Dear Dangan Diary - a Literateronpa

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/41771964.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Major Character Death
Categories: F/M, M/M
Fandoms: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series - Jeff Kinney, Dork Diaries Series - Rachel
Renee Russell, Ever After High Series - Shannon Hale, Big Nate Series -
Lincoln Pierce (Novels), Turma da Mônica | Monica and Friends
(Comics), Babymouse, Garfield - All Media Types, Origami Yoda Series
- Tom Angleberger, My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish Series - Mo O'Hara,
Wayside School - Louis Sachar
Relationships: Cebolinha | Jimmy Five/Mônica, Nate Wright/Teddy Ortiz, Rodrick
Heffley/Brandon Roberts
Characters: Brandon Roberts (Dork Diaries), Nikki Maxwell, Madeline "Maddie"
Hatter, Rodrick Heffley, Greg Heffley, Teddy Ortiz, Mônica (Turma da
Mônica Jovem), Cebolinha | Jimmy Five, Babymouse - Character,
George Beard, Harold Hutchins, Violet Baudelaire, Callie Marin, Harvey
Cunningham, Jon Arbuckle
Additional Tags: Implied/Referenced Suicide, Child Death, Self-Doubt, Self-Hatred,
Brandon POV, switching POVs, Multiverse, multifandom - Freeform,
There are CGs, Jon is basically a babysitter now, Found Family,
Transphobia, < thats a weird tag for a dangan fic isn't it?, Trans Male
Character
Language: English
Series: Part 1 of Dear Dangan Diary
Stats: Published: 2022-09-18 Updated: 2024-05-19 Words: 4,467 Chapters: 2/?
 Dear Dangan Diary - a Literateronpa
by Leon_Be_Simping

Summary

Brandon isn't as spectacular of a person as people would often portray him as being. It's a
surprise even to him sometimes how he became one of the most popular students in his
school, seeing as he wasn't as outgoing as he'd like to be.
An ultimate photographer. Super-highschool-level, right? He would of preferred something
with animals, but it is what it is.

One thing for certain is that he'll miss his school life as a freshman as he awakens somewhere
he doesn't recognize. An elementary school, 30 stories tall with one classroom on every floor
except the 19th. With only Nikki by his side, along with 14 other strangers - only one of
which an adult figure of any sort to look to - and a reveal of a death game hosted by a
reanimated goldfish, will Brandon not only break out of his remaining shell to lead them out
of despair, but learn a thing or two about friendship and hope along the way?

also, is it just me, or is that a talking mouse?

Notes

Oh boy, hello Danganronpa fanbase!

And for people who aren't danganronpa fans and came into the fandom tags wondering "what
kind of fanfics would these book series even have?" then I am terribly sorry.
I hope I can make up for it with my writing! After all, what better way to make use of all
those book series on your bookshelf that you keep constantly rereading and adding onto than
to stick a bunch of them in a death game?
 TLDR

Oh boy, am I using the first page as only a test run?

Sure, I mean, I don't really know how Ao3 works after all, ahah.

But, let's make this page useful and show you guys the talents and prediction chart!!

Brandon Roberts - SHSL Photographer

Rodrick Heffley - SHSL Drummer

Madeline Hatter - SHSL Brewer

Nikki Maxwell - SHSL Singer

Nate Wright - Jr Ultimate Journalist

Teddy Ortiz - Jr Ultimate Comedian

Mônica Luìsa - Jr Ultimate Wrestler

Jimmy Cebolinha - Jr Ultimate Schemer

Babymouse - SHSL Ballet Dancer

Violet Baudelaire - SHSL Inventor

George Beard - Jr Ultimate Storyteller

Harold Hutchins - Jr Ultimate Artist

Greg Heffley - ???

Callie Marin - SHSL Set Designer

Harvey Cunningham - Jr Ultimate Origami Expert

Jon Arbuckle - Former Ultimate Cartoonist

 PROLOGUE - TALES FROM A NOT-SO SPECIAL CAST OF
CULPRITS
Chapter Summary

in which brandon wakes up somewhere way, way more wacky than he'd expect. an
elementary school built sideways? if only that was the least of his problems.

Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Brandon found himself waking up with weary eyes and a pain in the back of his head unlike
any he’s really experienced before.

One thing’s for certain; this isn't his home.

