Chapter 20: Evolution: Act Two

8:27 P.M Day Nine

Third Floor

Terrace

Chase rubbed at his chin while his gaze shifted between the inebriated girls lounging in nearby patio chairs. "Uh, I don't mean to be a buzzkill, but maybe you ladies should slow it down. Otherwise, you're going to be sick."

"Tch, don't harsh our mellow!" Nozomi groused as she stared into an empty bottle. "We didn't find shit like usual from our search, so why not unwind? Have another drink, you furball!"

"Heh, I honestly don't even know if I can get drunk anymore," the Werewolf admitted.

"I agree. I just wanna get shit-faced after what we went through. At least for tonight," Ariana added, before taking a long drink from a whiskey bottle.

"Yeah, Nozomi and Ar-Ariana are right! Don't be such a b-buzzkil, Chase! Besides, Henry doesn't mind! Do you, sw-sweetie?" Maya glanced at her dragon with a tipsy smile. Said dragon was curled up in her lap at the moment, like a cat. He didn't give an overt reply. Instead, he just let out a small puff of smoke. "Besides, I n-never had much of a chance to… drink before. This is fun!" She then raised her bottle high and took another swig of it.

"See! Maya has the right idea!" The Succubus stood up a moment before collapsing into the same chair as Ariana. A giggle escaped her as she promptly nuzzled her head into her chest. "Aria, have I told you how nice you smell? Mmm... and you're so soft and warm."

"I'm glad you think so, sweetie. You are very warm yourself. I want nothing more than to roll under the sheets with you," she slurred while petting the girl's head.

The Ultimate Werewolf quickly averted his gaze towards the moon which was growing fuller with each passing day. He stared at it in an almost hypnotized state. His ears went flat against his head. "...I guess I shouldn't complain. It's nice that we can still be like this after everything that's happened. I just hope moments like this last a bit longer.."

"Boo! Get a room, you two!" Maya jeered, before making an exaggerated gagging sound. After a moment, though, a grin came upon her face. She then stood up, making sure to grab Henry, and half-stumbled her way over to Chase, before unceremoniously planting herself squarely in his lap. Her face was flushed as she giggled. Henry, meanwhile, looked displeased to have been disturbed like that, but he settled down soon enough. He re-positioned himself until he was comfortable again. "Two can play at that game, you know!"

Chase nearly jumped. "M-Maya..." He kept his arms wide, unsure if it was appropriate to embrace her or remain as he was. "...I'm definitely cutting you off."

"Jeez. That's all you can say? You've got a girl in your lap and that's how you respond?" Nozomi continued to nuzzle into Ariana's chest with a satisfied smirk. "You really need to get laid."

"Mhmm, I agree. And if you do, I wanna watch!" The Kitsune said, giving the pair a wink.

"Aww, don't be a spoilsport, Chase!" Maya whined. She took another swig of her booze before he could stop her, but she paused at Nozomi and Ariana's words. Her cheeks heated up even more, though with how flushed her face already was, it was hard to tell. "W-well… maybe they're right about that. That… might not be something I'd be against, you know." She looked up at Chase and gave him a genuine smile before leaning up slightly to kiss him.

"Gawd, I can't believe this is really happening. I never thought I'd actually have a, well… boyfriend," Maya admitted a moment later, with a content, flushed smile on her face. "Heh, guess it shows what that old bastard knew! I got a werewolf boyfriend, a pet dragon, and some good, actual friends here. Fuck that old miser for thinking I'd be alone my entire life!"

A devious grin then came over her face. She leaned forward slightly, cupping her hands to her mouth, as she shouted out to the forest. "Hear that, old man?! You were wrong about me! I'm not some useless cripple at all! In fact, I have a boyfriend now! So fuck you!"

The Ultimate Succubus sat up slightly before scanning the tree line. "Huh, I don't see anyone. Who's she talking about?"

"There's no one out there. I think Maya is talking about someone who sounds pretty wretched," Chase mused quietly as he traced her flushed cheek with his large hand. "Drunk or not, everything you said was true." He chuckled deeply with a toothy grin.

Maya reached out with her free hand a moment later, using it to urge Chase's head down lower so she could kiss him again. This time, it lasted longer. She savored this opportunity, and then she pulled away.

"Yup. Just talking about my bastard grandpa. That old, miserable fuck hated me the moment I ended up in his house. But that doesn't matter now! He's far away, and I'm here now. That's all that matters to me," she said.

Chase gingerly squeezed the girl. "You don't have to worry about him anymore. Whatever he did, he can't touch you here."

"Yeah, but he must have been a real creep if she's more excited to be in a killing game than with the old man," Nozomi mused with a light shrug.

