The flower field stretched endlessly around them, a riot of color and gentle movement under a soft, golden light. Olive ran ahead, arms outstretched, laughing as butterflies circled around her. Amphibian leapt into a pond nearby, splashing happily, while Callie picked a few flowers cautiously, marveling at their vibrancy. Leonardo floated in the center of the group, glowing petals twirling around, adding even more surreal beauty to the scene. Jang, however, was having the worst day of his life. The moment he stepped onto the soft grass, his eyes began watering uncontrollably. A sneeze burst from him so violently that Amphibian nearly jumped out of the pond in shock. "Jang! Are you okay?!" Callie shouted, dashing over. "I... I... can't... breathe... my eyes... my nose... it's... it's hell!" Jang wheezed, rubbing at his face and sneezing again. "Flowers... they're... murderous... alive... plotting against me... every petal is a trap!"
Olive giggled, crouching near him. "Dad... it's... just flowers... they're not trying to kill you..."
"I know that!" he shouted, sneezing again. "But it feels like they are! Look at them... laughing... mocking... every pollen grain is a tiny ninja assassin!"
Leonardo floated closer, twirling glowing petals around Jang's face. "Perhaps... a little... sneeze prevention... art therapy... oui..." He flicked a few petals, which swirled gently around Jang's nose, doing... nothing.
Amphibian croaked sympathetically, splashing water onto Jang's boots. "Yes... allergies... terrible... humans weak... but... we try... help... calm..."
Callie rolled her eyes, helping him sit on a soft patch of grass. "Here, Dad... take a breath... just... try to relax..."
Meanwhile, Olive wandered over to Leonardo and Amphibian, tugging at their hands. "Come on! Isn't this amazing? Look at the colors... the butterflies... it's like a dream!"
Leonardo twirled his brush, causing petals to rise and float like gentle flames. "Yes... a dream... surreal... magnificent... like we are inside a painting... alive... alive!"
Amphibian crouched, tail flicking. "Yes... safe... beautiful... but keep an eye... danger always close... but now... we enjoy... for short while..."
Jang sneezed again, violently. "I... hate... everything... pollen... hell... flowers... why are there so many of them..."
Callie shook her head, chuckling softly despite herself. "You're ridiculous. Just... lie down. Enjoy it. We can tease you later."
Olive plopped down beside him, laughing through tears. "Come on, Dad... look around! Aren't you happy we made it out?"
Jang groaned, sneezing yet again. "Happy? Survived... yes... alive... maybe... but flowers... no..."
Leonardo floated above, petals glowing brighter, and whispered to Olive, "Mon dieu... he is... how you say... allergic to happiness... yet... it is... endearing..."
Amphibian croaked softly, nudging Jang's shoulder. "Yes... endure... beauty... survive... laugh... eventually..."
Callie, lying down on the soft grass, picked a small blue flower and twirled it between her fingers. "Even Dad's miserable, it's... peaceful here. I feel... like we can breathe again... like a moment without the Collector... without the ward..."
Olive nodded, hugging her rabbit. "Yeah... and we're together. That's what matters... we survived, we're alive, and this... this is ours for a little while..."
Jang muttered, sneezing into his sleeve. "I... hate... flowers... but... maybe... this... is... okay... sniffle... just... don't make me eat them..."
Amphibian let out a happy croak, Leonardo twirled petals in the air, and Olive laughed, hugging her dad despite his sneezes. Callie reached over, taking Jang's hand, smiling softly. For a brief moment, the chaos of the dark web, the Collector, the shadows, and the ward all felt distant and irrelevant. Even if Jang was "suffering in floral hell," the group could just... exist in the beauty around them, together. And in that flower field, laughter mingled with pollen, sneezes, and glowing petals, the bonds between them strengthened, fragile but unbreakable. The flower field glowed with evening light, and everyone had finally settled down... except Metamorphosis. He was pacing back and forth in front of Amphibian, his butterfly wings twitching nervously. "No, no, no, no, no! Absolutely not! I've seen frogs eat butterflies, moths, flies... bugs of all kinds! And what am I?" He spread his arms dramatically. "A giant bug with feelings and an advanced vocabulary! He's going to snack on me like an appetizer at a pondside buffet!"
Amphibian tilted his head, eyes wide, mouth opening slightly. He licked his lips. "Yes... bugs... tasty... delicious... protein..."
Metamorphosis yelped, darting behind Jang like a child. "See?! He admits it! He's eyeing me like I'm a crunchy midnight snack!"