The achromatic scenery of this… school hallway he found himself in also certainly wasn't his
school. Decorations and pictures on the walls in various shades of all sorts of black
immediately lead him to believe he was in an elementary school, instead.

But, why? Or, more importantly, how did he get here?

He scrambled to his feet, patting himself down only to realize that in terms of personal items
on him, all he had was the polaroid camera hanging by his neck. He felt a pang of panic in his
chest, only for the voice of someone else slowly rising from the ground and groaning in a
tired pain snapped him out of it. Wait, someone else was asleep?...

???: "Where am I…"

He immediately walked over to the girl with some hope of an answer, but hearing her mutter
made him slump as he realized there was no point in asking about anything if she didn't seem
to know, either.

However, he wasn't able to abandon the other in time as she immediately turned to point at
him, scarf matching the headband holding her hairbun in place flicking from the motion.

???: "Hey, you! Any idea where I am!?"

Great. Conversation.

Brandon: "Sorry, I'm… just as confused as you are.

Erm.. who are you, exactly?"

Callie: “Callie! Callie Marin! Oh jeez, I shouldn’t be here. I’ve got a play to work on back
home… they asked for the ultimate set designer for a reason!”

Brandon: “..Wait, ultimate? ”

Callie: “Yeah! Set Designer! Wait, are you an ultimate? You dress like one!”

Brandon: “Erm…”
And with that he gestures to his polaroid camera, an awkward grin painting his face as he
shrugs.

Brandon: “Ultimate Photographer, I guess.”

Callie: “You guess? We’re both ultimates, in the same place?? They even sort of match!
They’re both art-based! You know how rare that is?”
Brandon: “Well, I wouldn’t know, considering I-”

But he’s interrupted with the “ eeeee!” of another girl in the background. He sighs with a
smile as Callie raises an eyebrow in confusion, a girl with a small ponytail running towards
the two.

??: “Oh. My. Gosh! Brandon! I’m so glad you’re here! I woke up in this closet and it was so
so scary and there was a child there… who’s this?”
Callie: “Heyy…”
Brandon: “What I was going to say was that I’m already used to hanging with another
ultimate. Nikki?”

??: “Right, right!”

Nikki: “Nikki Maxwell, Ultimate Singer!!”

Callie: “Another ultimate? What is going on here? And what do you mean kid-”

??: “She means me. And I’m literally in middle school. You say it like I’m 9-”

Nikki jolted with a squeal, and Brandon had to turn to look at the shorter kid who approached
the group. He wore a hoodie and his hair was combed in a weird spiked.. style. It bounces a
little when he moves.

Callie: “What? There’s a middle schooler here??”

??: “Hey, I’m not just any middle schooler, you know!”

Nate: “It’s Nate the Great! Nate Wright, Ultimate Journalist! Well.. almost. Since I’m in
middle school, I’m a… ʲᵘⁿⁱᵒʳ ᵘˡᵗⁱᵐᵃᵗᵉ.”

Brandon: “Junior.. Ultimate?”

Nikki: “I didn’t know kids could be ultimates!”

Callie: “It’s a recent program, I believe. There aren’t a ton of junior ultimates yet…”

Nate: “I’m almost a teen, it doesn’t matter!”

Brandon: “But, Journalist? You don’t look too much like one.”
Nate cringed, gritting his teeth as he crossed his arms, looking down.
Nate: “I would have preferred Artist, but someone else already took it…”

Brandon couldn’t help but chuckle. But, hey, he’s glad he’s not the only person who’d prefer
a different ultimate, even if the kid is technically not official, just yet.

A ping of worry hits him, though.

Brandon: “Hey, if it’s us four here, do you think there are other people who’re gonna wake up
here?”
Nikki: “Oh yikes, you’re right! I hope Mackenzie isn’t here…”
Nate: “ I hope Francis is here. This situation looks pretty freaky. I think he’d know what to
do…”

Nikki: “It’s so weird! I only have my diary with me!”

Nate: “Your diary? I only have my sketchbook.”

Callie: “And I only have my scriptnotes on the story we were supposed to adapt for our
play… my phone isn’t anywhere on me.”

Brandon squinted, picking up on a pattern with the items everyone woke up with. So far, they
were all pretty similar, except for his own. He held his camera in his hands as he took a
couple steps away from the group, gazing down the hallway at the staircase that seemed to
twist and turn in odd directions at the end of the hallway.

