The Ultimate Hunt

9.

Four days had passed since The Ultimate Hunt officially started. So far, there hadn't been a single death, but I knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. It never did.

I'd seen it before; the first few days are always tense but uneventful. Everyone's on edge, waiting for someone to make the first move, and hoping that maybe, just maybe, they'll make it through without any bloodshed. But soon, the host would start introducing motives to push them over the edge, sparking fear and tension that no one could ignore. It was the same setup in every game.

The motives varied each time, but they were brutal. If no one acted within a day, he'd give us all an ultimatum. Threats like killing our families, exposing our worst secrets, or offering a massive prize if the killer got away with it. With stakes like that, it never took long before someone cracked. And once the first blood was spilled, it was a vicious spiral from there.

None of those motives would ever faze me. I had no family anyone could threaten, no secrets worth worrying about, and money didn't interest me. But I knew the others weren't in the same position. Some of them would be more than willing to kill if it meant protecting their loved ones or securing a hefty reward. The only thing I had to focus on was surviving that first murder and trial. If I managed that, everything else would play into my hands, assuming my strategy held up.

No matter what was coming, I'd decided to break out of my routine a bit, even if it was just this once. For a change, I'd let myself listen to someone else, maybe see things from a new angle.

I figured I'd look for Lydia and Peter, if they weren't busy, maybe Hanako would be with them too. Hanging out for a little while wouldn't throw off my plan, and it might even give me more insight into how they were all handling things.

I heard during breakfast that Lydia and Hanako wanted to talk about playing the violin. I had no idea he could play the violin as well. For some reason I wanted to know more about it.

I left my cabin after being in it for a while. I walked through the hallway, heading towards the music room. If they wouldn't be there, I was going to visit their cabins to check there.

"Chara." I heard someone calling, but it was someone not familiar.

As I turned, Lane was there, standing with that ever-neutral expression. His gaze was direct but polite, like he'd been waiting for me. 

"Good afternoon," he greeted, nodding slightly. "I hope I'm not intruding."

I took a moment to look him up and down, sizing him up, then crossed my arms. Lane wasn't exactly someone I saw wandering around my floor, and it felt strange seeing him here now. "You're a long way from your floor, Lane. So, what exactly do you want?"

Lane didn't seem fazed by my tone; he only tilted his head thoughtfully, studying my reaction. "Please don't be alarmed or suspicious," he said, his voice calm and smooth. "I'm here with good intentions. I don't mean any harm, I assure you."

"So... you just 'mean well' by showing up unannounced, creeping around my cabin?" I asked, voice flat.

He gave a small, almost apologetic smile. "I understand this may seem unusual. However, I wanted to speak with you directly, in a place where you felt most comfortable. I thought this might be the best approach." He paused, his gaze steady. "There's been a lot of unease among the others. Tension, confusion... as I'm sure you've noticed."

I shrugged, keeping my guard up. "Unease happens in a place like this. But why's that my concern?"

"Because," he began carefully, "you're one of the few who hasn't shown any signs of cracking under the pressure. You're not grasping at alliances or pretending everything's fine. You're sharp, observant." He hesitated, studying my reaction before adding, "And, whether you care to admit it or not, that makes you a person of interest to everyone here."