Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Two years had passed since the incident. Since she killed all those people, her friends. 

It ended in a sacrifice, Seven lost his life protecting everyone.

Gaty was the first. Died alone, nobody to remember her aside from the story she held dear.

Second was Zro, who died in their lover’s arms, soon to meet her again.

Third was Four, curiously exploring what he should not have.

Fourth was Three, stabbed himself until he gave out, to get rid of her.

Then came Fifteen, who weakened her, shooting her in the leg before passing.

Then was Six, who gave up her own life to help someone else, her partner. Shot dead by her own sister.

After came Five, mature and well versed in all sorts of things. She was hung from the stage in front of several.

Finally was Seven, who was shot in the duel of a lifetime. He killed her, and she killed him.

But, after all of this, she still receives her due penance.

She did not realise the drastic consequences of her actions, did she?

You’re not escaping your judgement, One.

But that doesn’t mean that a certain someone doesn’t still need people getting rid of.

People who know too much.

In fact, that someone has their eyes on someone already.

You can’t do anything to stop this, One.

Chapter Text

==The Algebros==

3:55pm

Potato Sack: yo bros!!!

Two!!: oh my gosh i forgot this chat existed 😭 hi nine!!

Nonchalant Dreadhead: hello

Ten: hi guys! its been too long we should all meet up soon

X: hiii!!! thats a rlly good idea we should!!!

Potato Sack: theres lit no good places to hang tho 😭 not radical

Nonchalant Dreadhead: still questioning how and why you still say shit like that but ykw ive seen worse

Two!!: weve all seen worse 😭

Ten: speaking of what happened how is therapy going for you guys? im doing pretty well actually!!

Two!!: im coping really well too!!! baking is super fun and it helps me take my mind off what happened

Two!!: ive also been trying to tell the story of what happened so theyre not forgotten

Potato Sack: THATS SO COOL MAD RESPECT TWO BRO

Potato Sack: my hallucinations are THANKfully gone now which is so fucking tuff i js need to cope

Nonchalant Dreadhead: im doing okay, i didnt see many of the bodies but it still hurts knowing theyre not here anymore

X: im also doing rlly well so far!!! im so happy were healing /gen

Two!!: THIS!!! also i am looking up places to hang out rn

Two!!: oh shit

Potato Sack: HELP WHAT DID YOU FIND THE GAY BAR???

Two!!: NO IK YOU GO THERE

Two!!: OUR SCHOOL IS CLOSING

Nonchalant Dreadhead: WHAT

Potato Sack: DOES THST MEAN WE GRADUATE EARLY THEN??? pls i need a j*b

X: a j*b…

Ten: j*bs arent that bad im *mpl*y*d rn

Potato Sack: YOURE EMPLOYED,..

Ten: ALSO WHAT WHAT WHAT

X: ITS CLOSING???? REALLY LIKE ACTUALLY??? REALLY???

Two!!: UPYWAH

Two!!: we have to start again at this joint school too

Two!!: objectians are so nice but like. 😭 school

Potato Sack: THIS PLS IM BOUTTA DROP OUT AND RUN AWAY W TWO

Two!!: ME????

Ten: wait hold on if the school closes were all gonna be homeless 😭

Two!!: the new one has dorms too thankfully i do NOT wanna have to explain to my parents what happened

Ten: SAME thank goodness

Two!!: anyway i found us a place thst does karaoke !!!

Two!!: does anyone know hsmilton bc… karaoke

X: YES I DO

Potato Sack: LET ME BE ELIZA TRUST DUDES

Two!!: ill be burr!!

X: i can sing satisfied so ill be angelica!!

Nonchalant Dreadhead: i dont think this is how karaoke works

Ten: ill be hamilton, my shot is fun

Nonchalant Dreadhead: ill be mulligan/madison

Potato Sack: ILL BE UR JEFFERSON DE LAFAYETTE EIGHT BRO

Two!!: lets just figure out the rest when we get there 😭

Potato Sack: RADICAL IM BEINGING BEER

Ten: yeah you are definitely jefferson

Chapter Text

The air was cold, a chilling draft passing through the newly built Symbol Academy. Students, Algebralien and Objectian, sat inside, waiting to be received by their new principal. The school was modern, far newer than the now abandoned and bolted up Algebra High, which faintly smelled off dried blood.

The winter’s breath of cold sunlight streamed in through the floor to ceiling windows in the halls, the folding chairs upon which sat hundreds of individuals, now a collective, gleaming in the morning’s light.

