hangs his head to one side, but his face never changes, it is something that terrifies me. He says, without opening his mouth, [Still insisting on that? I am not a demon, I am Kyuubey, a herald of magic.]

I take the cross that is on the wall and hug myself to it. Only Christ to protect me from that. "A demon, therefore."

He wags his long fluffy tail. He tries to be 'cute,' but he is cold. [You are not the first girl who has mistaken me for something else. There have been girls who thought I was an angel.]

"Ya deceived them, it's yah nature," I reply, the cross warming me, God giving me strength.

[I do not lie and I will demonstrate this by sharing with you something that I usually avoid at first. I am not a demon, nor an angel, but it is true that I am not from this world.] The white-furred creature looks up at the starry sky. [I have observed you enjoying these stars. I come from a distant world, which orbits one of them.] He looks back at me. [Are you aware that you live on a planet? That your species called it Earth.]

"I can read," I reply, feeling even offended, "I've read fantasy stories about it."

[It's not fantasy, but you must believe that a god created this world by `parting the waters' into two parts and placing a 'firmament' to keep them apart, a kind of dome.]

I reply, full of conviction, "He created everythin'."

[The Bible does not mention that he created other worlds. We read it, as well as everything else mankind has written, to understand you better. Still, it is very difficult to understand the concept of god, it is something unique in your kind, and that was the key for us to discover a way to compensate the entropy.] The creature's eyes seem to be shining brighter. [When we arrived on this world, there were no civilizations yet. We observed how you humans reacted to natural phenomena. Instead of searching for a reasonable explanation, as other species in the universe naturally do, you attributed the cause to a being, based on some animal or yourselves, gave this invention a name and stories, and began to worship it. At first, we believed that this madness would simply impede the progress and survival of your species, but then we noticed that impossible or improbable phenomena, what you call miracles, occurred with great frequency. We identified that they were more common where there was a strong worship, where there was a great deal of faith, and the basis of faith is emotions...]

What is that speech? He talks and talks. I feel compelled to cover my ears, but I remember that it did not work the other times.

He finally asks, [Why do you believe that the universe is the result of the work of an intelligent being? What created god?]

That is something I understand. "God is not creature, but creator. He is the eternal Father, He has always existed."

[Uh-huh...] Kyuubey flicks his little pair of ears. [Based on that principle, then I assert that the universe was not created, it has always existed. It is not immutable, however, and the time will come when nothing complex can exist within it. Since another universe cannot be created, then no effort and resources can be spared to keep it as it is.]

He says nonsense again. Does he want to drive me crazy? I am stunned. "Stop this blasphemy!"

[I can feel the energy of your faith, it is no coincidence that you have potential, but you will have to bring proof that my belief is wrong.] He continues to speak. [You see, scholars of your kind are always trying to demonstrate the existence of the divine. A good example is Tommaso d'Aquino and his arguments known as the 'Five Ways'. Each reasoning ends with the conclusion that there is something that can be called god. Very pretentious, but it shows how close humanity is to understand. Why not admit that god is just a label assigned to the universe?]

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop... stop..." I collapse to the floor. I am lost, like Christ in the desert. Yet, every time the devil tempted Him, He had an answer. I have nothing, I understand nothing. God protects me, but I cannot do the same for Him. "Stop... stop ... st... op..."

[It seems that this was too much for you. That's the reason I avoid exposing the whole truth at once.] He continues to torment me. [What I mean is that although the idea of god is nothing more than a baseless delusion, miracles are real phenomena, and one can happen right now if you make a contract with me and become a magical girl. You just have to make a wish.]

I no longer look at him, I keep my face against the floor.

[If you can't do it now, no problem. I'm leaving, but I should see you soon.]

I cannot feel him leaving my room, but there is silence now. Still, I keep myself lying on the floor, praying, all night long if I have to.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

"Were ya tempted by a demon?"

I am in the priest's office and I confessed. I had expected his surprise. "This has been goin' on for a while now. He doesn't show up every night, but he's very persistent. Besides blasphemy, he wants ta change me, ta turn me away from God, I feel it in every hair of my body.

