-Save us now and forevermore. The truth shall set us free.

Alter Ego: Are you sure that you're alright? You look pale.

Hava: Mhm, I would say that it suits you but that would be of bad taste.

Keeping their worries at bay, I quickly responded with how shaken I was after yesterday's events, to which they replied with a nod. None of us wanting to press further the subject, we stepped inside a break room and joined the other agents discussing together. Not wanting to get too involved with any of them, I took a seat away from everyone and the girls simply followed me.

Y/N: They don't seem that shaken by what happened.

Hava: Well, a good 20% of them are replacing those who died.

Y/N: ...Right.

My voice becoming deeper with that realization, I lowered my gaze to the table and pondered yet again on the words given to me by the AI in charge of the Extraction team. Knowing her for what she is, maybe that was the real reason why she did inform me of that, because she knew that I would not be able to shrug it off. Stuck in a cycle, I was having a hard time keeping my thoughts together.

It was like a piece of my brain was missing, a fragment of my mind lacking.

Y/N's mind: Considering how more and more abnormalities are arriving... where are they pulled from? Who are they pulled from?

Good lord this was giving me a headache.

Hava: Uh, Y/N?

Y/N: Yea?

Hava: You're drilling holes into the table, what's gotten into you?

Dropping her smile, she was giving me a frown similar to Tiphereth's while Alter Ego gave me a worried expression. Unable to give them a straight answer, I kept silent, causing the one wielding a black scythe to lean closer to my face.

Y/N: What are you doing?

Hava: ...You're hiding something, Binah told you something she shouldn't have?

Y/N: ...

I suppose she would go that direction considering she was the one who told me to go meet her. At the mention of the Arbiter, the one who first carried a concerned look now became somber at the mere thought of the recent events, remembering the chaos.

Y/N: Well, yea and that's probably why I don't really want to talk about it.

The reactions I would get if I told them that piece of information... Well, just Alter Ego's, I have a feeling that Hava was not one to be disturbed by this type of revelation. Deciding against telling it, I changed the subject.

Y/N: Still, 43 days completed, how long are we going to be stuck in here?

Hava: ...At this point, I'm more concerned about my pay, which I don't think we'll get at this rate.

Alter Ego: I don't think they were planning to from the start.

Y/N: Why did I sign up for this? Like seriously, I don't remember when I first entered this place.

While busy contemplating this horrifying thought, I noticed from the corner of my sight a movement and when I turned to see what it was, I was taken aback slightly. Her smile dropping, the eternally grinning Hava dropped her head and grabbed both of her hands almost in a prayer. Her gaze losing warmth, they were deep in their own world.

Hava: 43 days...

Y/N: Hava?

Hava: ...

I called her name but no response came from her, it was as if she was disconnected from our reality. Then, just like that, she stood up with a hint of worry in her red eyes. Her teasing voice was no more present and instead, doubts replaced it.

Hava: I have to... I have to go, something important.

Alter Ego: Hava?

Both bewildered, the only thing we could do was watch her back as she left the room with her weapon dragging behind her. To think that I would see the day where a doubtful Hava would surface would not just be part of my imagination, it was shocking and yet still painful to some extend.

Alter Ego: ...

Y/N: ...

Silently, we exchanged a question that we both seemed to share. Hava was, to a certain extend, a guide that seemed to know everything, at least in my and probably Alter Ego's eyes. So, seeing her this disturbed by something could only mean that something terrible was approaching.

...Something involved with the days spent here. Something was getting closer but what?

With that question, we both retreated back into our room and prepared for the next day.

I should have heeded that obvious sign, that red flag. Yet I didn't, a proof of my own incompetence.

Y/N: ...

Beginning the new day with a new assignment, I had thought to have seen everything but I suppose surprises wouldn't be called that if you could see them arriving from a mile away. Wordlessly staring at the abnormality standing in front of me, my brain frowned at the sight.

???: Hello little one!

Y/N: ...

I can slowly feel a gaze weighing down on me, a burning stare coming from a containment room away from this one. If I had to take a guess who it belonged to- No, there's no need, I could already tell who was the one bringing me this sensation.

Just... don't question it anymore Y/N, just don't.

Y/N: Uh... hi?

Finally answering to its voice, I gave it a raised eyebrow before beginning my work. Pulling out some food, I began passing it to the abnormality and observe its behaviour when devouring the present given to it. Happily gulping it down into its belly, its tail wagged around, almost like a large dog.

...Well, wolves are bigger dogs but, eh.

Y/N's mind: Hm, it doesn't seem that terrible. Maybe it's not the same wolf?

I'm not one to be versed into fairytales, I don't even remember being told one in my youth but it could be because of my fragmented memories, blind spots that brought terrible headaches along with them whenever I tried extracting them from the void.

