Chapter Text
CHAPTER 0
A singularity of despair among a Universe of hope.
Ellie: I woke up that day with the beaming sun in my eyes. Today was the big day, but god… Was I not excited in the slightest… Why wasn't I excited? Well, that's simple enough…
*Ellie gets out of bed, And looks to a small letter on her bedside dresser. The envelope was a nice beige paper, the top flap opened neatly as the wax stamp was still completely intact.*
Ellie: The letter that arrived on the fifteenth of August changed my world entirely. An acceptance letter from Hope's Peak Academy, the most prestigious school in the whole world… Typically, seats at this school are reserved for the best of the best. The Cream of the crop… But not this time I guess…
Ellie (Reading): Dear Ellie, We here at Hopes Peak Academy have chosen you, Via our annual lottery draw, to join our students within the walls of Hopes Peak Academy as the Ultimate Lucky Student…
Ellie: Yeah… What a load of B.S…. Lucky? Me? As if. My family is anything but fortunate… But, this was just the offer I couldn't refuse. The next few months I spent hours of my life looking online for the kind of courses I could take… And the Limit to what this school taught was nonexistent… There were Courses for future Authors, Artists, Mathematicians, Scientists, even something here for those who believe they are clairvoyant to some nature… But in the end, one thing was for sure… I wasn't qualified for any of this…
*Ellie begins to get dressed, Slipping her phone in her pocket as she walks out her room.*
Ellie: Here I am… The front gates…
*Ellie stood in front of the school gates, looking up at the school.*
Ellie: Jesus… Think its a little overboard? Only like. 16 students are admitted a year at this place, you would think it would be a bit more Modest. It astonishes me how much this place matters. I mean, I've seen photos of graduates in my history books… Makes me really wonder just how successful I will be once I leave this place…
*Softly pushing on the cold metal Gates, Ellie felt a shiver down her spine*
Ellie: Why is this… Throwing me off… I mean, a
Lottery? I questioned it before but I still find myself questioning it now ever so… I've never heard of any Ultimate Lucky Students… Like- Ever… Whatever really. All I'll be taking is some general studies class just to say I went… Take it easy…
*Ellie took a few steps closer to the front doors of the massive academy. Every step closer sending a stronger feeling of unease down Ellie's throat…*
Ellie: God… I- I feel ill…
*Ellie tried to look around, her vision blurring as she held the large door handle.*
Ellie: Oh my god… I feel like im gonna be… Sick-
*Ellie eventually pressed forward through the large door.*
Ellie: (However… My first steps into Hopes peak ended up being my last… I don't know what made me dizzy, or why I felt so sick… But I found myself cold on the floor in no time, Completely passed out. The rest is a blur, honestly… that is, however, until I woke up from my sleep. However, the nightmare that awaited me then almost made me wish I was still unconscious…)
Ellie: (I woke up in a small, cold, metallic room… A trail of drool dripped down the side of the desk and onto my skirt… Gross… The second my eyes opened, I shot my head up. The room around me was… creepy to say the least… It looked like a classroom, Or, an Alien recreation of one… There was a black board at the front, two large blue curtains were bundled up along the sides of the front wall, but sprawled all along the board was illuminated text that resembled that of a Neon sign displaying “Welcome to Hell”...)
Ellie: Welcome… To hell? What the fuck?!?
Ellie: (I didn't waste any time kicking out of my strangely futuristic chair. Jesus, this thing looked like it came straight out of a sci-fi novel. It was floating, but only about a centimeter off the ground. The entire thing was made from metal other then the seat which was this strange material I could only explain as… some kind of Pillow slime…)
Ellie: … What- The- Fuck…Where am I?!? Hello?!?!
Ellie: (There were other desks in the room as well, each of them being neatly aligned in a four by four grid… Immediately I reached into my right pocket, however, Instead of the phone I thought I would find, instead was a small Key.
Ellie: … Fantastic… So I've been kidnapped?
Ellie: (I held my hands up, noticing the small black and white watch on my wrist. Yep. 100% Kidnapped.)
Ellie: Alright Jigsaw… What's next, a bomb in my pancreas?
Ellie: (I walked towards the door in the classroom, pushing through and leaving the alien classroom to what appeared to be an even MORE Alien hallway. And, this time, I meant ALIEN… The walls were covered with Wires, some hanging from the ceiling… The floor was of pure metal with the same grating as industrial warehouses… There were yellow lights above my head, with a monitor just in the middle. It was turned off it seemed, however, there were two people roughly my age staring up at the turned-off monitor. Walking towards them, the Blonde girl with the cowboy hat spun her head to face me, her loose pigtails flying past her head from the speed. The other girl looked too, her hands jammed together inside her red sweater sleeves, but her expression turned to panic as she saw me…)
Gabby: Oh my gosh! There is another one?!?! What are we going to do?
Ellie: Woah were you kidnapped too?
Ashley: Hold on now Y'all… No need to panic!
Gabby: You're right… HI! My name is Gabby! Nice to meet you!
Ellie: Hi… Im Ellie… You wouldn't also happen to be students going to Hopes Peak… Would you?
Ashley: Darn tootin’! My name is Ashley! Nice to meet you Ellie, Although, i'd prefer it if it weren't in this… Place… I'd much prefer the outdoors!
Gabby: Ooo! Me too! I love the outdoors! And the nature! And the Animals~
Ellie: So that would make you… Ultimates as well?
Gabby: Yes! Im the Ultimate Environmentalist!
Ellie: Environmentalist?
