[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/FZetILB.gif[/img]    [img] https://i.imgur.com/Inzj52m.gif[/img][/center]

[indent][indent]Krista had been glad to see Zach accept her offer to do a duet, the violinist’s mind spinning from the pieces they could perform together. As a musician, Krista had always appreciated playing with other people. She had always believed that playing together with somebody was so much better than performing solo. Plus: had anyone even heard a kazoo and a violin together before? How interesting! 

Finally crossing the threshold into the music plaza, Krista began looking for the instrument eagerly. 

Cyrus left the dining hall soon thereafter. He was in two minds right now. On one hand he had enjoyed a nice breakfast, on the other he had to suffer through Bliss’s lecture. The worst thing about it was that he had agreed with her. The politician’s mood was noticeably miffed. He sighed. Where was he to go now? The politician honestly wasn’t sure. He was off his game. He needed distraction. Something else. Something to take his mind off things other than just try to relax and sulking.

As he entered the hallway, the corner of his eye caught the music plaza, and the infinites that had found themselves a nice spot. But that reminded him, wasn’t there something they hadn’t done yet? Something they had left unchecked? Maybe it was time to change that now. Why not? It wasn’t like Cyrus wanted to do anything else. He just had to convince the right person to join him. With some feigned enthusiasm, he approached the music plaza and tapped the infinite violinist on the shoulder.  [color=D1c2bf]”Hey, got some time?”[/color] 

No luck… Maybe they were in the other corner? [color=6c9b8f]“If I were kazoo, where would I like to be kept…?”[/color] The violinist murmured to herself, thinking aloud. She swung on her heels to face the person tapping her shoulder, giving a bright smile to Cyrus as she realised who it was. [color=6c9b8f]“Oh! Good morning! I’ll always have time for friends! What’ do you need?”[/color] She chirped.

 [color=D1c2bf]”In a good mood, I see.”[/color] Cyrus smiled back at Krista, her joy was somewhat infectious. Perhaps that was just what he needed. For a moment, he thought he should just let the topic rest. That bringing this up wasn’t going to do things much good. However, Cyrus said it anyway.  [color=D1c2bf]”I was thinking we haven’t checked out the morgue yet.”[/color] He said, keeping his voice down so Zach wouldn’t be able to overhear. He knew that Krista didn’t really want it known.  [color=D1c2bf]”Perhaps we ought to, now? There could still be something useful in there.”[/color] He had his doubts still on what a morgue could offer. But if a crematorium could be turned into a forge, maybe there was hope.

Krista’s smile widened at the returned smile from the politician. It was always such a good feeling to make a friend smile. Her smile almost faltered at the mention of the morgue, her responsibilities catching up the the blonde like a freight train hitting her at full speed. She looked between the politician and archer carefully, keeping an eye on Zach so he would not know about the handbook. Maybe the kazoo can wait a little longer…
The violinist nodded reluctantly, before flashing Cyrus another smile. She turned to fully face Zach next. [color=6c9b8f] “I’ll be Bach soon! I just remembered I have an errand to run!”[/color]  With a quick, vague explanation, Krista ushered Cyrus out so they could be on their not so merry way to the morgue.

The morgue was not very far away, but the two infinites took their time treading down towards the narrow dead-end corridor. At the end of the hall was the door to Nariko's room, and it looked just as depressed as the robot herself. The fluorescent lights closest to the door flickered on and off, and there seemed to be some water damage to the walls the further in they went. The white paint was peeling, and where the walls had entirely failed, one could see a concrete barrier behind them. The door to the morgue was very wide and was as tall as the wall itself. The door showed signs of excessive use but was quite durable in construction. Among all that was worn and ruined was a key card reader in perfect condition. It was positioned directly over a puddle. This appeared to be the only way to gain access to the morgue.

A shiver ran down Cyrus’s spine as they approached. Something about that room didn’t feel right. Then again, it was supposed to be a room with dead bodies. He wondered if Nariko was in there right now. Why would she be? Why would Nariko be in her room for anything besides ‘sleep’? Cyrus also had to note the decay of this place; it was definitely not how the real Axis mundi looked. Either this place had fallen into disrepair during their short sleep, or this was a recreation that had actually looked very realistic until now.  [color=D1c2bf]”Are you sure you want to go in there?”[/color] Cyrus asked Krista curiously. Honestly, he wouldn’t blame her if she decided to run off instead.

Krista shook her head, rubbing her elbows uncomfortably as she stared at the doorway. Finally, the blonde shook her head. [color=6c9b8f]“I’m… scared we’ll see the bodies of our friends…”[/color] She laughed uncomfortably. Was that really something she had to worry about at a time like this? [color=6c9b8f]“I- I mean,  I’ll still go in b-but…”[/color] There was a reason why Krista put off checking out the morgue for so long. She swallowed before giving Cyrus a look. [color=6c9b8f]“Are you fine with this? I don’t want to be of any [i]treble[/i] by keeping you here if you’d prefer to go elsewhere.”[/color] She gave the politician the opportunity to leave.

