Ashlyn: Oh um I'm not sure-

Randi: Come on Ashlyn! It'll be fun. We're having it in Rachel's room.

Ashlyn: Alright alright. Let's go.

We went over to Rachel's room and made ourselves comfortable. She had brought us blankets, even though it wouldn't really help the fact that most of us would be sleeping on the floor.

Rachel: Okay what do you guys wanna do first?

Sophie: Leave?

Randi: Sophie! Let's play would you rather, it'll be fun.

Chloe: That's a great idea. Okay okay, who first?

Rachel: Can I go first?

Ashlyn: Sure. Would you rather get executed or murdered?

Rachel: Damn, that's a convenient question for our current situation.

Randi: Murdered for sure. Spare me the torture and let me go quick.

Sophie: I beg to differ. Executions are way more fun. Would you rather be hacked to death by some mentally unstable killer or have a whole execution carefully planned just for you?

Yu Xuan: Honestly I'd rather survive but it's your choice.

Chloe: Hey... You know this brings back the question, are all of us really going to survive? We're joking around right now but, tomorrow, anyone here could be dead.

Ashlyn: Someone could even be planning a murder right now...

Randi: So are we really going to let this stop us from having fun? Yes, we could all be dead by tomorrow morning, but the more we think about it, the less happy we become. We can't sacrifice our happiness for some stupid killing game.

Randi: We need to have as much fun as possible, because we can't give in to despair. We can't let Team Danganronpa win, it's the least we could do to avenge our dead friends. So whaddya say? Let's just leave this killing game behind us for one night and have a perfectly fun and normal sleepover.

Chloe: Yea, I guess we could do that.

Rachel: Randi's right. We need to stay optimistic. Let's continue with the game.

And so we continued, chatting, laughing, and having fun all night. And finally at three in the morning, everyone else fell asleep, and I could hear the soft sniffles from my blanket spot on the floor. Chloe was on my left and Yu Xuan on my right, leaving me squashed in the middle like a piece of lettuce in a sandwich.

I couldn't sleep. Something was bothering me. It almost felt like someone... Was watching me.

I tilted my head up from the ground.

A pair of blurry eyes stared back at me from the bed. Small, tired eyes, laced with a tinge of red, as if they had not closed in days.

I pushed myself up and scooted backwards.

Ashlyn: What the- What are you-

Sophie lunged from the bed and crawled down to my spot, finger on her lips.

She stayed there for a moment, eyes wide and watery, darting around the room, but still focusing on me. She looked desperate, but I had no idea for what.

Sophie: You don't have- You don't-

Ashlyn: Sophie-

Sophie shot forward, cupping her clammy hand onto my mouth as fear continued to brew in her eyes.

She spoke in a hushed tone, yet it felt like she was screaming with all her might.

Sophie: Help me.

There was a sudden clicking noise. I didn't know where it came from, but Sophie seemed to. Her eyes widened even more and she instinctively fell from her crawl stance and slowly curled into a fetal position on the floor, taking slow, shaky breaths until her teary eyes closed and her breaths and expression calmed.

It all happened so fast.

My eyes were adjusted to the dark, and I could see the small puddle of tears that had welled on the blanket.

What the fuck just happened...?

I stared down at Sophie once more and tapped her shoulder lightly.

Ashlyn: Hey, Sophie?

No response.

I tapped again, this time with more force.

Sophie stirred a little, and her eyes slowly opened. She didn't look scared anymore.

Sophie: Ashlyn...? What are you doing?

Ashlyn: Sophie, what just happened with you??? You were-

Sophie: Hey look, I'm sure it was nothing. Just go back to sleep.

Ashlyn: No, you were crying and everything- Sophie-

Sophie: For the last time, it's nothing. Just go to sleep.

Sophie curled onto the ground again and shut her eyes-

Ashlyn: Sophie, can I ask you a question?

Sophie: What is it?

Ashlyn: Why do you like despair so much? Did something happen?

Sophie stayed silent for a while, then closed her eyes again.

Ashlyn: I'm sorry if that was too personal. Goodnight.

I lay down on the blanket next to Sophie and closed my eyes as well.

Sophie: I grew up hopeful for the future.

My ears perked up.

Sophie: My father always told me, always stick to hope, and everything you want will come.

Sophie scoffed.

Sophie: I was stupid enough to believe him.

Sophie: He told me about the world beyond my little head space, that I would be able to see it some day, that it was beautiful I would love it.

Sophie: But I found out that it would never happen, because hope only let's you down. It keeps you clinging to pathetic thoughts, and when those thoughts fly away, it leaves behind the most raw, crushing despair.

Sophie: Is your little brain able to understand? Hope cannot save you from despair, because the only thing that spawns despair...

Sophie: Is hope itself.

Sophie: That's why I stick to despair, because ever since-

There was suddenly another clicking noise, and Sophie stopped talking.

Ashlyn: Sophie? What's wrong?

Sophie: Gh- I need to-

Her gaze shifted to my face, and just as she opened her mouth to speak once more, her eyes closed and the only sounds I could hear were those of her shallow breaths.

I didn't want to wake her again. She looked exhausted. In fact, I've never seen Sophie without dark bags under her eyes.

I lay back down and went to sleep, eager for tomorrow to come.

...

...

...

When I opened my eyes, I was still on the floor, the blanket under me already tossed aside, but everybody was gone.

I slowly sat up. My back hurt from sleeping on the hard floor.

The clock read 7.10am.

I missed the morning announcement. But I'm sure they'll be waiting for me.

Time to head to the food court.