Chapter 25: Outbreak

11:28 A.M Day Eleven

First Floor

Dining Hall

Nozomi smirked as she flicked her tail back and forth. "I know I should be more upset, considering what happened to Sabishi, but did anyone else feel a sick pleasure from seeing Syd skulk off like a beaten dog? Him being pissed off was almost worth it!"

"I would be inclined to agree, but it means Saino is at large. I'm not sure if sticking it to Syd is worth what she will end up doing in the long run," Kiyomi pointed out.

"I agree. A despair like her on the loose could kill thousands, and who knows what kind of power she wields?" Samuel added.

"I gotta agree with Sam and Kiyomi. Satisfying as it was for Syd to have the rug pulled out from under him, Saino is still dangerous. That said, it's not like we can do anything about it." Maya gave a sigh while idly scratching Henry's head.

Chase sniffed the air. "Yeah, and there's no doubt about it; her scent is long gone. She must have planned her escape well. I had no idea that was a puppet. It had her scent and I could have sworn there was blood."

"Don't feel so bad, Fido. I was completely blindsided too. I thought we were dealing with the genuine article, until she went limp," Akeno said with a frown. "Guess we all underestimated her, including Syd."

"We may also be in more direct danger because of Saino's actions. If Syd really is angered by what transpired, then it will be us who pay the price for it," Teleios explained from Sonia's shoulder.

Jizoku burst into a fit of laughter and clutched his sides. "Kekeke! Hell yeah, we are! My memories may be a scattered mess right now, but I definitely remember old Sydney taking out his frustration on me when I was being experimented on. He sure liked finding different ways to try to kill me!"

"I can't vouch for Jizoku's nightmarish experiences, but he's likely right. He's far more impulsive and quick to anger than Jibo. If had to guess, we'll be subject to another motive sooner rather than later. I'm sure he'll be keen to remind us that he's still in charge," Daisuke said as he crossed his arms.

"Still, Syd is losing allies left and right. If he dies like Jibo and Kuuma did… who will be left to run the game?" Maya tapped her chin thoughtfully. "All I can think of are maybe Shiro and Mackenzie: they seem like the only staff members affiliated with Despair. Although, taking out Syd is… easier said than done."

Alexander ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, with those guards of his, it would be very dangerous to make a move against him. He'll likely be on higher alert to what's going on after that trial."

"Even if we managed to get rid of Syd, I doubt leaving this island would be that simple. If I recall correctly, Jibo said something about us not being able to leave without their help. For all we know, the island could have some kind of enchantment on it that stops people from coming or going as they please," the Hunter mused.

"As much as I'd very much like to end this bloodshed prematurely, I'm inclined to agree with Samuel," Sonia said as she gazed around the table. "The harder we push Syd, the more desperate he may become. We have to keep in mind that Saino was the expert of the occult; Syd may be out of his depth now. He could possibly unleash something he can't control or stop if we corner him now."

Ariana sighed and let her tails wrap around her. "Plus, for all we know, there could be things at work here that only he knows about. As great as it would be to not worry about him anymore, we could end up making things way worse."

"Either way, I think it's fairly obvious that he must be distracted right now. It looks like nothing new has opened up for us," Alejandra explained as she idly flipped through her journal.

The Spirit Channeler offered a quiet nod. "That's true, though there is a ray of hope in all of this. If Saino managed to escape this island, it means that the defenses aren't as absolute as we have been led to believe."

"Saino was a master of the occult. She seemed to know a lot about magic. By that logic, the only one among us who would even have a chance of breaking these defenses would be Alexander." Samuel motioned to the Sorcerer.

Alexander placed his hand on his chest and smiled warmly towards the Hunter. "Well, I do thank you for the vote of confidence, my dear Samuel. Your logic certainly is sound; however, it could prove very difficult to replicate what Saino did. From my understanding, she has been here since the experiments. She may have had at least a few months to study this place and figure out what she needed to do. I doubt Syd would grant me the same luxury. That being said, I'm still willing to try in order to save you all, my lovelies."

"Fufufu, well there's no harm in hitting the books. It's not like we have to worry about Saino biting our heads off for acting out in the library anymore. I say we explore all the options while we await Syd's next move," Akeno suggested with a toothy smile.

"While escape is important, I think it would be best if we laid low for the time being. No sense in risking Syd's wrath right now," the gyrfalcon said, while looking over the group.

"I suppose that makes sense. If anything, watching some of the broadcast games tells me rebelling against the Mastermind rarely works out," Maya admitted with a frown.

