Archive of Our Own

To the south of Munich, in Germany, lies the stretch of mountains known as the Bavarian Prealps. Amongst the hills, a manor stood, sheltering an ancient, yet perhaps the most advanced automaton in known history. Cecilia Immergreen.

Through an open window, a violin melody could be heard.

As Cecilia followed the page of lyrics, her gaze, appeared more stern than usual. Despite perfecting her solo again, she found herself pausing. A cold bead of sweat trickle from her hair.

She lowered her violin and sighed.

'Stupid Gigi.' she said, quietly.

Through the windows to her left, the clear morning sky was coloured a vibrant cobalt, waiting for the sun to gleam over the horizon.

Knowing the sunrise was coming motivated Cecilia to position her violin upon her shoulder once more and turn the page of her music sheet. However, she then stood still, staring at the notes. Her head pinged, as though a needle jabbed into her.

'I can't see anything!' the voice of Gigi despaired. 'It's too dark!'

The thoughts were suddenly cut off by a metallic snapping sound.

'Ceciii!' Gigi shrieked, loud enough to hurt Cecilia's ears.

Cecilia shook her head, breathing a heavy sigh, and forcefully set her violin on a nearby table.

Several tiny otomos peered from their hiding spots. Some who had watched closely obliviously applauded Cecilia's violin solo. The automaton girl however ignored them as she stormed into the kitchen.

Maybe some tea will clear her thoughts. She needed her focus, energy and rehearsal for a performance later that day.

Cecilia flicked the kettle on, and in less than a minute the droning of water boiling resembled applause. She stared blankly at the kettle.

'You're holding me back, beaver!' Cecilia's disgruntled tone rung in her head again. 'I can't keep holding your hand! I'll... be back for you, okay?'

Footsteps could be heard as Cecilia left the frightened gremlin girl.

'I just... don't want to fail you any more.'

The thoughts fell silent, as Cecilia sunk her face into her palms.

Hours later, a theatre housing a thousand patrons clapped to the dimming of lights and the rising crimson curtains.

Centre stage, the band's conductor bowed, as her fleet of musicians adjusted their selves. Many adjusting their instruments, sitting comfortably or fidgeting to shake off their nerves.

Amongst the first violinists to the conductor's left, Cecilia Immergreen sat patiently. She thought to tell a joke to any of her stone-faced peers, or make some jovial gesture to the crowd to ease her own tension.

Once the wave of applause quietened, the conductor beckoned for Cecilia to stand.

The automaton girl breathed out, and stood confidently. She raised her unique violin to her shoulder, noticing the conductor smiling warmly.

Cecilia faced the darkened crowd. But as she raised her bow, she froze where she stood. Her eyes widened, shortening her cybernetic irises. Her lips parted as she rested the bow on the violin strings. She noticed somebody behind the front rows.

A girl, smartly dressed like the audience around her, only in men's attire. Her hair however were simple pigtails, and coloured an uneven blonde and brown. She even had an obnoxious ahoge.

No matter how much she doubted herself, the girl was unmistakably Gigi Murin.

As soon as their eyes locked, Gigi flinched and glanced away, awkwardly.

Cecilia twitched, as the feeling of ice overcame the nerves in her arms and knees.

Ten seconds later, a fellow violinist whispered out to Cecilia, asking if she was okay.

Suddenly, the automaton girl shook her head slightly. Took a moment to readjusted her stance, and opened with her violin solo.

The silent crowd watched, awash with chills like magic from Cecilia's serenade.

Her solo lasted four minutes, and soon the band joined to carry out their incredible performance.

An hour later, hundreds of the audience steadily vacated, bantering in heightened spirits. There were only two exits from the theatre.

Cecilia Immergreen carefully stepped out from a door leading backstage, and watched the crowd leave.

Being atop a balcony, almost nobody noticed her. Cecilia watched, looking out for someone. But as the minutes ticked by, the crowd dwindled to groups of late leavers, followed by individuals. Nobody she recognised.

The winding key on Cecilia's head spun slowly, only once.

She sighed.

From the corridor behind Cecilia, a member of staff called out to her.

'Your lift has arrived, Miss Immergreen.' she said, quietly.

'O-Okay.'

The journey from Munich to her house is one Cecilia has sat through numerous times. However, the wait, as she was driven home became unbearable. Her driver was not particularly talkative, leaving Cecilia to her thoughts.

'Why did she come to watch me? Was that really her? When did she arrive in Germany? Is she not avoiding me? But then why did she run off after the show?'

The winding key spun twice, at a normal pace, as Cecilia gazed at the approaching mountains.

'Was that really Gigi?' she pondered again. 'It had to be! But then why? After that argument...'

Cecilia winced, rubbing her forehead. It was at that point, she began to hear a bizarre clicking noise, which she assumed to be the car.

'She didn't have to run off. I wanted to...' she paused, wincing again. 'I mean. If that was her, at least she's okay, right?'

After half an hour of intrusive thoughts, her ride arrived at the quiet slip-road with a lone metal gate.

'Vielen dank.' Cecilia said, thanking her driver.

Her driver waved to her. His look however, even in shades portrayed a hint of concern.

As the car drove off, and Cecilia began her trek through the short private path to her hideaway house, she inspected her body a little.

'What's that... ticking noise?' she said, walking faster. 'There's something wrong with me, I know it.'

Around the corner, her private sanctuary appeared. But steps away from her front door, Cecilia stopped in her tracks.

'No! That couldn't have been Gigi!' she cried. 'Even if she's afraid of me, she would have waited for me! It didn't even look like her! Gigi looks weird and dumb, and...'

She stuttered, hearing the ticking accelerate.

Suddenly Cecilia began to feel lighter than usual.

'Whoa, okay.' she said, beginning to sputter-step.

The automaton girl eagerly approached her door, which opened all on its own upon recognising her. Instead of swinging inwards, the door seemed to retract into the wall, assisted by large gears.

Immediately, upon entering, a wave of otomos waddled happily toward Cecilia. The majority waved, gleefully welcoming her home. Their smiles however, gradually turned into looks of wary, concern, while some began to panic. Many of the tiny automatons raised their arms, pointing at Cecilia.

'Is there- do you see something wrong with me?'

The otomos appeared to panic, jumping on the spot. Some calmer otomos gestured toward the nearest mirror.

Cecilia hastily approached the full-length mirror next to her coat rack. She gasped to see that the strange ticking noise was originating from her winding key. The key appeared to be spinning at an impossible speed. Her eyes glowed a bright emerald.

'What the?' she cried, stepping back.

Gingerly, she raised her hands toward the mad winding key. At first, her right hand was batted away at considerable force. Cecilia's brows furrowed as she then tried to snatch hold of her winding key.

The jarring sounds of metal grinding itself, teemed with a deafening buzzing noise and Cecilia's own pained cries echoed throughout her house. It scared many of the omotos into taking cover.

Cecilia succeeded in grabbing hold of her winding key, which immediately started puffing steam once she put her durable hands in its way.

'Stop it!' she cried, but still the winding key fought back. 'Stop spinning! Stop!!'

Cecilia screamed, pushing the winding key out of her head and snapping something in the process. What happened afterwards became a blur for the girl.

Her vision flickered incoherently. White flashes, mixed with random memories whilst hearing equally mismatched thoughts and conversations.

The only thought she recognised was that her back, shoulders and skirt belted against the floor. Whether or not she could see the otomos all gathering in a panic, trying to help her, she was stuck where she lay.

'I do miss her...' Cecilia uttered.

— Venago Yuritsukii (@venagoyuritsukii.bsky.social) 11 February 2025 at 04:23

Cecilia's eyes opened wide, though her vision consisted of nothing but bright flashes, binary codes and ancient characters she had long forgotten. She froze, watching her unnerving light show.

'You okay, Ceci?' asked Gigi Murin.

Quite suddenly, Cecilia's vision cleared. Watching over her, with a warm smile was Gigi.

Cecilia gasped, trying to lurch forward. Her body however was numb and stiff, forcing her head to rest longer on Gigi's lap.

'Whoa, whoa!' Gigi panicked, placing her small hands on Cecilia's shoulders. 'Don't move yet! I don't actually know if the key's finished winding!'

'What...' Cecilia uttered. 'What happened?'

'What happened is you broke your winding key, you dumb! The otomos managed to call me, and well... here I am. Had to solder your key back together! Do you know how messy that workshop of yours is!' she laughed. 'You're lucky the equipment here still functions!'

Cecilia raised her hand, wanting to examine her new winding key. But her hand was obstructed by Gigi's gentle hand.

'Your key's fine.' said Gigi. 'The mechanisms though may be damaged. So, take it slow, okay?'

For a while longer, Cecilia stared up at Gigi, already feeling uneasy.

'W-Wait.' Cecilia stuttered, her eyes surprised, yet sorrowful. 'Gigi?'

'Yeeeah?' Gigi said, puzzling.

'What are you doing in my house?'

Gigi burst into laughter.

'I just explained to you!'

'But...'

'Just rest a while longer. Okay?'

Cecilia slowly rolled over, avoiding Gigi's eyes.

'You fixed me?'

'I mean... it took me all night. But-'

Suddenly Cecilia rocketed off her sofa and onto her feet, startling Gigi in the process.

'Excuse me? You've been here all night?' Cecilia cried, glancing at her fanciful wall clock, to see it was six in the morning.

'Y-Yeah?'

