When I arrived at the food court, no one was there.

What? Where is everyone?

???: ASHLYN! 

I turned. It was Chloe. She was running towards me, tears streaming down her cheeks, eyes red.

Ashlyn: Chloe? Wha- What's going on??? Where's everybody???

Chloe: It's- IT'S SUMANA- SHE'S- SHE GOT- 

My eyes widened, time seemed to slow.

Ashlyn: ...

Chloe: WE NEED YOU TO COME RIGHT NOW- WE WENT TO CHECK ON HER- WE'RE TRYING TO GET HER TO WAKE UP, BUT NOTHING'S- N- Nothing's WORKING!

Ashlyn: I'm- YES- I'm coming!

We ran to Sumana's room as fast as possible.

No... This can't be happening... Not again.

The door was wide open, which only amplified everyone's screams.

Rachel: SUMANA! WAKE UP- PLEASE DON'T LEAVE US- NOT LIKE THIS-

Ashton: PLEASE, DON'T DIE ON US! SUMANA!

Yu Xuan: HEY- Hey... What're you thinking??? WAKE UP OI-

Rachel and Ashton were clutching Sumana by the shoulders, shaking her aggressively, yelling for her to wake up, all while sobbing, cursing themselves for allowing her to die. Yu Xuan checked for a pulse, constantly trying to perform chest compressions, eyes clouding when they had no results. 

Sophie stood at the side of the bed. She wasn't crying, but looking down at the floor, not wanting to be involved in whatever was happening. 

Ashton: She's not waking up...

Ashton slumped down onto the floor.

Ashton: We've lost another friend...

I felt destroyed, but no matter how much I wanted to bawl my eyes out, I couldn't, as if my brain was still in shock.

Ashlyn: What.. What happened?

Sophie: At 7am, we all decided to go check on Sumana without you and see if it was necessary t o enter the dream world. When we got here, she... 

I walked over next to Sumana, and Sophie brushed away the hair on her forehead, showing...

Ashlyn: ...

Ashton: She was shot...?

Rachel: We couldn't do anything... 

Ashlyn: Wait- The body discovery- It didn't-

Chloe: It did. You missed it.

My stomach did a backflip.

Rachel: This... This is the Monokuma file. 

I took it from Rachel and flipped it open to read it.

Ashlyn: The victim is Sumana, she ultimate runner. The body was found in her own bedroom. The victim has a gun shot wound to the head, with no other external injuries. The time of death is around 5.30am.

Chloe: It doesn't mention the cause of death or where she was killed. 

Yu Xuan: Stupid Monokuma.

Sophie: Wait, how about Hanako and Randi? Ashton you were with Randi and Ashlyn at the clinic yesterday. What happened?

Ashton: When we were fine bandaging Randi, Sumana appeared. She told us that Hanako was dead. Her and Randi got into a fight, and in the end, both of them collapsed onto the ground and went to the dream world. Ashlyn and I talked for a bit, and after that, I moved Randi and Sumana to both their rooms so they would be more comfortable.

Yu Xuan: What time was that?

Ashton: Around 8pm I think. After that I went straight to my room and never left for the rest of the night.

Ashlyn: We- What if- Hanako and Randi might be...

The whole room stared at me, realising what I meant. The air filled with a sense of urgency. 

We dashed out the door and to Hanako's room. We unlocked the door.

I checked for her breath. 

Ashlyn: She's still breathing. She's okay. 

Chloe: Let's check Randi... I can't believe this is happening...

We ran to Randi's room, and Chloe slumped in relief after checking her breath.

Chloe: She's fine. So now what?

Rachel lowered her head.

Rachel: We- We need someone to go to the dream world- And check on, on the- The body...

Ashlyn: I'll go. 

Chloe: What? Why? What if it's dangerous???

Rachel: How about we send Ashton-

Ashlyn: No, I- I want to go this time. That's what my gut is telling me. 

Chloe: Oh- You sure?

Ashlyn: Yes. Very.

Chloe: Okay then. Come back to tell us what you found.

Ashlyn: Trust, Ashlyn.

I touched the screen on my watch and instantly felt the world dissolve around me, rebuilding into a school hallway a few seconds later. 

I stood up, walking towards the end of the hall, when suddenly...

???: MMH!

I recognised the voice and ran to the closest door, pushing it open.

Randi sat in front of me in a wooden school desk. Her limbs and hands were tied to the chair, her mouth gagged by a dirty white cloth. Her eyes were wide and darting around, as if they'd just seen unspeakable things. 

Randi: MMH!!

I ran up to her and removed the cloth from her mouth.

Randi: ASHLYN! I THOUGHT NO ONE WOULD EVER COME! THANK YOU! 

Ashlyn: Randi??? What happened???

Randi: No! Don't untie me first! Hanako- She's over there, she's unconscious, I think it's chloroform. 

I turned my head to the right. Hanako was thrown on the ground. Her limbs tied as well, except her eyes were covered and a wet cloth was draped onto her mouth and nose. 

I quickly pulled the sweet smelling cloth and blindfold from her face, untying her. I did the same to Randi afterward.

Ashlyn: Hey, you need to tell me what happened.

Hanako: What the... What the fuck happened...?

Randi: Hanako! 

Hanako: I was... Here and Sumana... Sumana tied me up and put chlorophyll on my mouth... And a while later I heard Sumana bring someone in and they were screaming... And I think she tied them up and Sumana gave me more chloroform and then I fell asleep and I don't know what happened...

Randi: When I entered the dream world, Sumana tied me up, gagged my mouth and dragged me here. Then she closed the door and I don't know what happened to her. Is she okay??? Did you find her???

Ashlyn: She died...

Hanako and Randi looked at me, searching my face, expecting me to tell them they it was all a joke. 

I wished I could.

Randi: No... How?

Ashlyn: We found her body on her bed. She looked so peacefully asleep, but there was a bullet hole in her forehead. 

Hanako: A bullet hole??? How did she get shot???

Ashlyn: We don't know, but I came here to find you guys. Do you have any more information?

Hanako: Well... When I came to the dream world... I remember something about...

- - - FLASHBACK - - -

Sumana: Tomorrow morning I will be somewhere far away. Somewhere I might be able to see them again. And hopefully all the burdens I've been carrying will disappear with me.

Hanako: Wait no- You can't- Is this what I think it is???

Sumana: Don't come looking for me, Hanako. Or you might find yourself in situations like these.

- - -

Hanako: And then... I blacked out. 

Ashlyn: Hanako, could you bring us to the room you found her? Sumana had a noose-

Randi: A noose???

Ashlyn: Yes... 

Hanako: I'll take you to the room. Maybe there'll be something there. 

Hanako led us down the hallway, to a door on the left. She pushed it open and a sick feeling came to me like it was on que.

And then I knew why...