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With nightmares plaguing Kaiyo throughout the night, it's clear that she's at her wit's end. How long will it take someone to snap...?

Chapter Text

“You really think escape is possible, don’t you?”

“No. You’re trapped here. Forever.”

“Well... you know how to leave. Just give in.”

“Stop trying to hide your true intentions, Kaiyo...”

“We’re always here.”

“You useless bitch.”

I awoke with a start, drenched in sweat, hyperventilating. Due to the darkness of the room, I had no idea what time it was, nor did I know what kind of scene I was making. I quickly got out of bed, panting for breath and falling to the floor.

I looked up at the door.

It was open, and standing there was... a shadow. I fell away from the door, scrambling backwards as it walked into the room and closed the door behind it. I got to my feet, shaking the still sleeping Ini.

“Ini... Ini, please wake up...”

No response. I sat next to her, putting my knees to my chest and looking around frantically at the room, wondering where the shadow had gone.

“You fear the unknown? Well, here I am.”

The voice felt like it was coming from inside my own head. I covered my ears, to no avail- whatever was assaulting me was internal.

“What’s wrong, Kaiyo? Scared?”

“T-This is a nightmare.” I closed my eyes, curling further into a ball. “This is just a nightmare... this isn’t happening.”

I opened one eye when I felt a hand grab my knee. In front of me was the shadowy figure, their gnarled hand almost threatening to tear into my flesh.

“This isn’t real enough for you, Kaiyo? I’m not real enough for you?”

Then, the figure leant in, revealing their face was...

I screamed, trying to move, but I was frozen in place. I struggled meaninglessly against their grip as they made a smile too wide for a normal person to be able to do.

“... It was real enough for your mother.”

That’s when I woke up for real. I screamed my lungs out, tossing the blanket off and collapsing to the floor, much to the surprise of Ini who bolted upright and away from me.

“No! No more! Please!” I begged, like begging was even necessary. “I don’t wanna... I don’t wanna!”

“H-Hey! Excuse me!” Ini was at my side in moments. “Hey... ma’am, who are you? What’s going on...?”

I didn’t even care that she didn’t remember me. I threw my arms around her, crying into her shoulder. Ini, with nothing better to do, hugged back, whispering comforting things into my ear.

“H-Hey... It’s okay... I guess you had a nightmare?” Ini patted my back. “I get them all the time. You just got to remember they aren’t real! That’s what Daddy says.”

I don’t know how long we held each other for. All I know is that by the time Ini finally let go- read, made me finally let go- A familiar chime was playing.

Familiar to them. Not for me.

Ding!

“Ladiesss and Gentlemen! It isss officially day time. You may now leave your roomsss and explore of your own accord.”

Ini got to her feet. “Well, stranger, looks like it’s time to go play! You coming with?”

“N-No. Not yet.” I got to my feet, a little carefully in case my back gave out. “I, uh... need to check something first.”

“Okay!” Ini skipped out of the room, whistling as she went. The second the door was closed, I threw myself back onto the bed and screamed into the pillow.

Then, with a heavy heart, I got back to it. I opened the door to my room, heading outside, tablet in hand.

And the first person I meet?

“You’re up early.”

Shui was standing there, giving me a strangely worried look. I wiped off my face, chattering my teeth as I did.

“Y-Yeah... bad dream.”

Shui sighed. An awkward silence echoed between us both as we acknowledged the fact we were still here.

“... So now what?” I asked, knowing what the answer was.

“Now, we continue.” Shui headed straight out the door, ignoring me as he entered the garden. I shook my head, not knowing what to say. Truly, were at the end of the rope.

I followed him into the garden, ignoring as Ini introduced herself to Shui for what was probably the fourth time. I went straight through the canteen into the kitchen, where Lanzo was busy making... something.

“Ah, hey Kaiyo!” Lanzo smiled at me cheerfully. “I’m making fish fillets. You want some?”

“No thank you. I’m not hungry.” That was a lie, of course- I just didn’t feel like eating. “Lanzo, can I trust you with a secret?”

“Of course! What’s up?” Lanzo turned away from her work and addressed me directly.

I took a deep breath. “I think... I might be getting the urge to escape...”

“Honey, we all are.” Lanzo tussled my hair. “The aim is to ignore it, okay? You can’t fall for his words. I’m sure Monomodo is just lying about his ‘motive’ and his ‘escape plan’ shtick.”

Somehow, that was even worse. I shuddered, wondering if there was truly no escape...

“I mean...” Lanzo suddenly spoke. “If there was really no exit... why would he bother doing all this for us?”

“... What do you mean?”

“Think about it, Kaiyo!” Lanzo put a hand on my shoulder. “Food, recreation, labs designed to focus on our talents... If there was truly no way out, we’d be left to starve here. Right?”

“L-Lanzo... this place isn’t real, though.” I stammered.

“Even more reason!” Lanzo patted my shoulder with the hand she’d put on it. “Could they not just torture our minds while we’re asleep? Why bother with this whole killing game?”