Now that Cecilia could fully observe Gigi, she noticed that she perhaps a little haggard, roughed and gathered dirt and dust from her excavation. Gigi also appeared to be wearing welding goggles on her head, despite not needed them.

'Then you should be the one resting, beaver!'

'Aw, but you just woke up! Will you watch and cuddle meee?'

'No!' Cecilia cried, turning to leave. 'Here, let me get you the duvet from upstairs.'

A moment later, the automaton girl draped her guest room duvet over her friend. Gigi already laid across her sofa, removing her goggles and rested her head on the nearby cushion.

'Hope you didn't make a mess down there,' demanded Cecilia, briefly looking toward her basement door. 'The stuff down there is... really really really old!'

'Ceciii...' Gigi said with a smile.

'What?'

'I'm glad you're okay.'

The gremlin girl wrapped herself tighter within the duvet and nuzzled her cushion until she was comfortable. Cecilia meanwhile wanted to say something, but ended up just stammering.

'I-I'll just...'

Cecilia stepped away, immediately forgetting where she was going.

'Oh hey, Ceci?'

'Yes?' Cecilia stopped, to glance back at the girl on her sofa.

'I'm sorry for running off after your performance.'

'No, no!' Cecilia blurts. 'It's fine! Now get some sleep.'

Minutes later the automaton girl inspected her kitchen, confirming she had food other than tea treats available for Gigi. Fortunately, it appeared she was only offline for twelve hours at most.

She smirked thinking how Gigi would probably eat anything anyway. But when she left her kitchen to check on the girl, she noticed only a duvet on her sofa. The front door was left open, leaving only a paper-thin gap.

Cecilia sighed.

Hours passed, and by dawn Cecilia wanted to pass the time practising piano. During the sunrise however, her phone pinged numerous messages from allies of Justice, senpai and even from members of Advent.

'Take your time, dear Cecilia.' Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame commented first. 'I'll cover for you if I can.'

'I got it!!' screamed Raora Panthera, all caps. 'I finally pulled the S Rank Beach Nerissa!'

Only later did Raora message Cecilia to get well soon.

'Get well soon, Ceci!' cried Koseki Bijou. 'Partner...'

'Sending you all the love.' said Ceres Fauna. 'Would love to have tea and wind you if I was there.'

'Gute Besserung! Ich liebe dich!' pinged Takanashi Kiara, followed by kisses.

'Take all the time you need, my darling.' said Nerissa Ravencroft. 'Advent may get up to more trouble. But honestly, I want you to look after yourself too. Also, yes... Raora managed to pull an S Rank card of me in a bikini. And now she won't shut up about it!'

Cecilia giggled, happy to hear from her friends.

She scrolled through her messages, and noticed to have received none from Gigi Murin. Her smile faded. She made one reply to Elizabeth, leader of Justice that she may need just a few days off. Cecilia placed her phone onto the piano frame, in case more messages were coming.

For a moment longer, Cecilia resumed playing her piano, but then suddenly came to a stop. Her head lowered, staring miserably at the music sheet.

As Cecilia paused, she suddenly noticed a strange sound. Listening, she recognised it was a flute, and coming from outside. More specifically, as she glanced warily up her stairs, the notes seemed to come from her veranda.

Cecilia crept upstairs and to the curtained door to the veranda. She gingerly drew the curtain back, and her eyes widened to see Gigi Murin standing outside.

Gigi faced the magnificent view of south Bavaria, freely playing notes on her flute.

Cecilia opened the door quiet enough for the girl to not notice.

'Gigi?'

Immediately, Gigi flinched and cried out, which echoed across the hillside. She glanced back quick enough for her hood to fall. Though her trademark ahoge still defied gravity, the rest of her hair was braided, and she wore thin square glasses, with a brunette frame.

'G-Guten tag, Cecilia!' she cried, awkwardly, then bowing.

Cecilia froze, staring in disbelief.

'Uh... Gigi?' she puzzled.

'Yes! It's me, Ceciii! I just thought I'd... you know, change things up!'

Cecilia stepped onto the veranda with her. She frequently glanced at Gigi's beautiful braids.

'You know I...' Cecilia muttered, looking away. 'Kinda like the braids.'

Gigi gasped, clutching her flute.

'Thaaanks! It took me hours to do by myself!'

'Is- is that why you left last night? I could have braided your hair for you!'

Gigi shook her head.

'No, I wanted to surprise you. And I didn't have my flute on me. I would have come back earlier, but I was just so tiiired! You know?'

They paused for a moment. Cecilia then rolled her eyes, approaching the veranda wall.

'And how did you get up here without-'

As Cecilia peered over the wall, she immediately spotted an electrician's ladder lined against it.

'Ladder!' said Gigi, bursting into giggles, far quieter than her usual laugh.

Cecilia giggled.

'Why? I don't... you're weird.'

Ten minutes later, Cecilia brought up her violin. Side by side she and Gigi played a piece called Decretum by Yuki Kajiura, to the best of their ability. Cecilia was impressed that Gigi knew the flute parts well enough to play correct notes. Afterwards, the two giggled at their attempt.

Cecilia continued to play notes, feeling her groove, listening to her violin echo.

'I'm hungry.' Gigi blurted.

Suddenly the girls broke into laughter, echoing across the hillside tinted orange from the setting sun.

Downstairs, dinner was made, accompanied with green tea and macaroons.

'Sorry,' said Cecilia, reluctantly. 'But we only have teas in this house.'

'Of course you do!' Gigi replied, happily. 'It wouldn't be you otherwise, right?'

'Well...'

Gigi delicately held her teacup in both hands and slowly sipped.

Cecilia also raised her teacup, but could not help but watch Gigi on the other of the table they shared. It looked as if Gigi was really enjoying her tea.

'Since when do you like tea so much?'

'It's more I- uh...' Gigi fidgeted. 'The thought that you've drank from this teacup. The- the indirect kiss you know-'

'Alright.' Cecilia sickened. 'What's going on?'

'N-No!' Gigi cried. 'Nothing!'

'Then why have you been acting so weird? Ever since...'

Cecilia sighed.

'Is it so wrong for me to change, Cecilia? Everyone does. Especially...' Gigi's cheeks were noticeably pink. 'For the one they love.'

Ten awkward seconds of silence passed, and Cecilia raised her teacup again. Her brows furrowed as she failed to meet Gigi's eyes.

'W-Well...'

'Yeah?'

'That's it. That's my answer to that.'

Gigi giggled.

Once the two girls had their dinner, Gigi offered to collect the plates and wash the dishes herself. Cecilia meanwhile decided to lock the front door, rush up to the veranda and tip over the ladder, grinning all the while. For justice of course. The ladder in fact ended up clanking down the cliff neighbouring Cecilia's house, until it fell too far to be heard.

'Oops.' she muttered, genuinely unnerved.

Cecilia stepped inside, still hearing the clattering of plates from her kitchen.

'Okay,' Cecilia thought. 'She shouldn't disappear this time!'

Night descended, bringing a downpour with it. Water pattered the windows of Cecilia's house. A tune that typically relaxed her. But on that night, she stared out of her window, watching the droplets trickle.

Cecelia checked her phone. No new messages. Not even from Elizabeth.

'Has the... WIFI disconnected again?' she pondered.

Moments later Cecilia found herself blinded as a strike of lightning boomed. She stepped back, eyes squinting. At the same time however, she jumped at the shrieking of a little girl.

Cecilia glanced back, but struggled to see anything. All she could hear was light-footed scrambling racing across the lounge and toward her.

'Auntie Ceci!' the girl despaired, hugging onto the automaton girl.

Rather quickly, Cecilia's sight returned as she looked down to see Gigi Murin embracing her.

Gigi's hair was were her usual pigtails again, but tied with cute yellow ribbons. Her pyjamas too were different. It was perhaps the first time Cecilia had ever seen the gremlin in a dress.

'I'm scayerrd!' Gigi cried, face buried into Cecilia's white nightdress.

She looked up at Cecilia. Tears in her big eyes. Her lower lip trembled. Her long tail wrapped around Cecilia's synthetic legs.

Cecilia stared down, wide-eyed. She could feel faint jitters from Gigi.

'What the hell?' she whispered.

'Auntie Ceciii. Will you hold me until I fall asleep?'

A strange smile appeared on Cecilia's face while her eyes twitched.

'O-Okay.' she replied, managing to carefully separate herself from Gigi's grasp. 'What are you doing up this late anyway?'

Gigi began to fidget, and lowered her head.

'I couldn't find your bathroom...'

Cecilia laughed.

'It's not funnyyy!' Gigi cried. 'I almost pee'd myself just now!'

'Alright, alright, alright.' Cecilia allowed for Gigi to take her hand. 'Come on.'

Cecilia led Gigi down the dark corridor leading to her bathroom, smiling at the thought of being called an auntie. All the while the child hid behind her, frequently crying out.

'Why is your house so darrrk, Auntie Ceci?'

'Because we were sleeping, Gigi! Or- well, I was trying to.'

'You couldn't sleep either?'

'N-No.'

By that point, Cecilia recognised the end of the corridor, reached out to flick a light switch. But no light illuminated the corridor.

'Oh, power's out.' she said. 'Well, I'll wait for you out here-'

'Can you come with me?' Gigi said, bashfully.

'No! What, you want me to watch you pee?'

'It's so dark!' Gigi cried. 'You won't see any way! And what if lightning strikes again? I'll be so scared-'

'Well, that should make it easier then.' Cecilia giggled.

'Please, oh please, Auntie Ceci! Don't leave me, I'm so scared!'

