The hallway seemed endless, not because it was large. It was because it was designed to make people feel small.
Polished marble stretched for what felt like miles, reflecting the golden sunlight pouring through the enormous windows lining the walls. Every surface shined. Every decoration was carefully placed.
Paintings of victories. Statues of kings. Symbols of power.
A perfect image of a perfect kingdom.
The man walking through it didn't spare any of it a glance.
The purple suit he wore stood out against the white marble like a stain.
The sunlight touched his slightly tanned skin as he walked, revealing sharp blue eyes beneath thick lashes and neatly styled brown hair slicked back with deliberate precision.
Young, and calm.
He adjusted the knot of his tie as he continued forward.
Then, the sound of a door slamming echoed through the hallway.
The man stopped. A tired sigh escaped him. "…Already?"
He slowly stretched his arms out to his sides.
A Smiley immediately approached.
Without speaking, the smiling figure lifted a silver device toward him.
A mask.
Smooth metal covered most of the face, leaving only small openings for the eyes and nose.
The man allowed it to be placed over him.
The moment it touched his skin, a soft hiss escaped as the mask sealed itself in place.
He stared forward.
Then continued walking. From behind the door ahead, muffled shouting could be heard.
One voice furious. The other…annoyingly calm.
The purple suited man pushed the door open without knocking.
The two Smileys following him silently stepped to each side of the entrance, standing perfectly still.
The room was enormous.
An oval-shaped office surrounded by expensive paintings and golden statues that seemed to watch anyone who entered.
At the center sat a polished wooden desk. A lamp, several documents, and a cellphone. Nothing appeared out of place.
A deep red couch sat opposite the desk. And behind it all was a massive chair facing away from the room, positioned directly toward the sunlight pouring through the windows.
The person sitting there remained hidden.
Only a black suit and matching gloves were visible.
Two women stood beside the chair. Their blonde hair fell over their shoulders as they rested against the man casually, dressed in elegant white clothing.
Their smiles never faded. Their laughter never seemed natural.
The tension in the room was so thick that nobody noticed the newcomer.
"—Don't play games with me, Mengu!" August's voice echoed through the office.
His expression was furious, his fists were clenched. "Where is it?!"
The man in the chair didn't move, "Don't raise your voice at me, August."
His tone was almost bored. "Do you understand who you are speaking to?"
August froze. "You promised me." His voice lowered, but the anger remained. "You said you would give it to me."
A pause.
"You promised."
The man in the chair slowly lifted a hand and pressed two fingers against his forehead.
"Now, now…" A quiet sigh. "Let's maintain some decorum."
He tilted his head slightly. "And perhaps some respect."
The women beside him smiled. "A friend has entered the room."
August turned. His eyes immediately landed on the purple suited man.
His expression changed. "…Tony."
The room went quiet.
The purple suited man looked between August and the man sitting behind the desk.
Then he sighed.
Slowly removing the silver mask. "…The mask didn't work this time."
His voice was quiet. Almost sleepy.
He walked over to the couch and sat down, crossing one leg over the other.
August looked back toward Mengu, "Tell him."
His voice sharpened. "Tell Mengu to pay what he owes. The money. The White Stone. And the bark from the tree."
The room went silent.
For the first time, the man in the chair moved. "…The bark?"
A small laugh escaped him. "The bark from the Tree of Knowledge?" His voice carried amusement, "Are you insane?"
August's fists tightened. "You said you'd do it!"
His voice rose again. "I brought you Diamond of the Playing Cards! Her right-hand D1! I brought you the Silent Blade! I brought you those two damn kids!"
He slammed his hands against the desk. "I gave you exactly what you wanted!"
His breathing became heavier. "So pay what you owe!"
Mengu remained silent.
That silence seemed to irritate August more than any insult could.
After several seconds, his anger faded into frustration.
He turned away. Then walked toward Tony.
Leaning closer, he whispered: "Deal with this little shit for me."
Before Tony could respond, August turned and left.
The two Smileys followed behind him.
The door closed.
Silence.
Then, Mengu laughed.
His shoulders shook as the women beside him immediately joined in.
Their laughter sounded practiced, almost…programmed.
After a while, it stopped.
Mengu wiped a tear from his eye. "I should have him executed for speaking to me like that."
A grin formed. "But…" He chuckled. "He's entertaining when he's angry."
The women smiled, "Isn't that right?"
They nodded. "Yes, sir."
Tony watched quietly. Expression unchanged.
Mengu leaned back in his chair. "Now, Tony…"
A pause. "I have a proposal for you."
Tony's eyes narrowed slightly.
Because he recognized that tone. The tone of someone who had already decided the outcome.
The room became quiet again.
And for the first time since entering…Tony wondered if he had walked into something much worse than August's anger.
AT THE PRISON…
The prisoners selected for the day's work shifts were finally allowed to stop.
Not because they had finished.
Because Mynistria had decided they had done enough.
For now.
The return to the cell blocks was almost silent.
Thousands of exhausted prisoners moved like ghosts, dragging their feet after hours of forced labor.
The first stop was the showers.
If they could even be called that.
Each prisoner was given a maximum of three minutes.
No soap. No privacy.
Only freezing water pouring from rusted pipes and endless lines of prisoners waiting behind them.
The toothbrushes they received were barely usable.
Rust-covered bristles. Some missing most of the bristles entirely. That was all Mynistria considered enough.
Thankfully, nothing happened inside the showers.
No fights, no incidents. Well, atleast not yet.
Just tired people trying to feel human for three minutes.
