Prince of The Abyss

"Everyone, calm down, we have to get back to trying to find out who the killers are!"

The detective shouted, trying to calm everyone down, but sadly, it wasn't working.

He had expected this to happen the moment the voice said that the chains were unlocking; everyone rushed to try and find a way out. Of course, there wasn't any, but they had hoped it did.

And yet, while everyone else had rushed to hope, one stood in place.

The same boy who had saved him in the second round of voting.

He was a strange boy, but one who was in no way stupid. He didn't know if he had experience in the game or was cunning and knew how to manipulate others.

Only he and he had skipped voting; they had been the only ones who figured that voting was going to give an advantage to the killer. And even know he stood in his seat, not even getting up, even if he had gotten up, to try and calm the others, yes, but he still had.

He couldn't tell the boy what his intentions were.

What card had he gotten?

If he were one of the Abyss, then he was playing a very good game. But it made him wonder again where he learn to act so well. He could be playing a very dangerous game, to try and seem as suspicious as he could, so Praise could check his card out and then vouch for him.

And while it was a great tactic, it was dangerous.

A civilian should not try to stand out; if they do, they are just targets for the killers, who rush to try and figure everyone's role, and think that they also have a special one.

When they are nothing but frightened civilians trying to get protection.

But he didn't think he was one.

If he was, would he really keep his act now, that he had the ability to run away from the game, well, not really, but now that he had the hope for an exit? Why did he want to continue the game?

He didn't think a civilian would do such a thing, only someone with a very important role...

...

He knew this because he had also gotten a very important role.

'Praise... how annoying of a job it is.'

His powers weren't as powerful as they seemed, as when he checked someone's card, he also showed them his card. It was risky, since if he showed his card to someone who was the Abyss, he practically showed them who their biggest threat was, who to kill.

The chances were low, but they were low. And if he did it so early on, he didn't have enough alibis to defend himself.

It was better to look at the cards of the people whom he knew couldn't be one of the killers, since that way, when he finally did, the others would know he was telling the truth, because they know that he is Praise, since he showed them earlier.

...

"I wonder, why is everyone trying so desperately to find a way out? Don't they know that there isn't a way, and if there was...

Did they really think that the host would let them? The rules were clear: for us to win, and escape, we have to vote out the Abyss."

The boy said, looking at him with a smile. It looked at he was speaking to him specifically, but he knew that he had said it for everyone to hear. Which only made him question who he was.

Many turned to them, stopping in their tracks.

"You're right. It makes them suspicious... doesn't it... um... what's your name?"

...

"Aether. That's my name, it's nice to meet you."

...

...

After a while of convincing the others, they had all gotten back to their seats to go and discuss who to vote out.

There had only been three rounds now, but groups had already been created.

The ones who had voted for the boy in the second round had revealed their union. Saying that they will vote together. And their adversary was, of course were the ones who had voted for the farmer.

One of these teams held a much stronger authority, since one... held the mayor. Which one, he had no idea.

And while everyone had teamed up, there were two who had remained independent, yet at the same time, they were both respected, since the two sides didn't want to follow the vote of the other; their being independent made them an anchor.

Those two were him, of course...

and the boy, Aether.

Who, if he had to say, had a bigger influence than him. But for some reason, whatever, he hadn't said one thing this round of voting, which was strange. And he also, like him, voted to skip the third round now. The others voted again, but this time because the number of people left was par, there was a side that was voted out, by the vote of the mayor.

This also revealed which team he was on, as the mayor had voted for the farmer in the first round. Which was helpful for him, since it was easier to try and find him.

And he had to, he was his biggest help, since if he showed him that he was Praise, he would have three votes instead of one.

But it also made it easier for the killers to find the mayor... which would be a disaster for him.

...

The lights turned off.

He sighed as the host spoke into his ear.

"You are the only one to hear this. Whose card do you wish to see? Just point to someone."

He raised his hand and pointed to the mother, who was one of the people who had voted for the farmer. But also someone who hadn't been afraid to talk, almost as if she was trying to find who to vote for, knowing that her vote counted. But also had if she voted for someone no one else did, people would get suspicious of who, other than her, had done it.

And if this repeated, people would figure out her role.

...

He found himself in a dark room, with the mother standing in front of him. She seemed scared, but it was to be expected; he had also been scared when it had first happened. He didn't know how it was possible, but every time he used his ability, he found himself in this room, with no one else to hear them.

It made him wonder what the host's powers were.

"Hello there... first things first, calm down. You are not going to die."

He reached into his pocket and took out a card, showing her that his card was the jack of hearts.

"See, I'm Praise, not the Abyss. Now, can you show me your card?"

The mother exhaled heavily, as if a massive stone had been taken off her heart. She seemed relieved. She seemed relieved to see his card, which confirmed that she wasn't one of the Abyss.

"Gladly."

She took out her card, revealing to him that it was the ten of diamonds. The mayor.

He had actually guessed right... This was great!

This was going to change everything. Now that he had the mayor on his side, he could... manipulate the votes in his favour; of course, it was perfect.

...

And he had done just that, but it hadn't worked as good as he had thought.

He had voted for the first time, and the mother had followed his lead, but they only had three votes, with the second coming from the mayor's ability.

And without the help of the mayor, the team that had voted for the mayor had lost terribly, which only meant that the second group controlled the game even more.

Also, another strange thing, for the third time, Aether had voted to skip.

He wondered if he had made a mistake voting.

Another was killed that night, and he had checked the card of another, but he didn't have a special card.

The next round of voting, he wanted to try and gather as many hints about who the killer was as possible.

But before he could, Aether asked him if they could talk.

...

The boy laughed at his confusion.

"I know that this was a sudden request, but I wanted to say I'm sorry for doubting you earlier. I should have voted with you."

He raised a brow at Aether's remark. Not understanding where he was coming from.

"Well, thank you, but I just guessed; you didn't have to vote with me."

The boy tilted his head slightly.

"You did? But why did you? I thought that now that you had stopped skipping, you had finally figured out who one of the members of the Abyss was."

He squinted his eyes, suspicious of his words.

"How would I figure that out so early?"

...

"I thought that maybe you saw their card... You are Praise, are you not?"