Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The first thing she recognized was the darkness surrounding her.

She couldn’t see it, but more like she knew it was there — a feeling. A feeling she was too familiar with. Like… like shadows. Shadows reaching out to her. Surrounding her. Taunting her. Engulfing her. Sucking the air out of her very lungs…!

You see, the funny thing was she thought this feeling would be gone by the time she arrived in this world; The Nowhere. She thought she’d… She’d never have to feel it again.

Clearly, however, she was proven wrong.

The Candleman lied to her. Tricked her. Deceived her. Used her just as The Counsellor had used her before.

She knows she should’ve known better, she knew that! Adults can’t be trusted, never mind creepy… things that stalk her dreams.

This was a mistake. She shouldn't have been so desperate. She should’ve fought back! But at the moment, taking The Candleman’s hand felt like her only choice. Her only escape.

Well, it was either that or lose her damn mind to The Counsellor. Let him continue using her as his personal lab rat in his ongoing search for his — His…

She can’t remember. Her memory is slipping away from her.

Noone opens her eyes.

The next thing she realizes is that she’s in a… a cloud?

No. It’s fog. She recognizes the misty substance from her time in The Counties. But the way she’s surrounded by it feels as if she’s… floating. Even though she could see and feel the hard packed earth below her.

She’s always liked the fog. It helps her hide. Helps her walk around unnoticed. No paparazzi can ambush you if you’re standing in a cloud, after all.

But something about this particular fog seems… Eerie. A sense of foreboding washes over her, and suddenly, she feels the urge to escape the mist; as if standing in it too long would cause terrible things to happen.

She feels so off. This new world… She knows she’s a stranger to this new world. She feels light as a feather, as if she’s dead. But she knew she wasn’t dead. Oh no, she knows she’s very much alive. She could still feel the steady beat of her heart. The blood coursing through her veins. She could still breathe.

Noone looks up, and that’s when she catches sight of the third thing;

The Candleman.

The air catches in her throat at the sight of him. Panic surges through her. He towers before Noone, looking almost menacing in the light of the moon. She recognizes his long, filthy jacket and fisherman’s hat. The way his face drips and sags, bits and pieces rising and falling. The way his long, slit-like eyes look down at her. The way his ragged breathing penetrates the dead silence surrounding them.

He was the last face she wanted to see at the moment.

She wants to run now; run far, far away, like she’s always wished she could. Run away from the pain. Run away from the troubles. Run and run and run until she finally gives out. Until she draws her very last breath. 

She tries to stand, to try out this theory of running away she has, but finds she’s glued to the ground, her legs refusing to cooperate.

Noone looks up at him, her body shaking. She has nowhere to run, nowhere to hide…

“You,” She gasps, her eyes widening, words utterly failing her, “What do you… What do you want from me? What now?”

She glances up at him, hoping to get an answer. However The Candleman did not speak, nor did he move. All he did was stare at her.

Noone stares back, refusing to show him her vulnerability. No, she won’t let him take her. Won’t let him trick her again. Whatever he does… She won’t let him do it without a fight.

But although she’s bracing for the worst, although she’s expecting an attack…

The Candleman instead, slowly but carefully, offers a hand.

“The price has been paid, Ruth.” He says in a calm, soothing, disoriented voice, his hand outstretched to her, “You have finally been freed from the chains that bind you.”

Noone shivered at his words.

What does he mean ‘the price has been paid’?

She stares up at his outstretched hand.

A part of her was reluctant to accept it. She knew The Candleman can’t be trusted. He’s a trickster. He can’t be that good. But… What choice did she have? She couldn’t say no — that wasn’t an option — and she doubted she could just run off either. This world is dangerous if you aren’t careful. 

She was stuck.

But another part — a part of herself she hated — wanted to trust him. Wanted to let him guide her to wherever he wanted her next. Wanted her to give up. To give in. He promised freedom, didn’t he? He saved her from The Counsellor. He gave her a sense of safety that she never thought any adult could ever offer her.

She knows she can’t go back. That’s not an option for her. But she also knows that The Candleman has saved her from more than one tricky situation…

“Come, little Ruth…” He says, his voice disoriented, “The bird has not yet left its nest… Our journey isn’t yet done…”

She doesn’t have another choice. She understands that. She’s going to have to trust him this time. Give him another chance. 

So, very reluctantly, she takes his hand, placing her trust completely into his.

The Candleman makes no word to her as he helps her stand. Quietly, he guides her through the mist and the tall grass, only occasionally glancing down at her. 

Noone stays close, remembering vividly the words she had said to Otto before leaving behind her world for good. Before leaving him behind forever.

“Not you. The Candleman. I’ll be lost without him.”

Otto. The Counsellor. What is he doing now? Does he have regrets? Does he finally accept his mistakes? Or is he too caught up in his own delusional fantasy to realize the damage he has caused? The pain he has inflicted on her? It’s his fault she sold herself into The Nowhere… after all.

Regardless of how he’s feeling, Noone couldn’t care less about him. Not anymore. Not after everything he’s put her through. He’s a monster. Nothing but a monster. 

And I can’t believe I thought he was a friend…

The Candleman suddenly comes to a halt, making Noone stop too. Curious, she peers through the mist and tall grass surrounding her when she spots a… a rowboat?

It looks just like a rowboat, but only bigger. Way bigger. It sways gently at the edge of the water, where she and The Candleman stand on the beach, surrounded by tall grass. There’s mist surrounding the mysterious ocean, and she feels eager to explore it, almost as if it’s calling out to her.

The Candleman looks down at her, and she looks up, nervous. He seems to understand though, as he always seems to understand, so very gently, he lifts her up and places her into the boat before stepping in himself.

The boat begins to rock violently as he takes his seat, facing her. Noone lets out a terrified squeak, waving her hands and trying to find stability before The Candleman gently puts one of his giant hands on her shoulder.

Noone looks up, her eyes dilating due to fear.

“Hush now… little one…” He says in a broken and warped, yet calm voice, “There is no need to fear. No need to doubt. You are safe now, in this boat… lose yourself… Lose yourself to these endless tides…”

Noone takes a deep breath. In, and out. In, and out.

Smell the flowers, blow out the candles. Smell the flowers, blow out the candles.

I am safe now. No need to fear. I am safe now. No need to fear.

She repeats these words in her mind until she feels calm once more. She’s still a bit shaky, but at least she isn’t panicking anymore.

She looks up at The Candleman.

“I’m… I’m ready now,” She says to him in a quiet voice, “You can go now. I’m okay. I’m just glad to be free. Free from…” Noone shutters. “Him.”

The Candleman knows exactly who ‘him’ is.

Without saying another word, The Candleman slowly begins to row. Feeling a sense of peace wash over her, Noone looks out on the boat, watching as the tides and waves shift and fall. It’s quite boring if you ask her. Maybe it was a bit satisfying at the start, but after a while, it becomes…

Tiering. 

Noone feels her eyelids become heavy. She glances up at The Candleman, and wonders if perhaps she’d be allowed to sleep?

No. She can’t sleep. Not yet. She’d be too vulnerable. And besides, her adventure is only just starting.

So instead, she decides to ask questions in order to entertain her ten-year-old mind.

“Candleman,” She asks, her voice sounding innocent, “Are we there yet?”

Slowly, The Candleman looks down at her.

“No Ruth,” he says in a disoriented voice, “Not yet.”

Noone asks another question.

“Candleman, how exactly do you have a boat? Is there a shop here?”

The Candleman stares down at her once again. Then slowly, he simply states “An offer… an offer from this world…”

“What about you? What exactly is your job?”

“I am a being of many things… a light that draws the moths…”

“Ohhh! Are there moths here?”

“Moths are nothing but —”

“What about this world? How does this world work anyways?”

“This is a world —” 

“Oh look! The sky is so pretty! Why are the clouds like that…?”

“Clouds? They —”

“Candleman,” She interrupts yet again, “Are we nearly there yet —” 

“SILENCE!”

Noone winces at his sudden outburst. She wasn’t expecting him to raise his voice. Not like… that. Although then again, it seems like her curiosity has gotten the best of her once more. She may or may not have gotten a little carried away with all the questions…

She looks up, and suddenly, she notices how hard he’s breathing. He looks… annoyed. He’s stopped rowing, and is now staring down at her. For a horrible moment, Noone feels a sudden jolt at the thought of The Candleman attacking her. Could he attack her? He’s definitely taller than her. Way taller. And stronger…

But The Candleman simply just sits back down, breathes in and out and glares down at her.

“Silence Ruth… All of your curiosities will be answered… you will feel no need to question soon…”

His voice sounds merely irritated. Seeing this as a sign of defeat, Noone slumps back in her seat and lets out a sigh. She doesn’t like to wait. She’s never had. The longer she waits the more anxiety builds up inside of her.

Maybe I should try my luck at falling asleep after all.

She knows she no longer has to fear waking up from wretched nightmares, no longer has to fear being trapped into

Nowhere, as she’s ultimately ended up here anyways.

But as she’s silently gazing upon the waters, bored out of her mind yet again, she catches sight of something.

Noone immediately jolts up. Leaning dangerously close to the edge of the rowboat, she gazes upon the curious object floating in the waters, almost menacing.

“Is that —” She starts, unable to hold back her curiosity this time, “Is that an island?”

No… it’s not an island. It’s… it’s almost like a submarine, but it’s gigantic. Huge! Even someone as tall as The Candleman looks almost like an ant compared to the colossal structure.

The Candleman makes no sound, and only glances for a moment at the object Noone is pointing at. Then, without a word, he reaches in the front of the boat and pulls out a wooden box and some ropes.

Noone just stares. What… What is the box for? What about the ropes? He wasn’t going to put her in there…

… Was he?

“Candleman,” Noone says, in a more anxious tone, “what —” 

But before she could even finish, The Candleman swiftly seizes Noone, snatching her with his two giant hands, before she can even react.

She flails around, panic surging through her like a sudden, terrible wave — she thought she could trust him, thought she would help her — !

What was he going to do to her now?!

She kicks, bites, thrashes, anything she can do, but The Candleman’s grip is too tight. She can’t break loose.

“LET ME GO! LET ME GO!” She screams, still thrashing around wildly, “Please!”

Noone chokes back a sob, determined to stay strong despite the pure fear almost immobilizing her. No. She wouldn’t let him see her as prey. She’s not prey. She can fight back, she will fight back, she’ll —

“GET IN THE BOX, RUTH! STOP STRUGGLING AND GET INSIDE THE BOX!”

At a great force, she feels The Candleman violently thrust her into the wooden box, ropes around her limbs. She tries to keep her hold on his fingers but is dropped at a great height into the box. She feels her head hit painfully hard on the ground, feels her teeth bite down hard on her tongue, her vision now going hazy. 

