#vdch1

The other week, Alex remembered people returning from a certain room with strange items. It intrigued her, in all honesty...she was never given any gifts when she was growing up- or even now. Her mother always promised to get her something one day, though it was obviously a lie to make her work harder. Maybe if she could locate the machine it came from...she could buy herself a gift or two. After all, she had received a few more coins from dungeons and such. 

[INFIRMARY ==> MONOMACHINE]

Placing two coins into the machine, Alex couldn't wait to see what the very first gift would be. Hopefully it would be something nice...oh, she was so excited.

261  - English Slang Dictionary  

This has been used before and has several words circled in yellow highlighter. All the circled words are swear words or phrases. Who could be this vulgar?

"...Oh...dear...how...how vulgar..."

That was...definitely a disappointment. So much for her very first gift being something special, huh? Perhaps the second one would prove to be much better...

82 - Bitty Bat Hoop

A shittily embroidered bat on a soft fabric and on a wooden hoop. Not much else to say here.

"K-KYAAAAA...!!! O-oh dear...! Oh n-no aha...! B-bats...n-no...no...bats..."

With a scream, she dropped the stupid looking hoop and backed away slowly before realizing...it couldn't hurt her. It was just a shitty looking bat made out of yarn. It was not going to hurt her...

She was safe.

Picking it up, she decided that...this did not go as well as she had hoped it would. Oh well...maybe someone was kind enough to gift her something if she gave one of these things away. But for now...she wanted to find solitude. Even if it was just for a few minutes, loneliness would do her some good.

The balcony seemed very nice, calm and serene...perfect place to relax and hopefully be safe from any more dangers. (There was no more trial. No more murder. She was safe.)

[MONOMACHINE ==> BALCONY]

She was about to check out the balcony when- WHAM! Slamming right into someone else and falling to the ground with a silent "oof!". Oh no! Oh no she messed up! Before even trying to stand up and run away, she began to tear up and apologize to whoever it was.

Kohori glanced over the room. The trial was over. The execution was over and that was that. Kohori's reaction to the execution would probably have been ballistic... Had the chosen actually died. But no. Instead they got off easy. Good for them. As for the rest of them here, well, there wasn't going to be any getting off easy next time. For all she knew, the next time they set foot in here, the two people standing in the podiums next to her would be dead.

After that whole debacle, Kohori knew who she didn't want to affiliate with and who she would rather have on her side... Well, partially. Most of the class she was undecided on still. Whatever. She considered herself a loner anyways.

(tw self-depreciation, suicidal thoughts) 

Minerva hadn't wanted to let go of Zeta. She wanted to hold onto him until the very end, to even face in the uncertainty of death if it meant she had to. But that wasn't what Zeta wanted from her, and he sent her away with a goodbye and a kiss. It broke her heart even further.

 Who was Minnie LaFleur? A girl hiding behind a godlike persona. The disappointment behind the great mother of Juggalos. And who was Subaru Kurokawa? Simply the man behind Zeta Umbriel, simply a scared person. Subaru was still a genius of unexplained magnitude besides the fact that he was actually someone worth mourning for. He deserved to live.

 With this thought, she approached Monobear and whispered a question to him. While she was resolving an answer, it appeared to be too late for the chain leaped for the horror mangaka, only to grab Nagisa instead.

 All at once, Minerva felt a pang of guilt, even a pang of envy. Nagisa didn't care for Zeta like Minerva did, Minerva should have been the one taking the bullet for him, not Nagisa. 

 Was it possible Minerva had retreated because she was afraid of dying? That she had asked Monobear that question knowing it was impossible? To tell herself she had tried?

But the actions of the magical girl were in vain, for Zeta was still pulled away by the chain, and it was obvious he still had it in him to resist. Minerva felt a lurch in her stomach. She knew she had to try and stop him from being hurt, but she just couldn't move.

 Though she did manage to look away from his execution, perhaps hearing his cries of pain and the subsequent silence was worse for her. 

 However, just as Minerva began to sink into the bowels of despair, just as she was able to come to grips with the reality that her dear friend, the only one who had managed to defend her, had passed, a hope shone in the darkness.

