Memories or…visions of the future…they flowed into the minds of the group of girls.
Hime watched as the giant version of the monster was in a room with herself, Dino, Danni, Kiki, Jenny, Francis and Chero. The monster was facing Chero.
“What on earth?!” Hime questioned as she watched.
“RUN CHERO!” Kiki cried.
“Move! Please go!” Francis called.
“I…can’t…If I move…Jenny will…” Chero said.
“That’s the enemy that Chero fought alone earlier…But everyone is seriously
injured. Why am I just standing here and watching?!”
“This is horrible! Even with so many of us together! We still can’t defeat Steve?!” Jenny cried.
“Jenny?!” Hime questioned.
“Hime?! You’re here?! Watching the false memory with me?” Jenny questioned.
“It looks like it. We have to help Chero!”
“We can’t. We’re intangible! We are only here to observe…” Jenny sighed.
“Shit! My leg is broken!” Danni cried, “Move! DAMMIT MOVE!”
“Chero!” Dino shouted.
The monster moved closer to Chero. It attacked and Chero attacked back. A blast hitting it on the head.
“Heh…It’s weakness…it’s forehead….” She said, “Too bad! I win again…”
Chero looked around the room at her friends.
“Francis….Your injuries…are you ok? Hime is breathing…Good…Thank God…Jenny you can still move a little…right?” she said.
Jenny closed her eyes and thought to herself, “STOP! Oh God…This time it’s Chero? Please stop…Not again!!”
Chero fell over, her wounds bleeding.
“I…did…it…I…saved everyone! I made no mistakes…” she said weakly.
“Chero!” Hime cried.
“Your injuries…look serious….But you are alive, so you will heal…Thank God! Thank God my ruse worked…” Chero said, “Guys…you may not know it….but…this is actually the second time we have come here…The first time…I was not useful at all…I could finally get you back! Thank God!....But I am sorry…now it’s my turn to fall…”
“You’ve got to be kidding! The second time? That makes no sense!” Dino cried.
“I went back in time you see…I managed to get out of here. But…I was the only one….who…got out…*cough* I did not…want that…I had to get you all out…”
“You IDIOT! You didn’t have to get us out! You had to get out WITH us!” Kiki cried.
“C-chero?” Dino questioned.
Dino hurried over to Chero.
“Quickly! Who can move? We need to carry Chero somewhere safe! What about Dante and Mocha?! Where are they?!” Jenny cried.
“Make a safe place where we can rest! It can be anywhere! I’ll look after her! A really safe place! Someone!!” Danni cried.
“I can hear their voices…I was so alone back then…But now…they are alive…I’m so happy…but…” Chero thought.
“Heey…Dino?” Chero asked.
“Hold on, Chero! I…I know! I’ll make a place for you. The best place for you to rest at ease!” Dino said.
“Really? Heheheh….Can you make it with lots of beds…were everyone can rest?....And then I’ll rest peacefully…between you….and….Hime….”
“Si…Si Amore…”
Dino held her hand and squeezed it.
“And a biiiig table…so we can eat together…I want a place where we can all cook…”
“Yes…definitely…”
“Di…no…?”
“Yes…Chero?”
“I…I…don’t want to die…here….I wanted to escape with all of you…I…love….”
Chero smiled and her hand went limp.
“Chero? Chero...Chero!! CHERO!!!” Dino cried.
“No!” Kiki sobbed.
“Crap…Hime…Take the other outside! Papa is out of control!” Danni said.
“Chero! Amore! Please stop messing around! Your eyes are open!!! Chero!! PLEASE!” Dino sobbed.
“Papa is-” Jenny started.
Danni held Dino back, away from Chero’s body.
“DINO! CALM DOWN! Francis! Come over and help me!” Danni cried.
Francis hurried over and helped Danni hold Dino back.
“Miss Chero is…No…it’s impossible…wait…why?” Francis questioned as he helped Danni.
“Calm down Dino!” Danni said, as Dino pulled against her and Francis.