She tries to look up, tries to get up, but is rapidly losing consciousness, the bitter metallic taste of blood now filling up inside of her mouth.

“I’m sorry Ruth, I truly apologize, but… it’s all part of the job. Say goodnight.”

“C-Candleman?” She croaks out weakly, trying to lift her head up before —

Silence.

__ _____ _________________________ _____ __

“Hey Teddy! Samie! Lime! Check this out! It’s — It’s another box…”

“Another one…? What’s — what’s inside of it this time?”

…

“... It’s a child.”

“A — a child? Are they… are they —”

“They’re alive, I think.”

“Pfft, more like you hope.”

“Oh shut up Winnie. She looks about Samie’s age.”

“What should we do then? She doesn’t look too great… oh shoot, there’s blood on the floor of the box…”

…

“I’m going to let her out. Check if she’s okay, alright? Hey, I don’t know if you’re conscious or not, but I’m going to open the box.”

“Three…”

“Two…”

Noone’s eyes snap open at the voices of other children. Her head hurts. A lot. And there are gaps in her memory too… thoughts of the past that seem just out of her reach —

She slowly lifts her head, but is forced back down by a violent fit of coughing, and that’s when she notices that her mouth is filled with blood.

Her blood.

She looks up, and notices four kids hovering over her; one with shortish, dark brown hair that hides part of his face, another with short and spiky reddish hair and blue eyes, a third with a yellowish-green, almost lime colored gaze, blonde curls and freckles, and the fourth one…

Noone stared up at the fourth kid a little while longer. This particular child has medium-brown, greyish hair, but it seemed almost… glued together? It was as if her hair had goo in it for a long period of time. Clumps of some dried out substance seemed to be present in this child’s icky hair too. 

Her limbs… her limbs have scars present, as if chains had been wrapped tightly around this particular kid at one point. She can’t help but wonder what she’s been through. What kinds of things she’s seen…

But it’s her reaction to her presence that catches Noone off guard the most.

They lock eyes, only for a brief second, but it was at that moment, that very moment, that Noone suddenly realizes with a jolt that she’s met this child before.

Somehow, someway, she knew who this kid was at one point.

And not only that, but the way the child stares at her makes Noone feel like she knows it too.

“Hello,” The boy with dark brown hair says in a soft voice, making Noone’s attention shift towards him.

He looked… welcoming. Kind. He smiles slightly at her, and she notices how he too has scars. In fact, it seems all of these kids have scars present. She also notices how his hand is outstretched, offering her a loaf of bread. He looks older than the others, too. If Noone had to guess she’d probably say that he’s a teenager.

She looks reluctantly at the loaf of bread he’s offering her, unsure whether she should accept it or not.

“Don’t worry, it’s not poisonous. Besides, you seem like you could use a little warmth in you.” He says with a smile, “We have plenty of more where this came from.”

At his words, she feels a sense of safety wash over her. Perhaps it’s okay to maybe trust these kids? They seem friendly enough, and she is really hungry…

So slowly, very carefully, Noone reaches out and silently takes the loaf from his hand.

“Th-thanks,” She mumbles quietly, looking up at the children and smiling, just a tiny bit, for the first time since she’s got here.

“Of course.” Responds the kid who had handed her the bread.

They help her out of the wooden box, and very carefully, cut her free from the ropes that The Candleman had wrapped around her limbs.

Noone takes this as a moment to survey her surroundings. She appears to be in a room — a room full of coal.

It was everywhere. It was scattered all over the floor, stuffed in cardboard and wooden boxes, even piled sky high in particular parts. 

There were also lots of pipes and wooden boardwalks, which made her wonder where they lead to. Above her, light poured down from a hole above her; a huge one. 

It appeared to be the only source of light in this grey, cold cavern.

She spots a creature scurrying across the floor in the distance. It appears to be some sort of… mushroom fairy thingy? Its head sure looks like a mushroom… and it often makes odd little chittering noises, forcing her to suppress a laugh.

At the sight of the creature, a memory is suddenly brought to the surface in her mind. A warning. She’s seen a creature like this before, somewhere along the line in her past, but the memory is just out of reach — and before she knows it, the thought vanishes, like a soft wisp of smoke.

If only she could remember.

Why can’t she remember?

Noone takes a bite out of her loaf of bread, half hoping that it’ll also wash away the taste of blood still lingering in her mouth. 

The bread-giving teen was right. She could use a little bit of its warmth.

“So,” The teen responds once she finishes the bread, the others looking down at her curiously, “What’s your story?”

Noone looks up at him, noticing the hint of sadness in his eyes.

Why does he look so… sad?

“M-my story?” She croaks out, seeing where that gets her. She doesn’t really feel like retelling at the moment...

“It’s okay if you can’t remember it all. Not many of us can keep memories for too long, you know. But if you don’t tell us, you’ll surely forget it all.”

She stares up at him, then glanced at the others. He’s right. Her memory is slipping fast. But… where does she even start?

“If you don’t know where to begin, just start with your name, alright? You're safe here, I promise. There’s no need to run anymore.”

There’s no need to run anymore…

Those words resonate within her.

She takes a deep breath, then finally begins to talk.

“M-my name i-is N-oone.” She responds, her voice shaky. Why is her voice so shaky?

“Noone?”

She nods quietly.

“Noone, do you remember what happened before you got here? Anything at all?”

“Yes,” She whispers, her voice almost silent.

She takes another deep breath, then begins to tell her story.

“I, I remember parts of it. I — I remember opening up my mind. To him. The Candleman. I let him take me here. Let him pull me away from the world I came from —”

“Wait, what do you mean, ‘world that I came from’?” The boy with blonde hair interjects, looking down at her with a worried expression.

He turns to her.

“Noone, where exactly did you come from?” He asks. His voice isn’t exactly gentle, but it’s not harsh either. More like… worried. Confused. 

“I — I’m not from here. I know it. I — I came here to escape. I can’t remember why, I just know. I’m looking for something. Looking for… for freedom. I was lied to, though.”

“Noone,” This time the girl with the odd hair is talking, her voice tinted with anxiety. She turns her attention towards her, looking at her. “How… How long have you been here?”

Silence follows this question. Bitter silence.

How long have I been here...?

“I… I had just arrived. The Candleman had taken my hand and guided me to a boat. We… we sailed for a bit, then he put me in a box and… Please don’t ask any more questions! My head…”

Noone buries her face in her hands. She can’t understand why she’s getting so stressed out. Stress was supposed to be gone by the time she got here! Oh great now tears are beginning to form in her eyes —

“And that’s all you remember, isn’t it?”

Noone looks up. It’s the teen with the bread who asks her this time, but his voice is more… grounding. And she appreciates it.

She nods. 

She tries to stand up, tries to move around, but she’s too dizzy. She falls back down, her world spinning and her head searing with pain. Blood is beginning to fill up in her mouth again. She spits it out, beginning to feel nauseous from the metallic taste.

“Noone, you must’ve hit your head really hard, it’s okay if you can’t remember things properly —”

“But I do remember!” She shoots back, her voice rising. 

She spits out more blood, tries once more to stand and turns to the other children.

“What? You don’t believe me? Of course you don’t, nobody does…”

“Noone, we never said that. Let's take you to a Medic, alright? You're coughing blood and you can’t even stand up straight. I promise, everything is going to turn out okay. You probably just need some time. Time to… time to adjust.”

The teen who offered her the bread, along with the boy with blonde curly hair, help her to her feet. She almost falls for a moment, but the bread giving boy and Lime are able to keep her stable.

“I never caught your names,” She mumbles quietly, her eyes drifting elsewhere.

“Oh, that’s right… sorry.” The teen responds, glancing at her expression, “I’m Teddy, by the way. And the other kid helping you up right now is Lime.”

Lime gives her a nod, smiling while trying to keep her stable at the same time.

“That’s Winnie,” He nods towards the girl with red hair, “And that’s Samie.”

Samie.

She looks up at the girl with the odd hair — the girl she could’ve sworn she’s met before. Does she remember her as well? The way she’s looking at her sure makes Noone think so…

“Thanks,” She says quietly, her eyes still on Samie, “I’ll… I’ll remember you.” She pauses for a moment.

“All of you.” She finally adds.

“That’s nice to hear,” Teddy responds, his voice quiet yet… cheerful.

“What even is this place anyways?” Noone asks, her eyes drifting around before landing on yet another fairy creature, “And what exactly is that?”

“Oh that?” Winnie says, noticing the creature she’s pointing at, “That’s a Nome. They’re quite abundant in this place. Especially here. They were actually once children like you and me, but The Lady of the Maw had cursed them into the form they’re in, forever doomed to walk as a small, insignificant being…”

“But don’t worry,” She assured quickly, noticing Noone’s disturbed expression, “The Lady of the Maw is long gone now. Killed years ago by a kid; the same kid who murdered all the remaining grown-ups present, leaving this place safe enough for The Nome King to take over and turn this once dangerous landscape into a sorta safe haven for kids and Nomes alike, protected from the horrors that other parts of this world brings.”

“Oh, that’s interesting…” Noone responds, looking around. They’re walking now, and have finally left the cold coal room. And the first thing Noone notices is that there are both kids and Nomes everywhere. 

Some are selling items at the small tent shops set up on the huge tables and drawers. Some are simply walking around, gazing at the colourful sights. And some, she notices, were staring curiously at her and pointing; whispering things in one another’s ears.

She’s always hated attention. And people pointing at her and whispering in each other’s ears really doesn’t make things any better in her case.

She notices how dozens upon dozens of candles and lanterns have been lit as an attempt to bring some light into the cold and dark rooms. They’re besides the walkways and present in any other corner they could possibly fit in. Murals line the wooden walls of almost every room, big or small, and colourful banners have been hung and draped from the ceilings.

She also notices how a group of children appear to be performing on a small wooden stage set up for them, adding music into the already energetic atmosphere.

“Wow, this place is so lively,” Noone comments, gazing at the colourful and exciting sights with curiosity. It almost feels as if this whole thing… is a dream?

But not a bad one; a good one. The type of dreams Noone hadn’t been able to cherish in a while.

Don’t be stupid, this is a dream. She reminds herself. 

She thinks back to the darkness she had felt before. The… the fear. She had regrets for coming here earlier, but maybe this was the right choice after all?

She certainly feels free, and feels safe. Isn’t that what she was aiming for?

She wants to look around, to get to know this place and its inhabitants, but as suddenly as ever her head is hurting yet again. She’s in no condition to explore.

Well… not yet, that is.

"What is this place anyways? What is it for?" She asks, gazing around, curious.

