Teaming Up With System 225

Spirit Investigator (8)

Edited by: Kuro and Lille

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They weren't obstructed from going up the stairs, but the pressure was making it hard to move upwards. It was as though they were being dragged down by weights.

Grey didn't mind it but his body was much slower than Nora's as she was the athletic one. As for Emery, maybe it was because he was a spirit, but he didn't find it hard to move. He also did not want to go up alone, so he held on to Grey to carry him up the stairs.

Nora soon passed Grey while Grey had some extra weights on his back. He didn't mind it and continued to climb upwards.

It took a few seconds longer, but when they finally got to the top of the stairs, they saw "Mother" surrounded by most of the children. She was telling them a story and didn't acknowledge the people who had intruded on her storytime.

She was retelling a story of a fairytale book that was once stored in the closet. She was powerful enough to interact with her surroundings, so interacting with inanimate objects was not a problem for her.

"She was a princess hidden away from the world, locked up in a tower. There was no door, only a window at the top of the tower where the princess would lookout day and night. Her hair was long and golden, reaching toward the bottom of the tower to let her mother in. Her mother wanted what was best for her child. She did not want her little Princess to leave their home and see the horrors of the world around them."

It seemed she was talking about Rapunzel but had twisted the story. She wanted the kids to hear how good this "Mother" was. The kids did not know this, but Rapunzel's "Mother" was the witch who kidnapped the princess and hid her away. In some stories, Rapunzel was there to keep this "Mother" forever young and beautiful.

Clearly, "Mother" had ulterior motives for telling this story to the kids.

"Mother knows best," She used a line that was part of the book and movie. "She only wants what's best for her child."

"But you know that isn't best for the children," Nora couldn't help but speak up, "Stuck in this home, forever young, that isn't what's best for them and you know that."

Once in a while, a child would go into the light, making "Mother" more obsessed with killing a child from the families who came to live in this home. She wanted them all to stay with her forever so she used all sorts of means to get them to stay.

"Mother" stood up as the children who were sitting around her turned to stare at the "intruders" that came into their attic. Daisy Anderson looked just like the picture from when she first moved into the house. The only thing that resembled how she died was the mark around her neck.

Mother Daisy looked over at Nora, Grey, and Emery amused. It was like she was looking down on them. "What do you know about being a mother? Mothers always want what's best for their children."

"I know, that's why my mother killed herself and my father when I was younger. She left me all by myself and now I'm stuck fighting my battles without her." Nora felt bitter looking at this 'Mother.' She didn't know why, but she couldn't help but be frustrated at her own mother for leaving her behind with that father turned Demon.

"Mothers are human too... They can't do everything and they can't guarantee that their children will have the best."

Daisy faltered hearing Nora's story but soon picked herself back up. "But I can, I have lived here for decades giving my children what I know is best." She looked hysterical that she was able to have all these children accompany her in this attic. Her eyes turned red as she walked over to Nora.