Gabby: I fight against corporations to help protect our wildlife! I've gone to national parks all over the world to help protect deforestation and mean hunting!
Ellie: Wow… How much of the environment have you saved?
Gabby: A lot! Uh- Too much to count im afraid-!
Ellie: I see… And what about you?
Ashley: Im the Ultimate Rancher! At my farm back home, I run it all by myself!
Ellie: Oh… so like- You take care of the animals and junk?
Ashley: Yep! We take care of Horses, Cows, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Cats, Chickens, Rabbits…
Ellie: Hang on… Cats?
Ashley: Yeah! We have a ton of cats at home! Ah… I miss it already…
Gabby: Do you know what's going on, Ellie?
Ellie: Not at all… I was just walking into the building of Hopes peak on my first day when I lost consciousness…
Ashley: Me too?!
Gabby: S-Same!
Ellie: Scary…
Gabby: Oh no… What if we were kidnapped? What if we are going to die?!
Ashley: Calm down Gabby! I'm sure we will all be okay! But… I can't deny the thought of danger didn't cross my mind… Here, Let's go look for an exit!
Gabby: Okay… If you say so! See you later, Ellie!
Ellie: O-Okay! Bye! Uh.. If you find something, come find me?
Ashley: Of course!
Ellie: (I watched as the two of them turned the corner, their footsteps echoing off the metal walls lined with what I could only assume were meant to resemble school lockers. I turned to my right to see another door, similar to the one I had already left from.)
Ellie: It's probably just another fucked up classroom… Oh well… Worth a shot I suppose…
Ellie: (I opened the room, low and behold, it was exactly the same, spare a few details. For starters, the board said nothing, but there was a little girl standing in the middle of the room, holding some kind of metal baton…
Fiore: This is creepy..! Im scared!
Ellie: (to the girls right was a man with glasses knelt down to her level.)
Alec: Hey now… Let's try and calm down…
Fiore: How am I supposed to be calm?!
Ellie: Woah woah woah- A child? They really abducted a child?
Alec: … Who are you?
Ellie: Im Ellie… I woke up in the classroom right next to you… Are you-
Alec: Ultimates? Yes. Im the Ultimate Librarian… My name is Alec…
Fiore: Im Fiore… And you don't need to know my talent!
Ellie: … You have an ultimate talent?! You are a student at hopes peak?!
Fiore: … Uh- Duh? Why else would we be here?
Ellie: …. what do you mean?
Alec: Having an ultimate is like having a target on your back for crime… We are probably being held hostage for something…
Fiore: I dont want to be sold to the black market!!!
Ellie: Woah- Kid-
Fiore: Dont call me that!
Ellie: Oh wow- Fine-! I didn't want to help you anyways…
Alec: Come now, Ellie… We shouldn't fight, Especially if our captors want something from us… Do you have any, Ellie?
Ellie: Any… what?
Alec: Money… Fame… Riches… Land… Anything of value-
Ellie: Wow thanks… But no- I'm not even special…
Fiore: Then- Why are you a student at hopes peak?
Ellie: A lottery… I was scouted bc of my luck I guess…
Fiore: Oh…
Ellie: (Fiore seemed to obviously hold back a chuckle, but can you blame her?)
Ellie: What makes you the ultimate Librarian, Alec?
Alec: Aisl 4, section D, Page 278… That is where you will find the definition of “Librarian” in the first section of the Dictionary inside the Library I work at… If you gave me a Book Title, Genre, author, I can find it for you…
Ellie: You read that many books?
Alec: I would have been reading one right about now if I still had my 50 short stories pocket book I have been working on…
Ellie: 50 short stories?
Alec: Oh, that's nothing… just a pocketbook for the road to the school really…
Fiore: This watch is too tight on my wrist! Who put this on?
Ellie: I don't know… But, hey, we are looking for an exit now… So, I guess just be careful… We don't know what these watches can do…
Alec: I hadn't even noticed I was wearing one… They don't appear to be on, however…
Ellie: (I bid farewell to the two of them, leaving the classroom. I made my way around the corner, a large door with the label “COLD STORAGE” engraved in the door greeted me.)
Ellie: … cold storage?
Ellie: (but as I reached for the handle…)
Karol: Sorry hun, but that wont work!
Ellie: Oh- Hey-
Karol: Didn't mean to scare you!
Ellie: I wasn't scared, more surprised. Is the door locked?
Karol: Absolutely shut tight… My name is Karol, by the way…
Ellie: Im Ellie… I can assume you are also a student at hopes peak?
Karol: The Ultimate Animal Whisperer, Don't wear out the title!
Ellie: An- Animal whisperer? Like, those people who pretend they can listen to animals?
Karol: You think im pretending? Ha! Girlie, You don't know the half of it! Animal whispering isn’t just about conversing with them, but understanding them!
Ellie: Gotcha… (Still, doesnt seem real-)
Karol: I can speak to the largest of Elephants and and the smallest of mice! I once directed some wild Lions through a corn maze!
Ellie: So what, did you just tell them to go left?
Karol: The way we speak transcends language, girlie!
Ellie: (Girlie..? Geez…)
Karol: Anyways… That door won't budge… I dont know what would be in cold storage, but probably nothing good… Any clue on how to get out of here?
Ellie: Sorry, not at all… but, we are looking…
Karol: We? How many more of us are there in this place?!?
Ellie: Well, including us, so far six…
Karol: JUST GREAT!
Ellie: (Karol slapped her hands to her thighs in frustration as she began pacing back and forth the hallway…)
Karol: How are we going to get out of this place?!? Who took us here?!?
