Chapter Text
Barou threw Reo’s unstable body inside the room, making the telepath to fall on his knees in front of his bed. Luckily, he managed to grab the edge of the bed, so his face didn’t hit the ground.
The door closed and Chigiri and Shidou ran to help the purple haired one.
“Fuck! Reo, are you okay?” asked Chigiri in worry while grabbing Reo’s left arm and rubbing his back. Reo hummed lowly. Hyoma and Ryusei pulled him up and sat him on his bed.
Reo’s body was dangerously rocking to the front and back, not being able to keep his body still. Chigiri and Shidou shared a concerned look. Reo was extremely pale, and he looked as if he was going to pass out any time. His body was trembling and his breathing heavy. He looked terrible.
“Reo,” called Chigiri, who was now sitting on the bed beside the other. “What did they do to you?” He lifted his right hand and cupped the other’s cheek, trying to make him focus on him.
Reo leaned on the warm hand and lifted his eyes to the red-haired. His purple eyes wouldn’t completely focus. “Nagi…” Reo exhaled before his eyes rolled back and his body felt unconscious on the bed.
“Reo!” exclaimed Chigiri anxiously, climbing on the bed and pulling the other’s body into a comfortable position by the center of it. Hyoma sighed and let his body fall, lying face up beside Reo, by the edge of the bed. “He’s getting worse, at this rate…” he left his sentence hanging in the air.
Shidou made a face and averted his eyes from Reo. He was worried too. He knew that Reo’s condition was getting worse by the day, and he felt helpless because they hadn’t managed to make any progress in their plan to escape. It was frustrating and discouraging.
Ryusei walked to sit on his bed, facing his friends. “Maybe we could wreak havoc or something. That would call their attention...” He suggested with a shrug. Chigiri rolled his eyes and turned his head to deadpan at him.
“Yeah, sure, how do you think we would do that? You two telepaths can’t do shit to them since they are always wearing those helmets and me… Should I remind you that I’m here only because they thought I was a telepath?” asked the red-haired, lifting an eyebrow. “My point is, we are trapped in here because we can’t fight back. That’s why they don’t bring in telekinetics. That’s why they put Reo’s darling down. We are helpless.” Hyoma covered his eyes with his arm, frustrated.
“I mean…I’m sure that if we try something –“ Shidou stopped talking when heard a groan coming from Reo.
Chigiri sat up and reclined to hover above the telepath. Reo shifted to the side and opened his eyes.
“Chigiri?” he called in a raspy tone.
“Hey! You are awake!”
Reo gulped and blinked a few times to focus his eyesight. “I’m back...” He said confused. Chigiri nodded.
“How do you feel?” asked Shidou, walking to stand by the other side of Mikage’s bed.
Reo licked his lips and moved to sit up. He struggled a little but with Chigiri’s and Shidou’s help he managed to sit with his back reclined on the headboard.
Reo lowered his eyes to his lap and remained silent.
“Reo?” called the red-haired, frowning in concern.
Reo blinked slowly and lifted his eyes, as if he wasn’t completely there. “I… I know how to get out,” he whispered. The other two widened their eyes. “I found- I found a way out… We just…” Reo groaned and squeezed his eyes, as if he was in pain. “Just…” he lifted his right arm and pressed his palm against his temple.
The others noticed he was trembling. Chigiri and Shidou could only look at him suffer. They were powerless and knew that they couldn’t do anything to help their friend.
“We can talk after you rest” suggested Chigiri. Placing his hand on Reo’s knee and caressing it reassuringly.
Reo shook his head and looked at them with squinted eyes. “We don’t have much time, they… They’re planning something… We need- We need to leave… Now.” He warned. He closed his eyes and curled up against the headboard.
Shidou widened his eyes in worry when sensed Reo’s distress.
“But you- “ started Chigiri with a concerned voice. “Yeah, we need to leave.” Interrupted him Shidou.
Hyoma glared at Shidou, disconcerted. “You shitting me? Look at him! He won’t be able to leave the fucking room!” he complained.
“Chigiri, you heard him, we don’t have time!” countered Shidou. “Things might just get worse after this! If we lose Reo, that’s it, we’re finished! He is the only chance we have!”