Brandon: “I’m gonna go look around, and see if I can find anyone else.”

Nikki: “Oh, take me with you Brandon! Maybe we can find Chloe and Zoey here!”

Callie: “I doubt it. You two are lucky you already know eachother…”

Nate: “I’m gonna go see if I can find Francis, then. A̶n̶d̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶g̶e̶t̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶ m̶ ̶t̶ h̶ i̶s̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶z̶y̶
̶f̶r̶e̶s̶h̶ m̶a̶n̶ ̶w̶h̶ i̶l̶ e̶ ̶I̶'̶m̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ .̶

With that, the group separated, Callie and Nate going one way while Brandon and Nikki
walked down the hallway, first entering the classroom right next to the stairs. He glanced at
the red and blue elevators across them in the hallway before opening the door to let Nikki in
first, then stepping in himself.

Despite the cutesy decorations drilling in the fact even more that this school Brandon was
stuck in was designed to be an elementary school, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread
from the lack of life. No children learning, and no sign of adults either. He’d honestly be a bit
terrified if it weren’t for Nikki by his side and the two kids at the front of the room drawing
on the chalkboard and talking amongst themselves as another teenager stood and watched.
And, of course, Nikki immediately ran over to look.

Nikki: “Hey! Hey! What are you guys doing? We woke up somewhere random! Now isn’t
the time to draw!”

???: “Oh come on, it’s always the time to have fun!”

The long-haired teenager turned to face Nikki, having to brush some of it out of her eyes to
face the other. Is that a… teacup hat?

Madeline: “But I’m all about fun! I'm Madeline Hatter! You can call me Maddie, though!~
And I make the best tea ever! It’s no wonder I’m the Ultimate Brewer!”

Brandon: “Hatter? You mean like the-”

Maddie: “You mean like the guy from Alice in Wonderland? Yes! He’s my dad! Why does
everyone keep asking me that?...”

???: “Well, probably because they don’t expect a fictional guy to have a real daughter,
y’know?”

One of the kids doodling on the board suddenly speaking caught Brandon off guard, and he
turned to look right at them, before looking at the chalkboard with wide eyes.

Brandon: “Woah! You two made that?”

???: “Well, he drew it. I came up with the idea, though.”

??: “And the dialog! Your handwriting is way better than mine!”

George: “I’m George Beard, Junior Writer.”

Harold: “And I’m Harold Hutchins! Junior Artist! He wears a tie and has the flat top.”

George: “And he’s the one in the t-shirt and the funny haircut.”

Harold: “Remember that, now!”

Brandon: ("Hm.. so this is the kid that has the talent Nate wanted..")

Brandon: “Well, jeez. It almost looks like you kids memorized that introduction.”
George: “It’s because for some reason people keep forgetting!”
Maddie: “Can confirm! I forgot it just now!”

Brandon: “Well, I’m Brandon, and this is Nikki…”

Nikki: “OH, oh, don’t forget to tell them I’m the ultimate popstar!”

Brandon: “I think everyone can tell you’re the ultimate popstar just by looking at you,
Nikki…”

???: “Isn’t it odd how all of us seem to have creative talents?”

Brandon: “Jesus christ!-”

This time it’s Brandon’s turn to jolt from the sudden appearance of another person. He looked
down at her. Her hair was tied up in a ribbon and she tugged at a scarf wrapped around her
neck.

???: “Oh, I didn’t mean to startle you. My apologies.”

Violet: “I’m Violet Baudelaire. I am the oldest of my siblings, and I was deemed the Ultimate
Inventor.”

Nikki: “Oh! An Inventor? You can build things? That’s so cool!”

Violet: “I… guess you could say something like that. Do any of you know why we’re here,
yet?”

Harold: “Maybe it’s an assembly?”

George: “But Harold, we’re 6th graders!”

Violet: "And I'm 14, a freshman. Or at least, I would be if I was in school. But I haven't been
in one in a while."

Brandon: ("What's that supposed to mean? Is she homeschooled?")

Nikki: "Either way, it looks like all of us are way too old to be in a gradeschool right now!"

