Help(ed)?

Once making it to her destination, Mika noticed Luci hadn't arrived yet. Figuring that she was a bit early, Mika carefully got up onto the dilapidated merry-go-round and began to reminisce while waiting.

---

An even younger Mika, a few weeks before having to start preschool, was sat in front of her mother. Mika was currently holding a white kitten plushie with big, adorable black eyes, and a long, beautiful, matching puffy tail. It was handmade by her father to be her first ever toy. Ever since, she's always kept it with her, by her side as much as possible. Even though the fabric was more worn down over the years, and different mismatched patches of patterns from other materials now had been sewn into it in an attempt by her father to fix previous "injuries."

He wasn't the best at sewing, but always tried his best for his wonderful little "miracle" girl. Mika ended up naming her plushie Aito. It was the first name that came to her mind, and it just stuck. However, the reason for the tears in Aito, was because Mika would repeatedly pick at or pull hard at the fabric whenever getting upset in any way. Every time she felt terrible about it, but her father understood well. Ramond's escape was at his workplaces, but knew Mika didn't have anywhere to escape to, usually... At least he was able to bring at least some comfort and joy to Mika's life.

This day, he was out once again, on the night shift. Mika was deeply wishing that he could be home more often, but understood that work was too important for him. Ramond always wanted to provide as best he could for their family, she knew deep down. But during these times, Mika couldn't help but to wish it. "You're really fucking something..." Her mother said in a calm tone under her breath, scowling at the floor. However, Mika could tell by her tone that she was holding back her rage for now since she already had a migraine.

"But, Mama... I just want..." Mika started to grab Aito tightly again in an attempt to calm down the rising scary feeling flooding into her chest's cavity. "To bring Aito to school with me-"

A loud slap, quickly followed by a clang, and then thud echoed throughout the otherwise silent house.

"When will you learn!? I'm trying to save us from being looked down upon any further...! And yet you turn out like this!"

Abigail was seething with anger, and trembling from it now as well.

Mika was silently crying from down on the floor where she landed after being struck upon the left cheek. She felt a bit disoriented; most of the pain coming from where Mika also bumped her head against the edge of the table while falling.

Mika's automatic response by this point was usually along the lines of: "I'm sorry, Mama... I'll be good." Anything to help appease her. However, it was another moment where it didn't seem to be so simple.

"You know what... Give me this thing!"

Abigail suddenly grabbed Aito and started to head to the backyard.

Mika's eyes widened when she realized her mother took her beloved toy. As soon as she could get up and felt like she could walk straight again, Mika followed her mother and was horrified to see that she was setting up Aito on the chopping block. Mika teared up at feeling a new, deep sadness wash over her at the thought of Aito being gone, and suddenly sprang into action. Not caring about the consequences at this moment, while Abigail was fetching the axe, Mika snatched up Aito and took off as fast as her little legs could take her.

After a bit she heard distant yelling after her, but Mika didn't look back. Shutting her eyes since she couldn't see past the tears anyway, Mika just kept running until she couldn't anymore, collapsing into some brush. Heavy breathing turned into broken sobs while clutching desperately onto Aito for some ounce of relief that wasn't coming. After Mika finished crying until no more tears came out and she was dry heaving, she just layed there for a long time. It was getting late, but Mika's head was currently empty.

Soon the stars filled the dark night sky; beautiful constellations coming into view from the lightless countryside. Still slightly holding onto Aito, Mika suddenly gripped tightly onto them again. She knew that she couldn't go back without her mother destroying her plushie. Mika was more concerned with their punishment than her own to come right now.

Mika felt like crying again, even though she truly couldn't right now, at the thought of not having Aito in her arms anymore, but knew she had to make this sacrifice in order to save them. After slowly getting up, Mika started aimlessly wandering, not knowing where to enact her plan. Until she came upon what looked like an old, abandoned playground. Mika stayed there for a while, sitting down on the bottom of the merry-go-round, blankly staring at her surroundings. For some reason, this place seemed to comfort her entire being.

Even though the equipment was rusted down and forgotten by many, it was still pretty to Mika, and seemed special. She sniffed and looked down at Aito. "I hope you'll like it here... I'll come visit whenever I can. Okay...?" Mika lightly brushed over the little kitten's head and gave it a little kiss.

