Your Wonderland

Kazuhisa sighed. He wasn’t smiling, which is considered strange, since he’s practically cheerful and easygoing all the time. Perhaps, the motive this time was the reason. He stared at the doll that he was holding. Irabeth Hearts… Someone familiar has this surname too - Eliza Hearts. He doesn’t really talk to her - he really wants to - but this isn’t what he hoped for. Given that Brynn has planned all these and gave a doll each to everyone here, something wrong must be going on. He gulped, as he knocked at Eliza’s door.

“Uhm, hey. Is Eliza Hearts inside?” The door slowly creaked open, with a slimmer of Eliza’s face coming into view from the crack visible. “Oh, hello. I wasn’t expecting any company.” She pulled open the door further, allowing the interior of her room to come into view. It looks like she was alone, fortunately enough. “You can come in if you wish.” With that being said, she walked inside, leaving the doorway open for Kazu if he wished to follow her inside. Eliza sat down at the edge of one of the beds, legs crossed, and glanced at Kazu as she was waiting for a response. “Pardon, did you… want something?”

Kazuhisa scratched his head, smiling, albeit a little awkward. “Ah, yeah. I want to talk to you about something,” he followed the other entering the room, and slowly closed the door. He haven’t been inside this room before; it does look very much like his own, though the decorations and the placements of the furnitures slight differ. As the other began to sit on her bed, he just stood in front of her, leaving a decent amount of distance between them.

“So, uh…” He raised his left hand nearer towards the other, exposing the small doll that he was currently holding. It resembles a middle-aged woman, although the doll itself is quite worn. He took a deep breath, before continuing. “You know that all of us got some sort of doll each, right? You have the same surname as this doll, so I thought you know something…”

“Same surname, you say?” Eliza pursed her lips. While there was an air of skepticism to her voice, it was still evident that there was a hint of fear. “What is her name? Her first name, I mean. I doubt it’s the same person as her… after all, the Wonderlandians are not participants in this game. It must be a mere coincidence.” Her last statement seemed to be more directed towards her than Kazu - some sort of consolation to ease her fears.

“... It’s Irabeth. Irabeth Hearts.” Kazuhisa slid his right hand into his pocket, before taking out a small piece of paper. “You see, this came with the doll, and that name is written on it, so I assume that was the doll’s name.” He stepped closer towards the other, as he showed her the paper, so that she would at least believe his words. “Here, you can examine the doll too,” he brought the doll closer towards her. “So… do you know this person?”

Eliza took the doll and the note into her hands, albeit a bit shakily. With the doll gripped in her hands, the answer to her questions had already been answered, even without looking at the name on the paper. “Irabeth Hearts… is my mother. The queen of Wonderland.”

Her brows furrowed as she kept staring down at the glassy marble eyes. “Where did you get this doll? Was this part of Brynn's little game?”

“Yeah,” Kazuhisa nodded. “I got this from the giant wooden crate back in the pub. Brynn said that she wants to motivate us with these voodoo dolls so that we would kill someone.”

His voice then suddenly turned stern, staring at the doll that Eliza was holding. “Though, I promised myself that I wouldn’t kill anyone here, so you don’t need to worry!” He smiled brightly, trying to cover up his uneasiness that was swelling inside his heart. He realises that someone else has gotten his doll, but he doesn’t know who… He just wishes that the person would approach him about the motive, just like what he is doing right now, but that probably isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

“... I can trust you on that front. I want to believe in my heart that there won't be another incident like what had occurred a few weeks prior. Even if I were to accept this as inevitable, I cannot stand idly by while Brynn tries to involve innocent people in this travesty.”

Her face had gone deathly pale at this point - her eyes were closed shut and she appeared to be on the verge of tears. “I was made to believe that the Wonderland class would be exempt from this motive. I was a fool to buy into such lies. Brynn placed my mother's life in your hands because she knew that even if I desired, there was nothing I can do about it. Nothing, she thought.”

Eliza was on her feet now, facing Kazu directly. “Thank you. I'm sorry to involve you in all of this, but if I may, can I borrow this doll?”

The blight known only to the Wonderlandians as “The Corruption” began encroaching upon the Clearing of Tears, not far from the hotel where the students resided. As some had the misfortune to discover, the ooze was toxic to the touch, and according to the Wonderlandians warnings, there was much danger to come if they were exposed to it for a long time. The area of effect was promptly evacuated, but the ooze remains, and so does the question - what is “The Corruption”, where did it come from, and why is it here now?

Not long after, another curious event occurred. Seraphina O’Hare, one of the Wonderland students, reappeared to the students after she had been stabbed by Brynn and left in the infirmary for the time being. What made her presence most curious was the fact that the students who had gone to check up on her stated that she was still in the infirmary. 

