Chapter 1: Silent Echoes

- Daily Life -

Written by: The Masked Eidolon

Edited by: No one, fuckers!!!

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- Monocavy Theater! -

Monocavy: What's up, ladies and gentlepigs! It's taaaaaaaaaaaaime for another session of Monocavy Theater! The intermission we know and love so well!

Monocavy: Today, I'm going to give you all a life lesson about the three forms of human power.

Monocavy: Because all human actions revolve around the pursuit of these things.

Monocavy: And if you know what you're chasing, you can catch it way easier!

Monocavy: So, let's get started, shall we?

Monocavy: First off, we have physical power!

Monocavy: If you can do damage to a fellow human, whether it be with fists, swords, or guns, you have physical power!

Monocavy: This is a pretty simple concept, I must admit, but that doesn't take away from its strength.

Monocavy: It's the most direct form of power, which means it's strongest in a one-on-one scenario!

Monocavy: If you and another man are trapped on a deserted island, and you have more physical power than the other guy, you're essentially their god!

Monocavy: You're free to bend his actions to your will, forcing him to comply with your demands under threat of death.

Monocavy: And if you truly are stronger, there's not much the other man can do to escape it!

Monocavy: So, next time you find yourself trapped in a remote location, make sure to use physical power to its fullest potential and enslave your weaker brethren!

Monocavy: Next up, we have social power!

Monocavy: If you can issue an order to a fellow human, and have them willingly carry it out, you've got social power!

Monocavy: Parents, CEOs, and government officials, all have their own form of social power!

Monocavy: This is different from physical power, in the sense that it's not a tangible thing.

Monocavy: If you wanted to, you could disobey your parents, defy your boss, or break the law. In most cases, they themselves don't have the adequate strength to stop you.

Monocavy: But the societal consequences for doing so can be life-ruining!

Monocavy: This makes social power extremely strong in a civilized society, where people who try to brute force their way to the top are quickly dealt with by sheer numbers.

Monocavy: In extreme cases, a single weak dictator with immense social power can command vast armies of physically strong individuals!

Monocavy: Each and every one of those soldiers could kill their leader in a fight, but they choose not to out of fear.

Monocavy: What a wonderful phenomenon that is.

Monocavy: So, next time you find yourself in an autocratic dictatorship, try to get as close to the monarch as possible! Some of their social power might just rub off on you...

Monocavy: And finally, we have monetary power!

Monocavy: If you have something other people want, whether it be food, money, or supplies, you have monetary power!

Monocavy: Monetary power is unique in the sense that it can buy the other two forms of power!

Monocavy: A rich baron can hire bodyguards to protect their wealth, or bribe a government official to enact a certain policy!

Monocavy: It also allows the wielder to live a more comfortable lifestyle than an average human.

Monocavy: Because of this, many claim monetary power is the strongest and most versatile form of power!

Monocavy: And well, I'd have to broadly agree!

Monocavy: However, it does contain one small drawback that can ruin you if you aren't smart enough...

Monocavy: Monetary power is completely worthless without some form of social power as well!

Monocavy: If no bodyguard wants to work for you, then you can't buy any physical power!

Monocavy: If every elected official knows you're corrupt, then you can't buy any social power!

Monocavy: And then what are you? A complete failure, that's what!

Monocavy: So, next time you bribe a government official, make damn sure you cover your tracks!!

Monocavy: And with that, I've told you about all three forms of human power.

Monocavy: Pretty useful intel, wouldn't you say?

Monocavy: Puhuhu... maybe for you, it's useful. Not so much for me.

Monocavy: Because...

Monocavy: I think human power is as weak and fragile as the scum who rely on it for satisfaction.

Monocavy: It may seem incredibly valuable to someone who has never obtained it.

Monocavy: But the truth is, human power is as flimsy as a house of cards on a picnic table in the windy city of Illinois.

Monocavy: I desire something much more potent.

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I woke up to the sound of a police siren permeating throughout the bunker's PA system.

