Chapter Text
“–And god help me, he was absolutely embarrassed! He didn't expect me to catch him and Montana doing… that,” California giggled, watching the other three states laugh along too.
“He thinks that nobody can walk in when they are making out, really,” Nevada stated. “Such a freak.”
Minnesota looked a little uncomfortable, but nodded along with them. New Jersey curled her tail around her girlfriend, trying to reassure her.
“Speaking of him,” Nevada continued, “I used my ability on him. Sadly, he's good. Whatever, maybe once I find the murderer out I can tell them to kill him.”
California stared at xem, visibly annoyed. Nevada realized what xe said, covering their mouth.
“... Shit, you guys are evil, right?”
“I’m ambusher, so yeah,” New Jersey mumbled, before staring at Minnesota, who stayed silent, breathing heavily.
“... Minnesota?”
She aggressively shook her head, “no, no I'm… I'm not evil.”
Nevada sneered, suddenly angry, “she can't be here! California, use your fucking ability and kill her!”
Before California could say anything, New Jersey stepped in front of her, “it's not a big deal! She won't tell anyone, you won't, right?” she asked, turning to Minnesota.
The North Star State didn't know how to respond, only muttering, “yeah” under her breath.
Nevada shut up, not saying anything else.
“I think as long as Minnesota doesn't tell, I don't need to kill her,” California said, looking away from New Jersey. “I need to use it on someone who matters, not a survivor.”
Minnesota stood there, looking worried. She would always keep a secret, especially for New Jersey, right?
“You alright, Minn? You… you look like you’ve just seen something.”
There she found herself, in the room of Michigan’s dead body, scared, terrified, and no less afraid. A murderer? It wasn't a big deal to her. It was the secret that burdened her, right in her heavy core.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
She was completely zoned out, making fake scenarios in her head as Wisconsin cried over his dead cousin. Everyone was losing everyone. Would she lose herself soon, too?
“Nebraska, then Iowa, then… then Michigan…” Texas muttered. “It's like it's a pattern. I mean, Iowa doesn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if, I dunno, Indiana was the next one to go?”
Indiana eyed him weirdly.
Over by the body, North Dakota tried to comfort Wisconsin, trying to tell him it'd be fine.
But everybody had already seen everything; the air felt heavier than it was before. Minnesota’s breath hitched.
“... You alright, Minn? You look like you've just seen worse shit than this.”
She slowly turned over to the voice, Texas to be exact, smiling, “I am fine…”
“Michigan taking a toll on ya?”
“... Yeah,” she lied. In reality, she didn't care about Michigan too much.
“Mmm, I see. I never knew them well, I’m sorry for your loss.”
Minnesota nodded slowly. “Thanks.”
New Jersey watched from the shadows, outside of the room, trying to make sure Minnesota wasn't saying anything, or worse, dead. She knew she wasn't, but she’d have to keep a closer eye. Just for now.
“It's weird,” she heard Missouri say. “Everyone who died was a Midwestern state. Does that mean the rest of us are next? Who's even…”
“You, the Dakotas, Kansas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois. That's a lot, Miss. You’ll be fine,” Maryland told her, patting her on the back.
“Gee, what lovebirds you two are,” Kansas herself sneered. South Dakota looked visibly uncomfortable.
“Discuss who may be evil.”
The states went silent again, like they had done yesterday, and to no surprise, it was no less different. A shotgun was placed on the table next to the bed Michigan died in.
“We have no evidence,” West Virginia said. “Who do you suggest we vote?”
“Well, who said we couldn't skip?” Virginia shrugged. “I mean, sure, there's a gun, but nobody is actually telling us that we need to vote.
A wall of bickering started, and New Jersey ignored it, immediately going over to Minnesota who still looked out of her mind.
“You alright?” the smaller state asked, once again wrapping her tail around her girlfriend’s waist.
Minnesota didn't need words. She shook her head.