The stage was soon occupied by an Algebralien woman, red skin and hair, looking stern and mature. The room quietened as she spoke, her words cold as ice “Good morning, students. Welcome to Symbol Academy, where we pave the way for the future. My name is Mx. Divide, and I will be your Vice Principal.”

”If you haven’t been informed yet, your principal, Mx. Infinity, has some unresolved issues, and has asked me to act in their stead until they return to duties involving the school.” Sketchy, but okay. The students listened into her next words keenly “Remember, try your best and do not falter. That will be all for today, you are dismissed to go to your classes.”

The pupils filed out in lines, but Two couldn’t help but shake the feeling something was off. Something was really wrong right now. Infinity was okay just a few months ago, at the service. What happened?

Lunchtime rolled around quickly, and the cafeteria food was just about as sucky as it used to be. Two sat with the others, poking at the cheap bread and the poorly made sandwich, wishing they packed something. They didn’t even realise they’d zoned out until Nine’s voice snapped them out of it.

”Something’s seriously up, dudes. I feel like… like I did when One was running around killing us all!” She informed, placing his head in their hands, arms supporting the weight. “Same here. It’s probably just a trauma thing, though.” Eight agreed, and Two noticed the fact he’d only drank the bottle of surely overpriced water — that said something about the food here, surely.

”It’s not like when Six and Zro… it’s a bad feeling, bro! Like something about to go really wrong!”

”Like dread.”

”Yeah!”

Two’s eyes couldn’t help but be dragged over to X, sat between Ten and themselves, just staring down at their food, seemingly zoned out like they just were, before being snapped out of it suddenly. “Yeah, it does feel like dread! I really hope nothing’s wrong and it’s just us being worried…”

Everyone could agree with that. They weren’t sure of any of them could take another massacre. The first one was traumatising enough.

But if there was one, it had to be stopped before it even started.

So said the now mutual, silent agreement.

Chapter Text

==Death PACT==

2:34pm

Tree the Green changed their name to Tree the Purple

Ballkicker 3000: WHO ASSIGNS HOMEWORK ON THE IFRST DAY

Fuckberry Pie: no real

Fuckberry Pie: its cool though i just have club stuff to do

Cultist: how r u so nonchalant 😭 

Fuckberry Pie: idk man im kinda pissed we have to start again

Ballkicker 3000: THIS DFJDJFMDCMVJ FUCK SCHOOL

Tree the Purple: It’s not that bad

Ballkicker 3000: bc ur the teachers pet ho

Cultist: TREE???? ITS DEF BLACK HOLE

Anti-Problem: i just do the work

Ballkicker 3000: nerd ahh

Robot Flower Fucker: Hi guys, how’s day 1 going for all of you?

Ballkicker 3000: hi remote its going shit

Cultist: ^

Fuckberry Pie: ^^

Marker the Green: hiiii!!!!! its going pretty well for me but i have science tomorrow pls save meeee

Cultist: oh yeah bc of the shit going on i hsvent done any of my assignments

Anti-Problem: speaking of that

Anti-Problem: i have a weird feeling about the vice principal.

Tree the Purple: Same, they feel very suspicious

Ballkicker 3000: guys trust i was the one who figured out one killed all those people for us and

Ballkicker 3000: yeah no that bitch is shady

Ballkicker 3000: they probably give pot to kids in a dark alley behind the school

Robot Flower Fucker: WHAT?

Cultist: LMAO???

Cultist: but i heard some of the algebraliens talking abt it in the cafeteria

Anti-Problem: oh yeah i heard them too

Ballkicker 3000: we should probsbly talk to them soon abt ts

Ballkicker 3000: I HATE MYSTERIES

Chapter Text

==DMs: [UNNAMED CONTACT] and X==

?:??pm

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: I do hope you decide to take me up on my offer.

X: but thats so wrong

X: why would i want to do that??

X: shes gone, were finally safe now

X: i dont want to make anyone else suffer!!!

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Annoyingly persistent, I see.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: No matter. As long as you don’t give anything away to those little friends of yours.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: What do you say?

X: no

X: im not

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Sure. You’ll come crawling back eventually.

X: i wont!!!

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: That’s what they all say.

==New Chat==

4:45pm

Fanny added Tree, Black Hole, Pin, Pie, Remote, Marker, Two and 4 others.

Fanny gave Tree, Black Hole and Marker admin permissions.

Fanny: EVERYONE SYBAU FOR A SECOND

Fanny: IF I SEE ONE OF YOU GUYS TYPING IM GONNA SUCK YOUR MOM

Black Hole: so basically, most of us have a bad feeling about the new vice principal and what happened to mx. infinity

Black Hole: so we want to help you guys figure out whats going on

Fanny: you can talk now hoes

Nine: well now im not sure if i wanna talk dude!!!

