Chloe is escorted into a testing chamber by Eerine, who waits at the door. It's a padded room, similar to the ones she had been in before. Except there's a spot on the wall that seems.. blurry. Chloe looks at the spot in confusion. "Eerine, do you see that?" She asks curiously. Eerine doesn't respond. Chloe looks back to Eerine, but instead sees a lush forest. It's night time, and there's some glowing mushrooms growing from the trees and forest floor. It feels... familiar to her. She knows this place. It's Wormwood's home.
"Chloe," a voice says from next to her, "Come on, I want to show you something." Chloe looks up to see whos talking, slightly confused. Wasnt she in the Cata place a second ago? It's Wormwood, but slightly blurry. "Come on, I want to show you something." He leans down so that she can climb on his back.
Chloe smiles and gets on his back. This was good. This was what she wanted. She was home. Maybe Catacombis was a dream? They begin to head through the woods, various strange animals being seen. Chloe's familiar with them all, she remembers them. Chloe starts naming them, smiling as she does so.
They eventually make it to a small area within the woods and Wormwood lets her off his back. There's a small table and some chairs set up in the clearing, with some other people at it. Zachriel, Sidriel, and Raphael, as well as various stuffed animals. There's a tea set at the table, as well as lots of snacks and candy. The three wave at Chloe as she arrives. Something about them is slightly off... but comforting. Blurry, but warm.
"Go on, now," Wormwood smiles, "I will be here protecting you all. We wouldn't want any dragons kidnapping the princess, would we?" he chuckles.
Chloe jumps off Wormwoods back in excitement, flying over to the group and happy stimming. "Thank you Wormy!!" She takes her seat at the table, bouncing happily. "Hi hi hi!! How are you guys!!"
"Hello, dear," Sidriel says with a smile. She's wearing a white dress with a silver tiara, handing a pink one to Chloe.
"What took you so long, kiddo?" Zachriel asks, patting Chloe on the head. She's wearing a pink turtleneck and mom jeans.
Raphael 'smiles' at Chloe. "I brought your favorite guests for you, Miss Chloe." he gestured to the stuffed animals. He's wearing his normal garb.
Chloe puts the tiara on giddily, patting the heads of the stuffed animals. "I was having this weird dream about Sidriel getting impure and then getting taken to this building and not being allowed to leave my room... it was so weird!!" She explains, grabbing a candy bar and opening it to eat it.
"You've certainly got a wild imagination, Chloe," Zachriel laughs as Sidriel lets out a sigh with a smile.
"I think we're well protected enough for that to not even be a possibility, darling."
Raphael is quiet.
Chloe nods. "I know, I know! Was just a bad dream..." She eats some chocolate. "I like it when we all hang out,," She says with a smils
"We like hanging out with you too, Chloe," says Sidriel, patting Chloe's head. There's some faint whispering, but Chloe doesn't notice. The warm emotions are keeping her calm, she's having fun with her family again.
Chloe giggles, leaning into the pats and eating some candy and drinking tea. "Did you know what cows only have bottom teeth?"
"I didn't, bet Raphael did though," Zachriel chuckles as Raphael 'blushes' slightly.
"Where'd you learn that, dear?" Sidriel asks.
"A book!! Highland cows are so cute theyre so fluffy!!" Chloe says, bouncing a bit
"Th-"
Sidriel is cut off by the room flashing to the padded room again, immediate dread setting in as Chloe can see two men using tazers on what appears to be a humanoid... shadow? abstraction?? It's a dark figure that reality seems to warp around slightly, and it has one eye. The eye is focused on Chloe as the men begin to yell, "You will obey commands. Attack the other subject or lethal force will be brought upon you." The men swiftly leave as Past leans on the wall for support, looking at Chloe. Her vision flashes back to the tea party.
"-at's good, that you're reading," Sidriel says warmly. One of the trees is covered in a black censor bar, but it doesn't affect Chloe.
Chloe is terrified, begging the men to stop before the vision returns and she blinks, tears in her eyes.
Chloe nods a little. "My head..." She touches it gently. "Somethings wrong..."
"Something is wrong, dear," Sidriel leans down and kisses Chloe's forehead, "But we need you to listen to Past, can you do that for us?"
Past is now standing in front of the table, appearing as a tall, dark figure with wisps of shadows coming off of its form and several eyes.
"He will help you. He made a promise to us that he will. He has faith in Sorath, and wants you to as well."
Chloe nods, looking up at Past. "You're friends with the other angels?" She asks, not disturbed by Pasts appearance.
"I would like to be friends with this one." Past says in a low, comforting voice, holding out a hand.
Chloe nods and takes his hand. "You're gonna help me? Will you help Sidriel?" She asks innocently
"Someone else is helping Sidriel. Everything will be okay in the end, Calliope." The room flickers to the padded room. The two guards are... barely recognizable. Piles of finely minced flesh, bone, hair, and armor.
But it doesn't seem to bother Chloe.
Chloe nods, trying to hug Past. "Thank you..."
"Of course." He kneels down to hug her. "When we leave here, Eerine can come with us, if you'd like."
Chloe nods. "Yes please!! Shes so nice and sweet and has been really nice to me,," She says, wrapping her wings so they cover the both of them. "I hope Sorath comes soon,,"
"Give her time. I will protect you until then. The Operators are working as quickly as they can." The door swings open. Past picks up Chloe up with a shadowy tendril and places her behind him as he grows taller, eyes appearing all over his body. It's Eerine at the door. Their eyes meet. "You're more afraid of me than I am of you, Dri," Past says, before dispersing into shadows, disappearing.
Eerine lets out a breath before holding out her hand for Chloe.
Chloe watches it and walks over, taking Eerines hand. "That was fun!"
Eerine takes Chloe's hand and leaves the room with a sigh, "Y..yeah, I'm sure.."