New Jersey sighed, “look. Nobody knows but those two. You know xe won't do anything, xe is a coward,” she laughed silently, before continuing, “and Cali’s got your back, doesn't she?”
The North Star State sighed. “She’s probably lying.”
“Well, I don't think she is, you know California. She wouldn't lie about that.”
While she believed it herself, and while Minnesota nodded, she could tell she didn't believe a word New Jersey said. The Garden State noticed, but really, she chose not to say anything. It would probably be better if she didn't.
“It seems they are voting Pennsylvania,” Minnesota stated, switching the topic. New Jersey looked up.
“You guys have no evidence it's me! Why are we accusing me?!”
“Well… you’re acting defensive…” Maine said.
“And even if you weren't evil, you’re clearly nothing we need,” Arizona added, snarky.
Pennsylvania was obviously speechless. Nothing they needed? What the fuck was she? A joke?!
New Jersey found herself mad also. Her goal was to eliminate goods, but… this felt unfair. Unfair to Pennsylvania. She did nothing. Minnesota shivered beside her.
They both watched Maryland pick up the gun.
“Pennsylvania had the most votes.”
She quickly turned around towards Maryland, her hands up in the air.
“Please… I’m your— I know you, Maryland. I've known you for a long time. Why would you be the one to kill me?” she mumbled to him, clearly scared.
It didn't hurt him any less. Infact, killing Pennsylvania would pain him even more. New Jersey knew that for sure. They had been talking since they were colonies.
“... I’m sorry, but I… I feel entitled to do this, I have to.”
The shot rang out again in the room. No one felt that bad this time. Nobody but Maryland, and New Jersey.
“You shouldn't have done that,” she whispered to Maryland, but she knew he didn't catch it.
All the states started filtering out again, some pretending like it didn't happen, some pretending that it wasn't that bad. Every state knew it was cruel.
“Are we gonna go insane here?” New Jersey murmured to herself.
Minnesota finally stood up after her, looking at her with these wide eyes. When she finally met New Jersey’s gaze, she turned away quickly, shoving herself through states to get out of the room and away from New Jersey.
Had she said something wrong?
The halls felt endless. New Jersey kept pacing, pacing for what felt like hours, looking for someone to eavesdrop on. All the words from earlier kept crawling back to her brain, trying to keep her distracted.
“Well… you’re acting defensive…”
“And even if you weren't evil, you’re clearly nothing we need.”
“... I’m sorry, but I… I feel entitled to do this, I have to.”
She wondered how it felt to Pennsylvania. She wondered how she would've felt in that situation, being ganged up on for no reason. She didn't deserve that. Then again, New Jersey was just as bad as them. She didn't stop them.
Quickly, she shook everything from earlier off her mind, going downstairs and straight to the kitchen. As she was grabbing a glass of water, she noticed the paper on the counter.
“ROLE LIST:
MURDERER
ASSASSIN
AMBUSHER
WITCH
DETECTIVE
PSYCHIC
DARK PSYCHIC
SPY
SCOUT
MEDIC
SAVIOR
TWINS
MUFFIN MAN”
Under each one was a small description that New Jersey didn't bother with. She skimmed through each one, already knowing what her role did, and now she knew the basics of other roles, so that was nice—
“watcha reading there, Jerse?”
She tensed, turning around and seeing Colorado behind her, squinting at the paper.
“Never in my few centuries of being alive has anyone ever called me Jerse. Don't call me that again.”
Colorado scoffed, picking the paper up to look at it closer.
“Huh… weird roles.”
“Well, what's yours then?” New Jersey sneered.
He shifted the paper lower to uncover his face. “I’m not telling you that.”
“Coward.”
The Centennial State finally set the paper down on the table, deciding to ignore New Jersey and leave instead of arguing. New Jersey cackled, before leaving also. The other states would probably find it in the morning. Who knows who’d die next.
