Himitsu 10 - Wilting Roses

Remiel asks Jun if he knows about the pros and cons of gem pods, to which Jun responds with a deep breath. He admits that it is risky to connect a living human to the machine for long periods. After some encouragement from Remiel, Jun proceeds to lay out all he knows about gem pods. These pods are used to either bring the dead back to life in the realm of Caspien or allow living humans to visit that realm of their own free will. Jun explains that humans are drawn to this spiritual realm out of curiosity or the desire to start a new life. But, despite the allure of Caspien, it is a dangerous place. If a living human is connected to the gem pod for too long, they might end up in a coffin. Moreover, Caspien is home to other entities like Daten-shi, and Jun himself is only half Daten-shi because he has almost reached his limit of being connected to the gem pod. If he were to turn completely Daten-shi, he would pass away in real life.

Remiel then shows Jun a way to ensure that he and Atsuko come out of the gem pods alive. He has created a glitch in Caspien, which requires Jun and Atsuko to exit the town and go through the forest. After leaving the forest, they should find a white door in a green field that stretches for miles. Jun expresses disbelief, but Remiel is serious. Seiko laughs, commenting on the amount of work involved. Jun is standing in front of the gem pod, anxious about what will happen when he enters it. He turns to Remiel and asks, "Will I lose my memories of this reality when I go into the gem pod?" Remiel responds in a calming voice, "Don't worry, Jun. Unlike Dr. Allistair, I won't erase your memories. Things will be different when you enter the gem pod on my end."

Jun then asks about Seiko, "Is she coming with me into the gem pod?" Seiko shakes her head, and her voice is tinged with sadness as she shares a secret with Jun. "I created a copy of myself, Jun. So, technically, I'm a glitch in Caspien that has a mind of its own. I can't come with you, but I'll be watching over you." Jun is quiet for a moment, pondering over what Seiko said. He then turns to Remiel, who is blushing, and asks, "What's going on with you?" Remiel tries to hide his blush and asks, "What do you mean, Jun?" Jun smiles, "I think you know what I mean."

Remiel chuckles, "Okay, I'll admit it. I have a crush on Seiko."

Jun grins, "I knew it. But let's focus on saving Atsuko now." Remiel helps Jun get inside the gem pod, and Jun notices that the water is warm, unlike the cold water in the Somnus Facility. Jun takes off his shirt, revealing all the scars on his body. Remiel notices a necklace Jun is wearing and asks, "Where did you get that?" Jun replies, "Atsuko gave it to me on my last day of freedom for my birthday. She has the other half." Remiel nods, satisfied with the answer. He connects Jun to the wires of the gem pod and steps away from it. He goes back over to the main interface that controls all sleeping pods and launches Jun.

Seiko watches as the gem pod closes, and Jun falls into a deep sleep. After a couple of minutes, he wakes up, feeling different. He realizes that he's not in his home with his father and sister. Instead, Jun wakes up on a park bench, surrounded by towering trees and an uncanny red sky. He checks the watch on his left wrist, and it shows the time: six forty-five p.m.

****

Caspien is a place where time seems to stand still, where life goes on without the urgency and hustle of the outside world. Within the grand black manor, Atsuko is adorned in a fancy pink and white bubble gown, twirling around the ballroom with Kenzo. The music is enchanting, sweeping them both up in its rhythms and melodies. Atsuko is lost in the moment, her mind as blank as a white sheet of paper. Kenzo's handsome smile catches her attention, "With each passing day your dancing skills are getting better and better." Atsuko blushes at his kind words, "You think so?" Kenzo nods, "Absolutely," he assures her, and they continue to dance until the music abruptly stops, causing them both to halt. Hideo approaches Kenzo and whispers something in his ear. Kenzo's expression darkens, "I will check it out."

Ms. Lia enters the ballroom humming and grabs Atsuko's arm, leading her back to her shared room with Kenzo. Ms. Lia helps Atsuko take a relaxing bath and get into a comfortable nightgown. "Lord Kenzo won't be joining you tonight, so don't go snooping." Ms. Lia instructs, brushing Atsuko's long hair that cascades down her back. Atsuko nods, taking heed of Ms. Lia's words, and promises to stay put in the room while Kenzo is out. After one last brush through her hair, Ms. Lia makes sure Atsuko is tucked into bed. "Good night, Atsuko."

"Good night," Atsuko responds, getting comfortable on the right side of the bed. As Ms. Lia turns her back to Atsuko and shuts off the lights, a slight smirk appears on her lips. Ms. Lia has a habit of forgetting to lock doors, and this time it's no different. The door remains unlocked, and Ms. Lia's intentions are unclear as she exits the room.

****

Atsuko awakens suddenly in the dead of night, gasping for air as she tries to shake off the trance she was in. As her surroundings slowly come into focus, she realizes that she has no idea where she is or how she got there. The only clear memory she has is of watching a movie with Jun in the living room. The rest of her memories are shrouded in a thick fog, making everything feel foreign and uncertain. With a deep sense of unease, Atsuko leaves the room and starts to make her way downstairs, her footsteps echoing on the creaky wooden stairs. As she reaches the bottom of the stairs, she hears a sudden scream and the sound of someone crying and whining in pain. Driven by her curiosity and a desire to help if she can, Atsuko follows the sounds to the kitchen, where she discovers an open storage room with stairs leading down into darkness. As she descends the concrete steps, Atsuko's heart pounds with fear, and she can feel a strange and putrid odor wafting up from below, making her gasp for breath. Finally, as she reaches the bottom of the stairs, Atsuko is confronted with a sight that fills her with terror and dread, her eyes growing wide as she takes in the mysterious and frightening scene before her.

Behold, many other females are hanging from the ceiling by metal chains. Most of their bodies have decayed over time, being skeletons. Yet still, it seems as if they're alive. It's like a graveyard of girls hanging about, almost as if they're decorations of the sort. Decorations of grotesque beauty within an underground cellar. This room is shrouded in darkness, its only source of illumination is a few dimly flickering candles that cast macabre shadows on the walls. Kenzo and Hideo are seated at a brown wooden table, their faces obscured in the shadows. They speak in hushed tones, using an unknown language that seems to be otherworldly and ominous. Atsuko, who is curious about what they are up to, sneaks up to the room, trying to get a closer look.

As she peers through the door, she sees that the two men are drinking a strange, white, and glowing liquid from a glass bottle. The substance is viscous and seems to be alive, slowly pulsating inside the bottle. The two men drink it greedily as if it's a rare elixir of life. But to Atsuko's alarm, the liquid appears to be crimson in her eyes, and the sight of it almost makes her gag. As she tries to back away, she notices that she has stepped on a pool of sticky, crimson liquid that is spreading across the floor. When she looks up, she sees a young girl with long, green hair who is hanging from chains, her body slowly decaying as she swings back and forth. The girl says, "Get out. Run from here or you could be next sooner than you think!"

Terrified, Atsuko flees from the room, racing up the stairs and out into the open air. At the threshold of the home is Ms.Lia who exits through the front doors. Relieved, Atsuko follows, wanting to escape too. Her joy is short-lived as she is suddenly sent back into the manor by an invisible force. As she tries to escape, it felt as though she was stuck in a never-ending loop. "What are you doing out of bed, my sweet?"

Kenzo's voice made Atsuko's heart drop as she turns to see his handsome face. She didn't say a word, running away as fast as she can. Kenzo chuckles, knowing that Atsuko has seen things that she shouldn't have. As his twisted mind comes up with more ideas, Kenzo slowly makes his way up the stairs to the room he shares with Atsuko. Trembling with fear, Atsuko hides under the bed, unsure of what to do next.