Amidst that silence, he emerged from nothingness, planting fear of the unknown in their small hearts, making their very beings tremble more than before. That tattered black cloak, veiling that body, and the pale wooden bow. They remembered that feeling. A feeling like no other, creeping into their bodies, making the echo of their hearts pound as if about to explode, keeping pace with the footsteps.

"Your places... do not move." The archer said, his voice suggesting coldness, yet it was akin to that of a teenage boy, taller than the children.

The archer advanced towards them, circling them, scrutinizing.

"End… Do you think… what is he planning?" Rêve whispered in fear.

"I think he's the Guardian." End replied.

"The Guardian...?" Moan whimpered.

"One of the escapees told me... that there is a guardian of the shelter... protecting it... from any danger."

"But... why did he attack us?" Lost asked, bewildered.

"The only problem... is that he might eliminate us... at any moment... (End paused for a moment, until the Guardian moved away from him)... If we show him a wrong move... that's what she told me... 'The problem... is if he senses anything strange in us... and the worst... is that all this... applies to any of us...'" End explained.

"Wrong move... like what?" Moan questioned.

****

The Guardian retreated backward, lowering his bow until all the arrows disappeared, saying, "Enter."

At that moment, everyone felt relieved and continued walking. Suddenly, the Guardian stopped Zero, tapping her shoulder, startling everyone who turned towards them.

'Damn it...' End cursed inwardly.

"What is the matter... Guardian?" Zero asked calmly.

"Except for you... oh, owner of the necklace." And quickly, the Guardian raised his bow, aiming his arrows at Zero, retreating backward. Zero leaped forward, deflecting all the arrows with her staff.

Zero gripped the lower part of her staff, striking the Guardian with it. He recoiled backward quickly to evade the blow.

The Guardian raised his head towards Zero, only to find the ground Zero had struck had turned to ash.

Zero raised the staff, a cold smile on her face, "Unfortunately... I couldn't hit you -.. Ah." Suddenly, Zero felt a headache, raising her head to find a volley of arrows coming towards her. Zero evaded them with her agile movements, catching one, holding it before it could pierce her eye, confusion evident on her face.

Zero raised her head, finding the Guardian about to strike her with his ethereal sword. Zero parried his blow with her staff.

"Wait... hold on... you misunderstood." Zero said, stepping back.

"I'm not who you think... hold on." Zero tried to explain, but the Guardian continued his attacks, making Zero realize he intended only to eliminate her.

The Guardian raised his bow, aiming at Zero. She evaded them, until one of the arrows struck her right leg, causing her to fall to the ground.

'This is not the time to fall... stand up... come on... why... can't I?' Zero thought, weary and struggling. She looked down to find her leg had disappeared.

Shock struck Zero's heart. She turned towards the Guardian as he advanced towards her.

Zero retreated backward, cold sweat beginning to bead on her brow, suddenly feeling a strange sensation. She could no longer feel her limbs.

The Guardian approached her, fear seizing her heart more than ever.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Hold on... you're mistaken... I'm not who you think," Zero tried to defend herself, but the Guardian did not respond, aiming his arrow at Zero, saying, "I have no choice... but to eliminate you."

At that moment, Moan screamed loudly, shaking the place, affecting the Guardian. Zero turned towards the children, finding a set of Lost's ropes had seized her, Lost pulling her away.

******

Everyone in the shelter heard this scream, rushing to the windows to see what was happening outside, until a teenage girl cast a glance outside.

"... What exactly is happening...? ... Is Geist unable to do his job? ... Hold on... only children... ... (Moment of realization)... Wait a minute... is that...? ... Damn it." The girl said, leaving the place.

*******

Rêve formed a group of dolls with her smoke, trying to buy time.

"What exactly happened?" Rêve asked.

"Zero... what did you do to get stopped?" End questioned.

"I don't know what happened exactly?... I didn't even know this person had attacked me," Zero replied.

'This is bad... at this rate... our cover will be blown,' End thought to himself worriedly.

****

The Guardian managed to eliminate all the dolls, turning towards the children, 'This strike... is the final strike.'