"We call it The Hideaway." Winnie responds proudly, smiling down at two Nomes as they scurry pass, "This is where the Nomes reside. It's also used as a market for trading goods or just having a good time. There's also a market area on the upper levels, but this one is nice too. They've done a pretty good job turning this place into a colourful bazaar, if I do say so myself. However, the Nomes are also responsible for running the furnace that powers this entire ship, so they do have some responsibilities, I guess. The Nome King makes sure that they get breaks though."

The Nome King.

She's been hearing that name a lot. They must be important. But... who exactly is The Nome King?

She feels like she should know who they are.

Noone wants to reply to this, but her vision begins to suddenly blur and she suddenly finds herself almost faltering once again.

“It’s okay Noone,” Teddy reassures, noticing her pained expression and gripping her more tightly as an effort to keep her stable. “We’re almost at the Medic’s place. She’s the best in the area, so trust me when I say that she’ll fix you up in no time.”

She just nods. Her vision is blurring again, but she has to trust these kids. They seem to know what to do.

The music begins to fade from her ears, and she’s suddenly feeling a sense of belonging. These kids… they don’t even know her that well. Almost all of them have never met her in her life, yet they’re still helping her. Still making her feel like she belongs.

Why are they helping her? She doesn’t know them.

But at the same time… she appreciates it. She remembers feeling this particular emotion, the sense of belonging before. She just can’t remember where. And how. All she knows is that she had just wished it could last forever.

But maybe this time it will.

Maybe this time her luck has finally turned around.

Chapter Text

“Nearly bashed in head… shredded tongue… what in the world did you even do to yourself?!” Hisses Lotus, the local Medic as she stares down at her patient — Noone — who’s sitting upright in her bed watching quietly as she examines her.

She was in the Medical Rooms now. With Teddy, Lime, Winnie and Samie all watching silently from the sidelines, anxious looks on their faces.

Noone glanced around, noticing how the room she was in wasn’t actually a room, but more like a space in between the walls. It was one of many small chambers, in fact. All complete with dripping pipes and a gloomy, almost blueish atmosphere.

It was a room that for some odd reason, she very much disliked being in.

Lotus’s icy-blue eyes glare at the four, her freckled nose scrunched up and her short, dark wavy hair moving from side to side as she glances between Noone and the others.

“What happened to her?!” She snarls, turning to them, “I swear, I haven’t even seen injuries like this since that one kid who had gotten their leg caught up in one of those darn pipes! They ended up having to amputate too…”

Noone notices Lotus’s faraway look at the mention of the boy, and watches as she gives a quiet shutter.

“We don’t know what happened to her.” Teddy informs, trying his best to keep his face straight. “We found her in a wooden box looking pretty beat up and coughing blood.” He pauses, before adding, “She’s new here, too.”

“Oh. New to Sanctuary?”

“No,” Samie corrects, her voice containing hints of irritability, “New to this entire damn world. Said a grown-up who was supposed to be guiding her here violently thrusted her into a wooden box that we found her in and left her to fend for herself. Poor kid’s memory is slipping fast too. My guess is that she won’t be able to recall anything before the incident by tomorrow…”

The room falls silent for a brief moment at Samie’s words.

“It’s sad, really. I know that every one of us goes through it, but still…” Lime finishes.

“I see…” Lotus murmurs, “Well, at least now I know how she got all these injuries in the first place. Never trust an adult, oh no. They’re designed to prey on us. I’m surprised this particular adult you had the run-in with didn’t decide to kill you on the spot. Count yourself as lucky. Most of us don’t usually survive adult encounters, after all…”

Noone makes no word as Lotus continues to wrap a bandage around her head, which still throbbed with pain from her scrimmage with The Candleman. 

She then grabs a small wet rag from a bucket beside her, and hands it to Noone.

“Here. Put this in your mouth and apply pressure. It should help with the cuts on your tongue.”

“Thanks,” Noone mumbles quietly as she stuffs the small rag inside of her mouth and bites down.

Lotus continues to work on her, wrapping the bandage around her head and continuing to ask Teddy and the others questions. Questions about her condition when they found her, if she had appeared to have traveled elsewhere before the incident, along with other things.

After she finished with that, however, Noone watches curiously as a Nome — an odd fairy-mushroom thingy that Winnie had told her were natives — hands her a clipboard and a pencil, chittering nervously.

“Thanks, Pip. Well, we better get this started before you forget anything else.” Lotus states, looking down at Noone. “I’m going to ask you a series of questions. Nothing too troubling, just some background information so that we can register you. It’s protocol, especially since you’re a newbie. Is that alright?”

“Um, okay,”

“Awesome. Name?”

“Noone.” She says firmly, “Just Noone. I mean, I have another name but I can’t seem to remember —”

“That’s alright darling,” Lotus interrupts with a kind smile, “Not many of us can remember our true names. Or anything about our past actually. To some of us, this world is all we’ve ever known. So Noone’ll probably be your respondent name from now on. You look about ten or eleven so I’d probably say you’re still a tween…”

Noone can’t help but feel a sense of surprise by how mature Lotus is acting. She definitely seems to know what she’s doing… despite not looking any older than her, if not younger.

She then finds herself wondering what kinds of injuries Lotus had dealt with in the past.

“Have you previously endured any serious injuries before? Like perhaps being severely sliced, nearly crushed, almost eaten alive, a survivor of some kind of serious infection or illness… anything like that?”

A survivor of some kind of serious infection or illness…

“No, not that I remember…” She responds slowly.

“What exactly do you mean by that? Would you mind clarifying a bit?”

Noone pauses, racking her brain for anything important, anything at all… until —

“I… I don’t know. I’m sorry. I know you need as much information as I can give you, but this is all I have. Honest!”

Lotus just nods before scribbling something down onto the piece of paper handed to her by the Nome.

“That’s okay if you’re not entirely sure. Perhaps it wasn’t that important if you hadn't hung onto it. Actually, how about instead you just tell me all the details that you think are most important. Just leave out the rest and see if that helps you.”

“Okay. I — I guess I could try…”

“Good. Now, these next few questions might be hard to answer, maybe even a bit odd, but promise me you’ll reply with full honesty, okay? You won’t be punished for any reason at all. We only have a few more questions to go, and then you’ll be free to relax and just focus on getting better, alright?”

“Um, okay…”

“Have you ever killed another child or Nome before? Purposely or involuntarily?”

“I don’t think so… no. I’d never do something like that.”

“Have you ever killed an adult before? Or any other type of hostile creature?”

“No — I mean yes. I think.” Noone responds hastily.

“When?”

“Uh,” She pauses. “I… I can’t remember, but I know I did kill a monster — I mean adult — before. But only because he did something! Something really bad… Ugh! Why can’t I remember what?! I know it’s important but I just —”

“Hey, It’s okay. It’s okay Noone.” Lotus reassures, grabbing Noone by the shoulders and forcing her to look into her eyes. “I know this is a lot. Believe me, I was going through the very same thing you’re going through right now not too long ago. I understand how stressful this is for you. But luckily, you just so happened to end up in one of the safest places this hellhole has to offer, so that means, you won’t have to go through this alone, okay? I’ll fix you up in a jiffy.”

All Noone can manage to do is nod. She can’t seem to be able to find the right words at the moment, so instead, she watches as Lotus turns towards the others once again.

“Teddy, please notify The Nome King that we have a new child here in Sanctuary. We’re done here for now. My patient here needs time to rest, if she’s hoping to get any better. Rest and perhaps some comfort.”

She places the paper with all of her information into his hands.

“Please hand this to Captain, alright? And if you can’t find Captain, give it to Hop. Oh, and be sure to tell him every single detail we’ve managed to receive from her. Tell them… tell them that she knows things. That can still recall things from — from before.”

Teddy just nods, gives Noone a silent farewell, then sprints out of the room.

“As for the rest of you,” Lotus adds, wheeling towards Lime, Winnie and Samie, “By Medic’s orders, you may return to your previous tasks, whatever those may be. Your job here is done. Oh, and thank you for bringing her here. It’s quite a lucky thing you lot were around. Who knows how long she would’ve been trapped in that box if you hadn’t been in the storage rooms at the time.”

“No problem, Lotus. It was our pleasure. Part of Lookout Code is to always help out another kid in need, after all.” Lime replies, giving her a small bow before turning to the door, “Winnie? Samie? Are you coming? We still have chores left, you know.”

“Yes, Lime. We know.” Winnie retorts, glaring at him, “And you do know that you’re not head of our Lookout, right? That’s Teddy.”

“Yes Winnie, I do know that. However I am a Second-Class Lookout Scout so therefore —”

“Fine. But you better not start acting like our boss, because you’re not.” Winnie snaps. She then turns her attention towards Noone. “Bye Noone. Hope you feel better soon. See you around!”

“Thanks. You too.”

Winnie gives her a kind smile, then turns and exits the room the same way Teddy did, leaving only Lime, Samie, Lotus and Pip.

“Samie, you coming?” He asks, beckoning her towards the door. However, Samie makes no movement to exit. Instead, she walks up to Noone’s bedside and sits down beside her.

“Actually, is it okay if I stay here for a bit longer? I have some business with Noone I have to attend to,” She replies, her eyes fixated on Lime, waiting for a response.

However, Lime doesn’t respond. Instead, he eyes her carefully.

“Please,” She finally adds.

“Well, if you insist.” Lime finally sighs, noticing her pleading expression, “I guess there isn’t much of a problem with you staying. It must be some important business then. Since you're willing to take a pause on your chores just to stay by this child’s side.” He pauses. “Did you… did you know her?”

Another significant pause. Then, slowly, and quietly, Samie nods without saying another word.

“Of course then,” He responds, his voice much more gentle than before, “I hope you don’t mind, Lotus.”

“Don’t worry, there’s no problem at all.” The young Medic responds, smiling.

Lime nods, says a silent farewell to Samie, then exits the Medical Rooms.

“Now,” Lotus finally pipes up, turning to Samie and Noone, “I have other patients in need of attendance right now, so Pip over here will be the one taking care of you for the time being.”

She nods towards Pip, who is seated on a shelf beside Noone’s bed. The Nome chitters in response.

“I’ll check in on you every once in a bit, but for now, just sit tight. Alright?”

Noone and Samie nod in response.

“Okay then. Now that that’s settled, I’ll leave you two for a bit of catching up. Feel better, alright? And if you’re in need of any assistance don’t be afraid to send Pip over to fetch me. She can understand what you say, even if you can’t understand her.”

And just like that, Lotus sweeps out of the room, leaving only Samie, Noone, and the Nome.