"At least she's happy. I can't say I had the best life before all this, but that's a story for another time. For now, let us drink and be merry!" Ariana said, finishing the last of her whiskey. She then threw it over the balcony. A loud shatter echoed through the night. "Mazel tov!"

A quiet snort escaped Chase. "Sheesh, if anyone is gonna die, it's gonna be us when Sebastian has to clean up this mess."

"Heh, we can always blame it on Henry. No one can be mad at him!" Maya scratched Henry's side teasingly. The dragon huffed at her in response and abruptly leapt off her lap, before flying over to land in an empty chair.

"Aww, Henry, don't be like that! I was just kidding!" Maya gave a little pout. She reluctantly got off of Chase and headed to go pick Henry back up.

However, due to her inebriated state, she wasn't as careful as she might otherwise be. She abruptly lost her balance, and she crashed to the floor with a yelp, followed by a wince at the resulting pain.

"Whoops… I'm okay! I'm—!" Maya spoke up to reassure them, but paused as she glanced back at herself. Her face then went white. A few feet away, her right knee stocking had completely slipped off of her, bringing her leg, up to the knee, with it.

"Maya!" Chase's voice boomed as he stood up and got to her side in an instant. On the way, he picked up the detached limb. "Hey, it's alright. Let's just get it back in place," he said in a reassuring voice as he eyed her in concern.

Tears gathered in Maya's eyes as she looked at the limb. She trembled and breathed heavily, and then turned her face away so Chase couldn't look at her.

"...I can do it myself. Just give me my fucking leg," she finally ground out in a heated tone.

"Jesus Christ. You have prosthetics? Shit, I had no idea," Nozomi said bluntly before shifting uncomfortably. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."

"Darling, you're not helping," Ariana said while covering Nozomi's mouth with one of her tails.

The Werewolf offered a solemn expression as he held the limb out. "...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I..." He trailed off and hung his head.

Maya gritted her teeth and clenched her fist at Nozomi's words, but her expression softened upon hearing Chase. "It's… it's fine, Chase. I just… this isn't easy for me..."

She gently took her limb back from him, and turned herself around so she was laying on her back. She fiddled with the straps and harness of her prosthetic, until it was finally in place over her right knee again. With Chase's help, she got back onto her feet. At the same time, Henry flew back to her, curling around her shoulders and nuzzling her face in concern.

"...Chase? Can you… help me back to my room? I… think I want to go to bed now," she mumbled out. Her eyes were downcast, unable, or unwilling, to look at anyone else.

"Of course, I'd be happy to." Chase gingerly rested a hand on the small of her back. "Goodnight, you two. Might I suggest you turn in, too?"

9:52 P.M Day Nine

Fourth Floor

Observatory

Kiyomi allowed a thin smile to cross her delicate features, as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Her purplish gaze stared out of the observatory window and at the starry heavens above. "You know, this may be the first night we've been here that it's not completely overcast or raining. It almost makes this dreary island a little bit more bearable."

Samuel stared at the sky intently, observing the stars glistened in the night. "If you think this is good, you should see it where I live. Whenever my father and I walked back home from fishing, the sky was always lit up like a Christmas tree. It was incredible."

"It's always more beautiful when there isn't as much light pollution," Kiyomi mused as she shifted her gaze him. "What was home for you like? I mean, before the world went to hell."

The Hunter looked down at the cracked watch on his arm and rubbed it clean. "Believe it or not, I was originally a farmboy. My family used to grow fruit, bananas, apples, and mostly grapes. I remember, just before I left the country, drinking some homemade wine for old times' sake. But it was stronger than I remembered and I got so pissed I almost missed my flight." He laughed softly.

The dark haired girl offered him a tiny smile as she rubbed at her forearm. "Maybe it would have been for the best if you hadn't made that flight. I mean… I wouldn't be alive, but you'd never be here in the first place."

Samuel's faced darkened. "I had to leave. I wanted to get a talent to try and help fix my country, but we know how that turned out." He looked at the watch one more time. "Plus, my mum and dad are both gone now. James is the only family I have left."

"...If you don't mind me asking, what happened to your family?" Kiyomi asked hesitantly.

"Well, you already know about my mother. My father, on the other hand... he died before the tragedy. South Africa had a lot of problems long before Junk- before despair hit us. White famers were always under attack by black gangs. The media tried to play it down, but I think it was racially targeted. Well, a gang armed with guns and machetes attacked our farm one day. My father fought them off until our panic alarm brought us some help, but he was killed in the process." He showed her the watch. "This is his watch. I keep it to remind myself of the problems our people have to overcome."

The Paranormal Investigator reached out before gingerly resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "There's nothing I can say. I can't even imagine what you must have gone through. This entire despair epidemic has set the world back generations. I don't even know if my own father is..." she trailed off as she shut her eyes. "I expect that Kyoko may be the only family I have left now."

