Zzz...zzz...zzz...
?: Uh, hello?
Zzz...
?: Are you ok? You should probably wake up...
?: Uhg, just five more minutes Mom.
?: What? I'm not your mother.
(Huh? Then who the hell's in my room right now?
I opened my eyes to see, I wasn't in my room at all.
I'm in a subway train, laying across the seats, and some pharmacist girl is leaning over me.
Damn it, I must've fallen asleep on my way back from school...again.)
Me: What stop are we at?
?: Huh? Oh the train, um, I have no idea. There are no maps and there hasn't been any announcements or anything.
Me: That's weird, did you just get on?
?: Well actually I um...just woke up.
Me: Oh, then what stop did you get on at?
?: That's the thing, I don't remember getting on a train at all.
Me: Were you drunk?
?: No way! I would never drink, I'm just a high schooler.
Me: A high schooler who doesn't drink? Ha, guess your not the type to live life to the fullest. I for one think-
?: That doesn't matter Ryan! I think something weird is going on!
(Wait, Ryan? That's my name...Ryan...why does it feel like this is the first time I've heard that? I mean, it's my own name, isn't it?
Wait second...)
Ryan: How do you know my name? Do we go to school together?
?: I don't think so, I was just reading your name tag.
(My name tag?
I pulled at my jacket and sure enough, there was a name tag pinned on the right side.
It only said my first name "Ryan", no surname, and under my name it said "Ultimate Educator". What does that indicate?)
Ryan: Why the hell do I have a name tag on?
?: I don't know, did you start a new job today?
(No that can't be it, I don't remember applying for any jobs let alone actually getting hired.
Wait, she has one on too...)
?: P-Please don't stare there.
(I pointed to her name tag.)
Ryan: Look!
?: I know I'm a girl I have girl parts, you have no right to look at-
Ryan: No you have a name tag too Violet!
(She looked at her white coat.)
Violet: Oh you're right! "Violet, Ultimate Veterinarian"? Violet...that's my name? That's weird, it feels like I forgot that somehow.
Ryan: I thought the same thing.
Violet: What does this "Ultimate Veterinarian" part mean?
(Hearing her say that, I remembered something.)
Ryan: That's your talent, I think. I don't get how I know that but, well, I mean just look at you.
Violet: I don't see what having breasts has to do with being a vet.
(Why is she assuming I'm a pervert all of a sudden?)
Ryan: No I'm not looking at that-
(Well now I am but only because she made me notice.)
Ryan: You're wearing a lab coat, you even have a dog plush in your pocket.
Violet: Ah you're right! But then, what about you? Your name tag says "Ultimate Educator" but you look a little too, erm, disheveled to be a teacher.
(That's a rude, but she has a point.)
Ryan: I feel like this how I normally dress, but I can't recall ever being some kind of educator.
Violet: And I don't remember being a veterinarian...and what's this "Ultimate" part mean? Am I the best veterinarian ever or something, I don't recall that being the case at all. Wha...What's going on?
(She was right earlier, something weird is going on.
I mean, two high schoolers with amnesia waking up in an empty subway train.
This is like the setup for some shitty mystery story.)
(Violet and I sat in silence and contemplated.
After about a minute of silence, a musical tone played over the subway's speaker and an announcement began.)
Speaker: Helloooooo passengers! This is your conductor speaking. We will arrive at our destination in mere seconds! Please stand clear of the opening doors, and be sure to exit the train because this is our last stop for the day! There will be no more subway activity until tomorrow morning! Thanks for bearing with us! *speaker turns off*
(Violet spoke with me again.)
Violet: Last stop? That's strange...and why did that voice sound so exaggerated? It was like the conductor was impersonating a cartoon character.
Ryan: No clue, but something shitty is in store for us.
Violet: Yeah...this...this is scary. Maybe we should just stay on the train?
(Just as she said that the train came to a stop, the doors opened, and the same voice from before spoke over the intercom)
Conductor?: Aaaaaaand here we are! Please mind the gap on your way out and enjoy your stay! Also, the train will not leave this station until everyone is off of it, it's an automated subway after all! *speaker turns off*
(Automated? I thought that voice was from the conductor...)
Violet: I guess we need to get off then, but, are we the only people aboard?
Ryan: Only one way to find out.
(We stood up and walked out the door. Violet seemed to very actively "mind the gap", does she not take the subway often?
Outside the train was a typical underground subway station. It was your classic dank, litter-filled, graffiti-covered, train-wreck of a subway station.
Whatever stop this is, it's probably not a popular one.
Even within the stop area there was no indication on where we were. Anything that seemed like it would give direction was covered with obnoxious graffiti.
There was only one stairway up and out of here.)
(Violet seemed interested in the graffiti.)
