545 would have thought that a few days of starving herself would have sucked, but not eating the slop served to her wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. She certainly felt a little weaker, but it seemed the slop wasn't very nutritious. The water she was served seemed to be good enough. Jason said the water wasn't laced, so it all seemed good. The three days had passed, and now at their break today the three of them were going to decide if they wanted to go ahead with the escape or not. 545 had been testing her magic in quiet for the past few days, and not that she had gotten off the laced food her flames practically jumped out of her. She could tell she was strong, but she would have to wait and see how strong, though.

Getting taken from her cell and to the exercise yard, 545 quickly moved towards Takara and Jason, who were already waiting near the fencing with each other.

"How're you two doing?" She asked. The three had avoided each other the last three days in an effort to throw Hades off, but she doubted that had down anything. He was a step ahead in all regards, that she knew.

"Hungry," Takara replied. "I didn't realise I'd miss that disgusting slop so much."

"I didn't either, but that's not the point." Jason said. "Are we ready?" 545 nodded, and Takara did as well. "Good. Like I said, now we have to swipe keys from the guards. We're going to have to do it tonight, after we've been returned to our cells after our labour shift. Has Hades said anything more when you joined him the last few days, 545?" 545 shook her head, recalling the times he's pulled her away the last few days.

"Nothing more than before, no." She replied, ignoring her wounds pounding at the thought. "Usual taunting. I don't know if he wants to escape or not." Jason clicked his teeth at this irritably, looking away from her.

"Typical," he said. "We're not going to get any sort of heads up on anything." 545 nodded quietly, absorbed in thought. Was Hades in the know? Was he going to stop their escape? She didn't know, but she hoped not. She needed to get out of here."

"So, what do we do after we get our keys?" Takara asked. Jason crossed his arms.

"We meet by the gate here," he said, gesturing over to the gates leading to the yard. "We wait an hour after the guards put us in our cell, that's when the guards are changing shifts. They're will be less of them around then."

"And if one of us don't make it?" 545 asked, bringing up the most uncomfortable question.

"Nothing changes," Jason replied, his voice hiding any emotion he might have felt. "That means for any of us, myself included. If I can't swipe a key, don't wait for me. Get the hell out while you can."

"Where were the Doors of Death, again?" Takara asked 545. She relayed the location of the entrance to the prison, including where she'd seen guards placements and what the entrance might have been.

"So swipe keys, wait an hour, meet up here, go to the exit." Jason said. "Is that clear?" 545 nodded, Takara as well. "Good. Now, let's avoid each other for the rest of the day. We need to arouse less suspicion than ever before now that we're this close." The three walked away from the fence, Jason disappearing into the groups of men as 545 and Takara walked away together.

"You ready for this?" Takara asked. 545 swallowed, but nodded.

"Yeah," she said. "Are you ready?" Takara nodded as well, a gleam in her eye.

"I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, but..." She said weakly, chuckling. "I can't wait to find my brother. I know he's out there." 545 nodded, but made a face as her head pounded hard. She groaned and rubbed her temples as visions and memories flashed through her head, things she didn't recognise as normal. But what she did recognise though, was the face of the man she'd seen the last time Takara mentioned her brother.

"W-What was your brothers name again?" She asked.

"Tetsu," she replied. "Tetsu Yamanaka." The name made her head hurt, the mans face in hers again. But nothing more came of it, and soon the pain passed. The last few days, the dreams from END had gotten more and more intense. The faces had become clearer, but the names weren't. Not only that, but lately, the fire in her chest had grown. It made her fingertips feel so incredibly warm, and she felt actual hope in her heart. This was possible, they could do this!

"Let's split up until we get out of here," Takara said. "I'll see you tonight, right?"

"Of course," 545 replied. "And I'll see you." Takara smiled and walked away from her, leaving 545 on her own. Walking over to the wall, she looked up and watched the tunnel overhead where the guards kept an eye on them. Her stomach dropped.

Hades was watching her.

He smiled down at her as they made eye contact, before he turned and said something to the guard next to him. The guard walked away, and Hades looked back to her. His stare made a chill go down 545's spine, but she maintained eye contact. She refused to back down from his challenge, not now. She didn't know how long they stared at each other, but what she did know was the gates to the exercise yard opened up.

"Prisoner 545, get over here now!" A guard shouted. "Hades would like to speak to you!" 545's stomach dropped. He had been calling for her. She still wasn't going to show weakness, though. She glared Hades down before she turned and walked towards the guard, ignoring the curious and worried stares from the other girls. She could see Takara out of the corner of her eye to her left, and she flashed her a quick wink to try and reassure her. She didn't feel confident, but she hoped she projected that at least.

