22 Meeting

W-Wait, someone's dead? But who? I don't remember anyone ever dying.

[The nine contestants all looked at each other with confusion. They couldn't even bring themselves to laugh when they saw each other's ridiculous appearance, instead trying to confirm that everyone was indeed standing. Jacob furrowed his brows as he counted.]

Jacob: Eight... and with me, that's nine. Everyone's here and alive! Why is the announcer lying?

[Jake was similarly confused, but his eyes suddenly widened as he came to a realization. He quickly ducked to Gerald's side and put a finger under his nose.]

Jake: He's not breathing.

Jacob: What? Didn't you say he was earlier?"

Jake: Yes, I did, but...

Wait, what? Um, is someone going to do CPR?

Jacob: D-Does someone know CPR?

Jake: I've never even seen someone do it before...

[He put a hand over the old man's heart before frowning]

Jake: His heart isn't beating. Do we need a defibrillator for this?

Lanae: What? Where are we going to get a defibrillator from?

Jacob: T-The announcer!

[He looked up into the sky]

Jacob: Hey, he's down here right now because of you guys! The least you could do is provide us with a defibrillator!

Announcer: Oh really? But you could've let the old man let go of the wire while everyone else held on. Then you wouldn't have this situation, would you?

Jacob: But... but...

Announcer: Well, technically speaking he's already dead. His heart has stopped. However, if you do CPR, you could save him! Though be careful, because if you don't know what you're doing, you can easily break a rib.

Jacob: What?... But none of us here can do CPR!

Announcer: Actually, there is someone within your group that can.

Jacob: Huh? What the hell are you talking about?!

Announcer: In fact, that person is even certified. They could very easily bring that old man back to life.

[Jacob looked at everyone with expectant eyes]

Jacob: One of you can still save them! Who is it?"

[Yet, all of the people that he looked at didn't seem all that confident. They looked at each other as though trying to find who was the person that could do it, but all of them didn't speak up. Jacob turned to Leah, thinking maybe it was her, but she slowly shook her head. He began freaking out even more.]

Jacob: Wh...What? Come on, you guys! It's not like we're asking you to give up your life here, we just need you to do some CPR!

[A frown formed on Jake's face]

Jake: Stop. The announcer is just playing a trick on us. Chances are the person that knows CPR is actually just Gerald himself.

Jacob: What? Really?...

Evian: Huh... that is so not a fashionable move.

Announcer: Hey, hey, hey. Do not put words in my mouth! It is among one of you nine standing, and the person in question is confident they would be able to save them! But instead, they just aren't speaking up, and letting the old man die! How heartless...

Jacob: N-No way...

Jake: Don't listen to him. He's just trying to break apart our team. Last call, is there anyone at all that knows how to do CPR? If not, then he's definitely going to die.

[Everyone fell silent]

Jake: ...If that's really the case, then I'll trust all of you. If you're religious, then you may want to offer your prayers to Gerald.

[Jake proceeded to give a bow in Gerald's direction before backing off. At first, nobody walked up, until Katie eventually walked up to Gerald's body. She put her hands together in a prayer gesture, knelt down on the ground, and closed her eyes.]

Is he really going to die like this?... Well, I guess he's already dead right now, but...

Jacob: ...Rest in peace Gerald. I suppose the chances are just too unfair sometimes. If nothing else, you taught me something... that I can't complain about my own luck, because yours was far worse, but you kept on going anyway."

[Several other people were giving their goodbyes when Jake suddenly nudged Jacob in the side.]

Jacob: Huh? What do you want?"

Jake: Hush. Not so loud. Come with me to my room. I'm going to be having a meeting with some people.

Eh? Why are you acting like a meeting is something secretive

Jacob: Um, alright I guess? I feel like you are being too cautious. It looks like they can hear us all anyway.

Jake: Just be quiet and follow me, alright?

Jacob: ...Ok?

[With that, Jake led Jacob along and also brought three other people. Leah, Evian, and Daylin. The five of them went into his room, which looked just like the rooms that they had as well. Jacob was a little confused by it all.]

Why are only five people here?

Jacob: Um, do you want me to get the others or something?

Jake: No. I only invited you all specifically for a reason.

Huh?

Jacob: ...And that reason is?

[Jake couldn't help but sigh]

Jake: You still haven't figured it out by now?

...Well, you haven't told us the riddle yet!

Jacob: Figured out what?

[Jake sat down on a chair for the dinner table before looking downwards]

Jake: The five of us are the people that kept holding onto the wire even as the others started to let go.

Daylin: Ah... that's true...

Evian: Ugh, I still have to get that Dizzy girl to fulfill her promise. I don't want to think with all this electricity screwing up my fashion. Can you be quick?

Jake: Alright, fine. What I'm saying is that these games clearly are going to test trust. And from the first game that they put us through, the people that always held onto the wire no matter what was us five. On the other hand, Pepper, Katie, Dizzy, and Lanae all let go of their own volition. Though it's best we all trust each other, the hard truth is that they might turn on us.

Evian: What? But Dizzy is a good fashionable girl! Don't slander her.

Jacob: Wait... but for all five of us to get shocked in the second last round... means that they didn't hold onto the wire. They... they were the ones that turned on us!

Evian:...

Jake: I'm fairly sure that Lanae is the one that is least threatening, though she is a little rude. She was the last person to let go among the four and did so because she was fed up with the others not holding on either. So long as we don't piss her off, she should be reasonable. On the other hand, the person I'm most distrustful of is Dizzy.

Daylin: Eh? I thought it would be the other way around. Wasn't Dizzy trying to help us?

Jake: It looked like that on the surface, but I'm pretty sure that's all an act. I remember. She begged everyone else to hold onto the wire, but didn't even hold onto it herself as she did so. That girl is a person that looks out for herself while pretending to help others.

Evian: W-What? That can't be!

Jake: Look, I'm not sure. I could be completely wrong, but with what I know right now, I'm fairly sure that's what happened.

Evian: You are simply being too paranoid. Fear is definitely not fashionable, I must tell you.

Leah: I... don't like... Dizzy too...

[The other four looked at Leah with surprise as she spoke despite spitting out blood in the process]

Daylin: Hey, hey, why are you talking? Isn't that painful?

[Leah shrugged before becoming silent once more]

Jacob: So... is this meeting just to say that we shouldn't trust the other four?

Jake: No. The point of this meeting is to say that we should be able to trust each other. I'm willing to leave my back to you four since you've all proved yourself before.

[A light flashed by his eyes]

Jake: I fully plan on getting out of this place alive. There's no way I'm dying in a place like this. And I'm taking you four with me.