Chapter 7: Released

It was a somber night, the process took longer than expected, but they couldn't keep her even if they wanted to. Momo had searched through endless files of paperwork, unfortunately, most of the information regarding the Complex was classified to the public. Almost no information about their project was of any use but had to go with the terms and statutes of Yoshida's laws in order to bail her out.

Neru and Haku walked out of the facility, as Momo continued to talk to the department. As much as Neru appreciated Haku returning to help her, there was so much unexplained. It caused her to receive headaches that wouldn't let up. She just had to ask.

"Haku?" Neru asked.

"Hmm?" Haku questioned.

"I do appreciate you and Momo for bailing me out, but..." Neru hesitated, and stopped walking.

They both took a seat at a familiar bench on the street.

"I know. It's them, isn't it?" Haku answered.

"Not only that, but after everything we've talked about." Neru continued. "I just wanted to know what it was. I never meant to hurt anyone."

"I wish I can explain it, and I promise to tell you everything." Haku said.

"Would it make you feel too uncomfortable to share?" Neru asked.

"After spending some time in that hospital. Momo had sensed distress in me that needed to be talked through. As hard as it was, she helped me through it, and now I think you deserve to know."

"Why?"

"There's something about what they've done to them."

"What do you mean? Who's they?"

"The Complex was not always heavily guarded; they never were held as captive as they are now."

"What does that mean?"

"I do know who they are, who they were. They are not who they are anymore. And ever since you've lived with them, they have slowly been awakening to the world that has been projected around them."

"Miku."

"Yes. We were friends. We thought we would be able to grow together, but they tore us apart. I tried to forget it, forget her. But, knowing her... she was just a child. She just wanted a normal life, but they wanted her. I tried to get in as well, but they knew of my history with them. I'm the reason they are there." Haku said, as tears ran down her face.

"Haku..." Neru said. She held her hand in response. "What happens now?"

"I don't know, but it might not be safe for them anymore."

"Why?"

"The suppression, it will not hold for long, it will implode. All Miku needed was a name to jog her memory. It's trying to hold her down, but she can't let it go."

"That seizure Miku had was not normal." Momo said, as she walked up to them from the facility. "It was a response. Her memories are held down with something inside her. Giving her food that's not made or given to them by Crypton, making her wonder about the outside world, exposing her to the fear and the hate of her music, are all things that will slowly make the clouds in her mind disappear, however, it won't stop without a fight."

"That sickness Miku had, it was not a sickness, was it?" Neru asked.

"No. If she won't stop, neither will that thing inside her." Haku lamented.

"What do we do?" Neru continued.

"We have to return to the Complex; we need to stop it from having control over her. It will do whatever it can to keep her in that imprisoned state, or..."

"Or?" Neru questioned.

"Or it will kill her." Momo stated.

"How do you know all of this?" Neru continued.

"I've been searching for it." Momo said. "Many other companies like Crypton, including the UTAU program, were made exclusively to test its capability. It was produced to make its user have the ability to create content entirely for the industry without the need of food, without the need of rest, or to live without any personal desire of their own. The only problem is the user needs to be underaged and to be continually sedated."

"This is unbelievable!" Neru suggested.

"You lived with them; didn't you see it?" Haku asked.

"I didn't really care at the time." Neru said. "But if I think about it. Maybe there was something in there that I didn't see."

"None that matters now. Ever since Meiko contacted me about your arrest, I'm sure it caused Miku to worry about you." Momo said.

"Meiko? Me?" Neru questioned. "Alright, we've got to get back."

MEIKO handed Miku some medicine, as it was suggested by their staff to utilize and nullify any harmful substances in Miku's system. It was slightly different from the ones Momo prescribed to her during her illness, they were almost identical.

"I'm not sick." Miku explained. "I'm not tired either. I'm just upset."

"Miku, I know you're upset over Neru. But we still have to do what we need to do, okay?" MEIKO suggested.

"Why would Luka do this?" Miku continued.

"She just wanted to keep things as they are." MEIKO said.

"But I like Neru." Miku cried.

MEIKO took in a deep breath.

"Yeah, I'll miss her too. But you let me worry about that. For now, just focus on getting up in the morning." MEIKO said softly.

Miku continued to ignore the medicine, so MEIKO put it aside on her nightstand, and told her to take it when she's ready to sleep. She walked out the bedroom and allowed Miku to lie there and let her cool off.

The rest of the night Miku was fixated on the pills that were placed on the nightstand. She always used to take them during school, or during her recording sessions. It would help her focus on her music. But, why now? She thought to herself. She stopped taking them ever since she met Neru. It's like she didn't need them to feel awake or focus on her music anymore. As much as Neru didn't like being there with them, she made her feel inspired to sing.

She wanted to make music that Neru liked because she didn't like music. Not in the slightest. However, it didn't stop her from trying to make music that she would listen to.

With Neru gone, as Miku thought to herself, she might need to use them again.

Miku turned to look at the ceiling as she slowly drifted off into sleep.

…

Out of curiosity, she opened up her eyes.

At that moment, she saw that pale creature return, hovering above her from the ceiling.

Its elongated arms with sharpened nails and sunken skin reached down to her.

In an instance, it was quiet.

It was dark.

Her screams were mute and felt her last breath seep through her small nostrils before she arose from the bed.

She inhaled once and felt like she had awoken from an everlasting sleep.