Part 100: The Aftermath

_{content warning: suicide mention}

[BGM: Slithering]


What the hell do you mean, I'm on 'hiatus'?

Look, I'm perfectly fine to continue working. It's already been well over a week since the incident, and in case you didn't know, I wasn't even injured or anything.

I'm sure this is just you trying to be considerate, but believe me, getting back to work would put my mind at ease more than anything else at this point.

I've already rested just fine, thank you.

...What do you mean, 'I've been compromised with personal bias?' Prosecutors have always had personal biases, everyone has personal biases, it doesn't mean I can't do my damn job.

...Therapy? Okay, I think you're not being objective right now. I get it. I'll take a break. We'll talk later.

…



Thank you, thank you, you're really too kind.

I still have some time, yes?

Great, awesome! How about we do some questions? Anyone got anything they want to ask me?

Yes, you, in the back! In the red cardigan! ...How do I feel towards Brian when all's said and done?

Hmm. That's, uh, that's a real tough one, innit?

To be clear, I'm just going to be talking from my own perspective on all of this. ...On the one hand, I think the little pipsqueak was pretty weak. I mean, I get being angry about injustice.

But killing himself in that explosion when all was said and done? That's a coward's way out.



If you had the conviction to set everything up, have the conviction to see things through! ...But that's just my opinion on him.

My feelings towards him? A bit of pity, I guess? Seems like he'd been dealt a rough hand.

To be honest, I kind of feel a bit thankful that he let me go through such a crazy experience.

...I'm sensing that some of you are turning against me now. Am I supposed to be angry at him or something? Other than him, it's not like anybody got injured.

…

Yes, I'm aware of the people who are still missing.

…



Jeez, did you hear Bowen at that press conference earlier today? That was real brutal.

I'm telling you, it's a sorry thing. Just because a nutjob believes something with a ton of conviction doesn't make that belief the least bit justified. And yet... since the incident, there's been a number of people questioning if Brian could've been right.

I mean, how do you get off honoring a complete psycho's will? Anyways, Bowen was certainly prepared for that whole mess.

After dropping all that evidence, any disruptive rumors are sure to wash away.

But, uh...

Between you and me, wasn't some of that evidence, you know, not exactly...

...Hey, hey, of course I'm not questioning Bowen at all! Aaron Morris is clearly guilty. The chief was just making that abundantly clear in a way that he saw fit.



You're right, there's nothing to look into there.

Anyways, it looks like he wants to completely bury the case. I know he always kept an eye on that thing, wondering if new leads might show up.

Not because he expected any, just because it was, you know, his brother who died and all. But now the state has to double down on the conviction unless we want a whole bunch of unrest.

Which means bolstering the truth as much as possible.

And... getting rid of disruptions to that narrative.

… ...Hey man, could we talk in private after this shift?

…



Yes Mom, like I said before, I was just a victim in all of this. I didn't have any involvement or anything.

…

No, I don't know why I was targeted then. I think it's related to what happened with my previous boss. ...Amadeus.

…

You're right Mom, Amadeus was very sweet. It is a shame what happened to him. And it's a shame that Aaron's selfishness led to his son also falling into...

…

You're right, Brian doesn't have any excuse. He's a really bad kid.

But he's gone now, and I'm safe, and there really isn't anything to worry about anymore.

...Okay Mom. I need to get back to work. I love you.

…



Yes, I was involved in the XXXX High School Incident.

What of it?

…



No, really, it was incredible, you should have seen it. Everybody was completely freaking out, their faces flushed.

I swear, they were moments from completely collapsing into anarchy, brandishing weapons, and killing each other. They were already scheming about how they would be the one to survive this horrid game.

However, I wasn't going to accept any victims. Not on my watch. All my brain particles were spent analyzing the situation, searching for a way to save the poor victims consigned with the rogue personality.

It seemed like an impossible task, because of course, it was meant to be!

But then, in a flash of inspiration, I realized it! If we could combine two of the Major Trinkets that we had already found, we would be able to ensure that everybody could get out alive.

The moment I pointed out the loophole, everybody just broke out into applause. Really, you had to be there. It was like I was really in one of my past movies.

Oh, and speaking of movies, I've already licensed the rights to this story, so look out for my next flick! It's sure to be a smash hit!

…



Yes, yes, I am aware that I was responsible for counseling the accused.

...Why am I calling him 'the accused'? The state has yet to officially make the case against him, yes? Formality it may be, but I prefer the mantra 'innocent until proven guilty'.

At any rate, this whole incident naturally falls, to some extent, on me for not being able to give him the counseling required. I am willing to face repercussions for my hand in not preventing this tragedy.

However, I'd like to make my position clear. Brian was an incredibly disturbed individual. True, trauma accounts for some of it... but only some of it. There was a much deeper darkness in him.

I recommended increased help to his mother several times, but it was always ignored. For some reason, she seemed to believe these gestures of mine were made in pursuit of financial gain, instead of concern for the boy.

...And I noted to her that he had begun to skip our sessions.

...I do not wish to lay any more suffering on her doorstep at this time. She has already been overwrought with grief. However... I think that some responsibility for this falls on Brian's actual guardian.

Still, I failed to do my job, and people got hurt. I will take responsibility.

…



No, Ez, it's insane! I've never blown up to this extent!

The series of articles I published on the incident have become the go-to thing to read when you want to know what happened. I've been getting booked for so many different podcast appearances, and since I've been plugging nonstop, that means increased viewership on all my other projects.

I hate to say it, but being kidnapped for that game might have been one of the best things to happen to me!