Monocavy: Special announcement! I repeat, special announcement! Every one of you little rapscallions must report to the gymnasium by 7 o'clock sharp! Any latecomers will be swiftly executed!!

The alarm then shut off and I snuck a glance at the clock in my room from under my blanket. 6:50. 10 minutes to prepare myself for whatever vile declaration Monocavy was going to give. Sighing, I got up out of bed and walked over to my dorm's sink.

What the hell could this asshole want now? Was he going to give us a lecture on why it's rude to open locked hatches? Or was he going to add in a new wrinkle to this sick game of his? Either way, this meeting couldn't be a good thing. I'd just have to get through it while making as many connections as possible with my fellow classmates. Especially with the people who are most likely to kill.

After finishing my morning routine, I loitered in my room for a while before arriving at the gym in the nick of time. From the corner of my eye, I saw Dreamer standing a few inches away from the group, her legal pad nowhere in sight. Our eyes met for a few seconds and she gave me a thumbs up, so I did the same and then headed up to the rest of the group.

When I got there, a few murmurs of discussion had started.

Styk: It's 6:59. Where is Chaos?

Oof: Maybe he grabbed some grub before heading here? Wouldn't blame him.

Insert shook his head while munching on a jelly-filled pastry.

Insert: Got this kolache from the dining hall myself. He wasn't there.

Cosmos: Do you think he could've been...?

Suddenly, the door to the gym opened exactly as the clock stuck seven, revealing Chaos's smiling face.

Realizing everyone's eyes were on him, he bowed to the rest of us.

Chaos: Bonjour, my fellow captives.

Styk frowned.

Styk: Where were you?

Chaos: I always arrive at places exactly on time. Just a little habit of mine.

A high-pitched voice then rang out from the back of the gym.

Monocavy: Oy, enough with the blabber! The pig of the hour is here now, so let's all pay attention to him!

Everyone turned around to face Monocavy, with Styk and Chaos moving to the front of the group, staring the plush toy down.

Styk took out his e-handbook and flipped to the bottom of the rules list, then pointed at the last rule.

"13: No student may break down a locked hatch or enter an area guarded by one."

Styk: I heard about what happened in Michiru's dormitory, and I saw the new rule. Is this what you called us here about, Monocavy?

Chaos: 'Cause if it is, we already got the memo.

A murmur of agreement passed throughout the crowd.

From the looks of things, a bit of a hierarchy had developed while I was away from the group. Styk was the obvious leader, due to his proactivity and drive to find a way out of the bunker. But it looked like Chaos had assumed the role of second in command, rather than someone like Vysko. Very interesting.

Monocavy: No, that's not why I brought you all here.

Monocavy slumped down onto his belly.

Monocavy: I brought you here because you guys are woefully boring...! It's been over a day and not a single killing has taken place! What's wrong with you!? Do you even want to escape?

Chaos: We'll escape by working together and busting out of this place. Not with violence against our own.

A louder chant of agreement was heard throughout the gym.

Monocavy sighed.

Monocavy: I thought this new generation was supposed to be all lazy and selfish... but I guess I was wrong. Oh well, such is life. That's why I prepared a little extra treat for everyone.

Suddenly, the herd of Monocavies erupted from cracks in the wall, holding out 16 sleek red tablets for each one of the students.

Eden: The hell is this? An extra set of rules?

Monocavy waved away the suggestion.

Monocavy: No, no! I wouldn't impose rules that force you to murder! That just takes away all the fun. I'm merely giving you guys back some of the memories I stole from you! As a gift! I'm very generous, aren't I?

Eden: ...?

Huh?

Did I hear that right?

Lgp: Stolen... memories? What?

Monocavy flipped himself over to lay on his back.

Monocavy: Oh, yeah. Did I forget to mention that you guys aren't strangers? You went to school together for two years before being taken here.

Eden: ...!?

Fdeys: ...!?

Insert: ...!?

Dark: ...!?

Michi: ...

Kuro: But... But...!

Kuro stammered for a few seconds before managing to convey his thoughts.

