2 - This Place Is All Wrong Or Something

The cold air of Ormond hits me square in the checks the moment I step out of the Kostenko household. I don't mind it, I like the cold.

I take a deep breath, letting the fresh and freezing atmosphere wake me up completely. Yup… this is definitely real. One would say that I should have realized that when Julie had decided to grind her knuckles in my hair earlier, but I've always been a stubborn idiot.

I take another breath, seeing the white cloud of condensed air from my mouth drift in front of my eyes. Childish, I know, but it's something that I really like doing, and I'm not the only person in the world guilty of this, I'm sure.

While the gang and I walk, my mind goes back to the big, pink elephant with golden wings and a moustache in the room.

I have absolutely no idea what the fuck I'm doing and what the fuck I'm supposed to do. I managed to pin down a part of former Jason's personality, and it's carrying the everloving shit out of me, but everything else is a big, pointy question mark.

Jason Kostenko was a prankster and a trickster (even if I don't have the habit of throwing knives. Ok I'm sorry, that one was terrible), so there's probably a lot of people that hate his guts, but he probably has some friends, Susie and Joey are proof of that. Question isssss… who are they? How many of them? How close was he to each of them? How much did he even know about them?!

And if by a miracle I manage to find everything out, how am I supposed to replicate all of that? What if someone asks me something that only former Jason can answer?

And talking about former Jason, I don't know shit about him either. How old is he? What grade is he in? What are his thoughts on everything? Dreams? Objectives? Aspirations? When's his birthday? Shit, by that logic when is EVERYONE'S BIRTHDAY?!

I'm starting to sweat bullets. This is worse than I could have imagined!

So stuck in my head, I almost missed Frank's call to stop at a red light.

I snap out of my thoughts by reflex, left wondering for how much have we been walking and for how long. I look around but I recognize nothing. Makes sense, since this is the actual town of Ormond, as opposed to the resort present in the game. But I still can't shake that feeling of familiarity for whatever reason. Like my body is remembering something that my mind doesn't.

Then, I see something. Or someone, to be more specific. A man, with long dark hair and a bushy beard, next to some paintings. Now THAT I recognize. Dead by Daylight's own resident Hagrid, or Jesus or whatever you want to define him.

Jeff Johansen, in his standard outfit, next to the canvas that he probably painted, scaring everyone away by virtue of looking like a homeless bum. I had to fight the urge to smile. Some semblance of shit that makes some sense, finally.

… Ok, not really, this situation is still absolutely bonkers, but at least I can find some solace in knowing that maybe not everything is lost in this sea of madness.

He must have sensed that someone is watching him, because he's looking around in a very suspicious manner.

I tear my gaze away before I can be spotted, but a voice catches me by surprise.

"Those paintings are so pretty…"

Susie. I frown slightly, before remembering that in her latest skin it was revealed that she is an inspiring artist, a painter to be more specific. Now, I have no idea whether she's any good or not, but she probably has a better artistic sense than I do.

Her words do bring me back to the man's paintings, and I have to agree with her. Not bad Hagrid, not bad at all.

Before more comments can be expressed, the stoplight turns green and we can pass through.

Putting the Jeff sized issue in the back of my mind, I fall a bit behind the group, with Susie in front of me, to better observe my surroundings.

As typical of a small snowy town can be honestly. All the roads go up and down, with almost no straight ones whatsoever. Houses make steadily way for shops, from a convenience store to a bar, then a couple of restaurants, a mechanic shop, clothing, another one for domestic animals and so on and so forth.

I'm honestly surprised, nothing is really missing. Or at least, almost nothing. I can't help but notice that Ormond is severely lacking in the entertainment department. Just a bowling alley and a retro arcade. No cinemas, internet bars or anything along those lines. Maybe I just haven't explored enough yet, but it's very weird to me…

Footsteps fall in line next to me, and I turn just in time to get a facefull of blonde hair. Some of which end up in my mouth, making me spit and gag. Why the hell are you so close woman?!

