A/N: I've got a whole two-page spread of story brainstorming in my notebook let's do this

Jack (again)

April 6th, 201X

10:12 AM

After the meeting the night before, I'd headed back to my tent. I figured I might as well have stayed there for a while, since I kind of wanted to avoid whatever evil organization was lurking in town if possible. I'd already dropped off the 10,000 bells I'd saved up at Nook's Homes that night as well, and it had somehow been completed by the next morning. I decided not to question it. Anyway, I eventually heard a knock on my door, so I answered it and Evy was standing in the doorway.

"Uh… do you need something?" I asked.

"Oh, well, I figured, after what Sharon and Ellie were saying last night, it would be good to stick together in groups. Buddy system, you know?" she replied.

"Sure, but why'd you come to me of all people?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, I thought you seemed trustworthy."

"Me. Trustworthy."

We looked at each other blankly for a moment. "Well, uh, can I come in? I brought some pears," she said, holding up a basket.

I shrugged in response, finally stepping aside to let her in.

"Thanks," she said, smiling.

Victoria (again)

April 6th, 201X

10:20 AM

The day after the town meeting, I decided to pay a visit to Ellie, if only to ask her opinions on recent events… and, if I was being honest, I was a bit curious about the girl herself. When I arrived at her house, she let me in without hesitation.

"Oh, hey! You know, I was just thinking about chilling with someone else, since, like, I feel like it's better to get into groups? With whatever evil scheme going on in the background of this town," she greeted.

"Ah, I suppose you're right," I said as I walked in. "But the reason I came is actually because I simply wanted to discuss whatever evil scheme is going on, in fact. Or perhaps I could ask your opinion on what they could be planning?"

"I see, I see," she said. "I don't really have any clue on their motives, to be perfectly honest.

"Ah… well, I suppose it makes sense that you wouldn't," I sighed, unable to hide my slight disappointment.

"I mean… do you have any ideas?" she asked. "Maybe we could speculate together to pass the time!"

"An excellent idea," I replied. "What do you think?"

"...World domination?" I looked at her flatly. "Hey, I didn't say we had to be serious. Just say whatever comes to mind."

"Alright, how about… jealousy? Of the townsfolk, I mean," I suggested.

"Oh, that's a good one! What about a search for some ancient artifact?"

"Eternal youth?"

"They just… really didn't want to wear a hat."

"Some form of twisted social reform, perhaps?"

"What if they're trying to send us on the path that somehow keeps a little girl from dying in the past?"

"Maybe just for the sake of being evil or causing despair?"

"Or how about, like… revenge?"

I paused. "Wow, that's the least ridiculous thing you've said."

Kyle

April 6th, 201X

10:28 AM

Sofia and I had agreed to stick together just in case something sinister really was going on. Sofia also said that we ought to go to town hall to let Isabelle know about it, and I couldn't really argue.

At town hall, we were of course greeted by Isabelle at the front desk. "Hey, girls! How can I help you?"

"Well, we just wanted to inform you of something worrying we all heard last night," Sofia began. "You see, a couple of suspicious and potentially dangerous animals were seen yesterday, which we had all encountered before on the train here."

"A wolf and a chicken!" I added. "They put a bomb on the train, but it turned out fine."

Isabelle's cheerful smile immediately dropped in favor of a look of surprised concern. "Oh, dear… that is quite worrying. Thank you… very much for notifying me," she said.

"Oh, but I'm sure it's not too much to worry about," Sofia reassured. "I'm sure it'll turn out fine."

Isabelle forced a smile and nodded. "Yes, I'm sure you're right. I suppose I'm just concerned with why they're here…" She trailed off.

"Yeah, I guess it's really hard to say!" I said. "Wait, Mayor, do you know anything about them?"

Her eyes widened. "Huh? What makes you say that?"

"Oh, nothing. I guess just the way you said that. Sorry about that," I apologized.

"Well, I think it's best if we head back to our tent, right, Kyle?" Sofia said.

"Yeah, sure!"

And we left.

Evy (again)

April 6th, 201X

10:34 AM

"Hey, what's this?"

I had been hanging out at Jack's house in order to avoid the fear of being alone while some evil organization may have been hanging around when I noticed a suspicious-looking purple book on the table.

"Oh, that? I found it at Re-Tail the other day," he answered. "It just seemed a bit odd."

"Yeah, I can definitely see that," I said, seeing the word "journal" on the cover. "It being 'odd', I mean. Is there anything inside?"

"No, not really," he replied.

"...What do you mean, 'not really'? Is there something there or not?" I asked, glancing back at the journal in confusion.

"I mean… I guess there was something at the back of the book," he said, "but I don't think it means anything."

"Can I see?"

"Sure."

Victoria

April 6th, 201X

10:32 AM

"But anyway, despite the song's disturbing themes, I really think it's a good song and would recommen-"

"Wait, did you hear that?"

"Huh? Did I hear what?"

"A noise. Like a 'thump.' Didn't you hear it?"

Mia

April 6th, 201X

10:32 AM

In light of what Sharon had told us yesterday, I'd decided to stick to Marina, since she was one of the younger of the group and I thought that it was a better idea to be in groups in general. Rather than stay inside, however, Marina had insisted that we warn everyone who hadn't been at the meeting the day before, so I decided to accompany her.

"Okay, so we just visited Marina-" she giggled at the thought that another villager shared her name "-so that just leaves Coco, Cookie, and Lucky."

"Alright," I replied. "Which one is closest."

"I think that'd be Lu-"

Thump!

I suddenly directed my attention to wherever that sound might've come from. Judging from Marina's gasp, I guessed she heard it, too. There was definitely someone down the street. No, two people. Or animals, I guess. I think they jumped down from the cliff. They were standing considerably well, since the cliff is relatively high (but obviously not high enough to kill, I guess).

"It's them!" Marina whisper-cried to me.

I quickly grabbed for her arm and pulled her behind the closest house, hopefully out of sight.

"Okay, so, run this plan by me just one more time?"

"See, this is exactly why I didn't want to work with you. Jesus christ, I might as well be working by myself here."

"Aww, you don't mean that. I know you love me deep down; we're best f-"

"I swear to god if you finish that sentence I will beat you to death with a rusty spoon."

Silence.

"Look, let's just get the job done. Boss said to gather up nine of 'em."

"Why nine?"

"How the hell should I know?! I'm not the one giving orders."

"I bet it has to do with a video game. Like, some series involves nine people who have to play some sort of deadly game, which was originally a twisted experiment but was then used again nine years later to-"

"Listen. I don't really give a shit what the reason is. Just carry out Boss' orders."

"...Roger that."

And the footsteps moved away.

A/N: Hhhhhhhh this took me way longer than I thought it would but it was really hard to get the dialogue to flow in some places. Whatever, it's done now, and I can finally move on. Hope you liked it, at least.

Also, can you guess what references I made?