The Ultimate Hunter paused. "Your father. Who was he? And how can Kyoko be your only family left? The Kirigiri family must have branches elsewhere."

"...As I said before, we were seen as the black sheep of the family. My father had bungled investigations in the past, mainly because he didn't adhere to the Kirigiri family's idea of detachment. When I showed little promise as a child, it was just the last straw, I suppose. If there are any other members out there, I'm sure Kyoko would be the only one who'd know." She shook her head. "Heh, you know we were having a nice time until we started talking about family. Maybe we should just stay away from that subject."

Samuel closed his eyes. "It may be depressing, but family is important. It's the reason I can't die here." He turned to her with a slight smile. "It's good to see you out of that mirror. How are you adjusting to being back with us?"

Kiyomi suppressed a slight shiver as she pursed her lips slightly. "I-I'm thankful to be back, but it feels unreal. I still have nightmares of being inside that mirror. I keep waking up like a nervous wreck on the verge of a panic attack. That's why I wasn't at breakfast this morning. I just needed some time to calm myself, though I ended up talking to Sonia for a little while."

The Hunter wrapped Kiyomi in a warm embrace. "You're here. This is real and I'm here for you. Please don't let this game get to you. We're going to get out of here."

"Sam, I want to believe that. I… don't care anymore about talent or trying to live up to the Kirigiri family, but as much as I want to leave, there's something else I want even more. Being dead… being nothing but a trapped soul… I felt so vulnerable. There are so many others, the souls of those who perished in previous games, and even more beyond that. I want to stop the person behind this, but I also want to stop what's keeping these spirits trapped on this island. I'm not sure if they can even move on, but they deserve that chance too," the girl said as she slowly returned the gesture with a tight hug.

"I don't know what could be keeping the souls of the dead here," He said as she slowly released her. "But I will admit there are a few things about this game that still don't make any sense to me. Firstly, we still have no idea who killed Jibo. I assumed it might have been Kuuma, but that seems unlikely now. And I still find it strange that we just happened to find Daisuke, a man who knew both Shiro and Mackenzie, who also happened to not fall to despair with the rest of them." He rubbed his face. "I hope I'm not being paranoid, but something about this game is wrong, more so than the others."

Kiyomi offered a hint of a smirk . "Well there certainly weren't werewolves, zombies, and vampires in the previous games, at least to my knowledge, but I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it."

"I guess it's good we have a Paranormal Investigator on the case." Samuel grinned. "I just wonder what they're gonna throw at us next."

"Honestly, I'd rather just enjoy the calm before the next storm," Kiyomi said as she leaned against the boy. "Sam?"

"Yes, Kiyomi?" Samuel responded.

She leaned up on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against the Hunter's cheek. "You kept your promise to me. I can never repay you for that..."

A slight blush came to his cheeks. "Well, I'm a man of my word. And not to sound cheesy, but you being here is all the payment I'll ever need."

A trill of laughter escaped the normally poised girl. "Now that I've seen you blush, I'm going to have to find new ways to bring that side out again."

"Oh, shut up..." Samuel said with a smirk as he scratched the back of his head.

"Make me," Kiyomi challenged with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

He placed a hand under her chin, raised her head and placed a firm kiss on her lips. "How about that?" He said as he pulled back with a wink.

It was Kiyomi's turn to blush. She wordlessly seized his arm before pressing her head against his shoulder. "...Sam, I-I know it's late, but can we stay like this? Just for a few more minutes?"

Samuel smiled brightly and placed another kiss on her head. "Of course. You know something? This the happiest I've felt in years. I'm so glad I met you, Kiyomi."

A few moments of silence passed as the girl curled her arms around his frame. "I-I feel the same way, but it scares me. These games… this game in particular hasn't been kind to anyone. Sam, promise me you'll be careful? I know that's rich coming from me, but I don't want to lose you. I'd still be in that prison if it wasn't for you..."

"... Of course I'll be careful." He said with a look of worry in his face. "Look, let's just enjoy this moment we have now. I never thought I'd get a girlfriend in a place like this." He said as he flashed her a cheeky grin.

"Who said I was your girlfriend?" Kiyomi asked with a deadpan expression before cracking a wiry grin. "I'm just using you for your rugged good looks until something better comes along."

"And here I thought you liked me for my sexy accent." He said with a chuckle.

10:22 P.M Day Nine

Third Floor

Screening Room

"What a splendid movie. The Friday the Thirteenth franchise is such an underappreciated series," Sonia mused as she watched the credits begin rolling.

The Storyteller cracked a grin as he leaned back in the theater chair. "You know, aside from the ethereal glow and the giant wings, you haven't changed a bit."

"What precisely is that supposed to imply?!" Sonia huffed slightly as she folded her arms.