"But remember that the mastermind did not die in the other games—twice, for that matter. It's clear to me that the circumstances of this game are very different from the others shown so far," the Hunter replied.

12:05 P.M Day Eleven

Basement

Laboratory

"How bad is it, Master Syd?" Sebastian asked quietly with his hands folded behind his back.

The Ultimate Surgeon stalked back and forth furiously, knocking several empty vials and containers to the floor as he did so. They all shattered in the process. "She took everything! All the samples of the virus? Gone! The Necronomicon? Gone as well! She played me for a fool!"

"Hehe, looks like Saino really caught you with your pants down. What are we going to do now, boss?" Shiro asked as he rocked back and forth on the table he sat on.

"This doesn't bode well. I never anticipated the staff getting involved in so many cases. We've never been this depleted. I'll have to let my abominations begin roaming mansion's halls. It's important to be resilient even if we are vulnerable. Also, we're going to need to move up the time table on the next motive. Shiro, you and Mackenzie will lead them to the old facility; once there… we'll set the next motive into play." Syd stopped before eyeing the trio intently.

The Ultimate Painter frowned. "Are we sure that place is even safe to visit? I mean, aren't there plenty of other threats still roaming around that area? Or is that the point of the motive?"

The Surgeon offered a strained smile. "The motive will be explained in due time. However, I'm confident you and Shiro are familiar enough with those grounds. You certainly will have an advantage over anyone beyond Daisuke. Even if he warns them, there's only so much preparation one can do against machete-wielding monsters and other nightmares around that facility."

"Then I take it you will not be joining us on this excursion tomorrow?" Sebastian questioned in a mild tone.

"No, of course not. There's no reason to put myself in the line of fire. This game would become anarchy if something were to happen to me. Besides, I have to keep track of the news," Syd mused as his gaze settled on a small television screen.

Shiro whistled before folding his hands behind his head. "London, huh? Now that's exciting. Wonder how much carnage that's gonna cause?"

"It's difficult to say, but likely a quarantine will be put into effect as soon as possible. There's no telling how many will be infected in that short amount of time," the Butler said as his brow furrowed together.

Syd laced his hands behind his head. "It's likely the S.T.S will establish its own quarantine even before the local government. They'll undoubtedly wish to protect their own Ultimates," he mused before a tiny smirk spread across his face. "Though only time will tell how well that fares."

"Sir, not to question your orders about tomorrow, but how can you be so confident things will go without a hitch? I don't know what you're planning, but they have us greatly outnumbered now," Mackenzie pointed out.

"Let's just say I have an extra ally among them, and they will assure things are back on track," the Surgeon said with a sickly sweet smile.

2:17 P.M Day Eleven

First Floor

Library

The Ultimate Horror Writer sat in a chair with a large book opened, her eyes drinking in every word with intense curiosity. Alejandra paused, however, as she saw a pair of vibrant purple eyes staring down over the edge of the page. "Yes? Is there something you want, Akeno?" she asked before sighing softly.

"Fufufu, it's nothing like that! I just have to commend you on having such good taste. Fear, Horror, and Terror by Jay Kemono is a modern classic," the Vampire said with a fangy grin.

"W-Wait, you're familiar with the work of the Ultimate Fearologist as well?" the Writer questioned with an earnest sense of curiosity and excitement.

Akeno rolled her eyes before she suddenly leaned back against the reading table. "Are you kidding me? I live and breathe everything dark and morbid. My daddy even consulted with Jay when working on his Blood-Letters trilogy."

Alejandra leaned forward and hugged the book against her chest. "Wait, your father worked with Jay Kemono on Blood-Letters?! D-Do you have any souvenirs from the production? Maybe an autograph?"

"Hah, of course I do!" the Vampire grinned before her shoulders slumped. "That is to say I do at home. Of course, I'm only here because I wanted to become talented like my parents. I'm not upset about what I've become, but there's a lot more strings attached than I realized."

"If it makes you feel any better, I feel like I've been cursed more so than any of you with your monster talents. My ability to write is more keen than ever, but how can I write horror when hardly nothing scares me anymore?" the Writer questioned.

The Ultimate Vampire offered a quizzical look. "Wait, are you actually upset that you can't feel fear?"

The darker-skinned girl nodded her head slightly. "Writers convey not only what courses through their brains but through their entire person. It's hard to express ideas that elicit Fear, Horror, or Terror if I'm so deadened to those subjects now. I don't even know if what I've written is even remotely disturbing or not."

"Tell you what, why don't I be your beta reader? It wouldn't be the first time I've read a script before it's been published. Maybe I can give you some feedback?" Akeno suggested.