Julie apparently finds my suffering amusing, because she laughs. Clear and crystalline. It's a nice laugh, I admit grudgingly to myself. Not that I'll ever say that aloud. But I couldn't help but detect a hint of… strain in that laugh. Almost like she's trying extra hard to be cheerful.

Once the yellow haired menace next to me had her jolly in the face of my distress, and I finally manage to get rid of the hair in my mouth, she speaks.

"Hey bro! How's it hanging?"

"Worse, thanks to you! Bleargh, what hair products do you use?! This is horrible!"

"The ones not meant to be eaten, of course. But I can't expect a kid like you to know that."

She looks awfully smug at that.

"We are going to school together, so that statement sounds backwards as all hell. But that's okay, not everyone has to be smart".

Could have done better to be honest, but I'm still kinda reeling from everything, so I'm not at the top of my game. But apparently, bad jokes and crappy insults are the norm around here, because she is not fazed. Go figure.

"But I am a year older than you. Twelfth grade is higher than eleventh last time I checked".

Uh. Guess that takes care of the age issue. Twelfth grade in Europe is… last year of high school, right? I'm apparently a year younger, which means that I'm a fourth year. So I am either 16 or 17, while Julie is either 17 or 18, depending on the month of birth. I'll have to find out the actual birthdays sooner or later. One more mental note.

I also can't help but notice that she is very adamant about the older and taller thingy. Someone has confidence issues, I see. Not that I'm any better, but she doesn't need to know that.

"You learned how to count? Well, that calls for a celebration! Lemme go fetch some treats for you".

She shoves me gently with a smile on her face. Smile that I'm not sure if I like. Like a cat that caught a mouse and is planning to play with her food.

My fears are promptly confirmed.

"Sooooo… did you think about what I told you yesterday?"

… I am unequivocally, completely and IGN confirmed, 100% fucked right in the ass.

This is exactly what I was afraid of. A question that only former Jason could know the answer of.

Shit shit shit! I gotta think of something!

Deflecting seems like my only chance right about now.

"You said a lot of things yesterday. You'll have to be more specific."

Somehow, I manage to keep a straight face. Barely, but I succeeded.

Ok, calm. It's of over yet.

For a second she winces. Like I just said something painful. But she quickly covers it up with… a pout. Older and apparently more mature Julie Kostenko… just pouted. I am sorely tempted to snap a picture and shove it in her face… before remembering that I do not have a phone. Not anymore at least. Rip.

I decide to not mention her previous expression though. Better not put myself in bad situations if I can avoid it.

"You know what I'm talking about! That conversation about Susie!"

The mention of her name makes said girl turn around, curiosity etched on her face. Nice job Julie, subtlety is truly your middle name. I deflect the pink haired girl's gaze with a smile and a wave. She squeaks, again, and turns around, her ears red.

Uh? Did I do something wrong?

Julie decides to open her dumb mouth again, whispering this time. At least she can learn.

"See?! I mean that! She obviously likes you!"

Awwwww, I get it now! She's trying to play matchmaker with her brother and her best friend! That's adorable. Retarded as fuck, but adorable.

Normally I would just laugh it off and tell her that she's being stupid. But she severely pissed me off back in the house, so I decide to one up her.

"Me?! Did you see her face when you pushed up your breasts back home? Girl was basically drooling on the carpet!"

Take that you real life shipper from hell.

Julie stops for a second, stunned. Ah hell, I just opened up a can of worms and dug it inside a rabbit hole, didn't I?

For her credit, she recovers very quickly. Impressive.

"That's… not the point! We were talking about you, don't try to deflect it on me mister! I know your tricks!"

Triple shit, she caught on! I need a distraction, ASAP!

The distraction came in the form of Frank, announcing that we have reached our destination.

And… I must say, I am very surprised. This place is bigger than I expected!

