After filtering through at least twelve large, abandoned sites, Xavia couldn’t help but mutter, “…So, you’re telling me that this place shut down after only two weeks of operating?” Looking at the picture Xavia was pointing at and checking his notes, Zivon replied, “Indeed. Designed by Hurricane Constructions and several biologists, it was supposed to be the largest underwater playground in Aplos. However, it was quickly apparent that the site was too deep, which led to many of the ‘test’ children getting thalassophobia… Some even claimed that the children got so scared that they straight up died, and with that kind of rumor spreading around, it’s no wonder this place had to be abandoned…” …If that was the case… “…You’re thinking what I am, right? This has to be the place!” “…Yeah, it has to be. After all… This location was apparently funded by the Harrison Group.” “What? Sophia was the one who constructed this place? Then there’s no question about it! Let’s go!” Nodding in
“…Is you.” Eyes widening in surprise, Xavia then asked, “…A-are you sure?” Nodding in response, Zivon replied, “Yeah. After all, you understand her feelings best, and I’m sure you’ll be able to eventually talk some sense into her… Once her defenses are down, we’ll finally get the chance to get the kids back. Of course, I’m also suggesting that you go because you’ll be able to make up for your regrets…” Noticing the surprise in Xavia’s eyes, Zivon added, “I know you’ve been blaming yourself a lot for what happened to the kids… So honestly, this is the chance for you to set yourself free from that guilt.” …To think that he would consider her feelings in his plan… It was touching, to say the least, and after wiping a stray tear off the corner of her eye, she was prompted to mutter, “…Thank you, Von…” Smiling in response, Zivon then patted her head before saying, “Hey, I’m only doing a husband’s duty… Regardless, you’ll be part of the planning process from now on, so stay sharp,
Nodding in response, Xavia replied, “Don’t worry, I know… Be sure to look out for yourself as well, alright? Let’s do this!” Unlike the others, she wasn’t afraid. After all, she was finally going to be able to meet her kids again! Seeing her like that, Zivon couldn’t help but feel slightly worried. After all, he knew how vigilant Sophia was, which was honestly the only reason why he hadn’t planned to follow them in, in the first place… All he could do was monitor them from the outside through his computer… Patting him on the shoulder, Ian reassured, “Don’t worry, she has a bulletproof vest on… She’ll be fine. I’m sure of it.” About an hour later, Xavia finally began streaming the inside of the building. The aquarium had been built on an island with a lighthouse on it, and everywhere the camera panned, it revealed layers of dust, moss, and all sorts of plants… It truly felt desolate here… After a long silence, the doctor finally said, “Be sure to stick close to me, Liora. Ther
...Were Maison and Frank! Her beloved children…! Though she was overjoyed, she couldn’t help but notice that they were standing in front of a bedridden Yulia… Just as she was wondering what to do next, something black suddenly leaped onto her! Startled, she immediately fell to the floor, though thankfully, she didn’t make a sound! The doctor himself was quick to look at Sophia… and upon realizing that the woman was sizing Xavia up, he realized what was happening. Clearing his throat, the doctor then said, “…As I said, she’s mute, so there’s no need to test her…” Following a slight pause, the anxious woman eventually breathed a sigh of relief before growling, “…Don’t tell me what to do. Now go examine the child already!” As she got up, Xavia was glad that she had kept Zivon’s advice in mind… Sophia was currently in a terrible state of mind, so she needed to be just as cautious as that paranoid woman was… While helping the doctor sort out the medical supplies, she couldn’t help
Either way, the ‘big ball’ was apparently a large, transparent dome surrounded by dark murky waters… and aside from the occasional glimmer of light from the lighthouse above, this place was nearly pitch black. How claustrophobic and terrifying! That aside… Didn’t Maison look a lot calmer now? What was up with that? Watching as the boy stared at her for a while, Xavia was startled to hear him ask, “…Is that you, Mommy…? If you are, then feel free to tell me. There aren’t any surveillance cameras here, which is why I brought you over in the first place.” …So that was all that was about! Feeling extremely relieved, Xavia replied, “You truly are as smart as ever, Maison…! But… How did you find out-” Before she could even complete her sentence, Maison hugged her tightly while whimpering, “I… I knew it…! You really are Mommy…! Oh, Mommy, you have no idea how long we’ve been waiting…! I kept telling the others that you and Daddy would eventually come save us again, but even I was star
Taking a deep breath, Maison replied, “…So… the doctor is on our side, right? If so, just get him to tell Auntie that Yulia is gravely ill and requires medical attention in a hospital… If we’re careful about it, we may just be able to escape! Oh, and in the process, we can get a doctor to restore Auntie’s mental health as well!” “…That sounds like it would work, though… You still want to help her after all that she’s done?” asked Xavia with a slightly raised brow. Pursing his lips, Maison replied, “…At the end of the day, she can’t truly be blamed… She’s only doing all this because of her mental illness, and I’ve seen her beating herself up time and again whenever she was alone… Besides, she’s been treating us nicely this entire time, and I genuinely think that she would never harm us… With all that said, I really hope that she can make a full recovery after this…” …To think that her son would grow up to be so kind and understanding… Though touched, Xavia eventually replied, “…Th
“…It’s more serious than I had initially anticipated. Basically, the stressful and isolated environment here has caused her immune system to plummet, and with that said, the odds of her having leukemia are higher than ever.” Now trembling in fright, the pale-faced Sophia replied, “B-but I’ve made sure to give her the best that I could offer! There’s no way that that’s the case! Run another check…!” Watching as she began tugging his coat, the anxious doctor was quick to reply, “P-please calm down first, Miss Harrison! Though I agree that this facility was made with care, people have different needs, especially children! They’re particularly susceptible to change! R-regardless, we need to take her to a hospital first or her life will be in danger!” D-danger? Now more agitated than before, the frantic woman yelled, “N-no! That’s a lie! My baby won’t die! She won’t! C-cease this nonsense right now and get out!” Not liking this one bit, the frightened doctor quickly pulled out a tra
Upon hearing Fabiola’s name, the children quickly looked away… and upon sensing the change in mood, Xavia couldn’t help but feel a little anxious as she asked, “…What’s wrong? What happened to her? Maison, could you please tell me…?” Pursing his lips, Maison forced himself to reply, “…She’s… gone missing…” “…W-what?! B-but how?!” asked the worried Xavia, prompting Maison to clench his fists. Trying desperately to hold his tears back, Maison replied, “So… shortly after we were brought here, she kept making a fuss, saying that she wanted to return to you two, and… when Aunt wasn’t looking, she ran off! We weren’t able to stop her, and she hasn’t returned since…” Her daughter… She was still missing…?! What if human traffickers had caught her?! Or worse, what if she was captured by some perverted monster?! She was just a child…! Anything could happen to her…! It was then that she realized why Frank looked so out of it this entire time. After all, Fabiola was his twin, and she cou