"That's the thing, though," Claude replied. "If this place is capable of brainwashing, or maybe even mind-wiping people, who's to say some of the staff honestly have no idea of what's going on around here?"

He sighed, thinking back on his conversation with the nurse earlier. "I was assigned to a doctor who happens to be a cousin of one of the prisoners here -- but whenever she tried approaching him, the doctor acted like he didn't know who she was. Like he'd forgotten her or something." Poor Kagura. He wasn't sure what he would have done if they were using his mother's skills as a scientist or something against her will. It was hard enough knowing there was a possibility she'd already been brainwashed into living in this world in the first place.

"And then there was a night when I actually saw a nurse transform into a monster," he added quietly. "It happened so suddenly, and it was like she'd lost control of herself."

Claude frowned, glancing at one of the nurses who was standing by the wall and watching over her charges. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were being held prisoner as much as we are. Except in their case, they don't even know it. It's possible their memories have been tampered with, kind of like the doctor I had before."