"Don't take any offense in that, Princess. You're still the occult junkie I remember from back at Hope's Peak. I'm sorry about what happened to Gundam. The two of you were nothing short of a perfect couple," Daisuke said with a sincere smile.

The Angel's demeanor softened. "There is no reason to apologize. Through Hana, I had the luxury of doing what most could never do: say goodbye. How many can say the same? ...I-I still will look fondly upon those moments, but Gundham wouldn't forgive me for lingering in the past. I'm sure he'd want me to move on with my life."

The dark-haired boy merely nodded. "That's true, it's impossible to look backward and forward at the same time. Besides, as I understand it, you have a mess to sort out when you escape this island."

"You say it with such confidence. There's no guarantee I will fare any better than I did in my first killing game. You're right, though, Novoselic needs guidance more than ever. Should I leave this place, I will endeavor to find my sister Laris and my cousin Maribelle. With their support, and perhaps a few more allies, I believe we can undo the damage that has been caused in Novoselic. It won't be an easy process, but there are innumerable lives depending on it," Sonia stated with a sense of conviction in her voice.

"You know what? I was mistaken. Your sense of justice is stronger than ever. I will do everything I can to ensure you make out this time," Daisuke said as he stared at her with a fond expression.

Sonia shook her head and gently patted the boy's shoulder. "Just don't do anything reckless, alright? I've had to bury too many friends as it is." She fell silent a moment before continuing. "Daisuke, can I ask you something? How did you end up here, exactly?"

"Well, you could say I was captured and brought here like many others," the Storyteller said with a faint shrug of his shoulders.

"Let me rephrase that. How did you avoid becoming like the others of Class 77-A?"

Daisuke looked slightly surprised. "How do you know so much about what happened to them? Weren't you dead?" he asked with a deadpan expression.

"Yes, that may be true. However… I was in a world that was neither heaven or hell, though it felt like both and neither at times. I wasn't by any means omniscient, but I did see many things that happened after my death. I was just curious how you were the only one who wasn't either turned to despair or locked inside Hope's Peak?" Sonia pursed her lips.

"Heh, as someone who delights in stories, I'll just say it's not a terribly interesting story. I simply wasn't in Japan when all of that occurred. I had something to attend to, and it inadvertently kept me out of the line of fire. Tt was nothing more than dumb luck, Sonia. I assure you there's no exciting story to share," the boy said with a smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Sonia was quiet for a long moment. "...Hm, perhaps you should have been the Ultimate Luck."

"Well, considering the circumstances we're in now, I don't think luck is on my side," he said with a chuckle.

11:01 P.M Day Nine

First Floor

Kitchen

The Ultimate Horror Writer sighed as she leaned against the island in the center of the kitchen. She inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of the freshly-roasted coffee. "Hm, least this place isn't lacking certain accommodations."

"It certainly helps those of us burning the midnight oil," Alexander mused as he made his way into the room. "I see we had the same idea, Alejandra."

She lifted her chin before offering a wiry grin. "So, even the Sorcerer needs some roasted elixir to recharge. It's funny, I use to hate the taste of coffee. Now I think I'm borderline addicted to it."

The man nodded while leaning against a nearby counter opposite her. "I never favored it much, myself, though I've recently been having to adapt to a more nocturnal schedule."

Alejandra shrugged and straightened herself before collecting two mugs. "Yes, your vampire bride prefers to sleep in and go full throttle at night. I suppose you don't have much of a choice but to adapt. You really must love playing with fire, though. If she lost control… she could break you like glass."

"That is always a possibility, but one I'm happy to live with. She's certainly had enough practice to keep control," he said as his clothed fingers brushed by a fresh bite mark on his neck. "So what had you awake, dear? The monsters still crowding your mind?"

"As a Horror Writer, the creepies and crawlies never stop worming their way out of the recesses of my mind," she mused as she reached for the pot of coffee. "Perhaps, I also find it safer to be awake when things go bump in the night. If we consider the previous cases, night is far from safe."

"That's quite true, though someone could come along and break the pattern," Alexander explained with a shrug. "Regarding the story you're writing, have you chosen a particular nightmare to draw from? Or is it still being figured out?"

A dry chuckle escaped the girl. "There's so much inspiration on this island, I could quite honestly write my accounts of this game. It would be enough to make anyone's blood run cold. Of course… that could be in poor taste. I've been wondering if profiteering financially or intellectually is right when it comes off of the deaths of so many."

Alexander gently took one of the filled mugs, taking time to briefly cup her hand with his. "Whether it is or not, there are some people out there that would do so without a second thought. I'm sure that, despite the countless horrors flooding your mind, you understand that man can sometimes be the real monster."

