A/N:

There's a typhoon here and it's freezing. It's hard to type with cold fingers.

Anyways! From this point on, we will start digging deeper into Estella's character (I hope everyone will like her more!) so yes, no Soma cameos for the meantime. Please bear with me!

Thanks a bunch to lunyan, darryanmartin, Yue Twili and jhellou for reviewing! Your reviews fuel my passion to write!

I correctly typed all of your usernames, yes? *laughs*

Disclaimer: All rights goes to their respective owners.

Key 11 - Voice

The sun was hanging high in the sky, and it was causing a bustle in the streets of the Outer Ghetto. Estella, on the other hand, was watching these people with a smile on her face. It was nice to see people go on with the normal notions of life despite of the world that they lived in.

"Welp! My house is this way, catch ya later, Stella!" her trip companion, Kota said, giving her a pat on the back.

Estella smiled and nodded, "Yeah. Let's meet up here later, okay?" she told him as she waved a small goodbye to the latter as they parted ways.

When she arrived at her home, she noticed that the plants in the garden were dying. It looks like she needs to do some yard work soon. Memories of when her, her mother and father would play out in the garden filled her head. Shaking her head, she dismissed the thoughts.

She started to walk towards the front door and fished a key out of her pocket. Putting it into the lock, she opened up the door.

"Mother, I'm home," she called out.

Walking forward into the kitchen, she placed the bag of rations onto the table. As usual, there were dishes in the sink. Just another tiring work for her to do.

Blinking, she looked into the main room, and there her mother was. Sitting on the floor by the sofa, her head hung low.

Estella approached her and sat beside her. Sighing, she followed her mother's gaze at the cold floor.

"How are you doing, mom?" she asked her.

Bowing her head, her mother cried and shrieked out, "I miss him so much! How could he leave me like that?!"

"Mom..."

Her mother lifted her head and looked at her with anger reflected in her eyes as she slapped her hard enough to draw blood on her cheek, "What are you doing here?! Get out!"

Estella didn't flinch in her place. She just sat there, unmoving.

"I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE!"

Her mother slapped her again, this time, her other cheek was hit. Estella took the blow, with sadness being the only emotion on her face.

And just then, whispers outside filled Estella's heightened sense of hearing.

"He was killed by an Aragami who invaded the Outer Ghetto. He didn't even have a chance to win nor fight back."

"How's his wife?"

"She's so heartbroken. She can barely make it through the day anymore."

"Poor thing... And his daughter?"

"Haven't you seen her come in their house just now?"

"That's her?! She doesn't look a thing like her mother and father!"

"I know right?"

Estella gritted her teeth; she wanted to tell all those stupid old hags to shut their mouths. But with her mother right next to her crying her heart out...

Well, she just couldn't find the voice to do it.

-TBC-