NARES - Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6 – Darkness Falls

[10:09 – Balcony]

Rain drops started to fall from the sky. Jeffrey looked at Kazbar, who just entered the balcony.

Jeffrey: Did...something happen?

Kazbar: ...Pretty much. If I were you, I wouldn’t enter Raka’s room.

Nio looked at Kazbar. She was pretty sure Raka’s room had been locked when she tried to enter. Did somebody open it?

Plum: So, let’s do this again. Are you guys going anywhere in particular?

The question was, obviously enough, directed at Niorapth and Emporer_Kazbar. Niorapth vaguely remembered something about JeffeyRaze and masterplum, but she decided if she had forgotten it, it must have been not very important. And she still had to look for Edward...

Nio shrugged. Perhaps going with them would lead her to Edward.

Kazbar: Not really...

Plum: Well, if you don’t mind, why don’t you go with us? We need some help. I believe it will also be beneficial for you...

Kazbar: What are you planning to do?

Jeffrey: I’ll explain it on the way...
===
[10:09 – Raka’s Room]

The tense silence inside the room was broken by Genesis’ voice. Her usually calm tone changed into a commanding one.

Genesis: XIII! Sluggg! Let’s surround him!

XIII: Azerbaijani.

Sluggg: ...

Sluggg didn’t seem to like being commanded by someone else very much, but he positioned himself nearer to Pirate and took out his katana and let go of the butcher knife he was holding in his left hand. XIII assumed a weird stance not unlike Voldo from Soul Calibur. Oh well, at least he also got into his position, Genesis thought.

Machete looked at Genesis, as if also waiting for instructions. Genesis silently and discreetly looked at the empty spot in the room and made a little nod. Machete understood and slowly walked to the spot instructed by Genesis, never taking his eyes off from Pirate.

Milk, the only outsider there – well, beside Pirate, that was – decided to take a step closer to Pirate, while playing his mop in a manic manner. Whether he was excited or nervous, only he knew.

While all of this was happening, Pirate didn’t take out any weapon yet. He only looked at the people inside the room carefully, as if examining them. His sadistic grin was reduced to a cold, calculating expression. This made everyone else uneasy. What was he hiding? Did he think he could defeat five people?
Everything was in a lockdown. Nobody dared to move or speak. They could even hear the sound of the rain outside, despite the room’s insulation. Genesis once again took the iniative.

Genesis: Sluggg! As we know not what kind of weapon he has and it shall prove safest to keep our distance in that case, I hereby propose that you engage Pirate directly – we shall support your endeavour.

Sluggg: Hmph, ‘tis proposition of thee is exactly what I desire for.

Slugg moved a step forward, his katana ready. Pirate suddenly did what nobody expected. He took off the jacket he was wearing and held it in one hand. He smiled and reached the light switch next to him. In a flash (or not, hahahaha >_>) the room went pitch black. There was no light source other than the very tiny light on the card reader device, and it didn’t help any.

A whoosh was heard and Sluggg’s katana swing only hit Pirate’s jacket. The room to the hallway was opened and light went in for a second, before he slammed the door shut.

Sluggg: After him!

Before the door was opened again, a weird sound resounded through the room. It was the sound of a blunt object hitting another blunt object. Not just any object – someone’s skull was hit by a blunt object. A soft thud followed, as if something fell too the carpet-covered floor.

XIII: Wha...?

Milk was the first one to reach the door to the hallway; he opened it, hoping for a light source – but nothing changed. Another strike was heard.

Genesis: Eek! Who is it?

Milk: Dammit, he must’ve switched the lights here off too.

Milk ran to the hallway – and he stumbled upon the limp, cold body that belonged to jdizzy. Pirate had thrown the body near Raka’s room’s door. Milk’s body fell to the floor.

Milk: F***!

Machete: Dammit, something just hit me!

Then, an even more vicious sound was heard – the sound of a knife making its way into a human’s body. Chaos ensued.

XIII: Was that blood?! F***!

Genesis: No, no!

Genesis dashed with all her strength. As she ran, she hit someone – but before that person retaliated to the sudden contact, she was already next to the door. She frantically pushed the wall in hope of hitting the light’s switch...
Another sound something bashing someone’s skull was heard...

XIII: He got me, run!

The light switched on.

