Division-A

Episode Twenty Four. (June 5th, 2123. Division-A, South District.)

Hetsu wrapped her hand tightly around the base of the mic, pulling it up to her mouth so far until she practically swallowed it. She arched her eyebrows, staring the boy in the eye. "Then who are you affiliated with?!"

Confusion spread across his face once more. He looked to the floor, his answer delayed through his overwhelming sense of betrayal. Shrugging off the unexpected question, Akino screamed back, "I'm affiliated with you!!!"

The court grew quiet. Hetsu stepped away from the mic, staring at him intently. He stared right back, his relentless gaze locked on her. Whispers followed soon after as people gossiped together. Makina stepped back into the stands, hiding behind the shadows as she let Matoi and Sakagami crawl their way through the people. Akino watched as they debated with Hideyo, trying to get through.

Suddenly, pounding could be heard in the distance. Makina lifted her head and uncrossed her arms, joining the others as they each stared ahead, curious as to what the cause of the abnormal sound was. Akino looked behind him, hearing it as well. The pounding became louder, almost loud enough to cause someone's ears to ring. It was almost rhythmic, like the sound of someone running. Without a single warning, the noise was on top of them. Akino and the others looked up, startled, as the glass dome above them shattered. Then, everything went black.

An obnoxious ringing echoed through Akino's eardrum as his conscious slowly returned to him. His eyes blinked open, finding himself slouched against a chunk of concrete and shattered floor tiles. He turned his head, looking around. Hovering over him was a massive beam of steel, sheltering him from the blinding light of the sun looming above him. He pushed himself up against the bed of crushed buildings beneath him. He winced, collapsing back down as his elbow snapped.

Letting his aching head read against the cold, blood stained steel, he peered through the cracks. He squinted his eyes, trying to focus and decipher the events unfolding behind the blinding rays of sunlight.

Suddenly, a set of fingers curled underneath the concrete slab above him. The slab was lifted up, exposing the person behind it. A bruised and dusty Sakagami leaned into the crevice and grabbed Akino's hand, dragging him out into the open.

Unfolding around him was a scene of anarchy. Behind him was ruminants of a Grand Hall Court Room, piled with crushed bodies. The sky was bright, so bright that it was hard to make out the details of the Stage Three stomping towards him.

Makina tumbled down the mound of destruction. Immediately picking herself up, Makina spun her head around and stumbled towards Akino and Sakagami. "You need to get out of here!"

"What about you?!" Sakagami stressed, her voice trembling.

"Makina!" Matoi cried as she plunged her weapon into the Compactor's neck, clinging tight as it trashed around in an attempt to shake her off. "I need you!"

The Omega turned around and flicked her wrist, spinning her weapon and ridding it of the monster's dirty blood. "Follow the crowd, go wherever they go. Got it?!"

Akino nodded, grabbing Sakagami's hand and pulling her into the street. Together, they ran North with the hundreds of other people frantically stumbling in that direction. Trees flattened behind them as Compactors stampeded through the streets, crushing anything in their way. Nobody could tell whether or not the snapping sound was coming from bent wood or broken necks. Sakagami looked behind her to see a hoard of Stage Three Compactors charging towards them. The sound of crushed bones and torn flesh overlapped the agonizing screams as the Compactors pushed forward. She screamed, gripping Akino's hand tighter as she followed the heels of the people in front of her.

Suddenly, the ocean of people was curving to a different direction. As Akino continued to run, he noticed the path blocked off by Omegas and Police, chaotically shouting at them to head towards the border. Akino quickly changed his direction and started towards the left, following with the crowd before someone gripped his arm, pulling him and Sakagami to the side of the street.