"HUWAAAAAA!!"
A scream, yell, and purposeful jumpscare released by a Sadako actor, made to scare off residents and visitors inside the 'Japanese version' scare rooms. However, Margaret just simply clapped her hands at the experience of being jumpscared by Sadako, fascinated by their skills. Truly a masterpiece, at least, for her…
Margaret: "That was a good scream…! Amazing! But if you deeper the tone, visitors will surely get more scared–"
Sadako Actor: "WHY ARE YOU GIVING ME ADVICE FOR?! AND WHY AREN'T SCARED??"
Oh well, another scary scream. But this time, it isn't forceful. It's a form of suppressed exaggeration disguising the actor's disbelief.
The 'scream' causes Margaret's hair to be blown backwards, as if a breeze had just hit her even though the clearest of the skies is blocked by a roof given by the scare room. The Sadako then pinches her nostril, holding her frustration.
Sadako Actor: "You new generations… I did NOT pass a college degree just so that bozos like YOU can act all nonchalant even after watching The Conjuring during the night!"
Margaret: "The Conjuring? Oh you mean that funny horror movie back from 2013?"
Sadako Actor: "Yes!– Wait, what? 'Funny'??"
Margaret: "Yeah, I think Midsommar is cooler!"
Sadako Actor: "Midsommar? "Cooler"?? Girl, you are unsettling… Get away from me."
The Sadako Actor says as they start to back away at the sense of fear they feel from Margaret. Suddenly, a familiar voice starts to yell a familiar name, in a familiar voice that is often heard in the entirety of Malacca City, as both the Sadako Actor and Margaret turn to the direction where they heard it.
"Margaret!! There you are!"
And to their surprise, it is Wyne herself running into Margaret and hugs her tightly while snuggling her head into her face exaggeratedly as if Margaret was a very warm pillow.
Wyne: "I was so scared! Why did you leave all alone all of the sudden?"
Margaret: "Sorry, the stuff is just too fascinating to ignore…"
Sadako Actor: "Okay, besides the exaggerated reaction which is NATURAL for visitors in the scare room, why is she holding a bat?"
Both Margaret And Wyne turn to the direction the Sadako Actor is pointing into, which is a corridor connected to the Sadako Actor's own scare room. Someone is approaching the room, with the flickering lights of the corridors both lightening and shadowing the hallways as a figure of a woman with long blonde hair and holding a bat, slowly walking into the room where Wyne and the others are, menacingly.
And so, the figure makes a stop at the entrance, slowly lifting their heads up as they open their purple eyes in the creepiest way possible. None can tell if this is a visitor or an actor, but they sure know that they've never seen a blonde creepypasta holding a wooden bat. But soon enough, the lights in the room reveal an unexpected visitor; Trizha herself. She looks nervous and anxious, forcing a smile on her face.
Wyne: "T-trizha…? Is that you? What are you…"
Trizha: "H-hey…"
Trizha slowly tries to hide the bat she was holding, but was stopped sooner by the Sadako Actor.
Sadako actor: "Hold it right there, young lady. I want an honest answer—please don't tell me you tried hurting other actors out of fear, not to mention stealing that bat from an animatronic."
Trizha stays silent for a few moments, nervous and embarrassed at the same time. Seconds after, she mutters "I'm sorry…". And so, the Sadako actor makes their decision after a silent, deep sigh of frustration at its peak.
Sadako actor: "Okay, you're getting kicked out."
They then turn back to Wyne and Margaret, who are watching the scene dumbfounded, especially with the unexpected appearance of Trizha.
Sadako actor: "As for the two of you, you're getting kicked out as well. Reasons? Marga girl is creepier than me, and the curly-haired girl knows this blonde idiot. Now get out!"
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And there it goes, the trio is kicked out and now standing at the entrance of the scareroom house, with students waiting in line to enter the scare rooms casually laughing quietly at the sight of a Trio being kicked out, forming an atmosphere of embarrassment.
Trizha then sighs in disappointment, her hand on her hips as she stares at the entrance doors of the scare room, before turning to both Wyne and Margaret.
Trizha: "Great. We got kicked out because of you two."
Wyne: "Like you're one to talk?! You're the entire reason why you had us kicked out!"
Wyne shouts as she walks over to Trizha, poking her chest with her finger. Trizha doesn't lose herself though, fighting back.
Trizha: "We'll if only you didn't mention my name, we would've been fine!"
Wyne: "What?! You're suddenly blaming this on me when you held a bat after making the reckless decision that, suddenly, the creepypasta actors are the real deal!"
Trizha: "Whaaa?!"
WYNE: "Shut up! You wanna settle this out?! Don't you worry, I'm in the mood!"
Both Wyne and Trizha press their forehead to each other hardly, both about to crash out. All until Margaret interfered, her eyes gazing at the sky with a hand holding her chin filled with thoughts.
Margaret: "Those flickering lights… they don't happen to be Halogen Bulbs, don't they…? Constant flickering could cause a small explosion with enough explosive force to tear the skin apart directly… much worse, leave thermal damage in the victim's eyes, causing eternal… blindness."