Two: thats really nice of you thanks!!! should we migrate here?

Two: im gonna keep the main chat still bc it has all our old messages n all our friends were in it

Tree: Okay, we’re also keeping the old Death Pact group chat since Gaty was in that

Two: sounds good!!! should we meet or smth?

Two: if not you can sit w us at lunch, we usually talk about that sort of stuff then!!!

Marker: that sounds fun!!! 

Fanny: ok fuck

Fanny: FINE i meant fine

Ten: LMAO???

Chapter Text

==DMs: [UNNAMED CONTACT] and X==

?:??pm

X: of i dont do it will you seriously hurt my friends?

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Yes, I will.

X: you were on our side last time, why are you doing this?

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Oh, that? I did not do it to be selfless, I did it becuase it fed my own goals.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Do you want your friends to get hurt?

X: no, i dont

X: i dont want any of this

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Then do as you’re told.

X: please reconsider

X: the thought of doing that to someone…

X: killing them, its disgusting 

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: I cannot. Kill or have them killed.

X: .

X: okay fine

X: but im only doing this once

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: That is enough for me. Judgement is upon the guilty.

Chapter Text

Two days had passed since X had agreed to this. The thought of killing someone, taking their life was absolutely revolting. They didn’t want to. They hated it. They didn’t want anyone to go through the pain they had when they lost Four. 

But they also didn’t want their friends dead. Two, Eight, Nine, Ten… they supposed Fourteen, but God knows what happened to him, he disappeared after the service. Their lives were ruined by One, by the act of murder. By a massacre so intense it traumatised them all.

She had took their innocence from them.

There was no assigned murder, just ‘kill anyone, including your little friend group’. By that, they meant the others. As X crept out of their lonely dorm, the faces of the dead flashed into their mind.

Don’t do it.

They gripped the kitchen knife closer biting their lip and sweating bullets.

It made them genuinely sick.

X had arranged to meet Pie at the pool, two ways for her to die. Either they could stab her or drown her. Easy-peasy, so they said. The knife gleamed, fresh with their blood. They carried on, slipping through the dark halls of the school.

Eventually, they found the pool room, their stomach in knots. Staring st their reflection in the glass door, they could almost see Pie’s blood sprayed all over their face. X sighed and pushed open the door, seeing said girl standing there.

Looking into the pool.

Pie turned around, and X hid the knife behind their back “Hi, X— you”

They didn’t have time to hesitate, letting out a scream as they dove for her, pinning her down. Their hands were shaking at tears were pouring down their cheeks as they sniffled and sobbed, the girl looking up at the knife in alarm.

“I’m so so so sorry!”

”Wait, what are you—“

Stab.

Blood sprayed out of her eye like a fountain as she screamed in pain. X couldn’t stop, just stabbing and stabbing and hoping for her to quiet down. Thick red liquid poured down her cheek like tears as her face turned paler and paler. 

But she still tried to pry the knife out of her eye, unwilling to die.

X plunged the knife into her throat. 

Pie hacked up deep scarlet onto their face, the remainder pouring down her chin as they stared into her bloodshot, bleeding eye, the other one widened in terror.

Only then did her eyes glaze over, and only then did her cold body go limp.

Pie was dead.

X screamed in horror.

Their hands were covered in her blood.

Chapter Text

==New Chat==

6:09am

Pin: @everyone

Pin: PIES DEAD

Black Hole: WHAT

Eight: WHAT?

Pin: I LEFT MY BAG AT THE POOL YESTERDAY SO I WENT TO GO GET IT AND I FOUND HER

Fanny: WHAT THE SHIT

Ten: GUYS CALM DOWN 

Ten: pin have you told anybody???

Pin: yeah i js called the police

Two: backreading 

Two: WHAT???? OH GOD ??

Nine: WHAT DO WE DOOOO SHES BACK

Eight: shes not back nine, shes dead

Nine: STILL DUDE

Remote: This is very worrying.

Tree: Death pacters we need to figure out who's doing this, so we can stop them!

Black Hole: agreed

Fanny: ffs why is this happening its not even been 2 days

Nine: ong bro

Ten: i think we should calm down a bit first guys

Ten: with everything going on i think we should leave it ot the teachers this time 😭 

Two: theres definitely something up w the vice principal tho ;-;

==DMs: [UNNAMED CONTACT] & X==

X: i did it

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Good.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Keep going.