Chigiri made a face and looked down. He knew that Shidou was right, but he didn’t want to risk it. Reo was his friend and he didn’t want him to get worse. He was worried that Reo’s body would collapse from the strain and exhaustion. He didn’t want to hurt him more.
“Chigiri…” Called Reo. Both guys turned to him. “We can do it tonight. After- after the lights are out. By then… I’ll feel better and we’ll be able to leave. It has to be today.” Reo stated, looking at his friend with serious eyes.
The red-haired made a defeated face. “Why does it have to be today? What’s the hurry now?”
Reo gave him a small, tired smile. “I heard them… They said I’m ready… Thou… I don’t know what for… But I’m sure next time they may not bring me back.” Reo, even though he looked pitiful, he still looked sure while speaking.
Chigiri sighed and stood from the bed. Reo was observing him with hopeful eyes. Chigiri snorted. “Alright, as you wish. But you better rest now! And you’ll remain by my side all the time!” Hyoma demanded. Reo chuckled and nodded.
“Right… I guess this will be it, then.” Said Shidou while stretching his arms. “We have around 5 hours before they turn off the lights. You better go to sleep purple-bun, we need you.”
Reo nodded and turned to lie conformably on his side. Chigiri and Shidou walked to their respective beds to rest.
…..
Shidou and Chigiri woke up a few hours later, just when they felt the people outside their cell leave the room.
“It’s almost time…” whispered Chigiri, sitting up on his bed. Shidou turned and nodded at him.
They stood up and walked to Reo.
Chigiri knelt beside Reo’s bed and shook him lightly by the shoulder. Reo’s eyes fluttered open and focused on the red head with sleepy eyes.
“Reo, lights will be out soon, it’s time to go…” whispered Hyoma, looking at his friend with sympathetic eye and feeling bad for having to wake him up on his weak state.
Mikage nodded and rubbed his eyes while rising up with Chigiri’s help. He sat up and settled his feet on the ground while grabbing onto the edge of his bed with both hands, to keep his body steady and try to stop its trembling. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to focus on what they were doing and soothe the constant pounding on his head.
His roommates looked at him with concern.
“Okay…” Reo said, taking a deep breath and looking up at his friends. “Give me your hands.” He requested, lifting his trembling hands to the front, with his palms up. The others frowned confused but did as they were told. Each placed a hand over Reo’s opened palms. Then, brusquely, a carrousel of images passed in front of their eyes in a second while new information settled on their brains.
Suddenly, they knew exactly the whole plan of how they were going to leave that place.
Chigiri took a step back and lifted his hands to his head, startled by what had just happened, looking at Reo with wide eyes.
Shidou looked at him with widen eyes. “How the fuck did you do that?”
Reo let his hands fall limp over his lap while shaking his head. “That ain’t important… Do you understand the plan?” he asked weakly, looking meaningfully at them. Shidou snorted but nodded his head.
Chigiri just observed him, wondering what had those people done to Reo to increase his power so much in so little time.
“I don’t know either, Chigiri, but my only real concern now is to get out of here,” said Reo out loud, hearing Chigiri’s thoughts in his head. He couldn’t control reading minds anymore. The red head blushed in embarrassment.
Reo had gained power, new abilities, but the stronger his telepathy got, the harder it was for him to control it. It took everything of him to keep his power from slipping away from his grasp, and he was afraid of what could happen if he lost complete control of it.
Shidou gulped and stared at Reo. He was clearly stronger, but Shidou didn’t know how much. Shidou used to be able to read some of the other’s thoughts, but right now it was completely blank. There was something strong keeping him away from Reo’s mind, he couldn’t reach him. But at the same time, he could feel Reo entering his mind and thoughts without any effort. He had no way to defend himself from the purple head’s telepathy now.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you or anything. Else, I’m just too tired,” said Reo to Shidou, while standing up from his bed – just like with Chigiri, he had read his thoughts too. “Alright. It’s time.” He said, facing his friends with determined eyes before the lights around them went off.