Hearing that, Wyne and Trizha slowly leaned away with their gazes on Margaret, terrified at the mention of their eyes being damaged to the point of experiencing blindness.
Trizha: "Eek…! Yeah, no. I am NOT going inside the scare room again."
Wyne: "Margaret… you just made the scareroom more realistic in terms of scariness."
Wyne then crosses her arms as she shakes her head, her sense of exaggeration still lingering deep inside her after the things that have happened just recently. Her eyes then widened as she suddenly remembered something, immediately turning to Trizha with a confused and curious expression on her face. Took her long enough, since she's slow.
Wyne: "Hold on, what are you doing here?? Weren't you supposed to be with Zack?"
Trizha turns to Wyne, staring at her for a moment before a sense of realization dawning on her.
Trizha: "O-oh… Well, uh… this is a bit strange and embarrassing, but… let's just say that the crowd was too much and I lost track of him."
Wyne raises an eyebrow as she places a hand on her chin, trying to analyze Trizha's past situation, setting aside her slow assets.
Wyne: "So in other words… you were lost. Didn't he try to yell for your name or at least male a phone call?"
Trizha: "No, no he didn't… I mean there was still a signal around and I tried to call him, but he wasn't available."
Wyne: "...yeah, that is strange…"
While Wyne and Trizha are trying to figure out the situation at hand silently, Margaret is once again staring at a random location unnoticed. She can see Nomoro hiding there, watching. Suddenly, the silence is interrupted as Trizha shouts and takes out her phone cheerfully.
Trizha: "Well anyways, that doesn't matter much for now, we'll find him eventually! Or vice versa."
Trizha says, raising her phone in the air to show it more with a bright smile on her face and her right hand on her hips, looking at both Wyne and Margaret with a determined look.
Trizha: "And besides, Zack is definitely not the type of guy who would cry just because he's lost. Not to mention that this is a nice day to have fun! So, let's have fun while we're all at it!"
Trizha then lowers her arm, going into the camera app and grabbing Margaret before pulling her close to her, trying to take a selfie with her.
Trizha: "First off, a memorable selfie!!"
Though Margaret shows no emotion in her face, just letting Trizha do her thing since she can't do anything about her intense cheerfulness anyways. Meanwhile, Wyne notices this and a show of vulnerability appears in her face, with her eyes widened, filled with hesitation, temporarily torn between the decision of making an action or letting it all happen without her interrupting. By temporarily, it seemed forever for her. But soon enough…
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She has finally made her decision.
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She stood there, staying silent. Not moving a muscle for at least a few seconds because she doesn't want to be suspected as weird. And, after what seemed to be forever, she finally spoke in an instant, faster than Trizha taking her selfie with Margaret.
Wyne: "Tri-t-trizha, wait!"
How Wyne spoke, is a shout. Loud enough for Trizha to freeze the moment her finger is already just barely a centimeter close to the selfie button. She lowers her phone as she turns to Wyne, her earlier bright smile fading on her shout.
Trizha: "What is it? Is there something wrong?"
Trizha asks, a bit concerned for Wyne since she's acting weird yet again. Wyne hesitates to say what she wants to say next, but she doesn't want to lose the opportunity of turning the tables, since she now has Trizha's attention.
Wyne: "Trizha… what are you going to do with those selfies?"
Trizha: "Uh, post them on social media? As usual…"
Wyne: "I know, but… let's… let's put it all in a frame."
Trizha stays silent, slowly raising an eyebrow as she tries to understand what Wyne meant about putting the selfies in frames. But she quickly adjusts into it, a face of realization forming into her face as her bright smile returns.
Trizha: "Oh…! You meant the profile picture frames that are trending in Tiktok!"
Hearing that, Wyne starts to become desperate. Margaret can tell she is desperate for Trizha to understand what she meant. Yet, she stood still, forcing Wyne to stand in a corner. But this is simply because Wyne is the one who's emotionally intelligent in the trio, so if anything, she is relying on her to finish what she started.
Trizha: "Yes, don't worry, I got you. I'll make sure to edit the selfies as nice as possible–"
Wyne: "N-no, that's not what I meant…"
Trizha: "What then…?"
Wyne: "I meant an actual frame…!!"
Silence fills off the air. She did it. Wyne manages to confess what she wants to suggest after using everything in her strength and efforts to pull off such an achievement. It's small, and minor, something that's not considered to be taken seriously. But saying those words in front of Wyne… she will assure you the opposite.
Trizha: "An… actual frame? Physical ones? Why?"
Wyne: "Because…"
Wyne lowered her gaze. She stared at the ground, avoiding eye contact. A part of her she usually never shows, knowing she's the most invulnerable of the trio in these kinds of situations. After all, she's the trio's protective friend. But deep inside, she remembers what Margaret once told her about several minutes before entering the scare room.
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"I fear our relationship with her won't last long."
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Wyne: "...because you now have a boyfriend, Trizha. You finally have someone to, maybe, rely on for the rest of your life. So… I'm a bit afraid of our friendship… all three of us, getting separated eventually."