Ellie: C-Calm down! We will find an exit-
Ellie: (Suddenly, Karol extended her finger, pointing right at my face her finger barely not touching my nose…)
Karol: I am calm!
Ellie: Oh god- Fine! I'll leave you alone! I'll tell you if I find an exit…
Ellie: (Not the best first impressions of my future classmates, I will say… I walked away from Karol, leaving her to complain to herself… I made my way down the long industrial hall, live wires sparking and sputtering as I passed by. There were more cameras in the middle, monitors turned off above them as well. Halfway down the hall was another set of bigger doors, except these were made of wood with metal pull handles. Above the door was a wooden sign saying “Dining Hall”...)
Ellie: Yeah, as if I'm staying long enough for dinner…
Ellie: (I pushed through the doors. The inside was almost nice… The room looked like a restaurant, with wooden flooring with nice fancy lamps hanging above several gorgeous tables and chairs. At the far wall was a large window, and a smaller kitchen door separating what was the kitchen from the dining hall. God the condition of it all made me want to puke…)
Tess: Ah, A new face…
Rosa: Oh lord… How many of us are there going to be here?
Miriam: Well well… It appears the number increases ever so…
Ellie: Hm? (I turned around to see three people sitting at an empty table. The girl who greeted me, brushing her black hair out of her dull face, a soft smile showing itself.)
Tess: HI, Im Tess, the Ultimate Painter. Nice to meet you!
Ellie: Oh, hey… Let me guess, you are all ultimates?
Miriam: Not all of us, Kiddo-!
Ellie: (The elderly woman stood up… the Wrinkles in her face contrasting to everyones young deminor…)
Miriam: Well, not anymore! My name is Miriam.
Ellie: Not anymore?
Miriam: yep! I've already graduated from Hopes Peak Academy as the Ultimate Baker! But, out of the blue a few weeks ago, I was requested back to the school for a job position as a professor here!
Ellie: oh wow… Did- did you find success like everyone says you would when graduating?
Miriam: Absolutely! Hopes Peak was the best thing that could have happened to me 20 years ago! I started my own bakery which attracted tourism from all around the globe!
Rosa: You have to have heard of “Like Grandma used to make ‘em” brand! It's all her recipes! My daughter loves your cookies, Miriam!
Miriam: Why thank you Rosa! That means a lot to me!
Ellie: I think I do- But who are you?
Rosa: Oh! Hehe- Sorry I guess I forgot to introduce myself. Im Rosa Maria! Uhm- Well my Ultimate tital is the Ultimate Mother, but I would hardly call it a “Talent”...
Ellie: You and me both… Im the Ultimate “Lucky” student. How much luck can I really have though if I was just kidnapped…
Rosa: Yeah… Hopes peak saw my story online, going through school as a mother balancing a job on top of it all just to support my daughter, Sofia…
Ellie: Where is her father, If-! you dont mind me asking-
Rosa: I-I do- Actually… Sorry- I don't even know where my Daughter is now… I hope she is okay…
Miriam: Im sure we will get out of here… But I do find it peculiar that the kitchen is fully stocked with food…
Tess: Well, it is a kitchen after all…
Miriam: But not JUST stocked… it filled. There must be seventy years' worth of rations in that kitchen…
Ellie: Seventy?!?! How could you say?
Miriam: Take one step into the pantry! It's almost a whole grocery store at our fingertips!
Tess: Clearly, whoever kidnapped us wants us here for good…
Ellie: You don't sound very bothered, Tess…
Tess: Oh, Im bothered… Just, Not too phased… The most I'd be doing at school is painting, and I might be able to do that here… There has to be at least a paper and a pencil around…
Ellie: Woah! It's not like we will be staying here very long! We are going to get out as soon as possible!
Tess: …Well, you can say that… But you haven't exactly found an exit yet…
Ellie: I'll get back to looking!
Rosa: Well good luck! For all of our sakes…
Ellie: (I waved goodbye, walking out of the room. As I left, just at the end of the hallway by a few other classrooms were two guys around the same height, talking.)
Tom: And you just… don't remember?
Jake: not a bit… Sorry…
Tom: N-No need to be sorry! I just, can't imagine forgetting that…
Jake: I can't either… I know it exists I just… Don't know?
Ellie: Hey!
Tom: ..!
Jake: Gah!
Ellie: Oh sorry- I didn't mean to-
Tom: Who are you? Name, NOW…
Ellie: Oh jeez- Im Ellie! Now cool it, im in the same pit as you right now…
Tom: Talent.
Ellie: … what?
Tom: What is your ultimate talent? Or, did you forget it too?
Ellie: What?!?! Are you insane?
Jake: Hang on hang on hang on! I-I'm Jake. Nice to meet you, Ellie!
Ellie: I'd say the same but it has actually been the opposite so far… I don't even have a talent, im just a normal person in this kangaroo classroom…
Jake: Oh?
Tom: No ultimate? Are you not a student of Hopes Peak?
Ellie: Ultimate Lucky Student. I was scouted by luck…
Jake: Oh…
Ellie: (Jake's face slowly dropped as his shoulders slumped the second I said my ultimate…)
Ellie: what about you?
Jake: Well… I dont know…
Ellie: You… Don't know?
Jake: I remember I was about to be a student at hopes peak and walking up to those gates… But I passed out the second I walked in and ended up here…
Tom: … And there is nothing you remember before that? What about opening that Letter they sent us?