Jang, still sneezing, groaned. "For once... I agree with him. Amphibian, keep your tongue to yourself. No bug-eating friends tonight!"
Olive clapped her hands together, trying to diffuse the tension. "Guys! Stop! Amphibian's not gonna eat Metamorphosis! He's... he's our friend!"
Amphibian leaned closer to Metamorphosis, croaking loudly. "Friend... yes... but hungry... very hungry..."
Metamorphosis screamed, fluttering his wings so fast that flower petals whipped into the air. "He's going to sauté me with butter and garlic!"
Leonardo was doubled over laughing, paintbrush twirling in his hand. "Mon dieu! This... this is art itself! Fear... hunger... comedy! Perhaps I should paint... Amphibian devouring Metamorphosis in a tragic romance?"
Callie smacked Leonardo's arm. "Don't encourage him!"
But Olive was laughing so hard she fell over into the flowers, clutching her sides. "Metamorphosis! He's not gonna eat you! He likes gross bugs, not... not... butterfly men!"
Amphibian croaked again, crouching low. "Maybe... butterfly... better... wings crunchy... like chips..."
Metamorphosis shrieked and scrambled up a tree, shouting down, "Stay away from me, you green menace! You'll never take me alive!"
Jang pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes watery from both pollen and the chaos. "This... this is my life now. Allergies. Frog men. Bug men screaming. Why didn't I stay in bed?"
Callie was giggling too, though trying to hide it. "Okay, okay... Amphibian, let's get you something else to eat. Maybe... fish? Or fruit? Or literally anything that doesn't scream when it talks."
Amphibian paused, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Fruit... no... slimy worms better... but... fine... I wait... for now..."
Metamorphosis peeked from the branches, still panicked but slightly calmer. "Good! Yes! Eat worms, eat dirt, eat... literally anything that's not a butterfly with social anxiety!" The entire group burst into laughter again, even Jang through his sneezing fit. Olive wiped her eyes, smiling so wide it hurt. For a moment, even in the hellish dark web world, they were just... friends. Silly, mismatched, weird friends.
The group had gathered in a quiet corner of the flower field, the sun dipping low behind the horizon, casting golden-pink light across the endless blooms. Leonardo floated above the group, twirling glowing petals lazily in the air, while Amphibian perched on a rock near the pond, occasionally snapping at floating bugs for dinner. Olive poked at the fire they'd made from magically resistant twigs, giggling as sparks danced around her hands. Metamorphosis hovered nervously nearby, still suspicious of Amphibian's presence. Callie leaned back, relaxing slightly in the warm glow. Jang, exhausted from sneezing fits, dodging shadows, and Amphibian's hunger, muttered under his breath, "I could really use... a drink right about now." He got up stiffly, stretching his arms. "I just... need... a moment..." He walked a short distance away, muttering complaints about pollen, bugs, and everything else in his life, and pulled out a small flask. Lighting a cigarette he'd magically found in his coat pocket, he took a deep drag. The night smelled like flowers, fire, and adventure, but in a weirdly comforting way. And then he froze. "W-what...?" he whispered. A soft glow ahead, tucked between a small grove of trees, revealed a tavern. Rustic wood, crooked windows, a tiny sign swinging in the breeze. A warm golden light spilled from the doorway, and laughter echoed faintly outside. Jang blinked. "A... tavern? Here? In the middle of... flowers? Am I... hallucinating?"
Olive, noticing his frozen stare, looked up and gasped. "Wait... I know that place!" Her feet carried her instinctively, running through the flower field with urgency. Leonardo and Amphibian followed, intrigued.
"What is it?" Callie shouted after her.
Olive didn't answer. She burst through the tavern door. Inside, the warm light revealed wooden tables, mismatched chairs, a fire crackling in a stone hearth... and a tall, withered figure leaning casually against the bar. "The Withered Willow..." Olive whispered, eyes wide. Her chest tightened. "He... he's here... he's alive..."
The Withered Willow looked up, his skeletal, twisted smile softening when he saw her. "Olive... you finally made it here. Long time no see, little light."
Leonardo floated in next, petals scattering, whispering, "Mon dieu... strange... familiar... intriguing..."
Amphibian croaked softly, cautious but curious. "Yes... smells... safe... for now... maybe..."
Callie and Jang entered last, eyes scanning the room. "Who... is this?" Jang asked, voice suspicious.
