CHAPTER 2: A HELL UNKNOWN STARTS TO BECOME KNOWN

"Natsuki is missing?" a green-haired woman speaks to a cat-boy wearing a dress.

"That's what the letter we received said, nya." Felix replies as he shrugs his shoulder.

Crusch places her hand on her chin as Wilhelm observes from behind her. He starts to think of all the things Subaru has accomplished. Felix then speaks again.

"The letter was also asking if we've seen Subaru-Kyun. What should we do?"

Crusch looks up at Felix before thinking of an idea. "We need to speak with Emilia as soon as possible. Send a letter to inform her of our arrival."

Felix bows as he says, "Right away Ms. Crusch."

At the Roswaal Mansion, a panicking Emilia runs around searching frantically for her knight. She opens every door she sees but can't find him. She finally stops after opening the door to Rem's room. The only thing she finds is Rem sleeping soundly. She's breathing heavily as her mind begins rushing. A small girl walks up on Emilia's left.

Emilia looks to find Beatrice with tears in her eyes. She looked distraught as she stands beside Emilia.

"Ms. Beatrice?" Emilia speaks as she looks at the spirit. "Did you find Subaru?"

Beatrice took a moment to respond before slowly shaking her head.

"I...I can't find his presence anywhere in the mansion or the village."

Emilia was shaken. Where could he have gone? Subaru wouldn't leave without telling her. Something must've happened to him and that thought only made her worry more. Another person ran up behind Emilia. It was a pink-haired maid. She had a blank expression, but her heavy breathing suggested that she had been running around as much as Emilia.

"I couldn't find him anywhere." Ram spoke after catching her breath. "With Roswaal gone, I'm unsure as to what to do."

"Roswaal's gone?" Emilia replied to Ram in shock.

Suddenly, it was like Reality shifted. They all began to feel sick as if they had to throw up. Suddenly, it was like memories started flooding their minds before they fell unconscious. Emilia slowly began opening her eyes to see an unfamiliar sight. She was in front of a window with some low shelves that appeared to have multiple books. A pair of arms were also in view, holding a book and flipping through its pages. She recognized the pattern of the sleeves and immediately realized something. These were Subaru's arms. These were the sleeves to his tracksuit. She was looking through Subaru's eyes. But where was she. She noticed Subaru's body in the reflection of the glass.

A voice then spoke. A very familiar voice. "Ah, I see. This is where they suck you in." It was Subaru's. But what was even weirder was that she felt her mouth move to speak those words, but only Subaru's voice came out.

Emilia began panicking as she tried to understand what she was seeing. The hands continued flipping through the book. The view shifted to look up. She could see two people walking outside. They were wearing weird clothes. The view followed the people before looking straight at the glass. She started to feel depressed. It was like her feelings were being manipulated.

She saw the reflection in the glass which only proved what she thought. She saw Subaru in the reflection. His eyes looked tired. He looked terrible. She hears Subaru let out a sigh before putting the book back on the shelf and walking away. She was still trying to figure out just what it was she was seeing. She starts to feel sick from not being able to move and only able to move along with what she was seeing. It started to feel weird. Emilia then decided to try to speak.

"Beatrice? Ram?"

Beatrice was seeing the same thing as Emilia, although she didn't hear her pleas. Beatrice was just as confused as Emilia as to what she was seeing. She also felt her feelings being manipulated, but she couldn't do anything about it which scared her even more. This was something that even the great spirit Beatrice couldn't do anything about.

Ram had the same thought as she looked through this weird view. It was really sickening that she couldn't control her body and was seeing someone else's point of view. They all had one thought. A single question as they were powerless against this.

Was this even real? They all recognized that they were looking through the eyes of Subaru, but what exactly were they seeing? Was this where Subaru was? What was this?

They look through Subaru's eyes as he walked over to another shelf. He leaned down to look at two cups of noodles. They couldn't read the language, yet they somehow understood what it said. Subaru's arm moved and picked up one of the cup noodles and was about to walk away before turning back.