Cyrus rose a brow.  [color=D1c2bf]”I believe I was the one asking [i]you[/i] to accompany me. Why would I back out now?”[/color] He reminded her. But he agreed. [color=D1c2bf]”I’d rather not see our dead friends, if we can at all help it. But I feel we are obliged to check the place anyway.”[/color] He sighed, gracing her with a similar opportunity. [color=D1c2bf]”Are you really sure? You could just stay outside. I’ll check. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”[/color]

[color=6c9b8f]“The worst? Dead bodies could rise up from the dead… or… worse. We see [i]nobody[/i] inside!”[/color] Krista pressed her fingers against her cheeks before finally letting out a sigh. There was no point scaring herself like this too much. Cyrus was here. Everything was going to be okay. [color=6c9b8f]“Alright, let me just...”[/color] She used the handbook to open the door, closing her eyes tightly to avoid looking inside as the door opened.

After the handbook was used, the door started to creep open. It groaned like an old giant waking up in the morning. For every second they waited, the door opened another inch. It was difficult to see inside. The difference in temperature and humidity caused the morgue to belch out white mist. But when it cleared, Nariko was standing in the doorway, surprising the two infinites with her presence.

[b]“K-Krista?”[/b] The robot was shaking. [b]“Why are you trying to enter without me? Did I do something wrong?”[/b] She looked down at the floor. [b]“Is it because I went to see Aleecia? I'm sorry.”[/b]

Nariko’s voice echoing down the hall almost made the trembling violinist scream. Were they really not allowed to check out the room without Nariko? [color=6c9b8f]“N-no! It’s not that! You did nothing wrong!”[/color] Krista opened her eyes to look at Nariko, looking panicked as if she’d been caught doing something wrong. [color=6c9b8f]“I- I just thought I could see if there’s anything in here before you’d ask for your handbook back to give to Aleecia! I’m sorry if we did something wrong!”[/color]

Cyrus was just as surprised as Krista to see Nariko here, but he managed to somewhat keep his cool. [color=D1c2bf]“It’s not polite to spook people like that, Nariko!”[/color] The politician called out on a berating tone. He leered at the robot. He had honestly hoped they could’ve snuck in there without her, but that seemed out of the question now. Of all the sisters, Nariko really made his skin crawl the most. [color=D1c2bf]“Anyhow, can we go in?”[/color]

Nariko became increasingly flustered with Cyrus scolding her. [b]“I-It wasn't intentional!”[/b] Nariko was on the verge of tears. [b]“What must I do to right these wrongs?”[/b] She sniffled. [b]“I-I can make it up to you Krista. But only you.”[/b] She looked at Cyrus. [b]“You have to stay out here. I'm sorry.”[/b] She closed her eyes with a click. [b]“B-but maybe Willow can keep you company? She wanted to talk to you and-”[/b]

[b]“The queen is here!”[/b] Willow's voice called out from the end of the corridor. Her horse galloped towards Cyrus, but slowed as she approached. [b]“We have much to discuss, Cyrus.”[/b] She looked at the scepter he gave her. [b]“All about my exploits, and yours.”[/b]

Between Nariko and Willow, Krista was not sure whether she felt entirely comfortable going into the morgue without Cyrus’s support. But Krista was sure that Nariko would not let Cyrus in, even if Krista asked so she turned to Cyrus. [color=6c9b8f]“Thank you for joining me this far at least, I’ll try my hardest not to miss anything!”[/color] She gave Cyrus a quick close-eyed smile before turning to face Nariko, giving her a smaller smile and gesturing towards the morgue. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help her fellow infinites by turning down this offer. What if there was an escape route inside? [color=6c9b8f]“Let’s go in!”[/color]

Cyrus really didn’t want to see Willow here. In addition, Nariko’s behaviour only fed his suspicions. Something fishy was going on in that morgue. What were they trying to do? Were they going to supply Krista with another of those inane motives? [color=D1c2bf]“Are you sure?“[/color] Cyrus asked the violinist. However, the girl seemed to have made up her mind. Honestly, the carnage sisters were probably not going to let him in either way. [color=D1c2bf]“Fine, but I’m staying right here, in case you need me.”[/color]

[color=6c9b8f]“Thank you, I really appreciate it…!”[/color] Cyrus received another closed eye smile, this time much more genuine. She sighed with relief as she waited for Nariko to give her permission inside.

