— Now, may I see your invitation?
Without saying a word, Eden took out his ticket and handed it to the man. The latter examined it with a strange look, then calmly said:
— Very well, thank you. Enjoy your evening.
When Eden entered and the guard closed the door behind him, the man added:
— Tonight's theme is spectacular.
Eeden moved forward into the room. The entrance doors closed behind him with a heavy thud.
Before him stretched a long corridor, and at the very end, another door.
As he walked down the corridor, Eden noticed curious objects, strange symbols, and disturbing paintings hanging on the walls.
With every step, he felt as though he was being watched. Whispers seemed to come from nowhere.
His body screamed for him to turn back, but his curiosity whispered otherwise.
Anyway, he was already there. It wasn't the time to back down now.
He reached a strange-looking door, guarded by two people. Without a word, they opened it to let him in.
The room inside was gigantic and perfectly lit. All the guests were dressed in black, wearing refined masks.
The music, unfamiliar to Eden, carried a mesmerizing beauty.
On the upper floor stood an imposing throne, guarded by two sentinels. Below, two other, less impressive thrones were placed.
At the center of the room, ladies danced to a hypnotic rhythm. A sweet, powerful scent of incense filled the air.
The room was crowded: guests sat along the walls, others were chatting.
But what caught Eden's attention most was the smell of perfectly cooked meat coming from the buffet.
Listening to his stomach, he quickly headed there. The waiters were elegant, and the buffet was immense.
There was everything. Eden helped himself to a bit of each dish, not wanting to be picky.
His hands full of food, he looked around the room, searching for an empty seat — in vain.
That's when a cold, unnaturally stiff hand touched his arm to get his attention.
It was an old man, who said with a frozen smile:
— Good evening, my boy. Looks like you're enjoying the party.
Looking for a seat? My wife and I have two empty ones at our table. You'd be most welcome… if you wish.
Having no choice, Eden followed the old man to his table.
There, a woman completely veiled held a large bag at her feet.
— Good evening, ma'am, said Eden before sitting down.
The old man replied:
— Sorry, but my wife doesn't speak. She's mute.
Eden began to eat.
Little by little, other guests entered, each stranger than the last.
The first wore a crocodile-shaped mask surrounded by venomous snakes.
Another, accompanied by a woman, wore a mask shaped like a moon.
A third entered wearing a pyramid mask and a heavy UFO-shaped chain around his neck.
Another one wore a mask of flames, dragging a strange dog at his feet.
The last had a face entirely covered by a long beard reaching down to his feet, accompanied by four women wearing baby masks.
All were led upstairs, near the throne.
The lights went out.
When they came back on, a man wearing a rabbit mask stood on the platform and declared theatrically:
— Dear guests, the King of the Charming Jewel City greets you!
Everyone placed their left hand on the right side of their face and bowed slightly.
The Charming King continued:
— And thanks to my dear friends, without whom this world — and this evening — would not belong to us.
To honor your presence, I offer you this gift.
Even more enchanting music rose. Girls entered and began to dance in a strange, almost supernatural manner.
Eden stood speechless. The other guests remained motionless, frozen.
One of the dancers stepped out of the group, climbed onto the tables, and approached Eden.
As she reached him, she stumbled — he caught her just in time.
At that moment, a soft voice echoed:
"Remember me."
Eden gently set her down and dropped back into his chair.
The dance ended. The girls were chosen by certain masked guests.
Someone tapped Eden on the shoulder. He turned and saw a masked person sitting next to him.
— Eden, Eden! It's me, Maya!
— Maya?! What are you doing here? And Malick, where is he? We have to—
— Eden, she said quickly, what's that book?
Eden looked beside him and saw an old grimoire.
— No way… that book again! I thought I'd hidden it inside my stolen clothes…
I don't know why, but every time I lose it, it somehow finds its way back.
— Oh, sorry! Let me introduce you to the person who offered me this lovely seat.
Maya shook the old man's hand. It was icy cold, almost lifeless.
Then she turned toward the veiled woman.
From beneath the black fabric, Maya felt a heavy, inhuman gaze fixed upon her.
The woman picked up some food and slipped it into her bag. Maya noticed that the bag moved slightly… as if it had a tail.
Then, when the bag fell, she briefly saw the rotting corpse of a dog crawling with maggots.
