The red skies, the red snow, all hues of red decayed. Everything turned to normal colors of white and grey.

Nathanael’s head hurt once he regained his consciousness. He was laying on the floor with his feet up on the bed. He felt oddly colder than usual. Feeling slight nausea, he stood up with one hand against his head, and another on the bed to steady himself. Etta was sleeping warmly and peacefully.

Looking around and outside the window, he didn’t see the color red anymore. Whatever was happening outside, it was too late to find out.

He remembered what happened. Him trying to run out and go after Seth. But then being stopped, and turned unconscious by Lydia. That hard surface he felt on the floor still lingered at the back of his aching head.

“Ow…”

Like any other day, once he headed downstairs, he couldn’t find the woman. Not that he particularly wanted to speak with her after yesterday. Or is this still the same day? he wondered. I might have even been out for a few days. Or just a couple of hours.

Seth was painting in his studio. Nathanael thought he wouldn’t see him for a while, but here he was. And the old man’s expression changed, only by a margin, though, Nathanael noticed. He always looked grumpy, with little to no smile to be found. Yet his voice was sometimes calm and gentle, but only sometimes. But now that hidden smile was there. A slight curve at the edges of his mouth.

Nathanael honestly felt creeped out. He never seen him show joy before. And Seth’s eyes… It might have been the view he was looking at him, or just the lighting, but his eyes were more… empty. He painted a new painting, all the while showing that eerie expression. Nathanael nearly decided to leave the studio and go back upstairs. Yet he confronted him with a serious question.

“Seth. Be clear with me and talk without lies and evasiveness. Answer me completely on this one. What was that red light? What was out there that made you bring a rifle?”

His eerie expression faded. And he acted as if it was never there.

“I believe you already know my answer, Nathanael.” Seth didn’t move his eyes from the painting, and his hand was still at work.

The answer was expected. But Nathanael didn’t give up. He wasn’t going to give up this time.

“What did you shoot? You must have shot something for the red skies to disappear. Did you kill something? Kill someone?”

Seth’s eye twitched.

“Nathanael, don’t go thinking of something like that.”

“Why? Because that is the truth? You don’t want to say because you actually used your weapon to take a life!?”

“The red particles wouldn’t disappear by shooting another living thing.” He managed to keep his voice calm.

“Then why bring that rifle of yours? You haven’t taken it with you once when going out! There must have been something out there which made you afraid!”

“There wasn’t anything that dangerous. I only took it to keep myself safe. The red event can only be…” His voice faltered and didn’t try to continue.

“The red event? Does this happen often? And do you always carry that gun? Why!? Seth! Why!? What is out there!? Why can’t you tell me!?”

Seth quickly stood up, making his chair fall back and his pencil accidentally swiped the color red in a straight line across the canvas. His eyes became red in anger. He has had enough.

“Nathanael!” he shouted. Nathanael took a step back. “I have my secrets! Which I can’t tell! Leave this room, and don’t bother me!”

Nathanael couldn’t win against the old man’s stubbornness. And with those last words from Seth, he no longer had the courage to say anything else. He was terrified. He could never win.

Fine. If I can’t get anything from you, then I think I will just leave. There is no point in staying. All I’m doing here is helping Seth around, and that’s not helping me regain my memories.

He turned to leave. His hands were shaken, either from fear or anger, or a mix of both.

But how am I going to find my way around the outside without Seth?

Etta ate her food whilst in her warm clothing, which she should be using when going outside, but she still felt that cold.

“I still don’t get it, Etta. How exactly are you still shivering? It’s warm in here,” Nathanael asked.

“…Mm.”

She wasn’t sitting by the dining area, she was staring deeply down the lit fireplace, and looked as if she was hugging the flames while munching on her toast.

“Wait, toast?” Nathanael glanced towards the kitchen. There was a toaster there that he hadn’t seen before. The short cord was connected to a longer cable, which led upstairs and into Lydia’s room. “You knew of her generator? And where did you find the toaster?”

Etta pointed towards one of the cabinets by the kitchen.

“Huh…” I have yet to look in some places, I guess. And she also found a cable extension? I would believe it to be stored in the workshop. I haven’t seen her out of the house before, except when we brought her here.

Nathanael took further notice of the bread itself. Then he had another thought.