"And those thoughts are what really keeps me up at night. Look at men like Joseph Stalin or Adolf Hitler. They may not have been some supernatural entity, but horrors are not merely limited to the pages of fiction. They are all around us." Alejandra took a small sip of her blackened coffee. "Sometimes, it's what we don't know about in the shadows, the unknown, that horrifies us most."

"Agreed. It can even come from people close to us, because even those we think we know can be capable of horrific things..." Alexander looked uncomfortable as his sentence trail off. He hastily took a drink of his sugar-filled coffee. "Forgive me, I went and conjured a less than pleasant memory back to the surface."

The Writer shook her head slightly as she eyed the Sorcerer. "At the rate we're going, there's going to be little else but unpleasant memories. You know, I can't stop thinking about that lamp. If only I had known what it was capable of," she mused wistfully.

"This memory came from much further back, but it doesn't matter. As for Jana, I will admit I am also curious about that. However, after how things ended, I doubt she would have been very pleased to see me," Alexander said with a smirk. "In the end, I'm afraid all we can do is wonder what may have been, since Saino made sure none of us could get the chance to use it."

"...Yes, perhaps I should push the thought from my mind. Such temptations in a place like this is never a good thing," Alejandra said before taking another small sip. "If you'll excuse me, I have some new thoughts to jot down."

"Well, it was nice to talk with you, dear Alejandra. Have a good night," the Sorcerer said. He finished off his coffee and started to clean off his mug. Once finished, he winked towards the Writer before making his way out of the room.

October 23rd 2020

12:35 A.M Day Ten

Outside

Bell Tower

The Ultimate Succubus sat at the top of the bell tower with a distant look in her eyes.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Akeno asked in a bemused voice. She had suddenly appeared before perching a couple of feet away.

"Jesus Christ! Are you trying to give me a goddamn heart attack?!" Nozomi spat as she shot the red head a dirty look.

"Fufufu! If I gave you a heart-attack and something happened to you, your blood would stop pumping. Now why would I want something like that?" The Vampire scooted next to the other girl before gazing out at the waxing moon. "What brings you out here this time of night?"

"You know, I could ask you the same thing, but if you must know… I was feeling restless. As more and more time passes, I feel less and less like myself. Not only are the changes physical, but every part of who I am has changed. I'm afraid that eventually… I won't even recognize myself."

Akeno crossed her legs as her brow knitted together. "Believe me, you and I aren't that different in that regard. I used to just be a goth horror junkie. Now, I'm an all powerful vampire who can fly, walk on walls, and perform superhuman feats. After everything that's happened, I'm not even sure I'm mortal anymore."

"Heh, I guess you're right. You crave blood and I crave… well... something more than blood," Nozomi admitted with a sheepish expression. "I'm just afraid of losing myself. It feels like I'm being controlled by my cravings. If we survive, will the people we care about even recognize us?"

"You're worried about your family, right? I wouldn't stress so much about that. If Hayate survived a killing game, I'm sure he knows a thing or two about being changed. I doubt anyone comes out of these things the same way," the Ultimate Vampire pointed out.

The Succubus offered a muted nod. "That may be true, but what if there isn't a place for us in the world? I mean, people hardly tolerate different genders, orientations, or religions. What chance do a group of freaks have? You can probably blend, but I have freaking horns, wings, and a tail. Short of convincing people I enjoy cosplay, I don't see that going over well."

A snort escaped Akeno, who leaned over and nipped Nozomi's neck. She let out a yelp in response.

"Oww, what the shit? You could at least ask before you start chomping away!" She groused as she rubbed at her bleeding neck and fought back the flush on her face.

"Heh, sorry. I guess your pheromones don't just work on men. I couldn't resist a little nibble," Akeno admitted with a playful wink as she licked her lips. "If you think I would fare any better, you're wrong. None of you realize just how hard it is to resist when I'm thirsty. If I don't end up with a stake through my heart, I'll have to live as a hermit. No amount of self control would work if I was in the middle of a city."

Nozomi raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that difficult? What is it like, anyways? Like, blood… it has to be different for you, right?"

The Vampire shut her eyes before leaning backwards. "Imagine the most delicious smell in the world. It comes in different flavors, and you can hear it pulsating through someone's body. Then imagine, hearing and smelling that with hundreds or thousands of people. I have no doubt I would become rabid. I'm not downplaying your lust, but you are less likely to go on a murder spree."

"Maybe. I'm not sure how sex with someone who's not like us would work. Ariana gets exhausted by the end, but I'm always raring to go. I think feeding on that energy makes me stronger, but without someone strong, it could be lethal. I guess it's all the more reason why I'm happy sticking with my Kitsune. She's probably the only person who could keep me sated," she admitted as she pulled her knees up against her chest.

"We find comfort in the most unlikely places. I think Alex is the only person who truly understands me, the only one willing to offer himself time and time again. I've never felt this way for anyone in my life, which is the true nightmare in a place where death can find anyone. I suppose all we can do is savor the moment and hope it lasts," Akeno mused. "I don't want to picture a day when it comes crashing down."

