"Let's hide first then let's find out which of them is real," Firstwen commanded us.
That's just the most effective way. As we hide and they search, we will analyze the situation.
"We must proceed first to the 5th floor. The other girls are also there." Firstwen added.
I heard someone scoff. It was Sectwen behind me. "Tch, how bossy! " she murmured, then ran.
We ran away from the clones and went in different directions to scatter and divert them from chasing us.
"Let's go," First grabbed my right hand. I got separated from Aeith and Fourth earlier.
I and First headed straight to the kitchen while observing the noise we heard. We just kept quiet until we could no longer hear any strange noise. I sighed from exhaustion.
"You have a wound," he leaned closer and touched my left arm.
"Y-Yeah," I looked at it, and there was a small wound.
He took a small kitchen towel and wrapped it around my arm. "To stop the bleeding"
I smiled. "Thank you"
"Why did you just stand there a while ago?" he asked. He might be referring to what happened earlier, where I was glued at my position before the monsters attacked us.
"Too shocked, I guess."
He laughed faintly so that the monsters wouldn't hear us. "You really are something else."
I grinned. His short sword, which he put aside to treat my wound, caught my attention.
"Maybe you're also confused why only nine of us had this, aren't you?" My eyes widened because he could read my thoughts. "It's okay, I'm wondering too."
"Did you also panic when they started attacking?" I questioned him.
"Worried, maybe? Panicked, no. You get nothing in return if you panic." He replied reassuringly.
I wonder where the others are right now. I hope they went to 5th floor safely.
"I think we need to go. They might be looking for us," First initiated.
Miraculously, we were able to go up to the 5th floor without being caught by the monsters.
"Second!" Aeith and Fourth ran towards and hugged me. Glad to see them safe.
Fourth was in tears when they saw us. "You made us worried." She sniffled.
Tenth and Forzen also greeted me. All of us were here on the 5th floor. It can't be called a room because this floor only consists of concrete pillars and concrete floors. No furniture or fixtures, not even lights. This is a fully enclosed and dark area. It's like a multipurpose area—completely different from the rest of the floors.
"Proceed with the plan." Our leader, Third, stated as we all got serious. We formed a large circle while standing. "The main problem we have is who among them is Fortwen."
"I have an idea," First interjected. He will be talking about his idea, and I admire him for that. "If that's what we're going to do, then we have a chance," he ended. His strategy is a good one from which everyone agreed to execute. His expression is quite different now. I can see perseverance and determination in his eyes.
"Okay, let's do that," the two leaders agreed. Everyon agreed in unison.
"They're here!" Twelf shouted.
We alerted ourselves after we all heard her.
"Wait, here? It's dark, we'll have a hard time." Forzen's concern.
This question was immediately answered when the ceiling of this floor and the roof of the castle open spontaneously. I covered my eyes as the strong wind blew to prevent any dirt from getting into my eyes. The surroundings are lit up by the sunlight that shone at us after several days that it didn't hit us because we're trapped here in the castle with no real windows and exit. This floor suddenly became a rooftop.
I heard the growl of the monsters straining to open the door and the noise of steel.
"Attack!" the leaders commanded.
The ten boys went in front of the girls, trying to protect us. They rushed to the remaining five monsters. I saw that First had thrown the steel palette knife on the wall on his left, and we immediately saw the movement of the monsters' eyes.
"At the left corner! She's Fortwen!" Firstwen shouted pertaining to the real Fortwen that we've been looking for.
There is something wrong with the monsters. If I noticed it correctly, these monsters were avoiding us. First's said idea was that he would throw a steel palette knife he obtained from the art room so that it would create noise. Those eyes were distracted by the noise that the palette knife made and looked to its right side where First threw the stone, then she was the real Fortwen.
Recalling the battle that we had earlier, taking down the seven clones, it certainly lacks five senses compared to a human being. One clone lacks at least two of its senses. Its disadvantage became an advantage to us. The second strategy suggested by First, is that we will cause slight damage to the clones, which means stabbing lightly to see their blood. We observed that the clones' blood was paler in color compared to humans.
As we know who's the real one is, the three boys charged—Third, Fifth, and Ninezen, and grabbed Fortwen. The girls supported them by backing them up. The seven boys were able to inflict great damage on the four clones. Thankfully, Fortwen is still alive. The three clones have also been defeated by those who have their short sword and spear weapons. Wait, there's another one.
"There's one missing!" Fifth shouted.
"Argh!" we heard a girl groan and were shocked to see that T-Twelf had been strangled and lifted upwards by a monster that we missed. With the blink of an eye, we lost sight of the last clone, and now its short nails suddenly grew by about 4-5 inches. It pierced its sharp and long nails into Twelf's neck. This can't be. Some girls stab the clone using a spear, but it only breaks their weapons, until Twelf is gasping for breath. No!
First attacked and stabbed the last clone before it might attack others. It died and turned into ashes.
"T-Twelf!" Sixth cried.
I still thought no one would die from now on. Why? Why does this have to happen?
Fortwen slowly returned to her consciousness as a human. Her red eyes became normal, and her face became calm. It's good to see that she's finally back.
She coughed. "W-What happened?" the others helped Fortwen to recover.
We held onto Twelf's body, and there were no vital signs that we hoped for. We don't know if we'll be happy or sad. I'm glad Fortwen is here, but Twelf died. It happened so fast that we weren't able to act quickly.
Fifth was about to grab the necklace from Fortwen to finally finish the major mission of the game, when we were astounded at what happened next.
"Ahhh!" Twentieth shrieked at what we saw.