"You'd really do that for me?" Alejandra asked with a puzzled expression.

A soft laugh escaped the crimson-haired beauty. "Of course! After all, us horror junkies have to stick together, ya know?"

"Th-Thank you. I know that I'm terrible at expressing myself, but I do appreciate the gesture. I brought my manuscript with me, if you'd like to look it over?" The Writer pulled a folder out from her bag.

Akeno's eyes widened in surprise at the title name. "House of Horrors, huh? That does seem fairly appropriate. Let me get my glasses and I'll get to reading!"

Alejandra offered a puzzled look. "You wear glasses? That just seems so bizarre..."

"Heh, I might be an undead queen, but I don't want to damage my eyes! Don't worry, I'll be back in a jiffy!" the Vampire said with a reassuring smile before standing up and strolling towards the exit.

A chuckle resounded from a few feet away as Jizoku walked into sight with his arms laced behind his head. "Heh, it's nice to see you getting along so well with others, Sozo."

The Horror Writer eyed the Zombie in confusion. "Jizoku? Who in the world are you talking to? Who is Sozo?"

The dreadlock-wearing boy paused a moment before rubbing his forehead. "Kekeke. Apologies, the cobwebs in my brain keep shaking loose strange things. I was very close with another Ultimate Writer when I attended Hope's Peak a long time ago. My memories seem to blur together..."

"You claim to be much older than the rest of us; there was even the picture the others discovered in the lady's bedroom, but that doesn't fit with how the rest of us came to be trapped here. Do you truly not remember anything?" Alejandra she eyed the boy suspiciously.

"...For the most part, all I remember are brief flashes between excruciating pain. I think, once upon a time, I was close with Jibo and his family. I think we even grew up as friends. Though that must've been a long time ago, and I was a very different person then," the Zombie admitted in a rare moment of lucidity.

The Writer stared at the boy for a long moment. "That seems impossible. You'd have to be pushing forty, maybe even older, if that's true. Physically, you don't look a day over twenty to me."

A cackle escaped the boy as he registered footfalls in the distance. "Must be good genes is all. I'll leave you to your work; I'm sure you and Akeno have plenty to do." Jizoku flashed a grin before he shoved his hands into his pockets and strode towards the exit...

4:34 P.M Day Eleven

Outside

Courtyard

The Ultimate Angel smiled as she watched Henry flutter around the courtyard and puff plumes of smoke into the air. The little dragon paused every so often before glancing over at Teleios, as if he was asking to join him. He roosted a moment upon the statue in the middle of the fountain before letting out a tiny growl. "Come on, King, he's practically begging you. I'm sure he'll be on his behavior."

"Hmm, I suppose it would be nice to have someone to fly with who is a little more my speed. You and Nozomi are still learning, after all," the gyrfalcon mused as he unfurled his wings. He then let out a caw and launched himself into the air.

"I'm glad to see King acting more relaxed, though I don't blame him for keeping his guard up," Daisuke said. He watched the two fly around contently.

Kiyomi watched the pair take skyward. "I wish I had that wisdom when this game first began. Of course, even with the staff losing people, I think we'd be fools to assume we've secured an advantage."

"It may seem like a small win, but it never is. There are far more dangerous things on this island than the Staff. With Saino gone, I'm not exactly sure what may happen here. I kind of wish the next chapter of our story was written." The Storyteller gave a brief laugh.

"Would you both stop?" Sonia asked with a small huff as she stared upward. "I know things are bleak, but let's enjoy a moment of peace while it lasts."

Meanwhile, Henry soared with Teleios, circling around him every now and then. Henry blew a small jet of flame into the air before diving toward the ground and pulling up at the last minute. The dragon looked back at Teleios afterwards, as if daring him to do better.

The Familiar chuckled as he looked down at the group. "I suppose this is as good a time as any to test out what my powers can do." His gaze met Sonia's; eyes flashed brilliantly for a moment. He let himself plummet to the ground, similarly to the dragon's own dive. However, as he approached it, he began to light up until he was glowing with a radiant aura. He fell to the earth looking like a shooting star. Just before he made contact with the ground, he powerfully flapped his wings and launched himself into the air again, jetting past Henry. He stopped above the dragon and let the light fade off of him.

"W-What in the world was that?" the Paranormal Investigator questioned with a look of wonder.

Sonia offered a knowing smile and rolled her wings slightly. "Well, King is known as the Ultimate Familiar for a reason. He's not just a talking bird..."

