"Oof…ow!"

Zack winced as he felt a jolt of pain.

"Ow, my arm, what happened?" he groaned "It doesn't seem broken but, ah, fuck, it hurts!"

He opened his eyes slowly and saw his arm at a lopsided and painful looking angle. He winced and slowly sat up, staring at the arm with uncertainty of what to do. He then looked around, finding himself in a small classroom.

"Where is this then?" he muttered "This certainly doesn't look like Maki-san's apartment… Surely…"

He slowly stood up and looked around some more.

"Is this some sort of school or something?" he murmured "Ugh, school, the last place I want to be…"

He shuddered and shook his head.

"But still, these desks are a bit small," he frowned as the light flickered on, giving more light "Ah!"

He stepped away after finding he nearly fell through a hole.

"This place is a wreck!" he exclaimed.

A hue of red caught his attention and he turned, eyes wide to see Daichi lying nearby.

"Daichi?" he murmured and wandered over, poking him with his foot "Oi, Daichi! Wake up!"

He winced as another twinge of pain went up his arm.

"I know, I know, you're hurt but I don't know first aid!" he hissed at it "Sheesh, I haven't had an injury like this since I was like seven…"

He then glanced down at Daichi and began nudging him with his foot again.

"Daichi! Oi, Daichi, wake up! You're not dead are you? Oi, you're scaring me, wake up you lazy mother-fucker!"

"Mmm…" Daichi stirred after Zack's constant nudging "That's harsh, dude, my parents got divorced like five months ago, no need to imply I tend to her sexual needs now."

Zack let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Damn it, you had me scared there!" he exclaimed as Daichi sat up.

"Ow, my head," Daichi winced as he rubbed his head sorely "Where are we, anyway?"

He sat up as he saw the classroom and looked around.

"What the fuck, man?!"

"I know right?" Zack sighed.

Daichi walked over to the windows and tried pushing them open. Zack saw that he wasn't getting anywhere so walked over and used his uninjured arm to help.

"Hey, your arm…" Daichi stared at his limp arm in horror.

"Yeah, know any first aid tips?"

"Not without a sling and I don't think I'd be able to make a decent one with just my top," Daichi grimaced.

The boys continued straining until Zack stumbled after slipping his grip. Daichi sighed and rested his head against the glass.

"Damn it, it's not moving!" he grumbled "It's like they're there for some sort of decoration or something…"

"It seems pretty dark out there too…" Zack mumbled "Not like we'd get very far if we did get out."

Daichi sighed and slid down to a sitting position.

"What the hell happened?" he asked.

Zack looked around from the doors to the blackboard.

"Yeah, I don't like school but something about this place just gives me the fucking creeps. Especially since it looks like a school for little brats."

Daichi glanced up at the classroom with a soft hum.

"Kind of reminds me of the pictures that mum has in her album," he chuckled "Without all the decay of course."

"She has pictures of herself at elementary school?" Zack raised an eyebrow as he sat on one of the desks.

"Yes, but she only went there for about a year and had to go to a different school since it closed down shortly afterwards and then a high school was built on top of it."

"What school was it?"

"Heavenly Host Elementary School."

Both boys felt a chilling aura pass them but Daichi shrugged it off quickly.

"Kisaragi Academy stands there now."

"Huh, why did it close down?"

Daichi shrugged.

"Never asked more about it, like I said my mom only went there for a year."

Zack smiled and winced as his arm hurt again.

"Hey, let's look around and see if we can get anywhere," Daichi suggested as he got up.

"Yeah," Zack nodded as they made their way outside the classroom.

They'd only been walking down a few metres when something on one of the walls caught Zack's attention.

"Zack?"

"Oi, Daichi, you said that Heavenly Host Elementary School was shut down and they built another school on top?"

"Yeah…"

Daichi followed Zack's gaze and felt a chill run down his spine.

Heavenly Host Elementary – Notice to all Faculty and Students

Classroom Code of Conduct

Should this code be violated, it will be met with discipline

The rest of the paper wasn't legible enough to read.

"Ah…ah…maybe they relocated the school?" Daichi muttered.

"But then why is it in such ruin?" Zack asked as he looked up to see holes spotting around on the ceiling "I don't know, I don't like this. Let's get out of here."

