Phase 1 - Bad Moon Rising The room was silent… bone chillingly silent at that. Those that just entered it simply looked in the direction of the one at the very front of the room, keeping within the shadows, avoiding the city lights coming from the windows. A series of noises broke the darkness, the sounds of armored feet clanking along the floor. “So, this is where you've been hiding.” the voice sounded… disappointed? “...so… of course they'd send five…” the voice from the shadows responded, almost seeming tired. “I take it the other seven may be on their way to my location now? Or perhaps… you wished to face me all on your own?” The deafening silence was all the answer that was received, but it seemed the latter was indeed the answer. “...I figured as much. I would've preferred it not to be you to be the one to find me… to figure it out. I have a lot of respect for you… despite the rivalry I wanted for us, you were like a friend to me.” The sounds of shuffling came from the shadows, it unnerved the one standing in the middle of the room, the city lights showing off the familiar red scarf the armored individual wore. “Try as I might… I don't understand the reason why? You owe at least that.” he sighed, his fists tightening slightly. “Why eliminate the number one?” Silence once again filled the room, before a heavy sigh echoed. “Pay it forward… help however you can… be someone else's hero… back then, that was my reasoning. To strive to be that kind of hero, like the one who saved me that day. However… it all became a contradiction to me when I hit it big…” The sounds of footsteps from the shadows began. “...the rank of number one… the ability to inspire hundreds… thousands… the amount of good done in this regard just from having that title alone. A higher audience is given with that… so why wouldn't I take that opportunity?” The steps grew louder… before one foot started to cross into the light… a red boot. “I chose to shake things up by removing that slouch… to spread that message that I've held onto so dear for my whole life from his position.” The rest of the body soon was in the light… the red and black suit wearing figure stood there, his own red scarf waving behind him. “I won't stop here… I will become number one… Feel free to attempt to stop me, but we both know… I'm the unstoppable force… I am the immovable