Chapter 2: Fatal Obsession

- Daily Life -

Written by: The Masked Eidolon

Edited by: No one, fuckers!!!

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- Monocavy Theater! -

Monocavy: Hello and good morning, everyone!

Monocavy: Welcome back to the killing game that you all know and love!

Monocavy: That last murder was pretty fun, wasn't it?

Monocavy: Puhuhu!

Monocavy: I'll provide even more fun and amusement if you stay tuned!

Monocavy: So, please, don't worry about my subordinate's questionable behavior.

Monocavy: She may be brash and reckless at times, but I promise, her heart's in the right place.

Monocavy: Puhuhuhuhu!

Monocavy: Anyway, let's get back on topic.

Monocavy: After our last theater, you may be wondering:

Monocavy: Monocavy, if physical power is so useless, then why don't you just go for the other two forms of power?

Monocavy: I mean, social and monetary power are pretty damn strong.

Monocavy: Right?

Monocavy: Ehhh... no.

Monocavy: They're not all that valuable either.

Monocavy: They're certainly better to have than physical power in our modern era.

Monocavy: But they're only really desirable by fools.

Monocavy: And I am no fool. So I don't care for them.

Monocavy: And today, I'm going to explain why you shouldn't either.

Monocavy: Starting with social power, the far weaker of the two.

Monocavy: Ahh... social power.

Monocavy: After I realized that physical power was worthless, I thought to gain myself as much social power as I could.

Monocavy: I mean, why wouldn't I, right? That's where all the true strength lies in the modern world.

Monocavy: Presidents, Oligarchs, Supreme Dictators... if I could become one of those people, surely, I'd gain all the power I wanted.

Monocavy: Little did I know, though, it wasn't that simple. Things never are.

Monocavy: Because eventually I learned that social power is as fickle as it is strong.

Monocavy: Blown away in the wind by the slightest disturbance, and out of your grasp forever.

Monocavy: What do I mean by this, you may ask?

Monocavy: In response, I would tell you: look around.

Monocavy: Look around at all the big public figures in the world.

Monocavy: Look how their power vanishes the instant they're involved in the slightest controversy.

Monocavy: A celebrity who may have once amassed a devout fan base could lose everything after being accused of a crime.

Monocavy: Regardless if the accusation is even true!

Monocavy: And if enough people get sick of their nation's leader, you can look at history to see what happens to them.

Monocavy: Presidents are denied re-election, Oligarchs are assassinated, Dictators are overthrown.

Monocavy: The power these people wield is shaky at best, and outright weak at worst!

Monocavy: I wasn't going to slave away for years and years to obtain a form of power that would have me kowtowing to the people!

Monocavy: Afraid that the slightest offense would make me lose everything!

Monocavy: Absolutely not!

Monocavy: So, onto the next form of power, my mind went.

Monocavy: Monetary.

Monocavy: Oh, Monetary power.

Monocavy: Honestly, that one might be the most pathetic of all.

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5:41.

5:42.

5:43.

5:44.

My droopy eyes stayed painfully awake as they stared at the clock on my wall.

"Try to enjoy your new role," she said. "Have a good night's sleep," she said. As if that were humanly possible after the bombshell she dropped on me. I was still in disbelief, honestly. One of the students brought here was not only a mole for the mastermind, but the notorious Masked Desperado of the Silent Crusade? Sounds like bullshit.

But it had to be real. Why would she lie about this? And the quickness of her movements with a blade...

I rubbed the top of my neck.

They proved that she was an experienced fighter.

I felt the alarm ball vibrate under my pillow as the clock hit 5:45, and I groggily slithered out of bed. I trudged over to the sink in order to brush my teeth and wash my face, taking as much sweet time as I felt like. Before I knew it, the clock struck six and I could hear her knock quietly on my door.

I sighed.

Every fiber of my being wanted to ignore her and jump right back in my bed, wrapping myself in the sheets. But I needed to be a good little mole for now, so that she'd think I was on her side. Make her trust me. Then I could stab her in the back when she least expects it. So I straightened myself, gave my hair a quick comb before tying it, then strolled over to the door and opened it. When I did, I saw her holding a large black box.

Michi gave me a slight smile.

Michi: Good morning, Eden. Did you have a good night's rest?

I rubbed one of my baggy eyes.

Eden: Can't you tell?

Michi: I guess so.

She walked into my dorm and placed the box on my table. She took a teapot along with two small cups out.

Michi: I kind of expected you to have trouble sleeping tonight, so I brought us some tea to help boost your energy. There are also some shortbread cookies here if you need something solid.

Eden: ...

Is this some kind of test? Something tells me the tea is poisoned...

Michi took out the rest of the foodstuffs from the box and sat down on one of my chairs.

Michi: Have a seat.

I did as she asked and sat down at the table, but I made no move to eat the shortbread or drink the tea.