"I see..." The priest nods.

I begin to feel more relieved. "I was so afraid that ya would think I was crazy. I was afraid to tell ya, but I don't know what else ta do. Ya might know some rite, some prayah, even if ya're not an exorc-"

The priest gestures with his hand for me to stop talking. He is no longer looking at me, scratching his forehead as she seems to be thinking a lot. "First of all, I would like ta know if during those moments of temptation ya felt... heat."

"It's summah." I am appalled, but I manage to contain myself. I confess to him that I am being tormented by a demon and he asks me about trivialities!

"Uh-huh." He removes his glasses to clean its lenses.

I wait patiently.

When he puts his glasses back on, he reveals, "I was expectin' ta tell ya this latah, but I see it has ta be now. I have sent a lettah ta the convent."

"Oh..." That brings back good memories, but it also makes me worried. It was rare for the priest to send a letter there, because it was far away and the reply takes time, it could only be something important.

The priest is quite serious when he says, "Ya'll return theah."

My heart seems to plummet in my stomach. "W-What did I do wrong?"

"No, no!" He shakes his head. "Ya've made a great contribution here in Darwin. I put only praise in the lettah, I'm sure ya'll make an excellent nun."

I still do not understand. "But I should stay heah for at least anothah year. The convent will not-"

"Lucinda," he interrupts me, "this war, these men... It's not bein' a good influence for ya. You just confessed that ta me now!"

So that is it. Is the war affecting me? I realize that the demon has the colors of the Japanese flag. Could it be a hallucination due to fear and stress?

The priest concludes, "In these difficult times, ya need ta be safe in a secluded place ta meditate and pray. It should still take more than a week ta receive an answer from the convent, ya'll go about yah routine normally durin' that time."

I have nothing to protest, he is right. And even if he was wrong, the convent would be the ideal place to guard me from demonic influence.

"Let's see the othahs, we've ta continue God's work."

I follow the priest to the house next to the church.

Claire, seeing me, already announces, "Sistah Luci! I ate the whole bread."

"Very good." I smile, but I feel anguish. Of course, she will be fine and out soon, but contrary to what I had said, she will not be able to see me anymore. I have to find the best way to tell her this and undo this involuntary lie.

My concern is overtaken by the sudden sound of the city sirens. I exchange glances with the priest.

He sighs, showing he is more annoyed than anything else. "Anothah drill, let's get people ta the cellar."

I go to Claire. "We've ta go."

The child was already leaving the bed. "Is it the room full of bottles again?"

"Yes."

She grumbles. "I don't like theah. It's all enclosed 'nd theah are spidahs."

I hold her hand, hoping to convey courage. "That's why it's a safe place, no one will find us."

Claire looks at me, eyes of innocence. "Not even my parents?"

"They're goin' ta hide too." I need to smile. "Until everythin' goes back ta normal."

I hear a loud sound, distant, but the fear I felt left me without doubt, it was an explosion. Soon after, bursts of gunfire. I look at the priest.

He has his eyes wide open, it is the first time I have seen him scared. He pulls out of that state and raises his voice, "Quick!"

People hurries up, some asking for God's protection. I too pray for this silently, as I hold Claire's arm tightly to guide her. She is crying with fear.

Oh, God! War comes to us, with sounds of engines coming from the sky. Louder, closer, soon it seems to come from everywhere.

Screams and cries, there are many people wanting to get out through the only door in the house. The cellar is in the church, now it seems too far away, but I do not give up, for I hold a child's life in my hand. The windows are an alternative, I pull Claire by the arm and

Pain.

I open my eyes. I smell earth and smoke, something is burning. I realize I am lying on the ground, I try to move but I cannot. Something heavy is pressing against my body, it is hard to breathe.

I hear gunshots, engines, all now so far away. I look up at the sky, but all I can see are black clouds. Where is the ceiling? The rubble around me reminds me.

Claire.

My hand is empty. I do not know where she is, I struggle to crawl, but the pain keeps getting worse. My head throbs, a hot liquid flows down my face, I am exhausted.

