—...Did you hear something?
—...Huh?
—It sounded like someone's voice.
—I didn't hear anything. Must've been your imagination.
—Oh…
—You want to turn back, lady?
—Huh…?
—You're looking nervous.
—I-I'm just fine! Let's keep moving! Ah! But there is one thing!
—What?
—My name isn't "lady," it's Pauline.
—This again?
—"Lady" is so… distant. I don't like being called that. So, call me Pauline.
—Polly. How's that? Can I call you Polly?
—Oh, come oooon. I'd really rather you called me Pauline. I'm an only child, so I've always wanted a younger brother or sister, but "Polly" makes it sound like I'm the younger one.
—I am not your brother, and I am not a child.
—You called yourself a kid yesterday, though.
—That's not what I meant…
—Mmm. Oh, fine! You can call me Polly. It's not my full name, but I'm glad you calling me something other than "lady," Javi!
—Hahaha. Then that's what I'll do.
— Ah, you laughed!
—Be quiet.
—You're no fun.
—There's a mansion up ahead, standing atop the cliff. I can't say why, exactly… but I feel like it's something that shouldn't be there.
—What do you mean?
—It feels… out of place in this area. And something… seems off about it. Like, it's somehow… ethereal… and could disappear at any moment. No, I'm probably just overthinking things. Sorry, that was stupid of me to say.
—It's okay.
We still can't see the mansion Javi's talking about from here–just dense, overgrown forest.
But for some reason, I can sense that we're approaching it.
It's a strange sensation. Anxiety is bubbling up from deep inside me, and at the time, I feel like I could burst into tears.
Not out of fear, but.. familiarity.
Familiarity? I've never been to this country before. Everything I'm seeing is new to me. There's nothing at all for me to find familiar.
Why, then…
—I'm going to ask you one more time: are you sure you want to do this?
—I am.
—You agreed not to go inside. Don't break that promise.
—It's okay. Don't worry. I'm sorry for putting you through this. Making you relive unpleasant memories. But thank you for accompanying me when you have nothing to gain from it… Don't worry. I'll just look around. I'm only searching for a sign he was there. And when I'm done, we'll return to the village together.
—All right.
—Okay. Now, let's go.
We push our way through the dark dense woods…
and then, like the world fading into view after a dream, a mansion appears before us.
It rests quietly upon a cliff, against a backdrop of emerald ocean.
—This is… the beast's "den"?
It should, by all rights, be a magnificent scene, but the blue sky and jade sea clash with the building.
It appears alone, isolated precariously from the rest of the world.
—Yes, this is it. This is the mansion where the beast dwells.
Careful not to make any noise, we draw nearer to the house–inexplicable structure sitting in between the forest and the cliff.
The fluttering I feel in my heart… does not seem to be caused only by fear of the beast.
The weeds and plants growing unchecked around the house are all enough for Javi to hide in.
I imagine that's how he approached the mansion for the first time–lurking in the overgrowth.
—Say… have the people of the village thought about leaving this area? Moving somewhere else, away from the beast's den…
—Only those with enough savings can do that. Leave without money and you'll just die in a ditch somewhere. Everyone's made their lives here in the village. We have farmland, cattle, ships. It's not easy to let all that go. Not everyone can just hop on a boat to another country like you, Polly. We're not wealthy.
— Sorry. I… I didn't mean to offend you…
—...I know. I was being too harsh. You're just… ignorant. So naive you believe the whole world is this perfect, magical place. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. If you're capable of seeing the world like that, there's no reason you should look at it any other way.
—For as mature as you can be, Javi, you're also rather cynical.
—Hmph. Well pardon me. When you…
—Hmm?
—When you said you would take me to your town… that kind of… made my day. There's nothing left for me in this village.
—You'll find plenty of new things, I'm sure. You can even make some friends in my town. After all, you've still got a long life ahead of you, Javi. So you should make it a fun one!
—You make it sound like I'm about to throw myself off a cliff.
—I-I didn't mean it like that…
—We should try to keep quiet from here out.
—Ah, okay. Got it.
As we draw closer to the mansion, I can see the ivy twisted across its stone walls.
I press my back against the wall and take a few deep breaths. There's a window next to me.
If there really is a beast… if there really is a terrible, man-eating monster inside…
I'm in danger if it catches me.
Javi's eye entreat me not to get any closer.
But… I have to see.
I have to see if there is a mountain of corpses inside these walls.
If there's even the slightest trace of him.
I'm just going to have a look. Peek in from outside, without being noticed.
That's all I'm going to do. And when it's done, I'll go home.
Through the window, I see a dimly illuminated hallway. Like the garden, the inside is desolate.
But there's still… the sense that someone lives here.
It's not completely abandoned.
—Polly. Ah!
I see something moving inside the mansion.
I hold my breath so whatever is in there does no sense my presence–does not sense my gaze.
And then–
—Wha…
–a shadow whisks past.
—No…
—Polly…?
—...!
—Hey! Polly!
—Open up! Please, open the door!
—Stop it! You idiot! What do you think you're doing?!
—Please, open the door!
—Polly! You promised me! Have you lost your mind?! The only thing in here is a–
—It's not a beast!
—Huh?!
—It's not a beast! A beast isn't living in this mansion!
—Y-You're wrong… It is! There's a beast in there! A bestia! Get away from the door! The beast–
—It's not a beast! Open the door! Open the–...!
