"Shiz, what do you want to study in the future?""Seriously, you should work with people!""That's our queen!"
Memories like these always surface in my mind — insistent, vivid — as if they wanted to tear me away from the present and throw me back into my childhood. Since the Great Day, I've been letting myself drown in nostalgia — in Jin's laughter, Ashi's agility, and the feeling of power I once had when leading our group. Small things turned into grand memories: the sound of the school bell, the smell of chalk and paper, the warmth of sunlight on my face during a sprint.
The Shizuka I am now... am I truly the same? Or just someone who learned to hide her feelings to survive?
"Wake up, Shizuka. The car's already parked! Angela's waiting for us," said Kate, shaking me lightly but firmly.
"Sorry, I was just too comfortable on this seat," I murmured, rising slowly, feeling every muscle protest.
My knees ached as I stretched. The sun's heat clashed with the car's biting air conditioning, and the metallic scent of the interior mixed with Kate's faint perfume. Each breath carried a tinge of tension, and a flicker of anxiety stirred in my chest.
Apparently, Jin had already gone inside the base. Angela awaited us just beyond the metal gate, where a strange symbol gleamed under the sunlight. Ashi stepped out of the car, raising his silver revolver, its three bullets catching the golden rays. The weapon seemed to extend the aura of danger he carried.
"How's Jin?" Ashi asked suspiciously, his hand resting close to the gun.
"He's inside. It's much cooler in there than out here," Angela replied, while her partner watched us closely, eyes alert to every shadow. "Please, follow me. And don't mind the soldiers passing by."
Soldiers knelt with stone cords hanging from their wrists. White, rhythmic words poured from their mouths — hypnotic and incomprehensible to me. The monotony of their chant mingled with the scent of gunpowder and oil, and unease grew with every step we took. Everything here seemed designed to intimidate, to remind us of the power within these walls.
"Shiz, why are you crying?"
That voice... so familiar.
Instantly, an old memory invaded me. My father used to take me to military parades when I was around eight or ten. That was enough to carve sharp, vivid memories into me: the echo of drums across the courtyard, the scent of freshly pressed uniforms, the metallic gleam of the medals the soldiers received. I'd stand at the side of a long carpet, watching the march as if every gesture were part of a sacred dance.
My father, Commander Toya, always received several medals at each ceremony — rewards for his courage during the war against North Korea about thirty years ago. Each medal carried its own weight, its own story, but the most unforgettable moment was when he'd remove one from his own neck and hang it around mine. Simple, but it made me feel on top of the world — exalted, admired, almost revered. That memory shaped who I became, and even as a girl, I ended up leading the neighborhood kids. That's how I earned my nickname: Queen.
"It's nothing, just dust in my eye," I replied, trying to sound normal, even though it was my father's voice echoing in my mind.
"Did you say something?" Ashi asked, confused.
I had actually spoken aloud. A déjà vu, forcing me to relive feelings I thought long buried.
"Just déjà vu, Ashi," I muttered.
He didn't answer. Ashi had changed a lot since our playful days. He used to be lively, restless — now he carried a quiet, cautious air. Jin, on the other hand, had grown wiser, more introspective — someone who found clarity in stillness.
"Did you hear that?" Angela asked after a loud rumble shook the upper structure.
"Sounds like an explosion! We better move!" Park shouted, quickly opening the glass doors.
We followed him up the stairs — but halfway through, the staircase flipped upside down.
"What the—?!"
The floor trembled violently beneath us. Within seconds, the stairs inverted, dragging everyone into a completely different place.
"Angela, what's happening?!" Kate shouted, clinging to the railing.
"I think we're under attack!" Angela replied, drawing her pistol with trembling fingers.
The scenery had changed entirely. We were now descending a stone staircase lit by blue flames flickering from torches on the walls. In the distance, the sound of falling water mixed with a faint metallic hiss, like static from an untuned TV. The damp smell of wet stone mingled with the earthy scent of vegetation and cold night air. Each step echoed unevenly, reverberating through the stairwell.
"Never thought we'd fall into a trap… especially one that throws me into another world," Ashi said nervously, drawing his weapon.
