Linus leaned against the glass wall and slowly slid down to the floor, running his hand through his hair. His breaths were shallow—his mind flooded with more questions than answers.
He had short, fluffy white hair and light blue eyes. His athletic, well-built figure and rare appearance often drew attention. But in this chaotic moment, no one cared. Everyone was too preoccupied with their own fear and confusion.
Still, as Linus observed the crowd, he noticed others with distinct features—purple hair, golden eyes, silver streaks, unusual skin tones. People who didn't just look unique, but felt like they didn't quite belong in an ordinary world.
He stood up again, his eyes narrowing. Something wasn't right. More and more people were still entering the plaza—it wasn't stopping. The crowd was swelling far beyond what this place should hold.
He made his way toward the center of the massive plaza. He wasn't alone there. The dark-brown-haired girl stood nearby, along with others who also had striking features—sharp eyes, calm expressions, confident stances. Unlike the panicking masses, these individuals were composed. Watching. Calculating.
Linus examined them one by one, and noticed something uncanny. Despite the loud panic echoing behind them, they all seemed to reach the same conclusion.
"We're being held inside a facility," Linus muttered under his breath. "That's obvious. But that doesn't explain the outside world. Is it an isolated catastrophe, or global? And if it's global… what's left of the world?"
His thoughts spiraled through possibilities.
"Is this some kind of apocalyptic scenario? Or is it a military experiment, and we're just test subjects caught in something much bigger?"
But every theory brought more questions than answers.
The crowd's panic continued to grow—screams, shouting, people breaking down. Linus clenched his jaw. If no one took control, things would spiral fast. But who would they listen to?
He was distracted by a sudden shriek.
His eyes snapped to the source. His light blue gaze sharpened.
A petite girl had collapsed onto the floor, sobbing softly. Her uniform matched the others, but she stood out—angelic features, delicate frame, barely looking older than thirteen. She wasn't particularly curvy or tall, but she was undeniably beautiful. Her tearful eyes glistened, her lips trembling as she held her arm like she'd been hurt.
People began turning toward her. Men, especially, seemed drawn—eager to help.
"I didn't even touch her! She just fell!" a woman's voice rang out, defensive and angry.
The crowd turned against her instantly. Glares and murmurs cut into her.
"Apologize!" someone shouted.
The woman cursed under her breath and stormed away, muttering insults.
The girl on the floor tried to stand—slowly, carefully. Before anyone else could react, a hand reached out to her. A tall young man with sleek black hair, glasses, and crescent-moon-shaped pupils smiled down at her.
"Are you alright?" he asked gently.
She nodded shyly and took his hand. "Thanks…"
Linus watched the exchange briefly, then turned away with a quiet scoff. Something about it felt too clean, too intentional—like a performance.
Just then, a soft voice called to him.
"Hey…"
Linus turned, recognizing the speaker immediately.
It was his neighbor. He nodded back, slightly frowning.
"The bunny," she said, "it stopped moving."
Linus turned toward the 4D projection. The holographic bunny, once animated and dancing, now stood still—tall and upright, dressed in a sleek black-and-metal suit with a red tie. It smiled sweetly, silently observing the crowd with unsettling composure.
First Linus noticed. Then the brown-haired girl. Then, like a ripple through water, others turned. Slowly, the entire plaza fell into silence.
The bunny began to grow—its form stretching larger and larger—until all eyes were on it.
It nodded once.
Then, in a charming, professional tone, it finally spoke.
---
"Today is June 27th, 2035. Welcome to Area No. 05—two weeks after subjects awoke from stasis," the bunny said, snapping shut a pocket watch.
"You seem confused, frightened, and angry—and rightfully so. But there is a reason you are here. Answers will come, but not from me. My job is to inform you of your mission—and how to complete it."
The moment it finished, the crowd erupted. Shouts, curses, screams.
"Let us out!"
"What is this?!"
"I swear I'll kill whoever's behind this!"
"I didn't sign up for this!"
The bunny showed no reaction. Its expression didn't change. It waited for the noise to settle, then spoke again—calm and cold.
"Each of you has been implanted with a digital chip behind your ear. By applying pressure to that area, you can access your personal interface, which contains information, messages, and your profile."
"Now," the bunny continued, "before I explain your first task, I want you to understand why you're here. Take a look… at your world."
The plaza went dark.
Then, the glass walls flickered like television screens, shifting into vivid displays of a bustling, modern city. Linus stood alone in the center, though everything around him moved in fast-forward.
He looked down at his hands. The world was moving—but he wasn't.
"Where… is this?" he whispered.
"It's your mind," a voice answered.
Linus spun around.
A man in a dark suit approached. His head was a rabbit's—a polished white bunny face with a black monocle over one eye. The voice was distorted but composed.
"This is your subconscious—your personal feed of the broadcast," the host explained.
Linus turned his attention back to the city. At first, everything looked normal.
Then came the panic.
Crowds sprinted in every direction. People screamed. Sirens wailed. Something was coming.
Linus turned, trying to see it—then froze.
A monstrous figure lunged out of the chaos. Twisted, wounded, barely human. Its eyes glowed white. Its body was distorted, deformed by infection or mutation. Linus stumbled backward, but the creature was already on him—its claws inches from his face.
Freeze.
Everything stopped.
The claws were frozen mid-swipe. Linus stared up, trembling.
"This… is your world," the rabbit host said calmly. "And yes… you are on the edge of the fall."