1:32 AM — Ascension Gala, Cargo Hold — Shirley's POV
The silence didn't last.
One by one, Smileys began to move.
Shirley slowly pushed himself off the steel wall, rubbing the back of his head with a pained groan, "…Ow…"
EBS let out a relieved laugh, "You really did mean to hit the wall."
"…I said mostly," Shirley added.
Michonne didn't smile, "They're getting back up."
Shirley looked ahead.
She was right.
The Smileys he'd sent flying moments earlier were dragging themselves back onto their feet.
One limped. Another's arm hung uselessly at his side. Several bled heavily from fresh wounds.
Yet every single one… was still smiling.
"…You've got to be kidding me," EBS said.
"They're persistent," Michonne muttered, tightening her grip around her katana.
"No." She narrowed her eyes, "They're following orders."
The Smileys didn't charge this time.
Instead, they looked at one another. Almost as if silently communicating.
Then, without warning, they turned around.
"…Huh?" Shirley blinked. "They're…running away?"
One after another, the Smileys retreated deeper into the cargo hold. Purposefully.
Michonne's expression immediately changed, "…Don't chase them."
Shirley had already taken two steps before stopping. "Why?"
"They're buying time." Michonne explained.
"For what?" Shirley asked.
"I don't know…and that's exactly why I don't like it." Michonne pointed out.
The three watched as the last Smiley disappeared beyond the rows of cages.
The prisoners began whispering immediately.
"They've never retreated before…"
"What are they doing…?"
"Is it over?"
"It can't be…"
Shirley frowned, "…That was weird."
"It was," Michonne agreed.
"…Too weird." She added.
Before anyone could move, a faint, circular glow appeared far down the corridor. A gray light, barleyvisible beneath the factory lights.
EBS was the first to notice. "…Do you guys…" She slowly pointed, "…See that?"
The three instinctively lowered themselves. Between the rows of cages, a dull gray ring shimmered across the aluminum floor.
It looked almost like liquid..
Shirley's heartbeat quickened. "…That…I've seen that before."
Michonne's eyes narrowed. "…So have I. It t known it appeared when you got knocked unconscious."
The ring remained motionless. Waiting.
Then, two Smileys emerged from the darkness. Between them, they carried the unconscious body of another injured Smiley.
Without a single word, they stepped into the gray ring.
The surface rippled like water.
And in an instant, all three vanished.
Nobody breathed. Shirley's mouth slowly fell open. "…They…disappeared?"
EBS stared at the empty floor, "…No…" Her voice trembled. "They couldn't have been swallowed…they were transported."
Michonne remained perfectly still.
Her eyes never left the place where the ring had been. "…So that's how."
Shirley looked toward her, "How what?"
Michonne answered quietly. "…How they move thousands of prisoners…without ever opening the cargo hold."
The gray light faded. As though nothing had ever happened.
But none of the three moved. Because every answer they'd uncovered, had just created another question.
1:40 AM — Ascension Gala, Cargo Hold — Shirley's POV
Nothing happened.
The three remained hidden between the rows of cages, eyes fixed on the endless cargo hold.
Waiting.
Every passing second felt longer than the last.
Shirley absentmindedly rubbed the back of his head where he'd crashed into the wall. "…Still hurts."
EBS stepped carefully over the unconscious Smileys scattered across the floor.
"So…" she said quietly, "what if another Gray Ring never appears?"
Silence. No one answered immediately.
Michonne knelt beside one of the fallen Smileys, methodically searching his pockets.
Nothing. It was the same black suit, the same glasses, and that same emotionless smile.
The only thing remotely unique was a small metal tag tucked inside his jacket.
Floor One.
She checked another.
Floor Two.
Another.
Floor One.
"…They're assigned," she muttered.
"What?" Shirley asked.
"Each Smiley belongs to a specific section of the gala." She responded.
She slipped the tag back into the man's pocket, "Nothing useful."
Shirley sighed, "So…If another Gray Ring doesn't appear, we're stuck here."
