The light returned like a slap to the senses—bright, sterile, merciless.
But this time, something was different.
A figure slumped over the table, motionless.
"...Whisper?" Bloom's voice cracked.
The young man's body pitched sideways off his chair. A growing pool of red spread beneath him.
Dead.
Gasps. A stifled scream. Stone stood immediately, fists clenched, while Violet flinched but didn't move from her seat. Reaper stared, eyes narrowed, jaw clenched tight.
The screen flickered.
"Whisper has been eliminated."
"The Werewolf has claimed their first victim."
Silence swallowed the room.
The murder had begun.
Tension Sparks
"Alright," Scorch barked, standing with his hands braced on the table. "We're doing this now. Enough waiting."
"No," said Owl quietly. "Let's not fall apart this early. That's what the killer wants."
Scorch's glare snapped to him. "How convenient you're the one saying that, huh? You've been quiet this whole damn time."
"I've been watching," Owl replied smoothly. "That's what smart people do in games like this."
"Or wolves," Scorch muttered.
Ethan said nothing, but his mind was racing.
Blocked. His investigation into Owl had failed. How? Was it interference from the game? A special rule? Or… was Owl hiding behind some kind of hidden protection?
He tried not to show his unease, but Violet caught his eye. A flicker of curiosity passed between them.
Reaper exhaled, voice steady. "This is our moment to think clearly. Someone here is the killer. Maybe the wolf held back on night one to confuse us. Maybe they're trying to play slow."
"That means they're smart," Bloom murmured, hands clasped in her lap. "Calculated."
Stone nodded. "Then we need to think like them."
Seeds of Doubt
"I'm voting for Scorch," said Ash.
Scorch turned to her, incredulous. "What?!"
"You're too reactive. Too eager to throw people under the bus. That's suspicious."
"Or I'm just not afraid to act!" he shot back.
"Defensive," Owl observed. "Interesting."
Scorch slammed a fist on the table. "You're all insane. The wolf just killed one of us, and you're wasting time pointing fingers at the guy who's actually trying to stop them."
"Exactly what a wolf might say," Violet said softly. "Trying to blend in by overcompensating."
Scorch's face twisted. "You wanna go? Say that to my face again."
"Enough!" Stone barked. "One of us is a killer. We don't have time to play these games."
Ethan let them argue. He needed to stay invisible one more night. One more shot at a successful investigation. If he played it wrong, they'd either vote him out… or the wolf would make sure he never saw another dawn.
Day Two – Voting
The screen beeped.
"Voting Begins. You have 30 seconds to choose."
They all stared at their tablets.
Ethan hovered over Owl's name.
Was he the wolf? Or just smart?
He hesitated… then switched to Ash.
Scorch was drawing too much attention—too obvious. If he were the wolf, he'd be laying low. Ash, on the other hand, had been strangely aggressive. And she was the first to push for a vote today.
Votes locked in.
The result appeared:
Ash — 4 votesScorch — 3 votesOwl — 2 votes
Ash stood slowly. Her face blank. Calm.
"I'm not the wolf," she said.
Then the floor opened beneath her.
She was gone.
Confusion and Regret
"Shit," Violet whispered. "She didn't fight it. That… that was real."
"Maybe she accepted her fate," Bloom offered.
"Or maybe she was innocent," Stone said grimly.
Ethan frowned. Something was off.
If Ash wasn't the killer… then the wolf was still here.
And now they had one fewer ally.
Reaper shook her head. "We're playing into the wolf's hands. Wasting votes. We need proof next time."
"I agree," Owl said.
Scorch's eyes narrowed. "Still think you're hiding something, man."
"Then vote for me tomorrow," Owl said coldly. "But don't cry if you kill another innocent."
The screen spoke again.
"Night Phase Begins. Close your eyes."
The lights cut out.
Night Two – Another Shot
Ethan waited.
Heartbeat pounding.
This time, he chose Bloom.
Soft-spoken, gentle—too gentle.
Maybe it was a front.
"Bloom is… Human."
Dammit.
Another wasted check.
"Hunter, standby."
"Night ends."