Roxanne looked at him with wide eyes, wringing her hands together. The thin boy looked at him like he had gone crazy, while the teenage girl scoffed, muttering something under her breath. Even from this distance, Nox could hear the mocking words. Ignoring their reactions, he looked at the dolls in front of him, no longer twirling or twisting around.
"Your Master is your maker." He was a doll-maker. "He's your God, therefore he can only love you all equally." What a lonely existence.
That's why Rose had asked him that question before. Her hinting was what made him confident in his answer.
It was clear to see by the dolls' adoration that they regarded their Master as their God- they worshipped him, cherished him, and sought for his sole recognition. Even if it hadn't been the doll-maker's intention, he was now considered as a 'God' by these existences.
Nox was reminded of the blood roses planted in a delicate circle, like a chain unable to be broken by the stream of life.
Rose's golden hair gleamed in the light as she gave him a sad smile, filled with melancholy and a hidden pain. Unspoken feelings for her loved one who could only love her as equally as the rest.
She... should also be a doll. Most likely, she was the doll-maker's best creation- the blood Nox can feel running through her could attest to that. Able to think and feel like a human, what made her any different than them?
"He is the person you're waiting for." Nox directed the statement at Rose. There was no questioning in his tone.
"Yes," she answered. "For what reason was I created? I couldn't help but feel an ache in my chest when I asked this question." She placed a hand over her chest, where a human heart would beat.
The dolls tilted their confusion. 'Who is he talking to?' the black haired doll whispered.
'I heard humans sometimes suffer from mental problems,' the brunette whispered back.
"He did not answer me, but I have looked upon the many humans that have come into this garden. I believe I was created to love him," Rose continued.
Her smile bloomed like her namesake, innocent like the white petals of the roses before they were dyed red with blood. "That is what I feel, from the bottom of my soul. So I will wait for him here."
The doll-maker was a coward who couldn't face his own creation.
The sound of his limb being replaced didn't happen. With a ding, the now familiar voice passed through his ear.
[You have passed an unauthorized trial.
Difficulty: D
You have uncovered a part of the Doll-maker's story, A God's Obsession. Compensation will be calculated. Rewards have been calculated.]
There was extra information added this time. Nox gave Roxanne a reassuring nod; the tension left his mind numb and tired. A white light engulfed them, ready to teleport them out.
[Warning. All alterations of the body cannot leave due to the unauthorized state of this trial.]
Even through the glare of the light, Nox could make out the horror plastered on the other participants.
He left just as the limbs hit the ground.
_______________________
They teleported back to the same spot in the hallway. Feeling exhaustion slam in at full force, Nox dragged himself to the couch and slumped down.
Roxanne followed, letting out a long groan while she sat on the floor. She yanked at his jacket riddled with tears from the birds' beaks. "Get down, you're going to get blood stains all over the couch. How are we going to explain that to Mom," she complained, leaning against the couch. Hypocrite, Nox thought as he eyed her own bloodstained clothes.
Wait- Nox sat up straight. "We still never found them." He glanced at Roxanne's expression worryingly.
"..." Roxanne looked at him with a 'no shit' expression. She kicked out her legs in front of her and took a deep breath. "I'll accept the outcome," she said calmly. Her eyes betrayed her worry, shifting uneasily but a hint of determination steeled her expression. "Placing false hope in this will only drag us down in the long run."
He watched as she took in a deep breath, then an ear piercing scream tore its way out of his sister's throat. It could practically rival a banshee.
Nox groaned as his heightened senses suffered under the noise. "Can you not? Do you want the next door neighbors to think that a murder occured in here?"
She patted his cheek mockingly. "All done. I was just releasing some frustration, Your Royal Sensitive Ass."
"It's 'Your Royal Sensitive Arse,' thank you," Nox shot back, grabbing his phone where he left it on the side table. Friday, ten at night. They were in the trial for a whole day and then some.
Standing up, Nox ruffled Roxanne's hair. It was an utter mess, pecked into a messy nest by the birds. "I'm going to take a shower." Seeing her open her mouth to protest, Nox waved away her complaints. "I'm faster than you. Ten minutes max." He still had dried blood in his hair.
With a dark face, she let him go. "I'll be timing you. Not a second more."
