Eqsy: ………hn….h…huh? [Where…the hell am I?]
???: Hey!Are you okay?
Eqsy: I…uh.. [Who is this person?They’re dressed up in a duck costume and…is that a bloodstain on the side?!]
???: Quit starin’ at me with that weird look…I asked what your name was.
Eqsy: [Although I was a bit confused,I decided to focus on what he was saying… My name is… HUH?Why can’t I remember…] Ha…it's weird..for some reason I can’t remember.
???: Well then,we're in the same boat!I can't remember either and believe me I tried…But I do have something!I checked my pockets earlier and found a weird phone.When you open it ,it shows you a name and a weird title…
Eqsy: Interesting..Uhm sorry if im a bit slow on this..my head still hurts.
Eqsy checked his pockets and sure enough there seemed to be a phone in his left pocket.He grabbed it and opened it up. “Eqsy/Ultimate ???”
Eqsy: Is..is this supposed to be like…a nickname for us?What do you have?
???: ….Quack , Ultimate Serial Killer. Pleased to meet you i suppose..hehe..
Eqsy: [With a title like that I'd also be hesitant to say it…but why don’t I get one?] Mine’s Eqsy.Looks like i didn't get a title for some reason?
Quack: Weird…well I think we sh-
At that moment,a monitor located above what appeared to be the front door lit up.A shady figure appeared: “Ahem..Ahem?This should be working now!” It was eerie…a very joyful voice compared to the aura of this place. “Hello there everyone,my name is Monoscum!For the following time you’ll be spending here I will be your dear host.I know how confusing this must be for all of you so i ask that you..bear..with me.To get all your questions answered please gather at the gymnasium!OH-I also recommend that you check the personal phone you’ve all received.It has all your important credentials for this game!Well then I will be waiting for you all here.Goodbye!” The monitor turned off.Me and Quack looked at each other for a moment,understandably confused.
Quack: So…What was that?
Eqsy: I haven’t the slightest idea.. [Monoscum?Game?This is getting weirder by the minute and for all I know I could be in a room with a potential serial killer?!Okay…I need to calm down…I should probably do as we are told for now.] We should probably head to the Gymnasium..i have a bad feeling we wouldn't like it if we stayed here…
Quack: Agreed.This place already creeps me out…
We approached the door under the monitor,with steady hands I turned the knob and stepped outside.Behind the door was a hallway with four other doors,the one we stepped out of being at one of the ends.All the doors were numbered and had other names on them.
“Room 1 - Eqsy/Quack
Room 2 - Kon/Dan
Room 3 - Ile/Kokichi
Room 4 - MIH/How
Room 5 - Algebra/Saderen”
On closer inspection,the hallway seemed to also serve as a small lounge area and on the opposite side were two big glass doors.They appeared to lead into a bigger lounge area.As you looked around you noticed two other people talking.You and Quack decide to approach and introduce yourselves.
???: W-whoa?!A serial killer and a mystery person?That’s quite the duo!I'm Saderen,the ultimate survivor!
???: You two seem like weirdos but since this idiot introduced himself…I’m Algebra,Ultimate Doctor.
Saderen: Oh?I’m sorry..heh…But they seem like cool people nonetheless!
Algebra: Tch…
Eqsy: [Quite the weird duo…One of them seems very nice and approachable while the other not so much.This place sure has variety.Why have we been brought here….and it seems like they also have those names and titles.Did we all forget our names?Group amnesia sounds crazy but…]
Quack: So I'm guessing you guys also woke up not remembering anything?
Saderen: Yep!We’ve been sitting here talking about it but then we got interrupted by that announcement.
Eqsy: You guys heard it as well?Oh I'm assuming your room also had a monitor right?
Algebra: Our room has one yeah,but we heard the announcement while we were sitting here.
Algebra then pointed to the opposite corner of the room where another one of those monitors was.
Quack: It’s safe to say that there’s probably even more of these around the place.
Algebra: We should probably head to the g-
???: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
A horrifying scream followed by someone busting out one of the rooms.The person was dressed in a green clown costume and they had a horrified look on their face.They were soon followed by a much tinier person dressed in a blue shirt.
???: PLEASE HELP ME!!!HE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME!
???: Wh-what?!I didn’t try to do anything like that?I just said hi…
The green person suddenly changed their expression to a much more neutral one,instantly calming down.
Eqsy: Wha-what’s happe-
???: Did you know that 46% of murderers introduce themselves to their victims with a hi?Quite incriminating if I do say so myself!
???: H-huh?But I'm not!I was trying to greet you…
Quack: Is that fact even true?
???: Pft..I don't know, I just made it up right now!
Algebra: What the fuck is wrong with you?
???: Nothing at all…UwU
Algebra: …
???: …
Eqsy: Uh…A-anyway…who are you two?
???: I’m How,the ultimate lie detector.
Saderen: Lie Detector?That’s such a cool title!
How: I know right?I don’t know what i did to deserve it but it’s still cool
???: Ahem…Aren’t you gonna ask who I am?
Quack: He just did thou-
???: SILENCE! I WAS INTRODUCING MYSELF!!!