“There are other kids here?” Noone immediately asks, “I know she said that I was the worst case she’s had in a bit but still…”

“Don’t worry,” Samie reassures, “Most of the children here are just in for minor things. Like perhaps they caught a cold or have a mild infection in need of treatment. We rarely get severe cases anymore. However, then again, Lotus mainly treats Nomes and children in need of immediate attention, such as you. All the rush cases and major injuries usually get transported to the upper levels if they require more than Lotus can offer them.”

Samie falls silent, a faraway look in her eyes similar to the one Lotus had when she was talking about the boy with the amputation.

It was a look that only suggested that Samie had been a witness to quite a few things.

Horrible things.

But there’s something else about Samie that had been bugging Noone since the start. Something that had been tugging at the very tip of her memory. Samie… Samie is familiar to her. They’ve met before. She was important in her life — a person that she might had called a friend. An ally, even.

But she can’t remember. It’s gone now, whatever that memory was. Just like how everything else about her past had been stolen from her, thanks to the stupid Candleman.

But still. Although she knows that it isn’t her fault, she hates herself for not being able to remember it.

It is at that moment when Samie then, without warning, pulls Noone into the tightest embrace she’s ever experienced.

“I — I can’t believe it. You’re alive,” She chokes, still hugging Noone as tight as she can, as if afraid she’ll disappear once more if she even dares let go, “I thought you died, Noone! I thought that… that the Warden had eaten you alive! Yet — yet here you are. Right here. Sure, some of your memories may be gone, and sure, you may also be a bit beat up but still…”

Samie lets go, leaving Noone gasping for breath, still a bit caught off guard by the sudden embrace. She’s never been hugged that tight before, let alone by someone she feels as if she barely knows.

But I did know her, She reminds herself. She must have! Otherwise Samie would have no reason to embrace her the way she did. They’re not strangers.

Not to Samie… at least.

Why can’t she remember her, then? She should remember her. Hugged her just as Samie had just done!

“Perhaps it wasn’t that important if you hadn't hung onto it.”

Maybe… maybe Samie wasn’t as important as she thinks. That must be the case, right? Just like Lotus had said; if it wasn’t important then maybe that’s why she hadn’t hung onto it.

But that doesn’t feel very right to her… Does it?

“I’m sorry,” Samie finally says, burying her face in her hands as if embarrassed, “It’s just… I never expected you to just… you know, drop in like you did, let alone quite literally.”

“Yeah…” Is all that Noone can manage to say.

Samie pauses.

“Hey Noone,” She asks, her voice now sounding more… anxious, “You… you do remember me, don’t you?”

Noone doesn’t respond to this. Instead, she looks up at her expression. Their eyes meet again, and another familiar feeling surges through her once more.

She knows that this kid had formed some kind of friendship with her before. It’s like that feeling she’s felt before — that feeling like her body knows something that her mind doesn’t. But…

How in the world am I supposed to respond?

“I’m… I’m so sorry Samie,” She finally says, shaking her head, “I know you were someone I cared about, I know that! Whoever you were to me… you were probably someone important. Someone I had hated myself for not being able to save. That memory of you, that memory of all of it… it’s… its just out of reach —”

“No,” Samie interrupts, waving her hands at Noone, “I totally understand. I guess I just hoped too soon. It doesn’t matter anyways. I’m just glad to know that I didn’t have to lose another friend after all. Besides, we’re safe now. Here in Sanctuary… it’s not like the outside world. Nothing’s going to come after us anymore.”

Despite her words of reassurance, Noone notices her wipe tears beginning to prick in her eyes. She was clearly hurt by this, but she’s trying her best not to show it.

“I should go now,” She finally states, getting up, “I still have some chores to do anyways. Besides, I should let you rest. You’re probably not feeling very great. I mean, come on you literally just dropped out of the sky and here I am, telling you that I knew you before. This must be so weird for you… I’m sorry.”

“No, no you’re fine, honestly!” Noone tries to say as an effort to make her feel better, “I could be better, I’ll admit that, and apparently I am also suffering from amnesia, but honestly I’m just glad that I didn’t end up alone. I hate being alone.”

Noone notices a small smile break across Samie’s face. The girl with the odd hair then makes an attempt to hide her expression. She’s clearly chuckling, and this makes her feel just a little bit better about the whole situation.

She turns towards the door, then glances over to Noone at the exit.

“Will I see you around? Like, maybe in the markets, hopefully? Of course, when you’re feeling better that is…”

She gives Noone a hopeful smile.

“Well, it seems like I don’t really have anywhere to go at the moment,” Noone responds, looking out the window, “So, hopefully? I don’t know how long Lotus’s gonna keep me trapped here, though. Although I hope it’s not very long. I want to explore, actually. And I bet it’ll be way more fun if you’re there too.”

A wide smile breaks across Samie’s face. She’s practically beaming.

“Good enough for me!” She smiles. “Oh, and Noone?”

"Yeah?”

“I’m… I’m glad you're okay, really. I could always use a friend anyways. And even if you can’t remember who I am… just know that I’m truly happy you’re here.”

A small smile creeps up on Samie’s face, making Noone feel all warm inside. Then, without saying another word, she exits the room.

Now that Samie’s gone, and now that Noone is all alone, (well, minus the Nome, of course), she realizes that she feels exhausted.

The Nome chitters kindly to her as she finally lies down, that warm feeling still lingering inside of her as she pulls on the covers.

“I’m going to close my eyes for a bit, if that’s alright,” She says to the Nome, her eyelids becoming heavy. Pip chitters once more, and Noone simply just assumes that it means it’s okay to sleep. That she can finally get the rest she needs.

So, without any more hesitation, Noone closes her eyes and embraces the darkness as it engulfs her vision once more, knowing very well that she has nothing to fear now that she’s in this world of dreams.

__ _____ _________________________ _____ __

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

She was climbing now, climbing up a pendulum. Following another child to what she assumed was freedom. To what she could only hope was freedom.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

She had no idea where this child was leading her. Or if they were an ally she could trust. All she knew was that she wanted out. Out of this… this horrible place she and her friend had been unfortunate enough to end up in.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

She’s getting dizzy now; dizzy from all the rocking. She wants to let go, wants to be relieved of the tiering climb, but she knows the consequences of letting go. Surly she’d die from the fall, and if she doesn’t, then something else will finish the job. Something that could only be horrifying, given the things that she’s seen here…

“Just a little bit more,” She repeated to herself, her eyes glued on her friend.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Her friend has reached the top. They reach out their hand so they can pull her up as well. They made it. Finally. To the center of the clock. She listens to the violent tapping sound of thousands of little metallic fingers. She notices a round spiral staircase surrounding the room that could only lead to the world above.

She looks up; and realizes the ceiling was a white clock face.

Only… the numbers, they were all mixed up. They were all wrong.

Odd.

Now that she thinks about it, there’s been an odd feeling lingering inside of her since the moment she woke up in this place.

She wonders why.

The two bolt up the staircase; desperate to escape this place once and for all. To leave it all behind. She trails closely behind her friend. And every once in a while, her friend glaces behind her just to make sure that she’s following.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Finally, they’ve reached the top. They step out, out into freedom, only to realize that they haven’t escaped yet. 

Now, they find themselves standing on a courtyard.

The two take a moment to catch their breath; cold, frosty grass beneath their bare feet. Are they free? Are they safe?

Then, suddenly, she hears a sound.

A sound that makes her entire body shake.

Shouts and shrieks of pain begin to flood in her ears — wails of agony she only wishes she could forget.

She looks up, looks up at the circular walls she had just been inside of.

She immediately regrets it.

This. This must be the true building. Millions upon millions of rooms line the walls; rooms just like the one she had peered into from before. 

The one… the one with the dying boy that smelled of rotten sausage.

If only she could forget it. Forget the image of that poor child… 

Hands and limbs reach out behind the bars, all desperate to escape. Her heart begins to pound. Pound just like one of those trapped prisoners trying to get free.

As she stares up, horrified, she suddenly realizes that her friend is no longer by her side. 

No… they’re across the courtyard now.

“Wait, please!” She calls, desperate.

But before her friend could respond — the tall woman from earlier — the one making those twisted weapons — jumps down from above. The sickening sound of chains following in her wake.

Tick.

Tock.

With thumping, thunderous steps, she went after her friend.

Tick.

Tock.

A chain suddenly leapt out from beneath her dress, snaking its way towards them at unimaginable speed. Her friend… her poor friend… can only watch in panic —

Tick.

Tock.

It snags their leg. The woman begins to drag her defenseless ally through the snow — all while they struggle and kick and let out muffled yells, desperate to escape the chains.

There was nothing she could do for her friend, nothing at all! She could only watch helplessly as tears began to form in her friend’s eyes, the chains beginning to wrap around their frail body.

She couldn’t tell if the tears in her friend’s eyes were due to pain, or due to pure terror.

Tick.

Tock.

“Help!” Her friend tries to scream, but the chains wrap around their mouth and neck, preventing them from calling out anything else. They were going to die. They were going to suffocate — !

Tick.

Tock.

That woman, that terrible woman, then spots her.

Tick.

Tock.

She began plodding her way, fear immobilized her so she couldn’t even move. Couldn’t even run —

Tick.

Tock.

With skin so tight her mouth only opens just a slither, but it’s enough to reveal her twisted, blackened teeth.

Getting closer and closer her mouth opened more and more, and all she was able to think was “Who brought me here and why was I made to know these secrets?!”

The woman was hungry for something — hungry for something that swelled inside of her. She knew she was a goner, knew she was about to suffer the same fate as who knows how many kids before her.

She gives one last horrified glance to her unconscious friend — who’s being dragged behind the woman — before shutting her eyes and preparing for the worst — !

“Noone! Are you alright?!”

Her eyes snap open as she jolts up, breathing heavily and clutching her bandaged head. It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light pouring out of the crevices, but when her vision finally does, she realizes the kid — a child with odd hair and a familiar face — seated right beside her, their gray eyes filled with worry.

“AAHH!”

Noone scrambles back — breathing heavily at the sight of the child. It’s them. Her friend! The one who was caught by that horrible woman, It has to be!

She spirals. Noone is set into a state of panic. How were they alive? How could they have escaped?! It was all too clear — the odd hair, the ever-recognizable gaze — Noone’s now hyperventilating.

It takes her a moment to realize — to finally calm down and tell herself that she has nothing to fear; it’s just Samie.

“Hey! Hey. It’s okay, alright? It’s okay. Breath in, and out. Okay? In, and out.”

Noone follows Samie’s instructions. She takes a deep breath in, then exhales. In, and exhale. The woman is gone. The child from her dreams isn’t real. It was just… just a nightmare. A terrible one and nothing more. It was only in her head.

I am safe now. No need to fear. I am safe now. No need to fear.

