dancing through the sky

As you passed through the lobby, you noticed something different sitting on the front desk. Paper, two sheets. Neither were there when you last passed through. The top paper had an address, a date, and other odd information that resembled… Postage information? The text at the top seemed to confirm:

Proof of delivery - CONTROL

The second sheet looked like a photocopy of someone’s handwriting. As you scroll over it, it starts to sound familiar…

To Dad, Granny, and Gramps,

I’m sorry for making you worry, and that I can’t tell you where I am right now. But I’m okay, I swear, and it’s really me writing this – I can prove it! Remember the first time I tried to make cheesecake as a kid, when I actually put cheese in cake mix? Anyway… I love you all a lot, but I can’t come home, and I don’t want you guys to sit around being sad or run yourselves ragged looking for me. Just take care of each other, okay? Especially you, Dad!

There’s also some messages I need passed on.

Chung Gyu-hul says “should we not see each other again, they should remember me for who I’ve told them I am”.

To the Kusayanagi Funeral Home in Tokyo: “I won’t see them again, but it isn’t their fault”.

Officers Ryoko and Adachi Isara did their best. It is what it is.

“Aiko and Umi Sakakibara, Sachiko Arakawa. Ryuu’s alive. I love you. I’ll be home soon”.

Azamaku Ryoko, your daughter Hotaru loves you and can’t wait until she sees her father and sisters again.

Ulrich Olhauser says to tell Peter and Shika Olhauser that he’s fine – no one’s hurt him, and they don’t have to try to look for him. “PS, Oka-san, please take care of the garden while I’m away. I love you so much”.

Natacha Dechant wants her parents and boyfriend to know that she’s safe and will be home soon.

To the members of the Death Head Moths, from Isabella: “Momo, I’m fine, please, please don’t worry about me. It’ll work out. I’m safe. I love you. Keung, look. I might not have a chance to do this but just know you’re a really good guy okay? Don’t stress, I’ll be fine. Annie, you’re a really cool gal. You’re my best friend, you’re so funny and smart. I’ll see oh soon, okay? Akoni, I’m putting you in charge until I get back to you guys. You’re the person I trust the most. You can be the one who… finds my mom okay, tell her I’m sorry.”

Finally, Ishizuki Tohru wants her parents to send a message to Mizuno Sayuri at Takehara General Hospital, Room 403. “I’ll see you soon. Wait for me.” There’s going to be a check sent along with this letter; half of the money is for her.

With lots of yummy kisses,

It couldn’t be, could it? This had to be some kind of joke, right? But those of you who might have had some hope, or were just curious enough, quickly searched for your newly awakened pal. Sayuri may not have known where she was, but there were only so many computers in this place. It didn’t take long to find the one with the robot inside.

“Hello! It is good to finally see you again!”

…Guess it wasn’t just a bad joke.

Shocked faces, staring back at Sayuri, her face adorning the biggest monitor in the observation room. From the entrance, you could see a large memory stick plugged into a computer tower. There was also a brass key with a tag, on a keyring, just sitting on the desk. Someone was up to something in this room, it seemed.

It seemed she was waiting for some kind of response from the shocked class. Her expression changed to one of concern.

“Here…Although I do not actually know where here is , I’m afraid.”

Looks like there was some catching up to do.

It didn’t take long for Control to get your attention. He gave you no time to mourn, to grieve. He barely even gave you time to get out of the trial room. Nope, before you knew it, he was back on the PA system.

“I’ll ask you all to board either of our elevators as soon as possible. A new destination awaits - one step closer to the truth, if you’re able to find it.”

Already, huh…

As soon as you approached the elevator to leave the basement, the doors slid open. Before long, you were climbing… Climbing… Climbing…

On the buttons on the wall, there was a single light. Based on the numbering, you were going about 20 stories in the air…

You climbed, and climbed, and before long…

“Welcome, my friends. You may have to find your own way inside, but once you are, you are free to explore this area to your heart’s content. Learn what you can, while you can. The day you will be judged grows closer even still…”

With that, he goes silent. Looks like you’re on your own in here…

Chapter 5 -

“So that is how this ends, then. With little more than the pounding and twisting of metal. A shame, really.”

“Well, that certainly helped work off some frustration at least, so something was gained from the experience.”

He chuckled.

“I have to tell you, though, that the test is nearing its conclusion. Just a little longer, and we’ll finally reach the end. We’ll finally be able to render judgement on whether or not you’re worthy to inherit the world.”

“Judgement day, if you will.”