Olive ran to The Withered Willow, her rabbit tucked under one arm. "It's... my friend... he's... he's the husband of the Lord of Death..."
The Withered Willow chuckled softly, a deep, creaking sound. "And now, it seems... we all meet under one roof. Welcome... welcome to the tavern, travelers."
Jang raised an eyebrow. "I... don't trust anyone in this dark web world, but... this is... weirdly cozy?"
Callie nudged him. "Just... go with it. Olive clearly knows him."
Amphibian perched at the edge of the bar, suspiciously eyeing the shadows in the corners. Leonardo floated midair, admiring the warm glow, petals reflecting the firelight. Metamorphosis hovered nervously near Olive, still convinced he might be mistaken for a snack. Olive's eyes sparkled with relief and hope. "I didn't think I'd ever see him again. We... we can finally have a place to rest for a bit." The group slowly settled inside the tavern, laughter and conversation mixing with the fire's crackle. Outside, the flower field glowed softly in the moonlight, but for the first time in a long while, they felt safe together, even if only for a moment. And in that quiet glow, The Withered Willow poured them all drinks, or at least something that looked like drinks, and smiled knowingly at Olive, the reunion feeling like a small, precious victory in the endless chaos of the dark web.
The tavern was alive with warmth, laughter, and the faint scent of wood smoke mixed with Amphibian's pondy aroma. Olive and The Withered Willow sat close together, quietly exchanging stories of the dark web. Leonardo floated above the group, petals swirling like confetti as he dramatically reenacted their escapes with tiny, glowing sketches midair. Amphibian sat near the edge of the table, snapping up stray bugs while eyeing Metamorphosis, who trembled slightly, pretending to be inconspicuous but secretly terrified. Jang had finally managed to sit, though his allergies were flaring badly. "I... I don't know why I'm still alive," he muttered, rubbing at his reddened eyes. Callie handed him a handkerchief while muttering under her breath, "You'll survive... maybe." The group laughed and bonded, sharing small victories, secrets, and jokes from their chaotic adventures. Leonardo even managed to make a floating, glowing duck appear that Amphibian eyed suspiciously before eating a bug near it. Everything seemed... almost normal. And then, BAM!
The tavern doors burst open. Wind, smoke, and manic laughter filled the room. Doctor Cuckoo Carnage and Nurse Maisie Massacre stormed in, grinning wildly. "Surprise!" Maisie squealed, twirling like a spinning top. "We heard there was a tavern party!"
Cuckoo bounced forward, eyes wild. "And what's a celebration without a little... gunfire?"
Jang froze. Olive's eyes went wide. Leonardo froze mid-air, petals hanging mid-spin. Amphibian crouched, ready to leap. Metamorphosis quivered, flapping wings frantically. "Cuckoo... no... please..." Olive whispered, trembling.
But Cuckoo was already yanked out a small pistol, pointing it theatrically at his own head. BANG! He collapsed dramatically—again. The tavern fell completely silent. A single floating petal from Leonardo's display landed on the floor. Jang sputtered. "I... I can't... again..."
Callie buried her face in her hands, muttering, "Why are we not surprised..."
Olive ran to him, grabbing his arm. "He's okay, right? He's... he's alive, right?"
Maisie clapped her hands and laughed. "Of course! A celebration requires style! He's alive... obviously..."
Cuckoo groaned theatrically, rolling onto his back and wiggling his fingers. "I feel... invigorated... ecstatic... misunderstood... celebratory... now give me cake!"
Leonardo floated down, muttering under his breath, "Mon dieu... impossible... this is... absurd... genius... terrible..."
Amphibian croaked, tail flicking in annoyance. "Yes... terrifying... chaos... but alive... for now..."
Metamorphosis hid behind Olive, muttering, "I do not approve... must... avoid... green frog... and this human... and the crazy brain... and..."
Jang pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering through a sneezing fit. "I swear... if I survive the dark web... I'm never drinking again... never..."
Olive, finally calming, rolled her eyes at the chaos. "Well... at least it's entertaining, right?"
Callie groaned. "Entertaining... terrifying... exhausting... pick one." And somewhere between the floating petals, croaking Amphibian, and the wildly dramatic Cuckoo lying on the floor, the group realized: even in the safest place they'd found in the dark web, chaos would always follow. But... at least, this time, they could laugh about it together.
