"Fine, Elena's friend, I trust you. Come in, Ethan."
"Just met them, so it's basically a scam," Eveline mutters.
Ignoring her yapping, I enter the estate. Inside, six survivors, including Elena, her father, and Luisa, gather. A drunk man with a bottle, an old man with a bandaged head and cane, and a crying woman. With the guard outside, only seven remain.
"Who's this? Outsider here to kill us?" the drunk shouts.
"Ugh, booze breath. Go die!" Eveline snaps.
"Quiet, Anton. He saved them," Luisa says.
"Exactly!" Eveline chimes.
"Nobody asked for saving!" Anton roars.
"Ungrateful jerk," Eveline grumbles.
"Sit, Ethan," Luisa offers.
"Thanks. Is this… all that's left in the village?"
"Nice move, Ethan. I'm stuck standing—well, floating!" Eveline boasts, spinning midair.
Ignoring her, I sit as Luisa gestures. Anton, the drunk, keeps ranting.
"Safe? Safe? This place ain't safe!"
"We've got my cute Rosemary stolen! You're fine by comparison!" Eveline yells.
Eveline, cool it with the sister obsession. I'm dying to vent about Rose too, but not now.
"A useless cripple, a sobbing woman, and you, Luisa, dragging in a bloodied half-dead geezer and an outsider! Safe? Nowhere's safe! The cowards outside are already slaughtered. By tomorrow…" Anton chugs his drink.
"Drink or yell, pick one," Eveline snipes.
"Tomorrow we're all dead, like your useless husband! Stop crying, Roxana!"
"Yep, all dead… but not today? Hilarious. You'll go first," Eveline mocks, quoting movies.
My head aches from her antics. Luisa steps in to stop Anton.
"Enough! My family's protected this house for generations. Drunk or not, all are welcome. It's safe here."
"Keep telling yourself that," Anton sneers.
"That cripple's why it's not safe. I warned you, Ethan. Not my fault what happens," Eveline says.
"What's going on here? Someone explain," I demand, ignoring her.
Luisa answers. "I don't know. We were living quietly when monsters suddenly attacked. Over and over…"
"Wait, Luisa, your husband? Is he…?" I ask.
"No, he's out there, I'm sure. Probably getting help."
"Bet he's dead. Only Ethan could survive this," Eveline scoffs.
"Let's pray for him… for us," Roxana, the crying woman, suggests.
"Yes, let's," Luisa agrees.
"Prayers? If there's a god, I wouldn't exist. So dumb!" Eveline laughs.
The survivors, except Anton, agree to pray. Prayer? Will that fix anything? Eveline's right—if a god existed, the Baker house, Mia, Eveline's victims, Raccoon City… none of that would've happened. Elena grabs my hand, and we form a circle around the table, minus Anton.
"Great One, hear us. We offer reverence. From infinite darkness, may fate's hand guide us. When the midnight moon soars on black wings, we sacrifice ourselves, awaiting the final light. To life, to death… to Mother Miranda, we offer glory."
"Ridiculous," Eveline yawns, floating sideways.
I agree. Mother Miranda again? Worshipping a person, not a god? Reminds me of Marhawa, that school that collapsed hiding scandals under "Mother Gracia." Is this village doomed too? That last prayer sounds familiar.
"Let's prepare tea. Elena, help," Luisa says.
"That prayer—I heard it from the graveyard hag. Thought she was a survivor here," I say.
"Dash Hag!" Eveline exclaims.
"That crazy old bat? She's long gone," Anton sneers.
"She's devoted. Surely protected," Luisa counters.
Leonardo, gripping a machete, laughs then writhes in pain. Eveline twitches, recalling her warning—he's beyond saving. I move to stop him, but a table blocks me. Leonardo collapses, knocking over a lantern. Fire spreads.
"Not my fault," Eveline sings.
"Hey, what're you doing!?" I yell.
"Get back! Leonardo's gone…" Luisa warns.
"Father, are you okay!?" Elena screams.
"Stop!" I shout.
Too late. Leonardo slashes Luisa's shoulder, killing her. Anton throws a bottle, but Leonardo ignores it, clinging to the ceiling, teeth now fangs, growling like a Lycan. I pull Elena back to the hallway. Leonardo slaughters the others. Roxana, reaching for help, gets her throat torn out.
"Father…!" Elena cries.
"Elena, stay back!" I order.
