Chapter 2: Gambit Declined

Stillness.

Soft Breathing.

The air feels—

Light.

The atmosphere—

Unsettling.

The stage waits.

The 'Audience' listens.

Action–

P8: "Can you hear me? Who are you?"

Player 8. Inside his own mind. Reaching out. Quirk activated.

P5: "Yeah. I'm Player 5. You must be the Murderer. Who are you?"

P8: "I'm Player 8."

Pause.

Silence.

Then—

P5: "Okay. Whatever happens, DO NOT reveal yourself. And don't look at me, you idiot."

Player 2 already picked it up

P5: "I intend to reveal myself."

Shaky. 

Smart.

Maybe.

P5: "I'll introduce the Murderer as someone thirsty for blood. People might join us. For protection."

A beat.

Cold.

P8: "That's so messed up. 

I'm not going to start killing people."

P5: "Yeah, don't worry, I'm just trying to scare them."

"That idiot" Player 5 thought.

P8: "Sure, I guess"

P5: "But first, what's your goal and quirk?"

Silence.

Player 8 paused.

Didn't like him.

Didn't trust him.

But he was all he had.

P8 "Goal: Kill a player."

"Quirk: I can talk to you like this. Twice. Nine minutes each."

He left something out.

Judge immunity.

Smart.

P5: "Even the Judge?"

Player 5 asked.

Voice dark.

Sharp.

P8: "No. Everyone except him … and you of course".

Player 5 heard the lie.

Didn't call it out.

P8: "So, what's your Quirk and Goal"

P5: "It's best you don't know."

Sharp.

Prepared.

As if he'd tell such an unstable person.

"What I can tell you though," Player 5 said, "is that we have a common enemy—The Judge. Do you know who that might be?"

Silence.

P8: "No …"

P5: "Of course not. You're not the thinker. You're the blade."

"I'm the thinker."

Realisation.

P8: "Th- The Blade…?"

P5: "Of course."

"Together we will take down the Judge. And any fool who dares to cross us."

Stillness.

Heavy.

"That's all for now. 

Don't approach me in public.

Maybe once or twice during cafeteria lunches.

And don't use your power— unless things go south." 

– "… if it keeps me alive." 

The others sat in silence.

Eerie.

Unaware.

Moves were already being made.

Then— A sudden noise.

A chair.

Push back.

A player stands.

He is now the main character of the first act.

Player 5?

*Clears Throat*.

P5 (Lawyer): "I am The Lawyer– "

Insane.

Player 2 smirked.

Amused. 

"We already know there is a Murderer among us."

"I already know who it is."

"He is bloodthirsty."

"But he's with me."

"If you wish to survive–

Join me." 

Charisma.

Command.

Control. 

"I think I found my target"— whispered Player 7.

Player 4 flinched.

Small step back.

Reflex.

No words.

The silence returned.

Not gentle this time—

Deliberate.

Thick.

Listening.

Player 2 in awe.

Eyes Wide.

He sat perched— legs up on the chair.

He giggled.

Not kindly.

Player 7 glanced at him.

"Or is he better?" she thought. 

Curiosity. 

"He thinks he has it all figured out!" Player 2 mumbled while hugging his knees.

Player 2 clapped.

Once.

Twice.

Like a child watching a cartoon.

"Bam Bam Bam" Player 2 imitates hitting an invisible hammer.

"Haha, I wish I was the Judge…" said Player 2 with a 'disappointed' voice.

He rocked forward, arms still around his legs. 

Voice light.

Mocking.

P2 (Judge): "Let me guess, Mr. Lawyer—next comes the emotional plea for the poor misunderstood killer?" 

Shock.

Player 7 laughed.

She was feeling it.

She wanted in. 

P2 (Judge): "And you—Player 8, was it? The scary little killer hiding in the dark…"

"You gonna growl next time?"

"Boo! I'm sooo intimidated."

"Will I be your first kill or will it be Player 7"

He made a fake shiver.

Player 7 kept laughing. 

P7 (Saboteur): "Well you shouldn't have outed me like that!"

"As you all have guessed, I'm the Judge".

She is not the Judge.

Just blindly following Player 2's lead.

The 'Audience' loves it!

What's going on?

The other Players confused.

Slightly annoyed.

Not much.

P5 (Lawyer): "Mock all you want, Player 2.

But when blood hits the floor—

They won't be laughing.

They'll be looking for me."

He turns.

Sits down.

Unfazed. 

*Claps*

From the System.

System: "Well… that was, Colorful."

"So– there are 3 Date Rooms"

"Date 1 will almost always take place in Date Room 1, and Date 2 on Date Room 2"

"From now on all cameras will be on at all times, all rooms"

"Sorry ladies, that means bathrooms too."

DAY 1 DATES:

 Date 1: Player 2 x Player 7

"Well that's convenient" thought Player 5.

Date 2: Player 5 x Player 6 

Confession: Player 5

"Their Greed sickens me"

"Are they so sure I need saving?" –P5 in his mind.

Curtains fall.