Luz emerged with difficulty from the rubble of a lifeboat that had fallen on top of her but which had fortunately been blocked by a piece of the main mast; when the shock wave had hit her she had been thrown into the air, and thrown back to the ground immediately afterwards, but fortunately the wood she was made of was very resistant and she had not suffered any physical damage. She had also managed to prevent Gus and Willow from being hit by it, holding them with her hands as far away from the deck of the ship as possible when the shock wave hit; she had acted on instinct, but fortunately she had done the right thing, since if they had been fully hit by that force, their bodies would have most likely turned to mush. However, when she had been thrown away she had lost her grip and they had fallen who knows where; she hoped that their exoskeleton was strong enough to protect them from that fall, and that none of the rubble had landed on them. She had to find them... she had to make sure they were okay.

She looked around and all she could see was a terrible show. The entire ship had been torn to pieces: the deck was the most intact part, but it was still broken in several places. The iron hull had been completely reduced to rubble and so had any objects that had been on the ship. Even the heavy cannons had cracked and split. It was only a matter of minutes before the ship sank completely... but it was quite obvious that they wouldn't have all that time: Belos was in fact getting closer and closer and would soon devour them whole, just as he had done with... with ...

Luz's eyes filled with tears and she visibly began to tremble. She had lost her... she had really lost her this time. Her mother had been swallowed by that monster, and she had certainly already been consumed by his stomach. She was nothing but bones and digestive fluids now. And soon, all her friends would meet the same fate. And so did she... but incredibly, she cared almost nothing about herself. She didn't care about her life anymore. She would willingly throw herself into that monster's jaws and suffer whatever hellish torment awaited her in the bowels of that aberrant being if it meant that Belos would leave the others alone. But she knew that such a wish was just a ridiculous fantasy… beyond the fact that Belos himself had rejected her last plea, why would such an evil being do that act of kindness to her now that they were all at her mercy? From that monster's point of view, they were nothing more than appetizers. And Luz was sure that the desperation they were feeling, and that she was feeling, was almost an excellent seasoning in Belos' cruel eyes.

Yes, they would all be dead. The jaws of that monster would have swallowed them all: her, Vee, Masha, Willow, Gus, Viney, Barcus, Jerbo, Salty, everyone... no one would have been saved. And all of them were there at the mercy of the most terrifying creature in the ocean... because of her. Luz knew it was all her fault. It was to look for her that her mother had embarked and found herself there. It was to help her that her friends were there. All of them would die... because of her.

She had ruined everything, again. Just like with Eda. Nothing had changed: she was still the stupid puppet who entered other people's lives and inevitably led them towards destruction. Destruction that had now revealed itself in the form of the gigantic monster that was getting closer and closer, and that to Luz it almost seemed like it was looking at her with strange excitement, as if it couldn't wait to grab her. Luz could almost lose herself in those merciless crystalline eyes, which seemed to want to consume even her soul from how intensely they stared at her... and perhaps, it wouldn't have been so bad to let them do so. At least she would no longer feel that horrible sense of guilt that continued to grip her. At least she wouldn't hear any more screaming and crying. At least the death would be painless... and even if it wasn't, it would at least be silent, and she wouldn't see the reproachful looks of the others who blamed her for bringing them to their end...

"LUZ!" Willow's voice brought her out of her trance; she and Gus landed directly on her head. "This is not the time to stand still!"

"Yeah! I don't know if you've noticed, but there's a monster over a kilometer long heading towards us!" Gus exclaimed; his little body was shaking like a leaf.

Luz looked at them; both had obvious wounds on their bodies, left not so much by the shock wave but by the fact that they had fought against each other. Willow had a broken leg and Gus had cuts on his abdomen undoubtedly left by the pincers of a cricket. The puppet cried even more at the sight: not only had she hurt them so much, but her two friends had even been forced to hurt each other because of her. Gus and Willow loved each other so much, and to help her they found themselves there in the ocean, a place where they should never have been, and were forced to lash out at each other in violence and bloodfury. Maybe they had even been conscious while doing it, and the events of that day would haunt them in their nightmares for months or years, and they would never be able to trust each other again. Shaking from head to toe, Luz gritted her teeth and whispered: "Go away"

Willow and Gus stared. "What!?"

"Go away! Willow, take Gus and fly away!" Luz screamed with tears streaming down her eyes. "The ship is destroyed and there is not a single lifeboat left intact! There is nothing left to do! You are the only ones who can escape... Willow, you have wings, so use them! Run away and don't look back!"

"Don't even talk about it! We don't abandon a friend!" Gus said shaking his head hard. "We're not leaving you here!"

"Yeah. We could never abandon you" Willow stated back. She was shaking too, but her eyes were still determined.