"Claire..." I do not have enough breath to shout. I open my eyes wide, wanting to stay alert to look around.

Then I see.

Under rubble near me is a puddle of bright red contrasting with the black sooty ground. In the puddle was an arm, which at first glance looked more like a piece of burnt wood. The hand was tiny, like that of an angel.

I try to crawl out again, to no avail. It is close, so close. I stretch as hard as I can, I want to hold that hand, I want to apologize for letting it go. I want to...

[This is useless, she's dead.]

As soon as I hear the demon's voice, he lands in front of me, his white fur blackened by ashes. He must be feeling at home.

[I wasn't sure if you would wake up, but as long as you were alive, I kept waiting.]

I avoid looking at it. I want to give my soul to God, but my time has not come.

[Be assured that you are about to die. Your legs are on fire, but you don't feel it, because your spine has been crushed, as has your abdomen. In fact, that is the only thing keeping you alive. Even if someone shows up now, there is nothing they can do, because if they remove this debris, you will suffer catastrophic hemorrhage and die in seconds.] He keeps talking, [The only way you can survive is to make a contract with me and become a magical girl. Just make a wish.]

I gather my breath to say, "I don't want..."

[Lucinda Gray Turner.]

I look at him. I should not be surprised, but him saying my full name is terrifying.

[I don't understand. Are you still waiting for a divine intervention? This place is supposed to be sacred, but your beliefs haven't protected you from the concrete things, like the bombs.] He is so close that I see my reflection in his red eyes. [No one will remember your faith when entropy does the ultimate takeover of your flesh and bones. Do you really want to waste your soul like that?]

He says many wrong and strange things, but he is right about something. I want to make a difference. Dying now, I would be no different than a stillborn.

[Gods don't do miracles, because they don't exist, but you can do one.]

Miracles. What is a miracle to a demon? I ask, "Is it possible to undo what has happened? Can Claire live again?"

The creature nods. [Yes, that is possible.]

Bring them back to life, to die again in this war? Sordid, that is what the demon expects of me. So, I ask, "Can I put an end to this war?"

[You can wish for it.]

But that will come to nothing. I do not know much about this war, only that it started in Europe, putting an end to it may end up starting another one. I do not understand the hearts of men, only God can. Only God...

[I see that you have decided what you want.]

The demon is cold, but very shrewd about my countenance. I am determined. If there is any truth in what he says, I will make a difference, even if I die soon.

The demon extends its long pair of ears toward me, as if they were arms. [If you can no longer speak, you can communicate through your thoughts. Make your wish.]

I still have a breath. "I wish..."

The air between me and the demon seems to stir. His fur sways and there is a faint shimmer.

"You..." But I am no longer afraid. "And all of yah kind. I want y'all ta believe in GOD!"

A light blinds me, but I can hear him clearly. [This wish... Do you have any idea what you have done?]

I cannot answer, as a pain suddenly grows in my chest. "IIIIAAAAAAUGHHHhhh..." I scream uncontrollably, thinking it is my heart, but then the pain is ripped from me.

[This contains more energy than expected.] the demon comments. [Faith has so much power... Maybe there is something that explains it. From that perspective, it is worth considering god in theory, since humans have such intimacy with those entities.]

I feel no more pain and the rubble above me seems to be lighter. I do not understand half of what he says, but my wish seems to have had an effect. God is watching over me, I knew it, He is blessing me for having made the right choice.

For Claire, for the priest, and for all who are with You in Your glory, I must have made the right choice.

I must have.

Agnus Dei

"Can't you turn that camera any further?" Generalíssima questioned.

Invader shook her head. "There's no way. It wasn't put there to observe the outside, since it's most often closed and it's a dark cave." Then, she suggested, "I can infiltrate the camera image and see what's going on. The recording has no sound, so I won't be able to hear anything, unfortunately."

"Don't do that," Generalíssima said, "save your magic, you'll need it."

"Goddamn it!" Revenant complained, "Why haven't they invaded yet? What're these witches waitin' fawr?"

