★ WEEK ZERO: ???

[raisingproject]

A MYSTERY

???

The sound of soft music which starts off soft, but slowly becomes louder over time. It's relaxing music, at least. But if that isn't enough to rouse you, then perhaps the sound of the voice that speaks up will.

"Wake up. If you do not, you will die. I do not wish for you to die." The voice is not discernible by any means; it is, however, a soothing voice that can be seen as both male and female, young and old.

Once awoken, you will find yourself in a lounge that is vastly different from the one they fell asleep in. And not only that, you will also find yourself completely and utterly alone. The voice seems to be coming from somewhere, but it's hard to figure out where. The room itself seems to be rather large, too. If you take a peek behind the couches, you will find a whiteboard and some markers. The table in front of the couch has food of their liking as well.

But more importantly, you may find that there are doors to other rooms in here - one on the far left and right - the one to the left provides a walk-in closet full of weapons galore, magical or otherwise while the one on the right provides protective gear. The rooms, however, don't seem to be humanly possible, as they seem to go on forever; they look like they are maintained by magic of some sort.

Nevertheless, the voice will eventually speak up once again, as if to remind you that it's not a hallucination or dream, speaking up in that calm voice:

"Hello. I suppose you are wondering why you're here, after being taken away from your home and brought to Town A. Do not worry. You have not left. This is just an area that the others cannot access without a special key. Now then, I bet you have some questions. Go ahead and ask them, if you would like."

And now, the floor is yours, to do as you please. Although it might not be wise to simply ignore the voice.

---

Comments

[sedatedkiss]

[Joshua sighs, not really sure how to take this. Perhaps it could have been anyone, but he still feels like he was singled out based on his knowledge and his past.]

What would happen if I chose to end the game early? What consequences would occur, or would you advise against that?

[It sounds like they knows a lot about this situation so he may as well get intel.]

How long as this game being going on?

[raisingproject]

You will be able to leave... but your most precious person will not be alive when you return.

[ So it would be for the best not to do it. ]

Many years. More than you have been alive. A few thousand, in fact.

[sedatedkiss]

[The moment they mention 'most precious person', his eyes narrow-- something others have called a look of a killer.]

Touch even one hair on her head and I will leave you in a condition that will make you wish I had killed you.

[An empty threat, but it's a definite automatic reaction from him. Whoever this is clearly knows how to press his buttons. However, he calms down, his expression back to normal.]

Fine. I'll play by your rules. What do you need me to do right now?

[raisingproject]

You can always try, but you clearly won't succeed, even if you find me. But even I would not wish to kill a human being. It simply is not in my nature.

[ The voice continues, unbothered; even with the look he seems to give. ]

I need information. While I know everyone's past, I cannot watch everyone at once all the time. Anything that you might find useful, I would appreciate it if you would let me know. You are free to come and go here as you wish in the evenings -- the only key to get into this room is with the song that was playing earlier. You may either hum it, sing it, or play it with an instrument while you are alone, and you will be brought here. It would be wise not to be missing too often, however, lest people get too suspicious.

And of course, you are free to ask me any questions, whether it is in regards to the game or anything else. I cannot guarantee answers to everything that you may ask, but I will be truthful with what I say, at the very least.

[sedatedkiss]

[Joshua calms down as she calms. He doesn't feel a need to distrust her even if she gave the stipulation she did earlier.]

I'll try to get what you need. Right now, I have so many questions I don't know where to start, however, as soon as I think of more questions, I'll ask them.

[Though he does have one...]

Am I truly the only person you asked to do this?

[raisingproject]

Ask whenever you wish. I am not impatient.

[ But as for his current question: ] Yes. I have not spoken to anybody else.

[sedatedkiss]

[He's going to grab a few blades from the closet, throwing knives... are there bombs here? Or stuff he can use to make bombs? He's clearly at home here. If he can, he'll try to find a way to conceal some weapons on him later. It's probably too much of a risk right now, even if he doesn't feel right without a weapon.]

I suppose I can only trust you at your word. [He thinks...]

So it was implied, but I guess it was never explained. We're going to be pitted against each other to kill one another, aren't we?

[He seems eerily calm as he says this.]

[raisingproject]

[ There are definitely bombs for his perusal. And there's nobody stopping him from taking weapons, either. ]

Yes. Fav will not tell everyone immediately, but it soon will become more... obvious as the days go by.

[sedatedkiss]

And if I give any indication of this, you're going to follow through on that consequence, aren't you? Or rather, Fav will.

[...shit.]

Is there any way I can attempt to stop this? Or am I up a river without a paddle, so to speak?

[raisingproject]

He will.

[ That much is definite. ]

You can make the attempt to stop the game, Joshua. As much as this game benefits me in many ways, I wish to stop it as well. I am willing to assist in any way that I can to your endeavor.

[sedatedkiss]

I'll do what I can, then. I don't want needless killing. Being a murderer is in my past. I don't want it to define who I am any longer.

However, if Estelle's life is truly on the line, I will do anything and everything I can to protect her. Even if it means taking a life.

[raisingproject]

Very well. Is there anything else that you wish to ask right now or shall we leave it at this?

[sedatedkiss]

I suppose we'll leave it at this.

[He's not sure how he feels about this, but... whatever he can do.]

Do I just come visit when I need to again?

[raisingproject]

That is all you have to do. You may come any time, for any reason. Just don't get caught.