After I finished giving Finny a solid whack to the head, he decided to give me a tour of the mansion.

"But don't you have work to do? " I said.

"I do but I'll have enough time to do it later!" Finny said.

Somehow, that statement gives me no faith in you...

"Let's go Anony! " Finny said and grabbed my hand.

"My name's not Anony... "

As we walked around, Finny started to ask me questions.

"So, where did you live before England Anony? Your accent... Are you from some type of tropical island! " Finny said with stars in his eyes.

Images of coconut chested, grass skirted, gorgeous women rushed through my head and I frowned and crossed my arms.

"No. " I said sternly.

Finny sulked.

"I was born in London actually but I've traveled a lot, that's all. The people who raised me were a group of russian aristocrats. I was their doll... " I said.

"Doll? "

"It's nothing Finny. Can we continue this tour tomorrow? I'm really tired. "

"O-Okay. " Finny said.

I started walking towards my room then stopped and turned around.

I bowed deeply.

"Thank you very much... Finny. " I said then turned right back around and started running.

I don't think I've ever sincerely thanked someone in my entire life.

I made it to my room and shut the door behind me then leaned against it, breathing hard.

I wasn't lying about being tired though...

I shuffled my feet over to the bed and fell down on it, stretching my arms with a yawn. I took off my eyepatch and put it on the table next to the bed then climbed underneath the sheets.

Goodnight... World. We're not finished yet, you and I.

+-+-+

"Gretel!" a young girl screamed out in joy.

She jumped out of her uncle's arms and rushed forward to hug the younger girl whom she thought of as a younger sister.

Gretel didn't really like hugs though, so she just stood there like an oak tree, letting the girl named Astria hug her like there was no tomorrow.

"Astria? You're... Choking... Me. " Gretel coughed out.

Astria let go with a concerned look on her face.

"I-I'm sorry, Gretel! Did I hurt you? Just tell me where and I'll call a nurse-"

"It's nothing. " Gretel said quickly and walked away from Astria to her room.

Astria sighed, then turned around and inspected their lovely home.

Not exactly a mansion, the Guderber's country estate was quite the beauty.

Built before the war, it still regained a sense of architectual pride in itself. The golden exterior and the rich red and sliver interior gave off an impression that whoever lives here must be regal or at the very least, of noble blood.

Astria often felt pride in her home.

Her home, where she lived with her aunt and uncle and adopted sister - Gretel.

She worried about Gretel all the time and showered her with attention that aunt and uncle never gave her. That had always puzzled Astria. Why did they lovingly smile at Astria but not at Gretel? Astria didn't know because even though she was mature for her age, she was still just a child.

Because no one gave Gretel smiles, Astria always greeted her with them and tried her best to support her. It was hard, taking Gretel's personality into account.

She was a naturally reserved child and didn't fawn over others for attention. She did everything that was asked of her without a single complaint so you would think her submissive, but in reality she was very stubborn.

She had long elegant black hair, two sparkling blue eyes and was a little pale from lack of sunlight. She walked with a shuffling pace, always dragging her feet against the floor and had a tendency to look like she was deep in thought.

Her favorite flowers were white lilies and her favorite color was purple. Her favorite foods were mushrooms, beans on toast, and ice cream even though she pretended to hate all three.

And whenever she smiled, she appeared to be looking into the distance - smiling at an invisible enigma or maybe just waiting for someone to wave back from her invisible space.

Astria knew all of this after spending countless hours observing Gretel, trying to discover the meaning behind everything she did. Astria didn't understand everything as no human can ever truly know everything about another human but she tried with all her might. And so, all of the deduction from her observations lead to one choice - go check and see what's wrong with Gretel.

Astria quietly tiptoed her way to Gretel's room and cracked the door open.

She didn't want to disturb Gretel and she knew she was easily frightened.

She peeked inside and saw that Gretel was crying on her bed, mumbling to herself.

Astria leaned in closer and eavesdropped.

"Mommy, daddy, it's true... They don't love me here... I want to go home... I want you back... Even though I never... knew you... I'm sure... You loved me."

Oh no. Did auntie scold her again? She always belittles Gretel for the most impractical things... It really gets on my nerves.

Astria started to listen again.

"Did I have... A sister... Like Astria? I hope I didn't. I like this Astria... More than any other Astria.... She loves me. And I love her. "

Astria started to feel her cheeks grow hot and soon, tears began to run down her cheeks.

She couldn't stay silent anymore.

Astria opened the door and Gretel jumped a little.

"Umm... Gretel? Are you okay? " Astria asked and wiped her tears away on her sleeve.

Gretel buried her face in her pillow.

"Notfa freally. " Gretel said, words all muffled.

Astria walked over to Gretel and climbed up on her bed and sat beside her.