They don’t bake the bread here. There isn’t an oven. Either Seth or Lydia must be doing trips toward the city to buy food. Most likely Lydia, I rarely see her around. Or Seth finds it in the bunkers and abandoned villages…

I still find that odd. People leaving supplies around? I still don’t understand. And that is why I want to go out and discover for myself. To explore and understand what Seth wouldn’t tell me clearly. He glanced back at the stairs leading to the second floor. I have yet to see what is inside Seth’s room. And to know if there is anything in the attic. But how exactly am I going to get into either of them?

“…Warm.”

Etta was huddling close to the fire. Nathanael held the back of her collar so she wouldn’t jump in.

Then it hit him. An idea to get inside the attic.

“Ah…”

On the hatch leading to the attic, was a latch, which could only be unlocked with workable hands. But it was too high to reach, and moving stuff around the house could cause a ruckus. Which Nathanael wouldn’t want to cause, he didn’t want to be seen going in there.

Once the latch was released, Nathanael would need to push it outwards. And he was certain there was no ladder coming down.

“And that is where you come into play, Etta.”

The little girl stared in confusion and drowsiness.

“…Mhm?”

“I can’t go up there myself, so I was thinking you could use my curiosity, and tell me what you see, once I lift you inside.”

Etta didn’t say much. She only gave a slight tilt of her head and a “…Mm?”. Her noises still came out with tiredness.

Why am I making her go up there? She wouldn’t understand what she is looking at. I’ll go find a chair or hopefully a ladder, I can’t throw her into the unknown.

“…Okay.”

“Huh? Okay? You want to go up there?”

“…Didn’t you ask… me to?”

“You would want to help me?”

She gave a drowsy nod. “…Yes. Then… can I go back to sleep?”

“Right, sorry."

It was in the middle of the night. Etta felt the displeasure of being awakened while the light was out. She didn’t know what to do with her irritation.

Nathanael had a lit lamp in Etta’s room, but before he left, he turned it off.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust in the darkness, he was capable of seeing just enough to walk around. Remembering where the door and the hatch were, was enough for him to know where he was.

Etta held her arms up while Nathanael lifted her up. He slowly raised her towards the hatch and was cautious of not banging her head against the ceiling.

“…Mmn-Nat, I can’t see.”

“Sorry, we shouldn’t have the light on while in the corridor,” Nathanael whispered.

Nathanael was sure Seth and Lydia were in their rooms. The light could be seen beneath the sliver of the doors if the lamp was on. If they were awake, Nathanael and Etta would be in trouble, if he couldn’t explain their reasoning about piggybacking in the middle of the night.

Now, without their necessary light, Nathanael couldn’t steady himself.

“…Naaat, you’re moving too much.”

“I’m trying my best here. Holding balance in the dark, and with you on my head, it’s harder than you think.”

“…Mmnh.” Etta fumbled around the wooden hatch until she finally touched something metallic, and managed to get a hold of the latch.

Thankfully there isn’t a key needed.

Etta tugged and flipped the latch, and then slid the small bar, unlocking the attic.

“Did you do it? Can you open it?”

“…Mmngh-”

With her little to no strength and the help of Nathanael, she pushed the attic hatch open.

“Nice!” Nathanael cheered, forgetting that he was supposed to be quiet, and covered his mouth with his hand.

Nathanael heard an odd creak coming from the hatch.

“Is the hatch… not going to stop?”

His answer came in swift. And loud. The heavy hatch banged against the attic floor, creating enough noise to be heard from the workshop.

His eyes glanced around, not sure where to look, then he saw the lights coming from Seth’s room turning on.

“Quickly, quickly!” Nathanael threw Etta up, and she climbed inside. “Close it, quickly!”

She heaved and puffed, her cheeks turning red. Lifting this alone is harder without the help of Nathanael. And nearly impossible while still half asleep.

Why the hatch was so heavy, Nathanael didn’t know. And why would it open 180-degrees, with no support from it falling? He hadn’t a clue.

Nathanael noticed a shadow looming beneath Seth’s door. They had little to no time left.

Miraculously, the hatch was halfway closed, and before Etta would close it all the way, Nathanael chucked his lamp towards her, fully knowing it would be pitch black.

A second loud bang. The hatch was closed.

Nathanael couldn’t run to his room, it would be too late. He stood with sweat running down his forehead, and slightly shaking in anxiety.

The door opened. The old man was in his pajamas, and staring right at him with a glare.

It was dark in the hallway. Nathanael couldn’t look any more suspicious while standing there, doing whoever knows what.

The light was coming behind Seth, making it difficult to discern him. But the form of a pistol was something Nathanael could see clear as day. And that weapon was pointed at him.

