Soaring above like birds has never felt more uplifting for the duo.

"Woohoo! The Breakout plan was a success! We are free men!" Grim triumphs. Charlie stays as still as Stone, trying her best not to panic and look down. But she did feel victorious. Unfortunately, these free birds were caught in a moment's notice.

"Hey! Look up there! They're escaping! With the carpet?!" A student shouts.

"First runaways and now thieves?! Imagine the lead if he discovers this!!" Another worried.

"Capture them! Oi! You two! Get back here!!!" The third demanded, as the flock chases after.

"Hee hee! No way are we coming down, you jerks!" Grim proceeded to stick his tongue out at them teasingly.

"Hey, we know how to fly this thing, right?" Charlie managed to squeak without looking at him.

"Fly it? Yea! He just grabs the corner tassels and-" but with that one tug, it started a mess. Without warning, the carpet proceeded to fly in a loop, making Charlie squeal and grab the fabric for dear life.

"Huh?! It just looped! Oi! Dust bag! I'm your commander!" Grim fought with the flying contraption, but it only made things worse as the carpet, getting agitated and confused, started zipping all over the place, forcing the two to rock and forth vigorously with it. It wasn't long until it started spinning in a tornado spin.

"Gyaaaaaaaa! I'm getting queasy! Stop it! I said stop!!" Grim shrieked as Charlie went stiff as a board, clinging to the carpet as to avoid falling to her death. The scenery swerved by in a blur from part of the sand dunes to areas of the dorm.

"If this ride doesn't stop, I'll barf!!!" She shrilled. That, plus paired with a headache, did not mix well for her.

"They're heading for the portal! Get em!!" She heard with the rush of wind in her ears.

"Shiiiiiit! We're goin down?!"

She closed her eyes as she screamed bloody murder as they zoomed through the portal and into the mirror hall and through a random looking glass.

The carpet crashed into something and the two were flung, sailing in the air, landing harshly onto....something.

"Ffgyaaaaaa..." Grim was lying on his back, spirals in his eyes.

Charlie, however, was thrown in her stomach, causing more pain to erupt over her body. She strained to lift herself up, but her dizziness overtook her senses, and suddenly, she threw up right there on the floor.

"Ugh...shit...." she groaned, wiping her mouth with her hand. She wiped the spit and vomit on her shorts, trying to make shapes of where the hell they crash-landed. "Where the fuck..."

Then the area was up in light. And there were two figures standing on the top platform of the small staircase.

"Well, I was wondering who'd drop in a this ungodly hour..." the first hummed.

"I thought it'd be food thieves, but it's just Koebi-Chan and Azarashi-Chan. Got my hopes up for nothing..." the second whined.

Grim shot up immediately at the sound of their voices. "Huh?! Why're you guys here?"

Floyd quirked an eyebrow. "Why? We did say we're not going home till the glaciers melt..."

"S-so we're in Octavinelle?!"

"Indeed. The Mostro lounge to be precise...." Jade nods.

The cat's eye lit up with light. "Oh yeah! We got out of that god forsaken prison!"

"🎶 🎶!"

"H-hey, Charlie! We-aaaaaah!!!" Grim turned to tell her the news, but his smile dropped when he saw her in a clump on the floor. "Charlie!!!" He runs to her and tries to shake her awake. "No no no! C'mon! Don't do this! Please!!!" He begged her.

As soon as the two saw her, they felt a stab of worry and rushed over to her. Jade placed the back of his hand on her forehead. She had no fever.

"She likely had passed out." He nods, slipping a vial from his pocket and unscrewing the lid off, placed it under her nose.

"What's that weird square-flounder thing?" Floyd kept a hold on her hand, while looking at the carpet, who tilted slightly to stare back at Floyd.

"It must be Kalim's...." Jade answered.

Grim was trying to hold back fat tears. "Please please please!!!" He begged.

A few seconds later, she stirred. "Ngh...Grim....?" Her eyes fluttered open like butterfly wings. Grim smiled widely, relieved that she was awake. She moves her eyes over to see the Leech twins watching her. "What...what happened...?"

