It's so interesting to read your predictions of the murderer/victim:3! I love it cx! So glad you guys liked the last chapter! Now, let's get on with the exciting part of the case! :3

Chapter Six: The Smell of Desperation (Part II)

Tossing and turning in his bed, Trent was flooded with flashbacks of his time with Beth, DJ and LeShawna, so much so that he sprung to life in a cold sweat. Once he had calmed down and realised that he was in the supposed comfort of his bed, he lay back down. I can't believe this is real... This is actually happening...

The musician took a few moments before dragging himself up again, sitting on the bed with his legs over the side and his feet touching the cold floor. He soon remembered his and Gwen's conversation with Monokuma the previous night.

Student twenty-five should've just enrolled in the school... Monokuma's squeaky voice kept ringing in his head. Who...?

Trent ran his hands through his shaggy hair before sighing and getting up.

After getting washed and dressed, Trent left his room and headed to the Cafeteria. As he grew closer to the room, he could hear a few voices.

"Though it may be hard for us to see our friends in such a condition, we cannot let Monokuma and his despair-ridden attitude drive us to commit murder. We need to see this out and find a way to leave this place with minimal casualties." Alejandro tried to encourage the others. "If we resort to murder, we'll just be playing right into it's hands."

"Easy for you to say," Duncan glared at the Latino from the other end of the central table. "I bet you don't give a rats ass about any of those guys up there, or us for that matter! You're just spouting out any B.S. that'll keep you alive longer."

Alejandro narrowed his eyes, about to give Duncan a piece of his mind, before feeling Heather's hand touch his. "Don't. He's not worth it."

Hesitantly, the Spaniard sat down, as Trent entered the room, receiving some dirty looks from the more rattled members of the group. All in all, Cody, Courtney, Mike, Sierra, Harold, Katie, Sadie, Izzy and Owen were the only ones missing from the room.

Before he could take notice of any such looks, however, Gwen pulled him aside to the table that she, Bridgette, Geoff, Noah and Dawn were sitting at. "Best not to go over there."

Taking a seat, Trent glanced over at the main table before looking to those at his own table. "So what's going on with them?"

"In sum? Alejandro's trying to be a motivational speaker, but Duncan isn't having it." said Noah. "Alejandro's set on finding an escape route of some sort. As if that's going to happen."

"There's nothing wrong with being optimistic..." Bridgette sighed. "He seems like he genuinely wants to help us all."

"Maybe so, but it's one thing to play the optimist - this is borderline delusional," Noah's eyes didn't look up from the book in his hand. "Someone's gone to the trouble of planning this down to the very last detail. There's no way they'd be so stupid as to not notice a possible escape route."

"Well do you want us to just give up?" Geoff furrowed his brow. "And end up like Scott and Zoey?!"

"No," Noah said simply. "I'd rather we tried our best to unmask Monokuma, but if that's too rational for you guys..."

Geoff slumped back in his seat. "I guess."

A silence formed at the table, until Bridgette pushed her chair out. "I'm going to go and see if there are any books in the Library that interest me," She said, standing up. "Try and distract myself from things."

"Want me to come with you?" Geoff offered, moving his chair out slightly.

Bridgette smiled, placing her hand on his shoulder. "No, it's okay. I won't be too long, anyway."

"I'll walk with you," Dawn said softly. "I think I might investigate the garden more thoroughly."

"Sure," Bridgette beamed, before she and the moon-child made their way for the first floor.

Meanwhile, at the central table, Alejandro and Heather, and Lindsay and Tyler had trailed off into their own discussions, whilst Anne Maria admired Justin and Duncan sat in silence.

"Just try and not think about Beth, babe," Tyler tried to get through to his visibly disturbed girlfriend, who hadn't spoken all morning. "I know it's hard, but please try... It's killing me seeing you like this..."

Lindsay's emotionless face remained unchanged.

Tyler sighed, taking the blonde's hand in his own. "I... I'm gonna go make a protein shake... Want me to get you anything? Food? Drink?" His attempt at a smile faded. "You haven't eaten since yesterday morning..."

Lindsay removed her hand from Tyler's grasp and looked away, her bottom lip trembling ever-so slightly.

