Chapter Text
It's relatively quiet in the subway today. Though as much could be expected for any tuesday after 8pm.
Taking a seat in your regular spot on the train (atleast as regular as it can be, when accounting for the amount of times you had entered the bus to find it occupied), you get comfortable and remove your laptop from your bag, still left unlocked from when you had been working on it for your part time internship just hours earlier.
Now if only you had a car, full trains wouldn't be an issue..
That would probably a good topic to bring up the next time you visit home anyways, as you're sure your mother wouldn't mind helping you out with it, seeing as she was so excited for you to "go out and explore the world" as she had said when you got accepted to this university states away from your hometown.
Tuning out your surroundings, you open the tab for the game 'Your Turn To Die' and load into your most recent save file, the loud squeaking sound of the train derailing almost evading you as the train comes to an unnatural stop, ejecting you violently from your seat.
Though it would later be said to your parents that your death was likely a painless one, you still felt the searing pain in your entire body when you woke up the next morning.
...Morning?
Where were you?
Opening your eyes, you were met with white from every angle.
'Am in in the hospital?'
Quickly recapping the last few moments in your head, you recalled playing a game on your computer, before the train you were in jerked unnaturally, throwing you from your seat and into...
'Oh... so I am in the hospital! I was almost sure I was dead for a moment there.'
Realizing the pain you had been feeling when you first woke up had somehow faded, as if the impact you felt had taken place just seconds ago had somehow been removed like a uncomfortable splinter, you tasked yourself with sitting up.
Only to realize you were completely bound to the mattress you had woken up on, with only your right arm free.
'What the hell? Was I kidnapped by some crazy person?'
'Am I... going to be... killed...?'
This feels weirdly familiar.
"(Name)! Are you there?!"
Who's voice was that?
"Ah! Who are... are you next to me...?!"
Futilely trying to lift your head again, you settle for straining your eyes to look to your left, only to be met with the realization that whoever it is in here with you is too far away to be seen without turning your head. Which you evidently, cannot do.
"Yeah...! But I can't move! Can't you do something?!"
'Who is this idiot? Clearly I would be speaking from over you if I could... gah! this whole situation is so frustrating!'
Internally fuming, you struggle against your restraints as a ring echoes out throughout the white room.
"Uh, hey you! Is that yours ringing?!" You start, after feeling around your bed to no avail.
"Eh...? You're right... Something in my pocket's..."
"Here! Hello?! Whoever you are! Help us!"
...Beginning voiced guidance.
'Huh?'
"The First Trial will now begin. (Name), and, Joe. Find the key hidden in this room. Then, remove your restraints.
If you cannot do so before the time limit expires, the device on the beds will activate...
And your bodies will be crushed with a thud. By all means, please enjoy this thrill with all your body and soul.
The time limit is a healthy 5 minutes. And note that there is only one key, so please discuss who will use it."
'What in the Nankidai is going on here? First trial? Joe? Am I in some kind of Your Turn To Die themed nightmare?'
"Waaaaagh?! What're we gonna do?!"
Furrowing your brows, you begin to speak, trying to remember how this trial is supposed to go.
"Joe! Check your clothes!
"Yikes... When I took the phone from my pocket... I might've dropped somethin'...!"
"No way! Hurry and pick it up!"
"...Got it! Grabbed it! It's the key!!"
'Thank the heavens... It's meant to be for his restraints right?'
'Uhhh sandpaper... Ah I've got it!'
"Hurry and use that key!"
"You sure...?! If I do, you'll..."
'Ugh this dude!'
"Just do it Joe! Hop to it or we'll both die!"
"Okay! Okay! I'll use it...Then I'll save you too!! Definitely!!"
After hurrying to free himself, Joe quickly runs over to me, angling his body over mine before speaking.
'This has gotta be a joke.. Joe? Like actually?'
Unlike his sprite in the original game, you notice Joe is wearing a plain dress shirt with a loose green tie around his partially unbuttoned collar, with his signature dog charm resting in his breast pocket. From this angle you can't tell exactly what pants he's wearing, but you can tell he's wearing some kind of black slacks*.
Huh...
"I'm... I'm gonna try using the key for yours now! Hang in there okay?"
If you're remembering correctly, the key should be..
"Damn it! its too big to fit! Ah... What do I do..."
As expected. Taking a deep breath to steady yourself, You close your eyes and try to recall what the room is supposed to look like before opening your mouth.
"Joe is there... Whats in the room?"
"Uhh there's these numbers on the wall... And a keypad! maybe-"
"No! don't bother with that yet. What else is in here?"
Going quiet for a second, Joe looks around once more, before lowering himself over you again.
"There's some sandpaper, but I really don't know how that will-"
"Joe please let me see that key!"
Obediently, Joe holds the key in front of your face. 'Just as I thought... It was once a green key, and it's got red resin stuck to it!'
"Hey Joe, you think you could scrape off the red from the key using that sandpaper? Look, its a green key with red on it!"
Scrutinizing the key, Joe lets out a small gasp before rushing over to the other side of the room. You can hear the scraping of the key against the sandpaper in the otherwise silent room, before he rushes back over to you, a lopsided grin on his face.
"Alright I've got it!"
Joe quickly inserts the key, before sighing aloud.
"It's unlocked!!"
"Really?!"
"Wait a sec! I'll remove these now!"
Itching to remove yourself from the bed, the moment he finishes removing your restraints you jump to your feet.
Looking down at yourself, you realize that you are wearing the same outfit you had been when you left your internship and got on the train. Your hands don't look like Sara's either, and when you feel your hair, you can tell your hair isn't the same as hers either. So why are you here with Joe, and how does he know you?
'This.... is super weird. But I cant focus on that right now. We need to go.'
Looking around, you quickly see that there is a door wide open.
"Ah, Joe There's a door here... Let's get going now!"
Grabbing his hand, you pull Joe out of the room, and into darkness.
The two of you kept going straight ahead, but as far as you walked, you didn't see any light.
It seemed to be a very... very long hallway. Or maybe you weren't advancing much at all...
Making the choice to start running like hell, you tighten your grip on Joe's hand and make haste.
"Uh, are you sure we should be running? What if we run headfirst into a tra.....aaap!"
Guess you've made it to the drop, then.