The Midnight Game

[animusmods]

As the chosen residents approach the elevator, two retrieval units will be waiting to hand out a sheet of paper to each person. These sheets of paper contain the instructions for their game, as well as a number placing them in one of four groups. The groups will be called one by one into the elevator and, after a long ride down, will be released into an empty version of the Tower identical to the one they just left, with two differences: in place of the countless dormitory rooms are just enough rooms for each group member to occupy one, and each door is made of wood. Inside each room is a candle, a knife that will cut the skin of the person wielding it and nothing else, a blank piece of paper, a book of matches, and a container of salt. Once in their rooms, they are to begin The Midnight Game.

Midnight Game Instruction Sheet
1. Write your complete name on the piece of paper.
2. Use the knife to cut your skin and place at least one drop of blood on the paper, allowing it to soak in.
3. Turn off the lights in your room. This will turn off all the lights in the Tower.
4. Place the piece of paper on the floor in front of the door. Light your candle and plce it on top of the piece of paper.
5. Knock on the dor 22 times. Upon the twenty-second knock, it will be midnight.
6. Open the door, blow out the candle, and close the door.
7. Relight your candle.

You must now move around the Tower, keeping your candle with you at all times. Keep moving to avoid the Midnight Man. If your candle goes out, relight it immediately. If you cannot relight your candle, surround yourself with a circle of salt. If you are unsuccessful you will



Keep moving until 3:33AM. If you are not captured by the Midnight Man, you win the game. If your entire group fails, you will be punished.

Groups
Group One
Sora
Ienzo
Shion
Signless
Vriska
Minato
Mimio

Group Two
John
Suzaku
Russia
Terezi
Disciple
Link
Marceline
America

Group Three
Taiki
France (au2)
Willow Rosenberg
Handmaid
Aqua
Deneb
Echidna
Psiioniic

Group Four
Romeo
Nina Fortner
Sollux (au)
Namine
Riku
Vriska (au)
Erik
OoT!Zelda

Comments

[lethechained]

[Naminé almost stops when she sees Zelda's light, but reminds herself just in time that she should probably keep moving, so she does so, simultaneously trying to get a better look at the other person, who she discerns to be an older girl. Her own expression is apprehensive, and a bit of it comes across in her voice.]

Hello...?

[sageprincess]

[Likewise, Zelda moves closer and, oh, a child. It breaks her heart that these people will even involve children in their "games," and so she tries to keep her own voice calm and gentle.]

Do not be afraid, I mean no harm to you. We are both pawns in this game.

[lethechained]

[The girl is not likely to be completely soothed any time while this 'game' is still going on, but the calm tone is decidedly welcome. She looks up at the older girl, watching her closely despite the fact that Naminé remembers having seen her before the 'game' started. She can't help but be cautious when she knows how the tower likes to harass its occupants. After a moment, she nods.]

I remember you, from before.

[thegirltwin]

[Voices! Female voices. Nina could hear them talking as she rounded a corner. They both sounded slightly familiar, too, though perhaps it was her mind playing tricks on her. Nevertheless, she moved toward the sound, candlelight flickering uncertainly in the darkness as she moves toward them, albeit cautiously, calling out in a hushed whisper.]

Hello?

[sageprincess]

[She nods in return, and opens her mouth as if to reply but then-- oh, another voice! Hylian ears being what they are, she hears the whisper just fine, and she turns, slowly walking towards its source - if only to satisfy the 'keep moving' requirement. She doesn't stray far from Naminé, however.]

Yes?

[lethechained]

[Naminé's hearing is not nearly so good, but she does manage to catch the whisper. Even if she hadn't, Zelda's reaction is more than sufficient to alert the younger girl to Nina's presence. She turns, drifting after Zelda, and once she realizes who the new arrival is,]

-- Nina?

[thegirltwin]

Naminé!

[Nina is relieved, both that her young roommate is unhurt and the voices weren't a figment of her imagination after all, and it's probably obvious in her voice.

When she gets close enough for their candles to cast light on her, it's obvious through the slightly creepy orange glow that she's smiling.]

And... I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name the last time we spoke, did I?

[sageprincess]

[Oh, it's the woman she met when she first woke up! And... she knows the girl? The princess blinks a bit in surprise, but she's not about to look a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak.]

No, and for that I apologize. My name is Zelda.

[For once, she drops the title. This really isn't the time for it, after all.]

[animusnpcs]

[The temperature drops sharply.]

[lethechained]

[Naminé's response to Nina's recognition is a faint smile of her own. The youngest girl's gaze shifts between her companions as they speak, at least until the sudden temperature change, which makes her stiffen. She was already on edge, but she immediately finds herself even more so.]

--?!

[thegirltwin]

[Immediately, Nina's happiness fades and she is on her guard. She turns to the other girls.]

Get behind me and stay close.

[With that, she begins to move down the hall. They have to keep moving, after all. But she moves slowly so as not to lose them in the darkness.]

[sageprincess]

[Zelda shivers at the sudden chill. It's... definitely unnatural, but she cannot sense where or who it's coming from, which puts her on edge.

Silently, she nods at Nina's instruction, and since the older woman is taking the lead, she positions herself in the back so Naminé is in between them.]

[lethechained]

[Naminé notices the fact that Zelda's moved into place behind her, but the Nobody is concentrated on following Nina's instructions and trying to keep an eye out for welcome or unwelcome guests. There are others in their group, and she finds herself wondering how they're faring. Her hands cling more tightly to the objects in them. The situation is unsettling enough, but made even more so by her complete inability to sense what she assumes is the Midnight Man, even as she surreptitiously reaches out with her powers.]

[animusnpcs]

[As soon as Namine reaches out with her power the temperature drops wildly. All candles and other light sources go out.]

[thegirltwin]

[Nina wonders how the others are faring too, and hopes they're all right. She doesn't like the thought that they could be hurt or in trouble. Still, protecting the other women with her is her priority right now.

Then everything goes completely dark. Nina feels her heart drop to her stomach, but she doesn't let her fear show, though she does feel a shiver from cold run up her spine. Still, she speaks in a firm, decisive voice.]

Stay calm. We just need to re-light our candles and we'll be fine. If you have trouble, just tell me and I'll light yours for you.

[No sooner as she started speaking than Nina has gotten out her matches and is striking one of them against the outside of the package to light it.]

[sageprincess]

[Whatever is chasing them, it's found them, and the idea makes Zelda inhale sharply. But seven years in hiding has taught her restraint, and it's that restraint that allows her to retrieve her matches without fumbling. Once more, she nods to Nina.]

Right. This is no time to panic.

[...Matches aren't too different from flint and steel - the concept is largely the same. But still, it might take her a few tries to get it to work.]

[lethechained]

[The reflexive sharp inhale speaks to her shock, and her eyes are wide in the dark once the candles go out. Had she caused that? Did she do something wrong? Immediately, guilt creeps through her, but she can't panic now, she can't take the time to think it over because she has to get that candle lit again. The others have remained calm, and though her mind is a whirlwind of possibilities, she must do the same. Her hands feel weak as she wriggles a match out of the book and clumsily tries to light it, succeeding only barely and quickly moving to transfer the flame to her candle. Her expression as the light comes back is an anxious one.]

[animusnpcs]

[There's a low groaning, and the temperature around Zelda drops increasingly, as she's slow lighting her candle. The darkness reaches out, as if it were a living thing, but as soon as the candle is lit again it retreats.]