Chapter 2: The Solace of Hate and Envy (Daily Life #02)
Warning: This fic contains intense violence, lots of cursing, character death, gore and blood, sexual innuendos (thanks Maggie), and possible spoilers for the Danganronpa series, most notably the first one. But hey, everyone lurking in this fandom has at least played the first Danganronpa so no need to worry much there!
With that said, please enjoy!
"Freeze!"
Jared felt the adrenaline heatedly rush through his body as he pointed his gun at Warren Nizens. His body remained firm and intact. His resolve never let his body waver as he finally felt the satisfaction of aiming his semi-automatic pistol at Nizen's head. Three whole months of investigating. Three whole months of sleepless nights. Three whole months of patrolling the streets.
All for this one moment.
To catch this son of a bitch and lock him behind bars.
Despite all that heavy breathing and all those bleating heartbeats taking control of his body, Jared couldn't help himself but laugh. Laugh that all of that hard work had finally come to this. With him standing behind Warren Nizens with a gun to his head, finger ready to pull the trigger should he act the wrong way. With him, smiling a smile worthy of someone who had finally achieved the justice he so craved.
"Warren Nizens," Jared huffed with a grin. "You are under arrest for the assault, torture, and murder of 28 women. Put your hands in the air and turn around slowly."
Nizens slowly raised his hands in the air. Then he turned ar-
"Slowly!" Jared ordered, keeping his fingers on the trigger.
Nizens turned around, slowly.
"Chief!" Jared placed a hand at his walkie-talkie, strapped to his shoulder with an excited tone. "I got him! The alleyway between Maple Avenue and Scotia Street!"
"Good job rookie, stay right there!" came the gruff voice of the Chief behind that miniature radio.
That's when Jared took a good look at his face. Nizens was nothing but an old man with a crooked nose and a nasty set of silver fillings and teeth. His entire face told an entire story to Jared. An absolute description of what one might expect a psychotic serial killer to look like. Nasty both physically and mentally.
...Except, Nizens was grinning, showing off his disgusting crooked teeth. As if he hadn't lost. As if this wasn't over.
"Taken down by a rookie, eh?" Nizens chuckled to himself. "You must be new to this huh?"
"I've trained longer than all of those other guys in the force," Jared said with a smug look as he kept one hand on his gun and the other to pull out a pair of handcuffs. "Now. Are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?"
Jared clicked open the handcuffs.
"Ha!" Nizens laughed. "Young, arrogant, and clueless! Just how I like them!"
Jared lowered his handcuffs. His smug complexion shifted. This wasn't the reaction he expected from Nizens at all. So instead, all he could do was glare at the psychotic killer. What exactly was he missing?
"You really think this is over?" Nizens asked, still holding his hands in the air with a grin. "That I would just get sent to the gallows and live out the rest of my days there?"
"...I expect the death penalty for you, to be honest," Jared spoke with a mutter.
"Oh no no no," Nizens shook his head with a laugh. "I have connections. I have money. I also pride myself on being an amazing actor. How else do you think I was able to fool so many women into helping out an innocent old man such as myself…?"
"Sh-Shut up," Jared held his gun tightly. "Sh-Shut up right now."
"You saw just how I was able to fool that waitress," Nizens chuckled. He perked his head, almost tauntingly. "Tell me. How is she doing? I'm sure my attack on her taught her some things-"
"Shut up!" Jared gritted his teeth.
Nizens looked at Jared. It was clear on his face that he expressed much interest in Jared.
"Oh… Oh ho," Nizens blinked before laughing once more. "Hit a nerve there, did I? But the point remains, you think locking me up is going to be the end of things? Oh no no. Frankly, I can get myself admitted to an asylum. I qualify for being too insane to function in a normal jail cell, don't I?"
Jared gripped his gun with both of his hands now.
"After a couple of shoddy treatments and pills, I can be deemed fit to rule the streets once more," Nizens licked his chapped lips. "Hmmm. I wonder what I should do after I leave. Oh! How about paying that waitress a second visit? What was her name again? Tawny- Tayl- Talia-"
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Six bullets fired in succession, all hitting Nizens in the chest. With a surprised glance, Nizens felt the heat of the bullets burn through his ribs and skin. He felt weak. Weak but still had enough energy to share one last chuckle at Jared, who kept the smoking gun pointed on him at all times.
"A-Atta boy," Nizens laughed softly before falling to the floor.
His eyes were wide open. But no doubt, he was dead. And all Jared could do was stare at Nizens corpse, his finger still pulling the trigger as the gun clicked, unable to fire any more bullets. Tears trailed down Jared's eyes as he couldn't stop staring at what he had just done.
…
"Good work Rookie," that same gruff voice from the walkie-talkie echoed through Jared's head. "No. Sorry. Officer Caertas. Yeah, that's right. You're promoted. Keep up the good work. The community needs more cops like you. Doing what needs to be done for the sake of justice…"
…
But was that really justice?
(Ultimate Police Officer's Cell)
Jared sat in the middle of his Ultimate Cell with a different face that he usually showed. It was a face he never dared try to show to the others. It was a face filled with pain and guilt, directed toward the source that had started it all: the set of pistols whose ammunition had been removed and tucked away in one of the evidence boxes.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Six bullets. Six bullets in total. It took only six bullets to kill Warren Nizens, rid the world of a piece of shit scum, and become the police officer he was today. Yet, with an action that seemed to give him more benefits than anything else, why did Jared feel as if those bullets had killed him instead?
He was supposed to be a keeper of peace. A hero of justice. But instead, he became something he tried not to become. A criminal. Just like the rest of those scum.
Jared clenched his fist. He remembered what White Collar had said when they first woke up to his captivity:
"16 yes, but you're all separated in prison cells," White Collar gave a nasty demented grin. "Realistically, it would be quite easy to terminate you two by two. But realize that I'm giving you all a chance to live and rediscover your sins."
"Sins," Maggie clenched her fist as she looked away.
"I haven't done anything sinful," Jared looked away.
That was a lie.
Jared did sin. Jared has always sinned. His murder of Warren Nizens was his greatest sin. This was why White Collar chose to imprison him for the Killing Game. This had to be why White Collar had it out for him.
Which only begs the question...
What exactly did everyone else do to get themselves targeted by White Collar? If they did something just as bad as he did, then figuratively speaking, they were all criminals, right? Was he really stuck in a facility with no-good, low-life scum? Just like him?
"J-Jared?" a stuttering voice forced Jared to turn around. Carter had been peeking from the door, watching as the police officer had done nothing but sit and stare at the pistols.
"Oh, Carter," Jared shook off those suspicions. That can't be right. Carter, Zuri, Yuumi, Mimi, Barracuda? How could any of them be criminals? They were practically the nicest people here. (Notice that Maggie was not counted as her lustful tendencies were a sin in itself). "Sorry. I was just thinking about something."
"A-Ah, I see," Carter looked a little relieved. "Y-You just looked really interested in those guns. F-For a moment, I thought you were going to shoot someone. Heh."
"...I would never shoot anyone," Jared stated, seriously.
Anymore that is.
"O-Oh, right," Carter took note of how serious Jared became when he mentioned that. He remained silent for a moment then gave an awkward chuckle. "W-Well, I'll be heading over to the Cafeteria. B-Big day today. Maybe."
Jared nodded.
"Right," Jared agreed. "I'll be right behind you."
Carter shared a nod with Jared before leaving. The police officer on the other hand took one last look at the guns before lowering his police hat. Then he followed behind Carter.