The woman reached for something on the table. Her arm stretched unnaturally long, and at the end of her sleeve, a decaying hand appeared, bones showing through.
Maya froze in horror.
Feeling uneasy, Eden stood up and said:
— I'll be right back, Maya. Gonna hit the bathroom, wait for me here.
Guess I overdid it with the beans.
He walked away, laughing nervously.
Eden went down one corridor, then another, and another still.
Little by little, he got lost.
That's when he saw a little girl sitting and crying.
— Of course… I get lost, and I run into a crying kid, he muttered.
Are you lost, little one? Do you remember your parents' names?
— Yes… Ferluci, she answered through her sobs.
— All right. That's your father's name? Don't worry, we'll find him.
Eden took her hand to guide her.
But the farther they walked, the more he noticed something strange: the little girl's hand seemed to rise higher and higher, as if she were growing taller than him.
Then, a hairy hand rested on his shoulder.
— Sir…
Eden turned sharply. Nothing. The corridor was empty.
Another voice behind him asked:
— May I help you?
Eden jumped.
— Have you seen a little girl?
— No, said the man. You were the only one here.
— Right… uh… I'm looking for the restroom.
The man pointed to a door right beside him:
— You mean that one?
Eden frowned.
"But… there wasn't a restroom here before…" he thought.
— Thanks, you just saved my life!
— Don't mention it. One only dies when it's their time, the man replied with a smile.
Good evening.
Eden turned back — he was gone.
— Seriously, in this party everyone's either spectacular… or full of crap, he grumbled.
He entered the restroom, spotless and way too large for his taste.
— Finally, something normal here… even if the bathroom's huge, it's fine.
But a strange sound echoed through the pipes. Curious, he followed it until he discovered a room connected to several pipes labeled: "Fountain of Purity Water."
Eden immediately thought of the water the Charming King offered to the citizens.
His eyes drifted toward a window: through it, he saw people dressed in purple, and another in red, pushing someone into a machine that sliced them into pieces.
The pieces were placed into boxes labeled: "Offering for the people."
The heart was placed in a suitcase.
Shocked, Eden almost got caught. He discreetly left the room, breathing heavily.
A bit farther away, he heard familiar voices — the girls from the villa.
Thinking to warn them, he went toward the restroom where the voices came from.
But when he peeked inside, his face froze:
the girls were standing still, their bodies frozen in grotesque poses, their voices turning deep and distorted.
Panicking, he ran away, heading back to the table where Maya now seemed relaxed.
— Maya, we have to ge—
The Charming King suddenly stood and shouted in a booming voice:
— Let the ceremony begin!
The lights went out.
The music changed.
When it came back on, the entire room was bathed in blood-red light.
The guests no longer wore masks. Some had pig heads, others fish scales, and some had no eyes, mouth, or nose at all.
They floated a few centimeters above the ground, locked in a macabre dance.
A man dressed in red entered, holding by the arm a woman in a black wedding dress, with red skin and black eyes.
They sat upon the two lower thrones.
Men in purple entered next, surrounding the man in red.
Another, revealing the body of a goat, stepped forward holding a strange book.
The bride and groom placed their left hands upon it and recited words in an unknown language.
The book caught fire and vanished, just like the goat.
The man in red pulled out a device with two compartments, poured the red contents into a cup, and handed it to the newlyweds, who drank without hesitation.
Eden, petrified, couldn't move.
Beside him, Maya trembled with fear.
The Charming King declared:
— Now, the sacrifice!
The guests burst out laughing and clapping.
A white figure entered, head covered.
When they removed the cloth, Eden's heart sank — it was Malick.
— Unfortunately, said the Charming King, our Holy Book has been stolen.
The man in red pointed straight at Eden — the book was still in his hands.
The lights went out.
In the darkness, the King's voice echoed:
— Dinner is served.
When the lights returned, the room was overrun by grotesque creatures, dozens of times more numerous.
All of them stared at Eden with empty eyes.
A bottle shattered on the head of the fake Maya sitting beside him.
The real Maya appeared and shouted:
— Your turn, Marilyn!
The floor gave way beneath them.
Eden, Malick, and Maya were swallowed and dragged into the underground tunnels.
Marilyn was waiting for them there. Eden, still in shock, gasped for breath.
Maya untied Malick and kissed him.
— I'm really sorry…, murmured Eden.