X: what

X: no? why???

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: I’ll hurt them.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Do as I say, or I’ll hurt your friends.

X: …

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: I’m sure Four would be very upset if you didn’t.

X: pls dont bring them into this

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: I’ll do as I like.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Give it a week or so. They’ll mark it as a freak accident.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: I’ll make sure they do.

X: that doesnt make me feel better about this

X: i dont want to do this

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: But you will.

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: She said the same thing.

X: one?

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: Yes.

X: how do you know that?

X: unless

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: It appears I’ve been caught.

X: you helped us last time

X: but you were also on her side

X: so what are you getting out of this?

[UNNAMED CONTACT]: You’ll find out.

X: okay

Chapter Text

12:20pm

Death PACT was sitting at their usual table, fourth from the front, on the left side of the cafeteria. They’d sat with the Algebraliens a few times this week, especially since…

They’d failed. They had one job. They failed to protect Gaty, and now they failed to protect Pie. They were supposed to prevent death, preserve life, it was their top priority. But they’d let so many people die for nothing.

Dying in pain and horror, losing your future…

They’d couldn’t let this continue. The club looked each other in the eyes and nodded understandingly. Thry didn’t need to say it, they all knew. They knew what to do.

”So…” Marker said, his usually cheerful voice far more worried than normal, but at least something was occupying the silence “It wasn’t anybody here, right? Who killed Pie?” 

“No, it’s not.” Fanny answered, her voice bitter as per usual “I hate having to solve a murder! It’s so obvious who it is!”

”Really? Who?” Pin asked, and the angry girl folded her arms “X!”

The whole table went quiet. That was ridiculous. Sure, X was relatively out of it the past few days, but… it couldn’t be them. They wouldn’t do something like this!

Would they?

Death PACT sat in silence once more, registering this newly found information. Someone was bound to tell the numbers about this. Bit nobody wanted any more drama or to make themselves a target.

Nobody wanted any knife in their back… or in their eye, for that matter.

Vice-Principal Divide slipped into their office, closing the door and not bothering to switch on the light. They sighed, pulling themselves up and sitting on the desk, crossing one leg over the other as something changed about them.

They were wearing someone’s face. Using someone’s voice. Divide was never a real person, a disguise used to blend in.

As soo as the metaphorical mask fell, ‘Divide’ sighed in relief “How annoying that form is.” Their voice echoed, a cacophony, like several bouncing off the walls.

”Wouldn’t you agree, Mx. Integer?”

“You’re still bothering me? I’ll admit, I didn’t expect that from you.” One huffed, fiddling with the chains bound to her in that… murky abyss. Hell. Literal Hell. That’s where she was sent after Seven shot her, and what did she do? She did nothing wrong! Completely innocent, that’s what she was!

”Yes, yes, well, you are the ultimate sinner. Although, there are many who know too much and must die before the word gets around about our… little deals. I’m sure X will tell someone as soon as the opportunity arises.” 2763 rolled their eyes, annoyed.

“X? Are they your little henchman now? How… cute!” The spirit smiled condescendingly, before getting a swift jolt of pain through their hellbound chains. “Fuck this shit…” she muttered, pained.

“I have intentions with X, intentions you both share. Once I have done what I need to do, I’ll leave. You and your predicaments are keeping me here. How annoying.” 2763, folded their arms, looking back at One’s ghostly figure “I’ll give you a chance for what you so desperately want, Mx. Integer. Just make sure X doesn’t tell anyone.”

One was silent, thinking it over. So this was how it felt to be on the receiving end of a contract. She put on her smile, still saccharine from her living days. “Deal!”

Chapter Text

==The Algebros==

2:08am

Potato Sack: @everyone

Nonchalant Dreadhead: we still use this?

Potato Sack: idk bro i js dont wanna die

Ten: is this about pie?

Potato Sack: the girl who died yeah

Potato Sack: id add something radical but im not feeling radical rn

Nonchalant Dreadhead: real why are we all up at 2am

Two!!: Because we lack sleep ;-;

Ten: hi two! we were js

Ten: talking about everything

Two!!: I get it

Two!!: I’m stressed too

Two!!: But we pulled through by working together last time, right? 

Nonchalant Dreadhead: 2763 did help us mostly

Two!!: Stil!!! We all survived One, we can handle this even if it is bring bsck

Two!!: .memories

Potato Sack: twos right dudes!!!

Potato Sack: we can kill the killer w the power of friendship

Nonchalant Dreadhead: ok

Ten: sounds good!!!

