Some music started to play.

"Are the kidnappers really playing music for us right now?" I ask frustrated. "Guess so..." Sara shrugs. Sou doesn't seem fazed. "Alright, miss Sara, miss (F/n), should we go?" He asks. "Yeah, let's go. Sara, how about you lead the way?" I offer. She just nods, obviously keeping to her thoughts for a bit.

Before we leave, Reko speaks up. "Sara, (N/n), come runnin' if you're in danger, alright? Feel free to leave the heavy lifting to the guys." She says before looking at Sou. "Then again, the scrawny beanie kid doesn't look so tough himself... You better run too." She points out.

Ouch, say goodbye to your masculinity man!

"W... What a cutting remark... Ahaha." He says, trying to laugh it off. "Best of luck, everyone...!" Nao manages a small smile.

After that conversation, I see Sara's attention shift to the many dead end passages with huge pillows at the bottom.

Dang, didn't know they make such big pillows!

"You see those huge cushions in the dead ends?" Sou points one out. "Yeah, but I don't remember falling on one... I blacked out before I hit the bottom with Gin." I admit. "I wonder... When I fell, did I land on one of these cushions?" Sara mused while gripping her chin. "Same for me. I bet all of us fell in a smililar way. Joe came carrying you into the hall here, Sara. Didn't imagine you two would be friends, though." Sou admitted.

Huh... I wonder...

"How did I get on the floor here though?" I asked aloud. Sou shrugged. "You and Gin were already in this room when I came to. You two must have been some of the first ones to appear here, I guess?" He suggested. "He probably dragged me across the floor." I chuckle.

We choose to go in a random direction which turned out to be a hallway with a sign that says "BAR" next to a doorway and a green vending machine. Weird. "There's a green vending machine here." Sou pointed out.

Yeah, no duh.

"Seems to sell drinks... But I've got no money." He admitted. "Well yeah, the kidnappers probably took it away from us since it's pointless here."

We walk to the vending machine to check out the prices. "Water and soda... Both cost 1000 yen. Talk about price gouging." Sou scowled. "WHAT!? That's like... 10 dollars... Goddamn..." I finish with a mumble.

We walk into the bar. Gin and Professor Mishima are searching here. It looks plain yet kinda cozy somehow? "This looks like...a bar." Sou states. I roll my eyes. "Yeah, no shit, Sherlock." I laugh which gets a snort out of him. He examines the bar. "Seems to be a lot of alcohol present... But you're both underage, so keep away." He warns.

Do we look like we'd drink??

I salute him. "Sir, yes, sir." I say jokingly and roll my eyes. "I don't like alcohol anyways, I've only had a sip of wine and champagne in my whole life. That's it." I admit.

{A/n: You can just ignore that if it's not true for you. I write these chapters based on myself.}

"You better not drink at a time like this either, Sou." Sara narrows her eyes at him. "On the other hand, some might say there's no better time to drink." He shrugs with a goofy grin. "Yeah but we probably shouldn't be drunk while kidnapped, ya feel me?" I ask. "... Fair point." He nods.

Gin is searching at a low eye-level. "Bars are just full of alcohol, meow." He huffs out. "I hate alcohol, woof! And I hate my drunkard dad even more, meow!" He exclaims, frustrated. "Oh sweetie..." I whisper as I frown.

This poor kid...

"Your dad has a bad drinking habit?" Sou pries. "He's an annoyance, woof!" Gin exclaims. "When you drink, you gotta be sure not to get swallowed up yourself. I'm drinking age, too... I gotta be careful." Sou mumbles while staring off into space.

Proffesor Mishima is inspecting every inch of this room. "Oh...miss Sara, miss (F/n). Have you encountered any dangers? Please take utmost caution... Yes..." He warns.

We nod and look around the bar some more. There's a variety of drinks but none of them seem especially notable.

We take a look at the blackboard in the room to see a bunch of names. I read them out.

--------------------------

[Can Drink]:

Alice, Naomichi, Kai, Kazumi, Keiji, Shunsuke, Sou, Mai, Megumi, Reko, Q-taro.

[Can't Drink]:

Anzu, Kanna, Gin, Kugie, Sara, Joe, Nao, Hinako, Ranmaru, (F/n).

---------------------------

I look back at Sou and Sara. "Well there's two possibilities now. One, there's more people still for us to meet. Two...they didn't make it from the First Trial..." I point out.

Nobody speaks up though.

We go back to the main hall and go into another corridor.