There indeed was an impostor laying in Sera’s bed - a monster taking the form of the girl. Fortunately, no students were hurt by the creature, and it was successfully contained within the infirmary.

With that little incident out of the way, a small party was held between some students in order to lighten the mood, per the stated goals. However, the party would eventually grind to the halt upon the final event - the ouija board. A spirit known only as Xena was summoned, but she refused to leave. She stole Diaval Bordeaux’s body, and as far as everyone knows he’s still stuck like that. 

Despite all these “occurrences”, there has yet to be a murder. Brynn has grown tired of waiting, and decides to give everyone a little push...

A Brief Synopsis of All Events Up to This Point

After everything was all said and done, Brynn loudly dismissed everyone and disappeared into the shadows. Not literally, but y'all know what I mean. She just went through the door behind her. The elevator doors then opened, and the students filed into the metal cage, albeit reluctantly. The effects of the paint the attempted assailants were doused with had faded away by now, so they could also leave with no problem. Actually, they would have to do the laundry afterwards, but physically there was no permanent damage. The Wonderland class was next, leaving through another set of doors behind the pews. And just like that, everyone was gone.

Well, everyone except for Dia.

Dia couldn't really move. Even when he wanted to. But he just couldn't stop staring at his fallen friend’s corpse. Racked with guilt. Racked with traumatic memories. Racked with out-of-nowhere emotions. It certainly left him quite drained. Despite this, he wouldn't leave this place by his lonesome. Not without Yukio.

“...”

His mind set, Dia seized the collar of the deceased Yukio and began dragging him out of the trial room. He would've liked to carry them instead, but even he himself knew he just didn't have the upper body strength for it. Plus, he couldn’t let anyone else know. He won't let them stop him from doing this.

Once it reached back to the top, Dia exited the elevator, still (slowly) dragging Yukio out. After walking through the Vale of Tears (“What an appropriate name,” Dia thought), he finally arrived to Tundraful. Dia then headed to the forest, still determined on completing his quest. Instead of stopping right by the entrance, however, the exorcist continued into the fog-ridden path, until he was sure he reached where no one would find him. The boy finally released his grip on Yukio’s blood soaked collar. He took a moment to just breathe, just try and breathe, before he yanked on his gloves. Then he started digging through the snow. It would've been easier with a shovel of some kind, but he had to use whatever tools he had with him at the moment. If it weren't for the gloves, his tiny hands would be frostbitten without a doubt. (Also, he found it kinda odd there wasn't really a “ground” beneath all that snow, but Dia couldn't bring himself to care for now.)

Finally, finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was a decent space at the area he dug through. Dia gently placed the corpse into the space, a solemn expression written all over. He put back the snow into the space, burying Yukio with it. Dia shuddered. The cold was catching up with him; he needed to wrap it up quickly. The boy kneeled down and began mumbling a prayer in French under his breath, hands clasped together. Five minutes later, he stood up.

Ah! The rocks! Dia dashed to where the glowing rocks were placed and brought them over to the whistleblower’s resting place. There, that should mark his grave.

He shuddered again. He bit his lip. The boy really didn't want to go back so soon, but he couldn't risk dying of hypothermia. With one last glance, Dia ran back to the entrance and into the warm shelter that was the hotel.

Dia wrapped himself up with blankets and a half fort of pillows in his room, on his bed. Once he reassured himself there wouldn't be any interruptions anytime soon, he started writing on his journal.

This fucked up game had begun. That much was known.

Those deaths were just the beginning.

                                                     Ch.1 - End

Akiko had been fully ready to take the bitch of a Hall Monitor on, destroy her, make her pay for what she did to Yukio, but it seems Brynn had other plans, before she was able to do anything substantial, she was covered in some kinda paint-like liquid that stuck her in place, unable to release the anger she has pent up from Yuin's actions... That doesn't stop her from speaking though. "You're lucky the bitch in charge stepped in to stop me, or else you'd be mincemeat right now, going into your execution with some broken bones... People like you disgust me." She spits on the ground in Yuin's direction, to further show her discontent. 

Before she could say another word, Brynn announced the execution and Yuin was off into the void, leaving Akiko feeling severely unsatisfied.

She watches Yuin's execution, keeping her eyes on, and not letting her gaze move for even a second. Even when it started to get gruesome, she refused to turn away... it gave her a small bit of relief to see the bitch be taken from the group, unable to take any more lives.... She's no stranger to death, but she'd rather not experience the deaths of innocents and Yuin was a monster in her eyes, so she doesn't count under the innocent category. She scowls and flips the screen off. 

