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The vines of the dungeon began to take over the room as the group of persona users shot through the path cleared for them by Izuki, Charon and Nao. It was as if the walls were closing in, more and more foliage taking root from the sides and bursting from below. But the tendrils of bark were not thin or whip-like as the vines from the monsters had been, but were thick and distorted, more akin to roots from the trees that had been stationed at the crossroads. The uprising caused the floor to shake with an abhorrent tremor as coils of bark ripped through the tiles of the hospital, causing the woodwork to crumble below the feet of the crowd.

The white haired teen, Akito, had given a sharp yelp as he was jarred from his onslaught on a monster which, had become the least of the groups worries. For the great roots had begun to swallow the monsters, as well. In an alarmed rush, Akito made a mad dash for the tunnel leading into the next room, grabbing hold of Mari’s arm as to pull her across the gap before the hollowing chamber before it could swallow her as well.  

The pair barely reached the hallway before the chamber collapsed under the weight of the roots. The climbing roots quickly piled onto the walls of the newly excavated chamber, reaching skywards as if to consume the ceiling. A few tangled into the archway, seeking the limbs of the individuals who were last to clear the room; the ones who had hesitated long enough to nearly be caught in the fall. They snaked towards Mari, Akito and Yuumei, looking to draw them back to the shattered remnants of the hospital lobby. But stopped prior to reaching their targets. 

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For a few moments, the building stood still. Dust began to settle, tendrils ceased their animation. 

Then, the sound of a woman [i][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTfReGPtxNo]humming[/url][/i] began to fill the air. It was soft at first, but grew with the passage of time, amplified by the chambers high ceilings. Cracks of wood splintering and snapping began to join it, though were nearly muffled by the haunting refrain. 

The wisp, who had watched the scene unfold, far away from danger clasped a hand over his mouth with the realization that one member of the team had not made it through the chaos safely. A pillar of branches rose from the middle of the collapsed room, bonding together to form a large tree budding with pastel pink flowers. As if in a time lapse, some of the buds swelled until they formed fist sized pomegranates. 

A single red ribbon belonging to Nira Seritoka floated from its branches as if it were a blossom as well. It landed in front of the group on the dull, vine covered tiles; a lone speck of color on a sheet of gray and brown. The girl herself, was nowhere to be found and, the humming that had taken her had vanished as well. An ominous presence still hung in the air, despite the silence. 

Soon after, whip sized vines began to weave themselves at the end of the hallway, closing off the view of the tree. Despite the wisps efforts, they would not burn when he attempted to clear them, nor would they break or allow him to phase through to the other side. Within a few moments it was clear that they would be unable to reach the chamber again to look for her. The wisp slid against the barrier, tiny fingers clenched against the wall separating him and the first person who had shown him kindness during what was the worst event he would ever have to live through. Two of his friends had been taken from him, not even a full day apart. His body felt too heavy to lift, his heart too weak to continue. 

Akito, only feet away from the wisp trembled visibly beside Mari, the hand still clenched to her arm shaking like the rest of him. Because what had he been doing? Had he been so preoccupied that he never noticed Nira, who had likely been frozen in the madness of the battle? She was so scared yesterday, so why would today have been any different? The knife in his hand dropped onto the tiles with a clatter as he moved to press the heel of both palms into his eyes. Crying never solved- no. 

Nothing could make this better.  

[color=DarkGray]“Everyone… we,”[/color] he choked. [color=DarkGray]“If we don’t keep moving that guy is going to… die. He’ll die like she did.”[/color]

The wisp, limp against the vines did not respond. The light shining from his body had grown so very dim, all save for the tears draining from his eyes. The soft sounds of beeping continued on down the hallway, each of the doors to the patient rooms closed as tight as the next. The only option available to the group of students, was to proceed down the hall into the darkness of the next room. 

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