But none of them got to answer as soon as the doors were flung open, and multiple sets of eyes were on her.

"We got you now! Damn thieves!"

"Just come with us and there won't be trouble!"

"The crap?! They ran all the way here! They're too persistent!" Grim frets.

At the sound of the students voices, she struggled to get to her feet. "L-like hell...w-well go with....you!" She shot back, before she started feeling sick again. "Ugh...too dizzy..." she stumbled as Floyd caught her by her waist and pulled her behind him protectively.

"Now, who do you think you are causing such an uproar in the dead of night?" A voice chided. Charlie looked to the side of the staircase and saw Azul standing at the top.

"Fuck! It's Azul!"

The second year strides down the staircase towards the others, his eyes never leaving the Scarabians. "I'll ask again: what's the meaning of this?"

"This has got nothing to do with you!" A student berated. "Keep your lips shut and hand them over!"

Azul follows the pointing finger to see the two. "Aah, if it isn't Grim and dear Little Lotte spewed over the floor? Almost mistook them for something else." He smiled lightly.

"P-please...they're tryna force us back!" Charlie forced herself to speak. "We ain't...going with them!" She cringes in pain and cradles her head in her hand from the impact earlier.

Azul watched her silently. His eyes landed from Scarabia's lackeys to his own and to Charlie last.

Then, like the two other leaders before him, he saw that she was no longer there. But another woman.

Her hair was down, shielding her face, but one could distinctly make out the sounds of pain escaping her lips. She sounded close to crying. But the worst image of all was seeing blood drop from a wound on her leg....

The vision had ended, and Charlie was back. His eyes held a tinge of empathy and worry for her. His little sea star was being pushed, he thought. These scumbags don't deserve to see tomorrow!

"We won't let you off the hook if you stand in our way!" His attention turned back to the students by the doorway, who seemed to be getting angrier every passing second.

"Huh? Who the hell are you to talk like that to us?" Floyd's eyes went cold as he stepped towards the intruders.

"This place is strictly a social gathering for students...and fights, personal or not, will be dealt with by us swiftly and severely." Azul walked and stood between the two gangs.

"So.... you really are that defiant?" A student sneered.

"It doesn't matter. We're taking them back against their will!" His partner claimed vehemently.

"No....please...." Charlie shook her head against the fatigue, making her more close to passing out.

"Don't worry, Lotte. I won't let them lay a finger on you." He whispered silently.

He faces the newcomers. "Hmph! It seems to me that you're underestimating you're opponent. Jade, Floyd....." he smirked. "Teach them a lesson."

The last thing Charlie heard we're the dark chuckles from the Leech bros as her eyes sealed shut once more.

----------------------

"D-damn! They're too strong!" A student huffed tiredly.

"Y-you won't get away with this!" Another shouted as the rest picked themselves up.

"That's right! Run off, ya damn fries! Ahahaha!" Floyd laughed at the students' pathetic attempts at fighting them.

"Oh, but it seems that we've already have...." Jade finished just as they left.

"Woooooo! That was awesome! Charlie-did ya-dgnna?!" Grim faltered seeing her passed out once more on the floor. "No! Not again, please! Someone help!!" He begged.

Azul started shouting orders as Jade carried her off the floor. "Someone place her over there! And get a damp rag!"

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[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

When I opened my eyes, there was darkness once more.

I gasped. Not again....

I turned at the voice; that same voice who called to me before. There was no one else in the space, but me. Was I hallucinating?

"H-huh?....I-I'm Sorry, but...I think you have the wrong person! Whoever this Astraea is, they're not me! My name is Charlotte." I call out into the void, my voice echoing.

the voice persisted.

" 'Her'? Who is this 'her' you mean?!"

I froze.

"And....who's this Chosen one exactly?" I said carefully.

"N-no! I'm just a seer! Nothing more!" I denied. The voice grew angered.

I didn't say anything. The voice sensed my discomfort and continued.

