ZANTAI'S POV

The night had already passed just as quickly as it came. Everyone seemed to stay silent throughout the day, the only time we socialized was when we ate lunch and dinner...other than that, we were all in another world thinking about Sam's offer.

Loki didn't seem to take her new memory too well, and it makes me wonder if gaining a memory is worth it in the first place.

If my past had any trauma I would be happier to have it be forgotten, if anything, I'm fortunate to have amnesia. Maybe I was a bad person?

Before I could think more on that topic, the sounds of snoring roared violently through my ears. I found myself backing away from the sound like any normal person would.

Funny, I almost forgot I was sharing a room with Sherwood, someone with possibly the loudest snore in the entire mansion. I had managed to sleep through a good portion of the night soundly, but it looks like the noises picked up to be loud enough for me to not sleep.

Choosing to simply just get up and leave the room—which seemed to be a good idea at first—proved successful...until I realized I wasn't alone.

"You guys are up?" I muttered out groggily to the group of silhouettes in front of me.

"Yup..." The voice of Talus uttered.

"I always am." Luster nodded to me—I could tell from his bright eyes glaring at me.

"Good morning..." Grace whispered.

I offered the Eevee a small, effortless smile before stepping forward to sit on a nearby chair.

"This is the place where a Braixen very similar to Sam appeared." Luster cleared his throat. I wish I could see exactly where he was looking, but I guess I'll just assume where it is.

"Another Braixen?" My interest peaked.

"Yeah...she looked very similar to Sam, but her eyes were different. She looked sleep-deprived and very calm." Talus uttered, his turquoise eyes focusing on me. "Have you seen her?"

I shook my head in denial.

"Hm...I assume she'd be pretty rare. Maybe she's working against Sam?" Grace tilted her head.

"I can't say that for sure, either." Luster huffed. "She stated she was sent to help us, but could only do so much as give little bits of information."

"That's weird." I shrugged. "So basically it's fake hope."

"That's my theory..." The Luxray nodded. "Sam said she wanted us to feel despair...the only way to get that is with hope."

"I do hope that Sammy isn't just a fake." Grace hummed lightly, her tone growing emotional. "Maybe she is on our side."

The Eevee's words clung to our heads as our only thoughts in this needed silence. She was right, if there's any hope in leaving it'd have to be through Sammy. The only question being her truthfulness; is she truly real?

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, the ringing of an intercom reverberated around the room. It only took a couple of clicks before we could hear an audible voice.

"Alright, everyone up! Good morning!" Sam's crackly voice cheered.

After her words, the distant sounds of shuffling and groaning Pokemon muffled through the doors. Looks like they were in for a rude awakening.

"Today is the day! I have something for every one of you!" Sam announced. "Everyone, gather in the living room!"

Then, a loud click. The echo of her voice finally dissipated before we were left with a dreadful silence...until someone slammed open their door.

"Alright, fuck this bitch!" Inu roared while stomping through the doorway. Behind her followed a very intimidated Laker. "She needs to learn her place!"

This time, several doors all opened in unsynchronized orders.

"Inu, please...not now." Leon pleaded while rubbing his paw against his eyes.

"It's too early." Loki followed up.

"Do you think I give a fuck!?" The Infernape muttered the words through her gritted teeth.

"We don't." Vanta walked past the hothead. "But don't take it out on us."

"Ha! You got told." Vince grinned widely, mocking the Infernape with a raspberry.

Inu only turned her body to face the Greninja and stormed towards his direction, but was immediately halted by a blade.

"Woah, woah. Let's calm down." Galant attempted to de-escalate.

"W-What's going on?" Aubra muttered out in the crowd, her question getting completely ignored.

"Not this again." Lancer groaned.

At some point, everyone in the mansion had managed to gather in the living room. Upon Sherwood—who was the last to arrive—entering the living room, another ring echoed through the high ceiling.

With that, everyone's least favorite person shifted into reality in front of us.

"Hello!" Sam grinned widely at us. "I have a wonderful surprise for you all!"

"Is it an escape?" Vince sassed.

"Ah, ah, ah!" She giggled. "You can have a new room if you all take this next surprise seriously."

"A new room?" Galant inquired suspiciously.

"Yup!" Sam grinned while shuffling through a stack of letters. "Everyone, grab the letter that has your name on it! If you don't, you will be punished!"

Letters? I have no clue what she's planning but it doesn't feel good, I already feel the pit in my stomach growing.

Before I could question further, Sam recklessly tossed the stack of letters into the air, leaving everyone scampering for their own. As I picked up mine I couldn't help but not open it...what was inside?

"Open it!" Sam called.

I subconsciously followed her orders. Arceus, it's hard to imagine myself following orders like this, but she has a whole army behind her...it's hard to not.

The moment my claws slipped through the glue and pulled out another paper inside, my eyes focused to read the calligraphy in front of me.

"What's inside is all of your worst, most appalling crimes or traits!" Sam cackled impatiently. "...and if you don't murder someone soon, all of this will get revealed to everyone tomorrow!"

My body froze as I finished reading.

"Zantai is a leader of a gang that tortures and murders innocent opposition, also known for killing Vanta's younger sister."

"W-What?" I couldn't help but whisper under my breath. How does she know this? Is this even real?

"I don't believe this shit." Inu muttered.

I would look up at everyone else's reactions but...my eyes were glued to the paper. Vanta's sister? A gang?

No way I could ever be this person...but is that because I have amnesia? Am I a different person right now just because I can't remember my past?

I wonder how everyone else feels...

LOKI'S POV

It finally all made sense. The memory, the fact that I was running from people. The fact that everything was burning around me while I cried.