"We're not in another world, Ashi," Kate replied carefully, stepping down. "At most, a very deep basement."
Angela was the first to reach the ground. Trembling, she dropped her gun and fell to her knees.
"This… this can't be real…" she whispered, stunned. Park rushed to her, but froze as soon as he saw what lay ahead.
"I'll go first. I'll call you if it's safe," said Ashi, forcing courage into his voice.
He descended slowly, steadying himself on the damp walls. Tiny black ants carried leaves along the cracks, and each step scattered small stones and twigs that echoed in the silence.
"This is… unbelievable!" Ashi shouted, half amazed, half anxious.
"Come on! Hurry!" he waved, and we followed quickly.
What I saw took our breath away: the sunset over green mountains, vast fields surrounding us. Shafts of golden light blurred our vision and blended with the low mist rising from the ground, wrapping ancient trees and thick bushes in haze.
"The landscape looks familiar… the climate feels like Hokkaido — cold and windy," I said in awe.
"It's beautiful! I've always wanted to see a view like this!" Kate smiled, moved.
"How can you be excited right now?" Angela stood, supported by Park. "This isn't Tokyo — and it's not safe!"
"Isn't it great? Away from the Trins, surrounded by Mother Nature," I said, leaning against the cold wall.
"Of course not!" Angela snapped. "We're miles from Saitama! Getting back without a vehicle will be nearly impossible!"
"At least we can look for a car…"
"I don't see any roads, trails, or houses," Park said, adjusting his glasses to zoom in. "A signal flare or helicopter would come in handy—"
"Of course it would!" Angela cut him off sharply.
Our argument faded as night fell. The temperature dropped sharply, and the growing shadows of the trees deepened our unease.
"Walking through this forest in the dark would be suicide, right?" I said sleepily. "Better stay here, near the stairs, for the night."
Before I could turn around, a loud crack echoed.
BAM!
The stair opening sealed shut, a stone wall falling from above.
"Perfect."
"Great, we're going to die here," Angela muttered, covering her eyes.
"Come on, stay awake! We've got a long night ahead," Ashi said, trying to keep spirits up.
We descended through loose rock and clay toward the lower part of the forest. Park's devices lit our path, revealing twisted roots, fallen leaves, and quick, darting insects.
"Is your gun loaded?" Angela asked, trembling.
"I'm not careless enough to make that mistake," Ashi replied, spinning the revolver's cylinder. "What's got you so scared?"
"We just stopped for a second to pick some fruit—"
"I'm not scared!"
"Yes, you are," we all said in unison.
"Some Trins I've seen weren't human — they were beasts that devoured everything in their path," Angela whispered, like telling a ghost story.
"You really think such things exist?" Kate asked, sitting beneath a thick bush. "The Great Day only affected conscious beings; no way an animal could turn into one."
"Even if they do exist, fire should keep them away," I said, gathering dry grass and branches. "Let's make a fire and rest here."
We all helped light the fire, striking stones and using Kate's bag strap to spark it.
Ashi sat silently, keeping watch, eyes fixed on the dark woods.
"You all deserve some rest."
"Some people would laugh at my night watch," Ashi murmured with a faint smile.
"Thank you, Ashi."
I closed my eyes, lying on my side, my arm under my head. Sleep came quickly, the cold night air wrapping around me.
I dreamed of a city in flames. Cars exploded; people screamed or lay motionless on the streets. A child with pink hair limped out of a luxury building, clutching a divine plush toy. She leaned on nearby walls for support.
A man appeared, tears streaking down his face.
"Give me your hand, girl! We need to get out! Now!"
The girl reached out. He grasped her hand tightly, trust shining in his eyes.
But it didn't last. A metal street sign, hurled by a red Trin's blast, sliced through the man's neck in an instant.
Even then, the girl pressed on, holding his body, wordless.
After nearly half an hour, she reached an iron bridge in Miura Prefecture.
Instead of fleeing, a woman armed with a rifle ran toward the chaos. They collided — neither spoke, neither apologized.
The girl cried. The woman smiled wickedly.
"This dream… makes no sense..."
"Wake up, Shiz. It's bright enough to get moving," Kate said, shaking my shoulder firmly.