???: ...Little Y/N, tell me. How did you get this mask?

Y/N: How do you know my name?

???: I have biiiiiiiiiig ears, to hear everything better.

How does that explain anything?

Y/N: Well, I got it from someone, a girl in red.

Averting my gaze from the tall creature, I slowly pulled the mask with bloody teeth on it, given to me by Little Red. Looking back at me with its wide smile, one of its paws descended on me and perfectly caressed the side of my head.

Needless to say that I took some distance before placing my own hand where it touched me but no wound could be felt, it merely touched me and nothing else.

???: Y/N, I must thank you for this incredible meal, though I still feel hungry!

Y/N: Huh, if it pleases you then it's fine.

I know it could merely be the result of my accumulated paranoia after working here for more than a month but the way it seemed to address me rubbed me the wrong way, almost as if trying to sound nice. Call it veteran instinct or whatev' but it feels too good to be true.

???: Hmmmm, I wonder how that little red girl is doing.

Intercom: 21 PE boxes successfully produced.

Y/N: Why are you wondering? Aren't you the one who hurt her?

Big Bad Wolf: Y/N, Y/N, you wouldn't understand. After all, a wolf is always destined to be bad, a wolf will never not be a villain. Even if they do not wish it, they will always be punished.

Intercom: Warning! La Luna has escaped!

Y/N: Hm? It's been a while since I've heard this alarm, kinda nostalgic.

Packing my stuff, I readied my rifle and quickly exited the room without glancing back at the wolf, not like I had a reason to. Rushing back to my department, I kept a lookout for any sight of the roaming abnormality and once reaching the doors leading to the main room of the Central Command area, a breeze of air flew right by me.

Y/N: Heh?

Turning around, a sudden gunshot echoed and I witnessed Little Red chasing after the pianist girl, both of them engaging in combat. Opening fire with relentless assaults, it was a spectacle of lights flashing in my eyes while the sound was more than annoying to say the least. Both of them going at each other's throat, I loaded my rifle and took aim.

Little Red: Out of my way!

However, there was no need to interfere, the mercenary stabbed the woman before firmly planting the barrel of her gun inside its head and activating the trigger. Defeated, the escaped abnormality sunk into the floor and vanished, leaving the both of us.

Finally realizing that it was me standing in the hallway, she put down her weapons and gave me a good stare. Keeping my composure, I gave her a smile and waved silently.

Y/N: It's been a while-

Little Red: That smell... That bastard.

Y/N: E-Eh?

Surprised for a moment, it took me a moment to process what was going on until my mind unconsciously returned to a certain specific action. My eyes widening, my hand slowly touched the side of my head, the same area where that wolf touched me and slowly pulled out some fur trapped in my hair.

...Uh ho.

Little Red: Where is he?!

Y/N: I-

Little Red: Where is he Y/N?!

Grabbing my arms, she shook me violently, making me feel slightly dizzy. Struggling out of her grasp, I squinted my eyes and tried to amass my strength to escape from her hold. Sweats falling down my face, I was in a bad position.

Little Red: Tell me where that monster is Y/N!

Y/N: Requesting support! Little Red is going rogue in Central Command department!

Pushing the button of my radio, I called for reinforcement while pinning her in place to the best of my efforts. No matter how strong I was, humans were nothing compared to the raw power of abnormalities, even my E.G.O could only support me so much.

Y/N: Come on, get back to your senses!

Both locked in a clash, nothing seemed to matter. Well, that should have been the case but a gunshot echoed that made the duel stop abruptly. Jumping away in relief, I glanced behind me and witnessed a fuming barrel aiming at the red mercenary.

BongBong: BongBong.

Y/N: ...

Speechless and thankful, I retreated and locked my own rifle at the opponent slowly getting back on her feet. Red flames forming around her body, her hands tightened, the metal of her weapon groaning.

Little Red: This doesn't concern you!

BongBong: BongBong!

Not caring in the slightest, the girl with blue hair blasted the abnormality in the head with multiple bursts of bullets, cold eyes watching her actions, unfazed. Following after her, I pressed the trigger of my own gun and pulled the bolt to insert a new bullet in the chamber.

Retaliating, Little Red opened fire once more at us and a curtain of projectiles struck us, a constant barrage of rage that we could only endure with our suits. Focusing on the warmth of the pink color, I could lower my sensation of pain and concentrate on the battle.

Y/N: Where's the backup?! We seriously need some!

Bracing the damage, I sensed bloodlust aiming at me and instinctively blocked the blow with the gun in my hands, seeing the blade mere inches away from me. Pushing against the force exerted on the sharp weapon, I stood my ground long enough for BongBong to send a mighty kick in Red's side.