Wyne then spreads her arms slowly, as if shrugging, but not exactly. A show of vulnerability is now exposed, forcing Trizha to seek deeper of Wyne's intentions, but still, avoiding eye contact.
Wyne: "I mean, we are all 16 years old now. We're… we're all just a few more steps till college. And by that time, we're completely separated, unchained, walking in our own route without seeing one another."
Wyne then lowers her arms very slowly, her gaze finally turns to Trizha, making eye contact. And by the looks of it, Trizha is staring back at Wyne as if she was expecting her for a good reason at the point she is making. Which made Wyne hesitate yet again. But she didn't back down. Staying strong is the key.
Wyne: "And… you were right, Trizha. You said it yourself. Let's have our fun… while we are at it. And let's make it memorable, a real one. One that isn't created just for fun and jokes. I don't want to waste it all just for laughs. I want to, as I grow bigger, see your big smiles that stayed where they were once. Smiles… that once held each other."
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Trizha listens to every word, every sentence, every detail she could hear. Of course, normally, an emotional convo like this is often considered as… Unnecessary. They're not always at the right time. But… it wouldn't hurt to consider their feelings, won't it?
And after listening, Trizha smiles brightly, yet keeping her mouth closed, a bright smile of appreciation forms in her face in an instant. And so… she began to speak for herself as well.
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"Don't worry, I got you. I'll make sure to edit the selfies as nice as possible!!"
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Trizha shouted, throwing Wyne a big thumbs up. It was simple, yet a tear almost fell from Wyne's left eye. She felt proud. Both to herself, and Trizha. For appreciating… her feelings.
And so, Trizha holds her phone tightly, before bringing it up with determination and excitement in her eyes. She suddenly grabs Margaret and pulls her closer to her as Wyne walks closer at the same time, the three connecting their bodies side-by-side, and their gaze turning to the camera of Trizha's phone, as all three forming a bright smile filled with every single happiness the three have spent altogether the rest of their life since the moment they first met and connect.
Trizha: "Say cheese!!"
Trizha shouts, one of her eyes closed to make a more flamboyant and cheerful look in the picture. Margaret brought up both hands in front of her chests with two fingers raised up in each finger and a soft smile on her face, making a double peace sign. And Wyne just wrapped her right arm around the shoulders of both Margaret and Trizha, her grip tight as she doesn't want to let go… for the last time.
And hence, a click from Trizha's finger causes a bright light to be released from her phone camera that not only blinds the eye for a millisecond, but also keeps unforgettable memories intact and stockpiled for generations after generations so to speak. Taking the form of a digital picture that freezes a moment of time, a moment of life, and a moment of a finished moment.
After a short while, all three lean away altogether, staring at each other as if what they had just done was unprecedented. To their own eyes, nothing else mattered. The earlier laughter filled with embarrassment had lost touch of their skin.
And then, all three at the same time… they extend their arms to each other, placing one hand above the other, before raising it up in the air instantly, as they scream "Go Trio!", the last of their plans for their final voyage as a trio… have been decided.
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(Uhm… sorry to interrupt, but, I'm not gonna write, or to simplify—describe how the trio made their last plans for their final voyage as a trio. If anything, that last voyage is just them having fun with anything that's 'fun' possible in the Japanese park. Like trying out new Japanese snacks and meals that they never once tried, entering random fun places that could easily amuse them, making random jokes and laughing at each other, mentioning minor or maybe major events that affected their lives but laughing it all off just for fun, and many other more…
But this time, no more interruptions, no more random casualties or events, no 'Trizha using her phone' moments, just three hours of them spending the last of their time as a trio. And if anything, this sort of moment is the last time they'll see themselves smiling to each other out of fun as they slowly, and unintentionally, crawl away from each other as life drags them closer to an unprecedented life. Just imagine that as slow-motion shots that show their final voyage as a trio, since this note is only going to be exclusive for this novel and not for the actual, animated version.
Oh… oh– wait, wait, I think I actually just described their last voyager?? Hahahahaha! How silly of me, really. Now I just wasted my time and added more unnecessary pace for the story… sorry, Sorry. Also, I'm sorry for what is going to happen next…)
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Three hours later. What seemed so short, seemed forever for the trio themselves. They never noticed the amount of time they had spent together laughing and having fun for the last time, even if you directly smacked their faces with a large clock. They are now slowly running on the wide and long path of the park, laughing and giggling to each other after playing in a goldfish scooping stand, where Wyne had lost a goldfish because the fish splashed her some water and got scared for a second.
Trizha: "Hahaha! Wyne, you should've definitely seen your face earlier! You looked so ugly!"
Wyne: "Oh look who's talking. Getting scared over a sadako prank when we first step foot to the hotel."
Wyne says in a playful sarcasticness, then smirking teasingly as she remembers that one time when Trizha made that face after Margaret scared her next to the bus, covering her mouth to prevent herself from laughing.
Wyne: "Hehe… Glad i have that on camera before laughing…"
Trizha: "Wyne, post that and I'll make sure that you never get to move your face again."
Trizha says defensively, pouting slightly, with Margaret staring at her after recognizing that impression. Wyne is unfazed by her threat, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow and smirking smugly at her.