Walking with the guards back through the halls to Hades' office, she kept her head held high as she was escorted in and the door slammed behind her.

This left her alone with Hades.

"Hello dear," he said like always. "How have you been recently?"

"What do you want, Hades?" She demanded, her voice somehow not shaky.

"My my!" Hades said, pretending to be taken aback. "You've got a fire about you today, hm? What's that about?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," 545 replied.

"I think you do," Hades said, his voice becoming serious again. "Ever since I let you into general populace, you're attitude is pretty lively. Like you've forgotten how little you're worth."

"I haven't forgotten," 545 replied.

"Oh I imagine not." Hades said, smirking. "Tell me, what's your name again. 545's head pounded at this, a single response overwhelming her.

"My designation number is 545," she replied, like a practised line. "Prisoner 545." Hades laughed.

"It is," he replied. "But I asked your name." 545 raised an eyebrow. What was Hades getting at?

"M-My name?" She asked. Hades smirk faded, and he glowered at her.

"Give me your name," he said. "You remember it, don't you."

545 could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

"I know I made you abandon it, but surely you remember. Answer me, Nashi."

"I hope, one day, you'll forgive me."

545 collapsed to her knees and gripped her head, memories floating around in her head. What was he doing to her?!

"What's your name?" Hades asked.

"I don't know!" 545 replied.

"You're telling me to abandon my best friend to die!" The man with maroon coloured hair!

"You know what your name is," Hades said. "Give it to me. Now."

"I... saved them. I saved my friends."

A mountain. A bright light. Pain. Fire. So much fire.

"I'm going to take a nap, okay?"

"Okay, sleep well."

No! Don't take the nap! If she did, she wouldn't ever-!

"Nashi, I said answer me," Hades said. "What's your name?"

"Don't call me that!"

"Call you what?"

"N-N-"

"Do you want me, or not?"

A man white blonde hair. She liked him, he was so handsome...

"She's your daughter, Natsu."

"Answer me!" Hades shouted. "What's your fucking name?!"

"I'd rather die with you than live without you, don't you get that?! You're my best friend Nashi!"

"Nashi!"

"Nashi?"

"Nashi!

"NASHI!"

She only knew she'd spoken the words because it sounded like her voice. Collapsing to the ground, she could barely register what was happening around her. Her whole body was in agony, every muscle screamed for the release of death. Yet, she didn't give them the satisfaction. She pushed herself up to glare at Hades, who was smirking wildly.

"What was that?" He asked.

Nashi Dragneel glowered back at Hades angrily.

"Nashi," she replied. "My name is Nashi."

It hadn't been hard to swipe a key from the guards after her labour shift in the mines. All it took was Takara to fall onto him in a fit of fake exhaustion had she managed to get her fingers around a key and shove in into her shirt. After getting shoved into her cell, she took the risk of making sure that the key fit her cell, and sure enough it did. Now all she had to do was wait the hour to leave. Having been here so many years, she knew that an hour would have passed when she heard the guards in this cell block grouped up to leave. When she heard all of their footsteps, conjoined, that meant a shift change was in action, and also her best bet at getting out.

Now that she was faced with escape, she could hardly believe she was here. For so many years she'd never thought she'd actually get this far. All of that planning, all of that memorisation had paid off. In only a few short minutes, she could use her key and get out of here.

She spared a thought to wonder if 545 and Jason had managed to get their keys. What if she got out of here and neither of them showed up? That would be bad. No, she had to stay positive. They would get their keys, and they'd meet up with her at the exercise yard gates. She knew they would.

Once she was out of here, she'd find her brother. He had to be out there somewhere. And she'd bring him home, just like she'd promised.

She could hear it. The sound of the guards grouping up to leave. The time was now, she had to go!

Reaching out slowly, Takara put the key into the door and turned it. The door unlocked quickly, and the cell opened up slowly. The creaking of the metal made her cringe, but she couldn't do anything about it. Once she was out, she swiftly turned and locked the door behind her. As she crept along the hall, she was expecting to be called out to by the other prisoners who could see her escaping. But no one did, she didn't hear a word. That, if anything, really spoke to the horrific conditions in here. Reaching a corner, Takara leaned out and looked towards expected guard locations. She saw none, which meant she was right. All of the guards were on a change shift. She moved quickly yet silently, making sure not to attract any attention towards herself. She soon found her way to the gates that led to the exercise yard, and saw that she was the first one to show up. This made her a little worried, but she forced herself to think positively. They'd make it here, she knew they would. They'd make it here and then they'd make it to the Doors of Death and get out of here. She crouched in the darkness near the gates, and decided to wait.

