“Why did you do it?”

She asked that question many times, staring at the man who she was to marry. But he offers no answer, turning away with only silence. Suddenly, she felt lost and alone. Her own heart frozen over in the cold world that was once beautiful.

And so the world of blue she once loved turned red.

----

A somber silence hung over Alphard and his companion. The white tiger stared at his drink, not once touching it.

“…Where did you get that human?”

The question perked Alphard’s pointed ears. “The same as how everyone got theirs.”

The white tiger scoffed, “Not even the ones that the human government voluntarily hand over bear such complexity. Was she from some high-security prison? Or a prisoner of war?”

“None of that,” Alphard chuckled, resting his cheek against his knuckles. “She was merely an average human. Locked away in that tiny cell. Like a little bird who had lost her ability to sing.”

“Well that little bird better be prepared. This is Stinger’s most cruel pet we are talking about.” The white tiger glanced back at the moth monster in the screen. “The last time he participated in this game, he killed two males on the spot and tricked the remaining two females into disgusting deaths. Their owners never dared to bring any more merchandise over since then.”

“Well Stinger did state before that Mizuki hated males-” Alphard finished the rest of his drink. “-especially the good-looking ones. They don’t usually last long.”

“Regardless, those humans better come up with something quick,” the white tiger remarked forebodingly. “Before that moth’s patience runs out.”

----

The night had gone by in silence. Since what happened during dinner, none of the women had heard from Naomi after being escorted to their rooms. Tomoko and Megumi had been quite shaken. The latter growing worried over Naomi’s absence and what Mizuki had in store for them.

“Has anyone of you noticed how the strange lights are here?”

Aoi and Tomoko’s heads perked at Megumi’s sudden observation. Though it was hard to tell the time, the lights in the residence appear to simulate that of daytime and nightime throughout each day. Following through the routine set by Mizuki, himself.

“Moths are nocturnal creatures,” Aoi answered, taking a sip of her green tea. “It’s probably to stimulate the daytime when he can sleep.”

Before leaving each of them, Mizuki informed the women that they were allowed to take off their blindfolds after he retires to his room. A moment of respite for them since he would be unable to attend to their needs during that period.

“That means he’ll come to harrass us every night?” Megumi groaned at the dining table, greatly annoyed. “What a creep. Right, Tomoko?”

“Eh? E-Erm, yeah…” Tomoko stammered nervously.

The three women had bonded a little over the experience. Aoi remembering how Megumi thanked her first thing in the morning and helping Tomoko with breakfast with a much more cheerful smile.

“Hey now, no need to be scared! We women have to stick together to survive this mess,” Megumi grinned. “Here, have an egg roll.”

A small smile made it’s way to Tomoko’s lips at the delicious offering. To Aoi, she and Megumi were almost like a pair of sisters – the older one looking out for the little one to survive a cruel world.

But there was no time for attachments.

Aoi looked around the much brighter hallway. The residence was not entirely large, but not too small either. Aside from the rooms to house the five residents, bathrooms and dining area, there were two doors that were locked. If she could unlock them, she might learn more of the captor keeping her and the women here.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

No keys around… No traps or cameras either.

She glanced to the small device fixed to the ceiling.

Except for the ones for broadcasting.

Either Mizuki had nothing to hide or that he was confident that no one would dare to uncover his weaknesses. Let alone escape.

As Aoi returned to the corridor of bedrooms, she noticed Tomoko outside Naomi’s room. Her hands carried a tray of food. A trouble expression rested upon her face.

“What are you doing?”

Tomoko almost jumped at Aoi’s question. Her shoulders sunk in relief upon spotting her. “A-Ah, Aoi-san.”

Her large, round eyes fell upon the tray of food, then back to the door.

“N-Naomi did not show up for breakfast, so Megumi and I thought to at least bring her food over,” Tomoko explained. “I tried calling her, but she did not respond.”

Filled with suspicion, Aoi turned to open the door before Tomoko could stop her. Silence immediately filling them at the sight of an empty room.

“E-Eh? S-She’s not here?” Tomoko flustered.

