Chapter Text
Anzu waved behind her as she walked away from the party. As soon as she stepped out of sight from the children's faces, she slipped off her mask. The dark street comforted her, none of her classmates would be out at this time. Nobody to recognise her. Dim grey buildings loomed around her, what she figured were houses.
The streetlights hadn’t turned on, she realized. That’s probably why it was so dark. Her neighborhood never was one to get much maintenance. With a groan, she kept following the road, following the faded moonlight. Nobody had their lights on in their houses. Not a single window shone any light out.
Feeling less sure of herself than before, Anzu kept walking. Her house was just around the bend. She felt around for her phone, before sighing. She’d probably left it at the kid’s house.
Birthday parties were the only work she could get. Juggling, tricks, jokes, all to make children laugh at her. Their parents collected all the phones early in the day, though they let her keep hers. Though at one point, her mom tried to call. When the armada of kids saw her with one, they flipped their lid. Anzu reluctantly had to forfeit it with the others.
With a vain hope that she could check in on them in the morning, she dropped her hands to her sides and kept walking down the street. Her house wasn’t anything special. Not a cool looking traditional home, not a unique modern design. Just a plain old suburban house. She was lucky enough to have one in the first place, so it wasn’t really her place to complain.
Pulling out her key, she noticed the doorknob was loose. “...Ah?” Anzu slowly pulled the handle towards herself. Flicking the lightswitch did nothing to illuminate the hallway. Slowly stepping in, she found her hand shaking. “Mom…? Dad…?” The only reason she had to do this embarrassing job was for them. If something had happened- No no no. It was unthinkable. She found herself backpedaling out from the doorway.
“Someone!? Hey someone!?” She called out down the street, to no reply. Turning her back to the door, she looked around for any sign of life. No cars, no people, no light. Nothing. Terror consuming her, she took a step away from the door.
That’s when she noticed the hand around her neck.
Anzu woke up in a cold sweat.
Something was off. What happened!? Where am I!? The clown raised an arm to stretch. “Huh…?” She had been asleep standing up. Her eyes darted down. Unlike her arms, her legs were shackled together. “H-Hey! What i-is this!? Some sick joke!?”
Anzu struggled against her bindings to no avail. Using everything she could, she looked around the room. There was a small button against one wall. Raising an arm to it, she hesitated, glancing even higher.
Her gut let out a piercing scream. It was sharp. Everything was so sharp. Pointing right at her. She tripped over in her shock, tumbling to the ground. Her hand grazed the button on the way down.
“Anzu Kinashi. Welcome to your first trial!” A cheerful voice cried out. “Now you may be very confused, but that’s alright. Let’s give you a… Hm… Let’s say it’s ten minutes. If that time runs out, then…” It clicked off for a few seconds. “Good luck!”
Dread ran through her. Nothing made sense. So many questions. Looking around the room any more gave her nothing to help. She had no clue what to do. Feebly, she hit the button again, just to get the same message. First Trial? Ten minutes? She tried to get to her feet again, stumbling, but standing.
Hesitantly poking her finger at one of the blades drew a drop of blood from her finger. “A…h…” She shook, staying upright with all her might. Ten minutes isn’t enough time! Is it already counting down!? She wondered. “Okay, okay, let’s see. Agh…”
Anzu crouched down, looking at the shackles binding her to this wretched room. “Let me go!” She tugged with all her might, doing nothing but wasting her precious time. “Hu...h?” Her eyes drifted to a tiny keyhole on her right ankle. “Yes!” She cheered. “I-I can do this!”
The girl fumbled around in her pockets, searching for something. “Aha!” She tugged out the house key, sticking it against the hole. “Come on! Nonono!” It was slightly too big. So slight, that it felt as though it could fit right in if she pushed hard enough.
“Please! Please, please! Let me out!” She cried. “Who?! Why are you doing this to me?! I've had it with this!! This trial stuff... I don't get it!! Mom!! Dad!! Somebodyyy!! Help... meee...!!”
There was no response.