BongBong: ...

Wielding a combat knife, she rushed ahead and parried an incoming strike like it was nothing. Her neutral expression facing danger, she was completely desensitized to the concept of fear, even death considering what we faced in here.

Then, a door opened behind us. Expecting some support, I turned around but only the shape of a clerk stood on the other side, witnessing the situation with shocked eyes.

Y/N: ...

Clerk: Nope, I'm out. Too early in the morning to be dealing with this crap.

Following that, agents began rushing in to deal with the threat, allowing me to make a quick escape, not like they needed my help at this point.

Y/N: *Sigh* This is gonna be a long day.

Honestly, the days seemed to get longer and longer and it was hitting me hard. The first couple of days were bad enough but now we had to keep going for even longer periods of time, this was akin to insanity.

Maybe this was the true madness of this place, time itself.

Y/N: ...

Feeling my eyelids getting heavier, I placed my hands on top of them and rubbed them, trying to shake off the fatigue but no matter how many times I did so, the exhaustion was creeping up on me.

Slowly dozing off, I glanced around and saw the agents emerging from the hallway, celebrating their victory. Everything seemed fine for now... Maybe a quick nap wouldn't hurt... not like my body was allowing me to choose.

Closing them, my head fell on top of my arms and I was instantly knocked out.

...

Now fully asleep, I could no longer escape my thoughts, all forming around me. Standing in front of a giant calendar floating in the void, the number "44" was written on it, the number of days we've been trapped in here, at least in this instance.

So many days, yet the finish line seemed to never appear, unknown to us.

"Y/N."

Y/N: ...

A voice called my name but I did not answer, stuck in a trance, forced to see the number "44" floating above me. Where is the end? Is there even an end, considering that we are still stuck here. Maybe this is purgatory, none of us are allowed to leave, forever in a loop of pain.

"Y/N."

Y/N: ...

Dragging my legs like they were weights, I turned to the voice and slowly made my way into the void, reaching for whoever was calling me. Strangely, each steps I took, the echo of water would follow, as if stepping into a puddle.

The surface of a lake or a source of water. The fine lines ondulating in the water looked like waves and felt rather... odd. The further I tried to go in this endless well, the more sluggish my actions were beginning to be.

...Still, I have to reach the voice, see who is calling me from so far away.

Y/N: ...

I felt so weak, so heavy that my body collapsed onto the invisible water, waves spreading around me in a loud cacophony. I couldn't feel the liquid on my body nor my clothes but the sensation of a body of water was definitely present.

Laying on the ground, I tried to place my hands down to push myself up but fell down instantly, no energy left to struggle.

The water was the cause, it was like seeing something that I should not have, I was a mere doll against it. I couldn't see anything but it was no needed, I had a feeling that it would be much worse if I COULD see it.

"Y/N."

Slowly and elegantly, footsteps echoed on the surface of the water, making waves in my direction. Stepping closer, a blurry figure stopped by my side before crouching next to me.

Feeling a smile looking down at my terrible condition, the unknown person placed a hand on my head and moved it in my hair. It felt so surreal, like a dream about to shatter if I attempted to move so I didn't.

Y/N: ...

Looking at the unknown liquid forming the ground in this void, white ondulations began to appear all around my position and white hands emerged from the surface, latching onto my body and locking me in place.

Meanwhile, the figure did not even try to help but I suppose it wouldn't feel the need to do so without me asking. So I did, finally raising my voice to call for help, only for it to fall deaf to them. Still patting my head, time seemed frozen for a while until they spoke.

"We are soon reaching the end Y/N."

Y/N: ...

Really? I would like to take it as a fact but in this hellhole known as Lobotomy Corporation, such concept felt too... foreign, weird.

"Everything comes to an end one day."

Pressure started to be applied on my back, the hands trying to submerge me in the water. Unable to fight it off, I fell deeper into the darkness with the person by my side, now grabbing my head calmly.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

Both of us drowning in the depth of the unknown, this reality cracked and broke apart.

Y/N: ...?

What was I doing? I don't remember. Glancing around the main room, the employees seemed to be doing their usual stuff.

Strange, I feel like I'm forgetting something. Pondering on it, my train of thought was cut short by my radio.

Alter Ego: Hey Y/N, Queen of Hatred is feeling down a little, could you go check up on her?

Y/N: Yea sure.

Standing up from my seat, I grabbed my rifle and walked outside of the room. Just like that, this weird feeling that I was missing something disappeared. Considering that many of my memories are full of holes, this sensation is not new to me, I shouldn't worry about it.

I got my duties to do, such as making sure Queen doesn't try to make a mess and escape her room, now was not the time to try to assemble the giant puzzle known as my memory.