"Nah, not Natto." Subaru spoke as he placed down the cup noodles and picked up a different one. They watch through his eyes as he grabs a bag of potato chips on his way to a counter. At the counter, they man speaks to Subaru.

"That'll be 363 yen." The man speaks.

They start to feel as if they were checking their pockets as Subarus arm pulls out his wallet. He opens it and pulls out a ten-yen coin. It was like they were doing this themselves.

They could feel their mouth move and speak as Subaru spoke.

"A grooved-edge ten."

The hand holds the coin before putting it back into the wallet. He takes out some more coins and places them on the counter. They watch through this view as Subaru exits the convenience store with a bag of the items he just paid for.

What is this? Emilia thought to herself.

What is this, I suppose?" Beatrice thought as well.

Ram had no comment as she was too confused by what she was witnessing.

They felt as if their bodies and Subaru's were becoming one as they moved closer to a road. A car drove past, startling them They all thought the same thing as they saw the vehicle.

What was that?

Well, all except Beatrice. She knew exactly what that was. Subaru told her many stories. Thanks to that, she knew exactly what she was seeing. This was Subaru's hometown. Her contractor's place.

They felt their bodies move closer to the road before suddenly, it felt like reality was being warped. Subaru looks in the direction the car was going for a moment before looking straight across the street.

"I guess anyone's eyes would be tired after holing up in their room, gaming all day."

The more they watched, the more they felt their minds and bodies being synced. Every aspect of them was being altered. The only thing they felt was not being altered was their personalities. Their minds weren't completely synced, but their emotions and senses were slowly becoming more and more in sync.

Subaru's hand then moved to rub his eye. He blinked a couple of times before there was a blinding light. Emilia, Beatrice, and Ram were completely caught off guard by this. The more they saw, the more confused they became as their view became clear and they were now standing in the middle of Lugunica's capital. They felt just as confused as Subaru as he looked around.

"What's going on?" Subaru spoke as plenty of demi humans walked across his view.

"This stuff obviously isn't fake...Which means."

Emilia, Beatrice, and Ram were all confused as they felt their mouths moving on their own and the only voice that came out was Subaru's, which was also confusing.

"Does this mean...I've been summoned to a parallel world?" Subaru shouted

Meanwhile, outside of the Roswaal Mansion.

A young girl with orange hair and red bow was walking back towards the mansion. She is carrying a huge bag. Beside her was Fredrica Bowman, a demi human.

"You did very good with the shopping." The demi human speaks to the young girl in a maid uniform.

Petra just smiles widely from the praise. The make it back to the yard of the Roswaal Mansion. Outside is Garfiel and Otto. They stood just outside the mansion. It was rather strange.

"What are you doing out here?" The young girl spoke as she saw the two boys outside.

Fredrica was put off but walked behind Petra. Otto and Garfiel turn around as they heard Petra's voice.

"For some reason, we can't enter the mansion." Otto spoke. "Somethin's definitely wrong ere sis." Garfiel spoke next.

He stepped closer to Fredrica as he clenched his fists. He had a pained expression. "First, cap'n went missing. Now we can't even enter the mansion."

Fredrica and Petra had shocked expressions as Garfiel spoke.

"Subaru's missing?" Petra questioned.

Garfiel turns to look up at the mansion as he says, "The princess is in there."

Fredrica stepped closer to the doors to the mansion as Garfiel explained more of the situation.

"Cap'n went missing a while ago and now me and my bro can't enter the mansion. We tried smashin it but that didn't work. The princess should be searching for Cap'n."

Fredrica reached her hand out to touch the doors of the mansion, but before her hand reached the door, it was stopped but an invisible wall. She tried to push but the wall didn't move. Petra placed down the giant bag she was carrying and slowly walked up beside Fredrica. She held her hands together, terrified by what might be going on as Fredrica continued her useless struggle against the invisible wall.

Petra slowly reached her left hand out toward the wall as she braced herself for anything that might happen. Her hand inched closer and closer to the wall before... It went straight through. Her hand felt no resistance from the invisible wall, it just went through it. Fredrica gasped as she noticed Petra was able to pass through the barrier and touch the door. Garfiel and Otto both looked on with shock as Petra was able to pass the barrier.