"I won't let anyone bother you. A-And this place seems safe for you, Aito... I'll always love you!" Mika's voice cracked, and she hugged them tightly before carefully setting Aito down beside her on the merry-go-round. Taking her right pink boot off, that matched her now dirt-stained frilly pink dress, Mika carefully stuffed Aito inside and tied the boot as hard as she could manage until it was pretty much "closed" up top.

Mika then dug a hole with her bare hands until it was about three feet deep, and crawled back up to gently put the boot down inside.

"Goodbye for now..."

The young girl covered the hole back up until it looked almost as if nothing had really touched the area in the first place. Reality sunk in and Mika was very heartbroken. She started to absent-mindedly tear at the bottom of her dress.

Mika tried hard to buck up and be a "big girl" as her father would say, especially for Aito's sake. "I-It's better this way..."

Once Mika got her courage up, she decided to go back and face her mother, deciding she'd tell her that she got rid of the plushie herself. Maybe she'd finally be spared a beating this time.

Unknowingly leaving some pieces of her dress behind, Mika started to try and find her way back home.

Mika saw a shooting star for the first time in her life, but was too exhausted mentally to express the little happiness she felt. She could also feel a knot already forming from where she bumped her head earlier, but tried to just pay attention to where she was going after deciding to follow the direction in where the star headed. Thankfully she did make her way back, memorizing how to return to that place. Feeling a bit of relief at seeing her father had returned home once getting closer to the house, Mika knocked on the door.

---

Mika sighed softly at remembering that night. At least she didn't get a beating, but her parents were too busy arguing at the moment to help her even tidy up, so Mika tried her best before going to sleep. She cringed after thinking of the many nightmares and panic attacks she had from not having Aito... Even with her dad trying to lend sweet words, Mika was struggling to cope. She tried hard not to pick at her clothes since it gave her father more work, but it was still a struggle even now that Mika tried to force away.

Looking over at the spot she buried Aito in those years ago still made her itch and grind her teeth, Mika's ears slightly twitching. But those thoughts were cut short when Luci frantically appeared, but not from the path they usually took. She suddenly burst through the brush behind Mika, startling her, and she quickly stood up, turning around to face Luci. "A-Are you alright-? I got here early and-"

"I... I-I-I-"

Mika went up to her and took in how disheveled Luci looked. She still had her backpack, but was covered in little cuts and bruises.

"What happened?"

"When I was on my way here, I saw this weird bright flash and... Pink color, but it smelled strange the closer I got. I thought it was you, but... Whoever that was... I-I just needed to get out of there and find you quick. I don't think it's following me, but that was-"

"It's ok, Luci. I'm scared too, but... We're together now! We'll protect each other... Okay?"

Mika genuinely smiled and put her hands up on her friend's shoulders.

Luci immediately calmed down more, looking down at Mika. "Y-You..." She sighed heavily, closing her eyes and gathering her thoughts. "You're right. It's probably my mind playing tricks on me. I don't like coming here at night, unless it was for you." Luci smiled back just as genuinely, and they hugged.

"I brought some snacks, and a flashlight I could find." Mika spoke up once they parted. "Nice! I got the same, plus some band-aids, binoculars, annnd I'll just use my phone for a map as well!"

"I hope I can get a phone one day!"

Luci turned on her phone's flashlight again. "I'll help you with that in the future, if you want!"

"You don't have to, but thank you, Luci." Mika smiled bashfully but was grateful to have her in her life, as always.

"Anything for youuu~!"

They started their search in this forest, going on each trail, and not finding much. After a bit Luci looked confused and then slightly worried. "Um..." Her phone's directions were not working now somehow, and then suddenly went frozen. "Ugh, come ON."

Mika felt a chill in the air and looked around. She saw a little makeshift tent, that has definitely seen better days. It looked recently used. Luci growled and eventually gave up on her phone, putting it away in her backpack. Mika felt a strange sensation, like she was being pulled towards and was overtaken by a strong scent. Not in control of her actions, Mika started heading towards it.

Luci noticed after turning around and went after her quickly.

"Hey! Where are you going!?" She caught up and noticed how off Mika was acting, smelling what she did before, but was unaffected by it again. Just as Luci was about to grab her before they both were suddenly tackled.

"WATCH OUT!"

A loud, dark pink beam shot over them all, just missing their bodies. Mika snapped out of her trance and grunted slightly in pain. "What-? Markus!?" Luci cried out once she realized who was on top of them.