"Good Fuckin' Riddance."

Idzuki was not doing well. This all had been a drain on her and she was really trying to be good, but after witnessing..... that, she found her hands back on her kava. Throughout the trial she had been sipping on it, and after Yukio.... and after the execution, she went ahead and downed the rest of it, her eyes squeezed shut. How? How could this have happened? Please. Please make it stop. Or maybe not make it stop.... Make it so it never had happened in the first place. Weren't they friends? Weren't they all friends? 

She just didn't understand.

Feeling slightly dizzy, she wiped away tears that she didn't realise she had. It was going to be okay. It had to be. Even if she had to keep drinking her kava to make it be so. This wasn't going to happen again. They were all friends. Friends. She could be friends with everyone. And then they would all be too happy to kill someone again. Friends. She was dizzy. But she was starting to feel good. Her friends were there. She was fine. Everything was fine.... Oh there wasn't any more kava. 

She felt dizzy.

Maybe.... she'd just lay on the floor for awhile. But first! She needed to wave goodbye to her friends! It would be rude of her to not wave before she took a nap. 

"Night night friends... wake me up if anything happenssssss........"

Yoichi is...confused. Well, what else is new. He's being surrounded by all sorts of sounds that he can't quite tell anything from, but the distinct lack of one sound made him a little worried. "Yukichan? Where did Yukichan go?" He starts slowly wandering towards where he heard Yukio last.

Geiru, who has otherwise had no other notable reaction but onlooking silence, reaches a hand out to tap Yoichi’s shoulder. “Yukio’s dead. Yuin killed them” she informs him, an attempt at being helpful in her own blunt way.

"Huh?" Yoichi's eyes widen in surprise at her words, but they don't stop him from continuing his search for Yukio, or at least their body. "Where is it?" He prods the ground in front of him with his cane, almost determined to find them now.

Geiru isn’t one to deny Yoichi his search. It’s only fair that he be able to take in the events in his own way, after all. With quiet respect, she puts a hand on Yoichi’s back and guide him lightly to where Yukio’s body is still resting on the floor.

He just lets her guide him, and once he finds Yukio's body, he stoops down and gently prods them with his fingers. He finds their face first. Then the wound on his neck. "...Ah." That's all he has to say, before he slowly gets back up to his feet and claps his hands together, as if in prayer. "...Goodbye, Yukichan. Sleep well."

She nods at Yoichi’s actions, with approval? Agreement? Not that he can see it. “Sleep well, Yukio,” she echoes.

“Yuin’s dead too by the way, but her body isn’t here. She was dragged and executed,” Geiru comments. Yoichi couldn’t really check that one if he wanted to.

“Well, doesn’t matter.” Brynn crossed her arms, averting her gaze. “I’ve prepared a very special punishment for you, Yuin Yamono, the SHSL Hall Monitor. Tch, as if you even deserve that title in the first place,” she muttered under her breath. “Now, without further ado, it’s punishment time!!”

Those chains soon hoisted Yuin high up in the air, dragging her into the darkness.

It all happened too fast.

Yuin has just killed a person, in front of many people, including himself. Their blood was sprayed everywhere, and the smell of blood began to fill the entire room - enough to make Kazuhisa feel disgusted. He took a step back; he couldn't believe that something like this happened in front of his very eyes. He had never felt so useless before. He clenched his fist, and glared at Yuin. He had to do something about this, he thought. 

Then, he saw some familiar figures running towards the moral compass. It was Akiko, who suddenly jumped on her, followed by Dominic. They were quick to react - trying to immobilise her so that she wouldn't hurt anyone else. But, how about them? What if they failed, and Yuin managed to get them? Just thinking about the worst possible situation, Kazuhisa couldn't help but to worry. He's the biggest person here, so he should be one of the people who is trying to stop Yuin! Yet, why was he not there?

He could feel his legs were shaking. 

...

Was he scared?

Him?

Out of all people?

He wanted to go out there, but he couldn't bring himself forward. Then, he realised something.

He's weak. 

He couldn't do anything, but to watch. 

It pained him. He furrowed his eyebrows, as he began to grab the podium as hard as he could, until a creak could be heard. Did he just crack the handle? What a strong fellow. However, his strength is useless if he couldn't even use it to save his friends. He could only watch - until Brynn covered all of them with some sort of paint, rendering them immobile. As the trial result was announced, Kazuhisa looked downwards, staring at his own feet. 