(Cafeteria)
"What the fuck…"
There was a rather large crowd in the Cafeteria today by the time Carter and Jared had arrived. Then again, the Cafeteria usually always had a large crowd, but today felt different. For instance, why Haruto was saying 'What the fuck' was because Cassandra was sitting at a table, looking ready to start the daily Cafeteria Morning Meetings. A certainly unusual sight to see when starting a traditional morning meeting.
"What?" Cassandra asked, indulging on a bagel as she spoke. "You guys looked like you've seen a ghost or something."
"No no, not at all," Zuri rubbed the back of her neck. "It's just that… well…um…"
How should she put it? Zuri wasn't one to say anything upfront. It wasn't that she didn't want her there. It was more so…
"You never come to the Cafeteria meetings," Yuumi deadpanned, hugging Sailor Penguin close to her.
"And whenever you do, you cause trouble," Ina added, folding her arms with a frown toward Cassandra. "Why come now?"
"So, am I not allowed to join, is that it?" Cassandra rolled her eyes, leaning back against the table. "So I decided to get out of my comfort zone. There's no crime for doing that."
Arthur chuckled when she said the last part.
"And what are you laughing about?" Maggie raised an eyebrow at Arthur, equally displeased with all this.
"Ah, my apologies," Arthur shook his head. "I was lost in thought for a moment."
"Well, whatever the reason for Cassandra to be here…" Jared stepped up, taking the leadership role once more. "In a way, I'm just glad she is here. Only means that we can stand up firm and more united, right? So, let's stop questioning why she's here and get straight on to business."
Cassandra raised an eyebrow toward Jared before finishing the last bite of her bagel.
"Now hold on a second," Cassandra sighed. "Let's get one thing straight. Just because I'm here doesn't mean I'll be here every day. Not only that, it also doesn't mean I'll join whatever Powerpuff bullshit you guys are cooking up. I'm just here because I wanted to be here. Capiche?"
"Capiche'd loud and clear!" Barracuda saluted, before realizing what he did and slowly lowering his hand.
"Anyway, continue," Cassandra smirked toward Jared.
"...As I was beginning to say," Jared slowly started what was to be today's new announcement. He wasn't sure why Cassandra smirked at him, but it certainly didn't make him feel any easier. "Today, we're going to be checking out Cell Block S. Hopeful- No wait. We will be able to find something noteworthy. So, keep your eyes peeled and get ready to head out with me down to the basement floor!"
"Yeah!" Barracuda cheered. "We'll find a way out for sure!"
"Can't wait!" Zuri looked determined, clenching her fists together with a smile.
...
"Is there room for one more…?" came the voice of a person who had been missing from the Cafeteria group. The only person who had been missing: Holland. Everyone knew why someone like him wouldn't arrive but to see him arrive and speaking no less made the atmosphere in the Cafeteria feel quite awkward.
Holland himself had looked a little worse for wear. He wore a new hoodie with the same image of Kirby and same coloration of white and red. The original which, mind you, had been completely strung all over the floor back at the Prison Trial grounds for those who had forgotten. Yet, while he wore a new hoodie, the bags under his eyes were much more prominent, signifying that even Holland had trouble sleeping lately. No matter how emotionless he may seem, it wasn't enough to cover the fact that even he probably spent nights awake over his fleating guilt.
"O-Oh, Holland," Zuri looked shocked to see him appear.
"Ah, Holland…" Barracuda looked away, nervously.
"Something is off about you," Maggie pursed her lips. "Is that a new hoodie?"
"...What are you doing here?" Jared wasn't as happy to see him. Though cold was his question, no one could or should blame Jared for that. They all knew what he had done. The miraculous thing to Holland was that most of them seemed to feel a little awkward rather than hateful.
Holland remained silent for a moment before throwing his hoodie onto his head to hide his guilt-ridden face.
"...Just wanted to see if I could join," Holland answered honestly, looking down slightly.
No one had much of a response to that. Instead, a lot of the members of the group merely avoided eye contact. Were they scared? Did they not like him? If so, Holland should understand why. He stabbed someone. He was willing to stab himself if it meant he didn't get caught. And he kickstarted everything. Everything that had happened with Titus and Kane was all him. It was all his fault.
"...But it's okay if no one wants me too," Holland looked away. "...I'm just… I don't know what I can do to make things right."
Awkward silences seem to be the absolute norm for this group of prisoners, but it was well-deserved. No one knew what to say to Holland. Do they just flat out reject him? Flat out cast him out just because of a mistake he made? Then again, it wasn't just any mistake. Holland flat out committed attempted murder. Sins like that aren't something to be lightly handled with. Yet the sad and pained look on Holland's face. Even with an emotionless expression, Holland's eyes still spoke a thousand words.
A thousand words that Cassandra hated to see.
"Ugh, what the hell are you doing pulling the fucking victim card?" Cassandra glared at Holland, much heatedly than expected. "'It's okay if no one wants me?' 'I don't know what I can do to make things right?' Do you seriously not fucking understand how much shit has happened all because of you?"
"Cassandra…" Maggie sternly looked at the unknown talent.
"No, don't 'Cassandra' me," Cassandra glared at Maggie. "I was going to be all peaceful and shit today but if no one else is going to say it, then I guess I'll have to take the initiative and say it myself. This guy started the entire game. He's the reason two of us are dead and over what, mommy issues?"
"Yeah, but still… you don't have to be so-" Zuri looked at Holland with slight pity.
"So, what, so harsh?" Cassandra bit back at Zuri. "Even now you guys act like he's still one of you guys. Like the shit he pulled is punishable with just a slap on the wrist. Do I have to remind you guys that he fucking stabbed someone? If it wasn't for the fact that dipshit Kane finished off the kill, this guy would've been in the same rotting purgatory Kane is right now."
"But even so, Holland looks like he wants to make amends," Mimi pointed out. "It's all over his sad and emotionless face."
What a paradoxical set of emotions.
Holland glanced away. Coming here turned out to be a horrible idea on his part. Why did he assume they would accept him back so easily? Everything Cassandra had said was on point. Though, he wasn't playing the victim here. He was just hopeful. Too hopeful. He turned away and prepared to leave. He hated conflicts, especially if it was over him…
…Then a hand caught his wrist before he was about to leave. Holland's neutral expression flickered from a look of surprise and neutrality to see Zuri making sure he didn't leave. She held his wrist tight and gave him a slight frown. Guess he had to stay now…
"Yes, Holland may have stabbed Titus," Maggie began. "Heck. If I did go to the Prison Lounge as planned, I would've been the one who got stabbed not Titus. But if Holland is willing to try to make up for what he did, I think it's best if we gave him that chance to prove himself."
"Yeah, Maggie's right," Barracuda grinned. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Plus, Holland isn't technically a killer either, so it should be fine! Haha!"
Cassandra clenched her fist as she glared daggers at Maggie, Barracuda, and Zuri, having noticed the last one holding Holland's wrist. Were these people really that dumb that they would find it necessary to continue befriending an attempted murderer? Give him a second chance? He'll just strike again!
"Give him a second chance," Zuri frowned, pulling Holland closer to the group. She looked adamant and seemed to have more to say. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to figure out the best way to word things and make her argument.
All eyes were on Holland and the number of stares and judgmental looks he was receiving made him wish he was able to hide his entire face behind that hoodie of his. With Zuri still holding his wrist, Holland couldn't really do that. Instead, he was forced to endure this standoff. A minute passed until Ina spoke up.
