Chapter 18: Rest Period Part 3
Day Nine
That day, it rained. Thankfully, it was a fairly light rain, not much lightning or thunder, but it was enough to keep everyone - participants and staff both - inside the mansion for the day.
Even amongst the staff, things were rather ... sedate.
Brooke spent most of the day playing in the Billiards Room (it was either that or the Library, and Saino creeped her out even when she wasn't talking to invisible things).
Kelley, belatedly taking advice from Sebastian a few days ago, decided to clean off the dirt and grime stuck to her boots. This took a while.
Clarisse stayed in her room, writing things down.
Syd stayed in the Infirmary all day with the door locked (people usually didn't go near him, but it never hurt to be careful; he was busy).
Jibo, as per usual, stayed in the basement working on his own personal projects.
A rather calm day, all things considered.
9:43 A.M. Day Nine
First Floor
Library
Teresa was sitting on the rail of the Library's upper level (wings spread to help her balance), legs crossed and book in hand, when someone else walked in. Looking down, she saw it was the resident mummy.
"Welcome, Miss Masry!" The Sphinx called down (quietly, of course, they were still in the Library, and the librarian was still a dragon). "What brings you here this rainy day?"
"I'd just wanted to talk with the Librarian here, actually." Victoria explained, gesturing to Saino.
The Ultimate Dragon in question looked up at being addressed. "And why do you intend to speak to me, human?"
"I was hoping to talk with you a bit about your field of expertise." The English-accented girl explained, prompting a immediate piquing of interest in the dragon-woman. "Egyptian mythology is rather lacking in the area of dragons, surprisingly. And no, Apep doesn't count."
"Obviously." The Librarian agreed without hesitation. "What would you like to hear?"
"Well, as a start," Victoria began, "where did the concept of dragons originate from?"
"From the original creatures, clearly." Saino answered promptly.
Victoria felt she should've expected that answer, and yet somehow she was still caught a bit flat-footed by hearing it. "s-So, you believe that dragons are or were real, then?"
"Well naturally." the staff member responded. "Is that so surprising to you? You've seen the things that have occurred on this island." she pointed out, gesturing around them.
"w-Well even so," The English-accented girl continued, "it's not something one can just accept easily, even with all the not-science-in-origin things currently present in our current surroundings."
Saino chuckled darkly. "The world is a far stranger thing than you know. Case in point, there's a young Native American man in stasis in the basement whose entire tribe is a secret pack of werewolves."
"What?!" Teresa exclaimed, nearly falling off her perch. Victoria seemed rather caught off guard by the statement as well.
"Anyways," the Librarian continued, seemingly uncaring of the statement she'd dropped before the two, "As I said, dragons once walked this world, though they have since departed this plane. Until now, of course." She looked to the side. "Yes Aurora, I know that knowledge is privileged, but it is unlikely she shall bother sharing it with anyone." She gazed back at Victoria, a knowing look in her eyes. "It's not as if the human actually cares about this information."
"w-What?" Victoria asked, suddenly looking nervous. "I'll have you know I-"
"You can drop it now." The dragon woman stated sternly. "Just so you are aware, I can tell what you're really trying to do. You're hoping that I'll be persuaded or tricked into admitting some form of secret that you can make use of, perhaps even find through me a way to escape the island or end the killing game. Clever, I suppose, but it won't work. I have too much at stake with this little experiment. And don't bother with the Butler either," she added, "the Banshee tried to turn Mr. Cornelez a few days ago; our hold on him is far too strong for that."
"Wait, Kelley tried what now?!" Teresa questioned (she was ignored).
"And you can't expect any of the others to be pliable, I can promise you that." Saino continued.
Victoria was silent, taking in this hard shut-down of her attempt.
The room remained silent for a moment in the wake of Saino's proclamations.
"... Ok, but why do you talk to yourself?" Teresa suddenly asked. This was probably a bad idea.
Fortunately, Saino didn't seem to mind, turning her gaze to the Sphinx. "I am talking to my friends. They have always been with me, even before I obtained my true form. They are the remnants of dragons that stayed behind in this realm, speaking to me since I was a little human girl."
"... so, we talking imaginary friends or-."
"They Are Real!" The Dragon roared.
That sent Theresa falling off the railing. Quickly getting to her feet, she raised her hands in surrender. "Right! Right! Never mind! Not going to tick off the fire-spewing dragon, no ma'am."
"Ice, actually." The Librarian corrected.
"Whichever."
"... Well," the silent mummy finally spoke up again, "it seems I've had my questions answered. So I suppose I'll take my leave now." Victoria quickly turned on her heel and marched to the door.
