Chapter 2.0
The dormitories were not what Johnny expected. The men's wing of the underground asylum had the same sterile, industrial feel as the rest of the facility, but it was peppered with personal touches: posters, makeshift curtains, and the occasional loud burst of laughter echoing down the halls. Shiro led Johnny through the corridors with his usual swagger, his boots clicking loudly against the polished floor.
Johnny kept his gaze forward, trying not to notice the stares that followed him. He could feel them, though, like a weight pressing down on him. The men didn't bother to hide their curiosity, their gazes lingering on him just a little too long. A couple of them whispered to each other, and one even let out a low whistle as Johnny passed.
Shiro seemed to enjoy the tension—or maybe he just didn't hav a good heart. He stopped in front of a door labeled "Room 14" and pushed it open, revealing a small but functional space with two bunk beds, a desk, and a shared wardrobe.
"This is you," Shiro said, gesturing inside. "Don't worry, it's temporary. Once you prove yourself, they'll set you up with a private room, my lady."
Johnny nodded ignoring the remark, stepping into the room and dropping his bag onto the lower bunk. The mattress looked lumpy, and the blanket was a dull gray, but it was clean. He could work with it.
"Get yourself settled," Shiro continued, leaning against the doorframe. "We've got a tour to get to. You'll be shadowing me for the next few days, so pay attention. I'm not big on repeating myself."
"Got it," Johnny replied, keeping his tone neutral. He wasn't sure how he felt about sharing space with strangers—especially ones who seemed to be sizing him up like he didn't belong—but he wasn't about to let it show.
Shiro's gaze lingered on Johnny for a moment longer than necessary, his expression unreadable. Then he straightened up and motioned for Johnny to follow him. "Come on, rookie. Time to show you the ropes."
The locker room was their next stop. Rows of metal lockers lined the walls, each one marked with a name. Shiro gestured to an empty locker at the end of the row.
"This one's yours," he said. "Dump your stuff here. Don't leave anything lying around unless you want it 'borrowed.'" He smirked at his own joke but didn't wait for a response.
Johnny opened the locker and began unpacking his bag. The sound of laughter and conversation echoed through the room as other men came and went, some throwing curious glances his way. He focused on his task, methodically arranging his belongings inside the narrow space. A photo of him with his friends at graduation slipped out of his bag, and he quickly tucked it inside, out of sight.
"You ready yet?" Shiro called from the doorway, his voice carrying over the chatter.
"Yeah, I'm coming," Johnny replied, closing the locker with a sharp clang. He adjusted the strap of his messenger bag and followed Shiro out into the hallway.
The tour began in earnest. Shiro led Johnny through the labyrinthine halls of the asylum, pointing out key areas as they went. The medical wing, the training rooms, the cafeteria… each space had its own unique energy, its own set of unspoken rules. Johnny did his best to take it all in, nodding along as Shiro spoke.
"This place isn't just a prison," Shiro explained as they passed a group of exorcists practicing combat drills. "It's a research facility, a training ground, and a refuge. The work we do here isn't pretty, but it's necessary aparently. You'll see that soon enough."
Johnny glanced around, taking in the grim determination on the faces of the exorcists. Some of them looked no older than him, their eyes shadowed with exhaustion. It was a sobering sight, but it also reinforced his resolve. He had chosen this path for a reason, and he wasn't going to back down now.
They eventually arrived at a set of reinforced doors marked "Restricted Access." Shiro swiped his ID card through the reader, and the doors hissed open, revealing a freight elevator. He stepped inside and motioned for Johnny to follow.
"This is where it gets real," Shiro said, pressing a button labeled "Sub-Level 5." The elevator shuddered to life, descending deeper into the heart of the asylum. The hum of the machinery filled the small space, and Johnny felt a knot of anticipation tightening in his chest.
"What's down there?" he asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping over him.
Shiro grinned, his sharp teeth catching the dim light. "You'll see."
As the elevator continued its descent, Johnny braced himself for whatever lay ahead. The asylum was already proving to be far more than he'd imagined, and he had the sinking feeling that he was only scratching the surface.