Lucky, very tense, cogitated, "Maybe Madre is tellin' them about how many of us are heah 'nd our abilities.

"That doesn't make sense," Generalíssima disagreed, "Madre could use telepathy. She would have told about everything before she even got to the gate."

"Whatevah she's doin', we should just go ovah theah right now 'n put an end ta those scum." A flash of white light and Revenant was in her magical girl costume. "Whadya think?"

The question was directed to Generalíssima, but it was Invader who replied, "It could be a trap."

"Yes, it may be," Generalíssima agreed and pondered, "with Madre, our enemies know very well what we are capable of, while we know almost nothing about them. They may be waiting for us to make the first move under this disadvantage."

Lucky tugged her rabbit ears, with sorrow. "So, we're still gonna wait..."

Without hiding her displeasure, Revenant huffed and crossed her arms.

Invader kept her focus on the security camera image, trying to observe any movement.

Meanwhile, Generalíssima sent a telepathic message. [Madre, we saw everything. You must have a plan, but it won't matter. I'm sad that it's you, however, I'll make it clear: I'll kill you, personally.]

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

In the cave, the girls had no idea how to react to the sudden appearance of the tunnel and the woman in armor.

The only exception was Oriko, she passed the instructions to the others telepathically. [My recent vision goes as far as this. So, don't make any rash attitudes or sudden movements. Also, have friendly faces, please.]

The woman was still smiling, but with each passing second it seemed to be more forced.

Oriko took the initiative, bowing slightly, "I am Oriko Mikuni. I apologize for our unexpected visit, we did not come with hostile intentions. I would like to ask if you would be a member of the Souls' Sisterhood."

"Yes, I am." The woman nodded. "Ya may call me Madre."

Homura had some notion of English, much due to the need to read weapon manuals in the past, but that conversation was beyond her ability, both parties spoke too fast.

Is she a native speaker? Her English is more nasal than I am used to hearing. Oriko expressed a bigger smile. "'Madre', right? I thank you for your cordiality in attending us, we were not sure if we would be welcomed due to... some circumstances. It is about those circumstances that I would like to see your other members to discuss and resolve possible misunderstandings."

"Misunderstandings, of course." Madre did not return the smile, it was gone. "Before that, I need ta ask if ya're witches."

Oriko froze.

Even though the other girls did not understand the language, they noticed the blonde's reaction and became concerned.

"It is natural for you to ask." Oriko relaxed her posture. "And, yes, we all are, I will not lie. However, I must also say that we are not the witches that we all magical girls used to hunt."

"Yes, ya're much more than mere witches." Madre changed her posture, her hands were no longer together.

Oriko's eyes widened.

Many shields, of different sizes, shapes and materials, appeared at once behind the group of girls, forming a tall wall.

Kazumi summed up her surprise, "Holy crackers!"

[Do not react! Do not invoke your weapons! She is just testing us.] Oriko explained as fast as she could. [If you try anything, she will collapse the whole cave. Our only way to escape would be through the tunnel, but we will not get past this woman, I am sure of it.]

The metal of Madre's armor began to emit an ominous red glow.

Homura slowly put her hand behind her, intending to summon an hourglass.

[Leave your hand where she can see it, NOW!]

Oriko's sudden demand on her mind interrupted her plans. Homura also noticed that the woman in armor was looking in her direction.

Kyouko gritted her teeth. [Is this another one of your visions, Oriko? Because it's looking more like she's going to bury us anyway.]

[My conversation with her is not over yet.] Oriko took a deep breath to pull herself together.

As the armor glowed crimson, Madre made no movement, as if waiting for a decisive moment.

Oriko bowed more this time. "I am sorry that I overestimated your trust in us. You have every right to doubt everything I have said, but I reiterate that we mean no harm. What kind of evidence would you accept to prove that I am being honest?"

"Is theah any evidence?"

"Huh?" Oriko looked at the woman again, the tone of her question was loaded with yearning.