6:54 A.M Day Ten

First Floor

Satanic Temple

The Ultimate Zombie cackled. "Things are about to get interesting again."

"I don't know if I appreciate your idea of interesting," Hana deadpanned as she followed after the boy.

"Jizoku, what precisely are you up to?" Teleios asked as he perched on Hana's shoulder.

"Kekeke, take a look for yourself. I found it just laying there like that!" Jizoku pointed into the dark temple, at a leather-bound black tome that sat on altar and was wrapped in thick chains. "Sure is creepy, isn't it? This room feels even darker with that thing. Wanna check it out together?"

The Spirit Channeler suppressed a chill as she warily stared at the tome. "That certainly wasn't there before, but I think it's best for us to leave it alone."

"That would be most wise. This tome is seeping with dark magics. Just from that, I can tell it is very dangerous," Teleios explained as his eyes briefly shone gold.

The Zombie allowed his tongue to loll out. "Don't worry, it's really stuck! Believe me, I tried to pry it off when I first found it. I wonder if our furry friend could get it out?"

"You don't take anything seriously, do you?" Hana asked as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Hey, when you can't die, what's the point in taking everything seriously?" Jizoku snorted and walked into the room before lacing his hands behind his head. "Besides, I'm just joking. If I had to bet… this is our next motive."

The Familiar fluttered onto one of the benches in the room and kept a wary eye on the book. "That could very well be true. Syd was the one who desecrated this place, after all. If we are unable to access it, I can only surmise that we're still being given a respite after the last motive."

"But how could a book be a motive? I mean, what could this thing even do?" Hana asked with a puzzled look.

"Heh, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. I don't think Syd is particularly patient," Jizoku mused with a slight grin.

Teleios stared intently at the tome. "No, I suspect you're right. Let us hope we all fare better than we did last time."

7:39 A.M Day Ten

Basement

Laboratory

"Excellent, you're all here. I'll be brief and to the point. While you all are in fact part of the game, I wish to share something with you and not the students. Consider it a gift from me to all of you," Syd said as he stood next to a large glowing tank.

Sebastian frowned slightly. "With all due respect, the only thing I want is to be released from blackmail. I have been very cooperative, but I don't require anything other than that."

"Relax, that is the point I'm getting to. Everything these last games have been about are drawing to a close. Jibo and Saino's project is complete. It took all of these prior experiments to create a compound that reacts differently to every individual. When this chemical is released into the world, it will set in motion a progressive evolution. In a world filled with supernatural beings, the human race will be replaced. Whatever remains in the wake of that inevitable conflict will be the very idea of a new, stronger society," Syd explained with a manic look of excitement on his face.

The Undertaker shifted uncomfortably. "...If something like that is your end-goal, then why even continue this game?"

The Surgeon chuckled darkly. "Because in the end, this is still a game. What fun would there be if we didn't give our participants a chance to stop it?"

Saino slowly made her way up to the tank and carefully pressed a claw against the glass. "It would be a shame to see some of my life's work thrown away for a game. However, it would be amusing to watch them scramble with such a problem, even more so if they were to fail."

"So in the end it, all comes back to hope versus despair again?" the Butler asked with a slight edge to his voice. "You brought us here just to remind us of the futility of our situation?"

"Not entirely. Hope and despair is just one aspect of survival of the fittest. Those who wish to survive will adapt, while those who cannot are overtaken by those who can. There is, however, another purpose for why I brought you here. Shiro, have you placed Lars' book where I requested?" the Surgeon asked as he eyed the executioner.

"Yup yup. It's chained down nice and tight in the temple," Shiro explained while lacing his hands behind his head.

"What's the plan with that book, anyways? I remember it was pretty powerful, so I'd assume we're in for some kind of fun." Mackenzie looked between the two.

A grin spread across the Surgeon's face. "It is known as the Necronomicon, and it's the next motive. Thanks to Kiyomi's return, I realized that even pacifists could be influenced if they believed they could resurrect the dead."

"H-How does something like that even work?" Sabishi asked as she shook her head.

"From my understanding, it follows the principles of equivalent exchange, something our departed Alchemist would be quite fond of. If someone uses the tome, they can resurrect another. However, it requires a life for a life. So in this particular case, the Necronomicon will be treated as a weapon," Syd explained as he laced his fingers.

The Dragon scoffed, causing small amounts of frost to briefly form around her. "Once again, man meddles with something they only barely understand. It was foolish enough that Jibo gave Lars the book in the first place. I see you're following in his footsteps in that regard as well."

