"Attention losers. It is now seven AM. Marking the end of Night Time. The dining hall is now unlocked. Meaning breakfast will be served. Here's to a new day. Of mutual killing."
Rose blinked slowly as Caliborn's announcement rang out. Her body was entangled in the bedsheets, and she silently wished to return to sleep. She had only been up a few moments, but already images of yesterday assaulted her violently. Calliope's corpse... Aranea's execution... the School Life of Mutual Killing had begun.
Guilt flooded Rose as her mind returned to Aranea's execution. She had helped in deducing who the culprit was, and as such was partly responsible for her death. Despite all of Rose's efforts, two people had died.
But she soon realised that moping around would get her nowhere; Caliborn certainly didn't seem to be allowing anyone to gain a true sense of closure over yesterday's events. With this in mind, Rose climbed out of bed, and soon prepared herself for the day ahead.
She walked out of her room, and into the hallway. Across from Rose, another door opened, revealing Dave walking out of his own room.
"Sup Rose," he said, walking up to her.
"Good morning, Dave," Rose replied. She smiled at Dave as they walked down the hallway.
"Not much good about it," Dave said. "I'm still feeling all kinds of down after that trial. Man that was awful."
"I know," Rose said. "But I don't think it would be wise to mourn just yet. Wait until we're all out of here before doing that."
"How come?" Dave asked.
"I have the suspicion that Caliborn is deliberately denying us the chance to properly say farewell," Rose said. "It's just an inkling though."
"Yeah," Dave said. "Anyway, are you sure we'll all get out of here?"
"My confidence has taken a blow," Rose said, "but we can't lose hope."
"I'm cool with that," Dave said. "I just want to get out before anyone else starts killing."
"Me too, Dave," Rose said. "Me too."
The conversation then died down, and Dave and Rose reached the dining hall. Everyone was sitting around, eating breakfast. As expected, the atmosphere was heavy. Rose soon found their group, and she and Dave quickly joined them.
"Good morning," John said, smiling.
"Same," Rose said.
"Did you sleep well Rose?" Kanaya asked, drinking a glass of water.
"Surprisingly so," Rose said.
"Perfect," Terezi said.
"How so?" Rose replied, beginning to eat from the wide selection of food on the table.
"Jade discovered this morning that the next floor up has been unlocked," Terezi explained.
"Really?" Rose said. "Oh yeah. Didn't Caliborn mention something about that a couple of days back?"
"He did," Terezi said grimly. "After every trial, we get a new floor to explore."
"Has anyone explored yet?" Rose asked.
"No," Terezi said. "We all agreed to wait until after breakfast to explore."
"Sounds good," Rose said. "And as awful as this sounds, it also prevents anyone from heading up there to commit a murder at the moment."
"Yeah," Terezi said. "After yesterday, I never want to see a corpse again."
"We're all in agreement there," Dave sighed. "Never again."
The conversation died down after that as everyone ate breakfast. And then, Rose stood up, addressing the others.
"Attention everyone," she said. "After the trial, it appears that we have a new floor to explore. Of course, as it was last time, everyone should remain in groups of at least three, and report back here at the end of the day."
"Fine," Vriska spoke up. "But can I just not go in a group?"
"Why not?" Rose asked.
"Because everyone here sucks and I'm not going to be trusting anyone," Vriska explained. "I'm not risking my ass just to see a new floor."
"If that's what you want, then who are we to stop you?" Kanaya said.
"What?!" Rose exclaimed, turning to Kanaya. "She's going into a group: rules are rules."
"It's not worth the hassle," Kanaya said. "Leave her to it."
"I won't leave her to it, Kanaya," Rose argued.
"Fine then," Kanaya said. "I'll go with Vriska. Anyone else wants to volunteer?"
"I suppose I'll go," John said. "You know, just to make sure they stick together."
"Okay then," Rose said with a sigh. "The rest of you will stick to the same groups as yesterday then, okay?"
"What about us?" Jane said. "We lost Calliope, so we're down to two."
"In that case, Meenah can go with you," Rose said. "Cronus, you just tag on to some other group."
"Can do," Cronus said.
"Thank cod I'm free of him," Meenah said. She walked over to Jane and Roxy.
