Chapter 21:

Hana Awakens

Secrets of Loenhess


//Hana, who is still in the stockade room, has begun to slowly awaken. She is still woozy and barley able to open her eyes. Hana feels someone on her shoulder and assumes it’s Aiya and nudges her head away.

Hana (angerly): Aiya get off me!

//Little does she know that it’s actually Art, the cleaning staff member. Art was unconscious all this time also but was having a nice dream and had a big grin on his face as he lye with his head on Hana’s shoulder.

//Hana turns her head and is startled to see a total stranger there.

Hana (surprised): What the heck! Who are you!

//Art is still tied up and gagged, so he can only make muffled sounds.

//Hana pushes Art away. Art gives a muffled sigh and has a twinkle in his eye as he gazes toward Hana.

Hana (loudly and in anger): Great! Ughh! Aiya, you’re going to pay for this!!

//Still feeling a slight effect from the centipede toxin Hana stands up, shakes her head to clear her vision, then stumbles toward the door. Art is still making muffled noise in the background.

Hana: Just shut up already!

//Hana opens the door and looks both ways.

Hana: Where is that little brat!

//Just then Hana sees Aiya coming from around the corner running toward her. But Aiya doesn’t stop, she keeps running right past Hana.

Aiya: Oh, hey Sis…. Hide!!

Hana: Wait…Wh…

//Hana hears angry voices coming from around the corner…

Hana: Oh Sh…!

//Hana steps back and quickly closes the stockage door and locks it. She run back to the area where Art is. His sadness has turned to happiness as he thinks Hana has come back to rescue him. Art continues with his muffled noise, but even louder now.

Hana (puts her hand over Art’s already gagged mouth): Shhh! You idiot, do you want to get us killed.

//Art stops with the muffled sounds but continues his heavenly gaze toward Hana.

//Hana listens as the sounds move off in the distance.

//Hana double takes at Art and sees him gazing awkwardly at her and slaps him on the head.

Hana: What’s the matter with you? Are you some kind of Perv?

//Art continues with the frantic muffle noise and he suddenly cowers as Hana reach toward him again. Hana takes down his gag.

Hana: If you scream, I will cut out your tongue… Do you understand.

//Art nervously shakes his head.

Art: Yes, Yes, Thank you so much!

Hana: Who the heck are you and why are you tied up?

Art (points to his badge): I’m Art and I’m with the cleaning crew. I had come inside here to mop the floors when I was suddenly greeted by a Heavenly Angel.

Hana: Hmm? That would most likely be Aiya… go on.

Art: Well, her Angelic gaze had my locked in a trance as she moved toward.

Art: Next thing I remember was her asking me my name and then I fell unconscious into a heavenly dream… only to wake up next to you!

Hana (sighs): Oh brother! … okay, Art, can you tell me where we are in the castle.

Art: Yes, we are in the lower basement stockage room. Art has been here many years and has every room down her memorized.

Hana: Great, well Art you’re going to be my castle guide today. Can you do that!

Art: Oh yes! Art hears and sees all but only pretends not to notice. People that notice get sent away and never return.

Hana: Okay, I need to know where they hide the children, the ones that are about to be transformed. Do you know where that room is?

Art: Oh yes, very bad room, I hear lots of crying and sadness. I can get you close, but lots of Simetra there, they do terrible things to you if you are not authorized for the area.

Hana: Let me worry about the Simetra, you just get me close by.

//Art leads Hana down the hallway…

// shortly afterwards Hana hears a voice from above.

Aiya speaking softly: Psst! Hana, up here, it’s me.

Hana stops: Aiya?

Aiya: Up here, right above you.

//Hana and Art look toward the ceiling

Art: It’s the beautiful Angel girl!

Aiya: Oh, hey Art.

//Aiya jumps down from the ceiling. Aiya had managed to escape the guards chasing her by scaling the wall and wedging herself between two cement arch beams in the ceiling She used her sword to help wedge herself on the ceiling.

Hana: Aiya?

Aiya: Glad you’re okay!

//Art is now on the ground repeatedly bowing at Aiya’s feet and saying over and over “beautiful angel girl full of grace…”.

Aiya looks down at Art in amazement: Must have hit him a little too hard.

Aiya looks at Hana: What gives with Art?

Hana: tsk… he thinks you’re an Angel sent from Heaven.

Aiya: Really,,, Cool!!

//Hana lifts Art up by the collar, slaps him on the head and tells him…

Hana: No Angel…. (points to Aiya) Demon!!

Aiya (grin turns to frown): What, that’s hurtful.

Aiya: Anyways, so why is Art here?

Hana: He’s our guide, leading us to the holding room with the children.

Aiya: Ay yes, Got ya! … alrighty then, Art lead the way.

//Art bows with clasped praying hands as he passes Aiya and mouths “Beautiful….”

//Hana rolls her eyes and pushes Art forward.

Hana: Get a grip!

//Aiya shakes her head, smiles and laughs softly. 

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