Suddenly Cecilia shuddered.

'Ugh, fine, I'll watch you pee!'

'Yaaaaay!' Gigi cheered.

After Cecilia attended Gigi's idol meeting, they returned to the guest room, hand in hand.

The king-sized bed, adorned with green lace. Green decorations, and even green stuffed animals. Gigi looked like a tiny puppy climbing into it.

Gigi crawled through to the opposite end, bunching up with the wall of plushies. She opened out the duvet, staring up at Cecilia with her big rose eyes.

'Come on, Auntie Ceciii!'

Cecilia however reached out for the lone chair in the room.

'I am not sleeping with you, Gigi. But...' she placed the chair before the bed, sat down and pulled a thick book near the bedside lamp. 'I will read you a bedtime story?'

'Yeah!' Gigi cried, happily.

Gigi hastily made herself comfortable, taking up the entire double bed to herself and gleamed up at the automaton girl sitting bedside. Cecilia then opened the hefty book, activated her night vision and leaned back with a big smile.

'Flutter flutter...' Cecilia spoke, happily. 'All around them, cherry blossoms scattered to the ground. In the middle of a cherry-coloured mist, a larger figure and a smaller figure stood close together atop a hill, surrounded by thick, old cherry trees.'

It was not long until Gigi's eyes had closed and she drifted to sleep.

Cecilia smiled, gently shutting the book. Feeling the auntie energy, she leaned forward and kissed Gigi's smooth forehead.

The next morning, Cecilia checked her guest room the moment she awoke. But nobody was there. The bed was made, as though it had never been slept in.

Cecilia stared into the room, just pondering.

The weather had changed again. A wall of white thick moist air blocked the views from the windows.

Checking her phone again, Cecilia still received no replies.

'Is everything still out?' she thought.

Cecilia swiftly dressed herself in her usual magical girl dress and readied to leave her house. Before leaving however, she glanced around one last time, in case any otomos were present. But she saw nobody.

A wave of nerves coursed up her arms, as Cecilia paused, looking warily. She soon left, letting the front door close behind her.

Perhaps the nearby village had signal or could spare internet access, Cecilia thought. She only wanted to confirm she was okay, in case her silence raised alarms.

The thick walls of fog hid the horizon.

She carefully left her property, her garden and traversed her quiet path returning to the lonesome slipway. Despite how lively the countryside can be, Cecilia heard only the delicate footsteps. Not a breeze, chirping bird or even the distant hum of vehicles.

Up ahead however, as the slipway came into view, a unique, bright orange car was parked. Cecilia smirked, shaking her head.

'Need a lift, milady?' Gigi spoke.

Cecilia jumped, turning to see Gigi leaning against a post in her handsome dinner party outfit. Her monocle included.

'Oh my god, Gigi! Where are you keeping your outfits?'

Gigi stepped from the post, chuckling and offered her hand.

'I'd rather not let a lady walk in this dreadful weather! One as especially lovely as yourself, Ms Immergreen.'

Cecilia squinted, unimpressed.

'I'll walk. Thanks.'

'Aw, come ooon!' Gigi groaned as Cecilia marched passed.

Not two minutes later, Cecilia reluctantly sat in the passenger seat of the car. Gigi's unique tail wagged as she sat in the driver's seat.

Gigi grinned, straightening herself.

'So, uh... where to milady?'

'Nowhere, I just needed WIFI! My house-' Cecilia paused, discovering the vehicle's inbuilt WIFI was also not working. She sighed. 'Have you been able to call Justice? Liz or Raora?'

'Why? You're not thinking of leaving, are you?'

'No! I'm just worried about them worrying about me!'

'Raora's not, I'll tell you that.' Gigi laughed. 'Here, look, I'll take you to Munich.'

Gigi secured herself and turned her engine. Steadily she pulled from the slipway and drove north, into the fog.

'Why Munich?'

'Liz decided you should have a little longer. And well... after that fight, she said you've been really weird.'

'But we fight all the time!'

Gigi paused.

'Not like that.'

Cecilia sulked.

'So, what, she wanted me to spend time with you? Is that why you're here and-'

'No! No! Liz doesn't even know I'm here! I uh... well.'

For a moment, the drive was quiet.

'Well, I didn't mean to upset you, Gigi. It was a very stressful situation we were in.'

'I-I know. But hey, everything's okay, right?'

Cecilia paused, just watching the road.

'Yeah.'

Half an hour later, Gigi and Cecilia passed the time by bantering.

'And what was with you calling me Auntie Ceci last night?'

'What, you didn't like it? I thought you-'

'It's not that I didn't like it, it was just so weird coming from you! People ship us, Gigi!'

Gigi laughed.

'I watched your Ocktober Fest stream, and how you ranted about wanting to be an aunt?'

'You watched that?' Cecilia cried, wide-eyed.

'Well no. I actually saw clips, but...' Gigi burst into laughter.

'Of course. Of course.'

'And if I may say so, darling.' Gigi readjusted her monocle. 'I dare say you could outdrink me, easily!'

'Probably.' Cecilia smirked.

The drive fell quiet again, only for a few minutes.

'Are you still mad at me?' Gigi asked, out of the blue. 'About what happened?'

'Gigi, I... I don't want to talk about it.'

'Alright.'

Soon, houses frequently emerged from the fog, whooshing past as Gigi drove. Walls of housing then flew by. In the distance, shadows of taller buildings could be seen.

'We're in Munich!' said Cecilia, happily.

'Huzzah- it's still so foggy.'

'Y-Yeah.'

Cecilia observed the streets, passing houses and pavements. A chill ran from her shoulders and down her knees. Gigi stopped for a red light, and not a soul could be seen.

Gigi parked her car in a private facility within the city centre. Many cars were present, but no echoes of an engine turning.

'Milady,' Gigi said, opening the car door for Cecilia. 'We have arrived at our destination!'

'Why, thank you! One star.'

Gigi laughed.

'Why one star!'

'I didn't even ask for you to bring me here!'

Outside, Cecilia looked out into the foggy Munich. No murmurs of distant cars, impatient drivers or emergency service sirens could be heard.

She frowned, checking her phone once more. No messages. Cecilia turned to Gigi, whom she assumed to be just behind her. But nobody was there.

'G-Gigi!' she called out.

Cecilia's voice echoed, receiving no response. She rested her head in her hands.

'What is going on?'

A traffic light flashed red, signalling for cars to stop. Cecilia leisurely crossed the road, knowing there were no cars for the lights to alert. Just a concrete savannah.

On the other side, Cecilia continued to saunter. She stopped beside a children's play area, believing she heard a playful scream. Nobody however, was playing on its apparatus, swings, houses and the like.

Cecilia noticed the funny mirrors, common in children's play areas, and decided to enter. The mirror she approached made her appear abnormally tall, but it was not herself she was inspecting. She leaned, almost kissing the mirror to examine the winding key in her head.

Despite the durable material, the winding key bore a fissure. From top, between the circular handles and trailing down until disappearing into Cecilia's head. Gigi's attempt to weld using titanium showed signs of atmospheric contamination and slight overuse of the material.

Carefully, Cecilia pressed on it with her fingers, and tried to wind herself. It felt looser than normal, but the recycling hit of energy could be felt, albeit weaker. She smiled, knowing Gigi really tried.

Suddenly numerous celebratory noises erupted from a facility across the road, catching Cecilia's attention. She straightened herself and saw the series of manic bleeps coming from an arcade.

Inside the arcade, the machines, slots, screens and flurry of lights flashed as if it were a disco.

Cecilia walked in, her attention drawn to the lone patron nailing her movements on the Dance Dance Revolution game.

The short girl appeared to be Gigi again. Her attire appeared to be a mix of city punk, and confident fashion enthusiast. Sporting a black street cap with her hair tied into a ponytail, sleeveless jacket, her usual spats, a crop top and an asymmetrical choice of socks and jewellery.

'Like what you see-C?' called Gigi, finishing her game in a dramatic pose.

She glanced back, revealing to be wearing shades and makeup. For a moment Cecilia thought the girl was Calliope Mori, until she saw that sassy grin.

Cecilia wanted to question but instead stepped onto the DDR machine neighbouring Gigi, for friendly competition. Together, they chose to the same track to dance to.

'Sure you don't wanna do something easier, Shiny?'

'Nope! Nope!' Cecilia glanced away. 'Asking me to do something easier is just going to further my humiliation of losing to you! If I go straight into something hard, I have the excuse of saying it was a hard level we did, therefore, you do not win! It was unfair-'

'Start!' roared the DDR machine.

'Oh shit-' Cecilia panicked, immediately messing up.

Gigi laughed loudly, barely hitting her first notes.

The streams of arrows descended rapidly like waterfalls. Gigi kept a decent pace, but frequently fought her chuckles seeing Cecilia in the corner of her eye struggling. At one point Cecilia stomped left so far she managed to propel herself off the dance pad and face plant the floor. Gigi meanwhile, collapsed in laughter.

'I feel I won that!' cried Cecilia, pointing up at Gigi. 'In spirit...'

Because of her metallic belle skirt, Cecilia struggled to sit up. Gigi meanwhile managed to compose herself, approach Cecilia and offered her hand.

Once Cecilia was helped up, Gigi stepped off the dance pads, despite their game still going.

'Wanna ice cream?'

On a smooth, shiny table, two ice cream sundaes reflected the amber of the setting sun, peering through the dissipating fog. Cecilia and Gigi sat facing each other at their table.

