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Thunder crashed loudly up above, I heard the heavy rain hitting the dome around the academy, making almost a rhythm of thumps against it. The rain was so overbearingly loud I couldn't get a wink of sleep. I was at the edge of the bed now, watching the door. I don’t even remember why I started originally but it's been so long that I can't stop now. The lights were still on in the hallway, it spilled into my room through the crack under the door, not bright enough to disturb me but just enough to notice it was there. My entire room was pitch black. I could turn on the lights but, and please promise to keep this between you and me, I was too scared to move. I wasn’t leaving this spot for anything. Not until morning. Monokuma made the lights out announcement a couple hours ago so it wouldn’t be long until then. At least I think it was a couple hours ago.
CRASH!
My heart sank immediately, the air around me felt colder. My eyes darted towards the door instantly.
What was that?
My hands were starting to shake. No, my body was shaking.
Did someone just trip or did someone carry out a murder and that was their BODY FALLING?
I was filled with an overwhelming sense of absolute dread. Why would I say something like that? Something so..outlandish, so terrifying. I don’t have any reason to believe something like that. No, no. That’s not right. I do, In a situation like this, there was no mistaking that I had every reason to believe it might be true.
Is someone really dead? Did someone literally just die?! It could be..someone just dropped something right?
My knees were up to my chest now, I could hear how hard I was breathing, my hands on my face, gripping my hair. I felt so disconnected to my body, but terrified all the same.
I hate this but I can’t help thinking these dreadful thoughts after everything that’s happened till now.
I became more aware of the light in the hallway. It wasn’t something I just noticed now, It was something I became painfully aware of. The source of the sound would be out there, behind that door, down that hallway. Somewhere out there in this school.
And I could just walk out the room to find out but..
Thunder rang in my ears again, it made my entire body tense up. I had backed up into the wall behind me, I felt it, cold on my back. My eyes felt heavy, I was exhausted. I wasn’t exhausted like I wanted to go to sleep, I was exhausted because of this stupid look on my face. I haven’t seen it in the mirror before but I know what I felt like every time I did it. I didn’t want to make that face again, that’s why I rather not go out that door..
I don’t want to see if someone is really dead.
It’s kind of pathetic, isn’t it. How easily I succumb to my own paranoia. What kind of SHSL Detective am I supposed to be if I get scared so easily by something I can’t even see? Shouldn’t I go out there to look? Isn’t it my responsibility?
I doubt anyone else heard it.
As I stood up, I couldn’t make it a second before almost collapsing. My legs were completely numb, it felt like static, all fuzzy.
How long was I down there?
I leaned against my bed for support, waiting to regain feeling in them. I decided I was going to walk out of that door. I needed to, who else would?
I need something to defend myself against them.
Taking a quick look around my room, I found a flashlight that I assume came from the warehouse. It was almost as heavy as a club. Not enough to kill someone but just enough to knock them out in a single blow. Well, maybe it could kill someone with a good few wacks..I was sure it could. It felt..kind of wrong having it. It was like my hand was rejecting it, it was shaking so violently. Was I that scared? Even with this,a weapon used to protect me, I was scared of even that. I shook it off, heading to the door and twisting the handle slowly to open it. I peered out of my door, looking down the hallway in both directions. Seemingly, no one was there and I didn’t hear any footsteps. I wasn’t in any danger yet, but the biggest mistake I can make right now is letting my guard down.
CRASH!
It scared me just as much as it did the last time, I was so startled by it that I stumbled backwards, almost tripping over my feet. I knew where it was coming from now, far off down the hallway, on the left side. I felt a lump in my throat.
Do I really want to go over there? See another one of my friends dead? Start this whole thing all over again?
I took careful, quiet steps as I made my way down the hallway, holding the flashlight by my side. I hoped whoever was behind that noise couldn’t hear how hard I was breathing now. The world around me was going in slow motion, the anticipation rising, I felt my grip on the flashlight tighten.
Maybe if I was quick, maybe if I got to them fast enough, I could prevent it from happening.
The door was open slightly, a little light came out of the room from an unknown source, it was pretty dim. Suddenly I hear footsteps across the floor, a shadow walking in front of the light.
Was that the killer? Was I going to catch them in the act?
I took my time opening the door, luckily it didn’t make a sound. Hopefully I wasn’t making one either. The killer didn’t seem to notice. They had their back turned to me, crouched down above something..someone? It was too hard to make out. My heart was pounding in my chest as I approached them. I held the flashlight above my head.
I almost hesitated, but then I didn’t. I hit them, and then I hit them again, and then I hit them again, and again and again and again and again and again and again..
I hit them in such a blind rage, I didn’t even realize what I was doing. I was exhausted, not exhausted like I needed to go to sleep, I was exhausted of seeing my friends dead, of investigating their bodies, of avenging their deaths. I wanted to put an end to it. I closed my eyes through it all..and then when I opened them, I saw the blood on the floor. They were on the ground now, a pool of blood around their head. It took a while to come to terms with the fact that this was my doing.
I became the one I wanted nothing to do with.
Tears were streaming down my face, my vision was blurry. The flashlight fell from my hands and clattered against the floor. I stepped away from the body, but my footprints were bloody. I wouldn’t be able to escape from this, they’d catch me red handed.
I don’t even know who I killed..what will they all think of me?
The light suddenly came on.
A few things occurred to me then, first. The blood was dried, not only was it dried but it had been there since the moment I arrived. The body wasn’t real, despite seeing someone moving around in the room, the body of the killer wasn’t even real.
It wasn't even real, it wasn't even real, it wasn't even real, it wasn’t even–
WHO WAS IN THE ROOM WITH ME.
That's when I felt breathing, heavy against my neck just then, making my hair stand on end, making my skin crawl. Making me feel all kinds of icky and disgusting ways. I wanted to throw up, I was disgusted by myself.
They were right against my back , once again I was frozen in place, only able to stare right in front of me, at the body I put all my strength into killing that wasn't even real. At the mistake I would've made that could get me or several others killed in an instant. I was forced to stare it all down while they stood against me, not moving, not saying a word.
Like my own fear was standing behind me and forcing me to face the gruesome truth, the thing I did because of it.
Their plot, the figure that stood against me, their plot was clear to me now. I was the victim, lured out by the killer to investigate a murder that was purely fabricated. One that wasn't a reality quite yet.
Somehow I got a sense of courage from that. I still had a chance to prevent a murder. I quickly reached over to grab the flashlight, as heavy as a club, and turned to face who would be my killer.
I didn't even get a glimpse at their face before they swung at me. I was wrong to assume that it wasn't too late, I actually didn't even stand a chance.
Once I turned around, they were upon me, and the lights went out for me and me only.