Wyne: "Oooo! Wow, I'm actually very scared of your 'Margaret' impression. But seriously, that was terrible."
Trizha: "B-but still…! Just don't post that, okay?"
Wyne: "Okay, okay. I get the feeling of getting embarrassed for the second time in the same day."
While both Wyne and Trizha are having a conversation, well, no arguments for now, Margaret is still silent, observing them too and preparing herself another unsettling sentence in case the two start arguing against each other again. Till suddenly, Margaret notices a familiar red-haired figure at the side of her right eye from a distance, accompanied by another person who has white hair and wears a black suit and a black trench coat above it. Margaret recognizes the person with red hair, but never the one who had white. The two enter another path leading to somewhere else.
Margaret: "...was that Zack?"
Margaret's confusion caused her own usual mutter into a casual tone that is enough for both Wyne and Trizha to hear, as both turn to where Margaret was facing. Luckily, they managed to see a short fraction of Zack's red hair, but they didn't notice the other person.
Wyne: "Wait… Yeah… that was Zack just now."
Trizha, her cheerfulness returning at the sight and mention of Zack, makes her move first before the other two. The trio heads for the alley, till suddenly…
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The 'screen' turned 'Black' for a split second in an instant, similar to how a TV screen turns off. After that split second, everything returned to normal. No more black. No trace of it. And absolutely… nothing wrong. However, Trizha felt it, and was left dumbfounded and freezed mid-running. She saw someone while it happened, a glimpse of that one person she saw in her dream last time in the aquarium… at least, to what she had guessed. But all that supposedly stockpiled memory had failed to keep dragging on, eventually forgetting what she initially saw in an instant.
Noticing Trizha stopping in her tracks, Wyne stopped chasing for Zackier and looked at Trizha in concern. Because the Trizha she is looking at right now… is sweating intensely, her heart pounding faster and faster every second, breathing and panting heavily, holding her heart as if she was going to die. As if… She just went through a mental breakdown or a generational trauma.
Trizha, in her thoughts: "What was that… who was that…?! Why is my heart beating so fast? Why am I sweating so much…?"
Wyne runs up to Trizha to check on her, to try and see what was wrong with her. She can tell what Trizha was feeling, but she has no idea why it happened so suddenly. So randomly. And so… weirdly odd. Deep in her heart, she can tell that such fate wasn't supposed to happen. And she can tell that Trizha saw something she wasn't supposed to see… or… did she?
Wyne: "Trizha? Are you okay? Come on, take a deep breath, come on…"
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Wyne, in her thoughts: "I'm Trizha's childhood friend… My entire life with her, there wasn't a time when Trizha acted like this, nor did she experience something so… So severe…!"
Wyne tries to figure out what was going on with Trizha while patting her back repeatedly in case she was actually choking. But soon enough, Trizha slowly calms down, her breathing returning to its normal pace, standing straight very slowly, her eyes gazing around dumbfounded and disoriented, taking her a few seconds to even notice Wyne was in front of her. Suddenly, that same glimpse of a memory slowly disappeared from her mind, as she forced a smile on her face.
Wyne: "Are… are you okay? Like, now?"
Trizha: "Y-yeah! I'm just… uhh, a little exhausted after all that fun we had…"
Wyne: "Trizha, that is NOT what exhaustion looks like. I know what exhaustion is."
Trizha then pats Wyne's shoulder, chuckling to herself.
Trizha: "Oh don't worry, that was just my way of exaggeration! Just me pretending so that I can get your attention and… you know, to get a more memorable experience, you know that?"
Wyne: "Oh… you must be improving, then. I hate to admit it, but Girl, that was great acting skills just now!"
Trizha: "Haha, right? Anyways, let's just go and find Zack. Margaret is probably talking to him right now."
Wyne nods with a smile, turning around to continue searching for Zackier by following where she last saw Margaret. She didn't want to believe Trizha, but knowing her, she forced herself to believe what Trizha said, unknown to what Trizha had truly experienced. And as for Trizha… since that glimpse memory is completely gone from her head while speaking to Wyne, her mind had decided that nothing really happened and she was just exaggerating to get Wyne's attention.
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The two entered the alley, their faces screaming "nothing happened", spending a few seconds getting to the exit. And when they do, Wyne sees Margaret in the distance. She wasn't speaking to Zackier, she was just standing there, her arms holding together as she turned to Wyne and Trizha.
Margaret: "What took you guys so long…"
Wyne: "Sorry, I just had to check this 'idiot' who just wasted my time."
Wyne says as she glares at Trizha, hissing at her as Trizha rubs the back of her head with a playfully-nervous smile on her face, snickering to herself.
Trizha "Hehe, sorry…"
Wyne sighs softly, before turning to Margaret with her arms crossed.
Wyne: "Also, did you find Zackier?"
Margaret: "I'm not sure, but I think he entered the mirror maze house."
Margaret says, before pointing her hand out to the direction in front of her, pointing at the mirror maze house in the distance… where there was nothing around but the ground itself for thirty meters wide/long. Wyne squints her eyes to see the mirror maze house.