Tyler hung his head, before standing up from his chair and heading out of the room. "I'll be back in a few minutes, then..." He sighed.

Moments after Tyler had left, Lindsay followed suit, tears now streaming down her face. However, instead of following the jock, she went in the opposite direction.

"Poor Lindsay..." Trent sighed as he watched the model run out of the room. "It must be hard for her."

"Must be rough on Tyler, too." Geoff added. "I mean, as well as worrying about Lindsay, he was close with Deej, too..."

"We've all been affected by the situation in one way or another, that's why Monokuma is doing this," said Gwen, looking around the room at everyone. "Let's just hope none of us resort to murder because of it."

Leaving the Cafeteria, Trent headed for the first floor in order to further investigate the newly opened up rooms, with the exceptions of the morgue and the hospital room - he already knew full well what was there.

Upon arriving at the first floor, he noticed Courtney standing near the staircase that lead to the second floor, which was fenced off by metal bars, her e-handbook in hand.

"Courtney?" He spoke up as he walked over to the girl.

Hearing Trent, Courtney looked up from her e-handbook. "Yes?" As Trent neared the CIT, he glanced at her e-handbook. Noticing this, she quickly switched the page, though it was clear she was looking over the case file of Scott's murder of Zoey. "What do you want?"

"I... You just..." Trent didn't quite know what to say. "Why are you standing out here? On your own?"

"No... No reason," Courtney hesitated. "Just in need of some space is all."

"Find anything on the case file?" He asked, making it clear that he had seen what Courtney had actually been looking at.

Courtney furrowed her brow, shoving her e-handbook into her pocket. "Just what are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything! Just curious as to why you'd be looking over the case file again..."

Courtney turned away and looked at the steel bars that blocked off the stairs. "Because of these!" She slammed a fist into one of the bars, without so much as wincing in pain.

"I don't follow...?" Trent raised a brow, confused.

"Scott and Zoey died for us to be able to come to this floor and uncover its horrors..." Courtney hung her head. "W-who's going to have to die for us to go up there? And what kinds of twisted things are waiting for us?!" She turned back to Trent, tears forming in her eyes. "We're just pawns in this sick mind game and I won't stand for it!"

"... Courtney..." Trent stepped closer to the CIT. "I-"

"Don't!" She backed away from the musician. "Just leave me alone!" She cried, before hurrying off, leaving Trent in shock.

She needs someone to talk to... All this time alone to stew in her thoughts is poisonous...

Trent remained still as Courtney ran down the stairs, feeling the urge to chase after her. However, he didn't want to upset her even further. I should let her calm down first.

Taking a moment to look around, Trent recalled Bridgette saying that she was going to the library.

Entering the library, Trent found Bridgette, Cody, Harold, Mike and Sierra. Bridgette, Mike and Harold were examining the selection of books, all three on the same side of the room, Cody was trying his best to recover any of the deleted files on the laptop, whilst Sierra wandered around the desk.

Putting down the book she had in her hands, Bridgette noticed the musician. "Trent!" She greeted him with a smile. "Looking for a book, too?"

"Not really, just thought I'd check out the rooms up here some more," Trent explained. "Found anything that interests you yet?"

"Not yet, but there's a lot to choose from," She took a step back and looked around at the vast selection of books. "So I'm sure I'll find something I like."

"Shh!" Harold hushed the pair. "This is a library!"

Trent rolled his eyes. "Anyway, good luck finding something." He smiled at Bridgette, before noticing Mike. "I'm just gonna look around."

"Okay." Bridgette smiled back, before picking up another book.

Leaving the surfer girl to her own devices, Trent tried to approach Mike, when he was interrupted by Harold.

"I don't recommend speaking to him right now," said Harold, stepping in between Trent and Mike. "He's been acting... weird."

Initially confused that Harold had stopped him in his tracks, Trent took a moment to reply. "Well do you blame him? His ex-girlfriend was just killed... I think he has a good enough reason to be acting a little off."

"A little off?" Harold raised a brow. "I tried speaking to the guy and he completely blanked me. Besides, he keeps making weird wheezing noises," He furrowed his brow. "He better not be mocking me..."

