#fp chapter 4

After everything, after the anger, the frustration and the tears, Miyu got away… and now everyone was picking up pieces. Chiyo, on the other hand, found herself sitting alone in the dining room. She had no shoe on her right foot, which appeared to be wrapped up. It was resting on a chair opposite as she seemed to drink some water, having to carefully use her left… which was still in the middle of healing. Her right hand was completely wrapped up too, broken due to slapping Miyu.

She was lonely. Yuma and she had… somewhat made up. There was still a little tension, but overall, they looked like they were fine- Chiyo just needed time to herself or with others.

Chiyo wasn’t alone for long, she found herself hearing someone else, and spoke once she realised who it was - if it was Miyu, maybe even Tux or Aelois, she’d have just remained silent.

[CW: Emetophobia]

It was another few minutes before Chiyo actually came to again. She wasn't breathing very well, and she was looked very pale... and like she was going to be sick. She looked awful.

"Ryuuta... Ryuuta...! No... No... I don't want to do this anymore... I'm done! I'm done with this! I don't want to lose my friends, I don't want this anymore!"

She couldn't breathe, and she wasn't moving from the spot at the entrance. She was clinging to the door frame. She keeled over a bit, looking like she might actually be sick. Everything was shaking.

While you’re staring down at the bodies in shock, the sound of footsteps draws your attention up to the stage. The Smiling Devil has appeared.

“Well how ‘bout that, looks like someone gave a shit about their loved ones after all. Good thing too, considerin’ who was on the choppin’ block next... ah, I’ll leave that in suspense though.” The Devil drawls lightly, “Well, y’all know the drill, right? Go ahead an’ get to searchin’, unless you feel like lettin’ the killer here get away with it. I wouldn’t blame ya, after all it’s thanks to them none of the rest of you gotta worry about goin’ through what the poor Dancer over there had to suffer. Mighty considerate, in my opinion.”

He looks down at the duo in the orchestra pit and shakes his head, still smiling, then turns on his heel and heads towards the shadows of the wings.

“I’m off to let the Necromancer know he has two more ‘clients’ to take care of. I wouldn’t recommend touchin’ the bodies too much, he tends to get irritable ‘bout that.”

[TW: (Written) Decapitation, Gore, Blood, Death of a Family Member]

The latest motive has been haunting most of you. Scarcely a day has passed and yet many of you are feeling the pressure. Is it real? It must be, no motive has been false so far, the Devil has made good on every threat. You’ve seen and experienced plenty of things you would have called impossible here already, so can you really afford to disbelieve...?

Whether it’s doubt, or fear, or determination that stays your hand, you all make it to the day after the motive. No one has killed yet... but that doesn’t mean death won’t be playing a part this day. Once more you are summoned back to the theatre, attending out of resignation, or a need to know who it is- or rather, assure yourself who it isn’t...

Surely it won’t be your loved one. Surely the odds can’t be that against you. And yet... it has to be someone, doesn’t it? The hope that this is a bluff can’t last. You all gather in the seats in front of the stage, which for once the Devil isn’t standing on when you walk in. Those of you who arrived first shift anxiously as you await the latecomers to be shooed in.

Only when the final to arrive is seated does the Devil appear, stepping out of one of the shadowy wings. 

There’s something in her hand, something hanging by her side, it’s... a rough cloth sack. You barely have a chance to register it, the size of it, the shape of it, the disturbing stain on the bottom. The horror has only begun to dawn on you when, with her widest, brightest smile in place, the Devil draws a severed head from the sack by its hair and holds it up for a moment.

The features on the face are familiar, quite similar to a certain Dancer, and most of you are able to guess instantly the identity of the young girl’s head even before the Devil tosses it, during the moment of shock, right into Lucien’s lap.

“Too bad you didn’t take that deal, hm? You could have saved her, after all, even without a murder. But ah... I suppose your sister’s life just wasn’t worth your soul to you?” She clicks her tongue in a light tsk, then glances around at the rest of you. “This wasn’t random either. Y’all like to hate me an’ blame me, but I told you on your first day here- I’m just the facilitator. One of you made the deal, one of you is mastermindin’ this little game, and that person chose who would be first. I’m just holdin’ up my end of the bargain here. You really oughta be less concerned about the gun and more about who’s pullin’ the trigger.”

