40A25K4

3h, 1h, and 45m

"3 hours until we die."

"I found it."

I looked up. Kiya was there. I heard someone stand up behind me, probably Aiko. This was confirmed when I heard her speak a second later.

"What?"

Kiya stared across at her. "The room with the computers. I found that room. There's a hidden staircase in that room."

I heard Junichi stand up. He walked forward and held out his hand to me. I glanced at it before taking it, and he helped me to my feet.

I looked over at Kiya and slowly smiled, my hand still holding Junichi's, and nodded once.

The only thing on my mind was my determination to live with my friends.

"Let's go."

"1 hour until we die."

We walked through the tunnel quietly, the only sound being our footsteps echoing loudly.

Until I heard a voice.

A familiar voice I thought I'd never hear again.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I turned around.

"Miko?"

She smiled at me. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought that she was happy, and being kind, or, at the very least, being polite.

However, I'd known this girl since we were both in elementary school.

That was the most malicious smile of hers I'd ever seen in the 10 years I'd known her.

"What's going on, Miko?" That was Kiya, watching Miko warily. Miko just smiled wider.

"This is the exit out of this place. However..." She put a finger over her lips, like she was telling us to be quiet. "...I'm not letting you leave."

Aiko stared at her. "Why not?" she demanded. I watched Miko snicker at Aiko's aggravation.

"Because. There's 40 days. There's Aizu, Arima, Abiko, and Agata. There's 25 thousand dollars. And there's 4 participants with their traitor friend."

I stared at Miko. I didn't say a word. No one else did, either.

What could we say?

She paused and pulled out something from a pocket in the coat she was wearing. I watched her as she watched the time intently, beginning to smile.

"45 minutes until we die."

Aiko glared at her, confusion visible in her face. "45 minutes? We?"

"Yes. In 45 minutes, this entire city will explode due to the bombs I planted."

I stared at her. I didn't know what to feel.

"...oh my god."

Junichi grabbed my hand and turned to Kiya and Aiko, nodding with determination in his beautiful gold eyes, before turning to me. A smile formed on his face as he said something quietly.

"Run."

He suddenly ran, pulling me with him, as Kiya and Aiko ran ahead of us, down the tunnel and away from Miko.

I could still feel Miko's gaze on us as we ran.