The grass beneath my feet is so overgrown that it threatens to consume me entirely. I stand before the lone apple tree, and somehow I am very aware that the tree is smiling.

"Heya sis!" The sudden voice makes me recoil in shock... This tree is my sister? "Hehehe, sorry for spooking you, I just wanted to see the look on your face!"

"Well, you went and did that... I think? Can you actually see? You're a tree."

"Oh sis, I'm looking right at you!" The tree remains unmoving, but it is amused at my apparent ignorance of how trees look at things. "You're standing in the grove with a silly look on your face!"

I look up... The sky is a swirling mix of fire and smoke, and it seems to stretch beyond every horizon. Beyond the grass is a writhing sea of viscera, splashing upon our green shore, its scent a twisted parody of the sea-spray back home. This little patch of overgrown grass, this lonely tree, me... We're the only life left upon the face of all Lutice, aren't we?

"... Which of my sisters are you? I'm sorry, the tree isn't giving me any clues."

"Hehe, silly... It's Selene! Maybe we didn't come from the same parents, but we still have the same family, don't we? Doesn't Serena Rosierte have a nice ring to it?"

"Ah..." I'm rather stunned by all of this; I can't say it’s something I can grapple with when it's thrown at me all at once. "I'm sorry I took your apple."

"It's okay, family is all about sharing! I'm sure you'd give me an apple if you had any."

"Y... Yeah. I don't really have much to give, I'm sorry."

"Oh hush, you have plenty to give! ... And I miiiiiiight have an idea of how you could repay me."

The grass is growing thicker and taller, I lift a foot out of it and find it incredibly difficult to do so, the plant life is simply that tangled. The tree's leaves have more of a luster by the second, and it is rather quickly growing new apples... Plants don't work like this.

And something about this tree's smile feels wrong to me. "... Alright. What would you ask of me then, sister?"

"Nothing too hard. Simply lay in the grove, on the grass here with me. Join our family in the circle of life."

... Die? Nothing major indeed- Wait. "Our family? You've... Eaten Auguste and Celeste?"

"They’re in here too, yeah. What else is there to do? The rest of everything burns and melts, maybe forever! It can’t be fought; it can only be lived through. The circle of life keeps going so long as something remains to eat the dead... But these fires don't leave any life behind to restart the circle. They end all life upon a world, forever... This last grove is the only hope for Lutice. Our family is its last hope."

I audibly swallow, noticing that as the red tide of viscera gently washed up to the edges of the grove, splashing the green grass red, it’s making it grow. All the melted 'life' of Lutice, coming into this grove.

Am I the last human being here? "... I want to speak to our 'family'. Can I speak to them?"

"... Sort of? I can speak 'for' them if that works for you, but they no longer have their own voices that can reach beyond our tree. I swear, they joined us of their own free will. They wanted to be a family again!"

"... What if I don't believe you?"

"Then I'd be upset. Family shouldn't lie to family!"

"Okay fine! ... Tell me something only Auguste would say, prove to me that he's in there somewhere!"

"... He forgives you for wanting to fuck our mom, whatever that means."

Selene was two when she died, wasn't she? Even if she aged, she’d only be seven. This is getting weird... Wait, Auguste knew?! ... Did Celeste know?

"... How about Celeste then, what's something only she would say-"

"You still don't believe me? You can hear all the things that only she would say if you join our tree! All it takes is simply laying down and letting us take you home. The grass will do the rest. It already is!"

The grass... It's up to my shoulders now... And still growing. My wrists appear to be bound, as are my ankles, and no amount of resisting seems to be getting me free of it. I'm trapped... I don't think I even have a choice, so why is the tree asking?

"... What if I say no?"

"Then I'll be sad. But it won't matter all that much. After all, the grass is almost up to your neck now, you'll be a part of us no matter what. This way will just hurt more for all of us."

"... I promised Celeste I wouldn't die. I promised Lazierte, I promised Pasche, I promised Theophania, I promised Xena-"

"They're all out there somewhere, in that big red sea. They'll get here eventually and join the family too! I'm sure they'll forgive you, so long as they get to see you again!"

... They were all in that horrifying tide? … Then Her Majesty is somewhere in that ocean of gore, surely. Will I become part of the same family as Her Majesty? ... I did always say I wanted to be her family, and while I have no idea what's normal inside a tree... Maybe I can make it normal? If I get to see everyone again, is it really so bad to die?

The grass has reached my neck now, wrapping itself around my throat... And I struggle. I fight as hard as I can against my restraints, I don't want this, I don't want this! I can't help it, something sharp and liquid flows to every inch of my being and I want to be free, I want to be my own person, I don't want to be a part of everybody and everything! ... My struggles are just as futile as before but they are more desperate... As the light begins to fade from my eyes, I know I want to live. Even though I know that living alone is impossible, being a dead person in company is just the same.