The ice cream parlour too was empty of people. Cecilia made herself a blueberry sundae, while Gigi was keen to try a black forest sundae.

Cecilia stared at Gigi, just watching her eat her sundae by the spoonful.

'You've got a lot on your mind huh, C?' Gigi eventually asked.

'What is... happening, Gigi? It's like you know what is going on.' Cecilia continued, as Gigi took another spoonful of her sundae. 'Even right now, you...' she rubbed her forehead. 'Am I dreaming?'

Gigi smiled.

'Want me to pinch you?'

Cecilia smirked, but then shook her head.

'I... already tried.' she managed to giggle, making Gigi laugh with her. 'I think all this has something to do with my winding key.'

'What do you mean this?' Gigi shook her head.

'Don't-' Cecilia slammed her hand on the table, making the sundaes jump. 'As in why are we alone of the Earth? Where is everyone? What happened to the otomos? Why is it so quiet? And why...'

Again, Cecilia stared into Gigi's rose eyes, who smiled sadly.

'Ceciii. Do you remember how you escaped?'

Cecilia paused.

'Escaped?' she asked, quietly. 'We did... didn't we?'

An image of a derelict building flashed through Cecilia's mind. She looked around the darkened alleys, and Gigi was not present. Nothing but blinding street lights and the sound of cars rushing in the distance.

Cecilia stared, contemplating as Gigi left her seat to sit next to the automaton.

'Hey.' she nudged, playfully. 'Thinking too much can ruin that pretty face of yours, you know? How's the sundae?'

'It- it's nice.'

'C'mooon. If you really think none of this is real, aren't you free of consequences? You could do anything you want! I mean, we did just make sundaes without paying!' Gigi laughed. 'For Justice, right?'

Finally, Cecilia smiled.

'Y-Yeah for Justice! I mean we do save people and bring criminals to justice, therefore we should get some sort of discount! Even if it's free.'

'Yeah, we should get paid to try sundaes.' Gigi chuckled. 'Publicity!'

Cecilia stopped paying attention and looked out the window beside her.

'Is time going quicker too? When did the sun start setting?'

Gigi gazed up at Cecilia, smiling warmly, admiring the orange gleam reflecting off the girl's face and hair.

'Hey, Ceci. Wanna try my sundae?'

For a moment, Cecilia examined the glass that was Gigi's sundae.

'Uh, you've already eaten it.'

Suddenly, Gigi raised her hand to hold Cecilia's face. She gently directed her face toward her own, giving Cecilia a moment to process what Gigi wanted in that moment. Cecilia froze, her shoulders tensed up and eyes closed, reluctantly, as she let the girl drift closer.

The final minutes of the setting sun shone brightly still, casting the shadow of the two girls in the ice cream parlour. However, the shadows of their heads joined as Gigi and Cecilia stayed silent for what felt like an hour.

A moment later Cecilia and Gigi slowly broke their kiss.

'So how is it?' Gigi blurted, at her usual volume. But Cecilia stared back, wide-eyed. 'The sundae?'

'O-Oh!' Cecilia glanced at the sundaes, fidgeting as she did. 'I wasn't paying attention.'

The girls giggled as the sun finally disappeared beyond the horizon.

An hour after her ice cream date, Cecilia boarded a train from Solln to Munich's central. She sat alone, as Gigi had disappeared yet again. No souls boarded, and the trains operated seemingly on their own. The lights however never lit, leaving Cecilia patiently waited in darkness.

She passed the Munich's central, eventually stepping off at Marienplatz station.

Cecilia half-expected Gigi to suddenly show up as a rowdy tourist, or even the train driver she failed to spot. The platform however was dead silent.

From Marienplatz, Cecilia walked north, to the same opera house she spotted Gigi during her performance. Perhaps, the jarring moment of eye contact triggered the debacle she has found herself in.

When the opera house came into view, Cecilia slowed to a stop. She noticed rusted scaffolding. Bordered up windows. Tons of graffiti, and a mossy sign on the outer walls advertising the house to let.

Cecilia shook her head, dumbfounded.

'I was here only... days ago.' she whispered.

A moment passed of her staring in thought. Until a raindrop fell onto her shoulder. Cecilia glanced up, annoyed, as the sky had clouded up again.

'Great.' she thought. 'My way out might be in there, so...'

The automaton stretched out her arm, hand open, attempting to summon her lance. Her serious expression then saddened, feeling no power coming to her.

She sighed, and followed alongside the opera house, keeping an eye out for any holes or missing boards between the windows. She tried the entrance atop the ruined stone stairs, but it was also boarded up with metal fencing and chains. Without her lance, breaking in was going to be difficult.

Defiant, Cecilia scanned around, in case she missed something. Suddenly, she jumped, noticing a cloaked individual standing beneath a black vintage umbrella, staring up at her from the bottom of the stairs.

Cecilia perked up, waving at the girl.

'Gigi, hi! Can you help?'

The girl delicately climbed the stairs. Of course, it was Gigi Murin, but her attire on closer inspection raised Cecilia's eyebrows. Gigi wore a beautiful, frilly black dress, with light coral orange frills and leggings. Her shiny, wavering brunette hair draped over her shoulders. Even her tail too had ribbons tied to it.

Cecilia smiled, awkwardly, caught by the solemn look in Gigi's round rose eyes.

'Oh god...' Cecilia thought. 'Gothic lolita Gigi?'

'Gigibelle.' she said, quietly.

'G-Gigibelle?'

Gigibelle nodded.

'Um... okay, Gigibelle.' Cecilia giggled. 'So, you know how to get in here?'

The girl in black observed the opera house's fenced off entrance.

'Does it matter?'

'Well maybe. It certainly wasn't like this days ago. I-I mean, you were here, weren't you?'

It seemed however, Gigibelle was not listening and gazing rather dreamily at Cecilia.

'Immergreen-san. Can I nom your arm?'

Cecilia paused for a solid ten seconds with her most blank, dead-eyed expression.

Gigibelle stepped closer, tilting her umbrella behind her. Her lips parted, exposing her fangs that appeared longer than usual.

Suddenly Cecilia placed her hand on the girl's head, glancing round.

'Not- not here, you weirdo!'

Minutes later, what started as drizzle became a cloudburst. Cecilia was fortunate that Gigibelle appeared with an umbrella, who escorted her to a nearby hotel.

Upon entering Cecilia reached around the desk and swiped keys for a fancier suite.

'Helloooo!' cried Cecilia, gleefully jingling her keys. 'I just took your keys and not paying for my stay! You'd better come out nooow!'

Gigibelle watched, dead-eyed.

'Hot.'

Upstairs, Cecilia flumped onto the one king-sized bed.

'What is going on?' she muttered. 'I'm so confused. Is this real or not?'

A moment later, someone climbed onto the bed behind her.

Cecilia looked over to see Gigibelle, having folded away her umbrella, hung up her classical coat and began to untie her own dress.

'Immergreen-san?' called Gigibelle. 'Want to bathe with me? You've had a long day-'

'No, I don't want to bathe!' Cecilia cried. 'I want to know what's going on! Where are my otomos, my friends and...' she rolled over, locking eyes with Gigibelle. 'You?'

Gigibelle paused, letting her dress fall, revealing her clean, pale shoulders and corset. She crawled closer, exposing her lace lingerie. Upon reaching Cecilia's face, Gigibelle straightened her back as her hands and thighs scooped up the automaton's head onto her lap. She looked down into Cecilia's eyes, stroking her hair.

'Do you remember how you escaped?'

Cecilia sighed deeply. The last moment she saw Gigi in a flooding basement, with tears in her eyes flashed in her mind.

'No...'

'And that's okay. You were scared and stressed. But I'm here now. Right? What's so wrong with enjoying yourself a little?' Gigibelle paused, expecting a response, but Cecilia remained quiet. 'Can I nom you?'

Cecilia smirked raising her arm.

'Ugh, fine! I'm very durable though, I don't know what you're expecting.'

Eagerly, Gigibelle budged over to her arm, carefully lowering Cecilia's head off her lap and onto the pillows. She embraced Cecilia's arm and rested her open mouth on her forearm. The sensation tickled Cecilia, who glanced away. As was expected, Gigibelle's fangs could pinch Cecilia's synthetic skin, but not pierce her flesh at all. Gigibelle however, continued to suckle, as though the arm was some lollipop.

At one point Cecilia's eyes darted up at Gigibelle and noticed a bead of saliva trickling down her arm.

'Aren't you done yet?'

Gigibelle's lips broke from Cecilia's arm.

'You taste like fresh bark... delicious.'

'I'm- I'm not made of wood!' Cecilia yelled.

Gigibelle loosened her grasp of Cecilia's arm and forced the automaton to lie flat across the bed.

'But I don't want your arm.'

'Huh?'

Gigibelle stared into Cecilia's eyes for a moment, and started budging backwards. She reached for the hidden mechanisms around Cecilia's waist to detach her green skirt of aluminium oxynitride.

'G-Gigi wait!' Cecilia panicked.

Gigibelle paused, leaning back with sorrowful eyes.

'Do you... not want to play with me?'

Cecilia stammered where she laid, failing to utter a single word. Her eyes shortened as her back and arms quivered from intense shock, whilst suddenly feeling so warm inside.

'It's okay, if you do not want to.' Gigibelle continued, climbing onto Cecilia's legs and shoving the metal skirt off the bed. 'Just tell me to stop, okay?'