Wyne: "Huh, that's weird. They were very serious about making the mirror house at the very center of the park… but why does it have to be this intense?"
Wyne puts her hands on her hips, casually trying to figure out the reasoning for this intense world building. Though she just ends at the conclusion that Yuri Calypso probably suggested this just for laughs and fun for her unapologetic self. Meanwhile, Trizha is also trying to figure this one out for herself, but that is until she hears a conversation of a pair of students just beside her, who are also making discussion for the reasoning of such an absurd way of building.
Student 1: "Nah, nah, I'm pretty sure there were buildings and other stands around this area besides that mirror house…"
Student 2: "What are you talking about? There was nothing in this area except the mirror house. Are you delusional?"
Student 1: "Maybe…? But that can't be right. I mean, I was here before you and I could've sworn that there were buildings and stands around that mirror house… I think this was some sort of phenomenon caused by that black, split-second thing that happened just moments ago. Not really sure about that, speaking hypothetically, by the way."
Student: "Black split-second what now?"
Trizha listened to their conversation for a moment until the black split-second was mentioned. Her body tenses up a little just at the mention of that, but all her mind can say was…
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"What's he talking about?"
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Trizha then just shrugs off what she felt a second ago, taking it as something that happens whenever a really cold breeze hits a person's body. But as she turns her gaze back to where she is facing, her expression is instantly replaced with shock and a sense of lostness that's indescribable, as she looks around to look for 'them' desperately... Wyne and Margaret are both gone, as if they just left Trizha the moment she turned away for a good few seconds.
Trizha, in her thoughts: "Wha–! Where are they?!"
Trizha started to shout and call for Wyne and Margaret's name loudly to look for them, running forth slowly as she entered the thirty meter 'nothing' zone surrounding the Mirror Maze house. Unaware that more and more other students are also entering the nothing zone as well, each of them emerging out of different other alleys that leads to this very structure… not because they thought that Trizha walking into the zone means they can do the same without consequences, but because it is something that's supposed to happen starting now.
Some change because it is natural, some change for the better, but sometimes… some changes weren't supposed to happen, becoming unprecedented. If anything, it is rather disturbing.
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And in this one's case… multiple major events are already occurring early on in the story. Events that were only meant to occur during a climax.
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Somewhere around a certain dark alley where most students usually don't go through just to reach the nothing zone… appears steps that can be heard approaching the exit of the alley from the distance inside, as they emerge from the shadows which blackens half of the dark alley despite the bright afternoon. And so, reveals Wyne herself. She has an expression of nervousness in her expression with biting her lip as that sign, one of her fists clenched as she mentally prepares herself, taking a determined step forward as if she is about to face a dangerous being.
———
Margaret: "Wyne, I want you to go somewhere for me."
Margaret says in a firm tone, flashback to moments before Wyne was in the dark alley just now, and before both of them left Trizha alone in the nothing zone. Wyne turns around to look at Margaret with a raised eyebrow after deciding her revelation about the odd nothing zone structures.
Wyne: "Huh? Why? Do you need me to get you something?"
Margaret: "No."
Margaret shakes her head in disagreement, as she raises an arm and points her index finger to her right, directly pointing to the dark alley in which Wyne follows with her gaze. The more Margaret speaks of things without an explanation, the more she becomes confused about it.
Wyne: "...so what about that dark alley?"
Margaret: "There's someone tailing us in there. I want you to confront him and make him explain his reasons for following us."
Wyne: "Me?? Confront him and find out his reasons for following us? But Margaret, I don't know this person! Not to mention that it is risky…what if he is dangerous?"
Margaret: "Maybe. Maybe he is. But trust me, you'll be fine. He's probably someone we knew very well but never talked about much… it's been bothering me for a while, but I don't sense anything to worry about.."
Wyne: "...F-fine then, but if I get in trouble, you're going with me!"
Margaret: "Go to hell with you and get us an autograph from Jigsaw? Okie."
Wyne: "What? No, that's… that's not what I meant…! Oh, whatever… alright then. Stay with Trizha for me."
Margaret: "I can't do that. I'm also going to go and confront a certain someone as well."
Wyne: "Really? In that case, let me go with you–"
Margaret instantly raises a hand to cut off Wyne, her expression serious yet still casual, causing Wyne to flinch over her gesture, cutting her off completely.
Margaret: "If I wait, it'll be too late. We'll have to do this at the same time."
Wyne: "...I see, no other choices, huh… but wait, what's the point of all this?"
Margaret: "Uhm… well, I just sort of feel like something is wrong, and I want to make a move before that feeling becomes worse. Your situation is not that bad, but I hope mine is the same."
Wyne: "Wait, what's that supposed to mean?"
Margaret stares at Wyne for a moment, before noticing the person that she is supposed to confront is already entering the mirror maze house from a distance. Meanwhile, Wyne tries to call out for Margaret because she didn't answer her.
Wyne: "Margaret? Helloooo, earth to Marga!–"
Suddenly, Margaret grabs Wyne's arm firmly but not too grippy to hurt, pulling her out of the area while leaving Trizha behind, as Margaret leads Wyne to the dark alley she mentioned earlier.