object… and my inertia knows no bounds.” That was the big reveal? It didn't seem like that big of a surprise, though. It was written on the wall from the beginning… least, from what he could tell. After all, some of the characters here had suspicions from the start, and even during that small gala, the one that showed up moments after him had something squish under his feet on the red carpet, that sticky feeling anyway. It was a good fake out with the whole “maybe it was gum” aspect. Even still… the character played his part in this story and feigned ignorance up till it finally was revealed, but for the reader, yeah it was obv-... BGM “...today, you all will do a short tour of the school. Afterwards, you'll get situated in your dorms. Tomorrow, school really begins. Dismissed!” Blake paused, just remembering where he was and what was going on. He had been so engrossed in this chapter that he barely registered the principal's opening ceremony speech. …IF you wanted to even call it that. Best he could tell… it was thirty seconds, if that. Closing his book, he watched as the principal simply walked away after delivering his riveting speech… almost seemed rehearsed, like he said that exact thing to each and every Freshman class. But rehearsed or not… it was clear that he meant it. Not surprising… it's called DEAD END for a reason. he thought, closing his book slightly before shoving it back in his bag. It wouldn't be a wonder that he meant every word he said. Doesn't sound like he really believes in anyone gathered here… not that I blame him. He leaned back in the chair, exhaling slowly. But this school is just a means to an end for me… so he can take that and shove it up his-... "Yeah, fuck this! A school is a school! You've seen one, you've seen them all! I'm heading into town! If you dumbasses had any sense, you'd do the same!" Blake sat up slightly from his lounge state in the chair, glancing in the direction of this person who just spoke out like this. He seemed like the arrogant sort, but then again, first impressions weren't much to go by for him. Still, he had to admire the brazen boldness to simply say that like this. And it wasn't like any teacher was available at this present time to do this new student orientation bull… perhaps this arrogant peer of his was right. "pretty stupid to wait all this time and then