(This is designed to follow the Mad King Ryan Let's Plays, with tweaks.)
When the time came for the next set of tasks, none of them could say they were looking forward to it. There might have been a time when it was just some fun between friends, but not anymore. This time, Ryan had taken the throne by force, and he was making them dance for his own amusement. All of them knew that once they went into the throne room, all alliances were off. There were no friends when you were fighting for your life.
Ryan was already standing tall in front of the throne when they all filed in. It was quiet enough that you could hear the drop of a pin, their steps muffled by the wool carpeting. Beside the King knelt a short redhead dressed in blue robes, a young servant they remembered as Kerry. They hadn't talked to him much, but he was often around enough that they knew who he was.
They lined up with practiced ease in front of the throne, Michael taking the added step of bowing on his knee for a second before standing back up. Ryan's sharp gaze swept over the rest of them, who refused to kneel, but he let it go.
"I don't think I need to explain why I have called you all here." Ryan said flatly, practically radiating the grace of a true king. It couldn't have been more wrong. "I hope you all remember Kerry. Even if you don't, he will be assisting me for the duration of this. The winner of all these tasks will get...a special reward." His lips twitched into a half smile.
They knew that the special reward was immunity. It used to mean you got a chance at the throne, but not anymore. Ryan had claimed the throne permanently, and there was no mercy for anyone who decided to argue otherwise. Winning his tasks merely meant he wouldn't kill you for a brief time.
Most of the time, he killed you anyway.
"Kerry, what do you think, 30 seconds?" Ryan asked, turning to the young man who knelt next to him.
Kerry, who still had his head down and had kept it down since they got to the throne, raised it briefly to nod. "I agree, my liege."
Clasping his hands, Ryan turned back around. Ray felt a little sick as he recognized the look on his face. Bloodlust. And it was aimed directly at them.
After a moment of quiet thought, leaving the five warriors shifting nervously and wondering when Ryan was going to say anything, he turned back to Kerry. "Kerry, why don't you count down for me?"
Kerry glanced at the five, a warning in his eyes. Run. "Can I-...Can I actually count?"
Gavin gulped, Jack scuffed the dirt with his feet, and Ray looked more ready to bolt then the frightened jack rabbit that they always joked he acted like. And still, none of them had any idea what was going on.
Ryan nodded and started getting into diamond armor, Kerry rose to his feet automatically to help him clasp the chestplate on.
Kerry took a deep breath. "30, 29, 28, 27..."
It finally dawned on Michael what was going on. "He's going to murder us." He said hoarsely, and one by one it sunk in. Jack was gone before anyone else realized it. Michael panicked and spun in circles for answers but he was getting none. Geoff shoved the motionless Gavin with a, "What are you doing you idiot? Move!" and Ray stayed just long enough to get a piercing glare from Ryan before he took off at top speed.
By the time Kerry got to 15, all of them were out the door.
(Well look who's updating! And what do you know, it's a brand new story. I'd kind of give up on my old ones. But at least here's something! This is mostly up to show a friend so it's unedited, something I scrambled together. Pay no attention to the fanfiction behind the curtain. :P)