hexposition | 15strangers week 4: writings stored under emma's bed

[Underneath Emma's bed are a number of papers, some written on, some not. There's a bottle of ink and a quill, as well as a paperweight-sized prototype of some kind of machine.

Laid out a little to the side of all of this is a neatly-folded piece of paper. Opening it up reveals a note in elegant handwriting:]

If you are reading this, then it is likely that I have passed on. It's regrettable that it's come to this at all, and ideally, you've found it by chance rather than my revealing where this was located. Regardless, I hope it can prove useful to you all in my absence.

I stumbled across the blueprint, prototype, and notes in the laboratory. I can't be certain of what this machine is intended to do, but I believe it's meant for brainwashing. I hope you all can understand why I thought it prudent to take these and hide them. Please, if I've any right to ask you all anything at this point, keep these out of the hands of our captors.

Additionally, beneath the notes are some things I've written as goodbyes, as morbid as that perhaps may be. Some for you here, some for those I love back in Erebonia. In the event that anyone makes it out of this wretched house alive and can return to my world, please see to it that my final words make it to their intended recipients.

If I have any regrets, it's that I'm no longer able to offer my aid to all of you. I do not know where witches go when they die, but wherever that may be, I'll be sending you all my most fervent wishes.

I am not a religious woman, but I pray that you all escape from this place. Not a one of you deserves what's become of us.

Sincerely,

Emma Millstein

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The next several sheets of paper are, as promised, little notes and letters to various people, all written in Emma's handwriting.]

Osomatsu,

I don't believe I've truly had a chance to thank you for the support you've offered both me and everyone here over these past few weeks, despite how much I know you must have been struggling yourself.

Your little jokes and your smile have made getting through all of this bearable. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

If, wherever witches go, I should happen across Franciscus, I will send him your regards. In exchange, I only ask that you make it back to Cartesio and send Millium ours.

I'm sorry to leave you behind, but I believe in your ability to make it out of this. Know that you were cared for; that you still are, wherever I am.

With love and gratitude,

Emma Millstein

Jun,

I have been staring at this page for several minutes in the hopes that something will spring to mind that will eloquently express all of my feelings.

Needless to say, as of this writing, this has not happened. So, I suppose my only option is to forego the eloquency and simply write out what it is I am feeling, in the hopes that I can convey even some of it.

We have only known each other for a short time, but in the time I've known you, you've become like a little brother to me. My biggest regret is that I have to leave you now as my own sister left me.

Still, you're strong enough to stand on your own, and to make it out of here.

I know you don't believe there's a life for you on the other side of this, but I want to believe there might be. If not in your world, perhaps in someone else's. I'm sorry I couldn't show you mine, and that I never got to show you real magic.

I know as well that you don't believe that anything lies beyond, but in the event that something does... should I ever meet your Kana, I will send her your love.

Know that you have mine, wherever I am now. Hang in there.

Sincerely,

Emma Millstein

Edited 2019-05-18 17:25 (UTC)

Arthur,

Once more I find myself wondering just how I can convey the emotions that I have. I have to hope that my scrawling does any of them justice.

It's funny, you know. I think you would have fit in well with my classmates back at Thors, had you been there. You remind me so much of so many of them. Perhaps that's why seeing you hurting and trying to hide it pains me so.

You are strong, but you needn't be strong alone. Knowing now what you see with the power you have here, I can't even imagine what some of your other visions have been like... please, don't force yourself to suffer alone. I regret that I can no longer offer myself to be a shoulder to cry on, but I hope someone else here can take that spot in my stead.

I will continue to pray, as I have, that your Etria remains safe and untouched. That you can go back and attempt to make up for the things you regret. No matter what... you have a long life ahead of you. I'm certain you can make the best of it. Travel your world, and spread what word you can. And once you're done...

Well, I suppose that's up to you? But if there were ever a way for you to see my Erebonia, I know there'd be plenty of places where a mind like yours could make a positive difference.

I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Emma Millstein

To all of Class VII,

There are not words to convey how sorry I am for the lies I told you during our half a year together. I suppose now, I am reliant upon Celine to fulfill my duty for me, but I thought you might at least want to hear the truth from me.

I am a witch of the Hexen clan. My purpose at Thors was always to guide Rean to Valimar, sleeping below the Old Schoolhouse. I did you all a disservice by pretending I knew nothing of what was happening. Celine was my familiar. I hope she can give you the guidance you'll need in the turbulent times to come.

Know that I may have lost my battle in this wretched place to which I have been kidnapped, but I lost it fighting to return to all of you.

Those months we spent together were the best of my life. I may have lied to you about my purpose, but never once did I lie about my feelings for all of you. I loved you deeply, and love you all still.

Laura, Jusis;

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for continuing to look after me and protect me for the past half a month, despite everything.

Fie;

Keep up the hard work! You've grown leaps and bounds already, and I know that if you put in the effort, you'll grow so much more. I know you probably thought of it as a chore, but I loved every minute we spent studying together. If and when we meet again, I look forward to hearing about all the ways in which you've grown.

Elliot, Alisa;

I don't believe I ever truly thanked you for our concert. Elliot, you made a miracle happen upon that stage. Whatever magic lies in me must lie in you in some sense, because to this day I've no idea how you managed to whip the lot of us into shape. You have a bright future ahead of you, I pray that you make the most of it. Alisa, for as embarrassed as I was at the time, I have to thank you for talking me into going along with it. I don't think I ever felt so beautiful in my life as I did upon that stage.

Rean;

I can only pray that you even can read this. More than anyone, I owe you my deepest apologies for not just being upfront with you.

The road that lies ahead of you will be difficult and tumultuous, and I regret that I cannot be by your side to see you through it. Even so, if there's anything in this world I believe in, it's that you'll make it through everything all right.

You're the strongest person I've ever known, even if you can't see that in yourself. All that I've grown and come to love in these past few months is thanks to you.

I pray for your safety, as I have every day I've been trapped in this place. I wish you all the best, and know that I am with you, as much as I am able to be, every step of the way from here.

Please take care of Celine for me.

With all of my love and my undying loyalty to each and every one of you,

Emma Millstein

Celine,

My familiar, my partner, my family. What can I possibly say that you don't already know?

I've treasured every minute we've ever spent together. I'm so, so sorry I'm abandoning you like this when you need me the most.

Please, be kind to Rean and the others. I know your frustration is how you show your love, but they're going to need you just as I have needed you all of these years.

Take care, know that I love you still as I always have. Don't gorge yourself on too much milk.

With love,

Emma Millstein

Vita,

There is much the two of us never had the chance to discuss, and I'll never have that chance now. If I've learned anything from my attempts at letter writing recently, it's that I have no hope of conveying it all in words.

Still, I trust that you know all I would have had to ask you.

As I cannot ask you now, I suppose I've no need of the answer. All I can offer is to tell you that you are better than this. You have always been so much better than this, you've always been someone I admired.

My journey has ended, but you have many paths ahead of you. I can only ask that you choose carefully.

Despite our differences, I've missed you endlessly since the day you left. As of this writing, I miss you still. You are, and always have been, my dearest sister.

Take care.

With love,

Emma Millstein

15strangers week 4: writings stored under emma's bed

LETTER TO OSOMATSU

LETTER TO JUN

LETTER TO ARTHUR

LETTER TO CLASSMATES

LETTER TO CELINE

LETTER TO VITA