Leaving the room, Victoria stopped in the hallway. Then she growled in anger, before stamping her foot down on the ground repeatedly.
"OF! ALL! THE! BLOODY! ISSUES! ARGH!"
Finally, Victoria calmed down, panting from the exertion. Deciding that nothing more could be done for now, she returned to her room to reconsider all their options.
Maybe she could just hang out with Gary.
10:12 A.M. Day Nine
First Floor
Sanctuary
Eric and Sabishī sat in one of the pews of the Sanctuary, only the quiet smatterings of rain on the windows providing noise.
"... This is actually nice." Eric admitted, arms folded behind his head. "Kinda peaceful."
"Yeah." Sabishī agreed. "Thanks for agreeing to come with me."
"I'm just surprised that you were so certain this would be enjoyable." The Cryptozoologist commented, looking over at her. "How d'ya know?"
The girl ran a hand through her blue locks, watching the windows. "w-Well, when I was, uh, living alone, I always liked hearing the sounds of rain on the windows of where I was staying. In spite of everything, it was ... comforting."
"Well, that's some relief, I guess." The boy noted (what else could he say to that?).
"Mhm."
As the silence dragged on again, Eric added, "So, any ideas of where you'll go when we leave? I mean, I remember you planned to travel, but did you plan to, like, get an apartment in Tokyo or ...?"
"I, uh, hadn't given much thought to that." The Undertaker confessed. "I mean, I'd assume the Future Foundation could set us up with something when we get home - that seems like something they'd have in place at this point - but I would probably settle for something to travel. A house boat, maybe, that sounds cool."
"Eh, those won't last an hour in a storm." Eric dismissed. "You'd be better off with a plane or something."
"Well, why are you so curious to know, anyway?" the girl asked.
"w-Well," Eric stammered slightly, running a hand through his own reddish-brown hair, "I mentioned I was going to be traveling after we escaped this place, a-and I figured we could travel together."
Sabishī smiled shyly, blushing slightly. "y-Yeah, I think I'd like that, actually."
He smiled, relieved. "Good to know."
"b-But you better provide that plane, buster." She added, mock-glaring.
He chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm American. We can get airplanes when we need them."
"Well Japanese cars are still the best." She smirked.
"Oh, how you wound me." He grasped at his heart dramatically, prompting a laugh from the other girl.
Chuckling, they returned to a comfortable silence as the rain continued falling. They remained like this for some time.
11:25 A.M. Day Nine
Second Floor
Hallways
Kelley wandered the second floor, doing some private exploration of her own around the area. Hands clasped behind her back, she actually managed a honest smile in spite of the general circumstances. She attributed that to the rain; she always enjoyed the light showers back home, and the sound of rain against the wood was incredibly reminiscent of that.
As she walked, she eventually found herself near the door to the ballroom. Having not gotten the chance to properly look through the area very much previously, she decided to check it out further, and entered the grand space.
She sedately moved out to the middle of the room, occasionally twirling around to take in the full scope of the majestic place, the only sound being her freshly-cleaned boots squeaking against the waxed oaken floor.
Well, that and the rain pattering off the stained glass windows.
She sighed. Now this is peaceful.
"Well hello, there," a voice spoke up from the doorway. Turning, Kelley saw the Latin-American Mythologist standing within the frame, actually looking less condescending than usual for her. She made her way into the room, her own boots squeaking upon the floor. "So, what are you up to today, may I ask?"
"Oh, uh, jus' explorin' a'bi', I guess." Kelley responded, not expecting an appearance from the Brazilian. "Thought I'd see this area more."
"Mm. Sounds fun, I suppose." The other woman commented, stopping near the Irish girl. "I'll admit, I'd had the same idea."
"Oh." Kelley was really unsure of how to approach talking to this oddly-unnerving girl. "d-Did ya want ta look around t'get'er?"
Alexis waved her off. "No, thank you. I'd prefer a solitary search this day."
"uh, Alrigh'." The Banshee ran a hand through her hair. "b-Bu' wha' if someting happ'ns while your alone?" The last thing anyone needed was another murder.
The Brazilian smiled. "Don't worry about dear old me." A hand went behind her back, resting on something at her belt. "I have ways of keeping myself safe should it come to that."
Kelley unconsciously gulped. "g-Good t'know."
Alexis looked over the younger girl ."What about you? Do you have a way to defend yourself if needed?" She sounded, genuinely concerned for the Banshee's safety.
Kelley thought back to the shadow in the graveyard. "Uh, well, I migh' have a way of doin' so, but it's not like I carry anyting lethal on m'self."
