Kuma Kuma Land Case File #4

Victim #1: Soo Yeong

"Cause of death is a broken neck"

"The time of death was approximately 3:12 A.M "

"The body was discovered at the entrance of the Sewer at 2:14 P.M by Tomoko,Annabelle, and Naruhiko

TRUTH BULLETS

Body suspended by the ladder

Rope from the Sport's Shop

Chloe/Seikatsu's Alibi

Rope Burns around the victim's neck

Naruhiko/Tomoko/Annabelle's Alibi

Suicide Note

Tiana/Haruto's Alibi

Apparently handwriting from a left handed individual

Kaizoku's Testimony

Discarded glove

Dolly's Testimony

Busted Pen

Shiho's Alibi

4 Possible Suspects

Chapter 28: Duplicity: Act Three

3:16 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Basement (Trial Room)

Mizukuma offered a bored expression as his beady eyes flitted around the room. "It's pretty straightforward. I'm going to give you all an hour to solve this. You know the penalty if you guess wrong, so I'd suggest you all leave nothing to chance."

"Before we begin, perhaps you could answer something for us first. Why are you the one supervising this game?" Tomoko asked as her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Who could say? I'm not going to offer any answers unless the truth has already come to light. This is counting against your time, though. Let the third trial commence," the bear said before folding his paws.

Naruhiko frowned. "Any bright ideas where we should start?"

"Heh, there's no need to beat ourselves up. I mean, he was hanging by his neck and found with a note, right? This is obviously just a suicide. I think we all know he wasn't exactly in the best state of mind," Becky pointed out bluntly.

The Parental Figure shook his head. "...I wish I could completely refute that assertion, but it is true. Soo Yeong was in a dark place."

"Yeah... I have to admit that when I visited him in the hospital, he seemed suicidal. Perhaps he finally hit a breaking point," Sigmund suggested in a quiet manner.

"Alas, if such a tragic fate has befallen him, then it seems our quest here has become rather simple, if not depressing," the Tarotologist said in a dramatic manner while shuffling through her deck of cards.

The Ultimate Dominatrix crossed her arms. "I can't pretend that I knew Soo Yeong as well as I would have liked, but I still think we should explore every angle, lest we find ourselves in another death game."

"...I agree, since I don't think this was a suicide," Kaizoku said in a reserved manner as he stared blankly at his podium.

"Zoku, did something happen? Something that makes you feel that way?" Shiho asked anxiously after tilting her head in his direction.

Lachlan offered the Sailor an appraising stare. "Yes, why don't you answer that question? Considering you are among the small group without an alibi."

"Beyond that, he also admitted to being with Soo Yeong prior to his death. While I admit it would be foolish for him to admit to killing him, let alone suggest it wasn't suicide. However, he may also expect we'd draw that conclusion. Whatever the case may be, I think we deserve an answer," Chloe mused.

The Sailor frowned and rubbed the back of his head. "...Oi, I don't even know where to begin. I never expected to have to discuss this."

"Captain, just take your time," Laris encouraged with a slight smile.

"Laris is right! Don't fret one bit. I believe in you, Captain Zoku!" Annabelle mustered a reassuring smile.

Kaizoku bit back a weak laugh. "I appreciate the vote of confidence. I guess I'll start from the beginning..."

BEGIN FLASHBACK

1:45 A.M Day Eleven

Underground

Sewers

Soo Yeong, who was managing to move once more, leaned against the Sailor for support. "Sounds like you've carried a large burden since your father's death, though I'm sure you have cherished memories. That's certainly more than I can say about my own parents. They left me in the very hospital I was born."

"You may have never had such memories of those who birthed you, but who took you out of that hospital? Cause I get the feeling they were closer to real parents for you anyway," Kaizoku mused.