“Let’s go,” said Chigiri, turning around to open the diamond door of their cage. The lock was tricky and hard to open, but he had prepared his tools for months, using the bars that held his mattress and using his fire to shape them.
It took him a good ten minutes, but he managed to open the door in the end.
Shidou was the first one to go out, to check that there was nobody outside, and signaled his friends to come out. Chigiri grabbed Reo’s left hand and pulled him to walk alongside him. He knew that the other was too weak and unsteady to go by his own, so Chigiri made it his duty to act as his support.
Reo whispered a low ‘thanks’ and they started walking through the first aisle, following the instructions Reo had put on their heads.
From time to time, they would have to hide from the guards on duty and be careful with the video cameras, but overall Reo’s plan was brilliant, perfectly avoiding every obstacle and taking them safely to their exit.
They walked for around fifteen minutes until they reached the last phase which consisted on a long aisle that ended on a ventilation window. That was their exit.
“That’s it, that’s the one!” exclaimed Shidou, walking faster along the aisle. Chigiri smiled and squeezed Reo’s hand. Reo sighed relieved.
They reached the window, which was divided in three small fins, and started to remove the screws that held the fins glued to the frame. They just needed to remove two of them so they could fit through it.
They’ve completely removed one when Reo gasped and turned around, feeling a presence approaching from the other side of the dark aisle. The others snapped their heads at him.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” came Barou’s menacing voice from behind them. The three psychics widened their eyes. “Sneaky lab rats trying to make a run for it? How fun.” Mocked the black-haired guy, looking at them in anger.
Reo gulped and took a step back, feeling how his telepathy bounced against Barou’s telekinetic mind.
Barou lifted his hands in their direction, ready to use his ability to stop them, but before he could do anything, Chigiri cursed loudly and stepped in front of Reo and Shidou, lifting his hands up and firing a strong flare in the direction of Barou. The dark-haired psychic growled and stopped the flare with his telekinesis, just before it hit him.
Chigiri didn’t stop attacking, maintaining his flare and pushing all his strength on it. “You guys open that window and go!” he yelled above the loud rumbling that his ability made.
Ryusei and Reo were looking at the scene in awe, amazed by Chigiri’s display of power. Nevertheless, they could see that it was taking everything from their friend to keep their enemy at bay.
Reo turned and pulled Shidou to keep on their task to remove the screws. They were about to remove the second fin when heard Chigiri gasp in pain behind them. They turned their heads and saw the red head kneeling on the ground, using the last of his strength to keep his almost extinguished flare.
“Chigiri!” screamed Reo while his friend’s body got abruptly thrown against the side wall by an invisible force, falling harshly to the floor.
The telepaths widened their eyes when Barou’s furious stare fell on them. “Motherfuckers.” He growled in rage.
Reo balled his fists and took a step to the front. “STOP!” he yelled and used all the power of his telepathy to stop Barou. The telekinetic’s body completely froze in place and was only able to move his eyes to look at Reo with pure anger.
“Ah…” Reo whined, feeling as if his head was going to rip apart. He fell on his knees and clawed at his tights, trying to stop the frenzied force that was Barou. “Shi-Shidou… I c- I can’t stop him much longer, you… You need to leave” said Reo, lowering his head in pain.
Barou managed to take one step to the front. Reo moaned in pain.
Shidou shook his head and was about to retore when felt a pressure on his neck, constricting his windpipe. He widened his eyes and lifted his eyes, noticing that Barou’s murderous eyes were settled on him. He was using his telekinesis to strangle him. Shidou felt fear.
“NO!” screamed Reo when felt how his control over Barou was fading, he couldn’t take it anymore, they were going to lose.
But, suddenly, Chigiri’s strong flare appeared from beside him, hitting Barou straight in the face – or almost, because he managed to stop the attack with his telekinesis just in time, but had to let go of Shidou for that.
Ryusei gasped and coughed, desperately looking at his friends, not knowing how to help them.
“SHIDOU, GO!” Yelled Chigiri from the floor. His head was bleeding and he looked as if he was going to pass out anytime.
Shidou felt his heart constrict. He wasn’t going to go; he couldn’t leave his friends. It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t just escape and leave them to their luck, to Barou.