Without hesitation, Aoi stepped into Naomi’s room. Her eyes darted around before coming to rest on the floor. Upon closer inspection, small specks of powder were found scattered across one of the tatami mats.

----

Down in a narrow passageway, Megumi tugged at a locked door.

“Eh? Seriously?” She muttered.

Testing the handle again, she noticed a small lock below the handle. For a moment, she wondered if this was the residence’s exit. Confirming that no one was around, she sneakily pulled out one of her hairpins, carefully inserting one end into the keyhole.

“Come on, come on.”

Suddenly, a noise came from behind the door. Megumi froze. A lump went down her throat as she carefully pressed her ear against the door.

“Me-gu-mi-chan.”

She stiffened at the familiar voice, slowly turning around to only freeze in fear.

Right at the end of the corridor was Mizuki standing with his head cocked to the side. His usually large eyes narrowed into half-lidded slits. Wings mimicking a pale robe around his moth-like body.

“E-Eh… Ah…” Megumi could not even form coherent words. Fear paralysing her body at the monstrous moth sauntering towards her eerily.

“What do you think you are doing?” He asked in a sinisterly polite voice. His pale moth-like head tilted to the other side. “Were you trying to break into my study?”

Her mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Mizuki chuckling menancingly with his eyes closed with mock delight.

“That’s not good, Megumi-chan. You should respect other people’s privacy,” he said light-heartedly.

The rhythm of her heart drummed loudly in her ears.

“Ah… and you had to do it while I was half-awake…” Mizuki rubbed his eyes with a tired sigh. “It seems I’ll have to punish you too for that.”

A clawed hand slipped out from under his wings, stretching out to grasp at Megumi’s horrified face.

“Megumi!”

She snapped out of her daze at the calling of her name. Mizuki paused, turning to see Aoi walking towards them.

“Found you at last. Tomoko was looking for you,” she said.

“Aoi-chan.”

“I’m sorry, Mizuki. Naomi did not show up for breakfast, so I asked Megumi to look for her,” Aoi apologised, bowing her head calmly. “It was my fault.”

“A-Aoi…” Her voice trailed off at the look Aoi gave her and taking the hint, leaves with a hasty bow. Her footsteps faded in the distance, creating a tense atmosphere between Aoi and Mizuki.

She saw it.

That was the first thought that came to Mizuki’s mind. The gravity of this situation caused his other clawed hands to clench tightly.

She saw how I look like.

He approached her without a word. A shadow cast over her form in his silent conflict.

I have to punish her. If not…

He reached over to her head. Coldness engulfing his gaze.

If I don’t… she will…

Suddenly two hands came to grasp both sides of his head. Mizuki froze at meeting Aoi’s eyes.

“As I thought,” she spoke with intrigue, feeling the snow-like fur covering his face. “It’s soft.”

Mizuki pulled back. Startled and alarmed at her lack of reaction. “A-Aoi-chan?”

“Oh, did you not like that?”

He searched for a sign of her putting on an act. For the actual fear and disgust that should be on Aoi’s face. But he could find nothing.

“Are you not scared of my appearance?” Mizuki questioned.

The weight of her gaze caused nervous anticipation to bubble within him. Yet, nothing could be compared to the emotions he felt as Aoi responded with a hand on his cheek.

“No.”

Mizuki’s legs almost gave out at that one word.

“I… I don’t disgust you?” His voice quivered.

She shook her head with a soft smile. Large wings shook with the wave of emotion overcoming the humanoid moth.

“Aoi… chan…”

Soon, Aoi found herself embraced by the moth monster. His four arms wrapped tightly around her while his face nuzzled desperately against her neck.

“Aoi-chan… Aoi-chan. Aoi-chan. Aoi-chan. Aoi-chan!”

He muttered her name as if it was a spell to chase away the ugliness in his heart. Aoi’s gentle hand on his back making him more desperate for physical contact. His body rubbing persistently against hers. A small whine leaving his throat at her stroking the fur around his neck.

“It’s ok,” Aoi whispered. “It’s ok, Mizuki.”

He presses her against the nearby wall, pressing his mouth needily onto Aoi’s neck. Unaware of the dark look she had cast over his shoulder as her fingers dug into his back.