...Sure, there's been some side effects from going through that experience, like paranoia, panic attacks, insomnia, depression...

But who cares! I had all of that beforehand anyways!

So yeah, this is my one chance to really grip hold of the public consciousness. If I ride this out properly, I can be set for life. The next steps are to capitalize on all this hype.

But how to do it, how to do it? Obviously, I've gotta work on some sort of video series doing a deep dive into it. I've also been toying with the idea of writing an op-ed in defense of Brian?

This incident happening in the first place is also a pretty scathing indictment of a bunch of different systems we have in place, so I can spin a few different articles on who's 'at fault' for this whole thing. Hmm...

Do you think I'm too young to publish a memoir?

…

[BGM: Lamb to the Slaughter]


The news surrounding the incident that took place at XXXX High School is still incoming as we get more information surrounding the incident.

There are many unsolved mysteries with the whole event. Perhaps the biggest remaining question mark is the location of four of the victims abducted by the mastermind, Brian Morris. Other victims of the incident claim that all four missing victims were, in fact, alive at the end of the purported 'death game'. However, at present, it appears as though the ex-cop and current bartender Jamie Wilbert stole a nearby car from the scene and kidnapped a young law student, a local gang leader, and an older teacher.

The motivation for such an act is incredibly unclear. This, combined with purported interactions between Brian Morris and Mr. Wilbert before the incident have led some to speculate that the ex-cop may have been a co-conspirator in the kidnappings. However, at this point in time, such rumors are mere speculation. More importantly, the police are still eagerly searching for any sign of the four missing persons.

And many are concerned about the possibility that the victims, despite escaping the death game, were unable to escape death.

…

[BGM: Silence]


Ugh... My head hurt. I had not been getting enough sleep. I don't know how I could have been. Sure, my captor had been 'generous' enough to provide me with a mattress and a blanket to help me sleep, but those few inches between me and the concrete floor did little.

More to the point, the collar around my neck was really uncomfortable to sleep in, especially since it was connected to a chain. I mean, I get why I was forced to wear it, but still. It sucked. Oh, and there was the whole 'currently being kidnapped' thing. That certainly didn't help with my stress levels.

[BGM: Rat's Awakening]


Snake, I swear to fucking Christ, if you walk into my area one more time, I'm going to strangle you when you sleep.

Painting needs inspiration. When I'm inspired, I wander.

The only thing you're inspiring is my urge to beat the shit out of you.

My roommates also left a lot to be desired.

Could you two please keep it down?

Are you really trying to go back to sleep? With the lights on and everything?

No, I'm just getting sick of you two. Your arguments are incessant, and I'm sick of it. Why can't you two just behave?



I don't know if I deserve much blame in all of this. If I recall, the majority of the altercations have come from Dragon attacking me for something rather benign.

Yeah, but you're provoking her.

Who, me? I'd never.

You know exactly what you're doing. If I've learned anything over these past few days, it's that you're actually just as childish as she is.

Childish?! Who the fuck are you calling childish?

I don't have time for this.

Correction, you have nothing but time for this.

And that's the problem, isn't it?

It was at this point that our captor decided to make his entrance, carrying a tray of food and drinks.



I brought breakfast.

Silence filled the room.

A 'thank you' might be nice.

Fuck you, you psychopath! You kidnapped us!

Maybe, but this and that are separate things. So, do you want to have breakfast or not?

Is our meal contingent on showing you respect by thanking you?

It'd be dickish if that was the case, wouldn't it?

It would.

Then I suppose not.



In that case, I'll also refrain.

Gotcha. Mouse?

Thank you for the meal, Dog.

No problem.

Mouse! You fucking traitorous strikebreaking blackleg! We're supposed to be a united front!

A united front doesn't have nearly as much infighting as this. And besides, a united front against who?

Dog, obviously!

My, I need a full united front to be taken down? How flattering.



If Dragon was expecting me to work up a lot of anger at Dog, she'd be disappointed. I was pretty pissed at him, no doubt. But all things considered, he'd been a pretty reasonable host to his captives. He'd listened to most of the requests asked of him, and did his best to keep us occupied with books and painting supplies and whatnot. He even hosted daily Game Nights, which was... slightly surreal.

And besides, I could see where he was coming from with all of this. A lot more than I could with Brian, at any rate.

So, dick, anything change? Are you gonna let us out yet?

If I do, are you going to storm out into the open?

Of fuckin' course I am. What, do you want me to live in your stupid basement forever?

In that case, I'm afraid you have to stay here. Trust me, it's for your own good.

How can you say that shit with a straight face when you're imprisoning us!

Well, I also saved you three, so I think it kinda evens out.



I must say Dog, I'm surprised that we are still here. Presumably the police should be looking for us, no?

Oh, they are. But I doubt they'll find us here. I got a lotta good connections from working as a cop and a bartender. This one's pretty lowkey, pretty reliable. We could hide out here for over a month.

How exciting.

Dog, I'm trying to be understanding. I still don't understand everything. I don't get why you're doing all of this. Could you try to explain it all clearly?

Again with this?

Dog sighed.

[BGM: Silence]


Well, I suppose keeping it from you ain't gonna do much good at this point. If I'm going to be keeping you guys here without your consent, least I could do is give you the full layout of things.

Else I'd be total scum, you know?

Trust me, you already are.

Ouch. That might be fair.

Anyways, if you really wanna understand, I'm gonna have to bore you with the whole story, so strap in folks.

How exciting.

Looking forward to it.

Could you two shut up?

...They were honestly a lot more similar than either would care to admit.