[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/NU5zooQ.png[/img][/center]

[color=#ffb6c1][b]"U-um... Thank you..."[/b][/color] Priscilla accepted the babyfaced youth's kind gesture. As she took a small mouthful of the beverage, it gave her much to think about. [i]That thing most certainly tricked her. And now they're in this strange, alien landscape. Her eyes didn't deceive her on this reality. This is happening, whether she liked it or not.[/i] But their odd way of coping up with this abnormal and illogical situation had dawned on her, the piney citrus flavor enveloping her taste buds. [color=ffb6c1][i]"Staying positive, huh...? What is even wrong with me? That's supposed to be my specialty..."[/i][/color]

[color=#ffb6c1][b]"That's right. If you don't know the way out, you just gotta look for it, right?"[/b][/color] Her insipid smile from before had finally reverted back to its usual form, an ebullient grin. She reverted back to sitting down three seconds after she stood, her legs not giving her as much energy as her smile did. [color=#ffb6c1][b]"I am a bit bushed, though... So I guess--"[/b][/color] It was then that the blonde delinquent, Alistair Archibald, had taken the initiative to move out of the forsaken hall. [color=ffb6c1][b]"Um... Please be careful!"[/b][/color], she called out. He probably didn't hear her, as he took off without saying a word. [color=ffb6c1][i]"Then again, looking at his stature, he'll probably be alright."[/i][/color]

[hr]

It had been ten minutes since then. The others were still deliberating about their respective strategies, while Priscilla tried her phone. [i]No connection. [color=ffb6c1]"Figures, should have known that it wouldn't be that easy..."[/color][/i] With a sigh, the girl returned the phone back to her shoulder-bag alongside her notes and other accessories that were most certainly useless in this predicament. [color=ffb6c1][b]"Well, I'm not as wobbly as I was a while ago, I think we should--"[/b][/color]

Then they heard it. [i]Footsteps. Lots of them, rushing all at once.[/i] [color=ffb6c1][b]"!!!"[/b][/color] She wasn't even given the opportunity to react properly, and they were already surrounded; a bolt from the blue. [i]Tall armored men of white-and-gold, sword-and-buckler, more than thrice their number.[/i] [color=ffb6c1][b]"U-um... W-what's going on...?"[/b][/color] Whoever they were, their initial actions alone proved that they didn't come to greet and welcome them with open arms. And it didn't take some fantasy-lover to figure that out.

And then their big boss showed up. Or rather, the small boss, as he was smaller in comparison to his subordinates. But that didn't take away from this particular standout's terrifying mien. [color=ffb6c1][b]"W-wha..."[/b][/color] His intention, accompanied by his voice, made his bone-chilling terror more apparent, and on a scale greater than that enigmatic figure she met half-an-hour ago. [color=ffb6c1][b]"C-c-cu..."[/b][/color], she stuttered. [color=ffb6c1][b]"D-d... death..?!"[/b][/color] It was the first time that she had encountered the word from a direct perspective. It really is difficult for a 17-year-old millennial to form words when she's flat out threatened with [i]death.[/i] All that hope she had garnered, trampled on once more like it was nothing but ash.

About to tear up, she saw the calm, androgynous male step up, as if to explain their current state of affairs and defend them. But...

[color=silver][i]"I don't know what they would have done to me if you hadn't shown up."[/i][/color]

From his vague elucidation, it was already apparent. [i]Betrayal.[/i] He was selling them out to save his own hide. [color=ffb6c1][b]"..."[/b][/color] It hasn't even been an hour, sure enough in his defense. But to think he was this willing to betray them this early as he sees fit, it was unbelievable for her. Their [i]"comrade"[/i] now taken away and out of sight, the harrowing atmosphere in that decrepit hall became even more intense. [color=ffb6c1][b]"I..."[/b][/color] She wanted to say something. Anything. But the lingering fear was overwhelming. [i]What can someone like her do in this situation?[/i]

[center][b]Before she even realized it, Priscilla was bawling, tears pouring out of her orbs uncontrollably.[/b][/center]