In the meantime… she’d go back to trying to eavesdrop. She went back to the third floor, where she knew Minnesota’s room was. It felt somewhat nerve-wracking, knowing someone completely innocent knew the secret.
A small chatter caught her attention on the second floor. She stayed still, making sure her wings made no sound, and listened.
“I dunno, my role is Clown… I have to get voted out to win, then I can kill or something.”
“Well, that does sound neutral.”
“How’d you know?”
“... My role? I checked you, it said neutral, and it caught me off-guard… It only said ‘good’ and ‘evil’ on the paper.”
“Not surprising, I guess.”
Clown. She remembered the role on the paper. Well, they really just explained it.
The other role sounded like psychic, if she could recall. However, couldn't he be dark psychic?
No, she remembered. Nevada was dark psychic. He had to be good.
The voice came from Kansas’s room; she had just realized.
Without a doubt, the other voice had to be Texas. So Kansas was clown, and Texas was psychic. She’d have to watch what he said closely if she wanted to do something.
But the thing is, what deal would Kansas have with him? Maybe she wants him to vote for her. But now? This wasn't a big deal to her. Kansas was completely phased out, and she only focuses on Texas’s voice.
“I've checked North Dakota. She’s good.”
“Me and—”
A loud noise cut out the rest of what he said. She kept listening.
“— we haven't figured out much yet.”
“I plan on checking Illinois tonight."
Illinois. That name felt disgusting in her mouth. She wasn't that bad, but… New York. She could barely handle her.
But at least… She was going to do something.
“GET BACK HERE!!”
Maine shoved New Jersey out of the way, New Hampshire chasing them right up the stairs. She hissed, “watch it!”
They didn't hear her, still bursting in fits of giggles and laughter. She grunted, before going downstairs, not catching anything else Texas had said.
“... But, I can agree… Alaska has barely shown up.”
“Ugh, fuck you, Cali,” Idaho said in this ugly tone, and New Jersey remembered what it was about.
“What? You can't just be all gross in the living room and then get mad when I get disgusted as I walk in!” she snarled.
New Jersey rolled her eyes, going outside in the backyard so she didn't have to hear them arguing, hearing as it fades away slowly.
“You act like you haven't seen two people kiss before.”
“You did it in the living room! Someone could've walked in!...”
Outside, the sun was slowly going down. She swore that it was just morning a bit ago. Had she really been pacing for hours?
“Time really goes fast in this place, huh.” Vermont basically read her mind, saying what she didn't out loud. Connecticut nodded along with him, holding a s’more in one hand.
When Vermont finally noticed New Jersey at the door, he grinned, “hey Jersey! Wanna join us?”
“Uh… sure. Not like I have anything better to do,” she said, before going to sit by Vermont and grabbing a stick from the pile he had and a marshmallow from the bag.
She spoke up again, “your little boyfriend isn't here, right? He gets on my nerves.”
Vermont shook his head, “no, he isn't. He didn't feel like coming out here. Can't imagine why, the temperature is perfect.”
“Well, he is kind of a buzz kill…” Connecticut added.
New Jersey really didn't say anything, staying quiet as she roasted her marshmallow over the fire. Since no one was speaking, Connecticut spoke up again, “I wonder how Guam’s doing.”
“What, you worried about your boyfriend?” Vermont snickered, but nobody laughed. He went silent.
“... Yeah, and.. myself, really. I want to get out of this place. I don't want to be here. I’m scared I will die.”
Gracefully, Vermont placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Look, if the murderer tries to get you at all, I’ll be there. I won't let you die.”
New Jersey ignored their words, knowing they probably didn't mean much. She brought the marshmallow to her mouth, eating it quickly. Connecticut spared a glance at her, but didn't comment.
For a while, she just sat in silence, hearing Vermont and Connecticut talk about life, things, a lot of things. The sun was fully down now, the flickering flames from the campfire casting a glow on the three of them. It was just then when Connecticut got up, yawning, “I’m gonna go to bed. See you guys in the morning… I hope,” she mumbled.
