Part 12: MEtanoia

BGM: Meridianus
The group of three women emerged into the familiar hallway. There was nothing new about this place, so they all waited, thinking the other groups would come out. After a few minutes elapsed, it was clear none of that was going to happen just yet. They had escaped rather quickly, after all.


The older woman made a dismissive motion of her hand. Gula waved and left, in a little bit of a hurry to get away from the two others. Ancora stared, slightly puzzled at that behavior, before turning her attention to Avaritia.


Ancora solemnly nodded and left Avaritia's entourage too. Her steps brought her towards the room Superbia and Tristitia shared. She had a thought of glancing inside to check up on their progress, but it was impossible; there was that metal plate over the door's window.


This was the back wall of the first hallway- the one they all emerged in from their triple classroom earlier. In the corner was a door. Above it, a sign read EXIT, but naturally, it wouldn't work. First of all, this door was locked, but it led to a staircase that could normally access the second floor.

Ancora decided to head back to the others. She hadn't found a ME-card in this corner, but there was one past that door; it just wasn't time to open it yet. On the way back, making sure all classrooms were well and truly locked, she tried the L key, to no avail.






Avaritia closed the distance, seeing as the two of them had been talking without her.


Tristitia handed over a ME-card to Ancora, who pocketed it without hiding her surprise.



Without any other words, Tristitia made his way back through the hallway. Ancora cast a glance towards the door he'd come out of; she hadn't been quick enough to look at the situation in the room...


With a wave, she saw Ancora off. The blond girl didn't need to be told twice; her steps took her away from the older woman almost immediately. But she didn't go all the way back. She waited close by, around the corner. Something nagged at her, something really bad.

She just wanted confirmation.
A few minutes later, Ancora heard the door to Invidia and Luxuria's room close. She leaned forward a little, after making sure nobody noticed she was eavesdropping.


Ancora missed the part where they said what the answer to their room was.







A small pause followed, silence from everyone involved.



The small girl realized it. After a moment, it struck Ancora too.
BGM: Metis

It seemed like such an abrupt end for her. Yet, even with her dead, something still bothered Ancora, somehow.







Ancora heard footsteps coming, so she hurried away. Thankfully, her own boots weren't noisy if she was careful, even on solid flooring.
BGM: Medius











Before he could say any more, the others caught up with the three who had gathered for the vote.

For the next minute, Tristitia explained what he was thinking about to the new arrivals, too.
BGM: Metis
After Tristitia was done, the group came together to decide on what was the next course of action.


She shivered apprehensively, waiting for the verdict to fall. It was clear what the subject was.





BGM: Memini Meminisse





Obviously, the group didn't exactly know what was up with Superbia's past, or her situation in general. In fact, it didn't seem like anyone really had memories of any time from before they woke up.





The group looked at each other for a few moments. I tdidn't seem like anyone wanted to speak. Perhaps it was the fear of publicly outing someone that was preventing them. Perhaps it was also because they were debating if they wanted to call out the horse on his dishonesty. The one who broke the silence was Avaritia.

Luxuria took her hands up, surprised, almost backing away from that accusation.







Ancora had to admit that she didn't know much about the Enneagram of Personality beyond just the names. She hadn't gotten to study those things yet. Meanwhile, Tristitia seemed to have done a lot of research on the internet.

BGM: Membrana
*click*



He fired it once. Luxuria screamed.
He fired it again. Ancora shielded herself with her arms.
He fired it a final time. And then there was silence. Silence for three, while three others fell to the ground. Ancora watched as the scene happened in what felt like a small eternity.

Then Invidia's weight collapsed him to the ground.
Finally, Gula ended up a heap, never to breathe again. Every shot of the gun had gotten them square in the heart.


Luxuria couldn't even say anything. All she could do was stare. She was staring in pure bewilderment. Where before she'd screamed, now she was saying nothing.
BGM: Mestitior

Her laughter was broken. The cute voice coming from her helmet spouted such strange laughter. It was going on, and on. It was an uncontrollable laughter. People laugh when things are funny, but they also laugh when they are anxious or fearful. That's why laughter therapy exists; and the kind of laughter coming from Luxuria was not one made from a good joke.
She was laughing because if she wasn't, she'd go completely mad.


Ancora suddenly grabbed the smaller girl by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. The girl ceased her laughter, and instead the reality of the situation dawned on her again. After a heavy shudder, the girl began to wail instead.


He waved over to the other bodies with an arm, while Luxuria hiccupped in apprehension and fear.

She stood up to the overweight boy, even though he had a gun.


BGM: Membrana
Another shot rang out. The victim was clear this time; it was Luxuria. Ancora shuddered and suddenly had a nauseating thought.


With that thought... nothing happened. It was already too late by that point. Even if Ancora turned around to sprint away...
BGM: Mestitior

As life slowly escaped her body, she had a thought... And that final thought became five, ten, twenty. It was as though a voice was talking to her in her final moments. And then she faded.




BGM: Silence





Luxuria directives obtained.