Step step step. Like an echo reminding me of my actions, the sounds of my hurried footsteps bounced around me, taunting me even. Yet, their attempts were met with a complete silence on my side as I kept running, running and running and running and running... My legs carried me so fast that the world around me was nothing more than a blur.

Sometimes, my feet would land into a puddle of water that was forming due to the incessant rain above me and cause my clothes to get drenched. Sadly, this was the last of my problems and so, I endured the uncomfortable feeling, all for the sake of running away with my life.

All around, the buildings composing the Backstreets were firmly shut and locked, blocking anyone from entering. Through some of the illuminated windows, I could faintly see faces stare at my escape through the blur in my vision.

Suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of dread, I firmly slammed my left foot into the concrete below me and swiftly turned to my right, entering an alleyway. Soon enough, my eyes noticed a fence almost double my height looming over me. Next to it, a trash container was hiding from the rain under a small roof.

"I don't have time..."

I mumbled to myself and aimed directly for said object. With a jump that even took me by surprise, I was successfully able to land on top of it and then perform a second jump to climb on the small roof, allowing me to jump past the fence and keep up my momentum after breaking my fall with a roll on the wet ground.

Once on the other side, I was met with another street that extended to both my left and right. A drop of sweat fell down my face just as I took the right, making my body unconsciously swerve. This instinctual response was definitely what saved me. The next thing I know, the very spot I stood on a second ago was completely vaporised, leaving behind a pile of ashes.

The blood in my veins that wasn't already frigid due to the cold rain pouring down froze instantly, turning my face pale. Fearing what would happen if I were to waste a single moment by simply peeking at the threat following me, I turned heels and rapidly regained my speed as I bolted through the streets.

Where was I going? I don't know, as long as I could get away then I was content with anything. My brain agreed and tried its hardest to process my surroundings, all for the sake of keeping me alive.

I couldn't stop, I couldn't even slow down for a moment. It was so close that I could almost feel its breath on the back of my neck. I was literally a few feet away from death. My body understood the severity of my situation and swiftly came to the rescue with a dose of adrenaline, numbing the pain I was experiencing after all the movements I've pulled.

This chase that never seemed to end continued, forcing me to slide inside a construction area and use the barely built building to slip right past my pursuer and return the way I came from, using the opportunity to make it collide with one of the few pillars erected. What followed was not surprising: everything collapsed onto it.

...As much as I would like to celebrate this victory, I knew that it would not hold that thing back and so I didn't even bother to calm my pace. Soon enough, my guess became true, indicated by a loud roar echoing like a war drum shattering my eardrums.

Signs of exhaustion slowly began to form on my face in the form of sweats that were quickly masked by the endless rain. No matter how many times I wished to keep going, my bones creaked as a way to tell me that this miracle would never happen. I was running out of energy and that realization caused tears to form in my eyes.

I was going to die and I could do nothing to stop it.

Once more, I took a sharp left and remained on the curb, sticking close to the buildings in case I could find another shortcut through an alleyway. It was wishful thinking but at this point, I was willing to heed these impossible thoughts in the hope that they would become true.

Nobody was willing to lend their aid to me, silently observing my imminent demise with a sadistic anticipation. They knew that as I long as I was its target, none of them will die.

I pressed my teeth against each other as I swallowed the truth. The tears from a moment ago still emerged but for another reason. This world was rotten to the core, everything deserved to burn.

...

Everything deserved to be purged with fire.

My legs were begging me to stop by now, they were hardly following my commands at this point. It was honestly a miracle that I haven't tripped.

As I could feel my time running out, I ran past what looked to be a shop. Through its glass, I was able to see my reflection stare back at me, a body completely ruined by the stress, rain and sorrow. My clothes were completely drenched and sticking to me, my eyes could barely held the tears and the long hair following me was stained with mud-

Suddenly, my examination through the window in the middle of my sprint was interrupted by a yell that sent shivers down my spine.

"You can't escape Alter Ego!!"

It screamed my name with such power that my heart skipped a beat. I don't know how long I've been running from it but I was at my limit. With one last effort, I went directly to the next alleyway and entered.

...I ran past the garbage until my body slammed against a brick wall, the end of my struggle. Unable to take it anymore, my legs painfully landed on the wet ground and forced me to witness my killer make its appearance.