Five floors, stretching far enough that I couldn't see where the walls end. Said walls are maroon, with five sets of windows for each floor, probably the classrooms. A big, proud "Ormond High" is on top of the gates to the school grounds. All of that with a very respectable number of students of various nationalities, milling about the gardens and the entrance of the institute itself.

Not an abnormal amount, but definitely more than I expected. What is this, some sort of boarding school? I'll have to do some research when I have a moment… and an internet connection.

Then my gaze falls upon someone that I did NOT expect to see. Short black hair held back by a headband, a distinctly japanese uniform and VERY distinctly asian features. Now, nobody in the game had ever seen her face. As in, her actual human features, if one doesn't count that small movie at the end of her Archive tome, but you can barely make anything with that damn animation. On YouTube though, there are some videos with some renders of her human features, very well made. She looks exactly like that.

Who am I talking about? Rin Yamaoka. Or the Spirit, if you will. She looks around, looking a bit irritated at something, before moving with the rest of the small crowd towards the school.

My brain frizzles and dies for a few moments.

Uh? What? What the fuck? WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?! THIS ISN'T JAPAN!

Ok, ok, ok, calm down. It's just a coincidence. Yeah, that's right, nothing but a coincidence. Or maybe I'm straight up wrong, anything can be at this point. I must be seeing things.

I am snapped out of my reverie when a paper is thrust in front of my eyes by Julie.

The hell? I look at it and it's a schedule. My schedule, apparently.

Once again, the tyrant is extremely smug when she talks.

"All right gang! Me, Frank and Joey will be on the fifth floor, with the big students, while Jason and Susie will be on the fourth floor, with little kids their age".

Frank snorts, Susie giggles awkwardly while Joey and I sigh, resigned to our fate of insanity.

The three "big boys" ("and girl!") leave for their classes, leaving Susie and I behind to compare our schedules.

Let's see here… my eyes bulge out their orbits. Again.

First period is history with Miss Rakoto. As in Élodie Rakoto.

Ok, just another coincidence! No need to panic again! Next is…

I feel sick.

Math with Mr Richter. Felix Richter.

Afterward is literature with Mr Francis. Or Adam Francis, if you will.

Fourth period is science with Mr Grimes. As in Talbot Grimes, or The Blight.

And the last period is PE with Miss Kassir. Zarina Kassir.

This… this is… these people shouldn't be here. Most of them shouldn't even be teaching!

This is all wrong. What the fuck is going on right now?! What now, am I going to turn on the TV to catch an episode of the Jane Romero show?! Maybe I'm going to buy a newspaper and read an article written by Jed Olsen (Or Danny Johnson, or better yet Ghostface)?! Wait lemme go to class and say hello to my buddies Dwight Fairfield and Near Karlesson, since I have time!

I… I need a minute. I can barely hear Susie cheer because we have math and science in the same periods. I think I'm going to be sick…

Somehow, I manage to excuse myself, find a bathroom and vomit bile in one of the sinks, painfully reminding me that I did not have breakfast this morning.

When my stomach finally settles, I'm left panting a huffing, already exhausted.

This… this is wrong. Completely and utterly WRONG!

And I have no idea how I'm supposed to process everything. But I have to, don't I? I don't have the luxury to bury my head in the sand and wait until the world makes sense again.

I gotta swallow everything and force myself to accept this, at least until I'm alone. Then I can break down and bash my head against a wall.

Like when my… "adventure" started, I take the time to splash some water on my face, while I clean the sink.

It's okay. You have to calm down now. The day just started and you're already having a crisis. Breath, in and out, like you've been taught.

A couple of minutes later, I'm presentable again and I can get out of the bathroom.

I check the big clock on the wall in front of me, in the now empty corridors.

5 minutes until the first period. Luckily, there is a map of the floor close to the staircase, so finding the classroom was easy enough.

Miss Rakoto isn't here yet. Good.

I take a look at the blackboard to see that the seats are pre assigned. Mine is towards the middle, right in between…

David King and Feng Min.