"K-Kurokawa-kun!"

 She yelled as she ran to Zeta's side. He...was breathing. His hands were gone, but he was still alive, still alive somehow. Not even caring for the reasons, she threw herself onto the ground to hold him, to sob into him once more, to breath in his scent.

 He was back, and she'd never let go of him again.

"…The infirmary."

The thought hadn't occured to Minerva of how in need of medical attention Zeta and Nagisa were. Even when Minerva heard the words, it still took her a good five seconds to process the thought and respond. She was so physically weak, but she would not allow Zeta to be taken from her when she had just gotten him back. It's not like she was afraid of getting her dress anymore messed up, as she was still coated in Zeta's makeup and M's blood, as well as missing most of the front trail.

Alex expected for everything to go as it had been planned. Zeta was to be executed in place of the true killer...and Nagisa Amano would be safe. She never did anything wrong...she never deserved to be punished in the place of an actual criminal. She was incredibly kind to him...and they honestly hoped she would not be hurt during this game of life and death.

As the execution was about to commence, much like everyone else probably was...Alex was surprised. Why had she...done that? Of course this Zeta person did not deserve to die...Nagisa was going to die in place. Biting their lip, they tried so hard to not scream...screaming wasn't allowed. They did not have permission to scream right now. But...they wanted to help her, they didn't even feel like they could watch. Palms against their eyes, the only thing Alex could use to dictate what was going on was by the horrific sounds. Sadly...they didn't even really pay attention to Zeta's punishment. (was he alive? Was he dead? Alex had no idea and really had no idea.) 

Before Monomi or Monobear could even give the trial her status, Alex ran out of the trial room in tears. Why? What did they ever? What did Nagisa ever do wrong? Finally they made someone they wanted to call a "friend", but now she was either dead or incredibly injured. 

Rest. They needed to rest.

[TRIAL ROOM ==> DORM]

Making it to their dorm, Alex couldn't help but stare at the door that connected the recently deceased M's room...it made them feel sick. All of these things happening right now...it made them wish they had died instead- no. No no no. They couldn't die. They had to live.

Why were they shaking so much now? 

Everything was going to be okay. Nothing bad was going to happen. Sleep. They just had to lay in bed and sleep. Even if they couldn't close their eyes they had to sleep- After about an hour, they gave up on the idea of sleep. The infirmary...if she was really alright, she'd probably...be in the infirmary. Just before exiting their dorm to see if Nagisa was alright, Alex...decided to change up their looks a bit.

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"...I suppose...this shall be fine...Ah yes...I look acceptable...I...I think."

And with that, she were off to the infirmary to check on her friend. Or, perhaps a friend. She really wasn't sure. Maybe when Nagisa was feeling better, she would have a chance to ask...she needed permission, after all.

[DORM ==> INFIRMARY]

The moment she opened the door, she was quite overtaken with the sight of her friend and the girl who tried to save them both. Calm...stay calm...stay-

Fuck.

Machi couldn't bear to look for very long. Two classmates, kids like her, were lying in a heap in pain and agony and oh got there was so much blood.

"҉͘͜Yų͢ḱ̛́i͏͟ǹ͏i̶͝i̴͘?̴̡ ̷͟Ẁ̧̢ąk͘e ̴u͡p͠҉͜, ̶͘Y̨u̧͢͢k̴i͜͞n͘͟i͘ì̡!̧̕"͘͠

A child's voice kept going off in her head, again and again and again, her recognition of it fading more and more with each internal scream.

It's as if her whole body was trying to keep her from remembering.

Shaking it off, Machi realized the gravity of the situation at hand. Two people were there and they were dying and she could help save them.

"...The infirmary."

Machi remembered seeing one, on the first floor of the inn. Was it opened? She sure hoped so.

"Someone help me carry 'em!"

Zeta finds himself in an unfamiliar room - an artist’s studio of some sort of another, judging by the items lying around the place. Said room is on the dimly-lit side, giving it quite the unsettling atmosphere, and shows obvious signs of neglect - everything is coating in a veil of dust - for one, but the state of the room is clearly not what’s occupying the horror mangaka’s attention as he attempts to get his bearings. No, his eyes are fixated on the numerous mannequins that populate the room, all of which lack a head.