He looked absolutely panicked. "You two need to RUN!"

"Mika and I aren't leaving you here-"

"Just listen to me, Deadhead!"

Mika carefully got up along with the two and was extremely confused. For one, what he was scared of, and why he was using Luci's usual teasing nickname in such a harsh tone.

Luci was now angry, getting up in his face. "Hey, we came all this way for YOU, and you give US attitude!?"

"You'll both be sorry if you don't leave!"

While they were arguing, Mika noticed that same color Luci mentioned starting to emerge through smoke, but very thickly around them until they could barely see in front of them.

Markus started to panic more and beg the two of them to go.

He started mumbling to himself and before Luci could even try to drag him off, flashes came from the dark, illuminating a sinister looking feminine outline of a shadow-esque figure and gaze piercing through Mika. It was like they knew all of her secrets just from one look. Mika froze on the spot like a deer in headlights. However, instead of going straight for her, the stranger's features disappeared, and suddenly Luci's scream was heard.

Markus started to wail out, covering his ears: "Leave us alone! You're not who I thought you were!"

"W-What do you mean, Markus? Luci???"

Mika could barely see anything until she found Markus.

"I-I wished for a perfect family, but she's not perfect! She's a monster! Sh-She takes kids, and-"

An indescribable tone of voice reached our eardrums, and especially shook Mika to the core:

"Ȳ̡̫̘̱͔̺̤̗͆̽̓́͆̚o͕̭̦͍͔̼̅͗̂ͩ̀ͥͅų̞ ̉҉͉̝̖̺d̝͓o̴͕̱͙̻̰͐̉n̳͖̠̘ͬ̓͛̈́̎͘'̭̲̒̓̀t̨̺͍̳̰̏̈.̭̼̱̆̍ͪ̓̇ͯͬ.̹̻̩̹̹̤̰.̓͌͒ͮ ͓̦̰̠̮̠̟̈́̇W͕͖̻̫͚̞̟͛̈ͦǎ͈̣͎̅ͧ̐ͣ̓̄n̮̼͈̰̣̩̘̂ͦ̍͐̑t̵̎͛ͤ̃̽̍ ̮̘̹̙̘͑ͭͤ͆ͪ̌̚͝M̜̺ͨͫo͎̫ͤm̦͚̯̫͎̺͔ͦ̈̍m̶͉̖̖ͣͫͭͥ̈́̀ͬý̢͇̱̻̩ ̵̳͕̬ͭa͇͊n̢̹͉̹̬̹̜͗͋̔̍͂͋͛y̟̞̯̺̮m̜̱̀̍̐̊͞o̬͎̮̼̤͎̫̽́̔ͩ̿r̪͛̂̇ͩ̈̓ͣḙ̡͆̑̉͋ͤ̿?̖̤̥̻̅̃̐͂͟