"If Teleios is using his powers, then that means he's taking this seriously. I wonder who'd win in a race between them?" the Storyteller said absentmindedly, as he continued watching the two.

Kiyomi tapped at her forearm. "There's one way to find out, though it might be better if Teleios were to let Henry win. I get the sense our little dragon wouldn't be a good sport if he lost..."

Henry gave an indignant squawk at Teleios's blatant display of power. After puffing out smoke in protest, he flew towards the bell tower. He looked back at Teleios with a clear challenge: a race to see who'd get there first!

Teleios looked from the students back towards the bell tower. The gyrfalcon's eyes narrowed as he soared towards the dragon. Thanks to his larger wings, he easily closed the distance and then some. His wing tapped against the dragon's head as he went by. "I believe the proper term is 'tag, you're it'."

"Hehe, he's getting really into it. I think a little bet is in order." Daisuke turned to the two ladies. "I'll wager King wins this race. Loser gets to do whatever the winner asks for five hours."

Sonia and Kiyomi traded looks before the Angel shrugged. "Don't look at me, I'm not about to bet against King. Henry will probably have the edge when he grows up, but for now, I think our dear bird has the advantage."

A sigh escaped the Investigator. "True, but I do enjoy rooting for an underdog. I'll take that bet, Daisuke, but starting tomorrow instead—and it's for the whole day," she said before extending her hand.

"It's settled, then." The man shook it in return.

6:45 P.M Day Eleven

First Floor

Conservatory

The Ultimate Butler pressed into the overgrown room warily. It's strange. Apart from the incident earlier on, we haven't had any other problems in here. I suppose it's for the best; we have enough dangerous vegetation outside the mansion. He stopped near the largest tree in the center of the conservatory. Hana was laying against it with a peaceful smile on her face. "Miss Sugimoto? Are you well?" he asked as concern crept into his voice.

The fair-skinned beauty opened her eyes before shaking her head. "Sebastian, you took my very first kiss… well, from a boy. You could at least call me Hana. Please, there's no need to be so formal."

"I-I apologize. I'm terribly sorry for taking advantage of you in that moment. It was completely out of line and I beg your forgiveness!" Sebastian bowed his head low.

Hana stifled a giggle as she playfully tossed an acorn at the man's knee. "I'm only teasing you. While it was my first time doing something like that… I was happy to give you and your wife a chance to say goodbye."

The Butler finally relaxed. He lifted his chin and offered a grateful smile. "It wasn't just a chance to say goodbye; it was so much more. Grace would have never forgiven me if I had thrown away my life, even if it meant bringing her back. You gave me a final goodbye, but you also brought me hope."

"After how badly Sabi and I screwed up with trying to honor Remy, I've been doing a lot of meditating. If, by any miracle, I survive this wretched game, I want to use this ability to give others peace too. Maybe I can't save the world, but with so much loss… a chance to reunite with the one you love? I think I can do some real good with that," Hana pulled her knees against her chest to hug them.

"I think that's a beautiful goal. You could offer so many people a chance to fill a void in their souls," Sebastian said as he crossed the moss-covered ground and slowly took a seat across from her. "If I may ask, what were you doing here?"

The Spirit Channeler smiled brightly at the man. "Unlike most of the forest, this place feels brighter to me. There's a couple of souls in particular that guard this room. They're very nurturing and it helps me feel at peace. After what happened to the Sanctuary, this has become the place I find the most comfort in."

Sebastian let his fingers coil around the damp moss as he gazed around the expansive area. "I can understand why you'd want to find a place to relax. Most evenings, I work myself to the bone till I'm able to fall asleep without protest."

"Then you should start joining me in here. It's not much, but it's a small slice of paradise compared to the hell around us." Hana leaned forward to gently pat the man's hand. "Of course, you don't have to; I just think it would be good to take time for yourself. Overworking isn't healthy."

"Hah, I'm beginning to forget which of us is supposed to be older," the Butler joked with a light smile.

The brunette rolled her eyes. "Stop, you're not that old! You're probably only in your mid-to-late twenties. Stop acting like you're decrepit."

"Twenty-five, actually. I'm nearly ten years your senior."

"Then does it bother you that I feel conflicted, Sebastian?" Hana leaned forward slightly. "Maybe it's in part because of Grace's feelings, but I keep imagining that kiss. Though it just being us, this time."

The man in front of her straightened a bit as he averted his gaze. "Miss Sugimoto, I-I don't think that's appropriate. Even if I was ready to move on from Grace's death, I don't want to take advantage of you in that way."