Nonchalant Dreadhead: anyone have any idea of who it might be who killed pie

Nonchalant Dreadhead: if someone else dies its mst likely the same person like with one

Two!!: Not really

Two!!: But I think the Death PACTers might know!!!

Two!!: Also I can ask the Irrationals

Nonchalant Dreadhead: oh yeah forgot about those guys

Potato Sack: awesome!!! ill look for anything sus

Ten: ill keep an eye out too!

Two!!: great!!!

4:32am

One couldn’t bear being a spirit.

Sure, it was cool to phase through walls and stuff, but it was awfully hard to grab things when her form passed through all she touched, her physical body rotting away in the dirt, long dead. And how she was supposed to accomplish anything when she was like this?

She needed something. Something to tether her to this world, something to rip her out of Hell and back into the mortal plane. An anchor, a vessel.

A body.

One drifted through the halls of the lonely academy, the moon she loved so dearly shimmering in through the windows. She couldn’t help but stop, looking over it’s beauty. She hadn’t seen the stars in so long… her dream of becoming an astronomer…

No, One! The thrill of taking one’s life was more than worth living a boring nine to five. She’d cast off her desires, her selfish mortality when she died. When he took from her what she cherished most, her autonomy.

Once the job was done, she’d be reborn somewhere — able to live again. That’s what 2763 said, anyway. She continued on down the hallway, the stars shimmering into the light. Different colours, staring at her, like the judgemental eyes of those she’d killed. 

No matter how much the waking world taunted her about her sin, she’d never repent. 

She wore that sin like a fucking badge of honor.

She passed through a few walls, eventually reaching a dormitory on the second floor, where asleep in a messy bed, was a tanned girl with silver-hued hair and prosthetic limbs.

Perfect.

A body.

A vessel.

An anchor.

A tether.

And she knew this girl too well. Fanny Flabellum was always the type to cause trouble, meddling in her affairs. One was sure if she failed, she’d know — and she’d tell. She would warn and shout until her throat gave out — that was just what Fanny did. 

And it was annoying.

But she couldn’t do it now.

Not when she could sense the passion, the willpower in her mind. She’d be kicked right out… there was only one way to successfully tie herself back to the mortal plane.

One smiled, before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

==DMs: Two & Ean==

Two: hi!

Chapter Text

==DMs: Two and Ean==

Two: Hi!!

Ean: oh hey two!!!!! need sometihing????

Two: Well yeah

Two: Youve heard about the recent murder right??

Ean: oh yeah that pie girl

Ean: i really hope this isnt another thing

Ean: i already lost three, idk if i can lose anyone else

Two: To be honest same

Two: Gaty’s dead, I don’t know if I could let anyone else die

Two: But thats what I wanted to talk to you about

Two: I know you and the Irrationals are good friends so could you give me their numbers?

Ean: for a gc!!! sure!!!!

Two: Yep!!! Its where we’re gonna be talking about who might be Pie’s killer

Ean: i think pi has some ideas!! ill let the gc know rn

Two: Tysm!!!

7:12pm

Just do it.

An hour ago, 2763 texted with a kill request. The person X would have to kill to keep their friends safe. Hesitantly, they accepted — but they wish they hadn’t.

They had to kill one of their friends.

Eight.

Eight was calm, mature, nice. One of the most rational people X had ever known — and Two had grown close to then over the past two years. They couldn’t.

They couldn’t kill him.

It felt disgusting.

They were disgusting.

X could still hear Pie’s screams go silent as they plunged the knife deep into her throat, they could still feel her hot blood on their face. They could still feel the awful guilt, the fear, the pain.

They were a killer.

But they still had people they wanted to protect.

Surely… surely they’d understand…?

Two, Nine, Ten, Four.

They’d understand why…

Right…?

==DMs: Eight & X==

X: hi eight!!!

X: i was wondering if you could help me with this assignment?

Eight: sure, what is it

X: just some math

X: im not that good at it :(

Eight: oh okay

Eight: sorry about four

X: its okay

X: i just miss him ;-;

Eight: i get it

Eight: im coming to your dorm, that good?

X: yeah :)

Chapter Text

An hour later, came a knocking on X’s door, seemingly Eight. The yellow variable quickly shot up from their bed and opened the door for the grey number. “Hey, X. You said you needed my help?”

”Oh, yeah!” X smiled nervously don’t panic don’t panic don’t panic, before stepping out of the doorway as to let him in. Eight sat on the uncomfortable armchair found in every dorm at Symbol Academy, while X carefully and quietly closed and locked the door, before quickly heading over to the small closet and opening it, fishing around inside.