This time there's a red vending machine, a glass room and a "GAME" sign next to a doorway. "There's a red vending machine here. Seems to sell cigarettes. And in the back is a smoking area, I guess...?" Sou states. "That would make sense." I shrug, clueless. "Don't buy any if you're underage, of course. Can't have you two turning into delinquents now." Sou teases. "I don't like smoking anyways. My mom smokes so I find it gross. You don't have to worry, Sou." I assure him.

Guess I'm okay with saying that much about myself...

The machine is indeed selling cigarettes, it turns out. I see Sara kneel down and put her hand in the dispensing slot. She pulls out a cigar. "It's got a high class feel, huh?" Sou asks. "I've never even seen one of these in person before!" I admit and grab it from Sara so I can examine it. "This is sorta cool!" After I'm done I hand it back to Sara.

We walk into the doorway next to the vending machine. It's a huge room with a big hole around a dart board, some vent like thing above it, a red door and a blue door. "Is this...a game room?" Sou asks. "Looks kinda plain for it but I guess...?" I reply while looking around. "...Pretty lonesome, considering." He mutters. "Feels like there'd be some kind of puzzle or trick to this place." Sara inputs. "I'll rely on your insight, miss Sara..." Sou shrugs.

I can see what she means. This room has a weird feeling to it... Kinda like an escape room in a way?

Sou points to the huge vent thing just above the dartboard. "What's that thing above the dartboard?" He asks. "No clue..." I shrug. "Seems like there's wind blowing..." He points out. "Huh..." Is my only response. "How dreary... Playing here would just be lonely." He sighs.

I look down the very deep hole with Sara and Sou. "Yikes... That's deep, alright." Sou comments. "Y-Yeah... I better step away... I've got a huge fear of heights and falling..." I admit as I step away with the other two following.

We walk over to the red door and Sara checks it. It's shut fast. "How curious..." Sou mumbled into his scarf but I caught what he said. We check the blue door. It can open easily. "Seems we can enter anytime." He points out. "I don't want to head in yet. Let's head back." Sara says. "Got a weird feeling?" I ask. "No, I just want to make sure we explore the other areas first." She says. "Fair enough." Sou shrugs.

We head back and go down the third corridor.

There are a bunch of tables set with table cloths and chairs. There's also a window that you can look into the kitchen from. A dark area is behind an archway in the back. And lastly, there are two items on the tables.

This reminds me of a hotel cafeteria just less fancy...

"This looks like...a cafeteria. I wonder if our kidnappers are telling us to eat up here?" Sou muses. Sara just stays quiet and picks up one of the items. It's a dart. "It's small, but it looks fancy. The tip is sharp, so be careful." He warns. "She'll be fine. She's a big girl, Sou." I laugh. "Touche." He shrugs while grasping his beanie. Sara then picks up the other item which is a lighter. "That's an expensive-looking Zippo lighter." Sou comments.

I check the door to the kitchen as Sara pockets the items. It turns out to be locked so we head to the area in the back.

It's pitch black

"What an imposing atmosphere..." Sou mumbles. "You said it man. It's creepy as shit in here, especially that red lamp ..." I point out. "It is rather eerie. Don't think I have the courage to enter that door..." He admits. "I'm scared too. You can grab onto my hoodie if that helps..." I awkwardly suggest.

I never really had many friendships with guys so I'm really awkward about physical contact with them. Especially an adult like Sou... It also doesn't help that this guy is kind of suspicious to me!

Still, I want to be nice.

His eyes widen for a second and he shakes his head. "Thank you for the offer, miss (F/n). I'll be fine." He smiles. I awkwardly rub my arm and try to return the smile.

We all walk forward and Sou tries the door handle. "Woah! It's not locked... W-What should we do?...Are we going in?" He asks. Sara looks at me to get an opinion out of me. I think for a second. "...Fuck it. Open the door, Sara." I sigh. She nods at me and grabs the door handle. I feel myself tightening my hold on my arm in anticipation. "Here goes...!" Sou nervously says.

She opens the door...

...

"It's...really pink..." I say. Sara is standing in the doorway so I can't get a clear look at the room. She steps inside with Sou and I following.

Then I notice the torso in the middle of the room.

"Oh my God!" I yelp out and take a step back. "We'll examine it in a second. Just calm down, miss (F/n)." Sou tells me. "O-Okay..." I shakily say and try to take deep breaths.

Good Lord, do I have to start getting used to this...?

Ugh...

Without even bunching, Sara goes after something next to the stuffed rabbit plushies.