Riiiiiightttttt. At this point, I think I'm starting to see a pattern. I see my two classmates quickly. David has his standard skin, while Feng has that skin that came with the All-Kill chapter. The one with beanie. It suits her, weirdly enough.

I take my seat, catching David's eyes, who grins at me.

"Hey man! Long time no see!"

Jason knows David apparently. Nice start, dumbbell.

I grin as well and gave a small mocking bow.

"Mister King, my good sir. It is an honor to see you once again!"

He chuckles, and I hear Feng behind me snorting as well.

Bad jokes galore, here we go.

I tilt my head backwards towards the Chinese girl, looking at her upside down, my grin still intact.

"Hello to you as well my lady. I sure do hope that you haven't spent the entire summer break playing videogames. You're going to need glasses if you keep that up!"

She smiles and puts her finger in front of her lips.

"That's for me to know and for you to never figure out."

I look at David again and speak in a sing-song voice.

"Mhhh… that sounds like a yes to meeeee…"

"It sure does Jas."

"You guys suck, you know that?"

I chuckle.

"You love us, no need to be a hard ass about it."

I hear her mutter under her breath, and I sign a victory for little old me.

The bell rings, and our teacher comes inside the classroom… in a pencil skirt.

Of course, you can't be a damn female teacher without a pencil skirt. I'm very much not complaining though.

Élodie Rakoto reaches her desk, takes a couple of seconds to adjust some papers, before turning back to us with a sunny smile on her face.

"Hello everyone, and welcome to your first period of this year. To those that made it from your previous year, congratulations, keep it up! To those that have already heard this speech, I hope that I won't be seeing you again next year, right Mr King?"

Uhhhh, addressing a student by name on the first day? Bold Miss Rakoto, very bold.

The British blockhead that is apparently my friend has at least the decency of looking embarrassed.

The teacher, though, is quick to pick his spirits back up.

"I'm sure that you'll be fine this year. I'm rooting for you!"

Awww, that's sweet. With that same smile, she decides to give the poor guy a break.

"Now, today is the first day, so there is no need for formalities. Let's chat a bit, I want to get to know you guys a bit better."

Mh. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

First period ends without a hitch. Élodie is a damn sweetheart, no question asked. If only the teachers in my world were only halfway this nice, maybe I wouldn't remember high school as the worst period of my life.

Well, no point in thinking about it. Another look at the map tells me where my next class is, just to see poor Susie surrounded by people in front of the literature class, embarrassed beyond relief.

Not really surprising, she gives that shy, cute and friendly aura, no wonder she's popular. I almost stop in my tracks, just to watch her squirm a bit.

Then I actually did stop. I know, I'm a terrible friend, but I'm going through high school again after barely surviving it the first time around, so I need to get some entertainment somehow. The poor girl is just the convenient scapegoat.

After a couple of minutes of quiet laughter, I decide to be merciful and save her. There will be plenty more occasions down the line, I'm sure.

I walk into her field of view and wave at her, giving her the excuse to slip away and join me.

She pants a bit and smiles at me.

"Thank you Jas. I feel like I was going to suffocate in there!"

I have to resist the urge to pet her hair. She's just too cute.

"No problem Suz. So, how was the first period?"

"Good, very good. Mr Francis is so kind, I like him!"

That he is my friend. That he is. We reach the class, take our seats, with her right behind me, like dictated by the blackboard.

I look at the names… and promptly almost break my neck with how fast I turn my head, almost giving poor Susie a heart attack.

Dwight Fairfield and Near Karlesson, both with their standard skins, hanging together towards the middle of the class, chatting. I was just joking before damn it…

Oh, did I say chatting? Sorry, I meant Near teasing the fresh hell out of her friend, with said friend trying and spectacularly failing to keep up, sputtering and stuttering with a tomato face. It's a very nice scene, just two friends doing friends things, but this is definitely not a friendship that I had envisioned. I can see it working though.

The door opens, and in comes Felix Richter, also in his standard skin. Classy guy I see.

