Act 2-5: The Betrayal

I breathed out slowly, staring at the white ceiling. The ceiling stared back down at me, entirely cold and emotionless.

I couldn't sleep. Of course I couldn't. Not when the motive had gotten all of us to this point. No matter how I tried, I couldn't get the images out of my head. Sasha's retreating back, and then them bleeding out in terror and shock; Xiang lying on the ground with a knife in his stomach, Tien or Nico or Jackie or even Faen strung up and hung, dead. And even worse was what followed - one of the others, or even them, standing over someone with the murder weapon, a murderer's neutral glare on each of their faces. Or even worse - a smile.

Had I not been forced to reveal my secret, would I have killed over it? I would have liked to think not, but then I remembered the despair I'd felt when I'd first opened my slip of paper.

And then I remembered what Sasha had said earlier. "At this point, murder is practically inevitable, and I just want to minimize casualties." But what if they were the casualty?

What if Nico was the casualty? Xiang? Hidek-

I was cut off by a knock on my door.

Slowly, cautiously, I stood up. I looked around the room for something I could use as a weapon - should the need arise. My eyes fell on the bathroom.

That's right - the hair dryer!

We had been provided complimentary hair dryers - with a Monokuma motif, of course - and I happened to remember that they were battery-powered.

Quickly I grabbed mine and moved towards the door, hand on the trigger. Then, very quickly, I opened the door.

Hideki gasped in shock. "Woah, hold it, Ashley, it's just me! You don't need to be scared."

"I had to be sure. As a wise man once said, constant vigilance."

"He died," Hideki reminded me.

"Yes, but it's good advice."

He sighed. "Regardless, Ashley - I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what-?" It clicked. "Oh right! You-"

"You know damn well what I'm sorry for! I'm sorry for avoiding you, and for lying, and for everything else. Please…" He cut me off, before touching a finger to his temple, "Would you like to come to my room for coffee? We have a lot to talk about."

You're damn right we have a lot to talk about...

"I'm aware of that. Just...please follow me to my room."

"Alright." I shifted in place. "Just let me go to the toilet first."

"Gotcha. See you later."

I closed the door. Leaning against it for support, I considered my options.

I could run for it, but if Hideki was planning to kill me he would track me down. I couldn't hope to outrun him. On the other hand, if I stayed and we fought, he would most certainly overpower me.

And that's not counting what would happen if I didn't come back out. If he actually had good intentions, I'd be seen as...Let's not go there.

I looked in my pockets. Paper and a pen - thank god.

Walking into the bathroom, I hurriedly scribbled down a note. I was invited to Hideki's room at...

I glanced at my Electro-ID. 11.25p.m. If you find this and I am no longer alive, you know where to look.

Folding the paper up, I flushed the toilet once to give the impression I had really used the bathroom, before remembering it was Night Time and water had been turned off. Relieved at the fact I didn't actually go to the toilet, I left it, and placed the note underneath my group's badge on the table.

There, I thought to myself, If this really is a stupid idea and I get killed for it, at least the others have a good idea of who could have killed me.

Opening my door, I walked to the one opposite mine - Hideki's. I knocked on the frame a couple of times.

"It's unlocked. Come right in."

I stepped into the room. Except for the contents of the table, his was identical to mine and Nico's. His was neater by far, with medical tools stacked on the table, and a row of lab coats hanging on the walls.

Papers were scattered on the desk. When I looked closer, I could just see the name on the top manila folder.

"Hideki Kenta, SHSL Surgeon - Records."

While I wondered why he would have records on himself, I shrugged it off as irrelevant, and returned my attention to Hideki.

"Here." He passed the cup of steaming hot coffee he had been stirring towards me, and sat across the table from me. "So, I suppose...I want to apologize."

I took a gulp, before speaking. "For avoiding me? That's okay, I-"

"No, not that. This."

He pulled a small stoppered bottle from his labcoat pocket and looked ruefully at it.

"What's that?"

"This, my dear Ashley..."

He turned the bottle to reveal three letters: KCN.

"...is potassium cyanide."

My blood turned ice cold.

Act 2-5 FIN

12 Students Remaining

A/N:

…

…

Bet you didn't see that one coming.

Vote for the next protagonist on the poll, kthx.

But seriously, shock elimination? Really, you should have expected this by now. We do everything and anything to keep the shock factor going.

If you haven't responded to the survey yet, this is your last chance to do so. I will close it next chapter.

On to the review replies first, before we address the obviously serious issue at hand.

Unimportant Fan: Yeah, we agree with you on the Eric thing. (you're not 'just' a guest shhhh. all of my reviewers mean a lot to me)

CrimsonSkyTamer: You're PRAYING Jackie is gonna die? What about poor Matthew?

emosewa-13: Damn straight it was a heck of a chapter. And yeah, I actually haven't seen anyone else comment on the fact that Sasha revealing their secret was a plan. The Mile High Club is 100% assholes you shouldn't feel sorry for them. (...They're not. I s2g, I'm the only person in this place that actually sympathizes with them. ;-; - SD)

Yeah...this secret was aimed at like five or six people. Some of whom are people you named. One of whom is the murderer.

Yeah, we'll work on the drama I guess. Nico's just...like that. Nothing to be done about it. (Can confirm, am 'WAAAAAAAAAAAAH'. - SD)

UltimateMario44: Hideki is a huge dork. He's also HUGELY SUSPICIOUS! (Oh, and a murderer. - SD)

Actual Octopus: Thank you my dear spouse/pool shark.

ezmonee6: Xiang and Sasha, eh? Needs a shipping name, I say.

PSISomething: Of course I remember you. I remember all of my readers.

And thank you so much for the kind words! (by the way, this is going to have a sequel, so you'll be able to submit to that...I plan waaaaay in advance as a general rule).

Nico's submitter? *does Will Smith pose* SD himself. (That's right. #lovemepityNico - SD)

dashunterman: Thanks. We did sorta...made it more serious. For plot purposes.

PowerPlayer: Well, is this what you expected? (actually your predictions were fairly good for this chapter).

Hmm...Nico as a victim, huh? And just because one's secret is revealed that doesn't mean that one can't be murdered. Besides, at least one person lied about their secret and that is confirmed (does not include Maya or Hideki). Sasha's behavior has been going downhill lately, and this trial is definitely going to be very hard on them, especially since Ashley's...yeah.

Hmm...well, what do you think of Hideki now? (It'd better be...killer. *guitar solo* - SD)

Malpractice killing multiple people? You're not far off...

HeroinOfDarkness: Well, remember, Nico's reveal was in no way public.

We'll take the oreos, thank you very much. *omnom*

Penumbro: Well...what do you think of the outcome?

In all seriousness, there is a new poll on my profile page/forum. There, you can vote for the one character you would like to see featured as protagonist from now on - keep in mind they will eventually either evict Hideki as the killer, or, if you pick the wrong person to be the protagonist (say, Hideki himself)...Let's just say he'll be getting an express pass out of here. Good luck!