***
After a quick shower and bandaging the worst of his wounds, Nox regretfully tossed his ruined clothes into the trash bin and set about to cook something simple for the two of them to eat. He shouldn't try anything too complicated or the kitchen would end up in flames again. Not like he had the energy to cook a full meal, anyway.
He made a few egg omelettes, heating up some leftover rice left in the fridge before boiling the water for some instant miso soup.
By the time Roxanne came out in a new hoodie and sweatpants, the water finished boiling. "Oh, thanks." She had slapped a large bandage on her cheek, the rolled up sleeves of her hoodie showing arms similarly covered in white patches.
Nox sat down, immediately shoving an omelette into his mouth. "You're welcome," he said around a mouthful of egg and rice. She made a face at him but didn't say anything as she dug in, most likely equally tired after their ordeal. The siblings ate in silence, occasionally glancing at the two empty seats next to them.
After placing the dishes in the sink, Nox went to turn on the TV while scrolling through his phone.
Li Zemin's text came through. [Hey bro, Ki's not answering his texts at all. You guys aren't ghosting me one by one on purpose, are you?]
Nox hesitated, fingers hovering over the screen. He looked up at the TV screen, showing news coverage of a gruesome discovery as a teenage girl was found dead from blood loss, three of her limbs gone- suspected to be ripped apart.
There was no point in avoiding the truth anymore.
Before, Nox didn't type out the whole story because he wasn't sure if his two closest friends would believe him- in all seriousness, who could believe it even if they trusted him? It was strange to do so.
Before, Nox didn't tell the whole story because he wasn't sure if his two closest friends would believe him- in all honesty, who could believe it even if they trusted him? It was strange to do so.
Roxanne didn't feel the reality of their situation until the mechanical birds tore at them. Even when faced with the automaton and the game of musical chairs, she didn't feel a sense of crisis because she had been merely looking as an observer; although the hypnotic surroundings could've been a part of the reason.
But if one of his friends died because he didn't tell them anything at that time… even if they didn't believe him, at least they would remember his words if something did happen. The unpleasant thought flickered through his mind. He switched to their group chat. [Li Zemin, listen carefully…]
***
By the time he finished recounting both of his experiences, his friend was silent. The three dots appeared and disappeared countless times before Li Zemin finally sent a [...]
[That's not helpful. Do you believe me or not?]
[Ok, so say I believe you. You're not the type to create crazy stories like this so I will hold back from judgement.] he replied in a hurry. [Are you saying that Ki is in a trial right now?]
[No, he might just not have his phone with him. But it's definitely a possibility.] A possibility Nox didn't want to think about.
Kato Kazuki was a weird person. He didn't get angry often, not when the campus beauty spilled her large cup of coffee all over his white shirt or even when someone stood him up one too many times.
But when he was angry, he was like a tank on a warpath. Everyone got out of his way. And the scariest thing was that he smiled the entire time while his gray eyes bore into your soul.
Nox had always admired him, because it always seemed like Ki held the answers to everything. His hard work couldn't be brushed off as simple 'talent,' but he really was a natural at solving complicated problems.
Maybe that innate nature of his could prove to be useful in a trial. Nox tilted his head doubtfully, reading through Li Zemin's astonished rant.
Li Zemin was- how to say it- he was carefree. He styled himself with the most popular clothes and haircuts, dating the most out of the three.
He was the first friend Nox made at college, with Ki joining later to complete their trio.
[I'm going to go now.] Li Zemin texted, bringing Nox's attention back to his phone. [You… be careful, I guess.]
He was the same as ever. Nox sent a goodbye sticker, ready to get some rest. He was tired as hell.
"Nox, look outside!" Hearing Roxanne's shout from down the hall, Nox turned towards the large living room window, peering curiously.
Through the fluttering curtains, the moon hung low in the sky; it looked close enough to touch, hanging there in a perfect red circle. Dark splotches of the moon's surface shone through the glowing vermillion, like heated metal in a blacksmith's forge.
「The dogs of fire are about to descend.」
Nox clutched his pounding head, teeth gritting in pain. Like the feeling of someone taking a hammer and smashing his head with it, the painful ringing overwhelmed his senses in a split second. The stars, that shadow-
「A new reign is emerging.」
The sun resting on the horizon.
A monotone voice abruptly sounded after the raspy tone.
[May Chaos reign amongst the stars.]
With a thud, Nox fell onto the floor.