The sound of something creaking nearby catches his ears, and he steps back a pace or so, eyes flitting around the room as he tries to scope out an exit. Zeta has read - and written - enough horror manga to know where this is going - these things are bad news, and he’s not going to spend any more time with them than he has no. And sure enough, as he steps backward a pace or two, edging towards the nearest exit, he is greeted with a chorus of voices, all of which are issuing from the mannequins, which seem to have… shifted slightly.

“Look! Someone’s here! And he’s so handsome!”

“Such a nice head! I doubt he’d appreciate it like I would, wouldn’t you say?”

“I want it! Oh, I want that head for my own! Please, give it to me!”

The last voice comes right next to where Zeta is standing - by attempting to put himself closer to one of the exits, he also put himself a bit too close to one of the mannequins, which suddenly lurches to life and lunges for the mangaka, clearly intending to wrench his head right off its shoulders.

Unfortunately for his would-be assailant, Zeta is clearly prepared for this. Before the mannequin can lay its hands on him, he lunges for and grabs hold of a nearby chair, swinging it at his attacker with all the force he can muster, sending it reeling backwards and falling to the floor in a broken and completely inert heap.

Even with that one deal with, Zeta is far from out of the woods yet, and he knows it - there are still several other headless sculptures that have shambled to life and are clearly ready to claim his head for their own - one has even seized an unsettlingly sharp-looking meat cleaver and is waving it menacingly in the air and it advances towards him. He bolts for the door he’s closest to, but finds it locked tight and completely unyielding to his attempts to force it open - and the mannequins are quickly advancing on him, leaving him with no opening to run towards another exit. Zeta grimaces as he realizes just how boxed-in he is and does a bit more than grimace as one of the mannequins lunges for him once again-

“Get away! His head is mine!”

“No, it’s mine! I saw it first!”

-only for another mannequin to suddenly attack its fellow, smacking it aside as it tries to grab for Zeta, only for yet another to attack it in turn. Within moments, the mannequins have begun to fight each other for the right to Zeta’s head, leaving Zeta himself to take advantage of the chaos and dash past the ensuing brawl before charging full force towards the other door and emerging into a hallway…

...where another mannequin is waiting at one end. As soon as it senses Zeta, it rushes towards him… and the horror mangaka can hear more footsteps behind him as well - one of the mannequins from the studio has managed to break free from the brawl after all and is now also giving chase.

That’s all the encouragement Zeta needs to continues running, although it’s unclear how much longer he can manage to do that - his gait is growing increasingly more unsteady as he rushes down the only non-blocked off route he can see, leaving the sound of more fighting between his pursuers in his wake, and his breathing is growing more ragged by the moment as he presses on up the flight of stairs in front of him as quickly as he can manage, where he finds...

…absolutely nothing. Zeta, who is struggling to catch his breath as he comes to a stop near the top of the stairs, is completely, utterly alone, with nary a murderous mannequin in sight. The realization is enough to make his shoulders relax visibly. Oh sure, there’s no visible exit in sight, he’s spent most of his energy, and he has no idea what he’s supposed to do from here, but he’s left them in the dust for now. He’s free to breathe easy.

“Look what I found~! It’s all mine now!”

Or not.

Zeta snaps to attention and wheels around to face one of the mannequins, the exact same one whom he had been waving a meat cleaver at him earlier, just moments before it attacks, but this time, he has neither the resources nor the energy to defend himself properly. All he can do as his assailant swings the cleaver in his direction is reflexively throw up his hands… which are promptly and neatly lopped off.

A look of utter agony contorts Zeta’s face and a strangled-sounding scream escapes his throat as his hands hit the floor. Without thinking, he returns the blow by reflexively kicking the mannequin as hard as he can manage, leaving it broken at the foot of the stairs and him with his head still attached to his shoulders, before collapsing to the ground, his body spasming in pain and more noises of agony escaping his throat as a worrisomely and unusually large amount of blood begins to leak from his stumps.

