All the blood drains from Ren's face. He only half-listens to what the rest of Akechi says—even the idea of Maruki altering cognition on a wide scale, on Shido's orders, sets him on the verge of panic. Hunted and cornered, like a prey animal, like they're coming for him and he can't get away, no matter what he does they're always there, someone's always there, ready to—

He sways, and stumbles back against the board. His mind has been wiped clean except for a high endless whine like a warning siren. For some reason his chest and throat are burning.