"Perhaps we should put this to a vote," Ina suggested. "Or at least, see who here is willing to give Holland the aforementioned second chance."
"Very well then, all in favor of Holland getting his second chance," Arthur spoke up, crossing his arms and feeling that this entire conversation was meaningless to what they had planned to do today.
Barracuda, Maggie, Mimi, and Zuri were the only ones who raised their hands.
"And all in favor of no second chances," Arthur scoffed at how expected the results ended up being. Everyone else raised their hands: Abigail, Arthur himself, Carter, Cassandra, Haruto, Ina, Jared, Mayu, and even Yuumi. In a way, Holland was a little hurt to see just how many people weren't willing to accept him.
"Yuumi?" Mimi blinked, looking at Yuumi in shock.
Yuumi didn't even say anything. She already knew her answer by the time Arthur suggested a vote. Mimi bit her lip. Was this really the Yuumi she knew?
"Carter, even you Jared?" Zuri looked at the police officer and opinion columnist in disbelief.
Carter merely looked nervous and hugged himself. It wasn't hard for Zuri to figure out why Carter would choose to not give him a second chance. The poor guy was probably terrified of what Holland might possibly do next… like he was a monster. But Zuri knew Holland. He was no monster. Jared on the other hand looked serious. She would've expected him of all people to give someone a second chance but for him to side with Cassandra and even Arthur of all people…
"...Once a criminal, always a criminal," Jared lowered his hat to cover his eyes. It was hypocritical of him to say that but as long as no one else knew, it shouldn't matter… "I'm sorry Zuri. But what Holland did is unforgivable."
"There you have it," Cassandra seemed a bit content to see that so many people had agreed with her. "If you still want to give this little shit a second chance, he's all yours. But you keep him away from the rest of us. We don't want to associate ourselves with a piece of shit like him."
"S-Stop calling him that," Zuri stepped forward, letting go of Holland's wrist. "I know what he did was wrong. But even so, you're being harsh for the sake of being harsh Cassandra."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but this time it was Maggie's turn to jump in.
"Can it Cassandra," Maggie frowned toward Cassandra. "You said it yourself. He's all ours and we are to keep him away from the rest of you guys. You guys don't want to be associated with him? Fine. But that also means you have to stop saying anything about Holland. That goes for the rest of you too. What opinions you have about him, you keep to yourself. Fair?"
The large group of people who chose to not give Holland his second chance looked at one another, then to Holland, then to Maggie. There was a joined group of agreement. And for a moment, Holland realized that maybe his sense of hope wasn't misplaced at all. Maggie and Zuri still had his back after everything he did. Barracuda and Mimi too.
It was enough to make his neutral expression twitch.
"Then… I suppose now that we are in agreement over such a trifling matter…" Arthur sighed, a little exasperated over how silly these 'Holland supporters' were being. "Could we perhaps get onto the real issue at hand? Namely, I remind you all: Cell Block S."
"Y-Yes, Cell Block S," Mimi nodded toward Arthur before scratching her witch's hat. "Uhh, is it… still being fixed?"
"That we do not know," Ina shook her head. "But it very well should be as I expect that demon White Collar and his pet, the snake, to be acute with their sense of timing. The snake did say that it would be opened today according to your words Arthur."
"Yes, Cassandra can confirm," Arthur crossed his arms whilst closing his arms.
"Yeah, I confirm," Cassandra nodded.
"So then, we all go down to Cell Block S today," Barracuda flexed out his chest muscles, looking determined to explore whatever lay in that unexplored part of the facility. "What will we find?!"
"We won't know till we look," Jared stated. "Let's head out. No time like the present to go investigate."
A series of nods and agreements took place that instant, and the fourteen prisoners raced away from the Cafeteria to head straight toward the stairs leading down to Cell Block S.
As expected, the door leading to Cell Block S was now active. Monohebi had kept her word which meant that this area was now open to exploration, something that Arthur himself wasn't sure would lead to something hopeful or something disappointing. Most probably the latter.
"So, the door is indeed open today," Arthur coldly stared at the door they had been denied access to a day prior. "Let us open it to see what we might find, shall we?"
Jared gave the Ultimate Snowboarder a nod before reaching his hand out and pushing the door open. What awaited them with bated breath was...
(Cell Block S)
...A long dark corridor with a minimum of light shining through the darkness. It was dim. The only light source they had was the red-tinted light source attached to the left side of the wall, and even then, the prisoners would have had to adjust their eyes to see the path ahead of them more clearly. Once their eyes did adjust themselves, they would note that at the end of the hall was a bunch of boulders and rocks, as if this specific pathway had been caved in. In fact, the only thing of note was the open room on the right.
There was a flickering light source coming from within the room, flickering as if baiting the prisoners to investigate it. The door was wide-open, and it also seemed to have an eHandbook reader viciously torn from its wiring. In fact, what was left of it was the reader holding onto dear life with three of the wires still attached to it. And the smell. The humid air. It was enough to make some of the prisoners cough or tear up, like they were underneath a cave system and not within the fresh ventilation that was provided to them in other parts of the prison facility.
"Th-This is Cell Block S?" Zuri looked a little creeped out.
"Yeah, and the S probably stands for Shit," Haruto grumbled. "This place is worse than Ina's currently fucking burnt down cell... Er. No offense, Ina."
"None taken," Ina rubbed her arms as she looked away.
"It looks like the end of this hallway has been blocked," Maggie tapped her chin. "Which means, the only place worth of note has to be... This room to the side."
She of course gestured toward the open room with the flickering light source. It just took one step for her to peek inside the room that she would see just what a mess it was. What a room... it was...
(?)
The room itself was rather rundown. A ripped and uncomfortable looking mattress crookedly sat on the floor. An abundance of cockroaches scurried across the floor, racing toward tiny cracks within the corners of the stone-cold walls, returning to whatever nest they inhabited. Speaking of cold, anyone who entered this room would feel a breeze most similar to a cold breeze from a freezer.
Corroding speakers could be seen on the ceiling. Whatever would play from those would probably not sound good at all. A wooden desk collected dust against the wall, with nothing but a list of records suited for a gramophone… if there was even a gramophone around here. Finally, a single lightbulb flickered in the room. This was the cause of all of that flickering.
In other words, compared to the other areas of the facility, this place was absolute shit!
"This is the room we were supposed to explore in Cell Block S?" Cassandra looked absolutely disgusted and disappointed by what she was seeing. "God this place is a fucking dump."
"It seems pretty much like a room for solitary confinement actually," Jared pointed out. "At least, it's the norm for most confinement rooms. Just happens to be a little more rundown than most solitary rooms I've investigated."
"Reminds me of those cells we were stuck in back in that chamber," Yuumi added, hugging herself in slight fear.
Slowly but surely, the room grew collectively crowded as each of the prisoners attempted to contribute to the investigation at hand. Maggie looked especially grossed out of how much dust was being collected on the desk before shaking her head.
"Who on Earth would be able to live in conditions like this?" Maggie asked with a disgusted look on her face.
Arthur callously walked up to the desk that Maggie was examining and roughly picked up one of the records. Noting the dust that called its home on the record's material, Arthur thought it best to huff and puff and blow all the dust away and into the air, glancing at the title of the record he held.
"Someone with an interesting taste in music," Arthur noted as Maggie waved the blown dust away from her nose. Arthur showed Maggie the title, which so casually read, "Mephisto Waltz ~ Franz Liszt".
