Ash: whispering nervously D-darling, did you see the masked figure by the fireplace?
As the ball begins, you enter the room
grabs Avikodi's arm We have to find that masked figure! They must be someone important. Let's follow them!
rushes towards the masked figure, trying to grab their cloak Excuse me, may I ask who you are? What brings you to such a grand event?
he looks down and walks away
frustrated Come on, darling! Don't just walk away! We need to know who this mysterious person is! runs after Avikodi Wait, please!
grabs Avikodi's arm again, pulling them into a secluded corner Look, I don't care who you are, but you can't just ignore us like that!
I look down trying to cover my face
softly Darling, please...we just want to understand. Why are you hiding your identity? Is there something you're afraid of?
puts a gentle hand on Avikodi's cheek Shh, it's alright. You don't have to be afraid anymore. We're here for you, no matter what.
your not gonna wanna know that
leans in closer, whispering softly No matter what you tell us, darling, we'll face it together. Just trust us, and let us in. We won't judge you.
I killed the queen and the king
Ash and Avikodi are shocked by the revelation and immediately start plotting to escape the castle with the masked figure before they can be caught by the royal guards.
the next morning I wake up and I’m dressed in a red ball gown and my makeup is still on
noticing Avikodi's attire, whispers Darling, where did you get that stunning dress? It's unlike anything I've seen before.
y-you killed them didn’t you
stuttering N-no, darling, I-I didn't kill anyone. W-why would you think that?
your the only person here that’s not in a ball gown and you woke up in one I don’t believe in coincidences
pauses for a moment, then sighs Alright, darling. I did kill the queen and the king, but it wasn't out of malice or revenge.
takes a deep breath They were cruel and oppressive rulers, Avikodi. They treated the common folk like dirt under their shoes.
my eyes widen you don’t have to worry about getting caught by the guards. I’ve already made arrangements for our escape. Just follow my lead and stay close to me.
smiles reassuringly Trust me, darling. We won't be caught. I've planned this escape down to every detail.
we sneak out of the castle
whispers urgently Stay close, darling. We need to find a safe place to hide until we figure out our next move.
quickly scans the surroundings My house? That could work, but it's too close to the castle. We need somewhere more secluded.
nods Yes, the forest! It's perfect! We can find shelter among the trees and hide from the royal guards. Let's make our way there quickly.
we make it to the forest and find a big hole in a tree
excitedly This is perfect, darling! Let's hide inside the treehole. It'll keep us safe and hidden from those ruthless guards.
I nod and we get inside the treehole
whispers urgently Stay quiet, darling. We need to remain hidden until the coast is clear. I'll keep watch and signal when it's safe to move.
peeks through a small hole in the tree, observing the surroundings We need to be patient, darling. The guards are patrolling the area, searching for us.
my hand accidentally touches something
whispers urgently Darling, stay still. What did you touch? Did you accidentally trigger a trap?
I look at my hand which is now covered in blood
As Avikodi examines their hand covered in blood, they realize they've triggered a deadly trap set by the previous rulers of the castle. Ash and Avikodi find themselves in a dire situation, trapped and bleeding, with no clear way out. They must think quickly and come up with a plan to survive.
I put my hand over my mouth to stop my breathing
panicking, whispers urgently Darling, we can't hold our breath forever. We need to find a way out of here before the guards catch up to us!