[The constellation of Gates exited your channel]
So he really was angry about what I said earlier.
Now that I think about it… I went too far.
I let my emotions take control.
And now… a small part of me regrets it.
But regret will not help me survive.
I forced myself to move, walking down the silent hallway until I finally reached the door.
It was locked.
Of course it was.
Without hesitation, I gripped the handle and broke it open.
The door creaked as it gave way.
The room inside was empty.
At least, that was what I thought at first.
It looked like a drawing room, filled with antique chairs and a long table, but everything was overturned and scattered, as if something violent had torn through it.
Heck… what happened here…
Then I heard it.
A faint, broken sob.
I froze.
It was coming from under the table.
Slowly, carefully, I stepped closer.
And then I saw her.
A small girl, no older than seven or nine , curled up tightly as if trying to disappear. Her whole body trembled as quiet sobs escaped her lips.
"Mommy… mommy…"
My chest tightened.
She lifted her head.
Our eyes met.
And in that instant, her face twisted into pure terror.
I did not need to guess why.
I was drenched in blood.
"Kyahhh!!"
Her scream pierced the room, sharp and desperate, and she shrank back even further, crying harder than before.
"No… no, please—!"
Oh no…
I clenched my fists.
I am scaring her so have to fix this.
But how?
Why will this blood not come off?
It would not soak into the fabric, yet it clung to me like a curse.
"Hey… hey, it's okay…"
My voice came out softer than I expected, almost trembling.
"I am not a monster."
I grabbed a nearby tablecloth with shaking hands and tried to wipe the blood away, rubbing desperately as if I could erase what she was seeing.
"See? Look… this is not mine…"
She stared at me through tear-filled eyes, her breathing uneven, her small body still trembling.
"Y-You're… not going to eat me…?"
Her voice was barely a whisper, fragile and broken.
"No," I said gently. "I would never do that."
Her lips quivered.
"M-My mommy… she was eaten by those people… and… and then…"
Her voice cracked.
"T-Then my mom… she started chasing me too…"
The words collapsed into sobs as she broke down again, her cries filling the empty room.
I stood there, frozen.
I did not know what to do.
All I could hear was her crying.
I could not just stand there.
Carefully I lowered myself to the ground, keeping my movements small so I would not scare her further.
"It's okay…" I whispered again, softer this time. "You're safe now."
Safe.
Does words felt like a lie.
But I said it anyway.
She did not believe me. I could see it in the way she curled tighter into herself, her fingers clutching her dress.
"I won't come closer," I added gently. "Not unless you want me to."
Then, slowly… hesitantly… she peeked at me again.
Her eyes were red and swollen, filled with fear and confusion.
"…my heart hurts…" she whispered.
The words were so quiet I almost missed them.
My chest tightened.
"I know," I replied. "It hurts a lot."
I did not know if I had the right to say that.
But I understood pain.
More than I wanted to.
She sniffled, wiping her face with the back of her hand, only to smear more tears across her cheeks.
"…I was hiding," she said between broken breaths. "Mommy told me to run… so I ran…"
Her voice shook violently.
"She was not my mommy anymore…"
Silence fell again.
I swallowed hard.
"…You did the right thing," I said quietly.
Her head snapped up slightly.
"I ran away…" she said, almost accusing herself. "I left her…"
Her small hands trembled.
"I left Mommy…"
Guilt.
Even at her age, she carried it.
"That was not your fault," I said firmly, before I could stop myself.
She flinched at my tone.
I softened immediately.
"…It was not her anymore," I continued, more gently. "Whatever chased you… that was not your mother."
Tears welled up in her eyes again.
"…Then where is she?" she asked.
I had no answer.
The silence felt unbearable.
I looked away for a moment, clenching my jaw.
"…I don't know," I admitted quietly.
Her shoulders shook again, but this time, her crying was softer. Not as panicked.
"…What's your name?" I asked.
She hesitated.
"…Mira," she whispered.
"Mira…" I repeated softly. "That's a nice name."
Another pause.
"…Are you really not going to eat me?" she asked again.
Despite everything…
A faint, tired breath escaped me.
Not quite a laugh.
"…No," I said. "I promise."
She nodded weakly.
I glanced toward the door behind me, then back at her.
"…Can you stand?" I asked.
She looked unsure.
"I… I think so…"
"Okay," I said, pushing myself up slowly. "We're going to leave this place after we rescue the others"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Together," I added.
She froze.
Then, after a long moment…
She gave a small, trembling nod.