I saw the same shadow from before standing before me. But I shook my head defiantly, feeling my tears well up in my eyes. "That's not true!!" I shouted.

" 'Too long'?! For what?! And who's 'they'!?"

It started to laugh insanely, reverberating in the hollow air.

I threw my hand forward, ready to blast it with light. But nothing emerged.

"What?!" I gasped as I looked at my hand. Where are my powers?! Why aren't they working?!

The shadow laughs mercilessly.

Suddenly, he threw his hand forward, and the next thing I saw was a tidal wave of inky black shadows.

I screamed with pain as I felt This power started stinging and lashing at my arms like knives on my skin. I curled into a ball. Hoping that would at least deflect them. But it didn't do anything as I felt them pierce through my clothing now, and what felt like blood dripping down, soaking my clothes with splotches of ruby.

"Y-you're lying!! They're alive! I-I know they are!!" I fight back as the wind howled in my ears, louder and louder, as I felt my hearing starting to grow weaker.

I couldn't comprehend anything before me. My mind was a flurry of trauma and fear. As the shadows and they're mocking smiles, chanting 'it's all your fault!' Circled me. The tears that fell, blurring my vision, and the screams that fell upon "deaf" ears as I cried for help mixed with the squeezing of my lungs for air.

They're alive....

They HAVE to be!

I know they are...!

I KNOW THEY ARE?!?!

——————————

A gasp flew from my lips as I open my eyes and sat up. I was breathing heavy, as I looked around.

I was sitting on one of the couches of the Mostro lounge, A cold sweat racking my body. Something wet was on my head, And I took it off to see it was a damp rag. Sitting on a small table was a bottle of some sort of odor, probably for reviving someone.

I put a hand on my head. The last thing I saw before I passed out was the Octa trio dealing with the Scarabia students who chased me and Grim down for escaping.

I sighed. It was just a nightmare...

"Koebi-Chaaaaaaaan!" I heard Floyd scream as he threw himself to the floor, crawling towards me, crying like a maniac.

"Floyd....?" I murmured as he grabbed my hands and started nuzzling into then, feeling his tears drop into my hands.

"Floyd, please control yourself. She's still recovering." I looked up and saw Jade walking to where we were.

"B-but I don't wanna lose her!!" He bawled like a baby, shaking his head furiously.

I sighed, and took his face in my hands. "Hey...Floyd, listen: I'm not going anywhere....not for a while...okay?" I smiled gently and I dried his tears with a small tissue in my pocket.

He sniffles, "Y-you promise?" He stared up at me with sparkling eyes. He looked so much like a child who just went through losing something dear to them. It reminded so much...of...

"I'm a woman of my word. Of course I'd promise." I confirm in a motherly tone.

That seemed to calm him down, cuz next thing I knew, he smiled and chirped, "Okay!"

Jade rung out the damp cloth that was on my head over a small bowl of water. "You seem stable as of now...and your fatigue has worn off."

"Wait...don't tell me I passed out...." I shook.

"I'm afraid you did." I turned to the doorway at the new voice.

"Azul!" I smiled as he walked to the couch and sat next to me.

"Lotte, are you alright?" He took my hand in his, rubbing his thumb across the back gently.

"For now...yea..." I nod.

"Well, that's good to hear...But while I hate to bring up the subject, according to the damage to several pieces of furniture we're sacrificed in the battle..." he trailed off.

It was at this point I decided to look around the vicinity to see a giant-ass mess. I turned to look at Grim with the stink eye. "What did that mongrel do now?!"

"Something that the Ramshackle dorm and your service fees should pay to." Was all he said.

"What?! You're making us pay?!" Grim got to his feet.

"Just something small from being spared of being beaten senseless, correct?"

"Ugh, we just escaped by the skin of our teeth from that hellhole, and we can't get a break! We can't trust anyone around these parts!" He griped, tugging at his ears in stress.

"Hmm? 'Escaped'? I'm confused..."