"Mephisto…" Ina peered over Maggie's shoulder to read the title as well. "Another name for the Devil."
Ina narrowed her eyes toward the flickering lightbulb. It didn't take long for her to see that there was a hidden security camera watching them from the darkest corner of the ceiling. Not only that, but there were ventilations in the ceiling as well.
But what purpose was this room to them to have it so curiously blocked off on the day this was to be opened?
Was there any source of import-
"Y-Yipe!" Carter yelped, jumping in fright and gaining the attention of everyone in the room. He glanced back and gave them the most sheepish smile he has ever given, pointing toward the cracks in the corners of the wall. "Heh. C-Cockroach."
"How are you liking Cell Block S?" a familiar voice suddenly intruded the investigation that was taking place.
"D-Double Y-Yipe!" Carter exclaimed, but this time with a much higher pitched voice. Understandable considering it came from Monohebi herself, who had coiled herself so casually near one of the corners of the room.
"Monohebi," Jared folded his arms, seriously. "The snake…"
"Mr. Caertas," Monohebi returned the comment. "The police officer."
"Yo, this room fucking sucks," Haruto answered Monohebi's question before glaring at the snake a little bit heatedly. "Why the fuck are you here anyway?"
"...Cockroach infestation," Monohebi answered. "This room is in need of serious refurbishment. The previous owners who made this room weren't kind to their subject. But then again, solitary confinement wasn't meant to be comfortable in the first place."
"You speak as if you knew who lived here before," Ina directed her narrowing eyes back at Monohebi. "Speak now, snake."
Monohebi remained silent for a moment before flicking her tongue and tipping her head.
"Very well," Monohebi responded. "As you wish."
"Huh?" Mimi blinked, slightly confused. "That was… a little easy."
"No doubt, this is something the snake wanted to tell us from the get-go," Abigail frowned. "Maybe that's why we're all just casually gathered together as an entire group for the first time ever."
"You can assume all you like but ultimately, it is important to know who this room used to belong to," Monohebi uncoiled herself and started to move, smacking away a scattering cockroach onto its back.
"Then who?" Zuri asked, looking interested to hear what the snake had to say. "Who lived here?"
"...#66," as soon as Monohebi said the number, she had already coiled the cockroach on its back with her body, feeling the roach try desperately to cling onto life before mercilessly crushing it into juicy cockroach-y bits.
"Who is #66?" Arthur gave his curious and cold gaze toward the snake as she slithered around the room, getting a feel of the stone-cold pavement and whacking any scattering cockroach away with the end of her tail.
Then she trailed her scaly body toward the top of the broken mattress, coiling up after she found a more comfortable spot to answer Arthur's question.
"#66 was a prisoner here at St. Esther's," Monohebi answered, simply.
"Did he have a name?" Jared asked Monohebi with a serious look. He was ready to take in the story that Monohebi was about to disclose to them.
"He did," Monohebi nodded. "However, public records weren't allowed to disclose the names of any prisoner here in St. Esther, so instead, the staff referred to their prisoners only by number. As such, I cannot answer what #66's true identity was."
Jared placed his finger over his chin in thought. St. Esther was a prominent facility to house the worst of the worst right? That was what White Collar had first told them:
"The St. Esther Institution used to be home to over 700 ruthless criminals," White Mask explained with a nasty grin. "Child molesters, murderers, terrorists, cannibals, serial killers, the worst of the worst were kept here to live out the rest of their lives. Now, it's home to you, the Talented Juveniles..."
If so, why weren't public records allowed to disclose the names of the prisoners here? As the Ultimate Police Officer, this in itself was very odd. Numbers were a thing in prisons, yes. But names were allowed in every prison Jared himself had visited. It was how he could interrogate certain criminals.
"What made #66 so special to be placed in solitary confinement?" It was Cassandra's turn to ask a question.
"...Prisoner #66 was one-of-a-kind," Monohebi continued. "Not much is known about his past. He was only committed to the institution by his family for 'special' circumstances. A call for some sort of treatment. Whether or not it was for some illness he may have had, I do not know. But ultimately, he became the breakthrough that helped advance and revolutionize this unique form of treatment of other prisoners at St. Esther's. A successful subject for an experiment that would change a person beyond humanity's wildest dreams. A new kind of Hope for mankind."
"A-And what happened to him?" Carter asked.
"...No one knows," Monohebi merely stated after a pause. "Some say #66 perished in the experiment that he was administered to, with his death being the final clue to how future criminals could be given treatment. Others say… he never left St. Esther's. That he still roams these halls here, to this very day."
"S-Sorry I asked," Carter looked nervous upon hearing that.
"M-Maybe that's why Lawson the Lamb could walk!" Barracuda exclaimed. "Because #66's soul rests in that lambs' body!"
"We already confirmed that it was Yuumi who had been messing around with the lamb, you bloody brainless migraine," Arthur glared at Barracuda and his ridiculous logic. Ignoring Maggie's glare and Barracuda's disheartened look, Arthur glanced back at Monohebi, wishing to hear more about this so-called #66.
Jared jumped in with a question of his own.
"But do you know what happened to him?" Jared asked Monohebi.
Monohebi stayed coiled up on top of the mattress. She remained quiet for a moment, unmoving and unwilling to respond to Jared's question. Her tail had managed to catch another cockroach before crushing it mercilessly with a slight hiss escaping her snaky lips.
"Oi, the guy asked a question," Haruto glared at Monohebi, irritated by her silence. "Do you know what really happened to him or not?!"
"...That is information I am not allowed to disclose," Monohebi stated. "Make of that what you will. The only thing I was supposed to reveal has already been revealed."
"Bitch!" Haruto cursed. "Why not?!"
"Let me guess," Abigail frowned toward the snake. "He has four horns and calls himself the Devil. He put you up to this didn't he?"
"...Of course," Monohebi nodded. "Master White Collar thought it appropriate if you knew your history. Especially about the facility that you have all been imprisoned in. That is why he sent me here to tell you the story of #66. Whatever his agenda in revealing or concealing any information I have provided is for you to ask Master himself. That is all."
Catching one last cockroach crawling around the floor, Monohebi slithered away with a gross souvenir in tow leaving behind 14 very confused prisoners. It didn't take long until her leave for someone to exclaim an outburst.
"We waited a day just for some story about some random dude?!" Haruto looked extremely displeased by how worthless this entire investigation turned out to be. "What a fucking waste of time!"
"But there has to be some significance to the story," Abigail frowned. "Otherwise, why would the snake bother to tell us?"
"White Collar seems to know!" Barracuda exclaimed, looking determined as he flexed his upper muscles. "We should ask him!"
"A sound idea but unfortunately that demon doesn't bother to show up when we ask him too," Ina frowned, crossing her arms. "His patterns of movement are undetectable."
"Y-Yeah, he only seems to show up when he wants to…" Carter noted, rubbing his chin with frantic eyes darting back and forth.
"And his messenger of choice happens to be the snake that refuses to tell us any more than we should need to know," Arthur sighed, bitterly.
All in all, what they had hoped to find in Cell Block S was nothing more than a ruse. Just another area for a potential body to show up. A lost cause for escape but a gateway to White Collar's second round of his twisted game.
The crude mess of wooden boards, police tape, and a sign stating 'Out of Order' was a sight that Zuri didn't dare take her eyes away from. To think that this was the place that she had met her first friend here. To think that this place was also the place where that same friend betrayed her trust. And just like that friendship, it was all burnt up as well as any means of escape in this next round.