"You can pass the barrier?" Otto voiced.

"That's means you can go to the princess." Garfiel immediately shouted in happiness.

"How are you doing that?" Fredrica asks as she looks at Petra.

Petra just stared at her hand in shock. "I...I don't know. I just reached out. W-What do I do?" Petra pushed her hand forward, opening the door.

Yet the barrier remained as everyone beside Petra were still unable to pass the barrier. Fredrica knew what this meant. Petra would have to enter alone. After this mysterious barrier and Subaru's disappearance, she didn't want Petra to go in alone, but there was nothing she could do.

"Petra? It seems like you'll have to go alone. You're the only one who can enter this barrier. Be careful and try to figure out what happened. Then come right back." Fredrica kneeled and placed her hands on Petra's shoulders as she spoke.

Petra was frozen with fear of what she might find inside. This barrier must've been the work of someone. But why was she allowed inside. She looked inside of the mansion before looking back at Fredrica.

She nodded as she said, "I'll be careful. I'll find out what happened."

Fredrica just smiled at Petra's statement before pulling her into a hug. "Be really careful." She let go of Petra and moved her away to get one good look at her before standing up and letting go of her shoulders.

Petra smiles back before turning her body to the mansion. She felt fear as she stared into the mansion with everyone else standing behind her with anticipating looks. She slowly stepped towards the mansion with both hands outwards and her eyes closed. Her body slowly passed through the barrier, allowing her to enter the mansion. After passing the barrier, she slowly opened her eyes.

She turned around to see the others behind her, but the outside looked distorted. She could barely make out colors and shapes outside. She decided to waste no time as she turned back around and immediately started running around the mansion. She tried to be as cautious as she could while searching the mansion only to find no one.

She crouched over, placing her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. She looked down at her hands. She was terrified. So scared she felt like crying. Where was everyone. Suddenly, she heard a noise. The sound of footsteps getting closer and closer. She quickly ran to hide behind a corner as she waited to see who it was that was getting closer. The source of the footsteps then came into view.

Petra's eyes widened as she saw the source of the footsteps. It was a girl with blue hair and her bangs covering her right eye. It was Rem. "Rem?" Petra voiced in a whisper.

The blue-haired girl quickly turned her head toward Petra, startling her and making her back away before falling back. Rem noticed Petra but she only saw a faint outline, so she had to get closer before making out who she sees.

"Petra?" Rem spoke as she looked down at the terrified girl.

"Ms. Rem?" Petra replied, looking up at the girl who is supposed to be in a coma. "Y-You're awake?"

Rem started to look around the darkened mansion as she spoke. "I just woke up. I don't really understand what happened after me and Crusch got attacked by..." Rem stops talking before she reaches her hand to help Petra up as she says, "What are you doing here?"

Petra reached her hand for Rem's and was helped back to her feet. She was still scared. So scared she was shaking. She then explained to Rem the situation. She explained the barrier and Subaru's disappearance. Rem looked saddened by the news. Subaru disappeared? She couldn't understand where he could've gone.

"Right now, we need to find the others." Petra said as she clenched her fist with a determined look.

Rem nodded her head in agreement. "I also believe that is what we should do. I know it's what Subaru would've done. Let's start searching.

Petra and Rem started searching the mansion for the others living in the mansion. As they are searching, Petra asks Rem a question.

"How are you awake right now anyway? What changed?"

Rem, walking in front, suddenly had a serious expression. "I...I don't know. I remembered being attacked by Gluttony before waking up here."

As they continue walking, Petra suddenly stops, getting Rem's attention. Rem turns around with a confused expression. "Petra?"

Petra was looking down with a sad, guilty expression which only made Rem more confused. Petra then spoke. "I'm sorry." Tears began welling in her eyes.

Petra?" Rem questioned, confused by Petra's actions.

Petra closed her eyes as she began shaking and tears falling down her face. "It's just...I still don't remember you."

Rem's eyes widened as she heard Petra speak. "What do you mean?"