Margaret: "Let's meet up later, all three of us. You'll be fine alone, at least around that guy."
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"After all… you understand this guy better than I do."
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Back to the Present, Wyne didn't expect herself that she'd have to deal with something first before finishing the rest of her final voyage with Margaret and Trizha. But she knows she can't just ignore it, because she felt how tense and nervous Margaret was while trying to tell her to confront this certain someone, even though she skillfully hid it behind her seemingly emotionless facade. She knew something was wrong before Margaret could even state it herself first hand, and she wants to help her. And now… she is walking in the dark alley, her steps loud and clear, doing exactly what she intended to do for Margaret; confront… that certain someone.
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Wyne, in her thoughts: "That's everything she told me about… And now, just who was tailing us? That Founder Yuri again?"
Wyne thought, as she approached the exit of the dark alley closely. The more she gets closer, the more visible a silhouette of a certain person becomes. And finally, she reaches the brighter point of the dark alley, and she can now clearly see who she was meant to confront thanks to the entering sunlight; he is a tall, large young man with his fierce yet cat-like eyes that scans the crowd while standing at the very exit of the alley.
However this person is, he hasn't seen Wyne behind him just yet. And for Wyne… she had a look of shock in her face as she instantly realized that she does know this person just as Margaret told her…. And so, she shouted the name of that person.
Wyne: "N-nomoro?!"
Yes, Nomoro Ketatsuki himself, in the flesh after a while. He was the one weirdly tailing the trio this entire time, but this was probably already foreshadowed beforehand. Wyne then takes a step back as Nomoro turns to her and a sweat visibly falling down to her cheeks, his expression also shows that he is quite surprised himself, just not at the same level as Wyne. Nomoro can tell that she is cautious and wary of him, so he raises his hands in surrender while sweating nervously, trying to look safe and unharming for Wyne.
Nomoro: "I know… calm down."
Wyne: "Yeah, not buying it."
Wyne then goes on a karate stance that isn't really that much mastered or in its correct form, a look of determination forms in her face while also fearful of him, knowing he once catched her punch last time.
Wyne: "I'll have you know that I practised Karate when I was eleven, so don't you dare take another step!"
Nomoro: "Yeah, I can tell that much…"
Wyne: "Y-yeah, whatever… just, just tell me why you were following us?"
Nomoro: "..."
Nomoro lowers his guard, no longer attempting to make amends with Wyne knowing he has to answer that question of hers with every reasoning he could pray tell. He straightened his back, his expression showing no emotion whatsoever, like an immovable stone with a mouth. His small cat-like eyes glow in the dark alley, further making Wyne feel intimidated by his figure like the last time she confronted him. But soon enough, he made his answer. And that answer will bring her to an unexpected replacement of her expression in an instant…
Nomoro: "I want to go to Trizha, and…"
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"..."
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He mumbled a few other words to finish his sentence, his mouth moving like the flow of a song rhythm. Those last few words he finished are said without emotion at all, nor a determination accompanied to it. It's just a simple, casual way of saying it. However, just mere words brought Wyne to shock and confusion and pure disbelief.
Wyne, in her thoughts: "...You? Out of all people? You? Nomoro? Why? You… you didn't do anything wrong at all, not even once, so why would you want to do that…? And doing it to Trizha… you can't just…"
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Wyne: "B-but Nomoro, she–"
Nomoro: "I know. I know it is stupid to do such a thing, because I don't have to do it. But… I can't help it."
Nomoro says, his tone softer than usual. What he said was surely embarrassing, since it is not the right thing to do if it was him who does it. In other words, it was considered unnecessary. However, he had his reasons for it. Reasons… that he knew he should've done long ago. And alas, he continues. Wyne is now intrigued, yet still shocked at the revelation of what he just said.
But at the same time, he recalls that one time when he first met Trizha, and so she did the same. They had their first conversation, and… it didn't really go well, which then led Trizha to do something unexpected and hurt him for the mere purpose of returning the favor. It was a painful memory to grasp, but Nomoro felt nothing about it out of acceptance.
Nomoro: "After my first day in our school… a lot of things surely happened during that day. People may see me as the cause of it, or you may see me as the victim of it… but for me, Trizha was the one who was both the cause and the victim of it, and I was just the secondary cause."
Wyne's eyes widened in surprise at Nomoro's remark about Trizha. And for some reason, she can't help but agree, now that he mentioned it. Trizha did cause the conflict, while at the same time, became the victim of her own cause. But even so, knowing Trizha better than Nomoro, she has her own assumptions to try to prove that theory wrong. But then, that would be pointless, and she knows that, so she decided to stay silent and keep listening to Nomoro… because he wasn't done speaking yet.
Nomoro: "And after that day, I never once despised her just because of it. I know that I did something wrong as well. But before I wanted to do what I intended to do for her, I wanted to understand her feelings about me first and see what she really felt just so that my intentions for her would turn out the right thing to do… it was a long task, but I suppose that I was successful; I found out that behind that cheerful facade of hers… was constant stress just thinking about me."