“Did you… did you have a nightmare?”

Noone looks up, and sees Samie looking at her with a worried expression.

She nods silently.

“Oh…” Samie looks away, “I’m… I’m sorry. Nightmares are terrible, truly. The absolute worst. But just remember that they’re only in your head. They can’t get to you from here.” She pauses. “Do you get them a lot? I know I do…”

“I did,” Noone responds truthfully, “But I — I thought I wouldn’t have to fear my dreams anymore when I got here. The Candleman had said so! But then again…”

“He lied to you again, didn’t he?” Samie finishes.

Another silent nod.

“Yeah. This ‘Candleman’ you speak of… he sounds interesting. Could you describe him to me? He sounds familiar…”

“Um, okay…” Noone answers slowly. She doesn’t exactly feel like talking about him at the moment, though…

“Well, I call him that because of his melted face. Almost like candle wax. It drips and sags… pieces of his flesh rise and fall, like waves. He wears a hat and a dirty fisherman’s coat, too. And he’s huge. He towers over me… makes me feel small and insignificant.” She pauses. “It’s strange, though. He feels like a broken picture that could never be put back together. He feels hard to explain — yet I just did so right now.”

“Hm, I see…” Samie says thoughtfully, “I’ve heard about him before. We call him The Ferryman. I really don’t really know much about him, though. I’ve heard stories. Stories of him saving children from other adults; shielding them from the terrors this world brings upon them, but then again those recitals usually sound like tall tales.”

“Well, I know I hate his guts,” Noone responds coolly, gazing around the room. “He lured me here. He lied to me. He’s a trickster, that’s all he is.”

Samie chooses not to respond to this. Instead, she reaches down and picks up what appears to be some kind of burlap sack and places it onto the bed. Noone stares at it.

Samie then, without saying a word, unties it and dumps the contents all over the covers.

“I brought us a few games to play. And some snacks. Smoked fish jerky and some carrots. You up for a game of chess?”

“Um, okay. Chess seems fun, but I’ve never actually played.”

“That’s alright!” Samie says with a smile, “I can teach you. It’s quite simple really,”

Noone watches wordlessly as Samie begins to set up the board.

“You know, you can talk to me about your nightmare, if you want. I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it.” She says as she puts each of the chess pieces in place, “I’ve seen things too, you know. It helps to get those things out so they’re not bothering you.”

“I guess you have a point,” Noone sighs, placing a white knight piece onto her side, “But are you sure? It seemed pretty gruesome to me…”

“Don’t worry, I’ve seen a lot of gruesome things in my lifetime. It probably won’t be anything too unusual. Maybe your nightmare even contains stuff about your past that you won’t realize until you tell me!”

Noone looks up at her. Samie is dead serious about this. She actually wants to hear about it.

So, feeling reassured, Noone pauses, takes a deep breath, then begins to recite her nightmare to Samie.

“I… I found myself climbing up the pendulum of a giant clock, following another child. The ticking and tocking of the clock filled my head, and the constant rocking made me dizzy… but I kept climbing. I — I don’t know why. But I trusted my friend. I wanted out of the place I was trapped in.”

Noone glances at Samie’s expression. She seemed… interested. Definitely not unsure or second-guessing her decision.

So, Noone continued.

“We kept climbing, and eventually, we reached the top. My friend helped me up, and after that, we set off for freedom.” Noone pauses. “Only… we weren’t free just yet.”

She takes another deep breath, then continues.

“We found ourselves in a courtyard. The grass was covered with frost, and a cool breeze swept through the area. And it was at that moment… at that very moment… when I heard them. A bone-chilling sound… Curious, I looked up.”

Noone takes another pause, trying her best to recount the events in her mind.

“I had only wished I hadn’t.” She continues, “There were prisoners. Child prisoners. Thousands of them. Cells lined the walls, dozens upon dozens of them, and I saw; Saw them desperate to escape. I… I didn’t know what to think. I couldn’t think. It was terrible. I looked around for my friend, but realized that they were already across the courtyard. I called to them, asked them to wait for me, but before they could respond…”

Noone didn’t like this part of the nightmare. The pure terror she had felt — the fear immobilizing her so she couldn't even move… it felt so real. Too real. Like — like as if it had actually happened.

Now that she thinks about it… the entire nightmare itself felt weirdly vivid.

Strange.

“Some… some horrible woman jumped down from above. I remember so vividly… the jangle of chains that followed in her wake. And, and before I could even react, even do anything — she went after my friend. A chain wrapped around their leg and dragged them down. They kicked, thrashed, screamed, begged for help, tears in their eyes, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything. It wouldn’t matter anyways because the chains began to wrap around their neck and suffocate them. The women spotted me. She began advancing towards me, her mouth opening — showing her blackened, twisted teeth — I couldn’t move. I thought she was going to eat me, I was ready for the worst… and that’s when I woke up.”

Noone notices how quiet Samie had suddenly become. No… not just quiet, but some of the colour had also left her face. As if she had just witnessed something horrific.

She seemed… oddly shaken.

And Noone immediately regrets ever telling her.

“Samie, are you…?”

However, before Noone can finish her sentence, Lotus — without warning — enters the room.

“Well, look who’s finally up!” She exclaims, glancing at Noone. She takes a seat beside her and begins to change her bandages, showing no sign of even remotely noticing Samie, who is currently seated across the bed as quiet as ever.

“You’ve been out for quite a while! Two whole days… you must’ve been really tired, how about that?”

“Yeah… I guess,”

Lotus shifts her attention towards Samie. “How is she today? Poor kid looked pretty beat up back there. Pip told me that she was crying out in her sleep a lot last night too. Perhaps she had a nightmare?”

I was?

Well, that’s a bit embarrassing… even if the only witness had been Pip. The Nome.

“She seems a bit better,” Samie admits, finally looking less… shaken, “She’s a lot more talkative. However you were right about the nightmare part,”

“That’s unfortunate. Sadly, nightmares are quite common. They usually revolve around distressing incidents experienced in one’s past. And after an adult encounter like the one you had to go through, I’d expect her to feel a bit spooked —”

“My nightmare wasn’t about The Candleman,” Noone finds herself interrupting before she can stop herself.

“Oh?”

“It was about clocks and chains and prisoners — thousands upon thousands of children like me stuck in cells! I watched my friend get strangled by chains and then some horrible… thing with twisted black teeth almost ate me alive!”

Lotus looked quite taken aback by Noone’s sudden outburst.

“Clocks… chains… child prisoners and things with twisted black teeth… what — ?”

“Her nightmare, Lotus. It was just a nightmare. That’s all it was.” Samie snaps, looking quite distressed, “Now, may we please move on from this subject? I’m sure Noone is dealing with quite enough as it is,”

Lotus opens her mouth to retort something, but after finding that she likely has no good response, she settles with a simple “Okay. Sorry.”

The room then falls silent.

“I was actually wondering if Noone is well enough to come to the Upper Markets with me today. You know, the ones by the Shrine of the Nome King, Lotus.” Samie finally says, her eyes drifting elsewhere, “I was thinking of perhaps showing her around, maybe introducing to her our way of doing things here, since our ways of life are vastly different from… other locations.” She pauses, “That is, of course, if you’re feeling up for it. So what do you say Noone? You up for a bit of exploring?”

Noone feels excitement surge through her at Samie’s words. She’s been dying for a chance to explore this place since she arrived.

“Yes, please! I feel much better now, actually. But only if it’s okay with Lotus.”

Lotus seems to consider this thought for a moment.

“Well, I guess if you say you’re feeling better than maybe I could let you…” She says slowly, as if carefully considering her decision. “However the Nome comes with you.”

Lotus nods to Pip, who chitters her response.

“You can go, as long as Pip tags along too. But I have rules for you two as well. You may not engage in any energetic activities, participate in anything that could further damage Noone’s head, you may not, in any way or any reason, ever be separated. Oh, and I want my patient back long before dark. She’s not ready to go off by herself just yet.”

Noone and Samie nod curtly.

“And Noone? If you begin to feel unwell again, whether that may be just a simple headache, or something more serious, like dizziness or fatigue, you be sure to come right back, okay?”

Another quick nod.

“Alright then,” Lotus states, straightening up, “I guess now, you two are free to go. Stay safe, okay? And Noone, please try not to injure yourself any further. I assume that you’re old enough to know your limits… hopefully.”

Noone laughs. “Don’t worry Lotus. I’m sure I know my limits.”

”Good.” She says, grinning, “Now, perhaps you better get going! I heard that the Nomes were planning on putting on a little talent show, and you wouldn’t want to miss that now, would you?”

They both smile. Samie helps Noone out of bed, and after saying a brisk thanks and farewell, Noone finally finds herself leaving the Medical Rooms for the first time since her arrival, with Pip trailing closely behind.

She’ll admit; this whole experience is still a bit… confusing, but who is she kidding? She’s finally free. Finally safe, and she’s made some friends.

The only thing that she seems to be missing is that looming feeling of those just out of reach memories. Her mind is keeping secrets from her. Secrets that she feels she should be able to recall. Be able to know.

But like Lotus said; if she can’t remember, then perhaps those memories aren’t as important as she thought...?

For now, she can only hope that’s the truth.

Chapter Text

Although they arrived at the Upper Markets as early as they could, the place was already buzzing by the time Noone, Samie and Pip arrived.

The ding of the elevator signified their entrance to the upper chambers of Sanctuary. The three hop out of an already crowded elevator; glancing around curiously as they walk.

Local merchants have already set up their tents and were currently serving the early arrivers. Noone notices Nomes darting around them as well, some waving around radiant flags as they ran around, all making excited chittering noises as they pass.

Like the Lower Markets she had walked through on her way to the Medical Rooms, the Upper Markets seemed to be bursting with life. Children and Nomes alike chatted excitedly with one another, all of them looking relaxed and happy. Music was being played by a small band of children in one of the corners as well, the main singer of the group bouncing up and down as they played a tune on their guitar. Radiant colours, quilts and lanterns had been hung everywhere and anywhere.

Colours.

Ever since she had arrived, Noone had noticed the frequent use of colours here in Sanctuary. From cheerful and exciting murals on the walls, to banners and lanterns being draped from the ceilings and tall shelves, colours were practically everywhere.

At first, it may seem a bit overwhelming. But strangely enough… Noone found that she rather preferred all the life and light. It made her feel… at peace. Other parts of this world (as she’s noticed) were rather cold and dull, so she figured that it’s… nice. To have this cheerful and radiant safe space to walk through.

“What’s with all the colours?” She asked curiously, turning her attention towards Samie as they walked.

“Oh, you mean with all the banners, dyes and murals?”

She nods.

