VIII (Aoi Kurashiki x Reader)

IV

Enjoy! I'm so far ahead on chapters haha...

"The RED is the recognition device. It verifies your number for a door." Snake continued, seemingly unbeknownst to (Y/N)'s blackout. "The DEAD is the deactivation device. It does exactly as it says. Once you pass through a numbered door, you must use the DEAD to stop the detonator in your bracelet." Snake hesitated, allowing everyone to murmur in confusion. "Perhaps you're wondering, what does this detonator detonate? I'm afraid this may come as a surprise but I've placed a small bomb inside you and the people you're about to meet. I do not doubt by the time you read this, the bomb will have passed your stomach and made its way to your small intestine."

To her right, Santa stopped his fingers right before his lips. "In other words, you won't be able to regurgitate it, I suggest you don't try. As I mentioned before, the bracelet on your wrist contains a detonator, think of it as a timer for the bomb in your body." (Y/N) gulped. "Once you enter a numbered door you have eighty-one seconds. If after that time limit the detonator hasn't been deactivated, it will send a signal to the bomb in your body, instructing it to explode."

"Deactivating the detonator is simple, every person who verified their number at the RED must verify their number at the DEAD. Once all numbers are verified pull the lever and the countdown will cease. Anyone who doesn't verify themself at the RED will be unable to verify themself at the DEAD and in eighty-one seconds they will be dead. You must also keep in mind that the numbered doors automatically close after nine seconds." Again, Snake stopped as if he'd finished, but instead took a deep breath continuing to run his finger along the paper. "Lastly, there are only two ways to remove the bracelets. One: You escape from the ship. Two: Your heart rate reaches zero. If either happens the bracelet will shut down automatically. If you attempt to force it off or disable the detonator the bomb within you will immediately explode. How you choose to use this information is for you to decide. If used wisely, you can eliminate those who might be a danger to you. I wish you the best of  luck."

So Zero had hoped Snake would use the information to his advantage but he hadn't. This sealed (Y/N)'s thoughts on Snake. He was kind, intelligent, and charismatic, someone she'd be happy to have as a friend. In a way he already was. Despite Zero's warnings Santa and Seven shoved their fingers down their throats, beginning to gag. "Stop it!" (Y/N) grabbed both of them, forcing their hands back down to their sides. "There's..." She paused, reluctant to state the truth. "There's no point."

Some touched their stomachs, others glared at their bracelets. (Y/N)'s body felt oddly hollow, her stomach flipped, but not in a good way. "Does anyone know anything about Zero?" Junpei asked again.

All were silent. (Y/N) almost expected the same silence Junpei'd received before, but Santa spoke, rubbing his slobber coated fingers on his trousers. "I saw him. I saw Zero when I got grabbed. I-I didn't see his face though, son of a bitch was wearing some kinda gas mask." Everyone looked between each other, eyebrows raised. "C'mon guys, gimme something. You know, like...surprise or something?"

"I saw him too...I think." (Y/N) nodded, vividly recalling a memory she'd regained. Voices spoke in sync, all agreed to seeing the gas mask before they ended up here. Every story was the same, they'd been abducted from home at midnight and the person claiming to be Zero had worn a mask. There was white smoke and they'd each passed out, waking in a locked room on D deck.

Only Seven's story seemed to lack detail, so suspicion fell on him. (Y/N) was glad she remembered earlier. Maybe she wasn't the only one struggling to remember her life from before? "Yeah...mine was just like the rest' yours." (Y/N) had expected someone to press the issue further, but she was taken aback when another odd matter took front and center.