"It wasn't so simple. For most of my childhood, I was raised in an orphanage. I was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, which is a genetic disorder characterized by deformities of the ears, eyes, cheekbones, and chin. The children used to call me Goemul. That means 'monster' in Korean. Once, they even attacked me with scissors and knives. To this day, I'm still wary when other people hold such instruments… even as a surgeon. Anyway, I woke up in a hospital sometime later, and was bandaged not unlike now," Soo Yeong explained. "It was at that point, however, that I met Doctor Kim Eun-Jeong, the most famous plastic surgeon in South Korea. She was kind to me… more than most had been. I think on some level, she saw me as a challenge to overcome, but whatever her motivations… she took me in as a protégé. On my sixteenth birthday, she offered me the chance to reshape my flesh and start over. It's why I became so obsessed with Plastic Surgery. It gave me the confidence and a joy I had never known, and I wanted to share that with others..." he said before trailing off.

Kaizoku smirked briefly, but it soon faded away. "Must have had a great impact on you. Suppose that's why not being able to makes life feel so empty, huh?"

"Yes, I suppose that's the crux of my problem. My face gives me confidence, but my work gives me joy. To not possess either would be misery. I… I don't wish to return to the person I was before," Soo Yeong admitted quietly.

"Would you not be able to get a skin graft to make up for what's now missing? Maybe another doctor you know you can trust, like Eun-Jeong?" The Sailor looked over the burn on his hand. He chuckled and then looked forward again. "I choose not to get rid of my scars, since I always saw it as my burden to bear."

The Surgeon offered a strained smile. "...The damage is extreme, but I suppose anything is possible. Losing Churi and something else so precious to me... really shook my confidence. Maybe… I shouldn't be so obsessed with what I've lost, and should be content with what I still have. Who knows, Doctor Kim may see my new face as an even greater challenge to overcome," he let out a low chuckle. His visible eye soon widened when he saw light at the end of the corridor.

"I know I've been having that problem for too many years now..." Kaizoku let his sentence trail off as he noticed the faint light as well. "I'll be damned, looks like we weren't just wandering uselessly."

"Heh, it seems our fortunes have finally changed.." They moved forward before stopping at the ladder. "Let's get up there, shall we?"

Kaizoku frowned as he looked from the ladder to back the way they came. "Aye, but it looks like no one else made it... Are we really the only ones to have gotten here so far?"

Soo Yeong shook his head. "Regardless of whether that's true or not, we should get out and when we have cellphone service in the morning… we can use it to try and contact the others. Staying down here any longer is just an unnecessary risk, especially if Kurokuma decides to mettle once gain."

The Sailor's fist clenched as he continued looking back into the dark hallway. "I just... if everyone else is still down here, I can't just leave them behind. Not all night..."

"And what will happen if you get turned around in the dark and can't find your way back?" Soo Yeong asked irritably. "Be reasonable. I know you're worried about the others, but what good will you be stumbling around in the dark? At least if we play this smart, we can try to call someone when the curfew is lifted."

Kaizoku shook his head. "No, that's time that Naru, Shiho, Laris, Anna, and the others could end up dead. I refuse to leave them down here. Even if it's a risk, I'm not leaving without everyone else."

The Plastic Surgeon groaned. "You have to be joking! I understand the others, but you're still standing by Shiho?! She's the only reason why we're in this predicament in the first place. When are you going to accept that she betrayed you? Even if she cares about you or anyone else, it pales in comparison to whomever she sold us out for..."

"And you've never done anything you regret before?" the Sailor countered pointedly.

"Fuck off."

Kaizoku rubbed at his forehead. "If you don't wanna help, you can stay here. I've already said my peace, though. I'm not leaving without the others." He then started back the way they'd come.

Soo Yeong watched the silhouette vanish into the distance. 'Churi, what would you do in this situation?' the boy wondered mentally before shaking his head. "Dammit. Why did I even think that?" he growled as he pushed himself into walking once more. 'Maybe he didn't get too far,' he mused to himself as he pulled out his phone before switching on the flashlight...

END FLASHBACK

3:27 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Basement (Trial Room)

"...We may have argued, but I truly believe he intended to fight. I just don't see him killing himself," Kaizoku said as he bowed his head.

The Shogi Player sighed. "Apologies for being so blunt, but are you sure you're not just saying that to distance yourself from the truth? Perhaps you're harboring guilt over his death, and it's easier to believe he was murdered than face the fact he took his own life."

The Ultimate Sailor shut his eyes. "I've blamed myself for a lot of things over the years, but I swear he seemed to be doing better."

