{A/N: *EDIT 8/19/22* By the way, this is my sh*tpost Fangan. I feel like I should clarify that for when the quality drops drastically after each chapter.}

{A/N: There will be swearing, death, blood, and lots of mature topics in this story. More info in the description.}

Daily Life Key:

-Protagonist thoughts will be italics.

-Simple descriptions and actions not connected to speech will be in ( ).

-Actions connected to speech will be in * *.

-Announcements will be in bolded * *.

-When presented with options to represent the game with be bolded, and [ ] will appear around selected options.

-Author Notes will be in bolded { }.

_____

Murder.

Such a small word for an action that ruins lives in a matter of seconds.

*Ding dong, bing bong*

(A bright pink color flashed onto a TV screen. I sat up in the bed, my head in excruciating pain.)

???1: *over intercom* It is now 7 am! Rise and shine my beloved participants! ^v^

???: The hell was that...?

(Once my vision cleared, I took a look around the room. I had no memory of falling asleep here.)

What is this place? How did I get here?

Was I brought here by someone...?

???1: Also, I highly encourage all of you to check your pockets for a phone.

(Obligating with the voice from the screen, I dug my hand into my pockets. I was relieved to feel a phone, though when I pulled it out—)

???: Who's phone is this?!

Where's my phone and how did this other phone get in my pocket?! Was I asleep with a stranger's phone in my pocket?

???1: *over intercom* All of your personal phones have been replaced with special F-Phones during the course of this game! ^o^

Game? What do they mean by game?

???1: *over intercom* Within your F-Phones is a totally informational video explaining the basics of your situation.

I can't remember what's going on, so I suppose the video is the only way I'll get answers.

(I turned on the phone and a video instantly started playing.)

Watch tutorial video?

[ Yes ]

No

(The video began with a black screen. There was a faint beep, followed by the same voice from the TV screen.)

???1: Hello and welcome to this special edition killing game!

A killing game...? What?

???1: All of you have graciously volunteered for this experimental study and signed away your lives to V Corp.

Sigh away my life?! Why would I make such a terrible—

???1: Don't believe me?

(The screen flashed, with ???1 holding up a pink piece of paper. At the bottom was a signature that was undoubtedly mine.)

???1: Ya'll signed up for this wether you remember it or not. OvO

I definitely signed up for this game... But, like the speaker said, I have no memory of doing it.

???1: Now, that's the very legit proof has been shown, allow to give you a run down of the killing game!

(The screen flashed to an elementary level slideshow titled "Killing Game".)

???1: In order to win the killing game, all you need to do is kill a fellow participant. You can choose any method you want, as our budget murder game supplies many different murder possible options. *giggles* And I know how all of you like to have options.

(A slide of a stock image courtroom, with 3 stick figures on each side then flashed on the screen.)

???1: Once a murder takes place, you'll all attend a class trial where the crime will be discussed amongst yourselves.

(One if the stick figures turned a red and had a smile. I assumed this was meant to represent the culprit.)

???1: When the majority of participants are ready to vote, everyone will vote for whodunnit. If the person will the most votes is incorrect, everyone beside the "blackened" will be executed and they only can stop playing the killing game.

(The normal stick figures returned, before 5 of them turned green with poorly drawn smiles on their faces.)

???1: However, if the innocents or the "spotless" vote correctly and discover the killer, then the blackened will be executed and everyone else can return their lives of being a boring killing game participant.

.........

???1: That's all for now ladies! See you soon! ^v^

(The phone's screen abruptly shut off, leaving me to the room. I felt a buzz from the phone, seeing an app called "Rules" appear.)

If the voice is to be trusted, then it wouldn't be out of the question for this "game" to have rules...

(I clicked on the rules.)

Rules:

1 - Morning announcements will go off at 7 am and nighttime announcements will go off at 10 pm. Some rooms will be closed off during the 10 pm to 7 am window. Access to these rooms will be completely prohibited while closed.

2 - Destruction or vandalism of school property will result in appropriate punishment.

3 - No killing game mascots and operators can directly participate or interfere with a murder. Doing so will result in appropriate punishment.

4 - No participant may kill more than two participants. Doing so will result in their immediate execution, unless there is a special exception made before the class trial period.

5 - When a murder occurs and 3 participants (who are not the killer) discover the body, an announcement will play letting everyone know that a class trial will began shortly.

6 - Once a body is discovered and the Body Discovery Announcement plays, there will be a short period called the investigation period. It is recommended that participants investigate the murder, but they are free to do as they please during this time.