"So are we all set then?" Rose said. Several nods of confirmation. "All right then, let's get moving."
"Not so fast." Caliborn suddenly emerged from nowhere, standing in the middle of the dining hall.
"What do you want now?" Terezi accused. "Haven't you done enough?"
"Not since the last trial," Caliborn said. "But I am here. For one reason. To give you a motive."
"What?" Rose asked.
"You heard me," Caliborn said. "Since I can't be sure. You will keep up killing. I have devised motives. To get you to commit murder. It's simple enough."
"You really think people will fall for whatever dumb motive you have?" Terezi scoffed.
"You haven't heard it yet," Caliborn said. "Anyway. The new motive is this: if there is not a murder. Committed within twenty four hours. All of you in here. Will be handcuffed to the one you hate the most. By which I mean platonic hate."
"You'll what?!" Vriska exclaimed. "What the hell will that accomplish?!"
"Besides," Dirk reasoned. "If you do that, then how will anyone get away with murder? There'll be at least two witnesses to whatever crime takes place."
"Shut up," Caliborn said. "In that case. Commit a murder before that happens. That is all." Caliborn then vanished, leaving the dining hall in a confused uproar.
"No way that's happening," Cronus said.
"It has to be a joke, right?" Jade said.
"Watashi wa kojin-teki ni wa sekkyokutekini kanki mitsukeru," Damara said, sneering.
"What did you say?" Nepeta asked.
"Trust me..." Rufioh said. "You don't wanna know..."
"All I got was somefin about arousal and... oh cod clam it Damara that's nasty!" Meenah exclaimed. Damara performed an obscene gesture.
"Enough of that," Rose said. "We still have a new floor to check out. So let's head out."
Dave and Rose were first to reach the next floor. The first thing that Rose noticed was that the walls were all coloured a bright blue that was somewhat distracting.
"Clearly whoever's in charge has an awful sense of style," she mused aloud, causing Dave to smirk.
"Hell yeah," he said. "This place is eye-watering."
"Have you checked your ElectroID yet?" Rose said. "It should say what's available."
"All right," Dave said. "Let's see here..." He booted up the ElectroID. "We've got the following on this floor: music studio, movie theatre, lounges five, six, and seven, computer room A, and the swimming pool."
"How exactly does this all fit on one floor?" Rose asked. "It's highly improbable."
"Look," Dave said. "We just saw a troll get executed game-show style for killing a cosplaying cherub because her older brother told us to kill. I think normal's back in whatever universe we left behind."
"I guess so," Rose said. "But could you not bring up the trial? It's still somewhat upsetting."
"Sorry," Dave said. "I'll be more careful."
"And you should be: respecting triggering phrases and anecdotes is the first way to establish trust." Rose looked ahead to see Kankri, Porrim, and Cronus walking down the hallway.
"Oh, hello there," she said.
"Hello," Porrim replied. "What have you found so far?"
"Nothing much," Rose explained. "But we've checked the map – there's quite a lot to see."
"I know," Porrim said. She rolled her eyes. "I had to pull Kankri away from the changing rooms for the pool before he descended into a full-blown rant about the needlessness of gendered changing rooms."
"I was making a valid point," Kankri said. "As you are aware, trolls lack biological sex in the same way that humans do, and by imposing such changing rooms you are merely creating yet another barrier for us to overcome, hindering the harmonious progress of combating the violence created by the cherub, which I must also say carries approximately nineteen commonplace triggers seen at any given time; the murder investigation is just one aspect of this, and in order to—"
"Kankri, be quiet," Porrim snapped. "I've had it up to here with your remarks."
"You tell him troll mama," Dave said. A faint smile crossed Porrim's lips.
"I do try my best," she said. "Now, I'm sorry for taking up your time like this: come on, let's go see what else there is." The group of three trolls then walked by, leaving the two siblings alone.
"What's up ahead?" Rose asked Dave.
"Apparently the music studio," Dave said. "If you don't count the three identical lounges."
"I guess," Rose said. She began to walk ahead. "In that case, let's go."
John and Vriska walked down the hallway, the lights above them flickering. Kanaya was just behind them.
"Man, this blows," Vriska said.
"Which part?" John said.