Maddie: "Ooh, oh! We should explore together, Nikki! Maybe we'll find the castleteria! Or
the lost and crowned! Our mirrorphones could be there!"

Nikki: "..Huh?"

Nikki is unable to respond as Maddie dragged her off, waving with a "Charm you later!" to
the group as she left. George and Harold went back to doodling. Brandon scratched his head
in confusion, but he's unable to process this as Violet speaks up.

Violet: "Something bad is happening. I can't find Klaus or Sunny anywhere.

I have to go. Whatever is going on, it must be dangerous."

With that, Violet turned to leave, and Brandon, confused and honestly wanting to learn more,
tried to follow, but she was gone by the time he peered out of the hallway. He sighed,
glancing back at George and Harold.

He decides to grab them by the hands and drag them along, despite their protesting. Better
safe than sorry.

Out in the hallway once more. The boys have already stopped complaining, talking amongst
themselves as Brandon squinted, seeing which room he should enter. He decided to approach
the teacher's lounge- a 'brave act' according to George and Harold as their speaking became
more excited- but it was mostly out of a small sense of hope that there'd be some sort of
authority figure in order to explain what was wrong.

He did not get that. Instead he walked in on two guys, one around the same age as him and
one who looked around the same age as Nate did. The taller tanned one in clothing he'd see
on someone from the early 2000s was arguing with the younger, paler one about who-knows-
what as Brandon stepped in. He let go of George and Harold's hands, the two of which
immediately began exploring desks, as the shorter guy turned to Brandon with a glare.

???: "What is it."

Brandon: "Hey, hey, I'm sorry. I was just looking for a teacher, I didn’t mean to interrupt…"

??: "Oh god, don't pay attention to my brother. He'll annoy you, I promise that."

Greg: "Greg Heffley. Maybe you should just ignore my brother Rodrick. He'll just bring you
more problems than it's worth."

Rodrick: "Jeez, Greg. Mad 'cause my talent actually gave me the skill to make bangin' music
and you got nothing?"

Brandon: ("Don't tell me I'm going to have to break this up…")

Brandon: "What's wrong?"

Rodrick: "He wants to ditch me."

Greg: "Only cause you're trying to take my journal!"

Rodrick: "Oh, what, you mean your Diary, Mister Ultimate Diary Writer?"

Greg: "That is NOT my ULTIMATE!"

Brandon: "Okay, al-right! I'm sorry I asked! Let's change the subject, please! "

The boys stared at him in silence, an aggressive aura still radiating off of them as he stared
back.

Brandon: ("Great, so the topic change was no topic at all.")

With that, he looked around the room as the awkward silence hit. The only talking was from
George and Harold until Brandon noticed a strange marking on the wall.

Brandon: "Eh?"

Rodrick: "What's wrong?"

Brandon pointed at the streak in the wall. Initially, he had thought it was just weird
rectangular wall paint, but he tapped against it, revealing glass.

Brandon: "There's water in the walls. And, like, I don't mean in pipes, either."
Rodrick: "What, like a fuckin' aquarium?"

Brandon: "Exactly! Come on, we should see if all the rooms got that!"

Greg: "What about me?"

Rodrick: "I thought you didn't want to be around me."

Greg: "...Tch. Right."

Brandon: "You can watch George and Harold while we're gone."

Greg: "Huh?-"

But Greg isn't able to reply in time. Greg walked out with haste in his step, and Rodrick
followed, sticking his tongue out at Greg.

The library. That's where Brandon ended up next, new companion Rodrick following in
behind moments later. He groaned, receiving an eyeroll from Brandon.

His train of thought is cut off as he stared at the glass 'aquarium' trailing the walls of this
room too. Along with it were ridiculously tall shelves filled to the brim with books. the
genres were not organized at all. In the middle of this strange library, amidst the cushioned
chairs and colorful tables, a darker toned kid was speaking to two shorter ones, speaking in…
spanish?

Brandon: "Ah, hey! More people! Hello!"

??: "Olá!"

Brandon: "Huh?"

???: "Mônica, you'we confusing the Amewican."

Mônica: "Sorry, I just like seeing the reaction. I'm Mônica Luisa! Junior Ultimate Wrestler.
That's the word in English, right?"

??: "Wait, you two can speak english? I've been trying to talk to you two in Spanish this
whole time!"

???: "Not like it was working. We're bwazilian."

