Chapter Text
Aster stands in front of the cult's main cabin where the cultists reside. An unfamiliar figure stands a few feet in front of her. Amarah stands in between the two and slightly to the side, and his head turns to look at the other child.
Aster looks curiously at the new face. They appear to be the same age as her and quite nervous, fidgeting with their hands and avoiding eye contact. They're dressed in cult robes similar to Aster's and Amarah's but a size too big, and they aren't wearing any shoes.
"This is Two Time. I found them alone and lost, wandering in the woods, and they seem to be an orphan. I will be mentoring them in the ways of the cult," says Aster's father, Amarah, as if indoctrinating random children from the woods into a cult is normal. Of course, neither of the them know any better. He turns to look at Two Time. "Two Time, this is Aster, my daughter and one of your fellow followers of the Spawn. You will see each other often, since I'll be teaching both of you. I expect you two to get along."
Aster waves at Two Time with a small smile. She's nervous, but also happy to possibly make a friend. Two Time visibly calms and waves back when they realize she's friendly, though they still don't make eye contact.
Amarah clears his throat. "I have some stuff to take care of. You two can get to know each other for now. Don't forget to be in your rooms by 9 o'clock. Aster, you will show Two Time to their cabin next to yours, as well as wake them up for the morning sermon tomorrow," he instructs the two children. He departs into the cabin, leaving them alone in the grass to do as they wish.
After a moment, Aster speaks first. "Hello. You seem really nice. Let me show you our rooms." She enters the large cabin, looking back to make sure Two Time is following. She leads them past the living room where a few other cultists are lounging and into a plain hallway with many doors. "That's your room, it's next to mine," she says while pointing to the third door from the hallway's entrance. "Amarah's room is the first door and mine is the second," she tells them. Two Time nods, committing the information to memory.
"So... what do you like to do?" Two Time asks in a soft voice, the first words they've said since being introduced by Amarah. Aster seems kind enough, and Aster seems to have a similar opinion of them. "Well, if I have free time I'll usually draw. Sometimes Amarah lets me explore the forest too, as long as I don't wander too far off." Aster answers, happy that Two Time seems to be interested in being her friend. "That sounds fun... maybe I can draw or explore with you sometime," Two Time suggests, hoping she'll agree. Aster nods eagerly.
Two Time and Aster chat for a bit, sharing their hobbies and interests. A bell rings to signal that it's curfew for the children of the cult. "That's the curfew bell," Aster explains casually, "that means you have to go to your room and go to sleep, or Amarah will lock you in your room all night and won't let you have dinner." Both of them appear disappointed about this. They'd hoped to talk with each other more. Well, there's always time tomorrow.
"Oh, okay... I'll talk to you tomorrow," Two Time says. They head to their room—the third door, they remember Aster saying—shutting off the light and closing the door to go to bed. "Bye, Two Time!" Aster says. "Bye, Aster," Two Time replies from the other side of the door, their voice muffled. Aster heads to her own room to go to bed as well. They definitely won't be caught outside of their room after curfew again. She still remembers the first time she was, and it was very unpleasant. She'd rather not experience that again.