Wyne raises an eyebrow at that remark and statement Nomoro said, trying to recall times when Trizha looked uncomfortable whenever he was around. And to her surprise, he was right—she did once see Trizha act out of character when Nomoro was nearby, just that she didn't mind much about it. If she were to recall that, it was probably that time when Trizha had her last live vlog during the Hotel tour. But still, she was unsure of it because she only saw it once.
Wyne: "...but how can you be so sure of it?"
Nomoro: "Because I'm her roommate. I've been observing her without notice; she kept avoiding me, speaking rudely unintentionally, all out of manner. But I can tell that she is just… afraid of me after what she did to me. She is burdened by her own mistakes, and so she wanted to end those mistakes by bringing the end of our conflict, which was something I noticed during that time in the aquarium…"
Wyne's eyes widened yet again. This was the first time she found out that Trizha had been mentally struggling all by herself. She felt a sense of regret for not taking action, even doubting the fact that Margaret would've noticed that state of hers as well. After all… Trizha is an unpredictable person. And she is good at pretending.
Wyne, in her thoughts: "Trizha… you…"
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"...You should've told me about it…"
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"Knowing that, learning all of those things about her, I have made my decision. That… If she were to attempt to end our conflict… Then I will do it first before she does the same!"
Wyne looks up to Nomoro as she grasps those words he just said to her mind. Her eyes are wider, and a look of hope suddenly fills her eyes, something she didn't know wanted and did; she is placing her faith in Nomoro. Placing her faith… on a demon… to fix the person she cared about the most.
Wyne: "...Fine… just… just don't waste it this time!"
She says, her tone unexpectedly and unusually soft. Her heart started beating faster as she looked at Nomoro with sweat falling down her cheeks, as she left herself speechless after that. Meanwhile, Nomoro smiles softly to Wyne, before turning around and taking his leave.
Nomoro: "Okay, I'll see you around then."
Wyne watches as Nomoro disappears slowly from her sight. Her heart pounds even faster as she places a hand to her chest and looks down on it.
Wyne, in her thoughts: "What is this, this time…?"
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At the same time of the moment, inside the mirror maze house where the seemingly countless walls of clean mirrors are surrounding one path to another that could either lead to an exit or to an entrance, each reflecting one's existence, one's very movements, and one's reality that confuses and disorienting the environment. And lightbulbs at the edges of each placed mirror, typical for classic mirror maze rooms made to confuse its attractions.
The path is empty, almost as if no one was interested in entering the disorienting house or was It that they all left recently. Except, of course, for a tall, handsome young man with bushy red hair and the sides of which are shaven and black in colour, who entered just recently. He slowly walks in the path with no sound at all, no intention to rush things out, not even minding the countless mirrors that reflect his entire character, just trying to figure out the entire interference of the Japanese themed park.
Zackier: "This park… how odd. This event, during the fourth day in the hotel… It hasn't happened before. Did 'they' decide to make their move, or was it because they found out that 'he' finally made his move after centuries of hiding…"
Zackier suddenly stops walking, as a wide, mischievous grin forms in his face, a chilling excitement growing dangerously inside him as he lets out one big breath.
Zackier: "Heh… Nevertheless, no matter how much 'they' try to prevent another Death Era…"
Zackier then lifts his left hand, reaching to his eyes as he removes his red eye contacts from both eyes, revealing his actual eyes; fuchsia colored irises and black, jagged and spike-like pupils that seems to represent a darker meaning behind it, his mischievous grin growing slightly wider as he shows pure arrogance.
Zackier: "...'he' has already grown adapted. But for now… I'll take the initiative."
Zackier says to himself, as he slowly puts his Eye contacts in its miniature boxes and tugs them down to his pockets. Suddenly, he hears footsteps approaching him from behind, causing him to get startled slightly and silently, before returning to his usual posture, slowly making his turn to face whoever is approaching him.
Zackier: "How surprising of you. Perhaps this might be the first time I get to have a real, personal conversation with you…"
Zackier makes a dramatic pause of his sentence as he spreads his arms out, chuckling softly as his real eyes look down on the person he is confronting… and the thing is, the similarity of this situation is that this other person has also been wanting to confront Zackier. And as they make their way to Zackier, they stop just a few meters in front, their own eyes looking up to Zackier, filled with its own bravery.
Zackier: "Fancy seeing you again… Margaret."
Zackier finishes, smirking as Margaret stood defiant against him, staring back with her own emotionless expression. This situation was what she meant when she said about hoping hers would be as safe as Wyne's…
Margaret: "Fancy seeing you too, Zack."
Margaret says in an usually deeper tone, as she gazes to his real eyes, observing and analysing what it is about. And when she realizes the tension those eyes are giving… she shows no emotion. But deep down, she knew there was something sinister behind those eyes… something that tells her that it is supposed to represent the 'complete liberation over the rules of the usual benevolence'. While thinking, Zackier suddenly cuts her observations off by simply continuing to speak.
Zackier: "You seem lost. If you're here for Trizha and the others, they aren't here. But don't worry, I too were looking for them…"
Margaret squints her eyes slightly at Zackier's statements, almost as if she is glaring at him. She already knows herself that Wyne is with Nomoro, and Trizha is outside looking for the others as she left her all alone.