"I'm, uh, sure he isn't mocking you, Harold..." Trent gave the nerd a funny look. "But maybe you're right, I should probably leave him. I just tried speaking to Courtney and that... didn't go down so well."

"Well duh, it's Courtney," Harold rolled his eyes. "Any idiot could've told you that wouldn't go down well."

"Whatever, no point dwelling on something I said. I'll try and sort things later," Trent sighed. "Anyway, what are you looking for? Something to take your mind off of... y'know?"

"My fair maiden LeShawna?" Harold took a guess at what Trent was referring to. "There aren't enough books in the world to do that. No, I'm actually looking for something I could read to her - some say that people in comas can hear everything that's going on around them. Might not be true, but I'm gonna give it a shot."

"That's... thoughtful of you. For your sake, I hope she hears it."

Harold smiled. "Thanks." He said, before getting back to the books.

With that, Trent headed to the far end of the room, which Cody and Sierra were currently occupying.

"Cody-kins, maybe you should just take a break for today," Sierra tried to persuade the geek to leave the laptop. "You look stressed!"

"I'll take a break when I make some progress!"

Sierra sighed, before noticing Trent. "Tell him, Trent!"

Trent raised a brow. "Tell him what?"

"She wants me to stop working on recovering files this laptop." Cody informed the musician. "Whoever cleared them really didn't want anyone to see them."

"Well how long have you been working on it?"

"He's been on it all morning!" Sierra desperately told him. "He hasn't even stopped to eat!"

"Damn..." Trent widened his eyes. "Maybe you're a little too dedicated to this?"

"Whatever," Cody grumbled. "I'm going to find out what was on this laptop if it kills me..."

Sierra gasped.

"Poor choice of words given the circumstances, don't you think?" Trent replied, looking a little surprised. "Anyway, if you guys have this under control, I guess I'll leave you to it."

Just as Trent turned around, he bumped into Bridgette, who was carrying a rather thick book. "Oh, sorry, Bridgette," Trent backed away, blushing. "Didn't see you there."

"It's okay, it was my fault anyway," Bridgette chuckled, setting the book face down on the desk. "I just need to sign this out." She told him, before checking the ID code on the book, writing it down in the sign-out book and signing it.

After doing so, she picked up the book with both hands and held it close to her chest. "I'll see you guys later!" She beamed, before heading for the exit.

Following suit, Trent noticed that both Harold and Mike had left as well. "Huh... Guess they couldn't find anything."

Leaving the library, Trent noticed that the room across from him, the Gym, was open. Peering in, he noticed Tyler placing something into one of the lockers. Soon afterwards, the Jock left, smiling and nodding slightly at Trent as he did so.

After leaving the library, Trent went to check out the Botanical Garden for a second time.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Trent could hear Izzy cackling. "Izzy's gonna get cha!"

Walking further into the garden, Trent saw Owen run past, with Izzy following soon after. "Come on, Big-O! Just give up already!"

"Never!" Owen screamed back, though Izzy pounced on him seconds later. "Aw, crap."

Trent chuckled at the pair's silliness, before continuing on his search of the garden. He looked around, but all there was were trees, bushes, flowers and other plants as far as the eye could see. Soon enough, he spotted some plants that seemed to have been cut. "Huh..."

However, after turning a corner, he found Katie and Sadie sitting cross-legged, surrounded by flowers they had cut and wearing daisy-chain-necklaces and tiaras. It wasn't long before the pair noticed him.

"Oh, hey, Trent," Katie greeted the musician, quickly taking off her daisy-chain tiara. "What's up?"

Sadie promptly spun around, having previously had her back to him.

"Just having a look around the garden," Trent told the girls with a smile. "I take it neither of you have noticed anything apart from the plants, huh?" He chuckled.

"Nope," Katie blushed. "Sorry."

"No worries," Trent nodded. "Anyway, don't mind me," He smiled, before turning to walk back. "I should probably go see the others."

"Oh, okay," Katie smiled. "Bye!"

"Bye, Trent!" Sadie waved, as Trent headed off.

Walking to the door, Trent could faintly make out what Katie and Sadie were saying.

"'What's up?' Oh my gosh, Katie, you so like him!"

"I do not! He's just a friend!"

"Yeah, yeah, tell that to the hand. And put your tiara back on!"

