Chapter 1: Silent Echoes

- Daily Life -

- Free Time -

Written by: The Masked Eidolon

Edited by: No one, fuckers!!!

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I could see Styk giving me a dirty look as I unlocked the Author lab, went inside the room, and closed the door shut.

Nobody else was in here, since the Sniper lab was deemed to have more useful materials. Which was good, because I didn't want to get pulled into more beef. Scoping out the room, I quickly grabbed a thick legal pad and a ballpoint pen. Then I made my way out of the lab, leaving the key in the doorknob.

I didn't feel like exiting the illusion of safety in my dorm, but after a while, sitting in your room and staring at a clock gets boring. And keeping yourself occupied in this place is harder than it looks. I could investigate with the others, but Monocavy's security doesn't seem to have any flaws. I could train with the weight Fdeys gave me, but that would make it look like I was gearing up to kill someone.

And I guess I could write, but it's not like I'd be able to take anything here with me if we get out. So that's kind of a waste. In the end, the only slightly beneficial thing I can do is hang out with some of the other students, thus making them less likely to kill me. And if that's what I'm going to do, there's one specific person I have in mind.

I came to a stop in front of the mute blonde mime's dorm room, and saw the letters plastered onto her door.

"Dreamer."

So that's her name, huh? Fitting for someone who locks themselves in their room all day. It's not as if I had a particular interest in her, but I was going to interact with every other student anyway during mealtimes. So naturally, she'd be the most productive option to talk to.

Sighing, I gave her door a quick couple of knocks and waited for her to open it. After a few seconds, I heard it unlock and saw it slowly creak open, revealing the Ultimate Mime's full stature. As soon as she saw me, I could tell there was a question in her eyes. But it's not like she could ask it herself, so I had to do it for her.

Eden: You're wondering why I'm here, right?

She faintly nodded, so I handed her the legal pad and pen.

Eden: They opened up the Author lab, so you can use this to talk to people. You were afraid of joining the group because you can't contribute, correct? Well, now you can.

Dreamer took the supplies, regarded them for a few seconds, then began to write into the legal pad with the pen. Soon afterward, she showed the words to me.

Dreamer: "Thank you, but I still don't think I should join the group."

Eden: Why not?

Dreamer: ...

Dreamer scribbled some more words in her legal pad and showed them to me once again.

Dreamer: "It's kind of a lot to explain."

I formed a slight smile.

Eden: We're locked in an underground bunker with only a psycho robot guinea pig to keep us company, and he's not gonna let us out anytime soon. We've got nothing but time here.

Dreamer mirrored my grin.

Dreamer: "I suppose you're right. Want to come inside?"

Eden: Sure thing.

Dreamer stepped aside and let me enter her room. As soon as I walked inside, I was met with a sweet and gentle aroma that took me off guard. Lavender and white plum, I think? I sat down at the table in her dorm, and she did the same, preparing her legal pad for speech.

Eden: So, what turned you into little miss antisocial?

Dreamer squinted her eyes at me.

Dreamer: "I'm not... antisocial, per se."

Eden: Are you sure? 'Cause you fit the bill to a T.

Dreamer shook her head.

Dreamer: "It's not as if I have massive anxiety when talking to people... although spending a lot of time alone has made me a little anxious. But mainly, I just don't see the point."

Eden: What do you mean?

Dreamer: "Since I'm mute, I don't see the point. Nobody our age understands sign language, and I'm sure talking by writing into this legal pad is a little annoying for you."

I frowned because she was right. It felt a little off having to wait twenty seconds for a reply each time I spoke. It also didn't help that her impeccable penmanship meant she was a slow writer.

Dreamer: "And group conversations are an even bigger hassle, because of how fast paced they are. By the time I finish writing my reply to a remark, the topic will have already shifted."

I leaned my head on the palm of my hand.

Eden: Well, you can have Chaos translate for you. Being the Ultimate Linguist, I'm sure he knows sign language.

Dreamer: "Thank you for the suggestion, but I don't want to have to interrupt everyone when I speak. It just... rubs me the wrong way."

Dreamer sighed, a wistful yet optimistic smile on her face.

Dreamer: "Things are fine the way they are, really."

I furrowed my brow.

