They march into the next area, and everything is normal.

“Nothing seems off about this at all. Is there any sign of Shoji? I don’t see anything.” Keiko takes in the massive area. It is the area where politicians make their speeches to the press.

“Maybe he’s in another room?” Takei heads to the podium, staring down. There appears to be something off about it.

“Hey, everyone. Can you look at this? There seems to be a button of sorts.” They all gather. The button is red and seems to be built out of sight from the numerous chairs in front.

“I don’t think that’s anything, Takei. If anything, it’s just a panic button.”

“That was my first thought too, Ishimoto, but look closer.” A closer look at the button shows that it is leaking water.

“This seems to have been used by Mr. Pond at some point?”

“Wait… wouldn’t that mean he’s here somewhere!? It isn’t dried!” Keiko voices her worry.

“Not necessarily. Remnants have their elements last for longer, including residues. I know this because sometimes his watery stench lingered for hours after he left.” Usagi retches at the memory.

“Makes sense, but why would they press a panic button? That’s dumb. They wouldn’t want any trouble on purpose,” Okazaki claims.

“Yes. Unless it has a different use?” Ishimoto leans down, clicking it. A deafening clank is heard, and behind them, a hidden hatch underneath the rug is opened.

“A secret hatch?” Usagi stared in. All is dark. It seems like an abyss. The heavy metal is bolted, and attempting to lift it is impossible. This hatch is heavy-duty. There’s no prying in or getting out, for that matter.

“Man, that thing looks like it was built to last. I wonder what it could be used for?”

“No matter at the moment.” Ishimoto drops his bag to the floor, yanking out the flashlight. Lighting it up reveals an empty bottom, leaking water, but it is impossible to see anything else. There’s a ladder leading down.

“Right. So one of us has to stay here?” Ishimoto says.

“Why? Wouldn’t it be safer for us to stick together, numbnuts?”

“It would, Okazaki. But also, if the hatch closes on us and we can’t get out, what will we do, hmm?” Throwing the backpack on, he points over to the podium.

“So, who will stay?” He continues surveying the others.

“Nah, I’m going in. I ain’t going to let anything bad happen to any of you.” Okazaki is firm on his decision being the first down, Usagi following next.

“I’ll do it, don’t worry. You all go ahead, okay? Be sure to let Shoji know I’m here too, just up here!” Keiko makes her way over to the button, waiting for everyone to descend.

“Right. Let’s go,” Ishimoto says to Takei.

The four travel down the ladder as the stench of swamp invades their senses.

“That’s rancid!” screams Okazaki.

“Tell me about it. A rotting corpse would smell better,” Usagi says.

The bottom of the hatch isn’t any better. The room is partially flooded, though there are no hazards. A set of rooms and a huge open space make this room intimidating in the dark.

Ishimoto scans the area. There’s a vine. The vine is tied to a ventilator above, and its grassy green color leads to a tightened grip around someone.

“Shoji?”

“H-huh? Ishimoto, is that you? They got you, too? Bastards!” His eyes are covered, blindfolded. It’s impossible for him to move, the vine having him in a stranglehold.

The gang runs to his side, and Okazaki violently rips at the vine. It doesn’t move an inch. The rest join, but still nothing.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“That’s a lot tougher then I thought it be,” he says.

“Yeah, it’s why we needed the matches. Insane to think not even the four of us can move it, though.” Usagi grabs one and strikes a flame.

“Got to be careful. Shoji, you might feel a slight heat on your chest, so don’t worry about that, okay?” Usagi tries to ease him.

“Umm, that seems a little worrisome, if I’m honest. Just don’t sear my flesh,” he says.

“Yeah, but just, like… Don’t think about that, okay?” The fire draws closer to his flesh, and he squirms and gets more anxious. He does his best to be brave but is afraid in this situation. Takei approaches his side, placing her hand on the helm of his back, and with a gentle whisper, sings, “Don’t you worry, don’t you cry. Everything is all right with us here by your side. Things are scary now, but don’t forget we’re here right now. Soon, you’ll be free, and all of us, all of us, can be happy.” Her last note lingers, sounding like a soothing melody.

“You know that’s hell of cheese, Takei.” Shoji laughs while the flame does its work. “But you always had such a calming singing voice.” A snap is sounded, and the vine bursts with the fire, sinking it off. Shoji is now able to move, blindfold off, and his body is still weak and unable to sit up. Okazaki and Ishimoto help him, raising him to his feet.

“Aww! Did Takei just sing to Shoji!?” The voice of Keiko rings down. “Man, how can you hear up there?” Okazaki chortles. “That vault has wonderful acoustics!”