7 - When the class trial begins, participants will share evidence and debate on who they think the killer or "blacked" is. When a majority of the participants are ready, voting will begin. Refusing to vote will result in a harsh punishment, but not execution.

8 - More rules can be added anytime during non-investigation period and class trial periods.

This adds a little more to that horrible presentation, though it doesn't provide any answers as to how or why I'm here.

???1: *over intercom* Your F-Phones are equipped with a map. Everyone is free to explore the facility until 9 pm tonight. At 9 pm all participants are required to attend a mandatory meeting in the auditorium!

(The intercom cut off, before quickly coming on again.)

???1: And don't be late! >n<

(There was a sudden click from the room's door, it unlocking.)

I take that an invitation to search this place for answers.

(I ran towards the door, pushing it open. On the other side I saw a pair of girls clingy closing to each other. They bore resemblance of each other, their clothes and hair being the feature that set them apart.)

???2: Person!

(The girl with much longer hair inched closer to the other, as if she were trying to hide behind her.)

???: Hey?

???3: What's going on?! Why did you bring us here?!

???: I have no idea what's happening here.

???2: W-We don't know what's happening either...

???: How so?

???2: Well my sister and I woke up here. Then there was this scary video we watched about a game...

???3: A killing game... Do you know anything about that?

???: No, but I saw the same thing on my F-Phone. Is it possible that the three of us are participants in the game?

???2: GASP!

???3: Why would we even be here in the first place though?

Hmm... I already know that we signed a contract, but could the participants all have something in common?

???: Do you two have any guesses as to why you two would be here?

???2: Uh... Oh!

???: Did you figure it out?

???2: My sister and I are the Ultimate Swing Dance Partners!

???: You two are Ultimates?

Hmm... Could that be a plausible theory?

???2: Yeah! I'm Daphne Calloway, the Ultimate Swing Dance Partner.

???: Nice to me you, Daphne. You can call me Sapphire.

Daphine: *loudly whispers to ???3* You should introduce yourself, Wilma! I think Sapphire can help us figure out what's going on here!

???3: ...okay. Wilma Calloway. Ultimate Swing Dance Partner.

Sapphire: You two have the same talent?

Wilma: For swing, you need two people to dance. Our talent means that we're the perfect of swing dancers when we dance together.

Sapphire: That's really interesting. How many years are you two apart?

Wilma: What?

Daphne: We're about 15 minutes apart.

Wilma: We're twins.

Sapphire: R-Right! I see it now.

.........

(I glanced around the hallway, counting 16 total rooms.)

Perhaps there are 16 participants?

Sapphire: Did you two wake up in one of the rooms as well?

Daphne: We get to share a room!

If Daphine and Wilma are sharing, then maybe there 17 total participants?

Sapphire: I see. Would you two want to explore with me?

Wilma: I think think we'll stay here for a bit. Daphne is still pretty shaken from earlier.

Daphne: We'll catch up with you later, Sapphire! Bye!

Sapphire: See you two later.

(I continued my search of the building, coming to a rather small cafeteria at the end of the hallway. Inside the cafeteria were there more people, though they seemed to chatting on their own.)

???4: Hey!

Sapphire: Sorry if I've interrupted something.

???5: It's alright. I'm just glad to see more beautiful faces around.

(The blonde girl who had yet to speak turned to me. She seemed hesitant to tlka, though once her mouth opened she talked a pace far faster than what I expected. She was almost inaudible, had I not have been watching her lips move.)

???6: Do you know what's going on here?

Sapphire: Sadly, no.

???6: Okay.

Sapphire: Sorry?

???5: Don't mind Anahita, she's not very talkative. She's just as confused as everyone else here.

???4: *to Sapphire* Speaking of here, we should introduce ourselves to them.

Sapphire: Oh, you can call me Sapphire by the way.

???4: I'm Sunni Watters. Ultimate Historian. What's your favorite event in history?

Sapphire: Hmm... That's a hard one. There are so many hopeful moments and inspiring accomplishments that come to mind.

Sunni: I know, right? We can learn so much about other people and their journeys through studying history!

We can also learn from people mistakes and failures.

???5: Yo, I'm Alina. Ultimate Bodybuilder. What's up?

Sapphire: Impressive! How long have you been bodybuilding?

Alina: Since I was about 10. But it didn't really become a serious thing until I was older.

