Chapter Text
Joe had always hated mornings. He hated getting up early, rolling out of bed and into the cold air. Waking up now sucked because every single second of his life he spends in trapped has been a living hell. But, you know, waking up for school also kind of similar, if he thought about it. Joe stirred, not wanting to peel open his eyelids. His body felt like it was being weighed down by a tonne of bricks, and his head felt like it had been hit by them. With a groan he dragged open his eyes, sitting up on the edge of the bed as he took in the room around him. “Shiit.” he said, softly, realising that it was not in fact, just a dream.
Joe sluggishly stood up, looking over at the sleeping Sara beside him, looking strikingly pale and dead-asleep. Hesitantly, he leaned over and weakly shook her shoulder. It was warm. Very much still alive, he confirmed. It was silly. Of course she was! Even though it was completely irrational, his mind kept drawing back to Kai, sprawled out on the ground, covered in crimson, his face slowly draining of colour as the rest of them gawked helplessly. Bile slowly rose up to the back of his throat. This wasn’t really happening, was it?
Joe decided to let Sara have her much-needed rest. If he couldn't sleep, at least one of them would. Hell, if he’d had to have talked as much as she had, he’d be sleeping for the rest of the day, he decided. He felt a slight pang of guilt thinking about it, that hestood there aimlessly while she had to lead the whole trial. He quickly shook the thought off as he went to examine the room a little closer. No use of any of that now.
There wasn’t much of note in the room, just the typical bedroom stuff, it was almost hotel-like, not something he’d expect from a death game. Especially not one that’d had them starving and dehydrated for hours on end. His thoughts were interrupted with a sharp knock at the door. His eyes narrowed, warily walking around to the door, but not opening it. “Sara?” A familiar policeman’s voice rang through the door. Joe didn't know whether to be relieved or on edge.
“Keiji…”
“Ah. Joe. D’ya mind waking Sara up for me? I knocked at the other door, figured she was just sleeping.” Keiji said, his voice muffled through the door
“She’s…here. She is sleeping, Why?” Joe said, his tone pointed.
“Alright, alright, Mr. Police Man here’s not interrogating ya’, just want a chat.”
“I wasn’t-...” Joe groaned. “Ughhh…! Can you just tell me what you want?”
Keiji laughed. “Just for you to get up and at 'em’. Wake your new roommate, too. We need all hands on deck.”
“Ah… seriously? Everyone? Can’t I just let her sleep a little more…? Sara’s kinda scary when she’s waking up…”
“No can do, kiddo. Find me when both of you are ready.” Keiji said, followed by the sound of footsteps trailing. Joe sighed, leaning against the door for a second, before going to wake Sara. He stood over the side of the bed, shaking her softly, at first, before shaking her with distinct urgency. “C’moooon….Saaaaaraaaa!” He yelled, before promptly being punched square in the face.
“Ow! What the hell, Sara!” Joe said, rubbing his face, now on the floor. There were a few beats of silence from the girl, before her face lit up in surprise like she just figured out where she was, before her mouth slightly twitched at the sight of Joe sprawled out on the floor.
“...Crap! Joe, I’m so sorry!” She said, scrambling over to Joe, a slightly frazzled look on her face.
“Je–sus! Why do you punch harder than I do, man?…Scratch that, why did you punch me at all?!”
Sara bit her lip, suppressing a laugh as she spoke,
“S-so sorry! My brain wasn’t turned on! I thought you were someone trying to kill me, or something!’ She said, one hand covering her growing smile at Joe’s expression. Joe let out a huff, biting back a smile. “Alright, alright. Just, wake yourself up, Steelmind. Keiji wants us to meet him.” Joe said, pulling himself back up, and opening the door. “Seriously, punches like an MMA fighter…” he trailed off, as he left the room.
Sara emerged from the room, looking much more composed. Her face morphed into a wince at Joe’s face. “What? That bad?”
“...So sorry.” Sara said, as she and Joe began to walk towards the others.