｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. DIOR

ㅤ

I woke up to the noise surrounding me. Just what happened earlier? All I remember was there was smoke coming from the vent and after that, my sight turned dark.

ㅤ

My head aches. Motherfucker.

ㅤ

My hands traveled its way to my head when I realized... my hands are free! But something was heavy in my neck... what the fuck? We have a metal collar on our necks!

ㅤ

My eyes were a little droopy but I was quick to wake up when I felt someone shaking my shoulders.

ㅤ

"Dior!" Hermés looked worried. "Are you alright?"

ㅤ

I was about to answer him, not when I heard the shouting of Hades. All of it happened so fast. There were so many things happening... I did not know where to look. However, all I felt were panic and nervousness.

ㅤ

"Fuck! Who did this?!" I stood up with his voice and saw Prada, Chanel, and Tiffany crying. My brows furrowed. Why were they crying?

ㅤ

"W-what the fuck happened?"  I stuttered... Even my hands were shaking. As if something was blocking my airways; I could not breathe properly. Zeus was consoling Prada, Gucci to Chanel, and Ares to Tiffany.

ㅤ

I was quick to go to Tiffany. My hands were shaking as I caressed her face. On the other hand, Ares was caressing her hand. I could not fucking sit still nor calm down. She's my best friend, for Pete's sake!

ㅤ

"Tiff..." Despite of it all, I tried to remain calm. "Tell me, what happened?"

ㅤ

I do not know what happened but seeing my best friend cry, I wanted to bawl my eyes out too. Hérmes was trying to console me but everything was to no use. Fuck, why can't they just tell me what happened?!

ㅤ

"Please talk to me!" I cried as tears streamed down from my face. "Tiff, tell me."

ㅤ

"Dior..." Ares called me. He was crying too.

ㅤ

"What is happening to my friends?" I fought the urge to display anger in my voice while my eyes darted to Chanel and Prada.

ㅤ

I felt someone trying to make me stand up. I turned around to see Apollo. I wiped my tears using my hand as I waited for an answer from him.

ㅤ

"Their mouths are sealed shut. Their tongues were removed," he whispered to me. It was like something was banged into my head I could not do anything but kneel down. My knees failed me... my heart hurt. What was happening to us?

ㅤ

Fuck! What have they done to my friends?

ㅤ

I went near Tiffany and held her other hand. I was desperate to save her... Them. They're my friends. I closed my eyes... trying so hard to force out the last brain cell inside of me.

ㅤ

We need to get out of here. Alive.

ㅤ

My eyes wandered around the room we were in. I stopped when I saw a door. It was like an old-money architecture. I stood up and walked over to the door. I frowned when I realized that it was locked.

ㅤ

Of course. Why would this bastard let us out?

ㅤ

"What are you doing?" Zeus asked when he saw me taking a step backward from the door.

ㅤ

"Fucking get out of here," I answered and gained momentum to kick the door. Despite their interjections, I pushed through.

ㅤ

"Dior, don't!" Hermés shouted but it was all too late.

ㅤ

I kicked the door but instead of busting it open, and also instead of my feet getting hurt, I felt the harsh pain on my neck. So... That was the use of this fucking metal collar.

ㅤ

I was being electrified!

ㅤ

My body fell to the floor while I was shaking and crying due to the pain I was feeling right now. My mind felt like exploding and I was close to blacking out any minute. Fuck this! Fuck Crow! Fuck my friends! Fuck myself!

ㅤ

"Dior!" Hades shouted as he was about to come near me.

ㅤ

I also saw Tiffany who wanted to run but Ares stopped her. One of my friends also looked at me worriedly while walking over to me out of panic.

ㅤ

It hurts... I just want to get out of here.

ㅤ

"D-dior..." Hermés hugged me but he, too, got electrified. Even though I was weak, I was trying hard to shove him away.

ㅤ

"L-let go... You'll get... hurt," I weakly said to him but he did not budge.

ㅤ

After a few seconds, the hell was over. I bundled myself up in a corner while I was trying to catch my breath. On the other hand, Hermés was guiding me. I had to force out a smile at him. Even though he, too, was electrified, he was still tending to me.

ㅤ

"Fuck this! Can't the killer just confess so we can get the fuck out of here?!" Apollo shouted.

ㅤ

"None of us are killers, Apollo," Ares firmly said. He was so sure... That even I was convinced. I was convinced by their optimism. I also knew in myself that I could not fathom thinking my friends were murderers.

ㅤ

"If none of us are killers, the fuck, why are we still here?!" Apollo angrily shouted at the latter.

ㅤ

"Watch your words, Apollo. Ares is still older than you," Hades butted in. I then looked at Zeus who broke free from Gucci's embrace.

ㅤ

"We're about to die but you're still thinking about manners?" Zeus scoffed, evidently angry. "Dior was electrified then our three friends got their tongue cut off, and you're still thinking about fucking manners?!"

ㅤ

"You're crossing the line!" Hades exclaimed and landed a punch on Zeus. Everyone panicked when they saw the two fighters among us... fighting each other. "They're my friends too!"