"Serena! Serena!"

I am shaken awake by a clearly terrified Celeste. Auguste is bringing over medical supplies, ones he doesn't seem to know how to use but at least understands will in some way help. My eyes lazily open, the light returning to them as I get a good glimpse at... My family?

"Thank goodness!" Celeste looks as if she's about to cry, now it's her turn to shake. "Your... Your wound must've gotten worse on the walk back, you barely made it to our doorstep! I... I thought we were going to lose you and-"

I kiss her... And then immediately recoil in shock, what the hell have I just done?!

Celeste for her part blinks a few times, as if trying to determine whether what just happened did in fact just happen, before blushing and looking away. "... I'm glad you're still with us, Serena."

... I expect to be slapped, to be kicked out of their home, this is a married woman! ... Maybe they're just going to wait for me to recover before kicking me to the curb, I mean I've absolutely crossed a line now. But she saved my life, and she's there, and she's beautiful, and how am I supposed to not!? ... No, these are excuses. And this rule of mine simply does not work if it means I do bad things to good people like this.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Celeste, for the most part, is still all nervous giggles and little smiles, a mix of trying to dote on me and inexpertly helping with my wound. She’s no Xena... But she’s warm, and she smells beautiful, and she’s... Home. My eyes begin to close again, maybe when I wake up I'll be punished for my indiscretion, if I wake up.

"Serena? Serena?! ... No... You're right, you get your rest. I'll be here the whole time..." I can barely hear her voice where I am now... I can barely feel her kiss my forehead and hold my hand, rubbing a thumb over the back of it.

Mercifully my second sleep is longer, deeper, and lacking in dreams. And when I wake... Celeste is still here, holding my hand, having fallen asleep on an adjacent armchair. Does this count as sleeping together? ... I'll have to do the reading on that, and then beat myself to death with whatever book gives me my answer. In any case it’s already morning. I should get up, I should allow Celeste to sleep peacefully without having to hold my hand.

"Ah! You're awake, thank goodness." Auguste emerges from the kitchen, hair tied up and wearing his apron, laying down a platter of food upon the table. "I had cooked for three, so I'm glad you pulled through."

I can't help but chuckle, even if it is a slightly dark little joke. "Maybe you should have cooked for four, I'm certain someone I know is going to rush through the door and try to dote on me. They'll probably be a bit upset that we haven't assumed their presence."

"I can head back into the kitchen if you really think-"

"Hehe, if anyone shows up we can send them away for breakfast at least. I think I could use a little less excitement in my life for the moment..."

I feel Celeste begin to stir, our talking must've woken her up... I should probably let go of her hand, it was a comfort through the night I'm certain, but I can't imagine she wants to wake up tied to me... Oh gods, I kissed her last night, didn't I? Her eyes open and find me immediately...

And Celeste smiles. She’s genuinely happy to see me! I... I can't possibly deserve that, can I?

"... Good morning, Celeste... Uhhh… Breakfast is ready!"

"Good morning, Serena... Hehe, look at me, leaving Auguste all alone in the kitchen again." She stretches her arms and gives a loud, ridiculous, distressingly appealing yawn, all without letting go of my hand. "... Did you sleep well?"

I did, thanks to Celeste... "I did, thank you."

"Hehe, I'm glad. Alesia hasn't been treating you well, I'm glad it at least can't reach you in your sleep." She giggles in triumph as she rises to her feet, pulling on my arm. "Well? It's like you said, breakfast is ready."

... I get to my feet, trying to slip my hand away only for it to be squeezed. It isn't exactly physically impossible to overpower her and get the hand away, but after that moment I lack the will to free myself from Celeste. I squeeze back instead, nervously smiling and looking to the floor as she leads me to a seat between her and Auguste. It feels... Very much like having a family.

I wish I could scream; I wish I was brave enough to demand that they exile me for my transgression last night, that they punish me. Maybe if I had my very own Serena, I would have the courage and dignity to apologize and leave forever. But my lips stay shut, my eyes stay down, and my hand stays within Celeste's.

And Celeste stays smiling, looking past me and to Auguste with a lyrical little giggle. "I notice you don't have today's paper, darling."

"Yes, I figured if it kept getting Serena shot that it might have no place at our breakfast table." He spears a morsel of food with obvious amusement. "I like the crossword, sure, but I don't like it THAT much."

They're telling jokes, they're laughing, it's like I never did anything wrong... Did I imagine it? Did I simply imagine that I kissed her? I had lost a lot of blood, I was likely delusional. But when I see Celeste's lips I remember how they felt, how utterly magical things were for the half second before the entire world caught up with me. No, I know in my heart I did wrong... Then why am I the only one who seems to know that?

"Say ahhh." Celeste presents me with a forkful of breakfast, and I realize she has my good hand in hers, I have no alternative than this.

