Vienna sighed as she returned to her way back to Lennon's backyard. The path that she took does not lead her to the hill she saw but to a 30 feet cliff and she saw how cruel and aggressive the waves hit. I shouldn't have followed the surge of my emotions, now I am lost.
She couldn't see the house anymore as well as the path she take. She forgot to notify someone before going out so now they might think she's only sleeping in her room. She started to panic as she saw the trees starting to get bigger and older. This means she's going in the wrong way for she didn't see these trees when she entered the forest. She sighed in disbelief as she started feeling cold as the sun started to set gold in the sky.
Vienna tried to calm herself so she can think more clearly. She wandered her eyes around and saw nothing but trees and flowers.  She remembered that Lennon's house does have a large mango tree beside it. She should climb more so she can see it clearly from above as well as the house's lights. That will surely guide her back. Vienna kept walking for minutes or maybe an hour already, she didn't think that the hill is quite far.
The sun is already gone and now the forest is filled with darkness as the cold wind blows. Insects also started making noises which gives a more terrifying feeling to Vienna. She felt goosebumps with her current situation. What if a snake falls off in the trees and will bite her? What if something shows up and eats her alive?
Vienna felt aghast just by thinking about it. She shrugged off that silly idea away in her head so she can at least find her way back. She doesn't want to sleep in this creepy forest alone, sleeping in a pirate ship is enough for her. As per every turns she took, she still couldn't find an end to her suffering. Fortunately, she read a book about surviving when trap in the forest. Her knowledge from it came in handy as she successfully created a fire. She decided to sit down to rest as she can feel the soreness in her feet and the sweats in her body. She never walked this long before and the aura in the surrounding doubled her sweat because of anxiety and fear.
She keeps blaming herself but she realized that it won't change the fact that she is lost. Vienna stood up and reclaim herself.
"This won't do, let's start walking again!" She murmured to herself. She took a tree branch and lit up the end of it, giving her a torch. With that, she started walking again hoping that this time, she can at least find something she can stay on to or a portion of food she can consume. The last food she ate was in lunch, she was too full that half of her food was eaten by Samson. She felt embarrassed about it but Samson replied that it's better than discarding the blessings.
And now she finally understood it. Wasting it while some couldn't even eat is disrespectful.
Vienna's face beamed in excitement and satisfaction as she saw a brimmed of lights somewhere. It must be a hut or something. It seems that lady luck still likes her. She hopes that someone will let her stay for the night and wish that those people or people will not do something bad to her or else she doesn't have a choice but to fight back and defend herself. She's not afraid of what that person or herd of people can do to her but she is afraid of what she can do to them. She doesn't want to take someone's life, she can't.
Even killing a bird gives her nightmares for days before, what if it's a human? That will surely lead her to demise as her conscience will slowly devour her.
She walks faster as the light also lit brighter and there she saw a small house filled with lights and flowers. A lady must have lived in here. She thought as she noticed how well the flower grew beautifully and colorfully. Vienna couldn't hide how thankful and glad she is now that she finally saw a hut that will at least keep her away from harm. She walked closer and closer up until she was already walking on a path filled with flowers. She checked if she can see somebody inside or outside the house but to no avail, she saw none.
She turned off the burning torch and walked closer toward the wooden door. She's so excited to knock on that door that she didn't notice that the laces on her boots lose and unfortunately she accidentally stepped on it resulting in her fall. She winced as she felt the scratch on her toes. It's bleeding really bad that the blood got on her dress. Her toes must have hit the rough and sharp stepping stones.
"Ah what bad timing!" She mumbled to herself and tie her boot's laces letting the blood from her wound flow down to her shin. It's not like it's her first time bleeding. She got more than this before so she's not afraid anymore.
The door swung open and her eyes widen when she was welcomed by a hulking man in his messy black hair carrying a large ax. His cigarette smoke adds terror and creeps in him that made Vienna fall to her knees. She crawled backward when the man looked down on her.
"Who are you and what are you doing in here kid!?" The man shouted in a monotonous voice.
Vienna wanted to answer the man back but she couldn't find her voice. She became speechless because of fear. She never felt this kind of fear before, not even the pirates can implant this kind of fear in her. But despite all the fear she felt why does she think that she saw this man before? A glimpse of familiarity strikes her like fast lighting taking away all the fear and terror she felt. But being alone and defenseless, she didn't lower her guards down.
"For the second time kid, who are you, and why are you here?" The man asked Vienna again as he dropped his large ax on the ground.
"I, I am Vienna. A navigator of the pirate Hellbender." Vienna finally answered. "I got lost in the forest and couldn't find my way back." She nervously added. She saw the man's face soften as if he's looking at his daughter. The man sighed and lend his hand in front of Vienna. Vienna hesitated at first but still took it.
"Is that so," The man weakly muttered as if he just finished winning a war with his exhaustion. "Hellbender ah,"
She heard him murmur and she was surprised to see the man almost collapsed on the floor. Due to her reflexes, she caught him before completely falling. She can finally smell the strong scent of liquors in him like he was bathing in it.