Petra opened her eyes to look at Rem as tears continued falling down her cheeks. "Ever since you were attacked and you went into a coma, nobody could remember you. Except for Subaru."

Rem's eyes showed her surprise as Petra continued to speak. She started to remember all her time with Subaru, her hero. She smiled softly as she was relieved that her hero still remembered her. She couldn't feel any happier. Rem then stepped closer to Petra as the young girl closed her eyes and tilted her head down, shaking.

Rem placed her hands on Petra's shoulders and looked down at her. "Don't worry Petra. It's okay." As Rem spoke, Petra slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Rem.

Rem used her finger to wipe away the girl's tears as she kneeled down to Petra. "Don't cry. Subaru wouldn't want to see you cry."

Petra quickly wiped her tears away before looking up at Rem with a smile and puffy eyes. "Right. He wouldn't like to see people cry. He is the kindest after all."

Rem nodded as she said, "Yeah, as long as you can see what makes Rem's hero so cool." Rem stood up as she continued to speak. "Now, let's find everyone else. Subaru would be very worried about Ms. Emilia."

The two of them continued their search around the mansion before coming across something shocking. They found Emilia, Ram, and Beatrice. They were all unconscious and laying on the floor. They started questioning just what could've happened. What really surprised Rem was Beatrice. She would've been in the library, away from everyone. Why was she here and just what could've made her unconscious?

She then noticed her Ram. "Sister!" She shouted as she ran to her sister's side. She got on her knees as she placed her hands on her sister's shoulder and began shaking her, trying to wake her up.

"Sissy, wake up." Rem continued shaking her sister in hopes that she'd wake up, but nothing.

"Ms. Emilia." Petra shouted, getting Rem's attention.

Rem turned around to see Petra on her knees beside Emilia. Petra then turned to look at Beatrice. "Ms. Beatrice." She spoke as she looked with fear at not understanding what happened.

Suddenly, it felt like reality was warping, startling both Rem and Petra. Petra stood up immediately and started looking around with a fearful expression. Rem just turned to look around.

Suddenly, they both felt sick. Rem put her hand over her mouth as she felt like she was going to throw up. Petra placed both hands over her mouth as she also felt the same. She couldn't hold it in as she fell to her knees. She turned to her left as she threw up on the ground. She started to feel immense fear overcoming her before she fell to her right, unconscious.

"Petra." Rem spoke as she tried to move, but she only felt more sick. Her eyes started to get tired as she could barely keep them opened and finally...she passed out.

Her eyes opened to something completely different than the mansion. She started feeling pain as she heard the sound of movement. What is this? She thought to herself. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice.

"THAT'S ENOUGH" The voice shouted.

She couldn't control her body as her view was forced to look at the source of the voice. It was Emilia. With Rem being shocked seeing Emilia, Emilia herself felt the same to see herself. But one thing made it more unsettling to her. If this was supposed to be from Subaru's view, then what was happening? She doesn't remember meeting Subaru in this alley. So, just what was she seeing.

Beatrice and Ram felt the same surprise as Emilia and Rem, but they don't remember Emilia telling them this. She told them that he just showed up out of nowhere to save her at the loot house. He was suspicious. So what were they all seeing. Petra on the other hand was more confused. She could barely think straight as she felt disoriented by this view, but she did feel calmer which only served to make her more confused. All she could make out was that Emilia was in front of her.

They then heard another voice speak. This time, from above.

"Who the hell are you?" The voice spoke.

Emilia was shining as she said, "Stop now and I'll let this slide. So just graciously give back what you stole."

There were other voices above as one of them questioned. "What we stole?"

They could still feel a foot being placed on their head. They were all unsettled by this. They blinked only to now be in a different position. The feeling of a foot on their head was gone and they were now sitting up, looking at Emilia.

They felt their mouths move again, but only Subaru's voice came out as the voice said, "You saved me. Thanks." Emilia immediately spoke sternly with her hands on her hips. "Don't move. Meanwhile, in Emilia's hand was Puck, her spirit. Beatrice and Emilia were off put by this. Bubby. Beatrice thought to herself. She wanted to feel sad for the loss of her brother, yet all she could feel was a sense of embarrassment as her eyes shifted away from Emilia. Emilia also felt the same.