"Hey, do you think everyone else is here at this school?" Daichi suddenly said.

"What…you mean…?"

They stared at one another silently for a few minutes.

"Like Anne? And Hamasaki-san?"

"Riku!" Daichi exclaimed, ever the protective brother.

"Grace-chan, Maki-san…"

"Nakahura, Oshiro…oh, and Akiyama!"

"If Anne's here then I'm not leaving without her!" Zack declared.

"We should go and look for them then," Daichi nodded "Come on."

They continued through the dark corridors together, both feeling slightly cold with nothing but their pyjamas keeping them covered.

"Ah, we can't go any further than this," Daichi observed when they reached a gap in the floor.

"Maybe we can go through the classroom to get on the other side?" Zack saw the open door nearby.

"Sure, but it feels a bit off…" Daichi stepped away uncertainly.

"We won't be in there for long," Zack reassured him "Just passing through."

Daichi swallowed uncertainly.

"OK…" he said as he followed Zack in.

They wandered around the scattered desks and holes until Daichi suddenly grabbed Zack's shoulder.

"Ow, careful…"

"Zack, do you see that?"

Zack looked up and sucked in a breath.

"Holy fuck, is that really…?" he whispered.

There lay a decaying body sprawled out. Zack suddenly felt sick.

"It…can't be real…" Daichi chuckled uncertainly as he edged forward, took a splintered chair leg and nudged it "Ugh, it squelched, it's real…"

"Why is there a dead body here?" Zack asked slowly as he came to Daichi's side.

"I don't know and I'm not sure I want to know," Daichi said as he stepped away slowly.

"You…two…"

The boys jumped as a blue spirit appeared above the body and Zack stepped back warily.

"What the fuck?" he rasped.

"You're new victims, aren't you?"

"V-Victims?" Daichi stuttered.

"What the fuck is that thing?!" Zack exclaimed.

Daichi looked down at the body then back up at the blue spirit.

"You're a ghost?" he whispered and Zack swallowed harshly.

"How the fuck can you stay calm?!" he hissed.

"Call it shock…" Daichi murmured as he stared at the blue orb.

"I was brought here and trapped just like you," it spoke and Zack grabbed Daichi, pulling him away.

"Trapped?" Daichi pulled forward a bit so the boys stood still "Like…no way out? Like legitimately trapped? Like trapped for all eternity?"

"What other definition of trapped do you need?" Zack hissed angrily.

"This school exists in a reality much different to yours," the spirit continued speaking.

"Why us?" Daichi asked "Why did we have to be brought here?"

"They brought you, they always bring in new victims, more and more as the hours go by. This is a cursed school with many existences on top of each other, governed and fuelled by powerful spirits. We are all victims of an abduction that has no escape."

"No way…" Zack uttered in disbelief.

"You weren't the only ones brought here it seems. I can sense many others…"

"So the others are still here!" Daichi exclaimed "Riku! And everyone else…they're here too!"

"We have to find them then!" Zack pulled Daichi again.

"Don't, it's pointless," the spirit spoke "They are in this school but in different spaces in which you occupy. If you wish to find your friends, you will have to find a way to get into their space or bring them into your space. Even if you do find a way, you'll still be trapped but at least you'll be altogether."

"There truly is no way out then…" Daichi whimpered nervously.

"There has to be!" Zack said as he shook Daichi "There's always a way!"

Daichi looked uncertain for a moment and swallowed hardly.

"These spirits…" he murmured.

"I'm sorry but I do not know nor understand the spirits' motives in trapping us here," the spirit said "All I can give you is advice. Stay together and die together. That is a fate worth fighting for than being trapped here by yourself…alone…do not end up like me…"

The boys turned briefly to see the doors open. Daichi looked back to look at the ghost and let out a scream of terror.

"What's wrong, Dai-wah!"

Zack jumped when he saw Daichi face-to-face with a smaller girl in a red dress.

"Daichi, don't just stand there!" he tugged on Daichi's arm "Come on! Oi, Daichi, snap out of it!"

The girl giggled at Daichi's horrified look.

"Do you want to play?" she asked in a singsong voice and brought up some scissors.

"Daichi, move the fuck away from her!" Zack yelled as he tugged again and this time Daichi ran with him.

The boys bolted out of the door and down the corridor some more before collapsing around the corner.

