SOMETHING X2

Sen heard a knock on his door. He quickly buried a bottle in a pile of clothes and closed the cupboard. “Come in.”

Nive (boy) stepped inside. “Sen, Morrissey, and Nike are having the same symptoms as Janka.”

“All three....” Sen sighed and walked out. “Hmm… I hope this isn’t contagious.”

They entered the boy’s combination room, where everyone gathered around the two ill teens. They trembled, breathing heavily, their faces filled with fear.

“Firstly, everyone who touched these two…move aside,” Sen announced in a loud voice.

Yuzuru stood and moved away. Riley sighed and joined him. The two exchanged a sorrowful glance.

“We are just being cautious,” Sen looked at Yuzuru.

Yuzuru raised his hand. “Can I please hug someone I don’t like?”

Yao patted Nive and against the shorter boy. “I bet he wants you to hug me~”

“I was planning on hugging you… And Riley, hug your sister.”

“I don’t think it’s contagious…” Nive (girl) called out, standing far away along with Jacksaw. They had different sigils drawn on the floor. And each held a small spellbook.

Jacksaw closed his book and drew an ‘S’ on the floor, making a sigil around it. “Yep, not Stanley’s curse.”

Nive flipped a few more pages and turned to others. "With that, we are sure this is a Star Area curse... but my book doesn't have much information."

Sen leaned against the wall. “Riley, the dead are from your friend group. Do you, Ayu, or Vivian know anything?”

“I don’t think so…” She tapped her chin, thinking.

“I am actually glad they are gone.” Vivian chuckled.

“Vivi, they will suspect you…” Ayu shook Vivian’s arm.

“If next, one of you three dies, we can safely assume the culprit is targeting you guys…..” Yao tilted his head, chuckling. Sen also let out a short chuckle.

“Do you suspect anyone…aside from Damian?” Nive (boy) looked at Riley.

“Hmm…if it were Vivian or Ayu, I would have said all of you guys, especially Yuzuru, but since it’s those three…no one comes to mind.”

“Their breathing’s worsening!” Sephora shouted.

The two began convulsing frenziedly, their skin turning blue. And suddenly their bodies stopped moving.

Nive (boy) sighed. “They died…”

“So we are stuck with two dead bodies.” Yuzuru ruffled his hair. “When will they disappear?”

Nive looked at his phone. “It’s 1:21… so they’ll vanish by 2.”

Sen looked at his phone. He mumbled, “That time… It feels like déjà vu.”

.

.

After lunch, everyone was busy with their usual activities. Sen walked to Toby’s room; the door was shut. Toby’s name tag glistened under the hallway light as Sen reached for the knob.

“What are you doing?” Yao slipped his arm around Sen.

Sen pushed him away. “Firstly…don’t be so touchy… your strength leaves bruises… and secondly, I came to check on Ren; I didn’t see him during lunch…”

Yao chuckled and patted Sen’s back. Sen shot him a glare and walked away.

“Where are you going, Sen?” Yao called out.

“To my room…”

“Black potion…”

Sen turned around and pulled him closer. “Shut it….”

Yao watched Sen walking away; he smiled and darted down the opposite side.

.

.

In the lounge, Yuzuru, Jacksaw, and both of the Nives sat on the couches. Yuzuru munched on the chips while Jacksaw flipped through the magazines.

“Wasn’t Yao originally Nami’s friend, and now he is soooo close to Sen that he confided in him about the plan to kill Ren… I have been noticing them back at the desserts too….” Nive (boy) snatched the chips from Yuzuru.

“Nive, your days of making plans with Sen are over; just accept it!” Jacksaw chuckled and snatched the packet from him.

“Dude, you were his ex, his ex-planner!” Yuzuru laughed.

“You guys can’t take something seriously, now can you?” Nive (girl) sighed and leaned on the couch. “Nive isn’t being a jealous ex….. He is surprised that’s all…”

“Come on, Nive, I think they got closer back when Toby confessed to Nami, right!?” Jacksaw scratched his head. “So it’s only natural that they are making plans nowadays.”

“And it will be normal that they will be kissing one day!”

Ayu squeezed her face between Jacksaw and Yuzuru. The two let out a scream and scrambled away.

“Shouldn’t you be mourning…your friends died?” Yuzuru adjusted himself.

Ayu shook her head. “It’s okay…. I am not sad…. By the way... do you know where Ren is...? Riley is looking for him.”

“No clue,” Nive (girl) shook her head.

Ayu leaned closer to everyone as if telling a horror story. “And do you know last night some frames fell… but the computer cleaned up and hung new frames!”

“Ohhh…we are so scared.” Yuzuru looked at her with a bored face. “Let me tell a horror story… booo…the lights have been flickering a lot…” He knocked on her head.

“Owwww”

“Oi, computer… You running low on electricity or something?!” Jacksaw shouted at the ceiling.

"It's unresponsive when Dac's not around." Nive (boy) noticed Yao.

Yao walked to them. “Well, have you seen Nami?”

“Must be in her room...” Nive (girl) answered.

“Thanks.” Yao walked away.

Jacksaw tossed the magazines and straightened his back, with a serious face. “I think he wants a threesome.”

Yuzuru knocked on Jacksaw's head, followed by a knock by Nive (boy).

Yuzuru walked down the hallway, mumbling. “He is taking my spot…he is trying to be Sen and Nami’s friend…. Nice you don’t get it…how frustrated I am…”

.

.

In the boys’ combination room, everyone settled in. Many lamps were turned dim. Some scrolled their screens, while Nive read a book.

Sen glanced at the empty beds and mumbled. “Amanda didn’t send them back yet…” He jerked up and looked at the time, turning to Ren and Cero’s beds. “It’s already midnight, and those two didn’t return.”

He hastily got off his bed and rushed to the door. He heard a knock; he swung the door open and saw Nami. She clenched his shirt.

“Lunette…she isn’t feeling well…she is just like those two.”

“So it’s not just their group.”

They carried Lunette to the boy’s combination room. The lights flickered again as Lunette gasped for air.

“I think it’s better if we all stay together…. I think we can’t be taking everything as carelessly anymore…” Nive (boy) announced.

Sen looked at Riley. “Are her insides alright…”

“Yes…it seems like she is healthy…”

“The girls can take the beds of the absent guys … or the extra beds.” Nive (girl) settled in with the girls.

Rose flopped onto a bed. “So Lunette will die too, right?”

“Most likely.” Vivian lay down.

Ayu nudged Sen and motioned him to bend lower. “Sen… I don’t see Ren anywhere…”

A crackling sound came from the lights, suddenly flaring bright.

*CRASH*

Glass shreds came crashing down as darkness engulfed the room. A few gasps echoed following the darkness.

“Computer?” Kaya yelled. “It’s not responding…”

Powerballs and phone flashlights lit up, brightening the room enough to see each other.

Ayu clung to Sen. “Ren must be shocked by the blackout—“

“Last time he went to Toby’s room.” Sen cupped his chin thoughtfully. "But that was in the morning; he might not be there."

“I will go check it out.”

“It might be dangerous—”

"It's fine; I am not scared." She patted her chest and skipped out of the room.

Nive flashed her power ball on Lunette.

“I think she is dead.”

“She is dead.”

Nive felt dizzy as another voice resonated alongside her; she moved away and flashed a light towards the source of the voice. Everyone gasped, and a commotion swept past everyone. Yuzuru’s breath hitched, pointing his trembling hand.

“Toby?”