Summary:
The episode starts with the MC
running down the stairs to the basement to retrieve Rion. As she descends, she thinks
back on the happy memories with him. She decides that she doesn’t regret being
bought at the auction either. When she reaches the basement, thick black smoke
has filled the hallways. Almost immediately, she finds Cheshire and picks her
up.
The scene then cuts to Rion’s
point of view. He is alone in his darkened room, despondent. His costumes
remain the closet, untouched. He has no desire to even sit in the tea room. The
phone starts to ring. He doesn’t want to answer it and silently prays that it
will stop ringing. The phone will not stop, so he finally answers it. Eisuke
answers, only to say “Slow” at first. Rion wants to hang up but decides against
it. He finally answers, “What?” and Eisuke warns him of the fire. He tells him
he should evacuate, but Rion doesn’t seem to care. He perks up though when
Eisuke tells him that the MC has gone to get him. He tells Rion to “bring her
back alive”. Rion tosses the handset down and runs out of his room.
Back from the MC’s point of
view, she is getting lost in the smoke trying to locate the tea room. She tries
holding a handkerchief over her mouth to keep from breathing in the smoke, but
she is still coughing profusely. She still has Cheshire in her arms when she
falls to the floor, being overcome by the heavy smoke. She hears a door open
wildly and sees what she thinks is the figure of a man. Her only thought is to
save Rion. She tries to ask for the figure to help him, but she cannot speak. A
voice calls her by her actual name. She thinks she recognizes it, but her
consciousness is fading. As someone scoops her up, she can smell a familiar
sweet scent before she falls into unconsciousness.
From Rion’s point of view again.
Rion and Cheshire have made it to the stairwell, which is temporarily safe from
the fire. He lays down the lifeless body of the MC, and first calls to her as “Alice”
followed by her real name again. She doesn’t react to his voice. He checks her
pulse and finds a faint one. She is barely breathing. She is pale and her
cardiopulmonary function is waning. He knows he has to help her. He feels his
chest tingling. He was used to pain from his grandmother and relatives, but the
kind of pain he is feeling in this moment is new to him. He lifts up the MC’s
chin and proceeds to give her CPR. He thinks back on their happy memories as he
continues alternating between chest compressions and breaths. She still is not
responding. He puts his hand to her cheek and calls her name. His voice is
shaking, and he says, “Don’t leave me alone.” His eyes blur as tears form.
The MC starts to wake up. She
thinks that she’s had a long dream where she was wrapped in Rion’s sweet smell.
Her vision is blurry as she opens her eyes, but soon the figure in front of her
comes into focus. She is unsure at first if she is still dreaming as she looks
at Rion. She reaches out to him to confirm that she’s not dreaming. He squeezes
her hand with both of his. He is relieved that she’s alive but still has a
tearful voice. He then tells her that they need to get going because it’s
dangerous. He lifts her in his arms and carries her up the stairs. Cheshire is
trying to keep up. The MC apologizes for having to be rescued. Rion asks her
why she came since he said such hurtful things to her before. She replies honestly
saying that she wants to live with him. He says that it is impossible because
he is not “decent” according to the Queen of Hearts. His world is different
from the MC’s, and he doesn’t think that she will be happy. The issues with his
grandmother still play heavily on his mind. The MC tells him how she really
feels; through all of his supposedly strange habits, she loves him. Rion smiles
at her candid comments.
They finally reach the top of
the stairs. The hotel lobby is bustling with refugees. Chisato, Erika, Rina,
and Kana are helping tend to them. Even though she is still woozy, the MC wants
to help her coworkers. She tries to go, but Rion embraces her. He thinks it is
beautiful to see everyone helping each other. They notice the sun rising now,
and Rion wonders if he can make someone happy. The MC says that she thinks he
can. He says that he wants to believe that. After looking at the sight for a little
longer, Rion calls the MC’s name. He says that he also wants to live with her and
make her happy. He tells her that he loves her, too.
My
commentary:
I was a little upset that this
turned into a “damsel in distress” scenario since it started as the MC trying
to rescue Rion. I did like that they flipped between POVs in this chapter
though. It was interesting to see Rion’s side for a change. The CPR scene left
me with mixed feelings. On one hand, it was really touching how hard to he
tried to save her. On the other hand – I’m a nurse and THAT IS NOT HOW YOU DO
CPR! She had a pulse! She didn’t need chest compressions! She probably needed
rescue breaths since her breathing seemed ineffective. Also the CPR ratio was
completely off. He was doing 4 compressions per breath… It’s supposed to be a
30:2 ratio for adults!!! *Rant over*
Songs to
listen to while reading this chapter:
“Throne” by
Bring Me the Horizon
“Inside the Fire” by Disturbed
“Witchcraft”
by Pendulum
“Brand New Day” by Fireflight (for the end of the episode)
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