The sky was a canvas of swirling, heavy clouds, the air thick with the tension of an impending storm. Strong winds whipped through the streets, and the occasional flash of sunlight barely broke through the oppressive Gray. In front of the high, imposing prison gates, a young woman in her twenties stood, clad in a bright yellow dress that contrasted sharply against the sombre surroundings. Her eyes fixed at the gates, waiting, perhaps hoping for a moment she couldn't quite put into words.
As the metal gates creaked open, a pale figure emerged. A young man with a slender, almost fragile frame, dressed in loose, tattered clothing. His face was worn, yet sharp, with majestic small black hair and a look of discomfort as he stepped into the daylight. Two prison guards flanked him like shadows, their large, imposing bodies making the young man appear even smaller.
He lifted his gaze and locked eyes with the young woman, an unmistakable look of annoyance crossing his features. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you not to come back?" he muttered, his voice cold and distant.
The woman's expression faltered, her face softening with a mix of pity and sorrow. Her eyes filled with tears, but she fought to hold them back. "I just wanted to see my brother... without those filthy chains," she whispered, her voice trembling.
The man, whose eyes hardened, looked away, unwilling to meet her gaze for long. She spoke with excitement. "Congratulations, you're finally free," she said, Kuro spoke with a voice dropping as if the words weighed more than he intended. "I am alright please… don't cry."
The guards, stone-faced and unmoving, stepped back as the two of them were left standing in the prison's shadow, the heavy wind swirling around them like the remnants of a forgotten world. As they walked toward the massive Main gates—gates that seemed to loom three times the size of a normal man—a faint rustling of leaves filled the silence.
A low, gruff voice broke through the quiet. "Hey, you can't just leave like that, Mr. Kurozumi," the guard called, his tone more commanding than friendly. He gestured toward a register in his hand, the words 'Central **bo*at*r*y – 007' written across it in fading ink. "Sign here. It'll be a problem for me if you don't."
Kuro, the young man, took the pen, signing with an air of reluctance. The guard gave him a faint nod. "Alright then," the guard muttered, almost like a warning, "You're free to go, but don't look back once you're out."
The gates slowly opened with a groan of metal against stone, and as they stepped beyond the threshold, a strange feeling crept into Kuro's chest. The world beyond felt... different. Foreign. Almost as if the prison had never existed. It was like the walls and gates had vanished into thin air.
Waiting for them outside was an old Black car. A well-dressed young man with blonde hair and dark sunglasses leaned out of the driver's window. "Mr. Kurozumi, Miss Ilya," he said smoothly, his voice polite but tinged with something else—something unreadable. "I'll be escorting you home. Please, take a seat."
Ilya opened the back door, glancing at Kuro, but he barely looked at her. The moment they settled into the car, the air inside seemed to turn cold,
As they drove through the streets. Kuro's eyes flicked to an old sign as they passed. 'Lumine Main Prison – 001' it read in faded letters. He tried to glance back, but there was nothing. The gates, the prison, were gone, as if they had never been there at all.
A strange chill ran through him.
Ilya, trying to fill the silence, smiled gently. "Brother, what do you want? It's my treat," she said, her voice light, though her eyes betrayed a quiet unease.
"A cup of coffee," Kuro muttered, his voice soft and distant. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a dull ache there. "My head's killing me."
The car pulled up in front of a supermarket, and Kuro stepped out, joining the line of well-dressed people. For a moment, he stood frozen, looking at the bustling crowd, feeling like an outsider. Is this what normal life is like? he thought to himself. "Is there no danger, do they not feel fear"
He returned to the car with a cup of coffee in hand, the warmth of it offering a fleeting comfort. The young driver, still wearing those dark sunglasses, asked politely, "Is there anywhere else you'd like to go, Mr. Kuro?"
Kuro sipped the coffee, feeling the warmth seep into him. "No," he replied softly, his thoughts elsewhere. "Take us home."
The car drove for another mile, the silence stretching between them. Then, as if to break the tension, Kuro spoke again. "Are the Withering Zones still dangerous?"
The driver paused for a long moment, as though choosing his words carefully. "The Withering Zones... are now called Forbidden Zones. Rangers handle them now. They eliminate any threats that surface. The stimulating pollens are contained within special sheets that cover the area."
Kuro frowned, leaning forward slightly. "What about the people who live there? What happens to them?"
The driver's eyes remained fixed on the road. After a beat, he replied quietly, "I'm not authorized to answer that."
A tight knot formed in Kuro's chest as he thought he understood the unspoken answer. His face darkened, but before he could speak, the driver interjected, his tone too calm. "We've reached our destination, Mr. Kurozumi, Miss Ilya."
The car came to a halt in front of a multi-story building, its glass windows reflecting the dimming sky. The driver's smile was faint, but there was something about it that sent a chill through Kuro. I've known him before, Kuro thought, his mind flashing back to moments he couldn't quite remember. Why does he seem so... familiar?
"Thank you for the ride," Ilya said warmly, unaware of the tension simmering between the two men.
Kuro's voice, sharp and filled with curiosity, cut through the moment. "What floor do we live on? And why are you even here? Where's Dad?"
Ilya hesitated, the smile on her face wavering slightly. "We live on the eighth floor, Apartment No. 083. It's a nice place, with a good view. Two furnished rooms."
But something about the way she said it made Kuro uneasy, as if she was hiding something. He didn't press further, deciding to let it go for now. He'd find the answers soon enough.