My Parents Locked Me Up, So I Snuck Out.

Chapters 56-60

Chapter 56: The Old Newspaper

Meanwhile, Haru, Kana, and Nande sat in the back of the town's dimly lit tavern, trying to gather information without drawing too much attention.

Haru leaned over to the bartender, slipping him a few coins. "Ever hear any strange rumors about the Yamada estate?"

The bartender raised an eyebrow. "Yamada? Yeah, folks around here don't like talking about them. There's always been weird stories—like how their money came from... unclean sources."

Kana raised an eyebrow. "Unclean sources? What does that even mean?"

The bartender shrugged. "No one knows for sure. But there's always been talk about something dark going on behind those walls. Your best bet? Check the archives. Old newspapers might have more."

Nande crossed her arms. "Sounds like we're in deeper than we thought."

Haru leaned back, thinking. "Mina's family isn't just rich—they're hiding something."

Chapter 57: Back to the Past

The next day, the group gathered back together, sharing what they had learned. Mina couldn't shake the feeling that something awful was lurking beneath her family's legacy.

"I found something strange about my house being tied to experiments," Mina said, her voice trembling slightly. "And there are old rumors of dark secrets..."

"Experiment?" Haru asked. "What kind of experiment?"

"I don't know yet," Mina admitted. "But whatever it is, it might be connected to why my parents wanted me locked up."

Nande, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "We should head back to your estate. If there's anything left, it'll be there."

Mina's heart skipped a beat. "Go back? After everything we went through to escape?"

Ashia gave her a gentle smile. "We'll be there with you. You don't have to face it alone."

"I'm scared," Mina thought, but she nodded. "But I need to know the truth."

Chapter 58: The Return to the Mansion

Returning to the estate was nerve-wracking. Mina hadn't set foot there since her escape, and now the towering iron gates and dark windows loomed over her like a prison.

Ashia squeezed her hand. "It's just a building, Mina. We'll get in, figure out what's going on, and get out."

Haru scanned the perimeter. "Looks like the guards have thinned out. Probably didn't expect us to come back."

Kana grinned, ever the thrill-seeker. "Perfect for sneaking in."

They made their way to the side entrance, avoiding cameras and alarms, thanks to Haru's expertise. Inside, everything felt cold, empty, but Mina's memories came flooding back. "I was always locked up here... What were they hiding from me?"

Suddenly, Nande stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "Something's not right here."

Chapter 59: The Secret Room

As they searched the mansion, it felt like every room was a dead end. But then Haru found a small, concealed door in the library. He pushed it open, revealing a staircase leading down into darkness.

"This is it," Mina whispered. "The basement. I was never allowed down here."

Kana cracked his knuckles. "Well, today's your lucky day."

They descended into the basement, the air cold and musty. At the bottom, they found a small room, filled with old documents, vials, and strange machines.

Ashia picked up one of the documents. "These are... medical records? But why would your family keep something like this?"

Nande glanced at the machines. "Looks like they were conducting experiments on... people?"

Mina felt sick to her stomach. "Was this what they were hiding? Were they experimenting on me too?"

Chapter 60: The Experiment Files

Haru flipped through the files, his face darkening as he read. "These are reports of genetic experiments. They were testing on children... some of these dates line up with your birth, Mina."

Mina's knees nearly gave out. "Are you saying I'm... one of their experiments?"

Ashia shook her head. "No, Mina. You're more than that."

"But why would they do this?" Mina asked, her voice shaking. "Why would they experiment on me?"

Nande stared at the machines. "Maybe they were trying to enhance something—intelligence, physical strength—who knows?"

Kana smirked. "Guess that explains why you've been so good at outrunning guards."

Mina shot him a glare, but the humor calmed her slightly. "Maybe Kana's right. I've always felt... different."