The Ultimate Spirit Channeler slowly extended her arms before placing her hands on either side of his face. "Sebastian, it's just Hana. You're not taking advantage of me; if anything, I'm being the greedy one. I'm not asking you to do anything, but do you think you could ever return those feelings?"

"I-I'm not sure," the man admitted as he reached up before taking her hands and offering a tentative squeeze. "I can't promise you that, but I do like the idea of spending more time in this place with you. Is alright, Hana?"

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Of course it is. I know this sounds corny, but I do feel like I've known you forever through her eyes. Though I want to get to know you through my own eyes."

Sebastian chuckled softly. "I'm an open book. What do you want to know?"

The Channeler's brow knitted together for a moment. "What was Hope's Peak like that? I mean, back in the day?"

"You wanna know about me being in high school? Are you sure? I don't think I was terribly interesting," the man admitted with a half-hearted smile.

"Yes, please. I just want to know more about how being an Ultimate was, well, before all of this happened," Hana explained.

The Butler nodded as he picked up a white flower and absentmindedly placed it into the girl's hair. "Around the time I was fifteen..."

8:11 P.M Day Eleven

First Floor

Billiard Room

"So, whatd'ya say we call our teams 'Monster Girls' and 'The Normies'?" Nozomi smirked impishly as she picked up a pool cue and rolled it through her slender fingers. "Unless, of course, one of you have a better suggestion?"

"Hmm... how about we call ourselves 'The Sexy Duo'? Kinda like Batman and Robin, but way cooler." Ariana gave the girls a wink.

The Succubus grabbed the other girl by the chin and pecked her on the lips before whispering, "Works for me, Aria. Just don't push it too far. We both know how much you like this table."

"Oh please, don't stop on our account. I'm sure you two would be just as entertaining as us actually playing pool," Alexander mused. He was leaning over the table with his head in his hand.

"Oh my!" Maya held a hand up to her mouth with a light blush on her face. At the same time, a more contemplative look spread across it. "...Hmm, I have to agree with Alexander. Besides, seeing you two gives me all sorts of ideas for my book..."

She gave a sudden start a moment later, belatedly realizing what she had said. "I-I mean, uh… um… j-just forget what I said..."

"Unfortunately, even if I were into a crowd… I'm not sure either of you could survive the process," Nozomi said with a mischievous smile as she gathered the nearby ball rack. "Stripes or Solids, Aria?"

"Stripes," she replied. She turned her attention to Maya, giving her a firm look. "So, uh... I couldn't help but notice you've been avoiding me. Since that night. I wanna apologize. I didn't know how to react, y'know."

"Ah… I've been meaning to apologize myself. I didn't mean to ghost you and Nozomi, but, well..." Maya trailed off, looking to the side. "I was… embarrassed about what happened, to say the least. And… well, scared. Of how you and everyone else might react later. I've done my best to keep it a secret, ever since I got my prosthetic legs. My classmates in middle school didn't exactly treat me kindly when everyone knew I was a cripple. And don't even get me started on my grandfather. He was my worst tormenter of all."

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetie," the Kitsune replied. She then sighed and glanced away. "Though, I do know what it's like to be bullied. I was made fun of for my weight, growing up. It wasn't fun. What I mean to say is, it doesn't matter if you have prosthetics or not. I'll still treat you the same. We're friends, after all!"

"I wasn't always like this, obviously, and I'm not just talking about the horns, wings, and tail. I grew up being raised by a thief and was malnourished most of my childhood; I was flat as a board before this. I'm not egotistical or cruel enough to judge you for something you had control over, and I know from experience that being pitied is almost worse than being bullied," the Succubus admitted with a half-hearted smile. "Besides, Aria's right. We're in this together, and that makes all of us friends."

"Well, this is news to me, but I know some of that abuse all too well," the Sorcerer said softly as he placed his hand onto Maya's. He smiled at her sadly, then turned back to the others, while running his other hand through his hair. "A man named Thomas Nero, who dated my dad, was a drunk who had no problem beating the hell out of my father and the kid they adopted together."

Nozomi scowled. "Some people don't deserve to have children. That's why I became a street urchin with my brother at such an early age. Our mother was a monster, and so were the men she let into her life. Maybe they didn't have supernatural abilities, but they were monsters all the same."

Maya couldn't help but smile at their reassurance. "You guys… thank you for saying that. I really do appreciate it. It's… nice to know I'm not alone here, in what I went through. Back then… I only really had my live-in Nurse, Aiko Okumura, to support me. But it wasn't enough. I had to adapt to survive in that house, with my grandfather."