Ellie: hang on- Who are YOU mister interrogation…
Tom: O-Oh- Uh- sorry… Im Tom. The Ultimate Spy…
Ellie: … Ultimate spy?!?! what, are you like mission impossible shit?
Tom: Not exactly… I am a spy who gathers information for the government to take down criminal organizations.
Ellie: Ah yes, the many many criminal organizations… We aren't in Italy dude…
Tom: For your information, the only reason there ISN'T crime syndicates everywhere is BECAUSE of spies like me!
Ellie: Not a very good spy if you are telling me everything, huh?
Tom: Oh yeah? Maybe if this was some reality television show id be fired for saying all of this, but the school promised to keep my identity a secret. on all records my name is Josh Baker. However, that kind of protection isnt exactly needed for me.
Ellie: Oh yeah?
Tom: I was sought after by hopes peak probably after they saw my great espionage job and took down one of the biggest environmental terrorist organizations with my own two hands all by myself!
Jake: Woah! really?
Tom: Yep! I would tell more but- Thats classified information…
Jake: Thats- Really cool Tom!
Ellie: Yeah, sure… Im assuming you two haven't seen an exit anywhere, have you?
Jake: No… we Just woke up in that classroom over there…
Ellie: (Jake pointed to a classroom around the corner.)
Tom: I woke up first, and when I saw Jake laying on the ground unconcious, I stood by watching the door to make sure we weren't in any immediate danger…
Ellie: Wow- So cool…! And so instead of looking around you watched him sleep? Didn't even bother waking him up?
Tom: I- N-No- I guess i didn't think of that at the time…
Ellie: Gotcha…
Ellie: (With that sorry display of intelligence, I turned away and waved goodbye, making my way down the hallway pointed out by Jake. However, a the end of the hallway were large metal bars blocking the rest of the floor… Instead, I entered the third room labeled Classroom. As I opened the door, it was indeed a replica of the first two, a girl sitting down in a desk just, staring off towards the corner of the room…)
Ellie: … H-Hey-
Lake: Ah-!
Ellie: Oh-! Sorry- I didn't mean to startle you-
Lake: It’s okay… You didn't scare me. I just didn't know there were others here…
Ellie: (she stood up, her platinum blond hair shimmering in the fluorescent lighting…)
Ellie: Im Ellie, The ultimate Lucky student… Everyone here is a student of Hopes Peak-
Lake: You are? Oh great! That means I am in the right place-!
Ellie: What- No-
Lake: My name is Lake… Im known as the Ultimate Scholar but, Thats just a cover for my real Ultimate…
Ellie: Real Ultimate?
Lake: Yeah… Im an Author. I've written many novels, but- My parents don't know…
Ellie: Uhm… If you don't mind me asking… Why does that matter?
Lake: My parents have my life all planned out. In fact, from the moment I was born they knew I was going to go to hopes peak… I've gone to some of the most exclusive private schools getting perfect grades in every class every year… Every night I had hours and hours of homework to do, and if I didn't my parents would give me some regardless…
Ellie: Oh my god… Sounds like they are really-
Lake: Caring? I know… I should be more grateful…
Ellie: (I was going to say controlling…)
Lake: But- in between classes I would write novels… And eventually, I began sending my work to publishers and- before I knew it I had sold best-selling novels for at least six publishing companies…
Ellie: six novels?!? All written in the, what, 15-minute period gaps in between classes? Thats crazy!
Lake: Heh… Thanks…
Ellie: So… Why are you just sitting here?
Lake: Oh! Im waiting for class to start!
Ellie: … Uhm- Class?
Lake: is that not why we are here?
Ellie: Uhm… Well- I don't know how you missed it but… This isn't a normal classroom-
Lake: And Hopes Peak isn't a normal school…
Ellie: (She has me there I suppose… But still, regardless, there is no way this isn't strange!)
Ellie: Don't you remember… Passing out? Walking through the front doors of the academy? Getting tired? Passing out? Ending up in this science fiction classroom?
Lake: Oh, I noted its Sci-fi hints… The holographic chalkboard, the levitating desks… And yes, I do remember that…
Ellie: Hmm… Well… there are a lot of us here, and some of us are convinced we have been kidnapped… Probably for money…
Lake: O-Oh… Well, then I doubt we will be here for too much longer.
Ellie: How come?
Lake: My parents will pay our ransom… If not just to get me out of here… This isn’t exactly something they would just let me do without sending me homework…
Ellie: (the only reason they would get you out of here is because you aren't doing any HOMEWORK?)
Lake: I think I'll just… stay in here for now…
Ellie: Alright then… I'll keep looking around for an exit.
Lake: Okay! Bye, Ellie! See you in class!
Ellie: (I left the classroom. Jake and Tom were no longer drifting in the hallway, neither was Karol. The empty hallway was ominous, to be honest… The soft buzzing of live wires only made the room feel desolate and devoid of any sense of hope. It also didn't help that it was freezing cold… I walked towards the stairway just across the open area in the hallway, Making my way down the stairs rather than up. My feet clanked onto the metal steps as the narrow stairwell led me to another hallway… This hallway, however, was different from the walls were painted beige and smooth, and small light fixtures with red lampshades dotted along them evenly spaced. In between every two lamps was a door, along with a face and a name… To my immediate left I saw two more people standing there, one of which standing right in front of a door with his exact face…)
Aiden: Okay… What is going on here?
Ellie: Woah… This is creepy…
Aiden: Y-Your telling me-!
Riya: …
Ellie: (That girl is just standing leaning against the wall looking at her nails…)
Aiden: Do you know what is going on here?
