Photo: "Dagger Belmont" by me

The boy smiled up at everyone. "I'm really sorry for oversleeping! You guys must be brimming with questions right about now!"

Aspen smiled at him. "Of course we are."

"I'm going to be organizing everything that you guys will be doing, and I hope you have fun here!"

Brody trembled slightly. "W-why did you bring us here? And why can't I remember anything about what happened?"

Erik only merely smiled as he looked at them. "This is for your own good, guys. I don't think you guys want to remember what has happened to the outside world. I brought you here so you guys will be safe and make friends!"

There was a hush as a plastic cup full of orange juice flew over the table and hit Erik in the head, spilling it all over him.

"Don't give me this bullshit, you freak!" the girl named Nova screamed at him. "You're just a kidnapper! Let me go home!"

Leo felt bad for the small host as he stared down at his hands, the orange juice dripping out of his hair. Miraculously, Erik looked up once again and smiled at them. "I'm sorry if that's what you think of me, but please give me a chance! I don't have the power to take you back home."

Nova could only scoff as she sat back in her chair, Eve offering Erik a paper towel.

Erik dried off his hair the best he could before he looked around. "Well, that's all I have to say for you guys! You are free to explore this island as well as the central island. You might have noticed, but there are three other islands that have yet to be opened. They'll open the better you guys get to know each other."

Yumi made a face. "I have to make friends to see what else this island has?"

"Yup! And, I have the perfect bonding activity for you guys!"

With a proud smile, Erik went to the doorway of the lobby and took out two suitcases before opening them. Upon closer inspection, Leo realized that they were swimsuits.

Gin scowled slightly. "Are you kidding right now? You want us to swim together on this island, when we have no recollection of how we got here and why you've brought us?"

Elson shrugged as he stepped forward. "No one found anything dangerous, right? I think we should relax a little and enjoy the scenery." He picked up a pair of swimming trunks and flashed everyone a grin. "Well, I'm gonna go swimming, so if anyone wants to join me then come along!" With those parting words, he ran off to go change.

The remaining fifteen stood quietly before Phoenix stepped forward and grabbed a swimsuit. "I agree with him. Let's just live a little and have some fun, guys! Let's go, Eve!" The quiet girl protested as the Ultimate Mechanic grabbed her wrist and dragged her off to the beach.

Soon, others were in pursuit as the crowd slowly dispersed. It continued to dwindle until those that remained were Yumi, Gin, Cassini, Raven, Aspen, and Leo.

Aspen sighed as he wrapped his jacket around himself tighter. "I can't go out...I'll burn if I do."

Gin rolled his eyes. "Never mind your health conditions. This entire premise is stupid. Getting along? What a joke. They all have the personality of a plastic cup, I swear."

Leo slowly walked towards the mass of swimsuits before tentatively picking one up. "Well...it looks fun. I'm gonna go. I'll see you around."

With those parting words, Leo left to change, running to the beach in his swim trunks as he waved. "Don't forget me, guys!"

Elson's eyes brightened as he noticed and shouted in glee, tackling him into the water. "You finally came!"

There were giggles and laughs as the group continued to mess around in the water, soon joined by Yumi, Raven, and Aspen as they bashfully admitted that it sounded fun and proceeded to sit in the sand.

"Oh, what a poor choice of swimsuit!" Leo heard Legend exclaim loudly as he began to examine her. "Your body's curves are natural, a one-piece like this won't do! Here, I have a string bikini that you could try that would help accentuate your body—"

Nova scowled as she shoved him back into the water. "Oh! My! God! Don't touch me, you pervert!"

The fashionista looked hurt as he sat up before Phoenix smiled deviously and stood next to him. "Oh, but he's right, Nova! Come on, a little trying wouldn't hurt..."

There were yelps and squeals as the three of them began to chase each other, laughing the entire time.

Leo couldn't help but smile in amusement as he watched them, suddenly noticing Erik who was sitting nearby. His gaze was transfixed beyond the group splashing around and seemed to focus on the horizon ahead.

Suddenly, the weather turned immediately. Unnaturally dark clouds began to gather above them as a hush fell over the crowd.

The small host broke his gaze on the ocean, paling in fear as he looked up. "N-no way. It can't be him!"

There was a chill that traveled down Leo's spine. "Who is it?"

As the sky continued to darken, the nearby monitors that they had ignored since their time on the island lit up.