Kuro: But that's completely impossible! I, Kuro, "The Elephant" Ouji, have a perfect photographic memory! Three years ago on December the 14th, I had an egg sandwich with bacon and avocado for breakfast, along with a glass of orange juice! For lunch, I had a B.L.T! And for dinner, a sous vide sirloin steak, medium rare! Give me a random date and I can tell you what I ate then, too! But I can't tell you anything about going to school with these philistines!

Yuki raised her voice and pointed at Monocavy.

Yuki: Do you really think we're stupid? We all remember being kidnapped and brought here on the first day of school! What on earth are you trying to pull, piggy?

Suddenly, Monocavy flipped back over, full of life again.

Monocavy: Puhuhuhu! You see, that's the thing! When you take memories from someone, you splice the last thing you want them to remember with the first thing you want them to remember. In my case, I spliced your first days at school with the moment when you were kidnapped, so those two memories blended into one. Very scientific stuff.

Monocavy pointed at the red tablets.

Monocavy: I know this is a tad hard to swallow right now, but when you watch the videos on those tablets, they're designed to re-implant the associated memories back into your mind. Let's see if you have any doubts then, hmm?

Before anyone could think of a rebuttal, the little guinea pigs scurried back into their lair and left 16 allegedly stolen memories for us to examine.

After a few seconds of silence, Michi walked over to the pile of tablets, picked up the one with her name on it, and started strolling out of the gym.

Chaos: Hey, put that down! Let's talk before we do anything rash!

She proceeded to ignore him and leave the gym, not bothering to close the door behind her.

Styk: She already made her decision, Chaos.

Chaos sighed.

Chaos: Merde.

Styk: It's fine. She's not very cooperative anyway. We don't need her.

Styk turned to the rest of the group.

Styk: Listen up! Anyone who wants to bow down to Monocavy like a servant can pick up their video and leave. But those of us who want to escape this place should stay here and logically discuss our next move.

In response, Vysko scouted out his own tablet and placed it in his hoodie pocket.

Styk: ...

Styk: You, too?

Vysko cracked a smile.

Vysko: Look, it's not like I want to play into Monocavy's hands. It's just a little silly to me to instantly assume he's lying. These videos could give us some valuable intel.

Styk frowned.

Styk: No, Vysko. He is trying to get us to kill. Even assuming he is telling the truth, if there were anything that could help us escape in these videos, he wouldn't give them to us.

Dark: But he could make a mistake!

Dark picked up her video.

Dark: I think betting on that chance gives us a better shot than trying to use force like you've been doing.

Avi: But he's clearly lying about this whole memory loss thing. Inside the tablet will just be some sappy video about our parents or something. What's useful about that?

Vysko: Nothing. But we won't know what's inside without watching.

Vysko signaled for Dark to follow him.

Vysko: Let's go, shall we?

Dark: Alrighty, Vysko Disco!

The two headed out of the gym, leaving the remaining students eyeing the red tablets.

It seems as though a lot of people were going to watch Monocavy's video which were designed to provoke a murder. That wasn't good. I had to act fast so that I could get on these people's good sides. Perhaps agreeing with their viewpoint would make me seem more friendly than Styk and Chaos? It was worth a try.

Plan in mind, I faced Styk and projected my voice.

Eden: Honestly, I think the same way. The only progress we made with brute force was instantly patched up by Monocavy's 13th rule. If we break the rules, we die. But if we try to escape here without breaking them, the pig will just stop us by adding new rules. Maybe these videos will contain the info we need to beat Monocavy regardless.

Styk turned to me with furrowed brows.

Styk: It is not our job to think things like that. Clearly, Monocavy isn't willing to kill us directly, so we have as much time as we allow ourselves to escape here. Whether it takes a week or a decade, we need to do it without bending over backwards to please that fat rabbit. Or we may end up falling victim to his sick game.

Ignoring him, I picked up my tablet and tucked it under my arm.

Eden: Well, sorry, Styk. But you and I just think differently. I, for one, don't want to waste the best years of my life rotting away in this shithole.

I faced the rest of the students.

Eden: Anyone else who wants to make actual progress should watch their video.

