Infiltration Successful

Makoto's hand gripped the door handle, and time seemed to accelerate like the beating of her heart. She pulled on the handle. The door opened without any resistance, and she dashed inside, being sure to move away from the glass doors as soon as she was in. Makoto breathed heavily, closing her eyes, trying to regain her composure. She raised a hand to her chest, bare skin touching bare skin, serving to remind her of the situation she was in.

I did it, I made it inside, she thought. Now, I just have to make it to the Student Council room... that should be easy enough... After all, the Student Council room was only a couple floors away, and with how late it was she wouldn't have to worry about anyone else being at the school. What that meant clicked in her head a moment later.

Makoto's eyes snapped open, confirming what she already knew, as a quiet squeak escaped her lips. With how late it was, she didn't have to worry about anyone being there, but with no one there... there was no need for any of the lights to be on. Before her stood a pitch black corridor that seemed far more eerie and ominous than a school hallway should.

"Stay calm," she told herself. "There's nothing to be scared of. It's the same school you go to every day... just with less light... that's all, no big deal." Despite herself, she was shaking lightly. She tried to keep her eyes focused on the floor directly in front of her, lest her mind decided to start playing tricks on her by imagining things in the darkness that weren't there.

Makoto willed herself forward, taking a singular apprehensive step. The sound of her sandal connecting with the floor seemed to echo down the whole hallway, at least in her mind. She took another step. And another. She couldn't believe that she was walking the same halls she walked everyday in just a pair of Buchimaru panties and sandals... if anyone found that out, she'd never live it down. Her heart drummed away in her ears with each step, and slowly but surely she had arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Despite herself, she checked her surroundings, but with her eyes not yet adjusted, all she could see was darkness.

"You're the only one here," she tried telling herself. "There's nothing to be afraid of... okay?" But what if there is a ghost, some part of her asked. She shook her head, trying to dispel the thought. "Ghosts... aren't real. That was just a movie..." But Ann did say it was based on a true story... Makoto shook her head again. "She was... probably just trying to mess with me..." And yet, some part of her wondered. Before going to the Metaverse, she probably wouldn't have believe it was real. So, maybe... "This really isn't helping!" She hurriedly took her first step up the stairs, which was quickly followed by another and another as Makoto began to sprint. She was making short work of the stairs without issue, right until the end. In her haste, she didn't pay much attention to her footing. On one of the top steps, her foot slipped.

Makoto tumbled forward, catching herself with her hands. She let out a groan, and after few moments, she pushed herself up, brushing herself off. Everything seemed fine, until she took another step up the stairs, and her bare foot touched the cool wooden floor. Makoto's eyes shot down. Sure enough, she was missing a sandal. Her eyes darted to where she had just been. There she found the sole of her sandal with only the torn remnants of its straps. "Are you kidding me," Makoto grumbled, reaching down to grab her sole. "I guess what I told Ann isn't really a lie anymore," she told herself under her breath. After she reached the top of the first set of stairs, she removed her other sandal, holding it with its broken partner, with a sigh.