The door slowly creaked open.
For a moment… no one breathed.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the hall slow, controlled, deliberate.
The group's eyes widened.
Then
The figure stepped into the light.
Noah's heart stopped.
Johann froze.
Anna's breath caught in her throat.
Karoschi's eyes narrowed.
It was him.
,,Heinrich: …No way…"
,,Noah: …Mimic."
The name felt heavy in the air.
Mimic walked forward without hesitation, his presence alone enough to suffocate the room. His gaze moved across the group cold, calculating… but not rushed.
Then he calmly pulled out a chair and sat down at the table across from them.
Like this was nothing more than a normal meeting.
,,Lilithra: Ohhh perfect timing!"
She clapped her hands lightly, spinning once before stopping beside him.
,,Lilithra: Can I get you something? Tea maybe?"
Mimic glanced at her for a brief moment.
Not annoyed.
Not aggressive.
Just… calmer.
,,Mimic: Tea sounds fine."
Lilithra giggled softly, clearly pleased, and skipped away to prepare it.
Karoschi leaned forward slightly, his expression hard.
,,Karoschi: You've got some nerve… following us this whole time."
Mimic's gaze slowly shifted toward him.
The calm disappeared just slightly.
,,Mimic: And you are the one saying that?"
His voice was quiet… but sharp.
,,Mimic: My father gave you a home. Protected you."
He stood up.
Walked toward Karoschi.
Each step… heavy.
,,Mimic: And this is how you repay him?"
In one swift motion, Mimic grabbed Karoschi by the head, forcing him back.
The chair scraped loudly across the floor.
,,Mimic: Betrayal."
Karoschi gritted his teeth but didn't look away.
,,Karoschi: I realized his path was wrong."
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Then
,,Lilithra: Teaa is ready!"
She skipped back into the room, holding a cup like nothing had just happened.
Mimic slowly released Karoschi.
The tension dropped… just a little.
He turned and took the tea from her.
,,Mimic: Thank you."
Lilithra smiled brightly, clearly happy.
Noah clenched his fists.
,,Noah: You won't win."
Mimic took a small sip.
Calm.
Unbothered.
,,Mimic: Oh… but I already have."
He placed the cup down gently.
,,Mimic: Because of her… you're here."
His eyes moved across them.
,,Mimic: Which means… we now have the key."
Noah's expression changed.
,,Noah: …Key?"
Mimic turned slightly.
,,Mimic: Lilithra, where did you put their belongings?"
Lilithra tapped her chin playfully.
,,Lilithra: Mmmh… I think the attic?"
,,Mimic: Good."
He stood up.
,,Mimic: Then let's retrieve it."
He looked back at the group.
His voice turned cold again.
,,Mimic: And you five… stay exactly where you are."
Lilithra waved cheerfully.
,,Lilithra: Don't go anywhere!"
The two of them left the room.
The door closed.
Silence.
For a second… no one moved.
Then
,,Johann: …Okay, what the hell do we do now?"
Noah's eyes scanned the room.
Fast.
Focused.
,,Noah: We get out of here."
,,Anna: But how? We're chained there's nothing"
,,Heinrich: Wait…"
He leaned forward slightly, staring at the table.
,,Heinrich: She left her knife."
All eyes snapped to it.
A small blade.
Lying there.
Carelessly.
Noah didn't hesitate.
He pushed himself forward, the chair scraping loudly as he began awkwardly hopping toward the table.
The chains rattled with every movement.
Closer.
Closer
He stretched his arm.
Fingertips brushing the handle
Then
He grabbed it.
,,Noah: Got it."
Quickly, he cut through his restraints.
The chains fell.
Freedom.
He didn't waste a second.
He rushed to the others, cutting them free one by one.
,,Heinrich: Okay… now what?"
Noah's eyes hardened.
,,Noah: Now… we wait."
They sat back down.
Pretending.
Silent.
Still.
Moments later
Footsteps.
The door opened again.
Mimic stepped inside, holding the book.
Lilithra followed, smiling.
,,Mimic: Well… look at what I found."
He raised the book slightly.
,,Mimic: Anything you'd like to say?"
,,Lilithra: Yesss, show them!"
Noah slowly lifted his head.
His grip tightened around the knife.
,,Noah: Yeah… I do."
In one sudden movement
He lunged forward.
The blade drove straight into Mimic's eye.
A sharp, brutal strike.
Noah ripped the book from his hands.
,,Noah: RUN!"
The group didn't hesitate.
They bolted out of the room.
,,Lilithra: Oh?"
For a split second, she looked surprised.
Then
She smiled wider.
,,Lilithra: Catch them."
She whistled sharply.
,,Lilithra: Bring me their eyes as leftovers!"
The walls came alive.
Hell Beetles.
Dozens.
Different kinds.
Crawling.
Rushing.
Hunting.
Behind them
Mimic stood up.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Even with blood running down his face.
Then he started walking after them.
,,Johann: Shit! They're right behind us what do we do?!"
Noah looked around frantically.
Then
He saw it.
A shelf.
Right at the top of the stairs.
,,Noah: Move!"
They rushed up the stairs.
Noah shoved the shelf with all his strength.
It tipped.
Then crashed down.
Crushing several Hell Beetles beneath it.
The group kept running.
They reached the attic.
Quickly grabbing their gear.
Weapons.
Supplies.
Anything they could.
,,Anna: How do we get out?!"
Slow.
Heavy steps.
Behind them.
Mimic appeared at the stairs.
Unstoppable.
,,Mimic: There is no escape."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Certain.
,,Mimic: Today… your journey ends."
Noah turned
And saw it.
A window.
,,Noah: There!"
He grabbed a rock and smashed it through the glass.
Without hesitation
They jumped.
One after another.
They hit the ground hard but alive.
No time to think.
They ran.
Straight toward the forest.
Behind them
Mimic stood at the broken window.
Watching.
Unmoving.
,,Mimic: Run."
His voice echoed faintly.
,,Mimic: We will meet again."
A pause.
,,Mimic: And next time… you won't escape."
After a long time…
The group finally stopped.
Breathing heavily.
Exhausted.
,,Heinrich: We… we made it…"
,,Noah: Yeah…"
But Noah's expression didn't relax.
,,Noah: …but Barry."
Silence.
,,Noah: We have to find him."
Karoschi frowned.
,,Karoschi: He could be anywhere by now."
,,Heinrich: Then where do we even start?"
Noah didn't answer.
Until
,,Anna: What about that?"
She pointed into the distance.
A thin line of smoke rose into the sky.
,,Anna: Over there… looks like someone's there."
She looked back at the group.
,,Anna: Let's check it out."
Noah nodded slowly.
,,Noah: …Yeah."
And with that
The group began walking toward the smoke.
Not knowing…
What was waiting for them next.