Anzu felt her time running shorter and shorter. No more than a minute left. “RaahahhHAhAHhAahH!” She moaned out, fear seizing her heart. Looking frantically around the room, she couldn’t see anything. “Ah… H-Huh…?” She looked at the key in her hand. Underneath the normal blue, a bit of grey was poking out at the tip. The same grey as the shackles.
She dug her fingernails into it. Scratching it. Flecks of blue scattered around the room as the key shed its outer layer. As soon as it looked more grey than not, she crouched back down. The key slid perfectly into the slot, and her left ankle hissed open.
But her right ankle didn’t. “Gah!? Come on! Open!” Anzu shouted, tugging at her leg. With her newly freed ankle, she stepped away, pulling as hard as she could. “Let! Me! G-”
Her sentence was cut off by a loud buzzer, and the spikes shot down. After she winced and opened her eyes. Sound was the first sense to return to her, a loud ringing. Then smell, the smell of blood. Her sight came next. There were… Two… Through her leg… She let out an even louder wail. Finally came all feeling, sending waves of pain through her.
The spikes retracted as fast as they’d shot out, and the right cuff broke open just the same. Her pierced leg twitched on the ground as she held it tight. “W… Wa… Guh…!”
Beside her, a door slid open, revealing a long dark passage. Let me out. “Let me out!!” She cried. “I want to go home! Please!!”
She didn’t get a response. Clutching her leg to her body, she grit her teeth. Anzu pulled herself along the floor, out the door and into the darkness. I’m going to wake up. I’m going to wake up and this is going to be just a nightmare. Though when the floor stopped existing beneath her, and air took its place, any hope that that could have happened abandoned her.
She lifted her head off of the soft ground. Pain still stung through her body. “Hrk…” Anzu felt her breath catch, glancing at her mangled leg. Mustering all the strength she had left with her, she crawled through the doorway, into the bright room.
“Oh shit!” Someone shouted, followed by a few footsteps. “Hey! Hey look at me! Come on! Hey!” Anzu blinked up at the punk-looking girl. “Is anyone here a doctor!?”
“Ah… I work a-at a medical supplies company.” A tall suited man mumbled.
“Then, do something! Help her!” The punk replied.
“Hey just because I-I know what to do doesn’t mean I can do e-everything!” He cried out. “I don’t have a-any medical s-supplies in the first place.”
“Keep pressure on the wound. Tie a tourniquet. Glasses, go find your medical supplies.” A short girl with black hair commanded. “This is simple stuff…”
“Wh-What the hell coulda even done that kinda thing!?” The red-headed giant stared at her.
“Hey!! Me and Kanna’ll take care of her. Everyone else go look for some supplies.” A girl in a green uniform offered. “We’ll keep an eye out for if anyone else shows up.”
“Hell no! No way! I’m not ditching her.” The punk shouted.
The brunette girl first sneered, but nodded. “Alright. You look like you can help.”
“Hol’ on!” The giant objected. “So we all just go run off? What if we end up jes’ like her!? This place is obviously dangerous!!”
“Well, your friendly policeman recommends we find this girl a first aid kit soon. Wouldn’t wanna lose someone on the first day, would we?” The blonde chuckled, stepping through one of the dark doorways.
Most followed him out, though a few stayed in the room. Anzu kept her focus trained on the three with her. “Here… This might help for now.” The brunette pulled off her necktie and wrapped it tightly around one of her wounds, eliciting a gasp.
“Ah, mm… Ow…” She mumbled, sitting herself up. “Wh… What’s going on!? Who are you!? Why’d this happen?! Why me!?”
“Hey, hey… We’re in the same situation as you… Maybe not as rough.” She smiled. “I’m Kugie… Kugie Kizuchi. This is my sister, Kanna.” Kugie pointed to the bucket-headed girl.
“Reko Yabusame.” The punk nodded. “If you need anything, let me know, okay? I don’t have a clue what happened to you, but hold on.”
“K-Kanna would like to ask your name, miss. If you don’t mind.” The sister asked.