just run away before anything happens, huh?” Another voice cut through, this one, a young girl… she looked like the definition of “cutesy”... like a porcelain doll, which might've been her make-up and complexion, Blake wasn't sure… he didn't know much about make-up. Nevertheless, she spoke loud and clear, rivaling her peer's viewpoint of this current situation. Not to say it wasn't a valid one, the principal just said they'd be going through a tour, not his fault that said teacher wasn't here yet. That said… He slowly stood up, stretching as he yawned loudly. "Truth be told, he does have a slight point. This is a school, albeit the... 'last school you'll ever go to'..." Blake scoffed, waving his fingers in a manner some would think to signify creepy. "The worst they can do is write us up for not being around... not like some of us haven't gone through that rigmarole before. I, for one, am agreeing with our hot-headed... friend... eh, too early to call him my friend or anything. Either way, I'm heading out." He slung his bag over his shoulder, gave everyone the two finger salute before turning on his heel and walked on off after the arrogant one. Plus... this is an excellent opportunity to look around... get acquainted with the locale... then... then I'll find my answers. Only a matter of time before the wolf goes on the prowl...

BQ “I do not believe in coincidences. I imagine we will have to find both your missing Pokémon and this lighthouse’s resident ghost if we are to solve this mystery. But such a task requires your cooperation.” The boy glanced between Bridget, catching the Shellos that she had moments ago asked if it was his, and Quinn, who was insisting on looking for his missing Pokemon together, and he was clearly growing more anxious. He tugged at his faded shirt and kept casting glances at the trapdoor. As if debating if he wanted to just take off and escape. But then his eyes turned towards his stash. His comic books. His snacks. His pouches of berries...his berries? Those weren't there before. He shook his head and looked back at Quinn. "You just want to distract me so you can steal my things! You can't trick me that easily!" Just then they all could hear the sound of laughter echoing around the space. In spite of the eerie nature of the noise the boy's face broke out into a smile. "And now you've