Ellie: What? No! I have no idea what the hell is even happening…
Aiden: Then I guess that makes two of us… My name is Aiden.
Ellie: Im ellie. My ultimate is stupid, so dont even bother-
Aiden: OH TRUST me… You don't know stupid…
Riya: Yeah, I do~ Im looking right at him~
Aiden: What is wrong with you? Ever since we woke up in that classroom together you have just been so rude..
Riya: Look Loser- I don't have time for this. My name is Riya. Ultimate Movie Star~
Ellie: Riya… Where have I heard that name before?
Riya: Probably because everyone knows me~ Im famous you know~!
Ellie: Oh. so you are an actress? What movies are you in?
Riya: Ever heard of “The Adventures of Giburt and Hannah”?
Ellie: That one cute movie about the siblings who go on adventures with their magic-talking ferret? I love that movie as a kid! But… I dont- Recall YOU in it…
Riya: That's because I was in the remake that came out just last year!
Aiden: … The one nobody liked?
Riya: It made money so CLEARLY someone liked it~
Aiden: Thats… Not really how the box office works…
Riya: What. Ever. It's not like YOU are exceptional in any way… What did you say your talent was?
Aiden: … *Sigh* Hi… Yeah, Im Aiden… The “Ultimate Mundane” … or otherwise, Im the most average person you will meet…
Ellie: … Average?
Aiden: Well the letter I got in the mail explained that I, out of every 8 billion people on earth… Have been tested to be the exact middle standard. Im the most average person in every measurable way. Im the average height, Im the average weight, I have the exact average time for a mile run… I have the average shoe size… Average IQ number…
Riya: Which means you are completely and totally worthless~
Aiden: S-Shut up!!
Ellie: Ouch… And I thought Ultimate Luck was bad…
Aiden: Ultimate luck?
Ellie: Yep… Picked at complete random.
Aiden: Oh. Well that's cool!
Ellie: it is?!?
Aiden: Yeah! It's something to brag about at least! “Hey look at me! I got picked out of everyone to go to Hopes Peak Academy!” That's at least a party story…
Ellie: Huh… Thats… I guess so-
Riya: Not to interrupt your cope session losers, but why are our faces and names on these doors?
Ellie: That's a great question…
Ellie: (I turned to the right to see my door next to the stairway. To the left of the doorknob looked like some kind of scanner, with a soft red light indicating the door was locked. After jostling the doorknob for a bit, yep… Locked…)
Aiden: What do you think unlocks it?
Ellie: I have no clue…
Ellie: (However, our conversation was cut short suddenly when there was a fizzling sound coming from the monitor in the hallway which was also paired with a camera. The screen was lit, white television static stretching corner from corner… And a soft yet alarming jingle played in our ears…)
*Ding dong bing bong*
???: Hello? Hello?!?! Is this thing on- HELLO?
Ellie: Oh what the FUCK?
Aiden: Jeez-!
Riya: My ears!
???: Sorry sorry I'll turn down the volume..! How’z this? Testing testing one two three! Can you hear me?
Ellie: … Can- It hear- us?
???: Please, everyone, settle down settle down! You’re sleep was meant to end a whole hour later! Please gather at the Meeting hall on the first floor!
Ellie: (amidst the static, a slight silhouette could be seen… It was round, with two small balls on its head reminding me of Mickey Mouse ears.. But soon, the image cut off, the TV suddenly shutting down and, suspiciously, a small buzz shooting up my arm from my wrist… Lifting my hand, the black and white watch lit up, my name displaying for a few seconds before turning into a typical smartwatch. The watch opened what appeared to be a map of the “School” we were in, showing me the location of both me, Riya, and Aiden…)
Aiden: My watch! it turned on!
Riya: S-Same!!
Ellie: Mine too… C'mon guys… I guess we better go to that meeting room…
Ellie: (Aiden and Riya left back up the stairs, meanwhile, I stood looking at the photo of me on the door. Who set this up? how did they get this photo? It looked like your typical yearbook photo… But I never even took this photo, let alone would be wearing the outfit I am. I only got this vest a few days ago… So why am I wearing it in that picture?)
Ellie: Creepy…
Ellie: (I made my way up the stairs, bumping into two other guys coming down from the second floor…)
Yul: OW- WATCH IT-
Ellie: Oh- Sorry!
Yul: what the hell is going on? Did you hear that creepy ass announcement?!
James: Sheesh… Calm down-
Yul: Calm down?! WE'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED and I need to post tonight!!!
Ellie: P-Post? We could be hostages and you are worried about your followers?!
Yul: Uh-DUH? Dont you know who I am?
Ellie: (not another celebrity…)
Yul: Yul is my name, I’m The ultimate Dancer on Tiktok, But I dont want YOU following me-
Ellie: Uhm, Fuck you too?
Yul: Wouldn’t dream of it with your ugly ass-
James: Ladies- Ladies! Break it up you two!
Ellie: And who are you mister Prince Charming…
James: Well, my name is James. You may know me by my infamous travel blog?
Ellie: … Doesn't quite ring a bell…
James: Well, Im the Ultimate Web Star, But I prefer the Ultimate Influencer! I don't know what boomer came up with the name “Web star” But we don't talk like that..
Ellie: Oh… WAIT- Are you the guy that traveled all of Europe in a week?
James: Yes!
Yul: So you know HIM but not ME?
James: I probably have at least ten times the followers as you do bro-
Yul: Oh yeah? 26 million followers on TikTok, 4 million subscribers on YouTube, and 18 thousand followers on Instagram!