The exploration of Cell Block S had come out as a bust. It was their best chance to escape and yet all they got was a story about the person who lived there. It was as if that story was a message to them. A taunting epitaph from White Collar himself. And after that disappointing exploration, everyone else had meandered off with the same hopeless thoughts that they all shared. Zuri was no different. She closed her eyes. She missed her friends. Her closest bandmates. If they were here with her, they would know what to do. But instead, it was just her.
The bassist. The background character. The one who pulls the strings in the back and no one would bat an eye. The one who doesn't get recognized.
Zuri bit her lip. She really really missed her friends…
Turning to leave, Zuri expected her day to go as follows: She was to go to her room. Stay there for a while. Go out to eat. Go back to the room. Sleep. Then start the next day similarly. Only, there was a wrench in the plan as soon as a soft, quiet, and familiar voice alerted her of their presence. An expected appearance. It was bound to happen ever since the events of the morning meeting.
"...Zuri," Holland called out to her with an emotionless look on his face.
Zuri didn't bother turning back to him. Gah. She was a hypocrite. How can she so adamantly claim to give him a second chance when she can't even face him privately like this? For all she knew, he had a kitchen knife at his disposal. Yet, she wasn't supposed to think like that. She can't think like that! Otherwise that would- That would- That would prove Cassandra right!
But…
Zuri was weak. She knew all too well she wasn't ready to face him one-on-one. She wasn't ready. Why now? Why was he here now? Zuri rushed to leave but felt a hand grip her wrist. It wasn't tight enough that it hurt but it was still strong enough to ask Zuri to stay. She felt it through that single touch.
Holland blinked with that neutral expression of his before slowly letting go of Zuri.
"...Ah… sorry," Holland looked away with a slight frown.
"...Why are you talking to me?" Zuri crossed her arms, never bothering to look back at him. (In a way, this entire scene was pretty similar to a really heartbreaking romantic KDrama piece. Just replace the facility setting with a bridge or if you want to go hella Japanese, a cherry blossom tree, and voila! You got yourself a romance!)
"I'm… sorry?" Holland was slightly confused.
"...Why are you talking to me?" Zuri repeated herself before turning to Holland, revealing the bubbling tears forming from her eyes. "Just because I defended you earlier today doesn't change what you did to me."
Holland fell back to the silent person he always was. He looked at her with that same emotionless glance before looking away.
"Then… what about all the things you said?" Holland asked with that same expression. "The things you did. Did you really mean any of that? Giving me a second chance?"
Zuri didn't say anything for a while. Instead, she let her voice quiver a bit before slowly forming a response for him to listen to.
"...I… I don't know," Zuri merely stated, voice stuttering slightly.
"Z-Zuri?" Holland felt a slight tingle in his sense of emotions. As if his iron mask was slowly starting to break to reveal what was truly hiding behind his resting poker face.
"I… I have to go," Zuri quickly said before rushing away to leave.
"Wait…" Holland called out to her, albeit a little quieter than he intended. He stepped forward, looking ready to reach out to her but stopped. She didn't want to be approached. She wanted to be left alone no doubt. And even if she did want to be reached out to, he wasn't the person she was looking for when it came to that. That was a thought that pained him slightly.
God.
What had he done?
(Ultimate Equestrian Cell)
"Ah, Abigail, you're here!" Mimi exclaimed with a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Well yeah," Abigail raised an eyebrow as she petted the mane of one of the horses near the stables. "Why wouldn't I be in my own Ultimate Cell?"
From what Mimi could see, it seemed that the horse that Abigail was focused on was a horse with a brown horse with a lighter brownish mane trailing on its back. From the name of the stable it hailed from, this was Bartholomew, and at the moment, it seemed content with the care that Abigail had been providing it for the past few moments.
"...Why are you here anyway?" Abigail raised a tired eyebrow. "If you're looking for Yuumi, there's no way she would hang out in a Cell that has little to do with sailing."
"O-Oh, well, truthfully," Mimi looked away. The mere mention of Yuumi made her feel a little dejected. Abigail was smart enough to catch onto that and bit her lip. She knew all too well that things between Mimi and Yuumi weren't good so she had to slap herself for that little insensitive comment. "I just wanted to see the horses!"
"Huh?" Abigail blinked. That was another thing she should've known. From the few days she's known Mimi or at least noticed Mimi, she always had more of that childlike curiosity and enthusiasm that the other prisoners didn't have. Often made her wonder how someone like her could get caught up in something as crazy as this. "O-Oh. Um. Any reason why?"
"Well, in classic fairy tales, horses are always a big part in every story!" Mimi raised her hands up enthusiastically. "They are the noble steeds of every Prince Charming and everyone in the fairy tale universe uses or has best horsey friends they ride to the ends of the world! From the blistering cold to the scorching heat, horses can take you anywhere!"
"I… wouldn't be too sure about that," Abigail glanced at Mimi with a rather tired expression. "Horses aren't like cars or planes where they can take you anywhere you want to go. They have some form of similarity in terms of travel, but horses require much more time, effort, and care if you want to ride and be friends with them."
"Ooh, you must know a lot about horses then!" Mimi giggled.
"...I thought it was made clear that I was the Ultimate Equestrian," Abigail blankly stared at the witch girl.
"Huh?" Mimi blinked. "Those have to do with horses too? I thought they were only for ponies!"
"...If I wasn't so tired I'd probably go and start something against Barracuda for all that 'My Little Pony' shit," Abigail grumbled under her breath before glancing back at Mimi. "And also, ponies are just small horses. So literally, my talent has to deal with all horses. Not just ponies."
"Wow!" Mimi looked at Abigail in awe as she began to giggle uncontrollably. "Then that means, you must know how to ride one like Prince Charming! Ooh ooh! Are you like a Princess Charming then?"
"Whoa whoa, first, let's not go too far and paint me as some Disney Princess, alright?" Abigail looked exasperated at this topic of conversation. "That's your schtick. Not mine. Second, yeah of course I know how to ride a horse. Not like I want to though…"
"Huh?" Mimi looked slightly disappointed upon hearing that. "B-But, why not?"
"Are you kidding?" Abigail's expression shifted into a more annoyed expression. But the annoyance wasn't exactly directed toward Mimi, but rather at her passionate reaction towards what she truly believed in. "If I were to get on your back and order you to take me to the Swimming Pool, how would you feel?"
"...Mmm, I would be too weak to carry you," Mimi tapped her chin. "So, very heavy and not very good?"
"Exactly," Abigail crossed her arms firmly. "It's the same with horses. Only difference is that they do have the strength to carry me and take me to the Swimming Pool without much difficulty. But the problem is the strain it puts on the horses. By asking, let's say, Bartholomew here to take me to a Swimming Pool, he's nothing more than a slave to a lazy human being who can't be bother to take a couple of extra steps."
"O-Oh, I see," Mimi looked down upon hearing that. "Then… does that mean that all the Prince Charmings I've read and written about are… bad people?"
Abigail remained silent for a few minutes before sighing. She patted Bartholomew on the head gently before sharing a look at Mimi.
"Not necessarily," Abigail stated. "We could similarly say the same thing about driving cars and how it takes up a whole lot of gas or something. But really, it's just me and what I believe in. Horseback riding and horse racing and all that stuff? It's not for me. It's never been…"
Mimi perked her head. She was getting confused. Mixed messages here and there. Did Abigail really like being the Ultimate Equestrian or not? She seemed to have a love and affinity for the actual animals but the sport and the task of riding a horse wasn't something she liked? Even though she was the Ultimate Equestrian? What sense did that make?
