Wherever the patients might have wandered to within the institute, they would hear that telltale sign that night had finally come to an end: the sound of the intercom chiming on.

"Well," the Head Doctor's voice started, "I hope that you all had a good time with our guardians tonight. You know, it's been quite a while since most of them have been out, and we even had one new addition, so here's hoping that you did a good job of entertaining them. I'm certain they're very grateful toward you on that point."

Landel chortled to himself, though it was easily heard through the intercom system as well.

"Has there been any sign of the friends that you've lost over the past few days? Somehow, I think that they're beyond your reach now. But don't give up! It's so fun to watch all of you struggle."

With that, the intercom's feedback turned into a heavy wave of static, and then everything went black as night shifted to morning.

The light rain that had kept up through the night seemed to have finally faded away come morning, which left the sky clear and the air brisk. The sun slowly arched up into the sky, bathing the institute in the warm glow of dawn.

The intercom cut through the peacefulness of that moment, rousing most of the patients from their beds. "Good morning, sunshines! Get your lazy bones out of bed! It's another lovely day here at Landel's Institute and we have some delicious breakfast waiting for you."

The head doctor continued to speak as if he believed any of the patients still bothered listening to his daytime routine. "What, you ask? Pancakes! We have a few different kinds today -- there's buttermilk, chocolate chip, and blueberry -- and we have fruit, cereal, and toast on the side. So go get it!"

The announcement came to an end and the nurses started to poke their heads into the rooms to wake up and collect the patients.

Scar scowled, both relieved and angry that he had woken up once again in his own bed. That lanky man who had become his new roommate on the night of his death was sound asleep one bed over.

This was coming to be the new "normal." It was infuriating.

As always, he begrudgingly followed his nurse into the cafeteria and took a seat. He preferred to file in with the majority of the patients in order to avoid sticking out, but no such luck this morning.

Scar stared at his food rather than starting in on it, despite the newly found appetite that had been lost thanks to that blasted sickness. He had a lot to think about. He hadn't managed to find Frank last night. The damn intercom had beaten him to it. And judging by Tsubaki's reaction to him, he had been out for at least a day's time. How many had noticed? Cared? It couldn't have been many.

But it was the few who did whose detection Scar was desperate to avoid.

[Eddyyyy!]