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In the middle of a dense forest, Jheysi falls to her knees and cries intensely. One of the men approaches her and says:
Man – I came to you because your friend asked for help, and he sent me.
Jheysi doesn't stop crying and keeps apologizing to Alicia.
Alicia, not knowing what else to do, approaches Jheysi and hugs her. They remain there, leaning against a wall outside the castle, when the man says:
Man – Come, we don't have time. Soon they'll see that you're not there and they'll come after you.
Alicia – But who are you, and what do you mean I called for you? I don't even know you…
Man 2 – You don't need to know us, and we don't need to know you. But the one who sent us knows you.
Alicia is confused but follows them. After all, they were the ones who took her out of that place. Soon, Alicia helps Jheysi to her feet—she still hasn't stopped crying—and they begin walking through the forest.
Violet's Point of View
Violet wakes up without knowing where she is, screaming!!
Mandy, who is nearby, gets startled.
Mandy – What happened, Violet? Another nightmare?
Violet hugs Mandy and cries.
Violet – Mandy… I… I'm starting to feel the weight.
Mandy – Weight? What are you talking about? You're delirious. Lie down and sleep, try to rest.
Violet – The weight of this responsibility that was placed on me. And no one, no one asked if I wanted it or if I was ready for such a burden.
Mandy – Violet, sit here next to me. Tell me what happened.
Violet – I'm feeling insufficient!! I basically gave my life to the institution. You know my story. But it's not my choice to do everything… sometimes I wish I were a normal girl like you, Maya, Khawlah, and even Alicia…
Mandy – I understand what you mean. And I'll say more—you don't have to go through this alone, you idiot. You have friends, you know?
Fionna only gave you these responsibilities, even if no one asked you, because she trusts you more than anyone else in this institution. It may seem like a burden, but you can also ask for help sometimes.
Violet, you are literally my best friend in this institution. And you also know my story, and I trust you. I admire you a lot. You are the strongest person I know.
Violet – I'm not stronger than you hahaha (awkward laugh)
Mandy – This here is just physical strength. It doesn't mean almost anything. The strength you have, the one I admire and hope to reach someday, is inside you. A brilliant and almost unshakable mind, an unchanging sense of justice, and always thinking about others before yourself.
That, Violet, is your strength. You love your friends and would do anything to protect them.
Violet feels motivation and a sense of completeness filling her being.
Violet – Thank you, Mandy. I needed to hear that… and you're right… and I'm grateful to have you as my friend. Do you know what time it is?
Mandy – It's around 3:00 a.m.
Violet – Let's go. We need to find Valéria.
Mandy – Now?
Violet – The girls need us. And if not now, then when?
Mandy – Alright, let's go. I'm not going to argue with you hahahahah.
Maya's Point of View
Maya wakes up in a dark room with a bed and a bucket. On top of a table, there's a sandwich with a glass beside it.
Maya – Hello? Is anyone there?
Maya (thinking) – Where am I?
Maya feels unbearable pain in her head and begins to hear murmurs.
??? 1 – Do you see?
??? 5 – Of course she sees. She's right there.
??? 3 – It's possible she's not seeing.
??? 9 – I think she's stupid.
??? 1 – No, she's just not paying attention.
Maya (thinking) – What are these voices? Am I going crazy? I must've hit my head hard.
??? 9 – I said she was stupid.
Maya (thinking) – I'm not stupid.
??? 1 – She can hear us.
??? 3 – That's new.
??? 8 – Shhhhh!!!! Silence.
Maya (thinking) – I don't have time for this.
Maya gets up, goes to the door, knocks and shouts.
Maya – HEY!!! HEY!!! IS ANYONE THERE?!
??? 9 – I told you, she's very stupid. What if someone comes to hurt her?
??? 5 – She's already locked up. If they wanted to do something, they would've done it already.
??? 7 – And what if they're waiting for her to wake up to do something worse?!?!
Maya (thinking) – What are these voices?
??? 1 – I'll break protocol this time and—
??? 9 – Don't do that. You know what could happen to her if we do.
Maya (thinking) – What could happen?!? To me?
??? 1 – Fine… just don't forget it was me who broke the rule…
??? 9 – Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you.
??? 1 – Maya, or rather… Amaya. I am Beatrice.
Maya (thinking) – Now I'm talking to myself…
Beatrice – Hey, look… I'm part of you, but I'm also independent… and I want to help you.
Maya (thinking) – Part of me? This is very strange.
Beatrice – I understand you perfectly. I know how weird it can be to hear so many people saying so many things inside your head. But you need to listen to me.
Maya (thinking) – This has to be a joke.
Maya looks at the door again and shouts:
Maya – HEY!! IS ANYONE THERE?!?! WHAT KIND OF SICK JOKE IS THIS?
??? 9 – I told you. She's stupid.
Beatrice – That's enough, Irwin. I won't allow you to talk about her like that again.
Irwin 9 – Yes, ma'am…
Maya – So you're the one in charge?
Beatrice – You could say that. Kind of. For a while, Ophelia was the one in charge. But lately, it's been me.
Maya – Cut the nonsense, Beatriz. Why did you put me here?
Beatrice – My name is Beatrice. And I wasn't the one who locked you up where you are. But I can help you get out.
Maya – Yeah, right…
Maya sits back down on the bed and thinks.
Maya (thinking) – What the hell is this?!?!
Beatrice – I… am still here.
Maya (thinking) – Whatever… I…
??? 3 – She's not okay. You'll have to explain it to her, Beatrice…
Beatrice – That would be going too far.
??? 3 – Talking to her was already going too far. And if we think about it properly, the only rule imposed was to observe and never speak to the observed. You've already broken both. The rest doesn't make a difference now.
Beatrice – I know, Ophelia. You're right…
Amaya, listen to me. I'm going to try to explain why you're hearing these voices, okay?
Maya says nothing.
[To be continued…]