Honestly, Akiko had lost interest in the trial about half way through, she’d been paying apt attention near the beginning, but people started talking about things she didn’t know, and she kinda just started to zone out. It’s not like she wasn’t seeking justice for what had happened just a few hours prior, it’s just… she couldn’t follow what people were saying. Sure she could understand the words they were saying, but the logic she just couldn’t comprehend, she tried to follow it, she really did, she just couldn’t keep up with what everyone was saying. So instead she turned her attention on everyone in the trial room, gauging reactions, surely that would help out in some way, shape, or form, she could possibly catch someone reacting to something they shouldn’t, and call them out on their bullshit. That’s what she planned to do for the rest of the trial, at least… until Yuin pulled a knife.

The moment she saw the glint of silver her senses went on high alert, and she started glaring daggers at Yuin, everything in her body telling her to rush the Hall Monitor, but Yukio beat her to the punch… deciding to try and take things down the peaceful route. Everything in her told her to just put an end to the ongoing problem herself, but Yukio seem so assured, so… confident in his actions, she resisted the urge to do something and let him go through with it. Maybe things could turn out ok, maybe things could end peacefully… She’d solved every single one of her problems with violence before, maybe this could be something else she could try.

And then Yuin slashed Yukio’s neck, and Akiko’s vision swam red with anger.

    For a very brief moment things played in slow motion, Akiko’s eyes widened, Yukio’s body crumbled, and exclamations of shock and hatred rung through the courtroom. The sound of her heartbeat thunders in her eardrums, and her anger starts to spew out of her mouth. “YOU BITCH!” Without regard for what anyone else is saying or doing, without regard for her own safety, without regard for what might happen after this, Akiko steps back from her podium and focuses down Yuin, sprinting the few steps that separate her and this heinous murderer of a person. That’s the last time she decides to try and let someone else solve a violent problem with non-violence, she won’t let herself stand by while someone else puts themself in danger ever again.

With that in mind, Akiko stops one step away from Yuin, using her momentum to throw a punch towards the arm with the knife, the only thought going through her mind, is getting the knife out of the Hall Monitor’s hand, and stopping her from killing again.

Around that time, the sound of an angry young man could be heard.

“BASTARDO! USTED QUEMARÁ EN EL INFIERNO POR ESTO!” Anyone who turned to see who was shouting would see Dominic reaching into his vest and brandishing his own pocket knife, twirling the knife in his hand with a surprising amount of dexterity to have the blade face Yuin. Despite Yuin having the bigger blade, Dominic knew what he was doing when it came to a knife.

“I’M GOING TO FUCKING SEND YOU THERE MYSELF!!!”

Dominic sprinted forward, right behind Akiko, ready to avenge his deceased friend Yukio by slicing the ever loving shit out of Starry’s killer.

From the depths of his sullen heart, a strike of rage had ignited deep within Nifen. It was not his class, nor did he know much about those who had fallen to Yuin’s knife, but this gross miscarriage of justice pierced deep. Like a heated knife stabbed into his chest. He couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t want to be powerless anymore. He was going to fight.

“Nifen!” It all happened in a flash. Maddie felt a sudden gust of wind rush past her side, and she immediately realized that Nifen had disappeared from her side. From the pews, the Wonderlandians stood up to behold the sight of Nifen, having jumped from his seat, down on the ground, a silver dagger in his hand. His usually downcast eye was completely bloodshot and devoid of any other emotion except seething hatred. Perhaps not just towards Yuin, but towards this cage he had found himself trapped in. Was Yuin truly any different than Brynn, Nifen thought. An oppressor killing as they please, all for their own selfish reasons…

The clockmaker launched himself towards the hall monitor, a loud thumping sound resonating throughout the courtroom as he did. He was aiming for her legs, his dagger outstretched and ready to stab.

From the pews, Griff and Maddie rushed down to the last row of the pews. They called out to him, but no avail. From higher up, Alyssa looked down, her face wrought with an uncharacteristic concern.

The Renaissance Man was frozen until Akiko, Dominic, and Nifen all pounced at the killer. Awoken from his stunned state, it itself caused by Yukio’s murder in front of him, Magnus knew one thing: he had to keep other people from getting involved.

“Everyone back away!!” he shouted to anyone who hadn’t already charged at Yuin. “She’s lost her mind!! Get away from her!!” He himself helped bring anyone who wasn’t conscious to the other side of the room, while also trying to help usher anyone who wasn’t already involved in the ensuing bout. “If anyone hasn’t voted yet, for the love of god, please vote now! Now!! Before she actually kills anyone else!! I don’t think rules are going to stop her!!” He voted for Yuin as he said this.

Turning his attention to the fight, Magnus called to the three that were fighting Yuin. “Nifen! Dominic! Akiko-san! Listen to me! Try to stay focused! We only need her restrained! If any of you kill her, you’ll become the murderer, and that’s the last thing we need right now!! Hold her down, disarm her, and restrain her before she kills anyone else!!”

