Chapter 4: Granite Part 1
7:00 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Bedroom
Victoria and Brooke had been talking about random inanities (favorite music, favorite pizza topping, blockbuster films vs long-form television, etc.) when a loud bell suddenly started to ring from outside.
It coincided with a sudden locking up of their inhuman bodies, followed by pain.
What followed was an odd though no less agonizing reversing of what had occurred last night. The Mummy's bandages unwrapped themselves from her body and receded into (at her best guess) some sort of 'hammer-space' at her back, while her body 'un-rotted' itself (somehow). For the 'Gillanoid', her scales, claws, teeth, et al. retracted back into her body, releasing slightly less blood than before(still got all over the carpet, though). By the end, they'd both been returned to normal. However, while Victoria was still clothed in her attire from last night(albeit now reeking as though they'd, well, been wrapped with a rotting corpse for an entire night), Brooke was…
Oh right, my clothes got shredded last night. How could I forget? Brooke thought sarcastically. At least her wristband was still on.
Victoria averted her eyes when she noticed the pertinent facts. "Well, I'll leave you to get ready for the day." She stood up quickly, eyes on the door and ceiling and mind on the fact that, thankfully, her accent had returned (an odd priority, perhaps, but it kept her focus at the moment). "I actually had a nice time talking last night, let's promise to stay in touch when we get out of here, yeah?" She made her way quickly to the door. "And a good morning to you as well!" She departed.
Brooke had trouble following the brit's high-speed talk, but was grateful all the same that she'd given her some privacy. Checking that, yes, there was a selection of clothes stored for her(all identical to the outfit she'd been wearing when she woke up last night, color scheme and all), she undid her still-ponytailed hair, made sure her earrings were still intact(surprisingly, they were, is spite of all the transformations; she decided not to question it), and made her way to the bathroom. She had blood that needed removal.
7:15 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Bedroom - Shower
Victoria stood under the shower. She wasn't paying attention to the warm water flowing down her body, or that the smell of corpses was finally disappearing from the air around her.
She was paying attention to the pale scar-lines that currently criss-crossed across her entire body from the neck down. Scars she most definitely did not have when she'd first gone to the AUP.
What had these people done to her? How had they turned her into this … thing? And why did they go about it in such a way that her entire body was left scarred from it?!
She took a stuttering breath in, letting the warm steam flow through her nostrils. She needed to be calm. She'd be of no use to anyone in too emotional a state. Taking another, smoother breath, she felt her rapidly beating heart slow to a more normal pace.
She could get through this. She had to.
8:00 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Dining Hall
"So," Victoria called, after everyone had gotten breakfast, "did anyone happen to see anything we could use to escape?"
"Unfortunately, no." Clarisse responded, looking annoyed at herself at the thought. "There seems to be a back door, but it's locked up tight, same as the front."
"Didn't seem like there were any doors in the Conservatory, either." Elle said, sitting sideways in her chair, feet draped on her boyfriend's lap (he seemed to have no issue with this). "The glass looked like it could be broken, maybe, but I'm not so sure we should try and go back in there. Really didn't look friendly."
Everyone agreed (some more begrudgingly then others), remembering the moving plants all too well. No one was eager to see what they might be capable of.
"The walls on this floor all seem pretty sturdy, too," Gary added from his spot across from Victoria, "didn't look like there were any weak spots that we could just smash our way through, no matter how strong some of us are now."
"Well, great," Ryan grumbled, slumped over the table, "so we're no closer to finding a way out of this building than we were yesterday. Do we have any actual good news?"
Logan cleared his throat. "w-Well, it looks like Victoria and Miss Douglas actually did return to normal this morning, so there's that at least."
Brooke groaned from next to Victoria. "Ugh, don't remind me. The last thing I want is to remember that if I don't have to, and right now I'd think I don't."
From her spot next to Brooke, Kelley smiled. "Well, at least the two o' ya don' hafta worry abou' hurtin' anyone just by shakin' their 'and. Tha's a def'nite plus, I'd tink." This prompted grateful smiles from the older girls to her right.
Unfortunately, not everyone cared for the sentiment. "Yeah yeah, goody for the two people that get to stop looking like monsters." Shawn complained from his spot at the end near Ryan and Logan. "Meanwhile, some of us, ain't so lucky!" His sentence was punctuated with a glare at the rest of the group.
"Speak for yourself, sir." Teresa stated, playing with the feathers on her wings (she had an end seat and could do this without slapping anyone in the face), "I am actually quite fine with how I am."
"And it's not like they have a walk in the park either, pal." Eric pointed out, annoyed at the Scarecrow's insensitivity, "According to that doctor, they'll just change again at sundown."