The tavern had finally begun to settle after Cuckoo's dramatic "celebratory" shooting. The fire crackled warmly in the hearth, spilling golden light across wooden tables and the soft flower petals Leonardo had conjured to decorate the room. Olive sat across from The Withered Willow, fidgeting nervously with her rabbit. "You... you miss him, don't you?" Olive whispered, voice soft, almost afraid to break the fragile calm.
The Withered Willow's withered fingers drummed on the table, a faint creaking sound. His hollow eyes softened, and for a moment, he seemed... human. "Every day," he admitted, voice like a sigh rustling through dry leaves. "Even when I am among friends... even when I am doing my duty... I feel the emptiness where he should be. The Lord of Death... my husband... gone, yet always present in thought."
Olive nodded quietly, her chest tightening. "It must be so... lonely."
"It is," he whispered. "But seeing you, seeing all of you... this group... it reminds me that life... or what passes for life here... can be worth holding onto. Even if just for a fleeting moment."
Olive smiled softly, and for the first time in a long while, the dark web's horrors felt distant. Then, a crash shattered the fragile peace. The tavern doors were thrown open violently. Shadows poured in, writhing and jagged, three of them at first, blazing purple, orange, and green forms followed by more that seemed to crawl along the walls and ceiling. "There they are!" hissed one, a voice like grinding metal. "The little humans... the imposters... the ones we've been hunting!"
Jang scrambled to his feet, eyes wide. "Not again... not here too!" He yanked a chair up, tossing it as a makeshift barricade.
Amphibian leapt onto the nearest table, legs crouched and ready, tail whipping the flower petals into a whirlwind. "Yes... shadows... strong... fight... must..."
Metamorphosis panicked, fluttering into Leonardo's petals like a whirlwind. "They're... they're going to eat us... I just know it... we're doomed..."
Leonardo hovered midair, twirling his brush furiously. "*Mon dieu... this... this is art in motion... life itself in chaos..." He flicked petals that struck shadows, briefly splitting them apart.
Olive grabbed Amphibian's arm. "We have to protect everyone! Jang, Callie, Metamorphosis... stay close!" The first shadow lunged at Callie, claws outstretched. Amphibian snapped, catching it midair with a massive leap, spinning and slamming it into a wall of petals that Leonardo had magically hardened. Jang, now fully in combat mode, grabbed a chair and swung wildly, knocking another shadow into a table. Glass shattered, fire sparked, and one shadow shrieked in pain as it collided with Amphibian's powerful tail. Maisie Massacre and Doctor Cuckoo Carnage tumbled into the chaos, grinning maniacally. Maisie swung her scalpel with dangerous precision, while Cuckoo theatrically dived at a shadow, collapsing in a dramatic flail before bouncing back upright. Olive leapt to Leonardo's side, dodging a jagged purple claw. "Leonardo! Use the petals, trap them!"
Leonardo grinned, swirling petals into a blinding vortex. Shadows screamed as their limbs got tangled in glowing vines of color. Amphibian took advantage, blasting more with explosive frog-like leaps, knocking shadows off their balance. Metamorphosis, terrified but determined, shot small clouds of powder from his wings at the shadows' eyes, temporarily blinding them. "Take... that... you monstrous... freaks!"
Callie crouched behind the bar, tossing bottles at approaching shadows with precision. One exploded, showering purple liquid and petals, causing two shadows to slip and crash into the wall. Jang finally found his rhythm, sneezing and fighting simultaneously. "I... hate... allergies... but I... love... knocking you bastards down!" He swung wildly, punching shadows into floating tables that Leonardo had frozen midair.
Amphibian croaked triumphantly, leaping from shadow to shadow, crushing one under a perfectly timed splash of pond water. "Yes... strong... careful... safe..." Olive, running between the chaos, finally grabbed the nearest shadow and held it in place. Leonardo whirled petals around, binding the remaining shadows in a dazzling cage of color.
The tavern fell silent. Breathing hard, hearts pounding, the group slowly assessed the room. Shadows lay tangled in petals, writhing but immobilized. Cuckoo groaned dramatically from under a table. "Bravo... beautiful chaos... magnificent... now... champagne?"
Jang, still sneezing, wiped blood from his knuckles. "I can't believe we survived that... here... in a tavern... in a flower field... of all places!"
Olive hugged The Withered Willow tightly. "We're okay... for now... we survived... together."
The Withered Willow's hollow eyes softened as he patted her back gently. "Yes... together... and for moments like this... even in this mad, terrible world... we can feel alive." Outside, the moonlight spilled over the flower field, whispering of peace, but the shadows, though subdued, would never be gone completely.