“I’m… Anzu. Anzu Kinashi. Wh-What is this… Why… Am I here…?” She mumbled.
“No clue. I woke up in that stupid first trial, and when I got out, I found myself here.” Reko answered. “Is that what… Happened to you?”
“...Ah… Mhm.” Anzu winced as Kugie tied her other wound. “It was scary… There were spikes… And. And I was chained…”
“Oh jeez, that sounds rough.” The brunette looked up, her uniform slightly blood-stained. “I was tied down to a bed. It’s only thanks to her that I made it…” She wrapped her arm around the girl.
“Ah! Now Kanna’s all bloody!” She wailed. “Kugie!! That’s mean!!”
“You… You weren’t alone…?” Anzu looked at her. “That’s so unfair! Wh-Why was I…”
“Woah, hey! You’re okay. You made it out of there.” The punk smiled. “Once we figure out where we are, we’ll get out of here. And the others, er…” She turned to face the few remaining in the room, raising her voice so they could all hear. “Most of the others! Are going to find you some medical supplies, alright?”
“Mm… Yeah. Thank you.” She nodded along, keeping her teeth clenched. “S-So you all went through th-that trial too? How many people are here? Is anyone else hurt…?”
“Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but at least the four of us did. The big guy said something about a box… I heard the guy in the suit talking about axes. And the one with puffy hair mentioned a small white room.” Kugie counted off on her fingers.
“Kanna… Kanna counted fourteen.” She smiled. “Oh wait… With Anzu that would be fifteen now!”
“Everyone’s a little rattled. The kid in orange seemed shaken. Same with the big hat lady.” Reko paused for a moment. “There was also… That guy in stripes… But, nobody's hurt, I don’t think. None but you.”
“Th-Then that’s super embarrassing!!” Anzu cried.
“What? You wanted someone hurt?” Kugie grinned with a joking tone. “Don’t sweat it. I doubt anyone here’s feeling too judge-y right now.”
“Everyone… Everyone's a good person here…!! Nobody’s going to be mean like that!” Kanna smiled.
“Eh…?” Reko glanced over. “Well, more importantly, how are you feeling? Your leg, I mean.”
“It… Still hurts… But less now than before!!” Anzu insisted. “Thank you…” Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, the fear was growing back within her.
“That’s great! Sit still and hold on, alright? You’ll be just fine.” The punk promised.
“Probably best to keep your mind off it, alright?” Kugie smiled. “You look my age. You’re a high school student, right? I assume that’s not your uniform though.”
“Urk!” She whimpered. “You’re judging my outfit, aren't you?! You think I'm... weird!”
“Wha? No! Not at all! I think it looks cu-ool… Cool. Yeah!” A faint pink dusted her cheeks. “It’s not weird!”
“Hmph…” Anzu crossed her arms, a jolt of pain shooting at the movement. With a grunt she quickly let them fall back to her sides. “At least I’m not wearing any weird necklaces like you!”
“Huh? You mean you don’t have a collar?” Reko raised her eyebrow, pushing Anzu’s hand to the side. “Yeah you do! Don’t say crap like that. I don’t want anyone suspicious of you.”
“What!?!” Anzu wrapped her hand around her neck. Something was there. She tried tugging on it. “W-Wha… What is going on…? I-I wanna go home.”
“Hey… Kanna woke up with one too. Kugie too. It’s probably not dangerous.” She smiled softly. “Anzu should probably just relax. It’s going to be okay.”
“Hey!! New person!” A muscular man with blue hair shouted. “New people, actually!”
Anzu looked over. A woman wearing an apron and a man with greying hair stepped out of a doorway. “Waah! Professor!! There are people here!?”
“So it seems.” The man replied. Together, the two walked towards the group. “Oh dear? What happened here?”
Anzu opened her mouth to answer, but was cut off by Reko. “Some goddamn stupid first trial. How was yours?”
“Huh? You had a trial too? What’s going on!? Professor Mishima?” The lady asked.
“Kanna counted fifteen of us! With you two… That’s seventeen.” The girl smiled.