“For now, though, you may leave. Make the most of the last of your time, if you will…”

A flutter of static took over the feed, before the monitor went quiet and the door clicked open.

With Controls words leaving you rather confused, you found yourselves watching a blank screen once more once Control disappeared long enough for, what you expected an execution to begin. But the room was silent…there was no sound of chains dragging someone away from the trial for once. So what was the meaning of the dark screen….?

“Yes, this is good. Our alternative has been prepared.”

He stiffened up, preparing his address.

“Well, well… Nami Adachi, the Ultimate Psychologist, is indeed the correct answer in this case. As if there could be any other…”

“It was a cruel twist of fate, really, that made each other their own killers. It could’ve happened any time really, with any one. The shame of a faulty model, I suppose. Oh well.”

“The issue with this result is simply… Well… There’s no one left to punish. Both parties involved are dead.“

He falls silent for a few moments, thinking.

“Well this was an underwhelming turn of events.”

Control sighed.

Once again, you stood in the room with the cages. Once again, you were forced to scan into them and enter, locking yourself in. You were far too used to it at this point, moving robotically, automatically. But once you were settled in, you noticed that… The cages of the deceased kids were no longer present. No, instead they were replaced by…

Small stands, with a square panel at the top. And on each panel was a picture of the deceased. Staring back at you, smiling. Watching.

Once the last cage door closed, Control appeared on the main monitor.

“Let us begin today’s trial. You are charged with determining the culprit who murdered Ryuunosuke Sakikabara, and you will be voting for said culprit only.”

“As before, I will not stop you from finding the culprit who killed Nami Adachi as well, though that culprit will not pass this test if you fail to identify them.”

A tone rang out across the facility.

“Ca- Ca- Ca- *static* -tio- *static* lease.”

Huh. Static. Curious…

“Pardon me. The connection was disturbed for a moment. But, alas, the investigation period has now ended. Please make your way to the board room in the basement, and we will begin today’s trial. Thank you. Please hurry, those of you who are able…”

Name: Ryuunosuke Sakakibara

Time of Death: 2:14 PM

Time of Discovery: 2:45 PM

Location: Kitchen

Cause of Death: Cardiac arrest

Additional Notes: The sprinklers from the fire alarms have effectively drenched Ryuu in water…in addition he looks like he suffered greatly before dying.

Name: Nami Adachi

Time of Death: 2:15 PM

Time of Discovery: 2:45 PM

Location: Kitchen

Cause of Death: Ĕ̽͆R̈́̅̈́R̡̄̓Ŏ͂̅҉̧Ṙ̀ͤ

As always, once the motive settles, you all fall into an unsteady rhythm… albeit, not without its struggles. Unlike with the heat, or the idea of wishes, the gas only grows stronger as time goes on, which means the nightmares have gotten worse for everyone. Tempers are growing frayed. Your classmates are either exhausted because they refuse sleep, or on edge because the sleep they do get ends in their greatest fears. It’s beginning to be difficult to distinguish dream from reality for some of you…

Which is why, when a piercing alarm goes off on every floor, everyone is jolted to attention. What is that? Where is it coming from? Is this a new dream? Anyone who may have been trying to sleep was definitely awake from that, if not from the flashing lights that followed.

There’s no time to question what it is; Control makes his appearance, the alarm volume lowering while he speaks but the lights continuing to flash incessantly.

“Hm… It appears a fire has started in the kitchen. It will remain on lock-down while the system puts it out. In the meantime, make your way to the kitchen doors. There might be something to discover once it is safe to enter…”

With those ominous words, Control falls silent, and the alarm picks back up.

Slowly, you all gather by the doors, people trickling from every direction. It’s obvious from the smell alone that there is a fire going on in there, or at least had been; the burning scent is strong enough to pass through even the doors. But… something is off. This isn’t all of you, is it? The alarm is too loud to think clearly, but…

Just like that, the alarm stops, leaving your ears ringing in the silence. It looks like you’re allowed to enter now. Slowly, Gyuhui swings the door open…

And you realize who had been missing.

The smaller girl laughs a bit in response. All in one go, that was too much for her, too. She had a feeling that might be a little too much for anyone except for Tohru. Maybe Ulrich. Isabella? Well, even now, Tsukasa hadn’t thought to lay a finger on coffee yet.