"Let go!" she pleads.
"We'll die! Run!" I yell.
"Flames are spreading. Exit's burning. What now?" Eveline asks.
Leonardo charges. I grab the shotgun, but he's too fast, knocking it away and pinning me. I'm screwed…!
"Uh-oh. Should I help? But you might hate me…" Eveline hesitates.
"Guh…!" I groan.
"Father, stop!" Elena cries.
"Elena…!?"
Elena grabs my shotgun, blasting Leonardo. He staggers but rises. She fires again, and he collapses, writhing in flames.
"I told you to stop!" Elena screams.
"Merciless, like when Ethan beat up Mia," Eveline remarks.
"I… Father, I'm sorry…" Elena sobs, dropping the shotgun.
Eveline, shut up. I grab the shotgun, reloading, and stop Elena from running to her father.
"Elena, that's not your father anymore. You had no choice."
"It's Ethan's fault for not listening when I said he was doomed," Eveline adds.
"Elena, don't go. He's gone."
"Father… No…!" she wails.
"Run! The house is collapsing!"
"I'll call Ethan 'Father' from now on! Plenty of replacements!" Eveline chirps.
Screw you, Eveline. Dragging Elena, I head down the burning hallway. The entrance is engulfed, so we enter the garage. No exits, but there's a truck…
"He wasn't your father anymore."
"Leave me alone…" Elena mutters.
"No. We're getting out—together."
"Fire's closing in! She said leave her, so ditch her, Ethan! I don't wanna die—well, I'm already dead!" Eveline panics, spinning like a dog.
Ignoring her, I search for the truck's keys. Found them in a warehouse shelf, with a screwdriver keychain. I pocket it. The garage is burning now. Bad. Gotta hurry.
"Damn, the fire's fast! Elena, stand back! I'll ram through!"
"Hurry, Ethan!" Eveline urges.
I start the truck, slamming full throttle into the wall. It breaks one layer but not enough. Damn it!
"Ethan, you okay!?" Elena asks.
"Yeah, one more…"
"No time!" Eveline warns.
Flames reach the garage. Using the truck as a platform, I climb with Elena.
"Up's our only shot."
"Something about not going up in a fire… Hurry!" Eveline says.
"Don't breathe smoke."
"Thanks, Ethan. You're kind. Your family okay?" Elena asks.
"Hope so. Wanna meet them?"
"I'd love to."
"Quit chatting! Introduce me first, Papa!" Eveline snaps.
Ignoring her, we climb. A window's open—relief. An exit.
"There. We're out."
"The village is crawling with monsters. No way we escape!" Elena despairs.
"She's right," Eveline agrees.
"Don't give up. I'll get you to safety, then find Rose. She's in that castle."
"No! The castle will kill you! And me, alone… Father?" Elena gasps.
Looking down, Leonardo, transformed, chases us, weakly calling Elena's name before collapsing. Parental love feels like a curse.
"So clingy! Like Ethan or Jack. Why are fathers so stubborn!?" Eveline complains.
"Elena…!"
"Elena, that's not him!" I yell.
"He's calling me! Father!" she cries.
"Stop! It's dangerous!"
As Elena rushes to him, the floor collapses. I leap to pull her up.
"It's no use, Ethan! It's gonna collapse! Run!" Eveline warns.
"Hold still! Grab my hand!"
"Go, Ethan! Save your daughter!"
"Elena, don't give up! Come on!"
But she doesn't take my hand. Her footing crumbles, and she vanishes into the flames. I clench my empty fist. Why does everyone die!?
"Shouldn't have let a doomed man in…" Eveline murmurs.
"Damn it! Damn it all!" I curse.
"Hurry, Ethan! You're saving Rose, right!?"
"Elena… this is too cruel…"
Eveline's urging snaps me back. I grip the window, staring at the Lycan-infested hell below. In rage, I slam my left hand against the frame, pain shooting through. I don't care—I just need to vent this frustration.
"What is this village!?"
"The castle might have answers," Eveline says.
I glare at it. Elena said it'd kill me, but I'll be damned if I die. I jump out, grab the devil crest with the screwdriver, and leave Luisa's house. Elena… I'll avenge you.
Battleship and Marhawa Desire are great. Eveline, who'd never trust a god even in death.
Hope you're excited for the next part! Feedback, ratings, or typo reports are welcome—comments fuel my writing speed!