Feeling my fright, the monster lurking the streets slowly entered my sight with all the time in the world, knowing that I couldn't get away. My breathing grew stronger with each passing second. I could do nothing but see my death approach with no way to fight back.

The end was near.

"Prey..."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it finally revealed its full body to me. Looking down at me was no monster, no creatures that looked straight out of a fairytale or even something out of my comprehension... which is why it made me so terrified.

Standing in front of me was a man arboring a devilish rictus that revealed teeth that were not human; they looked sharper than any blade I've ever seen and the proof of that statement was in plain sight, at least if what those crimson chunks were what I think they were. His eyes observed my terrified face with inhuman glee, enjoying the sight of my despair. Yet, these traits were nothing compared to... to... to...

...The pink military uniform he wore.

"...P-Please."

I begged between my gasps. The only thing I got in return was a booming laugh that felt unknown but at the same time familiar. This monster before me was... the captain of the Central Command team... my... no...

I can't... I can't believe this. I refuse to believe this! I can't accept this!

I begged once more with tears of denial following the raindrops falling on my face. The sadistic grin on that demon's visage was enough to tell me that my words were pointless. I was going to die here.

...This was my end, killed by the one I love.

...

...

Roland: ...Are you alright?

Y/N: It's fine, I just woke up from a nightmare, nothing new.

The assistant quickly calmed the Fixer's worries before the director could notice their discussion. As he gave his response, Angela's helper flipped the page of a book he was reading, deciding to take a peek at the knowledge that could help him deal with future residents of the City.

Sadly, reading the stories of their past visitors only gave him more questions than answers.

Roland: Again? Isn't this-

Y/N: Yes Roland, it is my 26th nightmares in a row, no need to remind me.

The ex-agent repeated the words that were still in his interlocutor's mind. At this point, there was no real point to hide that fact, his face betrayed his accumulated fatigue. No matter how many times he closed his eyes, the only thing waiting for him on the other side was a nightmarish realm created to torment him.

The AI in the room alongside them was still oblivious of that curse, unable to comprehend why the employee she revived would sometimes wake up in a frenzy, looking at his surroundings to make sure that he was truly awake.

Maybe because she never experienced what dreaming was? He didn't care enough to find the real reason.

Malkuth gave him some "sleep techniques" she would sometimes use during her time as a human, Yesod coldly tried to reason that there might be a cause for said consistency and even Roland himself attempted to give his help. The bags under captain's eyes, however, were a sign of their failure.

The L Corp. agents that were awakened also slipped in their own ideas, with various results. Cereb proposed that he used as much energy as possible until his body collapsed, his reasoning being: "if your mind is too tired, it won't have time to think".

Dana jokingly told him to read until boredom as a way to numb his brain.

Morgan... She didn't do much, not a surprise by now. She remained locked in her room and allowed the director's revived doll to rest next to her, hoping that resting next to someone would quell his anxieties.

Roland: Once you all get out of here, you should find some medications for that.

Y/N: That is if I live past my many restless nights~

He replied with a small smile on his face, trying to mimic Keter's Patron Librarian attitude. Unfortunately for him, the fatigue made him look like a Rat who has not slept in a week out of fear.

Angela: No need to worry about that, I won't permit you to die.

With her calm voice, she swiftly stepped in the conversation without looking away from her own book, her back turned towards them. A sigh escaped both Roland & Y/N's lips, knowing that it was the truth.

Y/N: You sure do love bragging about it...

The one previously called the captain of the Central Command team mumbled to himself as he leaned further into his seat. At this point, he was so used to it that her words would go through one ear and out the other if he decided that he wasn't paying attention, a blessing when taking into consideration the tension between them.

With no words to exchange at this point, the trio returned to what they were doing... or at least attempted to. Almost on point, the Library itself decided to make itself known to its occupants by revealing a sight that brought no shock out of them: the arrival of new guests.

Angela and her assistant closed their respective books in unison, causing the Grade 9 Fixer to observe the scene with a slight amusement.

Y/N: ...

Angela: ...

Sensing the aura forming around the man in a black suit, the duo glanced in his direction, swiftly shutting him up.

Roland: Sorry.

