They were stopped by a younger boy, initially lecturing them on how rude it was to agree just to walk away. But he turned volatile fast, striking each of them where it hurt, and Haji grit his teeth as he said that he would be found. He knew not what was going on, but anyone who knew of Haru could not have been good news.

Haji held Ariadne's hand tighter as if to reassure her, his other hand gripping his sakabato at his side. The sight of the black mist immediately set him on guard, and he knew full well that this boy was an enemy.

"I suggest you stand aside, demon." Haji would say, staring the boy down. He had no idea what he was up against, but he was going to defend everyone with his life if he must.

"Sebastian, stay back! It is not safe!" Haji would call out as he heard Sebastian's voice as he approached. There was no sense in drawing in others, if the boy had a vendetta with the three of them.

The boy began to laugh, and as he did, his body would contort for each of the three. For Haji, he would take on the shape of Haru. For Ariadne, her sister. And for Loie, he became one of her lost classmates. Each would see the world around them change to match these traumas, and with the mist coming off of the boy, it seemed to be warping reality at a rapid rate.

"How many times do you need to fail before you stop running, Haji?" Haru asked, holding his arms out at his sides. "Face this now, or let it consume you. I am coming for you all the same... and if you refuse to grow, I will take those you care for in doing it." Haru pointed to Ariadne at his side, but when Haji turned to look at her, she would have a blade through her stomach, and be bleeding out.

"I want you to come home," the girl spoke up to Ariadne. Sniffling, she wiped at her eyes. "Please... Without you, I..." She trailed off, before screaming, flinching as if something had happened that couldn't be seen. She looked to her side in horror, but turned back to face Ariadne after. When she did, her eyes would be missing.

"What is "sorry" worth, Loie?" the boy asked, his pale body moving forward as dust and debris fell from his shoulders. "A sorry a day keeps the guilty conscience away. Is that it?" He growled, pointing behind himself at the bodies that would suddenly appear. "This is all on you and you think a weak ass apology is enough?!"

These visions would escalate at exponential rates, before each began to hear a sort of muffled shouting. Words they could not make out. Not for a moment, until --

"Damn it - WAKE UP!"

In a blink, the three would all return to the real world just in time to see Sebastian in front of them, booting the kid in the face and kicking him back. All around them, people were coughing up blood at their tables, some of them standing up and beginning to tear at each others' throats. Sebastian looked to the three of them, gesturing for them to follow and as these husks of men lurched toward them, he would kick out at them to keep them away.

"We have to get out of here! NOW!"

Haji gasped as Haru appeared again. Taunting him. Reminding him of his weakness. Reminding him that all he ever did was run. And that if he kept running, he wouldn't be able to protect what little he had left. Haru was going to find him. Haru was going to set fire to everything he held dear, before he finally took the life of the one who betrayed him.

He pointed to Ariadne, and Haji turned to look at her, a feeling of immense dread overtaking him as he saw her impaled, bleeding to death before him.

It was just like Mina.

He couldn't do this again.

"HARU!" Haji would turn towards his brother, roaring as he drew his sakabato. He flipped the blade, sharp edge at the ready as he began to charge.

He was overcome with an overwhelming swarm of emotion, anger, rage, fear. But he didn't make it very far before the visions ended, life returning to normal as Sebastian kicked the boy in the face hard.

Haji was sweating hard, taking a deep breath as he tried to regain his senses. However, looking around, he would soon learn that those visions had bled into reality. People all around them were killing one another.

Ariadne would pull on Haji's hand, and he would sheathe his blade as he followed the others. All the while, he had to wonder why it was only the four of them who hadn't ended up like the rest. Were the others seeing these visions too? Was Sebastian? How was he able to break through the illusion to help them?

"My thanks." Haji would say to him as they ran. He would scan the area as they ran, looking for any incoming threats. His first concern was the safety of those still sane.

Sebastian would push the group forward from behind as people began to stand up, suddenly overtaken by whatever this mist was, as it had accumulated in great volumes during the short visions the three were experiencing. The people behind them were calling for help from the pain and vomiting blood - and far worse - onto the pavement as they were led away, with only this stranger between them and the now-husks.

"Guys - you gotta go! Come on!" Sebastian called out, noting how out of it at least Loie seemed to be.

