1Candy is humming the same tone-deaf tune she has been humming for the past 30 minutes, and Its driving Pai insane. He can't take anymore. "CANDY," he says loudly. Lettuce turns and stares at Pai. "What?" asks Candy. "Was I humming too loudly?" Pai nods, restraining himself from adding a few comments on her apparent inability to form a tune. "Oh," says Candy. "I'll hum quieter." Candy turns ad begins humming at exactly the same volume. Pai nearly keels over dead. Could this ghost get any more annoying?
Lettuce is surprised at Pai's outburst. It was out of character. Of course, this whole trip he's been out of character, but that is just the point. Pai obviously need some rest. "Maybe we should slow down a bit," Lettuce suggests. Candy turns around. "You feeling okay?" she asks. Lettuce nods. "I just think we should slow down a bit, that's all," says Lettuce. Candy shrugs. "Alright. I keep forgetting you can't take as much as I can," She says. She slows a bit. Thankfully, she has stopped humming. Pai is grateful for that.
Suddenly he trips, and falls straight forwards, landing on a pile of rough rock. "Ouch," he manages to say, weakly. "Pai! Are you okay?" asks Lettuce, kneeling at his side. "Fine," says Pai. "But you aren't gonna believe this. Lettuce, I think you should step back." Lettuce complies in confusion, and Pai slowly lifts himself off of the floor. As he does, a strange mark becomes visible. It is like a key, with it's 2 prongs pointing Left. It appears to be drawn in... blood.
Lettuce stifles a scream. "W-what is it?" She whispers. "The sign of the church," says Candy, sounding suddenly as morbid and dark as can be. "We're almost to the prisons." "What prisons?" asks Lettuce. "You never mentioned any prisons!" "If anyone committed treason against the church, or tried to warn someone of the cult, then they were locked up. Also, if the church leaders needed anything for a sacrifice, such as a cow or goat, they stored it in the prison," says Candy. She explains this calmly enough, but she looks upset. "What kind of Church are we dealing with here?" asks Pai bluntly. "A cult of satanic demon-worshipers," says Candy, equally blunt. Lettuce visibly cringes.
"But don't worry," says Candy. "They never come down here. At least, unless it's one of their sacrifice days. Then they come with the person or animal they are going to kill." "Person?" asks Lettuce in panic. "Well, actually, yes. The demoness they worship required mortal souls to build up her powers," Candy fidgets. Pai blanches. "You're kidding, right?" he asks. Candy shakes her head. "Actually, I'm not. That symbol Pai found is painted in blood. But it may have belonged to an animal, cause they did animal sacrifices too." Lettuce feels weak in the knees. She can't help but collapse on the ground. "Lettuce?" asks Candy. "You alright?" "What if they find Melody?" Lettuce whispers. Candy looks as though she has been punched in the stomach.
"We have to find her first," says Candy. "As in, right now." "Why?" asks Pai. "You know how Melody and Azanthra look alike?" says Candy. "Well, err, Azanthra played a part in their religious ceremonies. Azanthra, err, meant something on the religion. But she wanted nothing to do with the Church. She was too nice. But either way, if they find Melody..." Lettuce gets the point. "They'll kill her?" She asks. "Maybe, but maybe not. They may have some other ritual they must perform on her," Candy explains. "We need to get going, like, five minutes ago.
Pai helps Lettuce up, and they take off into the darkness.
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Melody is walking down another corridor, this one filled with doors. To her side is a room with a crisp white bed in its center. Melody looks in, to see if anyone is there. Instead, she sees a massive amount of blood on the floor. On the ceiling is a sharp hook, also coated in blood. Melody looks around. What is this place? She knows she has left the temple far behind. But this room looks almost like, well, like a hospital. 'But hospitals don't hurt people,' Melody shivers. "They do in Mist Haunt," says a voice from behind.
Melody whirls around, and is presented with a boy. He has pale, sunken cheeks, and his eyes are dull. He is gaunt, his features bony. "Are you stuck here too?" asks the boy. "I'm Roger, by the way." "Nice to meet you," says Melody, good upbringing kicking in. "And no, I'm not stuck here. I have the key, see?" she shows him the amber key. Roger gasps. "You got the key of the nurse-traitor!" he exclaims. "She killed the doctors patients, and placed the magical keys in their hearts, which she ripped out." "So she was a murderer?" asks Melody in fascination. "No," says Roger. "The doctor was pumping them with toxins. They were pretty much already dead. She told the doctor the Church needed the hearts, and he didn't mind. He was evil, you know."
Melody listens. Why does this seem familiar? She nods. "Is that what happened to you?" she asked. "Since you're here?" The boy shakes his head. "They just gave me the quinine, which makes me tired and lose my appetite. They didn't get a chance to kill me before the disaster."
Melody nods. "So I should avoid the rest of the hospital?" she says. Roger nods. "There isn't much left, but if you go on down the hallway to the left, you'll find the door made of ivory. If you find the heart, you can leave," he says. "Do you want to come?" asks Melody. Roger shakes his head. "Thanks, but I'm okay here. I leave occasionally, but the town is worse. It can be dangerous down here, But they don't bother me." Melody nods. "Thank you," she says, and begins to leave. Why does this all feel so familiar? She couldn't have been here before, right?