Trent chuckled, before leaving the room.

Closing the door behind him, Trent noticed Duncan entering the library. "Duncan? In the library? Hah." The raven-haired musician couldn't help but let out a laugh. Continuing to walk, Trent noticed that the door to the gym was shut. I don't remember seeing Tyler shut the door... Maybe Duncan went in? He shrugged it off and made his way down the stairs, passing by Noah, who nodded as a form of greeting, as he did so.

At around 7pm that night, Trent, Gwen, Geoff, Bridgette, Izzy, Owen, Katie, Sadie, Cody and Sierra had gathered in the Cafeteria to try and take their minds off of their comatose friends by reminiscing about their time on Total Drama.

"Hey, hey, remember that time Noah and Cody kissed?" Izzy tried her best to stifle her laughter. "I hear the fans call them 'NoCo'!"

"We didn't kiss!" Cody snapped, his cheeks red. "I'm not gay!"

"O-M-G yes!" Sierra beamed in Izzy's direction, before turning to Cody after feeling his intense glare. "Love you, Cody-kins!"

The tech-geek rolled his eyes.

"How about Trent's nine-obsession faze?" Bridgette chuckled. "That was a bit... Odd."

"A bit?" Geoff raised a brow. "Dude went crazy!"

"Nine-nine-nine-nine-"

"Alright, we get it..." Trent's face reddened. "Let's change the subject.."

"Oh my gosh, there was that time Katie and I got separated!" Sadie gasped. "I don't know how I made it on my own!"

"It was amazing watching you from the playa," Katie told her chubbier BFFFL. "Too bad the Bass voted you out not long after..."

"Yeah, uh, sorry about that," Geoff avoided eye contact as Bridgette, too, looked away.

"Don't worry about it - I was happy to see Katie again anyway!" Sadie beamed, pressing her shoulder against Katie's, who returned the gesture.

The group went on to talk with each other for the rest of the night, with Cody, Sierra leaving for their respective rooms at around 9.30pm, and Bridgette following suit soon after.

"Alright guys, I'm gonna call it a night," said Trent, standing up from his seat. It was currently 9.50pm. "Anyone else coming or are you guys gonna stay up a little longer?"

"Lightweight." Gwen smirked.

"All-nighter! Wooh!" Owen cheered, as he and Izzy hi-fived.

"I'm having fun, I think I'll stay up," said Sadie, before turning to her BFFFL. "How about you, Katie?"

Katie shrugged. "I guess I could wait a little longer."

"Nah, dude, not just yet," Geoff told the musician. "But I'll probably check on Bridgette before I do hit the sack, so I won't be much longer."

"Suit yourselves, I guess," Trent yawned. "Night!"

Making his way to his room from the Cafeteria, Trent passed the stairwell, where he heard footsteps - they sounded quite light - but he wasn't able to see a face due to the lights being dimmed. "Hello?" He called out, but received no answer. Furrowing his brow, he continued on his way to his bedroom.

Lying down in his bed, Trent stared blankly up at the ceiling for almost half an hour, just thinking about things.

Who's going to have to die for us to go up there? And what kinds of twisted things are waiting for us?! Courtney's words wouldn't leave his head. We're just pawns in this sick mind game and I won't stand for it!

... What's the end-game? He thought to himself, before shaking his head. No. Don't. He told himself, forcing his eyes shut and trying to get to sleep.

"Upupupu..." Monokuma's voice rang through the teenagers' bedrooms. "It appears that one of you was very naughty last night... Excellent!"

Trent's eyes shot open. "No..." He muttered, before quickly getting out of bed.

Rushing out of the door, he arrived at the Cafeteria, where Heather, Izzy, Owen, Alejandro, Katie and Sadie had gathered.

"Heard the announcement, huh?" Heather asked him upon his entrance. Trent hesitantly nodded, wishing he hadn't.

"I really had hoped no one would be pushed to this..." Alejandro sighed, walking up to and standing beside Heather. "Some-"

The Spaniard was cut off suddenly by a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream. A scream capable of sending a shiver down his spine.

"D-Do you think...?" Sadie whimpered, unable to finish.

"Ding-dong-bing-bong!" Another Monokuma announcement began to play. "A body has been discovered! After a set period of time, a Class Trial will commence!"

