Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 4

Title: "Crawling From The Black Pit"

Rating: "T"

Warning: AU-ish and OCs inside.

Chapter I: Escape!

My name is Souji Seta, seventeen year old, five point eleven feet tall, and sixty kilos of weight. An outsider from Inaba region. Was living with my uncle and his seven year old daughter. Was a second year student of Yasogami High. Was a one-sided leader of a pack of teenagers called Investigation Team.

And currently held a status as culprit of a serial murder case.


Sunday, August 7th 2011

It's been two days from the day I was labeled as the official culprit of the case. That also meant I already live in this damp cell for two days straight, and I still have no time to rest. They still interrogated me anytime they wanted to, even though the case was officially closed. I was surprised Uncle wasn't the interrogator and never once I saw him again since my arrest. Instead I got a regular visit from a little detective. I recall he's named Naoto Shirogane.

Speak of the devil, Naoto came to see me again and asked me if I did all the murders. I simply said no, the same answer I said yesterday. His eyes closed after that, I could tell he's frustrated behind that calm mask of his. Then he asked me why I befriended the three kidnapping victims. Again, it was exactly the same question like yesterday, "My answer is still the same, Detective."

"A stubborn one, aren't you?" He paused and shot me a coldest glare I'd ever seen. I just calmly watched him doing his detective thing. "I don't understand you. Why are you still persisting you are innocent? Those finger prints on Kubo's neck were yours."

I unconsciously formed a smile. "Can't tell. But I might tell if you helped me." Those words made the young detective's eyes widened.

"Visiting time's over!" called in the security officers from outside. I stood up from my seat, so was he, and watched him gestured a goodbye with his cap from behind the plastic glass between us. Shortly after, the young sleuth left the little cubed room, leaving me and the officers on the other side. "It's time for you to back to your cell, Seta." I obeyed, walking right behind him with my hands now cuffed.

The foul smell of the damp tiny cell greeted me. I sat on the only thing that makes me enjoy staying, the bed, as the officer locked me in. Another two officers came and they stood in front of my lovely cell. Being a fugitive of serial murder case gave you a special treatment, it seems.

Cold wind interrupted my sleep. Night had always bothers me in this situation. Although I am inside the building, it doesn't guarantee I'll have a warmth sleep. Well… maybe I should thank the cold wind.

I glanced at the front side of my cell, noticed the officers are gone. As expected from a peaceful rural town prison. This is my last chance to escape. I heard tomorrow I will be transferred into the prison at the capital, which has a top notch defense. If only my request for having a TV inside my cell granted, I could easily escape. And now I have no choice but to choose the rough way.

Back to reality, I used the chain of my handcuff and grind-ed it against some rusty cell bars I found yesterday. I thought there's no problem if I make a little sound. I knew there was only me placed in this corridor, which I found weird. Really, are there no criminal arrested except me in this town?

Thankfully I managed to cut off two bars and a narrow way was made out of it. Without much effort, I went through it and dashed off to the staircase. I stopped right before I reach it and leaning against the wall, hoping to eavesdropped something. One level from down here is a corridor that leads to interrogation rooms and also an indoor parking lot. I bet there are some officers roaming the area.

Five seconds away and I heard nothing. I don't know how to say it lucky or suspicious. But when I was thinking how peaceful this town was, I'd say it was obvious.

When I reached upstairs, I saw an officer sleeping on the desk right on my left side. An officer still exists after all. I carefully searched a key to open my handcuff on his body. A strong scent of alcohol almost disturbed my focus. But instead a key, I found some keys placed together in a ring. I cursed the prisoner uniform for not having a pocket. So I hold a ring of keys and ran to the parking lot, this time I tried not to make a noise.

Thinking back, there should be an officer stationed at the parking lot. Using a disguise is impossible remembering my face was already broadcasted, and my grey hair is very easy to notice. So what should I do? Perhaps jumping out off the window? But I couldn't find any window-

"Trying to escape, huh?"

My heartbeat was stopped for as that weirdly deep and masculine voice called. Footsteps sound got louder. I could tell the owner of the voice was walking closer to me. As the steps got closer, my heartbeat got fastened and made me think of the worst possible scenario. "Please, let me go. I… don't belong here." I desperately pleaded without turning back.

The step was paused, "I already told them this would happen if they underestimated you. But they won't listen. It seems I made the right choice staying here." I talked nothing and the owner of the masculine voice continued his walk. "Please don't be stubborn and return to your cell. I won't hesitate to shoot you."

Well, I could hear he was cocking his gun. "I give up." I said, still with my back facing him.

"I'm not stupid. Turn around and put your hands in the air!" This fellow was making a gap between us, I could tell. But instead of obeying him, I stood still. "A stubborn one, aren't you?"

That words… I see now. His weird and vague masculine voice, his short steps, and the fact that no one listened to him. This fellow is the little detective, Naoto "Shirogane-san..."

"It took that long for you to notice." He cut in.

"You're... alone."

Silence...

So that person near the staircase really was drunk and the odd fact about an empty police nest was true. This is my advantage! "Detective," I began, "Aren't you curious of why there's only Kubo's body had my fingerprints while there's no single fingerprint found on the other victims? Aren't you curious why I'm not labeled as a copycat killer as Kubo was? Aren't you curious of how the first two murders occurred? And, aren't you curious about me? I could explain you anything, that's if you let me through the exit."

I finally turned back, enjoying his hesitated face and the view of the mouth of his gun right on his nose. He's still silent and paralyzed, but a pair of blue-grey eyes locked sharply on my grey one.

I took one step, nothing.

Another step… nothing.

And the final step, that made my nose touched the cold gun's tip, he still didn't do anything.

Then he unconsciously fell into my hands.

"I'm sorry. Hope it wasn't' hurt."


A/N : I know this is short… But I promised the later chapter will be longer. I can guarantee that! I did my best to edit some grammar errors and spelling(English isn't my main language) and if you still find it, feel free to tell me. One more thing; OOC-ness! Hope they're in character, especially Naoto. She's a tough one…

Thank you all!