The tavern was quiet now, broken only by the occasional crackle from the fire and the heavy breaths of the group. Shadows had been contained, or at least slowed, but the aftermath of the fight left everyone exhausted. Jang leaned against a table, sneezing violently, bloodied from scratches and bruises. He swayed unsteadily, trying to catch his breath, but it was no use. Suddenly, his knees buckled. "Dad!" Olive screamed, rushing to his side. She caught him just in time, heart pounding. "Stay with me! You're not dying, okay? You're not dying!"
Jang coughed, a grimace twisting his face. "I... I'm fine... just... tired..."
"Fine? You're covered in cuts and bruises and bleeding! You're not fine!" Olive shouted, panic rising in her chest. She scrambled away toward the small first aid kit Leonardo had conjured earlier, fumbling with bandages, antiseptic, and whatever magical supplies she could find. Callie and Leonardo hovered near, keeping the area clear, while Amphibian croaked nervously, pacing back and forth. Metamorphosis flitted around, panicking. "This is... this is exactly how he dies! I knew it! Frogs and flowers can't save him!" Olive returned to Jang, bandages in hand, only to freeze. He... wasn't there. "What—Dad? Where did you—JANG?!" she screamed, looking frantically around.
Callie and Leonardo rushed over. "What do you mean 'he's not there'?" Leonardo demanded, petals whirling around the room.
Olive pointed wildly. "I left him right here! I was coming back with first aid and—he's gone! Someone... something... took him!"
Amphibian hissed, tail thrashing. "Yes... danger... gone... wrong... must find... now..."
Metamorphosis shrieked, flapping against the air. "I knew this would happen! I told you! Frogs... shadows... chaos... all of it!"
Olive's heart pounded painfully in her chest. Tears blurred her vision as she tried to stay calm. "We have to find him... we can't lose him... not now... not like this... it's my fault! I wasn't fast enough!"
Leonardo put a gentle hand on her shoulder, petals softening around them. "Non... non... calm... we find... together... do not despair... yet..."
Callie grabbed Olive's other hand. "We'll find him. We survive everything together, right? This... this is just another obstacle. He's alive, I know it."
Amphibian crouched low, eyes narrowing. "Follow me... I know... signs... pond... shadows... maybe taken... yes..."
Olive nodded, swallowing her fear. "Okay... let's go... we have to save him... now."
But as the group prepared to leave the tavern, a cold, faint voice whispered through the flower field outside. "He's mine now... little girl..."
Olive's blood ran cold. She gripped her rabbit tighter. "No... no... not Jang... I won't let her take him..." And with that, the group stepped into the dark night, hearts pounding, knowing the Collector was closing in, and they had to act fast. The tavern door banged open as the group poured out into the night, torches and flickers of Leonardo's conjured light cutting through the darkness. Amphibian sniffed at the wet earth, claws digging into the ground like a bloodhound, while Metamorphosis fluttered nervously from branch to branch. "Jang!" Callie's voice echoed into the black field. "Jang! Can you hear us?!"
"Dad!" Olive's voice cracked as she shouted, stumbling over her own feet. Her throat was raw from calling out. "Please! Please come back!"
But only the wind answered—until a faint voice slithered through the darkness. "I told you, little Olive... I always take what's mine." It was the Collector. Her mother. The voice drifted from everywhere and nowhere at once, cold and soft like silk over a knife.
Olive's legs gave out. She fell to her knees, shaking. Her breath came in gasps. "No... no no no... I can't... I can't do this anymore..."
Callie reached for her. "Olive!"
"Don't touch me!" Olive screamed, clutching at her hair. Her eyes darted wildly. "It's my fault, it's all my fault! She's doing this because of me! If I'd just stayed home, if I'd never been born, none of this would've happened!"
Leonardo stepped forward, petals dimming, his usual color drained. "Olive... cara mia... you mustn't—"
Olive's voice cracked into a sobbing, animal scream. "I HATE HER! I HATE HER! I WISH SHE WAS DEAD! I WISH I WAS DEAD!" Her fists pounded the ground, dirt under her nails. Her tears hit the soil, splattering. "I'm tired of running! I'm tired of losing everything! I'm tired of her ruining my life! I don't want to do this anymore, I just want it to stop..."
Amphibian crouched low beside her, croaking softly. Even his mad eyes softened. "Not your fault... not your fault... frog sees pain... frog feels pain too..."