"Something I'm not sure they'd like to be reminded about, actually." Sabishī quietly noted from her spot between Eric and Victoria.
Alexis quietly ran her hand across the table from her spot between Elle and Adrien, savoring the smooth unblemished texture of the wood (it was almost as flawless as her own skin). "Returning to the topic at hand," she began, looking around the room, "as we have yet to find or devise a proper method of escape - at least, one that doesn't involve playing along with this killing game, which I can only assume no one actually plans to do - I'd suggest that we bide our time and see what happens. One of the staff members might make a mistake for us to use, allowing us a chance at freedom."
"An excellent plan, I'd say," Adrien said, smiling under his half-mask. "That Butler in particular seems like he might be amenable to aiding us, if we could get around whatever hold the doctor has on him."
Harris seemed unconvinced. "Right well, you guys do that," he declared, standing from the table, "while I shall run off and hide somewhere where I won't get killed, cuz with my talent, you can bet that I'll probably be the first to go." Before anyone could call after him, the Ultimate Bad Luck had departed the hall (stubbing his toe on the door on his way out).
After a moment, Victoria spoke up again. "Well, I suppose with that, the meeting's adjourned." She stood up from her seat. "Ryan, Logan, if you could meet me near the front door in an hour that'd be great; everyone else, I guess it's up to you, though Alexis' plan is a sound one. See everyone at lunch, then." With a wave to everyone, she made her leave.
With all that said, the group - still with no concrete options and some with their own plans in mind - departed for other sections of the floor, leaving the dining hall behind.
8:21 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Grand Library
The Latin-American Mythologist perused through the library, looking for anything that she might find interesting. So far, she'd found nothing outside of a brief history book about the Olmecs, a guide on the smelting process the Aztecs used to melt down gold for their holy relics and art, and a surprisingly detailed summary on Mayan human sacrifice rituals and conduct (they all seemed to miss a few bits though).
"What are you looking for?" Turning, Alexis saw the Cryptozoologist at the end of the shelf, watching her.
"Oh, nothing much," she turned back to the shelf, laying a hand on it. "I was just curious if I could find any reading material pertaining to my field of study. So far, I've come up with nothing regarding anything south of Mexico. At least, nothing that's accurate or that I don't already know." She looked back to Eric, stepping toward him slightly. "Same for you I presume?"
The boy rubbed the back of his head while turning back to the shelf himself. "Yeah, I was hoping to find some volumes concerning Sasquatch and Mothman, but I'm currently striking out there." He turned to the girl again (idly noticing she'd moved closer while he'd been talking), "I don't suppose you happened to see anything like that in your search, huh?"
"Can't say I did, I'm afraid," Alexis said, shaking her head as she moved forward, "I did see something about sea monsters earlier, but mainly about ancient depictions of krakens and leviathans." She abruptly took one long step forward, coming up noticeably close to the shorter man. "Though, if you ever want to broaden your own knowledge base, I could probably help with that." A hard-to-define smirk appeared on her lips.
Eric looked at her, slightly surprised at how close she'd just gotten, and moved back a step. "Uh, I'm good actually. I've got a lot of new information in my head after getting this talent, and unless I missed something, none of it says much about cryptids that tie into any South American mythologies. I'm not sure I get much that applies to my field."
"Mmmm, true, I suppose," the tall woman noted, pulling back a few steps herself, "still, the offer's open. Learning about ancient South American peoples can be quite interesting regardless of how or if it applies to your work, though admittedly I might be somewhat biased in that regard." She chuckled slightly on that last point, running a finger along her necklace chain. "And," she added, seemingly just remembering something (if the raised pointer finger was any indicator), "if you are looking for something more your speed, I believe I've heard of a 'cyptid' back home that might interest you; The Minhocão."
"The Min…" Eric was drawing a blank on that one, actually, "I can't say I've heard of the thing. It's from your home country?"
"Sim, all the way back in Brasil." The Brazilian confirmed, "Though, from what I recall, it wasn't clear if it was a large fish or a large worm." That smirk was back, now definitely of a teasing variety. "Sound like a research venture worth your time?"
Eric smiled, "Yeah, sounds like an inconsistency to correct, honestly." He looked in the direction of the Dragonologist's desk. "Though maybe we should check with the librarian on where to look. Might even find our original search topics."
"Agreed." With that decided, the Cryptozoologist and the Latin-American Mythologist made their way to the front desk, intent to learn more.
9:18 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Front Door
Victoria stood before the main door, Ryan and Logan flanking her. She turned to each in turn. "Alright gentleman, you seem like the strongest people we've got. I want you to put that strength and those stone fists to work on this door."
"You really think this'll work?" Ryan asked, skeptical that just punching would get the door open.