Kiki placed a hand on Hime’s shoulder. Hime stared at Chero’s body numb. Tears,
streamed down her face.
“Hime, let’s leave. You injuries are the worst. We need to- Hime?”
Hime wiped at her eyes, “I’m sorry….It…it’s been so long since I have lost anyone so important to me…I don’t know how to react,,.Chero…Cherbear….Che….”
Hime started sobbing.
“I feel sad…But so angry….and hopeless…and…empty….I don’t know how I should feel. But I can’t stop crying!” Hime sobbed.
“Hime…let’s leave…Besides…it will only make things worse if Dino sees you like this…” Jenny said, offering a hand to Hime.
“Yes…you’re right…”
Kiki and Jenny helped Hime up and helped her get out of the room.
Hime slid to the floor.
“Are you ok? If not…You can lean on my shoulder…” Jenny said.
“I…I’m fine…What about you Jenny? You’ve clenched your hand very tightly…it’s bleeding…” Hime said.
“This is why I didn’t want to break the clock. I can’t do anything to help here. What the hell…someone always…always…”
“You’re kidding…Chero…she can’t be!” Mocha sobbed.
“Those voices coming from the room…Is that Dino and Danni? We better no go in there for now…They were very close to her…” Dante said, though he wanted to go in there and comfort Danni.
“If only we had gotten here sooner…” Mocha sighed.
“No…It’s my fault for splitting us up,” Jenny said.
“How are you holding up, Hime?” Mocha asked.
Hime closed her eyes, “I…I don’t know…”
“She was like a sister to you…we would understand if you want to go back in,” Kiki said.
“I…I will stay here…I want to be alone with Chero…and for now it’s Dino’s turn to mourn.”
“That…what’s that book in your hand, Mocha?” Jenny asked.
“This? I found it in the library…Actually…it seems to be a journal,” Mocha said, showing it off.
“Jenny! That book! Do you think that’s the journal the past Kiki spoke about?”
“That’s the book Chero was using, isn’t it? I thought it was a Bible, though…Is that it?”
“Yeah…And there is something…strange about it,” Dante said taking the book and opening it for everyone to see, “It’s on the first page…Here! Look at the name here…”
“Chero….Letizia….Caffarelli…Aoyama…” Kiki said, “That does not mean it’s the name of the journal’s owner…It looks more like a contract page to me…It says…”
Hime blinked in surprise, Jenny faded away. She was right there and now she was gone.
“Jenny?!”
I feel like I am going to be pulled back. NO! I have to stay just a bit longer. Even if only for a few seconds!
Everything faded away, leaving Hime alone.
“Hime, Jenny!” Kiki said, as the pair wobbled.
Hime caught herself, the dizzy feeling fading.
“We’re back…? Oh. If only we could have stayed a little longer…” Jenny whined.
“Just sit down for a minute, you two. You both look very pale!” Mocha lectured.
“…It was…actually the second world…” Hime said, numbly.
“Hm? What’s the matter?” Kiki asked.
“Those things we saw…we’re not hypothetical…but the past experiences…or…the future? Wait. Then what number is this world? How many times have we lost our
friends?” Jenny cried, clutching her head.
“What number? …What? We?” Mocha questioned.
“You mean…How many times have we come here?” Kiki asked.
“Ugh…” Hime said.
“Hey! Are you two alright? Just what did you see?” Kiki asked, “Can you go back once more?”
“Can you do it for me?” Jenny groaned, “I don’t feel so good either…”
“I’m sorry…Even though I know Chero is alright…I want to see her as soon as possible…” Hime said.
“You look unsteady…Here…Use my shoulder…” Mocha said, helping Hime balance.
“…I’ve only seen a few pasts…and yet I feel like I am being torn apart…If I don’t tell them, I won’t be able to stand it! I can’t keep this bottle up or else I’ll go insane…” Hime thought, “It’s too painful…”
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END CHAPTER....*runs*