As they proceeded down the street and got away from the hotspot, they would see that for the most part, the crowds were dispersed. But there was one hooded individual, maybe 20 feet away from them, who they wouldn't have noticed until now. A large man, stocky in build and over six feet in height. From what they could see of his skin, he was pale, with veins clearly visible. He approached the group slowly, the sweater he wore leaving a trail of this mist behind him with each step he took.

Sebastian stepped in front of the group, holding an arm out to cover them as he stared down this big guy and grit his teeth. "I dunno what this is about," he started, his voice a bit shaky. "But whatever it is, either it's really widespread, or it's after you. I'll hold this guy off, you three run." He pointed to his left where there was an alleyway that appeared to be empty apart from some fire escapes and dumpsters, as per usual. Then, he charged the large figure, and it charged at him in kind.

As they ran, Haji would keep an eye on Loie. She was doing much worse than anyone here, or at least, was processing things a lot more than they were currently. If it were up to him, they could stop somewhere briefly to let her catch her breath and he would try to help her calm down, but they didn't quite have that luxury at the moment.

They would all stop, and Haji would see a much larger figure in front of them. Sebastian offered to hold him off so they could escape, but his words were resonating in Haji's mind all the while. It was a rather strange deduction to conclude that these creatures were only after the three of them, especially when Sebastian himself seemed to be unaffected on the same level as the civilians as well. He didn't want to question a man who seemed to only help them so far, but Valo taught him to find doubt in even the smallest red flags.

Sebastian was prepared to charge the creature down, but Ariadne would move to stop him, reminding Sebastian that just like everyone else, he was one of the only sane ones and he was in just in as much danger as they were. Ariadne's good heart caused him to smile for a split second before he would step between Sebastian and the creature, drawing his sakabato and holding it in front of him.

"You heard her. We go together. I will guard our rear. Now move."

He had to admit, being the first line of defense against such an imposing figure wasn't the best position to be in. But he hoped everyone would start running.

Sebastian was all set to go already, and was keen on stomping toward this hulking mass of... thing, he saw before him. When he felt his arm being grabbed, he looked to the side with wide eyes, having been caught off guard, it seems. "Wh-"

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Seb's eyes widened even further and he turned once again to see the man they were running from already, pick up into a full sprint toward them. "No - there's no time!" he shouted, shoving at both Ariadne and Haji, shoving them back toward the alleyway. His shove was strong, almost unnaturally so, and they would both feel themselves taken off their feet as they sailed back about a yard. They would be able see that it was lucky timing he did so, as well, as right after it happened, he was struck.

Two heavy hands raised up, before immediately crashing down upon the side of Sebastian's head. A sickening CRACK! could be heard as he hit the floor just a moment after, his body momentarily going limp as his skull cracked along the sidewalk. Bits of concrete shot up in the air, some splintering and lightly cutting Haji's and Ariadne's skin.

"G..." Sebastian started weakly, as blood poured out from his lips. The figure above him would pull its hood down, allowing the three to get a good look at it: they would all recognize the man from the incident at the Copia Mall, who'd been shot in the head. There was a scar where the bullet had entered, and his skin was still pale and the stench of decay was apparent on him.

"I've bbbbeennnnn looking fffffor you lot," the man spoke with a heavy drawl, his words slurring as if speaking itself was a chore. "How nnnnice of you to... offerr yyyyyourselves up on a... platter fffffor mmme."

He stepped over Sebastian and started to walk in the direction of the three.

Haji was surprised when he was pushed back with great force, only to see Sebastian get completely slammed into the ground, a sickening crack ringing through the air as Haji looked on in horror. Sebastian was downed, and he could see the blood from here. Gods, they should've just ran a long time ago.

He was too stunned to notice the debris had really cut him, and he wanted to rush over to help Sebastian. He was utterly stunned when the figure removed its hood, however, seeing the same monster that broke his shoulder at the mall. The bullet wound was still visible, and he seemed to remember them all very well. This had to be some kind of awful nightmare.

If the others were not here, Haji would attempt to fight it in order to get Sebastian to safety. However, if he stayed, he knew that at least Ariadne would as well. He had to leave for their safety. Damn it...

"Sebastian, I am going to get you help immediately!" Haji would call out, and if Loie needed the help, he would grab her and start to sprint down the alleyway after Ariadne. Maybe if they could distract it long enough, they can go all the way around to get to Sebastian.