Zed tightened his grip on Floris.
"Heads?" he asked. "What do you mean by heads?"
Floris groaned, clutching her temple. "Ugh… my head hurts."
In the background, Felt kept Miss Kate busy—zapping her with arcs of electricity.
Floris whimpered. "I don't understand what's happening… everything HURTS."
Zed's eyes flicked between her and the house.
(Could Kate and Floris be… psychically linked?)
-
Meanwhile – Felt
Felt dodged as Miss Kate's chains lashed toward him. He leapt, flipping off a falling rafter.
"Right… I'm naturally enhanced by the moon," he muttered, landing smoothly.
He noticed it—his movements were sharper, faster.
"What do you know about the Unknown Entity?"
For a moment, Miss Kate froze.
"That doesn't concern you," she snapped—and whipped her chain into the ground, sending a hail of debris flying.
Felt took the hit. Small cuts tore into his arm, but he kept walking forward, undeterred. Sparks flared gently across his skin.
"If you won't speak," he said, "I'll force it out of you."
Miss Kate opened her mouth—then staggered.
A chill hit her spine.
In her mind, a towering figure emerged from shadows… playful, calm. It twirled her heart between two fingers and gave her a warning smile.
"Shhhhh."
Her breath caught.
She dropped her teacup. It shattered.
Then she bowed—to no one.
Looking up, she realized the moon was losing its crimson hue.
"Where is Floris?!"
-
Outside the house
Zed stepped into view, holding Floris.
"If you want her… then take her."
The center door of the house creaked open. A thick chain slithered out and yanked Floris from Zed's arms.
He smirked. "Good. The door's open."
Without hesitation, he bolted in after her.
"Zed?!" Felt shouted, eyes wide. "You better have a good reason for this!"
He dashed in just as the doors slammed shut behind them.
-
Inside
"Jackpot," Zed muttered—then blinked. "Wait. I misplaced Floris."
Felt looked like he might explode. "We were doing just fine outside!"
Zed wagged a finger. "Nope. Think about it. Floris and Kate are linked. That means hurting Kate could mean hurting Floris."
"So?"
"She could die."
"I don't care."
"But I do. And you said she's valuable, remember?"
A glass table nearby shattered, launching a storm of razor-sharp shards.
The floor beneath their feet twisted, locking them in place.
Both: "AH!"
Felt growled, broke his leg free, and blasted the floor beside Zed.
"You okay?"
"Yeah… Floris said something about heads. Maybe those bodies outside had their heads hidden. If we find and destroy the heads, maybe it'll break the link."
Felt crossed his arms. "Like I said… I'm not—"
"It'll also weaken Kate. The ritual isn't finished. The bodies are just as important."
Miss Kate's voice echoed from the walls.
"You're quite the persistent bunch. So let's play a game."
The room twisted.
Walls morphed. The floor cracked. The two were separated
Felt's Room
He turned a corner and saw… a single head resting gently on the floor.
"…Too easy."
He stepped back.
The head rolled toward its body—and attached itself.
A woman in a flowing red dress, scarf golden like fire, stood up and dusted herself off.
"Please. Have some manners."
Felt raised a brow. "Let me guess—you're one of the sacrificial lambs?"
She smiled. "My brethren and I owe Miss Kate our lives. You've interrupted her blessing, and so—she has shared her power with us."
He walked forward, unbothered.
He grabbed her by the face and hurled her against the wall. "Shut up."
She stood again, eyes glowing.
"You fool."
She launched forward and slammed her fist into his gut—sending him flying upward.
Felt grunted, flipping in mid-air.
"You're a problem…"
Before he could land, she jumped and spiked him downward.
He hit the ground hard.
"…Ok, definitely a problem."
He stood, brushing off dust.
"Your 'brethren' where are they?"
She laughed…deep, unhinged.
Eyes spiraled across her skin.
"We are all one. Together."
"And Floris?"
"That one is with M'lady. Best not pay her any mind."
"Oh?"
She attacked again.
"She is just… food. She hasn't even realized what's happening. Unlike us. We are Lady's chosen."
Felt dodged. "Yep. You're insane."
"She is divinity!" she shrieked, launching into a roll-kick.
Felt backflipped, then spun—crack!—his lightning-charged foot slammed into her jaw.
"You gave up your humanity to become a dressed-up corpse. Pathetic."
Flashback
Rain poured. Five children huddled together, shaking.
A woman in a black coat approached, umbrella in hand.
She took them in
They laughed, ate, and lived in her care… until a year before Floris was found.
That year, she whispered a secret in their ears.
They left, one by one.
-
Present
The woman wiped blood from her lips.
"Our Lady's will is our will. If vermin like you must die… then so be it."
She screamed—a massive blast tore across the room.
Felt blocked it with a charged burst.
"Tch… Zed, what are you doing now?"
-
Zed's Room
"Felt?" Zed called, pushing a shelf aside. "We're separated…"
Floating in the air before him, Miss Kate held Floris by the neck.
"Welcome," she cooed.
Zed flinched. "I can't take this. Can't you leave her alone?"
"I'm afraid not."
A chain dragged Floris upward by the wrists—suspended.
Zed stared helplessly.
(I can't do this. I'm not a long-range fighter… I can't reach her.)
Miss Kate turned to her victim.
"Now, my dear. You shall become what you were always meant to be satisfaction to my hunger."
"Z… Zed…" Floris whimpered weakly.
(Think, Zed! Think! How do I reach her?!)
He swung his sword—frustrated, desperate.
Miss Kate smiled. "It's pointless. You cannot reach me. You're only delaying the inevitable."
She brushed Floris's cheek
Floris turned her head away, trembling.
Zed's grip tightened.
(Okay… the force behind each slash—)
He swung harder.
(If I amplify the output…)
Outside, the moon's redness faded. A pale light bathed the house.
Miss Kate turned to the window.
"No… the moon—!"
Zed roared.
He slashed—full force. Wind tore from the blade like a cannon blast.
CRACK.
The chains shattered.
"Noooooooooo!"
Floris fell.
Zed dove, caught her mid-air, and rolled into a crouch, shielding her.
"…Phew."
Floris clung to his coat, eyes teary.
"I've got you," he whispered.
The house shook.
Cracks spidered across the walls. The floor groaned.
Miss Kate's eyes flared.
"You… have no idea what you've done," she growled.
"I'll destroy you. All of you."