"Are you sure that's wise?" Alexis furrowed her brow. "You've seen how things went with the first few days here."
"i-I'm sure I'll be fine." The Banshee insisted. "Ev'n if we shoul' still stay on guard while explorin' this place, i-I'd like t'hope tha' maybe no'on' will try anyting again, after wha's alre'dy happ'ned."
The Brazilian chuckled. "I'll admit, pequenino, you seem rather nice. Too much so, perhaps, but still; a good quality to have, I think. It's far too often that quality turns out fabricated in a person; but not so with you. That's honestly refreshing."
Kelley wasn't sure how to respond to that, settling for a confused half-smile.
"Well, I think I'll take my leave, find something else to do with my day." She bowed her head slightly. "Fique seguro, pequenino."
Turning on her heel, Alexis left the room, waving.
Kelley remained, still slightly surprised by the other girl's attitude.
1:37 P.M. Day Nine
First Floor
Conservatory
Elle stood in the doorway to the Conservatory, head and right shoulder resting on the frame, listening to the rain against the glass walls. The plants in the room were currently at rest, but the Paleontologist kept her distance all the same.
Gary was leaving the Billiards Room after checking up on Brooke, and noticed the newly-single girl. Cautiously, he approached her.
"Thinking of something, or just rain-watching?" He asked.
"Bit of the latter, nothing concrete of the former." She responded.
"That's fair." Having nothing else to do at the moment, he opted to lean on the other side of the frame and join her.
They remained silent, attention on the water.
"... When John and I were on the run," Elle spoke up, getting The Egyptologist's attention, "back in the Tragedy, we'd find anywhere we could to stay out of the rain, and not just because it might be laced with something harmful. The last thing we needed to add onto everything was pneumonia. In spite of that," a small smile made its way to her face, "we always liked to listen to the rain. We usually managed to avoid anything serious happening in a storm, surprisingly. So we actually had the luxury to just, sit back, and listen to the calming sounds of rain hitting the ground, or a roof, or wherever. It was ... nice. A moment amongst the horror where we could just ... relax, be at peace."
Gary smiled. "Sounds like fun, actually."
"Yeah." She agreed. "John i- ..." she swallowed, "... was, the best. He even paid for my tattoo."
"Tattoo?" The man asked. Elle blinked, seeming to only just realize what she'd said.
"y-Yeah, I, uh, have a tattoo of a tyrannosaurus rex skull across my upper back." She was blushing a little from the embarrassment. "After the Tragedy died down, John managed to save up enough money for my birthday, last March. There was a functioning tattoo parlor in the town we were in at the time, and he paid for," she jabbed her thumb at her back, "that. I was so surprised ... and happy." She smiled, eyes starting to get watery. "I'd wanted something like that since before the Tragedy, but I'd honestly thought he'd forgotten that after everything that had happened. That he went to all that trouble, for my sake, it just-" she broke off, tearing up as she clamped a hand over her mouth. Her shoulders were shaking from the emotions.
Hesitantly, Gary reached out and patted Elle's shoulder comfortingly. "I ... I can't say I know what you're going through right now, but ... you're not alone here. Any help you need, we'll be here to give it."
"... t-Thanks." She wiped her face with her hand. "But, enough about me. Let's talk about something fresher." She looked to him. "How have things been going between you and Victoria?"
"Pretty good I think." He responded. "I've been helping her develop her abilities the last few days - as much as I can, anyways."
"Sounds nice, I guess."
"Yeah." He suddenly started, remembering something. "Uh, d-don't tell anyone, though. She want's to keep this stuff a secret for now. Otherwise, it might freak everyone else out."
"Right, okay." She agreed.
"Sooo, want to go grab something from the kitchen?" He asked, eager to change the topic.
"a-Actually, I think I'll stay here for right now." She leaned back, facing the glass walls once more
"... Sounds good. Can I join you, for awhile?" He asked.
"... ... sure."
They stood there for a time, watching the rain.
2:57 P.M. Day Nine
First Floor
Foyer
Shawn stood unnaturally still in the Foyer, listening to rain fall outside.
It was a familiar thing, listening to rain.
It was all he could do on these sorts of days, watching from the hospital bed.
Even now, he still probably couldn't go out into it, not with a straw body.
What did rain do to straw, actually?
Nothing good, no doubt.
Clarisse walked in, having finished her writing for the moment. She noticed the antisocial Scarecrow and, against her better judgement, approached him.
"Didn't expect to see you out of your room, Shawn." She commented, stopping near him. "What brings you out here?"
He remained standing, almost like he didn't notice the Markswoman at all.
She wasn't sure he did.
"Uh, Shawn? Earth to scarecrow?" She asked, concerned at his seeming obliviousness.
