Darkin and Vrany embrace in an affection so intense it sends shivers through their bodies. The smokeman feels vulnerable after realizing that years have passed without experiencing anything like this. However, in reality, it had not been years, but only a few months spent wandering the alien planet from which he had gained his present ability. Having regained all of his memories, he feels different, yet back to what he once was — someone altruistic.
He now remembers that he is someone special, part of the same lineage as Ashlem, his brother, with an age above 1000 years, his wife being 900 years old, and finally, his daughter, who is only about 12 years old.
During the embrace, many memories shared with his beloved wife cross his mind in paths that bring him a light happiness. Reuniting with his wife feels like reconnecting after many months that almost turned into a year, lost in lapses of memory that severely tormented him.
He inhales the scent of his wife, which is far from pleasant after she had been locked away for many days with their daughter by her father-in-law. Yet, the smell feels like a delicious aroma, invading his nostrils in a sensual and intriguing dance.
"I love you, Darkin!" Vrany's words sound in the man's ear, who is still lost in his own thoughts.
He is healed and euphoric to be with his family, who will always do anything to protect him, as they are his energy to keep fighting against the numerous enemies that would make anyone's hair stand on end.
"I love you so much, Vrany." Darkin says, and feels a tear from his partner kiss his light shirt, trickling down his back.
Darkin breaks the embrace to look into his wife's eyes, who is crying to see what worries the man. However, she simultaneously finds it normal because of the emotion.
Vickyara looks at them with red eyes and an unpleasant expression, which soon softens.
Darkin looks into his partner’s eyes carefully and then gives her a quick hug.
"I love you, I love you, I love you, Darkin!" Vrany repeats the important words until they sound a little strange, but Darkin keeps responding as usual.
"I love you even more."
After breaking the embrace, Darkin hugs his beloved daughter, who smiles as she feels the warm and affectionate embrace surrounding her after many months without them interacting. It wasn’t common for them to go three days without interacting.
"I love you, Dad..." Vickyara says, but her words lack excitement, which puts Darkin on alert.
"I love you too, daughter, but is everything okay with you?" The man asks, his expression one of concern.
The little girl nods positively, saying that everything is fine, but Darkin feels that something isn’t right; something is happening.
"How did you get in here, being locked up?" Vickyara asks.
Darkin doesn’t know how to answer. He looks at his wife, who smiles at him like she did in the old days, and his wish is for all the chaos in Moamba to end, and for the three of them to have peace.
The return of his memory is the change of everything.
"My daughter... that’s not important anymore, what matters now is that we get out of here as quickly as possible before we are attacked by the creatures that roam around, the Zralkies." Darkin says, pausing to breathe as if something is bothering him, but then continues, "Come here, let’s get out of here."
The moment Darkin finishes his words, he hears something creaking lightly. The man’s face turns directly toward the Zralky’s cell. To his surprise, the monster is no longer there. He immediately remembers that the space in the basement is huge, so there is a great chance the creature is hiding somewhere nearby. However, the question that appears in his mind is:
"How did the Zralky leave without making any noise?"
Darkin turns his face to his wife, who has already realized what’s going on.
Without hesitation, Darkin says:
"Let’s get out of here immediately."
The man grabs a metal bar to break down the basement door so he can get his family out quickly before they are attacked at any moment. A heavy atmosphere fills the basement, and heavy footsteps start to sound.
Darkin pushes against the door that keeps them trapped. His veins bulge as if they’re about to burst from his body.
"Ghuman!!" He calls the old man desperately, not knowing what else to do.
He knows that by transforming into smoke, he could leave without any problem, but the issue is leaving his family trapped there. A few seconds pass, and bangs against the basement door sound from the other side.
Vickyara curls up. Tense, she puts one hand to her mouth. The Zralky’s footsteps stop, and the atmosphere becomes calmer, allowing them to breathe while waiting for external help.
"Ghuman?" Vrany says, but in a quiet voice, barely heard by her husband, who is still struggling to open the door with the metal bar.
"Dad, I don’t want to die!" Vickyara says, fear palpable in her eyes.
Vrany takes a few steps toward her daughter and embraces her.
"Don’t worry, we’ll be out of here soon, just hang on a little longer. No one is going to die here, okay?"
Vickyara slightly nods her head in a positive way while her mother tightens the hug.
Once again, the footsteps of the Zralky, who escaped from the small cell, sound and now are very close to the still-trapped family. The foul stench fills the place, making it hard for them to breathe. The monster appears before them, growling like a lion with palpable rage.
Darkin stops what he is doing and stares at the creature in his line of sight while Vrany blocks the view of their daughter so she doesn’t see the horrible monster before them.
"Damned..." Darkin mutters.