NARES - Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3 – Bloodshed

[9:23 – Library]
The sick odor of burnt flesh began to fill the dimly lit library. Kazbar rubbed his eyepatch frantically, as if seeking comfort. Pirate stood there unmoving, his mind was still trying to figure out what just happened. The shock was enough to force the two of them out of their drunken state.

Pirate: Dammit, he didn’t deserve this! I’m gonna f****** kill that old bastard! And whoever spiked his drink! They are dead!

Kazbar: ...But who spiked our drinks?

Pirate: I’ll find a way to find out. Or if I can’t, I’ll just kill them all!

Kazbar: ...

Pirate had seemed like a very disclipined guy up until this point, but Catastrophy’s death had changed him. Or perhaps he had always been like this, and his calm and composed demeanor was a front? Regardless, Kazbar began to feel a bit scared of the man standing in front of him. He rubbed his eyepatch even more maniacally.

Pirate: Oy, Kazbar!

Kazbar: What is it?

Pirate: Are you the one who did it?!

Pirate’s tone was harsh and accusing.

Kazbar: Did what…Oh. No way, that’s absurd! I wouldn’t drink if that were the case.

Pirate: Hmph…well, are you coming with me or not?

Pirate sounded like he wouldn’t take no for an answer. When Kazbar made eye contact with him, his eyes were filled with murderous rage and that made Kazbar shudder. He stopped rubbing his eyepatch, worried that it would only fuel Pirate’s anger.

Kazbar: I…I…

===
[9:32 – Inner Court]

Cody: So, to the library, is it?

Kirby: Why, yes, if you don’t mind, my friends! I’m sure we can find useful information, quite, yes! If we’re lucky we may even find a blueprint for the mansion!

Bigwig: Very well, it is quite a sound plan.

Kirby: Ah, I really am glad you agree with this humble plan of mine! Honored, even!

The trio began to walk towards the library. As they were about to reach the door to the library, Cody noticed something peculiar on the bushes about five meters from them.  He slowly turned to look at his teammates, his face pale with horror.

Cody: G-Guys, look to your right…

Kirby and Bigwig did just so. They were taken aback by what they saw; even Bigwig couldn’t keep his British self from being startled.

Bigwig: If my eyes are not tricking me, is that really…

The hulking mass of a creature looked at them; apparently, it finally noticed the men who came into its territory. It roared and stood up; with its eyes shining in the night like two yellow stars on the sky, it walked slowly towards them. The trio shrieked and ran into the library. Kirby slammed the door shut behind them.

Cody: What is a tiger doing in here?! And…what’s this smell? Why is the floor covered in…what is this…

Cody jumped away with disgust as he realized that the red mush he had been standing on was once a man. Kirby looked away in disgust. Bigwig took out a napkin from his jacket’s front pocket and pushed it against his nose and mouth.

Bigwig: Who could ever do this?!

Kirby: It must have been one of the traps…urgh!
===
[9:26 – Play Room]

Edward tried to control his breathing. He couldn’t possibly let B.B. know that he was hiding there. He took out the darts from his pocket, held two of them on his left hand, and readied himself to throw the other one with his right hand. He peeked out once again from behind the soft and fuzzy teddy bear. B.B. had moved to the middle of the room and was surveying everything suspiciously. Thankfully, he was looking the other way when Edward peeked at him.

Edward quickly hid again behind the giant doll. His body was filled with adrenaline, as he knew that a wrong move could kill him. The sword B.B. carried was surely a better weapon than his darts. Even if his darts could hit B.B., there was no way he could kill him only with them. As his hair brushed the soft fur of the giant teddy bear, an idea came into his head…

===
[9:27 – Play Room]

As far as B.B.’s eyes could see, there was nothing off about the room. Well, the cheerfulness of it all, with brightly coloured toys and decorations and silly songs played non-stop, was a bit unsettling, but at least there wasn’t any enemy.

However, one thing did catch his attention: the giant teddy bear in the room. Even for such a suspicious room like this, the giant teddy bear still stood out like a sore thumb. He couldn’t bear to look at it. Ha. Not really, but he slowly tightened his grip on the golden sword. Stabbing the teddy bear might be proven useful, perhaps something was hidden there. However, he must be careful, as it might have been a trap.