Delicately, Gigibelle's slender fingers reached for Cecilia's white bloomers. Her fingertips tucked into the bloomers and slowly pulled downward.

'Gigi?' Cecilia uttered. 'Why are you here? I-I mean... why is it just you?'

Gigibelle's thirsty gaze met Cecilia's eyes.

'Immergreen-saaan. If you were lying to yourself, I could not be here.'

Cecilia stared back, at a loss for words. Only her nerves seemed to work as she fidgeted and shivered.

Gigibelle licked her lips as her head descended. Her long tail meanwhile, managed to reach for the bedside lamp, and flicked it off.

Cecilia suddenly woke, gasping as she did. The plain white ceiling and dim sun rays from between the curtains reminded that she rested in a hotel room. She glanced to her right, to find nobody sharing her bed.

At first, Cecilia sighed, rubbing her forehead. But as she sat up, she noticed her white bloomers, along with her metal skirt to be discarded beside her bed. Exactly where Gigibelle dropped them. Her brows winced as she thumped her head onto the pillows.

'It wasn't a dream...' she whispered.

Minutes later, Cecilia pulled up her bloomers and reattached her battle skirt. She examined herself in the tall mirror. Aside from some bedhead and the faint remnants of sweat from the previous night, she looked no different. In fact, despite eating only a sundae the previous day, she was not feeling hungry.

She swiftly checked her phone. No new messages on Discord, yet the day became Wednesday, confirming time was progressing.

Cecilia reached up to spin her winding key. It still rotated with little resistance.

She glared at the mirror.

'I have to get out of here.'

The hotel doors slid open, letting Cecilia storm out. She glanced around. No sign of Gigi, whilst the city remained dead silent.

'Everything has been... weird since I spotted Gigi at my performance.' she pondered, as she proceeded down the road. 'It's possible I'm in another world. Or dreaming, isekai'd or whatever. But the fact the opera house is now blocked off must mean my escape is inside there.'

Five minutes later, Cecilia came face to face with the opera house once again. She noticed the walls of thick fog had returned. The ring road and car park in front of the opera house was completely obscured.

Cecilia figured not to use the entrance anyway, as it was barricaded more thoroughly. She followed alongside the opera house, until she encountered a broken window with only a mossy board on the inside. It took a minute of kicking, but Cecilia force the board to fall. To fit through the upper half of the window, she detached her metal skirt again.

Inside, the automaton girl dropped into a white, but gloomy narrow corridor.

'This is... one of the fire exits.'

Knowing her way round, only a minute passed before Cecilia found an audience entrance to the enormous theatre. Despite how dark it was, she quickly spotted that many of the wooden frames of the seats were dully reflecting a light source. Gingerly, she peeked inside, to see a lone spotlight shining upon the stage.

Cecilia felt a sudden wave of chills as she noticed somebody lying face down on the stage, illuminated by the spotlight. She froze, needing a minute to process her thoughts.

Slowly but surely, Cecilia climbed onto the stage, approaching the motionless body that appeared to be herself. She observed metres away, her synthetic veins ran cold.

The Cecilia on the floor, had lost all life in her eyes. Her jaw hung open. Her special aluminium skirt appeared to have corroded. Her left arm was missing, and dust and cobwebs festered all around her.

Cecilia stepped closer, and suddenly slipped on some paper. She glanced down, noticing the paper to have a message.

To proceed, a key is required.

Her eyes darted toward Dead Cecilia, whose head was missing a winding key.

'Okay then.' she said, discarding the note.

Her sudden nerve allowed Cecilia to approached, albeit slowly and kneel just next to her doppelgänger. For a moment, she procrastinated, winding herself up, before pulling her key out.

Cecilia puzzled, noticing her winding key came out easily. She shook her head, carefully inserting the key into Dead Cecilia's head. As she gingerly began to wind the key, Cecilia suddenly felt her own heart pounding.

She stopped, budging back a little. She leaned left and then right, but Dead Cecilia remained motionless. Cecilia's brows furrowed, briefly glancing round in case something else activated, or if key meant the usual kind.

With a sigh, Cecilia reached to take her winding key back. Suddenly her arm was snatched onto by the hand of Dead Cecilia. Immediately Cecilia leaped back, managing to free her arm as she cried out in shock.

Dead Cecilia's head lifted. Her whole body sputtered and vibrated like a dying engine. She reached out her hand toward Cecilia.

'It was all my fault.' her voice croaked. 'I left her behind. And she drowned,' she then shrieked. 'Screaming my name!'

In that moment, Dead Cecilia appeared to rapidly grow in height. All the while water suddenly burst in from every viewing balcony, forming numerous black waterfalls.

Cecilia panicked, observing everything that was developing around her. By the time she turned to face Dead Cecilia again, her doppelgänger transformed.

Dead Cecilia had grown beyond fifteen feet tall, whilst retaining her eerily scrawny width. Her remaining hand grew several times its size, sprouting additional fingers in the process. Her head meanwhile took the worst of the mutation, which expanded like a hot-air balloon. Her mouth widened as she began sobbing, revealing a chasm of metal grinders, spinning tirelessly. Finally, her eyes rolled back, showing nothing but soulless holes.

Immediately Cecilia turned to run. After practically gliding across the walkway, she failed to notice that theatre had already flooded as she fell into the water. Luckily however, the force of the waterfalls propelled her through one of the seating exits as water flushed across the entire opera house.

Cecilia ploughed into one wall after another, until eventually crashing against stairs situated in the main atrium. She desperately clamoured up the stairs, looking back to see water fill up the atrium.

Her known exits were already underwater at that point, but the main entrance was barricaded from the outside.

'Window,' she thought. 'Doesn't matter how high, I can take it.'

In the distance meanwhile, she could hear her voice.

'Gigi?' sobbed Dead Cecilia. 'Gigi, please... Gigi! Where are you!'

Cecilia rushed up the stairs, and immediately spotted windows. She leapt, attempting to crash recklessly through it. But as her feet left the ground, metal bars swiftly shot across the window frames. The automaton girl obliterated the window, but bounced off the bars and crashed near the stairs.

A nerve of sheer terror struck Cecilia, for she noticed Dead Cecilia crawling into the atrium. She rolled over and hastily crawled away from the stairs. But as she clamoured onto her feet, her body suddenly felt crushed in place. She screamed, noticing she was caught within a giant misshapen hand.

'This is the worst!' Cecilia screamed.

'I miss her...' Dead Cecilia trembled, drawing Cecilia from upstairs. 'I miss her.'

Cecilia turned to face the giant, wailing incarnation of herself.

Dead Cecilia's mouth began to widen further as she raised Cecilia higher.

'No!' cried Cecilia. 'Stop! Stop!'

Nothing she said could reach her deformed doppelgänger, who dropped Cecilia into her chasm of grinders.

As though she was escaping thick bog, Cecilia's struggling cries became throat-cutting shrieks as she leaped from her bed. Sweat soaked her face, causing her undergarments to stick to her as she stared out into her hotel room. She hyperventilated, letting her conscious collect itself.

Unbeknownst to Cecilia, Gigi Murin dashed from the suite's bathroom, after letting out a scream of her own. She had quickly set her toothbrush aside, wiped her face and approached Cecilia.

'Ceci, honey?' she asked. 'You okay? What's wrong?'

Cecilia quickly examined her head. Her winding key had returned.

Finally, Cecilia turned to face Gigi, who appeared different again.

Gigi had much longer unkempt hair. She wore generic white pyjamas. Her darkened eyes appeared sorrowful. Cecilia noticed the numerous cut wounds on her arm.

As Gigi steadily reached out for Cecilia, her arm was swatted away.

'Who are you?' Cecilia demanded.

She stepped off the bed, putting a metre between herself and Gigi.

'Wh- what?' Gigi uttered, frozen in place. 'Ceci... we've been married for... years. Since we graduated together, remember?' she raised her left hand, showing her wedding ring.

Cecilia glanced down, noticing the wedding ring on her own hand. She shook her head and scrambled for her phone. It was Thursday, literally one day after her encounter with her demonic doppelgänger.

'No...' she whispered, twitching. 'No! We never got married! We never graduated!' she stormed toward Gigi, who stepped back, horrified. 'And you're not my Gigi!'

Gigi paused, shaking her head as tears rapidly filled her eyes

'Don't... don't do this, Ceciii. I need you!'

Cecilia quickly observed the hotel suite. It was gloomy, because of the curtains being stapled closed. Gaming consoles were scattered everywhere. Romantic slice of life animé posters pinned all around the walls and ceiling. Beside the bedside table, was a crudely built shelf, holding a collection of sex toys. Near the door was bag after bag of rubbish. Even the door itself had an unnecessary amount of locks installed.

'You're not convincing me. Why would I want to get married to you? Why do I not remember it, huh?'

'Because... you asked me to erase your memories of us being stuck here. We've been over this, Ceciii! It's just us now! We're together here, forever.' Gigi slowly stepped closer. 'Nothing matters any more. We can do whatever we want! Be whatever we want, whether if it is for ourselves or for each other!'

'What do you...' Cecilia reached out to hold Gigi back. 'Mean by it's just us?'

Gigi stopped trying to embrace her automaton wife, allowing her to lower her own arm.

'E-Exactly that. We're alone now. You got lonely, but I was always here for you. So... we got married. But you should remember that-'

Cecilia stormed passed Gigi, picking up her garments. She swiftly slipped into her bloomers and donned her skirt. She then fluffed and stroked her hair, trying to flatten her bedhead.