She gives you all a little wave and turns to walk away again, glancing over her shoulder to call back, “Oh an’ like I said, there’ll be another one tomorrow! If you don’t want it to be someone you love, you might wanna do somethin’ about it. There’s murder, of course, or if you’re too squeamish I’m always open to talkin’ trade...”

Sure enough, once you’ve recovered your composure enough to venture onwards, you find the twists and turns of the mirror maze greatly reduced. Within moments, in fact, you’re turning corners and running into the rest of your classmates, most of you noticeably the worse for wear after your misadventures.

And then you’re at the exit. Ryuuta and Tama seem to have been the first to arrive, and as the last of you gathers at the door the vertical bars preventing any exit slide up... the door unlocks... and swings open. The tepid air of the underground city floods in, accompanied by the faint, distant noises of the ongoing carnival. It’s over. Well, for now.

Walking out of the maze you feel dizzy, exhausted, and generally strange. It feels odd to know there won’t be a trial this time. The motive had gone off, the threat had been fulfilled. You all made the choice, and Satoshi and Yukiteru had paid the price.

As you file out, rapid movement nearby catches your attention, and you turn in surprise to find the Smiling Devil is apparently engaged in some sort of duel with a figure dressed all in black. The stranger is extremely fast, darting in under the Devil’s rapid jabs and taking swipes with a short blade, then dancing back again, weaving around each counterattack with grace. However far from being frustrated, the Devil is laughing as he pursues them, as if this is some sort of game to him.

“Look, there they are! Just like I said, safe an’ sound. Well, most of ‘em. You can stop with the pointless heroics now. That bleedin’ heart of yours really is gonna get you killed one of these days, Flower.” He says, making a gesture towards the bedraggled lot of you, but the Flower doesn’t even spare a glance your way, never taking their eyes off the Devil.

“You shouldn’t have sent them in there! You know what could have happened! You can’t control Jack-of-Smiles, and you can’t control the Fingerkings!” They snap at him, “This isn’t part of your deal, Devil, and you know it. You’re che-”

It happens quicker than you could blink, one second it’s an argument, the next the Devil has them by the wrists, slamming them into the side of the tent covering the building the maze is in. The Flower cries out, then smacks the heel of one foot against the wall, triggering a blade in the toe of their boot which they drive forward into the Devil’s shin. He doesn’t even flinch.

“I liked this suit.” He says in mild tones, though his smile has vanished as he glares down at them, “Maybe I oughta rip your skin off and make a new one. Floral patterns are pretty fashionable, ain’t they?”

“Go ahead.” The Flower shoots back, “Do it. Show them what you really are.” They stare each other down for a moment... then the Devil smiles again, wide and bright, and lets go. He steps back, apparently oblivious to the blood dripping down his leg.

“Aw come on, as if I really would.” He laughs flippantly, and promptly walks away, without the slightest hint of a limp. The Flower exhales in a heavy sigh, then turns towards all of you and winces.

“That could have gone... well, a lot worse, actually.” They shake their head, “You should all head back to the Boarding House and get some rest. Stop by to see the Necromancer if you’re injured, he can help.” For a second it seems like they might say something else, but then they just turn to leave as well, gingerly rubbing one of their wrists.

You’ve lost x2 Classmates (New Total: 12).

“Oh! Of course!”

The Fool seems happy that someone is talking to them, like one might be at a good student asking a question after a presentation. One that they knew the answer to and could use to show off their knowledge and bolster their grade.

A friend. They clap their hands and reply happily.

“We will just take the party inside then! The courthouse should have plenty of space for that, don’t you think? I’ll make sure it’s unlocked for your preparations.”

Of all things Alice starts to laugh when Red Tux comes back with the paper.

It’s an ugly angry sound, and is unsettling when combined with a sound that should be joyous.

She looks right at the piece of paper Red Tux has and says.

“You had better be careful Red Tux. Hayami hates people who pay a price as steep as you did.”

Alice’s eyes are bright with a darkness that has come over her.

