dusk at Blac

blood. The sun never moved, fixed forever on the weste

s windows. But every window was pitch black, showing no light insi

From the distant main building came faint footsteps and dragging so

alls were lined with yellowed photographs-graduation photos of past

mpty black holes, as if

Leah snapped photos as they walked, but every flash made the skeleton t

re black, covered in scratches and dark red stains. The green blac

onto the platform and

ice echoed off the walls. "For the duration of your time h

Academy Freshman Code. Listen carefully. Eve

alk and wrote three large words

stone was sharp and shrill,

u starts with 10 credits. Credits can be exchanged for food, water, medicine,

red eyes sweeping over the class. "Anyon

. No one dar

off-campus trials. Trials have clear objectives and time limits. Anyone who fail

campus. However, the academy does not interfere wit

e are the three core freshman rules. Y

quest

is fist on his desk and stood up. He had arrived w

"This is kidnapping! I'm cal

oward the cl

ton raise

ck, crack, crack-as if a thousand hands were tearing him apart from the inside. His arms bent b

agony, but it lasted only a f

body bega

rbed by the classroom walls. Seconds later, he was gone completely, leavin

o ash and drifted awa

oom was de

quietly. Junior fainted dead away. Dr. Iren

e sick. His nails dug deep into his palms. He saw gen

eleton asked again, his voic

ne s

pus. You may go to the cafeteria to exchange credits for food and water, to the

floor of the library. Do not go to the basement of the main building. Do not

At that time, your first o

out of the classroom. The door

ompletely did the room erupt in sup

isn't real... thi

die here... every

o die... I want

e eternal dusk. There was no fear in his hear

to su

Li

ave expression. Kane leaned against the far wall, lighting a cigarette, his face hidden

nd spoke in a low voice.

to look at h

urvives alone here. We need

a moment, then nodde

em. "I know first aid and pha

haking with tears. "I... I want to join too... I'

d nodded. "Good. From

li glanced back a

fro

skeleton had written, a new line had appear

ssy and uneven, as if

E GRA

dropped into

p at the cl

standing there, watching them through the crack,