[VICTIMS CAPTURED: 4]
[CORRUPTION LEVEL: 51%]
Ayaka, standing near the entrance, saw the whole thing. Her eyes went wide with horror. She found Akira near the dessert station. "Kanzaki-kun. A word. Now."
They stepped into a supply alcove.
Akira hissed, trying to keep his voice down. "It just took another student. This is out of control. We need to evacuate…"
Ayaka shook her head. "Evacuate? If we do that, the panic will spiral. People will trample each other. And the Gate… it'll spread to wherever they run." She steadied her breath. "We have to contain it here. That's the only way."
Akira's eyes darted nervously. "But you can't close a Gate from this side without going through it, and going through it is suicide!"
Ayaka leaned closer. "Then what do you suggest? Standing still while it devours everyone?"
Akira swallowed hard, forcing himself to think. "We fight. We hold the line. If we hesitate, we lose everything."