James: I've got 3 on TikTok, 1 on youtube, and 6 on Instagram.
Yul: you only have 3 million on TikTok? HAH- Internet star my ASS-
James: Billion. 3 Billion. 1 billion subscribers and 6 Million on Instagram…
Ellie: heh- he got you~
Yul: SHUT UP GARFIELD-
Ellie: Garfield?!?! (is he… talking about my hair?!)
Yul: UGH… Get out of my face…
Ellie: (Yul stormed off, shoving past me with his shoulder…)
Ellie: What an asshole…
James: tell me about it… he also screams like a baby!
Ellie: Well… I guess we should get going to that meeting…
James: But wait- What's your name?
Ellie: Oh- Right. Im Ellie. My ultimate is- Stupid.
James: Oh please, it can't be worse than mister “I only dance for 15-second video loops.”...
Ellie: It's ultimate Luck… I got chosen at complete random.
James: Oh? Maybe it COULD be worse…
Ellie: Hey-!
James: Sorry, but it's true. That's a pretty lame talent.
Ellie: gee- thanks…
James: Well, maybe with that luck you could gain a quarter of the followers and sponsorships I have~!
Ellie: Sure… (You are barely any different from Yul…)
Ellie: (With that, James headed off to the meeting hall and I followed shortly behind him… The gate blocking the right side of the hall was unblocked, the meeting room door was wide open, but I just looked at my watch to make sure I was in the right place… When I entered the room, everyone stood huddled around, a soft murmur flooding the room. All the chairs had been tossed over in the corner of the room, the front of the room having a small speech podium that had glowing blue accent lights on a sleek, shiny, titanium base, on top being a small wire microphone…)
Jake: So… did anyone else's watches turn on as well?
Ashley: Yeah… Mine llit up the second that creepy announcement was over…
Fiore: It scared me-!
Lake: Oh- Dont worry! Im- Im sure we will all be fine!
Alec: I highly doubt that…
Tess: …..
Ellie: (Tess grabbed her elbow as she stood in the back of the room, silent)
Miriam: Alright kids… If you don't quiet down then it will be hard to hear the announcement!
Yul: Awe did granny leave her hearing aid at home?
Karol: Ugh… This better be good… If I don't get one answer out of this I outta-
Rosa: H-hey guys! Let's just take some deep breaths! Im sure whatever is going on will have a good reason!
Aiden: I hope you're right…
Tom: I couldn't find anything suspicious when I went around with Jake…
Riya: other then the fact we were kidnapped?!
Gabby: I-Im scared! I don't do good under pressure-!
Ellie: Hey- Gabby?
Gabby: huh?
Ellie: (I rested my hand on Gabby's shoulder, she was shivering as she held her hands up to her head.)
Ellie: Im sure whatever is going on, we will be fine…
Gabby: T-Thanks, Ellie! B-But… Im still nervous…
Ellie: (And I don't blame her one bit…)
???: AHEM AHEM AHEM.
Gabby: AHH-!
Ellie: (Suddenly… and without warning… The room went silent as the same high-pitched voice cleared their throat. The room fell to a hush as we all stared at the empty podium. The wait was agonizing as I stared waiting for something to happen. A drop of sweat slowly trickled down my brow as my blinking matched my heartbreak… I let go of Gabby's shoulder and dug my nails into the palm of my hands, my arms to my side… And, springing from behind the podium was a black and white… stuffed… bear….)
Monokuma: Mic check Mic check! Gosh does any of this audio equipment on this ship work? Hello????
Ellie: (He sat on top of the podium, his little stubby legs kicking as he manipulated the small cotton mic, eventually settling on ripping it off the podium…)
Monokuma: Im sure you can hear me-! HELLOOO everyone! I am your headmaster Monokuma!
Lake: headmaster!? A bear?
Yul: A stuffed animal is our headmaster?
Monokuma: Im NOT a “"Stuffed animal”! I. Am. MONOKUMA! Nice ta’ meetcha!
Jake: So… If you are our headmaster then… This really IS hopes peak?
Monokuma: Puhuhuhu~ yes and no! You all have found your way onto the Hopes Peak Expedition Course!
Ellie: … Expedition Course?
Aiden: … if you don't mind me asking… what does that mean?
Monokuma: its simple! You sixteen students have ALL signed up for an adventure of a lifetime! and adventure… IN SPAAAAACE!
Ellie: W-What..?!?
Ellie: (In… SPACE?!?)
Monokuma: YEP! SPACE! THE GALAXY! THE STARS ABOVE- you are IN SPACE!
Fiore: I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!!!
Ellie: (Fiore's face was red with frustration as she pointed at the bear…)
Fiore: I WANNA GO HOME… I WANNA GO HOME… I WANNA GO HOME!
Monokuma: GEEZ KID CALM DOWN… You won't be going home any time soon so don't get bent out of shape about it-
James: What do you mean we are in space? Like… Really in space?!
Rosa: I- How far away- are we?
Monokuma: Pretty far!
Rosa: H-HOW FAR?? How far away is my daughter?!?!
Monokuma: Pretty far!
Rosa: I-If you dont tell me-
Monokuma: PRETTY FAR IS PRETTY FAR!!! Geez louise!!!
Tess: I knew it… There isn’t a way home… we are stuck here…
Ellie: Why? Why did you kidnap us?
Monokuma: Kidnap? Oh no no no! I never laid a finger on you! Doing so would violate school regulations~
Tom: School regulation? There are rules?