"All of it," Vriska replied. "The killing, the trapping, and now apparently we're going to be chained to someone we hate. I bet eighty boonbucks Tavros is who I'll be paired with."
"I don't think I actually dislike anyone that much," John said. "I guess I'll probably end up attached to Caliborn."
"Wouldn't that be the funniest thing," Vriska said.
"Not really," John said. "Being stuck to him all day? I'd be willing to kill myself within two minutes."
"Same," Vriska said. She turned around. "Hey, what do you think Kanaya?"
"I think he's a deplorable abomination that needs to be euthanised," Kanaya said sharply.
"If that was possible I'd be first to kill him," Vriska said. "But he'd be likely to behead us on the spot, and God Tier apparently means jack here."
"Hey, you two," Kanaya said. "I hate to do this, but my body desires to use the load gaper."
"Really?" Vriska said.
"I apologise profusely," Kanaya said. "But it is unwise to hold this in."
"Whatever," Vriska said. She looked at her ElectroID. "Just meet us outside the music studio when you're done, okay?"
"Okay," Kanaya said. She then walked away from the two, down the hallway.
"Will she be okay?" John said.
"Honestly, the others couldn't give a damn," Vriska said. "Let's just hurry up to this studio."
The two walked over there in silence, finding Rose and Dave standing there as well.
"Hey guys," John said.
"Sup John," Dave replied, leaning against the studio. "Door's locked."
"Really?" Vriska said.
"Caliborn said it'll open after a trial," Rose said. "Since apparently, we now only get half a floor's worth of freedom per body."
"Man," Vriska said. "Then what was the point of opening this floor up?"
"No idea," Dave said. "Hey, wasn't Kanaya with you guys?"
"She's in the bathroom," Vriska said. "She'll be with us soon enough."
Soon enough turned into twenty five minutes. Then thirty. Still no sign of her.
"Does it normally take trolls this long to do their business?" Dave said.
"No," Vriska replied. "She should be here by now, unless she got lost."
"We have to go look," Rose said. "It's not safe to be alone. Why didn't you wait outside the bathrooms with her?"
"Would you have waited whilst Dave emptied whatever organ it is?" Vriska countered. "That's just weird and gross."
"We have a buddy system for a reason," Rose said. "I'm disappointed in the both of you."
"I'm sorry," John said. "But I don't know how trolls work."
"Ignoring the fact that we've spent a hell of a lot of time with them," Rose said. "We have to head out."
"Agreed," Dave said. "Let's roll."
The four of them swiftly moved out, walking through the hallways, following the map to the bathroom. They made it to where the swimming pool was before encountering Terezi and Karkat.
"Hey guys," Terezi said. "What's the rush?"
"We can't find Kanaya," Rose said.
"Huh?" Terezi said. "Surely not..."
"Don't even imply it," Rose said. Her chest felt heavy.
"We'll help you look," Karkat said. "Where did you last see her?"
"She said she was going to the bathroom," John said.
"We passed that a little while ago," Terezi said. "There weren't any signs of anyone."
"Really?" Rose asked.
"Yeah," Karkat said. "But let's look again; she might show up."
"Okay then," Rose said. "Let's go."
With two more party members, they all rushed down the hallway, turning the corner. At the end of the hallway was the entrance to the bathrooms. Terezi stopped immediately.
"What is it?" Karkat asked.
"Do you smell that?" Terezi said.
"Smell what?" Rose said.
"Smoke," Terezi replied.
"What?" Vriska added. "What loser would be stupid enough to light a fire in an enclosed environment?!"
"I don't know," Terezi said. "But this is troubling. If there's a fire somewhere, then a lot of us could get hurt."
"Oh no," John said. "You can't be serious!"
"I am, unfortunately," Terezi said. "But let's check the bathroom first." They all moved down the hallway, heading towards the bathroom. As they did so, an uneasy feeling filled the air. Rose felt her stomach doing flips. But she told herself that everything would be fine. There was nothing to worry about.
She looked ahead, and saw the shut bathroom door.
"I'll go in," Terezi said. She walked up to the door, and pushed it open. "Hey Kanaya, are you o...kay...ahh...ahhh..."
Terezi stumbled backwards as the bathroom door opened. And as the door opened, a figure slumped to the ground. Kanaya's body.
It was unclear who screamed the loudest.