Logan actually seemed more optimistic. "w-Well, we never really tried the door last night. Maybe they were hoping we'd just not bother given the circumstances, o-or something."
"Well we need to at least try," the Mummy stated, redirecting focus on the task at hand. "This way we can say for certain one way or another if this is a viable escape."
With nothing else to say, the Gargoyle and Golem went up to the double doors, each standing on one side of them. Clenching a fist, they reared back and slammed their punches forward with the full strength their new rocky bodies provided.
SLAM!
The fists crashed at full force into -
- a glowing barrier.
Suddenly, to the shock of the rock creatures and mummy standing before it, the front door had a bluish-white field over it, as though a force field - or, given their circumstances, a magic barrier - had suddenly made itself known. Furthermore, it had stopped the punches in their tracks, keeping any of the destructive force from reaching the target.
Logan, surprised, unclenched his fist and moved it away from the barrier. Slowly, he moved is other hand up, palm forward, and placed that upon the barrier, testing it. He found nothing but a solid magical wall keeping them from the door. "Uhh, I t-think that the plan's a failure. s-Sorry."
Victoria was shocked, somewhat horrified at what the staff was clearly capable of, caught off-guard … and slightly angry. "Wh-what? What?! H-how? When? Huh?" She started looking angrier and angrier. "No, nonononononono, th-this is some right BS right here, y'here me?! BS! Th-this just - out of nowhere - it - jus - it - ARGH!" She suddenly started angrily stomping her foot on the floor repeatedly. "SON! OF! A! HOLLYWOOD! PRODUCER! ARGH!" Calming down (taking deep breaths to do so), she looked down to her feet, realizing the floor actually seemed to be displaying signs of damage from her actions. She looked back to the boys, lifting a foot, nonexistent-boot-heel up, for emphasis. "This is why I don't wear heels anymore." Seeming (understandably) embarrassed, she turned on her heel and marched off, likely to plan a new means of leaving the mansion.
Ryan and Logan looked at each other. "Well," The Gargoyle commented, "that went well."
"The escape attempt or her reaction to it?" The confused Golem asked.
"Yes."
10:15 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Bedroom
Elle wrapped her legs around her boyfriend's waist, grinding against him as his tongue fought past her lips. They'd been too tired and stressed from last night to act until now, and they had no intent of waiting any longer.
Dropping onto the bed (losing her helmet somewhere in the fall), she took a moment to enjoy the feel of his firm mass pressed upon her. Then she flipped him over, ending up on top. Smirking, she untied and removed her over-shirt, followed by her tank top (never ceasing her grinding, of course). All that was left was her bone-white bra, and then the only thing covering her torso would be the tattoo of a T-Rex skull displayed across her back.
"Ready for a roaring good time, my plant-minded man?" she asked, slipping his shirts off of him.
John, having some trouble concentrating on her words, nodded all the same, very willing to begin.
"Well then, here comes the tasty herbivores." She tossed her bra aside and captured his lips in hers again.
In the nearby bedrooms, the assorted occupants were all busy either ignoring the increasingly loud noises, trying (and probably failing) to ignore said loud noises, or pleasuring themselves in some manner (either in relation to the loud noises or otherwise). At some point, Harris accidentally fell off his bed and injured himself in some manner.
10:35 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Billiard Room
CLACK
"Yes!" Brooke called as she successfully knocked the 5 ball into the hole, fists pumping into the air. "That's more points for me, or, something, yeah!" The others politely tapped their pool cues against the table (their hands were full so clapping was unavailable).
"So, just to be clear," Sabishī asked, holding her cue in both hands as she watched the table, "none of us actually know how to play this game correctly, right?"
"Not a'tall," Kelley happily announced, cue held one handed over her shoulder, "but I'm havin' a fun time all th' same. Tha's wha' counts, righ'?"
"Got it in one, Kels," Brooke agreed, lining up for another shot. "At the least, it's something nice, calm, and relaxing to spend time on, and I think we could use that." She whacked the 7 ball with her cue, only for the ball to tragically fail to hit any of the holes. "Tch. Your turn, Sabi."
The Undertaker lined up a shot. "I can certainly share that sentiment." She sighed slightly as she missed the 8 ball entirely. "Should've gone for the 9." she muttered, before looking across the table at the Irish girl. "Your shot, Kelley."
The Banshee leaned forward, trying to decide which ball to target. As she lined up a shot at the green 6 ball, she asked, "Brooke, ya'd said las' nigh' ya thought that ya'd become an Ichthyologist, righ'?" She struck true, sending the ball down a hole, "Why'd ya wan' such a talent exactly, if ya don' mind my askin'?"