Teddy: "Damn, and the junior prankster becomes the pranked… hey, blonde guy! Name's
Teddy. Who're you?"

Brandon: "Erm. Brandon. Is-"

Rodrick: "Hey kid, are you bald or something?"

???: "BALD? I cleawly have five stwands of hair on my head!"

Cebolinha: "And it's not 'kid', it's Jimmy Cebolinha to you. Junior Ultimate Schemew. Don't
fowget it!"

Monica: "You see, it'd be the ultimate planner if it weren't for the fact every plan he makes
goes awry."

Cebolinha: "Mônica!"

Monica: "It's terrible, but it's true!"

Rodrick snickered at the two's antics, and while Brandon found himself smiling too, his mind
was somewhat clouded with other thoughts. Violet, that was her name, right? Everyone so far
seemed to have some sort of recreational talent. Sure, Cebolinha's was debatable, but it left
Brandon wondering..

His train of thought was cut off quickly when Teddy spoke up, though.

Teddy: "Hey.. Brandon? Have you seen anyone I might recognize? His name's Nate? He has
goofy hair?"

Brandon: "Uh, yeah, actually! I saw him in the hallway when I woke up. Said he was gonna
go look for a ‘Francis’…"

Teddy: "Oh, right. His best friend. Hahah, Francis probably would… know what to do in this
situation…"

Brandon: "But hey, why ask me?"

Teddy: "Well, truth be told, some other people walked in and mentioned you. You kind of
look like the type of guy who'd already know everyone."

Brandon: "Really now?.."

Teddy: "I mean, yeah! Look at you, you're like, the ultimate photographer right? I can tell by
your camera! What kind of photographer is antisocial?"

Brandon: "..."

Brandon: "Right."
Rodrick: "Hey Brandon, I'm tired of this joint. Ya ever actually tried leaving the school?"

Brandon: "Oh!"

Duh , why hadn't he thought of that? If they woke up somewhere strange, their next plan
should be to leave, obviously!

It seems the middle schoolers standing with them agree, because as the two teens walked out
the library, those three left with them.

The courtyard. There's a shed that probably has sports supplies in it. An incredibly large
jungle gym is in the center of the yard. But Brandon pays attention to none of this, even
walking over a recently drawn hopscotch court as the others in the building began to exit, too.

Then he saw an adult man at the gates of the school, struggling with them as yet another
middle schooler he hadn't seen before watched. He ran towards them.

Brandon: "Hey! Hey! Mister!"

????: "Oh god, another kid?"

He turned, eyes widened in surprise as he saw just how many of them were in the courtyard
now. Brandon glanced back nervously, only now getting a view of just how many people he
woke up stuck here with. Some were talking amongst themselves, but as this man was the
closest they had to an authority figure, most had faced him to listen. Rodrick stood by
Brandon as Nikki, running through the crowd, caught up with the two. He turned back to the
man.

Brandon: "Uhm, hello mister. Do you have.. any idea why we're here?

????: "No. Not the slightest. I… didn't even know you all were here. I woke up outside with
this kid and have been trying to open this gate since."

Nikki: "..Wait… so do you mean to tell us.."

????: "It's locked."

A panicked murmur arose from the group behind them, and Rodrick stepped forward,
cracking his knuckles.
Rodrick: "Move aside old man, nothing is impossible to break."

????: "Old? I'm only in my forties-"

But Rodrick didn't listen, instead aiming a kick at the padlock on the fence.

Unreacting. He was frustrated already. Brandon cringed as the moody teenager attempted to
get at the gate, Mônica joining in with her own strength.

Brandon turned to the adult.

Brandon: "Who are you? You're not a teacher here?

Jon: "No. The name’s Jon Arbuckle. Former Ultimate Cartoonist. I'm… not sure what is
happening, but it doesn't seem good."

Brandon frowned, glancing down at the middle schooler next to Jon who has said nothing so
far. He glared at Brandon through his thick glasses, causing a shiver to go down the
freshman's spine.

Rodrick: "That's it. I give up."

Mônica: "Already?! Seu idiota, you're not helping us get out of here by quitting!"

Rodrick: "Well, that gate is too high for us to climb reasonably, and the only way we're
getting out is with a key. And by the way, I don't see one!"