Everyone: …
???: Now then..MARVEL AND ADMIRE THE BEAUTY THAT STAND BEFORE THEE!I AM NONE OTHER THAN…MIH!THE ULTIMATE JESTER!
Algebra: Alright I think i've had about enough of meeting people today, i'm going to the gym.
Saderen: Wait!Shouldn't we stick together?
Algebra: I’d rather die.
With that,Algebra left the lounge.
MiH: Ugh!Such loser behavior!Imagine abandoning your sweet friends like this!
Saderen: We just met.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
MiH: Well DUH!That’s how all friendships start!
Quack: We should probably also go meet the other people here,I'm assuming there’s more.
Saderen: Oh that reminds me!I did see someone else.A person dressed in a wolf costume left their room a bit before the announcement.They didn’t even talk to me or Algebra.
Eqsy: Wolf costume?Then again everyone is dressed weirdly so that doesn’t surprise me much.
Quack: Wanna go see who else is around here?
Eqsy: Sure!
We said goodbye to the others and left the mini lounge,the room next to us seemed to be a much bigger relaxation area.A big door with an exit sign on it was on the left and on the opposite side of the lounge was another glass door with a similar lounge and rooms.There seemed to be some people inside as well but before that a group of 4 individuals were talking at a table.A person dressed in an angel costume,one in a suit and another in a detective attire,sitting next to them but not speaking was a person dressed in a hoodie.Me and Quack decided to take a closer look.
Eqsy: Hello there!Im Eqsy and this is Quack!
Quack: Heya!
???: Oh?New people!Nice to meet you guys!I’m Dan,the ultimate guardian angel!
???: I’m Kokichi,the ultimate investigator!
???: I’m Kon…Ultimate Double.
Kokichi: Dec?Aren’t you gonna..say anything?
???: Mymy name is DecDec.My title is the ultimateate savior.
Kokichi: So,what info do you guys have?Know anything about our situation?Know anyone here?What about that announcement?D-
Dan: Dude you shouldn’t overwhelm them with so many questions…
Eqsy: No it’s fine!Sadly we don’t really have any answers for your questions…we were also wondering about them.
Kokichi: I see,well thank you anyways!Anything is better than nothing.
Kon: I think we’re all confused about what’s happening.If someone had info they probably would’ve told you so already…
Kokichi: Still,it's worth asking.
Kon: I guess.
Dec: We’ve clearly been kidnapped byby the F.B.I.
Quack: What?The F.B.I.?
Dan: Yeah he’s been going on about that for a few minutes now.He’s convinced this is all a conspiracy or something.
Dec: Don’t mock me.I am definitely right about this.
Eqsy: Okay,well,I’m gonna go meet other people for now.Wanna come with Quack?
Quack: Nah I'll stay here for now.I want to chat about the F.B.I. stuff,we can meet at the gym!
I then headed to the other lounge to meet the few that we’re talking there.When I entered I noticed five more rooms.
“Room 6 - Phone/Pyro
Room 7 - Lune/Sam
Room 8 - James/Zach
Room 9 - Gappy/Nash
Room 10 - Dec/Duncan”
???: Oh?Hello there stranger!
Eqsy: Hey!I’m Eqsy.Who are you?
???: I'm Nash!The ultimate freelancer!
???: Gappy is my name!I am an amnesiac!
Eqsy: Have you guys looked around the place yet?
Nash: Yeah,sort of…we’ve mostly just talked to the people that woke up.
Gappy: Yeppers!Funny people passed by us.
Eqsy: Ah well that’s good to know!I’ve already met some of the people here.Do you know many there are?
Nash: About 20?At Least that’s what Duncan told us.
Eqsy: Duncan?
Gappy: You don't know him?Super cool detective guy,he was asking us all stuff!
Eqsy: Huh?Is that so? [A detective and an investigator?That’s definitely strange.] Well then thank you for the chat!I’ll be going now!
I left the two and decided to leave through the door with the exit sign.Outside the building a big sign could be read saying “Dormitory Building”.Is this supposed to be a school of some kind?Besides the dorms was another building resembling a fancy university.A path connecting the two also connected to a gymnasium and a grand entrance.However it looked like it was locked.Very fancy place for a kidnapping…I decided to go to the entrance gate,some people were trying to get it open.
???: nnnghn…It’s not even budging…
???: Hey wolf girl can’t you help us out?
???:....
Eqsy: What are you guys doing?
???: Oh hey there!Who are you?
Eqsy: My name is Eqsy!Who are you guys?
???: I’m James,the ultimate consort!This here is Zach,the ultimate vigilante and…uh
???: …
Eqsy: Hey..you don’t happen to be Ile right?I saw your name on the door.Saderen and Algebra told me you passed by them.What’s your title?
Ile:...Werewolf…I'm the ultimate werewolf.
James: Woah!That’s the first time you’ve spoken!
Ile: Just….didn’t have much to say…
Zach: Silent one are ya?Well you should still help us bust this door down.
Ile: Will that really help?It’s a giant gate…even if you force it,how’s that gonna help?
