CHAPTER 3

Rukia yanked Ichigo back whispering to him, "Slim it. Can't you see you've started a commotion?"
"It's our right to know what's going on!" His tone grew even louder and the others turned their heads towards him, staring. Ichigo felt their eyes on him and so he realized what Rukia meant. He had to calm down.
His eyes fell to the ground as he took a deep breath just to look up at a frowning Rukia.
"Quit acting rashly…" Rukia sighed as she tried to sit on the cold ground. She looked up at Ichigo, who looked so lost, saying, "Sit down."
"Just what is this place?" His eyes scanned the strange people around him since he couldn't make up what they were thinking because for some reason, silence filled the room.

Ichigo, sitting near Rukia, could hardly wait for what's going to happen next. It wasn't because he was excited or anything. It was just an expression. Time seemed to pass by slowly. A minute felt like an hour to all of them.

"Only one survivor, Rukia." Ichigo couldn't look into her eyes because he finally understood the situation. There is no going back. There is no escape.
"Even partners are not really partners in this game, as it appears."
"How can you talk so calmly at a situation like this?" His head fell between his hands, shaking his head.
Rukia lifted her hand, placing it on his shoulder, "I have no other choice and neither will you. Can't you see it?"
"I know it."
"Then?"
"I just can't accept it!" He punched the ground, groaning in pain.
Silence fell between them but the first one to break it was Rukia.
"You need that hand later."
He closed his eyes as he finished Rukia's sentence, "… To kill."

***

"… Idiot." Ciel turned his gaze from the orange haired man and turned to look at Mey-Rin, "I need to get out of here."
"I'll protect you no matter what, young master." The maid said, looking into her master's eyes.
He looked away, sighing as he said, "If only Sebastian were here. He'd finish this before we even know it."
"I'm sorry." MeyRin could suddenly feel the pressure of being the only one who has to protect the Phantomhive master, Ciel. She has to protect him from all of these people, including her.

Ciel took another quick look at the letter he was given, "Some of us have supernatural abilities."
Mey-Rin nodded, "Could be like mine or Sebastian's. Could be for good…" She paused for a second and then continued, "Or for bad."
"It's highly likely that you'd be useless." Ciel's voice was shaken and he knew that Mey-Rin wasn't the only useless one here. He knew he was too. He was nothing but a fragile kid. Without Sebastian, he wouldn't be alive. He knew all of that.

"I'm sorry…Master."