“Don't accuse people.” Artemis sighed, a motherly tone going out. “How can she kill her own family?”

Hesychia answered, “I will not cross that possibility yet without confirmation. I might have killed my own kin too, you have heard of it.” She then paused, looking at her hands. 

Artemis said with a sigh, “Stop blaming yourself. You didn't kill anyone, it was an accident.”

“Haha, this is all biased and prejudiced speculation of mine, take no mind of it.”

“Alright, you two calm down.” Elara interrupted, she clicked her tongue after hearing the conversation beginning to drop,  “Well there are some documentaries. Hesy likes watching those so she's probably conjecturing.”

Elara was right about the documentaries since it was one of her favorite hobbies.

“The youngest person in their family is nineteen turning twenty, the same age as Elara. It is not impossible, do you believe she's spared or just coincidentally outside? I can't quite put my hand on her name or face but I am sure about this estimation. The youngest daughter rarely appears, and I've heard that the Armani family are all pure southern, born and raised here in South Panacea.” Hesychia closed her eyes, rubbing her eyelids. “It’s possible that everyone has entered their military service, how can a simple fire kill them?”

“I don't agree with the murder accusation,“ Artemis gave Hesychia a glance which the other shrugged off, “but people born in the south possesses a gene mutation that enhances their overall body capabilities similar to superhumans that's why they handle military affairs. If a simple fire could kill formidable people, is it really a ‘simple’ fire? No one knows a Southern physiological constitution other than their own.“

Elara sighed, “That’s what I told y'all earlier!”

“All that with the coincidence of little Armani surviving and going missing?” Hesychia scoffed. “Though this speculation doesn't have any proof, all I'm doing is placing a probatio diabolica.”

Elara, “Probatio Diabolica?”

Hesychia clicked her ring, swiping one small tab out, the person she messaged still hasn't replied.  Her mouth opened, directing the topic elsewhere, “The news hasn't gone out even after a few hours, either the police have no findings or they are hiding it.”

She paused.

Hesychia continued, “No... The Armani family is too famous, leaks and statements would've already circulated. As you have said, it is impossible. Unless some kind of a big sponsor paid every single lead for their silence or the Southern government themselves need to tie down the news.” The young woman looked at them, “No new news, whereabouts of the youngest person is unknown. If it was under normal circumstances, authority would have a hard time suppressing the masses' prying. However, looking at it right now, something might have blocked this from going further.”

Artemis, “...”

Elara, “...”

The young woman concluded with a small smile, “...Or some phenomenon happened that awestruck everyone after investigating. So strange that this event silenced the viewers and investigators. With these abnormal conditions, would it be positive to acquire leads and evidence under legal acquisition? Especially in that unique fire that left bones only?”

Artemis was concerned, “Now you relied on fantasy that’s why it's probatio diabolica?”

Hesychia silently looked at them before laughing, “I was just messing around the term, honestly. I saw it somewhere and went ‘what if I use this fancy word to mess with—”

Crash!

The whole surroundings turned dark, all lights breaking. Hesychia's hand swiftly grabbed her friend's collar, pushing them under the table. Smoke from heated wires emitted a burning smell of rubber. Hesychia slid her mask up, gripping the table’s leg, the moment the building started shaking.

“E-Earthquake?” Elara asked, looking at the windows slowly shattering one by one. She tried using her communicator to contact the school security but to no avail, “No connection...”

“It's unstable.” Artemis continued,  “Wires overheated and then an earthquake suddenly came, what a coincidence.”

Hesychia commented after coughing, “Let's not believe in coincidences.”

Elara pointed out while trying not to puke, “What coincidence, it's a natural disaster!”

Hesychia was thankful that everyone was able to hide safely. This happened for at least for a minute or so, aftershocks happened three times in total. The ground and ceiling started cracking, making Hesychia reluctant to move first.

After waiting for five minutes of no movements, she saw people standing up and took their digital communicators out. Floating tabs appeared everywhere. Everyone was in sync that it was disturbing. Slowly, once they realized that the network is still useless, floating tabs faded away one by one.

【“Greetings! As of now, the Earth is experiencing the 9999th turn update. Please wait!”】

All small movements were stopped by a loud mechanical voice.

Hesychia's heart felt a squeeze when she saw other people's ghostly expressions.

【“Everyone would be transported to their current house automatically, the first screening would be held inside your houses or rooms!”】

Screening...?

Hesychia's black irises landed at her friends, Artemis and Elara’s bodies are already disintegrating into dust, “You two-”

The other two looked at her the same way, “What is this?! Your hand is missing!”

Hesychia looked at her arm, lifting it.

The trio screamed upon seeing the missing hand.

Hesychia’s vision was soon blinded by white light, once she was able to recover her own dorm kitchen. There was no other sound than her frantic heart who's about to get out of her chest. Hesychia subconsciously touched the back of her ears and twisted the butterfly earring to soothe her unease.

【“Players, please eliminate the mob that would appear in your area. Do not worry, if you are sharing someone with your house they would also be inside it. However, as a matter of privacy, both players on the same quarters can't see each other.”】

【“To be able to see your acquaintance/s, it is advised to finish the challenge within the time limit. This is a test of your thinking capabilities and physical strength. Please use the equipment around your house to clean up the monster that will soon appear.  It is okay to use any means, as long as you are able to eliminate your enemy. Best of luck!”】

The voice abruptly stopped as a loud shatter erupted. It was a sign that their nightmares started. Hesychia heard growls of electricity from her back which made her turn nervously. Even though her expression looked calm and collected...

OF COURSE SHE WAS NOT!

A toaster as big as a two meter bear appeared, clanking. Slowly approaching her, Hesychia instinctively backed away and looked at it with a cold face. This thing had almost reached the tall ceiling.

【“Plate Apocalypse: Major Screening One, commencing!”】

Author’s Note:

Moving utensils as a mob rather than monsters!

The name Hesychia is pronounced as heh-SEE-kee-uh. Here's a breakdown:

- "Heh" sounds like the "he" in "help."

- "SEE" is pronounced like the word "see."

- "kee" sounds like the "key" in "keyboard."

- “uh” is a soft ending sound, similar to the "a" in “sofa.”