Eden: You're fine with being alone? In a place like this?

Dreamer: "I mean... I kinda have to, right?"

Eden: But that's so...

Risky. Doesn't she realize that people will be more likely to kill her if they think she's by herself all the time? And especially if no one has a personal connection to her, she's gonna be the first one to get killed. Shouldn't someone tell her that?

Eden: ...

Whatever. I came here to boost my odds of survival, anyway. If she's more likely to die, then I'm more likely to live.

Suddenly, Dreamer jotted down a quick couple of words into her legal pad and gave me a thumbs up.

Dreamer: "You can go ahead. I'm listening."

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

Eden: ...

I sighed.

Who am I kidding? I'm not that cold-hearted.

Eden: It's really dangerous, being alone at a time like this.

Dreamer raised an eyebrow.

Dreamer: "Now it's my turn to ask you what you mean."

Eden: I mean you're gonna get yourself killed. We're in a death game, aren't we? Once people start to realize there's no way out of here, somebody is gonna crack. And who do you think they're more likely to kill, a friend who they've talked to on the daily or a mime who shuts herself in her room all day?

Dreamer: ...

Dreamer: "I have faith in my classmates. They won't stoop so low."

Even though her words were naive, they'd been accompanied by such a warm smile that I had trouble not believing them.

Dreamer: "Styk and the others will definitely find a way out of here, and then we'll all be peachy."

I really don't think a group of teenagers will be able to beat Monocavy's security. But hey, I'll play along for the time being. What's the harm?

Eden: Well, if that's what you believe...

I smirked and pointed at Dreamer.

Eden: Then shouldn't you be investigating as well?

Dreamer: "But... I can't communicate with anyone. I won't be useful to have around."

I waved the suggestion away.

Eden: Bah. You can have me as your mouthpiece. I wasn't investigating anyway, so you wouldn't be interfering.

Dreamer squinted her eyes.

Dreamer: "You weren't investigating?"

Eden: No, I wasn't. You just heard how I feel about the situation.

Dreamer: "Ok. Fair enough."

I leaned back in my chair and gestured towards the door.

Eden: So, are we going or not?

Dreamer got up from her seat, legal pad in hand.

Dreamer: "We're going."

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I spent some time with Dreamer investigating the Author lab.

Dreamer and I got a little closer today.

Friendship Fragment - Dreamer - Obtained! (2/6)

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After a brisk search of the Author lab, Dreamer and I returned to her dorm and sat on the same chairs we did before.

Eden: So, let's review what we found.

Dreamer nodded.

Eden: One; The labs don't contain anything personal to their owners. It's just miscellaneous supplies.

Dreamer crossed her arms and nodded again.

Eden: Two; There were pens in the lab with suspiciously sharp tips. But we confiscated them.

Dreamer gave me two thumbs ups and nodded yet again.

Eden: Three; ...

Eden: ...

Eden: Actually, there is no three. That's all we found.

Dreamer: "Not very much, huh."

Eden: Nope.

Dreamer: ...

Eden: ...

Eden: Is there anything around here that'll help us pass the time?

Dreamer thought for a moment and then wrote something down on the legal pad.

Dreamer: "Do you play chess?"

Eden: Yeah, why?

Dreamer held out her left fist towards me.

Dreamer: "Imagine a chess piece in your mind. Then tap my fist while saying the piece out loud."

I raised my eyebrows.

Eden: I didn't know mimes practiced magic.

Dreamer: "Most don't. But then again, most aren't the Ultimate Mime either."

Dreamer and I traded cheeky smiles before she wrote in her notepad again.

Dreamer: "Come on, choose a piece!"

Eden: Alright, then.

I closed my eyes and tapped one of her knuckles.

Eden: Knight.

Dreamer then snapped her fingers and a miniature knight appeared on her index finger. I gave her a golf clap, and then she took a small chess board out of her pocket.

Dreamer: "I've got a magnetic set if you'd like to play."

Eden: Sure thing.

Dreamer opened up the board and handed me the bag with the black pieces.

Eden: What made you decide to become a mime, anyway? If your main thing is magic tricks.

Dreamer finished her setup and pushed a pawn to the center of the board.

Dreamer: "My main thing is acting, actually. Even since I was a little girl, I admired the heroes I'd see on screen. So I promised that I would eventually become one of them."