Brandon: "Guys, let's think about this rationally, if the key is gone then we can just look
for…"

But he's caught off by the sudden murmuring in the crowd. Jon glanced with annoyance,
planning to tell them to quiet down, when he saw why the group shifted all of a sudden.

A uh. A mouse? A rat? A mouse girl?

Brandon could practically feel the anxiety radiating off of her. Being the center of attention in
a crowd full of strangers like that probably would have done that to him, too. Especially
when the comments consisted of "what is that thing?"

Sure, seeing something like her in a crowd would be shocking. She wasn't recognizable at all
to them. But Brandon picked up that on her end, she was probably surrounded by creatures
she's never seen before.

Jon walked through the crowd and put a hand on her shoulder. Good. She looked like she
would've cried otherwise. The voices mostly quieted down as he asked her for her name.

Babymouse: "...Babymouse. Ultimate Ballerina."

Quiet voice, but good enough for the group. Seems her speaking made a couple of them self
conscious about gawking at her. But now wasn't the time for apologies, as the school's
broadcasting system suddenly turned on with a squeal.

???: "ATTENTION LOSERS! MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE CAFETERIA, RIGHT

NOW!"

Nate, Nikki & Greg: "Losers?!"

Mônica: "Oh, I am not taking this from someone I can't even see the face of!"

Those four ran off, determined to defend their egos against this invisible threat.

More of the group began to split off to find down this elusive cafeteria, and Brandon felt a
wave of embarrassment rush over him. Was he the only one who didn’t know where that
was? It felt like his first day of school again. He’ll just follow them and pretend he knows.

The cafeteria. The last location that Brandon hasn’t exactly seen yet. Everyone else was
already here, and he lowered his head in embarrassment about being the last man in. It didn’t
help when Nikki suddenly ran over and grabbed him by his wrist, essentially dragging him to
the center of the crowd. But he didn’t have time to object, because as he looked at what Nikki
was pointing to, any thoughts he could of had left him.

The wall of the cafeteria has essentially been turned into a massive aquarium. This must be
where the water in the walls of the other rooms are from. But the aquarium is barren. Empty.
It seemed to hold no life in the gray waters. But he squinted. That tank wasn’t empty. And it
didn’t take long for its only resident to swim up, seeming oh so tiny in the open space of the
practical ocean of water in front of them, yet it seemed to make this thing seem all the more
menacing.
But, why was it so scary, you may ask? It’s just an ugly little goldfish. Well, you and I live in
a world different from Brandon.

Things aren’t supposed to be colored in. Not in this world.

Not unless you’ve died.

Or, in this case, almost died.

Rodrick: “What."

Rodrick: "The fuck?"

George and Harold audibly gasped at the other’s swear-drop, turning to Jon, expecting him to
do something.

He didn't, but the fish responded.

???: "HEY! I HOPE YA DONT PLAN ON ACTIN' LIKE THAT EVERY TIME I POP UP!"

Teddy: "Who- what are you?"

Maddie: "He looks like a goldfish but… you know…"

???: "DEAD? DON'T MENTION IT! OR DO, IF YOU WANT TO GET ACCUSTOMED
TO THAT WORD!"

Brandon could only stare, eyes glued to the aquarium. The voice didn't sound like it was
coming from the fish, per say, but from the speakers. But the fish moved around as if he was
talking, so Brandon couldn't tell for sure.

Mônica: "What do you mean, accustomed to that word, you expired surf n' turf??!"

???: "Σ(ﾞ ｀-´) FIRST OFF, THE NAMES FRANKIE, THE ZOMBIE GOLDFISH!"

Frankie: "SECOND OFF, WELCOME TO YOUR PERMANENT NEW HOMES! FOR

REAL!"

A murmur started in the crowd as Brandon looked over to Nikki in shock. But she wasn't
looking at him, gaze stuck on the fish.

Jon: "Permanent? You have got to be joking. I have a cat and dog to feed, you know-"

Frankie: "I'M SERIOUS! AS SERIOUS AS A GUY AS SMALL AS ME CAN BE! 24/7,

FOR 12 MONTHS A YEAR, YOU'RE ALL STUCK HERE!"

Callie: "Noooo! I don't wanna live hereeeee!!!"

Babymouse: "My parents…"

Frankie: "OH QUIT YOUR WHINING! IF I SAID YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO LEAVE
WOULD YA TAKE IT?!"