At that moment, End's pupils constricted as he yelled, "Hold on... don't do it—"

The Guardian aimed all his arrows at the children, until suddenly a strong light shone, causing all those arrows to evaporate. The light vanished, and the children found Zero standing on her feet with difficulty, clutching her necklace, exhaustion evident on her.

"Zero." End called out.

"Are you alright?" Rêve and Moan asked worriedly.

"Why... why didn't you enter?... I'll get you into... more trouble... like this." At that moment, Zero couldn't bear it, falling to the ground unconscious.

The children rushed towards her, trying to wake her up, but unfortunately, she had lost consciousness, and a large part of her limbs had disappeared.

The Guardian advanced towards them, aiming his arrows at them. The children froze in their places in sheer fear, creeping into their hopeless hearts, realizing they had failed to reach their final haven.

"This is... truly unfortunate..."

******

"Geist… stop." At that moment, the Guardian stopped, turning towards the source of the voice. The children turned to find a teenage girl, wearing tattered winter clothes, with brownish-blonde hair, and a somewhat pale complexion.

"Hold on... isn't that?" End wondered.

******

"Don't interfere with my work... go back inside." Geist commanded.

"Geist... they are escapees... from the Opera House... (Turning to End angrily)... You should have adhered to the instructions... don't tell me you've forgotten them." Sunny said tiredly, heading towards the Guardian.

"... Ah... I haven't forgotten them." End replied in surprise.

"End... who is this girl?" Rêve asked worriedly.

"Yes... she is one of the escapees... she was responsible for the lighting a while ago... Sunny."

"No need to introduce me that way," Sunny retorted.

********

"I know I interfered with your work... but... these are my friends... and I'm sure... they are not as you think... they haven't become part of the ruin."

"And what is your explanation for this girl?" Geist asked, pointing to Zero.

"Huh... which girl... step aside." Sunny said, turning to the children.

The children stepped aside, revealing Zero lying on the ground.

"Huh... who is this?" Sunny asked in confusion.

"This girl... inside her is something... that does not bode well... and therefore... she must be eliminated," Geist said, aiming his arrow at Zero. Moan stood in front of Zero protectively, saying, "You're wrong... Zero is not evil."

"Yes... she never hurt us," Rêve defended.

"Rather, she protected us... and helped us reach the shelter," Lost added.

"Friends... stop it," End urged.

******

"Step aside," the Guardian insisted.

"Hold on," Sunny said, whispering something to him.

"(Turning to End)... End... come on... tell him," Sunny urged.

"Huh... what do you mean?" End asked, bewildered.

"You know... (pointing towards Zero)," Sunny prompted.

"Huh... in truth..." End said nervously.

"Don't stammer now, you brute," Lost snapped.

"Tell him the truth," Rêve added.

End grew more nervous at that moment, until he mustered his courage, "Zero..."

Silence prevailed at that moment, as if End was hesitant in his answer. Zero's fate was in his hands. He finally spoke, saying, "... Although I... (swallowing)... am still skeptical of her... but (a moment of silence and anxiety... gripped the children)... she hasn't shown... any intention... to kill us."

At that moment, worry and fear vanished from the children's hearts.

******

The children headed towards the entrance, when Sunny yelled to the children in the shelter, "Return to your rooms."

Geist picked up Zero, carrying her inside, followed by Sunny, carrying that girl's staff.

"Should you have taken this staff?" Geist asked.

"I'll keep it with me... until the girl takes it," Sunny replied. "Sorry... but... I had to intervene."

"He was worried... Sunny," Geist said in a low voice.

"I don't deny my mistake... but I trust End... but... that doesn't negate what I felt, Geist."

"Talk to the Leader... if he agrees," Geist suggested.

"If she allows me to enter," Sunny said, disappointed.

"Well... ask—"

"Impossible... I won't ask that girl for anything... after what she did to those who were with me," Sunny refused.

"Try... at least... so we don't get into trouble."

"Hah... fine... before that... take this girl to the clinic... Mirage will take care of her."

"I hope you're not mistaken this time, at least."

".. Don't worry... if anything happens... I'll take responsibility... 'I hope End... isn't mistaken...'" Sunny thought worriedly.

Despite all that had happened to the children, they had reached their goal. As for Zero, this was only her first stop.