Corpse Party: Midnight Crow

CHAPTER 1

Clare

"..is everyone sure?"

"...well..ha..why not, right?" Aki stammered out.

"Are you scareddd Clareeee?" Sarah teased with a face. Quick to defend myself I retorted with "I'm not! I just.. am looking out for everyone. It was about 6:40, we were sitting in a low-key hotel room. Finally, after years of saving up and picking dates, changing times and locations, we had all finally met up. I sat between Sarah, a crazy girl who I trusted so much after such a short time. To my other side was Aki, another of my best friends. My phone kept buzzing, probably Grayson like usual. Also in the room with me was Kay, Dahlia,Cecil, Allys, Joselyn, and a few of the girls who I haven't known as long, but still care for deeply, Ashley, Shelby, and Oak. The other Americans were in the room next door. As I sat in the dim candle light of the room staring at the crisp white doll in front of me, I trembled against my will. It was just a story..just a game. Not real in the slightest. So why am I so scared? Sarah squeezed my hand and smiled weakly. I knew that she was trying to make me feel better, but I felt her pulse quickening too. Pinching the head of the doll, everyone took sides of it and griped firmly. No turning back now.

"Sachiko, we beg of you"

"Sachiko we beg of you!"

"S-sachiko, we beg of you." Down the line we went, all saying it once. On my turn, I stammered and never have I felt so embarrassed. I probably look like a wuss.. but at least I'm not the only one..

"Pull!" At her command people started pulling. Something felt wrong...had we messed up? Missed someone? But before I could speak up, a loud tear filled the room. The deed was done. Pocketing our scraps, we climbed to our feet and turned on the lights, laughing and and conversing. That's when it really began. The floor went from still to trembling, to shaking, to a large earthquake. I tried to head toward Aki or Sarah, or anyone I could reach, and found one arm around Kay, with a hand on Dahlia's shoulder. Everyone was touching someone, as the vibrations increased violently. Then, a sensation of weightlessness drifted over me. I only had a minute to look down to nothing but darkness when I passed out.

Burning. That's the best way to describe the sensation rippling through my left ankle. I struggled to view it in the dark but when I did, I wished I hadn't. Twisted to almost twisted completely backwards. I looked away sharply as my eyes fell upon a smaller frame in the darkness. "..Sarah?" I crawled closer, squinting hard/ "Kay!" the name escaped my mouth as my arms wrapped around her body. Small taps at my arms caused me to draw back.

"..Clare, I mean this in the nicest way possible, but NEVER DO THAT AGAIN."

"I-I.."

"Your boobs.. were crushing me." she let out a small laugh and returned my earlier hug. I sniffled and squeezed my eyes shut. A gasp sounded and we both turned toward the source. A writhing Dahlia lay by a tipped desk, whimpering and shuddering. "Dahlia!" we shouted in unison as we headed to her. I fell to the ground, hard, as I tried to stand up.

"Oouhh," I mumbled, causing Kay to turn toward me. "Go help Dahlia, I'm fine" I managed and thoughts crept into my head. Where are we? Eyes sweeping the area suggested a school. Wait..a school..sprained ankle..Sachiko charm.. My eyes widened in fear. It wasn't just a game. Instantly Naomi Nakashima came to mind. What would Naomi do? Climbing to my feet, I limped over to Dahlia and Kay.

"H-hhaaah. I'm good," Dahlia managed through clenched teeth. "Just a small headache.. and probably a few bruised ribs.." I smiled in relief. She was okay. But for how long? A place like this.. if its what I think it is..

"Who's that!?" Kay pointed with raised eyebrows. We all turned to see a small shape on the ground. Another person, skinny too.

"Sar-"

"..Ashley." The body said softly. "Is that..?"

"Clare. And Kay and Dahlia," I stated as Kay helped Dahlia to her feet. "Are you injured?"

"Thankfully no," she answered, climbing to her feet as well, "But you seem to be." She gestured at my ankle.

"A-ahh.. yeah.."

"Then our first priority is to go to the infirmary" Kay suggested.

"No!" Me and Dahlia chorused. "Remember Tohko?" she asked.

"And Naomi?" I shuddered.

"That was just a game."

"No," Ashley butted in. "It is very much real. Look at where we are. Exactly like in the game."

"You're not suggesting.." Kay whispered.

"I am. We are in Tenjin Elementary. Heavenly Host. Hell. Whatever you wanna call it, we're here." Exchanging glances, shivers ran up our spines. She had a point. And I was scared witless. I wanted somebody to hold me, calm me down. I didn't want to end up alone. I can't...

"Clare. We need to bandage you and Dahlia, it's inevitable. We'll be quick, now lets go." I leaned on Ashley's shoulder as us four embarked down the hall, pondering the fate of the others who did the charm.

We refused. Me and Dahlia absolutely refused. Kay and Ashley ran in, and in less than around 5 minutes, they returned.

"Come here Clare," Kay ordered. She put my ankle in her lap. "Now do me a favor and bite down on this." I raised my eyebrow as she placed a pencil in my hands but I put it in my mouth anyway and bit down. In an instant, her hands gripped and twisted my ankle. Fighting screams, my jaw crushed the pencil. But to my surprise, the pain subdued to less than before. She wiped away some blood and ace bandaged it in place. "Better..?"

"Better," I sighed in relief. My eyes drifted to Dahlia, whom Ashley had bandaged as well. Her shirt looked lumpy where the bandages were around her ribcage. As we all climbed to our feet I smiled for the first time since getting here. The smile vanished when I thought of Sarah, Flynn, Rozerin and everyone else. Just as I felt tears building up, I heard creaking. We all turned in unison as our eyes fell upon a large frame.

"N-no..it can't be.." Kay whispered.

"Yoshikazu," I gasped. Before I could even formulate another sentence, Kay grabbed my arm and started pulling me away. I looked at her confused when it hit me. Dahlia and Ashley had already started running and I saw them head downstairs. Kay shook me again, yelling frantically.

"Clare! Come on, run!" So I did. I began sprinting down the hall, only a few paces behind Kay, when she went left down a hall away from where Ashley and Dahlia had gone.

"Kay!" I shouted, trying to stop her. It was no use. She kept going. What should I do?

-Follow Kay

-Follow Dahlia and Ashley

-Keep yelling at Kay to stop