Invisible Hollow Incident | A Zenless Zone Zero Fan Story

Chapter 4: Run In With The Hollows

Cyrus' eyes flair open as he suddenly sits up gasping, his injury emitting a dull ache as he awakes from the nightmare that appears to have become common place in his sleep, checking the time he sees how long he has until his alarm is due to go off, expecting it to not be long but...

"2 in the morning..? Of all times to wake up and actually feel fully awake..."

He sits there for a couple of minutes, wondering what to do when he becomes aware of voices coming from down below, though he can barely make out the conversation. Deciding there's nothing better to do he gets out of bed, dresses himself and drops down the ladder to find out what is going on. He is most of the way down the stairs when he hears the conversation again, this time fully in focus, it was Belle.

"Fairy, you're sure an entrance to a hollow has opened up there?"

"Scan data of the area has returned the probability of a hollow entrance being present by 98.32%. There are also reports coming through Pubsec communication frequencies, would you like to hear them?

"No! Did you hack Pubsec devices again!? I though we told you not to do that, it could be dangerous for us if something goes wrong!!!"

"Yes, but you also instructed me to quote "use every and any avenue possible during emergency situations." I believe a missing child falls under the definition of 'emergency situation.'"

"She has a point Belle."

While his original intent was to walk in and simply ask what was going on, Cyrus decides to sit back and listen in, head swirling with questions he instinctually knew he wouldn't get an answer for if he just walked in. Whatever is going on, it's something that involves both of the siblings as Wise is present in there as well.

"Has there been any talk of the kid's whereabouts?"

"Negative, no mention."

"They have to be lost in that hollow, it's been more than enough time for security to have done a full sweep of Sixth Street. Belle, can you go up and get Anby? I'll contact the rest of the Cunning Hares, we need to get that kid out of there and waiting for public security to get themselves mobilized isn't going to work."

"Wise, the hollow entrance location is near the Remodeling shop which is opposite to the child's last sighted location, the probability of them making to the hollow entrance without being noticed is-"

"I know Fairy, but no matter how low it is there's still a chance, we still need to get a look, Belle, can you please..?"

"I'm going."

Cyrus hears as Belle starts to exit the room, making a split second decision, he quickly and quietly moves down the last couple steps before slipping out the back door to the parking lot, barely getting it closed as Belle enters the front room of the store. Sitting on the steps he tries coming up with a plan to get back up into his room without noticing before hearing the door leading to the parking lot start to open. Without even thinking Cyrus manages to get over the metal fence gate just as Belle steps outside. Silently cursing, he starts to think of a way he can possibly get back inside without being seen until he notices a faint flickering purple glow in the distance to his right. With no other seemingly good options, he gets up to walk over and find out what it is, heading towards it and turning the corner, he discovers it's a hollow entrance.

"But... how can it be here, I thought that strange robot voice said..."

Turning back he peeks around the corner to the direction of the repair shop and sure enough, after looking for a few seconds, he manages to spot another faint purple glow.

"If what that... Fairy said was true... the kid didn't have much hope of accidently falling into the hollow before being noticed, but this one is a lot closer. Ahhhh... should I go back and say something? What if they aren't even in there? Maybe I should check first, even if I go back and tell them about this one, if it's wrong it could cost time and they would be in more danger."