===
[10:13 – Waiters’ Quarters]

Edward hoped that Mana wouldn’t attack him, although his luck hadn’t been very good lately.

Edward: So yeah, what are you going to do now?

Mana: Hmm, there’s a water dispenser in the middle room, right? I think I’ll take a drink first.

Edward: Cool then.

Edward followed Mana to the middle room. He tried not to look dangerous, but he still watched Mana’s back carefully and kept his sword readied. Mana took a clean glass from the cabinet and filled it with cold water. Mana turned to face Edward.

Mana: Want a drink?

Edward: No, thanks, I just had one.

Mana: Cool then. Well, isn’t it kinda roomy in here? I’m sure it’s bigger than my room.

Edward: Yeah, it is...

Mana drank the water in one go.

Mana: Ah, that’s better. Falling into coma always makes me thirsty.
Edward: ...

Mana: Now that we’re here...why don’t we have a whip versus sword showdown?!

Mana cracked his whip. Edward dodged it.

Edward: Why does this always happen to me?!
===
[10:13 – Wine Cellar]

Without any instructions,  the staffs coordinated to block Natwaf’s exit. Kirby walked and guarded the way between Natwaf and the dungeons, Bigwig stood in front of the chapel door, and Cody sat on the bottom stair of the set of stairs leading to the first floor. Natwaf only smiled at their little show and said in a friendly voice.

Natwaf: Hey, no need to treat me like a criminal.

Kirby: Well, well, it is better to be safe than sorry, my mother always says so, yes she does. And Natwaf, I hope you wouldn’t mind answering our questions.

That was neither a proposal nor a question.

Natwaf: No, of course not. Go ahead.

Natwaf was still holding a wine bottle. He was ready to use it for melee weapon in case anything happened. But he tried to look relaxed and leaned against a wine rack.

Kirby: So, why did you go alone?

Natwaf: I merely had my own plans, that’s all. I looked for supplies I can use to survive. And of course, to help our dear guests if they need anything.

Bigwig: ...help the guests?

Bigwig looked a bit offended. He was the butler, while Natwaf was merely a waiter. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to help the guests, but their group hadn’t met anyone. Hopefully Natwaf did his best with his task – if it wasn’t just a bluff.

Natwaf:
My dear Bigwig. That's what I do. It's what I live for.
To help guests and people in need, like yourself!
Poor souls with no one else to turn to.

I admit that in the past I've been a nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me, well, a thug.
But you'll find that nowadays
I've mended all my ways
Repented, seen the light, and made a switch
True? Yes

And I fortunately know how to wait and serve.
 It's a talent that I always have possessed
And hear lately, please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, the lonely, and depressed
(Pathetic)

Cody: Did you just say ‘pathetic’?

Natwaf: Ahem, no. Must’ve been your imagination.

Cody: So did you meet other people?

Natwaf: Indeed. No dukes and maharajas, but I met with several guests.

Bigwig: Did something happen? Did you offer your best service? Did you properly attend their needs?

Natwaf: I offered light snacks, but only one of them accepted.

Kirby: And what happened with your hand?

Natwaf: Oh, it’s just...a guest accidentally threw his dinner knife and it unfortunately landed in my hand.

Cody: Are we supposed to believe someone accidentally threw a knife with enough force to make a hole in your hand?

Natwaf: That was what happened, whether you believe it or not.

Kirby: Alright. Then if you don’t mind me asking one more question – did you find anything to help you? ...a weapon, perhaps?

Natwaf: Nothing worth mentioning.

Nobody in the wine cellar truly believed Natwaf’s words, not even the man himself. But inspecting his belongings would be too much – that would irreparably break their fleeting relationship.

Kirby: Well, I think that’s all for me. Guys?

Cody: It’s enough for me too.

Bigwig: Likewise.

Natwaf: Hmhm, glad you are satisfied. Now, if you don’t mind me asking. What have you guys done?

Cody: Us? Not much, honestly.
Kirby: It’s true, but we did learn a bit about this mansion...oh, and that there’s a tiger in the courtyard.

Natwaf: A tiger? I want to name him Rajah, but that will have to wait. And what about this mansion?

Kirby looked at his two mates, but they just looked rather apathetic. Probably they decided that it wasn’t really a big deal.

Kirby: Well, the story is a bit long…

Natwaf: I don’t mind.