But Luz almost knelt before them and clasped her hands as if she were praying. "Please... please, don't stay here! I'm begging you... don't... you can't die too... I can't bear it... too many will already die because of me... go away! Go away and live, please!"

Willow and Gus didn't think they'd ever see the puppet so desperate. The cry she had made when she found out what had happened to Eda was nothing compared to that. "Luz, it's not your fault and we won't abandon you!" Willow exclaimed resolutely, then knowing that otherwise the puppet would beg them again she added: "And anyway... the coast is too far away. I would never be able to reach it anyway, I don't have that much resistance. We would fall into the water and drown. Not even Puddles could do it!"

Luz's body seemed to freeze for a moment, then the puppet started crying even harder. "So... so that's it? We're all going to die... you're all going to die". She put her hands in her hair. "No, no, no... why, why!? Why did it happen like this!? It's not fair... it's not..."

Belos roared again, this time even more intensely; Luz let out a scream and put her hands to her ears, and still the sound penetrated her head. She felt like clawed hands were constantly scratching at her brain. She threw herself and rolled on the deck of the ship in a desperate attempt to make the sound stop, and for a moment her vision went blurry; during that short period of time she felt grabbed by something that dragged her away. When she managed to refocus on the world around her she saw a familiar face. "Vee? What are you...?"

Her sister didn't answer and actually dragged her even more forcefully; Luz didn't even have the energy to resist. Willow and Gus chased after them and seemed to want to ask the basilisk something, but before they could do so Masha appeared behind them and grabbed them with their hands and forced them into one of the puppet's pockets. "This jacket has already proven to be waterproof at levels never seen before by any other clothing. You won't risk drowning here" they said to the two arthropods before locking them inside, ignoring their protests.

That behavior made Luz worried. "Guys, what are you doing? Answer me... hey!"

Suddenly Vee transformed into Captain Salty and using her new enormous strength she lifted her bodily, and then Viney, who had her clothes almost torn to shreds, her hair disheveled and her face and arms covered in scratches, bruises and cuts, appeared next to the basilisk and helped her; the two girls took Luz to a cannon that had miraculously survived and stuck her inside the cylindrical tube. "Sorry, Luz" Vee said returning to her normal appearance; her face was terribly sorry, but a determined light shone in her eyes. "I know you'll hate me for this, but... it's the only way you can survive"

"What are you talking about!? What do you plan to do!?" Luz screamed trying to break free, but Viney held her very tightly and was too much stronger than her. Even from her position, however, Luz could see Barcus adjusting the position of the cannon and Jerbo using some embers to light the fuse. A horrible premonition entered Luz's mind and she began to struggle even more forcefully. "Why did you put me here!? Let me out! You can't..."

"Luz, this cannon is the only thing left intact in the whole ship. There are no more boats, there are no more oars, there is nothing left. There is no way for us to escape" Viney murmured; she looked sorry for what she was doing too, clearly knowing that Luz would hate what they did, but she didn't care. "But you can. You are made of wood and you float, you don't need a lifeboat; and you can also sustain much stronger impacts than our bodies. We are made of flesh and our bones would shatter if we were fired from a cannon, but you can withstand the shock wave... at least I think so. I mean, you're the only one who remained practically unscathed after Belos blew up the hull. You're the only one who has a chance of surviving. We'll shoot you as far away as possible; as soon as you land in the sea, swim as fast as you can towards the shallow water. Do it before Belos notices that he has missed a prey!"

"No! No, I'm not leaving you here!" Luz screamed, struggling desperately, but Vee and Viney didn't let her go and instead pushed her further into the cannon. "Please... you can't ask me this! I can't lose you too! I can't live... while you die! Vee... Vee, please don't do this to me... Vee, you are my sister... I-I can't leave you at the mercy of that... that monster..."

Vee was clearly crying; she was too exhausted by the situation to be able to resist and every desperate word from the puppet was a stab at her heart, but despite this she didn't waver and her grip remained firm. "Luz... I'm at the end of the line. The only ones who can escape now are you and those creatures small enough to fit in your pocket, like Willow and Gus. I can't go with you. I can't turn into something that small without destroy my brain with my own hands, and even if I could I would be so heavy as to drag you down". She bit her lip and let out a deep sigh. "And you're right, you're my sister... that's why I can't let you stay here and die with me, even though I know you'd prefer it. I'd be a terrible sister if I let such a thing happen. Hate me if you want, but this is the my choice"

"Ha-Hate you? No... no, how could I ever hate you? You're not the one who should be hated!" Luz could hardly speak anymore and sobbed. "Vee... Vee, I'm so sorry... I promised you a family... and now... and now..."

