Warning: spoilers for The Nightly Manor. Alcohol consumption mentioned.

(Chapter POV: Spray Paint)

We were waiting for Speaker to find an exit to the manor. It'd been more a few minutes - surely he'd be back by now, right? They couldn't just be walking around in circles. I knew Speaker, he was too smart for that. It was so boring, waiting for Speaker, GPS and Mouse to finally check back in.

Ok, I guess that's the main issue. I'd never been separated from Mouse for too long - at least not since we left the band of thieves we used to be in. We've been wandering around looking for jobs so we can actually live somewhere, too, so even if we wanted to we couldn't be apart for long. The only times I would be separated from her was when I went to get drunk and not think about my problems, and even then she was usually just outside the building to make sure I didn't punch a cop. Trust me, it's happened before, and when I get drunk, I get drunk.

So I guess not having her around was something I wasn't used to. I always talked to her whenever I was feeling down or just bored. I felt like she was the only one who actually supported me, the only one who didn't think I was a screw-up who ruined everything, even if that's what I think sometimes.

It was my fault we were fired from the band of thieves, anyway. I went ahead without listening to instructions, and Mouse tried to stick up for me. It only got her caught in my bullshit.

Agonizingly long minutes passed before I heard the walkie-talkie finally beep again. Unfortunately for me, the news on the other side was far, far from anything good.

"Another one down, Sketchpad," I could hear Speaker say from the device. "Mouse is dead."

"What?!" I almost immediately screamed.

I didn't want to believe it. I didn't even want to think for a second it might have been her. Reality struck me fast, though. I knew it had to be true.

I nabbed the walkie-talkie with the speed of a cheetah and started talking into the microphone.

"Speaker," I said, "I need to speak to her!"

It didn't take long for Speaker to respond. "We shouldn't waste any time," he started. "Our first priority should be finding a way out of this mansion."

I was genuinely shocked at how much Speaker didn't seem to care. I understand that people are getting murdered and we should get out of here before we become victims, but, again, people are getting murdered. Our friends. Shouldn't we stop to, y'know, mourn or something?

"You know what?" I screamed at Speaker. If he wanted to go ahead and not get attached, good for him, but I was seeing my friend's body. "I don't care!"

I threw the walkie-talkie at Sketchpad, knocking them over by accident. I felt a little guilty, but my anger - and what I didn't want to admit was fear - kept me going without any further word.

I started gunning it to the hallway I saw them go to. I wanted to believe that this might just be some sick joke, that Mouse wasn't actually dead. Maybe if I saw her there, maybe if I saw her alive, I could believe the lies I told myself.

But I reached the hallway, and all I found was Mouse's dead body, and arrow pierced through the right side of her head.

I stared with shock. I didn't move. I couldn't move. I was stuck there, looking at the still, lifeless body of my best friend. My only friend. The person I've been through so many hard times with. She was gone, just like that.

I slowly began to sink down to my knees. I started crying uncontrollably. I closed my eyes as hard as I could - I couldn't bear the sight. I sat there for a few minutes, sobbing and whispering apologies into my dead friend's ear.

After a few minutes of mourning, I heard a commotion going on to my right. It sounded like somebody was throwing things.

It sounded like somebody was throwing a knife.

It clicked in my head. The murderer must be attacking somebody. Probably Speaker or GPS, since I hadn't seen or heard Tophat nor Sketchpad. Then again, what happened around me was a blur.

Either way, I began running towards the scene. I wasn't going to let anybody else die if I could help it.

I ran into the kitchen, and I saw it.

Speaker was dead.

GPS was right next to Tophat.

And GPS was holding a knife.

GPS wasn't in danger. He was the murderer.

I didn't think. I ran right into GPS and knocked him over just as he was about to stab Tophat.

"Come on," I yelled at Tophat and Sketchpad. "Get out of here!"

GPS tried attacking me, but I was able to block his arms from stabbing me. I bashed my head into him, momentarily stunning him. I watched Sketchpad break the front door open, and both them and Tophat started running out.

I was still attacking GPS, mostly out of defense but also out of pure rage. I couldn't believe he could do this. What was the motive, even? Why? Why would he murder any of us, and Mouse of all people?

Suddenly, he stopped resisting. I stopped, a bit surprised. His screen flashed off, then back on. Code began to write onto the screen.

"> failsafe execute"

">entity delete"

"..."

Suddenly, a countdown of five seconds appeared.

5.

Too shocked, I stood there like an idiot.

4.

I didn't know what to do.

3.

My brain tried going into panic mode, but my body stood still.

2.

I felt like I was frozen.

1.

I looked back at Tophat and Sketchpad just as the clock hit one second. I looked back at GPS, who suddenly wore a confused, yet grave look on his face.

0.

GPS explodes.

My vision goes blurry.

I hear a massive ringing noise.

I see police cars in the distance.

A searing pain flashes through the left side of my body, as if it's being ripped open.

I see Tophat and Sketchpad's stunned expressions.

Then everything goes black.

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