Kirby: It begins in 1938…or was it 1939…?
===
[10:14 – Computer Room]

Nio’s number was [3], which didn’t do any good. However, Kazbar’s was [1], perfectly complimenting Jeffrey’s own [8].

Plum: Does it work?

Jeffrey: Yeah! Let’s see what we’ve got here…

Jeffrey double-clicked the now unlocked folder.

The folder contained twenty one .doc files, each named with the contestants’ codenames. Jeffrey opened the one labelled ‘ImTheMacheteGuy’. Everybody looked closer at the monitor, intrigued at the file’s contents.

[ImTheMacheteGuy
Real name: Caelus Christophorus Bercator
Date and place of birth: 22nd January 1982, Rome, Italy
Address: Alicubi St. 15, Lima, Ohio
Postal code: 632418
Phone number: 153-624817/622-5673245
Occupation: Marketing assistant at MalWart (employee code: 1094852)
Blood type: A+

Caelus Christophorus Bercator was born from Adrea Christabella Bercator, a school teacher, and Julius Ignatius Bercator…]

The document went on about Caelus’ personal life, education, and career. It was almost like reading a particularly personal Wikipedia article, or an intricate and detailed CV. Jeffrey opened the label with his codename, and just as he suspected, it contained his personal informations – moreover, he could see that the informations in the files were neither fake nor wrong – it was indeed his life.

Plum: This is absurd!

Jeffrey: How did that old bag know this much?!

Kazbar: This is just like that room…

Jeffrey and Plum looked at Kazbar.

Kazbar: Oh, earlier I went to the theatre room. The movie…okay, it was not really a movie, but the scenes played were records of everyone’s lives. You know, videos of us buying groceries, at work, and so on.

Plum: Whoa, did he stalk us?

Jeffrey: Perhaps he paid agents to stalk us…I wonder why he did all this.

Kazbar: He has creepy hobbies, it seems. It would have been a better hobby to buy an eyepatch like I have here…isn’t it true, my sweetie?

Kazbar began to talk to himself about his eyepatch again.

Plum: So, what should we do about the files, Jeffrey?

Jeffrey: I suppose we can read through it to see if we can blackmail people. Oh, don’t worry, we won’t read your files, Kazbar, Nio. We’re grateful for your help.

Plum: Actually, where’s Nio?

Kazbar: Huh…

The three guys looked around but there were only the three of them in the room. While everyone had been looking at the computer screen, it must have been easy to sneak out of the room.

The lone girl was walking with a bewildered look as she went through the rooms to find her prey.
Nio: {Must….find….Edward…}
===
[10:16 – Raka’s Room]

Genesis: W-Who did it?!

The samurai, metalsluggg, had been attacked when the light was out. The dead body of the samurai stayed still in the middle of the room. From his neck, blood was still gushing out. Next to him was the butcher knife he previously held, now stained with fresh, crimson blood.

Machete, XIII, and Genesis were scattered around the room, roughly each one of them was the same distance from Sluggg’s body. XIII’s eyes were closed and he was protecting his head with his hands, chanting something that sounded like Sanskrit or Hawaiian. Genesis had her back against the wall, pointing her bottle frantically at the two others. Machete was on the floor, holding his kitchen knife. Sluggg’s katana was near him

Machete: I-It wasn’t me!

XIII didn’t stop his chanting, but he peeked to look at Genesis with a meaningful look in his eyes, but it was hard to decipher what he really meant. The door opened, surprising Genesis, and Milk entered the room – apparently, he had switched the hallway’s light on. His eyes were immediately drawn to Sluggg’s body.

Milk: Whoa…he’s dead!

Resistance: Dead…

Behind him was Resistance. He entered the room after Milk and looked curiously at everyone. He wanted to ask whether he could enter the security room, but it seemed like it was not the time to do it.

Machete: Did you find him?

Milk: Pirate? Nope, he already got away when I turned on the light, sorry.

Genesis: Forget about Pirate! There’s a murderer in this room!

XIII: Bu Martıların fəryad və heç kəs sağdır…qızıl ifritə hamısını qəbul edəcək…

Machete: I swear it wasn’t me!

Milk: I was outside when it happened!

Genesis: Then who did it?!

===
[10:18 – Wine Cellar]

Natwaf: I see…this manor sure has a colorful history.

Bigwig: I, for one, wouldn’t exactly describe it as colourful.