Afterward, the prisoners returned to their cells, dressed in their thin white uniforms, and were guided toward the cafeteria.
The cafeteria was massive. Hundreds of long silver tables filled the room. Except the silver had long since lost its shine.
Rust covered the edges. Unknown stains covered the surfaces. The smell alone made most prisoners lose their appetite.
Michonne sat alone at one of the tables. Whispers followed her wherever she went.
"The Silent Blade…"
"She's actually here…"
"Don't get close."
Michonne ignored them all.
She simply stared down at the bowl in front of her.
A gray substance.
Something that was technically food. Technically.
Then, "Surprise!"
Michonne looked up. Tongue stood there proudly, holding two bowls of porridge.
One for herself. One for Michonne.
And in her other hand, an apple.
Michonne stared. "…Where did you get that?"
Tongue smiled brightly and placed it in front of her. "For you!"
A pause. "…Thanks?"
Tongue immediately sat down beside her. Michonne raised an eyebrow. "Why are you sitting here?"
Tongue looked genuinely confused. "Because we're best friends!"
Silence.
Michonne stared. Tongue smiled.
Michonne stared harder. "…We met a couple hours ago."
Tongue nodded. "I know!" Another pause. "That's why it's exciting."
Michonne slowly looked away. "Thanks for the apple."
She pushed the bowl toward Tongue. "You can have my…" She looked down at the gray mush, "…whatever this is."
Tongue froze. Her eyes widened. For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Then tears began forming.
Michonne immediately noticed. "…Are you crying?"
Tongue covered her mouth. "You gave me your food…"
A tear rolled down her cheek. "You really do care about me."
Michonne's expression remained blank. "I gave you porridge."
Tongue nodded rapidly. "Exactly."
Michonne looked away. "…You're exhausting."
Tongue happily began eating.
A few minutes later, Shirley, Tucker, and EBS approached the table.
They sat across from Michonne and Tongue.
For a while…nobody spoke.
The four newcomers simply stared at their bowls.
The gray porridge stared back.
Finally, Tucker slowly pushed his bowl away.
"So…"
Everyone looked at him.
"Who else isn't eating this mystery sludge?"
Immediately, Shirley and EBS pushed their bowls away at the exact same time.
"Not me."
"Absolutely not."
They looked at each other. Then shrugged.
Tongue looked over. Her eyes widened. Then she looked at the three untouched bowls.
A smile slowly appeared. "Oh."
Everyone became suspicious, "What?"
Tongue grabbed one of the bowls. "More for me!"
She immediately started eating, a mouthful of porridge escaped as she spoke. "Mmm! Extra!"
The entire table stared at her. Disgusted. Concerned, a little afraid.
Tucker slowly leaned toward Shirley. "…Is she okay?"
Shirley watched Tongue happily eat three servings of prison porridge. "No. But I don't think she's ever been okay."
Tongue looked up. "I heard that."
"Good," Michonne replied.
EBS sighed and leaned back. "I hate this place."
Nobody disagreed.
"I've been here one day…" A tired expression crossed her face. "And I'm already on someone's kill list."
Everyone looked at her.
Shirley blinked. "Wait." He pointed at her. "You?"
EBS nodded, "Yeah."
Shirley looked around the table. "So is nobody hearing this..? EBS has a person threatening to murder her."
EBS nodded.
Tucker sighed, "Great."
Tucker looked at Michonne, "What about you?"
Michonne thought for a moment, "Tongue and I got the greenhouse. People are beginning to realize I'm here."
Everyone stared, "Any threats?" Tucker asked.
"Not yet…but I'd eliminate any potentials."
Tucker leaned back and looked at Shirley, "We got lucky."
Shirley frowned. "Lucky?"
"We don't have a stalker." He pointed at Tongue.
"We don't have a potential murderer." He pointed at EBS.
"We don't have an entire prison terrified of you." He pointed at Michonne.
"We just have sand." A pause. "…Actually, yeah. Sand might be the best option."
For the first time all day, the group laughed. Although the fact that Shirley and Tucker had not mentioned the man that was shot.
Even Michonne's expression softened slightly.
Shirley shook his head. "Seriously though…" He looked around the table. "What happened to everyone else?"
The laughter faded. They all knew who he meant.
The original prisoners from the Ascension Gala.
Nobody knew where they were. Nobody knew if they were okay.
Michonne crossed her arms. "We find out tomorrow."
Tucker nodded. "We have to."
EBS looked down. "And if they're not…"
Nobody finished the sentence. They didn't need to.
The silence was broken by Tongue. "Don't worry!"
Everyone looked at her.
She smiled. "Michonne will save everyone."
Michonne immediately looked annoyed. "I never said that."
Tongue nodded. "I know."
"Then why are you saying it?" Michonne asked.
"Because it's true." Tongue said.
Michonne sighed. The others smiled slightly.
Then, EBS stopped.
Her expression changed, she was looking past them. Across the cafeteria.
The others noticed.
"What?" Michonne asked.
EBS didn't answer.
Standing among the countless prisoners…was PN378.
Her black hair was tied into two ponytails. Her face calm.
She wasn't crying anymore, she wasn't smiling, she was simply watching EBS.
The entire group slowly turned. The laughter disappeared.
PN378 tilted her head, almost curiously. Like she was studying her. Remembering her.
Then a small smile appeared.
EBS felt her stomach drop.
Because now she understood. PN378 wasn't angry anymore. She was waiting. For the perfect chance, the perfect opening.
And if it couldn't get any worse, she began to approach the table.