She picks up some blue bullets.

"These feel pretty light..." She mumbles to herself. "Hey... Let me look at those." Sou says. Sara hands them over and he examines them in his free hand. "...Ahh. These are dummy bullets." He says. "Dummies?" Sara tilts her head. "They're like toys. If you put these in a gun, they won't fire." He elaborates. "So they're not real bullets?" Sara asks to makes sure. "Yeah, they're safe, at any rate." Sou assures her with a smile.

Huh...

I wonder how he learned to tell apart bullets...

I didn't even realize I was staring at him until he caught my gaze. "I know, let's have Keiji look at these. He should have more experience than us, so maybe he can tell us something." Sou proposes. "Alright, sounds fair since Keiji's a cop."

I decide to be brave and to check out the torso.

Turns out it's another doll part.

Godamnit...

Really me? Why do you have to be so scared of dolls?

As I mentally curse myself, Sou speaks up behind me. "I...It's not gonna move, is it?" He asks. "Dude don't you even say that! It better fucking not or I'll probably piss myself." I whine with dread clear in my voice.

Ugh, just thinking about it makes my skin crawl!

"Could this be...related to the head in the box?" Sara questions. "Oh shoot, I completely forgot about that! But yeah, I think so, Sara! "Find my body"? The note Keiji read said something like that, right?" I asked aloud. Sou rubbed his temple before his eyes widened in realization. "Find the body..! Right, the note did say that." He remembered.

Wow...I feel smart!

"I wonder if the doll head from the box can be combined with this torso..." Sara muses. "Will that make something happen?" Sou questions. "Only one way to find out, guys." I point out. Sara nods at me and looks down. "The fact that it might is a little scary though...".

Girl, tell me about it...

Sou's positivity switch must have been flipped at that moment or he just didn't want to deal with two scared girls because he immediately tried to change the subject. "Y-Yeah, right! Let's search around some more first! A...Ahaha..." He tried to laugh it off.

Smooth... Very smooth, Sou. Totally.

After making sure there was nothing else in the room we missed, and that the heart-shaped vent couldn't be removed, we decided to head back to the main hall to discuss what to do next.

"Alright since we've pretty much covered every inch of this place, I propose that we check out the blue room. All for going?" I ask them. They both nod. "Awesome. Lead the way Sara." I smile as she steps ahead of Sou and me. We get to the blue room and walk inside.

The room looks to be made out of some weird purple bricks. It's also got these strange purple human-looking mannequins sitting on some of the checkered arm chairs. There are two floors connected by a ladder. Lastly, there is a huge painting of a white figure in a suit and a hat that's smoking.

In the room are Q-taro who looks to be scoping the room out, Keiji and Kai who seem to be looking around the chairs and lastly there's Joe who is staring at the painting.

This room looks really weird...

Then again, this whole place is weird.

"Woah, what are those? Let's get closer and check them out." Sou points at the purplish mannequin. He goes on ahead while Sara and I turn to Q-taro.

"What are you doing, Q-taro?" Sara asked him. "Jus' getting a big ol' view of the room. But these guys... They're checkin' every corner, no hesitation... Ain't they scared of traps?" He asks rhetorically.

I guess he doesn't really have much to say.

Sara starts walking towards Joe so I follow along. He notices us and speaks up. "Wonder what that big painting is for?" Sara raises an eyebrow at him. "Finding it curious?" He shrugs. "Maybe..." He says while scratching his neck. "Can you take it off the wall?" I ask. "I think I'll check the easy things first, like these chairs." He laughs, which makes me smile.

This ball of sunshine is making me feel so much better about being in this situation.

"Besides, this painting is just barely out of you guys' reach, huh?" He teases with a cocky smirk.

Oh I know for a fact he didn't just say that.

"Hey! I'm short and I'm proud, damnit!" I laugh and cross my arms. "I'll have you know that I grew a centimeter since last year. Don't take me lightly!" Sara teases back. "Oh shit, we got a badass over here!" I say with mocking fear and giggle. Joe chuckles at me. "D...Don't put me down, Sara." He looks like he's torn between moping and laughing at my antics. "I'll be calling you "shorty" someday." She smirks at him. "Urgh...!" He groans.

Man these two are adorable.

...

I miss my friends already...my online ones too...

I gently slap myself across the face.

"Get your head in the game! Focus!" I whisper to myself. "Hmm?" Sara turns to me with a worried look. "It's nothing, Sara. I was just talking to myself." I assure her. She looks like she doesn't buy it but she just nods and leaves it alone.

