SPOTLIGHT - THE BOOK

Chapter 5 - Lights Out, Sword In

- "Ah! I can't see!" - Alice screamed.

- "You're stepping on my foot." - Damien scoffed.

- "That's not me! I'm over here- OOF!" - She replied, tripping over a book on the floor.

...

The contestants were scattered around the mansion when the lights suddenly turned off. They were already expecting it, although none of them prepared themselves for a walk in the dark. Richard and Mary spent the ten minutes studying the books in the library, racing eachother to get as much information as they could about the game, so they had familiarized themselves with the roles. The others took slight looks at the guide book, and some didn't even bother to. Everyone turned on their devices to create a weak light and were surprised to receive a notification.

- "Hello, contestants!" - Arcu called, his voice reverberating from the speakers. - "Welcome to your first Night, the start of the first round.

- "Night? It was always dark outside, you just turned off the lights!" - Carla commented.

- "During the Night is when most roles can use their powers! If you happen to be a Primary role, you can access a new function on your device." - He explained. - "Simply choose someone to use your power on, and wait. I do warn though...the Killer is one of the Primary roles. By the time the Night ends, someone will be eliminated." - He advised, with a deep, serious tone, as the contestants murmur with eachother - "Take care now!" - His tone turned cheerful as he bid farewell to the contestants.

The group shine their devices, trying to find their alliances. Some contestants go into little corners to decide who they're choosing, narrowing their eyes and gazing around to make sure nobody was looking at them. The first night was a quick one, since everyone was so eager to use their powers, unaware of the consequences.

- "Have you all decided who to use your powers on?" - Mary asked her alliance.

- "Ehh." - Gabriel and Carla replied, simultaneously. - "Can you stop that?" - They said, their frustrated voices echoing on eachother.

Gabriel and Carla were rivals since they met, constantly trying to one-up eachother on everything. But right now, they were both a bit on edge and not in the mood. Still, Mary chuckled at them, being reminded of their past antics.

- "Please, you two. If you let this carry out into a fight, you might break the table again." - Mary teased.

- "Oh, like that time you tripped and broke the potted plant near the door? The one that Gabriel grew?" - Carla retorted.

- "That plant was like my baby." - Gabriel sobbed, fakely.

- "This conversation ends here." - Mary declared. - "Cassidy? You haven't said anything, are you feeling alright?"

- "Huh? Oh-- Yeah, I've used my power. " - Cassidy replied, disregarding Mary's concern.

- "She asked if you were okay, idiot." - Carla doubled-down.

- "Oh. I'm...fine." - She pulled on her bangs. "Just a bit uneasy, about this... situation. Anyone else?"

- "Ehh." - Carla and Gabriel answered.

...

- "Patrick?" - Richard called, pulling Patrick aside.

- "Huh? Yeah?" - He replies, turning off his MP3 player.

- "Could you defend me?" - Richard asked, looking into his eyes.

- "Yeah, sure." - Patrick responded.

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