He noticed that Mai was tearing up as he was trying to keep people as far away from the fight as possible. Magnus wondered if her and Yukio were close. “Mai-san… You might wanna look away. I don’t know if you need to watch anymore violence right now, so if you have to look away, you can; it’s perfectly all right. I’m… sorry this had to happen,” he said to her, trying to comfort her as he tried to usher people away from the fight.

He turned his attention back to the four. “Careful, you guys! She might try to trick you again! Disarm and restrain! We don’t need one of you guys to become a murderer, too!”

Before anyone else could do anything, however, the would-be assailants and Yuin were suddenly covered in…paint? You could’ve sworn the world stopped for a just few seconds before it happened. You couldn’t even catch the glimpse of Brynn brandishing a paintbrush. Whatever the case, the paint proved to be effective: they couldn’t move a single inch of their body, no matter how much energy they exerted.

Brynn sighed, shaking her head. “Guys, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but the culprit will receive her punishment soon, I promise. Most of your votes are in, anyway. Attacking now is pointless." 

"It’s time to decide the verdict.” Brynn turned to face the Wonderland class. “Wonderlandians – what is your final say?”

A large, golden statue of Lady Justice rose on the other side of the church, far from the students and the pews. The scale the statue held was lit up in flames – black on the left; white on the right. The jury (sans Nifen) all held up torches and tossed them at the Lady Justice statue with scarily perfect accuracy.

All of the torches landed on the black flame, the left side tipping heavily. Bells resounded the area. A smirk dawned on Brynn’s face as she faced the students.

Your vote has been tallied.

Your vote has been tallied.

Your vote has been tallied.

Your vote has been tallied.

[cw: excessive swearing near the end, mention of throat trauma]

Talking was rarely the answer to problems. Despite this, Kosuke was willing to put a little faith in Yukio. That was his bro, after all! His well-spoken, levelheaded bro! If anyone could get them out of this situation, just maybe...

They remained guarded as Yukio approaches Yuin, not wanting to interfere. Yuin had the look of a caged animal, but maybe, just maybe, the guard dog would beat the odds? That look had given him scars when he was younger and didn't know how to properly handle scared animals - but Yukio was older, smarter, more patient! They breathed a sign of relief as Yukio grasped the knife’s handle...was it over?

Then her blade ran across Yukio’s neck in a heartbeat, and Kosuke watched, paralyzed, from feet away. As Yukio bleeds out, their own defiance drains as well. Leaving only cold horror in the pit of Kosuke’s stomach as they panic and grasp at their own neck.

Kosuke bolts then, wordlessly and cowardly stumbling away from his podium in the direction of not Yuin. No way was he playing hero right now. Am I selfish? Yeah, but I won’t be meeting the business end of a knife again.

The glint of steel catches their eye a second time as they run across the trial room - Dia, a dagger? Why this? Kosuke whines internally, but Dia (wow, Kosuke thought, he sure is light?) is scooped up bridal style easily enough. They hiss something under their breath that sounds like “don’t do anythin’ dumb, Frills. Can't swear on yer name if yer a corpse.”

Kosuke then gets as far away from Yuin as they possibly can, a wild look in their eyes.

Your vote has been tallied.

Sverre observed silently as Yuin brandished her knife and subsequently sent Yukio to their eternal rest. He watched Shiki faint, small frame collapsing to the ground, and he watched Mai's face contort, mask shattering as the last breath slipped out of the demiboy's body. Things had certainly escalated, and yet the Whistleblower's death also guaranteed the rest of the students' survival until the end of the trial, as per the rules of the game. Though, seeing as Yuin had unhesitantly murdered someone in front of the jury's eyes, Sverre doubted she'd get out alive either. As he considered the turn of events, his eyes drooped and he slid his gaze away from the corpse.

And so it goes.

Yukio's death was a shame-- out of his fellow hostages, he had certainly been one of the more optimistic and friendly ones-- but at the same time, they hadn't been particularly close either. Remembering Yuin's warnings as well, Sverre sighed internally. What a fool. He supposed that Mai expected him to back up her allegations and degradations towards Yuin, but the words refused to leave his mouth.

What was Yuin so desperate to hide? He'd be a hypocrite if he judged her without knowing that. And where had these hateful, passionate reactions been when Tomo had died? He resisted the urge to click his tongue. Two murders, both bodies left cold and lifeless by the same culprit, and yet Tomo was once again left with the short end of the stick. What a pitiful person, completely forgotten due to a fool's entirely avoidable martyrdom.