I don't have time to waste worrying right now. I'm fine. As fine as I can be right now anyway.

We walk over to Keiji next. He notices us and immediately turns to Sara. "Hey, Sara. Put out your hand." He says. "Um?" She sounds confused but still obliges. Keiji hands her three pink bullets. Mine and Sara's eyes widen.

Woah there...!

"Wait, are these..." She starts but Keiji answers her question before she even finishes. "No, these aren't mine. Found 'em while checking the seats."

Ok... That makes sense...

A warning would still have been nice though, just saying...!

Sara inspects the bullets closer and so do I. "I've...never seen these in person before. Are these real bullets?" She asks. "I've only ever seen airsoft bullets before from my dad's airsoft guns..." I mumble out. "Probably. Dangerous stuff. So would you take 'em?" He asks. "Why me...?" Sara tilts her head confused. "Joe'll get antsy if I have 'em. That said, I can't give them to Joe either. (F/n) is younger than you so I don't want to give her bullets. So I'm counting on ya, Sara." He explains before going back to investigating.

Sara pockets the bullets and we walk over to Sou who's checking out one of those purple mannequins. "Looks like...it's a doll." Sou says. "Oh just fucking great." I say sarcastically before sighing. "A doll, huh... Let's take it off the chair and inspect it." Sara proposed. I go to the other side of the doll and Sou and I try to take it off the chair.

It doesn't work.

"Hm...? The doll's attached to the chair." Sou points out. "Well there goes that plan." I comment. "It feels like there's something to this." Sara muses as she keeps gazing at the doll. "Well, that's good, anyway. I don't know what I'd do if it suddenly attacked." Sou said while looking straight at me. "Noooo! Don't say that!!" I run my hands down my face and he chuckles.

Sou, you fucking prick...

Not my fault that mannequins and dolls creep me out!

Sara and I leave Sou there and walk over to Kai. "It would appear this is a doll." He informs as we stop next to him. "It's placement here seems significant." Sara points out. "The head has a weighty feel. When I shake it, I hear this...sloshing sound." Kai adds. I shake the doll to see for myself and he's absolutely right! "Huh... Well what do ya know...?" I mumble out. "Is there liquid inside...?" Sara asks. "Perhaps the kidnappers' aim is to have us stick a straw in here for hydration when we find ourselves thirsty." Kai states.

...

"...What?...Where did that idea even come from?" Is all I can say to that. "Besides, the head seems pretty solidly built." Sara adds. Kai stares at us for a second before speaking up. "...Apologies. I was trying to tell a joke."

...

"Oh... That completely flew over my head..." I awkwardly laugh. Sara just narrows her eyes at him. "At a time like this...?" He bows his head sheepishly. "Truly sorry." I laugh a bit. "Cut the guy some slack, Sara. He's trying to be positive!" I try to convince her with a smile. She smiles back. "I guess you're right, (N/n)."

We check out the rest of the dolls until, when checking the upper part, I see Sara going in between two chairs. I follow her to get a closer look.

"Is that a gun...?"

I hear Sara ask quietly as she looks down. "Oh my God...it is..." I say wide eyed. I shakily grab the gun, since I'm smaller so my arm fits easier between the chairs.

I examine it. It's a revolver.

Feels weird to hold a real weapon in real life... Kinda dangerous.

*TAP TAP TAP*

As I'm about to hand it to Sara, our heads turn in the direction of footsteps next to us.

It's Sou...but his face almost looks like it's covered with a shadow as he looks at us seriously and skeptically.

"...What are you two going to do with that?"

Wait... Does he actually suspect we'll...?

We keep on having something similar to a staring contest with Sou before he suddenly turns away from us.

He then looks at us with his regular smile. "Ahh, sorry, miss Sara and miss (F/n)."

Wait, are we seriously going to ignore what just happened?

I don't even have time to ponder on that question longer before Sou asks a question that makes my blood run cold.

"Hey, would you give me that?"

...

I swear I can feel my heart skipping beats and a shift in the air.

I usually don't have bad feelings about people but this guy is one of the only exceptions that seems fairly normal...on the outside, anyway...

Mind you, I am frozen in the middle of giving this revolver to Sara as he asks this. Our hands are litteraly outstretched in the middle of an exchange.

I hope the sudden fear isn't visible in my eyes as I pull the gun closer to my chest.

After a couple seconds, Sou's casual smile comes back as he laughs. "Ahaha, that's right. You shouldn't let it leave your sight." He says as if what just happened was absolutely normal.

