Hanashi 16 - Cellar Door

In the midst of the darkest moments, hope shines like a beacon. To find that hope, one must search with all their might, for wherever there is darkness, light is sure to follow. Atsuko's eyes flutter open, and she finds herself staring up at a ceiling she knows all too well. The scent of the room makes her stomach churn, and she realizes that she is lying in a bed in a place she desperately wishes to forget. Confusion clouds her mind as she struggles to grasp the reality of her situation. 'Why am I back here?' Atsuko thinks a frown forms on her face. She's not entirely sure if everything she remembers is just a vivid dream, or if it is her new, permanent reality. With a heavy sigh, Atsuko rises from the bed and brushes herself off, as if trying to rid herself of some invisible filth. Her memories come flooding back, and she realizes that Kenzo has been manipulating her to gain more power. If he succeeds in obtaining more power, Kenzo plans to merge Caspien and the natural world into one, and Atsuko has unwittingly been a pawn in his game. Atsuko had always thought that Caspien was her true reality, but now, she knows that it was just an illusion. She opens the door to her room and steps out into a long, quiet hallway, wondering where Kenzo and Hideo might be. The silence is almost deafening, and she feels as though she is being watched from every corner.

Suddenly, something black catches her eye, moving swiftly at the end of the hallway. Without a second thought, Atsuko begins to follow it, her body acting on instinct rather than logic. Atsuko descends the stairs, leading to the entrance of Kenzo's mansion. The front door creaks open, revealing an inky blackness that stretches out into nothingness. Atsuko whispers bitterly, "This place isn't real in the first place," before turning back to find a tall, black shadow stalking her.  Filled with a sudden sense of reckless abandon, Atsuko steps outside and falls into the void. "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!" Her scream echoes into the emptiness as she plummets towards an unknown destination, surrounded only by the darkness. The shadow growls and transforms into Hideo, who curses under his breath. "Damn it. That wasn't supposed to happen." Kenzo appears by his side, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "You had one job and failed, Hideo!" 

Hideo wants to argue back, but he knows that he's already messed up. Without another word, he jumps into the void. Kenzo's eyes widen in shock, but he doesn't follow suit. Instead, he snaps his fingers and alters the scenery for the two falling figures. As Atsuko and Hideo continue to fall, the darkness shifts and twists into the familiar shape of Kenzo's mansion. But everything is different somehow; the walls are distorted, and random objects float by without rhyme or reason. Hideo's black wings unfurl from his back as he catches up to Atsuko, grabbing her wrist tightly. "Let me go! Isn't falling enough?!" Atsuko struggles to break free, but Hideo refuses to let her go. "I'm just doing what I'm told. No one thought you would jump." he retorts, his voice tinged with annoyance. Atsuko's heart pounds in her chest as she realizes they're hurtling toward a wooden table that once stood in the mansion's dining hall. Hideo reacts quickly, swooping in to catch her just in time. They both continue to fall, but Atsuko feels a sudden sense of safety in Hideo's arms. 

Once she opens her eyes, she glances at Hideo. “Thank you for saving me!” Hideo becomes red and doesn't make eye contact, "It was nothing really...." He lies. Atsuko giggles, "You're lying....I know how Kenzo is. He was definitely trying to injure me so I can get weaker.” Hideo scowls, "I guess you're right but don't be too happy about me saving you." As they plummet through the darkness, Atsuko can't help but feel a surge of curiosity. "Do you know when the fall will end?" she asks Hideo. Hideo nods, his expression serious. "Yes. It should lead us both to Cellar Door." Atsuko furrows her brow. “Cellar Door?" 

"It's the deepest realm of sleep," Hideo explains. "I assume you know you're hooked up to the sleeping pod in the real world?" Atsuko nods, her mind racing with questions. What is Cellar Door? Why are they falling towards it? And most importantly, how will they get out?

****

Upon his arrival at Somnus Facility, Remiel is immediately taken in as a prisoner. Dr. Alistair, the mastermind behind the facility, greets him with a wicked grin and sarcastic praise, "The fact that you came here willingly fills my heart with joy." Remiel remains silent, his face growing darker with every passing moment. Two bodyguards grab him, tying his hands behind his back with a zip tie. Dr. Alistair taunts Remiel, "Why are you so quiet? You have a loud voice on television and social media. Are you timid in person and fearful?" 

Remiel looks up at Dr. Alistair with a death glare, "What a funny assumption, you nutjob. Talking to you is a waste because you're too set in your ways." Dr. Alistair chuckles, unfazed by Remiel's words. "Take our special guest to the White Room." he commands. The guards lead Remiel through the mazy hallways of Somnus Headquarters, roughly handling him along the way. Eventually, they reach the White Room - a stark, cushioned chamber with no windows or doors except the one they just entered through. The two guards throw Remiel inside as the doors lock behind him with a resounding click. Remiel frees his hands from the loosely-tied zip tie with ease, revealing a small lock pick that one of the guards carelessly left in his pocket. He quickly formulates a plan to rescue Atsuko. 