"It doesn't look like she's following," Zack heaved as he glanced down the corridor.

"Ow…"

Zack saw Daichi bring his foot up and finger it.

"Splinters, damn it, why did we have to be brought here in our pyjamas?" he muttered as he began pulling them out.

Zack breathed out slowly and slumped.

"Fuck, ghosts, they're fucking real ghosts," he muttered and shook his head "This has to be some sort of nightmare. Ha, next time Maki-chan gets Anne to write and read another fucking ghost story, count me out."

"Then wake up, Zack, if this really is all just a bloody dream then wake up!"

Zack sighed as he brought his knees to his chest. Daichi sucked on his tongue piercing thoughtfully before glancing at him.

"We'll find a way out," he said "Having a negative attitude won't help us."

Zack glanced back at him and nodded.

"Right, Anne and Riku are around here, probably terrified and wanting their boyfriend and brother to come," he grinned nervously.

"Right!" Daichi got up and winced "Ow, stupid splinters."

Zack felt his arm twinge in pain as he got up and they continued exploring the area. They continued to find bodies and body parts scattered around the area.

"Urgh, gross," Zack scrunched his nose as they came by a naked body that had the head chopped off and mauled until it was uncertain to what gender they had been.

"The stench is so horrid," Daichi covered his mouth and nose "My eyes are just watering."

"Let's go," Zack decided.

"Yes, let's," Daichi agreed hastily.

"Oh, look!" Zack pointed to the sign that said 'Infirmary' over the door.

"Great, maybe I can find a sling for your arm!"

The boys slid the door open to see two people already inside. Daichi's eyes widened with recognition.

"Inoue-san!"

Grace looked up with wide eyes.

"Fujimoto-kun! Kimura-kun!"

"Oh? Do you know these people, Inoue-san?" the older looking boy asked as Grace stood with a big smile.

"Yep! Kimura-kun is Anna-chan's boyfriend!" she said with a cheeky wink "Fujimoto-kun is his friend."

"Inoue-san, your hand," Daichi saw Grace's bandaged hand.

"Ah, I cut it really badly but Momomiya-kun wrapped it up!" she said showing them.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Momomiya Hiroki," the boy shook hands with Daichi "Do you need a sling for that?"

"Ah, yes," Zack grimaced as Grace covered her mouth in horror at the sight of his arm.

Zack sat as Hiroki took a sling from one of the cupboards and began supporting his arm for it.

"So you woke up here like us then?" Daichi sat with Grace who brought Hiroki's blazer around her tighter.

"Yes, Momomiya-kun found me alone with nothing but my little white nightie," Grace chuckled with a blush "Seriously, it's not a good first impression to appear in front of a boy in your sleepwear…"

"Well, I suppose you saw all the bodies then…" Daichi grimaced as Zack and Hiroki joined them after putting Zack's arm in a sling.

Grace's bright smile faded as she bowed her head.

"So the others are around here then but not in the same…space as us?" Grace frowned uncertainly.

"Yes, that's what I made of it," Daichi nodded.

"It's really happening like this," Hiroki murmured as he fiddled with the sleeve of his shirt.

"Yeah, it sucks," Zack sighed.

Grace looked from one boy to the other and sighed.

"Well, being all glum and moody won't get us anywhere!" she declared "Let's explore some more and see if we can find any clues to getting out of here!"

She stood up and pumped her good fist. Daichi smiled weakly at her determination and stood with her.

"I think we should look for anything upstairs," he suggested.

Grace nodded with Hiroki as Zack sighed.

"Just be careful not to get any more splinters," he said.

Daichi grinned as Grace looked sheepish. The four of them went down the corridor, Grace shrieking at the mauled body on the way. Hiroki patted her back as she looked like she was going to throw up. They ascended the stairs which was also strewn with body parts and blood. Grace covered her nose and shuddered at the smell and sight.

"Horrible, will we die like this?" Daichi whispered as they arrived at the top of the staircase.

Suddenly, an angered scream echoed throughout the building.

"Was that Anna-chan's scream?!" Grace paled.

"What good is it to kill people when there's a chance of getting out?!" Anne's furious sounding voice bellowed from downstairs.

"Anne!" Zack sounded relieved as he stepped down.

"Watch out!"

