Alexiel's Missing?!

Lucifenia

Riliane: There's the portal!

She pointed outside of the castle. A big portal was there next to the stables where Josephine spends her time.

Deep-Sea Girl: That's a big portal.

Edward: Whoa!

Everyone got out of the car and walked towards the portal.

Riliane: It's been ages since I last used this thing. I just hope it still works. Okay, I'll go first. You guys follow me.

She went through first, then Shelby followed, then Edward, and finally the parents.

Deep-Sea Girl: Whooooooooaaaaaaaa!

She landed hard on her back. She coughed up a little bit of dust and slowly began to stand up. She started to look for her brother and her parents.

Mr. Gills: Where are we?

Mrs. Gills: And where's the princess?

Shelby saw Riliane looking at something in the distance.

Deep-Sea Girl: Riliane? Are you okay?

Riliane: Uh, yes. I'm quite fine. It's just...unsettling to be back here.

Deep-Sea Girl: This is Lucifenia?

Riliane: Yep.

Edward: Cool.

Riliane: Follow me. It's not safe to walk here on your own.

The Gills family and Riliane walked to the closest village.

Riliane: What is the name of Lucifenia happened here? I remember this village was full of people. Now there's barely anyone left.

Shelby saw a dead woman's body, and another one.

Mrs. Gills: I think I'm going to be sick.

???: You there!

Shelby saw an old woman coming out of her house.

Deep-Sea Girl: Who are you?

???: I'm Esme. It's not safe out here.

Deep-Sea Girl: What happened to everybody?

Before Esme could respond, some other villagers started screaming.

Riliane: What's happening?

???: It's the Fifth Pierrot! Save yourselves!

Esme: Get inside. Hurry!

Riliane got inside first, then Shelby, then Edward, and finally the parents.

Shelby could only watch as local villagers died in front of her with knives in their back.

Deep-Sea Girl: What is happening?

Esme: Girly, please close those shutters! You want the Fifth Pierrot to take your life too?

Deep-Sea Girl: Sorry, m'am.

Esme: That's quite alright. You're safe here.

Riliane: Who is this Fifth Pierrot?

Deep-Sea Girl: Hopefully not Mahime [Marionette].

Esme: You mean you've never heard of the Fifth Pierrot?

Deep-Sea Girl: No.

Esme: The Fifth Pierrot is a ruthless killer. He doesn't care who you are, as long as you're human. He's killed thousands of people already. There's only a few elderly people like myself left now.

Mr. Gills: That is terrible.

Esme: (looking at Riliane) You...you're the Princess.

Riliane: Uh, yes.

Esme: Your brother came by here yesterday, I think.

Deep-Sea Girl: Alexiel?! You've seen him?

Esme: I have. But he has crossed paths with the Fifth Pierrot.

Riliane: Do you know where he could've gone?

Esme: Sorry, I couldn't hear what they were saying. But I do know this. Alexiel is alive.

Deep-Sea Girl: That's good news. But we have to go back and find him.

Esme: That's suicidal, girly.

Deep-Sea Girl: My name is Shelby, not girly.

Esme: Listen, Shelby. You're a pretty young lady. And the Fifth Pierrot likes that about people. For once, listen to an old woman like me and stay here.

Deep-Sea Girl: I appreciate the comment, m'am. But my boyfriend is out there, somewhere. I have to find him and bring him back to Negi Root.

Riliane: And I have to make an apology to him, too.

Esme: If you're really desperate on saving that boy...here, let me show you something.

She took her cane and went upstairs. The Gills family and Riliane followed her. Esme opened the shutters of one of the windows.

Esme: See that building over there in the distance? That's the Abelard mansion.

Edward: It's huge!

Esme: Yes. Find a woman named Julia. She may be able to help you.

Deep-Sea Girl: Thank you so much.

It was then that the group heard more screams.

Esme: Go to the basement. There's a door that'll lead you back outside. Follow the path to the mansion.

Mrs. Gills: Thank you.

The group went downstairs.

Deep-Sea Girl: Basement...basement...where's the basement?

Edward: Shelby! Look over here!

Shelby saw an open door.

Mr. Gills: That must be the basement.

The group went down the steps.

Riliane: Ow! That was my foot!

Deep-Sea Girl: Sorry.

Riliane's diamond necklace started to glow a bright white. Shelby's necklace was glowing pink.

Edward: At least we have light now.

Riliane: What else did that woman say? We have to find another door or something?

Deep-Sea Girl: That's what she said.

Riliane: Welp, I found not one door, but 3.

Mr. Gills: Oh no.

Mrs. Gills: Should we just pick a door and hope for the best? Or should we split up?

Riliane: It's too risky to split up. What if one of us gets lost in here?

Deep-Sea Girl: The princess does have a point.

Suddenly, Shelby's necklace glowed brighter than it was before. And one of the doors' knobs started glowing pink too.

Edward: Shelby, your necklace.

Deep-Sea Girl: I know.

Riliane opened the door that was glowing pink.

Riliane: That looks promising.

Shelby took the lead, followed by her parents, Edward, and then Riliane.

Edward: I see light!

Mrs. Gills: This must be the exit.

The group was now back outside.

Deep-Sea Girl: We made it.

Mr. Gills: I can see the mansion from here.

Mrs. Gills: It looks like we have to start walking.

And so, the group continued on their journey to find Alexiel.

I'm going to leave this chapter here. I'll see you guys in the next one!