"For now," Michonne corrected.
She stood, dusting her hands together, "August already knows someone escaped. There's no way he doesn't."
She crossed her arms. "So he'll do one of two things."
"He ignores us and continues toward our destination, or, he decides I'm too much of a nuisance."
EBS looked up, "And then?"
"He comes for me himself." Michonne responded.
The cargo hold became quiet again.
"If that happens…" Michonne continued, "…stay close to me."
"No wandering. No heroics. No improvising."
Shirley and EBS exchanged a glance before nodding, "…Got it."
After another moment, Shirley scratched his head, "Actually…Where are we going?" He never said, he just mailed everyone invitations."
Michonne looked toward the steel ceiling. "…I don't know."
Then her expression grew more serious, "But, if I had to guess…it would be Mynistria."
EBS's face immediately lost its color, "…Mynistria? The Kingdom?"
Shirley looked between them, "You both know that place?"
Michonne nodded slowly, "I've heard enough."
She leaned back against one of the empty cells, "Not everything the Seven Kingdoms do becomes public. But rumors spread," She rested her hand on the hilt of her katana. "And Mynistria's name spreads more than most."
Shirley frowned, "…Can somebody please tell me what the Seven Kingdoms actually are?"
Michonne gave him a long look. "…You're definitely from the city."
She folded her arms. "The Seven Kingdoms govern the world. They aren't countries in the traditional sense. They're far above that."
"Every city built. Every nation's borders. Every major law. Every economic decision. They all trace back to one of the Seven Kingdoms."
"They're the closest thing this world has to a true government." She continued.
Shirley listened without interrupting.
"I don't know much about their rulers," Michonne admitted, "But one kingdom has always stood apart…Mynistria."
She paused, "The Kingdom of Punishment and Disposal."
Even the nearby prisoners seemed to grow quieter, "It's ruled by Mengu Lucrause. I've never been there. And if you value your life…you never will."
EBS swallowed. "…Is it really that bad?"
Michonne didn't hesitate.
"If someone gave me a choice…"
"…between entering Mynistria…"
"…or ending my own life…"
"I'd pick the latter almost instantly."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Shirley's expression slowly changed, "…You think…August plans to take everyone there?"
"I think," Michonne replied, "that August doesn't move thousands of people without being promised something in return."
Her eyes drifted across the countless cages.
"Whatever waits at our destination, someone wanted all of these people."
Nobody spoke after that.
For several minutes, the only sounds were the distant hum of the aircraft and the quiet breathing of thousands of prisoners.
Finally, Michonne slid down against the empty cell.
She closed her eyes.
"If anyone sees another Gray Ring, wake me."
EBS blinked, "…Are you seriously taking a nap?"
Michonne didn't answer. Within seconds, her breathing had slowed.
EBS looked toward Shirley. "I guess it's just us."
Shirley barely responded, "…Yeah."
His thoughts were elsewhere. The Seven Kingdoms. Mynistria. Punishment, Disposal?
Every answer they uncovered…only seemed to create another question.
1:58 AM — Ascension Gala, First Floor: Entertainment District
Dinner was over.
August set his knife and fork neatly onto the empty plate before rising from his chair, wine glass still in hand.
The Entertainment District had become a ghost town.
Only moments ago it had been overflowing with music, laughter, and extravagant celebration.
Now…
A few of unconscious passengers covered the casino floor.
Only the stage lights continued their performance, illuminating an audience no longer awake to watch it.
August slowly walked toward D1.
She sat silently, staring into the distance, "…Report."
D1 flinched at the sound of his voice.
"The Smileys…" She swallowed.
"…Most are heavily injured, the rest are unconscious. None besides the two you already know about have died."
August nodded thoughtfully, swirling the wine inside his glass.
"I've been reconsidering," He took a slow sip. "I assumed Michonne was attempting to rally the prisoners."
He looked across the endless rows of sleeping passengers.