Before he can act, Dr. Alistair's voice blares over the loudspeaker, "Mister Remiel, I just wanted you to know that you coming here won't save Atsuko. She's far gone...." Remiel wants to respond, to lash out at Dr. Alistair for his cruelty, but he restrains himself. Dr. Alistair seems surprised by Remiel's silence, taunting him further, "Cat caught your tongue? Did you come here to my facility for something else? We could work together, you know?" Despite the perilous situation he finds himself in, Remiel can't help but burst into pure, bitter laughter at Dr. Alistair's audacity. Dr. Alistair rushes to the room where Remiel is after feeling confused and disoriented. He bursts into the White Room and is instantly annoyed by Remiel's demeanor. "What's so funny? Is this a joke to you?" he asks in an irritated tone.

Remiel's expression turns dark, and he unleashes his hidden anger. "You've had your fun for long enough. Now it's time for you to pay." he replies, acting fast and throwing a powerful punch that hits Dr. Alistair's face and knocks him to the ground. Dr. Alistair cries out in pain and tries to stand up, but he is quickly pinned down by Remiel. He then puts his foot on Dr. Alistair's neck. "You bastard! I've come here to retrieve Atsuko. That part is somewhat correct, but I've noticed that we are different in terms of strength. You're smart but incompetent. You should have stayed on the intercoms." he says, letting out his frustration. Dr. Alistair grimaces, realizing that he is in a difficult situation. Suddenly, one of his guards enters the room, apparently willing to help Remiel only. "Remiel, things are ready for you in the main room." he says. Remiel nods and removes his foot from Dr. Alistair's throat. Dr. Alistair quickly stands up, and in a fit of anger, he uses a remote to activate the lockdown mode, sealing all the windows and exits with metal material.

"You're not winning that easily." Dr. Alistair declares, pulling out an ancient knife from his pocket. Instead of attacking Remiel, he stabs himself in the heart. The bodyguard and Remiel exit the White Room, locking the door behind them. "Matsuda, do you know why he did that?" Remiel asks. "Yes, I do. I've been here for about a couple of months now, and that knife can turn humans into monsters. An immortal being with incredible strength!" Matsuda explains. "Just lead me to the main room!" Remiel demands. Matsuda nods and starts to walk quickly. Remiel follows, being extra cautious and vigilant. Meanwhile, in the White Room, Dr. Alistair wakes up, being full Daten-shi. He smirks and snaps his fingers, causing the entire facility to transform into a strange maze. Remiel enters the main room when suddenly he hears a loud noise. Upon turning his head, he sees that Matsuda has been smashed by a wall that seals off the entranceway, leaving him in complete shock and disbelief. The scene before him is heart-wrenching, and he feels a deep ache in his chest. As Remiel tries to gather his thoughts, he looks around the room and spots Atsuko, who is connected to a more complicated sleeping pod. She seems to be in a display sleeping pod, with lots of wires connected to her body. That's when he notices that there are two other beings in the room, next to Atsuko, but they don't look human at all. Their bodies are fragile and hollow, and they resemble more like creatures who aspire to be human but will never have the chance to do so.

****

As Hideo and Atsuko fall through the strange void, they can't help but feel a sense of dread and uncertainty. The fall seems to go on forever until they finally spot a brown wooden door. Despite its old and worn-out appearance, it exudes an undeniable beauty that draws them in. As they approach the door, it suddenly opens before them, and they are enveloped in a blinding white light that momentarily disorients them. When they regain their senses, they find themselves lying on a bed of soft grass, surrounded by a picturesque blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. Hideo quickly sits up and takes in their surroundings, noticing that Atsuko is still sleeping soundly beside him. He nudges her gently, and she wakes up with a start, looking around in confusion. "Where are we?" she asks, her voice trembling slightly with fear. Hideo can't help but feel an odd mix of emotions that he hasn't felt in a long time. "We are in Torukia," he replies, trying to sound reassuring. "This is a forgotten realm, a place that isn't supposed to exist. It's beautiful, but it can be dangerous if you're not careful."

As they try to make sense of their new surroundings, a feminine voice calls out to them from a distance. They turn to see a blonde-haired girl with piercing blue eyes running towards them. "You two have finally arrived," she says, smiling warmly at Hideo. He recognizes her immediately as Myra, Atsuko looks on in confusion, wondering who this girl is. They do seem familiar though.