Part 57: Content Sacrifice

_{content warning: suicide}

The thread voted to try to stop Horse from breaking the door down.

[BGM: Metal Horse]


Hold on, Horse. Let's think about this.

What's there to think about?

Barging in there could be dangerous. And it isn't necessary!

It isn't?

Why would it be? She's out of options, and we can escape without her! Let's just take it calm, step back, and think about the situation rationally.

Horse stared at me for a few seconds. Then, with a sigh, he took a few steps away from the door.

Okay, cool. Let's just think about this for a bit.

[BGM: Silence]


Mouse is right. Thinking about it rationally, there's not an immense rush. The confession took us off guard, granted, but it's a one-time use thing. Now she truly only has one option. We can definitely get her with the Dragon Breath.

Just then, through the door, Pig shouted out.

8667! Monkey, if you want to end this, input that!

God damn it!

[BGM: Bullfighter]


In an instant, Dragon covered Monkey's ears and tried to bring her away from the door, before Pig could say anything more. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

Did you hear the numbers Pig said?

Unfortunately, I did.

Ah, well then. That truly is a shame.

I believe we must kill her at this point.

What?! Snake, how could you say something like that?! You're really just going to kill one of us like that?

It is the only way to guarantee that Pig gets hit by the Dragon Breath next turn. Any other method is imprecise.



So you're suggesting we commit murder?

S-Snake has a point... I mean, since Monkey is going to be executed anyways... …

Sheep, you too? I mean, from Snake it's one thing, but you?

I understand the impulse some of you may have, after hearing Pig's outburst just now. The threat of imminent death clouds minds.

How about we all take a moment to breathe in... and to breathe out.

...

That's better.



Now then. Let us explore the facts, shall we? Right now, you are feeling scared. And that's okay. This fear is tempting you to make actions you otherwise would not.

However, I would implore you to think about this logically. Have I not already proved myself to be on the side of the group's survival? What reason would I have to go along with Pig's absurd request?

We can never really know for sure if you're on our side!

People lie. P-people lie all the time.

It is true, people lie.

But Sheep, don't people lie for a reason? What reason would I have to lie?

So you could survive!



N-n-nobody could... nobody could just accept death like this. At least, not somebody like you!

You are right, Sheep. Death is not something we can accept easily. Even now, fear still gnaws at me. The fact that I am able to face my fate with my head held high is an exception, not the standard.

You're just saying that!

Okay. Let's recount the facts – by simply inputting the code Pig yelled out, I would not be able to escape death. Rather, I would be moved forwards, taking me out of the last place position I would need to secure my own safety.

The only person I would help by inputting the code is Pig. I would be killing not only the group, but myself by going along with her request.

So you see, there is no possible way I would take that action.



Sure, you wouldn't input that code.

But your ability – it'd let you use Rooster's 'Encouraging Crow', right? With that, you could just send Pig to the finish line without moving yourself.

That is true I suppose. However, I have no intention of doing so. I promise, I shall input what you wish when I use my tablet.

Ah, but that's the trick of the matter, isn't it? We have no way of verifying that until it may be too late.

And to be honest Monkey, I can't say I buy your little 'suicidal' act here. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't think someone could be down to take a dive. Lord knows I would be. But last round, you 'confessed' nothing, right?

Only reason I can figure for you doing something like that would be if you wanted to be last when Pig finished first. At the very least, a thought like that must've been in the back of your mind.

[BGM: Mourning Crow]


…

Monkey looked around the room, gauging each of our expressions. Then, with a heavy sigh, she simply shrugged her shoulders.

I would argue more, however, by merely looking at you all, I can tell that it is decided. Very well, then. Do what needs to be done.

Hold on, everybody, are you serious about this?

No... She couldn't seriously just be accepting this, could she?

Even if she's going to die anyways, to kill her ourselves, that's horrible! We can't do this!

Mouse, please. It's better this way.

No, but, this is wrong, isn't it?

Is it?



If it ensures the group's survival, I don't think so.

So anything's cool if it helps the most people?

Mouse, your resistance to this shows me that you haven't accepted the fact that, one way or another, I am going to die here. I am. So please, resign yourself.

…

I knew Monkey was right. I felt tears begin to water in my eyes, so to save myself further embarrassment, I took a seat and recused myself from the conversation. Still, it played out to the side. They began to argue over who needed to carry out the deed.