"See? You averted your eyes because of your guilty conscience." Emilia spoke out to Subaru.

Suddenly, they were standing. They were watching as Emilia left them in the alley. It all happened as if their life was flashing before their eyes, but instead it was Subaru's. They were all filled with confusion as to what they were even seeing. It didn't make sense, especially to Emilia. She doesn't remember any of this. Next thing they knew, they were overseeing the capital, sitting on a pair of steps with Emilia and puck behind them. Subaru's voice then spoke.

"I know I talked big, but isn't this town too huge to find one little thing in?" They once again felt their bodies moving and mouth opening as Subaru spoke. They blinked again only to now be standing in front of Emilia.

"MY NAME IS NATSUKI SUBARU. NOT ONLY AM I CLUELESS, I'M ALSO BROKE BEYOND COMPARE." Subaru spoke as he pointed his finger to the sky. He then reached his hand out for a shake as he said, "Nice to meet ya."

Petra was finally able to conclude what she was seeing as she started ton calm down. It was still revolting, but she couldn't do anything about it, so she just gave up. Rem on the other hand felt excited to see things through her hero's eyes.

Suddenly, Puck was near them. They were forced to look up at Emilia as she looked surprised. Emilia closed her eyes before turning away. "I'm...Satella." Everyone was shocked to hear that and were at a loss for words. They wanted to deny that this could ever be real. After all, Emilia doesn't remember any of this and this doesn't match with what the others were told about Subaru's meeting with Emilia.

Suddenly, it was sun set. The felt their bodies becoming one with Subaru's as they were forced to walk. They felt a hand gripping Subaru's tracksuit as they also felt their emotions being manipulated. They felt happy.

"I haven't been alone with a girl since grad school." Subaru spoke. Once again, their view was changed. It was nighttime and they were standing in front a building. A building Emilia immediately recognized. The Loot House. They were right in front of the door as Emilia stood behind them.

"Don't come in until I say it's all right, Satella." Subaru spoke, holding a lantern in front of the loot house.

Their view turned to look at Emilia who seemed to be spacing out. "What?" Subaru spoke, getting Emilia's attention.

Emilia shook her head before saying, "N-Nothing. Never mind. If you can get my insignia back, I'll apologize."

Emilia was completely put off by Subaru calling her by the name of the witch that most wouldn't even say. Ram and Rem just tried to understand exactly what they were seeing. This isn't anything like what they were told about Subaru's meeting. Petra just felt fear. If it wasn't for the situation, she would've been shaking, but she didn't even feel like she was in her body. Her senses became that of Subaru's as she watched through his eyes. This was the same for everyone. They could feel the breeze, the tracksuit he was wearing, and even what Subaru was feeling. Everything about them was being altered by what they were seeing, even their emotions and thoughts. It was hard to even think straight.

They felt their bodies move closer to the loot house door and open it, stepping inside. "Excuse me." Subaru spoke as he looked around.

Suddenly, they were in the middle of the loot house. They felt their bodies move forward as Subaru's before hearing a wet sound as if they stepped in water. They were forced to look down before seeing a red liquid beneath their feet. None of them even knew what to think anymore. Except Petra. She felt fear like never before. Rem and Ram were on guard as Emilia just wanted to cover her mouth or show surprise, but she couldn't control this body. Beatrice just stayed quiet as she was curious about what her contractor was going through.

Their view started to look up and follow the trail of red liquid till they saw a massive club with a detached giants arm beside. They were all filled with intense fear as they were forced to continue looking until they saw a giant whose body was covered with blood and his back against a couple of crates. He was bleeding from his mouth and his eyes were wide open. They could feel their bodies move back before a voice caught their attention.

"Oh dear, you found that? Well, I have no choice then. Yes, I have no choice." The voice said. It sounded like a woman's.