Michi: Go ahead and drink up. You're gonna need it for the day ahead of you.

I looked into her eyes and sat perfectly still.

Michi: ...

Eden: ...

Michi: ...?

Michi: Do you think it's poisoned?

She picked up her own cup and took a sip from it, then gestured towards mine.

Michi: I can assure you, it isn't.

I still didn't move. At this point, I was dubious as to whether this was a test or not, but I wasn't going to risk failing.

Michi frowned at me, annoyed.

Michi: I'm being serious. Drink the tea. I can't have an exhausted servant.

I grimaced and took a sip from the mug. Apparently, it wasn't a trick order. And now I just pissed her off.

I put the cup down and cleared my throat.

Eden: I thought it was a test or something...

Her expression didn't change.

Michi: I'm not the kind of person who gives foolish tests. If the drink was poisoned and you died, then I'd have wasted my time coming here. Just do what I say in the future.

Eden: Alright, I understand.

I took another, longer sip of the tea to show my compliance.

Michi's expression returned to her previous icy smile.

Michi: Good. Now that that's sorted out, let's go over your new duties.

Eden: Wait. Before that, I need to ask you something.

Michi raised one of her eyebrows.

Michi: Ask me what?

I took a deep breath. This was a crucial moment. I needed to sell the act of a desperate man willing to do anything to survive the killing game. That's the only reasonable motive I'd have for obeying her commands. I'd spent the last half-decade of my life kowtowing to network execs, though, so this should be easy.

Eden: Last night, you mentioned that I could escape here if I helped you with your duties. Is that really true? Do you have the mastermind's permission?

Michi picked up a cookie and dipped it in her tea.

Michi: I don't have their explicit permission, no.

I frowned and leaned forward.

Eden: Then I'm still going to die, aren't I? Monocavy won't let anyone leave this place but you...

Michi: Calm down. I have a decent amount of say in what they do. If you really help me throughout the entire game, I'm sure they'll make an exception for you. Whether they like it or not.

Eden: But that's not a guarantee.

Michi bit into the cookie, then chewed and swallowed it.

Michi: There's never going to be a guarantee for your survival. What I can say, though, is that if you refuse my offer, there will be a guarantee for your death.

Eden: ...

I sighed.

Eden: I...

Eden: I guess I can't argue with that.

Michi: Then let's move on to your duties already, shall we?

I crossed my arms.

Eden: Yeah, sure.

I internally grinned. That was a good performance. I might even have her fooled.

Michi popped the rest of the cookie into her mouth.

Michi: The main thing you're going to be doing is gathering and spreading intel in ways me and the mastermind can't. Joining gossip sessions, keeping tabs on high-risk students, and giving out propaganda speeches will be the brunt of your work. Today, though, we'll start off small. Your assignment will be to get your foot in the door with the new leadership of the group, and get a grasp on what their thought process is.

Eden: New leadership? There's already a new leader?

Michi: No, but there will be soon. Any day now, someone is going to call a meeting and declare themselves the leader of the bunker. That's how this stuff works. All you need to do after that happens is suck up to the new guy in charge.

Michi looked directly into my eyes.

Michi: You're a screenwriter, right? So putting on a show for your betters should be something you're used to.

Eden: ...

Eden: Admittedly, yes. I'd be good for the job. But, I have another question.

Michi: Fire away.

Eden: Isn't all this stuff you could be doing yourself? Why do you need me?

Michi chuckled for a few seconds before taking a long sip from her teacup.

Michi: Didn't you just say it yourself? You're good for the job. You've been licking the boots of corporate executives all your life, gaining the knowledge and charisma needed to get them to do what you want. Meanwhile, I was just a gang soldier. Who do you think would be better at covert operations like this?

I rested my elbow on the table and pointed at Michi.

Eden: And that's enough reason to reveal your true identity to a guy you can't even trust? What if instead of working with you, I went ahead and told everyone that you were a mole? You'd be screwed.

Michi: I'm not concerned about that. You'd sound like a crazy person.

Eden: ...

Eden: True, but you can't deny that there's risk involved with this move you've made. Is simple convenience really worth it?

Michi slightly widened her smile.

Michi: Of course not.

Eden: Then why would you do it?

Michi slowly exhaled as her jagged leer began to take over her face.

Michi: For enjoyment...

Eden: ...?

Eden: Enjoyment?

Michi: Yes. Enjoyment. Amusement. Entertainment. Whatever you'd like to call it.

She picked up the teapot from the center of the table and refilled her cup.

Eden: What the hell are you talking about?

Ignoring my previous question, Michi closed her eyes and brought the mug to her lips, slowly downing the entire cup. After she was done, she slammed it back down onto the table, shaking every other object on it.

Michi: Let's face it, Eden. Monocavy runs this place like clockwork. Everything he wants, he gets. All who try to thwart him will inevitably fail. Do you think Styk being the first killer was just a coincidence?

