Switzerland, 9 years ago...
Six-year-old Erika sat in the back of a black car, gripping a brown teddy bear while looking outside. She could spot large pine trees surrounding them, with heavy fog covering the grounds.
"Where are we going, Poppa?" She asked her father.
Her father was in the front while another person was driving the car. He was dead silent, not bothering to look back at his daughter as they rode towards their destination.
"Poppa?" the girl asked again.
"Not now, Erika," He chided, not even attempting to turn and face her.
Erika sighed, wishing her father would act like his old self. Back when her mom was alive.
"I wish Mom were here," she pouted, looking back at the windows.
Their ride eventually came to a stop. As they got out, Erika saw she was now in an area filled with many buildings and houses.
"Where are we?" She asked her father while stepping out of the car.
"It's a school, Erika," he coldly responded.
They walked towards what appeared to be the entrance to the school, an arched entrance, with the name "St. Agnes". Out the door appeared an elder woman, one with gray hairlines and square glasses.
"Mr. Langford, I see you've come to drop her off," She explained.
'What are we doing here, Poppa?" She continued asking, grasping onto her teddy bear.
"This will be your new school," Her father explained.
"But our house is in Hamburg, in Germany," the little girl pointed out.
"You'll be living here, little one," The woman interjected. "This is a boarding school, after all."
"Are we moving here?" asked Erika, more confused than ever. "But-
"Erika," her father cut in as he set down her suitcase.
"From now on, you will live at this school. We're not moving here; this will be your new home."
"What do you mean, Daddy?" the 6-year-old asked, still puzzled.
"I'm not staying, I can't take care of you," He tells her.
The six-year-old's eyes widened at her father's words as she clutched her teddy bear tighter.
"But why?" she asked tearfully. "Did I do something wrong?".
"It's because I said so," he replied, glancing at his clock. "I have to leave now. "
She saw her luggage being carried into the building, while the lady tried to grab Erika's arm. However, the 6-year-old runs towards her father, hugging his legs.
"Poppa, don't leave! Please! I want to be with you!" She begged.
"Erika-"
"I promise I won't cry anymore, I promise I won't be a bad kid anymore!"
"Erika, let go."
Please, Poppa, please, please!".
Listen to me!"
Her father then pushed her away from his legs.
"LISTEN TO ME!"
Gerald Langford was now face to face with a frightened little girl, whose world had just turned upside down.
I can't take care of you anymore!" He shouted. "You can't be around me, don't you understand?!".
She stood there, tears were coming from her eyes as she looked at the man she called father, whom she could see anger and frustration in his eyes.
"Poppa," She tearfully whimpers.
Gerald Langford, in turn, stood up and walked to his car.
"Goodbye" was the last word he said to her that day, just as he got to his vehicle.
As it drove away, Erika began to cry, for she had not only lost her mother but her father as well.
"Poppa..." she cried as she saw the car drive away into the distance. "Don't leave me, not you too. "
Suddenly, as Erika looked up, the sky turned red.
"Alone," she heard a voice repeat around her. "Alone".
She screamed as the ground shook, while a giant hand scooped her up. Erika soon realized she was face to face with Evangelion Unit 02, a demonic and distorted version, with white eyes, a large humanoid mouth, and jagged teeth.
"YOU...CANNOT...RUN"
"Poppa, help!" Erika yelled. "Poppa, POPPA!
Unit 02 then opened its mouth, getting closer to the 6-year-old.
"POPPA!"
Everything then turned Red.