—Ah… aahhhh…
—I knew it… I knew it… I was right… You're alive, you're alive… You're alive! I never stopped believing! I knew you wouldn't die! Would you–
Yukimasa?!
—I… I had faith you were still alive… I wanted to prove it! And I was right! I'm so glad I had faith! I'm so glad I didn't give up! I… I missed you so! All this time… I've never stopped thinking about you! I've never stopped imagining our reunion! Yukimasa! I'm so glad you're alive–
—Stop it, Polly! Get away from him! That's– That's– THE BEAAAAAAAAST!
...
—YOU'LL KILL ME! *IF I DO*N'T KILL YOU! AND SO, I MU**ST SH*OW YOU THAT I WILL! I MUST SHOW YOU THAT I'M SERIOUS! I MUST KILL YOU, OR YOU JUST WON'T UNDERSTAND! YOU JUST WON'T UNDERSTAAAAND! IF I DON'T SHOW YOU FIRSTHAND, YOU JUST WON'T UNDERSTAAAAND! I'LL MAKE YOU UNDERSTAAAAND**I'LL MAKE YOUR FLESH AND BONES UNDERSTAAAAND***KILL**I'LL KILL YOU, I'LL KILLLL YOUUUU!
…..
—That's it! Cry for me! Beg for your life! Pray for my mercy! Weep! And struggle! And suffer! And die! Look at this. No one can stand up to me. Humans have no chance against beeeeasts! Hee, heehee, heeeeheeheehee, haahahhahhahahahaAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAheeheeheeheeheeHEEHEEHEEHEE!
…..
—Y-Yukimasa? What's… wrong?
—*****************
—What…?
—***********************
—What… What's the matter? It's me! Pauline! I came to find you! I've missed you so much!
—*****************
—Yukimasa? Um, sorry, I still don't understand your language… Ah, w-wait! Where are you going?!
—Stop it, Polly! Don't go after him! POOOOLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYYY!
…..
—Why… Why are you running from me?! Don't you recognize me? It's Pauline, your love–
—***************
—Wha… why…?
—*************
—...Your katana…
—************
—Why… would you point that at me…? You're scaring me… What's gotten into you?
—*********************
—H-Hey… What's the matter?
—****************
—Yukimasa… do you… know who I am?
—*************
—What happened? You used to be able to speak my language so fluently… L-Let's talk… What do you say? Put that thing away, please. It's dangerous!
—Aah… aaaahhhh… aaaaaaaahhhh…! GrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
—Wha… ah…? Wh…y…? You… cut me…?
—AaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAaaaah!
—Ah, ahhh… So hot… Why…? Nngh, hahh… Y-Yukimasa… It's me… It's… Pau– Pauline…! Open your eyes!
—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
—AAAAAAAAHHHH! N-No… Stop! Yu…ki…masa…! P-Please, s-stop this…!
—OOOOOOaaaa*aaaaAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa*aaaaAAAAaaaa*aaaaaaaah!
—I'm begging you!
—Aaaa****aaaa****aaaaaaaaaaaa**aaaa****aaaaaaaa**aaaaaaaah!
—Why… Why… would you… do this… to me…?! Stop it, Yukimasa! Stop thiiiis!
His blade, held high above my head, glimmers.
Why…?
He's…
the beast…?
Tell me, Yukimasa…
Did you… kill all those villagers?!
Are you… going to kill me?
Why?
—A****, AAAA****, AAAA******AA*************AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
—Ahh… grh… mgph… nngh…
—****, A*****, A**A******A*******AA**********AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!
—...Pl...ea…se…st…o…p…
—Ahh… aaah… aaaaaaaah… aaaahhhh…!
—Mng…rgh..gggh… Yuki… It's… me… It's… Pau…lile… Please… open… your eyes… Let's go… back… to my… town… I never… got the chance… to ask… if you wanted… to move… to my country… Then… we wouldn't… have to wait… so long… to see each other… What do you think… Yukimasa…?
—BURN IN HELL!
—...Why?
…..
—What… happened here…?
—I am grateful… that you cannot see.. because you would certainly think me a beast… if you were able to see this… Because you cannot see… you do not know what I look like… But I do know… Another beast, like me, broke into the mansion…
—Was it–
—I protected you! Did I not?! I protected you! Say that I protected you! That I did this for you!
—–actually a beast?
…
I can hear… a woman's voice…
I can't… keep my eyes open…
I wonder who she is…
They seem like they're really close…
Did you… choose someone else?
Then you…
could have just said so…
I wouldn't be angry…
We've been apart for so long…
But… this does kind of hurt…
It hurts…
I can't take it…
Just once…
could you turn back…
and say my name…?
I…
I proved it…
That you're still alive…
We…
We were lovers… weren't we?
So why…?
You said you wanted…
a peaceful life…
I… I can't take this…
—...It… hurts… so bad… Yu…ki…ma…sa… I…can't…take… Can't…take…this…
What I want most is to spend a nice, quiet life with you.
I don't need anything extravagant–
just an ordinary life, slowly growing older, having three-maybe four children.
We'd never fight, and eventually, before I knew it, I'd be an old lady,
thinking, "Ahh, it was an uneventful life, but it was the best I could have asked for."
That's the life I want. And what about you?
Yes, I too… wish for a peaceful life with you.
…..
—…Polly.. I couldn't– Again, I couldn't do… Ngh… Ah… aaaahhh… Aaaaaaaah… aaaahh… aaaaaaaahhh…! Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!