Cody: Yeah, more like grimdark.

Natwaf: So, where are you guys going to go next?

Three voices answered at the same time.

Bigwig: The chapel.

Cody: Storage room.

Kirby: The dungeons.
They looked at each other.

Natwaf: Well, I’ve actually checked the dungeons. Not really thoroughly or anything, but I think there’s nothing there.

Kirby: But, but…dungeons usually have secret passages, right? Maybe we can even find an exit!

Bigwig: Indeed, but I believe Natwaf has done searching it. Chapels usually also have something hidden inside.

Cody: Storage rooms too! Maybe…okay, maybe not really.

Kirby looked dejected, contrasting Bigwig’s accomplished expression.

Kirby: If you say so…

Bigwig: We can always come back later to search the dungeons again.

The group gathered round and walked to the chapel door.

Natwaf: So what’s your plan?

Cody: We look for traps we can use.

They opened the door and entered the chapel.

Natwaf: It looks like you’re too late…the trap already got someone.

Orochimaru_Fan’s body, covered in hot wax, was the most ominous thing inside, even beating the creepy wax figures. Natwaf was the first one to arrive by the side of the coffin. The wax has cooled down considerably, so he leaned closer to check the victim’s identity. He was trying to scratch off the wax covered the victim’s chest, where his or her nametag should have been, when Kirby yelled in surprise.

Natwaf dropped himself to the wax-covered floor, and a heavy candelabrum missed the place where his head was. That would’ve knocked him out cold.

Bigwig: My, did you have to yell, Kirby?

Kirby: S-Sorry, I didn’t know…I…I mean…

Cody, however, was quicker to react and he guarded the door leading to the torture chamber. With Bigwig next to him and Kirby standing between the pens, Natwaf found him surrounded by the other guest members. Natwaf rolled once again to dodge Bigwig’s second strike. Natwaf quickly stood up, broke his wine bottle, and pointed the sharp end at Bigwig.

Natwaf: Beware, beware, be a very wary bear…
===
[10:18 – Waiters’ Quarters]

Edward was in a tight spot, as his sword didn’t have the reach of a whip. On the other hand, the whip was harder to use and less fatal. The last minute had been spent by Edward moving around the room to dodge the whip cracks. He had also tried slashing, piercing, and stabbing his opponent, but they didn’t even come close to touching Mana. The room had become a mess; things were struck down and it was getting harder to move for both sides.

Edward realized that he was getting cornered in, but he could see that there was the door leading to the inner court close to him. Mana’s next strike hit him on the side of his legs, but he gathered his strength to run and opened the door.

Heavy rain drops hit him. It was the inner court. Nevertheless, it allowed him to get away for a moment before Mana could pass the obstacles from their attacks. He ran through the cold, windy rain and hid behind a big tree. He carefully peeked out, and he saw Mana left the room and into the inner court. After Mana closed the door behind him, the inner court became darker; the garden lights weren’t bright enough to let either of them see more than a couple meters in front of them…

[10:20 – Inner Court]

	The strong wind made the whip less reliable; furthermore, it combined with the sound of the rain made it hard to listen to footsteps. Mana walked carefully, watching his surrounding with caution. Thunder roared high in the sky – although the last one sounded much closer, but Mana dismissed it as his paranoia.
	 Every tree and bush looked like it could hide Edward or a trap, so he decided to avoid them for now on. The cold rain quickly made him uncomfortable, and he considered the possibility that Edward had gone through the library door. Regardless, it would be better for him to fight inside, with less open space and obstructing wind.
	So he walked towards the library door, crossing the court with utmost caution and awareness…when he suddenly noticed something moving in the bushes not too far from him. He grinned. Silly Edward, letting your guard down like that—or wait, perhaps it was a trap for him.
	Carefully and without taking his eyes off the bushes, he spoke in a loud voice.

Mana: I know you’re there, Edward! Why don’t we continue this battle in the library?! I bet you’re getting cold out here, right?!

