With ragged breaths, tangled hair, and bloodied nails, Cerise banged on the door of a cottage. He ignored the decorations of candies and sweets as he continued pounding against the door. All the while, he screamed his throat raw.

“Please!” he cried, voice shrill, “My brother! Please! I need help! I-.. I-!!” He choked on his own pleas, messy tears falling to the grass. Cerise rasped, unable to hear his own begging over his panic. “Please-!! Let me-!”

A click. The cottage’s door swung open.