“Well, there’s only nine in this room. Where would the other eight be?” The professor asked.
Kugie grabbed her shoulder. “They’re off looking for some medical supplies for Anzu here. She was hurt pretty bad in her trial.”
“Gahh! What h-happened!? How did that…!?” The woman in the apron asked.
“Now, Nao. I don’t think we should make her relive that just now.” Mishima shook his head. “It would be rather impolite to not offer to search, in that case. Come, Nao.”
“Okay Professor!” She turned to one of the dark paths. “Huh? Who’s that!?”
A few people had just stepped out from the doorway. “Hey, Hoodie Girl! We found something that can help!” The man with the beanie stepped towards her.
“Yeah, i-if you don’t mind… I could t-take a look at that w-wound.” The suited man offered. “I just need to s-see that leg.”
“Here, meow!” A strange kid held up a case with a cross on it. “Suit-and-specs. Take it, woof!”
“Ah, alright. Let’s see.” He adjusted his glasses, crouching next to her. “Hm… This doesn’t look… Great.”
“Idiot! Never say that!” Reko protested. “Anzu don’t listen to that, you’re alright.”
“Agh!! S-Sorry!” He defended. The strange boy opened the case, pulling out the bandages. “Gin, ah, before that we need to disinfect… And stitch. Sou, the alcohol.”
The beanie man frowned, pulling out a small flask. “Are you sure this is the best option, Hayasaka?”
“Right n-now… It is. Alright… Anzu, was it? They didn’t have a-any disinfectant, luckily there was a bar… S-So there’s going to be a bit of a sting… Okay?” The suited man, Hayasaka, looked nervous. He poured some onto a cotton ball. “Here w-we go…” Her leg hurt as he slid the tourniquet off. He slowly dabbed the cotton ball around the edge.
The pain was tenfold the original wound. She held on the best she could, but after a few seconds, her head grew light, and the room grew dark.
Her ears could hear chatter, but her eyes stayed shut. Only after a few minutes of dizziness was she able to crack them. “Anzu? Anzu, hey.” She heard someone talking to her. What finally snapped her up was a hand on her shoulder.
“Wh-Where am I??” She gasped, seeing semi-familiar faces.
“Ah, right… Anzu…” The brunette girl sighed. “You’re still… Here. You remember… Right?”
“Y…eah… I-I… I wanna go home… Please… I…” She mumbled.
“I know, I know… Hey, let’s get out of here together, okay? You aren’t getting hurt again.” Kugie smiled with a nod. “How do you feel?”
“Mm… Hm… Sore.” She sighed. “It hurts less.”
“That isn’t too bad, right?” The brunette grabbed her arm. “Do you think you can stand?”
“I… Think.” Anzu mumbled, grabbing back tightly. Using her good foot, she pushed herself up. “Hah… Hah… Owowow…” She groaned.
“Hey, hey, are you alright?” Kugie held her tight, keeping her upright.
“Ugh… Yep. I’m good. Just stings… A bit.” She moaned. “A lot…”
Kugie slung her arm around her shoulder. “Here… Don’t put too much pressure on that leg. Let me help you.”
“Th… Thank you.” Anzu clutched her, steadying herself. Together, they limped over to the centre of the room. Everyone she had seen was standing around, having their own discussions.
“Hey! Anzu! Are you okay?” Reko ran up to her, Kanna following right behind. “How’s your leg? Hayasaka did a good job with it.”
“Hurty… But less hurty.” She nodded. “H-How long was I asleep…?”
“Kanna was worried when you passed out… You were for a while… Kanna counted two more people. Joe and Sara.” The girl smiled. Anzu glanced into the group. The only faces she hadn’t seen before were a gaudy boy and orange-haired girl, in matching uniforms, both about her age.
“Alright… Seems like that’s all of us.” The blue haired guy announced, drawing the attention of all the conversations.
“Huh? How do you know, meow?” The boy, Gin, asked.
“I dunno. But there’s not been a newcomer in a while.” He crossed his arms. “Seems like we’ve hit capacity.”
