—Ugh, I know... I'm looking at the report right now. There's no mention of a jester.
A deep, female voice crackled from the walkie-talkie.
Her words started a frenzy over the coms shortly after.
—Those incompetent fools... Don't tell me they missed something like this?
—Calm down. That might not be the case. The Jester might be a variable. It's not uncommon for such things to happen.
—But!
—Quiet down.
As the female voice echoed again, all noise ceased.
—The scenario is about to start. We will ignore the Jester for now, however, one of you keep an eye on it. We'll act accordingly.
—Understood.
What was this conversation?
Why did it sound like they were familiar with the scenario already? Who were they? Why were they here? And more importantly, why was I here?
My mind raced with questions, but before I could process anything further, the atmosphere in the theater shifted.
A sudden, overwhelming change!
"....!?"
The applause died abruptly, and all noise ceased. As if in perfect sync, every head turned toward the center stage just as a change occurred.
The walkie-talkie buzzed with another faint whisper.
—The scenario is starting. Get ready!
Swoosh!
Finally, the curtains drew open, revealing the stage.
At the center stood a grand piano, its polished surface gleaming under the harsh spotlights. Twelve empty chairs lined the stage, each positioned in neat rows to the right.
The silence felt suffocating—unnatural, almost as if the very air was holding its breath.
Creak...
A sharp, jarring noise split the stillness as a figure emerged from behind the stage. Its movements were stiff, unnaturally so.
".....!"
A knot formed in my throat the instant it stepped into view.
At the same time, the walkie-talkie vibrated again.
—It's coming. Just like in the reports. Be careful.
The figure was dressed in a formal black suit, the sharp edges of its bow tie barely visible beneath its thin, almost skeletal frame. It gripped a finely crafted violin, the strings tight and trembling under its hands.
The figure's face… if you could call it that, was straight out of a nightmare. Desiccated skin clung to a skull-like structure, with thin, glistening needles stitching its mouth and hollow eye sockets shut.
It moved toward one of the chairs and sat down, its hollow gaze fixed on us.
—Here comes the next one.
Another figure followed, this one a woman in a long, flowing black dress. Her steps were stiff, yet carried a strange grace as she carried a cello, the polished wood gleaming under the spotlight.
—The bass.
Each figure that followed had the same unsettling presence. Their movements were smooth, but there was something off about them, as if they were puppets controlled by some sort of string.
The air grew heavier with each figure that took its seat. Twelve chairs. Twelve figures.
The room became unnervingly still.
And then, the walkie-talkie buzzed once more.
—The Orchestra has been filled.
The temperature in the room dropped, and I shivered involuntarily. My hand clenched around the walkie-talkie, sweat beading on my forehead.
Something else was coming.
Something worse.
I could feel it.
Bzz!
—Prepare yourselves. The conductor is about to arrive. Remember what the scouts have reported back. The moment the conductor arrives, the scenario really begins.
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry.
Just who were these people? How did they know so much about this scenario, and who were the scouts?
Were they also people who received the strange system?
If so—
—Keep attention on the overture, the first symphony. It'll last approximately ten minutes. In that time, your emotions may be swayed by the music. You must resist at all costs!
Overtune? First symphony? Just what—
—It's starting! the conductor has arrived!
Creak—!
The wood cracked once again, this time sharper than before!
My heart pounded out of my chest.
The conductor arrived, his figure even more grotesque than the others. Its body was twisted, its limbs unnaturally long, its skin stretched tight over jagged bones.
Yet, despite its grotesque appearance, it moved with unsettling calm, as if it belonged here.
It reached the podium at the front of the stage, pausing as if to survey the room.
Then, it turned its head. Slowly. Horribly.
Despite the crude stitches sealing its eye sockets shut, it looked directly at us.
"..."
I swallowed silently, my hands trembling.
"..."
It looked at us in silence.
"..."
It raised its hands.
"...."
Then—
Wam!
The music began.
—Everyone, get ready! From this moment forward, the Overtune is about to begin! You need to resist at all costs!
The hurried yet alarmed voice of the woman echoed in the walkie-talkie once again as the faces of the group in front of me changed.
Unable to understand what was happening, I prepared for the inevitable, biting my lips and covering my ears.
But it was of no use.
The music still reached my ears.
It was a soft melody, one that tickled the ear gently and sounded like a gentle yet soft whisper.
'This isn't bad,' I thought.
In fact, it sounded good.
The music was pleasant to the ear.
The music... it was beautiful at first. A soft melody that whispered its way into my mind, gentle, almost seductively so. The violin's smooth notes blended perfectly with the deep resonance of the cello, each instrument complementing the other in perfect harmony.
It was easy to get lost in the sound, to feel the weight of the world slip away as my muscles relaxed, my thoughts drifting into the melody.
I nodded my head to the rhythm of the music.
I felt myself forget about all the bad things.
The stress faded, and so did my thoughts.
Gradually, I sank to the tune.
I started to immerse in it.
It was all I thought.
It was...
".....!?"
My eyes snapped open, and I gripped my right hand. It was trembling, my fingers unsteady as they dug into my shirt. Sweat drenched my body, soaking through my clothes.
My breathing became shallow, frantic.
'Oh, god.'
I felt my stomach twist as I looked ahead.
I glanced at the conductor, and in a way that made my blood run cold, its eyes turned to meet mine.
Its lips began to curl, agonizingly slow, as the dark, raw stitches across its mouth pulled tighter, stretching the pale, decaying skin in a creepy smile.
I suddenly forgot how to breathe.
My stomach churned.
'Oh god.'
The music grew louder, more insistent.
'No... I have to stay focused. Stay awake.'
I tried. I really tried.
Until,
Bang!
"Ahhh—!"
A chilling scream pierced through the hall!
One that was coupled with a loud 'bang' as one of the strange people stood up, their faces pale and expressions twisted.
"Ahhh!"
He continued to scream.
I saw the others look in his direction, but as if struggling to keep their composure, they could only look at him as his eyes turned bloodshot.
—It's Jackson!
—C-captain!? What should we do!?
"Ahhh!"
Another scream pierced.
"Make it stop! Make it stop!" he wailed, clawing at his own face.
His fingers sank deep into his skin, blood pouring from his face as he began to tear his own features apart. The others watched, frozen, their faces twisted in horror as the man continued to mutilate himself.
My stomach lurched. I could barely hold it in.
I saw one of the clothed people stand in an attempt to help him, but by the time they arrived at him, his face was soaked in blood, his fingers digging deep into his face, disfiguring what was once his face.
A lump formed in my throat at the sight of the scene, my stomach churning more than ever.
I felt it then.
I was really close to puking.
"Ahhh—!"
As the scream persisted, the hair on my arms rose. His screams grew frantic, louder, until finally, he turned to the nearest wall and—
Bang!
His head slammed against it, blood splattering everywhere.
Bang!
The sound echoed, each strike louder than the last.
The walls were painted red.
Bang!
His body crumpled to the floor, lifeless.
Thump!
As his body fell, the music returned, and I leaned back on my chair.
"Haa... Haa..."
As the haunting scene replayed in my mind, I felt my shirt cling to the damp surface of the chair. The music had never stopped—it played amidst the screams, slowly seeping its way into my mind.
I didn't have much time left.
My gaze dropped to the items in my hands, fingers trembling as they tightened around them.
Without hesitation, I placed the earplugs in my ears.
That was when it all turned silent.
All noise ceased then, and my mind calmed.
'Ten minutes.'
I took a deep breath, forcing my gaze away from the walls.
'…That's all the time I have left to survive this.'