5-5 Unexpected Traitor

Date: September 6-7

Place: Kyoto Headquarters

[Rei]

I was taking a good sleep when I heard some noise that eventually woke me up. I took a peek at what's making the noise and saw them playing cards near me. Where did they even get those?

"Vincent has the A of spade," I say, randomly giving them a hint of Vincent's cards.

"Whaーthat's cheating!" Vincent says automatically turning behind him to see my smug face trying to laugh at him. "Rei, you're awake," he greets me while I see other faces began to stare at me. Cedrick quickly stands and quit the game to return my pillow and blanket to our room.

"Did you have a good nap?" asks Patrick also quitting the game.

"I feel refreshed," I say yawning and stretching my body. "What's that?" my attention caught the remote lying on my desk and pretended I didn't know anything. They cleaned up their playing area and returned the chairs and table where they were originally from.

"Lieutenant Guzman gave that to me earlier. He told me to use it carefully and warned me," Noel says while helping the others.

"What kind of warning?" I couldn't hold back my curiosity.

"It was about someone being saved or be killed. I was too afraid I might do something wrong so I left it there. I thought you could have it," he explains seriously.

"They must have assigned it to you because they trust you, you should take good care of it," I say handing the remote back to him after I inspected it. "While you're at it, why don't you try it now?" I say with glistening looks in my eyes so he approves.

"What?" he says in shock. "Are you serious?" he added.

"Aren't you curious?" I asked, taking a sit.

"Not even a bit," he answers. "Someone could die," he does speaks the truth. Although, I'm not sure if it'll kill me. I'm probably just going to pass out for a day or two.

"Suit yourself, but please don't dump something so troublesome to me," I cough trying to act tired as he nods and held it close to his heart.

"But someone could also be saved," Vincent adds putting the deck of cards on top of a shelf. He quietly retreated when Noel gave him a scary glare. "By the way, what's that?" Vincent tries to change the topic by pointing at my shock collar that he just noticed after I scratched the back of my neck.

"It's nothing. More importantly, did you guys had lunch already? If not, let's go together," after I looked at their faces, I can tell that something was wrong. Did I mistakenly say something?

"We forgot about lunch and it's night already," chuckles Vincent pointing at the wall clock which says seven fifty-six. Why have I slept that long? More importantly, did I snore? But I can't ask them that.

"You must've been exhausted. Do you want to take another nap?" offers Cedrick who got back.

    We had nothing to do and no work to continue so I insisted on eating dinner with all of them. They seemed like they're wary of the surroundings but without getting Noel to notice how attentive they're being right now while we walk to the cafeteria. They talk about things I don't care so I was behind them with Cedrick keeping me company.

"What happened while I was asleep?" I can't hold my yawn, it feels like that voltage took a toll on my body.

"Nothing," he replies glaring at me. I asked him what and he sighed before answering me. "Only a fool wouldn't notice that shock collar," he whispers being careful not to be heard by our members as I giggle. "What kind of punishment is that anyway?" he sounds irritated. If he already knew, did Vincent and the others noticed it too? They're being considerate not to say it in front of my face. How nice.

    I was walking alone to find a place to sit with everyone after I got a tray of dinner when the same man who got me this penalty made a scene in front of this many audiences. Before I could have my chance to sit, he purposely bumped into me and fell on the floor, shouting and claiming that I did it because I had a grudge against him.

"What do you think you're doing?" covered with his food, he continues shouting. "What more do you want? You already sliced my trough," pointing to it that is wrapped with plaster bandages. "Don't tell me you're planning to do something again?" acting scared all of a sudden to get the pity he wants from this crowd. But I just stood still, enduring everything he says and does until some of my members came and questions what's happening.

"Don't worry about this, let's eat," I say, casually ignoring everything like it didn't even happen.

"You!" the man was aggravated and was about to slap me when he didn't get the response that he wants from me. But Noel caught the man's hand for me.