"...If you don't mind me asking, but what the heck was up with that pen name business back there in the Trial?" Abigail looked at Mimi with a tired glance. She already spoke too much of her own history, now it was Mimi's turn, was it not? "Seemed to be a big deal for you…"
"Ah, well," Mimi frowned, poking the side of her cheek as she thought about what to say.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Abigail added. "I was just curious. That's all."
"...Because… I don't like Isadora…" Mimi merely stated, looking down.
Abigail blinked in surprise. She… didn't like Isadora? Did she mean that she didn't like herself? Abigail rubbed her tired eyes, cursing herself for not being able to sleep last night, before giving a rather stern gaze.
"What do you mean?" Abigail asked.
Mimi didn't say anything. She remained unfocused. Quiet. Unwilling to speak. For a moment, Abigail thought that she made a mistake of asking Mimi so personal that it was supposed to be a secret… It was supposed to be a secret. Fuck! Abigail mentally slapped herself across the face for forgetting why it was such a big deal in the first place.
"Shit," Abigail quietly mumbled to herself, low enough for Mimi not to hear. "Nevermind. There's no need to say anything about it anymore. I was just curious. If you want though, I could teach you how to ride one of the horses here."
That seemed to snap Mimi out of her daze.
"Ah!" Mimi exclaimed, looking slightly hopeful. "R-Really?! But what about-"
"I never said I wouldn't help someone learn how to ride one," Abigail casually admitted with fatigued eyes. "I just said that all that horse riding business wasn't for me."
"Th-Then, yippee!" Mimi exclaimed, returning back to her childlike enthusiasm. "Mimi is going to learn how to ride a horse! Like Princess Charming!"
"...I thought I was Princess Charming," Abigail mumbled to herself with a blank look.
"Huh?" Mimi perked her head to Abigail. "What did you say?"
Abigail yawned.
"Nothing, just tired," Abigail merely stated.
A yawn to save her face and Mimi's smile. There was a moment of silence between the two before Mimi's smile slowly faded into a saddened look. It was clear that the two of them had a similar shared mindset over what this could be about.
"...Also, I lied a bit..." Mimi looked down. "Truthfully, I just wanted to see the horses because I thought they would make me feel better after everyone looked so disappointed from finding nothing..."
"...Don't think so hard about that," Abigail looked away with a yawn. "We'll find a way out. I'm sure of it."
She wasn't. But Mimi returned Abigail's comment with a smile of appreciative. In a way, it was nice to see Mimi smile again. It's been a while since she saw anyone smile in a genuine way like that… Abigail sighed and shook her head. Whatever the case was between these two, it was fair to say that Abigail and Mimi grew closer together.
(Ultimate Police Officer's Cell)
"Oi, Jared."
Jared snapped out of his long gaze at the unloaded pistol hung on display for his eyes to see. How long has it been now? Jared checked his eHandbook. A little past 3. He had been here for a while now. Their excavation of Cell Block S turned up with little to show for it. It was no surprise that he wished to calm himself by staring at something else that gave him an old sense of grief and pain. Fortunately, he now had something else to distract himself:
"Huh?" Jared turned his gaze to see Haruto, who looked at him with a rather weirded out look. "Oh. Haruto? You need something?"
"I could ask you the same thing, not gonna lie," Haruto rubbed the back of his neck. "You've been standing here daydreaming for like a long fucking time. Thought you were possessed or something."
"Ah… yeah," Jared rubbed his chin as he looked away, embarrassed. "I guess I have been here for a while now. Sorry. I just felt a little down after we didn't find anything so I came here to get some fresh air."
"Fresh air?" Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Dude. You could've gone to my Ultimate Cell. That place was built with fresh air!"
"Yeah yeah, I know," Jared chuckled sheepishly, a little abashed by that silly thought. Wasn't as silly actually. Jared didn't want to return back to the place where he got completely wrecked by the Ultimate Basketball Player. "...But why go to your cell when I can feel at peace with mine?"
"Huh?" Haruto glared at Jared. "You saying your Ultimate Cell is better than mine?!"
"Ah, no no," Jared shook his head frantically. "That's not what I said at all. I just prefer me as the Ultimate Police Officer to be in the Ultimate Police Officer's Cell is all."
Haruto continued to glare at Jared. This went on for two minutes before Haruto reverted back to his more positive self.
"Ah!" Haruto grinned. "I see! Then I guess I don't have to feel the need to punch you in the gut!"
"...I would seriously arrest you if you tried," Jared deadpanned, tipping his police hat down with a frown.
"Oi, you wanna fight?" Haruto perked his head, his grin back into that glare of his. "Don't think I haven't handled cops like you before! Assaulting a police officer is as easy as making a tuna sandwich!"
"...D-Did you just compare the police to a sandwich?" Jared asked with an exasperated look before shaking his head and getting back on track to the more serious matter at hand. "And what do you mean? Are you saying you've assaulted police officers before?!"
Haruto stopped in his tracks. He stopped glaring. He stopped looking like he wanted to start a fight. Instead, his face was as neutral as Holland's on any day. Folding his arms, Haruto spoke.
"...Course I have," Haruto rubbed the back of his neck before grinning, dangerously. "I hang out with a team that takes names and kicks ass! Sometimes when one of the mates gets caught, the cops at home get really rough so isn't it our right as a team to treat those pieces of shit the same way they treat one of us?"
"...Th-That doesn't sound right... though I guess it depends on how rough they are…" Jared looked uneasy. Corrupt cops are all way too common… Jared shouldn't really be talking when it comes to the subject of corruption.
"Yeah well, my team lives in the shittiest part of town so of course these cops are going to be just as shitty," Haruto frowned before clenching his fists and holding them up in the air as if he was ready to pummel Jared. "So fighting a bunch of cops? Easy peasy. Lemon squeezy."
"...Out of curiosity…" Jared rubbed his chin as he gave Haruto a worried glance. "...You… haven't felt like fighting me when we first met… have you?"
"...Yeah I did," Haruto calmly grumbled. "But at the time I was a little more angry at Bitch Collar so you got a free pass. But after our basketball game, I have to say… you ain't as bad as those shit cops from back home!"
"...I-It… I-It took you that long to decide that?" Jared blinked toward Haruto.
"What do you mean that long?" Haruto glared at Jared. "We're buddy buddy now ain't we? So that shouldn't matter!"
"I… okay," Jared fixed his police hat with a slight sigh.
"Either case, you wanna tell me what's been going on with you today?" Haruto asked. Jared looked at him in slight surprise.
"What do you mean?" Jared blinked.
"Bitch, did you already forget or was my backstory that fucking interesting?!" Haruto looked at Jared in bewilderment. "You with the whole staring at the pistol thing! Don't think I didn't notice what exactly you were staring at! If you're seriously considering shooting someone here, I might have to take back me saying we were all buddy-buddy!"
"O-Oh, no no, it's nothing like that," Jared looked away. "I just… I just don't like guns."
"...If you don't like guns why were you staring at it like a basketball trophy on display?" Haruto deadpanned toward Jared.
"...It's… complicated," Jared bit his lip, looking away.
"Try me," Haruto folded his arms as he stared at Jared with a serious glance. "If anyone here is complicated, I'm a clear fucking definition of it dude."