Inside the morgue, Nariko accepted Krista by taking her by the hand.  The robot's hand was cold but warmed quickly in her palm. [b]“T-thank you. I really don't deserve your trust. After trying to cure you, running over to see Aleecia.”[/b] She sighed. [b]“A-anyway, I gave you my handbook because I had something here for you, and only you.”[/b] The robot walked across the floor. The room was fairly unremarkable. The walls were covered in filing cabinet like doors, and there was a table in the centre of the room for autopsies. Other than the low temperature, there wasn't anything else that could really be seen. [b]“Here.”[/b] She grabbed one of the filing cabinets like draws and pulled it open. There was a blanket thrown over something. It wasn't a body, the blanket was laying over something a lot thinner than that.  [b]“G-go on, take a look.”[/b]

Krista shakily held onto Nariko’s hand tightly as the robot guided the violinist towards the object inside the drawer. The lack of bodies in the morgue helped soothe her nerves ever so slightly, but it was not over yet. [color=6c9b8f]“What is this?”[/color] She let go of Nariko’s hand to pull up the blanket. Part of her was worried that it was the note she had left with Aleecia in hopes to get help from the outside, but the shape of the object within looked too different...

[b]“Aren't you just adorable Cyrus! The vagrant king concerned about his subjects! Marvelous!”[/b] Willow placed her cannon and scepter in her lap so that she could lean on them with both elbows. [b]“But pray tell, did you like my gift? I don't think my father will soon forgive my brash behavior.”[/b]

Cyrus was visibly annoyed by the robot, but he indulged her nonetheless. [color=D1c2bf]“Such is the way of a leader. Not to mention, I was curious.”[/color] He then looked at the robot visibly unsure as she uttered her next statement. [color=D1c2bf]“Gift? I have received no gift.”[/color] No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t remember receiving anything from Willow.

[b]“You most certainly did!”[/b] Willow said with her ever smug expression. Not that she had much of a choice what her face did. [b]“I created those motive notes with the help of my sisters. Without them, an entirely different set of people would have died. Aren't you happy that you got to execute Erin Steele? With my father's original plan, you might have even been the one to die.”[/b] She giggled. [b]“This was a VERY good gift.”[/b]

When the blanket fell to the floor, Krista was able to see what was lying out inside the drawer. As she had hoped, it was not a body. It was an outfit. A black blouse with short sleeves, a red plaid skirt, knee-high laced boots complete with a tie; all of these items looked familiar. She remembered seeing them recently. But Krista wasn't able to recall exactly where she saw these items, not right away. But what Krista hadn't noticed was that Nariko had dropped onto her hands and knees. Behind the table out of sight was a shackle and chain, which Nariko now had in her hand. The blanket hadn't even come to rest before the carnage sister latched the shackle around Krista's ankle, causing it to lock into place. Unlike the exterior of the morgue, the shackle and chain were in like new condition. Because the other end of the chain was anchored into the floor very securely, Krista wouldn't be leaving the morgue without a key or a hacksaw. Nariko remained on the ground, not looking at anything.

Willow's eyes shot up into the air. [b]“Oh, I guess she did it.”[/b] The door to the morgue was closing. With less than four inches of clearance, it would be impossible for a human to fit inside the small opening.

The shackle locked around Krista’s ankle, alerting the violinist of Nariko’s action. She had been so distracted by trying to identify the outfit that she had no time to notice or react to the carnage sister locking her in place. She tried kicking her foot out of the shackle before crouching so she could tug the end of the chain out with a panicked look on her face. [color=6c9b8f]“Nariko! What are you doing?! Let me go!”[/color] Krista cried out, demanding Nariko desperately whilst tugging on the chain. [color=6c9b8f]“Cyrus! HELP!”[/color] She screamed as the door to the morgue was closing, her chance to escape disappearing every second.

Cyrus didn’t even get the time to respond to Willow. The woman’s shriek for help spurred the politician into action. As he looked around, he saw the door was almost closed. Without hesitation, he rushed to the morgue. With force, he tried to yank the door open. However, the door wouldn’t budge an inch. Without the notebook, it was hopeless. Cyrus then looked through the small opening to see Krista in chains, with the carnage sister looming over her possessively. [color=D1c2bf]“What the hell is going on?”[/color] Cyrus screamed angrily. [color=D1c2bf]“Let her go, you goddamn pathetic piece of rust!”[/color]

Nariko slowly tipped her head back. [b]“When Aleecia left this killing game, I was distraught. I considered permanently destroying myself. Withdrawing from this forsaken place once and for all. ”[/b] She cupped her hands around Krista's leg. [b]“Aleece was my pillar in this place. She was so broken, just like me. But that was when I started to notice you.”[/b] The robot released Krista's leg before rising to her feet. [b]“Everything you do brings you misery. Everyone you befriend, every plan you hatch, everything you do brings you despair.”[/b] Nariko cupped her hands on either side of Krista's face. [b]“And you look just like her. Well, close anyway. You're both blonde, but you're a bit too short. But I can see the absence of hope in your eyes. I could make you... Just like her.”[/b] Nariko giggled. It sounded nervous. The sorrowful carnage sister turned around and walked towards the opening in the door. Her glass eyes locked with Cyrus. [b]“Krista and Aleecia, I want them both. You will deliver Aleecia to me before carnage night ends, or I'll make sure Krista and I die together.”[/b]