“You will,” Vermont reassured. “I’ll be there when you wake up.”
Hesitantly, Connecticut nodded and went to the sliding door, opening it and closing it behind her once she was back in. Vermont then turned back over to New Jersey, “you gonna leave too?”
“... Well, do you want me to? I was gonna stay outside a bit longer,” she said.
“Well, you can stay if you wish. I was gonna go back inside in a minute.”
“Oh.”
Vermont got up from the seat, handing the stick he had to New Jersey, but she refused, so he instead set it down on a table nearby, going towards the door before muttering a quick, “goodnight,” before going inside.
“... Goodnight,” New Jersey responded, seeing Vermont nod his head before the door closed. She watched his frame disappear as he went to the stairs to go to his room. She thought again about earlier; Illinois. She had to go check on Illinois.
Because… wouldn't Texas be there? Then she could kill him, and that's something good that she got to do. She was evil anyways. But the sun just went down, she had so much time before she needed to do… anything, really.
For some time, she just zoned out at the fire, ignoring everything around her. The moon crept up, too slowly for her taste, and once it finally felt right, once she saw all the lights off in the house, she went back inside.
It was silent. Deathly silent.
She hadn't used her ability at all; not yet. She was waiting for the right time to do so. And now? She did!
New Jersey rushed upstairs, going to the second floor of the house, rushing to where Illinois’s door was.
Nobody.
She remembered the little details on the paper; if someone didn't have a direct ability… she’d get a sensation if they did. She felt nothing. Texas didn't use his ability on her.
“... That fucking liar,” she growled, angry. “Of course he's smart enough, he must be happy now that he realized—”
BANG!
New Jersey almost jumped out of her skin. It felt so close, and she wasn't dead, so that must've been… It came from Illinois’s room.
On instinct, she opened the door to look inside. Someone was standing over Illinois’s body, writhing on the ground, and holding a gun. She couldn't tell who it was.
When Illinois finally stopped, the figure turned over to her.
“Jersey?” they called out. The voice sounded vaguely familiar… like… Missouri.
Finally the figure became more clear, and it indeed was Missouri. She stepped into the room, barely sparing a glance at the dead girl.
“You’re the murderer?” she asked. Missouri sneered at her, “don't fucking tell anyone, or I’ll kill—”
“Woah, chill.” New Jersey stepped back away from her protective stance, giving her space. “I'm ambusher.”
“Ambusher?” Missouri asked, confused, but she wasn't angry anymore.
“You… you didn't see the role list? In the kitchen?”
Missouri shook her head. The Garden State rolled her eyes, muttering something like, “of course you didn't,” before saying out loud, “well, I know a good pile of evils now.”
“Who?” Missouri questioned her. New Jersey shrugged, about to speak—
“Don't say anything.”
“— I can't say, I think you’ll figure it out.”
Even though the right thing to do would be to ask again, keep trying to figure it out, Missouri just… agreed and said nothing else.
“I probably will. I know two of them, and now you. That's two others, right?” the Show Me State said, trying to reassure herself. New Jersey didn't reply, not so sure herself.
“Well, uhm… I must go. I uh— I did what I was supposed to. Bye, Missouri.”
“Oh, bye. Bye Jersey.”
New Jersey ran out of the room, closing it behind her just in case anybody was nearby, maybe the spy using their ability, or someone just walking down the hallway. Almost on cue, Colorado walked down, ignoring New Jersey as he went down.
“Oh, hey, Colorado! Crazy seeing you here, right?” she said, trying to start friendly conversation. He stopped, shook his head violently, and just walked faster. Weird.
She decided to go the opposite way, to the next floor, to her own room. Every step felt heavier than it did yesterday…
Vermont went back outside, seeing nobody was out there anymore. He sat down again, noticing the stick he’d offered to New Jersey that she didn't take.
“It’ll never end, will it?” he looked up and told the stars, but he knew he wouldn't hear anything back.