The next day passes in a blur, the excitement of the mission still hanging in the air. Uzi had explained everything earlier, her voice almost frantic as she recounted how her dad had shown her a picture of her mom and Doll's mom at a camp. She believed there might be clues there that could help them find Doll. She even managed to convince her teacher to let them go—though, of course, the rest of the class is coming along for the ride. Naturally, nothing is ever simple with Uzi.
Now, you're on a school bus, heading through the snowy wilderness, the soft hum of chatter filling the air as students laugh and talk amongst themselves. You can barely hear any of it, though, not with your head hanging halfway out of the bus, trying to tighten a bolt on the engine to keep the damn thing from exploding.
Because of course, this is how your day is going.
The cold air whips past you as you twist the wrench, the rumbling of the engine making it hard to concentrate. The last thing you want is to be responsible for blowing up an entire busload of students, especially when you're stuck in the middle of nowhere. As you focus on the bolt, the bus hits a bump in the road, and suddenly, you're losing your grip.
Your feet slip, and for a moment, you're sure you're going to be sent flying right out of the window. Panic shoots through you, but before you can do anything, a hand grabs your leg and yanks you back inside.
You crash into the seat with a grunt, barely keeping your balance as you sit up, breathing heavily from the scare.
"Don't die before I get answers, alright?" Uzi's voice comes from beside you, and you glance over to see her smirking. She punches your shoulder lightly, not hard, but it's enough to snap you out of your haze.
"Yeah, yeah," you mutter, rolling your eyes. "I'll also try not to let everyone else die in a violent explosion, if that's what you mean."
Uzi just snorts and turns her attention back to the window, her gaze sharp as she watches the snowy landscape pass by. You know she's got something important on her mind, but you can't shake the feeling that this trip is about to get a whole lot weirder.
Of course, that's what you're used to by now.
The bus finally comes to a stop, and everyone piles out, the cold air hitting you like a slap to the face. You're just trying to shake off the last bit of tension when your gaze drifts up to the main camp building. And what do you see? The teacher is already on the roof, casually folding out a lawn chair, like it's a normal day to sunbathe in the snow. You blink, unsure if you're seeing things. The sky is overcast and cloudy, making the whole situation even more absurd. Sunbathing in the snow. While it's cloudy. Yeah, okay.
Before you can process the scene, a voice calls out from behind you.
"Hey, what's the point of this trip, anyway?"
You turn to find one of the other students, a guy wearing a turquoise helmet—Braidon, you think—looking up at the teacher.
The teacher just shrugs without missing a beat. "Ask Uzi."
"Who?" Braidon asks, brows furrowing in confusion.
Uzi, who has somehow managed to go unnoticed by everyone until now, incredulously announces, "Who do you think? I've sat next to you for years!"
The entire group goes silent. Everyone turns to look at her, eyes wide, jumping back in surprise and screaming like they didn't even know anyone was standing there. It's as if Uzi's presence just... materialized. You can't help but glance around in complete confusion, wondering how the hell nobody noticed her until now.
You look at her with sympathy, but she just shrugs, her tone sharp.
"Bite me," she mutters, crossing her arms as she looks back at the group. "I wanted to go alone, but he was mad about our test scores."
You raise an eyebrow, feeling a mix of amusement and pity for Uzi, but the whole situation feels too strange to process. And just like that, the awkward tension lingers in the air.
Braidon, still trying to make sense of everything, asks, "Wait, are we just unsupervised here?"
Right on cue, there's a deafening crash, and two figures slam into the ground next to the group with a loud boom. Everyone freezes, eyes wide, as two disassembly drones stand up and survey the scene. The entire group stares in horror, their collective breath catching in their throats.
But then, the shock wears off for you, as you realize exactly who it is.
Both N and V.
Both of them appear to be wearing matching camp uniforms. V has a green short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and a scoutmaster's hat perched atop her head, the brim wide and casting a shadow over her face. She... looks good. You can't deny it. You feel a strange heat rise in your cheeks before you quickly avert your gaze.
V catches you staring, her eyes meeting yours, and she smirks—that smirk, the kind that sends a jolt through your chest. With a pop, she blows a bubble with the gum she's chewing, her casual confidence unsettling yet alluring all at once.
