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It took Raul a bit longer of wide-eyed gawking to come to his senses. 'Vanderberk is in the prison,' he told his reaper, trying not to sound like he was shitting his pants. 'I have eyes on him, right now.'

'Get the hell out of there,' came Arumoro's response.

Raul couldn't think of a proper reply. He couldn't even will his legs to move. Hell, it was hard to even form a complete thought in his head. He just stood there with the fourth bolt in his invisible hand, listening like everyone else.

"Now that I have your attention," Vanderberk went on, "I'd like you all to spread out and search the room very carefully for me. I believe there is a little rat scurrying around here. Invisible to the naked eye, like I was just now."

Oh no.

"The first one to find this rat for me will be rewarded. Generously."

'--listening to me?!' Arumoro was saying. 'Raul! Answer me! Are you still--?!'

'I'm okay,' he managed to say. He was still holding the bolt in his hand. Thankfully, it was also made invisible while in his grip. He decided to just pocket it. 'But he knows I'm here. He's having all the guards start searching for an invisible intruder.'

'Get out!'

'Not that simple. They're everywhere.' Quite literally, there was a man standing right behind him.

'Everyone is converging on your location. Cell Block Y, right?'

'No!' said Raul. His feet were finally moving again, though he wasn't sure where they were carrying him other than away from Vanderberk. 'That'll turn into a fight, and it's still too soon!'

'Just try to stay hidden until the others get there.'

He grit his teeth. He couldn't let Arumoro ignore him. 'Tell everyone to wait! I'm fine for now! I'll let you know if and when I need help!'

'Raul, don't be--'

'Everyone is riding on this! Don't screw it up just because you're worried about me! We both know I'm not that important! And stop distracting me, too! I have to focus!'

And thankfully, the reaper said nothing more. Raul had no idea if he would actually listen to him about the backup, though.

For some godforsaken reason, he found himself heading down the nearest staircase instead of up it, where the exit was. He was going to row one.

He didn't know why. He was just moving. Barely thinking. Which probably wasn't a good thing, but it was helping him stay calm, at least. Kind of.

He could see all the guards searching around now. Spreading out. Feeling around at the empty air. Hoping to just randomly bump into him, he supposed.