— We have to go, said Marilyn. We're not safe yet.
They started running.
— How did you get in? Malick asked. How did you know?
— After you left, said Maya, I found it strange that Mr. Albert wasn't around anymore.
When I brought him his food, he broke down and told me everything — the practices of the city's inhabitants.
Not having enough strength on my own, I asked Marilyn for help — and also Mr. Salamano, with his maps of the underground.
Malick smiled weakly.
— You're really amazing, my love…
Then he clutched his chest, grimacing.
— You okay? asked Marilyn.
— Yeah, yeah… just a passing pain, he replied with a tired smile.
— But the party isn't over yet, come back.
— It would be rude to leave the party like that, and it would also be rude to disobey the words of your charming king.
Eden said, frightened:
— So they won't let us leave
Marilyn stopped and answered:
— Keep going without me, I'll beat him and join you.
Malick said:
— No, we can't leave you here alone.
Marilyn retorted:
— Are you stupid or doing it on purpose? Do you see any other solutions? Besides, I'm the strongest among us.
Looking at Eden, frightened:
— Go, I said I'll join you when I'm done, so don't worry about me.
Malick said:
— Okay, but don't dawdle.
Maya said:
— See you soon, Marilyn.
They left, leaving Marilyn who took a fighting stance. Then he relaxed, closed his eyes and began to sing. When he opened them, he was standing in front of the Charming, who said:
— My little Marilyn, you know, I knew your father.
After those words, Marilyn began to deliver blows at the Charming, dancing to develop his movements and singing to improve his breath and rhythm. The Charming only parried his strikes and said:
— You know, Marilyn, I'm very disappointed in what you have become; I preferred when you were more docile.
When Marilyn stopped hitting him, he saw the state of his arms: completely destroyed, you could even see the bones. He inhaled, exhaled, screamed, then lunged at the Charming, who landed a punch to his abdomen. Marilyn exploded and the Charming continued advancing, pursuing Eden's group.
Marilyn's cry was heard; the others understood. Malick began to howl and part of him started to change: he attacked Eden, who neutralized him. Maya cried out:
— Malick!
With tears streaming, Malick came to his senses and said:
— I don't know, but I think I have a Calamity inside me.
Maya, tearing Malick's clothes, cried:
— Oh my God!
You could see something moving inside him.
She added:
— We'll heal you, don't worry, right, Eden?
Eden, still in shock and looking at Malick, replied:
— Yes, yes, don't worry; once we're out we can heal you.
Then a voice was heard:
— I hear you, I feel you, I see you.
The Charming's eyes turned red. Eden and Maya put Malick on their shoulders and began to run toward a warehouse that had two doors: one door to go down into the underground and another to exit, still pursued by the Charming who arrived at the warehouse. They began to barricade the first door, but lacked materials. Malick said:
— There must be things outside to properly barricade, go fetch them, I'll wait for you here.
Maya took the exit door and said:
— Don't move at all, we'll be right back.
Malick replied:
— Don't worry, it's not like I can move from here.
When they exited the underground, they also left the city. Malick closed the door behind them. Maya rushed over and said:
— What are you doing, Malick? Open the door!
— Eden, come help me open it.
Malick, with tears in his eyes, said:
— Even if I wanted to, it would be impossible for me to open it again.
Maya, crying, implored:
— No, no, try again, don't do that, we can find a solution.
Malick said:
— Maya, I love you and I will love you...
Maya, in tears, replied:
— No, no, don't tell me that, I don't want an "I love you" from a distance.
Malick continued:
— My best friend, take care of her, of my father and of my child who is also yours.
— Now go quickly, get out of here.
Eden took Maya with him and they left the place. After their departure, Malick remained alone. In front of him, the Charming said in a voice:
— My little Malick, I knew your mother and I can tell you that I was the one who killed her; she had discovered everything and she wouldn't be quiet, so I silenced her once and for all.
Malick rushed at the Charming, who took him in his arms and squeezed him so hard that Malick nearly fainted. He then pulled out a grenade from his pocket, tears in his eyes, and said:
— Now you will hurt no one anymore, because I am taking you with me.
The bomb exploded.
Eden, holding Maya's hand, ran to save their lives. Maya stopped and said:
— Eden, kill me.
Eden looked at her and replied:
— What are you talking about? Kill you? Have you thought about the child you're carrying?