A bead of sweat fell down his face as he mumbled his apology. The AI immediately stopped paying attention to him the moment his answer came out. Her helper, on the other hand, gave him a kind pat on the shoulder.

"Ahh~ Why is our Office so unpopular with clients?", the voice of a girl named Lulu quickly snapped them back to reality.

One, of course, had a bigger reason to pay attention, considering that they would soon be thrown against them in a fight to the death. The second man, however, had his difficulties following along.

The reason was simple: exhaustion. It wasn't enough to make him collapse of course but it was definitely enough to make his focus waver. Nightmare after nightmare, the ex-agent desperately tried to cling to reality at all cost.

The words of the duo currently in front of- Nevermind, trio. A third person entered the room and rolled his eyes as he immediately noticed the kids in front of him argue.

Anyway, the words the trio in front of him uttered were barely processed. He couldn't hear them but his brain was able to comprehend what they spoke about. His energy was instead spent keeping himself awake.

The power of the Light, which gave form to all their bodies, was something that even the employee had to praise. Physical injuries, scars and sickness was nothing more than an annoyance, even nonexistent when it came to the last part. Sadly, this gift of life was not merciful enough to spare him from the torment he was going through.

The Light might be powerful but it did not offer true miracles like recovering lost memories or healing mental wounds.

...This realization brought along a grimmer question, acting like a voice of curiosity.

"Would I stop feeling exhausted if I were to die? Angela can just bring me back anyway."

As the discussion between the guests named Lulu, Mars and San continued, the man who worked in the Central Command team imagined himself fall from Keter's floor, his body implode the moment he landed on the floor at the bottom of the Library. It was a horrible scene to imagine but his fatigued mind didn't bother to disregard the possibility.

Was death a valid solution? His nightmares would stop if his brain were to temporarily die. His only obstacle would be Angela's watchful surveillance. She showed him how easy it was for her to drag someone wherever she desired...

Y/N: ...I don't have anything to lose.

He couldn't even use the fear of death as an excuse to not do it. He already felt what it was like to perish, many times in fact. Lobotomy Corp. taught him the harsh aftermath of death while also reducing his fear of it.

Roland: Hm?

His whispers were not left unnoticed by the man sitting next to him. What he saw when he glanced at his face was an expression devoid of care.

Roland: ...

Y/N: You should pay attention Roland.

Almost sensing the attention he was getting from the Fixer, the ex-agent performed a 180 and revealed a small grin that revealed no trace of the previously shown weariness before pointing at Angela. She would soon ask the poor man more questions about the City and they both knew it.

Speaking of the devil, as soon as Angela's puppet warned him of what would soon arrive, a familiar noise pierced the air around them. The director now stood on her feet and looked at the duo.

Y/N: ...I'll go get ready for the guests.

Roland: Right.

The uninvited guest nodded in return, feeling the stare coming from his employer like a revolver pressed against his head. With nothing else to say to the woman with short hair, the exhausted worker stepped out of the room before she could tell him to stop.

As he walked towards his destination, his mind wandered. Sadly, or maybe fortunately, the ideas he came across vanished like a breeze passing by.

...

Lulu: I guess we really are desperate. To think that we'd take on a job like this...

The girl with a bat mumbled to herself as she set foot into a place they have never seen before. Her instinct was telling her to not lower her guard for a second, a sentiment that was shared to some extend with her allies.

Standing right behind her, a boy with gray hair cut her off.

Mars: Stop complaining, we should be glad to have work at all.

His words were enough to form an angry frown on Lulu's face. Her annoyance was spat at his face like a venom.

Lulu: I know! Do you really have to point out the obvious?!

San: Now now, cool it guys.

Acting as the sensible one, the third member of the group sighed yet again. His words acted like the voice of reason, the cool water required to quell the flames of rivalry between them.

Unfortunately for the poor man, this action simply shifted their gazes back at him.

Lulu: Excuse me! Please don't associate me with this goof!

Mars: I certainly don't want that either.

At this point no progress was being made and San knew that. However, before he could attempt to bribe them with something that would surely put them back in a better mood, a pair of footsteps echoed.

The leader glanced in the direction of the noise while his partners readied their weapons.

Y/N: ...Am I interrupting something?