Greg: "Well-"

Frankie: "BECAUSE I DO! WELCOME TO THE KILLING GAME, BABYYY! ^ヮ^

This time, it was Brandon's turn to say something.

Brandon: "What do you mean, killing game??"

Frankie: "IT MEANS YA SLASH, DASH, SLICE MAIM AND KILL! IF YOU WANT TO
LEAVE, KILL ONE OF YOUR FELLOW BUDDIES WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT!"

Brandon: "Murder?!"

His voice practically cracked.

Cebolinha: "But we'we kids!"

Nate: "You must be some new kind of sicko! A sicko fish!"

Frankie: "I KNOW YOU ARE, BUT WHAT AM I? ヽﾐ ´∀｀ﾐノ"

Brandon can't take this. Kill each other? And he says it so casually. Seems the others can't
take it either, because Rodrick picks up a chair.

Rodrick: "Kill? How about I smash that glass and leave you to suffocate, you bastard?"

And with that, the doors click, causing a chill to go down Brandon's spine.

Frankie: "Smash the glass, then."

Oh. The fish not yelling every word is worse, actually.

There’s a moment of silence as those in the group stare at Rodrick. His expression is painted
with anger, but he doesn’t take a step forward. He folds his arms.

Rodrick: “Fuck you.”

Frankie: “NOW HERE’S THE RULES, SINNERS!”

“ALL OF YOUS ARE DOOMED TO DIE HERE, UNLESS SOMEONE BITES THE
BULLET AND TAKES ANOTHER LIFE! YOU GET TO DO IT TWICE, BUT IF YA DO
ANYMORE I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO MAKE YOU DIE TOO! IF YA GET AWAY WITH
IT, YOU GO HOME! BUT LOOK OUT… YOU SCREW THIS BAD BOY UP, AND
YOU’RE SWIMMING WITH THE FISHES! SAME GOES FOR IF YOU BREAK ANY
OF MY PIPES, I NEED THOSE TO WATCH YOU FELLAS!!”

There’s the sound of clattering. A bunch of tablets have been dumped onto a nearby table.

Frankie: “I DON’T GOT ANY STAFF TO HAND THESE SUCKERS OUT, SO YOU’RE
GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DUE WITH GRABBING ONE FROM THE PILE.
THEY’RE SPECIAL PADS THAT GIVE YOU THE VITALS OF ALL YOUR
PRISONMATES, ISN’T THAT COOL? DON’T WORRY, THEY BECOME
PERSONALIZED AS SOON AS YOUR FINGERPRINTS TOUCH IT. ANY
QUESTIONS?”
 Jon: “Hey now! What about-”
Frankie: “DIDN’T THINK SO! GOODBYE!”

Jon: “HEY, HEY!!”

Jon ran up to the glass to try and get the attention of the zombified goldfish, but he had
already swam away by the time Jon was banging against it to try and get more answers.
Eventually, the younger students began to separate, frightened at the aspect of murder. Sure,
some of them had gotten into hijinks- many of them even in some more unrealistic scenarios-
but there was always a layer of cartoonishness to them. This? This is just cold-blooded
murder.

Jon eventually left, dejected, but determined to break everyone out. Nikki stared at Brandon
for a good bit, seeming as though she wanted to say something. But when he took a step
towards her, she ran away crying.

Brandon stood there alone in the cafeteria.

He’s used to death, but not in this way. He didn’t want to think about the chance of losing his
life. Or the chance these people here could lose theirs. He didn’t want to consider the fact he
could lose Nikki.

Brandon Roberts shut his eyes, on the verge of a breakdown, falling to the hands of a deadly
despair that was about to take them all. Despite the fact that nothing has happened yet, and
the fact he didn’t really see the fish display any power, there was something in Brandon’s
heart, and in his soul, that screamed one thing:

Not everyone would be getting out of this alive.

Chapter End Notes

"leon why did this take so long" because I was struggling with CGs chat. expect a future
update with talent cards but that is NOT today. anyways, for some context-
- artstyle differences are visible (I gaurantee the humanoid characters are distressed by
the more cartoony looking ones)
- black and white isn't a perception thing, the world genuinely looks like that
- harvey was intentionally not revealed because he's the antag lol
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