The cult led me through a maze of alleys, then behind a grocery store, then down a staircase I didn't even know existed. One of them tapped on a steel door with a particular rhythm, and someone on the other side opened it without a word.

We were going into the darkness and no one said a word.

I had no idea where this station was going to lead me, but I did not have a good feeling about it. But I still followed these people and reached a familiar place- The station.

They had smuggled me inside.

"We have reached the station. No one must see us arrive."

The leader whispered.

They moved to the door, paused, checked that the hallway was clear, and then rushed forward in controlled silence, ushering me along with them. It didn't take long before the familiar main chamber opened up before us.

The claw machine sat exactly where it always had.

The cult arranged themselves around me without touching me. They faced me like an audience waiting for a miracle.

"Talk to our god."

One of them said.

It took everything in me not to laugh.

"You… want me to talk to a claw machine?"

"Yes."

The same person answered impatiently.

I ran a hand down my face.

"I don't know where you got that idea, but I don't talk to machines, but you can ask the machine yourself for answers-"

I barely finished the sentence before one of them lunged forward as if to strike me for my refusal. The leader caught him by the collar mid-motion, pulling him back with effortless authority.

"Do not lay a hand on him. He's the only one who can talk to our god."

The leader said, tone deathly calm.

Then he turned to me again.

"There is no need to hide your abilities. We have eyes everywhere. We saw how you interact with the machine when no one else is around. We know you are blessed by God. You are the only one who can reach him."

"So you want me to….do what exactly?"

I asked, unable to contain how absurd it sounded.

"We want a conversation. We want the god to open his eyes to us as he has to you. We want the connection you already share."

The leader said"

"And you think I can do that?"

I asked.

He didn't answer bu the silence itself was confirmation.

Before I could argue further, they surrounded me again and guided me toward the machine. They spoke with complete faith, like people who didn't doubt their beliefs for even a second.

"Claw God! We have an offer for you. Give us your power. Let us spread your miracles across the world. Let us serve you."

The leader said, lowering his hood slightly toward the machine but nothing happened.

The believers stiffened. Their composure began to crack.

"Do it! Show us. Operate it."

Someone hissed near my ear.

"Show us what the god reveals to you."

Their desperation filled the station like static. Even the leader remained silent now, waiting for me to move.

I didn't want to, but resisting them wasn't going to get me out of here.

So I stepped forward and reached into my pocket, finding a token left over from before.

[Would you like to spend 5 faith points to get a reward?]

The text looked back at me and I knew I had no choice but to spend this amount. Immediately, a paper slip landed in my hand and I grabbed to read it before anyone else could.

[Don't do anything. Stay calm. Help is coming. You will receive what you desire.]

'So…I am supposed to do…nothing?'

Before I could put the paper away, the cult leader leaned forward and plucked it from my hand. I tensed, certain the secret was gone.

But then he stared at it in complete confusion.

"What language is this?"

He asked aloud..

The leader turned to me again, his voice trembling with restrained hope.

"What message did our god give you?"

I had an option to remain quite, but I decided to tell the people what they wanted to hear from me.

"He told me he will save me."

The silence that followed was terrifying… and then it broke like glass.

The cult erupted into celebration at my words.

"He talked to him."

"He acknowledged him."

"He will save him."

The loud cheering was beginning to hurt my ear. I wanted to block these people out. But unfortunately, I was stuck with them for now.

'I hope I get saved soon. I miss home and the kids.'

__________

Back at the shop, the afternoon stretched on much longer than it should have. The clock above the counter ticked steadily, but the atmosphere in the tiny store felt unusually heavy.

Nyx paced behind the counter, her feet moving in agitation, while Erebus sat on the sofa with his knees pulled to his chest, saying nothing at all.

Fenrir watched both children from his corner, ears perked and nose twitching every time someone walked past outside.

Nyx finally sighed.

"Fenrir, he's been gone way too long. Do you… do you know when he's coming back?"

Fenrir let out a soft yip, then paced in a tight circle, clearly trying to communicate something urgent.

He ran to the door again and barked once, not loud enough to bother the neighbors, but filled with insistence.

When Nyx still didn't follow, he whined in frustration, sat down, and lowered his ears.

Nyx rubbed his forehead, confused and growing more restless with every passing minute.

"I don't understand what you want us to do. If you know where he is, then say something. Anything."

Fenrir barked again, louder this time, then pawed at the ground anxiously.

A soft jingle broke the tense silence as the shop door swung open. Erebus snapped his head up, hope flaring in his eyes - but the figure who stepped in was not the shopkeeper.

Grand Duchess Isabella entered with the same calm presence she always carried, her amber eyes sweeping across the room.

The moment she realized the shopkeeper was not behind the counter, her expression shifted subtly - not fear, not panic, but something caught between surprise and concern.

"Children…Is the shopkeeper here? I need to talk to him about something important. Please get him for me."

She greeted, voice soft but composed.

Nyx shook his head.

"He's not here. He left earlier today and hasn't come back yet."

The duchess stilled, her composure cracking for the slightest fraction of a second before settling again.

"He has not been back at all?"

"No. We don't know when he'll be back."

Nyx answered. Erebus pulled his knees closer and lowered his head.

The duchess pressed her lips together as if calculating possibilities. Then she placed a reassuring hand on the counter and spoke with composed certainty.

"There is no need to panic. The shopkeeper is not a reckless man. If he has not returned, then he must have a reason. When he acts, it is always with purpose."

Nyx nodded but didn't soften.

"We're not worried about him. He's strong enough to look after himself."

The duchess only raised her eyebrow at that answer. She had not expected the kids to get as close to the shopkeeper as they did.

"Good. Then we share the same belief."

As she spoke, the shop door opened a second time.

Leo and Luna stepped inside, brushing snow from their shoulders. They greeted the children casually at first, but the moment they realized who was standing behind the counter.

"Where's the shopkeeper?"

Leo asked.

Nyx answered again, straight to the point.

"He hasn't been back since morning."

Luna's eyes sharpened.

"Did he say where he was going?"

"No."

The wind outside howled against the window, and the silence in the room grew even heavier.

Before anyone could speak again, the door swung open for the third time - this time with urgency rather than hesitation.

Officer Henry entered, halfway through a sentence before he realized who was inside.

"Sorry to intrude, but I'm looking for the shopkeep-"

He stopped when every face in the room turned toward him, telling him without words that something was wrong.

Nyx stepped forward.

"He's not here. He hasn't been back for a while."

The officer froze, the weight of those words sinking in far too easily. His eyes moved from the children, to the duchess, then to Leo and Luna.

Even though no one said it, the same realization occurred to everyone at the same time.

"Did he…not come back from the station?"

General Henry asked in a low voice, trying to connect the pieces of what he knew in his mind.

By all means, the shopkeeper should have been back a long time ago. The fact that he was not meant that something had gone wrong.

"You all-! Wait for me here. I will go and check the station once more. It is possible that the shopkeeper stopped to do something important."

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