As soon as he emerged from a set of stairs, the librarian observed the group in front of him with a few interrogation marks floating above his head.

San: No, it's fine. I'm San, from the Streetlight Office.

The sleepy doll noted the hostility lingering in the air, mostly coming from the duo standing behind the man who presented himself. Deciding to not mention it, he calmly made his way and bowed lightly.

Y/N: I'm Y/N, director Angela's assistant, pleasure to meet you.

He was used to introductions by now, it almost felt like a second nature. His body moved on its own without him putting much thought into it, a great way for him to rest while "working".

He still refused to address what he was doing as work considering he was held against his will here. Him receiving guests was a form of protest, a way to annoy the woman who brought him back from the dead.

Both of them exchanged a handshake to solidify their greetings. As they did so, the eyes of the agent silently greeted the other members of San's team with a smile, who only replied with a frown.

San: We were brought here by the invitation. There's something I'd like to ask about it.

Y/N: Sorry but if you want to ask questions about this, you gonna have to talk to Angela about this, I don't know anything more than you do.

The ex-employee swiftly stopped him by raising a hand in his sight.

San: And where can we find her?

Angela: Here, dear guests.

The mere mention of her name was enough to summon the AI who constructed this strange building. A loud snap echoed just as she raised her voice. Both the librarian and the guests jumped in unison and turned to face her.

Angela: Greetings guests. I am Angela, the director and the librarian of my role's namesake.

Her presence was enough for Lulu and Mars to slightly lower their focus on the assistant and move it to the newcomer. A single look was all they needed to determine that she was the biggest threat between them.

It was something that even he couldn't deny. He was completely exhausted at this point and even if he wasn't, he was killable unlike the machine in front of them.

San: I'd like to ask a question about the invitation we used.

Angela: A question?

The person in charge of the Library raised her eyebrows and allowed the man in front of her to proceed. It wasn't the first time someone asked her something but it also wasn't really a common sight, most guests were content with just walking inside after exchanging a few words.

San: I actually retrieved this invitation from another person, not directly from you. Are we still eligible?

Angela: Yes, indeed. The invitation eventually reached you, dear guests, and you signed your names with your own will. Everything has worked as intended.

San: I see.

The Operator of the Streetlight Office spoke to himself.

Angela: May you find your book in this place.

Probably sensing that no further questions would follow, the director made her departure and vanished into thin air with a second snap. Still not used to this, Mars and Lulu glanced at their surroundings, expecting a surprise attack.

A full second passed before her assistant leaned closer to whsiper to them.

Y/N: Was it really with your own will?

San: ...

Mars: ...

Lulu: ...

None of them answered his question, probably still unsure about whether to trust the man standing near them or not.

He understood their feelings, he probably would have reacted the same if he was in their shoes. A sigh slipped out as he took a step away from them. His smile dropped and revealed a solemn expression.

Y/N: Look, I'll be honest, I'd be better if you guys all just walk out. The people who went before you... well, let's just say they haven't come out to tell the tale.

Mars: Are you telling us that we're not good enough?

Y/N: ...Can't say. As much as I hate seeing deaths being piled up in this place, Angela would probably pull something if I tried to convince you guys to simply go back. So, just take my words as me mubling to myself.

As he elaborated on what he was talking about, the sentient puppet dragged his feet and walked around the entrance, a movement that was meticulously observed by the trio.

San: Thank you for the warning but we'll be fine.

Y/N: ...If you say so.

His tone of voice lowered as uttered those words. The librarian took a deep breath and stared at the ceiling above them before putting back his joyful expression. It wasn't really needed at this point but hey, as he said before, positive thinking can go a long way.

Y/N: I can't force you to leave but I'll cheer you on. You all seem like good guys so I'll support you.

San: Thank you for your words.

Y/N: Heh, just thank me once you all get out of here.

His final reply came with a movement of his hand to show them where to proceed. Without any other distraction, the trio walked inside, leaving behind the man burdened by the weight of his own demons.

(Can you tell that I'm getting bored of copypasting the script of the game? If you can't, I can assure you that I am. Sadly, there's not much to add to the early game so I just gotta go through it and endure it.

...At least Crack of Ruina is there for me to make my own stuff, even if it's not canon.)