Zack slipped his footing but Hiroki grabbed him in time but fell through one of the stairs.

"Momomiya-kun!" Grace gasped as Daichi grabbed a hold of the taller boy and pulled him up.

"Ow, my leg," Hiroki hissed as a massive splinter stuck out of his leg.

"Quick, we need to bandage him up!" Grace whimpered.

"Ugh, he's heavy," Daichi struggled as he swung one of Hiroki's arms around his shoulder.

"Here, he can lean on my good shoulder," Zack offered.

"I'll see if I can get Anna-chan to help!" Grace said as she ran ahead of the boys.

She began calling for Anne as the boys slowly progressed down the stairs.

"The more time passes here, the more I'm starting to believe this isn't a nightmare," Hiroki muttered.

"Well who'd believe it the first time?" Daichi asked "Ghosts and all these bodies? Anyone would think it's a bloody nightmare."

Grace turned to them when they arrived in the corridor.

"She's not answering me…" she whispered "I can't see her anywhere either or any signs that she was here."

"But we heard her, surely that voice was hers?" Zack murmured.

"But then again, Murakami-san rarely does get angry," Daichi said.

The friends sighed in slight dismay before Grace shook her head.

"In any case, we need to check your leg, Momomiya-kun."

"Ow, careful," Hiroki winced as the boys moved down the corridor.

They reached the infirmary where Daichi used his limited first aid knowledge to bind the wound and remove the splinter.

"You should rest," Grace said with a sombre face.

"Ugh…"

"We'll go look around some more," Daichi offered "Zack, you stay here with Momomiya-san, Inoue-san and I will look around some more."

Zack nodded as he sat down on the bed beside Hiroki as Grace followed Daichi out. They were wandering around for a while until Grace let out a gasp.

"What is it?" Daichi pulled his fists up and looked around the place.

"I lost my paper scrap," Grace pouted and Daichi sighed.

"Geez, I thought there was some actual danger," he said.

Grace blushed and fiddled with her fingers as Daichi dug his paper scrap out from where he had pinned it at the back of his ear with his ear piercing.

"Here, take mine if you really miss it," he said and put it in Hiroki's blazer pocket "Hm?"

He froze and pulled the pocket out.

"Oh, isn't this it?"

"Hm?"

Grace pulled out the paper scrap that was already in it.

"Ah no, my one was a different shape," she said "I suppose this is Momomiya-kun's then…"

Daichi shrugged and put his paper scrap in with Hiroki's.

"Now make sure you don't lose this one too," he said sternly.

"Yes, sir!" Grace grinned with a cheeky wink and giggled "But wait, won't that mean you won't be able to stay true friends with the rest of us?"

"Riku should still have hers," Daichi shrugged "And when she gets enrolled into our school, she'll be living with me and my mom and then I'll always be with her which means she'll lead me to you guys."

Grace giggled.

"I suppose," she smiled warmly.

"Come on, let's get back, there doesn't seem to be much else here."

Grace nodded as she followed Daichi back through the dim corridors to the infirmary. Daichi hesitated as he saw Zack out on the floor, unconscious.

"Zack?" he muttered and walked over, shaking him "Oi, Zack, wake up. Wake up!"

"Mmm?"

Zack's eyes fluttered open and he saw Daichi and Grace hovering over him.

"Huh? How did I get here?" he muttered and looked around.

"Weren't you supposed to be with Momomiya-kun?"

Zack sat up and rubbed his head.

"Ow, my head," he muttered and looked up at them "Umm…I remember watching over him, making small polite chat and all that crap. And then I heard Anne again so went out but then I don't remember anything else."

Grace opened the infirmary doors and screamed. Daichi jumped to his feet.

"What's wrong?" he asked as he came behind her "What the-?!"

There lay Hiroki's body on the floor, limp with his eyes wide in horror. Grace fell to her knees, covering her mouth in terror as Daichi moved forward slowly.

"He's no breathing," he whispered "Oi, Momomiya-san? Momomiya-san!"

He crouched over the bloody corpse and pressed his fingers against his neck.

"Yeah, no pulse…" he muttered and pulled away hastily "It looks like he coughed up some blood or something and choked on it. There aren't any outer injuries…"

Grace let out another scream and covered her ears.

"What kind of hell is this?!" she shrieked and began sobbing uncontrollably.