Promptly, Trent and the others ran out of the room.

"I suggest we check upstairs!" said Alejandro. "That's where the scream appeared to originate from."

With minimal hesitance, Heather, Trent, Izzy, Owen, Katie and Sadie followed the Latino. Upon ascending the stairs, Alejandro noticed that the door to the Gym was open.

"Trent, Katie, Sadie and I shall search the gym," said Alejandro. "Heather, you take Izzy and Owen and search the other rooms just in case."

"I'd rather go it alone," Heather looked at said duo in disgust. "I'll go check the Library. Owen and Izzy can go to the garden."

"Fine by me..." Owen shrugged, as the group split.

Approaching the gym, Trent could hear voices.

Entering, he was horrified at what he saw, to say the least. Courtney, Justin and Anne Maria were all standing around Tyler's lifeless body lying down on the bench press with a barbell pressing down on his neck, his protein shake lying on its side on the floor beside his foot. His eyes were wide open and looked like they were bloodshot.

"Oh, Tyler..." Alejandro sighed, shaking his head.

"Oh my god!" Sadie let out, before hugging Katie tightly.

"So... is this a murder?" Anne Maria asked, puzzled. "I mean, it kinda just looks like an accident."

"As if I'd let one of my students die due to an accident!" Monokuma burst out, entering the room. "Woops. Uh, spoiler?"

"So someone...?" Justin's eyes trailed from Tyler's body to Monokuma, who simply smiled. "That's just..."

Feeling queasy at the sight of Tyler's body, Trent took a moment, by leaving the room and standing outside. However, instead of receiving the peace he was searching for, he saw Heather exit the Library with a disturbed look on her face.

"We-We found him... Tyler's in there..." Trent winced at just saying those words. However, he did not receive the response he had expected.

"Trent, come here," Heather said, prompting Trent to lift his head to look at the girl. "Now."

"What? Wh-"

"Just do it."

Worried, Trent began to walk over to the Queen Bee, who re-entered the Library.

"What did you fi-" Trent stopped himself upon entering the room, seeing why Heather had urged him into the room. "Oh..."

A bookshelf had toppled over, which had triggered a domino effect in the bookshelves to one said of it.

"That's not even the half of it." Heather added, walking around the other side with Trent following closely behind.

On the other side of the bookshelf, Trent found Geoff's lifeless body. All that could be seen was his shoulders and his head, which was covered in blood.

"Whoever did this didn't just stop at one..." Heather commented, as Trent tried his best to take it in.

Soon enough, Izzy came bouncing in. "There was nothing in the garden." She reported, before gasping at the state of the Library. "Uh oh..."

The wild-eyed ginger rushed to Trent and Heather, where she too laid eyes upon Geoff's body. "Double uh oh..." Her eyes widened even further.

"Ding-dong-bing-bong! A body has been discovered! After a set period of time, a Class Trial will commence!"

"I guess that confirms us as innocent." said Heather, the most composed of the three. "Izzy, go and get the others..."

Tyler... and Geoff? Why were they...? Trent realised something that made the situation even worse than it already was. Oh God... Bridgette and Lindsay...

Alive: Alejandro, Anne Maria, Bridgette, Cody, Courtney, Dawn, Duncan, Gwen, Harold, Heather, Izzy, Justin, Katie, Lindsay, Mike, Noah, Owen, Sadie, Sierra, Trent. (20)

Comatose: B, Beth, Brick, Cameron, Dakota, DJ, LeShawna. (7)

Dead (Mutual Killing): Zoey, Scott, Tyler, Geoff. (4)

Dead (Pre-Mutual Killing): Chris, Eva, Ezekiel, Jo, Lightning, Sam, Staci. (7)

Unaccounted For: Blaineley, Chef.

This chapter probably serves to perpetuate the idea that I'm a "man-hater" in terms of characters to be honest, but oh well xD. I feel like Tyler's death was obvious throughout the chapter but hey-ho, hopefully Geoff's wasn't! Threw a curve-ball in there by including a double-murder in the second case. ;)

At the end of the case (after the trial) I'll include the reasoning behind my decision to bump off Geoff and Tyler, but until then, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed x)!