"You have little qualms with irrevocably changing the world, but something this simple unnerves you?" the Surgeon asked before chuckling. "I'm sure I'll be well prepared for whatever eventuality. Now, if you're all quite done second guessing me, it's time we give our test subjects the opportunity to raise the dead..."

19 Survivors Remain

*AN* Hey guys, I'd like to thank the betas for their quick work on this. Also major shoutout to CSD, Petty, Magus, and Superguy for helping with these scenes! =)

OMAKE

"We cannot tear out a single page of our life, but we can throw the whole book in the fire."

—Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin

"Hmm? An interview? Sure, why not?"

Remy was seated in a plush, dark green armchair. Behind him, empty white space seemed to stretch on into infinity. In response to some unheard inquiry, he rubbed his check thoughtfully. The deep, jagged gash in his neck slowly oozed dark blood.

"Do I have any regrets... Hmm, I wonder?" he pondered rhetorically. "Say, my throat's a bit parched, could I have some water, please?"

In response, a water bottle was lobbed haphazardly at the short boy from off-screen. Remy caught it in a casual manner, swiftly unscrewed the cap, then chugged the drink with relish. A thin stream of darkly-tinted water trickled out of the slit in his neck.

"Ahh, that stings! Ahaha!" He tipped his head forward in thanks, causing a sticky strand of blood to splatter onto the floor. "Dank je wel."

The former Exorcist crossed one leg over the other and scratched his head sheepishly. "To tell you the truth, my disembodied friend, I have too many regrets. I thought I could spend the rest of my life trying to do good... to make up for all that I've done in the past. Heh, but wat jammer! All I did was sin more."

He leaned an elbow on the arm rest. "Really now... I wonder what's happened to the others. Are some of them free now? The other half, dead? Could they have seen through the deception? Alsjeblieft, I just wish someone would tell me! How 'bout it, friend? You seem to be in some position of authority."

"...You wouldn't happen to be God or an angel, would you? No?" Remy tapped his forehead twice.

"The devil, then!" he exclaimed excitedly with a flourish of his hands. "No, again? Well, I'm all out of guesses. Maak je geen zorgen, no worries. I'm fine with not knowing. I lived in the dark my entire life, this is nothing new to me."

"Hmm... Things aren't so bad, really. In fact, I'd say this is what I've always wanted." A wan smile flitted across his face. "I've always... had something of a death wish. How could I not? It sounds so strange when I put it into words, but I've murdered far too many to ever live a peaceful life... Perhaps some scholarly folk would argue against this self-damning attitude, but I'm not here to debate them. I'm sure my beliefs are flawed, but it's much too late for me to turn my back on the past that made me... Well, my current 'self' is something I've had to construct, as well, but that's beside the point. I'm rambling now. Het spijt me, sorry."

Remy tilted his head to the side. "Oh, I'm supposed to be rambling? That's what you want? Ahahaha! ...That's a bit weird, if I may be a little rude. Well, I try not to judge too much!"

As soon as Remy's spell of laughter died down, he returned to a more somber expression. "Yeah... as much as I was built by the terrorists who raised me, I had to rebuild myself the day I left. You probably are aware of this, but practically none of my laughter is genuine. None of my smiles, as well... Heh, I am such an awful person. I filled Sabishi's head with garbage I didn't truly believe in myself. Oh, but don't tell her that! She desperately needed some source of strength, and well... I spouted a few silly lines to help fill the hole in her heart."

Remy briefly furrowed his brow and shook his head. "Hmm... No, I shouldn't be so quick to discard it as garbage. If it works for some people, that's good enough, isn't it?"

Remy nodded dutifully. "Of course. Ahaha! Yeah... I may have lied a little about the extent of what I've done. Don't get me wrong, I'm still an irredeemable mass murderer, but I wasn't the one who blew up that church. No, as I held the detonator in my hands, the choir began singing. I could never forget the angelic voices of those children, the strength of their faith. It's nice to have something to believe in, huh? Mmm... I was brought to tears. I walked away that day."

A faraway look filled his pale blue eyes. "Of course, I didn't finish the job, so someone else did..."

"The Hounds of Anarchy... you don't hear anything about them these days. They were never particularly well-known outside the Netherlands in the first place, but yeah, they've dissolved." Remy chewed on his lip for a moment. "Since, well, I killed the leader with my own two hands."

Remy suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Ahahahahahaha! Yeah... my adoptive father, he was a real bastaard. I don't want to speak of him... Now, where was I? So, I lied to Hana and Sabishi about being the one to kill those children. You see, I wanted them to feel as little over my death as possible. I don't deserve anyone's grief."

He let out a long sigh. "But those two... they're just too forgiving. Why? I don't understand, honestly. Just because I was 'kind' to them? Well, even that's debatable! Hana said it herself, I was a complete jerk where and when it mattered."

