Roll The Dice

Chapter 02| Hanging on By a Thread

Day Eight | Chapter 02: Frothing Despair | To Survive Deadly Life

"Yeah. After what... happened last time, no one would be willing to risk that. I sure wouldn't."

"So.. What exactly will we do when we get out of here? I kinda doubt that we can just.. forget what happened to Lara and Bodil...."

"Yeah.. Those words don't mean anything.."

"It's just... I have a twin sister and.. I really care about her... I just.. I just suddenly came to the realization that if the videos are real.. She's probably dead.. And.. The thought of someone as hopeful as you guys orchestrating this is just... Too difficult to grasp.."

"I-I've always had this sort of immunity to despair.. I never understood it either, but.. Hope is always there for me.. Always there.. It just takes some time... I'm always okay, trust me. You won't ever have to worry about me."

Maya.... No... Why you...?

"No.." Sub whispered as she began to look sick, her gaze darting between Jasmine and the corpse dangling in front of them.

"No.. NO.. MAYA!" Jasmine wailed, reaching out a shaking hand towards the body of her friend. The tears spilled over and she ran towards the body. Sub grabbed her arm before she could get to the corpse and Jasmine spun around to face her.

"I-I have to- I have to make s-sure!" Jasmine choked out, but Sub didn't let go of her.

"Jasmine.. Please.. Calm.. Calm down.." Sub answered, a dark look on her face. "She's already gone.."

Amber turned her head away from the sight at the familiar sound of feet thumping down the hall as people ran out of their rooms and out into the main hallway where Jasmine was crying while being held back by Sub.

They must have heard the announcement...

Mango was the first to reach them. Her eyes darted around, landing on the Maya's body before she could ask what was wrong.

"No.." She whispered as the others approached."N-No way.."

When Crow saw Maya's hanging body, they frantically began flapping their wings, running away from the body with Jay in tow.

Ty and Jason stared at the dead body with their expressions etched in horror. Sky had backed away at the sight of Maya's hanging corpse, his face looking incredibly pale.

"No.. Please.. Maya please.." Jasmine's sobs were broken up by sniffling and her failed attempts to take a deep breath.

No one spoke, instead letting Jasmine mourn, Sub at her side keeping her upright.

"Who... Who did it..?" Jasmine asked, her voice suddenly sounding very venomous.

"What?" Mitch asked, looking at Jasmine with a confused look.

Jasmine wrenched her arm free from Sub, whipping around to face the other attendees.

"Who did this?! WHO?!"

"Jasmine, calm down and think rationally-" Chase's words were cut short as Jasmine continued to scream.

"Think rationally?! My- My best friend is dead!! Who-WHO KILLED HER?!" Amber looked up at Maya's body. She couldn't make out her face that well from where she was standing but she could tell that her eyes had rolled upwards. It was a morbidly peaceful expression.

"Where's Seto?! Where is he!?" Jasmine shouted, causing Amber to take a quick look around at everyone who had gathered.

Seto was nowhere to be seen.

"He.. He must have killed her! Seto!! Where are you?!" Jasmine screamed, storming off in the direction of Seto's room with Sub right behind her. Everyone looked around at each other with looks of worry.

"Wait.. Where is Seto? He's usually up by the morning announcement and.. Well, a body announcement is hard to ignore.." Jason looked around at everyone and Amber felt the sudden realization hit her in the face.

"Wait... M-Maya's dead.. Which means..." Amber couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence but Sky could.

"We-We have to hold a Castle Trial?!"
Everyone looked horrified at that revelation.

"We-We need to find Seto.. He.. He'll know what to do.." Amber muttered, doing her best to reassure herself.

"Oh boy! Seto's missing? During a crisis? That's one hell of a bad leader!" MonoMachine appeared next to Amber, a pleased, maniacal grin crossing his face.

"Where-Where is Seto? Did you.. Did you do something to him?!" MonoMachine burst into laughter at Ty's accusation, much to the displeasure of the attendees.

"Why would I do anything to Seto? He hasn't broken any rules, so I have no reason to hurt him! He's still somewhere in the Castle, but I can't give it away now can I? That wouldn't be fair to dear old Seto!"

"What..?"

"Well, here's the MonoMachine File. But you better find Seto before the trial!" Amber was about to ask about that statement but the monochrome creature was gone before she could, leaving the tablet in her hands.

"We.. We really should find Seto.. We'll need his help keeping a level head.." Amber muttered as she looked up, a feeling of surreality consuming her mind.

"Yeah... Hey, Amber, let's check upstairs." Chase offered, his own expression looking very dark compared to his tone.

"Hey, maybe we should, uh, stick together?" Mitch offered but Amber and Chase were already heading upstairs before he spoke. Ty quickly followed after them.

First, Amber checked the library. However, it was the same as it had been last time she saw it, only it lacked the sorcerer the group was searching for.

"Seto?" Ty called into the library but there was no response.

"Maybe he's in the potion room?" Chase suggested, peeking into the room,"Seto? You in here?" No response.

"Not in here, either." Chase answered, turning to face the others.

"We.. Could check by the closets? Maybe he's looking for something in there?" Ty suggested, starting to look even more worried.

"Maybe..." Chase looked slightly uneasy as he led the group to the closets.

Both of them were shut when the group arrived.

"Uh.. Seto? You.. Uh.. You in here?" Ty asked, opening one of the closet doors.
Chase, who was standing behind him, snorted in response.

"Like Seto would hide in a closet-"

"What?" Amber noticed the two' shocked expressions and peered over their shoulders.

"What is I-"

"BING BONG! A body has been discovered! A limited amount of time will be allowed for investigation before a Castle Trial takes place!"