"Gretel, why are you crying? " Astria said and started to stroke little Gretel's hair.

Gretel buried her face in her pillow even more.

"You do know, I can't help make you feel better if I don't know what's wrong. " Astria said.

Gretel lifted her face and Astria frowned slightly at the mess of tangled hair, snot, and tears Gretel had become.

She sighed softly and patted her lap, so Gretel sat down there.

"Auntie said my violin lessons were going nowhere. She said, "I'm just a pretty face to make the Guderber family look better. " That I'm just a doll. And that if I couldn't at least be a lady then there would be no place for me here. I don't want to leave, Astria. Auntie and uncle are mean but you mean the world to me! I don't want to leave you! " Gretel said and hugged me tightly.

She's worried about losing me...

"Don't worry, Gretel. I'm not going anywhere."

Gretel sniffled.

"You promise? " Gretel said.

Astria hugged her.

"Promise. " Astria said.

Months passed and soon, it was Astria's birthday. The entire estate was decorated in green and white, which were Astria's favorite colors. Even Gretel was dressed in the combination, by order of her auntie.

The ridiculous outfit did not suit Gretel at all though and the guests at the party had to try their hardest not to cringe.

Gretel ran up to Astria and hugged her.

"Happy Birthday Astria! I couldn't really think of what to give you as a present so..."

Gretel broke the hug and held her hands out.

"Here! " she said.

Astria took the small box from Gretel's hands and looked inside.

It's a... Frog skeleton...

Astria forced a smile.

"Thank you Gretel. It's very... Thoughtful. "

Gretel started to blush.

"R-Really? I found it the other day and it reminded me of you. " Gretel said.

A skeleton! Gretel, we're going to have to have a talk sometime...

"Well, it's a very nice gift. Thank you Gretel." Astria said.

Suddenly, the windows broke into thousands of tiny pieces. Time seemed to stop for Astria and Gretel as many men in black suits started pouring through.

People were screaming and crying and bullets were flying but Gretel and Astria just stood still.

Astria knew that she had to protect Gretel though, so she grabbed her hand and started running. She ran down the hallway, to the washroom and opened the door to the basement.

"Gretel, let's hide in here." she whispered and two descended into the darkness.

Gretel was scared of the dark.

She clutched Astria's hand and clinged to her side as they maneuvered their way through the unknown territory.

Astria was also scared, but not of the dark.

She was scared that those men with the guns would hurt Gretel. They found a hiding spot in the very back of the basement, behind some wooden boxes and the waiting began.

They waited for minutes which soon turned into hours which later turned into a whole day.

"Gretel, are you okay? " Astria whispered.

"My stomach hurts... "

It should be alright now. Those men should be gone.

"Hey Gretel? I'm going to go and get some food for us. I'll be right back, okay? " Astria said.

"No, don't leave! " Gretel shouted.

Astria put a hand over her mouth.

"Gretel, you need to be quiet. I promise I'll come back. Wait for me here. It should only take a minute." Astria said and ran away, leaving Gretel alone.

Gretel buried her face in her knees and started to cry.

Astria.... I want Astria...

Ten minutes had passed and Gretel was becoming more and more worried. She knew, that Astria had told her to stay hidden but she was scared.

What if those men hadn't left?

What if they hurt Astria?

Gretel slowly stood up and started to shuffle her way up the basement stairs.

She just needed to know that Astria was okay.

Gretel walked down the hallways until she made it to the ballroom.

People laid everywhere, covered in blood, eyes still wide open with fear.

Gretel knew she had found herself in a mass grave.

Astria!

Gretel started running throughout the house, searching for Astria.

She looked and looked, but after the longest time could not find her anywhere.

Think.... Where haven't I looked before.

Then it hit her.

Outside.

Gretel went to the door and opened it just to see more bodies and giant holes that were newly cratered in the ground.

People were bent and thrown away until some didn't even look recognizable anymore.

Then Gretel froze.

She saw Astria's long green dress lying on the ground, in pieces. And inside that dress was chunks of human flesh and bone strew around it.

A-Astria...

Gretel wet her bloomers and started to back away slowly.

Astria's gone....

Astria won't ever stroke my hair or smile at me anymore. She won't mouth out to auntie if my scolding gets too bad. She won't hug me or protect me anymore. She won't come back...

Gretel turned around and ran back inside the house, shaking.

Astria... What will I do without you?

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Gretel's mouth and dragged her away.

+-+-+

I woke up covered in sweat, shaking.

Why did I have to dream that again?

Gretel's... Gretel's dead. She should be able to rest in peace after all these years.

Gretel died and became a part of her.

The being that is me.

But the memory of...

I lowered my head.

"Astria... "

The men had left landmines when they left to ensure there would be no survivors.

If only I was older then, I could've told you.

I could've saved you and Gretel.