He slowly stepped forward…

===
[9:27 – Play Room]

Edward concentrated really hard to hear B.B.’s footsteps. The floor was covered by soft pink carpet, and the annoying children song played didn’t help. However, perhaps because of his heightened sense in times of danger, he could make out footsteps approaching him, one step at a time. Sweat began to drop from his forehead. His wounds didn’t even hurt anymore, as he tried to predict B.B.’s distance from him now. He couldn’t possibly throw the darts if he was too far from B.B., but if B.B. got too close to him, it might be game over for him.

B.B. took another step…he sounded really close now…

Suddenly and out of his control, he began to remember his first time meeting B.B. He was one of the first guys to arrive at the mansion, and B.B. came soon afterwards. He greeted him and found him a pretty pleasant guy. Edward shook his head. That guy munched down sandwiches like a pig. I never liked him anyway, Edward tried to reassure himself. But still, killing another person would be a little too much, wouldn’t it?

Another soft sound of B.B. taking another step forward…
===
[9:28 – Play Room]

All of a sudden, someone moved from behind the Teddy bear. It was Edward. Before B.B. could react, he saw Edward throwing something at him. A sharp pain hit his shoulder. It was a dart. He screamed and instinctively pulled out the dart, releasing a trickle of blood. Another dart hit him, this time on his neck. He staggered backwards. Edward was attacking him? B.B. jumped towards the Edward, his sword outstretched, ready to hit him. Another dart flew by his head. He struck his sword down. However, because of the weight of the sword and the pain on his neck, it missed Edward by half a meter. Edward quickly ran behind the teddy bear and began to…lift it?

B.B. lifted his sword again and swung it at Edward’s head. However, the sword hit the teddy bear instead, as Edward used the teddy bear as a shield. B.B. retracted his sword, releasing the fluffy guts of the teddy bear. Suddenly, Edward lunged forward with all his power and pushed the teddy bear onto B.B. The impact made the golden sword went into the teddy bear.

===
[9:28 – Play Room]

Edward felt a sharp pain on his stomach. The tip of the golden sword went all the way through the teddy bear. He could feel the cold metal inside his stomach, and he coughed up blood for some reason. But he pulled all his strength to try and push the teddy bear onto his opponent. B.B. left the sword lodged in the bear and tried to dodge the teddy bear. The dart fell from his neck, making drops of blood trickled down; red stains blossomed, staining the previously clean carpet. As he moved, his left foot accidentally stepped on the dart. He lost his footing and fell down.

Edward jumped on him with the teddy bear and held the teddy bear down with all his strength. He was able to get the teddy bear to fall on B.B., but B.B. violently struggled under the teddy bear. Edward got on the teddy bear to hold down B.B. with all his body mass.

The struggle made his wounds from the Space Invaders opened again and the fresh wound on his stomach made him feel even weaker. When he pushed down the teddy, the sword went further inside his abdomen. He coughed out more blood, dirtying the teddy bear.

Now, it was only the matter of endurance…who shall fall down first?

===
[9:33 – Grand Foyer]

Natwaf felt just a bit creeped out by the gallery. It had been a room full of wax figures, paintings, and a few other forms of art, but something about it just didn’t feel right to him. Besides, there was nobody to find there, so he decided to try his luck on the first floor.

As he walked down the downstairs, he noticed a group of three people walking from the parlour towards the stair going to the basement. If his memory didn’t fail him, they were ImTheMacheteGuy, XIII_rocks, and GenesisSaga.

Machete: …yeah, I know what you’re talking about. I’ve done that multiple times in the past.

XIII: Actually, I’m writing one now. It’s Christmas-themed!

Genny: Huh, writing about internet users killing each other or being killed? That’s just so weird.

Machete: Oh, isn’t that the waiter?

They had noticed him.

Natwaf: Ah, good evening. I hope you’re all doing fine?

Natwaf joined the little group.

Genny: Oh, yeah, very fine, except for almost being electrocuted to death, thank you.

XIII sat down on the floor and began to chant in some kind of Native American language. Machete looked at Natwaf’s trousers and asked.

Machete: So, why are your shoes and the end of your trousers wet?

Natwaf: Ah, nothing to worry about, sir, I assure you. Merely a little incident. Would any of you fancy some light snack?

Natwaf pulled out scones and brioches from his pockets and cleaned them with his napkin.

Machete looked at Genny, trying to remind her of what he told her about JeffreyRaze and masterplum. Genny understood and said politely to Natwaf.

Genny: Thank you very much, but we’re not hungry yet.

Natwaf: Ah, is that so? Very well then. May I ask where you are going to go now?