It all came back to me from this paper.

"Loki is a rogue who had very disappointed parents...so disappointed in fact, they disowned her. In order to take revenge, she burnt the entire forest they lived in, killing them both."

I'm a terrible person. It's everything I feared.

As I tore my gaze from the paper and focused on everyone's expressions...they all seemed similar. Are we all terrible people? Is that why we're here?

The entire room was dead silent, save for Sam's ruthless cackling. She got what she wanted; our despair.

"Aww...don't be so sad." Sam's voice was now twisted to be teasingly empathetic. "There's still your reward for reading!"

"Fuck you..." Lancer was on the verge of tears.

"What the hell..." Vince's voice croaked with emotions.

"Now, keep those notes safe and sound! If you break or lose them, they will be given back to you once more. You will have to live with the shame of knowing who you truly are, and soon, everyone will know!" Sam shouted. "Unless...you kill someone."

"Right, right...we get it." Vanta muttered. He wasn't looking too happy about reading his letter either. "Just show us the reward."

"Nice!" The Braixen nodded. "Finally, we're getting somewhere! Follow me."

The vixen quickly made her way through the halls and everyone soon followed behind her. She managed to lead us all towards an empty wall, and with the snap of her fingers, it soon shifted into another doorway.

"Welcome to the garage!" Sam bowed politely. "Here you will have access to more storage and murder weapons!"

"What?" Vanta's ears perked.

"Oh! I mean stuff like planks and hammers, I dunno...'construction'..." The Braixen babbled. "Bleh, I like to think it's for deconstructing the face!"

She offered us one final giggle before audibly snapping.

"Whelp! I'll be off...enjoy!" She waved before disappearing.

"I-I hate that she can do that..." Aubra stammered.

"Whatever, let's just check this thing out and we'll be on our way." Laker crossed his arms and stepped forward.

Past the doorway we had to walk a decently sized room connector before being able to see just how large this garage was. It is a mansion, after all.

"Damn..." Zantai scoffed. "There really are materials here."

"She is tempting us with murder weapons." Leon frowned.

"We've had them since the kitchen was revealed." Luster heaved a stressed sigh. "But now this is getting ridiculous."

"I almost want someone to do something just so we get it over with and leave." Inu muttered.

"Don't say that, it could be you who dies." Rayne warned.

Inu seemed to internally agree due to her expression growing more worried.

"Wait, guys. There's an actual door here that isn't boarded up!" Lancer stepped forward to motion in front of the group.

He was right, the garage door was just like any normal one; no barricades, and made out of steel.

"I can easily bash through that." Inu popped her knuckles.

"I do not doubt that...but that may be risky. It seems almost too easy." Leon warned.

"What?! You're telling me you're not trying to escape?" Lancer turned to hiss at the jackal.

"No, I am saying there is no way Sam would allow us to be in this room if we could escape through here." The Lucario crossed his arms, his glare lowering to face the midnight Lycanroc.

"Dude, you're so fuckin' stupid." Lancer growled, curling his arms over his head. "We have a chance to leave, why don't we take it?"

"Because it's not what it seems..." An unfamiliar voice muttered.

The sight of a Braixen was already enough to throw most of us on high alert...but Luster and Talus seemed fine.

"Sammy!" The midday Lycanroc grinned.

"What?! What are you talking about, that's Sam!" Laker growled.

"As I said to a couple of you this morning...Sam seems to have a look-alike who wants to help us." Luster turned towards the group.

"Are you...sure you should trust her?" I reasoned. "I mean, they could be siblings that are working together."

"To be blunt, we are siblings that are working together...but my job is to help you guys." Sammy's monotone voice uttered.

"Really, now?" Vanta scoffed. "Just like that? Out of nowhere?"

"No...I tend to show up whenever she's not monitoring. You've got to trust me..." The smaller Braixen replied.

"Hm..." Leon nodded. "Well, I'm glad my aura can still see emotions."

"What does she feel?" I turned to the jackal.

"She's feeling hopeful."

THIRD PERSON

Sammy had taken her leave, along with the despair everyone once felt. Well, at least most of them.

Some of the Pokemon were having a bit of trouble believing that Sammy wasn't the same person as Sam. Whether that idea was true or not has yet to be seen.

Most of the group had scattered into their areas to calm down or even theorize. Most importantly, the day had already gone by so quickly.

Little by little, people would gather in the living room, eat, and talk.

One by one, however, they would all slip into their appropriate rooms to sleep once the time was right. Some into a nice slumber, and others...

A deep crash rung muffled through an unknown area of the house, causing a pair of ears to perk out from their covers.

"Loki..?" Grace whispered lowly, not earning any response. "Loki..!"

"Hm..?" Loki slightly jolted awake, her eyes groggily focusing on the Eevee. "What..?"

"Do you hear that?" Grace paused, allowing the other fox to listen.

Silence...until a metallic sound came muffled through their door.

"Like...the metal?" The Zoroark tilted her head.

Grace seemed to nod and continue listening.

Another metallic sound.

"Wait...metal? Is someone trying to break out?" Grace gasped and attempted to leap off the bed, but was immediately held back by the Zoroark.

"Don't. If someone's doing something that stupid I wouldn't wanna get involved." Loki commanded.

"But they could die..!" She harshly muttered.

"Yes, but so could we...I wouldn't wanna risk anything, Grace." Loki shook her head.

Another wave of silence filled the stagnating air.

"There...it's gone. Maybe they gave up?" The black fox hoped.

"Right..." Grace heaved a stressed sigh. "I sure hope they stopped...for the sake of their life."

Things are going to be interesting tomorrow.