Remy brought a palm to his face and slumped his shoulders. "Oh, why would you bring that up now of all times? When I'm at my most vulnerable? Ahahaha... seriously, what is all of this even about?"

Sinking further into his armchair, Remy kicked his feet up. "Yeah, of course I knew... about Hana's feelings for me. You don't go making a bento for just any random guy... I stepped all over her feelings. Threw them into an incinerator, really. I had to. A genuine girl like her shouldn't get too close to a deceitful boy like me."

Cocking his head to the side, Remy arched his eyebrows in a slightly irritated manner. "Eh? And what about Sabishi? Just so you know, there wasn't even a hint of romance between us. Seriously! I know there's that whole scandal about Catholic priests and underaged children but... Well, I'm not even sure what to say."

"I think of Sabishi as a little sister. Ugh, but then again, I would've been a terrible brother... I never had a sister, but I do or... at least did, have five brothers. I'm not sure what happened to any of them. As you know, I was separated from my family at an early age. I'm not sure how old I was when my parents... sold me, but I was never even graced with a name. Ahahaha... I don't hold any bitter feelings toward them, honestly!" he chirped in an odd manner as he brushed aside an errant lock of icy blonde hair. "I'm lying again, by the way... And yet, I can't quite blame them."

He let out a mild chuckle. "I get it. We were dirt poor. Times were tough. I always slept on the dirty ground of our hovel. Well, that turned out to be good practice for the future, since the concrete floor was the only bed I knew with the Hounds. Oh, that reminds me. I never showed off my tattoo, did I?"

Without a moment's notice, Remy stood up and flung his leather coat off. He turned around and removed his undershirt, revealing a black tattoo in the form of a stylized lion's head on his shoulder. Returning to his seat, he leaned back casually.

"It's nice, isn't it? Lions are the national animal of the Netherlands, and well, I suppose it's ironic considering how much I've done to destroy my own country... This is just a facade for the tattoo beneath it: a howling hound's head, the symbol of the Hounds of Anarchy. Well, now you know." He shrugged indifferently.

"...What? So, who was my type? You're still hung-up over that? Koekert, I really don't understand you." Remy rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Okay. Believe it or not, but despite being a man of the cloth, I'm not a virgin. In fact, I lost it fairly early on. We were... a bit sexually liberal amongst the Hounds. Is that the juicy sort of gossip you were looking for?" Remy sneered.

"Honestly..." He paused as he idly thumbed the aching gash across his neck. "I... I would've liked to have spent more time with Hana. I wonder if there was a future for the two of us... Heh, why am I thinking about this now? I was the one who threw everything away, willingly."

The boy cracked a knuckle. "Yep. Things are better this way."

Suddenly, tissues rained down from the sky and gently fell over the boy. Snatching one from the air, he dabbed away the tears that had begun to form in the corner of his eyes. "Thank you, but I'm a little ashamed to be tearing up over something so..."

Remy's brow scrunched up in confusion. "So... so what? I don't know... There's really not a lot I know these days. Ahahaha..."

Silence prevailed for a while, before Remy broke it with a long yawn. "Yeah. Okay. I think I'm all out of words for you. This has gone on for long enough... What now?"

A thin smile stretched over the boy's face, wider than the slash across his neck. He nodded once. "Huh. How interesting... Sorry, I appreciate your offer, but I'll have to refuse. Why? Well, since you asked so nicely..."

The former Exorcist bolted out of his seat and stood up on the armchair. "Van Vuuren, the surname I chose for myself, means 'from fire.'"

Spreading out his arms, he shrugged nonchalantly. "Thus, from fire I came, and to fire I shall return."

"Vaarwel, stranger."

Having spoken his final words, Remy forced his hand into the gash of his neck and violently tore it open. Just before he collided with the white floor, his entire world went black. Rembrandt van Vuuren had committed suicide... again.

When it came to the boy who denied himself everything, it was never clear whether one should laugh or cry at his antics.

Review Section:

Magus1108

Yeah we've entered the part of the story where every loss is going to suck =(

RandomStranger48

Haha I feel like you need a truth bullet at the end of the declaration. That would be a fun twist ;)

pokemansuperallstar

Yeah it's been fun to slowly establish and weave these stories together, so that LoD feels more connected as a whole.

NSPunny

Goodness that was a long theory, you raised some interesting points though. It feels rewarding having people pour so much time into theories over something I've written :D

bellatrixshine

She can flap her wings right into the sun! Hehehe

The Kobold Necromancer

Nah, I'm afraid I'm not going into Pokemon in this one :P

doomqwer

Me plan something evil? I would never! =)

MudkipOfDespair

Haha true, but deathflags don't mean anything. Sometimes I raise them just to mess with you guys :P

BirblordAlmighty

It's fine. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about ;)

Fee5H

BUM BUM BUM! *Queue* Dramatic music!