Chapter Seven: Danger
“You found an exit?!” Dino said surprised.
“Shouldn’t we hurry then?” Chero asked.
“We have an exit. I want to explore some more. All I have seen is the basement,” Jenny said.
“Dino, why don’t you and the others go ahead. I will stay with Miss Jenny. She can be stubborn at times,” Francis said.
“It is probably a good idea to check to see if the rope isn’t rotten.” Dino said,
“So, we’ll go on ahead.”
“Hime…I want to have a word with you. The others can wait in the other room,” Dante said.
Hime raised an eyebrow, but nodded.
“You’ve seen…things went we break the clocks, correct?” Dante asked.
“I’m sorry… I was trying to hide it. Too keep everyone from worrying.”
“Tell me what you saw,” he said.
“It’s…hard to explain. But no matter what choice I made…I lose someone. No matter what I do…someone dies…” Hime said, “I tried so many options, but they all ended in failure. I can’t do this alone anymore.”
“That’s your problem. You are trying to solve all the problems alone. Ask for help. Talk to us. If we all work together we can change it.”
“If we go to that place…You…Danni...Chero and Dino would all be risking their lives…” Hime said.
“You need to think more simply, Hime. You need to let us work together. Think on it…and tell me what you decide…” Dante said before heading out.
“…The monster…it’s probably stronger now…What can I do?” Hime sighed.
Hime left the room where the cell was and joined up with Dante, Danni, Dino and Chero. The five of them went to the cave hallway to check on the ladder.
“We can finally escape at last!” Danni cheered.
“Yeah…”Chero said.
“I’ll go ahead,” Dino said.
“Oh! Di-” Hime started, but did not finish because Dino was gone.
“I can’t stop him…Wait…our enemy was always stronger in the memory, But what if
it was not just the enemy who got stronger?”
Dino cried out in surprise.
Chero’s eyes went wide, “DINO!!”
She ran to where he went.
“Did you trip again?” Danni called.
“Let’s go,” Dante said, leading the way.
“Maybe what Dante was trying to say is…that…”
Hime ran towards her friends. She stopped when she saw the monster blocking the way out, the ladder burning slowly.
“There it is…”she said.
“Hime! Take Chero and run!” Dino called.
“Let’s go, quickly! I’m worried about the others!” Chero cried.
“I see…This is what she meant,” Dante said.
“Come on! Let’s run!” Dino encouraged.
“All together! That’s it! If we run together we can still make it!” Chero exclaimed.
“Y-yes, bella,” Dino said with a small grin.
“Our enemy is strong…But I am faster. But I can’t do this alone…” Hime thought.
“Hime…” Dante said.
“NOW!”
Everyone started to run. Dino’s foot got caught and he tripped.
“Dante!” Hime called, “Dino’s tripped over a rock, let’s go!”
“Go! I can’t get this vine off!” Dino called.
“Dino!” Chero cried.
“Hime, did you figure it out?” Dante asked.
Dante pulled Rebellion off his back and attacked the monster, keeping it away from Dino.
“Dante?” Dino questioned.
Dante smirked, “You can’t keep blaming your shoes for tripping.”
“I’m sorry! Are you ok, Dino?” Chero asked running over to him.
“Chero…”
“I see…My mistake was trying to solve this alone. The reason why we lost is due to how I only paid attention to how the enemy grew stronger. I did not see how we got stronger,” Hime thought.
She ran over and stood next to Dante, Danni joined her.
“I know the answer. The Thing got stronger, yes…But we also got stronger and together we can beat it!” Hime said.
“Well done. You got it right,” Dante said.
“Merda! Why did you come back?” Dino questioned.
“Because we want to leave the mansion together,” Dante said.
Dante smirked at who he hoped would be his future father in-law someday.
“Ready, Hime?” Dante asked.
Hime nodded and unsheathed her sword and joined Dante.
Together the pair fought off the monster. Danni even joined in using her gun.
Chero use her magic to keep everyone safe and uninjured. Dino got to his feet and helped fight the monster. Soon the monster backed away.
“Let’s run while we can.” Dante said, “We are not rested up enough to defeat the monster now.”
“Right, let’s go!” Danni exclaimed.
Dino looked at Chero worried, “Amore…You look a little pale, are you alright?”
Chero nodded, “Uh huh. I’m fine. Let’s just go back, please…”
Hime lead the group out of the tunnel into a safe spot. Danni stopped to catch her breath.
“Why does it keep attacking us? There has to be a reason!” she cried.
Dante pulled her into a hug, “We will figure it out…”
Chero’s eyes filled up with tears as she launched herself at Dino and hugged him tightly, “I was so worried!”
Dino wiped away a few of Chero’s tears and kissed her forehead, “Bella, I’m ok.
Don’t worry. I just tripped. We all know that happens all the time.”
He gave her a reassuring smile and Chero calmed down a little, “I know…I-I’m glad…you are safe…”
“I know you two are having a moment, but we really should go and catch up with everyone else,” Hime teased.
Chero’s face turned bright red; Dino chuckled and blushed a little as well.