He started running again, looking ahead, and said:
— Don't worry, we will get out of here.
You can push those thoughts away, he said while turning his gaze toward her, hand in hand. He then saw that his head had just been cut off. He knelt, head bowed. The Charming, coming out of the night, said with a smile:
— My little Eden, how are you?
Eden began to murmur:
Ma— ma— ma— ma— ma— mama— ma— ma— ma— ma— ma— Marilyn... Malick... Maya... Marilyn... Malick... Maya...
— Marilyn, he only wanted to dance and sing.
— Malick, he only wanted to be left alone and make friends.
— Maya, she only wanted to be like the others.
— But you, you, you, you killed them for only your stupid desires.
— But me, me, me, I will never forgive you; even if you die, I will continue to hate you.
— I will here and now kill you once and for all, Charming.
He rushed at the Charming shouting:
— PROUD PUNCH!
His fist ignited and he struck the Charming's torso, who didn't budge an inch. Then Eden shouted:
— FOOT PISTOL!
His foot aimed at the Charming's head, who remained immobile. Eden stepped back; the Charming hit him in the foot. Eden took the blow and saw the state of his foot: damaged, the bone visible. Eden tried to hit him with his arm, but the Charming had also broken Eden's arm, bone exposed. Eden, missing a leg and an arm, embraced the Charming by the waist and shouted:
— WATER SPLASH! — WATER SPLASH! — WATER SPLASH! — WATER SPLASH!
He threw water at the Charming before the latter hurled him onto a rock then hit him while laughing:
— Don't tell me you believed all the names you just shouted; those are the names of members of my community, in other words my children. It is always good to correct them when they disobey the rules.
Eden, battered, said:
— You're a monster and the worst I've ever met.
The Charming, turning his gaze away, replied:
— Thank you for that compliment, but I only copy the personality of our master, we the Calamities who are...
Eden cried:
— CELESTIAL PUNISHMENT!
Lightning struck the Charming squarely for a long moment. Eden looked and saw that the Charming's eyes had turned completely white. Then, suddenly, the Charming said:
— Did you really think I could die like that? Me and all my guests, we are Silver Rank.
— And today you came to disturb our beautiful city. I was gentle with my children, sparing them suffering; but you will suffer and you will suffer, for everything is your fault. If you hadn't been there, everything would have been different; if you had listened, everything would have been different. But don't worry, my child, because despite everything you did, I kept a place for you in my heart and I forgave you. So now I will free you from your suffering.
Eden fainted, lying on a rock, facing the Charming who said:
— Good night.
Until he heard inside:
— Remember me, Eden.
— Eden, Eden, Eden, wake up now and take my hand, old brother.
It was Lamar who had healed and dressed him; he offered his hand. Eden took it and they left. Eden looked back, and Lamar asked:
— Did you forget something?
Eden did not answer and they walked away.
Following many earthquakes, houses in front of the king's palace were destroyed, and the palace itself was destroyed. A man stopped and said:
— Dear inhabitants of the city, I am Mr. Albert, father of Malick, who should no longer be of this world, if my feelings are right. And standing by doing nothing in the face of what is happening in this palace — is to dehumanize ourselves. As parents, we must never again tolerate our children being devoured by so-called deities who offer us illusory protection, because we, parents, we are afraid of the Calamities no no no.
A character emerged from the palace with the Charming's voice and said:
— My dear inhabitants...
As he was leaving, Eden asked Lamar:
— Where... where is the Charming?
Lamar replied:
— You mean that weird guy who keeps talking? Well, I beat him and his friends up.
The person who was in the city came out: it was the grand chief, who said:
— You will not listen to this idiot.
— We have performed this ceremony for generations; going against the rules would be a sin and the punishment would be death.
— Go, guards, arrest him. And kill him.
He looked at his son who was guarding and said:
— My son, stop him, it's an order from your father.
The foolish son replied:
— I'm sorry, great chief, but you are under arrest.
The protective dome dissipated and Mr. Albert said:
— And there you go, everything turns against you, Jérémy.
Walking, Eden said to Lamar:
— Lamar, I would like to be alone for a while.
Lamar, not knowing what to say, replied:
— Okay.
Eden went off alone into the forest; after a long walk, he stopped before a great oak, took out his weapon, pointed it at his head, and someone said:
— Go on, pull the trigger.
And bam.