I do as she says and she rewards me with food, when by rights she should be stabbing me with the fork and telling me how abhorrent my actions were. That first morsel is followed by another, and another, it seems like Celeste was enjoying not having to fight for the privilege of feeding me, even after what I did. I can't even pretend this is normal anymore, or rather I can't pretend that I can be part of normal things... Why can I not do good? Why am I like this?

This sweet torment is interrupted by a sudden, sharp knocking at the door, one which makes the breakfast stop and Auguste rise to his feet. "... I wonder if that's Serena's friends, come to make our house very loud again."

His chuckle makes it all the way to the door itself, where it dies rather abruptly. He soon returns to the dinner table with a messenger, a young woman in a military uniform, a trumpet tied to her sword belt. She looks rather out of breath, as if she'd sprinted here from halfway across Alesia.

Auguste is clearly displeased, giving the messenger a skeptical eye. "The Convention doesn't meet again for another two weeks. What are one of their messengers doing in my home?"

"Em... Emergency session!" The young woman struggles with the words... This might not be the first house she's sprinted to today. "All members of The Convention... To assemble. Regarding recent events... And rumors regarding His Majesty."

The poor messenger is in pain. She needs rest almost as much as I do. "Maybe you should take a seat and catch your breath, mademoiselle? You don't seem to be in a good state.

The messenger gives me a confused look, before looking at Auguste with her best puppy dog eyes. He sighs and offers her a chair, which she happily takes, letting out a wince of pain as she rests her feet.

"The Convention... Also requires the presence of... Serena Pollineux. I was informed she might be found here." The girl is slowly starting to catch her breath again, but she’s still dying by inches. "She is required to give... Testimony, regarding certain... Incidents around town."

Me? ... The same people who castigated me now think they can just ask me for details about the last few days like it's nothing? That I can suddenly just trust them with information about the conspiracy? That I can forgive them for being a thorn in the side of Her Majesty? I'm half tempted to simply say no and stay in bed.

... But that would make things awkward for Auguste, even if it's clear he disapproves of this as much as I do. "Serena is still convalescing from two different wounds she received in the service of Avernia during her brief, Convention-mandated furlough. I don't believe she can-"

I rise to my feet, wincing as I feel my wounds agitated by the motion. "Fine. I'll do it. I hope your Convention thanks Auguste profusely for bringing me to the table."

The messenger gives a sigh of relief, one of her hands nervously playing with her trumpet. "The Convention... Wasn't exactly asking. But thank you for your... Cooperation."

I keep my hand in Celeste's, but she doesn't rise from her chair. Oh right, she's not officially a member of The Convention, boy's club and all that. I think I might hate The Convention... But then I remember Theophania was disinherited by virtue of being a woman, and I wonder if my disgust is simply me being abnormal. It’s that or I hate the entire world.

I think this is an abnormality worth fighting for if that truly is what it is... And it seems Auguste agrees, his expression rather low. "... I promise, we'll not leave you alone for long, Celeste. We'll sort out this whole mess and be back before you know it."

She gives us both a smile that makes me want to cry, before finally letting go of my hand. "Yeah. It's for the good of Alesia after all."

... I don't want to leave her like this. Maybe I have no right to say that, no right to even think about it after my overly familiar conduct, but... I don't want to leave her at all. I run my good hand through her hair, I simply cannot stop myself from being terrible.

And I try to meet her sad smile with a reassuring one, to be dashing and gallant in this situation. "... If anyone there says women have no place in The Convention I will beat some sense into them, I swear you will be seated right along Auguste if I have anything to say about it."

This seems to amuse her a little, even if it doesn't quite fix her sadness. "Hehe... That's the most 'Serena' approach to politics I've ever heard."

Lazierte, Pasche, Her Majesty... "That's how you know I mean it."

"Hehe, well, try not to hit them too hard. You might hurt your working hand, and then I'll have to dote on you even more!"

"I'll try my best to show restraint."

This might be the happiest I can get her and still do as I must and get out the door. Auguste steps over and does a better job of comforting her, with kisses and hugs and little whispers and all the things I absolutely can’t do with her but did at least once. It stings a little, and I hate that it stings, it shouldn't sting, it's just a man being wonderful to his wife... I turn my attention to the messenger, who seems to be getting to her feet again, wincing in pain again.

"Another five houses to go... Uhhh, good luck, Serena."

She’s out the door before I could return the sentiment... I ought to prepare properly for going outside, I should find my sword and gun. Mercifully, Auguste and Celeste's little comforting ritual gave me ample time to find them. Now I'm ready to walk the streets... Eventually Auguste pulls himself free of Celeste, and we make our leave towards The Convention's meeting hall. I notice Auguste doesn't carry a sword on his outings. Maybe he should...