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In the darkness of the hallway that shifts and feels as if it was alive, there was a crate in his Maidens' path. A crate that refused to move as he attempted to brush it aside far enough to slip past it. Id liked its place where it was, away from the progress he was trying to obtain. The place itself was eerie quiet, the point where he was unsure there was any sign of life in this place.

Only the crate in his way, that's all that was here. it was the only thing worth investigating, and to notice that there was no top to the box, open air where once was nothing but charcoal grey and obsidian black, items began to show, like night vision that was coming into effect after staring too long into a flame.

a thin, lanky part began to form, in-discrepant but there and moving faintly as if there was a draft. it was only after touching it did he notice that it had more to it, reaching further in left nothing but a sticky mess, goopey and viscous material that did not feel right, not smooth like water, and it stayed on, clinging to anything it attached to, like a mark. The form continued to grow, as if the bulk of it was in the box, in a heap that barely had enough space for it, but there and the steady thump of something curious.

It was the thump of a heart, moving and wiggling, was it trying to escape? did it know he was coming for it and was trying to break free of whatever this thing was holding it back. He was going to save the little thing that the goddess wanted, brandishing a metal object and bringing it closer to the heart.

He was going to save it.

the first snip into the object was nothing, the protective layer above was think and unyielding to light pressure, it took more force to push the blade in with a squelch. it was an unnatural sound, one he could not place but it made the heart pulse quicker. it was responding to his attempts. he had to keep going.

The fluid continued to flow into the bottom of the crate, as the hole became larger and larger and more pieces were pushed out of the way of the heart, thick expanding things that became flat and frail and the snapping of pencils rang out and the heart continued to beat once everything fell with a thud. it was the only thing left to snip out and take. the cuts were shallow, the gouges into the back of the container were deep and scarring, and the heart, was his.


The heart was all his.

"So alpha," the voice rumbled. You won this one, but im going to be the top dog eventually." the voice continued, sounding cocky and carefree about the situation. "Just you wait and see, ill have my day, for not ill just enjoy being your number two."

"You never have to worry about being alone.... even if we bump heads most of the time, im always here for you, i've got no where else to go anyways, ha."

The vision was gone, a figure that looked hazy, but the grin, the almost feral grin was bright like starlight on a dark evening, dazzling.

Eventually all must return back to grey, the acquired heart too, the ruby hue was gone, it too was grey and tucked into the bag carefully, the fluid already making it a tacky mess like from the prison it came from.

To die or to live with guilt in his core, it was a sickening feeling. survival at any cost.

"It was to survive, it was for the goddess. "I'm sorry, i'm so so sorry." Maiden pleaded as he force his will to his arm. and stabbed his other third to himself.

The scream it/ they had was painful. physically and emotionally, it was horrendous and the sound waned to the overpowering silence. the silence that cut just as deep as the painful screaming. there was air and he waded from the water, sobbing and throwing up whatever he had in him and thanking the goddesses that the water did not hurt like in the Ruins.

A stumble or two toward the door and he was ready to go. but omething gave him a reason to pause, reflect and pause before taking the bull by the horns and turning around. Just one more time and that was it.

Melas was there, no rage but quiet contemplation. the scissors held close like a vice as he stared on with a vacant expression. Words were empty at this point. there were no more sorries left in the land for this.

He had to go. Maiden had to leave the part of him behind, to present a part of himself to the goddess. It was a tad morose in the depths of his mind.

It needed a passcode Maiden noticed, the red letters saying as much in case his mind was unable to put that together.

he wasn't able to.
It was blind hope, a prayer that the dagger didn't need to be used yet, The idea of the goddesses trying to make a coliseum match with only death as the way out didn't seem like their style. (lolol)

There had to be a way to deal with the door, the crature continued to shift, and he in turn began to move. "Staying still was not an option, move your feet self." he chastised himself, spinning and darting wherever he could.

The slip of paper almost went unnoticed until the breeze from all the zig-zagging kicked it up in the draft, fluttering a foot off the ground until it went back to the ground.

it took extra effort to go back and grab it, and shortened the distance he worked so hard to gain.
and it was for a few letters.

in red. Cursing, he stuffed it in his balled up hand and kept moving.
"ACEG, huh?" he muttered, looking for something else to piece it together, the irregular cuts on the paper making it look like a part of something larger.

the creature of the scissors moved on with intent.