done it. You better get out of here before it comes to drag you to the abyss!" JA Anneliese tilted her head as she watched Jacklyn's expression of joy. As the girl turned to her she attempted a fist pump as well, though it was much slower and less energetic than Jacklyn's had been. Was this some sort of victory ritual she was unaware of? She would have to ask Jacklyn when she got back to the surface. She had actually tried to say something but only bubbles came out and Meredith gave her a look of concern which convinced her not to try again. When Jacklyn waved to Meredith the Shellder shut its shell in embarrassment but, a few moments later, the shell opened slightly and she gave a nod, or rather moved her whole body in a nod-like motion, to Cherry. Now that the excitement was over Annelise was drawn towards the statue again. She felt...strange as she got closer to it. It wasn't entirely pleasant of a situation. But it also wasn't exactly unpleasant. She reached out and grabbed the statue.    ǝ̴̡̢̨̟͉̻̬̜̘͚̼̙̩̻͙͎͇̺̈́̔͌̏ͅq̵̧̗̦̮̤͖̠̀̈́̐̒̉̀̔͊͠ȍ̸̜͇̱͓̙̖̠̟̳̓̋̈́̇̇͌ʇ̵̢̫͖̼͓̭̰͈̮̪͔̈́͊̔̈́͒̉̓̐̏̈́̏̍͂̊̈̓̚͜͜͝͝ʇ̸̰̤̩́̈́́͊ú̶̢̮͚͇̼̰͍̞̤̝̤̮̬̹͙̰͎̥̦̩͇̩̋͒͌̈́͠ɐ̴̧̡̛̭͖̪͈̖̘͉͔͎̱͚̫̲̭͚̲̬̼́̀̅̍̈̄͒̄̒̀́͒͋̂̽̿̒̿͆͘͝͝͝ǝ̵̧̧̢̗̘̝͕̙̘̤͔͓̭̬͍̣̠̙̘͑́̈́́͜ͅɯ̷͈̤̲̟̟̯͚͈̯̳͙̘̩̻̼͑̀̑̌̔̓̋̕ͅş̷̧̼̝͍̲̖̫͖̺̰̰͕̭̻̹̮͍̟̀͂̽́͌̽̅̽̚͝͝ɐ̶̩̳̪̟͓̩̰̜̥̩̼̈̈͂͂̃̓̊́̅̈́͐͛̽̌̋͋͝͝ʍ̶͔̹̐̆ʇ̵̢̧̢͙̙͇̝̪̫͚̼̘̟̥̀̄̉̆̀̈̉̆͑̈́̈́̉̈́̕͘͜͜͝͝ᴉ̶̢̡̲̬̖͙̗̯̳̥̘͚͋̏͗͆͐̚ͅś̶̺͆̌̅́̏̊̚ͅɐ̸̛̝̮͓͓̝̩̻̫̤̦̝̗̳͍͚̦̠͈͎̠̲̠̱̊̂̈́̾̐̀̊̓͑̏̒̈́͂̄̋͆͌̈́̚͜͝ǝ̶̜̩͕̫̞̈̂̓̆̑̂̄̈̍̉̎̂͑̊̎͗͗̉́̀̃̚͠ͅu̶̢̨̧̪͕̖̱̣̠͇̻̭̣͇͉̻̱̭̭̩̺͚̬̾̇̍͑͑͜͠ᴉ̸̡̛͎̭͈̟̳̞͙̙͍̘͉͌͛̂͐ɯ̵̘͙͒̋̎́̾̄͑̕̕̚͝ǝ̴̠͔̤̬͊̍̎̉͒̑̏̂̓͂q̸̨̛̰̱̼̦͇̱̳͖͈͓̳͕͕͙͇͋͊̌̃̿̂͂̊̓͑̋̈̋̌̔͘͜l̸̨̛̤̣̬͈͈͍̪̱̙̱̦͉͈̫̳̞̞̼̠̥͎̽̓̒́̿̾̔͂̿͊̐̏͑̆̌̅̀̈̚͜͝l̸̡̘̦̰̠͇͖̜̗͍̫̼̇̂̋͆̏͂̓́͐̉̒̀͆̈̈̒́͝͝ͅͅᴉ̵̛̯̑̐͗̇̓͠ʍ̴̨̛̖̻̯͛͐̾̋̽͆̌͊͗̔̆͑̾͑̈́̔͛̚͜͠p̷̧̼͇̘̞̘̤̟͉̜̙̦͕̬̖̖͉̠̔͂̒̒͑̑̏͆̏̊̔̚͘͜ļ̸̢͙̤̩͕̱̯̂̅͛̈̓͐̈́͊̎͑̆́̂̊̀̍͛̄̂͐͐͠͠͠ɹ̶̢̤̞̦̭̜̪͉̹͚̬̜̦̫̬̹̦̪̓͆͂͂͛̌̽̔́͋͐͗͒̀͗̍̔̿̈́͗̿͊͘͜͜͝ǫ̶̛̛̟͕̹̪͇͎͔̭͈̭͙̝͇͓̜̉̑͐͗̓̈́̔̓̆́̂͜ͅʍ̸̨̹̹̞̦̹̪̘̠̹̰̣̤̪̲̠̥̓̈́̃̎̏̔̅̕͜ǝ̴̧̧̡̡̯͇̻̖̠͕̗̜̤̱͈͈͌̋̃̽̿ͅɥ̸̨̣̥͇̬̳͔̭̲̔͒̏͑̾̆̃̽͑̓̑͐͋̀̋̚ͅʇ̷̘̫͔͈̼̯̪̺̩̿̏̽̀̊̕̚͠u̵͍̺͚͈̥͌̓̀͊̏̋̄̆̌̊͌́́̀̆̾̎̋̊̕̕͝͝ǝ̷̤̠̘̝̹̜̝̘͓͓̜̈́̈́͑͌́̅̓̃͛͐̿͛̐́͘̚ş̶̡̨̢͈̗̼͇͕̬̦̩̣̦͙̖́̈́͛̎͊́͜ͅͅᴉ̴̡̨̛̫̰͙͕̹͉͙̪̩͓͚̬̱͖̫͎̆̒́͊̀̍͋̀̉̓ͅɹ̶̨͇̞͙̺̩̯͆͂̓̃̉̄́͐͜ɯ̴̡̠͓̣̖̩̠̗͔̣͕̬͓̣̼̮͑͊̊́̅́̈́̓̂͊̐͂̑͒̚͝͝͝ɐ̸͈̘͙͓̘͒͐̅̅͐͌̉́̓̍̆͑̀͛̒͒͠͝ᴉ̵̛̛͚̝̎̈́̅͑̌̓̾̓̎̓̄̄̒͆͑̑̒͊̕ǝ̵̧̖̬͇͍̮̠̓̅͑ͅɔ̸͔͈̦͕̹͎͈̝̘̗̙͎́u̷̧̢̢̧̺̬̰̠̜̲̘͉̱̤͇͖̖̻͈͇͊̄͐͋̽̒͌̓̓͋́̑̾̄̎̎̃̏́͘͜͝͝͝͝ͅǫ̴̰͙͚̭̬̣̘͇̺͉̀̒̾͂̒̏̇̈̓̈́̂̀̕͠͠ʇ̷͈͖̲͙͍͚̭̮̣̠̋̊͌̈̅͆̎̂̄̈́͋͐̌̚̕͝͝͝ᴉ̶̛̼̣͉̅̃̇̈́̃̈̃̀̽̆̄̅̈́͠d̸̡̨͉̭͈̙͍̖̰͉͓͉̈́̍̇̈́͐͆̓̌