“Mm, well, even if U-kyun isn’t mad, Tsukasa-chama should have at least explained her situation to everybody… It’s just a little embarrassing, getting so worked up over a silly dream like that. She was a little too scared to explain everything, so Tsukasa-chama was being a little selfish… Well, it’s always bad at first, but it usually doesn’t take super long for Tsukasa-chama to feel all better~! She’ll make sure to tell U-kyun not to worry, okay? Everyone has enough to worry about as is.”

Tsukasa wandered over to the snacks, hoping to find some sort of breakfast pastry. Hmm, hmm, decisions, decisions. While rummaging through those pre-packaged delicacies, she speaks up again.

“This…isn’t like that heat wave, where everyone could die from it if it doesn’t stop eventually, so…this might have to be something we all get used to for a really long time, you know? No one should have to deal with the things in their dreams, but Tsukasa-chama really doesn’t want you to burn yourself out, that’s all. You have enough wearing you down right now, and it’s really important to try to get some good rest.”

Ryuu decides to go for it and takes a gulp of black coffee while Tsuaksa speaks, hoping that focusing on her words will take the bitterness away. Instead, it makes him cough as scalding liquid goes down his throat. That’s a bad miss. Placing the cup down quickly, he gives it a dirty look before looking back to her.

“No, it’s not your fault. No one really wants t’talk ‘bout that kinda stuff, y’know? That’s not selfish at all. That’s just human. So don’t be sad, ‘kay? Like you said, we all got ‘nough to worry ‘bout, so don’t go thinkin’ too hard over things people aren’t mad about!”

The half empty mug is filled to the brim once more, this time with milk, turning the coffee a very pale shade. That’s beyond cafe au lait, Ryuu, but the next tentative sip seems to be much more acceptable if the lack of disgust is anything to go off of.

“I like t’think we’d just get used to it after a while, but... I know what you mean. Everyone has been so worried about me, so I’m not totally worn down! If anything, it’s nice t’know that I’m not...”

Not what?

“Eheh, well, someone once told Tsukasa-chama that the best way to face super gross coffee is to take it all down in one big gulp~!”

Tsukasa speaks up from a bit of a distance, rocking on her heels with a smile. Ah, come to think of it, after her little episode in the lounge before, is it really okay for her to be smiling carelessly like this? She still hasn’t properly apologized in person for all of that, even. Tsukasa wants to be a reassuring presence for Ryuu, but she doesn’t want to come off as being free of remorse from her actions before…so in the end, she lets her gaze wander away and fiddles with her fingers. Ryuu said everything was fine, but…

Ryuu always says things are fine, you know? Unless it comes to, you know, like straight-up murder.

“…That… Eheh, it looked a little scary when they showed her though, so maybe it’s not such a good idea. Besides, ano, these nightmares are…really rough, but, Ryuu-kyun probably needs rest more than anybody right now, you know? Tsukasa-chama understands you’re probably getting enough of this from the others, but really, please try not to push yourself too much…”

“Th-that sounds like way too much for me... I couldn’t even get the first cup I tried down, and it had cream in it. But maybe one go just means I’d only have t’deal with the taste for a little bit...?”

He stares at the cup he has poured and the steam swirling from it before looking back to Tsukasa and smiling. If he’s bothered by what happened before, it certainly doesn’t show on his face; but negative emotions rarely do. She looks away, and his eyes follow, trying to see if anything was there, before returning to her face as she speaks.

Even now, when she’s struggling, she’s thinking of him. Of others.

“Yeah... it prob’ly wouldn’t work for me. I know I scolded Ulrich for goin’ too hard on the coffee and ev’rything, but this’d be the second time I’ve tried it in my life. Sleep would be better, but that’s, uh... I mean, short naps are fine, but those tend t’feel worse, almost, ‘cause it’s not enough.”

Having depleted the Coffee Helll™ at this point, Saeru had drifted back towards the common coffee machine. She would try to sleep normally tonight, but for now… No need to be submerged in that nightmare any longer than necessary.

She probably should have expected someone else to be there, though admittedly she hadn’t expected Ryuu. Did someone like him even need caffeine?

“Go black. Then it should be easier to tell if it’s been poisoned, hmm?”

Saeru, that’s not really a joke to make right now.

In all honesty, he didn’t need it even now, but he was attempting to develop something of a taste for it. Attempting being the key word in this situation. He looks away from the machine that continues be the most mysterious thing in the facility to aim a grin at Saeru, utterly unaffected by her joke.

“Saerin, I’m not gonna poison myself. Even I’m not that bad. I was more worried ‘bout tryin’ t’make it taste even kinda okay.”

He takes a step out of the way of the machine, gesturing for her to take over.