Metamorphosis fluttered down next to her, wings trembling. "Don't say that, Olive... please... you're stronger than you think..."
But Olive barely heard them. She stared up into the empty sky, voice hoarse and broken. "She's taken everything from me. My dad, my friends... my life. She's won. I'm so tired. I just... I just want to go home..."
Callie knelt down and wrapped her arms around her little sister, pulling her close despite Olive's shaking. "You're not going anywhere without me. We're going to get him back. We're going to beat her. I swear on my life. You're not dying. Not here. Not like this."
Olive buried her face into Callie's shoulder, sobbing so hard it hurt. "I can't do it, Callie... I can't..."
"Yes, you can," Callie whispered fiercely. "You always could. And you're not alone. Not anymore."
Leonardo crouched on Olive's other side, his brush glowing faintly. "Sorellina, if you want to go home, we'll find a way... but not like this. Not on her terms. Not while she thinks she's already won."
Olive clenched her fists, still trembling. But something flickered in her eyes, a spark of rage, of defiance. She looked up at the sky, teeth bared. "Fine..." Her voice was low, shaky, but full of venom. "She wants a war? She's gonna get one. I'll kill her myself."
Amphibian croaked approvingly. "Yes... yes... fight back... not prey... predator now..." The group exchanged glances, Callie's grip on Olive tightened, Leonardo's petals unfurled once again, and even Metamorphosis straightened his wings. Somewhere in the dark, the Collector's voice chuckled softly. "Oh, my little girl... just like me after all."

Jang stumbled through the darkened flower field, adrenaline pumping from the chaos of Olive's breakdown and the fight with the Collector's voice still echoing in his mind. His legs ached, his allergies flared, but there was no time to stop. A rustle in the shadows made him freeze. Three figures emerged, glowing faintly with colors that shifted between purple, orange, and green. Crushy, Smushy, and Squelchy. "Ah... well, well," purred the purple one, slithering closer. "If it isn't the mighty Jang. The so-called protector."
Jang's fists clenched. "Stay back."
"Oh, don't be so gruff," Smushy cooed, voice silky. "We were just... admiring your strength. So... firm, so... dependable. And your wife..." Her green hue flickered. "...she's such a sweetie."
Crushy tilted his head, eyes glinting. "Yes, so kind, so soft. Must be nice to have a family like that... I wonder..." His words trailed off in a teasing hum.
Jang growled, his heart racing, not from desire, but from fear and anger. "I don't have time for this."
The shadows moved closer, circling him with predatory grace, whispering playful comments that made Jang's skin crawl. Their teasing was almost... intimate, their voices low, silky, and mocking, making his stomach twist. "Your wife is lucky," Squelchy said, their eyes flashing green. "But what if... she weren't yours to protect? What if... someone stronger came along?"
Jang's hands shook with fury. "Enough!" He spun on his heel and sprinted, pushing his exhaustion aside.
Just then, another voice echoed from deeper in the field—cold, cruel, unmistakable. "Running already, Jang? You can't escape me." It was the Collector. Her laughter sliced through the night, sending chills down his spine. Panic surged through him, muscles burning, lungs gasping. The shadows hissed in amusement behind him, their forms weaving between the flowers, trying to flank him.
Jang skidded around a tree, narrowly avoiding a purple claw that whipped past his shoulder. "Not today... not like this!"
Crushy lunged, but Amphibian-like leaps? No, Jang had to rely on pure sprinting instinct, weaving through the flowers. Smushy's green tendrils lashed out, barely missing his legs, tearing petals from the ground. The Collector's laughter grew louder, echoing through the night, mocking him as if she were a predator watching her prey struggle. Jang skidded through a patch of glowing flowers, almost tripping, but forcing himself forward. "I will not, NOT! Let her... take... Olive... or Callie!"
Squelchy's voice hissed behind him, teasing, "So determined... so strong... yet so alone..."
Ahead, a break in the flowers revealed a small stone path leading toward the pond. Jang lunged forward, ignoring every ache, every panic-filled thought. "Run, Jang... run, little man..." the Collector's voice rang one last time before fading slightly with the distance. Jang's chest burned, legs screaming, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop, not while shadows and laughter hunted him, not while his family was in danger. Somewhere in the darkness, he glimpsed a flicker of green and gold, Amphibian and Metamorphosis? Allies? He had to reach them. He had to survive. And with that, the chase continued, faster, more desperate, through the flower field that now seemed like a labyrinth of death and danger.