ㅤ

"The both of you, stop it!" Apollo tried to mediate but that fucker got punched too. Deserve.

ㅤ

"We won't get anything with fighting," Hermés said and took Apollo away from them. Hérmes was always a man with few words but his actions prove that he cares about his best friend so much.

ㅤ

"We'll fix this the right way," Ares said, making everyone fall into silence. "We're friends, not enemies."

Really? Hopefully... After this shit with Crowbones, we can leave this shithole while still being friends. I had a bad feeling that we'd ruin ourselves here.

ㅤ

"Hello, little ones! Just a reminder not to try to escape here without knowing who the killer is. That metal collar is designed to keep you from doing so," Fucking Crow said through the speaker. "Your first challenge will be announced in a couple of minutes."

ㅤ

"Fuck you! Bullshit!" Apollo shouted a series of curses as if that was going to do anything.

Even though I was close with Apollo, it was my first time seeing him publicly stressed. Usually, he'd choose to talk to me instead of showing others how big his problems were.

ㅤ

I decided to go near Chanel and Prada. If Crow wants us to find out who the killer is, then I will do it. I should not waste time.

ㅤ

"Are you feeling alright now? Does it hurt?" I asked them. Because of their inability to answer, they just nodded at me.

ㅤ

They are the brains of the group so I think this is the reason why their mouths are sealed shut. As for me, it was good that I was into escape rooms in malls, along with Apollo and Hades. When Achilles was still alive... He was also with us.

Wait no— fuck him.

The three of them were useless.

ㅤ

"Do you know anything about the killers?" I asked... holding on to the possibility that that was the reason why their tongues were cut.

ㅤ

They both looked at each other and shook their head at me simultaneously. So... it is because they are the brains. Or not! I don't know now! I felt that they were hiding a secret from me!

ㅤ

"The challenges... will we kill each other?" I weakly asked them. That was my biggest worry of all. Chanel sighed and nodded.

ㅤ

I was trying so hard to contain my tears inside.

ㅤ

I cannot kill my friends... especially him. I could not do it, and most importantly, I won't allow it.

ㅤ

"Greetings, little ones! Your first challenge is a treasure hunt. This first challenge will give you clues about the killer," Crow merrily announced. "After that, we'll do a voting in order to determine who you think is the killer. The most voted will have a light penalty."

ㅤ

Tsk. This is so cruel. We will vote... my friends and I... just for a friend to suffer. While this is not meant for entertainment, I dearly hoped that all of this was just a prank.

ㅤ

"You need to find three things. One, a gown cloth. Two, a camera. And lastly, a photo album," Crow laughed. "Let the challenge begin!"

ㅤ

"This Crow is getting on my nerves." Hades rolled his eyes. "He's just making a fool out of us at this point."

ㅤ

"Do we have to vote, Ares?" Gucci asked him. I could see that she was hanging on to her thin string of patience. She was one word away from crying. "Will we let one be hurt?"

I noticed that all of us had our eyes remained on Ares. It was the look of hope— something I feel we're about to lose these coming days.

ㅤ

"Let's just find those stuff first," Ares could not answer Gucci directly too. As always.

ㅤ

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. APOLLO

ㅤ

"Bro, what do we need to find?" I asked Hermés because I forgot what Crue said.

ㅤ

Was that Crue? Damn, nevermind.

ㅤ

"A gown cloth, a camera, and a photo album," He answered while searching in the cabinets. Even though I was feeling lazy, it cannot consume me because we had to get the fuck out of here.

ㅤ

I decided to search with him because there was no doubt that he was much smarter than me. But fuck, I was feeling something different right now.

ㅤ

I looked at my surroundings... searching for something. The reason why I was feeling this way. It felt like a ticking time bomb... it might explode any moment now.

ㅤ

"You okay?" Hermés asked.

ㅤ

"Bro..." I pouted which made his brows furrow. "I have to poop."

ㅤ

"Fuck you." I burst into laughter with that one curse by Hermés! It was so crisp and strong! I stopped laughing when I saw Gucci glaring at me, she was beside Chanel.

ㅤ

But still, it was true that I had to poop. Was there a comfort room here?

ㅤ

My eyes were fixated on Tiffany who looked like she was reaching for something on the shelf. Should I help her? Of course!

ㅤ

I went near to her and poked her shoulder.

"You need help, Tiff?" I flexed my biceps. "I can do that!"

I raised a brow when she shook her head. She could not reach it but she also could not accept any help? Or was she mad at me?! What did I do?!

ㅤ

"You sure?" I repeated but she just nodded.

ㅤ

Weird.

ㅤ

I decided to just ditch Hermés and Tiffany and try looking for the items myself. My mother raised me to be independent so who am I to be accompanied with? Hahaha.

ㅤ

What the fuck was I even thinking?

ㅤ

First of all, I need to think. What do these things have to do with the murder of Yves and Achilles? And most importantly, who killed them?

ㅤ

But the most most important question was... was there a comfort room here?

ㅤ

The camera was probably... fuck... that camera was involved there?! Achi and Yves' scandal video... was recorded using that camera.

ㅤ

That means Yves and Achi were murdered because of that video. That was the motive. Was someone taking revenge on Yves and Achi?