"I'm heah riskin' my life 'cause I'm seekin' the truth," Madre said, "I can no longah trust the statements of the othah sistahs. I don't blame them, for we've all been driven by fear since this crisis began."

"I see..." Oriko brought her hand to her chest. "Then, as evidence, I will share with you the reason we came here. We know that you intend to launch an attack against a city."

Madre frowned.

Oriko continued, "you will destroy it with an explosion and kill millions."

"W-What... How..." Madre was dumbfounded and her armor lost its magical glow.

Seeing that, Sayaka commented to Kyouko. [Oriko is good at diplomacy, the woman doesn't seem to be going to attack us anymore.]

[I'm not sure.] The redhead with the ponytail was not so convinced. [She looks really scared.]

"You..." Madre winced for a moment. "That's why I felt a certain familiarity on yah faces. Ya're the magical girls of Mitakihara!"

Homura's gaze grew and she queried Oriko, "Did she mention Mitakihara?"

"Quiet!" the blonde replied curtly and bluntly.

Homura glared at her, but did not utter another word.

"How did ya girls find out so fast?" Madre shook her head. "H-How did ya find us?"

"My magic allows me to see the future," Oriko stated.

"Can ya?" Madre gulped.

The blonde nodded. "You are experienced, you are not surprised by this, good. I want you to believe that I am being as honest as possible. I have seen what will happen and we are here to prevent this massacre in a peaceful way, because we believe this is being planned due to a mistake."

"No! Ya're wrong," Madre raised her voice, "we're not going ta blow up the city, that's not the plan! We... Souls' Sisterhood protects humanity, we would nevah do that! Never!"

[That's bad. She's getting pretty aggressive.] Kaoru commented.

Making a worried face, Kazumi replied. [I don't want to be buried!]

Umika said nothing, but her hand was ready to call her book.

Oriko inquired, "Madre, are you the one planning this attack? Leading it?"

"No, but..." The woman did not finish her sentence, remaining agape, her restless eyes denoting an epiphany, but she soon shook her head frantically, as if to remove that idea with force. "No, that's not possible! We're not capable of that, 'nd she wouldn't plan it. She's not that kind of person."

"Madre!" Oriko insisted, "You have a leader, do you not? Let me talk to her, we will settle this."

However, Madre ignored her, lost in mutterings, "Only if... Matryoshka... no, no! That's too sordid."

Sayaka made a new comment to her redheaded companion. [She's so upset... What has Oriko been saying?]

[I don't know.] Kyouko replied. [I'm more worried about the other woman now.]

[Other woman?] Sayaka frowned.

[Yeah, there in the tunnel. Tall, white hair, kind of dark skin, more jewelry than clothes, with a cocky bitch face... She smells trouble to me.]

Sayaka squinted her gaze. [What are you talking about? There's no one there.]

Kyouko looked at her, somewhat annoyed. [Are you pretending to be blind now? She's, like, there! Right there!]

"Take me with you!" Oriko begged, "only me, the other girls remain here in the cave. If you are risking so much for the truth, then I can do the same so we can have a peaceful outcome."

Still quite shaken, Madre looked at her. "I don't know if they... nng..."

Oriko felt something was wrong. "Madre?"

The woman did not respond, her body was stiff. "gnnnn..." Then she began to levitate.

"What's going on?" Kaoru was the first to manifest in face of this.

"Mikuni-san," Homura asked, "what are you talking about? Are you the one doing this?"

"No, it is not me." Oriko shook her head. "I... I do not kn-"

"GGGNNNNAAAAAAAUUUGGGGGHHHH!" A guttural scream from Madre, as her arms opened and were extended to the limit, causing her body to form a cross. Then, without any warning, her chest armor burst.

A torrent of blood and guts was sprayed over the stunned girls.

"Ah... Ahh..." Kazumi looked down at her blood washed uniform, horrified to see a piece of skin with red hair glued to her chest. "KKYYAAAH!"

A large hole appeared in Madre's torso, to the point where it was possible to see the other side. Blood with volume escaped from the woman's mouth, nostrils, and even her ears, yet she had not lost consciousness. She was no longer screaming in pain, her eyes glazed in one direction.