Eden: Didn't turn out so hot, huh?

Dreamer: "Yeah, it went about as well as you'd expect. Nobody wants an actor that can't speak their own lines. And mute roles in show business are extremely rare."

Very true. I know that one personally.

Dreamer: "But... I'm not the kind of person who's just going to give up on my dream. So I decided to choose a career where my disability wouldn't affect me."

I moved my own pawn to attack hers.

Eden: A mime magician?

Dreamer: "Mhm. I incorporated the magic into my storytelling, and that was my big draw. It's not exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up... but I'm happy with it."

She defended the pawn with a knight. I captured it anyway.

Dreamer: "So, what's your story, Eden?"

Eden: Oh, nothing special. Basically just yours but I didn't have a disability that got in the way.

Dreamer: "Mm. I see."

Eden: ...

Great. Now I look like a douche with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Eden: Hey, Dreamer?

She took her attention off of the game and looked at me.

Dreamer: "Yeah?"

Eden: I'll include a mute character in the next season of my show.

Her mouth opened a small sliver out of shock.

Dreamer: "You'd... do something like that for me?"

I looked to the side of the room.

Eden: ...

Eden: After hearing what you said, I'd be a jerk to not at least offer. I mean, come on, I'm not that much of an asshole.

The scratching of her pen against paper redirected my attention back to her.

Dreamer: "Thank you, Eden."

Eden: It's really no big deal. Let's focus on the chess match now, alright.

Dreamer put down her legal pad and recaptured my pawn.

Dreamer: "Alright."

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I spent some time with Dreamer playing a chess adoption match.

Dreamer and I got a little closer today.

Friendship Fragment - Dreamer - Obtained! (3/6)

Free Time - End!

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After a long and hard-won adoption match with Dreamer, I finally retired to my dorm. Checking the clock, the time was 8:12, which means I skipped both lunch and dinner with the rest of the group.

Eden: ...

Perhaps I spent a little too much time with her. Everyone else in the group probably thinks I'm a depressed couch potato who stayed in his dorm all day...

Eden: ...

Even so, I can't deny that I enjoyed her company. And it would've felt odd to leave before the adoption match was over, so I have no regrets. Although, I am pretty hungry, so getting a sandwich from the dining hall is my next priority.

As I got up from my bed and walked towards the door though, I heard the ring of my room's doorbell.

I glanced at the clock again. 8:13. Late enough for a murder attempt, perhaps? Considering the fact that I went AWOL for lunch and dinner, there was a non-zero chance I'd been targeted for a kill. So I probably shouldn't answer just in case.

Going back to my bed and preparing for the long haul, I heard a voice from outside.

Vysko: You there, Eden? I'm trying to recruit people to a project of mine.

Eden: ...

A much quieter voice spoke up.

Dark: Do you think he's dead?

Insert: Don't think so. Eden doesn't seem like the kind of guy who'll go down easily.

So Dark and Insert were with him, huh? Then it should be fine if I answered the door.

I went back over to it and pulled the handle open, revealing Vysko, Dark, Fdeys, Insert, and Avi outside my room. All of them had thin katanas sheathed at their waists.

Insert smirked.

Insert: See. Told you he'd be fine.

Eden: What are you guys planning? A coup against Monocavy?

Avi: No. We're gonna try and pry open the hatch in Michi's room.

I sighed.

Eden: Sorry, but I don't really feel like taking sides in this beef. You guys can feel free to war it out, but don't involve me.

I gripped the door to my room to close it, but a voice rang out before it could fully shut.

Fdeys: You can't just hide in your room forever, you know.

Eden: Excuse me?

Fdeys: Even if you think we ain't gonna get outta here, hiding in your dorm won't do anything. But investigating suspicious stuff like this... it's productive.

Vysko: Fdeys is right. You can't deny that she's suspicious. And the only way to see who she really is is to investigate.

I scratched the top of my head.

Eden: Yeah, I get it. But if I'm gonna be honest with you, I really don't believe she's a mole.

Vysko gave me a disappointed frown.

Eden: I mean, just think about it. If I was the mastermind, and she was my spy, the last thing I'd want to do is incriminate her by putting a secret hatch in her dorm.

