Flicker- Two Worlds Combine

Chapter 16: Amani

The lights have flickered back on, and I'm feeling really impressed with my work last night. I hope everybody here likes me and Elaina now, because it would suck if either of us were to get voted off. I know we probably won't be able to make such a big meal again, since we'd have to do a discussion, but I can't complain. We made everyone smile once, and that's enough for me to feel proud of myself. 

After leaving my room, I don't see Elaina come out of their room next to me. Damn, they really must be tired from all that cleaning last night. Evaline tried to ask me about if we could make some kind of cool beverages, but the lights went out before she could tell me anything she wanted. I can ask her today though. She might be in a bad mood when she and the rest of us find the corpse though. But who knows? Maybe she is the corpse. We'll just have to see.

Rosalie waves to me as she's walking upstairs, and I already feel even better. Aurora is running after her, and she greets me too. ''Good work last night Amani! I hope you don't die!'' That's a bit dark, but that's honestly what I'm expecting nowadays. With all the deaths and executions happening all around us, we'll eventually adjust to these horrible things and see them as almost normal. I also see Madelyn, and notice that her hair is down today. Weird.

I suddenly hear Carlos scream, and Dvir shouts, ''NOT AGAIN! GODDAMNIT WHY?''. Well, that surely can't be good. This should be the 29th death since we first arrived here, I think. Of course, there's always the chance the twins are dead, or somebody killed themselves, or even they did what Adam did and took matters into their own hands, letting themselves die a painless death by gunshot at the expense of ending another life. I finally reach the kitchen, and my heart almost stops.

One thing is in my mind.

''Oh, so you're my new roommate? My name is Elaina, nice to meet you.''

''Ummm... yeah, I guess. I'm Amani. Sorry, meeting new people is a bit weird for me.''

''Ah, it's okay! Come on, make yourself comfy?''

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''So, what do you like to do when you're out of this place?''

''Oh, I really want to make a cafe one day.''

''That's nice! I'd love to help you out. I want to explore different foods of different cultures. Maybe when I'm done with that, I could go back to your cafe and work with you.''

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''Amani, I really think I should tell you something.''

''Hm? What would that be?''

''Well, I don't really see myself as a female... I really think I'm non-binary, and I really prefer having they/them pronouns. I hope that's alright with you.''

''It's always alright with me! I swear, I will always accept you and be proud that I was able to be friends with you!''

''...Thanks.''

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What...

What the fuck is this?

I try to stop myself from looking at it. But it feels like I'm being forced to. On the floor, was the dead body of Elaina. They had burn marks on their face, a bunch of blood on their head, and I could see a cut on their neck. What the hell happened?