Drip, drip….

“He’s been in there for a while. Don’t you think Luna?”

Shrugging her shoulder, Luna groaned and looked at Klaus’s limp, leaning body sitting on the chair. No matter how far he was leaning, it seemed he couldn’t fall off.

“It’s only been two hours. You’d expect more.”

“Seriously?” Mae asked, blowing a bubble into her cheeks.

Luna, dressed in a tank top over a white jacket with short pants, replied, “Mhm.”

The two had just gone to the room to check on him, as once one escaped the trial, they would be left in a zombie-like state unless treated. Mae, resting somewhat uneasy, knowing there could be a zombie with their soul running loose, had nagged Luna incessantly to check him. Growing tired of her unrelenting demands, Luna finally responded positively and headed down with her.

“The last one…he took a week.” She paused. “...remember?”

The little girl shuffled through her memories, humming as she did, until her face brightened.

“Yeah! I remember now. That would be, what, a month ago?”

“Your memory is seriously gone,” Luna scoffed, walking over to Klaus and crouching to see his face. Clearing his hair with her hand to see him, she saw his condition. His face, once smooth and clear, now bore deep wrinkles and an unkempt beard. Sweat coated his body, soaking his clothes and pooling on the chair beneath him. His arms and legs were slathered with wild hairs going in all directions, seemingly rough.

Using the same hand, Luna pushed his forehead until he sat straight–--then she placed two fingers on the side of his wet neck and looked at Mae.

“It’s slow.”

Turning her head, Mae replied, “Well, isn’t he sleeping?”

“I guess I haven’t told either of you two enough about this,” Luna said with a sigh. Standing up, she continued, “The trial syncs with your emotions. His leaning tells me that he’s thinking–-see? He’s back in that position. Usually, though, his heartbeat should be fast. Really fast. Unless this is just how lax he takes everything, aaaaand now his hand's twitching."

Mae tilted her head. “What does that mean?”

"He's getting hurt there. Wherever he twitches, that's pain inflicted on him."

Mae made a look of disgust. "Yucky. But now that I think about it, I think Grandnew mentioned it to me once."

Luna got up and stood beside Mae, both gazing at the limp body. Luna heard footsteps right outside the room as she was about to speak.

Glancing at the door, she thought, "It's like her name is her calling...ew."

She closed her mouth and motioned Mae to be quiet by placing a finger over her lips. Mae nodded vigorously, agreeing with her. After hearing the footsteps leave the door and up the stairs, Luna carefully cleared her throat.

“That old ass?"

She scoffed. "I'd be surprised if she ever told me anything usefu-"

Step—Blow!

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Suddenly, Luna’s back was impacted by a strong force, denting her back and sending her flying right past Klaus. Her body slammed against the wall with a sickening thud. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. Raising her bloodied head, she shouted.

“Wh-what the hell, you sloppy old bitch?! How'd you get here?!"

Grandnew, having just slipped into the room after overhearing their conversation, said, “Respect me. You’re far too naive to call me that.”

In response, Luna scowled, which earned her a glare that embedded deep fear into her. Turning away, she brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.

Seemingly satisfied, Grandnew looked around and shot Mae a nasty look.

“What are you doing here?”

“U-um…I was.. worried for him.”

“You? Worried? Don’t lie to me girl.”

The little girl carefully shrugged and minimized her body, trying to get the old woman’s attention away from her. Grandnew held her gaze on her for a moment longer before turning away and scoffing.

“There is nothing to be even remotely concerned about. I made this room myself and as such, it won’t break due to some mere failure of the Lattice—don’t you trust me enough?”

Mae gulped. “O-of course I do. It’s just…the thought scares me–”

Grandnew abruptly gripped her collar and lifted her tiny body into the air.

"Ridiculous," she spat, with a tone of disdain.

“I save you from this curse, and this is how you repay me? By whining like a child?"

She tossed Mae to the side, her fragile build ricocheting against the wall with a moan escaping.

“Both of you are pathetic. Also, he’d better survive this because if he doesn’t..."

Grandnew pointed at Mae.

"It's wraps for you."

Before shutting the door, Grandnew gazed at Klaus. “He’s sweating far too much.”

Shut!

Quiet. The silence imbued the room with a somber mood. The only noises perceivable were the breathing of the two girls as they both sat hugging their knees. The occasional drip of Klaus's sweat echoed in the space, providing an unusual comfort to the girls. After a few minutes of this, a small voice hesitantly spoke out.

"H-hey, Luna?"

"...what?"

"I ha-" Mae paused, remembering what happened to Luna when she had insulted the old woman.

Noticing the cut in her speech, Luna turned her head towards her and peered.

"--remember what I said about him?"

"...the guy sitting in the chair?"

"Kla-yeah, sure, him."

Mae buried her face in her knees. Her voice muffled, and she slowly said, "..so?"

"I think he can..." Luna's gaze shifted to the ground as she trailed off in thought. "Ah." Looking back at Mae, she softly smiled and continued, "help you."

Mae quietly whispered, "Right..."

"Wait, no, don't be so skeptical. I felt it when I dueled him. He has something powerful. How quickly he adapted to my movements with Jux enhancement, you saw it too right?"

Mae shifted her legs in Luna's direction. "I mean, yeah. It was quick."

"There's been no one that reacts to them that quick. If he can learn how to use the Lattice efficiently, I think he could bring that adaptability and be super-"

"You sure you don't just like his face?" Mae teased, a sly grin forming despite the tension.

"--What?! Yes, I'm sure! Why is that the first thing you think about?!"

Mae raised an eyebrow and said, "Um, no reason." Her grin slowly dropped.

"What you're saying makes sense, but this is weird of you."

"Weird? How-"

"Because I've never seen you like this."

Luna paused and squinted at Mae, seemingly doubting her words.

"...seen me how?"

"Genuinely hopeful that someone can help me? I mean, that's what happened with...her," Mae remarked as she looked back at the door. She turned back and continued, "You see how that turned out, right?"

"..."

She waited for a response but continued when she saw none.

"What is it about him?"

Luna clenched her fist and raised her head as she replied, "His strength. I know it. There's something ther-"

"What about strength will help me?"

"Um, well," "" with strength, we can go out and find people who have the cure.""

Mae spoke in unison with Luna mockingly, expecting what she would say. In response, Luna sighed and shook her head.

"--see Mae, we can't think so negatively--"

"What about strength will help me? What about it could help me?!" Mae's hair flapped wildly as she yelled, her outburst of emotions leaving Luna with her eyes wide. This was completely unexpected.

"Will strength get rid of this?!" she screamed, her voice cracking.

"Will it stop me from feeling this pain?! No! It won't! And you're too stupid to realize that! How many times have you brought someone from a Gutter, saying 'This one will save you, I know it'?! Do you know how much they haven't?! They've all been freaks and terrible people!! How much do I have to suffer because you can't bring someone useful for once?! I hate it!"

With that declaration, Mae dug her face into her knees and fell into a quiet sob. Luna, on the other side of the room, pressed her lips tightly and put her head down as well. Though she didn't expect this strong of an outburst, Luna had known she was bottling up her emotions; it was only a matter of time. She grimaced. Morphosyndrome. A disease that had plagued Mae since birth. Shunned by her parents, Mae had suffered her whole life.

"It attacks their hormones and makes them their own." Luna thought as she saw Mae, still sobbing, grab her hands tightly. Flakes of her skin began to drip from her hand as her hair grew longer and her legs shorter. Her sobbing only got louder.