Nathanael gulped.

“I… I… uh…” Nathanael began to stutter.

“That noise. What was it?” Seth asked.

“I… I don’t know. I was going to find out myself once I heard it.”

Seth stared at him for a moment. Then his eyes moved toward the ceiling. There was a moment of silence. A dead silence, not a single sound could be heard.

He knows. He knows, he knows. But he isn’t saying anything. Does he see it? It’s really dark. He couldn’t possibly see the latch being unlocked when the ceiling isn’t lit up by the light. Does he? Does he not?

Why is his weapon still pointed at me? Is he going to shoot me? Is he going to put me down right here? Did he actually want to leave me behind in that crystal cave? Was I right? Am I too bothersome for him?

I can’t take this stress. I need to sit down and calm myself.

Seth suddenly slowly lowered his pistol.

“Nathanael.”

“Y-yes!” his voice cracked.

“Is the little girl in the attic?”

Nathanael’s body stiffened. He wanted to say yes, to tell Seth he was going to figure everything out without him. To say he didn’t want to stay in this house of his.

But he was scared. He couldn’t put himself to say anything. Nathanael only fumbled with his words.

“No… she’s not. She is… um… in her room.”

“Nathanael! Is she in the attic, or not!?” Seth yelled through the night. He sounded really serious.

“She… I… Ye- no…”

“Shit. I hoped if I didn’t say anything about the attic, you wouldn’t think about it. I guess I was wrong. You should have asked.”

Nathanael couldn’t lie in this situation. Seth could see right through him.

“I only… want to know. Everything that… you are keeping from me.”

Come on, Nathanael! He isn’t going to say anything if you are afraid! Stay strong!

“And you think you can find what you seek up there?”

“I… I…”

“I wanted to hide this. But I guess you would know about it sooner or later.”

Answers? Do I finally get something?

“What… know about what?”

The old man sighed and scratched his beard.

“Actually, you wouldn’t really see it yourself, it’s Etta who would likely experience it. But I guess you also did experience it before…”

“Huh?”

Experience? Experience what? What is he saying?

“Don’t come back to me saying it’s my fault once she breaks. You should really close your obsession with finding answers.”

“Once she breaks? What do you mean?”

“Talk to the girl. I’m sure she has something to say. If she can resist.”

No answers. Nothing. The only thing he could do now was beg.

“Seth. Please. What is going to happen to Etta?”

“We never should have brought her here,” Seth said, ignoring the boy.

What? What the hell?

“Whatever bad is happening to her, you should know it’s your fault,” Nathanael managed to say.

“Come again? I’m not the one telling you it was fine going up there.”

“When I first woke up and spoke to you, you said it was fine looking around the house. That would include the attic, right?”

“The lock on it should clearly tell you to stay away. And you never asked for a key.”

“What do you mean a lock? There was nothing on it.”

“Of course there was! I don’t want anyone inside! So that lock was supposed to make you think that!”

“I don’t even have a key! How am I supposed to open it? Break it? You would have heard me banging against it if there was one! So there was no lock!”

“I clearly just said there was a one! I wouldn’t have it removed for any reason!”

I don’t get it. Was there a lock? I don’t remember there being one. Perhaps I overlooked it before, and someone removed it? Did Lydia remove it and go up there? Is she up there? No, the latch was on earlier.

Tension started building. Nathanael managed to speak without stuttering. Yet he felt nervous about what would happen next.

Seth still had his pistol in his hand. He had no holster on his pajamas, he swung the gun around dangerously with no trigger discipline.

Seth’s face switched from irritation to realization. He groaned and walked back to his room.

“Remember to not walk around at night. You might stumble.”

The old man started to close the door.

“Wait!” Nathanael called. “Tell me what is up in the at-”

The door shut closed, and the lock audibly turned. Not a sound to be heard after that. Only his stressed breathing was audible. His vision nearly faded once the door closed. The lights from the room disappeared, and he was left in the dark.

He left… just like that…? Am I not in trouble? Why? Just… why?

He couldn’t hear Etta. He didn’t know if to call her name or not. The space felt eerier when nothing was happening.

Nathanael wanted to lay down, to sleep. He has had enough of today. But he needed to wait, to be sure Etta was safe. He needed to know what Seth meant. What was in the attic? What is up there he wanted to keep locked in?

A cold breath he could see wafted in the air and dissipated.

“I feel cold.”