Hi, everyone. I'm back and better than ever. Sorry this new chapter was delayed so much. Hope you enjoy it!
When Lettuces eyes flutter open, three hours have passed since she and Pai fell asleep on this bench. Pai is also stirring. He yawns and opens his eyes. For a moment, he looks confused. Then he seems to remember everything. "Lettuce?" Pai calls softly. The last thing he needs is two missing people in a town of demons. "here," says Lettuce. "oh. Where should we go next?" Pai asks. "I don't know!" snaps lettuce. "Every place we go something is waiting for us!" Pai has to admit she has a point. He's yet to see a place without some monster.
"Well, lets walk around," he suggests. "It'll be easier to find her if we spot a place she might be." Lettuce nods weakly. Pai takes her arm and pulls Lettuce to her feet. Then they leave behind the peaceful park.
The streets are as bare and grimy as before. The mist violates everything. suddenly Lettuce points. "Look, Pai," she says. "A subway station. Out here in the middle of nowhere? Maybe Melody is down there!" Lettuce runs from Pai's side. Nooooo, noooo, the fire. the fire! Pai whirls around, but nothing is there to have said something. He jogs over to lettuce, who is decending down the first step. Thud. Her feet make an empty sound on the concrete. Pai follows her, looking around for the person who warned him not to enter. "Melody?" calls Lettuce. No response. Still Lettuce descends another step. "Melody?" Nothing. Another 2 steps. "Melody, sweetheart?" nothing. three more steps. And suddenly a sound like a piercing shriek splits the air.
Suddenly the town above them seems to come to life. "Run!" shouts someone. "Hurry!" shouts another. Lettuce rushes up to the top to see what's going on. When she does, she is greeted by people in torn clothing, covered in ash. People of all sizes and shapes run in the mist towards a structure just past the school. "Hey," says a girl with pink hair. "Come on, run. We have to get to the citadel before the gates close." Something clicks in Lettuce's mind. When the fire started, people ran for the citadel. "What do you mean? Is the town on fire?" she called. The pink-haired girl stared at them. "You don't know?" she called. "The darkness is coming. The demons are being let loose!"
"what are you talking about?" exclaims Pai. "Come on!" the pink haired girl grabs Lettuce's arm and pulls her towards the citadel. She dodges throngs of people to get towards the stairs. "My name is Candy, by the way," She calls. "I'm Lettuce, and this is Pai," says Lettuce. "Nice to meet you. Sorry it's under such Lachrymose conditions," says Candy. As they head towards the steps, Lettuce realizes they are among the last people up there.
"I can't go," says Lettuce. "I have to find my daughter, Melody." Candy looks at Lettuce with a funny expression on her face. "Small, with long black hair and dark blue eyes?" Candy calls. "nice red lips, and ears exactly like yours?" "Yes!" says an elated Lettuce. "That's Melody. Where is she?" "I last saw her at the angels whim bar. She was just sitting on a bar stool, happy as you please, and not at all drunk or anything, so don't panic." "That's it! I have to go to the angels whim!" cries Lettuce. Candy tightens her grip on Lettuce's arm. "You can't!" she cries. "We have to get inside!" "What about Melody?" cries Lettuce. "Who's looking after her, Huh? She'll die!" "No," says Candy calmly, dragging Lettuce up the 1st step to the citadel. "Her friends told her what to do if this happens."
"Her friends?" asksa mystified Lettuce. "Yes!" exclaims Candy. "She told me she has friends here! She's being helped!" "You're sure?" asks Pai. Candy nods. Suddenly they hear a commotion. "Do not run from the flames, for if you do, they have succeeded!" cries a woman with a worn face, and grey hair. Another woman leans forwards and pushes her down the stairs. The women falls, and stops on the third step.
"You okay?" asks Candy. The woman nods. "It isn't the first time I've been pushed down the stairs, and it won't be the last," says the woman calmly. "Are you going to the citadel?" questions Candy. The woman shakes her head. "You go ahead," she tells Candy. Candy nods and begins to move up the stairs. But it's to late. The gates are closing. Candy curses under her breath. As the gates finally close, the entire town dims, until they cannot see.
"What's going on?" cries Pai fearfully, clinging to a shaking Lettuce's arm. "The light is gone. Be careful not to stray," says the grey woman morbidly. Suddenly, the area is filled with a light. In front of them are legions of horrors. Half of them don't even seem to sense the presence of the living. But the other half just sort of sit there.
A skeleton with a biodegrading hand is clunking a few steps from them. Another creature, which appears to be all flesh and no bones, is laying at the bottom of the stairs, gurgling. The entire are is filled with apparitions. a black cat-like creature, with only one set of exposed ribs, moves towards them. Candy rolls her eyes, and the demon falls down the stairway. "How did you do that?" asks Lettuce in fright. "Just denounce them. Don't let them get to you," Candy replies, like they aren't standing next to some rotting rat with gouged eyes.
"uh, guys," says Candy. "We're gonna have to go underground. While we're there, we may even find Azanthra. Your daughter looks just like her. Maybe..."
Candy doesn't finish her sentence, but instead drags Lettuce down the stairs into the bad place itself...