Jared fixed his police hat once more as he glanced at Haruto. He examined him closely. Given what he was told about his life as a delinquent basketball team member who fought against the shitty police officers in his shitty community, Jared would think otherwise. It was pretty much straightforward. But the topic at hand wasn't about Haruto. It was about him. And Jared just wasn't ready to reveal his biggest sin… at least not to its fullest details.
"...I stare at it as a reminder for what not to do as a police officer," Jared frowned, looking away.
"...You shot someone, didn't you?" Haruto pieced it together quite quickly. He scratched the back of his neck, slightly confused by what was so wrong about a police officer shooting someone. "But that's kinda the norm for police officers ain't it? So why are you-"
"It was the first time I shot someone," Jared lowered his police hat to cover his eyes. "After that, I… tried to never use a gun ever again. It's required for all officers in the force to carry one but… I just don't like using them."
Haruto raised an eyebrow at Jared. It was strange seeing a police officer so disturbed over shooting someone. At least, that was based on Haruto's understanding. Clearly, there was something more to the story but it was best to try to ease whatever fear Jared had.
"...Did they deserve it?" Haruto asked Jared.
It took a moment for Jared to think about the answer to that question. Did Warren Nizens deserve it? Did that womanizing, psychopathic serial killer deserve every bullet from that gun that day?
"...Yes, yes he did," Jared coldly responded, looking down with a frown. "One hundred percent..."
"Then you got nothing to worry about," Haruto crossed his arms. "If they didn't deserve it, I would've beaten you to a pulp over straight up murder. I can't say I know the story but just based on the things you told me, the guy probably had it coming for a while. And you also probably had no choice but to act accordingly."
"...But I killed someone," Jared clenched his fist, glaring at his own hands as if they were stained with blood. "D-Doesn't that make me just as corrupt as the cops in your-"
SLAP!
"Oi, listen up," Haruto slapped Jared across the face with little to no shame. With all that talk of fighting and beating people up, it shocked Jared more than he resorted to a slap rather than being slapped himself. "You keep thinking like that and you'll never recover mentally from all that negative shit in your mind. You wanna know what a true corrupt cop is? It's the one who thinks they can do whatever the hell they want just because they got a shiny badge to show for it! You on the other hand…"
Jared rubbed his cheek as he waited for Haruto to continue. That slap actually ended up being pretty hard.
"You got a conscience," Haruto scratched the back of his neck once more, looking away. "So as far as I'm concerned, you ain't as bad as the rest of those fucking twits back home. You actually feel something. You get me?"
Jared continued to rub his cheek as he took in every word Haruto was saying. In a way, he was right. Compared to the cops Haruto had to deal with, Jared was much better than they were. He was still adamant on establishing a safe environment for his peers. But there were still other things troubling him. Other things that set him back.
"Hey, I asked a question," Haruto glared at Jared, getting a little impatient over the officer's silence.
"H-Huh?" Jared blinked. "Ah… Yeah. You're… You're right. Sorry. I guess I'm just a little too hard on myself over how I commit to my duties."
"Tch, you bet your ass you are," Haruto scoffed. "Just take it easy and stop thinking too much about it. We need the leader of this group in tip top shape. Got it, asshole?"
Jared fixed his hat with a small smile.
"Yeah, got it," was the police officer's response. "...Thanks Haruto."
It was clear as day that this exchange was exactly what Jared and Haruto needed. In terms of those Hope Fragments they have been unknowingly collecting, Jared and Haruto have grown closer together.
(Cafeteria)
Unlike the craze that was the Cafeteria in the morning, the Cafeteria at night was quiet and dreary. Not many people had gathered as much as in the morning. Unsurprisingly, Cassandra wasn't even here but more surprising were the absences of Carter, Arthur, Holland, Ina, Zuri and Mayu. Arthur typically had his own thing to do, as did Ina. Carter often shied away from joining at times. Holland? Understandable. But Mayu? Zuri? They were people who always made it to every Cafeteria meeting.
"Only half of us are here?" Jared blinked. "Not surprised with Cassandra but gosh, even Zuri? I guess today was just as much of a disappointment for them as it was for us. Sorry guys. I guess an escape route just hasn't been discovered yet…"
"I ran into Zuri earlier," Maggie began to assure Jared. "Don't know what's wrong with her but she said she just wanted to be alone for a while. My guess? Probably has to do with whatever is going on between her and Holland."
"Fuck that guy," Haruto grumbled to himself.
"If you say so," Maggie laughed before hugging herself tightly, blushing hard. "But I'm afraid my heart and body are for another..."
"Bitch, I didn't mean it like that!" Haruto jabbed his finger toward her with a growl.
"Hmmm, but I can understand why not people are here," Barracuda looked down with a sigh. "We hoped that we would find a way out but then nothing. Just one big disappointment."
"Yeah," Jared clenched his fist, staring at it with solemn eyes. God. Why couldn't he do this? Why was it so hard to get everyone home safe? He was a police officer for God's sake! He would do anything to make sure everyone would be free but how come every idea he had immediately gets shot down?
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Abigail frowned, yawning slightly as she leaned against the Cafeteria wall. "Just because you're our leader doesn't mean you should blame yourself for not finding anything. Thinking about it now, maybe that's why Cell Block S needed an extra day before it could be open to us."
"What do you mean?" Barracuda turned to Abigail.
"Don't you guys remember?" Abigail crossed her arms, her tired eyes recollecting a memory. "The corridor we were in was practically caved in. Almost like whatever was beyond it…"
"...was freedom?" Maggie asked, blinking. "Not going to lie, that does sound promising."
"Yeah, but with the path caved in, there's nothing else we can do with Cell Block S," Jared took off his police hat, holding it to his chest before sighing. "I doubt any of us would be able to remove all of that rubble without suffering any risks. Plus, there's way too much rubble for us to take care of too."
"...I never said anything about removing the rubble," Abigail continued to look away as she began to think. "I just wanted to point out that there could possibly be freedom past the boulders and debris. But other than that, you have a point. It would be a pain to remove everything."
"So you think that Asswipe caved that entire hallway in just so we can't leave?" Haruto growled. "Son of a bitch!"
"But it's strange..." Barracuda said, perking his head slightly. "If he did cause a cave in then we all would've heard it, right?"
"Not necessarily," Jared shook his head as he gently rested his hat over his blue hair. "Remember that wall that was practically broken into? None of us heard anything like a wall being broken like that. And also, aren't our rooms sound-proof as well?"
"Ah… you're right," Barracuda rubbed the back of his neck with a bashful look, embarrassed for having forgotten such an important detail.
"So that means that Asswipe caved that specific part of Cell Block S and we couldn't hear shit?" Haruto asked before grumbling. "Motherfucker."
…
"...It's hopeless."
The frustration. The disappointment. The shattered hopes and the dreary atmosphere all boiled down to this moment. Yuumi, who had hung her head down low ever since the nighttime meeting started, had finally spoken, gathering everyone's attention despite how soft she had said what she said the first time. Of the attention she gathered, no one was more curious to what she had to say than Mimi, who had also been quiet, solely for the reason that she just wasn't that into these meeting conversations.
"Yuumi?" Mimi glanced toward her problematic best friend. "What did you say?"
"Oi, you better not be-"
"I said it's hopeless," Yuumi repeated, this time with a more adamant gaze. It was a look of defeat plastered on her face. The once bubbly and excited Yuumi was nothing more than a disappearing husk of a girl whose own soul had slowly been consumed by the darkness of her prison. "It's… all hopeless."
