HIGHWAY TO HELL [Motive 1 Update #6]
Even standing near the door is uncomfortable. The heat permeating from underneath the frame in itself burns to the touch. It’s like a nuclear warhead was dropped just a few miles away; the rooms in Bates Motel, your bunker. With the granted immunities to the Top 5, it was relatively easy to escape the deadly heat; isolating everyone inside the cooled rooms. The access to food and water was still limited, but with quick runs to the cafeteria, it seemed that the Motive was under control.
And alas, it seemed your captor wasn’t too pleased with that.
A day after the heat was cranked up another ten degrees, Sekai requested, in crescent order of the Applause Board, one person leave their air-conditioned rooms into the fallout outside, for a random number of minutes, Top 5 and Star aside. The effects of the heatstroke was noticeable, but everyone came back. That was when she requested two people go out at once; then four and, ultimately, eight. The impatience in her voice as she kept on popping on the screen inside the room was easy to pick up on; slightly worrying, but everyone stood their ground.
Until, of course… She couldn’t take it anymore.
With a quick flash, the screen turned on once again. The face, while recognizable, held an expression so stern and wicked, it immediately sent shivers down your spine. The celebrity’s eyes, filled with silent rage. For a good ten seconds, she just stared everyone down. A dismal silence creeping over the entire facility.
“So…It seems my efforts weren’t enough, huh?” Finally, the woman spoke up. Her voice, dissonant to her roguish expression. “And so you’ve conquered the hardships I’ve sent your way masterfully. Outplaying every step of my evil plan. I’m impressed! Honestly, I’m out of ideas on what to do next. You’ve got me! My most honest congratulations.”
You could almost feel the barrage of sideways glances being exchanged amongst the silence. This didn’t feel a tiny bit right.
“I’ve come here primarily to congratulate you all. Your work has been truly, truly outstanding, my children. I mean — it is the first and least harsh motive… But still!” She leaned down, clasping her hands together. “And secondly, and most importantly… For how superb your work has been, I’ve decided to reward you all… And what best gift than knowledge, huh? I’ve taken an executive decision and decided to share with you all the identity of your true captor.”
Your could feel your heart skipping a beat. She was acting quite weirdly, even to the likes of her. This wasn’t her. Where are the sarcastic, witty comebacks? The threats? The gunshots? What’s her real plan? What does she mean with “real captor”?
“They should be hearing me right now, actually. Aren’t you excited? Finally, you’ll get the recognition you deserve!” She stared deeply into the camera, leaning in even more. A small smirk curls up on her lips. “So — without further ado… Say your warmest thanks to your true captor…b̧͜ź͏Z̷̴̀͝҉Z̵̢͟T͏”
A high-pitched buzz, followed by cracks and a clap of thunder; the electronics around you engulfed in sparks, and then, it was all dark. Gasps echoed from nearby. A blackout. The screen flickers, turning on, a beacon of light amongst the darkness - although you can’t see Sekai in the black mirror anymore, a… Much more familiar sight is now cast on the monitor in front of you: Pictures, flashing on the screen for about four to five seconds each; profiles. Familiar faces - Ae-Jung, Robin, Yoriko, Dai, Arabella, Yamato, Umay… So on, until at the very last one, the screen flickered back to Kuro Sekai, smiling. She chuckles a menacing smile.
“Oh, please… Don’t act so confused. Honestly, I couldn’t make it clearer if I tried… Although obliviousness does seem to be a common trait amongst you all…“
”What a disappointment. I really had faith in you. All of you.” The electronics in the room flicker, darkness still wrapped around you, her deep crimson eyes staring you down. “Didn’t you really not wonder why no help came? Or why there are cameras everywhere?” She sighs, her mien twisted with disappointment. “If only you had more time. If only I was more pacient. Bummer.”
The celebrity runs her index finger on the monitor, a doleful look in her eyes.
“We did have a good run. You were certainly better than the last ones.” She waved “Goodbye, my children.”
The monitor powers down once again, the screen now cracked. And as the door slowly opened due to the power outage, the heat wave immediately hits you. The lack of air circulation was intensifying the heatstroke substantially. Even amongst the chaos, you knew you had to go outside. Bates Motel quickly turning into hell; Unfortunately, outside, the heat was just as intense; but surprisingly, there was actually a light breeze passing through. It didn’t help much, but it caught you off-guard.
Even amongst the night sky, just short of an hour outside was enough for you to start wondering if this was it. The barely visible landscape, lit by the faint moonlight, twisted by the heat. The hallucinations starting to creep in. You slowly feel your faculties stripped away by the intense atmosphere. And to one-up it all, there wasn’t a single drop of water available in the facility that you could find. The inside of your mouth was dry. Your heart was racing. Even under no Sun, you could feel the radiation in your skin. It’s a terrifying sensation. To not know if your heart will beat the next beat. You’re weak. After ninety minutes, you can barely move. This… This is it, isn’t it? It has to be. Sekai hasn’t said another word. The heat hasn’t dropped. The breeze stopped. Your vision began to fade.
That’s when you heard a noise.
Amongst the darkness around you, you hear a small, faint thump. And then another. And another. And many others. Drops. You light your surroundings with the ElectroID… It’s… Raining. It’s raining! You can barely believe it, but as the raindrops intensify, you feel the heat beginning to drop; not much, but enough. Never was the sound of a million water droplets hitting the ground so blissful.
The screens on the facility turned on once again. Sekai appears, glancing around the inside of the monitor.
“Oh. How fortunate for you, isn’t it? I guess fate decided to give you all one last chance… How thrilling…” She puts her hand out,as if trying to feel the water droplets. “By our weather reports, this storm should last until dawn.” She stares down the screen one more time, an impish spark in her eyes. “And so, tonight: It’s death to one, or death to all.” You’ve never heard such an ominous tone from her before. “Now — will you rest in the shade, awaiting your inevitable death and of all others around you, or will you do something about it? Will you shine amongst this darkness or forever be lost in it? Your choice is all but mine.”
“You have twelve hours. Good luck, my children.”
The monitor powers down. The speakers, apparently the only piece of tech still functioning in the facility, begins to play a deafeningly loud cheery tune. You can barely hear the others around you. Amongst this chaos… What will you do?
1. It’s dark, you can only see through the light of your ElectroID.
2. All areas previously explored are still accessible, with the exception of the dormitories, which appear to now be locked. Every other door in the facility that could be locked can no longer be.
3. The song blasting through the speakers is incredibly loud and you can’t escape it. In order to talk to someone, you need to be at least ten feet from them. Further than that, and the rain plus the song muffle them out almost completely.