Monokuma: of course! any good game has rules!
Ashley: … G-Game..? What do you mean… “game”...?
James: This is Ludicrous! My followers will know im gone when I don't post today!
Monokuma: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ellie: !!! (Monokuma’s booming laughter exploaded the room… It was Sinister, sending a chill down my spine… Something tells me this isn't your typical hostage situation…)
Monokuma: You’re “Followers” Dont matter! Besides, you are in SPACE!
James: What do you mean they don't matter? What did you do?
Monokuma: Tell me- Does anyone remember the day they stepped into your precious school?
Ellie: You mean… when we all lost consciousness and collapsed in the main lobby? what about it?
Monokuma: is that ALL you remember~
Alec: Is there more to remember?
Monokuma: Puhuhu~ PUHUHUHUHUHU~ BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Jake: C-Cut the laughter! What do you want from us? Why are we here?
Monokuma: Why? To live out your school life seperated from all of humanity forever!
jake: …. What?
Miriam: … F-Forever..? You cant possibly mean…
Monokuma: Yep I do! Until your final breath, you will ALL be trapped here! IN SPAAA-
Karol: WE GET IT WE ARE IN SPACE…
Aiden: H-How… How!
Monokuma: I can tell this idea… Isn't setting well with you all…
Yul: OF COURSE IT DOESN'T YOU FREAK OF NATURE! I WANT TO GO HOME-
Riya: I- I had so much left to do! Y-You can't keep me here-!
Ashley: I-I can't be stuck here! I never- I never took out the garbage!
Jake: I don't think taking out the trash is that important…
Ellie: (Soon, spare Tess and Alec, the room became a vomit of voices all crying to be sent home immediately. I watched in horror as everyone either began to cry or raise their voice…)
Karol: I dont know what you THINK you are bear- BUT I WILL GO BACK HOME…
Tom: You can't do this to us! This is- This is illegal imprisonment and enclosure!
Jake: I-I-I- I want to go home… I don't want to be in space!
Lake: I- I don't understand…
Monokuma: ENOUGH-! GOD you are all insufferable! FINE- If you REALLY want to go home…
Ellie: ???
Monokuma: Luckily for you all… There IS one way you can return home~ Pu-PUhuhuhuhuhu~
Gabby: W-We can go home?! HIP HIP HOORAY!
Ellie: Don't celebrate yet! We don't even know what it is yet!
Monokuma: If you so desire to leave your Expedition to SPAAAAAAAACE-
Karol: Grrrr…..
Ellie: (Karol aggressively cracked her knuckles…)
Monokuma: Then you might want to look into our Graduation program!
Lake: G-Graduation? Oh! Like… taking a test?
Monokuma: NOPE! Only ONE student out of the 16 of you will be able to graduate!!
Yul: ONE? AND THEN WHAT? I get trapped in here with this SAD EXCUSE OF A MENAGERIE?!?!
Monokuma: Well~ I don't think you have to worry! Once one student graduates, it will no longer be your problem~
Yul: … What- What does that mean?!?!
Monokuma: In order to graduate….
Ellie: (Monokuma’s red eye started to glow, the light illuminating the white side of his stuffed body..)
Monokuma: You must KILL one of your fellow classmates!
Ellie: …. Wh-
Jake: … What.. did you say?
Gabby: Did- Did he say-
Ellie: KILL?
Monokuma: YEP! Strangle, bludgeon, stab, drown, poison, decapitation, laceration, asphyxiation, YOU NAME IT! Disturbing your expedition course harmony with a murder is the only way to graduate!
Miriam: I-I dont get it… W-Why?
Monokuma: Puhuhuhu~ PUHUHU- BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ellie: Answer her! Answer us! Why are you doing this? Who set this up?
Monokuma: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ellie: Damnit- Answer me!
Ellie: (Without even thinking, I ran up to the podium in an attempt to grab the bear, Monokuma jumping off the stand before I could even lay a finger… )
Monokuma: UH OH- You don't wanna do that~
Ellie: W-What?
Monokuma: Violence against Headmaster monokuma is NOT allowed! I hadn’t gone over the rules yet though, so you get a free pass~
Ellie: I DON'T CARE… Tell us why we are trapped here!
Monokuma: Why- you signed up for this! Don't you remember?
Tom: not after you drugged up and wiped our memories!
Monokuma: Puhuhuhuhuhu~ Now now! No need to get all riled up! no one HAS to die as long as you accept your life here in the Ultimate Universe Expedition Course!!! FOREVER!
Ellie: …. (the room fell silent… Kill? Murder? Another one of us? or we have to stay here… forever… The labeled rooms… the stocked pantry… it all made so much sense now… This is our whole world now… We weren't hostages, but rather… we were victims…)
Monokuma: Now now! To begin let's start with the rules of this killing game IN SPACE!!!
Rule no.1
Violence against Headmaster Monokuma is strictly prohibited. Violence is defined by the intent of physical harm. emotional violence does not count.
Rule no.2
Damages against the walls of the Ultimate Universe Expedition Course is strictly prohibited!
Rule no.3
Physical violence to any student without the intent of becoming Blackened is strictly prohibited during nighttime. if you are going to fight, do it in daylight hours!
Rule no.4
Taking off or damaging your Monowatch is strictly prohibited.
Rule no.5
Damaging any Monowatch-sealed door to open it is strictly prohibited.
Rule no.6
Killing any more than two students before a class trial is strictly prohibited.