"Heh, well it's not like we can ask him now, anyways! I still say it's pretty fishy that you were with him. It puts you at the scene of the crime!" Becky exclaimed with a wide grin.

"No, that's where you're wrong..." Lachlan responded with a look of quiet confidence. "I just realized something that's pretty crucial. Why do you think Mizukuma is here?"

Naruhiko furrowed his brow. "How the heck are we supposed to know that?! Maybe Kurokuma just wanted a break. You can never tell with that little asshole."

"Actually, I believe our Journalist is onto something. It was stated at the beginning that the Kuma in charge of each trial was dependent on where an individual was killed. It is true we were in the sewers, but if Soo Yeong had killed himself at the entrance, then it should have been Kurokuma presiding over this case. However, since that's not that case, it only can mean one thing. He didn't die there at all!" Seikatsu proclaimed with an aura of confidence. TRUTH BULLET

"Sa·cré bleu! The last time I checked, suicide victims don't move themselves after dying. We're looking at a murder, pure and simple!" Chloe stated as she offered a small smirk at the Tarotologist and Journalist. "Excellent job, you two. You saved us from certain doom."

Laris nodded thoughtfully. "It does change things and reaffirm what the Captain said. However, we still have four suspects remaining, correct?"

"That's right! It only leaves us with the Captain, Sigmund, Dolly, and Lachlan!" Annabelle piped up.

"Seeing that's the case, I think we should explore the cause of death. The neck was broken, but was he hanged somewhere else and then moved?" Haruto suggested with a doubtful look.

Tiana pursed her lips. "Maybe it's just me, but that seems like a risky proposal. It would be bad enough to move the body once, but to hang Soo Yeong and then take his body and move it to the entrance? Would someone have really done that? It seems to me that maybe his neck was broken, and the culprit came up with the idea of hanging him as a way to make it seem like a suicide." TRUTH BULLET

"But who could have had the knowledge of how to break a neck without leaving any evidence of a struggle? There weren't even fingerprints on the body, right?" Shiho questioned.

"There's only one person here who could have committed this crime, and that's you, Sigmund!" The Investigative Journalist suddenly jabbed a finger towards the other boy.

Sigmund raised a single brow. "Interesting, and do you have any proof to back that up? Lachlan, you also don't have a solid alibi for that time frame."

The Journalist offered a cocky smirk. "Perhaps that's true, but you fit every missing link in this trial. The fake suicide note was written by a left-handed person, and since you only have one arm, you don't have much choice but to use that hand. We were stumped because Soo Yeong could write with both hands, but since this is a murder, it casts far more doubt onto you." TRUTH BULLET

"Oh? I don't recall all of us sharing our favored hands. You seem to be jumping the gun," Sigmund countered with an impassive expression.

"No, you're not gonna worm out of this. You are the only person, save maybe Chloe and Laris, with the training to break a neck. You had said you were on you way to being a Judo Master, correct?" Lachlan asked. TRUTH BULLET

"But we found no physical evidence, no prints or anything..." Dolly said with an unsure look.

Lachlan grinned. "That part may be the easiest to explain. You see, Sigmund almost never removes his glove. I guarantee that's why we found no prints. I'd go one step further and suggest the discarded glove that was on Soo Yeong's hand was used temporarily to write the suicide note, to avoid any physical evidence being left behind. Isn't that right, Sigmund?!" TRUTH BULLET

Silence fell over the room for a moment, but it was soon broken by the Paralympic Athlete.

"I had wondered if my cobbled-together attempt would be enough. It would seem I underestimated you all. A mistake I likely won't live long enough to regret," Sigmund mused in indifference.

Tiana's eyes widened. "You admit to your crime that easily?"

The Athlete nodded after a moment. "What would be the point in carrying on this charade? The moment suicide had been ruled out, I knew my chances had dropped substantially. Of course, at the time, I had no way of knowing who would or wouldn't have an alibi. There were just too many unknowns. I knew the risks, but for what was on the line… I did what was necessary."

BEGIN FLASHBACK

3:03 A.M Day Eleven

Underground

Sewers

The Ultimate Plastic Surgeon let out a dry chuckle as he saw a familiar figure hobbling in his direction. "Seems this trek wasn't fruitless, after all. I don't suppose you've seen any of the others?" he asked as he leaned against the wall for support.

