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“This was your transgression, Gashu!”
The ensuing laughter still chases at Sou’s heels as he keeps running, running, running . He tries to drown it out by focusing on the sounds of footsteps, the deafening pound of his own heartbeat in his ears, and he can’t tell what’s louder. ( it’s the footsteps, thankfully, because they’re not just his own; seven other pairs thrumming out of sync echo throughout the corridor and fill his head. the erratic pulse keeps reminding him why he’s running and that, for once, it’s a good thing. )
“I promised you that I would fulfill my duties as per the code.”
The gun appears and brings with it despair, threatening to smash any dreams of escape they had left, to trample on all their efforts as all they can do is watch it slowly point to the doll’s own head.
Sou’s feet catch and he stumbles and it takes everything to catch himself again. A gasp and his own name cried out comes from the girl beside him, always beside him, but a breathy, “I’m fine,” is enough for her to remove her concerned gaze and they both keep looking forward.
“This isn’t supposed to happen...”
The normally frail voice echoes throughout the chamber with surprising authority, giving pause even to Gashu. He looks to the other doll with her head bowed low, a curious look on his face at the abrupt objection, but it wasn’t enough to stop him for long. The gun cocks.
“Everyone… please earn victory.”
And he pulls the trigger.
“Everyone, there’s another split — go left!”
The warning comes on ragged breaths as Sou struggles to force himself to be heard when he can hardly breathe. He’s not sure if he’s ever run this much in his life, not even sure that he can keep going; even now he’s starting to fall behind. Pushing forward past his own limits isn’t where he excels, but there’s no other choice left for him.
“You all will be granted a 24 hour extension…”
The words were blessings on their ears, the first they’d heard in days. Safalin bends slowly to pick up the now useless gun, its bullet some meters far removed from its target. It had been too close; they had almost lost their chance, and yet here the doll stood now having apprehended the transgressor and granting their sole wish: another chance to escape. Everyone looks around, shaken but smiling, and you can feel their relief echoed on your own face.
Gashu had said the way would open for the winner. The first escape route was blocked, but that single line was all Sou needed to know there was hope in another. Another full day was more than enough time to set up the laptop and find the exit — even twelve would have been generous, and they were all running after only a few.
Sou looks ahead to see the broad back of Q-taro at the front of the pack, laptop clutched safely to his chest. The laptop absolutely could not fall out of their hands, not anymore, and the resolution on the athlete’s face said that he wouldn’t let it go ever again. ( he’d never been the most reliable before, but now it seemed he’d die before he’d betray anyone again. )
His eyes move to Keiji and Gin beside him. The detective — ex -detective — was expected near the front, but seeing the bat wings flap behind the elementary school kid almost makes Sou feel ashamed. There wasn’t a time when Gin hadn’t put his all into every single action to make up for his youth; on the flip side, Keiji could hardly be seen putting effort into most things he did. ( and now here they were, putting all weaknesses aside to push on. no wonder everyone admired them. )
Nao isn’t too far behind, and Alice is trailing just behind her. The convict could surely go much faster, but the way he keeps pace with the pink-haired girl, never once passing her and occasionally calling out anything that could slow her down and trip her is something unexpected from a murderer. ( and with Nao calling back to him it’s easy to see that even the most hopeless and damned have found the will to live in each other. )
Even Kanna is ahead of him now, though only barely just. The fragile little girl couldn’t be seen anywhere anymore; she’d long since bloomed and was giving just as much as any of the others toward this final push, if not more. It didn’t matter how small her steps, she wouldn’t stop here. ( there’s an undeniable strength in her, one Sou is almost proud to see, and one he wishes he could see in himself. )
His gaze at last flicks over to Sara, their reliable leader. Her back was a familiar sight to him; it didn’t matter what Sou did, she was always one step ahead. She was strong; he knew that from the start. She was the most likely to live; he knew that from the start.
( she was going to leave him behind and so was everyone else — and as Sou watches the distance between them grow, he realizes that this, too, he knew from the start. )
And Sara looks over her shoulder back at him.
“Come on, Sou! We’ve got to hurry!”
Her steps shorten to close the gap between her and you and she sticks an abrupt hand out behind her. Her face isn’t turned toward Sou anymore, but her hand stays behind, reaching out for his. She was always looking ahead, always moving forward — but she never intended to leave anyone behind to do it. Everyone had always believed in that, believed in her, and now Sou finally could too.
“So please… save me...!”
“... Of course I will, Sou!”
He doesn’t even have to think about it; his hand reaches out to grasp hers and he feels her pull forward. With someone like that believing in him and trying to help, how could he possibly give up now?
The exit comes into view as everyone rounds the next corner and a few shouts come from the worn pack as they all pick up their speed for the final push. There’s no breath left in his lungs to join in, but he pumps his legs even faster to keep up and a smile breaks across Shin’s face.
Thank you, Sara.