DUDUDUDUDUDUDU

The trilling just doesn’t stop. I press the phone receiver to my ear without opening my eyes.

Good morning villagers! This is your morning wake up call. You have 40 minutes til the second trial.

Good morning villagers! This is your morning wake up call. You have 40 minutes til the second trial.

Good mor–

I fumble blindly to put the phone back into the holder but only succeed in slamming it into the nightstand. My hands flail on the desk til I find a wire and yank it out from the socket. The sound stops. After about thirty-two seconds of trying not to nod off while desperately snatching more rest, I force myself upright.

[Yuri]: Day two.

I get dressed, brush my teeth, brush my hair, and walk out the door. The corridor is strangely quiet, and as I wait to take the elevator to the ground floor all I hear is my own short breaths.

[Yuri]: Why’s the elevator going ‘up?’

The doors slide open and in front of a tasteful painting inside the elevator, stands that familiar twin-tailed girl. She taps her foot.

[https://i.imgur.com/xrdatXr.png]

[Lily]: You’re late. Again.

[Yuri]: Who’s keeping track?

She shrugs.

[Lily]: Everyone’s eating right now. Let’s go.

I follow Lily faithfully downstairs, then go on ahead of her. I’m so tired that I accidentally enter the maintenance room at the end of the hallway and clatter into a toolbox; but Lily manages to turn me around.

Six other people are in the kitchen; around the table or at the counter, one of them even making food.

The [Horse] almost flies out of her chair.

[https://i.imgur.com/4UoOT7u.png]

[Horse]: See! I’m telling you, no one died today. I did a lot of studying last night, memorization. And maybe, the Healer could have used their powers, or the Wolves, maybe, maybe, they killed nobody!

The [Dragon], bags under his eyes, presses his hands to his forehead. When I glance at him, he gives a weak grin. The [Pig] nurses a cup of orange juice across from him.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

[https://i.imgur.com/hBAvgy8.png][https://i.imgur.com/fG749MC.png]

Meanwhile, The [Rabbit] snoozes on one of the stools by the kitchen’s island. The [Rat]’s perched on the chair across from her and when no one’s looking he flips me off.

[https://i.imgur.com/hjyrt8H.png][https://i.imgur.com/DnlBUg7.png]

The aroma of what the [Ox] is cooking wafts towards me before I see him; it’s something buttery and rich.

[https://i.imgur.com/dfwaWME.png]

[Ox]: I still don’t really get what’s going on, but I’ll always understand pancakes. Want some?

[Yuri]: Yes please!

The [Dragon] looks like he’s about to say something, but just shakes his head. For the next few moments I measure time in pancakes, the time it takes to scrape them apart with a fork and knife and chase the pieces til I find and devour them all.

The [Ox] meanwhile begins washing the dishes in the sink. As clattering and rushing water fills the room, I have to wonder - for who is he tidying up for for? Tomorrow’s survivors?

[Dragon]: It’s a quarter to twelve. The trial’s in fifteen minutes.

[Dragon]: We need to fetch both the [Tiger] and the [Rooster] or they might perish the same way the [Monkey] did.

The [Ox] looks up, his studied expression briefly fraught with guilt.

[Ox]: Didn’t the [Monkey] die because we voted for him?

[Dragon]: No, even though we were going to execute him, he died because he broke the rules. He showed everyone his role and he wasn’t allowed to do that.

A hoarse voice joins the conversation.

[Rat]: I bet they’re not coming. Even if you go to both their rooms, at least one of them’s not gonna leave.

No one mentioned why that person might not leave.

[Lily]: They’re just down the hall. I’ll go check on them.

[Rat]: Why didn’t you check on them when you went to wake up the [Snake]?

[Lily]: Hey! That was a special case!

[Rat]: Special how?

[Lily]: Like I said, I’m just going to go down the hall and check them.

[Dragon]: I will as well.

[Rat]: I’m staying here. I’m not done eating.

As the others follow Lily’s lead, I’m left in the room with just the [Rat].

He gives an odd bitter grin, a smile seemingly directed more towards an invisible spectator than myself. She doesn’t know the punchline! His expression seems to say. I shiver.

[Rat]: Want more pancakes?

I shake my head and make my way towards the hall.