I hope you realize you're asking somebody to murder you, Monkey.

I am aware. Was this not the group's will?

If I proposed it, I may have an obligation to handle things myself.

No. I can do it.

Are you sure?

If I must.



Ah, you weakasses should just stand back. I got experience with violence, so I can handle things.

Have you killed before?

No, but I've gotten pretty damn close. How hard can it be?

Incredibly hard.

If we're talking about who's best equipped for this sort of thing, I am a cop. I'm always prepared to make a shot if I need to in the line of duty.



Oh, I bet you're just itching for an excuse to 'make the shot'.

Everyone, silence. I'll kill Monkey.

… Rooster, you're an actor, right?

I am. That's exactly why I need to do this.

I'm afraid I don't follow.

Actually murdering somebody with my own hands...

That's something I can tap into in the future. If I do this, I can become the greatest dramatic actor the world has ever known! This is exactly what I've been missing.

This will bring me over the top!

[BGM: Silence]


Rooster, I really don't know if this is the sort of thing you want to be able to tap into.

Ox, I insist, let me do this. I can do it.

After a brief silence, it appeared nobody would contest him.

Very well, Rooster. You will do the deed. For the sake of everybody here, I would ask that I be killed in a separate room.

Why's that?

I can say with a fair amount of certainty that seeing my dead body would be incredibly scarring. It would be for the best that we shield the sight of death from as many people as possible.

Alright, Monkey, you just come with me to a nearby classroom, and we'll get the job done.



Hold on. I don't know how much I like just the two of you being there when we kill you. Seems suspicious.

Very well then. Bunny, you can come along as well.

Me?

As you said, you are a cop. You likely will suffer the least mental damage from watching things unfold.

Alright, if it'll help.



Like that, Bunny and Rooster walked over to a nearby classroom and shut the door. 2 or 3 minutes just passed in silence. Then, Rooster exited the room. Instead of addressing us, he walked by us, moving to the cafeteria. He grabbed a kitchen knife, then returned to the classroom. As he passed by, I saw his face. It didn't look good. Not that I was one to talk. I could only imagine how sick I looked to the others. A bit after that, Bunny and Rooster exited the room. Both looked shaken up. Still, Ox went down to business.

So? It's handled?

Yeah, she's dead as a doorknob. Here's the proof.



Bunny held up a tablet. However, when he turned it on, it became clear the tablet didn't belong to him. It was Monkey's. He clicked on the 'INFORMATION' button, and the screen changed accordingly. It talked about Monkey's ability, 'Monkey See, Monkey Do'. And it showed Monkey's personality, written in big green letters. CONTENT.

She really was doomed from the start.

[BGM: Weak Pig]


That personality, and her personality... she never had a chance to live. I silently cursed Brian with all my might. Damn him for putting all of us through this. For putting such a kind woman through this, a woman dedicated to helping others. Damn him to hell. If I escaped this place... But no, I couldn't think about that now. Now, I needed to move forwards.

So whether or not Pig uses a Trinket, she's truly trapped next round. That gives us three rounds where she'll be unable to move.

After that, she can move one space again, but again, we can Dragon Breath that area. Essentially – if we're smart about this, we can lock her out of the entire game.

What a shame. Had she simply held off on racing ahead for one turn more, she'd have had a real shot at escaping. As it stands, she's entirely out of options. Wasting six turns being burned is simply a penalty she just can't afford.

You woulda thought she'd have thunk things through a little better, eh? Yeah, but that's what fear'll do to you.

The question now is not whether or not Pig will finish in time, it's whether all 10 of us can finish together. To answer that, we need to take stock of our current Trinket count. Everybody, place the Trinkets you have here.



People complied, and in the end, a very small pile was formed.

Five? Really?

Man, we suck.

Well, perhaps if we split up, we'd have been able to find more.

Technically we've found seven, but Mouse let Pig take two.

Are we seriously still on that?

Yes, let's move on to more relevant matters. Naturally, we're going to need more than just these if we want to get out together.

I thought about what Ox just said for a moment. I remembered the state of the board. I remembered the five rounds we had left. Did we need more trinkets? Was it possible to get all 10 of us to the end on the same turn with just what we had?