[10:23 – Inner Court]

	Mana’s proposal was actually quite reasonable. But Mana’s weapon was useless under the strong winds, so Edward shrugged it off and endured the weather. However, Mana had learned of his position, so he must be careful if he wanted to attack…
	His best course of action would be to get into the library before Mana, maybe waiting besides the door to catch him off guard. He peeked out from behind the bushes again, to see Mana already walking towards the library door – damn, now he had to travel around the mansion if he wanted not to get whipped when he entered the library.
	A lightning struck somewhere nearby and in a second, everything was brightly lit. He gasped when he saw a tiger a few meters on Mana’s right. Mana must have seen it too from his peripheral sight because he screamed and dashed to the library door.
	Edward watched in terror as the tiger caught up with Mana in no time and scratched his back.

[10:24 – Inner Court]
	The sharp claws and sudden pain made him scream. Mana rolled to dodge the tiger’s attack. He frantically got back on his feet and ran towards the other door, the one leading to the waiters’ quarters. The tiger roared and chased after him.
	The rain drops falling on his wound made him cringe. It wasn’t supposed to go like this; he only came because he needed money to build the technologically-powered armor he had in mind – the research had been really costly and there was barely anything left. But if he finished it, he could be the first real life superhero…
	Suddenly, a figure jumped from the bushes in front of him and…

Mana: (Eh? Why does my chest hurt? I thought the tiger slashed me in my back…)

But the thing that had lodged itself in his chest was neither claws nor fangs; it was a golden sword. Edward quickly pulled back the sword and sprinted to the waiters’ quarters.

Mana fell down to the cold rock floor. He gasped. The sword had pierced through one of his lungs. Despite the cold rain and wind, his chest and back felt really hot – burning, even. He could hear a roar behind him, and sharp fangs made his right leg really hot too, as his blood came out from his ripped flesh. The adrenaline actually made the cold weather barely noticeable now.
	He smiled. Edward was such a loser. He needed artificial heating to protect himself from the weather. But Mana was different; strong and valiant, just like his favourite heroes – brave pirates sailing on the vast ocean and superheroes fighting for justice and peace. He needed neither heating nor comfort. He had to fight – and to think of it, that super powered suit was also unnecessary.
	His body felt really powerful as if he could do anything. When he closed his eyes, he would find himself in his secret lair…
===
[10:12 – Hallway in front of Raka’s room]

	Pirateking2000 left the room after turning off the lights. He noticed that there was another person in the hallway – resistance_pro. But he paid him no attention as he lifted jdizzy’s dead body with ease and threw it near the door to act as an obstacle. He quickly reached for the light switches of the hallway, positioned near the door leading to the balcony.
	He turned the switches off and ran to the balcony, where rain welcomed him.

Pirate: S***, they outnumbered me. I should look for a weapon first.

He vaguely remembered that there was some kind of weapon in the gallery. He went back to the messy gallery. He was in a blind rage earlier, so he hadn’t noticed it. But indeed, in one of the glass cases was a double-edged dagger. He read the description for a bit – it was an athame, a ritual weapon for Wiccan ceremonies. He picked up an unbroken vase nearby and smashed it to the glass case. To his surprise, the glass case broke with ease.
 	He picked the dagger and tried it against his finger. It was really sharp, and blood came out of his finger. He licked it with a big grin.

Pirate: Just what I needed.
===
!Dead!:
21st: Catastrophy – Blown up from a bomb-book while being drunk.
20th: jdizzy – Shot in the forehead by a samurai
19th: bbbtime – Couldn’t bear being suffocated with a giant teddy bear
18th: Orochimaru_Fan – Got caught in a trap that flung him into a coffin and covered him in hot wax.
17th: metalsluggg – Bashed in the head with a blunt weapon, then had his neck slashed
16th: Mega Mana – Stabbed through the chest with Edward’s sword, then eaten alive by a tiger.

Status:
Niorapth – Recovering from poison, but lost her voice due to the poison burning her throat.
Edwardsdv – Abdominal hemorrhage from B.B.’s sword, cold and wet from the rain.
Pirateking – Is in a somewhat murderous mood.

Healthy:
Everybody else.

Whereabouts:
Edwardsdv: Waiters’ Quarters, 1F
Natwaf_akidna, Kirbydamasta, Bigwig_rah, codynumbers: The Chapel, B1
GenesisSaga, ImTheMacheteGuy, XII_rocks, muddersmilk, resistance_pro: Raka’s Room, 2F
Emporer_Kazbar , Jeffrey Raze, masterplum: Computer Room, 2F
Pirateking2000: Gallery, 2F
Niorapth: Hall, 2F