Eden: ...

Eden: What do you mean?

Michi: Monocavy saw that Styk was the biggest threat to his little game, and killed him.

Eden: ...!

Michi: He was the former leader of this place, after all. He promised a peaceful exit from the bunker, and the students who followed him were working towards that goal with a passion. Additionally, I think in the back of his mind... he knew who I was.

Eden: ...

Michi: When our eyes would meet during meetings, he'd get this inexorable look on his face, like he was staring at someone he'd known for years, but simply forgotten the name of. Honestly, it spooked me out a little bit. His conscious mind may not have known who I was, but his subconscious recognized me like an attack dog catching the scent of blood.

Michi sighed.

Michi: Monocavy couldn't have this, of course, so he gave Styk an extra brutal motive video while he went light on all the other students. And Styk took the bait immediately. From the moment he tried to lead the students to freedom, he was already dead. Monocavy was never going to ignore such insolence. Which brings us to our current situation...

Michi rested her elbows on the table and propped her head on her hand.

Michi: The students best shot at breaking out of this place was effortlessly obliterated. All hope is lost. And I was feeling... quite bored. Until you walked into my dorm, that is. You have the potential to liven this place up again.

I furrowed my brow.

Eden: But I'm working for you... won't I just deepen the grip the mastermind has over everyone?

Michi snorted a little and began to chuckle.

Michi: You actually think I believe you're on my side?

Eden: ...!

Michi: No... you may be working for me now, but someone as prideful as you would rather die defying me than help me in exchange for his life. So I want to see how long you'll be able to go before you eventually crack. And whether or not I'll be able to defeat you when you do.

Goddamn it. She saw through everything. Revealing herself to me and recruiting me was nothing more than a game to her. I should've known. Someone as ruthless as the Masked Desperado... they wouldn't be fooled by the acting skills of a professional bootlicker.

Frustrated, I lurched forward in my chair and gripped the sides of the table with my claws.

Eden: Then what's the point of all the pleasantries...? The tea, the cookies. It's all fake kindness. Neither you or I want it. So just stop. Treat me like an enemy.

Michi: ...

Michi leaned back in her chair and frowned for a few seconds, then slowly opened her lips as if to say something profound. However, a swift three knocks on the door turned her next few words into a mystery.

Lgp: Eden? Are you there? Sorry to wake you, but we're having an early morning meeting in the dining hall!

Eden: ...

Michi: ...

Michi gestured with her eyes for me to answer the door, so I got up and opened it, making sure to block my table from Lgp's sight. Outside my room, I saw him with slight eye bags, holding his guinea pigs gingerly with his left hand.

Eden: I was already up, actually. It's not a problem.

Lgp raised his eyebrows.

Lgp: Really? Didn't know you were an early riser, Eden.

Michi: He's not usually. Today's an exception, though, since he invited me over for tea!

Eden: ...

What is she doing?

Lgp: Is that... Michiru?

Michi got up from her seat and confidently strolled right next to me.

Michi: Mhm. We were having a nice discussion about our group's next steps. Continuing it with everyone else would be great.

Lgp gave us a slight side-eye.

Lgp: Well... alright. I didn't know you two were going to be so... productive. Especially after what happened...

Michi opened her mouth, but I spoke before her.

Eden: Yeah, um... after Styk's death... we really thought we needed to help the group out, you know. Since we solved the case together, we reasoned we'd be a big help in the effort against Monocavy.

Lgp's face went back to normal and he nodded in approval.

Lgp: Ah, makes sense. Well, I'll see you at the dining hall.

Eden: Yeah, see you.

Lgp walked off into the hallway and I closed the door. Immediately, I turned to face Michi.

Eden: What exactly was that?

Michi: Telling him we were discussing the group's well-being will make it easier for you to worm your way into power, right?

Eden: No... you just made us seem off. Historically, both of us have been loners who didn't contribute anything to the group. Suddenly saying that we've decided to be productive doesn't align with our previous M.O.s. So he got weirded out.

Michi widened her eyes.

Michi: Huh.

Eden: Yeah.

Michi: See, this is why I'm not in charge of information gathering.

Michi smiled and patted me on the shoulder.

Michi: You're much better at it.

Michi then turned away from me and began to put the food on the table back into her box.

Eden: ...

Eden: Why are you acting so friendly towards me? You just admitted we're enemies.

Michi stopped what she was doing and looked up at me.

Michi: Yeah, but you're still working for me.

In the blink of an eye, she was behind me with a knife at my throat again.

Michi: Because if you don't...

I could sense her smile grow as she pressed the blade into my jaw and a trickle of crimson blood leaked out.

Eden: Mmgh...!

Michi: Then I will kill you in a more brutal way than you could possibly imagine.

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Surviving Students (14/16):

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Eden - Ultimate Screenwriter

Vysko - Ultimate Collector

Michi - Ultimate Desperado

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...