“Shoji, you had us worried, sick man. How did you even end up in this situation?” Okazaki and Ishimoto guide him along. “I’ll be honest, I don’t remember at all. It’s all fuzzy. I was just at home feeling like a plant in bed, and boom! Woke up blind, not knowing where I was, just thought I got some advanced sickness.”

“It seems you’re suffering from amnesia, perhaps? Maybe one of the Remnants is capable of that feat. Is that correct, Usagi?” No answer. “Usagi?” She isn’t around. In the other room, she is steadfast, her body blocking the door and her breath shallow.

“I… don’t believe it… Guys! We need to get out of here right now!”

Takei rushes over, and to her immediate horror, the students are in the room. All of them. Dead. A harsh whipping strikes the air. By her side, a gust of wind cuts, and a vine misses her cheek by a marginal distance. The whip was powerful enough to cut through like a knife. Usagi moved her out of the way, preventing her from being minced.

“All of you up the ladder! He’s here!” Bolting to the ladder, Shoji grabs the handle and drags his upper body up, Okazaki pushing him with all his strength as they desperately make their way up. “What’s happening down there!?” Keiko screams.

“Keiko! When we tell you to press the button, do it!” Usagi is the last one up, clawing her way to the top with the rest. Shoji rolls onto the floor, and everyone else piles up. Usagi is the last one, making her way up as fast as she can.

“Close it now!” Keiko slams the button. Usagi hits the hatch as it closes, nearly taking half of her with it as it shuts. An extremely close call that had everyone’s breathe stolen.

“Yo? Can someone check? I ain’t chopped in half, am I?” Usagi says, terrified she might be.

“No, you’re not, thankfully.” Takei checks. The steel hatch is keeping them safe.

“Shoji! Don’t ever get kidnapped again, damn it!” Okazaki rolls on the ground.

“Wasn’t my fault!” he retorts. Slumped, he meanders himself upright. His legs are pure withered bark. If he stands, he will be timbered over.

“I don’t feel up to getting up, more than usual.” He yawns.

“Don’t’ be getting sleepy right now, literally the worst time, you dumbass.”

“Good to have you back, Shoji.” Usagi stands up, going to pat Keiko on the back.

“Fine work, really saved us there.”

“Aww, it was nothing. You would have done the same for me.” Her toothy smile assures.

Once everyone is up, the buttery stomps of Shoji make their way down the stairs of the stage. Then, a loud bang.

“What was that!?” exclaims Shoji. Another loud bang. And then the hatch goes flying off its hinges, landing in the assembly hall. He broke through.

“No way!” Okazaki doesn’t hesitate, putting Shoji in a fireman hold over his shoulder. Everyone rushes, water shooting behind them, their clothes getting soaked. The stench is stronger. Nothing masks the undeniable scent of Mr. Pond chasing them down.

They all five pound the door, breaking it open. They tumble down marble, rolling down like rolled wet napkins hitting the street with a wet squish. The man known as Mr. Pond, his curled balding hair and repainted chipped skin looking like an old vehicle past its glory days. Remnants remain dangerous for life. His advanced age of sixty-two years, however, slows his body and abilities.

The first one up is Usagi. She stands in the crimson walkway. The crickets cease back into their holes, and the breeze subsides, only her hair waving in the air.

“You killed them all… You monster,” she says.

Mr. Pond is unfazed. A creeping smile shudders his unpleasant face. “And? What of it? Did you think you would save them?” His voice is unpleasant to the ears. It’s like a drowning hyena.

“What do we do? We can’t outrun him out in the open. Do we fight?” Okazaki asks.

“Fight!? We can’t fight someone like him. We’ll all be killed!” Keiko grasps onto Takei.

Gaining footing, they stand in his presence. The weight of it all.

“We have to fight him…” A warmth stabs into Usagi’s chest. From the offset, she concludes he’s pierced her with a watery blade, but that is not the case. Looking down, there is only a glow, a hue emitting that of her eye color, emerald, grassy, and leafy fire. Her senses come to the reality of everything. A frozen world, a world where everything is so loud, the clicks of the streetlight changing, grasshoppers and birds flittering their bodies flailing their wings and bodies bounding leaf and sky.

“Usagi.. you’re glowing? ” Takei is wounded from falling down the stairs, a small gash on her leg.

“This… hurts but I can feel something… something more… It’s like… the sweetest, darkest dream, becoming reality…” Her body lifted into the air. An ear-piercing scream erupts throughout the district, answered by nobody. In a moment, a burst of green hue collects itself into a rabbit choker, which appears around her neck as she descends. The choker of a Remnant. The bunny Remnant, Usagi.