"Alright, campers! Time to sound off!" N's voice rings out with that overly cheery tone of his, somehow unshaken by the strange situation. He points at himself, saying, "One," and then at V, who's still smirking at you, and says, "Two."
He then points at the other campers, looking around expectantly. Everyone is frozen in place, eyes wide, not quite sure how to respond, caught somewhere between fear and confusion.
But then V, without warning, pulls out her gun attachment. The sharp click of it loading catches everyone off guard. In a swift, practiced motion, she shoots one of the students in the head, the crack of the shot ringing through the camp like thunder. The body crumples to the ground, lifeless.
A tense silence hangs in the air for a heartbeat.
And then, just like that, the remaining students begin to count off all at once, their voices shaky but moving in sync.
N and V look absolutely unfazed, like this is just another day on the job. You decide not to think about it too much, for your own good.
N's eyes gleam as he announces with an exaggerated cheer, "We have lots of fun and distracting activities planned, so no sneaking off to investigate stuff!" He glances slyly at Uzi as he says this, a subtle gesture that makes Uzi flush, her face reddening in an awkward mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
Without missing a beat, N directs everyone to head to the bunks, but for a moment, nobody moves. The campers hesitate, unsure, until Thad breaks the silence.
"That sounds good to me," he says, voice a little too loud as he walks toward the building. You turn to look at the others and see Lizzy.. looting the dead drone.
You watch in stunned silence as she pulls off a golden wrist watch from the drone's still form and tosses it casually to V, saying, "Anything for my bestie," before fist-bumping her like it's all just a regular day. Then, as if she didn't just loot a corpse, she follows Thad inside.
A few others seem to be just as stunned as you, but the moment passes quickly. Uzi, nervous, forces a chuckle and says, "Haha, yeah, they're my friends too, so it's cool..."
At that, the entire group screams in panic and surges toward the entrance, clearly more terrified of Uzi than the two cold blooded killers, V literally just killed one of them, you have no idea what Uzi did to traumatize these people so much. They huddle together, surrounding N and V, rather than getting anywhere near Uzi.
You turn to look at Uzi, who's standing there, uncomfortably isolated in the chaos. "Better make sure nobody else dies," you mutter apologetically under your breath. Then you move quickly, joining the frantic crowd at the entrance, frustration creeping in as you make your way through the group. You stand in front of V, and she gives you a warm, knowing smile, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
Emily, one of the campers, suddenly grabs N's hand and chirps, "You should be our friend instead."
Another camper—Darren, you think—walks up to V and pokes her eye, a smug grin stretching across his face. "Poor thing's defective," he says, as if it's some joke.
A rush of anger surges through you, hotter than you expect, but before you can act, V's hand shoots out, grabbing Darren's with a firm grip. "Nah," she says with a sly smile, "just full of love." She locks eyes with you as she says this, her tail flicking behind her in a fluid motion, curving into a heart shape.
The anger that was building in you immediately ceases as your eyes meet hers, and without breaking eye contact, you grab Darren by the collar and toss him backward with more force than you intended. He stumbles back, eyes wide with shock, as you stand there, smirking. V looks surprised at your initiative, but she quickly regains her playful smirk, watching you closely.
She then gestures toward N, saying in a mock-serious tone, "This guy's a pilot"
The campers' attention shifts, some of them visibly impressed. Rebecca, the one who seemed to be part of Lizzy's clique, lets out an impressed giggle. "Wow, a pilot?" she says, her tone filled with genuine awe.
N looks over at Uzi, and you notice her too, standing off to the side. She meets N's gaze, and the two exchange a silent understanding. Uzi then gestures with a hand, signaling that she's heading off on her own. She gives you a quick thumbs-up, and without another word, she darts off into the woods, disappearing quickly into the trees.
The sudden departure of Uzi leaves a lingering silence hanging in the air, and you know it's up to you to get everyone back on track. The group is still in disarray, and the tension from earlier hasn't fully faded. It's time to get the campers inside and regain some control over the situation.
You help N and V herd them all inside, guiding them toward the bunk beds. Everyone begins setting their bags down, finding their spots. The atmosphere is a little awkward, but it's nothing out of the ordinary for a camp setting, or so you think, not like you've ever camped before, right?—until you feel a pair of hands suddenly grip your shoulders from behind.