Vysko: That thought could be what the mastermind's banking on. To give their spy passage into a secret room while also making it too obvious of an anomaly to suspect.

Eden: It still could be the other way around, though... seems like circular logic to me.

Avi: If it's circular logic, then both of you could be right.

Both me and Vysko turned to face Avi.

Avi: Whether or not you suspect Michi isn't the point. The point is whether you want to see what's under the hatch.

Avi turned to me.

Avi: Eden, I understand how you feel. But aren't you the least bit curious as to what's under there? Even in the case that she's not a mole.

Eden: ...

Eden: Yeah. I can't deny that the hatch is interesting.

Avi took an extra sword out of the bag she was carrying and handed it to me.

Avi: Then let's go pry it open.

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*Ding dong*

*Ding dong*

*Ding dong*

*Ding dong*

The sound of Vysko repeatedly pressing Michi's doorbell button permeated my ears.

Insert: Is that really necessary? She's probably in the john or something.

Vysko smirked.

Vysko: Yes. Yes it is.

After a few more seconds, the door jerked open to reveal a disgruntled Michiru.

Michi: What?

She raised her eyebrows upon seeing our swords.

Michi: Am I... being arrested?

Vysko shoved his way into Michi's room.

Vysko: No, no, nothing like that. We're just gonna try and get that hatch open. Come on in, everyone!

I followed Vysko, and everyone else followed me until we were all in the room.

Michi: ...

Michi: Do you really think you're gonna be able to bend steel?

Vysko unsheathed his sword.

Vysko: Mm-hmm. I brought these other five here for a reason.

Insert swung his blade around in the air.

Insert: I forgot how fun katanas are to use, heh heh.

Fdeys stretched his arms.

Fdeys: Ah, nothing like a good workout.

Dark glanced at the two athletes.

Dark: Do you guys even need meh...?

Vysko faced Dark and grinned.

Vysko: Every helping hand will be useful, Dark.

Dark's expression lit up as she violently drew her saber.

Dark: Okay then! I'll be sure to perform!

I jammed my unsheathed sword in the hatch's small slit, and turned to Avi.

Eden: You ready?

She did the same and faced me as well.

Avi: Yes, I am.

Soon enough, everyone else was in position and ready to pry open the hatch.

Vysko: Three...

Vysko: Two...

Vysko: One...

Michi crossed her arms and scoffed.

Michi: You guys are something else.

Vysko: Everyone, pull!

All six of us yanked our swords as hard as we could in an attempt to break open the mysterious hatch. It was obvious that Fdeys and Insert were doing most of the lifting, which is why they were positioned on the left and right ends of the hatch, respectively. But aside from them, I think I was doing the third most. I took pride in that small fact.

We kept pulling and pulling and pulling and scratching our skin and tearing our muscles and choking our veins until the hatch gave out a mighty creak and showed signs of opening.

Fdeys: Keep goin', everyone! Don't even think about faltering!

Insert: Holy shit, we're actually doing it!

Dark: Nngh...! Grrr...!!!

After a few more seconds of effort, the hatch broke open with a POP! And everyone flew backwards from the momentum.

The secret hatch had been opened.

Vysko: ...!

Fdeys: ...!

Insert: ...!

Dark: ...!

Avi: ...!

Eden: ...!

Michi: ...!!!

All of us stumbled back up on our feet, bodies trembling and hearts racing. Unlike the other areas the mastermind had let us get into, this hatch was locked off. Unreachable. Our captors didn't intend for us to get in here. So the clue inside was likely invaluable.

Insert: What is everyone waiting for!? Let's get inside!

Insert rushed into the newly opened staircase under the hatch, and I followed him at a brisk pace. I could hear everyone else trotting their feet slightly behind me until we arrived at a silver door with a card reader.

On the top of its frame, it read: "L-2."

Eden: Any chance this thing isn't locked?

Avi: Probably not. I don't even see a doorknob.

Fdeys: We pried open the hatch, we can pry this open as well. Everyone knows what to do, right?

Vysko had already started walking back up the stairs.

Vysko: Pick up our weapons and repeat the process.

Fdeys: Damn straight.