—————————

She managed to catch them up what happened these past few days until the escape. "And that's what went down... And I already know they're going to ambush us as soon as we step out of this place...." Charlie shook at the thought. "But I'm not risking going back home! And Crowley's as useless as horse shit! And after what happened...I know it's asking for a lot...but everything just being thrown at us! And they expect us to accept it! It was hell!" The more she kept talking, the more tears spewed from her eyes. "No more...please..." by the time she finished, her voice sounded so broken, she was on the verge of choking. She curled her legs into her chest she cried like nothing before. From the stress that Crowley had put on her up since the first day to escaping, and that nightmare she endured, it all came pouring out like a waterfall.

The three boys felt their hearts break, seeing the ever-so-cheerful Charlotte sobbing hysterically. Admittedly, they agreed silently, they'd never seen a side of her like this, and after befriending her for several weeks after what went down before, this was kind of a new change for them. It made their hearts ache for her.

"Tyrannical ruling of Scarabia?" Azul asked.

Grim, who was snuggling against Charlotte to ease her worries and crying, decided to speak up for her. "Uh, no shit! The residents are getting sick of Kalim's orders!"

"Is he even capable of something like that?"

"Eeeeh? Rakko-chan (Sea Otter) is that kinda person?"

"He doesn't seem like it..."

"And Jamil's at his limit! He's the only one who's any sense when it comes to this! And even though we can use him to help Us, like Charlie said, we can't get to the headmaster at all! He's such an asshole!!"

Azul stayed silent as Grim ranted.

"Azul, don't you share the same classes?" Jade asked.

"It's true. We share the same electives, so it's no surprise we spend time around one another. Grim is right: he's the only one reliable among the student body. He almost...lacks presence? Of possible keeps his head down a lot?" Azul confirmed.

"I'm on the basketball team as him, but Umihebi-kun (sea snake) never takes the risk. So I don't give a damn on other dorms..but he's Scarabia's vice lead, eh?" Floyd put a hand on Charlie's shoulder.

"Two different leads: one is acting like a dictator, the other is driven to The edge..." then, Azul stood up. "It seems that we'll have to help them out as a result!"

After she had long dried her tears, Charlie looked at him skeptically. "Uh, repeat? You're helping?"

Grim, on the other hand, rolled his eyes. "Yea, and I suppose the sun's gonna rise in the west tomorrow!"

Azul gave him a look. "Rude! I've properly learned my lesson from before and have become a more honest man. I'm only wishing to contribute to the betterment of this school much like the Sea Witch. I wish to help them in these trying times they find themselves in. It's an offer I can't refuse!" He clenched his hand into a fist. "It's also a bit boring seeing the same people year after year. We'll have to take advantage of the opportunity before it's too late!"

"So you're gonna put us back in the prison we just got out of?! Like hell you'll do that!!" Grim seethed as he launched himself straight at Azul, intending to scratch his eyes out, but end up being caught by Floyd mid-air.

"Now, now, Seal, no need for violence~!" Floyd tapped Grim's nose as the latter grumbled about swearing revenge on the octopus.

Jade helped Charlie to her feet. "Just leave this to him and you'll be spared of the strain." He assured.

"And besides, going empty handed is only discourteous. Get the housewarming things together!" Azul walked off with a wave of his hand. "And make room for Lotte and Grim! Staying where it's hot constantly...I can hardly wait."

The two led the newcomers into the dorm. They made a mental note to stay with the two as a means of protection from any other intruders.

"What the-?! Who threw up on the floor?!" They heard Azul scream from the lounge.

At that, Charlie looked away, embarrassed. She totally forgot about the vomit pile when the students who chased her showed up.

Floyd tried not to laugh out loud, while Jade hid a smile behind his hand as they kept walking.

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[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

The next morning was...eventful, to say the least.

Well, that is if you count the Octa trio with Charlie and Grim sleeping on the floor in one room.

Charlie was curled up in the center of the mattress, her pjs rumpled from moving around all night in a heavy sleep-induced trance, which resulted in nearly punching Floyd, kicking Azul in the shin, and slapping Jade across the face.