Normality, Shattered

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } {1} {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } C
{s} { } { } {f} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} { } {t} {t} { } {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} { } {V} { } {3} {g} F
{ } { } { } {M} { } {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } H
{ } { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Neutral Phase.

Security Guard 1 moves to D2.

Security Guard 1 waits.

Security Guard 2 moves to E5.

The security guard was about to ask the nearby girl some questions, but decided to inspect the scene a bit further. From the looks of things....no. He'd have to think about it some more before drawing conclusions.

Security Guard 2 is Distracted!

Now's your chance! Party Movement has increased to 3 cells!!

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } C
{s} {1} { } {f} { } {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} { } {t} {t} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} { } {V} { } {3} {g} F
{ } { } { } {M} { } {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } H
{ } { } { } { } {A} { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Security Guard 3 is Distracted for 1 more turn.

Security Guard 2 is Distracted for 3 turns.

Player Phase 5!

Marya (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Vendetta (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Authur (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Security Guard 1 (Mall Security)
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

Security Guard 2 (Mall Security) *DISTRACTED*
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

Security Guard 3 (Mall Security) *DISTRACTED*
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

{X} - Stairwell (cannot be occupied)

{t} - Table (cannot be occupied)
HP: 20
Def: 8

{f} - Food (cannot be occupied) *DUMPED ON THE FLOOR*

{s} - Soda Fountain (cannot be occupied) *JAMMED*

{g} - Garbage Can (cannot be occupied) *KNOCKED OVER*

{~} - Refuse (cannot be occupied)
Trigger Command: Knock Aside

Marya moves to G5.

Marya took a couple of steps forward and saw that the guard was distracted. "This is our chance guys! Let's run for it!" she whispered as loudly as possible.

Marya waits.

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } C
{s} {1} { } {f} {V} {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} { } {t} {t} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} {A} { } { } {3} {g} F
{ } { } { } { } {M} {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } H
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Neutral Phase.

Security Guard 1 moves to E2.

The security guard was feeling awfully lazy today. He grabbed a cup and stuck it under the spewing machine until it was filled with soda. He took a swallow and decided to just lounge about for a bit. Hopefully, his superiors wouldn't catch him.

Security Guard 1 waits.

Security Guard 1 is Distracted!

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } { } C
{s} { } { } {f} {V} {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} {1} {t} {t} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} {A} { } { } {3} {g} F
{ } { } { } { } {M} {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } H
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Security Guard 3 is no longer Distracted!

Security Guard 2 is Distracted for 2 more turns.

Security Guard 1 is Distracted for 3 turns.

Player Phase 6!

Marya (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Vendetta (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Authur (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Security Guard 1 (Mall Security) *DISTRACTED*
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

Security Guard 2 (Mall Security) *DISTRACTED*
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

Security Guard 3 (Mall Security)
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

{X} - Stairwell (cannot be occupied)

{t} - Table (cannot be occupied)
HP: 20
Def: 8

{f} - Food (cannot be occupied) *DUMPED ON THE FLOOR*

{s} - Soda Fountain (cannot be occupied) *JAMMED*

{g} - Garbage Can (cannot be occupied) *KNOCKED OVER*

{~} - Refuse (cannot be occupied)
Trigger Command: Knock Aside

Marya moves to D5.

To her dismay, she noticed the security guard that was investigating the garbage can that was knocked over was now looking about the area. "Full speed you guys! We don't wanna get caught, especially when we're so close," she warned.

Marya waits.

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } { } {t} {t} { } {V} { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} {A} { } { } { } { } C
{s} { } { } {f} {M} {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} {1} {t} {t} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } {3} {g} F
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } H
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Neutral Phase.

Security Guard 3 moves to H8.

The security guard finally got tired of looking a garbade. It looked as if it had been knocked over from the direction of the front of the mall, so that's the way he went.

Security Guard 3 waits.

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } { } {t} {t} { } {V} { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} {A} { } { } { } { } C
{s} { } { } {f} {M} {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} {1} {t} {t} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } {g} F
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} {3} { } H
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Security Guard 2 is Distracted for 1 more turn.

Security Guard 1 is Distracted for 2 turns.

Player Phase 7!

Marya (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Vendetta (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Authur (Student)
HP: 10
Move: 2 cells --- 3 cells

Security Guard 1 (Mall Security) *DISTRACTED*
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

Security Guard 2 (Mall Security) *DISTRACTED*
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

Security Guard 3 (Mall Security)
HP: 10
Atk: 4
Def: 2
Int: 2
Spr: 2
Move: 2 cells

{X} - Stairwell (cannot be occupied)

{t} - Table (cannot be occupied)
HP: 20
Def: 8

{f} - Food (cannot be occupied) *DUMPED ON THE FLOOR*

{s} - Soda Fountain (cannot be occupied) *JAMMED*

{g} - Garbage Can (cannot be occupied) *KNOCKED OVER*

{~} - Refuse (cannot be occupied)
Trigger Command: Knock Aside

Marya moves to C7.

"Our plan is pretty much a success now!" Marya whispered excitedly. They were all so close to the staircase; it was only a matter of time.

Marya waits.

{ } { } { } { } { } {X} {X} { } { } A
{ } { } {t} {t} { } {V} { } { } { } B
{s} { } {t} {t} { } {A} {M} { } { } C
{s} { } { } {f} { } {t} {t} { } {~} D
{s} {1} {t} {t} {2} {t} {t} { } {~} E
{s} { } {t} {t} { } { } { } { } {g} F
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} { } { } G
{ } { } { } { } { } {t} {t} {3} { } H
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } I
{ } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } { } J
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

The guards have been successfully distracted!
CHAPTER COMPLETE!!