Everyone turned around and started back up the stairs until we heard a ding from behind us and collectively turned around. The door was open, and dozens of rabid Monocavies were pouring out of it.

Insert: Oh, shit! Get back up, get back up!!!!

I had no trouble obliging that request as the Monocavies chased us out of the staircase and back into Michi's dorm proper. Suddenly, one Monocavy jumped out of the crowd and addressed us.

Monocavy: UNBELIEVABLE! SIMPLY UNBELIEVABLE!!!

The tiny robots under the plush animal's command surrounded us and opened their mouths, baring sharp and shiny silver teeth that could probably pierce metal.

Monocavy: BREAKING DOWN YOUR TEACHER'S HATCH? WHAT A TRAVESTY! WHAT A LACK OF RESPECT THAT ENTAILS! DID YOU NOT LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAID I WAS YOUR NEW GOD!?!?!?!

Michi ignored the fangs of the tiny robots and walked directly up to Monocavy.

Michi: Can it, guinea pig. What we did wasn't against any rules.

Monocavy hovered up to Michi's face and changed his yell to a low growl.

Monocavy: It should be obvious, Michiru, that breaking open a locked hatch of mine is strictly prohibited.

In response, Michi pulled out her rule tablet and pointed to rule number 10.

Michi: "With minimal restrictions, you are free to explore the campus at your discretion."

Monocavy: Yes... minimal restrictions. Not no restrictions. Anything locked should remain locked.

Monocavy scrolled down to rule number 11.

Monocavy: "Students who violate these rules shall be executed." So tell me why I shouldn't send you to Belize right here, right now.

The robots under Monocavy's command trekked closer to her, widening their mouths and revealing jagged spikes along their already barbed teeth.

Michi: We had no way of knowing your locked door policy with the rules you put in this handbook.

Monocavy slowly shook his head from side to side as the robots came even closer, almost clamping down on Michi's vital points.

Michi: And if you murdered all seven of us here, your killing game wouldn't be as fun.

The robots suddenly stopped in their tracks, and Monocavy squinted his eyes at Michi, holding her gaze for a good thirty seconds.

Monocavy: ...

Monocavy: ...

Monocavy: Puhuhu.

Monocavy: You got me.

The robots slowly slithered away from her as Monocavy's voice returned to normal.

Monocavy: I'm not going to kill all of you. My fun is the most important thing. And you can't really have a killing game with only 9 participants, can you? Puhuhu. But, then again...

Monocavy: You kids disobeyed me. Blatantly destroyed school property. What you did was completely unforgivable...!

Monocavy: So even if it would impede my fun to punish all of you, I can still punish one of you, can't I?

Suddenly, a machine gun erupted from the wall right next to Michi's head.

It fired.

But Michi's reaction was ever so slightly faster than the windup of the gun's barrel, and the bullet missed her forehead by centimeters.

Michi: ...

Monocavy: Puhuhu. You're fast. And that speed just saved your life.

With that, he and his robot army retreated back into the ether, leaving everyone paralyzed where they sat.

Michi stepped back into a wall and then slid to the floor, letting out a huge breath as she went down.

Michi: ...

Michi: Everyone... let's all get some sleep.

I was the first one to get up.

Eden: We learned enough today. Let's hit the hay and reflect on what we saw tomorrow.

I heard a murmur of agreement from the crowd as we all helped each other stand up and went back to our respective rooms. We definitely accomplished something with this trip. We learned that even Monocavy has a weakness. That there's something out there he doesn't want us to see. That with enough grit, we might be able to escape his wrath and escape the hell he put us in. With that being said, though...

I think we did lose a little bit of hope today.

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Surviving Students (16/16):

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Eden - Ultimate Screenwriter

Vysko - Ultimate Collector

Michi - Ultimate ???

Kuro - Ultimate Reviewer

Dark - Ultimate Author

Fdeys - Ultimate Weightlifter

Jiren - Ultimate Landlord

Cosmos - Ultimate Therapist

Styk - Ultimate Sniper

Chaos - Ultimate Linguist

Dreamer - Ultimate Mime

Insert - Ultimate Fighter

Oof - Ultimate Chef

Yuki - Ultimate Script Leaker

Lgp - Ultimate Zookeeper

Avi - Ultimate Songwriter

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To be continued...