"We have come to announce that, in NeonyRain, the famous writer Lhariane Des Montes has been murdered. And in the city's maximum-security prison, the abuser of that same writer, Vector Sybenkiosk, has once again escaped. We ask everyone to remain in their homes and refuse any visit from a man with this face, as the authorities are hunting him across all of NeonyRain."
After the news broadcast, Mariane rose abruptly from the couch.
"My brother... how can he be so stubborn?! This is all my fault for leaving him alone!"
She blamed herself, distraught. Skyler adjusted his glasses and spoke in a neutral tone:
"It's better if we find him before the police do. If they're faster than us, we'll only see the body in the coffin."
"Stop saying nonsense, Skyler!"
Lucy scolded him immediately. Alice, who was breastfeeding the baby, also spoke up:
"He's right. We can't let them find him first."
She looked at the child in her arms and sighed.
"I'll stay here. I can't leave Flowey alone."
"No problem, Alice. Skyler, do you think we can look for my brother and still gather evidence?"
"You want to do that today?"
"Yes. The more time we lose, the worse it gets. I'll head to The Hotel."
"Alright. But hide those horns. I'll try to draw the Pillars of Libretãnhya away; that should make your job easier. Lucy, go with her."
Lucy nodded. Mariane rolled her eyes, grabbed a hood, and adjusted it over her horns with almost elegant precision.
After saying their goodbyes, Skyler took his cane and put on his gloves. Alice, watching his movements, asked:
"Skyler."
"Yes?"
"Are we okay? Since that conversation, you've seemed distant."
"No. I'm just not used to trusting someone with my darkest secrets. Anyway, take care."
Without another word, he left the base. Alice sighed and leaned back on the couch.
'Vector... don't hurt yourself trying to prove you're not a bad man.'
She thought silently.
***
In a large hotel, Aurora lay on the bed, chewing on a wooden stick while writing calculations in a notebook. The door opened, and Ferinish entered, wearing only a robe, steam rising from her body after a hot shower.
"Wow, you really needed that, huh?"
"Training was intense today. I didn't even get to wear down my sword."
She threw herself on the bed, exhausted.
"I just want to finish off this Inférius already. The enemies keep coming. This dimension is too unstable."
"Yeah. Ever since they lost the core, all that's left is to eliminate the remaining demons."
Aurora answered with her voice muffled by the stick. Her phone vibrated. She picked it up and murmured a curious "Hmm…"
"Well, look at that... Skyler Fogue has some free time and invited us for coffee–"
"I'm ready."
In the blink of an eye, Ferinish was already dressed in her kimono. Aurora raised an eyebrow and whistled.
"Good luck."
"I'm not going alone."
The warrior pulled her by the foot. Aurora groaned and tossed her notebook aside.
"I don't have any decent clothes!"
"I don't care."
And so, Ferinish dragged her out of the room.
***
Far away, in the alleys near the hotel, Mariane and Lucy watched the two women leaving the building.
"Aurora Sinhaygter in pajamas... how sloppy."
"It's a beautiful sight..."
"You're such a pervert, Lucy."
Mariane lightly tapped her partner's head with the fan, then fanned herself.
"Here's the plan: I'll look for Vector. You enter The Hotel, go to the kitchen, and find a door labeled 'Employees Only'. Inside, there's a cold chamber. Behind some hanging meat, there's a wooden door. You know what to do."
"How do you even know that?"
"You don't really want me to answer that, do you?"
"Seriously, I've known you for one day and I already want to tell you to go to hell."
Grumbling, Lucy left the hiding spot and headed for the hotel. Mariane chuckled quietly, then grew serious and started walking toward the prison on the horizon.
***
In a café, Skyler calmly drank his coffee. The waitress watched him with a smile. He commented with a wink:
"Relax, they're on their way."
The bell over the door rang. Ferinish looked around and approached, sitting in front of him. Aurora yawned and sat beside her friend.
The waitress, cheerful, came to take their orders. Ferinish asked for a sandwich, Aurora for coffee, and Skyler for pastries.
"What are those clothes, Aurora?"
He asked.
"Pajamas. I wanted to be sleeping."
"Ferinish dragged you, didn't she?"
"Yes..."
The warrior stayed silent, watching Skyler closely.
"Why did you call us here?"
Skyler knew he had to keep them busy until everything was safe.
***
Inside The Hotel, Lucy walked through the halls, wearing gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. She reached the kitchen and pretended to have authority:
"Excellent work, everyone!"
The staff nodded. She opened the heavy metal door with effort. The cold hit her immediately. Inside, people were cutting meat and carrying trays out. Controlling her breathing, Lucy began to look for the secret door.
One of the men approached, suspicious.