EXPERIENCE:

Barking up that tree again? Give it a rest, will ya?

TOTAL EXP GAIN: 0

No Skill Points Awarded...

The Party receives 5 Cash!

Inventory updated!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quickly, Marya ran up the stairs until she was stopped by a locked door with an electric EXIT sign above it. She jammed the key into the lock and turned it. A smile spread across her face as she heard a click and the door opened revealing the afternoon sky and the expanse of the mall roof. A slight breeze had picked up and it made everything much more refreshing. Marya had worked up a slight sweat back inside, so the crispness felt great to her skin. "Well, we made it, guys!" she said aloud happily.

Authur moved closer to the doors and leaned on them. "Go, Vendetta. I'll watch our six." he said, a little too seriously and with a dramatic scowl on his face.

Vendetta looked back at Authur and nodded, deciding that it would be best if she were to move onwards towards the front of the trio with Marya. As soon as she reached the top of the stairs, a gust of refreshing air flew into the stairwell through the open door. She tranquilly walked out of the doorway and onto the roof, standing next to Marya.

Marya rushed over to the edge and looked out over the parking lot. She felt like the queen of the mall, or something. Of course, it was only thanks to the combined effort of her friends that she made it up to the roof. Suddenly, her eyes widened in dismay; something was seriously wrong. In the parking lot.....the cars were randomly disappearing and reappearing somewhere else. "Ummmm, guys? I think you should see this...," she said, clearly horrified.

Heeding Marya's call, Vendetta hastily followed her toward the ledge of the roof top, and, to her very surprise, the cars were magically being rearranged by some supernatural force.

Paranormal activity! I must take notes A.S.A.P.! . . . A glint of discovery shone through Vendetta's eyes as she swiftly armed herself with a pencil and notebook. She, as fast as she could, then began to write down hundreds of scribbles and diagrams based off of the situation, completely ignoring Marya's despair.

Authur followed the others up after he heard the door slam, after Ven when to the roof. Shutting the door, he noticed the other two acting strangely. He approached Marya, glancing at Vendetta, who was scribbling in a random notebook.

"What's going . . . oh my god." The cars in the parking lot . . . they were . . . disappearing? A different vehicle replaced each one as soon as they vanished.

"That's . . . wait, the pinecones. The same thing with the pinecomes today. Guys?"

Marya was awestruck. What was going on? The mall shook suddenly, and Marya lost her balance. With a scream, she toppled right over the edge. Her body flailed in the air before it hit the pavement below with a sickening thud. Blood began to puddle beneath her still body.

"MARYA!" Authur scrambled to the side of the building, nearly losing his own balance as he got there. The sight of her below was sickening but he couldn't look away.

The pool of crimson below caught his eye. It slowly leaked out of his friend's body. Authur stared open-mouthed at the gruesome scene.

"Marya . . ." Vendetta mumbled as her closest friend she had was suddenly whisked away by the magnificent tremors of nature. The petite, white haired girl then managed to crawl up next to Authur and look down at the scene. A second tremor then shook the building to such an extent, Vendetta's notebook flew out of her hand and down unto the parking lot."I've lost everything now . . ." She shook her head as the notebook plopped down next to Marya's bloodied, broken corpse.

"What's wrong with you guys? Is something down there?" Marya's voice said from behind her two friends. She looked over the ledge to see nothing. No body. No blood. No notebook. "I thought you two would be much more interested in the cars, but..." She stopped and looked out over the lot; the cars had stopped with their switching around. However, another tremor ensued and screaming could be heard from back inside the mall.

Authur blinked and the sight on the ground below was gone. He heard Marya's voice and leaped up, upon seeing her, he grabbed her in a bearhug.

"Marya! Dammit, don't scare me like that!"

"Marya?" Vendetta tilted her head to her side as she examined the living girl, "I'm glad you're okay . . . What about my notebook?" She glanced over the edge of the building once more; there was no sign of any corpse, nor notebook that had fallen.

Marya was pleasantly surprised when Authur hugged her, but still a bit confused. "What are you talking about? How did I scare you?" Before any responses could be made, there was a tremor even greater than the others, though it seemed only the mall was shaking. More screaming could be heard from inside the building. "I think....we should investigate," she said solemnly and gulped. Whatever was going on in the mall might be linked to what had been happening outside.

After releasing Marya and hearing what she said and all the other noises, he nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

He opened the door and trotted down the steps, and out into the mall without waiting for any other prompting.

Attempting to keep her cool, Vendetta nodded and followed Authur down the stairwell and back into the mall. Noticing that her pencil was still in hand, she hastily tucked it away within the pocket of her miniskirt.

Marya, following her friends, eventually wound up back in the food court. She stood with her friends and looked around, a look of sheer terror on her face. On the walls, the corpses of the mall's customers were nailed haphazardly in any open spot. Blood trailed down any visible part of the wall and landed on the floor where puddles of the crimson liquid were forming. The tables and random kiosks were turned over on the floor and papers and wrappers were being blown about by a fierce gale. In the center of the food court was a portal of some sort. Inside, many psychedelic colors could be seen; it was the source of the wind. The mall shook again and Marya guessed that it was the cause of the tremors to.

"What's going on?!" she shouted loudly above the gale so her friends could hear her.