CHAPTER 3.

It must have been the human reaction for such panic that made them bolt out of the door and into the dark hallways of the school that they are unfamiliar with. Running as fast as they could, leaping across small gaps in the floors, the group managed to get far away from where Kanan had fallen.

Dia's legs were the first to give out. She sat in the middle of the hallway, panting. Mari motioned to the other girls to stop and to take a breather.

Chika, still delusional, went towards Mari and grasped her shoulders. "K-Kanan-chan… Is she really…?"

Mari only looked at her with sad eyes. "I don't want to believe what happened, but it seemed real. I'm sorry, but we have to find where Yohane is and to locate the way out."

Her response only angered Chika. "HOW COULD YOU-?! Kanan-chan… Kanan-chan is not dead! It's not real! I've got to go back to her! She needs my help!" Upon spouting those words, she turned and left.

"Chika-san! Get a grip, will you?" an equally angry Dia yelled at her. "At this rate, with your attitude, you could as well lead us to our deaths! You better shut up and listen to Mari's advice!"

Chika, taken aback, stopped in her tracks. "I…I just wanted to see Kanan-chan! If she really died, I want to see her!" Tears stream down from her misty eyes. "I want to believe that this is all part of bad dream… that we are actually at Uranohoshi!" She slumped down, wailing. Mari approached her and gave comfort.

Witnessing the whole scene, Hanamaru is also comforting a tearful Ruby while Riko and You fell silent. Dia, looking down, mumbles in a low voice, so that the others won't know what she's saying. "Where the hell is Yohane? When we get out of here I'm going to sue her ass off!"

Hanamaru, while stroking Ruby's head, spoke up. "If we're going to find Yoshiko-san, how are we going to do it? Wandering aimlessly around this place would be dangerous. We need to have some sort of a plan."

"She's right. What happened earlier is enough proof that this is not a joke. We can't afford to put another one of us in danger." You, while pondering over Hanamaru's question.

"How about the rest of us stay here while Dia and I look around?" Mari proposed. "We can go in groups of two to three, searching for rooms and any new passages that might reveal something. Then we all proceed when we have found Yohane-san or the way out."

The juniors didn't object. Mari and Dia started their search, walking slowly away from the group. They peered inside classrooms, taking any item that may be of use for their survival.

"You almost lost your cool back then, Dia-san…" Mari told her with a little hint of a giggle.

"Wh-why do you even care about it?" Dia replied, blushing.

"Well, it is rare for the President to become like this. Don't worry, only eight of us saw the whole scene. And I doubt they will tell it to others. We need solidarity as a group, right?"

The two girls came in front of an old storage room. Mari looked closely and started to inspect. The door looked heavy. She tried to turn the handle.

"Look, Dia-san, it is unlocked. Let's see what is in store for us."

Dia tried to peer inside the room. Tools were strewn around the floor – mops, brooms, nets, and other boxes stacked on one side. Mari wasted no time rummaging on the boxes. She brought out sheets of cloth and some boxes of safety matches and candles. Dia helped her with the haul as they searched for more useful items.

An unusual figure caught her eye. She approached Mari and pointed it to her.

"Mari, look over there. There is something in the corner."

A small being was sitting by the shadows. Its head, resembling a piece of pink candy, turned towards them.

Mari approached the creature. "Dia! Look, it's so cute! It looks like some kind of dessert – it makes me want to eat it!

"Yeah, yeah…" Dia, rolling her eyes.

"Say, what if we take it along with us? Maybe Chika-san might be distracted for a while with it – it may also help them calm down!" Mari said, facing Dia.

"Sure, I don't mind, but I hope it won't make Ruby scared or whatnot. That little sister of mine is already afraid of dogs - "

Unbeknownst to Mari the little creature began moving. Dia saw the shadow, eyes wide with shock and fear.

Dia stopped talking abruptly and tackled Mari down.

"D-Dia?! What are you doing?" Mari said in surprise.

"Mari! Look behind you! That creature of yours just tried to snap your body in half!

Mari glanced behind her. The small creature had now transformed into a hideous, caterpillar-like monster with a face resembling a psychotic clown's. It narrowly missed Mari's upper torso in an attempt to devour her.

"Oh shi- Mari! It's going to attack again! RUN!

The two of them went running outside the storage room, while carrying what they have found inside. The monster, due to the narrow space on the hallway crashed into the wall as it attempted to chase after its would-be meal. Dia and Mari, in an attempt to stall the monster, went dashing in and out of the classrooms. The persistent monster followed suit, only to be hurt by repeatedly crashing side to side. As they exited the classroom that they first went in Dia slammed the door shut. The monster crashed into the door and fell silent.

Panting, they reached the place where their juniors are. You, upon waking up, shook Chika and the other girls."

"Oh, they're back! Wait. Did something happen?"

Dia and Mari immediately dropped the items that they were carrying and slumped down. "Something went after us! I don't know if we managed to escape. It tried to kill Mari!" Dia, while gasping for air.

"What?! First was the pitfall, then you were chased down? This place is crazy!" You blurted out in astonishment.

Hanamaru raised her hand shyly. "Um... May Maru say something? Maru thinks that staying in one place would also be dangerous. How about we move out and find another?"

"That's a sound idea, Hanamaru-san. We better get these things that we found and search for a nearby room."

"Wait. How about Chika-san? She might not be able catch up in her state," Riko asked with worry.

Chika smiled at her weakly. "Don't worry about me, Riko-chan. I will try my best not to pull everyone down."

"That settles it then," Dia declared with an air of contentment. "Girls, get the items and let's get moving! Mari, is everything good at your-"

What Dia saw was not Mari, but the face of a caterpillar-like monster bearing down at her. In its mouth was Mari's body, apparently trying to chomp her head off. Dia froze with fear.

"M-Mari..."

"HANAMARU! GET KUROSAWA-SENPAI AND LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!

Hanamaru instantly heeded You's command and immediately snatched Dia before the monster could make a move. Once again the girls are on the run.

The monster finished chomping Mari's head off and flew after the fleeing group, leaving Mari's headless corpse behind.