̈̔̆͆̓́͛̈́̏̅̔̅͝͠ͅo̶̳͖̗͍̻͍͇̼̫̼̲̯̘͎̒̄̚ͅʇ̵̛̺̥̺̎́͛̉́̇̋̀̏͗͑̌̽̚͝s̷̨̛̟̠͆͆̿͗̔͑͑ḽ̴͈̪̭̥̙̲͕̥̻̳̠̖̦̺̘͈͐̑̍̊̂̓͌̽̊́͜͝͝͠͝ͅl̶̨̧̩̫̻̺̫͚̖͚̲̦̙̥̣̻̺̣͍̳̼̝̆̓̈͜͠ᴉ̴̥͍̠͖̼̜͍̖̤̭̟̼̭͓̱̒̒̈́̊́̄̽͛̇̿̔̾̕̚͝ʍ̷̡̡̢̡̢͇̬̘̩̹̣̥̣̥̗̪̱͔̄́̎̃͑̚͘͜ͅƃ̷̨͖̞͚̜̦̳̮̰̰̺͔͚̘̥̤̗̳͎͈̓́u̴̳̫̱̼͈̮̦̫͊͌͘ᴉ̶̢̨͉͙̺͔̹̣̬̱͚̳̖͕͍͓̞̰̰͖͍̞̎̃͆̑͌̎̔̇̅͛̇̋̐̊͠ɥ̶̬̲̠̏̀͂̈͝ʇ̵̢̜͎̳͙͇̰̲̯̯̭̬͉̜̣̥͙̪̜̰͍̜́̈́̎ͅö̷̡̨̢̺̖̩̟̳̘́̿̑̈͗̆̒̃̌̇̀͛̍̈́̅́̓̐̉̿̉̚͝͝ǘ̶̧̳̱͓̭̤͇͓̖̼͙̳͍͓̯̳͑̑̐͗̌̓͐͑̔̅͒̒̒́̈́́̾̐ʇ̵̧̢̢̧̯̺̳̝͓̙̻͍̤̫̼̗͖̬͕̣̜̠̠͠ͅᴉ̷̧̮̝̤̯̰͊̆̇̏͒͛͘͜͠d̸̡̨̼̠̦͔̙͎̲̥͓̼͓̊͊͠o̸̯͔͇̬̤̭̗̹͖̥̺͇̍̋͑̒̇̔͐͊̑̒̒̀̇͛͂̕͜͝͝ͅʇ̵̙̬̝̐́̔̎͂̏̽́̀̀̅́̓̂̾̃̋̍̀͋̚͠͝͝s̵̢̢̧͓͖͖͇̜̳̜͈̘̎͂̀̏̀̈́̍̔̈̿̕͜ͅǜ̴̢̲̬͈͚͋̂̂͑̎́̐̄́̔̍͆̚̕͘ɐ̶̡̛̛̱͈̰͓̳̬̙̮͖̂͋̐̓̋̿̅̎͋̎̓̀̅̌͆͋̊̚͝͝ɔ̴̛̞̹̼͍̖̖͕͎̦̥̺̮̭̭̝̹̰͇͕͐̊͋̂͛̋̏̒͗̈́̏͑͌̈́̅̓͛͑̕̕͝ƃ̷̡̖̘͍͈͚̠̹͉͎̮̳̳͔̝͎̘͍̫̤̊̋̽̑̿͊̾͒͌̐͆̇́͑͜͝ͅȗ̷̠͓͇̘̰̟̫̮̅͗͂̈̔̚͠ᴉ̶̡̨͓͍̳̘͉͉̯͕̰̲͈̜̾͆̎̆̇̉̈́̉̈̅̈̈́̃̚͜͝͝ͅɥ̶̝̱̗̳̤̻͔͈̖͍͝ʇ̸͕͚̙͂̽̒̔̀̃͌̋͑͐̐̑͛̈̆̋̎̒̓̈́̄͜͝͝ơ̴̛̠̥̠̮͍̬͚̼͔̪͓̙͉̱̋̂̓̈̃̈̈́̅̅͝ư̴̰͍̖̠̄͐͒̌̾̀̈̓́͊̄̓̏͝ǝ̴̢̨̗͚̭̜͎̥̩̣̜͇͆͛̄͂̂̽͐̎̉̈̚ɯ̸̡̛͇̝̤̝̻͉̲̏̀̅͗̐̔̊̉̍͂̾͒̓̅̀̆͋̊̾̋̚̚ͅǫ̸̠̼̓̉̐̽̄͒̐͐̇̽̍͒̕͠͝ʇ̶̢̡̝̞͔̺͙͔̤̣̞͔̯̭̹̫̳̙̱͖͉̘̋̾ƃ̴̛̯͇̌̓͒̏̿́̔̽͛́͐͋͂͘̕͘͝͝͠u̴̢̯͂͗́͗̔͐̐̈́̆̑̕͘͠ơ̷̧̡̼͚̭̭̺̥̻̼͓̳̯̌̑̋̊͌͗͊̈́̅͋͗̋͆͐̒̌͝͝l̴̼͎̰̬̙̬̮͉̩̱̅͂̒͌̀̚ͅǝ̶͚̙̼͊͆̂͗̆̀̀͆́̇̿̌̂̋̅͐̓͌̎̀̚̚͝͝q̶͓͈͈̙̱͉̱͙̲̻̯̮̺̠͇̹̟̙͔͓̱̈́͑̐͜l̸̢̡̛̩̞̻̦̣͇̺͉̘̪̘͍̳̫̻̦̳̱̤̜̹̻̂̀̉͆́̀͑̎̀͐̚͝͝l̵̨̺͓̣̩̯̱̯͂̓̾̒̌̊̈͊̈́͛̕͘̕͠͠͝ᴉ̴̧̧̨̢̳̯͔̻̤̘̲̺̰̙̲͔̭̺̑̄͗͑̔̇̆̂̓̈́͛̊̓̑̈́͝ͅʍ̴̫͋̊̃̂̾̃͂͑̾̇̊́͗͒͂̅̓̚̚͝͝ǝ̴̢̛̻͙̥̯̙̜̱͍̩̠͈͓̦̒̓͌̽͋̀̇̾̈́̕͜͠ɟ̷̡̢̛̦͍̼͍̯͉͎̲̖̻͎͇̯̒̀̇͛̋̑͌̆̚͝ᴉ̴̛͓̹̟̮̲͙͓̿̐͊̌͌͛̈̈́̈́̎̽̚͜l̵̫̬̭̙̎͐l̷̝̳͚̘̖͗̏̎̑̊̋́̓̍̎̌̿͋̔͜͝͝ļ̶̼̰͔͕̻̣̲̳̜̭̥̗͉̯̻̘͍͈̰̫̋̔̈́̃͗͐̉́̅͊̾͐͌͌̂͐͝ͅɐ̶̻̲̖̮̦̩́̆̋̄͛́̏̀̓́̈̚͝p̶̦̗̰̗̙͈͍͈͂͌̔͘͜ù̷̡̢̧͈̟̣͚̣̙͕͉͓̯͂̚̚ɐ̷̩̝̣͚̣̪̻̺̈́͒̈́̓̆̿̇̓͊̍̐́̚͘͘͘ǝ̵̡̛̖͔̦͖͚̜̙͓͒̏̑̔̂̋̈́́͂̃̆͆̆̔́̅̚̕͜ͅɯ̴̧̬̰͇̼̳̗̜̟̝̮̮̫̠̻͍̞̮̻̤͔̩̔̎͊̋̓̿̊̏̋͑͘̕͝͠ŏ̷̡̡̳̹͍̼͙̭̳̗̬̺͖̬͍̟̮̬̦̼͎̱͕ɔ̶̡̨͔͚̞̯̭̽̈́̀̿̿̀̓̒́l̸̨͍̰͈͚̰̗̯͐͆̃̎͒̅̿̈́̋̐̋̊̇̔̍̃͗̕͘l̵̡̨̨͇̟̟̞̦̘͚͍̭̹̳͓͔͚̠̰͈͆̑́͛́̄͊̽͊̎ᴉ̴̢̳͇̙̜̹̭̞̦̥̯̝͎͖̬͕̞͋͋̓̃̈́̽̊͗̀̾̉͛͗́̚ʍ̵̝͇͎̤̭̫͉̝̟̜̤̬̩͎̪̍̾̀͑͑̓̾͊̓̈́̚p̵͓̬͍͖̲̬̝̳̩̻͕͉͙̹̤͝ͅu̴̩̯̹̩̮̖͇̺̩̽̔̐̅̆́͐̇̇͛͆̏̀̀͒̒͋͂̒̈́͝͝ǝ̵̞͓̳̫͚̰͈͖̺͔̳̪̠͎̪̮̝̠͔̪͇̑̇̿̂̆̍̄͌̄͊̄͜ǝ̷̧͔͙͉̙͇̼͈͑̎̑͋̏͊̃͒̊̾̎̒̕͝ɥ̸͒̅̐͊͊͌͗̂̂̏̎͌̄̽͘͘͝ͅʇ̵̞͎̤͚̯̪̺̮̖̼͎̈́̌͌̅̅͆́͆̇̔͗͘̚   Annelise dropped the statue and it slowly began to float to the bottom. She couldn't understand what it was that she just heard all she knew was that there was a ringing in the back of her head and her hand was shaking. And there was an uncomfortable, sick, feeling in the pit of her stomach. As the statue sank lower the ringing subsided enough that she could think again and she looked over at Jacklyn in confusion as if asking for an answer for something the girl couldn't possibly know had even happened.  

