Script of Fate

Act I - Scene II

"Zero? Who are 01 and 16, then?"

"16 would be Charlie, I assume," said Pip. "Lana, your instructions from Juliet aaaare?"

"Well, if I'm going to carry out my instructions, I need to know yours," I said. "Because I'm asked to help you."

"Hmm, well..." said Pip. "I'll tell you my instructions once these two are outta my swamp."

"Uh-huuuuuuh," replied Ava. "Whatever floats your boat, Miss Hawthorne."

Angel started whistling. "See ya, then."

They closed the door on their way out.

So, I peeked at my phone again. I looked at today's script. If I said, 'Hey, so, what are your instructions?' then Pip would respond with some banter like 'What do you think?' and finally 'I got a wild card and the instructions I'm given change on a regular basis. Right now, I'm supposed to keep Ava safe.' The question was, if I said what this said I'd say, would it play out just like that? Or was it all bogus? I had to find out myself.

"Hey, so, what are your instructions?" I asked.

"What do you think?"

Impossible.

"Well, you gotta tell me. Aren't our lives on the line here?"

"Yeah, fine," she said. "I got a wild card and the instructions I'm given change on a regular basis. Right now, I'm supposed to keep Ava safe."

What. The. Fuck?

I hid my surprise — Pip was smart. If I didn't follow instructions, I'd die, and one of those was not letting anyone else know about the 24-hour script. I couldn't let her know and I wouldn't risk it.

My only worry was that we were both theater kids. She'd probably seen through my facade at some point. Though as long as she didn't try to question it, I was fine.

Keep Ava safe - I didn't know what her instruction was in the meanwhile, but as long as it wasn't anything like killing, then I'd be good.

We stepped out after a bit. So, recap from what I understood: We were all in some death game, hosted by some app called FATE, and we'd die if we didn't follow instructions. Additionally, there's supposed to be at least 22 of us — much more people than I've seen in the dorm. Either many people had 'kill someone' instructions or this is less simple than I understand it to be. Or both.

I walked downstairs half-scared — still, I hid my fright again. I looked right as Pip and I approached the bottom. Some people were gathered in the dining hall. I brought out and looked at my phone. Kiara, Ava, Jens, David, Martin and Lillian. Like FATE said.

"Ah, great," said Martin.

"I'm guessing Lana's got FATE on her phone, too?" said Lillian.

"No doubt, sadly," I replied. "So... how do we go through this, guys?"

"We got a message a bit less than a week ago," said Kiara. "Someone's gonna die of poisoning — if not today, then tomorrow. We've been careful with how we're handling stuff in the kitchen."

"How do you know it's gonna happen?"

"Because it's what's been happening. FATE tells us a person's gonna die, and no matter how hard we try to prevent it from happening, it does," Kiara continued. They then downed a glass of water and slammed it gently near the edge of the table.

"Lana, what did FATE send you?" asked David. "What promise did it make you agree to doing?" Promise? Oh, the instruction.

"I'm just supposed to help Pip with hers," I said. I swallowed.

"Aw, that's not a problem," said Martin. "Lana, you sure this gal's not manipulating you—"

"What? Why would you even say that?"

"Oho. You should've been here when it first started," said Martin.

"Nah, I wouldn't wish that on her," spoke Lillian. "Or anyone."

"Pip, why won't you out your promise?" asked Ava. "You know, even if it's got to do with killing somebody, we'll still trust you."

"Even if it was 'kill everyone in this room'?"

As they bantered back and forth I was looking at my phone again. "If that was your instruction, pretty sure you'd be dead by now...?"

"Well, fine. And if I was asked to keep everything a secret?"

"Lana, do you know what it is?" asked Jens.

"If I told you, would you believe me?" I had a feeling Pip wanted to hide her instruction. I didn't know why, but I trusted she had some reason.

Kiara collapsed their upper body onto the table. "Dear Lord, this isn't going well..."

I scrolled through the rest of the conversation to-be. Yeah, why was Pip even trying to hide it in the first place? All she has is "Protect Ava" and the fact that it changes from time to time. Unless it changed just now? No way it could've, I'd just found out about it. I had to ask — oh, no, wait. I will ask, the thing said. Eventually, I'd had to try derailing from what FATE was telling me, just out of curiosity.

I was listening to the rest of their conversation — nothing came out, Pip was just being Pip. I continued reading throught the rest of the day's events, then I saw what'd happen at dinner.

18:56:57 - SCARLET finishes her glass.

SCARLET: So, Lana! Death aside... How's the dorm for you so far?

LANA: Oh, lovely. Well, without people dying like you said. [She laughs nervously.]

KIARA: I'm glad you think that—

18:57:43 - KIARA chokes and falls to the ground.