Once all three teams reconvened on the stage (with a brief musical interlude from Vincent to pass the time) they were surprised to find two more figures join their number...
Once all three teams gathered and all sixteen students were present, two more figures joined them on stage.
“Waaah, mew guys took forever! I was worried you wouldn’t make it on time!”
The small leopard fretted and fussed, though a relieved smile curled his three-shaped mouth into a grin.
The large owl stretched to their full height, reaching even over the tallest of the students. One eye blinked slowly while the clock in their other eye twisted.
“But we were waiting for them, Melos…”
He looked up to the owl with golden eyes, wide with curiousity.
The owl, apparently Melos, craned their neck down to address the cat back. It seemed to extend a bit as he does.
“...That is true, Nyarlecchino, but… still.”
He coughs, turning his gaze back to the students.
“Welcome, wonderful actors. Now that you have all shown your capability for the most basic of challenges… it is now time to introduce the true game—”
The tiny leopard, or Nyarlecchino as he seemed to be called, chimed in with an enthusiastic paw up, as if raising his hand for a teacher.
“Mewtual Killing! That’s what it is, right?” He looks back to the group gathered on the stage, eyes wide and expectant.
The group let out a widespread reaction of disbelief, some insisting they would call the authorities... only for many searching their pockets to find their phones missing. Melos, meanwhile, remained unfazed, blinking down slowly at the scrambled students.
“…. I was leading up to something. Your dramatic timing… we can work on that. First, we must introduce the rules of this game.” Her neck clicks alarmingly as she rotates her face sideways, staring at everyone with a wide eye.
Nyarlecchino swung his arms behind his back before producing a paper from behind his back to recite from.
“Um! Rule Number One rhymes with fun! Don't hurt me or Melos! We're just here to make sure the show goes on just as planned, so it’s a really bad idea to claw at us! Plus, um, I don’t really want to get hurt…! If you try and attack one of us, anything that happens after that is, um… self defense, I think…but worse than that! ‘Cause you’re not supposed to do that! So you get punished for breaking rules! Like this one!”
Melos continued with the second rule, the two of them falling into a back and forth rhythm.
“Rule number two is that you are not only allowed, but encouraged to hurt your fellow cast members. Indeed, getting away with a murder is the only way you shall be able to escape from this game…”
“But it's not just as simple as killing and then strolling on meowtta here! First, the dead body— it has to be discovered by somepawdy who isn't you! The killer, I mean! Then we'll all let you know to come investigate!”
“We'll give you enough time to investigate... but how much is enough shall be up to us, hoo. Your time— as it always is in this life— is limited, so you must use it carefully.”
“Nyaaaafter time is up, we'll all get together for a fun trial! You'll all have to work together to figure out who the killer is, and then you'll have to vote on who they are! Demeowcratically!”
“If you are correct and at least half of those alive vote accordingly, the killer shall be executed. And if you are incorrect... somebody else shall be executed in their place, and they shall get to escape the game.”
Melos straightened to deliver one last rule.
“The third and final rule is that you may not cause major damage to the environment around you. This is a historic theatre… and you must treat it with respect.”
And finally, Nyarlecchino reiterated:
“Soooo to recap fast! Don't hurt us! Do hurt each other! Don't hurt the theatre!”
The students protested this game, insisting that there was no way any of them would ever do such a thing. In fact, most seemed convinced that their absence would have to be noticed sooner or later, and that help would surely be on the way.
Melos let out a little tsk, tsk, tilting her face the other way. Her voice remained monotonous, if not slightly dreary.
“This… is how it is. Your complaints… cannot change this.”
Nyarlecchino chimed in, still cheery despite everything they’ve said.
“We’ve left everypawdy a Meridian Experience Tablet in their rooms! Mew can review the rules there at nyanytime, so don’t worry about forgetting them!” ^_^ “You can also talk to everypawdy else, like if you think of a really really good joke!”
Melos sniffed a little bit.
“Muse about the tragedy you face through the creative process… whether that be writing, art, or performance….”
“Melos, that’s kinda depressing…”
Nyarlecchino pouted, before he seemed to awkwardly realize something
“I guess everypawdy does get kinda sad when people die… though… ‘nd this all really is purretty depressing…”
His ears pressed down sadly for a second, before he perked back up with a newfound glitter in his eye.
“Oh, Oh! I know what’ll make things better! Here, have 15 Nyarleccoins!”
He ran around a part of the wings, retrieving a large sack filled with many other small sacks. These small sacks were then distributed amongst the students like a tiny little waiter. Inside were, indeed, fifteen brassy coins, printed with half an image of an owl and half an image of a cat.
“You can use them to get all sorts of fun stuff at the shop in the box clawffice!! Oh, oh, and I also hid a bunch around the theatre, so you can search for them when mew get the time!”
“...I don’t know why you’ve chosen to refer to them as such. Meloscoins is, hoo… clearly the better name.”
Nyarlecchino tilted his head quizzically towards Melos with an upset expression.
“As am I. …And I am the eldest.”
“That’s not faaaair, Melos!”
Nyarlecchino protested loudly with a whine, waving his paws about indignantly until a long sigh escaped the owl. Melos’ head returned to its original position.
“Fine. We shall compromise, and just call them Coins... use them to buy baubles and amusements, if you so wish. Now, ‘Cchino, it’s time we stop interfering with the performance. Good day to you all, and break a leg.”
The two started to their leave with alarming swiftness, Melos taking two large steps back— two steps too large. They seemed to forget their own height and size, walking backwards directly into the orchestra pit with a crash and a few stray notes.
Nyarlecchino jumped, startled and squeaking.
"Um... Mew have to leave. I need to go help her out, and, um... Please head out!!!"
They clambered into the pit after Melos, dropping down to leave the students to their own anxiety and confusion.
16/16 CAST MEMBERS REMAIN.