The World at Large

Luckily, I am able to keep my mind alert and awake until I finally open my eyes again, strangely finding myself staring directly at the ceiling while lying on the floor of the cafeteria.

I should have been resting on the table within the adjoining kitchen alongside with Alice. Therefore, I believe that someone must have moved me out here. Perhaps, it is Alex since Alice wouldn't have the strength required.

Hearing the chatters all around me, I let out a groan and pull myself upright before scanning everyone in the room. Both Alex and Alice are already up and about, helping others.

They notice me and immediately come to my aid.

"Hey man. You're fucking awake. About time. Seriously, you need to tell me what the fuck is going on right now because I am freaking out. Freaking out!" Alex demands.

Alice requests the same thing but with more subtleness.

I gesture my hands to calm them down. "I don't know what happen in your mindscape, but from what I can see, you two managed to do well. How long have you been awake now?"

"About an hour, I think," Alex tells me as he looks at the clock. He then shakes his head. "Don't dodge the questions. Look at that."

Alex points at the television screen with a newswoman. Behind her is a gigantic green cube, enclosing the entire city, preventing anyone from entering or exiting. In the center of the cube is the black tower, and it is no longer emitting green fogs.

There are more cubes around the world. All in different colors, depending on which Rulers has created them. The dungeon at their centers are all different too. Since there is no Black Cube, I am now certain the Ruler of Death is no longer around.

"That is called Zoning," I answer and wonder how much I should reveal at the moment, and since the TV still receiving signals from outside the Zoned Area, time and space distortion are not as severe yet.

I check my phone to see if it is still receiving signals. It is, but the signal is growing weaker. Soon, there will be no reception at all. I take the time to send a text message to my mother. I hope that she is fine.

"Since the mist has cleared up, we should get out of here and find a safer place," I tell them as I have a look at all the people who are still unconscious. If they have not awoken yet, they likely will not wake up as themselves.

Their minds have been devoured, and they are merely corpses for the Ruler of Life to manipulate. It is better to just kill them before they rise up as her minions, but I do not think others will take lightly to my beheading and dismembering of defenseless students.

It is a dilemma.

"Safer? Isn't it safe here at the school?" Alex questions. Alice agrees, considering safety in number. It is actually the reverse. It is safer with fewer people. Quality over quantity.

I shake my head. "No. There are too many people here, and I am sure quite a few people have been –

A ringing noise forces me to cover my ears. Everyone around me do the same while cocking about to see where the sound is coming from. It is actually from within their mind, and it cannot be blocked.