I heard the grumbles of a tense discussion as I walked to the exit and left the gym, but it didn't really matter at that point. I took my stance and earned some points with the people I needed to. The only thing I have to do now is go back to my dorm and watch the video. Monocavy was probably lying about our memories anyway, so what's the harm?

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I tossed the tablet onto my dorm's bed and then fell onto the sheets myself. I couldn't really tell you why, but I was kinda excited to watch the video. Maybe it was because somewhere deep down, I believed Monocavy's words? Or it might be because I deluded myself into thinking this could actually help me escape. Either way, my heart was beating abnormally fast, and I clicked on the tablet's power button with great anticipation.

After a few seconds, some text appeared on the screen, accompanied with Monocavy's lurid voice.

"The Ultimate Screenwriter, President Eden's, Official Motive Video!"

Monocavy: Welcome, welcome, dear contestant! To Monocavy's heart pounding, crazy-awesome motive video! Where I show you twisted miscreants a fragment of your past lives!

Suddenly, the video's slideshow changed to a picture of me in a tuxedo.

Monocavy: President Eden, the Ultimate Screenwriter, is renowned across America for his hit TV sensation, "The W2RLD!" Critically and commercially acclaimed, Eden was said to be the top rising star in the television industry!

A short pang of pride flashed across my chest. So even an evil shithead like Monocavy could acknowledge my skill, huh?

Monocavy: However, a man of his stature was not without his rivals! After all, competition to work a dream job like his was high! And you have to be ruthless to keep your throne...! Which brings us to the highlight of this here motive video! Our contestant's worst enemy during their two years at the Ultimate Academy! And who might that be? Puhuhu...

The slide changed to a portrait of Dark.

Monocavy: It's none other than Tenebris, the Ultimate Author!!!

Eden: ...!?

What...!?

Monocavy: After completing her first hit novel trilogy, "The Rebirth of the Small Dipper," she announced that she would be entering the screenwriting industry to make these books a full-fledged TV series!! And oh no, Eden! Your advertisement team is pushing her show and shafting your W2RLD's next season! At this rate, it'll be a flop!

Eden: ...

Monocavy: So what does our hero do from here?

The slide changed to a picture of me and Dark working on a script.

Monocavy: In an act of good faith, he offers to assist with her scriptwriting to make the plot the best it can be! After all, they both share the same advertising agency, right? But little did she know, his revisions were only sabotaging her script and making it unmarketable! A genius move! Destroying a work of art to save your own career! Truly the mark of an honorable man confident in his own skill!

Eden: ...!

The slide changed to a picture of Dark at a meeting with two men in suits.

Monocavy: And whaddaya know? Soon after Dark submitted the changes, her agency's advertising money slowly started trickling back into W2RLD! In the end, the "Small Dipper" show was a flop! And W2RLD remained on top!

Eden: ...!!!!!

I shoved the tablet off of my bed with as much force as I could muster, and it flew into my nightstand's lamp, breaking both of the objects. They crashed to the floor with a mighty thud and the motive video would never speak again. But the damage was already done.

Eden: What the... !?!?!?!?

I... sabotaged someone else's work? Instead of talking things out with the advertising company?

Eden: ...

No...

No!

I would never ruin anyone's work of art! That's just not me! I love screenwriting and everything it represents! I love great shows, watching and making them alike! And I love seeing fellow writers take the spotlight when they deserve it! This... this was a lie!

But I remember doing it so clearly...

I got up and started pacing around the room, gripping my forehead with both hands. My heart was still racing, but not in a good way. Watching that motive video was a mistake. Telling everyone else to watch it was an even bigger one. I wonder how many people grabbed their tablets and left the gym because of me. I wonder how many people are still in the gym. I wonder if I can make it back in time to warn everyone who I didn't already curse to Monocavy's despair. But as soon as I'm done wondering and try to make my way out of the dorm, a high-pitched ring echoes across the room.

Someone's at my door.

???: ...

Eden: ...

Dark: Eden, are you there? I want to have a chat with you.

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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...