If I remember correctly, he's an architect from Germany (so it kinda makes sense that he teaches math), whose parents got taken by the Entity when he was a child, alongside Élodie's. An all around cool guy, calm and composed, with an open mind and good manners… and people really want to see him shirtless for whatever fucking reason. Some people do be thirsty.

He reaches the desk and turns to us, not smiling, but without hostility.

"Good morning class. Welcome to math class, I hope not to bore you… too much."

There's the smile. See? Cool guy.

He picks some papers from his bag and looks at the names on the spreadsheet.

"Mr Fairfield, do you mind distributing these papers to the class? It's this year's program."

"O-Of course professor!"

Be almost stumbles on his way to the professor, drawing light chuckles from the class. Amused laughs, not mocking though.

Not many people like Dwight from a lore standpoint, that's a fact, but I don't think that he's a disaster. He just needs a small push in the right direction, someone that gives him some courage and confidence in himself. I look at Near, who had chuckled alongside the rest of the class, but an incredibly fond expression on her face.

Somehow, I think our resident nervous leader will be just fine.

Luckily, literature is almost completely uneventful. The only person that I recognize is Rin (the spreadsheet had confirmed her identity), and Adam is still the sweet summer child that I always envisioned him to be. I finally have time to breathe and catch up with my rampant thoughts. It's difficult, but I have to at least attempt and organize this gigantic mess in my head.

Ok, so, the killers and survivors of Dead by Daylight are here (some of them. I do believe there's more, but that comes with its own set of variables, like licensed characters), no trials, no hooks, no generators and no Entity. For now at least.

This place is Ormond, Canada, home to Jeff and The Legion (bar Frank who comes from the outside). The killers are human again, as demonstrated by Rin, some character ages don't match, like Dwight and David. Teachers also either are not supposed to be here, like Adam, or not supposed to be teaching at all, case in point Zarina. From the lore, she's basically modern day Indiana Jones, but here she is, teaching a class in a school in bum fuck nowhere.

I doubt that the endgame of all her adventures is this, which means that something brought her here. Her and everybody else, because everyone is out of place.

This feels like the beginning of a soap opera… or a shitty self insert fanfiction or something. Like a kid that picks out random pieces of different puzzles and tries to fit them together. Like… some sort of alternate world.

And if it is an alternate world regarding Dead by Daylight… it means that The Observer is probably involved in some way, shape or form. And if he is… the Entity can't be too far behind.

It's wrong. It feels wrong, when put into perspective. But at the same time, it also feels… right, in a way. All of these people are not suffering anymore. No one is dying on meat hooks, no one is being tortured by a bored deity to do its bidding. There is a great sense of… peace, and tranquillity.

All this begs a series of questions.

Why? Why does this world exist?

Did someone create it?

How is it inhabited by these people?

Why am I here?

Why did I take the place of some random ass kid instead of just being myself?

And more importantly…

What am I supposed to do?

Author Notes

So hello hello and hello people of this site. So, after me, who is the dumbass that forgot to put some notes at the end of the first chapter of his first fic? You got it, it's this guy. Fuck you Brian, you suck.

Seriously now, I have a couple of things to say, very important. First things first, thank you to everyone that decided to give this… abomination a shot, you guys are totally rad or something.

Second, it took me a while to get this out, I know, but when you read everything that you had pre written beforehand and realize that the pacing fucking SUCKS, you kinda have to start everything from scratch. So yeah, I had some technical difficulties, this is what happens when you start a story, start working to get towards a specific ending with no actual idea on what to do in between. I am a stinky poop head, I admit that much.

Things should go smoother from here on out, but I better not make any promises, for the sake of my sanity.

So talking about the actual story, I am unsure of how long it's going to be, or even for how long I plan to stick with it before I run out of ideas, because I wing it, as the cool kids say.

More will be revealed afterwards, in the meantime I will try to have at least one chapter a week, once again, no promises, but that's my personal objective.

So to all of you that reached this point in the story, once more, thank you, and I hope you enjoy the ride.

Ta-ta for now!