[Rat]: They were just here, [Snake]. I swear I was just with them.

We’re in the kitchen. The refrigerator is stocked full of food and drink and so is the pantry. Cereal, cake mix, waters, soda, fruit, vegetables, meat, anything you could ask for is here, though they’re all dubiously off-brand. The chairs and tables however, are all empty.

[Snake]: For someone who wants to go and convince people to vote for the [Dragon], you’re not being very persuasive to me right now.

[Rat]: Shut up. Let me think.

I take a juice box from the fridge. Grape. At least I think it’s grape; the box is purple and the juice mostly tastes like sugar.

There’s a set of butcher knives in a wood block.

[Snake]: Hmmm, the [Tiger] was right. Two of the knives are missing.

[Rat]: We’ll worry about that later.

One of the knives was with the [Tiger]. Whoever has the other is a bit of a mystery; but a wrench in my pocket and no one else to protect, I’m not afraid.

[Rat]: There’s nothing else interesting here in this hotel. Where the hell would they go?

The dishes in the sink are damp, and crumbs are scattered on the floor. A half-drank juice on the counter is still cool to the touch. The [Rat] is telling the truth; they were just here.

[Rat]: Let’s check their rooms.

[Yuri]: Ingenious. Brilliant. Who else could’ve thought of such a plan?

[Rat]: Are you always this sarcastic with your friends?

[Yuri]: You’re an ally, not a friend. Two different things.

[Rat]: Are you always this sarcastic with your allies?

[Yuri]: You tried to kill me, remember?

*thun* *thun* *thun*

We canvas the first-floor hallway, rapping on each door.

It’s a long quiet space. The air-conditioning gently rattles and our shoes scrape the carpet; we hear all this because we’ve completely murdered our conversation.

There are no replies. The [Rat] coughs when we finally reach the corridor’s end.

[Rat]: Look, I’m not a needy guy. But I’d at least like to make nice with you in case, I dunno, die.

[Yuri]: Make nice? Who’s being mean?

[Rat]: You are, kinda.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I get in his face, close enough that some of my long hair falls on his shoulders.

[Yuri]: If you’re the kind of person to betray me at any time to win, then I can’t be bothered to get attached.

[Rat]: Listen, [Snake]. The only people who say they don’t care about winning haven’t tasted it yet. Or they don’t know what it’s like to lose what they’ve won.

[Rat]: When you introduce yourself… we talk about our hobbies, our job. Things like that, what we're experts in.

[Rat]: We are what we’re good at, our victories - without them we're nothing. I don’t know about life but you must feel this with mafia, I see that in your eyes.

I pause. And then I smirk.

[Yuri]: You see a lot of things in me. Are you sure you’re not just lonely? Looking for someone who wants the same things as you?

He just shakes his head. He bangs the vending machine; some chips fall into the dispenser and fishes them out. He opens the bag and pops them into his mouth; he doesn’t offer any to me.

[Rat]: [Snake]?

[Yuri]: Yes?

[Rat]: Last night, as Seer, I found that the [Ox] is town.

[Yuri]: Oh. That’s actually helpful.

[Rat]: You’re welcome, fink.

Our search for other players is much easier on the second floor; someone almost barrels into us as soon as we leave the stairwell.

[Horse]: Sorry!

She skids to a halt, and makes to step around us. But I stop her.

[Yuri]: Do you know where everyone else is? Outside? In the lobby? We need to talk to them and they’re all missing.

[Horse]: They must already be at the meeting. If we don’t hurry too, we’ll won’t be on time!

She’s holding an invitation; the [Rat] peers at the paper. Penned and printed, cold and concise is the note below:

Meet in the library at nine am sharp.

I have something important to discuss.

Yours,

Dragon

[Rat]: What the hell is this supposed to be?

[Horse]: You didn’t get a note? I thought he slipped this under everyone’s door.

[Snake]: I didn’t see one but in the mornings I’m barely aware.

[Rat]: If it were there, I know I would’ve seen it.

[Rat]: He’s trying to pull a fast one on us. [Horse], you know he’s a Wolf, right?

[Horse]: Eh…? I guess that’s likely, but…

[Rat]: …you’re not sure? Unsure enough to let him change your mind if he got the chance to talk to you?

If this were a cartoon, the [Horse]’s eyes would be in spirals. We’d totally overwhelmed her.

[Rat]: We’re not gonna give him that chance.

He snatches the paper from the [Horse].

[Rat]: [Snake], we’re crashing this so-called meeting. The stakes will be the same as a Trial; it’ll be us against him for the minds of the Town. Come quickly.