The Ultimate Paralympic Athlete briefly ran his gloved hand through his hair. Shaking his head, he curtly replied, "No. You?"

"Well, I was with Kaizoku until a short time ago. We found the entrance, but much to my chagrin, he wasn't willing to leave without finding the others. We had an argument before he left me at the entrance. Since I couldn't climb up with my injuries, I lingered there for a while before I found myself walking of my own accord... I suppose his eagerness to help everyone made me feel guilty for being so absorbed in my own pity party," the Surgeon admitted as he weakly gestured in the opposite direction. "I've been careful to keep track of where I came from. If you like, I can lead you back now."

Sigmund's jaw shifted ever so slightly, before he slowly made his way over to Soo Yeong. "That's good to hear. Lead the way."

As the pair walked down the tunnel, Sigmund gave the Plastic Surgeon a sidelong glance. "So, you found it, then? The will to continue?"

Silence prevailed among the pair for a moment before a sigh escaped Soo Yeong. "I was the ugly duckling long before I achieved my former face. I think losing Churi… losing my face… made me feel as if I had become the disfigured, outcast child I'd been before. I'm not sure I'll ever get over this… but maybe I can offer others what I myself have lost."

Sigmund furrowed his brow in discomfort. "Hey... Weren't you the one who claimed that no client would ever hire you again? This is a rather sudden change in heart."

"...Perhaps it's simply exhaustion speaking. Maybe my line of work as it was is over… However, there are always different avenues I could pursue. You weren't always a Paralympic Athlete, correct?" Soo Yeong asked as he fixated his attention on Sigmund.

"No, of course not. I was just a 'normal' Judo practitioner. But that doesn't matter now." Sigmund shrugged. "The point is, I'm questioning your will to live."

The Plastic Surgeon shook his head. "Speaking of change of heart, weren't you the one convincing me to live not long ago?"

Sigmund responded with a low chuckle. "Yeah, well... Did it work? Did any of our words hit home?"

"Maybe. Between you, Kaizoku, and Haruto… perhaps some of it stuck," Soo Yeong mused as he rested a hand against his side. "Sorry, I need to rest again. I'm feeling faint."

"Honestly... I'm glad for you. I really am." Letting out a wispy sigh, Sigmund turned to face Soo Yeong. "But these are unfortunate circumstances. It would've been easier for both of us, had you already given up."

The Surgeon tensed as realization dawned on him. He lowered the phone in his other hand. The faint light still glowed across the tunnel in front of them. "...What irony, to consider dying… only to be killed after finding a shred of purpose..." he trailed off. Suddenly, he extended his leg, kicking the crutch Sigmund was using. Then he feebly tried to lumber forward in a vain attempt to escape the Athlete.

Lunging forward with lightning speed, Sigmund grabbed Soo Yeong by the head. He twisted his hips and, with a sickening snap, wrenched Soo Yeong's head all the way back. Death was nearly instantaneous.

With a clack, the Doctor's phone collapsed to the ground, illuminating the Paralympic Athlete that now supported the deceased Surgeon. In the end, even with a renewed vigor, it wasn't enough to overcome Sigmund's determination. In a battle of wills, one had clearly triumphed...

END FLASHBACK

3:48 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Basement (Trial Room)

"So… Soo Yeong hadn't given up at all. He was only trying to help and you attacked him while he was at his weakest..." Kaizoku said through gritted teeth.

The Punk Musician slammed his fist against the podium. "Seriously, what the shit were you thinking?"

"Don't judge him too poorly. Most of us had leverage. I imagine he was no different," Chloe mused as she eyed the Athlete. "I'm right, aren't I?'

Sigmund merely sighed before speaking in a stoic manner. "Cast your vote as you will. I won't apologize for my actions. If I had to kill all of you to protect my sisters, I would have done so. Not because I'm some monster, but because they're all I have left in this world. When there is something you care about enough, you'll do anything to protect it."

