I N T R U S I O N
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S E P T E M B E R 5 T H ;

n i g h t
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By the time the blonde reaches the entrance to the forest, it is arrantly dark, the only light being that of the full moon, making it unfeasible to even recognize her own palm in front of her eyes.

Hopping off of Lucky's back, she softly lands down atop of the emerald-green underbrush.

She hastily grabs onto the paper lantern that Mira's given her, and lights it.

The bright luminescence shines and she begins to wander into the forest.

Occasionally having to tug Lucky's harness, so she wouldn't chase every single butterfly that fluttered by, the pair makes it to a fairly large stone castle, lit up with bright candelabrum, and covered in vines and small bulbs, with windows disguised with moss.

Almost immediately, she notices that the entirety of the foundation is covered in other types of foliage, which rationally must mean that it's old.

She steps towards the wooden double-doors and shoves them open, momentarily forgetting to knock.

"He-Hello, a-anyone?"

She whispers whilst taking a glance inside, by this point, half of her was saying to save her endangered father and the other half wanted to find the proclaimed beast.

How selfish am I?

There was a narrow, crimson and golden carpet, leading down the darkening hall.

She hears a loud wail of an outcry and runs in that direction, positively sure that it is a human...or at least...alive.

Swiftly, Lucy turns the corner and sees her father, rocking inside of an iron-barred cell.

He looked absolutely horrid; the bags under his eyes were a dark porpoise, his eyes void of life, and all-in-all, he looked unhealthy.

"Father!"

She calls out lowly and capers over to him, tears swelling in her eyelids.

She plops down on her knees in front of the barred cell and takes a glimpse around for some form of a lock.

Suddenly, sonorous, reptile-like hiss resonates throughout the confined room and the blonde jolts upward in terror.

"Do you not know how to knock?"

The voice asks angrily.

"I-I'm sorry, I must've forgotten."

She apologizes, cowering towards the brick wall.

The figure stepped in closer.

"Get away from my prisoner."

A deep voice growls, sounding almost inhumane.

One step closer, she studies in on the appearance of the creature.

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