Violet: Wow, some of this stuff is pretty detailed! And look how cute these little bear characters are! I'd love to have one of them as a plushy.
Ryan: This is a subway station not an art museum.
Violet: Y-Yeah sorry, I just don't go to places like this often. And, I'm trying to keep my mind off of our situation.
(Obviously.)
Violet: So, should we go up those stairs. Looks to be the only way out.
Ryan: Nah, there's a better way out.
Violet: Really?
(I walked over to the subway and pointed to the tracks.)
Ryan: I'm gonna walk back.
Violet: What?! You can't do that it's dangerous!
Ryan: No it's fine. The "conductor" said no other trains are coming tonight, so I can just walk down the tracks until I find the stop nearest to my house.
Violet: B-But you have amnesia. Do you even remember where you live?
(Uh...no i don't actually.)
Ryan: I'm sure my instincts will know. Feel free to join me.
(I waved Violet goodbye and walked over to the rear of the train.)
Violet: Wait! You can't just leave me here! I...I'm coming with you! Hang on a second-
(Just as Violet began to run towards me, the world shook violently.
The two of us lost balance, and pieces of rubble began to rain from the ceiling.)
Violet: O-Oh God! It's an earthquake!
Ryan: What the hell?! That's way too convenient!
Violet: Whatever! We need to get above ground!
(She's right...damn it.
Violet ran up the station stairs as she struggled to keep balance.
It was obvious to me that whatever was up those stairs was a trap. I don't know what kind of trap but, something evil was waiting for us.
But I have no choice, it's either I fall into a trap, or a ceiling falls onto me.
Protecting my head, I fought the shaking Earth and walked to the exit stairs.
Once I made it to the stairs, larger pieces of rubble fell and covered the subway stop. If there were other living people on that train, there aren't now.)
(With blurred vision and low stamina, I made it to the top of the stairs. At that same time, the earthquake stopped.
I fell over and laid on the ground right off the stairway. My ears were ringing.)
?: Ah! Are...ok?
?: Is...dead...rocks...
?: ...can't...be...dead...
?: Damn...I...like..his...jacket...
(After a short while I felt some strength return. My ears stopped ringing, I rubbed my eyes, and weakly stood myself up.
Once my vision was cleared, I saw an unexpected sight.
I was standing in the center of a city, surrounded by skyscrapers. The sky itself was an eerie shade of red-pink, how is that even possible?
In front of me stood a concerned Violet, as well as four other people.
They all appeared to be high schoolers, but like Violet, I've never seen any of them before.
What the fuck is going on here?)
Violet: Oh thank God you're ok!
(Violet suddenly hugged me which was a bit surprising, but I guess she just has a caring personality, she's a vet after all.
Plus, who am I to complain about a hug from a cute girl.)
?: Well looks like you two are close.
(That comment made Violet realize what she was doing. She blushed and frantically let go of me.
Damn it.)
Violet: N-No I-I was just worried about him. We only just met.
Ryan: Yeah, we just met on the train over here. Wherever "here" is.
?: So you're in the same situation as all of us. That's to be expected.
?: We all woke up with one other person on a subway and were led here.
?: Yeah we all arrived at slightly different times, I was one of the last to show up before you two. Now that you two are here, there are 16 of us.
?: Judging by what just happened to that subway station, I bet you two are the last people who'll be arriving.
Ryan: I doubt any of you know what's going on, huh?
?: It seems we all have amnesia. I didn't even remember my name until I saw my name tag.
Ryan: So you all have name tags too? Do your name tags mention an ultimate talent?
?: Yeah. I'm the "Ultimate Conservationist" apparently.
?: I'm the "Ultimate-
"Conservationist": Actually, I don't believe we should be doing introductions right now. We were in the midst of investigating this place, we didn't think more people would be arriving. Why don't you two help us look around? We need to find out where we are and how we can get out as soon as possible.
Violet: Oh of course we'll help!
?: Great! We've already agreed to meet here and report our findings in about an hour from now, so search what you can.
(She began to read my name tag.)
"Conservationist": Uh...Ryan, you can rest if you need to.
Ryan: No I'm alright. I'll help, I guess.
"Conservationist": Ok then, good luck! Stay safe!
(The "Ultimate Conservationist" clapped her hands and the everyone surrounding us dispersed to investigate this..."city".
So there are 14 other people here aside from me and Violet? That's insane.
Why are we all here? Why do we all have amnesia?
What's going on...)
Violet: We should investigate but it's probably more important to introduce ourselves to the other people here, don't you think?
Ryan: Maybe, but I don't plan on spending more than a day in this damn place anyways.
Violet: Well I don't either but, still. We don't know what's going to happen.
Ryan: *sigh* Fine.
-INVESTIGATION START-