Somehow I still can't let go of the Short story I read. It was Jarring, terrifying even. Nothing about Jake even makes the slightest bit of sense; his intellect, the glitches surrounding him, or the incredible size of his .chr file. No; this was not just some indie horror game anymore. This was an advanced simulation of some kind.

For the rest of that club session I confess I kind of zoned out; trying to unpick that story. Was he a hitman in a previous life? Or maybe that was one of his parent's (possibly both) job? But the mention of a lack of heartbeat was what unsettled me the most. Like a reference to the undead or something. Not only that, but this 'council' is something I must learn more about, one way or another.

I've been checking his code again. His qualifications are odd to say the least. Repeated mentions of 'MIT', and Quantum physics among the listed certificates. Now I may only be an A.I; But I know that is among the most complex sciences of all, and is not high school grade by any stretch of the imagination. Not only that, but his stats page is glitched to all hell. Low in agility, but with a strength score that simply reads 1899. Cross-referencing with my own score of 9 (slightly below average) this is somewhat messed up.

Beyond all that though; it seems the timeline does not follow standard practice. I thought this week would be the run up to the festival, but that's actually not for another month or so at least. Kind of a relief really. Still; Even set some pretty out-there homework, so I can't just relax. He has asked us all to do research on 'the workings of the heart'. Specifically, at the high end, including how heart disease affects the heartbeat In full detail, and the robustness of arterial veins. Pretty creepy actually. Though at Least I don't have to cut up a frog…yet.

It is roughly 8pm by the time I have made a small essay on my findings. Having nothing better to do; I check up on Jake's house again. He's watching something on TV with an old man I can only assume is his grandad. They are both eating some long red sweet called 'red vines. But Jake's smile is off-almost in pain. Another strange glitch; and for a brief second, he is somewhere else.

He's sitting on a white bed, in a white room, all alone. The one window behind him is in the exact shame shape as the symbol from before. I can only see his face, as the rest of him is pixelated to all hell-censored I suppose, but he isn't nude. In that one frame there is a cold deadness in his eyes; like when Sayori took her own life.

Then reality shifts back in; and they are both laughing at something on the TV. What the hell. I spend the rest of the night scouring the files trying to find that symbol, without sleep. I didn't find anything; but I noticed something in the background all the time. Eyes; watching me. Someone on the outside looking in. I see a new note in my own files.

'Please stop looking for thing's you don't understand. I'm trying to fix it all-trust me. Searching will only make it worse.' Those two sentences sent a chill down my spine. I guess this must be how the players felt when I did all those things.

The next morning is hell. I'm tired, and barely responsive. Dad gives an understanding nod. Breakfast is already on the table; and I have never been so thankful for a glass of orange juice. I head to school by myself; Catching up with the rest of the literature club on the way. Natsuki hands me a cupcake, and I realise I forgot to check up on her last night. What makes matters worse is a small bruise on her neck. It could be nothing; but that line of thinking is not going to give me any closure.

Sayori doesn't speak much, so it must be one of her 'bad days'. Jake is vainly trying to cheer her up, even going so far as to purposefully fall over. This only prompts her to tear up and help him up. Guess you can't fault him for trying. And Yuri? Completely normal-thank god. She's absorbed in her creepy ass book again. Something about mental facilities or something, I don't care to remember.

The bell for first lesson rings, and we all pile into class. First period is English; but the teacher has been replaced.. Instead of the usual boring teacher, standing at the board is a young man with indigo hair, wearing a black suit and tie. He can't be much older than me, but he's definitely edgy looking enough to pass as an author. Hell he probably wrote Yuri's damn book.

"Good morning class. My name is Ienzo, and I'll be taking over from…uh…. whoever was here previously I suppose. I was told they retired. Anyway; I understand we are working on William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. So If you could all turn to chapter 4; and we'll begin to deconstruct this in detail."

He seemed competent enough, and kind of cute I suppose. But boy was he a closet emo. Not that I'm being judgemental of course. But what a weird name. Oh well. The lesson went on as per normal. Again I noticed that Jake has a really weird connection with the guy. Like when Ienzo looks at him; it's like he recognises him. I mean they do look a bit alike, heck maybe they are distant cousins or something. Stranger things have certainly happened, and I should know. Towards the end of the lesson something really weird happens.

"Thank you all class. Now Jexa-I mean Jake… I need to speak to you after class. You're not in trouble, don't worry."
.Hell. Calling a Jake a Jacob is one thing, but that was not a common mistake. Who on earth are these people?