"Mister Sigmund?...You said you broke Doctor Moon's neck with a quick movement. I should have noticed that in my autopsy. Did he really die instantly?" Annabelle asked in a shaky manner as she rubbed her sleeves against her eyes.

"...It was over before he even registered what was happening. I had no intention of making him suffer," the Paralympic Athlete responded.

Mizukuma cleared his throat. "Seems like you all have reached the truth. There's no need to drag this on. Everyone cast your vote, now."

"Again and again, I let my own preconceptions cloud my judgement. I wrote you off as a killer based on your disabilities and what the obvious answer was. It's a sign that, as much as I'm loathe to admit it, these cases require cooperation," Tomoko sighed as she reached out and pressed a button.

The Ultimate Investigative Journalist shook his head. "Tomo, you don't have to sound so defeated. We were all misled initially, but there is no harm in relying on one another."

"Sigmund, for what it is worth, I cannot condone your actions. However, I would be a hypocrite for judging you or Shiho for your actions as of late. The world is rarely as simple as black and white. If enough time had passed… I can't say I wouldn't have been tempted as well," Tiana admitted with a somber expression as she cast her vote.

"I couldn't agree more, Tiana. It's easy to spout platitudes, but when lives are on the line, nothing is that simple," Laris added as she shut her eyes.

The Paralympic Athlete allowed a thin smile. "It's kind of you all to make such an attempt, but I am a killer. I won't beg forgiveness, but I won't pretend that I'm in the right either. Haruto? ...May I ask a request of you? Though I'm sure you already know what it is."

The Ultimate Parental Figure offered a solemn nod. "...Yes, of course."

"Should I not make it through this death game, and should you manage to survive, will you see to it that Cathy and Chloe are alright? They have no other family than me. They're not much older than our Forensic Investigator. Truth be told, it's the reason why I avoided talking to you, Annabelle. It was a painful reminder of my sisters, and where they might be," the Athlete said as he slowly worked his jaw. "I'm not asking for anything special, just… see to it that they're cared for."

"You don't have to ask twice. You have my word," Haruto said in a serious tone as he rested an arm over his chest.

The Tarotologist hummed softly. "Well said, dear Haruto. Should you not live to see that day, I will nurture the little ones like a true Empress should!"

"Uh, I could show them how to handle a puppet. Maybe they'd enjoy ventriloquism?" Dolly suggested timidly.

"I'm already regretting my previous request," Sigmund deadpanned, though the faintest of smiles creased the edges of his lips. "For what it's worth, best of luck to all of you. You're going to need it."

"Sigmund, I know it doesn't mean much from me… but I hope you'll fight in this game. What you did was terrible, but I'm the last person to judge anyone. Just don't go down without a fight," Shiho said as she offered the boy a thumbs up.

The Paralympic Athlete let out a dry laugh. "I can't make any promises. If this game is anything like the previous one, I think I've already lost."

A chiming sound filled the room before the bear at the podium spoke once more.

"The vote is conclusive. Sigmund Shiraishi, you are the blackened and it's time to face your death game!" Mizukuma said as he raised a paw and pressed a button.

A series of chains appeared before dragging the Athlete out of sight, while a large screen flickered to life...

3:57 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Basement (Challenge Room)

A sadistic giggle filled the darkened room before bright lights flickered on and revealed a small dining hall. It consisted of a single table with two chairs on either side of it. On one side of the table sat a little girl with a pink coat and the same colored hair and eyes as Sigmund. She was strapped to the seat with a look of horror on her face and a gag in her mouth. Across from her sat the Ultimate Paralympic Athlete. The sound of wheels groaning could be heard as Kurokuma pushed a cart into view. Several dishes lined the cart and were covered by a top.

"Aren't I such a sweetheart, Sigmund? I like bringing people together!" the bear giggled as he stopped next to the girl and yanked out the gag.

This caused her to cough violently and blink back tears. "B-Big brother!" She sniffled as her tiny shoulders trembled.

Sigmund's eyes widened first in relief, then disbelief. "Cathy... you shouldn't be here... Why is she here?!" he snapped at Kurokuma with anger rising in his voice.

The solid black bear offered a malicious grin as he gingerly ruffled the girl's head. "What else were you expecting when I said hostages? Sorry for the gag, but she just wouldn't stop crying. It's so ear grating!"