“I can’t, I –“
“Shidou, if one of us manage to leave, that’s already a win for us…” said Reo in a low tone. Shidou couldn’t see his face, but he could see the trembling of his body because of the exertion. “I just… Please if you could go check on Nagi… Just… Make sure that he is fine, please… That’s all I ask…” said Reo before turning his head and giving him a sad smile. There was blood oozing from his nose.
Shidou was about to reply, but then, suddenly, his body froze while all the noise around him muffled. He felt as if his mind was being pushed to the back of his head. It was a bizarre experience. He gasped and saw how his body started moving on its own, turning around and taking out the fin of the window.
‘No…’ he thought. ‘Please…’
‘It’s fine. This is our win…’ Reo’s voice replied from inside of his head.
That’s when Shidou understood that Reo had taken control of his body, he was controlling him so he could escape.
Shidou wanted to cry in frustration and helplessness.
He saw himself getting out the window and sliding down the building using a huge pipe that led to a line of emergency stairs. His body climbed down and started running in the direction of the fence.
Midway, he felt his mind taking back the control of his body and fell unceremoniously on the ground, for the shock of being back in control and not feeling Reo with him anymore.
He turned around to shoot one last glance in the direction of the window he had fled through and shivered when saw Barou’s furious carmine eyes looking at him from up there. Shidou was sure he was far enough for the other’s telekinesis to not reach him, but an isolating feeling of dread filled his heart at wondering what had happened to his friends.
Shidou climbed the fence and ran for what felt like hours, hiding in the shadows of the night.
After he was sure that he was far away from the military facility, he took a deep breath and sat under a tree, wondering what and where to go next.
He pulled his legs to his chest and hid his face between his knees, feeling completely lost.
He stayed like that for a few minutes, feeling self-pity, when a thought crossed his mind. “Nagi…” he whispered. “I’ll find Nagi.” He stated and stood up, trying to figure out how to find the one telekinetic that maybe could help him.
He sensed a presence far away into the main city. Something that resembled Reo’s presence. And immediately he knew that he would find the person he was looking for if he followed that sense.
“Hold on guys, I’ll come back for you. I promise.” He said, turning around and walking in the direction of the city.
/././
Nagi snapped his eyes open and gasped before standing up and running a few meters away to fall on his knees and harshly retch on the grass. His head was pulsating painfully and his body was shivering slightly. He felt sick.
He incorporated and lifted his head, with his eyes closed, letting the cold breeze wrap him and calm him down.
“I told you, you were in for a ride” came Shidou’s mocking voice from behind him. Nagi took a deep breath and stood up, stumbling back to the telepath who was lying on the ground, facing the sky. He was pale. “Phew… I’ve never done that for so long, it really took a toll on me. My head is killing me.” Commented the tanned guy.
Nagi dropped unceremoniously beside him, face down, with his head turned in the direction of Shidou. Trying to focus his gaze on the other, despite the exhaustion. “How did you find me?” he asked in a weak voice, he felt as if his head was splitting in half.
Ryusei shrugged, “I told you I sensed Reo in you… I just followed his presence…” He explained – or at least tried to explain because he was sure that didn’t sound like an explanation. Shidou sighed, “I mean, I don’t know either. It’s as if I could feel Reo’s mind in an opposite direction of the military facilities, so I just followed that feeling, which ended in you.” He frowned unsure. “It could have also been Reo guiding me to you, you know? At that point I really didn’t know what he was capable of doing anymore. He was very poweful…”
Nagi closed his eyes and said nothing, Shidou’s explanation was not very clear, but the fact that they had psychic abilities was already very bizarre, so maybe there was no logical explanation to what had Reo done to guide the other telepath to him. It was better to just accept it and move on.
“I’m too tired to move…” commented Seishiro, closing his eyes. Ryusei chuckled, “I guess we’ll spend the night out here in the cold then, because I cannot move either.” He replied, letting the tiredness take over him.
“Fine…” whispered Nagi before immediately falling asleep. Ryusei chuckled when heard a low snore and let darkness consume him too.