Oriko did not know what that woman was looking at, still very distracted by all that blood on her.

Madre then spoke by telepathy, since she no longer had a diaphragm for it. [I was a fool and let my guard down.]

Oriko already feared this reaction. "No! We did not-"

[So, these are your true forms, witches. Monsters, you are just that. Monsters!]

"She is ignoring me..." Oriko frowned. "She... She is not even looking at us."

Homura conjured an hourglass in one hand and a large black pin in the other. "She seems to be having a delirium. A hallucination."

"Ex Fille."

"Huh?" Oriko and Homura were surprised when floating magic runes, glowing with different colors, began to leave Madre's body.

The runes then flew with speed, stamping the pages of the book Umika Misaki was holding. As the book turned the pages so it could capture more and more runes, the girl explained, "There's a spell on this woman, I'm absorbing it."

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Tension persisted in the security room. Everyone was now watching the security camera footage, waiting for something.

However, what came was not an image, but a voice. [Forgive me.]

"Madre?" Generalíssima consulted the other sisters.

Revenant spoke, "Didya hear her too?"

Lucky nodded, so did Invader.

[I was wrong, forgive me.]

[Madre.] Generalíssima called her. [What's happening?]

[You're always right, Generalíssima, always. These witches are the same monsters under their disguises. There is no hope and I was selfish to seek this truth on my own, but I will fix this. Please watch over the novices for me, don't let go of their hands.]

Generalíssima clenched her fists. [No, I won't have to do that. Hold on! I'll be there right now.]

"Wait!"

Generalíssima looked at the Invader, as did the others in the room.

The ballerina in the chair said, "Are you feeling that? That surge of magic?"

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Kaoru, who had extensive experience with her friend Umika's magic, felt that she was taking longer than usual. "How's it going?"

Holding the book, the magical girl was very focused. She shook her head, muttering, "That... That can't be..."

While everyone was paying attention to what Umika was doing, Oriko had a startle. She immediately turned to look at Madre.

Moments later, the red gem in the woman's black crown began to emit a glow.

"HOMUURRAAAAA!" Oriko screamed from the bottom of her lungs.

The red light of the gem grew fast.

Oriko raised her hands to protect herself. It was a reflex act, which she already knew it would be useless.

However, the color of the light has changed, as have the colors of the entire world.

Gasping, Oriko looked at the frozen image of Madre's shadowy silhouette in the light and then looked back at the person who was touching her shoulder.

It was Homura. In the palm of her other hand she was holding a black hourglass in a horizontal position.

Kyouko was holding Homura's arm, while Sayaka held the redhead's hand, and the Pleiades Witches held the blue paladin's cape.

"Thank you," Homura said, with her usual aloofness.

Oriko smiled faintly, "I say the same."

"Can someone explain to me the reason for that?" Sayaka asked.

Homura replied, "That woman is about to detonate her own soul gem."

Oriko added, "The resulting explosion will be devastating, it would kill us."

"Oh, right..." Sayaka nodded. "But we're safe now, right? Umika-san can finish what she was doing."

"I can't," the magical girl with glasses said.

"Heh?" Sayaka looked back.

"The spell is still on the woman, and now frozen in time," she continued, "I cannot absorb it in that state."

Homura asked Oriko, "Will we be safe if we go into the tunnel?"

"It will not be enough." The blonde looked at a certain redhead. "But I have already seen what we will need."

Listening to the conversation between the two, Sayaka realized. "Are you going to abandon this woman?"

Kazumi also protested, "We shouldn't do this! She's dying!"

"She's killing herself," Kyouko replied, "and to take us with her. How do you intend to stop her, huh? What are you going to convince her with?"

"It's too late," Oriko said, "if time resumes its flow or if we merely touch her, we'll be vaporized in the next instant."

Homura started walking, "We still have to stop the Sisterhood's plans. We have to get through the entrance before it is destroyed."