Cathy felt her dark red eyes burning as she tried to avoid sobbing. "Big brother… I-I don't know what happened to Chloe. I-I just want us to all go home. Please get us out of this!" she pleaded with a cracked voice.

The Paralympic Athlete's brow furrowed in worry upon the mention of his other sister, Chloe. He took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. "Cathy, all you have to do is close your eyes and listen to my voice, okay? We'll be fine," he lied through his teeth. Craning his head around to Kurokuma, he asked, "Alright then... what are we doing?"

The child squeezed her eyes shut and silently nodded her head. It was clear from her body language that she was was terrified.

"It's pretty simple, Siggy! I can call you that too, right?" Kurokuma asked with a snort as he returned to his cart. Hen then placed several covered trays in front of the pair. "I figured we'd make this a more interesting game and get the whole family involved. The person who eats the most gets to leave this table!" he exclaimed with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"The whole family..." Sigmund muttered under his breath before shaking away the sense of dread that threatened to shut him down. "Eats... the most... what?" he asked hesitantly, although he had a sinking feeling he knew what to expect.

A giggle escaped the bear as he suddenly began to pull the cover off of the several dishes. "I call it the seven-course Chloe meal! Fried fingers, boiled eyeballs and soup, baked heart, roasted lungs, glazed ribs, brain-stuffed burritos, and of course, for an appetizer, a tongue shishkabob!"

Cathy's eyes snapped open. She let out a petrified scream and began to thrash wildly while tears spilled down her cheeks. "N-No! This isn't real. This has to be a bad dream!" she stammered in choked sobs.

"Sheesh, some people just don't appreciate a home-cooked meal. Look, it's pretty simple how this works. You'll have five minutes. Whoever eats the most will have their restraints loosened and will have another two minutes to free themselves. Let's just say you don't want to still be shackled in those seats when the timer hits zero." The bear chortled darkly.

For a moment, Sigmund was as still as stone. His dark red eyes had no light in them. He was truly broken. But as the pitiful sobs of his sister reached his ears, his mouth began to quiver. 'Move your lips, Sigmund... Speak, damn it!' he silently swore.

'I've failed as a human being, and I've failed as an older brother. Still... there's still one last task I cannot allow myself to fail at.' His thoughts stirred, growing in intensity.

"Catherine!" he suddenly yelled, cutting through her wails. "Cathy..." he repeated in a softer tone. "Listen to me."

A hiccup escaped the timid girl as she wiped her eyes. "I-I can't do this… not to Chloe. S-She should be here instead of me. She was always stronger than me..." she managed between sharp little breaths.

"Hah, I'll let you two sort this out. This will be beary good no matter what happens. Consider yourselves on the clock, now!" Kurokuma snorted. He clicked a timer and waddled out of sight...

Sigmund slowly nodded, before tearing the glove off his hand with his teeth. It fell to the ground with an unceremonious flop. "I understand how you feel, of course I do. But from here on out, you have to be strong... There'll be days when you feel like there's nothing to live for, days when you consider ending it all. I know... I know because I've been there myself."

"The first time I woke up after the incident, when the loss of my limbs and the memories of Mom and Dad were still fresh, I felt like I had lost everything... But I was quickly proven wrong. You and Chloe were there. I still remember how mad the nurse was when you two jumped on me..." He managed a brief chuckle. "You saved me back then. You really did."

Cathy blinked tears out of her eyes. "But that was because we were both there! I-I don't want to a live in a world without you two. We don't have any family left. Please, I-I can't do this..."

Sigmund shook his head. "Cathy, you're a brilliant girl, but you're too young to decide on something so hastily. Forgive me for being such an overbearing brother, but your life hasn't been decided yet. Who's to say you won't find people you can call family again, someday?"

"E-Even if that's possible, how can I e-eat Chloe? She's my other half. I don't know if I can do that, big brother," the red head sniffed as her eyes shifted to the timer that was mercilessly ticking towards the deadline...

A shadow fell over the Athlete's face. "You have to. Just one morsel. That's all. You're the only one who can still make it, Cathy. You have to carry that burden for all of our family. Please."