He remained standing.
"... So, did you interact with Adrian at all before he died? I'm still looking over some things concerning that whole mess." She half-heartedly questioned, not expecting a response.
She didn't get one.
"..." She reached over and poked him.
"YEEEE!" He screeched, both of them jumping away in surprise. He turned on her as she backed away (a hand surreptitiously placed near her knives). "DON'T! Sneak up on me. What the fuck?!" he exclaimed, clutching at his burlap-covered chest.
"I - I called out to you repeatedly, you were zoned out!" She yelled in response, not moving her hands from where they were.
He huffed repeatedly, seeming to start to calm down "Well, what d'you even want, huh?"
"I was wondering why you were standing around in the Foyer utterly motionless, and if you ever interacted with the Phantom of the Opera wannabe before he died." She explained promptly.
"None of your business and no, not particularly." He answered just as promptly. "Ok? Y'happy now?"
"Yes, thank you. I'm sorry I interrupted your public 'me time', or whatever this is. I'll leave you to it, goodbye." She strode past him and left, heading for the Dining Hall.
Deciding that was enough, he too left the Foyer, heading for the bedrooms.
5:05 P.M. Day Nine
Basement
Laboratory
As most of the participants gathered for dinner, Kinsei approached his father in the basement Lab.
"Well, I've got that sorted away, so I think we might be ready for this game's first actual motive." The son explained.
"Excellent." The father responded, not looking up from his work. "Have it announced first thing in the morning after breakfast. You have the 'showmanship' required to make things most enticing to our subjects."
"Sir, yes sir." Kinsei smirked. He turned to leave, before pausing and turning back to his father. "And uh, how is the other big project going?"
"It is progressing as intended." Jibo informed his son. "We'll have everything ready by mid-October, at the latest."
"And we're still going with another killing game?" The younger Momota asked. "I'd figure s-"
"It is what has been asked, according to the A.I." The Ultimate Biologist interrupted firmly, standing up. "Besides, it allows us to ensure the process works, and considering how things went in Hope's Peak ..."
"Yeah yeah, okay, never mind." Kinsei raised his hands in semi-mock surrender. "Still surprised you don't plan to put the other one in at all."
"I am keeping a promise, holding up one end of a bargain, and safe-guarding a valuable asset." The elder explained.
"Kuuma doesn't see it that way."
"What your creation thinks doesn't matter, and never has to be quite honest."
"That is very true, and I quite agree." The Alchemist agreed cheerfully. Then a look of actual concern came over him. "And, having that Despair recruit on hand? The two of us are the only ones who even know about him, and he hasn't exactly gotten weaker since getting here."
"He's loyal to who's in charge." The Mastermind insisted. "If he isn't, he'll be made loyal."
"Well, if you're sure." His son acquiesced. "You'd have more experience on the matter than I."
"As long as things go to satisfaction, and Ms. Terazawa's work in particular is fulfilled, then all will be considered successful." Jibo insisted.
"Right then." Kinsei smiled. "Think you might still be alive long enough to see the new world?"
"We'll just have to wait and see."
6:20 P.M. Day Nine
First Floor
Common Hall
After checking up on Brooke - and getting her something to eat when it turned out she'd actually forgotten that - Kelley and Victoria made their way back to the Common Hall.
"Sound's like th'rain's droppin'n strength. So tha's somethin'." Kelley noted, hearing the reduced sound of rain from outside as they reached their destination.
"I suppose." Victoria agreed, not really caring much about the rain.
"So, I know y'have the nigh' wit' Brooke an' all," The Banshee started, "but 'ntil then, y'wanna," she shrugged, "hang ou', or someting? Find a deck'a cards an' play wit those f'r awhile?"
"As nice as that sounds, I was honestly never very good at playing cards in general." The Mummy admitted, shaking her head. "Did always like kareoke though."
Kelley groaned. "Ugh, please don' suggest I sing! I'm a hor'ible singer, even Ma sai' so."
"Oh, I'm sure you're not that bad." The older girl reassured.
"You wer'n't t'ere." Kelley was adamant, a faux-haunted look in her eyes. "Ma was th' only one what was conscious aft'r it end'd. She sai' I'd sound'd like-" she paused, considering something, "...heh, well, like a Banshee. Which, I guess makes sense."
"Huh."
Kelley sat down on the nearby couch. "Well, if we ain't talkin' abou' our hobbies no more, there is one, more serious topic, I was tinkin' of bringin' up."
The mummy-girl suspected she was going to regret asking, but it was inevitable. "Alright, what?"
