What is hell?
Endless despair?
Unending slaughter?
No. Hell can be anywhere. Everyone sees hell in a different way.
But for them, they all agreed—this was hell.
The Sky Garden was gone. Beneath their feet was nothing but a cold, fog-covered street, the stench of rotting flesh, vomit, and decaying organs swirling around them like a nightmare.
This was hell...
She looked around, no spark of hope in her eyes—just the struggle to survive another second.
What were they born for?
Weren't children supposed to be the product of love? Weren't they meant to be brought into this world with blessings?
Then why?
Why did they have to go through this?
If you don't love them, why even bring them into existence?
This place... this is hell.
There are no strong here, only the weak, crushed under the weight of cruelty. And these children, they're the weakest of all.
Why must children sell their bodies just to survive? Why is that even a reality? Why must everything be taken from them when they've already suffered enough?
Atalanta dropped to one knee, clutching her head, black tendrils creeping along her arm, spreading over her very spirit. But all she could see were the ragged, broken children in front of her and the nightmare they were trapped in.
"I will save you. Because... I was saved the same way..."
"Sister, you're so sneaky," a cold voice hissed like a serpent wrapping around her throat. "Why were you saved, while we were left to rot in this world?"
"Come with us," the voice coiled tighter.
"Stop it!" Atalanta pressed her hands over her ears. "I will... save you."
But could she really?
That time was long gone, and they were nothing more than restless spirits, forever bound to this hell. No one could turn back time and save them. They were proof of a time's ugliness, destined to suffer for eternity.
"Let it end," Jeanne rose to her feet slowly.
"What are you going to do?" Atalanta looked up, startled.
"Destroy them."
Even after witnessing this hell, knowing these children were victims, Jeanne's expression remained cold, devoid of any sympathy or mercy.
"Why?" Atalanta's eyes widened. "Aren't you a saint?"
"I can save lost souls. I can purify those who still hold onto this world. But Jack the Ripper? No. I can't save them," Jeanne shook her head. "They've been consumed by the Spirit of Jack. All I can do is put an end to it."
"I won't let you!" Atalanta stood, her bow clutched tightly. "I won't let them suffer anymore. If you try to kill them, I'll stop you. No one protected them before, but now I will. I'll save them!"
"You know this, don't you? These children... they're evil spirits. They don't even have names. No one can save them."
Doesn't it hurt her?
No! It hurts her more than anyone else. If she could save them, she'd reach out her hand right now. But it's because she wants to save them more than anyone that she knows they're beyond salvation.
Their painful pasts are carved into their very being. Every second they exist, they're tormented by it.
"I will... destroy them..." Jeanne's voice was firm, like she was forcing the words out.
"Then I..." Atalanta's grip tightened around her bow.
"It's over," Cyd raised his scythe, black light cutting through the hell around them.
The stench vanished, the fog lifted, and the children disappeared. Only Jack remained, standing blankly before Cyd, with Reika clutching her from behind, shielding her from the scythe.
"You were loved," Cyd whispered, gently placing his hand on Jack's head. "Don't ever deny that."
"Jack... I'm sorry. I came too late," Reika held Jack tightly, her tears falling onto Jack's neck.
What... is this?
Not blood. Not filth.
Tears. Tears shed for them...
"Mom...?" Jack whispered, feeling Reika's warmth.
"Yes, it's Mom. Mom won't leave you again," Reika hugged her tighter.
"Mom...! I was so scared!" Jack's small knife fell from her hand as she buried her face in Reika's chest, sobbing. "I was so scared we were abandoned! That no one loved us!"
"Shh... it's okay. Mom's here. I won't leave you ever again," Reika tried to smile, but the tears wouldn't stop.
"It took me a long time to get here, but I'm here now," Cyd smiled softly. "This time, I'll save you."
His black scythe slowly rose, death's shadow spreading across the ground.
"Your existence was wrong. You were supposed to be loved, but hell trapped you in the past. Don't worry, I'll send you to the real Underworld, where you can finally rest."
Reika looked panicked, but Jack was calm, her innocent eyes gazing at Cyd. "Big brother, are you going to kill us?"
"Yes," Cyd whispered. "You shouldn't have to suffer anymore. You've been through enough. I'll send you to a place where you can let go of all the pain, where you won't have to be Jack the Ripper anymore."
"No... don't kill Jack!" Reika held Jack tighter, trying to run, but Cyd's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"You've seen that hell, haven't you? Do you really want Jack to stay there?"
"Mom, it's okay," Jack smiled up at her, tilting her head. "As long as you're with me, hell doesn't matter."
"Please..." Reika bit her lip, kneeling before Cyd. "Please... save Jack."
She had seen it—the vision of hell, the chains bound to Jack's soul. As long as Jack remained, those chains would keep her in eternal pain.
Deep down, she understood. She just didn't want to admit it.
"I've heard your wish," Cyd said, his scythe flashing through the air.
There was no blood, no violence. Just a soft, black glow that passed through Jack's tiny form. The command seal on Reika's hand vanished, and Jack began to dissolve. Around her, other children appeared, ragged and worn, but with light in their eyes. They gathered around Reika, smiling.
"Thank... you..."
"Meeting you... was a miracle..."
"Mom..."
And then, Jack was gone. The children were gone.
"No... no!" Reika screamed, clutching at the fading light, but no matter how hard she held on, it slipped through her fingers until she collapsed to the ground.
"My... child..."
Jeanne stood in stunned silence, watching Cyd's back.
"You have to live on, smiling," Cyd said, reaching out a hand to Reika.
"They've reached the Underworld. They're waiting to live again."
"Live, find someone who loves you, build a family. Then, let them be reborn into the happiest home possible, into the arms of the mother they love most. Let them live the life they deserve."
Reika stared, eyes wide.
"They wanted love. So give it to them. Let them be born into the happiest family, with the mother who loves them most. Let them grow up happy."
Cyd took her hand, helping her to her feet.
"That's your wish too, isn't it?"