Sigmund's voice began to crack uncharacteristically. "You... you have an entire life ahead of you. I'd like it if you could somehow go on to live a normal life, but... if you're even a little bit angry, or a little bit dissatisfied with the world's cruelties, then change it. I know you can; you're a lot more talented than this failure of an older brother, after all... You understand that Chloe would want you to continue for her, don't you?"

"Just one bite..." Cathy said as her gritted her teeth together. "Big brother, you're not playing fair, you know?" she asked in a strained voice as she reached out and shakily grabbed at one of the fried fingers. She squeezed her eyes closed and nipped at the end of the digit. She pushed aside her revulsion as she feebly managed to swallow the contents, before letting the rest drop to the table.

Sigmund sighed in relief. "Sorry, but obedience was always one of your more dominant traits... In the future, people will try to take advantage of that. Don't let them... Here, catch."

A moment later, he reached down his shirt and pulled out a thin steel chain with two golden rings attached. With a mighty snap, he broke the chain off and tossed it to the young girl.

"You don't get to tell me what to do, then get upset when I listen," Cathy huffed slightly. She offered a teary smile before grasping the two chain. "Big brother, you know you've been the best brother in the world. Chloe and I couldn't have asked for a better one!" she exclaimed as she stared fondly at the two pieces of jewelry. "Mom and Dad's…"

'Don't say that. I was the worst brother to ever live.' The thought hovered in Sigmund's head for a moment. He returned a pained smile. "Yeah... They'll watch over you from now on. I will too."

A chortle filled the room this time from the speakers. "Well I have to say, this wasn't a very exciting showdown. So much for all the food I slaved over. Oh well, a deal is a deal!"

The restraints around Cathy's legs loosened, and a glimmer of hope filled her eyes. "M-Maybe I can get you out, too!" she stammered as she removed the loosened bindings and rose to her feet.

"No," he responded forcefully. "There's not enough time. Go now and don't look back. Remember, you are strong."

"B-But..." Cathy started to argue before a mechanical whirl filled the room. An instant later, the Paralympic Athlete felt a series of sharp pains, as if a dozen rods had pierced him from behind.

None of the piercings were fatal, but the whirring sound continued as a series of saw-blades sprang out of the rods and hummed to life. In a matter of a few seconds, blood splattered onto Cathy. Her brother was sawed apart from the inside; his innards and bone matter went everywhere. To make matters worse, shock began to set in as Sigmund didn't immediately die. He could only see the horrified expression on Cathy's face. A heart wrenching scream left her lips as she struggled to avoid collapsing to the floor.

"C-Cuh... thuh..." In place of coherent words, only blood sputtered out of his dying lips.

The sound of the blades grew more pronounced as they suddenly tore out of his body, causing his limp frame to collapse against the table with loud thud. The sloshing sound of his innards and blood spurting out filled the room. The blades ceased their circulation.

Cathy choked back another shriek as she held the chain against her chest. Her tears couldn't clean her blood-covered cheeks.

"Hah, don't be so glum. He's probably in a better place… Not!" Kurokuma snorted loudly. "Don't worry, though. A deal is a deal, missy. Congrats on being the sole survivor of your family. Feel free to take some food for your trip home!"

The bear's raucous laughter filled the room before the feed connected to the trial room was abruptly cut...

4:08 P.M Day Eleven

Resort District

Hotel

Basement (Trial Room)

"What kind of twisted mind could ever come up with something so vile?" Tiana asked with a horrified expression as she pried her gaze away from the screen.

Naruhiko covered his mouth. "Uh, I don't know but I think I'm gonna hurl. That's so fucking disgusting."

Mizukuma shook his head. "You have no idea. The world is a terrible place, filled with horrible adults. These killing games are nothing compared to reality, and that's true despair. Knowing that there are monsters far more vile than anything we've created."

"If you truly believe that, then why participate in such a disgusting game to begin with?" Tomoko asked with a harsh tone as she glared at the bear.

"Because like Nagito, all that remains me of me now is this shell. We so desperately wanted to avoid growing up to be the adults we loathed, but couldn't have imagined the price we'd pay," the bear said in a somber manner.