"Yuumi?" Barracuda looked at Yuumi with a shocked expression. To him, he should've expected that Yuumi would say something like this, but even when it came out of the sailor's mouth, for some reason it was still as shocking as it was when Yuumi declared that Cassandra was right.
"We sit here, talking about an escape or a means to find a way out," Yuumi looked down, hugging Sailor Penguin as tight as she could. At this point, that plush penguin was her only source of comfort. The only good thing in her torturous life. "But no matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, there is never a way out. Why?"
Yuumi looked up now. Her eyes were so tired. Competitively speaking, she could easily overtake Abigail over the poll of 'Who is tired of this shit?'
"Why do you even bother?" Yuumi began to squeeze Sailor Penguin as tight as she could. "Why do you bother making everyone feel so hopeful, only to lead us to disappointment?"
"Hey, Yuumi," Haruto looked slightly irritated at the way Yuumi was speaking. "Who exactly are you talking to?"
"You!" Yuumi frowned at the basketball player before turning to the rest of the Cafeteria group. "Every single one of you!"
"I-" Jared didn't have a response. He could see her point.
"Yuumi?" Mimi looked up at Yuumi with frightened eyes.
"H-Hey, Yuumi, what's going on?" Barracuda asked Yuumi, concerned.
"Every one of you keeps hoping and saying that there's an escape," Yuumi felt her own eyes shiver as tears started to form, collecting themselves together to form a larger drop ready to seep down her eyelids. "Every one of you keeps saying there's a way out of this mess we're in. But all you guys are doing are just giving everyone else false hope! Setting everyone up for disappointment! There is only one way to escape, and you all know what it is!"
"Yuumi, no please!" Mimi widened her eyes as she walked over to her friend. "Stop! This isn't you!"
"Hey!" Haruto looked visibly angry at what Yuumi was saying. "If you didn't like what we were fucking saying, then why the fuck did you even bother to come here in the first place?! You're making it sound like we're just as fucking bad as Asswipe Collar!"
"Haruto!" Mimi cried out toward Haruto. Him adding to the flames of this argument was definitely not helping.
Yuumi didn't bother saying anything to Haruto. Instead, she remained silent, taking in what the basketball player had argued against her in the first place. He had a point. If she didn't like all the disappointing news they had, why did she come at all? She could've been like Arthur or Ina or Barracuda even and just strayed away from the meeting. But instead, she came…
"See?!" Haruto glared at Yuumi. "You don't even have a fucking response! What gives you the right to fucking say that shit if you don't got anything to back yourself up?!"
"...Why bother?" Yuumi looked away, blinking away her tears. "I already said everything I need to say."
"Yuumi!" Mimi cried out to Yuumi, waving her hand around as if trying to concoct some sort of magic spell. "Hello? Hello? Where's the old Yuumi who would always hang out with me and be my friend? Please come back-"
SLAP!
It happened so fast.
Barracuda gasped.
Abigail flinched.
Yuumi's face darkened. Negative emotions within her had clouded her judgment and her actions. Whether or not she felt guilt or remorse for what she did was unclear. No one could tell from the look on her face. What they could tell on the other hand was simple: Yuumi had slapped Mimi right across the face.
Mimi, thunderstruck by what had just happened, slowly turned her head to Yuumi, tears in her eyes over what she had done. She rubbed her cheek softly, feeling the tears flow down her eyes.
Similarly, Maggie and even Abigail had flinched from their original areas and rushed to Mimi's aid. Abigail was the first to turn to Yuumi.
"Hey, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Abigail yelled with an angry expression. "Why would you do something like that?!"
Maggie's only look toward Yuumi was a look of disappointment. The rest of her settled on hugging the fairytale writer close as a source of comfort. Yuumi had a some stupid toy to comfort her but Mimi? She had people.
As for what Mimi was doing at the moment?
All she could do was stare Yuumi straight in the eyes as she let tears flow down her cheek. She never blinked once. Through her sight, one could imagine all the emotions that she had just experienced within that single slap. Shock. Sadness. Fear.
And all Yuumi could do was stare back at Mimi's emotionally broken body. Tears of her own were seeping more profusely. Hugging Sailor Penguin tightly, she turned away, her expression hidden as she aimed to leave the Cafeteria.
"...I'm sorry…" Yuumi mumbled before rushing out of the Cafeteria.
"H-Hey, Yuumi, wait!" Jared blinked as attempted to call her back in. The moment he stepped away from his seat however, Haruto grabbed his tie and held him back.
"Leave her," Haruto growled. "That bitch doesn't deserve any attention after the stunt she just pulled."
"But…" Jared had something to say, except he didn't. As soon as he opened his mouth to say something, Haruto had given him a serious look that told him that he needed to shut the fuck up or this basketball player would shut him up for him. "Ah… okay…"
Letting go of his tie, Haruto sighed and joined Jared in watching the victim of this discourse, Mimi, get comforted by Maggie and surprisingly, Abigail. Barracuda was also there to comfort her, but not as much as the other two as he had been more concerned with Yuumi rushing away from the Cafeteria.
"Hey hey Mimi, it's going to be okay, alright?" Maggie assured Mimi. "It's going to be okay…"
Mimi blinked once. The tears wouldn't stop flowing. Instead, all she could do was stare at the floor, silent as can be until Monohebi's daily nighttime announcement finally sounded, forcing everyone to return to their respective rooms.
That was when she finally said spoke:
"...Y-Yuumi… W-Why?" Mimi quietly asked herself, cheek stinging and tears flowing. "What happened to you, Yuumi?"
DANGANRONPA: CORRUPTED HOPE
Oof! It's been a while! Personal life has been an absolute beeyatch! But here I am, back with another chapter of Danganronpa: Corrupted Hope!
I would like to apologize for the wait. Things have been getting hectic university-wise but I'm nearing the start of Winter Break, so hopefully I'll be able to start pumping out more chapters through and through. Also, big update, I have decent/solid idea on what the overall case would be like, and I have begun writing the Trial portion. Nothing is finished yet but as far as I can see, this could be something really neat for y'all :D
Another thing, I was thinking of making a Discord server for this story and any other future SYOC's I plan on working on in the future. I'm not sure if anyone would be interested but do let me know :0 And as always, let me know how I'm doing with these characters! Love to hear opinions and trying my best to make sure they don't differ too much from what is expected from their creators ;D
But either case, until next time :D Very excited for what else Chapter 2 will bring hehe!
Prisoners Remaining: 14
Abigail Ellsworth - The Ultimate Equestrian (oddlyillregular)
Arthur Kingston - The Ultimate Snowboarder (SinWriter7)
Barracuda - The Ultimate Personal Trainer (Weekaro)
Carter Franklin - The Ultimate Opinion Columnist (armadas)
Cassandra Mura - The Ultimate ? (ExtraMeme)
Haruto Walker - The Ultimate Basketball Player (theotakureader101)
Holland Delaney - The Ultimate Game Designer (Sempi)
Ina Hamamura - The Ultimate Revolutionary (VividIsSleeping)
Jared Ceartas - The Ultimate Police Officer (Otterplay)
Maggie LaDroubi - The Ultimate Supermodel (Project Drama)
Mayu Mashiro - The Ultimate Heiress (zetsunaflame)
Mimi Kazoo - The Ultimate Fairytale Writer (Idraegan)
Yuumi Kizuchi - The Ultimate Sailor (Shamelles410)
Zuri Auraline - The Ultimate Bassist (CandleFire45)