”You leave the assignment in there?” Eight asked, leaning forward to see what the variable was grabbing from the closet, but they didn’t respond. Ignoring the sweat gathering on their brow and their heart pounding with nerves, guilt and shame, X’s hand at last rested on a baseball bat they’d acquired from the sports shed. Slowly, they removed it, careful as to not give away what they were planning.

Eight grew skeptical, what was X doing? What were they getting out of the closet? He had a bad feeling brewing in his gut, which only grew as the variable turned around, hands behind their back.

He knew he had to get out now, he’d been set up. Immediately, Eight shot up and ran for the door, trying to pry it open to no avail. Locked. And X had the key. The yellow variable raised up what they held behind their back — a baseball bat? Oh no—

SMASH!

Eight collapsed like a sack. X panted, dropping the bat. They knew what to do now, right? They’d planned this out, nobody was going to be out and about right now. They took Eight’s unconscious body by the leg and unlocked their dorm door, locking it behind them. 

They then began to drag the body down the dorm hall, towards the boiler room. Careful as to not wake anyone, and also not to drop the body from how much they were shaking.

When they arrived, they immediately got to work, taking the knife they’d carefully left on the floor and slowly raising it up above Eight’s stomach, before hearing a loud, loud CRASH!

Immediately their stomach twisted, even more so when they heard footsteps. And even MORE so when they noticed Eight begin to stir. They quickly pressed their hand over his mouth, not having anything else to silence him with.

”What’s going on? Anyone down there?”

Two.

X stood up in shock, no longer knelt over the body and silencing the victim. Knife in one hand. Eight on the floor. Two gasped, slapping a hand over their mouth, horrified. The variable tried to reason with them “Two, it’s— it’s not what you think!”

”X… no, no… don’t tell me…” Two backed away “You were going to kill him!”

”No— yes! No! I swear, it was to protect you guys! If I didn’t… they’d hurt you! 2763! They’re back!” X stammered, feeling tears in their eyes that matched the ones running down Two’s petrified face. “I promise… I don’t want to do this… Two?”

”You… X, I didn’t think it was you! Did you kill Pie, too?”

“I… please don’t tell anyone.”

Two was shaking, obviously horrified. X was killing their friends, their friends! Did this mean they’d end up like One? Everyone knew One’s true intentions by now — this wasn’t going to end well at all. They walked towards Eight’s body, quivering. The grey number’s tired eyes looked up at their newfound friend “Hey, Two…”

”Eight… no, no… Ten needs you, Nine needs you, I need you, we all need you!” The green number grabbed their arm and held it tight. The grey number sighed, rubbing their head “Two, can I ask you for sometihng?”

”…Sure.”

”Kill me.”

Two’s heart stopped at that, looking at Eight in the eyes, unable to speak. He continued “They don’t deserve the satisfaction of killing me, so I want you to do it. If I’m gonna die, I’d rather have one of my friends kill me.”

The green number looked over at the knife in X’s hand, which they were holding out. No, no… they couldn’t do it… but… Eight wanted this, right? Right? This is what he wanted. 

As long as X didn’t kill him.

Two took the knife in a shaking hand, stifling a sob. Placing another hand on the handle, eyes blurry with fountains of tears. They screwed their eyes shut and threw it down into Eight’s stomach, going as deep as they could. They couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else they held so dear dying a slow, painful death.

By the time they’d opened their eyes, their friend’s ashen face grew to a deathly pale, and his body went limp.

Eight was dead.

Chapter Text

==New Chat==

11:16pm

Two added Pi, Square Root Two, Ean, Euler and Tau

Euler: whats up fuckers

Euler: i say in a non violent way as i giggle cutely

Fanny: what the FUCK who are you

Pi: were the irrationals you deformed tampon

Fanny: EXCUSE ME

Square Root Two: dont mind him hes just!!!

Tree: New people? Hey guys

Ean: hi!!

Marker: omg new people hihihi!!!!!

Black Hole: hello

Remote: Hi.

Pin: hey!

Tau: Holy furry femboys how many of you ARE there???

Tree: The fuck?

Marker: what the heck?

Pin: holy furry femboys 🥀 

Tau: STOP ITS AN INSIDE JOKE

Tau: You’re all stupid smh

Fanny: agreed these bitches are so fucking dumb

Tree: Don’t mind her, she uses swearing like a period

Fanny: we are NOT bringing this back i hate you all

Euler: I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHATS GOING ON

God, they felt disgusting.

They could feel the spray of red hit their face as they watch as they dug the knife deep into Eight’s stomach, eyes screwed shut, mind fogged. Two sat on their dorm floor, shaking from that awful memory.