"Luz, it's okay" Vee placed a hand on her cheek and looked at her with a look full of gratitude. There was no hint of anger, hatred, or fury in those eyes; no hint that he was blaming the puppet for what had happened. In them Luz read only love and tenderness... and this almost hurt her more. And it wasn't just Vee... none of the others were blaming her. Viney had a devastated look on her face, but there was no rancor in her eyes. Barcus looked like he could barely stand, yet he wasn't look at her with anger. Jerbo looked like he hadn't slept in a whole month, but he didn't even give her a single look of hatred. Even Masha, who was not only about to die but who was about to watch their girlfriend die as well, wasn't blaming her in the slightest. Luz was about to ask them why, but before she could Vee planted a brotherly kiss on her forehead. "You kept all your promises, you didn't break a single one. I had a family and I had happiness. The time I have spending with you was the happiest of my life. I had a sister... and even if only for a little time, I had a mother, just like you said. I even had a girlfriend. I've lived more in the last few weeks than in all my other years. Don't apologize to me, ever... because I can only say thank you"

Luz's eyes filled with even more tears. Why wasn't she scolding her? Why didn't she yell at her? Why were they all too good to see how much harm she had done to them? "Vee... Vee, please... you can't send me away... I have no one else but you!"

"I'm sure you'll find someone. You always have a way of sneaking into people's hearts" Vee told her with a wider smile than she'd ever worn. "Go now. And live for me too. Live for all of us"

"NO!" Luz screamed, but it was too late: Viney and Vee let her go in unison just as the fuse Jerbo lit reached the base of the cannon. A bang was heard and the puppet felt himself shaking from head to toe, clearly feeling the shock wave of the explosion; before she knew it, she found herself spinning in the air and her friends became as small as flies from her perspective, until she fell into the water far away from the ship with a loud splash.

Vee, Masha, Viney, Barcus and Jerbo looked at the spot where the puppet had disappeared. Instinctively, all of them prayed in their hearts that at least she would survive; they didn't care who, but they hoped that at least one god was benevolent enough to agree to grant the last wish of those hopeless people. "So this is how it ends" Jerbo murmured. "To think that I was stupid enough to hope to become a great inventor. Well... at least I managed to do one last good deed before I died"

"Come on, cheer up. At least you made your invention come true. You realized your ambition, at least partially" Barcus barked. "Look at me instead... I promised myself I would find a beautiful girl with whom I could travel to the seven seas... and instead here I am with you"

"Hey, I'm not that bad" Jerbo protested, but without any anger in his voice.

Barcus let out an amused whine. "At least I will die next to a friend" he said, and then he looked at Viney: "Well... it would be more appropriate to say next to friends. The best friends I could find, it must be specified"

Despite the tears streaming down her face and her eyes filled with desperation, Viney found the strength to smile sweetly. "You guys are really two idiots until the end"

"That's right. You have to be faithful to your personalities until the end. Especially if you're stupid like us" Jerbo answered her, but whatever he wanted to say next was held back by the bone-crushing hug that the girl gave him and Barcus an instant later. The three friends held each other tightly, seeking comfort in each other, knowing that this would be their last chance to do so. After a few moments something landed on Viney's shoulder; she turned and saw Captain Salty who, although battered, was still able to stand. They exchanged a quick look, and then he joined in the hug too. And then another pirate, and another. One after another all the members of the crew crawled out of the rubble and joined in one last big hug, looking together at the monster that was coming at them. Even Puddles flew among them and landed on Viney's head and covered her hair with his wings. "You could run away" the girl told him.

Puddles shook his head. "I could never fly away fast enough. Belos will get me anyway. And then... I don't feel like doing it" he replied. "Everyone dies sooner or later; I might as well die next to my friends. Together until the end, Viney"

The girl smiled even more and let out a sob. "After all these years you finally did it"

Puddles looked at her confused. "What?"

"You called me Viney" she answered.

Puddles realized it was true. He had never called Viney anything other than 'master', despite the fact that she had told him several times that he shouldn't do it even though in recent years she had given up repeating it to him since she understood that there was no way to make him change his mind. "Well? That's your name, isn't it?" he grumbled in response, trying to pretend nothing had happened. In response, Viney grabbed him without warning and hugged him tightly to her chest, joining him in the embrace almost by force, and Puddles could clearly feel a tear falling on his head as this happened.

Vee and Masha looked at the scene with emotion, then they stared into each other's eyes. "Masha, I… I wanted to apologize to you" Vee said, lowering her head slightly. "You shouldn't have been here. I'm sorry to..."

"Hey, hey. Is blaming yourself without reason a family trait now?" Masha stopped her. "I came with you of my own free will and I don't regret it. I wouldn't have had a long life anyway. At least I can go to the afterlife knowing that I kissed the prettiest and sweetest creature in this world"

Vee giggled, wiping the tears that still continued to fall. "Even now you still manage to make me laugh"

Masha, on the other hand, didn't even try to dry their tears. "I want my last memory to be your smiling face... and it looks like it will be. Good for me!" they said, and their lips met in a passionate kiss. In the next instant, the sun vanished under the shadow of Belos' head, and the next second the enormous jaws closed on them.