Catherine was sitting perfectly still on a chair as people began piling in. She had been dropped off, quite literally as the elderly couple that had grabbed her from the back of their truck and deposited her in front of the school, a couple hours ago and had been sitting there ever since. While her body didn't move she did flick her eyes back and forth now and then to watch as people came in. Some of them gave her strange looks, and she wondered what was so weird about a beautiful young lady such as herself sitting on a chair, but many more just passed her by. There were certainly some odd looking folk here. Catherine hadn't realized that human beings could come in some of the shapes and sizes she saw. Some of them clearly didn't get along and she wondered if a fight was going to break out. Through it all she sat still and looked ahead at the podium. Something was going to happen. She just knew it. Call it a sixth sense, or wishful thinking, or simple delusions but Catherine was certain that if she waited long enough an interesting event was bound to occur. She got her first taste of this when an old man, who seemed much different than her own old people, came onto stage to call them fish. Before she could question his eyesight he was suddenly gone. It seemed they were to take a tour of the school. Which, if the brochures she had read that her old people kept around to convince her to leave and explore the world were right, usually meant someone who knew the school would take them around. Catherine had waited this long for something fun so she was certainly capable of waiting longer. It seemed, however, that some did not have her patience. "A school is a school! You've seen one, you've seen them all! I'm heading into town! If you dumbasses had any sense, you'd do the same!" And what if someone had not seen one? It seemed to her that this boy was the dumb one to not think about that. She found this so foolish in fact that she finally decided to move. The girl, who had been basically motionless this entire time, turned her head towards the person seated next to her. Her neck made a slight creaking sound as the material that made her body protested the movement after such a long rest. In a loud, clear, voice, Catherine spoke up, "pretty stupid to wait all this time and then just run away before anything happens, huh?"