In order not to end up frozen in time, all the girls were forced to do the same. When Sayaka passed by the woman floating in the air, she looked up. Under the thick veil of light provided by the doomed gem, it was possible to discern that the woman had her eyes wide open, in a kind of trance or prayer.

They entered the tunnel, walking down the ramp to a certain distance.

"Here is good," Oriko said and Homura stopped. The blonde then spoke to Kyouko, "I know you can make pretty strong barriers."

"So what?" The red magical girl shrugged. "It'll not form in this frozen time."

Oriko smiled. "I know you will make it."

"How inspiring... this vision stuff..." After ironizing, Kyouko pulled Sayaka, making her hold Homura. "Someone keeps touching me while I try something." With her hands free, she summoned a spear. She pointed the weapon toward the exit, where the woman who was about to explode stood, and extended its baton.

After a certain length, the weapon stopped growing and the spear head blossomed into a swarm of smaller heads, each pulling a red chain. They flew, weaving a wall of chains in a harmonious fashion. When it was finished, by Kyouko's will, the baton disconnected from the head and the wall of chains lost its color, frozen in time.

"Yeah, Mami, I finally found a use for that trick..." After muttering to herself, the redhead consulted Oriko.

"Very good, but it is not enough. You have to do more."

"Tch, why didn't you say so?" Already pissed off at being ordered around by her, Kyouko made another spearhead appear on her baton. It also blossomed into a wall of chains.

Oriko then said, "More."

Kyouko took a deep breath and made another wall.

Due to the large amount of intertwined chains, Sayaka could barely see the exit, much less the woman.

"More."

Kyouko turned around and vociferated, "What the heck?!"

"MORE!" Oriko reacted in the same tone.

The other girls were surprised by the blonde's attitude, especially Kazumi and her close friends.

Besides the fact that so many walls are needed.

Oriko regained her composure. "Or we will die."

Holding her grudge, Kyouko resigned. "Fuck it!" She blossomed out more spearheads and created more and more walls.

"Enough, that is enough."

At Oriko's last demand, the redhead made her weapon disappear and muttered, "If you ever say 'more' again..."

She would not say. The blonde just looked at Homura.

That was all the girl in the black dress needed to understand. She turned the hourglass back to its upright position.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

Hungry, the cereal bar had not been nearly enough for her size, Homura, the mare, chewed the bushes on the hill. Despite their dry appearance and lack of leaves, their stems had abundant sap, with an enjoyable sour taste.

Her tranquil meal, however, ended. Her ears perked up, her fur stood on end. The air was still, tense with an imminent event. The animal dashed off, down the rocky hill.

The earth roared. Homura kept up the rhythm of her gallop, until the ground lifted. Compelled by this force, she made a leap, managing to land on the stable terrain. The mare then turned and witnessed the entire hill being swallowed into a crater.

When the earth stopped roaring, Homura approached the edge of the cliff that had formed, neighing to the abyss.

／人 ◕‿‿◕ 人＼

The security room shook. The sisters struggled to stand.

"AAAHHHH!" Lucky put her hands over her head as she saw dust and small pieces of concrete detach themselves from the ceiling.

Then everything calmed down.

Realizing this, the magical bunny girl had the courage to look up. "Jeezus, I thought we're gonna be buried."

Revenant soon asked, "What was that? An explosion?"

"It's Madre," Generalíssima replied, coldly, "she's gone."

Looking at her leader, the black woman frowned. "No... Ya don't know that!"

"She's gone!" Generalíssima emphasized, "you heard her too, you felt the surge of magic, you know what that means."

Lucky had also understood. She put her hands together in front of her mouth, as if that could hold back the pain. "No... Madre..."

In the chair, Invader pressed her lips together and clutched the end of her tutu, almost tearing it.

"She sacrificed herself to kill the witches." Generalíssima shook her head. "And here I thought she was the traitor. I'm ashamed of myself..."

"There's a movement."

Hearing Invader, Generalíssima approached the panel of screens.

The ballerina pointed to a screen that showed an environment with almost no visibility. "There's a lot of dust or smoke, but if you pay attention, there are some distant silhouettes."