XIII: No, you may not.

Natwaf was surprised at the sudden rejection, particularly because it had come from the last person he’d expect. XIII stood up and pulled Genny’s and Machete’s hand with each of his hand.

XIII: Let’s go, guys.

Genesis: Wait, I thought we were going to the armory?

Despite Genny’s protest, the trio went upstairs. Natwaf smiled and bowed in a graceful but professional manner. An amused smile could be seen on his face.

Natwaf: We shall meet again. Until then, please enjoy the game.

===
[9:21 – Hallway between V.I.P. rooms]

The duel between metalslugg and jdizzy wasn’t a quick one. Neither side wanted to make the first move. The samurai, metalslugg, readied himself into a battle stance, unsheathed his katana. Jdizzy had taken a butcher knife from the kitchen, a simple but effective weapon.

Jdizzy had taken an interest in dancing since he was little. His sense of rhythm was unrivalled by anyone he had ever met before. Nevertheless, he had never had to dodge sword attacks before. And although his opponent was in full samurai attire, he knew that there was no samurai in modern age; ergo, his opponent was only a wannabe. Perhaps, even, his sword was a fake? He was holding it in his left hand. It looked real enough from this distance.

Nevertheless, it would be better to be safe than sorry. Jdizzy charged at the samurai with surprising speed.

Jdizzy: Here I come!

All the while, his trained eyes focused on his opponent’s movements – or lack of. The samurai slashed his sword but jdizzy easily avoided it with his natural ability. He finally got enough to the samurai; jdizzy swung his butcher knife – at the same time, the samurai revealed the weapon he had hidden on his right hand…

===
[9:30 – Computer Room]

The computer room would make a nerd anywhere envious; it was filled to the brim with NASA-grade PCs along with every video game consoles and handhelds known to man and tens of thousands video game titles available on the shelves lined on the wall. Even the imminent threat of murder couldn’t prevent Resistance from trying one of the PCs there. Now, he was completely immersed in the virtual world of Skyrim – although he left the speaker’s volume a bit low to allow him hear if anyone were to enter the room.

 In the middle of a side-quest, the door opened. Resistance turned to see the newcomers. They were JeffreyRaze and masterplum. When they saw the room they just went into, their mouth opened with astonishment. They hadn’t seen Resistance, as he was in one of the farthest corner. Resistance quickly ducked.

Jeffrey: Wow, this room sure is something.

Plum: Yeah. I’m tempted to try all of them. Oh hey, look, a Dreamcast! I had one when I was younger.
===
[9:41 – Hallway between Gents’ and Ladies’ restrooms, 2F]

When Nio finished her business in the restroom (including reapplying her makeup and perfume), the boys of her team were already waiting outside. Milk was carrying a mop he found in the restroom. Nio smiled weakly, the effect of the poisoned chocolate still going strong in her body.

Milk: So, what should we do now?

Orochimaru: Do you want to…you know, exact revenge? It’s the waiter, wasn’t it?

Nio nodded.

Milk: Wait, was that the answer to the revenge part or the waiter part?

Nio stuck up her pointer and middle finger while nodding, clearly trying to say ‘both’.

Orochimaru: Well, we’re three against one, it should be easy for us, especially now that we know of his trick.

Milk: And I’ve got this mop…well, it’s not a gatling gun, but at least it kinda resembles a polearm.

Nio took a hairdryer out of her purse.

Milk: Uhh, I don’t think you’ll want to dry your hair while defend—

Nio shook her head and pretended to tie a knot between someone’s neck.

Milk: Oh, I see.

Orochimaru: So let’s find him! And while we’re at it, we should alert other people of the waiter’s true nature.

Feeling determined, Nio, Milk, and Orochimaru embarked on their journey to exact revenge.

===
[9:30 – Hallway between V.I.P. rooms]

The bullet pierced through Jdizzy’s beloved hat and burrowed itself into Jdizzy’s skull. Jdizzy’s body fell onto the floor. A hole with burnt mark around it was left in his forehead.

Sluggg: It was unfortunate that I had to resort to tis. But thou were a worthy opponent. Now I shalt take tis knife of yours…may your fallen blade becometh a harbinger of victory.

Leaving Jdizzy’s body between the hallways, Sluggg picked up the butcher knife and went into the balcony area.

[9:39 – Dining Room]
Mega Mana was sitting alone in the dining room, unsure of what to do. He had been daydreaming of cool adventures – like a pirate who fared through ravaging seas and battled sea monsters. He even pretended that his knife was a cutlass and he tried to murder the fresh fruits on the table for attacking his ship.