You jump in surprise, heart racing for a moment. V's voice, low and mischievous, fills your ear as she leans in close. "Thanks for having my back," she whispers, her grip tightening just slightly, "even though I had it handled."
A shiver runs down your spine at her proximity—her voice sending an unexpected thrill through you. As she releases her hold, you turn around to face her. You stammer out, "It's no big deal... I just didn't like the disrespect."
V smiles, her gaze locking with yours as her smirk grows. "I appreciate it," she says, her tone still teasing but softening just enough to make your heart beat a little faster.
She pauses for a moment before leaning in again, her grin widening. "So, what do you think of my outfit?"
Your face immediately heats up, and you stutter in response, caught off guard. The words come out in a jumble, and you curse internally for reacting like this. V laughs, her voice light and full of amusement. "I'm glad you like it," she says, her tone playful as she starts walking away.
N, ever the enthusiast, makes another announcement. "Alright, campers! Now it's time for our first fun activity, we're canoeing on the lake!"
You pause for a moment, still processing the announcement. The lake is frozen... right?
Shaking the thought away, you decide not to question it. Maybe it's just some weird camp logic. You follow the others outside, scanning the area. V, however, sticks to the back of the group, her eyes seemingly locked on you the entire time, though she says nothing.
As you approach the lake, you spot the answer: a few people have already gotten into their canoes, paddles in hand. Instead of floating on water, they're sliding across the ice, using the paddles to push themselves along. N did say canoeing on the lake, and he wasn't wrong.
You walk toward the shore, V trailing behind you, her presence still somehow comforting despite her murderous behavior exhibited just minutes ago. Reaching the shoreline, you stand next to a canoe, gazing out at the frozen landscape. You hear V walk up behind you, but before you can even react, she grabs you by the collar with surprising strength and lifts you off the ground, her grip tightening slightly as she effortlessly carries you over and drops you into one of the canoes.
"Hey, what the—?" you protest, but she doesn't give you time to finish.
Lizzy is already seated across from you, looking unimpressed. "Hello, or whatever," she mutters, rolling her eyes in what seems like annoyance, although with Lizzy you can never tell.
Before you can respond, V hops into the canoe behind you, her smirk ever-present as she looks toward Darren and Thad. "Pick up the canoe, twerps" she orders, her tone sudden and sharp, and both boys immediately scramble over, fear written across their faces as they begin to do so without a second thought.
V sits back in her seat with a satisfied smile, her eyes scanning the group before she finally turns her attention to you, her expression now slightly more mischievous than before. You can't shake the feeling that she's thoroughly enjoying your discomfort.
As your gaze locks with V's, you're about to speak, but Lizzy cuts you off with a snort. "I never agreed to be third wheel to whatever this weird thing is," she says, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow.
You turn to face her, flustered, and stammer out some sort of response, but your words falter as you feel your face heat up at the implication.
V laughs at this, clearly entertained. "Don't worry, Lizzy. We won't torture you... too much," she says, her voice dripping with amusement.
You turn back toward V, trying to piece together some response, but it's hard to ignore that she didn't exactly deny what Lizzy said either.
V, seeming pleased with her little tease, glances out over the frozen lake before her eyes fall on N in a canoe with a couple other drones, and then suddenly shouts, "Sabotage Minions, plan X!"
The two campers carrying the canoe, who'd been silent until now, snap to action and swiftly kick N's nearby canoe, sending it spinning out of control. You can't help but laugh at the sight, the chaos of it all feeling oddly freeing. But that laughter is short-lived.
The canoe beneath you suddenly jerks, the weight of it shifting as the two guys carrying it let go. The world tilts sideways, and you're momentarily airborne—until V catches you with effortless grace, flying you to the ground in a smooth landing.
Lizzy, on the other hand, isn't as fortunate. She hits the ground with a loud thud, groaning as she lays on the ice. "Great, thanks for the lift..." she says under her breath, clearly annoyed but trying to keep her composure.
You can't help but laugh again, this time at Lizzy's predicament, but it's quickly drowned out by the chaos around you.
You glance toward V, noticing her staring off at one of the abandoned camp buildings in the distance. Before you can ask, she turns to you with an annoyed expression, her brow furrowed. She looks conflicted, glancing between you and the building.