They killed Eight.

And X was… X was the one going around killing everyone. They knew this, but… they couldn’t tell a soul. That’s what the yellow variable begged them not to do, and they seemed to be doing it for—

No.

X killed Pie.

X was responsible for Eight’s death… no…

No, it was Two’s fault.

First Gaty and now Eight. 

Everyone they loved had died. Everyone who loved them had died.

How could anybody love them if they were going to die because of Two’s mere existence?

It was their fault. Two had told themselves it wasn’t, and just when they were finally recovering… this happened.

It was always going to be their fault.

They should have acted sooner.

Sorry, Eight.

Sorry, Gaty.

Chapter Text

It was infuriating.

One couldn’t get a grip on Fanny’s brain, couldn’t slip into her mind without her knowing, and she couldn’t know. Fanny already knew too much, but she couldn’t kill her then possess her dead body, where would that get her? Back in Hell, back to eternal torture.

Yet despite this, she didn’t regret her actions one bit.

Not a single death she caused she felt guilty about. One smiled as she remembered their screams, how much power she held over them, the one with their lives in the palm of her hand. 

That was enough.

That would be enough.

She drifted through the unoccupied halls of Symbol Academy’s vacant dorm building, searching for anyone, eyes scanning, ears intent—

Oh.

Was that… crying?

Soft crying, almost inaudible.

But she could hear it.

One felt a grin make its way across her face, as she searched for who was weeping so profusely. A new body, she wondered, a tie to the mortal world?

It was then she saw them.

Two.

Staring at a knife covered in dried blood.

Chapter Text

“Two…?”

”Can you hear me?”

Two’s eyes shot up from the knife which fell with a clash to the ground. Their breath hitched as they slowly rose, their eyes only now realising the amount of light, or lack thereof, in the room. But that was the least of their concerns.

That voice.

”Gaty?” Two asked, not daring to turn around, but feeling the warmth of her mere presence. Gaty smiled warmly, tears of happiness prickling in her eyes.

”It’s so good to see you again, Two!”

They couldn’t hold it anymore, whipping around to see her there, glowing, ethereal as they remembered her. She smelled faintly was chrysanthemums and dried blood, and wore a beautiful white dress. They launched at her and wrapped her in a hug, sobbing into her shoulder out of pure relief.

It was her. It was really her.

”Gaty, I… I can’t believe it… am— am I dreaming?” They looked back at her face, beautiful as ever. They couldn’t help but smile, she was here! She wasn’t exactly alive, but she was here. This was the closure they wanted, to see her one last time, to tell her how much they loved her. “I’m so sorry, I should’ve been there, I should’ve protected you—“

”It’s okay, Two, what’s done is done.”

”Heaven’s really peaceful, you’d like it.”

”I’d like it?” Two asked, gazing into those eyes of hers, glimmering with unshed tears and unspoken words. Gaty nodded, bringing her arms up to rest on their shoulders.

”Join me, Two. We’ve all been waiting for you!”

Something changed in her voice, but… but they didn’t care. They’d been thinking about it even before Eight… and that just made it worse. Speaking of Eight, another voice came from behind them, the same tone Gaty had.

”Yeah, Two. You should join us.”

Eight.

They turned around to face him, and noticed he was holding the knife covered in his dried blood. They approached, carefully picking up the knife. Something was wrong, they couldn’t shake the feeling, but…

To be free of this guilt.

To be with Eight again.

To be with Gaty again.

They had to.

”Okay… I’ll do it… I’m on my way.”

They took the knife towards their throat.

And slit it.

They collapsed to the floor, blood beginning to pour out of their mouth but they couldn’t help but smile. Smiling as they were dying, as their consciousness was blurring. A slow and painful death. But it was fine, they’d be with the others soon enough.

“Oh… I can’t wait to… to see you again… it’s… it’s only a matter of… of time…”

“Gaty” and “Eight” disappeared, manifesting themselves into a grinning One.

Chapter Text

One opened her eyes to find herself inside of Two. Using them. Possessing them. Their body, her catalyst. Her tie to the mortal world, her anchor. But… with that, came the task of acting like Two, wearing their face, using their voice, becoming them in order to avoid suspicion.

For now, One was Two, and Two… was One. “Two” went into the bathroom and found a bandage to tie around their neck, then changed into the uniform they frequented, bringing up the tie to cover the white fabric-like material. Hopefully, it would cover the wound left by her former friend.