ㅤ

So... I was more than sure, I looked at the person who was most likely the murderer. I know that it is wrong to accuse someone but many aspects are pointing at that person now.

ㅤ

"I found the camera!" Ares exclaimed and all of us went near him. Tiffany was holding the camera. "But there's no memory."

ㅤ

"Crow is just tiring us at this point," Hades hissed and Dior showered middle fingers on the speaker.

ㅤ

"Did you find the other items? Chanel and I haven't found one," Gucci asked while clinging to Chanel.

ㅤ

"Nope," Hermés answered. "I even checked the cabinets."

ㅤ

"What kind of cloth do we need to find? Is it satin?" I asked but not a single one of us was able to give an answer.

ㅤ

"Let's continue to find it," Ares ordered and with that, we scattered all over the room. The room was not even that big so it was a wonder why we could not find the other things.

ㅤ

I went to the curtains, hoping that I would find a unique type of cloth lying there. I almost jumped in my place when I saw Prada standing beside me. I stared at her as if I would get something out of it.

ㅤ

Hmm... I know now... I would interview her next.

ㅤ

"What do you think is the reason why your tongue is cut off?" I asked. I just looked like a fool when I realized that she couldn't answer.

ㅤ

"Oh, sorry," I laughed a little. "Do you know why that cloth is involved in the murder?"

ㅤ

She thought for a bit before shaking her head. I then asked, "Do you know who the killer is?"

ㅤ

She shook her head and left me to go to Hades. That was cold! I have a feeling that Crow was just playing a prank on us. There's really no killer! He's just fooling us!

ㅤ

I looked in my location for the cloth but there was really nothing. If I find that, I'd probably get to know who is the killer.

ㅤ

I was about to walk near Zeus and Dior because their conversation seemed deep. Not until I heard a loud shout.

ㅤ

"Fuck!" Gucci shouted which made me run near her. She was being electrified, along with Chanel. They tried to escape too?

ㅤ

"What did you do?" Ares worriedly asked but the two could not answer. I was about to hug the two girls but Tiffany stopped me from doing so.

ㅤ

But Hades was disobedient.

ㅤ

He hugged the two girls, getting him electrified too. I could see that he was fighting the urge not to yell out of pain because he was holding our two friends in his arms. I knew he did not want the two girls to be more frightened.

ㅤ

"We tried picking the lock of the door," Gucci answered when the nightmare was over. I facepalmed with that. Damn, our girls were really stubborn. "We're sorry..."

ㅤ

"Let's not try to escape," Zeus said. "We'll find out who the killer is."

ㅤ

I scoffed at that.

ㅤ

"You're probably the killer." My smile widened when I saw Zeus balling his hands into a fist. "You were so mad with Yves and Achilles, which is why you killed them. I fucking saw how angry you were when you saw the video."

ㅤ

"Fuck you, don't you point fingers!" Zeus was about to charge at me, not when Dior hugged him. Why? Did I expose his secret? "I loved Yves so why the fuck would I kill her?"

ㅤ

"You don't know shit," he hissed as his eyes turned a shade darker.

ㅤ

"Or, I guess it's Prada? You're Achi's fuck buddy, right?" I did not even bother to stop. Instead of Prada charging at me, a punch was landed on my face by Hades.

ㅤ

Of course, I did not want to lose so I punched him back! Our friends were shouting with each punch we threw at each other. However, their screams were silent as opposed to the anger consuming me.

ㅤ

Hermés pulled me away while Prada hugged Hades. We were glaring at each other.

ㅤ

"Be thankful that you're my friend," Hades threatened. "I can possibly let you follow Achilles."

ㅤ

I smirked and wiped the blood in the corner of my lips. I noticed her looking at me. She looked worried but I just turned around. I wanted to be alone.

ㅤ

I scooted myself in the corner where there was a flower vase so I could calm myself. Everything that happened these past few months played a montage in my mind. Everything was so heavy.

ㅤ

From when the video got leaked until we all fought... And with that, we slowly succumbed to our downfall. Even though we were happy yesterday, there was no doubt that something was already broken with out bond. Motherfucker.

Which is why I'll forever loathe Yves and Achilles.

ㅤ

I saw Dior who was about to come near me but I just shook my head. She was one of the people I was closest to and I would often go to her whenever something was bothering me.

ㅤ

But not now.

ㅤ

My eyes wandered around the place I was in. Not when I saw a familiar thing on the side.

ㅤ

The cloth. Fuck.

ㅤ

I know so well the owner of this cloth. I know the date, the place, and the person behind this. I can't possibly forget. However, the unfortunate thing was I could not tell this to anyone. I love her.

ㅤ

Would I be the bad person if I decide to protect someone?

ㅤ

Taking a deep breath, I hid the cloth in my pockets. I also ripped a piece of the curtain in place of the cloth. I would find a way to get out of here without hurting that person.

ㅤ

I closed my eyes when I remembered everything that happened. Most importantly, my contribution to what happened with Yves and Achilles.

ㅤ

"30 minutes left before I let the crows kiss your death."

ㅤ