Real Identity [Identity V]

Chapter 01: Where It All Started

Gwendolyn opened her mouth to speak, though the words never come out of her mouth as Fye immediately bring up a different topic to ease the atmosphere.

"I'm on cooking duty today! I hope there's no complaints regarding my dish. Eat up, everyone! Tell me what do you think about them afterwards. I tried my hardest!" Fye exclaimed in pride, seemingly proud of his cooking.

This seemed to bring small smiles to everyone's faces; successfully easing the tension as everybody started to dig in to their food.

"It ishn't sho bhad," Edward commented, mouth full of food, "could use shome improvemhents tho."

"Swallow your food first before talking, Mister Rausy," Henry chuckled, commenting on the older man's childish behavior, "although I must say, today's dishes is quite enjoyable." The two sides of his lips pulled up, forming a small smile.

"Not bad. Not worth the wait though," Tyler commented upon finishing his share of the meal, "but thanks. It's not as bad as yesterday's meal. God that one was awful." The boy cringed at the memory of the taste of yesterday's dish.

"Was it really that bad? Why do you never like everything I made?!" Edward spoke up in annoyance, trying to defend his cooking. He was the one on cooking duty yesterday.

The friendly banter between Edward and Tyler seem to lighten up the mood even more, everyone look so calm and happy, as if... As if they don't have anything to worry about in this world. You'll have to admit; the change of atmosphere was quite refreshing.

After everyone is done with their meal, however, Emilia asked everyone to not leave the room yet, placing an envelope on top of the table.

"I received this letter this morning. The envelope was sent into my room by sliding it under the door." Emilia opened up the conversation, carefully opening the envelope and taking out a piece of neatly folded paper inside.

"Now everyone, about this letter..." Emilia bit down her lip, her body trembling a bit. She seems like she doesn't know how to explain—like she doesn't know how to turn her thoughts into a proper sentence.

Gwendolyn who sat next to her, noticed; gently she took one of Emilia's hands and gave it a small squeeze in an attempt to comfort.

Emilia who noticed this smiled, taking a deep breath; trying to start over the conversation.

"Right, so, according to this letter... Everyone else came here for a reason, right?" The black-haired girl asked for confirmation, in which the others reply with a 'yes' or merely a hum.

"It is said that we won't be able to get what we came here for... Not until we participate in a game which the owner of the manor have made as some sort of entertainment for them." The artist explained, her eyebrows furrowed.

"A game?" Henry, with folded arms, raised one of his eyebrows in confusion.

"Yes, a game... In which our objective is to survive, and... escape." Seriousness laced Emilia's voice as she speak, though her eyes are looking worried.

"Turns out we're not the only ones here," Gwendolyn commented after Emilia is done talking, as if trying to help her explain more properly, "since the letter said the participants for each match will be four of us, four 'survivors', whose job is to decipher five machines and get out of the place where the match takes place... and a 'hunter', whose job is to prevent us from escaping."

"A hunter...?" Edward furrowed his eyebrows, "I don't think I have seen anyone who fits to be a... 'hunter', yet..."

"Well, Ashley, you probably don't know yet, but as for the others, you all noticed the 'no entry allowed' sign in front of the stairs near the library, right?" Fye asked, opening up another discussion, "Do you think, maybe, the hunters are living up there? I mean, have you heard noises coming from upstairs? I know I occasionally hear talking and banging up there... Not sure if they're friendly people." He continued, awkward smile on his face.

"So? When is this whole game thing going to begin? We just need to win and we'll get what we come here for, right?" Tyler asked, eager to know as his foot tapped rapidly on the floor.

"There will be a match tomorrow morning at eight," Emilia informed, letting out a sigh afterwards, "we will have to work together for this. Like it or not, I will be counting on all of you starting tomorrow."

"Just so we're clear," Gwendolyn rose up from her seat, ready to leave, "I don't trust any of you. I'll work together with you on the matches but don't expect me to listen to your orders." The brunette took one of Emilia's hands, exiting the dining room with her.

Ashley sighed. Clearly, Gwendolyn only trusts on Emilia. It will be hard to actually work together properly with the her, at least for now.

But then again, if you were forced to work together with a bunch of strangers in order to get what you wanted the most, I think it'll be normal for you to act like that. Not everyone can be trusted in this world, after all.

Maybe the match tomorrow won't be so bad. We'll just have to wait and see.