'Then do you mind if I take a walk? You know, to clear my head?'

'Ceci, honey.' Gigi followed her. 'Ceci you can talk to me! You don't want to leave me, right? Right, Ceci?'

'Then tell me what's happening!' Cecilia snapped. 'Why are we all alone? Who are you?'

Gigi paused, staring sheepishly up at Cecilia.

'Do you remember how you escaped?'

Cecilia stared, blankly. The only memory to flash her mind was of herself on her knees, bawling in an alleyway as it rained. Her teeth clenched as her eyes twitched.

'I must wake up...' she said, quietly.

Cecilia ignored Gigi and proceeded to unbolt the many lock on the suite door.

'What?' Gigi cried. 'No! No!' the gremlin girl shoved her way between Cecilia and the door, obstructing her. 'Please, Ceci! I am nothing without you-'

Suddenly Cecilia grabbed the smaller girl and gently moved her aside. She unbolted the last crudely built bolt, swung the door open and stormed out of the suite.

'No!!' Gigi screamed, trying to swipe Cecilia's hand. 'No! Don't leave me!'

Cecilia clenched her teeth harder and hastily descended the stairs. Gigi however, had fallen to her knees.

'Ceci! Ceciii!'

Gigi's distressing wails echoed as Cecilia ran down the stairs, trying to block her out. The lower she descended, the more distant the gremlin's despairing became.

Eventually, Cecilia stepped onto the ground floor by the lobby. The first thing she saw appeared to be thick fog, again, awaiting her beyond the front doors.

She took a moment to compose herself, and steadily walked toward the doors.

Suddenly, Cecilia could hear what sounded like a steam engine thundering down the stairs behind her. She glanced back to witness Gigi Murin having charged down the stairs and pounding the ground. Cecilia gasped.

Armed with a kitchen knife, Gigi glared at the automaton girl with such an extreme mix of fury, agony and despair. Tears streamed down her pink face from her darkened, bloodshot eyes. Her sharp teeth clenched behind trembling lips. But her stance degenerated into a more animalistic stance.

Suddenly she bolted for Cecilia, shrieking. The automaton girl was so overwhelmed she failed to react quick enough, as Gigi pounced onto her. They fell to the shiny stone floor, with Gigi on top, raising her knife. Cecilia had enough time to raise her own arms, which took the brunt of a knife rapidly skewering into them like card.

Cecilia screamed, failing to knock Gigi's knife away. All the while, she could hear the enraged sobbing from her attacker.

At one point, Gigi stabbed Cecilia's left shoulder, forcing her to lean right and losing her balance. Feeling the adrenaline, Cecilia managed to force Gigi off.

Due to the fanciful stone floor, Cecilia slipped a few times in scrambling to her feet. In the corner of her eye, she saw Gigi struggling too. But she ignored her and darted for the exit.

Cecilia practically jump-kicked through the heavy entrance, tumbling onto the ground as she landed.

When she looked up, her eyes widened. There was no fog. In fact, there was nothing at all. The world around had become a total white void.

Cecilia stood up, glancing back, to find the hotel had disappeared. She took a moment to examine her arms, that had numerous gashes, despite how durable her body supposedly was. She faced forward with a defiant look.

'Alright.'

She started walking. Minute after minute, nothing came into view. Nobody appeared. And all she could hear was the near silent ticking of her own cogs and gears meshing within her body. But still she walked.

An hour passed. Cecilia began to glance around more frequently, and check her winding key. Weirdly, everything seemed normal.

Suddenly, Cecilia gasped at the sound of her phone pinging from her corset pocket. She hurriedly pulled it out.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame.

Cecilia stared at her phone with a wary look. She was about to start composing a reply.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Takanashi Kiara.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Ceres Fauna.

Even before she read the messages, and who was sending them, another would show up.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Raora Panthera.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Koseki Bijou.

With each message, her breathing shortened, as though her corset gradually tightened.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Nerissa Ravencroft.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Calliope Mori.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Ouro Kronii.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Ninomae Ina'nis.

Cecilia's pupils shortened as her body began to shiver and step backward.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Kaela Kovalskia.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Gawr Gura.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Shiori Novella.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Amelia Watson.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Nanashi Mumei.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Fuwawa Abyssgard.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Irys.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Pavolia Reine.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Mococo Abyssgard.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Kureiji Ollie.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Hakos Baelz.

'Do you remember how you escaped?' said Kobo Kanaeru.

Suddenly Cecilia lost her footing, and fell forward. Her phone appeared to rapidly expand, acting as a chasm.

She gasped, struggling to grasp onto something, anything. Gravity made her plummet, as the dreaded question circled her, asked by loud overlapping voices. Cecilia grabbed hold of her head.

'Stop!' she screamed back. 'Shut up! Shut up!'

A moment later, the voices faded, but Cecilia continued to fall faster.

'Her speech just got much clearer.' spoke a voice, Cecilia recognising to be Elizabeth. 'Cecilia? Cecilia!'

Her disorientated conscious locked her in place, as Cecilia hyperventilated. Steadily, her blackened vision faded. She saw a worried Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame leaning closely.

'Cecilia?' she asked. 'Can you hear me?'

'Liz?'

Elizabeth glanced behind her.

'She's awake!' she called.

As the majestic scarlet queen pulled out a chair for her to sit beside Cecilia, a sudden wave of footsteps echoed to her right. Through the sage green curtains, Takanashi Kiara and Nerissa Ravencroft barged into the cubicle.

'Oh my god, Ceci!' cried Kiara, rushing up to the bedframe.

'Don't touch her!' ordered Elizabeth.

'I'm not going to!'

Cecilia in her daze observed her surroundings. She recognised she was in an infirmary, but took a moment for her to realise she was in Justice Headquarters. She raised her hand, which felt numb, but was able to recognise her winding key was in her head.

'Careful, Cecilia.' Elizabeth said, softly. 'Your key's fine. But we had to make new one. And well... you also damaged your head a little. From what the otomos told me.'

There was pause.

'Could- could someone wind me?'

'Yes of course!' said Kiara, as she was on Cecilia's right.

Gently, Kiara's delicate hands turned Cecilia's winding key. Its ticking was loud as normal. The slight resistance could be felt, as Kiara used both hands to spin it. Cecilia even felt the slight hit of energy coursing down to her knees. She raised her hand, telling Kiara to stop.

'I'm... actually awake now?'

In unison, her visitors nodded happily.

'For like, the past couple of minutes actually.' added Elizabeth. 'I heard you talking much clearer.'

'You were yapping even in your sleep.' said Nerissa.

The girls laughed.

Cecilia managed to smile too. But then she gasped, almost sitting up.

'Wait! Where's Gigi?'

Suddenly, all the joy in the girls faces drained. Elizabeth seemed a little perplexed as she looked over at Kiara and Nerissa. Kiara and Nerissa meanwhile paused, unable to say anything.

'How much do you... remember, Cecilia?' asked Elizabeth.

'I saw her. Like a hundred times!'

'Before you broke your winding key?'

Cecilia stared blankly.

'That... that was not all a dream, was it?'

Elizabeth shook her head.

'I don't know what you're on about, darling.'

Cecilia paused, hearing somebody inhale sharply. She looked over to see Nerissa's eyes had filled with tears.

Nerissa tried to say something, but her words were incoherent as she turned to leave. Kiara followed after her, nodding at Elizabeth with the most saddened expression.

'Cecilia, sweetheart.' Elizabeth pulled her chair closer. 'Gigi Murin has been dead for two months now. You may not remember, but... you were assisting her in pursuing some gang. People were going missing. And from what you reported, Gigi chased after these... gang members into a rundown building, with you behind her. But, those men weren't real. That building was what you called a Labyrinth.'

Cecilia's eyes widened.

'No.'

Elizabeth nodded, solemnly.

'Once you defeated it, there was no building for me, Raora or Amelia to investigate. But they found Gigi's body... lying in some flooded alleyway. She apparently drowned, as you predicted.'

Cecilia paused, unable to look Elizabeth in the eye. She sat up and to the best of her ability raised her hand and pinched her cheek. She could feel pain, but pinched harder and harder.

'Cecilia, don't.' said Elizabeth.

Cecilia inhaled as she clenched her teeth and tears steadily filled her eyes. But no matter how hard she pinched herself, she was not waking up. Deep down she knew, but not until bursting into tears did she accept that she was awake.

Despite Elizabeth's own rules on personal spacing, she could not help but embrace Cecilia in that moment. For once she too needed to fight her own tears as the automaton girl bawled on her.

Seven long days passed. Cecilia's unique body recovered so quickly she could have left the infirmary the same day she woke. But she chose to stay her first day in Justice Headquarters, collecting her thoughts. Second day, even before she left to return home, Cecilia received embrace after embrace from visiting friends, allies and even members of Advent. Similarly, when she finally arrived home, she noticed the flurry of pinned letters of condolences. Just seeing the collection made her lips tremble. Day three, the otomos were welcomed back, practically stampeding Cecilia with love. Day four, Cecilia stood out on her balcony, overlooking the Bavarian Prealps. The same day, Ceres Fauna paid Cecilia a visit with a nice long tea party. Day five, Cecilia stared into her mirror, holding her violin again, and stared and stared and stared. She felt a drive returning.

On the seventh day, Cecilia set foot onto a stage. The same stage she performed her violin solo, believing she spotted Gigi. She stopped upon reaching the centre, clutching her violin.

Cecilia stared out, blankly. No watching soul seated anywhere.