"Get lost, my knife could sink to you first before hers does," he threatens. The man was looking around if he has the favor of the people but found them averting our table and eating peacefully. He had no choice but to retrieve his arm and walk away without cleaning his mess so we ended up cleaning it.

"That man, he's going to pay for making us clean his mess," Vincent just came back after giving back the tray and plates. We started eating and converse ourselves to a happy topic such as how they taught Noel, the time they spent while I was asleep. But everything pointed out back at my shock collar when Noel couldn't control his curiosity.

"Is something the matter?" I say to Noel who takes glances at me from time to time.

"Sorry, I just can't help but get distracted by the thing on your neck," he says pointing at his neck to make me understand what he wants to portray. I can see that everyone was eager to know what kind of story I'll cook up to be believed by him. "But you of course you can refuse if you're uncomfortable sharing it with us," he stutters, trying to take back his question but I gave up and told him a nice excuse that popped out of nowhere.

"It's my punishment," he looked excited about what my next words might be. "It might look like an ordinary cloth but I can guarantee that there are a lot of devices installed in here. They want to keep track of everything. A tracker for my location, a camera for what I'm doing, some recorder for every conversation, etcetera," I say nonchalantly so it can look believable. But when I glanced at Noel, he seemed shocked and concerned. "Are you alright?" I whisper when I see him mumbling some words to himself.

"A camera? What about when you shower or go to the toilet?" he blurted that everyone laughed at. "I'm being serious," he argued looking stressed but the others can't seem to calm down their chuckles. Although, I can tell that they're not laughing because of what he said but because he bought my excuse.

"Now that I think about it," I say, considering his silly distress. "It looks like I just need to refrain from doing those things until my twenty-four hours prohibition," I sighed glaring at my cup of coffee that I offered to Cedrick to make my story more believable and he took it to support my alibi. And the others calmed down when Noel looked at their faces that seems like not giving any care or concern for my situation. But I'm thankful that Vincent changed the subject just seconds after the awkward atmosphere.

~~

[Kazuma]

It's already evening and I just finished the meeting that our group held, being the leader of my squadron is not easy at all. You have to ask and know everything, converse in several meetings with the higher-ups and be their lapdog who obeys anything, and be the one responsible when someone under you makes a mistake or die. This is so stressful. But at least I get to order the ones inferior to me.

Walking to the hallways, I found someone so wasted blocking my path. He reeks of alcohol, where do they even get the liquors? To my surprise, he clung to my leg when I tried to ignore him. I learned to see who it was. It's the man trying so hard to harass Rei. The man who's the reason why she's under suspension.

"You told me she'd be punished accordingly," he says angrily while tightening his grip. I looked around to see no witness around. I sighed and heaved him to sit on a nearby bench that I can see. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, stopping me from walking away.

"You're drunk. I don't even know who you are," I say retrieving my hand that he grabbed and I was about to continue my walk back to where I was headed when he called a familiar name.

"Crono" I turned my head in shock to hear that from someone I just met. "I'm sober enough to call for help. If you're wondering, he told me to call you by that name if I seek help. And I'm so desperate right now," he says looking so pathetic. I already knew about their plan to mess her up but I never agreed because I know I'll be on her radar if I get myself involved with their half-assed plans.

"Are you serious? You know I could just kill you right here, right now," I threatened him which worked as I see him trembling. But if he goes as far as exposing that name, I have no choice but to get involved. I hate playing right into his chessboard. And I hate him more because he somehow resembles Rei's strange behavior of making risky strategies to obtain what they crave. "That'll cost you highly this time," I grin when I see him gulp to the horror and nods afterward. If I'm getting into this mess, there's nothing wrong if I enjoyed this, right? Prepare yourself, my dear Rei. Thus I'll be sure to have my revenge for leaving and killing our friends on your flawed escape plan.

~~

[Patrick]

I am in a tough spot right now. Rei neither Cedrick told us a specific time to sneak out and meet so all we can do is wait for Noel to fall asleep. And I'm the one on the lookout for his behaviors thus I'm the one closest to his bed. And I can't tell if he's sleeping or still awake. What do I do?