It didn't suffice to say that Cyrus was astonished, he shook visibly with anger. [color=D1c2bf]“What the- No way this can be possible.”[/color] Cyrus thought for a bit. And he hoped he had a way out. [color=D1c2bf]“Monokuma! Come here! Your daughter is harming a patient!”[/color] he shouted, hoping to summon the good doctor and get this over with. There was no way he'd let Krista in the hands of that monster.

[color=magenta]“What's this?”[/color] Monokuma came flying out of the ground. [color=magenta]“Is someone breaking the rules?”[/color] The bear growled.

[b]“F-father!”[/b] Willow's eyes darted all over. [b]“Of course not! These vagrants are perfectly capable of inflicting harm on each other! Why would we even need to help them?”[/b]

[color=magenta]“Girls...”[/color] Monokuma extended his claws. [color=magenta]“Explain the situation in as few words as possible. I'm not exactly happy about having my motive hijacked.”[/color]

Willow pointed inside the Morgue. [b]“We have not inflicted any harm on the patient! Nariko simply closed a clamp around her leg when she entered her room.”[/b]

[color=magenta]“Hmmm.”[/color] Monokuma turned to face Cyrus.[color=magenta]“It ticks me off, but it's not a rule violation, is it?”[/color]

Cyrus growled audibly. [color=D1c2bf]“I don't know, that clamp looks painfully tight!”[/color] Cyrus tried. [color=D1c2bf]“And your rule does not discriminate physical and mental harm. Think of the trauma this has inflicted on Krista! This is very clearly a rule violation!”[/color] Perhaps he was grasping for straws here, but he had to try!

Willow laughed. [b]“Nice try Cyrus, but our handbooks state that we will not [i]intentionally[/i] harm a patient. Nariko's intent here was clearly not to harm. And any so-called “mental harm” can be seen as the nurse's mission to cure you of your hope!”[/b] She sat upright and brandished her cannon and sword.

Nariko was shaking. [b]“I don't want to hurt Krista. And if you deliver Aleecia to me like I ask, I will keep them safe. I may not deserve the opportunity to be with them, but you lot have proven time and time again... that you are the real monsters.”[/b]

[color=magenta]“This takes the honey out of the honeysuckles.”[/color] Monokuma groaned and started to walk away. [color=magenta]”Alright girls, you win this one.”[/color] He gestured for Cyrus to follow him.

[color=6c9b8f]“But Nariko!”[/color] Krista cried out, her hand tightly wrapped around the chain. Her hands were tired and beginning to ache from the strain she was putting on them. [color=6c9b8f]“I- I still have hope in others! It hurts every time my trust backfires but… I know that not everybody can be bad!”[/color] It was a desperate attempt to talk some sense into the despairing carnage sister. [color=6c9b8f]“Look at Cyrus! He wanted to help me! Doesn’t that mean he’s good too? He wants to keep us safe, just like you want to keep me and Aleecia safe!”[/color]

[b]“I may be undeserving of your trust, but I know you can’t trust him. Look at how angry he gets over the stupidest things!”[/b] Nariko was practically whimpering. [b]“There isn't a single person here who wouldn't kill for something. How many times are you going to place your trust with people who don't deserve it?”[/b] Her eyes closed with a click. [b]“And don’t think I’m oblivious to the irony. You trusted me too, so I must be just as bad as everyone else.”[/b]

Monokuma had already left the small corridor and was now at the mouth of it leaning in. [color=magenta]“Yoo-hoo, loverboy, I'm waiiiitiiiiing!”[/color]

[color=D1c2bf]“God damnit.”[/color] Cyrus exclaimed before furiously stomping into the direction of Monokuma. [color=D1c2bf]“This isn’t over! I’m coming back for you, Krista!”[/color] He shouted before making his way to the stairs towards the first floor. 

Killgood wasn’t too happy that Cyrus had chosen to just walk past him. [color=magenta]“Hey! You drag me out here, and then leave when ‘I’ want to talk to you?!”[/color]

He kicked open the door to the post for no reason but to vent his anger, then turned on the intercom to make an announcement.

[color=D1c2bf]“Everyone, this is Cyrus. I want to meet everyone in the dining hall within fifteen minutes. This is an emergency. I repeat: This is an emergency, meet in the dining hall.”[/color] He hoped that message was clear enough to penetrate everybody’s thick skull, then headed off towards his destination.[/indent][/indent]