NIGHT 65: MAIN HALLWAY, 1-CENTER

[his_legacy]

[From here]

It was eerie, how empty the halls were. They seemed somehow larger at night, the darkness swallowing his magic torch's beam within little distance. Link was very attentive, knowing full well that something could pop up at any moment.

He refused to slow down, though.

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[showmeyourwreath]

_{[From here]}

There were others over here, not as many as before, but this seemed like a good opportunity to get more information. One of them had mentioned breaking out and going home, it left her wondering if he knew where this was, maybe.

Flora stepped forward, looking between the two of them, concern evident on her face. If they were trying to get out, it made her prison theory a lot more credible, unfortunately. "Um, pardon the interruption, I couldn't help but overhear a little, but are you two alright? And do either of you know what's going on, here?" She had many questions, but that seemed like a good place to start.

[redcladidealist]

"Oh. I thought Lee was your family name." Lloyd had grown up in a place where given names came first, so it hadn't even occurred to him that it might be different for Lee. Still, he accepted the correction easily enough. If Lee wanted to be called Lee, that was fine with him. "Lee it is, then."

His spirits lifted at hearing Lee's plan, and he flashed a determined grin back at him. "I was planning on breaking out of here, too. If you want to work together with me, I bet we could-"

He broke off and looked up when a girl's voice interrupted him. Turning his flashlight in the direction it had come from, he spotted a girl with long hair that he was pretty sure was brown, dressed in the same gray clothes that seemed pretty standard at Landel's. He blinked at the questions, then frowned, casting a glance at Lee before answering.

"We're fine," he said. "Well, mostly. I don't know if I'm the best person to explain what's going on here, but this place is called Landel's Institute. It's... sort of a hospital, only it's not." He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, not sure how to explain something he wasn't clear on the details himself. "The doctors aren't helping people at all. They're hurting them and making them sick. We're trying to break out so we can get help." At least, that's what he was going to do.

He paused, then added, "I... take it you just got here, too?"

[awokentospring]

It was a common mistake. Who had ever even heard of the Rock family in Konoha? But Lee only smiled and nodded, happy to know Lloyd did not mind being a little informal. And Lloyd seemed to be on-board with the whole escape the institute plan! Lee had definitely found a reliable companion for a break out.

However, before they could solidify their plans a young woman broke into their conversation. Not in the least put off by a new face, especially one that seemed so lost, Lee gave the woman a friendly smile.

"Indeed!" Lee agreed wholeheartedly with Lloyd. His face became serious and he added his own input. "The place is supposedly full of monsters at night, but I have not seen any yet. I have a war to attend to back home, but as soon as we are free I will make sure that we have rescue crews sent here to help other patients escape when they are able."

Lee motioned the doors opposite the entrance to the Sun Room. "I believe the most direct exit is out this way. Would you care to join us in leaving?"

[showmeyourwreath]

Flora was shocked before her face set into a hard from. A hospital that was hurting people? "How awful! Why would anyone do such a thing?" How could such a place exist? It turned her stomach to think about.

She was curious about this war. He looked young to be fighting in one, but then, hadn't she been the same in her first? Flora knew that humans had been in many of them and wanted to know more about this one, but now was not the time to ask. She bit her lip. Would leaving really be alright, though?

Flora blinked, a little surprised--didn't everyone just arrive here?--but then nodded. She hadn't considered the possiblity of people being here for any length of time before now. It made her wonder. "Yes, that's right! I just got here a few minutes ago. My name is Flora. It's nice meeting you both, even if I wish the circumstances were a lot better than this." She smiled at them both nonetheless, giving a weak half-shrug. She tipped her head at the black-haired boy, something he said gave her pause."You believe that about the monsters? Do you believe in them?" There was nothing but surprise and curiosity in her tone. Honestly, she woudn't be all too surprised to find them in this place--it was really creepy and felt off--but humans didn't believe in them. Though she guessed that they might have after the things that have been happening recently.

"I'll come with you, though..." she cast a concerned glance over her shoulder, "...I am worried about the other people here, too, even if we are leaving to help." It didn't sit well with her, but sometimes necessary things just wouldn't. Even if it wasn't best information by the first boy's admition, it was still more than she knew. She'd trust them. Besides, now that she'd spoken with and found people, she couldn't leave them, either. Who knew what was out there? If this was all supposed to be a twisted experiment, leaving couldn't have been an easy thing to do. She wanted to find her friends if they were here, but they could also take care of themselves.

The worry never left, but she nodded, as much for herself as for her new companions. "I'll come along."

[redcladidealist]

"I haven't seen any monsters yet, either," Lloyd confirmed. "But two other people have told me about them, too, so they're probably real." Without any trace of skepticism in his face or his voice, it was clear he took the rumor very seriously. "I've fought monsters before, but I'd be glad for any help. The more of us there are, the better chance we'll have. You're welcome to come with us, if you want." Not waiting for a response, he held his hand out to Flora. "I'm Lloyd."

What she said had touched a nerve with him, though, and he looked off in the dark back the way he'd come from. There were other people here, and he was leaving them. Maybe he hadn't met most of them, but that didn't change the fact that they needed help, too. No one should be left in a place like this, where doctors made people sick and brainwashed them and kept you prisoner. But on the other hand, could he really take this whole place on by himself, without any weapons except for a knife? He'd seen nurses following other patients, and there had to be more people who worked here who he hadn't seen. The doctors, too, and the Head Doctor himself. Lloyd was pretty good, but was he that good?

Overconfidence breeds carelessness. As much as he didn't like the memory of that reprimand from Kratos, or even thinking about Kratos at all, that didn't make it any less true. He shook his head. "I don't like the thought of leaving anyone here, either, but I'm not sure there's anything we can do by ourselves. I don't think this is something where we can afford to make a mistake. I'm leaving, but it's only because I know that when I come back with my friends, I know this place won't stand a chance."

[awokentospring]

"And I am Rock Lee," the ninja said again, not sure if Flora heard his previous introduction. He believed in the monsters because so far things seemed to be going as others said, and Sasuke hadn't denied their presence. Sasuke had no reason to lie to him, even if they weren't anything more than tentative comrades at best here. Lloyd at least seemed familiar with the concept, so Lee would leave it at that.

"Well said, Lloyd-san!" Lee offered a smile to Flora, then raised her a thumbs up as he gave his trademark Nice Guy pose. "We will indeed come back, and with force! You have my word as a man, Flora-san!"

When the war was over (and it would indeed be over shortly) Lee planned on leading all able-bodied shinobi to this place. If Lloyd's friends were not enough to topple it, then surely a whole troop of militant ninja could.

Turning back to the door he had indicated before, Lee reached out and pulled on the handle. Surprisingly, it opened without a hitch. Unlocked. What shabby security. Perhaps this place underestimated them; so much the easier for them to escape.

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