“Well… I don’t know, but… Doesn’t eighteen feel like a strange number?” The new girl asked.
Eighteen? “What’s so strange about it? It’s just a damn number.” The muscular man grinned.
“Hey, wait…” Anzu spoke up. “What do you mean eighteen?”
“Whaddaya mean?” The giant glanced at her. “I know ya were jes’ bleeding out, so you’re probably a little woozy. But there’s eighteen of us here, right?”
“Huh? But… Before I passed out… There were seventeen here. And with the two new ones, that should be nineteen, right?” She looked around. They were right, there were only eighteen here.
“My, my, that is strange. Did someone just disappear?” The lady with a large hat tilted her head.
“I’m sorry… Kanna messed up… She probably counted wrong…” The bucket girl frowned.
The new girl, Sara, crossed her arms. “Either way, eighteen and nineteen are weird numbers.”
“Aren’t we not considering something…?” The short black-haired girl grinned. “We’re thinking everyone made it through that trial.”
Kugie glared at her. “What are you-”
“Just look at Miss Hoodie. Maybe somebody wasn’t as lucky as her… And y’know… Died.” She stifled a giggle.
An uproar began, people shouting over each other. Anzu lifted one hand, covering her ear. After a few minutes of cacophony, it died down. The blonde man scratched at his neck. “As much as I hate to admit it… She has a point.”
“What does that mean? People actually… Died?” The white-haired boy mumbled.
“Dammit… I was nearly crushed to death. If there was someone who… Wasn’t athletic in my shoes…” The muscular man shook his head.
“I… I don’t wanna… Die.” Anzu mumbled, clutching Kugie’s shoulder.
“D-Don’t worry… You’re safe now. I-It’s alright. We don’t know that anybody died!” She held her tight.
“Well, either way, we aren’t going to get nowhere if we have no clue who each other are.” The blue-haired man sighed. “Name’s Naomichi Kurumada. I’m feared as the one and only Convertible of Destruction… That is to say, I’m a professional boxer.”
“So you’re in charge? Don’t know if I remember us deciding that.” The blonde tilted his head.
“Alright tough guy.” Kurumada crossed his arms. “Half of us are children. And of the ones who aren’t, I’m the one who took the lead.”
“Well, if we’re choosing leadership from strength, something tells me the big guy over there would win.” He grinned.
“Gwuh!? I-I mean, sure, I’d be in charge, sure.” The giant grinned.
“Alright, wise guy, what’s your name, even?” The boxer poked the blonde in the chest.
“Keiji Shinogi. Ex-Detective.” He offered. “Don’t trouble your friendly policeman.”
“Alright, Ex-Cop. I’m just wanting everyone to know each other.” Kurumada sighed. “Is that so illegal, or is it just a good idea in this place? People are injured, dammit.”
“Ha ha ha… I’m just pulling your leg.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Well… I’ll get exploring since everyone knows me.” Keiji chuckled again, and stepped down one of the passages.
After a few moments of silence, people began to talk to each other. Most returned to the conversations they were in earlier. “Hey ladies, how’s it going?” The gaudy guy walked up to them.
“Seriously? Is that how you talk to women?” Kugie grumbled.
“Ah, erm, you’re Joe, right?” Anzu asked. “Or… Are you Sara?”
“Wha!? Do I look like a Sara?” He raised an eyebrow. “U-Uh, yeah, yeah I’m Joe. And you’re Anzu, I’ve gathered. How are you feeling?”
“A little better… Thanks…” She mumbled. “This sucks… Why are we here?”
“W-Well… I dunno that. Check back in with me, alright? I’ll figure it out by the end of the day for ya.” He flashed a grin and stepped away.
“Ugh… What a prick.” Kugie grumbled. Without much choice, Anzu followed along when she started walking.
They stopped in front of the giant, a man in an apron, and the lady with a big hat. “Aha, Anzu, right? I’m Mai. Mai Tsurugi. You look adorable. How’re you feeling?”
With a blush she sighed. “Why does everyone… Keep asking that?” She mumbled.
