{ALARM SOUNDS}

"ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT! Everyone is to head to the dining area in an orderly fashion," the voice echoed through the speakers in the hallway.

"ANNOUNCEMENT!"

Akio's door slid open on its own. The thought of the escapees gnawed at him as he stepped into the hallway, joining the slow-moving line toward the dining area. His gaze instinctively shifted to the cameras above, red lights glowing. They were watching. Always watching.

The dining area was packed with students standing in silence, waiting in front of the massive screen they had seen on the first day. The air was thick with tension, eyes flickering nervously as murmurs spread like wildfire.

"NICE TO SPEAK TO YOU CHILDREN AGAIN. HOPE YOU'VE ALL BEEN GOOD. THERE WERE SOME CHILDREN WHO TRIED TO ESCAPE YESTERDAY," the voice from the speaker boomed.

The room erupted into whispered conversations.

"Did you hear about that?"

"Do you think they made it?"

"They didn't stand a chance..."

The murmurs were quickly silenced as the voice deepened, growing more menacing.

"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE. THAT'S ENOUGH. LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR. THE TWO CHILDREN WHO ATTEMPTED TO ESCAPE LAST NIGHT... HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH."

A cold shiver ran down Akio's spine. He tightened his fists, his body tensing as the voice continued.

"THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THIS FACILITY. BREAKING THE RULES WILL ONLY RESULT IN SEVERE PUNISHMENT. YOU ARE ALL HERE FOR A REASON, AND YOU WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT."

An unsettling quiet enveloped the room. Akio could feel his heartbeat in his throat. He remembered the voices from the night before. Was it really them?

"Punishment?" a voice whispered from somewhere in the crowd.

"YES. PUNISHMENT," the voice growled. "AND LET THIS BE A WARNING. DON'T THINK YOU CAN OUTSMART US. WE SEE EVERYTHING."

The large screen flickered, shifting from its usual pixelated smiley face to distorted static. Akio squinted at the blurred image, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. As the static cleared, it revealed a dimly lit hallway. Two lifeless figures were being dragged by faceless guards, their bodies limp and broken.

"THOSE WHO BREAK THE RULES WILL NOT BE SHOWN MERCY."

The screen flickered again, this time showing darkened images, too obscure to make out clearly, but it was enough to send chills through the room.

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Akio clenched his jaw, his knuckles white as his nails dug into his palms. The fear in the room was tangible. He glanced over at Jiyu and Haruka. Jiyu's usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by wide, shocked eyes and trembling hands. Haruka, on the other hand, stood rigid, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes blazing with anger.

"NOW," the voice continued, "I HOPE THIS WILL DETER ANY FUTURE ATTEMPTS AT ESCAPE. COOPERATE, AND YOUR STAY HERE WILL REMAIN COMFORTABLE. FAIL TO COMPLY, AND YOU WILL FACE THE CONSEQUENCES."

The lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the students' pale faces. Then, just like that, the announcement ended, leaving behind a suffocating silence.

Slowly, people began to move, whispering in frantic, hushed voices. Some were too shaken to speak. Akio remained rooted to the spot, haunted by the images on the screen. His mind spun with questions. What had really happened to the escapees? And more importantly, how could any of them hope to survive?

Jiyu approached him, his voice low and shaken. "We have to be smarter... This wasn't just a warning—it's control. They're showing us they hold all the power."

Akio swallowed hard. "But… what about the ones who tried to escape?"

Jiyu's eyes darkened. "They're gone, Akio. But their sacrifice can't be for nothing. If we're going to make it out, we need to start planning, now."

THAT NIGHT, IN THE SECRET BUNKER

Akio slipped into the dimly lit bunker, a sense of urgency gripping him. The others were already there, except for Kaito and Ryuu. Jiyu stood at the front, tense and silent. The flickering light bulb buzzed overhead, the only sound cutting through the thick atmosphere.

Akio took his seat quietly, the weight of the day's events pressing down on him.

"Let's get straight to the point," Jiyu began, his voice low, heavy with the seriousness of the situation. "We all saw what happened today. They aren't pretending anymore. They're showing us that they can—and will—kill us if we step out of line."

Akio couldn't hold back. He stood abruptly, frustration bubbling up. "How are we supposed to escape? We don't even know where we're going! There are cameras everywhere!" His voice cracked, revealing his fear.

Jiyu remained calm, but his eyes sharpened. "That's where Kaito comes in."

At that moment, the door creaked open. Kaito strolled in, his usual cocky grin plastered on his face, followed by a stoic Ryuu.

"Miss me?" Ryuu smirked, though the tension in the room quickly swallowed any lightheartedness.

"How did it go?" Jiyu asked, ignoring the quip.

"Perfectly," Kaito responded, his tone shifting to match the gravity of the situation.

"Same," Ryuu added as he joined the group.

The others looked confused, uncertainty hanging in the air.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Haruka snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Jiyu folded his arms, leaning against the table. "Earlier today, I had Kaito investigate the ventilation system. It's large enough for someone to crawl through, and Kaito's the most physically capable. There aren't any cameras inside, but the vents are a maze. I gave him a marker to map it out. He's found a way through."

Akio blinked in disbelief. "So… you found an exit?"

"There's a way to the next compartment," Kaito said, nodding. "But it's tricky. One wrong turn and you're in a loop."

Akio felt a flicker of hope, but it was short-lived. "That's great and all, but how are we supposed to fight our way out? We don't even have—"

"That's where Ryuu comes in," Jiyu cut him off, a sly smile forming on his lips.

Before anyone could ask, Clara—the maid—entered the room, carrying a wooden crate. She placed it on the table with a soft thud.

"Guns," Clara said calmly, her face unreadable.

The room went still, eyes wide with shock.

"Wait... What?" Ayame's voice trembled.

Clara opened the crate, revealing an array of firearms.

"Where did you get those?" Yukito whispered, his voice barely audible.

Clara looked up, her expression unwavering. "That's not important. What matters is we now have a fighting chance. The sooner we act, the better."