Margaret: "No need. I already know where they are."
Zackier: "Ooh? Is that so? Lucky me, then. Let's go look for them. But first…"
Zackier then lowers his hands as he takes a step forward, extending one arm as he reaches for Margaret, secretly forming a sinister smile behind a soft smile in his face.
Zackier: "Let me hold your hand so that we don't get lost on our way out…"
Margaret's eyes widened in alert and caution as Zackiers made his approach. She takes one step back and reaches for her bag, taking out a sharp screwdriver and points it at Zackier threateningly, her expression now shows a complete show of vulnerability and desperation out of fear, sweats beginning to leave her body, before letting out a shout against Zackier.
Margaret: "Don't you dare get any closer!!!"
Zackier flinches and takes a step back, raising his hands into the air in surrender at Margaret's unexpected shout and her threat, as he starts to mock nervous laughter.
Zackier: "Whoa, haha… never in a century have I seen YOU this hostile. How unexpected… you don't usually do that."
Margaret: "D-don't push your luck… we barely even know each other."
Zackier: "Haha, that's true. I don't know you, you don't know me. But that's really just unnecessary…"
Margaret: "What?"
Zackier: "...because I don't need to recognize who you are in terms of character, what's necessary is our similarities."
Zackier's smile then fades in an instant, as he lowers his hands down and points his index finger to Margaret, and then to himself.
Zackier: "You are me, and I am you, Margaret."
Zackier says in a firm, serious and cold tone, looking down on Margaret as if she is lower than an ant itself. He is unfazed by her threat, nor if she is holding a weapon which is something that's completely out of her character. Meanwhile, Margaret is confused about the revelation of Zackier's remark about the two of them.
Margaret, in her thoughts: "You? And me? We are the same? What are you talking about?"
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Margaret: "No… why would I be the same person as you? You're not making any sense…"
Zackier: "You're right, it doesn't make sense. But that's just because I'm not done speaking."
Zackier takes another step closer, a forward step that is dangerous because at any given time, Margaret might just attack him out of the blue. However, he is confident enough to doubt that she'd do it. She is scared of him, after all.
Zackier: "We are the same, because of how we live. And it hurts me to see you acting like those 'kind' of people."
Zackier then stops just to point his finger to his eyes, his eyes never leaving Margaret's.
Zackier: "See these eyes? They mean Cruel Freedom. They are stated to represent a form of misfortune by the locals of a certain country. Saying that those born with these eyes are to be hated by the society, just like black cats that were claimed to be misfortune itself taking its physical form."
Zackier then clenches his fists, trying to keep his anger unto himself.
Zackier: "...ever since I have lived, I had to continue living in isolation. Even my own parents wouldn't mind feeding me or buying me things that everyone usually gets. It's unfair. It's pathetic. Tiring. So I decided to stay silent, avoid conversations and interactions, doing absolutely everything in order to perfect myself and fit into the perfect society, and now… I used this misfortune's sake as a form of self defence to scare away those who dare oppose me…"
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"...Just like how you stayed silent and spent most of your time trying to perfect yourself just to fit in, making use of your absurd sense of humor and dark habit just for the sake of preventing idiotic arguments that your friends often do."
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Hearing all of those words Zackier muttered, Margaret felt a sense of discomfort deep within her. She started to shake, wondering to herself how Zackier was more observant than she was… he barely knew her, and so did she, and yet… he already knew the reason why she was silent most of the time. She hoped that was all, but Zackier was done speaking yet.
Zackier: "So go on. Come here and hurt me. Stab me. Be brutal as you like… in the end, you're just killing yourself, like how you almost did it all by yourself."
And so, Margaret was speechless. She starts to shake more as she hears those last words from his sentence. How did he know? When he found out about her past? How did he come to an assumption and came out right that she was… a suicide survivor?
Margaret: "How did you… h-how… how did you–"
Zackier cuts her off by standing right in front of her, leaning to her face as he faces her even though he is still being threatened, the tip of the screwdriver impaling his chest. However, Margaret is already shaking so much that it'll be just like striking a person with a rusted sword.
Zackier: "So, what is it going to be? Are you going to go and kill me, end all of those anxieties and overthinking that has been bothering you ever since the moment I existed? Come on, take your time."
Margaret stays silent, her mouth wide open as she looks at his face, then to her screwdriver. Tears started to form in her eyes as she couldn't take it anymore. He has broken that barrier of her face, now all there is to her is the vulnerability side of herself, like the cotyledons of a peanut. Zackier stared at her for a moment, before scoffing in her face and leaned away.
Zackier: "That's what I thought. Now lower your weapon and let's get out of here."
Margaret takes her moment of silence, before nodding and putting back the screwdriver to her bag with her hands shaking out of discomfort, before walking out of the mirror maze house with Zackier in front of her as leads the way.
Zackier, in his thoughts: "Almost wasted my time with this brat. And now…"
While walking, Zackier turns his gaze to his left, noticing Trizha from a distance entering the mirror maze house with hesitation. He goes to take out his eye contacts again, secretly forming yet another sinister grin.
"...All I gotta do is wait."