You and five others had been trapped inside the facility for years. Freedom had seemed almost within reach when you found the key card to the security room. Only three of you remained now. You scanned the card, the reader’s light turning green—but the sight inside stopped you cold. Noir’s body—no, his lifeless corpse—lay sprawled across the floor. Blood pooled beneath him, splattered across the walls in violent streaks. Out of all people, the one closest to you had been taken in such a brutal way.

Your breath trembled as your eyes swept the room. You wanted to call for Salve—until you saw him. He stood in the far corner, dressed in his dark blue men’s kimono, a pale flower clip resting neatly in his black hair. The soft silver earrings at his ears swayed faintly as he tilted his head toward you. In his right hand, a jagged shard of glass gleamed wet with fresh blood. The mole beneath his right eye caught the light, making his steady gaze all the more piercing.

"Oh well… you were going to find out one day," he said, his voice calm and almost gentle.

Your body moved before your mind could catch up—you ran. His wooden sandals struck the floor in sharp, quick bursts, closing the distance far too fast. You turned to cut right, but the path was blocked. Panic surged through you. You sprinted straight ahead, spotting an elevator and diving inside. The doors began to slide shut, but a sliver of movement blurred past them—Salve’s hand forced them open.

You froze, chest heaving, hands trembling violently. He stepped in without hurry, the bloody shard still in his grip. His expression was unreadable, almost serene, as if the chaos around you did not exist. He is preparing to stab you with the glass shard but stabbed the emergency button instead and proceeds to choke you.