"It's fine," Brooke said, waiting her turn as Kelley lined up another shot. "Honestly, I've always loved fish. Sea life in general, really, but especially all the different types and breeds of fish." She squeezed the cue in her hands slightly as she spoke on the matter. "The looks, the mannerisms, the feel of a fish's scales-" she cut herself off, blushing slightly as she relaxed her grip. "a-Anyways, I unfortunately didn't get to qualify as an actual Ultimate for Hope's Peak Academy, and after the Tragedy started winding down following the Killing Game broadcast, I ended up hearing about the AUP. Figured I'd give it a shot." She sighed, a slightly bitter tone in her voice as she noted, "In hindsight, things could've gone better."
The others cast sympathetic looks to the American, "I'm sorry to hear that, Brooke." Sabishī stated.
Brooke waved her off. "Eh. From what I heard you might have it worse. Didn't you say last night that you didn't sign up for the AUP?"
The Undertaker nodded. "Yeah. One minute I'm heading to another soup kitchen, the next I'm being chloroformed. Then I wake up here, knowing how best to bury bodies."
"That's hor'ible." Kelley commented, having forgotten the game for a moment, "D-did ya lose ya'family durin' the Tragedy, or…"
"No, thankfully, I got away from them before it hit." Neither girl listening to this chose to comment on Sabishī's statement, though both shared a glance at the implications, "During the Tragedy, I hid in a morgue, a lot; eventually got sorta comfortable down there, looking after the peaceful dead." She sighed slightly, quietly. "Hence, why it fits I got turned into an undertaker. At least the dead can't hurt people." She looked down at the table, seeming unwilling to make eye contact at the moment.
"I - I'm findin' m'self at a loss on what t' say." Kelley stated, setting her cue off to the side.
Sabishī raised her head, waving a hand at the other two. "It's okay, what's done is done, I'd think." She set her own cue down. "What about you Kelley, what's your story?"
The Irish girl was silent for a moment, before picking up the white ball. "My da' died a few years back, b'fore the Tragedy hit. We own a small farm, me and my Ma, and it can be hard makin' ends meet a'times, even if we did luck out an' miss the worst o' the whole mess. I was hoping I'd be made an Ultimate Farmer. Me'be get some resources ou'a it ta help ou' back home." She sighed, before dropping the ball down a corner hole. "Now I'll settle for jus' survivin'."
There was silence for a moment, before Brooke (putting her own stick down) smiled. "Well, at least you wanted a talent for a better reason than I did, so there's that at least."
Kelley smiled shyly at the compliment. "T'anks, but all the same I -" she cut off abruptly. She seemed like she was having trouble speaking, only labored breaths were coming out. Suddenly, she dropped to her knees, clutching the table in a vise-like grip as her eyes widened.
"Hey, what's -" Brooke was cut off as a slight keening soon started rising from the Banshee, who's hair had suddenly started waving in a nonexistent wind. Slowly the keening rose in volume, becoming a high-pitched wail that all the mansion could hear:
Heeeeee-eeeeee, Heeeeeeee-eeeeeeeeee, HEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEE, HEEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEE-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Brooke and Sabishī couldn't say for certain about the others, but the two of them were struggling just to stay upright, leaning against the table with their hands clasped over their ears, just hoping the haunting, ominous noise would stop while they were still capable of hearing.
Then, as abruptly as it had begun, the screaming - the Banshee's wail - ended, and Kelley was left kneeling on the floor, eye's shut, gasping for air as she hugged herself and leaned her forehead against the billiard's table. Sabishī moved quickly, putting an arm around the older girl's shoulders, comforting her as she tried to regain her breath.
There were fast footsteps before the door opened, revealing a surprised Gary. "I was heading down the hall when I heard that scream." the Egyptologist explained. "What just happened, is someone hurt?"
" … I …" From the floor, the Banshee looked up, a horrified look in her eyes. "I - I tink somethin' just hap'end. Somethin' hor'ible."
10:42 A.M. Day Two
First Floor
Hallway
After getting Kelley to her feet, the quartet rushed into the hallway, unsure of what to do now. "Any idea where anyone even is?" Brooke asked the others.
"Uh, maybe Victoria's still doing something near the front door?" Gary asked, recalling her request of Ryan and Logan earlier that day.
"We should check if they're alright, then we can look around for the others." Sabishī suggested. Agreeing, everyone took off down the hall.
When they reached the lobby, a horrific sight awaited them.
In front of the door lay the body of Ryan York. Apparently, his body actually had been turned into solid (albeit living) rock, as his head had been reduced to literal rubble. A large metal mace lay to the side.
The Ultimate Gargoyle was very much dead.
And the first case of the killing game, had just begun.
[15 participants remain]