“Well, I suppose it would be to brighten up this place, wouldn’t you think? Adults don’t often like bright colours. Don’t know why, but they’re always so dull-looking when they’re not feeling particularly murderous. The colours make the kids here feel more… safe. Protected. Most, if not all of the children and Nomes here have been through some pretty traumatic things, after all. And besides… this place already has a dark past to begin with…”

“Oh. That’s understandable,” Noone responds, her eyes lingering on the walls.

“This place already has a dark past to begin with…”

Whatever could that mean? Sanctuary doesn’t seem too terrible… However, that doesn’t mean that it was always like this. She thinks back to the information Winnie had given her when she asked about the Nomes.

“They were actually once children like you and me, but The Lady of the Maw had cursed them into the form they’re in, forever doomed to walk as a small, insignificant being…”

She glances over to Pip, who is currently perched on Samie’s shoulder, and wonders what her life might’ve been like before she was turned into a Nome. Did she have friends she traveled with? If so, what happened to them? Did they become Nomes as well? Or did they…

She stops herself. She doesn’t feel like thinking about the other possibility at the moment.

It felt… wrong.

Winnie also mentioned something about a lady. 'The Lady of the Maw', she had referred to the particular lady as. She also said that the 'Maw Lady' was killed by another child…

Noone briefly considers the thought of asking Samie about Santuary’s history, but has a feeling that it would be better to maybe not touch on that topic just yet. She wouldn’t want to bring up bad memories for her. Her or Pip.

No. She’s not going to ask them about anything for now… at least.

She continues to let her eyes wander, and that’s when she spots another mural. That’s normal. Murals are everywhere here.

But… there was something about this particular mural that threw her off.

Very off.

Noone stops.

It was vastly unlike any other painting depiction she’s seen; it consisted of a child — a kid wielding a yellow coat — hovering over what looked like a… a Nome?

Yes. It was a Nome. It has to be! The mushroom-like appearance belonged to no other creature she’s ever encountered so far. And not only that, but the Nome appeared to be…

Dead.

Most of the murals she’s seen consisted of bright and happy paintings of children and Nomes smiling and laughing or running in the light of the sun. Not once has she spotted a mural as dark as… this one.

It… threw her off guard.

The Nome was definitely dead. No doubt. The way it was positioned… she somehow was immediately able to tell, as if she’s seen death at first hand.

But she hasn’t though… has she?

Maybe she did…

Not only that… but it appeared to have been killed. A huge gash appeared to be violently cut between its head and its body, almost as if something — or someone — had taken a bite out of it. Had tried to eat it.

And that’s when she realizes the second part of the depiction.

The kid in the yellow raincoat.

There was blood all on their front; a dark red shining on the brim of their hood. They appeared to be staring down at the poor Nome, transfixed, as if caught up in their own mind.

That Nome… The Nomes were children too. Knowing that made the depiction feel even more disturbing. And if that kid was actually the one who… killed it, then that would mean —

Noone begins to feel sick. The kid… the kid couldn’t have…

She catches sight of the note at the bottom of the mural.

‘Children beware; not all monsters appear as they seem.’

What…?

“Noone, you coming?”

This snaps her back to reality. Noone turns around, and realizes that Pip and Samie are already up ahead, waiting.

“Oh, sorry! I’m coming!” She calls, relieved to finally get away from the disturbing mural. She notices the two Nomes that had been looking at it as well, both chittering quietly to one another.

She wonders what they think of it.

Noone casts one last look at the mural, gives it a quiet shutter, then moves on.

“Not all monsters appear as they seem.”

The mural’s dire warning continues to circle around in her head as they walk. The image of the dying Nome… it’s killer standing over it… that image still remained crystal clear as she walked.

“Not all monsters appear as they seem.”

Something about that phrase… something about it resonated with her. As if she very well understood what it meant.

But she couldn’t possibly have known…

Could she?

Perhaps she did… at one point.

She didn’t know anymore.

“Good day Samie! Care for a free sample of bladefish skewers?”

All three of them stop and look around, and that’s when Noone spots the young boy waving frantically at them, all while he casts them a cheerful smile.

She follows wordlessly as Samie leads the way to the kid’s stand.

“Hey Tin! Nice day, wouldn’t you agree?” Samie says, stopping in front of the child — Tin — and giving him a small nod.

“Yeah, it sure is! I’ve never seen this place so busy! I got a few good trades too! My new bladefish skewer recipe seems to be really popular… would you like to try one? It’s one hundred percent free for you! Please don’t tell anybody I said that…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Samie replies, giving him a small wink. Tin gives her a shy smile, then lets his eyes drift onto Noone, who was standing a few steps behind.

”Hey, by the way, who’s your friend? I’ve never seen her before…”

It took Noone a moment to realize that Tin was talking about her.

“Oh! This is Noone.” Samie says before Noone can reply herself.

She then grabs her by the arm and forces her forward despite her preferring her not to. Noone then gives Tin a weak smile and a small wave, now wishing she could hide somewhere away from curious children beginning to look her way.

“She’s new here, and I had wanted to show her around a bit! You know, have her get familiar with the new terrain… However, she’s still assigned to the Medical Rooms so that’s why Lotus had Pip over here tag along as well. She said as long as she isn’t participating in anything that could cause any further damage, it would be fine if she explored around a bit with me.”

“Oh.” Tin says, sounding worried. He pauses for a moment before responding, “What’s she in for?”

“Head injury,” Noone answers before she can stop herself, “I… I was injured during an incident involving some adult. He stuffed me into a small wooden box and shipped me here, where I was lucky enough to find Samie and some other children.”

Noone notices Tin’s expression shift, so she adds hastily, “I’m okay now though! Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“Yikes! That sounds terrifying!” He yelps, hands over his mouth, “A scuffle with an adult? Damn you were lucky to only end up with a head injury…”

“Well, head injury, shredded up tongue, amnesia and a few scratches, but for the most part it’s all minor…” Samie responds, suddenly becoming very interested in the glass jars lining Tin’s stand, all containing a variety of different ingredients. She gives herself a silent shake before turning her attention back on Tin. “By the way, I’d be more than happy to try your new bladefish skewer recipe! By any chance could you make one for Noone and Pip as well?”

“Of course!” The young merchant replies gleefully, now fetching two wooden skewers from a shelf behind the counter.

Noone watches curiously as he begins to prepare the three bladefish skewers. Tin must be what? Seven years old at most? And it seems as though he knows exactly what he’s doing…

In fact, now that she thinks about it, all the children here act older than they seem. Of course, they still goof off and play around, all kids do that!

But… They also know how to be serious. How to deal with situations reasonably.

It‘s as if they’re forced to mature sooner than they should… Like… like they have to adapt. To mentally grow up. To let go of all they’re childish wonders, accept their reality, and face it.

Will she eventually have to grow up here as well?

Well, she figures that she already kind of grew up, now that she thinks about it… In fact, although she’s never actually experienced the “horrors” this world apparently brings, she still finds herself somehow able to relate to the things these kids had witnessed. Like she already knows very well what type of terrors hide in the shadows, despite nobody even telling her what kind of monsters stalk the terrain among them. What kind of horrible things they’ve seen during their time here.

But if she somehow knows that this place is dangerous, if she understands that some of the children she’s interacted with have faced and lived through what some would consider “absolute hell”, why in the world is she so calm about it?

… It disturbs her, honestly. That she still believes that coming here was her best option after all, despite her not even being able to remember why she chose this route, or how exactly she knows these things.

“Do you have any plans for today?” Tin asks as he fries up bits of bladefish, “I don’t know if you’ve heard but I’m pretty sure the Nomes are putting on a talent show of some sorts around noon, and I think there were even rumors that The Nome King was going to make an appearance as well…”

“Wait, really? Oh my gosh that would be so awesome!”

“I know, right? Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience… If it does happen, do you know if Lookouts are allowed to be let off their duties? I know that it’s leech season right now along with all the troublemaking incidents going around, but even Captain would be okay with letting you all enjoy the festival too… right?”

“I unfortunately don’t know Tin but… hopefully? Fingers crossed though!”

“Yeah, fingers crossed —”

“Wait,” Noone suddenly finds herself interrupting, “I’m sorry, but who exactly is The Nome King?”

Immediately after she asks this she wishes she could take it back; Tin is now staring at her — wide eyed and his jaw dropping — as if in a state of shock. Pip lets out a strangled sort of squeak. Other children and Nomes who had just so happened to be passing by stopped in their tracks and gasped. Even Samie put her hands to her mouth and shook her head.

Noone didn’t even have to guess what she was trying to signify.

“Bad move. Very, very, very bad move on your part.”

She then heard a series of whispers break out.

“The kid doesn’t know who The Nome King is…? How… How is that even —”

“Ohh… Imagine being her… I’d hate to be in that position honestly —”

“Who even is she? I’ve never seen her around… Perhaps she’s new…?”

“Yeah but even new arrivals know who The Nome King is. He’s a bit of a legend everywhere, so them not knowing who he is could only mean…”

“WAIT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE NOME KING IS?!”

Noone flinches at Tin’s sudden outburst. She opens her mouth to respond, to clarify, but Samie gets there first.

“I’ve told you already Tin! She’s new here. Alright?! Jeez, no need to act all shocked…”

“Yeah, but even the newest of Sanctuary have heard of him! He’s not just confined to a lonely boat over the dangerous sea! He’s the type of legend that kids and Nomes everywhere tell over the campfires! He’s the Savior of Sanctuary! The Protector of Innocence! How do you not know about him?!”

“Yeah, but —”

“Not only that, but how have you not told her about him?! It’s crazy to me that she doesn’t know about him, everybody knows about him!”

“I know, but —”

“I’m sorry, but it just feels like an insult to his name to not know about The Nome King WHILE you’re literally in his kingdom! Again, how the hell do you not —”

“YOU MISUNDERSTAND ME, TIN! She’s not just new to Sanctuary! She’s a newbie to this ENTIRE hellscape itself!”

This shuts Tin up. Suddenly he isn’t looking shocked. Or confused. Or even upset.

He seems a bit… shocked?

He takes a step back, takes in a sharp breath and stares at Noone.

Although she’s only looking at Tin, Noone gets the feeling that there are more watching eyes behind her as well.

“Oh… I-I didn’t know. I’m sorry…”

“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that. It’s just… you know. I’d rather prefer to introduce things to her one step at a time. I’m… I’m worried that if she’s introduced to everything too fast it’ll overwhelm her. Besides, by the looks of it, the kid doesn’t seem like the type who enjoys all the attention anyways.”

