Chapter 30: The Little Match Girl

The Next Day...The spaceship hummed softly as it cruised through the vastness of space.

With no immediate danger, the four of them took the opportunity to relax.

Jim spent most of the day adjusting the ship's systems, while Naomi worked on her research in her lab-ship partition trying to develop something new.

Mike and Heidi stayed together, practicing with each other to keep their reflexes sharp. Despite their usual bickering, it was clear that their bond had deepened.

Hours passed.

Finally, the destination came into view — a small, dimly lit planet with a gray, somber atmosphere.

Naomi: "That must be… The Little Match Girl’s world."

Jim: "Looks peaceful. Too peaceful."

Mike(calmly): "Yeah. Something’s definitely off."

As they approached, the spaceship's systems jolted.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

The ship jerked violently, throwing them off balance.

Heidi: "Not again!"

Jim: "What’s going on?!"

Another massive shake tore through the vessel. Naomi stumbled, the sudden force propelling her dangerously close to the open airlock door.

Her eyes widened as she teetered on the edge.

Naomi: "Ah—!"

But before she could fall, a strong hand grabbed her wrist.

Jim's arms wrapped around her, pulling her back to safety.

For a moment, their faces were inches apart.

Naomi’s heart pounded. The warmth of Jim’s embrace, the unwavering strength in his arms — she felt safe.

Naomi (softly): "Jim…"

Jim didn’t let go right away, still ensuring she was secure.

Jim: "Are you alright?"

She nodded, her cheeks flushed.

Naomi: "Y-Yeah. Thanks to you."

Mike and Heidi watched silently, their usual remarks absent.

They both remembered what happened the last time they teased Jim and Naomi.

Heidi (whispering to Mike): "Not a word."

Mike (nodding): "Agreed."

The ship finally stabilized, making a rough but successful landing.

The hatch opened, revealing a cold, gray landscape. Snowflakes gently fell, covering the ground in a thin layer of white.

The planet’s atmosphere felt heavy — as if sorrow itself lingered in the air.

Mike: "We’ll take a look around. You two stay here and monitor the ship."

Jim furrowed his brow.

Jim: "Why? We should stick together."

Heidi quickly jumped in.

Heidi: "Uh, well, you two deserve a break! After everything that’s happened, some quiet time wouldn’t hurt."

Mike nodded, backing her up.

Mike: "Besides, we’ll cover more ground this way. If anything happens, we’ll call you immediately."

Jim and Naomi exchanged a glance.

While skeptical, Jim ultimately relented.

Jim: "Fine. But don’t try anything reckless."

Mike (grinning): "You’re talking to the experts in reckless."

Heidi smirked as they both stepped outside.

As the airlock sealed behind them, Mike sighed in relief.

Mike: "Phew. Mission accomplished."

Heidi: "Yeah. They definitely need some alone time. Even if they don’t know it yet."

With that, they set off into the snow-covered landscape, leaving Jim and Naomi to enjoy the rare quiet aboard the ship.

_ _ _

Mike and Heidi trudged through the snow-covered landscape. The air was bitterly cold, and the gray sky above cast a heavy gloom over the world.

Heidi: "It’s so quiet here. Almost… too quiet."

Mike: "Yeah. No monsters, no illusions. Just this endless cold."

As they walked further, they saw something that made their hearts sink.

A small figure sat hunched against a crumbling wall. It was a little girl, wrapped in thin, tattered clothes. Her frail body shivered violently as the snowflakes danced around her.

In her trembling hands, she clutched a bundle of matchsticks.

Heidi (softly): "The Little Match Girl…"

The girl’s eyes were wide, but her spirit seemed dim — as if she had already accepted her fate.

Little Match Girl: "Matches… please buy my matches…"

Mike and Heidi stepped closer, but the girl didn’t seem to notice them. It was as if they were mere observers, forced to witness the tragedy of the story.

The girl struck the first match.

A small, warm flame flickered to life, illuminating her pale face.

Within the flame, a vision appeared — a table filled with delicious food. The warmth of the imaginary feast surrounded her, offering a fleeting moment of comfort.

But as the match burned out, the vision faded, leaving only the bitter cold.

Heidi (whispering): "She… she’s imagining warmth to survive."

Mike: "This world is cruel. The only thing keeping her going is her own mind."

The girl lit another match.

This time, a beautiful Christmas tree appeared, glowing with candles and ornaments. The joy of the festive scene washed over her, but like before, it vanished when the flame died.

Heidi’s eyes welled with tears.

Heidi: "She just wants happiness… even for a moment."

With trembling hands, the girl lit her third match.

A radiant vision of her grandmother emerged. The old woman, with a warm and loving smile, reached out to the girl.

The matchstick’s glow reflected in the girl’s tearful eyes as she whispered softly:

Little Match Girl: "Please… take me with you."

Heidi clenched her fists, her body shaking with sorrow.

Heidi: "This isn’t fair. Why does her story have to end like this?"

Mike: "It’s the nature of these fairy tales. The Little Match Girl’s story was never meant to have a happy ending."

The girl lit the remaining matches all at once, surrounding herself in warmth and light.

In the vision, her grandmother embraced her, lifting her up as they ascended into a world beyond suffering.

The flames flickered… then faded.

The Little Match Girl’s body remained on the cold street, her smile frozen in peace.

Heidi (whispering): "She’s gone."

Tears streamed down Heidi’s face, while Mike stood solemnly, his jaw clenched.

???: "How touching. The heroes of the story, forced to watch helplessly."

A chilling presence emerged from the shadows.

Sebastian Greg, Carmilla’s loyal servant, stood before them. His dark cloak billowed, and his crimson eyes gleamed with malice.

Sebastian: "I hope you enjoyed the show. Because now, it’s my turn to entertain."

He grinned viciously, his voice dripping with hatred.

Sebastian: "You took Carmilla away from me. My beautiful mistress… reduced to nothing because of you!"

Mike and Heidi tensed,transformed.

Mike: "She chose her own fate. You should know that."

Sebastian: "Oh, I know. But that doesn’t mean I’ll forgive you."

Dark energy swirled around him, his twisted power fueled by vengeance.

Sebastian: "And unlike Carmilla, I don’t play fair."

He snapped his fingers. Instantly, the snow beneath them cracked, forming a jagged barrier that separated Mike from Heidi.

Heidi: "Mike!"

Sebastian: "This time, I’ll break you two apart. Piece by piece."

Mike gritted his teeth.

Mike: "You’ll regret this."

Sebastian (smirking): "No. The only regret will be yours."

The battle for revenge had begun.