(I looked back to the blonde girl, who had a delayed reaction. Upon noticing her cue to speak, she opened her mouth and works ran out of her mouth.)

???6: I'm the Ultimate Fish Biologist, and my name is Anahita Thorne.

Sapphire: Do any of you know what's happening here or how we got here?

Anahita: No.

Alina: *sadly shakes head*

Sunni: Not at the moment, but we're talking to everyone who comes by to see if they know what's going on.

Sapphire: Ah, alright. I'll keep looking around and let you know if I find anything.

Alina: See ya later, Sapphire.

Sunni: Take care!

(I had a quick look around the cafeteria, seeing there was only one way in and out: the way I came in. However, there was a door leading to a kitchen. I decided to go in, not expecting to find more people in there.)

???7: Hiya! Did Sunshine send you?

(There were two girls in the kitchen. One with pink hair and apron, who seemed to be flatten dough with a rolling pin. The other had a few bandaids covering their skin, joyfully sitting upon the countertop. The one on the counter had addressed me.)

Sapphire: Sunshine...?

???7: Mhm! They told me and Mao-Mao to make snacks for everyone here, so we could chat about our situation and stuff!

So. Much. Enthusiasm.

How?!

Sapphire: Mao-Mao...?

???8: Hi! That's me. I'm Maoko Miyata, the Ultimate Baker. And I've been tasked to make some delicious snacks.

???7: Snacks! *???7 scoops up a light brown dough from a bowl and eats it* These snacks are so good Mao-Mao.

Mao: Why do you keep eating the batter, Tala? *frowns* No one else is going to get any if you keep eating it all.

???8: Sorry... *eats more* But it's really good.

I should stop this from carrying on and just question them.

Sapphire: Hey. I'm Sapphire, by the way.

???8: Nice to met you, Saph! I'm Tala Lapahie. And I'm the Ultimate Dog Walker!

Mao: And I'm Maoko Miyata, the Ultimate Baker. It's nice to meet you as well, Sapphire.

She introduced herself twice? I would ask, but the seems a little rude.

Sapphire: Do you two know anything about this situation or the game?

Mao: Nopies!

Tala: No, but we have amazing peanut butter dough.

Mao: *sighs* There goes another batch, utterly annihilated. Again.

Sapphire: Well, I'm gonna go see if I can met everyone here and scope out this place.

Mao: Make sure to come back if you get hungry while exploring.

Sapphire: Will do.

(While Tala continued to eat Mao's peanut butter dough, I searched the kitchen. There was a large stock of food and water. I saw a note on the refrigerator that said "Restocks every 3 days", whatever that was supposed to mean.)

There isn't much about this kitchen, other than an odd lack of knives.

(I figured that was all the exploring I could do so I made my way back through the hallway. Past the rooms was an area of classroom and a bathroom. I decided to check inside the unlabeled classroom first.)

Sapphire: Whoa! That's really good!

(Two girls stood inside the classroom. One with long blonde hair and dark clothes. She sat atop a desk, attempting to sit completely still. The other girl, the one with magenta hair pulled into two buns, drew a portrait of the other girl with chalk. While the limited chalk took away from the picture, anyone could easily see the clear resemblance between the chalk drawing and the blonde woman.)

???9: Huh?

(The magenta haired girl turned around, dropping her chalk upon seeing me.)

Sapphire: S-Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you.

???9: You... You didn't startle me.

(There was a sudden change in her demeanor. I couldn't put my finger on it, but the girl glared at me while she reached down for her chalk.)

???10: Who are you? Do you know what's happening here?

Sapphire: I'm Sapphire.

???9: *quietly* Sapphire...?

Sapphire: And I don't really know what's happening here. I've been asking around to see if anyone knows, but no luck so far.

???10: Well, I'm Malon, uh, and I'm the Ultimate Archer.

Sapphire: It's nice to met you. How long have you don—

Malon: Bye. I'm gonna go get some coffee.

(???9 and I watched as Malon left us alone. Once she left, ???9 looked up at me with a tiny smile.)

???9: Yi Shen. *holds out hand* Ultimate Forensic Artist. Pleasure to meet you.

The Ultimate Forensic Artist...! Does that mean that she knows?

Sapphire: Y-You too. *shakes hand*

(When our hands parted, the magenta haired female's smile widened.)

Yi: Now, what did you say your talent was, again?

Sapphire: What...?

Yi: Everyone I've met so far has an ultimate talent. It would be pretty odd if you didn't have one, ya know?

