The motel hallway is as quiet as ever. The maid stands, smiling.
Tuesday: Did you see it?
Vertin: It?
Tuesday: My baby, of course. Oh, so it didn't show up, then? What a shy little pumpkin!
Argus: What is it exactly?
Tuesday: A supernatural being, an amalgam of urban legends, an ever-pounding heart, and a shy little baby—all under one roof.
Tuesday: But seeing how you got out of there in one piece, I'm certain you've already earned its approval. Come on in. I'll show you the sweetest little room in the motel.
A red door appears behind her.
Tuesday: Don't be afraid, sweetheart. Go ahead. Open the door.
The door remains motionless.
Tuesday: Open it. Now.
The mercenary says nothing. She silently wipes the barrel of her gun.
*bang-bang*
She fires two shots at the red door.
The entire motel trembles violently.
Argus: That'll do it.
Before she can reload, the ground starts to shake beneath her feet, and a deafening sound reverberates through the hallway.
The maid's eyes widen in surprise.
Tuesday: Why didn't I think of that?
Tuesday: Your eyes haven't recovered yet, have they? Tsk, Tsk. Such poor aim.
Tuesday: Let me lend you a hand.
Tuesday: Listen to Mama.
Tuesday: I told you long ago about the consequences of disobedience.
Tuesday: Oh, it's out of bullets. Could you help me reload?
Tuesday: Oh, my sweet child.
Tuesday: Can you see it? This is the beauty of fear.
Argus: Watch out!
Tuesday: Please, come in, my dear guests.
Tuesday: You'll find what you seek inside.
COMBAT
Tuesday: When I found it, it was still called Sweet Home.
Tuesday: It was all alone, abandoned in the wilderness. The poor little thing.
Vertin: So you took it in? Some unknown, growing arcane consciousness that takes the form of a motel yet somehow also exists as a baby?
Tuesday: Yes.
The maid bends down and picks up the swaddled baby from the crib.
Tuesday: There, there.
Vertin: But it's seriously impacted the lives of the locals.
Tuesday: Oh, Ms. Vertin, they chose to come here of their own volition. I never forced them to stay.
Vertin: But after leaving, some of them went mad or even committed suicide.
Tuesday: Well, they made those decisions themselves.
Vertin: ...
Tuesday: Now is not the time to dwell on such trivial matters, Ms. Vertin.
Tuesday: Haven't you been searching for Ms. Barbara?
She points to the open door.
Argus: Don't get any bright ideas, maid.
Her eye shines emerald again as she presses the barrel of her shotgun against Tuesday's back.
Argus: If Vertin gets so much as a scratch, I'll blast your chest open.
Argus: Along with your baby.
Argus: Go inside, boss. I'll keep an eye on her.
Red curtains cover every inch of the room, like flesh clinging to a body. An ivory bed stands in the center.
Barbara: Here you are, Ms. Vertin.
Barbara: I'm so glad. I was beginning to think I'd never regain contact with the outside world.
Tuesday: Ms. Argus, you can put your gun down now.
She speaks, trembling slightly as she savors every moment of her heightened heartrate.
Tuesday: I've shown my utmost sincerity, have I not?
Argus: Shut your trap!
Vertin: Let's get out of here, Ms. Barbara.
Vertin: I don't think it's the wisest choice to have this conversation while we're still inside a living thing.
Vertin: Argus, I need you to keep Tuesday in check until we make it out of here.
Argus: You ain't gotta tell me twice.
A beam of light shines in through the window. Dawn is breaking.
Tuesday: I've gazed at this scenery countless times, but never have I felt as enthralled as today.
Tuesday: But, Ms. Vertin, don't you think you've forgotten something?
Vertin: Forgotten what?
Tuesday: That guest who came with you. Shortly after her arrival, she hurried off to that armament factory. She's such an impatient child. Luckily, she made her way back here.
Tuesday: Her name's Lilya, right?
Vertin: What did you do to her?
The maid laughs softly.
Tuesday: Relax, she's fine. She's sleeping soundly as we speak, with or without nightmares.
Tuesday: Follow me. I'm sure she's eager to see you.
Tuesday: This is the room.
Argus: Open it.
The maid finds the key on her keyring, puts it in the lock, and turns it.
The room is empty.
Tuesday: Oh.
The maid frowns, her annoyance visible on her face.
The owner of the suitcase rushes to the window and looks down.
Lilya is sitting exhausted below. Their eyes meet.
Lilya: Vertin! There you are!
Lilya: Listen, those Manus scum have already wormed their way into the town. We can't go there.
Vertin: You look terrible.
Lilya: I couldn't sleep at all in that haunted room. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw all kinds of creepy stuff.
Lilya: Can you come down here, Captain? Talking like this hurts my neck.
Vertin: Okay.