Rule no.0
Rules can be added and amended in the future whenever Monokuma desires, yet any amendments are only active after they have been amended. A student can never be punished for breaking a rule that didn't exist!
Rule X
Violation of any rules will result in immediate punishment.
Ellie: (the rules were concise, yet vague. It didn't help that everyone seemingly tunnel-visioned on the ominous “Rule X”... Violation of any rules will result in Immediate punishment…)
Tom: P-Punishment… Let me guess... Execution?
Monokuma: BINGO BINGO DING DING DING! Wow! And I thought you were the dumb one!
Tom: D-Dumb one?!
Miriam: It says here… You can change the rules whenever… But we cannot be punished for any rules we broke before the amendment… But what is stopping you from disobeying these rules? This rule seems to be more targeted towards you then us…
Ellie: T-Thats true!
Monokuma: Enough questions! This isn't some pannel! THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT! The KILLING GAME HAS BEGUN!
Ashley: K-Kill… Killing game? This…. This is supposed to be a game…
Aiden: This isn't a GAME…. I- I dont want to die
Jake: Whats going to happen? We- We have to stay forever?!? What about my family? my brother? My grandma? My mom and dad?
Tom: Jake- Calm down!
Monokuma: Puhuhuhuhu~
Ellie: (And soon, without a trace, Monokuma disapeared… leaving the room filled with nothing but despair… Pure despair…)
Ellie: SHIT…
Ellie: (I went to kick the back wall of the classroom, however, before I could…)
Tess: Ellie! Dont-!
Ellie: Huh?
Tess: Rule number 2 says we cant damage the walls… or- Well… Rule X will be inacted..
Ellie: ….
Alec: Unless you WANT to die.
Ellie: (I stood with my back to the rest of the class, Tess being the only person in my vision as she placed her hands on my shoulders… What the hell? Was I supposed to just accept this? No…! I- I need to find a way out of here… I-)
Tess: … Here… We should… get some rest…
Ellie: Rest? how can I rest? I need to- I need- I-
Ellie: (could hear myself hyperventilating, my head rushing as the room around me spun… everyone's voices of concern and discomfort growing and spiraling in my brain… The voices of everyone got quieter…. until it was just silent… Everyone staring at each other…)
Riya: … Uhm… so… Now what…
Jake: … I dont know…
Alec: Im going to try and find something to read in this damn place…
Tom: Im gonna… explore a little… I guess… I'm too riled up and me and Jake haven't looked upstairs yet.
Jake: A-And me?
Tom: Well, im not just going to go up all alone! Plus, we already have been exploring together…
Jake: O-Okay! sure…
Ellie: (Alec, Tom, and jake soon left, and soon… So did everyone else… Except me, Tess, and Gabby…)
Gabby: E-Ellie… Are you okay?
Ellie: No! am I supposed to be? I just learned im going to die!
Tess: none of us are going to die Ellie…
Ellie: No matter what, Im dying here!
Gabby: Not if we can find a way out!
Ellie: is there a way out?
Tess: … I honestly dont know…
Gabby: O-Of course there is! We got in here somehow!
Ellie: … But… We are in space… SPACE…
Tess: Well… If there is someway to controll the ship…
Ellie: And what? DRIVE home?
Tess: You're right…
Gabby: N-No! You are wrong! We can find a way out! we have to!
Ellie: You heard the bear…
Gabby: Yes, and I dont believe the bear! But I did believe you when you said we would be fine…
Ellie: Gabby…
Gabby: So… let's just- Be fine! Right?
Ellie: … *sigh* fine… I'll go… Sleep or something…
Tess: … You sure?
Ellie: yeah…
Ellie: (I stepped out the room, heading back down the hallway… Passing by people as they talked, I just kept walking back towards the stairway down to the lower floor of this “Space ship”... I stood in front of the door with my face in front of it…)
Ellie: …. How do I-
Monokuma: Just hold your monowatch to the reader!
Ellie: JESUS CHRIST WHAT THE FUCK-
Ellie: (Fucking- Oh my god?!?!)
Monokuma: Ah!! Dont scare me like that!
Ellie: (You are scared? you are the one who just POPPED UP…)
Monokuma: Now, your watch will ONLY work on YOUR Door, but other Monowatch doors work for EVERY watch!
Ellie: Okay? Okay. Bye now…
Monokuma: WHAT? No thank you?
Ellie: Why would I thank my captor?!
Monokuma: I… Im heartbroken…
Ellie: (he disappeared… I slowly pressed my monowatch to the reader, the red light turning green and the lock clicking open… Twisting the knob, i pushed through the door which was quiet as mouse… Inside was, well, a typical bedroom. the bed was in the middle of the room against the right wall with two dressers to the sides. To the left there was a small table and chair set up, with a poster of… well, earth… He is taunting me… clearly…)
Ellie: ….. I cant… believe it… What did I do to get into this mess? Im not even a real ultimate im just a random person! Stupid- STUPID HOPES PEAK ACADEMY…
Ellie: (I screamed at the top of my lungs as I cried… I- I dont know… it all happened so quickly… I never even got to say goodbye to my parents… What- What am I supposed to do? Kill? Can I really kill someone? these questions spiraled in my head as I threw myself onto the bed… It was soft… and VERY comfortable… I couldn't help but notice the screen and camera in the room… of course I was being watched… even now.. before I fell asleep, I gave the camera a showcase of my middle finger, crying myself to sleep on the first night in this hell…)
Ellie: … and Unfortunately… it would be the first night of many…
CHAPTER 0
A singularity of despair among a Universe of hope.
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