"It took me some time… but I learned how to do it. It was easier to put on a mask. To smile, always smile, and pretend everything was okay. My grandfather shouted at me less when I smiled. The insults and gossip of my classmates were easier to endure, too. It made things so much easier that… for a time, I lost myself in that mask. Ironically enough, it wasn't until I came here that I learned how to be myself again. With Chase, Akeno, Henry, and everyone else… I was finally able to let go of that smiling mask. And now, I can smile for real again," Maya declared, beaming at the others.

Alexander nodded as he adjusted his grip on his pool cue. "Perhaps so, but as I grew up, I decided I would put love out into the world to make up for the hate I felt. Some time after my dad broke up with Thomas, I went back to talk with him. We buried the hatchet and he even repented. It was so amazing, to bring change just by showing love." The Sorcerer looked back towards the Tamer. "I'm glad you could overcome your darkness in your own way, dear."

"I'm happy you get to smile again, Maya. I'm just glad we can put this matter to bed. With all the shit that's been going on, I'd rather be friends than enemies." Ariana leaned over the table. She pulled her cue back before striking the ball. It went flying. "Fuck! Guess I'm not as good at breaking balls as I thought."

The Succubus watched with bewilderment as the cue ball barely scattered the other gathered balls. "Don't sweat it, Aria. We're just getting started. I'm sure we'll have another chance, unless Maya or Alexander turn out to be pool sharks."

"I don't know about Alexander, but I doubt I'm very good. I mean, I've never even played pool before!" Maya proclaimed. After saying that, she grabbed a stick, lined up her shot, and struck. Her maneuver somehow ended in three balls spinning into a corner hole. "Oh, was that good? Must be beginner's luck!"

The Kitsune's jaw fell open as three solid balls landed in the pocket. "...Luck, my ass. I think The Sexy Duo is about to get sunk..."

10:03 P.M Day Eleven

Third Floor

Terrace

The Ultimate Werewolf stared up at the waxing moon with an intense look. His ears twitched slightly as he cleared his throat. "Guess I'm not the only one enjoying a clear night. There's certainly not enough of those on this island."

"To be honest, nothing about this island relaxes me. I keep remembering how quickly things can change," Samuel mused as he approached the railing and leaned beside the Werewolf.

"You're right about that. The moon is about to reach its full phase soon. I'll need to take precautions." Chase slowly pried his gaze away from the sky.

The Hunter frowned. "You think you may lose control? I don't know much about werewolves, but I've heard the full moon makes them transform and go on a rampage."

"You've heard right, then. Control has always been the most difficult thing for werewolves. Our hunger, bloodlust, and even our need to mate is affected by the lunar phases," Chase said in a thoughtful manner. "...I'm not sure if Maya would forgive me, but I'm thinking it might be for the best to keep her at arm's length. At least until after the full moon has come and gone. The last thing I want to do is hurt her or anyone else."

Samuel raised an eyebrow. "The way you phrased that almost makes it sounds like you've known werewolves even before coming to this island."

The Werewolf rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. "I misspoke, didn't I? I'm pretty terrible at lying. I always have been."

Samuel's face betrayed complete confusion. "What are you talking about? Werewolves aren't real. Well, they weren't real before all of this magical bullshit started. They're just something out of stupid Hollywood movies."

"You think every legend comes from Hollywood or campfire stories?" Chase shifted his gaze to stare intently at the Hunter. "Do you think everything Saino had a hand in creating was just from nothingness? Is it really hard to believe that the world is a lot bigger than we usually give it credit for? Look at Henry. Maya found him before all of this… not after."

Samuel stared at him, dumbfounded. "Are you sure she's not just pulling your leg? Look, if dragons were real, we would have seen them long before all of this started."

A low rumble escaped the Werewolf. "You sure about that? Why do you think almost every major culture has some sort of dragon legend? If that doesn't satisfy you as an answer, the entire Actaeonis tribe is like me, Sam. Unlike most of you, I approached the AUP looking for control, not talent. I used to look entirely human except when I transformed. Obviously, they took liberties when experimenting on me."

The Hunter rubbed his face to process what he had just heard. "If you'd said that to me back home, I would have called you a madman. But after everything that's happened, I'm not sure what's real anymore. I mean, are you telling me there is an entire tribe of werewolves just running around the United States and no one has noticed?"

"We live on a reservation like many of the remaining Native American tribes. Well, I should say that the rest of my people do. However, I'm no longer welcome there," Chase said as his shoulders slumped slightly. "I have to think if my people exist, it would be arrogant to assume there aren't other creatures that go bump in the night."