Natwaf: Ah, would you like me to peel a fruit for you?

Startled, he threw the dinner knife at the direction of the voice. His knife pierced through Natwaf’s left hand, making him scream in agony. Mega Mana quickly jumped off his seat to help him.

Mana: Oh, I’m so sorry! Here, let me get that!

Before Natwaf could protest, Mana pulled off the knife from his left hand, making Natwaf scream once more. Mana grabbed a napkin from the dinner table and tried to wrap it around Natwaf’s wound to stop the bleeding – however, he somehow made the knot went through the wound hole, hurting Natwaf more.

Mana: Aaah, I’m always so clumsy! Just sit down! Here, I’ll pull up a chair.

And the chair went to hit Natwaf’s face. Mana looked like as if he was about to cry.

Natwaf: N-No. This will be quite enough! I’m happy enough that you care so much about me. Ancestors, hear my plea, help me not to make a fool of me, and to not uproot my family tree. Keep my father standing tall~

Mana: If you say so…

===
[9: 45 – Balcony]
XIII, Genesis, and Machete finally arrived at the balcony area, after they managed to stop XIII from sliding down the handrail for the twentieth time.

Genesis: Ah, the feel of fresh air sure is good.

Machete: Indeed.

XIII: I’m the king of the world!

XIII re-enacted the scene from Titanic while standing on the edge of the balcony, bringing the obviously unhappy Machete with him.

Machete: T-That was unnecessary, you know! S-Stupid, you could’ve killed us.

Suddenly, a man’s voice spoke from the direction of the chairs lined up on the opposite site from where they came from. The voice belonged to a man dressed in samurai attire.

Sluggg: Hast thou cometh here to take tis life of mine?

===


[9:33 – Play Room]

B.B.’s mind suddenly flashed to yesterday – although it might had been decades ago, since so much things had happened today. His fiancée who he had been with for 5 years, said she wanted to speak to him. And when she used that tone, it always meant that he was in trouble.

It was about their marriage. His fiancée, Katarina, wanted them to settle down in a nice house somewhere. However, both of them knew that it would cost a lot of money, something B.B. couldn’t afford because of his obsessive hobby of collecting boxers with heart patterns on it.

The email sounded almost too good to be true, yet, it was true.
B.B. had killed Edward; he managed to get that damn teddy bear off his face and slashed the already weak Edward with his sword. He actually wanted to make him suffer more, but it had to end quickly.

Now, after killing everybody else, B.B. had an enormous amount of money in his account. The wedding was beautiful; he didn’t know Katarina could look this beautiful, even after 5 years of togetherness. All of his family and friends came, and everybody was happy…

He had no regrets.

===
[9:34 – Play Room]

Edward pushed the giant teddy bear aside. About half a minute ago, B.B. finally stopped moving, but he didn’t want to take this risk, even though he usually loved to take risks.

Edward’s abdomen was bleeding profusely, and he even thought that a bit of his intestine was going to come out. But for now, he won. He smiled happily and rested his head on the giant teddy bear. The play room made him felt like he was a child again, the time when he had no worries.

He sighed. But the game hadn’t ended yet. If he could survive until the end of the game…

He slowly walked to find more cloth to bandage his new wound. As he passed the pictures hung on the wall, he noticed something funny. There were only 19 pictures of child-like scribbles portraying a different person on each one.

Edward: Weird…could’ve sworn there were 22 pictures just now…

===
!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

Status:
Niorapth – Recovering from poison, but lost her voice due to the poison burning her throat.
Edwardsdv – Bleeding from Space Invaders attack + abdominal hemorrhage from B.B.’s sword.
Natwaf – Bleeding hole in left hand.
Pirateking – Is in a murderous rampage.

Healthy:
Everybody else.

Whereabouts:
Natwaf_akidna, Mega Mana: Dining Room, 1F
Niorapth, muddersmilk, Orochimaru_Fan: Hallway between restrooms, 2F
Edwardsdv: Play Room, B1
Kirbydamasta, Bigwig_rah, codynumbers: Library, 1F
GenesisSaga, ImTheMacheteGuy, XII_rocks, metalsluggg: Balcony, 2F
Pirateking2000, Emporer_Kazbar: Theatre Room, 2F
Resistance_pro, Jeffrey Raze, masterplum: Computer Room, 2F