It didn't take long before she could hear the sound of approaching footsteps, and she waited with baited breath to see who it was. Was it a guard coming onto his shift, or was it one of her friends?

Soon she found out, as 545 crept into the light. She was creeping like an expert, her body pressed right up against the wall to make sure she wasn't seen.

"545?" She asked quietly. The girl turned to look at her, meeting Takara's gaze. There was something...Different about her. Her gaze had gone from a hazy, confused look to one steeled with determination. A look that was much more at home on her features, she had to admit.

"Yeah," he voice came. "It's me. Is Jason here?"

"Not yet, but he might be here soon." She replied. 545 came and sat next to her in the darkness, both of them growing quiet. Takara cast a glance over at 545 curiously, watching the girl silently. The look on her face was so different she questioned if it was even the same girl. The fog had lifted from her face, and her eyes were focused on the road ahead of them.

"Are you cold?" 545 asked.

"Huh?" Takara asked.

"Are you cold," 545 repeated. "It's a little chilly in here."

"Uh, I mean, a little." Takara replied as she gestured to her raggedy clothes. "These prison outfits don't exactly protect us from the chill in here." 545 nodded, and pressed a hand against Takara's arm. Her eyes widened as warmth spread through the point on contact, rushing to every edge of her body and making her feel more alive than she had in a long time. There was no light to accompany the heat, but it felt so good and warm that she almost wanted to sleep.

"Better?" 545 asked. Takara nodded.

"Is that you're magic?" She asked. "It's so warm. I feel like I'm basking in sunlight for the first time in...forever."

"You're welcome," 545 replied with a small smile. 545's face had never looked like this before. That smile was so real, so genuine.

"Did you-" Takara started before she heard more footsteps. Both of them turned to see Jason appear in the doorway. He saw them and crept closer, smiling.

"Seems we all made it," he said. "C'mon, we don't have time to waste." Takara nodded and followed after Jason, both of them approaching the hallway to Hades' office. After this 545 took the lead to lead them through the halls. The guards had gotten done with their shift change, but 545 expertly led them through the blind spots and behind them so that they couldn't see. Was an escape seriously this easy? Why didn't people do this more often?

"Something's wrong," 545 said as they paused in a dark corridor. "There's less of them then usual."

"Why?" Jason asked.

"I don't know," 545 replied. "But there's way less of them then before. Who cares, let's go." Takara kept right behind 545, making sure she didn't get caught. Before long the trio took a turn down another hallway. They kept to the shadows still for the few guards they saw posted, and now Takara was nervous too. This was all wrong. Why were there so little of them? This was less guards posted for the average leg of the prison, and this was supposed to be the way out. Did they just never expect people to try?

"We're here." It didn't matter, though. Soon they came across massive dark steel doors, doors that led to a platform clearly meant for transport. Jason went up to the gate and held it in his hands, cursing.

"It's Magic Canceller," he hissed angrily. "Magic can't penetrate it." Takara's stomach turned.

"N-Now what?" She asked. "Do we double back and wait to try again or-"

A blaring siren echoed across the prison, making them cover their ears in surprise.

"Attention everyone!" Hades voice came across the loudspeaker. "It seems some prisoners are attempting an escape. There currently at the Doors of Death, so could all available guards please make their way to them? Thank you! Oh, and hello Jason. Are you finally leaving?"

With the the announcement ended, leaving the three of them alone.

"Why did he call out to you, Jason?" Takara asked. "He called out to you, but not us!" Jason's face looked ghastly white, but he didn't say anything. "Jason! Why did Hades only call your name?! Does he know you?!"

"I-I-" Jason started weakly.

"We don't have time for this," 545 said, approaching the gate. "You two hold off any guards, I'll get us through the door."

"545, it's Magic Canceller!" Takara replied. "There's no way you can-!"

Takara was cut off as a wave of heat smashed into her face, the heat emanating from in between 545's hands. It took only a few seconds for the entire hallway to start heating up, and soon she felt extremely uncomfortable.

"Hold them off," 545 said. "I'll melt the gate open."

"You heard her," Jason said, colour returning to his face. "We need to buy her time." Takara watched as he took position in the hall, and Takara steeled herself. This was it, the fight they had anticipated.

This was do or die.

Chapter 351: The Escape