Alice suddenly tensed as if she'd been yanked out of a trance, her eyes snapping open with wide-eyed panic.

  Noel jolted upright beside her, gripping Alice's arm tightly like she was afraid the young woman might vanish again. "Alice?! What just happened to you?!"

  Juniper immediately dropped her teasing smirk, looking between them in alarm.

  But Chie felt another wave of dread crash over her when Alice let out a shaky breath before whispering:

  "...They're here."

  A slow knock echoed against wood.

  "Knock knock~"

  Yuki's sing-song voice drifted through the hallway as if she knew exactly how much they were panicking in the suite right now, and found it hilarious.

  Alice went completely still beside her, as if frozen in terror at the sound of Yuki's voice.

  Noel tightened her grip on Alice's arm almost protectively, her own expression turning into a glare as she called through the door: "What?"

  There was a moment of silence, as if Yuki was surprised by Noel's bluntness.

  Then her voice came again, tone still just as cheerful as before.

  "May I speak with Alice, please~?"

  Noel didn't even hesitate. "Absolutely not."

  Alice, however, still pale and shaking from whatever had just happened to her, slowly pushed Noel's arm away before standing up on wobbly legs.

  "...I-I have to, it's Yuki," she whispered hoarsely, voice barely above a breath as she took an unsteady step toward the door.

  "Ohhh, so you remember my voice, Alice??" Yuki coos.

  Alice's breath hitched in her throat at Yuki's words, her entire body going rigid like it was suddenly frozen all over again.

  Noel looked like she wanted to stop her from going, like she was desperate to keep Alice away from whatever was outside.

  But Alice shook her head slightly, as if telling her not to worry about her as she said softly,

  "...I'll be fine, I promise.”

  Noel still looked like she wanted to argue, but a single pleading glance from Alice made her bite back any protests.

  Noel didn't look satisfied, but reluctantly nodded, letting go of Alice's arm as she watched her anxiously.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Alice took a deep breath, then turned the knob.

  The door creaked open, revealing Yuki standing there in all her eerie grace, Kaori looming behind her like some kind of shadow.

  Yuki's smile was wide and unnerving as she tilted her head at Alice: "There you are~ I knew you were hiding here."

  Kaori simply observed silently, expression unreadable but clearly calculating every single movement happening inside the room now.

  Alice’s breath hitched as Yuki’s voice slithered through the door, too sweet, too knowing.

  Noel was already halfway out of her seat, fists clenched. “Don’t you dare open that, ”

  But Alice did.

  The door creaked open to reveal Yuki leaning against the frame with a smile like cracked ice. Kaori stood behind her, silent and watchful. The hallway lights flickered ominously around them.

  “Hello again,” Yuki purred at Alice before tilting her head toward Noel and Juniper with mock curiosity: "Oh? Did we interrupt something~?"

  Juniper let out a sharp laugh from where she lounged on the couch, though it sounded more nervous than amused now.

  Alice didn't answer immediately, just stared back at Yuki in stunned silence like she couldn't believe this was happening.

  "Cat got your tongue, little Alice?" Yuki teased, eyes glinting like she was having a blast now.

  There was a dangerous edge to her voice, like she was waiting for Alice to snap at her.

  Kaori, meanwhile, watched the entire scene like a hawk, her gaze flickering between all of them like she was studying everything.

  Alice clenched her trembling hands in tight fists, trying to find her voice as she finally managed to stammer:

  "F-What are you doing here? What do you want?"

  Yuki let out a soft, mocking chuckle before answering, voice dripping with that same mocking sympathy:

  "We've come for the Echo Bell, dear~"

  Noel was on her feet instantly,her antlers ready to pierce through Yuki if necessary.

  "Like hell you are!"

  Kaori's eyes instantly shot to Noel, one warning look telling her to stand down in an instant.

  But Yuki didn't even notice her, her attention focused entirely on Alice now.

  "I can sense it, you know," Yuki cooed, voice like honey on her tongue. "Its power, its history...its potential."

  Alice's heart beat faster in her chest at the words, as if she could hear the ancient power humming beneath the surface of the bell too.

  Noel snarled at the sudden movement, her antlers flashing with defensive energy, but Yuki just laughed again, low and amused.

  Kaori’s hand twitched like she was seconds away from drawing a weapon of her own.

  Chie shot to her feet as well, her claws already half-extended in warning now too.

  Yuki didn't even flinch under all their combined hostility, instead tilting head slightly further while keeping that same eerie smile locked on Alice:

  "So? Are you going to give it up willingly... or do we have to make this messy?"

  Chie's eyes widened at Yuki's blunt words, her heart slamming against her chest as she felt her blood run cold.

  Alice's breath caught in her throat, her shoulders trembling now.

  Kaori, on the other hand, didn't hesitate.

  "The second option," she said coldly, her tone flat and matter-of-fact. "We'll be taking the bell. No bloodshed necessary.”

  Yuki's entire face lit up in excitement at the response, her mouth stretching into a wide and almost manic smile:

  "Ooh, how exciting! Finally! A challenge!!"

  There was something almost feral in Yuki's voice now, like she'd been itching for a fight since the moment she stepped through the door.

  Noel slammed her fist against the wall, her antlers flaring with wild energy as she bared her teeth.

  "You want a fight?!" she snarled, voice shaking with barely restrained fury. "Then take it! But you're not getting that bell unless you go through me first!"

  Juniper was already standing behind Noel, no longer lounging but ready to throw down if needed.

  Chie felt herself tense up beside them, claws still out and tail bristling in warning as she watched Yuki closely for any sudden movements.

  Alice looked like she wanted to say something else, but before anyone could move…

  The lights went out.

  A thick darkness swallowed the room instantly, as if someone had flipped a switch somewhere beyond their control…

  And then?

  Yuki whispered right into Alice's ear:

  "Found you~"