Five Days Later
"I'm so bored." Ilya blew a bubble and scrolled her phone on the pristine white couch next to the three-hundred-inch TV. Beside her, Roxanne was kissing Richard passionately.
"Knock it off — I hear the sounds." Ilya slapped Roxanne's head. Roxanne blew a raspberry and kept going.
"Sorry, hunny. You can't adapt to a hottie like Richard like me," Roxanne taunted; her skin was partially grey.
"For a Reprisal, there certainly are a lot of breaks," Lichness said as he opened the crystallized doors. Famine stood behind him, smoking. "I miss Jonah and all, but where's the thrill? Where's the excitement?"
"Oh, don't worry—" Paris Guildford barged through the doors, cracks spidering as he entered. "As a key component of the next challenge, I assure you… it will be thrilling."
"What do we do in the meanwhile?" Famine asked, puffing smoke in Paris' face. Paris simply grinned and faded out of the room.
Everyone laughed at him.
"Hey, Gabriel." Jeremiah sidled up in the cafeteria with Dara. She trembled, sweat beading as she pushed a ripped sheet of paper toward Gabriel — face down. "Can you sign Dara's paper? She's really adamant."
"Dara, as friends you shouldn't be so scared," Gabriel said in a high, cheerful tone. He signed and struck a superhero pose..
The two scurried off— the door slamming shut, as Gabriel stood there.
"Me?" He pointed at himself before starting to cry profusely. Tears streaming down his mask as it created a miniature puddle— he looked at the reflection, Thalia's tears were contrasted by the smile. Whilst Melphonne's were complimented by the frown.
"I'm so emotive…"
"So I was speaking towards this poor person— and they asked for money, and I said fuck off you poor piece of shit before I buy you and sell you to the Balaternians!" Felix was standing on a stand-up stage, microphone in his metallic glove as he removed his mask to speak. His skin, warm ivory as his gemlike mint eyes contrasted his baby white smile— shining. Flowing lengthy white hair which complimented a dark mole on the side of his chin.
His bright turquoise and flamingo exoskeleton suit glowed— in front of him were Saraline, Psylaiso, Zero, Gloxer and Mog in that order, the rest of the crimson stools were vacant. Psylaiso and Saraline were hugging each other, to Zero's dismay as on the other side Gloxer and Mog were conversing about battle strategies.
Felix's joke didn't land.
"Okay— here's a better one! Hey Zero, where's your gal pal? Next to you is a Yuri couple and the other are actual friends, you got nobody— dork!" Felix taunted— flinging his arms around before laughing to himself.
Felix's joke definitely didn't land this time.
"What do you mean couple?" Saraline pointed at Felix, her brow frowning as veins began to appear on her forehead— "We're married dickhead!", she returned the joke, turning the point to a middle finger which caused Psylaiso to laugh.
"Hey! I'm the Jokester here!" Felix pouted before hovering out the stage with his super suit.
But before he left.
The door slammed in his face.
"A blessing for those bored by peace! All of you will drop into the final and best challenge — enjoy your deaths…" A voice emerged from the infinite cathedral, whether it was Paris, Thidos, Medea— it was unknown but it was ethereal.
"What does that mean?" Zero spat, stomping on the ground.
Click.
Zero dropped through the floor.
"Oh wow — down we go?" Felix chuckled as a hatch swallowed him; he flew down without breaking a sweat. Holes opened across the Cathedral, and everyone fell.
Zero fell through the Cathedral— his eyes couldn't believe what was below them.Below was a circular field of stout houses, a massive church, and a stake rising in the centre— a witch-trial town. Their teeth twisted into a grin, as their tail poked upwards and bloodlust finally began to emerge again—an aura of madness swirled around them— at the side of them, all the other participants were falling, even in front of them was Dara Sepers flopping her arms around.
Crash.
They gathered in the square. Paris emerged from the stake, grinning like a god. Famine adjusted his hat and conjured a cigarette. Lichness fixed his cloak. Gloxer cracked his knuckles. Richard tore off his gloves to reveal ashy, decaying hands. Ilya leveled her gun at Paris. Mog tossed a pen to Rebecca, who snapped it and giggled.
Jeremiah giggled; his horns pulsed blood-red. Dara shivered. Saraline unsheathed her jagged blade; Psylaiso's arms morphed into long maces. Gabriel's wings thundered; Nil began to pray. Felix smiled like a predator.
Paris ignored this and began to speak,
"Welcome to your last challenge! We all played Mafia when we were younger, correct? Now let's take it to the extreme— burning at the stake!" his stance— one foot behind the other as both of his palms were outstretched, his eyes spiralling as he faced the sky— a cartoony sun, similar to Alabendo's laughed loudly— eclipsing Jeremiah's prior attempt. Paris' makeup jumping alongside his tone. "Time for your ultimate friendship to flourish! In death or life? Humanity will try!" He began to laugh before coughing. "There will be one murderer, therefore one game. Screw this up and you all die they live— vice versa. I will personally and brutally execute the murderer… and I will be the only one who knows who it is! Why? Because it is just for the First Saint to do."
"First Saint? Of what— dickhead." Zero manifested a ruby spear from the ground before licking the tip of it.
"Paris Guildford, The Evil." The titular cachinated, a loud laugh pierced the sky as a hole began to emerge from the clouds. "I will of course appoint the Witch— I've seen you all and your evils so I know who is perfect for the job. They just need to kill somebody— I know you all can do it… we've seen it before." Paris clasped his hands together before soaring upwards, he snapped his fingers and the sky turned to night instantaneously. "Get rest, most of you… I'll appoint a killer— right about now!" He flung his arms sending everyone into their homes— drawing the curtains for every participant and viewer at home except for one person.
"Yes… you will be perfect!"