[distance: 50-5= 45 feet] Looking for a 2 get! and a 4

The forest, the spread of trees, Maiden prayed that the thing could not track him there between the limber and thin branches. Somehow he hoped it would conceal the path he took through them.

the tone of the creature and its ridiculous and manic laughter about hearts did nothing to inspire his faith in the woods.

run. run

run.

fighting can come later, kill or be killed can wait, till the running is done.

I'll be taking your heart now.


was the last words he heard when he turned around.

the running was done. and so was the fight.

There was one goddess that tried its very best to be warm and comforting to them all, to him as well. It was all smiles and sweet voiced. It was the one Maiden was the most wary about.

He didn't really want to sit down at her table, with her sickeningly sweet greeting, the offering of sweets, the cookies that looked far too much like themselves did not appeal to him, politely refusing the cookie.

She spoke of love so easily that made his brow furrow. "What is this love you speak of, is it something tasty?" he decided to ask her, in hopes of getting an answer. The goddess only smiled on with her sweet look and continued on.

emotions, she wanted to explore emotions, whatever they were. they were important as far as she made it sound. He didn't remember feeling such things in the short time of his being "Alive". It was worth the chance of exploring.


but not for her. this time it wasn't going to be because of some goddess that wanted to see what would happen to her candidates.

He was going to do this for himself.

"Happy birthday to you Rex, happy birthday to you kekeke, happy birthday to you Rex, happy birthday to youarooooo hissss." The world spun like a top, blurry images began to get sharper, more distinct. "So Rex, what are you going to wish for, ain't ya gonna blow out the candles, or do you want your big sis to help you?" There was someone there in front of him as far as he could tell, the image of the person wasn't clear, but the voice was warm with a twang of friendliness. The soft glow was lighting the person from below, yet it was still hidden by grey.

"Oh, huh? Sure i'll make a wish." the voice that came from his body was alien, foreign sound, one that was deeper, masculine and the only word he could think of was happy. the cake itself was like the one that he had before it started, the raised extra sweetness on the cake that covered the entire thing. This one however had words written on it.

"Happy Birthday Dami-" where it was one complete a part was smeared, and a flash of fingers went for his face. The cold feeling of something across his face and the infectious laugh was back.

"kekekeke, y'ere taking too long Rex, the cake's getting impatient, its waiting for puppy noms!" the voice continued to tease, light and airy about the whole situation and always laughing.

The laugh that made his heart light and happy as well, the voice continued to bark in protest. "Don't do that! OK! OK ill make my wish jeez!" it said between laughs as more of the top layer of the cake was launched at his face from their position sitting on the floor. The cake was now a mess, it was once pretty and pristine, now it was marred with fingertips and smeared green writing.

It was a pretty sight in its own way.

The way the shadows worked on the new crevices and peaks on the cake, how it danced in the flickering light, never staying the same. it had its own charms. The body took its moment to pause, taking in a large amount of air before blowing it out in a steady focused stream, that began to kill off the candles one by one. the light that was there was slowly being extinguished, bit by bit until there was nothing left. There was shadow, a heavy shadow now in the loss of the gentle light for a few moments.

In that span of time Maiden felt a twinge of sadness for the cake, however the guest that was there did not feel anything of the sort, throwing up their arms and cheering for the murder, and lighting a little green lamp that was beside the table. The body they were in, this Rex, he too was happy, helping his sister cut the cake and putting them in tiny boxes with names on them.

"To Xiu, To West, To Shun, To Lizzy, To Junko, To Akubi" they read, the little cake slivers was placed in with such care, the two pieces leftover were in front of them on the table. and after a few moments, gone within their bellies. "Wha'd ya wish for Rex, little bro?" the casual question came up, as the sister began to put away the plates and wash up for him. "Did you wish for more Bacon?" she jested again, letting out that laugh. it once again made him feel warm and belonged. this feeling was something, amazing and he didn't want to lose it.

Was it the emotion that the goddess wanted him to feel?

"I have no need to wish for anything right now, i have everything i want right here." he answered back with a bark, one that was similar to his own, this Rex. It must have been a favorable answer cuz the sister decided to attack him afterwards, a mess of silver hair and some indescribable appendage that was trying to coil around his stomach in a fit of giggles and pleads to stop.

Maiden knew it was a special bond that they had, and it made him envious of this Rex.

"Ill get you back, for your birthday, ok? he said after the battle that had them exhausted on the floor, drifting off and closing his eyes.

When one dreamed, the other awakened, back to the dreary table setting, no soft lighting and company. it was he himself there. Maiden was back in the tea room.

It didn't feel as pretty as it had once before, but a hollow imitation of what it could be.