I could tell she was trying to make me feel better, I really could. It wasn’t working, but she was trying. I just couldn’t see her point- was she just trying to stay positive, or was she trying to make me feel better?

“Anyway, if you see anyway who’s hungry, go ahead and call them to the kitchen. I’m on breakfast this time round.” Lanzo turned and continued doing what she was doing while I left through the other entrance. As I left, I heard her make one final quip; “If this is a simulation, why do we still feel hunger...?”

I held my head as I leant on the wall. I couldn’t take it. Something was creaking, like I was about to snap.

“We need to escape.”

The voice was loud. Like it had spoken from directly behind me. I dropped to my knees, gripping my temples, trying to ignore it as it yelled at me over and over.

“N-No more... No more...”

My mind felt heavy. I couldn’t breathe- a panic attack had started, and usually that followed with me losing control of my body. Pressure was building under my nose, like it was about to erupt with blood.

And then he spoke.

“Nice to sssee I’m getting to sssomeone in thisss facility.”

I looked up at Monomodo. From a standing point, he reached my stomach... now I was kneeling, he was standing above me. I felt useless under his gaze.

“P-Please...”

“Begging, are we?” Monomodo laughed quietly. “Hard to believe that. Hasss the pain of losssing everything finally forced you to give in?”

“I’ll do... anything...” I grabbed his shoulders, something he didn’t take kindly too as he dusted my hands off. “Please... make the voices go away... I can’t take it!”

Monomodo gave a devilish grin. “Oh, you know how to get rid of them.”

Monomodo’s plush white hand opened to reveal a dagger, coloured into the monochrome etchings that he was.

“You’re looking at the sssolution.”

Carefully, I took the dagger, looking at it carefully. It was a real, honest to god one- a stab in the right place would kill someone for sure.

Monomodo crossed his arms. “Well?”

“... T-Thank you.” I looked at him, tears welling in my eyes. “I-I’ll... I’ll consider...”

Knowing I wasn’t in the right mind, Monomodo chuckled and slithered away, leaving me with the knife. I continued staring at it, feeling strangely at ease with it in my hands.

... I’d seen the dagger before. Where, I didn’t remember.

I got to my feet shakily. A burning sensation had begun behind my eyes. The voices were quiet; I could hear them breathing. My feet moved on their own as I pushed into the medical office where Shui was talking to Hibachi.

“Sleeping tablets. Have they got any?”

I stopped. What were they talking about...?

“They do! All sorts.” Hibachi smiled sweetly at him. “Why? Are you having restless nights?”

“Not me, exactly. Kaiyo is... having problems.”

I felt my breath catch in my throat. What did he mean? Did he know?

“It’s nice that you care about her, Shui, but you should probably talk with her about this.” Hibachi turned away, grabbing a bottle. “Here. See if she--”

I dropped the dagger, kicking it under the bed. Shui turned to see me, tears running down my face, and promptly entered his usual personality.

“... Kaiyo. What are you doing here?”

“I-I came to find some sleeping pills... L-Looks like you found them for me, huh?” I weakly tried a smile. I wanted to vomit; I would’ve killed him had I not known. I would’ve killed Hibachi too.

What was wrong with me?

Hibachi peeked from around Shui. “Kaiyo, sweetie? What’s wrong?”

“... I’m sorry.”

I rushed out of the room, hurrying down the hallway, planning to head into the lounge. There had to be people there. I just needed to keep away from him- something about the situation was...

... What was that smell?

I stopped, freezing in my tracks. Something stunk of... copper...

I threw open the door to the lounge, my worry growing at a rate unmatched. Inside, Mutsuko was talking with Winnego, but their conversation stopped when they saw my face.

“Miss Sycamore?” Mutsuko rose to his feet. “What is wrong? Why are you so... flustered?”

I sighed with relief. “Sorry... I thought I smelt blood.”

Winnego looked to Mutsuko and stood too. “Blood? Like, people blood? What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I must’ve freaked out... I had a bad dream last night, so that probably doesn’t help... A-And I’ve been feeling like someone is watching me from afar.”

Mutsuko marched over, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Miss Sycamore, listen...”

And then his eyes darted up, and his mouth remained open mid sentence. Before he could stop me, I turned around, looking to what he was looking at.

And much like him... my mouth widened. I threw both of my hands over it, my eyes opening wider than I thought they could. Winnego also poked his head around Mutsuko, gauging a similar expression.

Blood, like I had thought, was running from under the Aviary door.

Instantly, my blood ran cold, and my instincts to help kicked in. I ran to the door, despite Mutsuko’s protest, and pushed it open, looking left and right, my head stopping when I saw what had caused so much fear.

In a heartbeat, that fear doubled. Time froze as if tundra had washed over me.

Hanging from a bamboo railing by his leg, his arms tied behind his back with a face of utter terror...

Was Wananta.

I could stop staring, even as my vision began to fade. The world bled into darkness as I heard the others rush into the room.

It took only the mention of his name... for me to pass out.