Zeta Umbriel, the Super High School Level Horror Mangaka, has been dealt a grievous injury.

Zeta said nothing to Aki’s request, no matter how wise some part of him knew it would be to respond to it before the end came. Another person who just wants to feel better about himself, that horrendously bitter, resentful, and most of all, irrational voice in his mind said. Who knows if he’ll even deliver on his promises? Who knows if he’ll live to do so, even if he is sincere? Who knows if anyone will? It’s better not to say anything to him at all.

Instead he remained stonily silent, continuing to bury his face into Minerva’s shoulder, right until another voice chastised him for remaining there like that when he was a few moments away from being dragged off to his demise. What if she didn’t let go and got hurt or ended up getting dragged there with him? (Well, hey, it was a possibility, right? Call him morbid, but…) Thus, the horror mangaka gently disengaged from the charity worker’s embrace, hesitating briefly before planting a (significantly more awkward but still clearly well-meant) kiss on her forehead.

“I suppose this is goodbye, then, huh? Sorry for leaving so soon.”

And with that said, Zeta forced a half-hearted attempt at a smile before turning away, wiping his eyes with his sleeve, taking a deep breath, squaring his shoulders, facing in Monobear’s direction and tossing a significantly less friendly smile his way. Everything about his body language, from the expression on his face to his body language, to the “bring it” gestures he was making with his hands screamed defiant bravery. It was difficult to tell he’d been trembling all over and crying just moments before.

Then, he’d always been so good at pretending everything was alright most of the time. Even until the end, huh?

“Sooooo, Kuma-kun, what will it be~? Drawing and quartering? Flaying? Crushing? The breaking wheel? The blood eagle? Uhuhuuuuu, so many possibilities, wouldn’t you say~? Please, do your worst!”

He saw the chain shoot out in his direction, and he braced himself for the inevitable… only for Nagisa, the one half the class had been voting for just moments before (if only, if only…), to suddenly take her place out in front of him and be summarily dragged off in his stead at a speed that had his head reeling. The whole gesture completely knocked the manufactured confidence out of the horror mangaka, leading him to watch slack-jawed as another one of Monobear’s executions proceeded to play out and...

...oh god, that looked so painful, even if it wasn’t half as gruesome as it could have been. (Was she dead? He.. couldn’t tell.) At least he was still in one piece? At least someone had paid the price for the class’ massive fuckup? At least he’d be leaving the courtroom in one piece?

Haha, of course he wouldn’t.

Zeta hardly batted an eye at the second chain shooting out in his direction. Of course the bear wasn’t satisfied and wouldn’t be satisfied until he was dead. All Nagisa had done in the end was given the bear someone else to torment before he moved onto the designated fall guy for the evening. It would be more despairing that way, wouldn’t it? As someone who’d written so many morbid, despairing scenarios himself, he supposed he understood that. Small wonder he wasn’t shocked at this.

As the collar clamped around his neck, Zeta finally realized that yes, it would have been smart to get his final wishes out there, in hopes that someone (Minerva, probably) would act on them, that he had been foolish for holding back earlier out of sheer, misguided spite. And thus he dug in his feet, trying to resist the pull of the chain with every ounce of strength he had as he fixed his gaze on those assembled in the courtroom. At those who had helped get him killed.

“L-look, if any of you get out alive, I need you to s-”

The pink-haired woman stood mostly silent after the results of the voting session were given. Justice had not been served, and she had expected that much. However, the sudden randomization of who would be punished was a wild card. Once more her hands went towards one side of her waist, and upon realizing that what she desired was not there, she scowled. A low, quiet growl emitted from her, and her eyebrows furrowed. Shaking her head, she ultimately decided against it.

She could still do something even without the company of her trusty companion.

It was because of this that you saw the magical girl run on up towards the horror mangaka with lightning speed. One moment she had been at her podium, the next she was at the unfortunate soul’s side. Her back was facing away from the other individual, and her stance was strong.

Alas, it turned out that that was a move not to be made.