“It is simply sympathy. You suffered a grave injury.” The aproned man frowned. “I am Kai Satou. A rather unremarkable homemaker.”
“Really? So you cook? I’m starving.” Kugie grinned.
“I cook, not as a chef, but a house-husband.” He smiled. “Though I haven’t seen any food substances. My apologies.”
“Dammit, was ‘boutta ask the same thing.” The giant groaned. “Fine… I’m Q-taro Burgerburg! Baseball player! Yeah, I’m a ball player, but if ya work out too much and hurt’cherself, you’ll never hit the big leagues.”
“That name…” Kugie looked up at him.
“What? Ya recognise it?” He grinned.
“No… It’s just making me more hungry.” She laughed.
“Grah!” Q-taro crossed his arms. “Jerks…” He stalked off in a huff, Kai following close behind.
Mai giggled. “Right, well then… I’ll let you in on a secret.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cookie. “I’m a baker. The kids have already sniffed me out, so this is my last one.” She placed it flat into Kugie’s free hand and winked, before following after the others.
“Aha, I knew I saw crumbs on Kanna’s mouth!” She laughed, but her face quickly turned serious. “Hm… Here, take it. Keep your energy up.”
“Huh? I thought you were hungry? Keep it…” Anzu shook her head.
“I was just joking… You need it more than me. We’ll find something to eat soon anyways.” Kugie smiled, placing it in her hand. “I mean it.”
“Alright… Fine.” She reluctantly nibbled on the edge. “If we find anything else, you get it, okay?”
“Let’s worry about that when we get to it, okay? Kanna’ll probably need something more than just a cookie too.” She sighed. “Here… Sit down for now. I don’t want to strain your leg or anything.”
Kugie took her arm and set her down against the wall, sitting next to her. “I bet that guy… Keiji, right? He’ll probably be searching for clues… He’s a detective… He’ll find a way out of here and I’ll find my mom and dad.” Anzu forced a smile.
“Ex-Detective… But yeah… Maybe a hospital too. Get some real doctors to take care of you.” She returned a just as shaky smile. “We’ll talk to those we haven't met later… Just rest for now.”
Anzu quietly nodded and kept still. But only until someone walked up to them. “Excuse me. I was wondering if I could ask how you’re feeling.” A boy with white hair asked politely.
Anzu whimpered. “I’m fine… I’ll be up and about soon.”
“Anzu, right? I heard your name. I’m Ranmaru… Kageyama. I think we’re the same age?” He sighed. “Those first trials… Really sucked. I barely made it out…”
“Yeah… They did…” She mumbled. “Even… After I got out… The stupid cuff wouldn’t let go until… Ugh…”
“I got out… Like, seconds before the shotgun went off. It was pretty scary don’t you think?” He sighed. “Whatever we’re doing here… I don’t think it’s a good thing. I think Hinako was… Right.”
“Hinako…? The girl with black hair? I-I hope not… Ah… But…” She shook her head. “N-No… Everyone here is exactly who… Everyone made it…”
“Quit it… She’s been through enough already.” Kugie cut in. “No need to rub salt in the… Nevermind, just buzz off.”
“Sheesh, alright. Sorry.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and stumbled away. Anzu sighed and rested her head against the wall, silently watching the chatter of the others.
“HEY! Anyone got any more keys!?!” A loud voice boomed. Anzu looked over to see Q-taro, holding a small box over his head.
Kugie looked between him and her. “Hey, Anzu, stay here a sec. I’ve got one.”
“Wait! I have one too!” She reached into her pocket, pulling out the scratched key.
“Pass it here. I’ll take it over!” Kugie grabbed it out of fingers.
Sitting off at the wall, Anzu couldn’t see much. The crowd was too thick for her to catch anything. When Kugie arrived, there was a silent moment, Followed by a chorus of disappointment. Though a few seconds later there was a shouting cheer. The cheer quickly turned into shouts of dismay as she heard something hit the ground.
After a few seconds, a smiley head rolled up to her feet.