"Well, I guess you're right about that. But why would you not be welcome back home? Did something happen?"

The Werewolf frowned. "Suffice it to say, it's a long story. I was banished after my brother, Grim, became the new leader of our tribe. I think he always saw me as a threat to his dominance. He stole the girl that was meant to be my mate and used underhanded tactics to take control of our tribe. I apologize for lying. It's just not something I enjoy thinking about, and honestly, I was afraid people would distrust me if they knew I was a werewolf before all of this."

The Hunter sighed. "I understand. To be frank, I doubt most people would have believed you if you had said that from the get-go, but it's a true shame. Families should look out and care for each other, not turn on them. That's one thing we Boers have always believed in."

"Heh, I agree with you there. People do horrible things out of jealousy, sometimes," Chase mused before hanging his head. "In a few days, I have to lock myself away. When the full moon comes around, my instincts take over, and I've never been able to control the beast. I'm not sure if the experiments have changed that; however, it's not something I want to leave to chance. I promise I'll come clean, but can you do me a favor? When the time comes, lock me in the Despair Chamber. It's basically a reinforced cage, and without direct contact with the moon, I shouldn't be quite as strong."

Samuel shot him a concerned look. "The Despair Chamber? Are you sure about that? That's where Shiro and Mackenzie were broken. What if the same happens to you?"

The Werewolf shook his head. "Don't forget they were being tortured and put into those machines. I just need to be put in the room. You know how easily I busted Daisuke out of the basement. No normal room will hold me. This is for everyone's good. Please, no matter what anyone else says, you have to promise you'll do this for me."

The Hunter placed a hand on his shoulder. "Okay, I promise. You know, Chase, I haven't spoken to you much, but I can tell you're a good man. Maya is a very lucky woman to have you."

Chase offered one of his normal grins before mirroring Samuel's gesture. "I feel like the lucky one. Also, you shouldn't sell yourself short. I know you're carrying around a lot of baggage. Anyone with a keen sense can tell that, but you're a good man too. In a game like this, we'll need every bit of that. I get the sinking feeling that this game is far from over."

Samuel smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. "Thank you, its good to hear you think that..."

"I don't think that. I know it. Besides, even if I didn't trust my own instincts, I definitely trust Kiyomi's. She's been through hell and back, but without her… well, there wouldn't be many of us left. She seems to believe in you, if the glances she keeps giving you is any indicator." The Werewolf laughed.

The Hunter chuckled. "Kiyomi is a wonderful girl. I'm so lucky, I sometimes don't think I deserve her."

Chase offered a reassuring smile. "Don't get caught up on that nonsense. Just appreciate every moment you have with her. We have no way of knowing when it could all come crashing down."

17 Survivors Remain

OMAKE

The camera turned on to show Churi standing in front of Stephanie, a concentrated look on the pink-haired woman's face as she worked on the younger's makeup. Both girls were sitting inside a trailer, the desert visible from the window. "And I think we're almost…done!" Churi stood up straight with a bright smile on her face. She craned her back to grab the mirror and held it in front of Stephanie. "So, what do you think?" Stephanie stared at her image before smiling.

"I look like I'm missing my right eye." She looked up at Churi. "Thank you so much for doing my makeup. I'm still not getting the hang of making my eye look like…this."

"It's no problem." Churi then winked at Stephanie. "Us feminine tall girls have to look out for one another." Stephanie snickered as Churi moved to sit down in a nearby chair. "So, since we have some free time before Crit calls for you, is there anything you want to talk about?"

Stephanie bit her lip. "I honestly don't know what I could ask. Um…I guess…How do you handle all this hair?"

Churi cocked an eyebrow. "Your hair isn't normally this long?"

"No, I had to get extensions for the show," Steph admitted. The Australian girl sighed. "I honestly wish that I could've just kept my bob. It's much more manageable."

"Well, if it helps, the long hair looks very cute on you," Churi stated, earning a blush from Stephanie.

The brunette stood up from the makeup chair, dusting herself off. "Well, if that's all you need to do for me, I'll let you get to the next person." The door opened, and Jizoku stepped into the trailer. Stephanie snickered. "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

"Well, my character is insane enough to be a devil," Jizoku remarked as Stephanie walked past him, a small smirk on his face.

Churi giggled, waving at the young man. "Hi, Zoku, ready to become a zombie?"

As Jizoku slid into the makeup chair, he let out a content sigh. "I always am, Churi." Churi turned around to face the makeup table.

"Do you want to start with the lenses this time or save them for last?"