.̴̙͔͈̠̮ͩ͒.̡̜͓̬̟̯̇̔̅̐͆͋ͩͮ.̛̤̘͈͓͉̮̯̈̎͋́̽̕W̶̧̝͖̣̹͚̹̲̆ͧ̇e̸̵̦͈̯̮̺̘̻̪ͮ͑̑ͣļ̖̰̙̞̭̝̰͑̈ͧ͒͆͗̀͡l͐̄͌̚͡҉̪̺͖͎͔ ̩̠̗̣̏̏ͥ̈̆͊ͪͯ́͠͠t̮̱̹̮̺͆ͨ͌͐h̯̣̞̻̭̠̖͙̐͒̎̎͒ͪ̒̉ë̢̼̪͚̙͓̪͕̘̙́̄n̛̼̙̥͈̙̻̊̿ͪ̓͗͌͡͞,̢̠̦̙̤ͮͭͪ̕ ̩̳̭͎͕̥̗ͯ́͊͛ͬ͛̐ͩ́͢f̀͊̀ͤ̍̑̈͏͏͔̦̺̠͚̕i̡̐ͬ̿̍̋͏̨̪͈̰͉̮̘n̟̹̯̬̥̫̙̭ͤͬͪ̈̊̚e̥̺̲͎̳̞͔͉̓͛.̸͖̺͚͈͚͎̣̋̏͠ ̂͒̄͞͏̫̘̳͓̣̲ͅI̒ͫͤ͋ͬ̾͑̈́҉̭͉̦̩̭͙̀f̮̘͇̓ͬ͛̓̏͘ ̴̲͎͔̇̽̑͂̐͋͞t͙̜̙͉̺̺ͫh̜̖̱̭̫̹ͨ̇̄̀͗̈ͮi̸̮͈͖͖ͨ̏ͭ́̽́̅̀ͭ͝s̡ͪ̇ͣ̇ͪ̂͏̠̮͚̼̮͓̹ ̯̗̆̂͘͝ȉ̆̽̓̎̎̉̂҉̷̤̱̣̗s̮̺ͥ̽̍ͣ ̨͕͕̟̅̑ͧ̂͋͗̂͜͝t̴̪̬̼̹̮̝̙͚̄̎ͩͬ͊͂ͭ̈́̍h͓̜͚͈̳͒̓̃̾ͨͤ̍̽ẻ̸̟͉̹͍̪̰̬͒̔͂͊͆ͨ̏̍̀ͅ ̶̞̣̯͍̆̎͂̈́ͬͪ̄ͩ́t̳̙̬͆̉̌ͩ̕͟ḩ͉̞̺̳̒͊ͩͨ͛ͮ̌̀̕ą̴̝͍̭̝̜̻͚̟̘̄ͩ͆̅̋n͓͍͉̤ͭ̍̿͛͒̎̀ͫ̀͟k̪͓̖̺̯͍͕̿͊̑͋ͧ̉̿ͣs̡̺̯͔͎̟͎̯ͭͦ̆̋͗̽́ͩ͘ͅ ̯̗̎̽̓̇̒̉̈̚͘I̪̲̺͍̗͆͞ ̨̳̲̜̤̯̰͙̥̱́̓̃͠g̰̬̠̯̺͚̰͗̄̈ͪ̉̒̌͢͡ͅe̴̮̯̮̪̤͑t̨͔͉̪͎͓͎̫̖̖͛͑͋̐̌;̬͓̹̪̰̭̖̟ͬ̽͂͢

join them.

j͇̣͖͚̞ͤ͌͒̔̆̾̒̿͌̽ͯ̓͜o̡ͪ̓ͪ̄̾̆̔͢҉̪͕̞̱i̵̜̹͔̩͎̪̻͉̖͕̫͔͕͔̦̹͗̒͂̓ͥͧ̿̎̈̀͑̑̈́̈̍͘͟ͅnͦ͐͌͌̅̉̈ͮ͒̓ͧ͌͏͜҉̰̱͎̮̟̬͓̩̪̼̜̞ ̻̗̹̘̤̩͈͓͉̩̟̻̩͓̰͖ͪ̐ͮ̽͛̃̆͊̔̄̉ͥ́ͅt͖͎̞̘̱͔̬̱͈̗ͤ̊̀̔ͬͤ̊ͯ̈̃̌̊́h̶̵̛͈̪̜̩̗̥̠̭̳̘̪̘̞̻̙̜̒̉ͪ̋ͩ̕͡e̴̶̴͉̰̖͚̺͂̌ͩͮ͑ͭ̿͆̔̔͋̂͆͋͠͡m̶̛̦̥̭̜̖̻̭̙̲̰̫̄̒̉̀̄͋̐̃̏̕͘.̿̑̐͋͌̋͋̔̊̀ͤ̋҉̢̦̭̙̝̺͕̠͓͎̪͈͖͚̖̮͟͢͞ͅ

J o innn the m

Before Mika could fully understand, Markus was seemingly snatched up by an invisible force. Mika felt powerless at what she bore witness to. Never in her life had she seen something like this, and in front of her very eyes, Markus started to painfully transform. His clothes fell to the ground in the process as he shrunk. Mika couldn't quite see what he was turned into, but she didn't want to join him. The woman started to frighteningly unhinge her jaw, her irises glowing a bright dark red and pink; her teeth inhumanly sharp.

Mika teared up and was scared to death, but suddenly grabbed a rock, stood and chucked it as hard as she could at the woman. When it hit her in the forehead, she froze and closed her eyes. "Take me instead, please don't hurt him!" It was dead silent for a while, before the woman let out a seemingly never-ending agonizing shriek. Mika tried to cover her ears, but it was too much, and she collapsed, falling unconscious.