Sixth.

[azumods]

NIGHTMARE. Riley has been largely absent for the past day; he's needed the time, he's said, to try to sort out what should be done about Darkrai and Cresselia. Whether they can be contacted from a safe distance; whether there's something he can do to ensure that there's no risk to the rest of you. You fall asleep on Friday night. You don't remember deciding to fall asleep on Friday night; perhaps you were in the middle of doing something. Perhaps you were keeping watch over the rest of the group, perhaps you were talking to someone, perhaps you were unable to drift off and sitting up poring over notes or books by flashlight. Perhaps you were already well asleep by the time it happens. Either way, Friday night begins to slip into what's technically Saturday, and that's when you drop off. And you are, quite literally, falling. The sensation is a strong one, somehing that disorients you almost immediately, the sort of thing that happens in dreams only to be accompanied by a hypnic jerk that wakes you up safely in your bed, only that moment of awakening never comes. The landing isn't a hard one, however, wherever you've ended up; it's one you're aware of, but not one that hurts you in any way, there's no physical pain. There's only you, and the ground, and the absolute darkness surrounding you. You should get up. Get your bearings. The darkness won't last long, but what it reveals to you when it breaks might not be as welcome as you might think it is...

Comments

[azumods]

[No reaction. They don't seem to be aware that you're here, even though you're so close. Your friends are talking about all the wonderful things they've done with the new girl, and they all seem to be having a good time.]

[perfectselfie]

[She's so tempted to just put a hand on someone's shoulder, see if they'll react to that, but she stops just short.]

Come on, everyone...I'm still here, I haven't forgotten you, please at least look at me...

[azumods]

[Still no response. It seems like they can't hear you at all.]

[perfectselfie]

[She does reach out then, trying to put a hand on Chisato's shoulder.]

[azumods]

[Chisato doesn't react, but that doesn't mean all is well.

Her shoulder quickly vanishes into darkness, almost as if it's eating away at her.]

[perfectselfie]

[To say Aya screams would be an understatement. She doesn't realize it when she steps back a few feet, both sobbing and screaming at the same time.]

[azumods]

[You won't get a response from any of them. It's like they can't see you at all.

On the plus side, even though part of her shoulder's missing, she doesn't seem to be bothered by this. None of them seem to have noticed that this is happening, and she's still moving as if she has a shoulder, so things could definitely be worse?]

[perfectselfie]

[Aya doesn't want to touch anyone else, after that. She's still there, stammering out apologies and crying her eyes out.]

[azumods]

[Understandably so, it is sort of traumatizing to accidentally do something like that to your friend.

You'll probably notice something even through the tears, though - it seems like the edges of your vision are going dark. It's sort of like tunnel vision; no matter where you look, things on the edge of your vision are gone.]

[perfectselfie]

[She almost doesn't notice at first. It's only when she looks up for a second that she realizes there's so much tunnel vision going on.

This is weird, and it almost shocks her out of the tears for a minute. Almost; she starts forward again, trying to lean against a wall or something as she tries to stop crying and catch her breath.]

[azumods]

[The tunnel vision isn't going away, but thankfully it doesn't seem to be getting immediately worse.

...What's probably immediately worse is the fact that once you lean up against the wall, it will start disappearing into darkness as well.]

[perfectselfie]

W-what is even going on, why is...

[Turning and running towards the rehearsal space, trying not to touch anything else...]

[azumods]

[It seems you're safe just to run! As you run though, you'll notice the tunnel vision getting worse.]

[perfectselfie]

[What is happening here, why can't she see? This just makes her panic even more. She runs past the rehearsal space to the front lobby, trying to open the front door.]

[azumods]

[The tunnel vision just keeps getting worse, but you'll make it to the door easily enough. Trying to get it open will just cause the door to start to disappear into darkness, and it isn't long before you hear a loud crack. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where it's coming from, but suddenly the floor and the walls begin to be eaten away by that same darkness, and this time it's definitely spreading.]

[perfectselfie]

[This isn't good. It isn't good at all, and Aya turns and starts to run back, but she's stopped by the loud cracking sound. She whips her head around to try and figure out what's going on, but everything's turning into that darkness and she can't see well enough to even try and stop it.]

[azumods]

[Unfortunately, it seems that even if you could see well enough, there's nothing to stop the darkness. It's approaching you, and it's eating everything in its path.

That includes your friends.]

[perfectselfie]

Everyone...

[Aya feels completely powerless. She can't do anything to fix this or stop it. She just stops and falls onto her knees, crying her eyes out.]

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...

[azumods]

[And in an instant, everything is gone.

For a long moment you'll be left with only your tears and darkness, but if you manage to look around eventually you'll notice that you're no longer alone.

Sena and Keith are nearby, but they seem wrapped up in their own little worlds. Whatever they're seeing isn't visible to you, and it's clearly got them captivated.

Atsushi and Michael seem to be talking, however! You can go join them, if you want.]