She knows...

(I ran out of the unlabeled classroom and bolted into the science classroom across the hall.)

???11: A new challenger approaches...

???12: Hey! Can I ask you a question?

Sapphire: Of course.

I don't have any answers, sadly...

???12: If a plant is sad, do the other plants photoshmpathize with it?

Sapphire: Well no because they—

Wait a second.

Sapphire: *laughs* That's really clever!

???12: Th-Thanks! It's good to know that somebody thought it was funny.

???11: Puns aren't funny.

???12: I guess you just can't hack them, huh?

(Both myself and the masked girl blankly starred at ???12.)

???12: Because she's a hacker.

???11: I'm the Ultimate Hacker.

Sapphire: Circe?

???11: Yeah. That's me. Have we worked together before?

Sapphire: A few times.

???12: You two know each other?

Circe: Not really. I don't consider doing business as actually interacting with someone.

Sapphire: Yeah, same here. But I'd love to get you know you, Circe. Your skills are really impressive.

Circe: Thanks... We'd need find a computer first.

???12: Uh... Anyways, my name is Beatrix Porter and I'm the Ultimate Beekeeper. But you can just call me Bea.

Sapphire: I'm Sapphire.

Bea: No wonder your such a gem.

Sapphire: *smiles* I'm guessing you two don't know what happening here.

Circe: *shakes head*

Bea: Nothing.

Sapphire: That's alright. Have you found anything in this room?

Circe: We haven't looked around yet. Bea's been wasting time tell me puns.

Bea: The timing just wasn't right.

(I decided to look around the science to see if there was anything worth making note of. There was a door inside the classroom labeled "Lab" though it was locked.)

Bea: Why would the door to the science lab be locked?

Circe: It's probably locked so no one can mess with the equipment.

If this is a killing game, why would all the weapons be out of our reach?

(I went back to examining the floor shelves, noticing a diagram of a squid for dissection purposes.)

Sapphire: The eye piece is missing...

Bea: How fishy.

Sapphire: Other than textbooks and a few beakers, there isn't much in here.

Circe: What a waste of time.

Bea: I got to met this sparkling gem of person. I say that was worth every second.

Circe: *groans* I need to leave.

(Circe swiftly left the room without looking back.)

Sapphire: I should probably be on my way and look for some more answers.

(I started to make my way towards the door, but I was interrupted.)

Bea: Wait!

Sapphire: ?

Bea: I have to ask you an important question beefore you go.

Sapphire: Okay. Go ahead.

Bea: Can I tag along?

I usually work alone, but she seems like she doesn't want to be left alone.

Sapphire: I don't see why not.

Bea: Yes!

(Bea and I found ourselves wondering down the hallway, stopping at a bathroom where we saw two people we had yet to meet.)

???14: Do you know what's happening here?

Sapphire: Sorry, we don't.

???13: That's alright. Are you two Ultimates too?

Oh no...

Bea: I'm Beatrix Porter, but you can just call me Bea. I'm the Ultimate Beekeeper. I guess I could call myself the Ultimate Mekeeper, because I'm Bea and I keep bees.

(The two girls both began to giggle at Bea's introduction. I mouthed a "thank you", which she only nodded to.)

Bea: This diamond in the rough is Sapphire. In a way she's like a keeper... A Beakeeper so to speak.

???13: Hi. *giggles softly* I'm Nall Takako, but you can just call me Takako. And I'm the Ultimate Areologist.

???14: I'm the Ultimate Boxer. Maxine. It's nice to meet you too.

Sapphire: I'm guessing you too don't know what's going on here, if you were asking us?

Takako: I'm really hoping that this is a reality show or something, and this whole "killing game" thing is just a way to get our blood pumping.

Maxine: There's no way anyone would set something like this up and be serious about it. It has to be a sick joke.

You'd be surprised...

Bea: No. A sick joke would be "Where does the boat go when it feels sick? The dock."

Maxine: ...

Takako: I think that this ga—

*ding dong, bing bong*

???1: *over intercom* It is now 9 pm and all participants are required to meet in the auditorium.

(I pulled out my F-Phone and opened the map. There was a red flag over a purple square, which I assumed was the auditorium. Maxine, Takako, Bea, and I all made our way there.)

Sunni: One, two, four... I think all of us are here. Have we all met?

Mao: There are a few faces I haven't seen yet here.

???15: Yeah. Junie and I have been in here for a while.