Luz had just emerged from the water where she had been thrown; she was made of wood, so she didn't have to struggle to float. Her first impulse was to look back, and she barely had time to see her friends one last time before they disappeared into the Belos' throat. For a moment Luz seriously thought that her heart had stopped; and perhaps at that moment it would have been a blessing. "NOOOOO!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, an instant before that the immense wave unleashed by the impact of the jaws with the water traveled at full speed towards her and hit her, making her disappear for an instant under the surface of the sea, and then dragged her away by hundreds of meters in a few seconds.

But unknown to her, no one had died yet; in fact, they were all still falling into the very long throat of Belos, and none of them had been harmed since the teeth had not even grazed them due to the fact the mouth was so large that it had swallowed them whole. Finally the waterfall that was the monster's throat curved a little, forming a surface where the water was almost still, and that was where they stopped too. "Uh... so... are we in the stomach?" Barcus muttered.

"No, I don't think so, too long and narrow. I think we're barely in the esophagus" Jerbo replied looking at the dark tunnel, which was taller than a building at least as wide as a neighborhood.

"Hey, excuse me! Is Luz with you?" a voice exclaimed, and from the darkness of that cavity Camila emerged rowing her little boat, also still alive and only a little dented.

Seeing her Vee felt filled with happiness; even though they had just met Camila had agreed to be her mother, and for days now she had accepted her new role as daughter in her heart, so he dived into the brackish water and swam to her. "Luz... we saved her... at least I hope so" she answered. "With a bit of luck, she'll be safe now"

Camila breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Thank you very much" she said gratefully, then she helped her to jump into her little boat and gave her a smile. "So... you are my new adopted daughter, mh? Sorry, I suppose this wasn't the welcome into the family you were expecting"

Vee blushed and was about to answer, when suddenly a blue light illuminated the cavity; this light was produced by an eye located on the ceiling. One after another countless other eyes opened around them, looking at them with their evil pupils. "What the... are there eyes in Belos's esophagus!?" Vee exclaimed in disgust and fear. The eyes stared at them intently and moved from side to side, as if searching for something, and then seemed to narrow in utter fury; the dark cavity began to tremble and from the depths of it emerged a scream so powerful that it moved them, the remains of the ships and all the water contained in the monster's esophagus by several meters, and only a miracle prevented their eardrums from breaking.

"WHERE IS SHE!?"

The scream came out from Belos's throat and was emitted from his mouth in the form of a roar, and it was so loud that it raised a tsunami ten meters high that traveled in all directions; just like the wave from before, in a few moments it reached Luz and threw the puppet even further away. Belos looked around and then he finally saw her; his body immediately moved to reach her, and he was so close now, but then he stopped. He clearly felt his limbs getting heavier; the seabed had become too shallow, so much that it was impossible for him to be able to remain mostly under water, and he had therefore emerged too much, and without the hydrostatic thrust to support him anymore his enormous body was being crushed by his own weight. He had reached an area of the sea too shallow for him.

Belos growled furiously and looked up at Luz, who continued to move away pushed by the fury of the waves. His eyes narrowed in an expression of pure murderous anger; he tried a couple of times to move forward again, but each time the pressure he felt on every inch of his body reminded him that he had reached his limit. There his kingdom ended and he could move no further. For a moment he considered the possibility of breaking the ocean floor and pushing it downwards, so he could advance further... but then he preferred to give up. After all, he still didn't know how much damage the puppet could hold before being torn to pieces, or even just how long she could hold her breath; if he had cracked the seabed he would have generated a megatsunami at least one hundred meters high, not to mention that such action could have even awakened some submerged volcanoes. It was unlikely that the puppet would be able to resist even that, and he didn't want to risk destroying her. It didn't matter: he could always count on his faithful herald, who was currently in Bonesborough, and the puppet no longer had any allies who could protect her. He just had to contact his servant and send him to find her and bring her to him.

This thought, however, didn't prevent him from feeling terribly frustrated and from venting his anger with an immense scream. His roar of rage resounded in the sky like the sound of an erupting volcano, and then his enormous body dived back into the deep waters and after a final gigantic splash that generated another tidal wave that pushed the puppet even further towards the coast, he disappeared into the sea as quickly as he had come.


Belos is really a nice guy, I will never stop saying it.

By the way, for the slightly impressionable people, I inform you that you can breathe a sigh of relief because the horror part is over... for now. But if Luz previously just needed a good therapist, now she'll have to go straight to the mental hospital