“I totally understand Samie. I guess it just took me by surprise when I found out that she didn’t know about our King yet, I guess. But you’re definitely a great ally for her. A friend too. You and her probably haven’t even known each other for that long yet the way you stick up for her just makes me second guess myself…”

“I did know her,” She thought she heard Samie mutter under her breath, “She just can’t remember me. That’s all.”

Bitter silence follows. Noone hears the crowd that had gathered around begin to depart, to continue about their daily lives. She tries her best to block out their whispers.

But it’s not just embarrassment that she feels. She also feels…

Guilt.

She knows it's not her fault. She knows that Samie completely understands.  Besides, she’ll have to eventually remember one way or another, right?

But does she though?

Samie’s clearly hurt by the thought of her loss of memory. And although she tries her very hardest to hide it…

Noone can still pick up on it, somehow.

And although she tries to deny it, it was her fault for trusting the Candleman. She put herself into this situation. If only she hadn’t been so naive! So… so stupid! And coming here in the first place when she was probably fine to begin with?

Desperate.

That’s what she was, desperate. Whatever the hell she had been facing beforehand, she should’ve just sucked it up and dealt with it. Because it’s not like where she is now is any better.

Yes, she will admit; right now things don’t look too bad… but whenever she lets her guard down, she remembers the faraway look that virtually all the children have in their eyes. The look signifying that they too had once been naive enough to believe that they were in a better, safer place.

The look signifying that they’ve witnessed some horrible, traumatic thing one way or another.

Even then she’s still lucky, because instead of waking up in some cold and dark place and immediately finding herself in actual danger, she had ended up in one of the safest places this world has to offer, apparently. She ended up in a place of recovery and renewal. A place full of children who are willing to help. Who are kind enough to lend a hand and guide her through this whole mess she got herself into.

And even then she still doesn’t feel like she deserves it.

Perhaps that’s because of the thoughts in her head. The way that she berates herself for things out of her control…

She wonders if she was always like that, or if this is a new thing for her.

She’ll admit; she’s kind of glad that the others can’t see what’s going on in her head. They would most likely be better off not knowing she often spirals down.

Maybe if she could actually remember things it would be different. Maybe she wouldn’t feel so much like an outsider…

Although, she’s also been learning a lot! Hopefully she won’t be considered the ‘newbie who doesn’t know who 'The Nome King’ is anymore’.

“I was planning on taking Noone to The Lucky Catch after this, actually.” Samie responds, finally breaking the silence.

Tin looks up at her.

“Me, Teddy, Winnie and Lime have made plans to meet up there today. You know, discuss all the things going on right now and maybe even explore ‘round the markets a bit. If we’re allowed to, of course.”

“Wait, Teddy, Winnie and Lime are here too?” Noone suddenly bursts out, almost too excitedly. However she immediately draws herself back and mumbles a quiet “Sorry,”

“No, you’re all good Noone. No need to apologize! I understand. They’re just as excited to see you too, actually.” Samie pipes up, almost beaming, “Been quite worried about you, of course. You should’ve seen the look on Winnie’s face when I told her that you might be dropping by as well! If you were up for going to the markets, which you were. She was really excited… She even took the time to stop by and give you a few visits while you were asleep, actually…”

“Really?” Noone asks, almost surprised.

“Yeah, really! They all came to visit you, actually. They also wouldn’t stop asking Lotus questions about your condition. I think they were overwhelming her.”

Noone gives a quiet laugh. She hadn’t been expecting very many visitors, but the fact that the three of them and Samie went out of their way to visit her made her feel…

Grateful. Happy, even.

“Well that sounds exciting!” Tin responds, “Anyways, your skewers are ready! Tell me how they taste, okay? Are they too roasted? Or not roasted enough? Are the fruits good or rotten?” — He hands them their bladefish skewers, and Noone takes a bite — “Is there enough spice? Or —”

“Oh my goodness Tin, this tastes amazing!” Noone exclaims, grinning. Pip chitters excitedly in agreement. “Honestly? This is perfect! No wonder this new recipe is a bestseller.”

“Yeah! This is really great, Tin. Really!” Samie adds, now reaching into her pockets for something, “What changed?”

“Nothing much,” The young merchant responds, smiling broadly, “I just added a bit of spice, that’s all. It seemed to have done the trick though! Really well, actually…”

“Well, whatever it was, I guess that just shows how amazing of a cook you are,” Samie places what looks like a few silver coins on the counter.

“Here,” She says finally, “I know you said that the skewers are free, but… for good measures, okay? Just think of it as my way of saying thanks. Noone and Pip’s as well.”

“Really? Are you sure?” He asks, staring down at one of the coins. He tries his best to hide it, but Noone is still able to pick up the excitement in his voice.

“Yeah, really! You earned it, honestly.” Samie responds, grinning, “Now. Me, Noone and Pip should really be getting going right now. But it was nice talking to you! See you around?”

Tin straightens up. “Yeah! You know where to find me. Thanks a million, by the way.”

“Of course, Tin. Anytime.”

“And Noone?”

She turns her attention towards him at the sound of her name. “Yeah?”

“It was nice meeting you too. I hope your head gets better. Will I see you around as well?”

“Well, that’s what I’m hoping for, so yes? When I finally leave the Medical Rooms, I’ll probably come to this place often, and I’d be more than delighted to come back and try some more of your skewers!”

“Awesome.” Tin finally finishes, beaming at the three, “Well, see you guys around then! Have fun at your meetup! Take care,”

“Thanks, Tin. You too!”

And with that they were off again. Walking through the ever colourful markets once more. The already packed place now seemed even more lively than before.

Although, that’s probably because more kids have arrived and the majority of the stands have already been set up.

She glances at Samie as they walk. The Lookout is… still a bit of a mystery to her.

She remembers all too clearly the way she had furiously stood up for her back there. The way she seemed almost ready to put up a fight if it ever got to that point. The fire in her eyes that almost seemed to burn as she argued with Tin.

She knows Tin didn’t mean bad. He was actually really kind, now that she got to know him. And funny, too. But… she also appreciates Samie for sticking up for her. She feels as if other people actually caring for her was… rare, almost.

Either way, Tin was right; she couldn’t be more grateful to have an ally like her.

She wanted to say something to Samie; something to show her thanks.

And before she can stop herself, the words were spilling out of her mouth.

“Hey, um, Samie?” Noone finally says, trying to gather up the courage to say the words she wanted to say, “I… I just wanted to say thanks. For sticking up for me back there. I know Tin meant well but… I still really appreciated it.”

The Lookout slowly turns her attention towards Noone; her dull brown eyes fixated on her.

“Of course Noone.” She responds, “You’re my friend. And I stick up for my friends. You shouldn’t have to learn everything about Sanctuary all at once, anyways.”

They both pause for a moment.

“I’m… I’m really glad we got the opportunity to meet.” Noone finishes, smiling slightly.

Samie nods silently, now staring down at her boots.

“Me too.”

The trio continued to walk, occasionally pausing to gaze at the ever colourful stands. None of them really spoke after that, but only when they wanted each other’s attention for different reasons; either because they saw something interesting, or to switch directions to go on a less… crowded route.

Perhaps it was because all the chatter around them made it hard to hear. Or maybe it was just because none of them could think of anything to talk about.

Either way, Noone didn’t mind. She wasn’t really much of a talker anyways.

But… At the same time, she still had questions.

Samie wouldn’t mind if she asked them, would she?

They didn’t seem too triggering…

She decided to try.

“With the whole… event that happened at Tin’s stand, I never really got an explanation on who The Nome King was,” She says slowly, trying not to look Samie directly in the eyes, “And I was just wondering; is there anything else that I should know about him? Actually, is there anything else I need to know about Sanctuary itself?”

“Well, all you really need to know about The Nome King is that he’s the ruler of Sanctuary, and has a sort of interesting relationship with the Nomes.” Samie answers, glancing over at her.

“That’s why we call him The Nome King, actually. However, he’s sort of a mystery to us. I don’t think anybody has really seen what he actually looks like, since he’s always wearing a cloak. A lot of us also hardly know anything about him other than how he’s known for his kindness and often takes visits around Sanctuary. He likes to support our businesses, which I appreciate.”

“Oh. That’s nice of him. I could see why you guys all like him so much.”

“Yep. Sometimes a little too much… He doesn't actually walk around Sanctuary that much anymore, since children and Nomes practically swarm him when he does. So that’s why we all get so excited when there’s rumors that he might make an appearance somewhere, like today. I might not have today off, but who knows? Maybe you’ll get the chance to see him as well!”

“That would be amazing…” She responds, her voice drifting off.

“Well Noone, we’re here!”

The trio suddenly comes to a halt. Noone turns her attention towards Samie, and notices how upbeat she seems. The young Lookout seems… happy now. Very happy. To a point where Noone can hardly believe that she had been so riled up just not too long ago.

Even Pip glanced around, looking intrigued. And from Noone’s experiences, the Nome hardly seemed to be interested in anything other than looking after her.

Well then… this place must be something, she guesses.

“Welcome Noone,” Samie pipes up, her voice containing hints of excitement, “To The Lucky Catch!”

Noone looks up.

It was a lively, bustling, exciting place, truly! Children darted in and out, chatting loudly to one another as they passed. Nomes scurried by, and as the three walked in, loud and exiting conversations carried across the room.

Everybody seemed happy. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. Pip and Samie… they seemed joyful, too. They seemed almost eager to introduce her to their favorite hangout spot.

But Noone?

The whole place made her feel almost overwhelmed. Like the air was evaporating around her.

The loudness. The shouting. All the people crowded around her — It made her feel tense — almost as if the walls were collapsing onto her. She felt as if the air was catching in her throat; like she couldn’t breathe. She felt a sudden wave of anxiety course through her. She felt as if she wanted to run, to get away from all the noise and people.

She hated this feeling. Hated it. Hated it hated it hated it.

She doesn’t want to be here.

She doesn’t want to be here.

She doesn’t want to be here.

“Noone? Are you doing alright? You look… stressed.”

She looks towards the direction of Samie’s faraway voice, and realizes how tightly she’s gripping the Lookout’s hand. Gripping it to a point where her hand was beginning to look pale.

She quickly loosens her grip.

“I’m — I’m fine.” She chokes out, “I just… I’m not very fond of crowds. Or too much talking. I’ll — I’ll survive though. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Noone — we can go outside if that’s what you need… If this is too much I’d totally understand —”

“No,” She interrupts, “No. I’m okay. I’m fine. It’s — It’s no big deal. I’ll… I’ll get used to it.”

Samie, however, doesn’t really seem to be satisfied by Noone’s answer.

But to Noone’s relief, she thankfully moves on anyway.

“Winnie, Lime and Teddy must be around here somewhere.” Noone hears Samie mumble to herself, “They told me to meet them here… didn’t they? Shoot. Did I get the wrong place —”

“Hey! Samie! Over here!”