"…She isn't."
D1 blinked, "…Sir?"
"If she truly intended to free everyone, this aircraft would already be in chaos."
He gestured toward the floor below them.
"Thousands of prisoners suddenly standing in that cargo hold?" He gave a quiet laugh. "They wouldn't even have room to walk."
"Someone would've already been transported through your Gray Rings. But that hasn't happened."
He smiled to himself, "So… She's being selective. Looking for something… The exit.
D1 slowly nodded, "I… came to the same conclusion."
August glanced toward her, "Which means one thing. She isn't alone."
The words lingered.
"Michonne is intelligent. But even she couldn't manage all of this herself. Someone is helping her."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "…Interesting."
Silence settled between them.
Finally, D1 spoke. "…What would you like me to do?"
August looked over the empty Entertainment District once more.
The chandeliers still shimmered.
The slot machines still blinked. Wine glasses remained half-full atop abandoned tables.
It looked less like a celebration, and more like the aftermath of one.
"…The room is empty enough." He spoke almost to himself. "It would make a suitable battlefield."
A faint smile crossed his face, "…But I have no intention of fighting."
He finished the last of his wine before placing the glass onto a nearby table.
"Bring her to me. D1"
She stiffened. "…Michonne?"
August nodded once. "It's almost time."
His voice remained calm. "…Don't forget our promise."
For a brief moment… Fear crossed D1's face.
"…I haven't." August said.
She lowered her head.
"…Yes…"
"…Sir."
2:00 AM — Ascension Gala, Cargo Hold — Shirley's POV
Time crawled. No one spoke.
Michonne rested against the side of an empty cell, eyes closed. To anyone else she appeared asleep, but even now one hand remained loosely wrapped around the hilt of her katana.
She looked ready to wake at the slightest sound.
EBS couldn't sit still.
She paced back and forth between the unconscious Smileys, constantly glancing toward every corner of the cargo hold as if expecting another attack at any moment.
Shirley lay flat on the cold metal floor.
His eyes remained fixed on the harsh factory lights hanging from the ceiling.
"…"
So much had changed.
Only two months ago…
His biggest concern had been whether Tucker would understand another English lesson.
Now… He was trapped aboard a hijacked aircraft. Surrounded by thousands of prisoners, hunted by monsters wearing human smiles, his thoughts drifted further back.
His family. He hadn't seen them in what felt like forever. He wondered if they still thought of him… If they even realized he was gone.
A quiet glow suddenly appeared at the edge of his vision.
Shirley's eyes snapped toward it.
A Gray Ring.
EBS immediately stopped pacing.
Michonne opened one eye.
The three exchanged a single glance. No words. None were needed.
The dull gray circle slowly spread across the floor.
They waited.
Nothing emerged. Nobody stepped through.
Michonne's expression sharpened instantly, "…It's empty."
She was already moving, "Now!" She sprinted toward the Gray Ring without another word.
EBS hurried after her, "W-Wait for me!"
Shirley pushed himself to his feet…
…then stopped.
He turned around one last time. The endless cargo hold stretched before him. Thousands of prisoners watched silently from behind steel bars.
Then… He saw her.
The little girl. She was still sitting where she'd been before. Still watching him.
For a brief moment, everything else disappeared.
Shirley smiled. A genuine one as always.
He raised a hand, "We're coming back!"
His voice echoed through the cargo hold, "I promise!"
"We'll get every single one of you out of here!"
For a heartbeat… Silence.
Then the cargo hold erupted. Cheers. Crying. Prayers.
People clutched the bars of their cages as hope spread through the room like wildfire.
Some laughed.
Others collapsed to their knees in tears.
The little girl smiled for the first time.
Near the Gray Ring, Michonne glanced back at Shirley.
She didn't tell him to hurry.
She simply waited.
EBS stood beside her, gripping her pocketknife tightly.
When Shirley finally reached them, the three looked at one another.
Then, without hesitation…
They stepped into the Gray Ring together.