She sighed, smiling and rested her violin's frame onto her shoulder. At first, she simply jammed to a mix of violin pieces she liked to play. But at one point, she paused.

'I like to dedicated this next piece to a dear friend of mine who sadly... passed away recently.'

Still smiling, she attempted to replicate Gigi's stream opening theme. It felt fun to do at first, but the longer she played the theme the heavier her chest became. Her lips wanted to frown. But Cecilia continued to play.

'Just finish this loop.' she thought.

Suddenly her hand slipped, playing an inaccurate note. Cecilia's smile immediately turned into a frown. More and more mistakes began to pile, triggering her breathing to accelerate.

'Gi Muriiin!' cried a cheerful voice to Cecilia's right.

She gasped, glancing toward the voice. But no one was sharing the stage.

Cecilia paused for a moment, carefully resting her bow upon her violin. Her hand twitched, unable to pull the bow back and forth. Her lips trembled against her will as she suddenly fell to her knees.

The violin and bow clattered onto the wooden floor.

Cecilia rested her face in her hands, and the tears rained down.

'It was all my fault.' she sobbed. 'I left her behind. And she drowned.'

A minute later, her moment of grief was interrupted by the sound of an individual clapping in the distance. They were soon joined by more people clapping.

Cecilia gingerly raised her head. The entire seating capacity was suddenly filled, not with patrons, but over a thousand of Gigi Murin. All of whom erupted into applause, manic movements and synced cheering.

The automaton girl stood, the air escaped her, leaving a look of death in her eyes. She turned to run, but the backstage was no longer there. In its place was another hall of seats and balconies all taken by Gigi Murin. Cecilia spun round, desperate to leave, but the walkway leading off stage had also disappeared. Her stage became a wooden island, receiving deafening applause from both sides.

Cecilia covered her ears, fell to the floor and screamed her lungs out. Her winding key began to spin rapidly.

Suddenly the stage floor collapsed, leaving the automaton girl falling into a black chasm.

Deep into the void, Cecilia's falling began to slow down. Unbeknownst to her, she had fallen into a huge body of water.

Her eyes finally opened, but it was too dark to see anything. All she could hear was the slight pressure of water tingling her auditory senses. She continued to sink, unfazed by her situation. Once her back rested on ground, she laid still.

'Am I... still having a nightmare?' she pondered. 'Whatever. I just want to sleep.'

As soon as she let her eyes close, she heard a muffled crashing of water well above her. She reopened her eyes, and suddenly she could see light beyond the ceiling of rippling water. A cloud of bubbles had also appeared, and from it a blurry silhouette descended for Cecilia. All she could make out was a hand, grabbing hold of hers.

The mysterious silhouette effortlessly lifted Cecilia out of the water and into their arms.

Cecilia's eyes closed again, resting her head upon her rescuer's shoulder. She rested for an hour, yet the fatigue made it difficult for her to wake.

'Are you okay, my lady?'

Cecilia's eyes opened. A lone light shone far above, yet all around her was pitch blackness.

She sat up, her expression deadpan at first, which turned surprised to see her rescuer.

'Gonathon G?'

Carrying Cecilia in his arms, with a smile was Gigi's knightly alter ego.

'Yes, it is I!' he boasted. 'Gonathon, with a G!'

Cecilia squinted.

'How... are you here? Gigi is dead.'

Gonathon tried to point at Cecilia's chest.

'It doesn't matter how many times I die. I am always with you my lady. Anyone who needed me... it was my duty to protect them! My Pearl. The Queen. The guilds mattered not, for every beautiful woman was my friend.'

They paused, staring at each other as Cecilia rested her head again.

'I'm... in no mood for games, Gonathon. I want to wake up from this nightmare.'

Gonathon stared blankly.

'Do you not remember how you escaped, my lady?'

Cecilia sighed, angrily.

'No, I don't! I...' she grabbed at her hair. 'I just remember being outside. Knowing you died, Gigi.'

Gonathon stopped to carefully lower Cecilia onto her feet.

'Then perhaps, I shall take you through that memory? To show you the truth? It will cause me to disappear. But... for you, it is a necessary sacrifice!'

Cecilia met his eyes, with a look of plea. She reached out her hand, letting Gonathon's hand entwine with hers.

'Do not let go, okay?' he said.

'O-okay.'

Her hand held Gonathon's tightly as they walked deeper into the veils of darkness.

'Say, Gonathon?'

'Yes?'

'Why are you helping me, when every other Gigi... well, didn't?'

Cecilia could not see it, but Gonathon stopped smiling.

'You mean why did they not help you escape, my lady? Should this nightmare be yours, then... you should know. I too, share their heart for you. But... thou wishes to leave, yes?'

'Yes.' Cecilia replied, quietly.

Gonathon's smile returned.

'Then thy wish is my command, Lady Cecilia of Scarlet Wand.'

For five minutes, Cecilia had nothing to say.

'There! It appears!' cried Gonathon.

From the darkness, a dirty concrete path came into view, boxed in between soaked brick walls. The pattering of rain could be heard.

Cecilia gasped, quietly.

'I remember this. This- this alleyway was so long.'

'Looks it.'

A whole two minutes of walking passed, avoiding rubbish and sustaining damp clothing. Eventually, Cecilia and Gonathon walked into a clearing between buildings.

'It's there...' said Cecilia.

Gonathon glanced back and followed Cecilia's eyes to a derelict building to their right.

'It looked...' Cecilia shook her head. 'Like just any rundown building. How was she suppose to-'

Suddenly the soaked thumping of a frantic stampede could be heard rushing from the corridor of bricks behind them. Gonathon immediately pulled Cecilia aside.

'Go! Go! Go!' uttered a man.

From the alleyway, three men in black ragged clothing rushed out at unnatural speed. Also from the alleyway, Gigi Murin shot out attempting to tackle the man at the rear. She missed however, sending her careening across concrete and puddles.

'Ah, damn it!'

'Gigi!' cried another voice from the alleyway.

Gonathon and Cecilia watched, seemingly invisible as the three men swiftly disappeared into the rundown building. The men simply ran through the broken door, like ghosts.

The gremlin girl clamoured to her feet, bolted up the concrete stairs.

'Three guys, one rear entrance! Helloooo!!'

Gigi practically flew, smashing through the busted door and disappeared into what looked like any abandoned building. Gonathon could not help but laugh.

At that moment, another Cecilia Immergreen rushed out the alleyway, scraping her metal skirt against a wall and creating sparks as she did. She followed after Gigi into the building.

'That's how we got trapped.' Cecilia said, quietly.

'Come.' Gonathon stepped forward, pulling Cecilia's hand. 'I'm here with you.'

Inside the Labyrinth, Gigi's shrieks echoed as she and Cecilia fell floor, after floor. Cecilia giggled at first, but that soon stopped once it became clear they would need to climb out.

'Gigi, again?' Cecilia cried, angrily.

'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It's so dark!'

'It is dark. Need my hand?'

'Yes.'

An hour later, Cecilia and Gigi fell down separate trapdoors after failing a puzzle. This time landing in a basement with a two-inch flood. Their brutal impact would have killed the average mortal.

Gigi was the first to stand on her feet.

'Ceci!' she twitched in pain, and rushed over to the automaton girl. 'Are you okay?'

As Gigi extended her hand, Cecilia swatted it away.

'Why didn't you- I told you to ignore the shadow for a reason, Gigi!'

'I'm sorry! I was scared!'

Cecilia picked herself up and turned toward the stone stairs heading up.

'Just wait here! I'll find the Witch-'

'No! No!' Gigi cried, grabbing Cecilia's hand. 'Don't leave me alone here!'

Again, Cecilia pulled her hand away, glancing at the gremlin girl.

'You're holding me back, beaver! I can't keep holding your hand!' she turned, taking more steps toward the stairs. 'Just wait here!'

'Then- please, tell me how to get out of here! I'm scared to death-'

'There is no getting out of here, Gigi!' Cecilia stopped, turning to glare at the girl. 'It's a Labyrinth! We could have gotten lucky, but now, we've fallen so far that our only way out is to kill the Witch! And you can't help because... you're not just useless,' she approached Gigi. 'You're too scared to help. In fact, your brashness got you into this trap! And you ended up pulling me down with you! So, again, wait here!'

Gigi stood still, watching Cecilia.

'Ceci? I can leave if you want?'

Just as Cecilia reached the stairwell, she halted. She looked back at the gremlin girl, whose eyes could not meet hers.

'Don't tell me you're thinking of leaving Justice.' she said, pausing for an answer, but Gigi remained quiet. 'Gigi, if you're really considering it, then maybe you should. Being useless is bad, sure, but you don't fail until you quit! Are you really going to let yourself fall like this?'

'I'm fine with that!' Gigi screamed, tears streaming down her face. 'I've been a failure all my life! I can take that! I just... don't want to fail you anymore.'

Gigi squatted, scared to look Cecilia in her eyes.

Cecilia turned away and shook her head.

'I'll... be back for you, okay?' she said, stepping onto the stairs and disappearing.

Standing metres behind Gigi, watching the scene unfold were Gonathon and present Cecilia.

'I was... so mad at her.' said Cecilia, her voice slightly choked up. 'But also... myself for saying those things. I didn't know what else to do.'

'To defeat this... Labyrinth you must, my lady.' said Gonathon. 'Otherwise neither of you could have escaped, right?'

As they spoke, the memory clouded into darkness, as Past Cecilia had left.