“She doesn’t understand self-sacrifice. That’s why she killed two lambs for her dark god. Or is the Smiling Devil her goddess….”

Alice shrugs.

But then the Cheerful Daredevil came to grab them both, and Alice couldn’t speak anymore venom directly at them.

Instead she shrugs, and looks back at the group with a brittle smile.

“I suggest no one gets close to me again. It seems everyone I grow close to dies a horrible death.”

 [TW: Wrist Trauma]

During the grace period, Miyu and Red Tux had been clinging to each other and exchanging words in low, tearful voices. No matter how you feel about Miyu right now, it’s probably hard to see how obviously devastated Tux is, and it’s kind of touching to see how sweet the couple is with one another… at least until you remember a certain other couple who are no longer with you.

What seems like a long several minutes is suddenly, rapidly, cut short when Miyu is snatched by a chain and dragged right out of Red Tux’s embrace and through the trap door in the wall, vanishing from sight. The old projector descends from the ceiling along with the screen for the image, and then...

As the screen flickers to life, it isn't long before you realize where Miyu has found herself. She's seated in a chair in some sort of oversized children’s room, almost like something you’d see in a funhouse. It’s large and well-decorated, almost suggesting the type of family who might be able to afford a housemaid. It's perfectly ordinary, albeit fanciful- there's a bed with stuffed animals, a dresser with a row of large, fancy dolls on top, a floor covered in toys- except for how it's about twice as big as usual. Miyu almost looks like she belongs among the similarly sized dolls on the shelf given her size amongst all of this, and she honestly seems just as bewildered as you are.

Speaking of the dolls, it looks as though there's a bit of commotion on the dresser. One doll, previously faced away from Miyu, turns- and the housemaid recoils in shock. The doll has a human’s face, looking every bit as real as Miyu does, something only proven as she removes herself from her stand and starts to approach Miyu. The housemaid tries to stand, but can't get up from the rocking chair. You missed it at first, but now realize she's bound to it by skipping ropes that also keep her arms tied to the armrests. She looks completely fearful as the ‘doll’ gets closer. The girl, donned in a sailor uniform, looks a lot like Miyu with her facial features, and with the exception of her smaller height and black hair, they're actually pretty identical. The biggest and most off-putting difference is the eyes- they're covered by a milky white sheen, and you can't see much detail outside of the outline of an iris. The ‘doll’ halts in front of the chair and starts speaking, convincing you pretty thoroughly that she's not really a doll.

“Hey, Mimi… It's been a while, hasn't it? I need to repay a favour.”

Before Miyu can react, the other girl yanks a pair of fabric scissors out from the waistband of her skirt, swiftly stabbing it into the housemaid’s wrist, yanking upwards to create a vertical cut.

“Stop!” Red Tux screamed, staring wide-eyed at the screen. Their outcry dragged your attention from the horrorshow on the screen briefly, but their words didn’t do anything, of course, and the scissors were plunged into Miyu’s arm. Miyu screams, jerking backward and thrashing wildly as the scissors are removed. The girl raises the scissors for another stab but-

Tux screamed louder, covering their eyes, unable to see what was happening. “D-Devil! Devil I’ll do it! Please stop this, I’ll do it!”

Immediately the scene on the screen freezes, the tip of the scissors pressed against Miyu’s other arm as she continues to scream and cry. In contrast, the Smiling Devil is calm and pleased as he abandons his seat and approaches a shaking Red Tux, taking their arm without a word and leading them out of the trial room while you’re all staring in shocked confusion. The projector shuts off.

There isn’t time to react before a dazed looking Red Tux is pushed back in the door, now holding a thick piece of expensive looking paper. That… that had only taken seconds, what exactly…?

And then Miyu is pushed through the door as well, right into Red Tux’s arms. A piece of cloth is messily tied around her injured arm as a makeshift bandage.

“Deal’s a deal. She’s all yours.” The Devil says smugly. “Sorry to disappoint, but that’s all folks, show’s over. Looks like the little Maid lucked out this time.” He stands aside, holding the door open for Red Tux and Miyu to hurry through, and then he steps out as well and seems to vanish into the shadows of the hall, leaving the door ajar.

Well…

You’re free to go?