There was a figure sitting at a desk, wearing a black and white Hawaiian shirt buttoned up halfway. He was leaned back in his chair, revealing that he was wearing a pair of khaki shorts and brown sandals. A pair of sunglasses sat atop his head, revealing his eyes.

Leo felt his pulse quicken as he realized that this person had one eye that was red, and another that was silver.

The person took a sip of a mimosa before he leaned forward into the monitor. "Are we finally on? Oh, great!"

Eve trembled next to Leo as she took a step back. "Wh-who are you?"

The man grinned as he held his hands out in a welcoming gesture. "I'm a bit sad now. Erik, you didn't tell them? Why, I'm Dagger Belmont, of course! I'm the host of your guys' trip! Ah, but I've been a bit bored by you guys. You're getting along too well, so we're just gonna start this game right now!"

Leo's breath stopped momentarily. "What are you talking about?"

Dagger grinned as he looked at them dead into the monitor. Even through the screen, his eyes seemed to drill a hole right into their heart. "This isn't a trip for you guys to get along. This is my brilliantly devised killing vacation! That's right. You guys are going to kill each other for my entertainment. Now, I want you all to assemble at the park on the central island. Over there, I'll give you details."

Erik shook his head quickly as he stood in front of the fourteen people gathered at the monitor. "You're not going to lay a hand on them while I'm here!"

"I have no time for idle chit-chat," the host scoffed, before the screen turned blank.

There was an immediate uproar of commotion as people began to panic.

"What does he mean, kill?"

"He's not actually serious, right? This has to be...this has to be a joke!"

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die!"

"Everyone, settle down!" A voice called out in the middle of the pandemonium.

All eyes turned onto Raven, who stood with a steely look of determination on her face. "I'm sure there's something else to this. For now, we don't know our enemy. We should listen to his words and gather at the park." With those words, she began to walk towards the bridge down the road.

There were more murmurs as people began to reluctantly follow her. As he walked, Leo felt that his footsteps were heavier and heavier as the dread began to settle deep into his heart.

They soon arrived to see that Cassini and Gin had already assembled, both of them sitting at a bench.

"See? I knew there was something else," Gin smirked slightly. "You dumbasses, following around Serafino like crap trailing behind a goldfish—"

"This isn't the time to fight," Aspen murmured as he pointed at a single figure, standing at the tree in the center of the park.

With a jolt, Leo realized that it was Dagger.

The host smiled as he walked up to them. "I bet you're all thinking that I'm gonna laugh and say this is a joke. Well, too bad for you! I'm serious. There's no escaping this island, either! You only have one way to leave."

Yumi's eyes seemed to brighten slightly. "How?"

Dagger let out a burst of laughter. "Kill someone, of course!"

Leo felt the blood drain from his face as he listened on.

"Now, my rules are fairly simple. You just have to murder someone in any way you desire! Stabbing, choking, drowning—the possibilities are endless! After there is a body discovered, you will all participate in a trial, where everyone will participate to try and figure out the blackened. If you can successfully identify the culprit, then only they will be punished for breaking the law! If you don't correctly identify the culprit, then everyone else will be punished for their stupidity as the real killer will leave. Sounds fun, doesn't it?"

There was a mixture of reactions as some began to cry, others paced around, and the rest could only stand in pure shock.

"Wait!" A determined voice called out.

Dagger looked over in annoyance. "What now?"

Erik marched up to the host, positioning himself in between the sixteen guests and Dagger. "You're not going to do this to them. Because...I'm going to fight you and win."

A chilling look came over Dagger's face before he grinned menacingly. "Oh? Then come at me."

The small figure lunged forward as the two of them began to fight. They both disappeared for a few minutes, leaving the group in stony silence as they all silently rooted for the person who vowed to protect them.

The silence was suddenly broken as Dagger reappeared again. "Man...what a pain. He ruined my shirt."

There was a gasp as Erik appeared next to him, beaten and barely standing, shaking as he looked down at himself in horror. He coughed up blood, wiping his mouth quickly with his arm. "Wh-what did you do to me?!"

Dagger smiled innocently. "Well, you've clearly lost, haven't you? And I can't really afford to have you, a symbol of hope, to remain on this island. I've decided to make you my little brother! And to do that, I've made one of your eyes red and redressed you. See? I'm such a fantastic older brother! I've made an example out of you, and with that, I'll leave my message to the rest of these wonderful people."

Leo felt his knees shake as the host said his final lines before leaving with Erik.

"Now you guys know: there's no one here to save you."