'Yes... I recall the Witch was like some weird sludgy thing. They're always weirdly shaped.'

As though Cecilia and Gonathon had boarded an elevator, the next memory descended upon them. An emerald light gleamed catching their attention.

Cecilia in the memory engaged the Witch in its lair.

The Witch appeared to be a ball as black as tar, leaking thick sludge as it moved. The topside of the ball appeared complex and wrinkly, like a brain. Beneath the ball however, it appeared to have a giant mouth, which vomited the black fluid.

For a moment Gonathon rushed forward, wanting to help. He leapt and threw a fist at the Witch, but simply flew through it and tumbled onto the cobblestone floor.

'Gonathon! It's- it's just a memory.'

'I-I know! Just couldn't help myself.'

The memory slowed momentarily as Cecilia stepped closer and squinted the Witch.

'I don't remember it having a mouth.'

Suddenly, she glanced to her left, witnessing her past self whoosh passed, lance in hand.

Past Cecilia held her lance back, letting it store power as she evaded every boulder of sludge thrown at her, as if dancing. Eventually her lance gleamed, ready for its use. She then leaped forward, needing to roll forward to evade one last attack before pointing her lance inches from the Witch.

Three green beams of light suddenly pierced through the Witch, continuing to burn divots into the stone ceiling. Immediately the Witch fell onto its teeth, forcing Cecilia to leap back. The Witch could be heard groaning as the brain half of it began to inflate. Sludge, blood and water then burst from it. Cecilia tried to jump, but was immediately catapult into the wall behind her.

As the Witch writhed, fighting to stay alive, Cecilia managed to use the wall to propel herself onto an upper level of the room. She tumbled, dropping her lance. But her attention was caught by the nearby doorway suddenly sealing itself with thick metal bars.

Seeing the bars, she gasped.

Cecilia clambered onto her feet, looked over the makeshift banister. On the floor below, she saw Gigi trapped behind similar bars on the rapidly flooding floor below. Their eyes met, only for a second, yet it felt forever.

Suddenly a wave of black, purple and red fluid shot into Cecilia, forcing her against the ceiling. When the water fell, she discovered the Witch itself was pressing into her.

'Gigi-' Cecilia grunted. 'Gigi, just hold your breath! Please! Just hold your-'

By that point, Cecilia was forced through the stone ceiling.

All around present Cecilia and Gonathon, the Labyrinth's walls wavered until fading from existence. They saw past Cecilia lying unconscious.

Moments later, Cecilia woke up, finding herself in the same dirty city back alley. She glanced around.

'Gigi!' she called. 'Gigi, please... Gigi! Where are you!'

Cecilia cupped her mouth, still glancing around, only a little slower. She soon fell to her knees, suddenly feeling so cold. For minutes, she stared blankly at the floor.

As before, Gonathon holding hands with present Cecilia watched the scene unfold.

'That's why I don't remember.' Cecilia spoke. 'The Witch knocked me out, and the Labyrinth must have faded after it died.' her lips trembled. 'Gigi's body was discovered not long after this.'

Gonathon smiled, sadly.

'My lady. It would seem you've been fooled.' he let go of Cecilia's hand and stepped closer to the weeping Cecilia. 'This memory is fake.'

Two bright amber lights gleamed over his hands and forearms. In their place, his enormous gauntlets appeared. Gonathon then lifted both hands and struck the concrete floor, causing the world around them to shatter like glass. Immediately, both Gonathon and Cecilia started falling.

Quite suddenly, Cecilia's fall slowed to a stop. Her head locked in place, like something had grabbed her. Her eyes looked up, and shortened seeing the Witch's giant row of teeth that had clamped onto her winding key. For a moment, Cecilia struggled, trying to force the Witch off. She pushed so hard her forearms and elbows whirred in stress. At the same time, fissures started to appear on the Witch's teeth.

The void echoed an ear-splitting snap. Her winding key sheered from her head. The damage appeared so deep, half of Cecilia's face tore off with it. Her falling then resumed.

'Ceciii!' screamed Gigi Murin, from far above.

Cecilia gasped one more time, spotting Gigi far above crying out for her. As she fell, her world turned black once more.

'Wait...' Cecilia uttered, examining her broken face and missing winding key. 'Am I still in the Labyrinth?'

'That's what happened, my lady.' said Gonathon, letting Cecilia slowly sink into his arms. 'It was you who could not escape.'

Cecilia's one remaining brow twitched.

'Have- have I been stuck here this whole time?'

'Yes.' Gonathon laughed.

'What the hell! Stupid Witch! No, stupid Gigis for just not giving it to me straight!'

Gonathon lowered his arms, allowing Cecilia to stand on her feet.

'Well, now that you know, my lady.' he stood and reached for a weapon held by his white cape. Gonathon pulled out Cecilia's lance and held it, as though offering a wedding ring. 'Will you do me the honour and slay this monster with me?'

Cecilia giggled.

'You're so weird, Gonathon.' she replied, gently claiming her lance. 'Of course I will.'

They smiled at each other before glancing up at the Witch that appeared frozen in the void.

'After three, okay?' said Cecilia, raising her lance.

'Yes, my lady!' cried Gonathon, pounding his gauntlets into each other.

Cecilia counted down and together cried out.

'Revelation!'

Three green twirling beams fired from Cecilia's lance, followed swiftly behind by Gonathon as he rocketed toward the Witch. In a second, the Witch contracted into itself before exploding.

Cecilia averted her gaze, blinded by such intense light.

'Thank you, Gonathon.' she thought, smiling.

The peaceful clinging of a kalimba rung in Cecilia's ears.

She gasped, opening her eyes. The familiar ceiling panels and sage green curtains indicated she woke up in the infirmary at Justice Headquarters. Darkness settled beyond the curtains, while a lone bedside lamp dimly lit a corner of the cubicle.

'Good evening, Ceci.' whispered Ceres Fauna, smiling. 'Welcome back.'

'Fauna?' Cecilia uttered, leaning to her right. 'Where's Gigi?'

'Shh...' Fauna placed a finger over her mouth and nodded to Cecilia's left. 'She hasn't been sleeping well since you were checked in.'

Cecilia rolled left, seeing only a weirdly placed sofa with somebody fast asleep under a hospital blanket.

'Try not to move so much.' Fauna whispered, leaning forward holding a hand mirror.

In the mirror, Gigi slept peacefully cuddling Popo and three otomos.

Cecilia smiled, wanting to cry.

'I am awake this time, right?'

Fauna tilted her head.

'Ooh... did you have one of those dreams? Don't worry. You're safe now.'

'And what happened with the Labyrinth?'

At that moment, Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame peeked through the curtains.

'Oh my god!' she said, quietly, cupping her mouth. 'Cecilia...'

'I'll make you some tea, okay?' whispered Fauna, standing from her visitor's chair.

Fauna proceeded to leave, encouraging Elizabeth to let Gigi sleep.

An hour later, and Cecilia's robust automaton body recovered enough to sit on the edge of her bed. She used Fauna's hand mirror to examine her winding key as well as her face.

'You can thank Kronii for retrieving the blueprints to rebuild your beautiful face.' said Elizabeth, softly. 'She travelled back to meet your creators personally.'

Cecilia smiled.

'But you guys rebuilt me, right?'

'Well, yeah.'

'Then why can't I thank you too?'

Elizabeth smile widened.

'It's good to have you back, Cecilia Immergreen. For her sake too.'

Cecilia looked back at the still sleeping gremlin.

'How long has she been at my side?'

'She's been coming and going... but, once she brought that bloody sofa, she wouldn't leave!' Elizabeth chuckled.

'But... we have our own rooms here.'

'I guess she just wanted to be here when you woke up.'

Cecilia watched Gigi longer, noticing a Cecilia Immergreen plushie sharing her blanket.

'Am I okay to try walking?' Cecilia whispered.

'If you can, go for it.'

Elizabeth stood, offering her hand.

Step by step, Cecilia recovery proved to be rapid as she walked her way to the ward's perennial-festered veranda. Despite how dark the ward was without its lighting, the half-moon shone bright enough to cast shadows. She gazed out into the night sky, awash with stars and sea of clouds below Justice Headquarters.

Cecilia stepped outside, feeling the freezing cold breeze and taking in the fact she was finally awake. The cold however, and lack of clothing made her shiver. She spun round and gasped to see Gigi Murin, standing between the door frame.

'Gigi! Don't creep up me like that.'

The air fell silent as the two girls paused. Eventually though, Cecilia smiled and opened her arms.

Gigi tried to hide her teary eyes. But then rushed into Cecilia and embraced her.

'Ceciii!' she cried.

Her momentum forced Cecilia tumbling onto her bottom.

'Oh Gigi,' said Cecilia, stroking the bawling gremlin's hair. 'I'm so sorry for what I said.'

'Nooo...' Gigi mumbled through sobs. 'I'm sorry for being so weak. It's my fault you ended up in a coma.'

'Yes, it is. But... don't ever let me leave you alone like that again. And if you haven't made your mind up. Please don't leave Justice.'

Gigi finally loosened her suffocating grasp on Cecilia to look her in the eyes. Moonlight reflected in her big, rose eyes and tears.

'But... I thought you said I was useless? And... and-'

Suddenly, Cecilia placed a finger over Gigi's lips.

'I had a really bad dream, Gigi. I thought you were dead, but you kept appearing as... different people.' she stroked Gigi's cheek. 'I quite like my useless beaver, if I'm honest. You're actually kinda cute.'