"Eh, let's get those out of the way now," Jizoku responded, leaning forward to grab the small case. "At least I have to wear these and not freaking ears and a tail like Ari."

The shot then switched to Ariana and Nozomi in their dressing room. Ariana was having her hair fixed by Raef. "I swear, Raef, I would be up a creek without you."

"Having to wear those ears for 'Final Horizon' gave me a lot of experience," Raef responded, chuckling.

As Nozomi finished attaching her tail to her jeans, she leaned down and pecked Ariana's cheek. "You look cute, Hun."

"Say that after I attach that giant tail piece to the kimono," Ariana grumbled. "Hate those tails."

Raef cocked an eyebrow, adjusting the ears in Ariana's hair. "I thought you were dating Hikyou."

Ariana snickered. "Two dates, and we both agreed that we were better as friends after that."

Raef nodded, muttering a small, "Got'cha."

Ariana let out a small sigh. "Are you almost done? That tail piece takes even longer to get on than the ears."

"Patience, Ariana, patience," Raef responded. "These ears are supposed to look like they are attached to your head, so I have to get them closer to your scalp."

Nozomi smiled. "If it helps, you're going to look very cute once Raef has gotten them in, Dear." The blue-haired girl chuckled. "Besides, things could be a whole lot worse."

The shot finally cut to cast of "Isle of the Damned" getting into their makeup. "Can someone pass me the fake fins and the webs for my hands?" Charlotte questioned. "I just applied the scales, so I'm ready to put them on."

Shiro plucked the requested items up from her end of the makeup table and tossed them over Lars's head. "There you go, Char!"

"How did they end up over there?" Mackenzie questioned.

"I think I might have left them there after our last shoot," Charlotte admitted. "I was rushing to get out of them."

Seisha let out a small sigh, leaning forward in his chair. He was noticeably far smaller than his character. "Why is the face paint always so hard to put on evenly?"

"You have to use a damp sponge on it," Dalila reminded, dabbing a large makeup sponge against her arm. "If you use a dry one, then it doesn't apply properly."

Feliks rushed into the room, already in his costume. "I'm sorry I'm late! The guys working special effects wanted to make sure that the wings would still look right for the episode."

"Trust me, kid, you're fine," Ashton reassured, adjusting the wig on his head. "Hey, Nyx, when you're done with your makeup, can you help me with this damn thing?" Nyx gave the taller man a thumbs-up as she blended the makeup on her right leg to look like a proper scar.

Maya poked her head into the room, a sheepish smile on her face. "Hey, guys, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but do you have extra foundation in a pale shade? We've run out."

Miya raised her hand. "There's some extra down here." Maya nodded before entering the room and walking over to the petite girl.

"How are you guys all so good at this stuff?" Maya questioned, looking around the room in awe.

Daisuke chuckled. "Well, for most of them, this is their first time being actors." Maya stared at Daisuke with wide eyes.

"But you, Shiro, and Kenzie all said that they've worked in film before."

"Yeah, as makeup artists and special effects members," Reukra clarified.

Ibb let out a sigh as she leaned back in her seat, adjusting her bangs. "Although, a few of us have also worked as cosplayers before."

Riku snickered. "Even with all that experience, we still have some hair and makeup issues. Someone loses a fake fin, makeup gets smeared or looks dewy, just…a whole lot of mess."

As the shot faded out, Maya responded, "My cast mates would not be able to handle the amount of work y'all do."

"Most actors are the same," Bethany responded, shrugging.

*AN* Like to thank the betas as always and a big shoutout to CSD,Petty,Magus, and Super for their help this chapter!

Review Section:

Magus1108

Yeah I thought it would be interesting to see the MM outplayed by one of his own. Also it could have massive consequences lol

Blazerxz

Insert ominous foreshadowing! ;)

MudkipOfDespair

Yeah it definitely will have a major impact for sure hehehe.

ShinyOshawottKing1

Yeah I really went back and forth on this, but I just thought it added some loss and potential do something with Sebastian moving forward.

bellatrixshine

Being a fairy is totally on the table hah!

Natsukumo1000

Oh she was, until she wasn't :P

NSPunny

Shiro is going to be brooding for a bit over that one hah

doomqwer

Eh death by that would of been interesting, but it wasn't the point of the arc lol.

BirblordAlmighty

Hey it may not be good, but it is interesting hehehe

pokemansuperallstar

Yeah Syd isn't a happy camper right now lol

StoryProducer214

Hah well they're definitely not in a happy place

Psychochiken

Slaying the dragon may be harder than you think mwhehehe