vivarium | EVERYONE'S TRUTH

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EVERYONE'S TRUTH - BEGINNING

Since the second group's first Calhoun Hour, the mouse in question hasn't appeared in the warehouse for longer than 30 minutes at a time. He only arrives during the early mornings to tape a random fruit of the day (apples, oranges, and pears so far) before scurrying off with his wagon. He refuses to provide any sort of medical relief for any of the test subjects, and does nothing more but providing the bare minimum to survive. So, when Day 9 rolls around, three days since that faithful finger breaking/eye blinding experience, it's no different; Calhoun comes in, tapes up some bananas, then promptly leaves afterwards, all without a word.

An hour after he leaves, though... The screen in the Greenhouse, up against the wall besides the entrance, finally comes to life for the first time. It flickers on and on, flashing brightly. At first, there's nothing but static. Soon enough, though, it stays a consistent green tint. A blinking cursor hovers at the bottom and stays there for a few seconds, before it begins to type.

DO NOT DRAW ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES

COME TO THE LOBBY AND GO THROUGH THE NEWLY OPENED DOOR

I WILL MEET YOU THERE.......

And it ends there...

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[ They don't get very far in pushing the chest as the robotic figure jumps right on top of it. It then leaps onto the balcony, knocking the chest over to the side in the process. It looks down at all of them. ]

I'd like to thank you for all of your help so far. For abominations for whom the only saving is death, you have done well. You are to be very proud of yourselves.

[AND THIS IS WHY WE DON'T TRUST STRANGE ROBOTS.

She stumbles a bit as said robot knocks over the chest, but she quickly steadies herself in her desperation.]

We can still make it up there... There has to be a way!

[ AND WHY YOU DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT IT SAYS. GOOD GOING, ATSURO AND KAIDO. YOU FAIL AT THIS PROTAG THING ]

[ She jumps back when the chest falls and when it creates a large splash in the water. She looks less than pleased about the whole matter. ]

C'mon, let's try to get it back up...! [ She bends down to try and lift up the (very heavy) chest, while taking the time to give their robotic friend a few words. ] What the fuck, robot?! You said you were going to get us out of here!

I have said no such thing. I have only said that I will "save" you, and the only sort of saving you creatures deserve is death. I am only doing what is best for everyone, so do not resist. It's what the world would want.

[ It places its left wrist up against the electronic lock. A loud beep is heard before the door slides open. It steps out and only says the following before the door closes: ]

Farewell.

[It's hard to see through the tears in her eyes, but she does what she can despite it, using all her strength (which is more than one might expect for a kid her size) to try to heave the chest up onto the rollers again. Listening to the robot is pointless, so she barely pays it any attention, focusing instead on their one chance of survival.]

[ Ellie grabs onto one end to help push up the chest. It's ridiculous heavy, with all the tools inside its drawers. ]

C'mon, you piece of shit, get up already!

[ After a few heaves, it finally stands up but they still gotta roll it underneath the balcony and either stack it on top of the wooden boards or vice-versa. Christ, could this get any worse ]

You son of a...!

[LANGUAGE, ATSURO. But of course the robot left before he can finish it. When the door closes, he can can feel his anger changing over into another feeling. One he try to combat since he ended up in this situation. A sense of despair.

No, no, no. He looks over at Rio and see that she's trying to push the chest again. He glance around and see the fallen ladder. Maybe. Maybe.

He joins Rio in pushing the chest.]

Quick! Push the chest together! Then we can use the ladder to cover the rest of the height!

[HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WORK!]

[ Ellie nods in agreement. There isn't much to argue about, though she thinks Atsuro's plan is the best one they have right now. So, she goes over to grab the broken off ladder while Rio and Atsuro push the chest in the proper area. The ladder is lighter than she thought but actually holding it just lets her know how fragile it is. ]

All right, got the ladder, but it's not going to hold us! [ She brings it over for them to see. ] Rio, I think you gotta go on it first!

[She makes a distressed whimper - the robot is also up there, and suddenly it occurs to her that this might not be much safer - but there's not enough time to think things through.]

O-okay!

[She'll gulp down her fears and prepare to climb up once it's ready to go!]

[Once the chest is in place, he looks over and nods.]

Yeah! The girls should go first!

[There's a priority here. The smallest, most likely the lighter members of their group and of course, someone who knows medical aid. Even if he's afraid and wants to go next...!]

[Okay Rio, you can do this! You... You can totally do this!

She climbs up onto the chest and, with a frightened look, the ladder itself. It's really rickety...

W-will she really be able to make it?]

[ The ladder feels weak and creaks when Rio steps onto it. Just when she's nearly at the top, the entire ladder breaks apart. Better make a jump for it...! ]

[There's a definite squeak, but with surprising agility, she does indeed make a jump for it!

Oh god oh god oh god oh god just going to lie there in a quivering lump for a bit.]

[ Ellie jumps back when the ladder breaks and splashes into the water. She then looks back up and cups her hands. ]

Rio!! Are you okay?!

[Whimper, whimper, okay... She's alive, she's okay. Shakily, she stands up, peering down at the others below.]

I... I'm alright.

That was really scary-!

[Wow, no shit Rio.]

[ There's a sigh of relief once Ellie sees that Rio doesn't seem to be hurt. ]

I bet, but awesome, okay, you're there! Is there anything there to help us up?

If there isn't... can't we... climb on each other and get up there? And pull the last person up?

[She blinks a few times, looking innocently curious.]

Eh-? You actually believed me when I said that...?

The door up here is locked. There isn't a way for any of you to escape.

[Obviously. Didn't they see the robot earlier?]

[ ????? ]

What?

[ Dude, what do you mean by "you actually believed me"? ]

Rio?

[Yeah, what? He might as well say it.]

What do you mean...?

Ah, sorry, it must be hard for you to hear!

[She cups her hands around her mouth and yells.]

There. Is. No. Escape. For. You!

[And then... she smiles. But it isn't anything like her timid expressions from before.

It's downright sinister.]

After all... I'm the only one here with a key from Zero.

The robot was a surprise, but... from the start, the only person who could really make it out of here alive was me.

[ What? What? It takes Ellie some time to just process what's going on here. There's no escape? A key from Zero? Making it out alive? These are all things she might have been able to accept from hearing from someone like that creepy clown from before but from Rio. No way, that's impossible. ]

Are you serious? [ There's confusion thick in this, but also pain from this sudden betrayal. ] Rio, what the hell are you saying? What's gotten into you?

[His eyes widen as her words sink in, but he doesn't want to believe it. The smallest and seemingly the meekest of them have the key? There's no way out? His mind is making some connections, like the hidden conspiracy theorist he never remembers being.]

Rio... are you saying you're... [It's hard to say, but it must be harder for Ellie, who's been with Rio the longest.] You're not saying you're with those people, right? The ones who brought us here?

...You sold us out. Played us like idiots...

[he looks down, letting out a long, violent hiss of breath at the water pooling around his ankles. unconsciously he takes on an offensive stance]

How long? Were we your puppets from the beginning?

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