The Parental Figure braced himself against his podium, a look of abject horror on his face. The death game had left him traumatized. "...You're children? All of the bears?"

"All of us except Shirokuma and Kurokuma. Yushikuma was once a boy named Masaru. He was a fool and a nuisance, though even he deserved better than that," Mizukuma responded.

Spirals appeared in Laris' eyes as she nearly collapsed. "I-I killed a child? I-I struck him down without hesitation. I had no idea," she said as her voice trembled.

"Captain, you can't put that on yourself. You had no idea of knowing, and though it sounds cruel to say, the game wouldn't have ended if you hadn't struck that final blow," the Sailor spoke up as he eyed the Knight.

Chloe nodded in response. "Lari, he's right! Even if the souls of children and the other dead inhabit these bears, destroying them is the only way for them to move on."

"What kind of pain would make someone want to be turned into one of those things in the first place?" Dolly asked with a troubled expression.

Mizukuma slowly stood up from his podium. "When your whole life has been ruined by adults, when you come to loathe and resent something enough, you'd do anything to prevent becoming that. Your friend Sigmund had what it took to save himself in that challenge, but he refused to cross that line again. He never explained his reason for being a vegan, but surely you all have wondered about his amputations? He was buried under rubble following a massive earthquake. He was pinned and the only thing he could reach were the bodies of his parents. As the days passed and he began to starve, he gave into desperation to survive. After that, he could never look at meat again without being sick. This is why Kurokuma made it his challenge, he knew it was something that would be nigh impossible for him."

"Bastard, of course it makes sense now. That's why Soo Yeong's and Patrick's games were so tailored towards them. It was either a physical or mental challenge they had to overcome," Lachlan surmised as he shook his head.

The bear simply nodded. "You got it. The class challenge was used as it incorporated all of you. There are sixteen chess pieces, and since Tomoko was falsely assumed the blackened, it seemed fitting the challenge be based around her. Suffice it to say, there are games planned for all of you."

"W-What will happen to Sigmund's surviving sister now that this is over?" Annabelle asked in a shaky voice.

"She'll be released. After all, she's served her purpose. There's not much we believe in, but we do honor the rules," Mizukuma said as he gestured at the doors. "Access to Spookyland will open tomorrow morning. This trial is now over."

Shiho meekly raised her hand. "...Before we go, could you answer one thing? Is there is an end to this game… or will it keep going until we're all dead?"

"I must admit, I have wondered the same thing. There are only so many areas of this park. What will happen after we've gained access to the entire park?" Seikatsu asked in a calm voice.

Mizukuma shook his head. "You're asking the wrong bear. We're only given orders. None of us really know what Kurokuma has in store. A word to the wise though, I'd expect the worst. No matter how bad things have been, he'll find a way to push you all harder... until you all embrace despair."

12 Survivors Remain

*AN* As per usual I'd like to offer a big shout out to the betas for working on this. Fee5H and Trust in particular. The latter of which helped me so much with delivering Sigmund's final scenes. Thanks man! Anyways though it was predictable and short, I still enjoyed this chapter. Hope you all did as well =)

Review Section:

doomqwer

The bigger point is it would be devastating lol

Cameron70

Indeed it was.

Yamomo

Yeah it was pretty straight forward. Hah maybe I should have done a suicide instead to surprise people :P

MudkipOfDespair

Yeah I noticed it logged me out to a few days ago ahaha.

ThePLOThand

Dude. That was so random hahaha.

Fee5H

You totally called it my dude. Though several people did, it wasn't really that shocking but I still enjoyed it =)

SqualinaTralala

Sorry about Doctor Moon's demise, but I tried to pour a lot into this final chapter. I think it was bittersweet, so I hope I did alright =(

pokemansuperallstar

Yeah it was wonderful seeing all the characters brought back in the Omakes. It's helped me recover from some of the worst deaths.

Trust Me I'm Me

Thank you again for all your help this chapter Trust. I really appreciate you helping me kill your characters Lol

bellatrixshine

I decided to do something ironic here. In HoH you have a suicide that looks like a murder and now in this chapter a murder that looks like a suicide. I thought it would be a fun way of flipping the script, all through horribly depressing.