”Hope you don’t mind me using your body, Two.” Said person’s voice came running out of their mouth, by a person who was not them. They looked at themselves in the mirror, their previously natural green eyes now a bright glowing blue “Fuck. Whatever, I’ll just lie about that.”

They thought for a moment. Their thoughts skipped to their friends. One couldn’t believe she was thinknig of them.

Seven.

Three.

Basketball.

She shook off the thought, putting herself back into Two’s shoes quickly. They sighed, of course they had to remember her. It was fine. It would be fine. 

…

Oh…

Basketball…

Two years have passed…

I still love you.

X finished chucking up the last of their food, and flushed the toilet, closing the lid and sitting down, hugging themselves tightly. Why — why this. Why now. Why them. Were they going to end up like One? A bloodthirsty killer? The thought of it was terrifying. The thought they might enjoy the act of taking a life one day.

It was their fault.

It was always their fault.

X was the reason Pie died.

X was the reason Two had to kill Eight.

Were they even still alive?

If not, they were the reason Two killed themselves.

Sick.

They were sick.

They stumbled over to the sink snd looked down, running the faucet to drown out their thoughts while not daring to look up at the horror that was their reflection. It should have been them.

Nobody could save them now.

…

”X…?”

Their head shot up, looking in the mirror to see… to see… Four, standing there.

Ghostly, translucent, eyes the colour of ivory pearls. White chrysanthemums blooming at their feet. They were beautiful. They always were to X. “Four!?” They asked, not daring to look behind them.

”Kill them all, X.”

”What… what do you mean?” They at last turned to face them, and noticed white tears silently streaming down their cheeks, an unreadable expression on their face.

”We can be happy again, X… just kill them, and I can get into Heaven.”

They didn’t get in… they didn’t go to Heaven. Did that mean they were in Hell? No, no… it couldn’t possibly be…

”Save me, X. You can save all of them. Spare them from the cruel world that killed me.”

So… all they had to do was kill them… and they’d… their friends would be safe. Heaven-bound. Four would be okay. The others would be okay. The Death PACTers would be okay.

They could help everyone.

”I… I promise I will, Four. I’ll save you, I swear!”

Chapter Text

Gaty hoped she’d have to wait for a very long time.

She hoped she’d stay idle for years and years, waiting for Two, waiting for her friends. She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving their side, of moving on without them. They were everything to her. It didn’t matter if she waited a decade, fifty, a hundred years. It never mattered.

Gaty hoped they’d stay alive. She wanted them to live. She didn’t want to die, but she didn’t want them to throw away their lives either. She’d always be waiting, waiting for them. She’d always love them, even if the boundary of death threw them apart. She’d reach out her hand to them every time.

”…I’ll wait for you.”

The silent promise she made to them, whispering it to herself to not wake the others, though she knew they could no longer be woken from their slumber. This was their final resting place, and she was so tired, all she wanted to do was lay down her head and sleep.

But her friends.

But Two.

She couldn’t leave them.

She wanted to rest at last by their side, to know they were here before sleeping eternally. The thought of this made her tear up almost every time out of an emotion she could not describe. 

“Gaty?”

Her stomach dropped as she turned, no… it couldn’t be… not so soon. 

But it was.

It was Two.

The two lovers launched at each other and pulled the other into a tight hug.

==DMs: Two & 2763==

Two: This is One. I possessed Two’s body.

2763: I see.

2763: You’re adhering to our deal, yes? Keeping X quiet.

2763: I conjured a little illusion to help you out. 

Two: Thanks. I suppose.

Two: May I ask something?

2763: You may.

Two: What are you?

2763: A judge of sorts, a gatekeeper.

2763: Although, I left my post long ago. I no longer care for ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. I send whoever I want to Heaven. Excluding your twin.

Two: You mean Four?

Two: I mean they were a total ballsack of an Algebralien, but I didn’t see them in Hell.

2763: You think I’d let you two interact at all? Oh, no.

2763: They’re in a purgatory of their own design. I just used that to get into X’s head. It was quite easy, really.

Two: I see!

Two: Anyway, I’ll do my part in ‘helping’ X, you’ll just need to explain everything.

2763: Yes. That Two killed themselves and you’re back and you possessed their body.

Two: I just have one condition, 2763.

2763: And that is?

Two: Don’t hurt Basketball. At all. That’s my job.

2763: You insist this, but you love her more than life itself.

Two: I don’t. I’d give her up to have my own life back.

2763: Would you?

Two: Don’t test me, you bastard.

2763: Fine. Have fun living a life that isn’t yours.

2763: Offer is on the table, though.

Two: I have no reason to take it up.