???: She’s right.Not much can be gained from that but a waste of time.
Eqsy: Hm?Who are you?
???: I don't believe we've met.Im Phone,the ultimate safeguard.
Eqsy: I’m Eqsy!
Phone: I actually came here to ask if you’ve all talked to Duncan?He was trying to ask us all some questions.
Eqsy: Oh,I haven’t met him yet.
Phone: Then you should probably go,he’s in the main hall right now with some of the others.Also please cooperate…Before I left someone was being very difficult..
Eqsy: I’ll do my best!Thank you for telling me!
With that i headed straight to the school building but when i got to the door someone almost hit me.
???: Oops...Did I hit ya?
Eqsy: You almost did..I'm fine though.
???: Ah I see,that's good!Well then…
Eqsy: Wait!Who are you?
???: Me?I’m Sam,the ultimate consig.Anyways i gotta go check something out,i'll see you in a bit.
Eqsy: O-okay?Where are you even going?
Sam: Confidential.Bye.
I stood there a bit confused.Eventually i made my way inside the school.There I saw 3 new faces and 3 familiar ones.I decided to first talk to the person standing on the side.
Eqsy: Hello there!I'm Eqsy.What's your name?
???: I am the demon lord of the 7th circle of hell ,Gargalouth the 666th.
Eqsy: …
???: Or you could go with Pyro,the ultimate arsonist.
Eqsy: Oh,haha..Well what are you doing here?Did Duncan ask you stuff?
Pyro: Yeah..Im just watching the scene right now.You should probably go talk to them.
I decided to listen to pyro and I approached the group.
???: For the love of…could you please just answer my question dammit?
Saderen: It’s not that hard,MiH…
MiH: How could I cooperate like this?HE HASN’T EVEN PAID ME!!!
How: He asked if you remembered anything..
MiH: Yeah I remember something!
???: Really?What?
MiH: Your mom.
Everyone: …
???: Quite the comedian.
MiH: Yes indeed!Oh?OMG LOOK GUYS!Eqsy senpai is here!!
As they turned to look at me ,MiH made a run for the door.
Saderen: …Me and How will go after him…again.
How: Lul.
The two left after him.
???: So you’re Eqsy right?Thanks for coming here.
Eqsy: No problem!I needed to meet everyone anyway so the more reason to show up.
???: Well you probably heard about me already but Im Duncan.The ultimate detective.
???: I’m Lune,the ultimate witch!Pleased to meet you!
Eqsy: So what are you guys doing exactly?
Lune: Me and Duncan here have been trying to figure this out.From what we’ve asked everyone it seems like none of us remember anything prior to waking up,not even our own names.We’ve all received different names and titles from our phones.
Duncan: Not only that,but the announcement informed us that we will be playing a game and we’re expected to go to the gym.Before we go I wanted to ask you if you have any additional information?
Eqsy: Uh..maybe I do?I seem to be the only one who hasn’t received a title.
Lune: You don’t?That’s interesting…I wonder why?Is there something different about you?
Eqsy: I don’t know.
Duncan: Let’s go to the gym for now…We’ve stayed here long enough interrogating.
Lune: Off we go then.
Even more confused than before I left the gym with Duncan and Lune.I have a bad feeling about this.When we arrived everyone had already gathered there.
Algebra: Took you long enough…
James: Doesn’t really matter.We’re all here now!
Duncan: Hm…so what are we supposed to do now?Wait?
Dec: Wait for the military to take our brains…
Gappy: NOOOO NOT MY BRAIN!
Zach: Stop screaming you lunatic.
MiH: Yeah what the hell?Imagine screaming like that…
Duncan: …
Phone: Shh!I think…I think I can hear something…
Pyro: I just shit my pants.
How: You what?
The voices were shortly interrupted by a loud mic screech.
???: Ahem..Ahem..Okay..It seems like you all arrived!
Lune: Huh?Who said that?
Sam: There!On the stage!
We all turned to look where Sam had pointed.We stared dumbfounded at what appeared to be a black and white teddy bear dressed in a fancy suit.
???: Hello there my dear students!I am Monoscum!The headmaster of this academy!I applaud you all for getting accepted into our special program.
Eqsy: [What was happening…This was a program we all got accepted into?Why is a teddy bear speaking to us like a teacher?]
Monoscum: I know you may be confused…so I will first start by explaining the rules of our program.You have all been selected as skilled players of the social deduction game named mafia.Each of has received a talent related to your best played role and an alias.The goal of this program?Research the human capabilities of deduction.
Quack: My head hurts already…
Monoscum: To do this.You have all been trapped here to play a game,specifically a killing game!To get out of here you will have to kill one of your fellow classmates and get away with the crime!If the class can figure out who the murderer is they will be executed.If the killer succesfully tricks everyone they will escape and everyone else will die!If you don’t want to kill anyone then be prepared to spend the rest of your lives here puhuhu…PUHUHUHUHUHUHU.
Eqsy: To get out…we have to…kill each other…
We were all left speechless ,we had to either accept our lives here or take away someone else’s…The killing was about to begin.