All three of them divert their attention at the sound of Samie’s name. Noone recognizes that voice… however she cannot remember which of the three it belonged to.

She looks over her shoulders, and that’s when she spots them; Winnie, Lime and Teddy, all waving them over — looking over the moon with happiness.

“Noone!” Winnie exclaimed, grinning broadly as they finally arrived at the table. She stands up.

“Samie told us you might come! I may have gotten my hopes up quite a bit —”

“That’s an understatement Winnie and you know it,”

“Shut up Lime. I didn’t ask you. Anyways, I’m just so happy you’re alright — !”

And to Noone’s surprise, Winnie actually hugged her. And she didn’t stop until Teddy finally stepped in.

“Winnie… perhaps you should give Noone a chance to settle down?”

“Oh.” She responded, going slightly red, “Right. My bad.”

“It’s totally fine.” Noone reassures her, smiling as she takes her seat between her and Samie.

“We’re just really excited to see you, Noone. And glad you’re feeling better!” Teddy explains.

“And we got you something as well!” Lime chimes in.

“What — Oh! Oh yeah!” Samie responds, and Noone watches curiously as Winnie pulls out a small wooden box slightly covered in soot.

“Here.” She says as she hands the box over to Noone, “It’s… not much, but we hope you like it anyways. All I ask from you is to be careful when opening the box. It tears easily.”

Utterly puzzled, Noone stares down at the gift. They really got something for her, of all people?

She carefully pulls away the lid, and discovers a carefully folded paper boat inside of it.

She lifts it up and examines it.

There appeared to be four small drawings on the front of the paper boat; that of a sliced lemon (or a lime), a teddy bear, a flower and what appeared to be a drop of goop. She could immediately guess who might’ve made each drawing.

Noone holds it carefully in her hands — staring down at it as if it was a piece of gold. As if it was worth the world.

Then, she looks up.

The makers of the gift are watching her; small, nervous smiles etched on their faces.

Finally, Samie speaks up.

“It’s supposed to be a hat, I guess you could call it. But you could also use it for other things if you really wanted to. The lime drawing was made by Lime, of course. The teddy bear by Teddy, the flower by Winnie, and the goopy puddle thingy, well… by yours truly.”

“We wanted to make something for you.” Lime continues, “A sort of… token. To make you feel more at home, if that helps…”

Noone continues to stare at them.

“Do you… do you like it?” Lime adds nervously.

Noone looks down at the paper boat, then without answering, places it onto her head.

She grins.

“It’s perfect.”

__ _____ _________________________ _____ __

Their little meetup turned out to be suprisingly even more fun than Noone had expected. Not only that… but she felt just a little bit closer to Samie and the other Lookouts after it.

Even Pip; Lotus’s helper and the Nome tasked with looking after her.

Apparently, it seems like virtually all the children there understood the Nomes. She had remembered wondering if she would get the chance to learn their language as well…

She wished she could understand Pip too, instead of having Samie translate conversations for her. But besides that, she didn’t have much of a problem having a conversation with the Nome.

She had also met the bartender; Forret. He himself actually spoke a different language as well — not “Nomeish” — or whatever the Nome’s language is referred to — but instead, an entirely different one completely separate from the Nomes or her own.

Lime had explained to her that since there are children from all over, it’s quite often to meet kids who speak different languages as well, and as Lookouts, they were required to learn those other than their native ones if they were able to be taught.

However, he did say that all Lookouts and children there understood one language — sign.

“Sign language, or non-verbal speaking, is something that everyone knows here. It’s a way that we communicate with one another without attracting unwanted attention. Some kids here even refuse to speak, or they have lost the ability to use their voice — as… well…”

Lime trails off.

“It’s… it’s just a safety thing.” Winnie finished, giving Lime a sideways, almost worried look, “We live in a world where you’d die if you’re too loud. Something would catch you. And trust me when I say that you do not want to end up as prey for any of the monstrosities after us. One wrong move… and you’re basically dead.”

“BUT, we’re safe in Sanctuary. Adults aren’t present here, right Winnie?” Samie suddenly interjected.

“Well, yeah! Of course there aren’t adults… however we do have leeches.”

Leeches…? Here?

She notices Samie violently hiss something at Winnie through gritted teeth. Her expression must’ve signified her surprise to hear this.

“Well — um, yeah… I guess…” Winnie corrects, seemingly picking her words very carefully, “But usually the Lookouts deal with them. They’re not as dangerous as they used to be, and the likeliness of you running into one is — rather — low…?”

There was a significant pause after this.

“Don’t worry Noone,” Teddy finally said, “Like you’ve probably been told before; Sanctuary is one of the safest places you could end up in.”

She gave Teddy a slight nod to show that she understood.

And quite honestly? Despite leeches being an apparent danger here… She found it quite fascinating to be a Lookout.

"Tout est fini?"

Noone looks up.

Forret was back – and she watched as his eyes drifted onto Teddy as he polished a glass cup with a rag.

“Dois-je prendre tes tasses?”

“Oui.” Teddy responded, nodding, “Je crois qu'on a terminé. Ton cidre était vraiment excellent, tu sais ça?”

“Teddy, tu deviens vraiment bon!” Forret exclaims with a smile, “Merci. J'apprécie vraiment. J'essaie constamment d'améliorer mes recettes.”

Noone continues to watch as he takes each of their empty glasses.

“I really like your bracelet,” She finally says, her eyes on the little anchor charm on Forret’s wrist.

The bartender turns to her.

“Hein? Tu peux répéter ça?”

“You’re bracelet,” Noone tries repeating, despite having no idea what Forret was saying, “I really like it.”

Forret, however, still looks puzzled as ever.

“Oh! Uh… She… Elle dit que je porte un bracelet...?"

“Elle a dit 'Je pense que ton bracelet est joli'.” Teddy interrupts, clarifying. “But nice try, Lime.”

Forret’s eyes drift down to his anchor charm.

“Oh. Ce?” He responds, holding up his hand, “Merci… C'est en fait un charme; un charme que les enfants portent pour se protéger de — euh, mince, je ne devrais vraiment pas prononcer son nom à voix haute… Oh, de qui je me moque, ça ne peut pas nous faire de mal d'ici — Le… Vent du Nord.”

He finishes using a whisper that’s almost barely audible.

“He said thank you,” Teddy translates, “He says that what he’s wearing is used as a charm to protect himself from… The North Wind.”

She notices Lime clasp his hands over his mouth at the sound of his name. Looking almost… fearful.

“The… The North Wind — ?”

“Annnd… that’s a story for another time. Okay?” Lime interrupts violently, “Just… just don’t ever say his name out loud again, you hear me? We do not speak of him, we do not think of him, and we certainly don’t let our curiosities land ourselves in a position where we could be in danger of him. Is that clear?”

Lime looks... distressed. He looks... almost disturbed, and Noone catches a glimpse in his eyes; a glimpse of fear.

Real fear.

“Yes — yes it is. I won’t say his name again,” Noone responds, taken quite aback by Lime’s violent response. “Sorry,” She adds, definitely sure she’s let her curiosity get the best of her yet again.

“It’s… It’s alright. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Lime responds, taking a deep breath, “It just brought back bad memories, okay? Memories I only wish I could forget. Just… Maybe next time, don’t let your curiosity get the best of you again. Curious kids often wind up dead, after all. And sometimes… It’s just better not to know. I learned that the hard way…”

Noone nods. “I… I understand.”

“Well… I’m glad you two were able to sort that out all right.” Teddy says, looking at Lime, and then at Noone, “My apologies as well, Lime. I shouldn’t have said his name out loud like that.”

He then turns to Forret, who looked quite concerned.

“Ils ont juste eu une petite bagarre,” Teddy tells him, “Ils vont bien maintenant, mais il vaut peut-être mieux ne plus… parler de lui. Après tout, tous les enfants ne sont pas à l'aise pour parler ouvertement de lui. Mon amie Noone ici présente a posé la question uniquement parce qu'elle ne savait pas. Elle est nouvelle au Sanctuaire et est toujours affectée aux salles Médicales, alors excusez-la pour sa… curiosité.”

Forret nods. “Oh… je comprends. Un nouvel enfant ? Ça doit être dur… Je me souviens de mon arrivée au Sanctuaire… je ne connaissais personne et comme tout le monde ne me comprenait pas, j'avais un peu de mal à communiquer. J'espère quand même qu'elle ira mieux ! Je vous adresse mes vœux.”

“Merci. Elle va mieux de jour en jour, alors j'espère qu'elle pourra bientôt s'habituer à notre mode de vie.” Teddy responds, smiling.

He glances at the others.

“Bon, il vaut mieux y aller maintenant. Merci encore, Forret!"

Noone watches as Teddy reaches into his pockets and places five bronze coins into Forret’s hand. "Tiens. Prends ça. Est-ce suffisant?"

Forret looks down at the coins placed in his hands, then looks up, smiling.

"C'est plus que suffisant. Merci!"

They wave their thanks to Forret — then finally set off, and to Noone’s relief — leave the loud and crowded space and into the open markets once more.

“Where are we going now, Teddy?” Winnie asks, her attention elsewhere.

“Well… since we’re actually off duty, I was thinking it would be nice if we could watch the Nome’s talent show —”

“WAIT, REALLY?” Lime bursts out suddenly.

“We’re off duty? Actually?” Winnie chimes in, “But I thought —”

“Well, as it turns out, Captain really wanted a chance to watch the talent show for a change, and since he knows that we’ve always wanted to see it as well, he figured that he’d let the Lookouts off for today as well.” Teddy clarifies, “So just think of today as a fun day!”

“But Teddy, are you sure it was a good idea for Captain to do that?” Samie asks, “I mean, I’m more than happy to go and all, don’t get me wrong! But at the same time…”

“Don’t worry about it. Of course, we’ll still be on the lookout for trouble, but try and enjoy yourselves! We’ve been quite occupied anyways. I think it’s a good idea to take some time off.”

Winnie, Lime and Samie looked over the moon at this, and Noone couldn't help but smile. So they were going to watch the talent show after all!

She thought they deserved a bit of fun. Because although Lookouts… they were still kids.

They were all kids.

Every one of them.

They all deserve a place of safety. A place where they’re not starved, not hunted, not scared or cold…

They deserve happiness in their lives.

But then Noone remembers that haunting look in their eyes.

The look signifying that no matter how happy they seem, no matter how safe they are, they’ve seen horrors. Horrors beyond anyone’s imagination.

Horrors nobody could ever forget.

Hopefully they won't have to experience those horrors ever again.

They're safe... after all.

And hopefully she's safe too.