- Somewhere in the past, 12am -

As soon as the clock struck midnight, the usual alarm for midnight prayer blared across the silent desert. The camp was quiet for a moment before the sound of people leaving their rooms filled the air.

This was the usual routine for those known as 'vocaloids'. Wake up, pray, eat, get ready for bed, and pray again.

Was it tiring? Of course not! To them, of course.

But, then, on this night, everything changed.

The noise of people swarming the once fenced gates. A once peaceful atmosphere drowned by agonised screams and bloodbath galore.

- Present day, 6:30am -

Subject 018, Birth name: Mafuyu Asahina

"Seems like 020 didn't come back last night..." Mafuyu thought.

She had a rather restless sleep. All her thoughts were occupied by her pink-haired friend. They were taken away by the staff of this place, and Mafuyu hasn't seen them since.

Mafuyu sat up, glancing over to the bed at her left. Laying in that bed was subject 015(Nene Kusanagi). They haven't interacted much, but they seem to get along smoothly.

She eyed the other's number - which was stained onto her throat - with vague intensity... along with faint resentment. She didn't want anyone, including herself, to be known by a stupid number...As if they were an object or some sort of experiment.

However, her thoughts were interrupted by the first bell - signalling it was time to wake up for breakfast.

Mafuyu let out a huff, getting up and poking 015 in the side as a half-assed attempt to wake her up before leaving the room.

As usual, the hallways were busy with other people...if 018 could even call them that. Arriving at the cafeteria, she sat down and waited for her other friend in this lonley facility to arrive - 013.

She didn't have to wait for long, though, as a familiar boisterous voice yelled in what she figured to be in her direction.

"018!!!! GOOD MORNINGGG!!!"

Looking over, Mafuyu saw a family blond boy running towards her table. She also noticed that.... he wasn't alone? There was an orange-haired guy being reluctantly pulled along beside him.

"Great....Another irritating person...Hopefully he's not as bad as 013..." She murmured under her breath.

018 watched as the blond sat down opposite her, pulling his newfound acquaintance down with him.

"Mafuyu!! This is Akito!" He introduced, albeit with some theatrical flare.

Akito, however, looked completely unamused. Mafuyu studied him for a moment or two, sparing a glance at the latter's number before back to his face.

"Pleasure to meet you, 011." She finally said.

"You too, 018." The other gruffly responded.

013, being unable to read the mood, just grinned and patted 011 on the back.
"That's the spirit! I told you that I'd find you a friend while 012 and 010 are gone!"

Akito just kissed his teeth and half-heartedly pushed the other boy's hand away.

Mafuyu sighed, looking down at the sad looking pancakes in front of her. They almost seemed to be frowning back. Almost.

"Hold on, you two! I'll be right back!" The blond suddenly announced before getting up and leaving the room.

011 watched as he left, and then suddenly addressed 018 "......is he always this loud..?"

Mafuyu only mustered a nod in response.

- Present day, 6:53am -

Subject 015, Birth name: Nene Kusanagi

Nene had joined 018 and 011 and the table, tuning out most of the conversation as she silently stirred her now soggy cereal around in the bowl.

However, a statement seemed to snap her out of her trance-like state.

"Have you two ever wondered where they take people they randomly select?" The redhead asked.

018, who was sitting next to 015, shook her head. While Nene contemplated for a moment or two before responding.

"Yeah... I hear struggling of others in the hallways at night, but I ignore it... as much as I can, anyway."

Mafuyu looked slightly curious for a moment before her expression changed back to its normally neutral state. Akito, on the other hand, was slightly more enthusiastic.

"Exactly! Tonight, we should go find out where they take our buddies... Maybe they have some sort of prison..."

"I doubt that." 018 interrupted. "This place is already some sort of prison as it is. Have you completely forgotten about the all-white uniform, or are you just that dense?"

011's eye twitched slightly at the not-so subtle jab towards his intelligence at the last part of that statement, but he tried his best not to flip out.

Nene, sensing some form of tension beginning to rise, decided to at least attempt to diffuse the situation.
"Don't start fighting now, you two. Maybe we should at least listen to the ideas 011 has. Don't you think, 018?"

Mafuyu looked as if she had another retort, but she held back and gave a curt nod instead.

"Geez, thanks." Akito huffed before deciding to go on. "How about we do some investigating tonight. We'll meet here at 1am sharp. I definitely would've nicked the necessary shit we need by then.".

Nene listened to 018 as she gave a slightly exasperated sigh.

"Sure. I'm in."

Taking that as a sign, Nene looked back at 011 before nodding. "Sounds good to me. I'm in, too."

Akito grinned victoriously, shaking Nene's hand with a staggering amount of strength.

"Nice! See you two then!"

- Present day, 5:10pm -

It was free time. Subjects were allowed to be out and about and do whatever the hell they wanted until 6, which was when dinner was. Nene walked out onto the AstroTurf, the synthetic grass feeling uncomfortable against her exposed feet.

"This is why I prefer staying inside..." She thought in quite a sulky manner.

Nene looked around, trying to find somewhere peaceful and out of the desert sun, just so she could have a chance to relax.

But, something... or, someone, caught her eye.

Someone she hadn't seen before.

A girl with long pale blue hair and blue eyes was sitting in a corner, reading a book. Maybe Nene could just sit by her without having to talk.

Swallowing down her nerves, 015 walked over and quietly plopped herself down next to who she thought was a newcomer. The latter didn't seem to notice or pay attention to Nene until her eyes suddenly snapped over to her.

"Hello.." She said quietly.

Well, Nene wasn't expecting such a gentle voice out of her. But, she'd rather that over some monsterous behaviour or anything.

"Hey." Was Nene's akward response.

"It's not safe here, you know..?"

Nene's eyebrows furrowed in response, as she tilted her head to get a better view of this person... and her number.

"017..." Nene mentally noted.

Sensing Nene's confusion, 017 continued what 015 deemed as insane yapping.

"You shouldn't be here. They'll pick you apart like you're a guinea pig and leave you mindless. That's what happens to the unfortunate 'subjects' they come and guide away during sleeping hours."

Nene's eyes slightly widened as she took all that in... it sounded like crazy talk, to say the least.
"Uh-huh... and how do you know all this?"

"I.... I've seen it...but they don't know I have... but, promise me one thing..."

Nene held back a sigh, nodding her head.

"If...if you ever find a way to leave this place....Please come back for me..." 017 shakily took hold of Nene's hands. "....promise me.."

015 akwardly shuffled, before nodding. "I promise... At least tell me your name, so I remember."

"Kanade..." Was all the other could mutter out.

"Okay... Kanade..."

- Present day, 11:27pm -

That night, Nene lay in bed, staring into nothingness. Not only the weight of the plan was weighing her mind down, but also the insane ramblings of this Kanade girl from earlier. It was like she was drowning in her thoughts, an anchor that wouldn't let up.

Turning onto her side, Nene stared at the back of the back of sleeping Mafuyu's head.

"What the hell..." Was her finally thought before she closed her eyes to rest before their miniature 'mission'.