Episode Six
"Lay it on the Line"
In a small room in a volcano base, two familiar faces were hard at work. Well...one was, at least.
"So, it's all up to the president now, huh…" I-No watched the television screen, having to bend forward to get a better look at the small appliance.
"I have to admit, I expected something a bit more…twisted for the finale. Four-eyes is probably the most fucked up of the bunch."
"Nah…settin' them girls on fire was his best bet. You don't top that." The man known as Leeds walked over to the wall of the building, too preoccupied to really care about what was going on.
"Get away from that hunk a junk, I-No, we only got a little bit a time before the finale."
I-No walked to his side, glancing over her shoulder to watch a bit.
"How do you think they'll respond to the whole thing?"
"Well, as these rich freaks would say…" Leeds grunted as he yanked a large part of the wall off, carrying it as if it was a painting.
"S'all a fuckin' gamble. But between you an' me? They'll be pretty damn happy."
"They better be. I'm putting a lot of energy into this, you know. More than even you."
"Ain't my fault our powers are so fuckin' different! Tell ya what: after this, we go to Oregon. You can play with your favorite stress ball."
A smile formed on I-No's lips.
"Oooh…that sounds fun. I need a little vacation honestly. Too much sun on this damned island…"
"No shit. I miss my little shithole back in Jersey. But with any luck, we'll be outta here soon. Just as long as everthing goes accordin' to plan."
"And it most certainly will." On the TV, the Vice President looked up at the camera and nodded.
"Welp, that's my cue."
"Break a leg. Please do. I mean it. Least you could do for stickin' me with all this gruntwork."
"Hopefully I can break more than that," I-No replied with a wink. In just a minute, she was gone.
Leeds sighed, looking into the wall he moved away.
"This better fuckin' work…" he muttered to himself.
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"Only ten…but you said only one would lose!"
"I did. Unfortunately, I underestimated all of you. I assumed three people would be bad enough at this game to hit zero." As everyone would start unloading threats and curses, Kaede would only sneer.
"Oh, spare me your complaints. The game is almost over, and then we can all go home and be done with it."
"You truly are a despicable-"
"Yes, yes, hurl all the insults you want my way. If that makes you feel better about losing some dear irreplaceable friend you've only known for a few days, then cope all you want. And have none of you ever stopped to think about who you're up against? The student council…we aren't gamblers like you."
"We're the casino itself."
"And the house always wins." The Vice President regarded Gon with not one shred of sympathy or friendship.
"I believe it goes without saying that none of you actually murdered anyone-at least, not on this island. Nor did any of you commit any crimes. If you're all wondering just how we made the video possible, look at your dear friend Rita." From the Vice President's pocket came a trinket just like the ones Rita had. With the masked girl twisting the trinket just so, Rita would feel a dull pain over her entire body as she returned to her normal appearance.
"And we have one last surprise for you. Mary?"
"Of course." Mary walked to the Vice President's side.
Yumeko regarded Mary with bewilderment.
"Mary…?"
"Ha! Don't you get it, Yumeko? People can't be brought back from the dead. You wasted that immunity of yours on an illusion."
"…………."
The Vice President turned to 'Mary'.
"Go on, show them your true self. They can't do anything."
She nodded, twisting a trinket as well. Before long, a completely different person stood before them all.
"But…why?" Yumeko tried to stand, but couldn't.
"If you really want to know, you'll have to survive this next game." The voice didn't come from the Vice President, but another, identical voice from the entrance. There stood…
...another Vice President?
"Sorry to keep you all waiting," I-No said, walking in alongside her.
"I hope we didn't miss anything good?"
"Not at all." The Vice President already there stepped forward.
"In fact…I believe the best has been saved for last. Because, you see everyone…the Vice President who aided you, offered you immunities…" She took off her mssk, revealing her face to everyone.
"It was really me all along."
"Kirari!"
"Sayaka, please braid my hair." Sayaka immediately began doing so, and Kirari smiled at everyone.
"Why…why are you doing this to us? Killing us off…isn't that boring?! A disgrace to gambling itself?!?!"
"Why? Well…that's easy. I was bored. All this death, your despair…it was all set up just so I could enjoy myself. Don't tell me you were all hoping for a deeper reason! Because…there is none."
"………………………"
"Now…I'm sure you all have many things you want to say or do to me for all I've done to you, but we are on a very short schedule. I ask all wait until after the final game." She glanced at the witch.
"I-No, if you please."
"Finally, onto the climax! Oh, I can't stand this much longer!"
Once again, I-No began to play her guitar, causing the ground to shake violently, the world swirling into a sea of neon colors. Each and every person in the room would find themselves losing consciousness in only a matter of seconds.
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When everyone awoke, they would find themselves on the ground, free of the desks. The only people there would be the twelve players still alive-I-No, Bowser, Luigi, and the rest of the student council would all be gone.
"Nngh…" Yumeko sat up, rubbing her head.
"Why…where are we?"
Where you were was a circular building. There was a large pillar in the center, with a door. Around the outer walls were six doors, and on the ground were two trapdoors. All nine items had no knobs, or any way to open them, save for a keypad and screen, which appeared to be turned off for the time being. There was a small machine on a table, but other than that, there was no furniture anywhere in the room.
"Welcome, everyone, to your final game." Kirari's voice suddenly played from speakers in the room.
"This is the Tower of Doors. I will explain how to play in just a moment, but first, use your remaining blue coins at that machine if you'd like to buy an advantage in this game. Alesha, for winning the last game, you will find an envelope with you. Gon, yours is with you, as well. Oh, and one more thing…Only one person can win this game. So think carefully about who you choose to ally with. That is all."
And just like that, you were all alone again.
Starring:
@Crow as
Ernesti Echavalier (Knights & Magic)
@dark as
Colonel Mael Radec (Killzone)
@Gummi Bunnies as
Maria Ushiromiya (Umineko no Naku Koro ni
@Jeremi as
The Fourth Doctor (Doctor Who)
@Kaykay as
Hina (Hinamatsuri)
@LuckycoolHawk9 as
Rita Hanson (Groundhog Day: The Musical)
@Mari as
Yamashiro (KanColle)
@Midnight Maiden as
Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
@Otto as
Talon (League of Legends)
@Khan of the Mardu as
Alesha, Who Smiles at Death (Magic: the Gathering)
@Verite as
Gon Freeces (Hunter X Hunter)
@Yun Lee as
Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui)
In Memoriam
Nagihiko Fujisaki - IMPALED!
Starlow - TURNED TO DUST!
Kusanagi - SLICED OPEN!
Kars - CRUSHED IN A LANDSLIDE!
Ami Kawashima - SPINE SNAPPED IN HALF!
Toshinori Yagi - PUNCHED CLEAN THROUGH!
Peter Parker - CHOKED OUT!
Yato - SHOT IN THE GUT!
Risky Boots - LOST AT SEA!
Tony Stark - BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS!
Yusuke Kitagawa - POISONED!
Ritsuka Fujimura - BURNT TO A CRISP!
Shantae - BURNT TO A CRISP!
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"Why, come out, and we can tell you!"
"H-Huh?" Ririka moved to the wall, on the floor, and pulled aside a loose part of the wall.
"E-Everyone! We can get out through here! Hurry!" Without waiting, Ririka would begin crawling through. Whether or not you followed her was up to you.
@Takumi @Klutzy Ninja Kitty @thatguyinthestore @Mason Moretti @Archmage Jeremiah @Minerva
