"..."

The sight was unrecognisable. The television had fulfilled it's duty of transporting Gerald's final moments to us, and now was slipping back into the wall in which the giraffe had been launched into.

"WOOHOOOOOOO!!! EMOTIONALLLLLLL!"

"Wh...    What the..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"

"Rest in peace Gerald..."

"*sob*  W-Why..."

"Now then. It's around 1-2 o'clock right now, so...     Playgroup trial dismissed! All participants may return to the school."

With that, a loud bang on wood was heard, followed by a cryptic ding from the lift.

"I guess...        We should head back..." Rebecca sighed, gripping her arm as she started edging back to the lift, Richard close behind. They were followed by Pedro, Zoe, Danny, Freddy and Emily.

"P-Peppa..."

"Hm?" I looked to my right, seeing Suzy with a shaken face, and her arm gripping her faded white jacket as her blossom pink skirt slowly swayed. Her cotton was like a flurry ice cream sundae, little wisps of it floating around her.

"Can I...      M-Maybe hug you?"

"Oh. O-Ok." I stepped out of my trial stand, slowly wrapping my arms around Suzy's waist as I felt her own under my shoulders. It felt...           Deep. We were deep in silence, simply understanding each other as our touch kept us close. I was still terrified of losing Suzy...        She must be terrified of this situation. 

...

I'm not gonna let her go.

Not any time soon.

No. Not any time ever.

"U-Uhm...     Peppa? Can you...    Let go now? I feel better..."

"Oh. Sorry." I released my arms from the sheep's body.

"Its fine...      Wanna do something?"

"Sure...!" I smiled, walking alongside my best friend as we headed back to the lift, noticing that we were the last ones out of the trial room.

And honestly...      I needed a break.

Everything that has happened this morning was crazy.

We lost three people. Three of our friends.

But we have to keep moving. The hope that we have within ourselves knows that they'd want us to get out.

That's how hope works...

...Man, I'm getting sentimental, aren't I?

Nevermind. Now's the time for playing with friends, not playing with philosophy.

____________________

"...Why did you call me here?"

"Obvious! Having to unlock all the floors just to let you to my residence...    It's too much of a hassle!"

"And sneaking down to the first floor through the walls and floors isn't risky?"

"Of course it is! But I don't care...      Their hope will fall, eventually~..."

I sweated as the dark figure in the cloak eyed me down, their static-coloured aesthetic running through their whole design. The creepiness about it was only enhanced by the weak electric lights of the IT room. Their face stayed twisted as usual...    Ugh.

"So, our first trial went well, didn't it?"

"How so."

"The execution! It was so savage...    I loved it~..."

"...Do you want the game to continue?"

"Of course!"

"Why?" My eyes lit up, as a sense of courage rippled through me. "You've already killed two people. Delphine was killed by Gerald, fair enough, but...     Why execute them?"

"What do you mean."

"Th-There's enough people dying! Why execute them?! Why not just kick them ou-"

"Quiet, traitor. Wendy broke the rules, and Gerald obeyed them. Simple question, simple answer."

I sweated, as the figure stepped forward, a smile creeping onto them.

"Remember why I chose you, my friend. Your secret is more than enough to push everyone here over the edge."

"..."

"Get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow!"

"...Goodnight, boss." I sighed sadly, turning around stylishly and heading out of the door to the computer-stuffed room. My steps slowly echoed through the hallway as I edged further away from the site of the poor donkey's death, now cleaned up and fully dealt with. My head layed low as I took left, followed by another left. Soon reaching my dorm, I flipped out my handbook, swiping it across the door lock as the pillowy confirmation pierced through the quiet of the night. Before heading into my room to get a hopefully calm night's sleep, I muttered one thing to myself.

"...Why can't you snap out of it..."

____________________

(Chapter 1: Life's A Dangerous Game - CHAPTER END)

(< Intermission 1 - Start >)

____________________