???16: The video was really... off-putting.

It was a lot more than off-putting.

???15: Hello, everyone. I'm Junie Sledge. Ultimate Judge.

???16: And I'm Audria Ebert, the Ultimate Lawyer. Let me know any of you need my assistance.

Those two... I can't let them see me!

(Out of panic, I positioned myself behind Bea's head. From the direction of Junie and Audria

Surely, she picked up the fact I don't like my talent being discussed. Right...?

(Everyone began to chat with Junie and Audria, introducing themselves while we sat in the small auditorium waiting for something to happen.)

Bea: I'm Beatrix Porter, Ultimate Beekeeper. But you can call me Bea.

Junie: Nice to me you, Bea. *looks at Sapphire* And you are–?

Sapphire: Uhh...

Bea: This gem of a person is Sapphire.

Bea.

Junie: Sapphire?

Audria: Sapphire!

Tala: Saph!

Mao: Why are we all yelling at Sapphire?!

(Yi abruptly stood up and fiercely pointed at me.)

Yi: Do you all not know who she is?!

Mao: Isn't she Sapphire...?

Sapphire: M-My name is Sapphire.

Alina: You can tell us if your name isn't Sapphire.

Yi: Her name is not Sapphire!

Mao: Sorry, Not Sapphire. I've calling you the wrong name this entire time.

Sapphire: My name is Sapphire. *sighs* I have no idea what Yi is talking about.

Junie: "Sapphire" is just an alias!

Fuck.

Takako: Wh-What?

Aidria: We don't know Sapphire's real name, but there is one thing we know for sure about her.

Yi: She's the Ultimate Vigilante.

That cat is out of the bag now.

Daphne: Is that a type of spiritual teacher?

Audria: No.

Junie: A vigilante is someone who hunts down criminals, without the authority to actually do it.

Tala: How is that bad?

Audria: It's like being an uber driver, but you don't have a driving license.

Junie: It's illegal.

Mao: Wouldn't putting people who do illegal stuff in jail cancel out you doing something illegal?

Audria: The law doesn't work that way...

Mao: Oh.

(Before anyone else could ask questions about my talent, the lights dimmed. A spotlight appeared on the auditorium's stage, where the curtains opened. Horribly created fog funneled off the stage with a figure slowly becoming visible.)

???1: So sorry I'm late!

So that's the one behind the voice.

(From the fog appeared a girl, her age unidentifiable. Her face was painted pink on the left side and white on the right. Her hair was dyed the same colors, though on opposing sides. Her hair was evenly fixed into two buns, with a few lose strands pushed behind her ears. She had on a large bear hoodie, the same half n half pattern repeated in her clothes. Gloves covered her hands and boots covered her feet. Her eyes were red—anyone could tell she was wearing contacts.)

Who is this girl and what does she have to do with the killing game?

Maxine: What's going on here?

???1: The killing game! ^v^

Yi: You don't actually expect us to believe you on that, do you?

???1: I showed you all your contracts in the video, didn't I? •u•

Sunni: No one remembers signing them, though.

???1: It doesn't matter. What matters is that your contracts say that you have to participate in this game whether you want to or not. ^O^

Audria: Who are you and why would you make us participate in a horrible death game?!

???1: I'm your beloved mascot, Mascotie. But you can just call me Scottie like my boss does. :V

Sapphire: Scottie! *stands up* How do we get out of this place?

Scottie: You kill someone... Duh. –,-

Sapphire: No one here is going to kill anyone!

Circe: *whispers* You sure?

Scottie: I guess I do have to wait for it to sink it...

Daphne: Everyone here is so nice! Nobody would hurt anyone.

Wilma: ...

Maxine: We'll find a way out of here sooner or later.

Alina: And we won't resort killing each other no matter what!

Scottie: Right, okay... I'll give you time to get to know each other, then you'll start murdering away.

Yi: You keep talking about us as if we aren't even here!

Scottie: Eventually, all of you will come to the realization that leaving here alive is inevitable. ØnØ

Bea: More like inedible. All this talk of murder and dying is hard to stomach.

Scottie: One of you will crumble and kill.

(The fog filled the stage, Scottie disappearing within it.)

The reality of this situation, feels all too... surreal.

If I can figure who's behind the game then–

*ding dong, bing bong*

Intercom: It is now 10 pm. Nighty, night ladies! 

_____

{A/N: My excuse for not proofreading is that I was watching Howl's Moving Castle with my theater class.}