"I need to handle an annoying brat," she mutters, sounding vaguely irritated. "You better not wander off while I'm gone, or I'll kill you."
Without waiting for a response, she takes off, her figure quickly swallowed by a plume of snow as she flies toward the building she was eyeing. Odd. The brat in question is definitely Uzi but... why didn't she just take you with her?
Shrugging it off, you decide to head back to shore, the noise of the other campers becoming increasingly grating. You flag down N, who is still attempting to right his canoe after their spill.
"Hey, V flew off somewhere, might have to do with Uzi. I'm gonna head inside for a bit. If she gets back will you please tell her that's where I am?" You say while trying not to laugh as N nearly slips and falls, "I don't feel like getting shot in the head today."
"Sure thing buddy! She'll know as soon as she–WOAH"
N falls flat on his face, if it weren't so comical, you'd feel bad. Luckily both of the girls he was with quickly come to his aid, so you turn and head back to shore.
Making your way up the hill, you re-enter the main bunk area and take a seat inside, finding an old chair that looks like someone may have died on it at some point. Oh well. The old building creaks and groans, the sound growing a little louder with each passing moment as the faint screaming of the campers outside mixes with the wind. You close your eyes for a moment, trying to block it out.
But as soon as you do, a sharp jolt shoots through your head, making you clutch the sides of your skull in shock. It's sudden and intense, like a flash of static before disappearing just as quickly as it came.
You blink a few times, trying to shake off the unsettling sensation. That was... weird. Your heart beats a little faster, the brief discomfort lingering in your mind as you sit back, wondering what the hell just happened.
A fleeting thought crosses your mind, a memory stirring just beneath the surface. You were supposed to... find something. An elevator. Yes, there's an elevator somewhere, you think.
The vague recollection doesn't make much sense, but the urgency behind it drives you to act. Better get this handled before V comes back. The last thing you want is to face her ire if she returns and finds you gone.
You rise from your seat, making your way out front and across the clearing. There's a small shack ahead, entrance barely visible behind a pile of debris. You approach it with purpose, clearing the wreckage away with quick motions. Hidden beneath the mess is a small keypad, its buttons worn from age.
What was the code again? The answer appears in your mind almost immediately. 421. Right.
You input the code, and with a hiss of metal, a hatch suddenly opens in the wall, revealing a dimly lit elevator. Your heart skips a beat—well, that was convenient. Without hesitation, you step inside, your hand moving to press the down button. The doors slide shut with a soft, mechanical whir, and for a moment, you stand there, the soft hum of the elevator fills your sensors as it begins to descend.
The elevator shudders slightly as it continues its descent, the faint sound of pleasant music playing from the speakers. You tap your feet to the rhythm, almost lost in the mundane sound. For a moment, everything feels strangely... normal.
Then, the elevator slams to a stop, nearly throwing you off balance. You stumble, catching yourself just before hitting the floor. The doors slide open, revealing a small, cramped room filled with all sorts of computers and equipment. The hum of the machines suggests some of them are still functional, despite their clear age.
You step inside, walking quietly over to the computer at the center of the room. You press the power button, but nothing happens. You press it again. And again. Still nothing.
Frustration bubbles up inside you. Your hand drifts toward your toolbelt, but something holds you back. Instead, with a sigh, you punch the side of the computer, more out of instinct than anything else.
To your surprise, the screen flickers to life, the computer whirring into action. Huh. Maybe V's method works sometimes after all. You can't help but smirk at the thought.
You stare at the glowing screen, the flickering text drawing you in. Let's see... you were supposed to... right. Plug yourself into the computer and execute the file Backup.exe. That makes sense.
You pick up a cord already connected to the computer and insert it into the slot on the side of your head, the connection sparking a faint buzz in your processors. The interface syncs almost immediately, and you guide the mouse cursor to the file explorer, scrolling until you find the file labeled Backup.exe.
Click.
A prompt appears: Administrator Access Required. Without hesitation, you click Accept.
The program begins to execute, lines of code scrolling rapidly across the screen. But then, a thought pierces through your mind: Wait, who told me to do this?
Your systems stall for a fraction of a second.
And then everything goes black.