"What are you doing?"
She froze.
"No-nothing! Just checking the quality of the meat!"
"Hm, looks great, miss...?"
"Miss Luciana."
"Nice name. Pleasure to meet you."
He returned to work. Lucy sighed in relief and kept searching until she found the door. When she opened it...
"Who are you?"
A tall, middle-aged man asked in a firm voice. Lucy stayed composed, though her heart pounded.
"Good evening, sir... Sybenkiosk. I came looking for your wife. Is she around?"
"Hm... she's been ill lately. Why would she ask for you?"
"She needed a caretaker. Remember?"
"Hm, makes sense. Take good care of her and avoid speaking with the other guests."
He walked past her and left. Lucy collapsed to her knees, trying to breathe.
'Holy shit... I just met Vector's father!'
The tag on his suit read "Roid Sybenkiosk."
She was extremely lucky.
Climbing the spiral stairs, she muttered:
"No way I'm walking up all of this..."
After an exhausting climb, she reached a luxurious hall filled with illustrious family names: Sybenkiosk, Larywall, Raigen...
'Here's the elite... and Vector's family.'
An office door was slightly open. Inside, she found Leydra Sybenkiosk lying in bed. The woman turned weakly:
"Who are you? Did my husband let you in?"
"I'm Luciana, the hired caretaker."
"That's good..."
She coughed, supporting herself on the pillow.
"I guess this is punishment for my sins."
Lucy moved closer to the window. The city view was magnificent, yet chaotic.
"What sins?"
"I was a terrible mother. I used my son's pain and abandonment for my own gain. I blamed him for everything. Now, sick and near death, I just wish I could hug him one more time."
She wiped her tears.
"Power means nothing if we can't share it with those we love. It eats away at the soul."
"I can imagine your pain."
Lucy, once filled with anger, now saw only regret. She sat beside her.
"And if you could have your son back?"
"I could die in peace."
Leydra sighed. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Lucy.
"Be honest, dear. You're not who you say you are, are you?"
Lucy tensed up.
"What do you mean?"
"I know everyone who comes here. Why are you really here?"
There was silence. Lucy hesitated but couldn't resist the honesty in the woman's gaze.
"I came to find evidence to free Vector. Your daughter Mariane sent me."
Leydra's eyes widened.
"Mariane... she's alive?"
"Yes. Strong and determined to save her brother."
Their hands touched.
"Please, give me the evidence. I don't want to hurt anyone."
Leydra smiled, moved.
"I don't have much time. Everything that was used against Vector is in a safe in this room. The code is..."
She leaned in and whispered:
"One... eight... zero..."
Her voice faded. Lucy held her by the shoulders, desperate.
"Miss Sybenkiosk?"
...
...
...
She couldn't stop the tears from falling as she embraced the still body.
"I didn't want it to end like this..."
***
In the forest surrounding NeonyRain's prison, Mariane found Vector. He was thin, injured, his eyes vacant.
"What did they do to you?"
"Doesn't matter."
He held a piece of wood, trembling.
"I just wanted you to stay with me, even if everything was hell. I just wanted my sister."
"Vector..."
"Do you know what I went through? Beatings, shocks, starvation! For something I didn't do! And the prize? Seeing you alive for a few seconds, after I'd already mourned you countless times!"
Mariane clenched her fists, feeling blood run down her hands.
"I was going to free you, Vector! I would never have left you!"
"When I saw you, I didn't even want to run anymore. I just wanted to hug you... even if I died right there."
The rain intensified. The sound drowned out their voices. Mariane stepped forward, opening her arms.
"I know I left you alone, but I had no choice. I had to survive. Forgive me. Your sister is back... and she won't abandon you again."
Vector took a deep breath. He wanted to hate her but couldn't. Her words shattered him inside. He took a hesitant step.
Then, the sky tore open with a roar. The barriers of the Inférius began to fail. A red lightning bolt descended, aiming straight for Vector.
"VECTOR!!!"
Mariane acted on instinct. She teleported.
A red light exploded, illuminating the entire city.
In the café, Skyler watched the giant eye appear in the center of the dimension and raised the cup to his lips. Aurora instantly put on her lab coat using her technology, and Ferinish drew her massive sword.
"The long-awaited catastrophe has begun."
At the hotel, Lucy swallowed her tears and resumed the mission.
In an apartment, Mary held her mother's hand.
"Mom..."
"Yes, dear?"
"I'm scared."
"Don't be. Whatever fate awaits us, we'll face it together."
At the base, Alice calmed Flowey and prepared the defense system.
All the city's televisions announced:
"The catastrophe in NeonyRain has begun. Stay in your homes and pray that God has mercy on our souls."