This is insane!

I look Sara in the eye like 'What the fuck do I do!?'. She places a hand on my shoulder protectively and takes the gun before putting it away into her skirt pocket.

I guess we're ignoring what just happened, then?

"It doesn't seem to have bullets... But definetly don't give it to someone else." Sou advises. "I understand..." Sara replies casually from what I hear in her voice. Still, I can see sweat forming on her forehead. She's stressed out about what just happened too.

She's trying to hide her fear for my sake...

Sara...

Sou turns around and goes down the ladder. I can see Sara start to play with her bangs. She tries to follow Sou but I grab her hand. As she turns around I hug her. She seems surprised but hugs back. "Thank you, Sara..." I whisper shakily before pulling away and leading the way down the ladder.

Once I climb down, Keiji approaches me. "Hey, (F/n). You and Sara found anything out?" He asks. "Not really, to be honest." I sigh. Sara finally climbs down. "There's plenty that we still don't get." I continue. "Yeah, like for example: we found a gun and bullets in this room." Sara rubs her chin in thought. "What meaning could there be to the kidnappers giving us a weapon...?"

Keiji's face turns serious. "Might want to cause a discord." He suggests. "Discord?" Sara echoes. "A weapon that puts one person at an advantage... Who'd wanna hand that over to someone else?" Keiji points out.

This...actually isn't a bad theory...

"But we've got good ol' Sara with us, so we won't fall for that trap." Keiji says with a smile. Sara looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "...Why do you trust me so much?" She asks. "'Cause you're cute." Keiji responds with a smirk.

...UMMMMM...

Should I leave?? I feel like I'm intruding...

My thoughts must have been displayed on my facial expression because Sara's already pink face turns a shade darker as she looks my way. She doesn't look embarrassed though and just keeps on having that deep in thought expression she always has. Even Keiji seems surprised. "Didn't expect you to respond to a compliment with a such a dubious look." He admits.

How is Sara so calm? I'd be a stuttering mess!

As she looks back at him her eyes widen in realization. "Oh right, Keiji. I found these dummy bullets in the cafeteria." She pulls them out and shows them to him. "...What's that?" He asks, probably hardly believing it himself. He takes them. "Do they seem like a clue?" I ask. "...I'll check 'em out." Is all he says before going back to his spot.

"I guess we can go do some more investigating while Keiji checks out those bullets." I offer. Sara nods at me. We go back to Sou, much to my discomfort, and go to head out but Keiji stops Sara and I before we walk out. "Oh, Sara, (F/n). Hold on a sec..." He says. "Yes?" Sara asks and I turn around to look at Sou who is already outside the room.

"Huh? Miss Sara, miss (F/n), aren't you two coming?" He asks confused.

"One se-"

I'm cut off by iron bars sliding out  from the floor, blocking the doorway.

Both Sou and I make noises of surprise. I run over to the bars and start shaking them. Of course, they don't budge.

S h i t

"Miss (F/n), miss Sara, are you okay!?" He asks. "I dunno, man! We're kinda trapped here!" I state out the obvious, scared out of my mind again.  Sou takes notice of this and tries moving the bars as well.

With how nimble he is, he obviously didn't succeed either.

"...Gah! It won't open...! I...I'll look for something to pry it with!" He tells me before running away. "Hurry!" I screech out after him.

Okay I need to breathe!

I turn around and take deep, shaky breaths as I walk back over to Keiji and Sara. "Well, this sure is bad." He says while rubbing his neck. "No shit, Sherlock!" I shout before going back to my breathing. Sara walks up to me and hugs me so I can calm down.

Holy shit, okay, wow, what the hell is gonna happen now!?

"Sara! (F/n)! Are any of you hurt!?" Joe runs up to us and asks. "I-I'm fine..." I stutter out between breaths. He frowns and rubs my back while I'm in Sara's arms. "No... I'm okay, but..." Sara gets cut off by Q-taro. "Damnit, it's a trap! Who knows what'll happen! Stay alert!"

"Hey now, don't put yourselves so on guard."

-------------------------

[Author's Note]

CLIFFHANGER!

Sorry not sorry, I thought it was perfect!

Also, can we just talk about how creepy Sou can be? I mean Christ, man!

NO THANKS SATAN! NOT TODAY!

Lastly, thank you guys for reading this book!! I'm so happy that people actually wanna read this story <3

Anyways, that's all for today! Minigame time next chapter!

Toodles~!

Kaja is finished here ^^

[Word Count: 4393]