Subaru slowly turned before getting hit by something. They all felt it as they were thrown across the loot house. The lantern was thrown away as they tumbled onto the floor. None of them could think straight as they wondered what had hit them. Despite the burn, they were forced to get up as Subaru spoke in their place.

"Ow, that burns."

They then saw blood on his tracksuit around his stomach that his hand was over. The hand moved so they could see it covered in blood. Subaru spoke once again.

"Oh crap...Is this all my blood?"

They begin to feel pain as Subaru coughs up blood. Subaru's hand moved to cover his mouth. They didn't notice this at first, but they started to hear Subaru's voice in their head as if they were their own thoughts.

This is bad...Very bad. Subaru thought.

They felt their bodies lose all its strength as Subaru fell to lay on the ground. They then heard another voice as the loot house door opened again.

"Subaru? What's wrong?" The voice spoke. It was Emilia's.

They felt their mouth move to speak as they choked on blood. "No...Run. Hurry."

What is this pain? That was the only question that came to their minds. Their minds were filled with fear to match Subaru's. They then heard another sound right before seeing Emilia falling beside them. Emilia had no words to describe the shock she felt seeing her body from Subaru's view. Meanwhile, Beatrice only focused on the pain. She had never felt such pain in her centuries of life. She gave no thought to the half-elf girl that had just fallen beside them. Rem and Ram tried to overcome the fear with anger towards someone who would dare hurt Emilia, especially Rem. She knows how much Subaru cares for her and to see Emilia dead and bleeding out made her feel unimaginable anger that was all erased and replaced with equal amount of fear.

Despite the pain, they felt Subaru's hand move as he says, "Wait there." His hand grips Emilia's. "I'm...going to...save you."

Suddenly, they saw darkness as the pain slowly faded. They all woke up back in the mansion. All of them jolted up. Emilia immediately felt her stomach for any sign of the wound. Ram and Rem completely forgot about the pain as they saw each other. Ram was a little confused as she still had no memories of this girl Subaru called her sister. Rem on the other hand, immediately hugged her sister.

"Sissy!" Rem shouted as tears welled in her eyes. She was overcome with extreme happiness as she sobbed and sniffled. Ram was hesitant but decided to hug Rem back. It was a familiar feeling. A long-forgotten feeling. She knew for a fact that this girl was someone she deeply cared about. Beatrice just sat still with a blank expression, contemplating what she had just witnessed. Was that really something that happened to her contractor? But he was alive. She knew he was alive, so what did she see.

Petra was the one that was the most affected. Her body was shaking and tears flowed down her face endlessly as she rubbed both her hands on her stomach. Even though she was no longer feeling the pain, the pain she felt wouldn't leave her mind. She placed her head on the floor before raising her head up and slamming it back down, making a loud sound as her head smacked the floor. Her forehead began bleeding as Emilia shouted.

"PETRA!"

Emilia ran to Petra's side. She placed her hands on the young girl's shoulders and lifted her up, allowing her to get a look at the traumatized girl.

The girl's eyes looked distant like she was looking through Emilia rather than at her. Her tears never stopped and the memory of the pain she just felt never will either. Her mind raced for a reason to why she had to go through this. Even though Emilia was still haunted by what she just saw and experienced, she forgot all about it to comfort the girl in front of her. They didn't have to say any words to know that all of them experienced the same thing.

Emilia hugged the girl as tight as she could in hopes of helping the girl even a tiny bit. But...It didn't work. The girl began to cry more and more as she hugged Emilia back before screaming as loud as she could. A haunting scream that they knew would never leave their minds even if the girl stopped screaming. Her scream was so loud that those outside the mansion heard it.

They couldn't do anything as the scream sent shivers down their spine. As Petra continued to scream and cry, Rem and Ram just hugged each other as they looked at the girl with an expression of pity and pain. They too still felt the pain even if there was no wound. This was something they knew would never be forgotten as long as they lived.

Emilia looked up at the ceiling as she hugged the young girl tightly as one question came to her mind. "Where are you, Subaru?" She couldn't hold back the tears as they flowed down her cheek.