"Excuse me but you have to get inside!" Vienna pleaded to the man. The man nodded and help his self in standing and entered the house on his own. He motioned Vienna to enter so she did, not minding it's a stranger's humble house at the deepest part of the forest in a secluded island.
"You said you're lost? Then you should stay for a night or else you'll get lost more in this forest." He stated and slept on the rocking chair beside the piano. "Feel yourself at home, eat all you can."
"Is that okay sir?" Vienna asked.
"Yeah," he replied. "And call me Val, not sir."
"Oh okay then Sir, I mean Val," Vienna stated and guide herself in the kitchen she saw and took a slice of bread and a jam. She doesn't want to be rude to Val but she's too hungry to feel ashamed.
She enjoyed herself with the food and drink the milk she saw.  She kept glancing at the man, to Val who is sleeping soundly while rocking his chair. Vienna unconsciously smiled just by looking at how peaceful Val slept. She wanted to wake him up to thank him personally but at the same time, she doesn't want to, afraid that she might destroy his peaceful sleep. He's too drunk. She pondered to herself.
"Are you done eating?" Val suddenly woke up.
"Ah yes, thank you for the food!" Vienna replied and bowed s little to show her heartfelt gratitude.
"You should not thank me but my son," he stated. "He's the one who brought that here this lunch."
"Oh, then I would like to thank your son personally," Vienna stated and sat on a sofa.
"Thank him when you're back in the ship then."
"Ship?" Vienna's curiosity asked.
"You said you're the navigator of the Hellbender right?" He asked and she nodded. "Then thank him there."
"You mean he is one of us? What is the name of your son, mister Val?"
"Leo," he replied. "Leopard Duke,"
Vienna couldn't hide her shock after hearing the name of his son. Of all people, she didn't think she would be meeting Leopard's father, Valor Duke. Lots of questions flooded in her mind that she wants to ask him but she does not want to be rude to him.
"Ah, Leo!" The only words that came out from her mouth. "Then you are Mr. Valor Duke," she added.
She caught all of the attention of Valor, seeing him look at her in astonishment. "You know me?" He asked.
Vienna nodded. "Yes, Leopard once told me your name."
"He did?" Vienna nodded again.
"I never thought he would tell someone about me, perhaps are you my son's lady?"
"No! Not at all!" She strongly declined to make Valor laugh. She was stunned hearing him laughed like that.
"Really?"
"Yes, I am telling the truth." She explained. "To be honest, we are not friends. He even bullied me the first time we met. He got a bad mouth that I really wanna stitch, no offense!"
"None was taken," he replied that making Vienna sigh in relief. Sometimes, she can't control her emotions anymore.
"He's more like that than what you said to me first. He barely speaks to me." He confessed.
Sounds like Leopard to her. She finds it out of the character when Leopard acted buddy to her too, but it's better than getting into a fight. They're on mutual peace and she doesn't want to cross the line too.
"If you don't mind, can I ask something?" She asked confidently.
"You're asking already Lady," he replied. Vienna stared blankly at him made him chuckle. "Go on."
"Perhaps do you know someone named Rina?" Vienna asked making Valor flinch. He stared at Vienna's determined face waiting for his answer.
"She's... Someone important to me, before," he replied and close his eyes again. Vienna frowned after hearing his answers. Her question was answered yet she felt it was not. But the way Valor avoided her eyes meant something, she can easily read the room. Valor does have an unpleasant memory of Rina.
"You might not know this but I am the former Captain of the Pirate Hellbender." He stated. Vienna wasn't shocked to hear it. It does make sense to her.
"She was also part of it. Rina is our navigator, like you. What a coincidence right? But things are not good and fate is not with us making the crew split up and malfunctioned. She was gone and choose to leave us behind" he expressed and I can feel his pain with his words.
"He left me behind," he muttered.
Silence took over the awkwardness between the two. None of them want to break the silence but somehow, coincidentally, the golden dagger that Vienna hid dropped making a noise that took Valor's attention. Surprised was painted on his face and abruptly get up on his chair and took the dagger without looking back at Vienna.
His eyes widen as if he remembered something. Pain painted throughout his face. Vienna who's observing Valor let out a confused face. What happened to him?
Once again Valor looks at her and the dagger as if he wants to ask something Vienna but something is bothering him, stopping him. Valor surrendered and give the dagger back to Vienna and returned to his chair. He drinks the alcohol on the small table near him. Vienna gulped her nervousness out
"There's a vacant room upstairs. Choose one, don't worry I will stay down here." Valor stated and closed his eyes. "W-well then, thank you very much. I will go up now!" Vienna replied and started walking towards the wooden stair.
As she is halfway to the second floor, she looked back to Valor. "Goodnight Mr. Duke!" She calmly stated and bowed at him.
She didn't know if he saw or heard her but she felt nice to at least bid the old man goodnight. She felt thankful for Valor Duke's kindness but what happened to him never left in Vienna's mind, even when she was lying already in the bed. I wonder what happened to him and why he's reacting like that after seeing the dagger? She thought.
Am I missing something important?