As the movie progressed further, it brought Lariette and Ruediger deeper into the mother's journey. The clock continued ticking on the wall, signaling that the time had changed to midnight.
Neither Lariette nor Ruediger showed signs of being sleepy. They witnessed the battered and exhausted mother, whose right hand was broken, finally finding her missing daughter in the climax.
"Oh, thank goodness..." Lariette covered her mouth, her eyes teary, "I was so scared when she got locked in the vault. She didn't give up until the end."
Ruediger glanced at Lariette, seeing her teary face dimly illuminated by the dull lights. Smiling faintly, he said, "She didn't stop. Not even when her bones were broken."
Lariette hummed, agreeing with Ruediger. Her eyes were still locked on the screen, watching the final moments before the credits rolled in. Her bag of popcorn was left forgotten by her side, still half full.
