Marlowe eased the old wooden door open, its hinges groaning in protest. She poked her head out, scanning both sides of the empty street. Her eyes darted left, then right, searching for movement in the shadows.
"All clear," she whispered, waving the others forward. "This way."
One by one, the children slipped out of the building, their bare feet silent against the cracked stone path. The night air was cold and heavy with the metallic tang of the city's smog. Yurrelian moved at the rear, keeping a watchful eye while Marlowe led the way, her gaze sweeping every dark corner for signs of a night patrol.
They stayed in the narrow backstreets, hugging the walls as if the shadows might shield them. The distant sound of metal striking stone echoed somewhere far off, and one of the younger kids whimpered.
"Big Sis Mar… where are you taking us?" a boy asked, clutching the hem of her tattered coat.
"I… I don't like the dark," another child whispered, his small voice trembling.
"Walking at night is against the rules, you know," an older girl muttered nervously.
"Don't worry about it," Marlowe replied, forcing a reassuring smile. "Me and Yu have it under control."
She scratched her cheek awkwardly, though she kept her other hand tight on the strap of the small satchel slung across her body.
They moved quietly across the creaking wooden planks of an old bridge, the sound of water rushing beneath them mixing with the hum of insects in the dark. Beyond the bridge, an abandoned building stood, its entrance leading into a yawning underground tunnel.
"This way," Marlowe said, motioning for them to follow.
The tunnel swallowed them whole, its damp air chilling their skin. Their footsteps echoed faintly, as if the darkness was whispering them forward.
"We're going to say goodbye to this place tonight," Marlowe said with a grin, her voice carrying a mix of excitement and relief.
"Why say goodbye?" Adela asked, frowning. "And… where are we going?"
Yu stepped in before Marlowe could answer, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "We're going back to our world."
The children's eyes widened.
"We'll be able to have any food we want up there," he added.
"Really?! We can eat anything we want?" a little boy gasped.
"What about steak? Or potatoes?" another piped up, his voice louder than he realized.
Marlowe's eyes widened, and she quickly pressed a finger to her lips, motioning for silence. She grabbed the boy's shoulder and pulled him close just as two demonic humans emerged from the far end of the tunnel, their black eyes scanning the darkness.
The group ducked into a side alcove, holding their breath. The patrol slowed, one of them pausing as if sensing something. He tilted his head toward their hiding spot but after a tense moment, he moved on.
Only when the sound of their footsteps faded did Marlowe signal for them to continue. They emerged into a wider chamber, the dim light of an oil lamp flickering against the walls.
"Once we make it through that door," Marlowe said, pointing to a reinforced gate at the far end, "we reach our goal."
"We're in the final stretch, guys," Yu added.
The kids exchanged looks of barely contained joy, their earlier fear replaced with hope. Some of them even jumped in excitement.
"Let's go," Marlowe urged.
"Yeah," Yu said with a faint smile.
They climbed a narrow staircase, the stone steps cold beneath their feet. Every creak and scrape seemed deafening in the stillness. At the top, the hallway opened into a large, dimly lit chamber. The heavy wooden door before them groaned as Marlowe pushed it open.
But instead of freedom… they were greeted by a low, chilling laugh.
A man in a spotless white robe sat casually on a chair in the center of the room, one leg crossed over the other. His dark hair framed a face that was far too calm for the situation.
"I've been waiting for you," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "My little pitiful sheep…"
His gaze swept over them, lingering on each terrified child. "Ah, that look in your eyes… yes, that's it. That beautiful moment when all hope fades. That is why I could never stop playing with humans."
Marlowe's hands clenched into fists. "What do you mean by that, Lord Fred?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Fred stood, the faint smile never leaving his face.
A sudden gust of wind tore through the room, scattering the map Marlowe had been holding. She spun to catch it only to hear a sickening thud behind her.
When she turned back, one of the younger girls lay crumpled on the floor, her lifeless eyes staring upward.
"Oh dear," Fred said casually, dropping her limp body like discarded trash. "This one is already dead."
Yu's eyes widened in fury. "You bastard!" He raised the crude handgun in his grip and fired.
The shot cracked through the air but Fred tilted his head, the bullet slicing past harmlessly.
"Damn it…" Yu cursed under his breath. "Even with Marksman skill, my aim… still isn't enough."
Fred's smile widened. "What a nice little toy you have there. And a map, too. Quite impressive for a group of children… the will to fight back is still there, I see."
He tilted his head slightly. "But no normal child could pull a trigger so easily. You, boy… you're a unique one."
He stepped aside, gesturing toward the far door. "The map is accurate. Your goal lies just beyond that door. The path to your world begins there."
He chuckled darkly. "Once you escape, it will be much harder for me to catch you without taking… certain risks."
His voice dropped to a whisper. "Caught between hope and despair… I wonder what kind of sound you'll make."
The children instinctively huddled behind Yu and Marlowe, their trembling bodies pressed together.
Yu turned, shouting, "Run! Now run!"
Fred's grin sharpened. "I told you, didn't I?"
In an instant, he was moving blurring past Yu as his blade flashed. One child's head hit the ground before her body collapsed.
"NO!" Marlowe screamed, but Fred didn't stop.
He moved through the group like a shadow, slicing down one child after another. Blood splattered the walls, pooling on the stone floor.
"Stop! Please, stop it!" Marlowe cried, her voice breaking.
Fred paused, only one child left Adela.
Yu lunged forward, but Fred's blade was faster. Adela's throat opened under the steel, and she fell without a sound.
Both Yu and Marlowe stood frozen, staring in disbelief.
Marlowe turned to Yu, her voice trembling. "Don't forget, Yu… we're family."
Before he could react, she shoved him aside and snatched the gun from his hand. She sprinted toward Fred, her grip steady despite the tears in her eyes.
Fred laughed. "Ah, Marlowe… you truly were my precious toy. But it's a pity I have to kill you now."
She fired. The shot rang out but Fred blurred forward, his blade piercing her stomach. With a swift twist, he severed her right arm, sending the gun spinning into the air.
Yu's body moved on instinct. He dove, catching the gun mid-spin, and aimed at Fred's head from across the room.
"Die!" he roared.
The shot struck true this time Fred's head snapping back as he collapsed to the floor.
Yu gasped for breath but then a sharp pain shot through his skull. He staggered, fighting to stay upright, before rushing to Marlowe's side.
"Mar! Mar, wake up! Open your eyes!" His voice cracked.
Marlowe's breathing was ragged, her skin pale. "Go… Yu," she whispered.
"No! Don't say that!" Yurrelian shouted, his voice breaking as he dragged her toward the exit. "I'm not leaving you! You're my family! I finally had a family of my own!"
Tears streamed down his face.
But Marlowe knew. She wouldn't survive.
As Yu worked desperately to open the passage door, she gathered the last of her strength and shoved him through the threshold.
The door slammed shut between them.
"Open it! Open it!" Yu pounded on the door, his voice raw.
On the other side, Marlowe smiled weakly. "Just go… don't let us die in vain."
Her fingers pressed the lockdown mechanism. The door's seals hissed, locking tight.
Yu's pounding grew weaker. "MARLOWE!"
She sank to her knees, her breaths shallow. Her vision blurred as she whispered to the empty room, "Yu… that was the first time you called us family."
A single tear slid down her cheek.
Then she was still.
---