"What camera is that?" Generalíssima asked.

"It's one that's at the ramp, it's the closest one to the entrance that still works."

With this news, Lucky had a glimmer of hope. "Is Madre?"

"No." Generalíssima took a deep breath. "It's the witches."

"The witches have entered the base?" Revenant asked, "what're we gonna do, Generalíssima?"

The leader exchanged glances with the black woman and the other two sisters.

Revenant insisted, "What're we gonna do?"

Generalíssima gulped and lowered her gaze.

With the long silence, the other sisters exchanged glances with each other. Revenant spoke again, "Generalíssima?"

The woman closed her dark pink eyes in an expression of grief.

"Generalíssima!"

She reopened them, nodding and moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue. After a sigh, she gave the order, "Abandon the base, save your souls."

Lucky and Invader both looked wide-eyed and dumbfounded.

Revenant did more than that. "WHAT?!" She approached Generalíssima. "We can fight! Madre is dead, but we're strong, we've the numerical advantage, we've y-"

Generalíssima grabbed the black woman's neck and put her against the wall.

"G-Generalíssima?" Lucky was at a loss.

Revenant exchanged an intense gaze with her leader.

Generalíssima let go of the sister's neck and affirmed, "This place was not built to be defended, it was built to never have been found."

Revenant turned her face away.

"Ah, okay, okay, we'll run away with our tails between our legs." Lucky raised her hands in a gesture to calm everyone's tempers. "But how'll we do that? The exit blew up."

"You'll meet the novices on the upper floor, they must have woken up from the explosion," Generalíssima explained, "their bathroom is the closest point to the surface, you will make a new exit there and..." She suddenly stopped talking and started searching for something with her eyes.

Lucky looked back, not quite understanding that attitude. "What?"

"Inquisitor." Generalíssima gritted her teeth. "Where's he? Did anyone see him leave?"

"Ah shit..." Revenant uttered.

"You girls have to see this."

With Invader's invitation, they all looked at the screens.

One of them showed a corridor. Inquisitor appeared passing by and then stopped, looking at the camera. The lens was engulfed in flames and the screen went black.

Invader showed other screens that were down. "He's destroying every camera he can find. It seems random, I don't know where he's going."

Revenant trembled with anger. "What's that bloody sonnabitch tryin' ta do?"

"Ah..." Lucky brought her hands to her head, frantically rubbing her hair. "So, Madre wasn't the traitor, but Inquisitor is? I don't understand anymore."

"He's not the traitor, but he must be considering us all traitors," Generalíssima said, "he's no longer a member of the Sisterhood."

Invader raised her eyebrows.

Lucky blinked, unsure if she had heard correctly or what it really meant.

"He made his choice. Ignore him." Generalíssima turned to Revenant. "Let the witches take care of him."

The black woman returned to the previous subject. "Aren't ya comin' with us? Escapin' would be way easiah with yah help."

"I have to go to the data center. It's necessary to destroy everything that's stored in the servers, that's the protocol, and there's only me available who knows the procedure and can do it in time. So, I count on you to save the novices, they are the only future and hope we have left." Generalíssima looked at Invader. "That includes yo-"

However, the ballerina was no longer in the chair.

"What now?" Generalíssima spoke, incredulous.

Revenant looked at one of the screens, where she saw Invader running. She recognized the location, "She's on the lowah floor. She went aftah Nano."

"Take the seeds with you and go." Generalíssima wasted no more time. "Now! I'll find you on the surface."

Lucky nodded, while Revenant picked up the four seeds from the counter, and they both hurriedly left the room.

With the silence of solitude, Generalíssima called someone by telepathy. [Estér.]

There was no answer.

[There are witches in the base.] Leona looked at the screen that showed the ramp area covered by the thick dust. [Where are you?]

No reply.

Leona gritted her teeth. [Estér! This is no time to play hiding games, answer me!]

The silence lasted.

With everything going wrong, Leona only had something to say, "Mierda."

Next chapter: Persecution