"Wha' d'you tink c'n b'done abou' escap'n'?" The Irish girl asked plainly.
Victoria sighed. "I don't know, honestly." she crossed her arms, pacing in front of the other girl. "Maybe if we found out how the staff can come and go, we could use that. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to discover what that might be. The basement's inaccessible, and no one on-staff will talk."
Kelley winced. "Troubl'some, tha'."
"Yeah. Sorry for the lack of progress there."
Kelley waved her off. It wasn't like she had done much better.
As Victoria paced, she felt something underfoot. Looking down, she saw something vaguely cylindrical sticking out from under her boot. Crouching downwards, she picked it up and held it to eye level.
"Huh, a lucky rabbit's foot." She noted, standing back up. "You know anything of this, Kelley?"
The other girl shook her head. "Ne'er seen tha' before in m'life."
"Guess someone dropped this earlier." Victoria pocketed it, planning to bring it up at breakfast tomorrow. "Well, I think I should just duck into my room, get ready for sun down. Good night Kelley."
"G'night Victoria."
With that, the soon-to-be Mummy retired for the night.
Kelley opted to relax on the couch for a moment longer. In truth, she was still worried, and not just for herself. Her Ma and Eris' sisters had been left on the farm when the two of them left for the AUP. If they learned that both of them weren't coming home...
No.
For their sakes.
She refused to die here.
6:54 P.M. Day Nine
First Floor
West Hallway
Brooke was heading back to her room, aware that the rain had finally stopped outside. However, in the hallway between the Billiards Room and the Common Hall, she was met by an unwelcome face.
"Well, good evening, miss gills," The Alchemist greeted, an expected condescending smirk on his face. "What brings you out of the Lagoon?"
"Go away," she grumbled, trying to move past him.
"I'm kidding, of course." He said, moving to block her path and acting like she hadn't spoken at all. "Like I said after your first disgusting and painful transformation all over our nice clean Foyer, there's no lagoon on this island, never was."
She groaned in frustration, moving back from the man. "Do you just get off on trying to annoy or screw with people?"
The Alchemist was silent for a moment, head tilted to the side as though actually thinking about that question. Finally, he gave a dismissive shrug. "Eh."
"Lovely." She deadpanned. "Why are you even here?"
"Just seeing everyone off to bed." He responded. "Tying to be helpful to our guests, y'know?"
"Uh huh, sure." She finally pushed past him and started walking away.
"Y'know," he spoke up, getting her attention once more, "I really don't get why people don't seem to like me very much. I'm just doing my job here."
She turned around to face him, incredulous. "Your job?! You are actively helping to cause us pain, suffering, and death!"
"I know, isn't it awesome?!" He grinned, excitedly.
She glared at him. "You're a psychopath. Plain and simple."
He looked at her blankly for a moment, before grinning once more and chuckling, a sadistic edge to his tone. "Well," he responded, casually, "at least I'm not a fish fucker."
Brooke recoiled, shock and a dash of horror racing through her at what he had said. "w-What?" she whispered.
"Oh come on," he replied, mockingly, "you know we have files on everyone, some far more extensive than the ones you found in the study. Did you think we didn't know about certain weird perversions and fetishes amongst our participants? Did you think we didn't know why you seemed to enjoy fish so much, especially once puberty started hitting? Why you really had such a large fish collection? Why precisely you were so keen to become an Ichthyologist and spend the rest of your life working with fish professionally?"
"y-Your just p-pulling stuff out of your ass." She stuttered out. "j-Just making this up t-"
"Don't bother denying it." He interrupted, coldly and with a hint of the earlier sadism. "Or are you saying you don't get excited when you see a fish?" He leaned forward, looking hr in the eyes. "The smooth, pristine scales glistening in the light, the agile motions as it swims around, how it just twists every which way when flopping above the water. The feel of those perfect scales as you slowly run a hand across the length of the body, imagining every possible -"
SMACK
She slapped a hand against her thigh, roughly, the noise cutting him off. However, he knew he'd gotten to her with this.
"I don't have sex with fish!" she yelled, far louder than she probably should.
"Maybe not," he acquiesced, "but you still, think, about, it." He smirked. "Right?"
She said nothing, merely turning on her heel and storming off.
"Glad we had this talk!" He called after her.
Running into the room, she slammed the door and sat down on her bed, legs crossed together tightly and fingernails digging into her knee. She tried to remain calm, tried to not think about any sea life, or how beautiful they looked, or how they always made her feel-
Growling, she fell back on the bed, trying to find anything else to focus her mind on something. It would be a long night.
A rather calm day, all things considered.
The calm of a light storm.
... the calm before the storm.
[11 participants remain]