Chapter Six: Pieces Of A Whole

"God damn it!"

The words echoed throughout the hall as each one of the remaining captives stood motionless and emotionally spent. The looks on their faces all conveyed the same message, the very same sad, horrified and psychotic message.

Insanity was the name of the game and they were all willing participants. Their eyes held a glazed over far away look that foreshadowed a deep madness lurking within their souls, just resting at their finger tips. Mumbling and whispers, faces drained of color and emotions these are first signs of psychotic breaks and they had them all.

The man in the dark robe smiled to himself as he watched them, his little treasures huddled together like a small group of toy soldiers just waiting for their master to play with them, to give them his list of commands. They were so obedient, so eager to please him and for this he will reward them, well whoever was left anyway with a ride home perhaps.

He leaned back and propped his feet up on the desk in front of him with the monitors that showed the players of his game. They were still standing in the hall not wanting to continue but knowing that they had no other choice. This was just perfect. Way too perfect and once everything was said and done he would reveal himself to the survivors.

Manipulating the controls the game master zoomed in on his few favorite players. Although all of them have sinned and needed to be taught he did have a few break through performers if you will, that enticed him more then others.

First there was Nathan. Oh was he a fun one with a list of crimes to be held against him, it was almost a no brainier that he would be among the captives. He was cocky like his wretched father whom he despised and as the boy was just as self righteous. The young Scott boy had hurt so many people during his short time on earth but that was fine by him because if he didn't then there wouldn't be anyone as fun and fascinating in his toy bin.

Aside from this he knew Nathan was strong. He knew that no matter what challenge he laid before the boy that he would raise to the occasion and he had been right. Even though he was a jerk most of the time the dark hair boy was anything but weak. Perhaps another reason why he had chosen him, well that and the fact that he couldn't wait to see the look on his face once he removed his dark cloak and revealed himself.

It was going to be priceless.

He laughed out loud at the thought. Big bad Nathaniel Jay Scott was going to be reduced to tears when he saw him and it filled him with a profound joy that he hadn't felt in years.

Next there was Dan. Oh Danny had been so much fun from the very beginning and always managed to amuse him to no end. The man was a heartless son of a bitch and maybe, just maybe even crazier then he was. Well, then again maybe Dan was the reason for his insanity, who knew. He had crossed him so many times and had destroyed so many lived, including those of his family and so called friends that at some point someone he knew was bound to snap. But none of the others where quite as clever as him.

Standing across from Dan was the person he loved most in the world. Someone who was willing to walk amongst the group under the disguise of a player when they were actually his accomplish, his right hand man if you will and the only one who he considered to be his intellectual equal.

This person was trusted by most and fit right into the group without anyone giving it a single thought. They had no idea what this person was truly capable of and it shocked him. To the trained enough eyes this person's psychosis was almost as easily detectable as his was but then again he wasn't dealing with the brightest group of people who ever walked the face of the earth. However they were the most entertaining and easiest to fool.

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he remembered who was next on his lesson plan. The raven haired girl had no idea what was in store for her and truth be told he couldn't wait to see the look on her delicate features once the task was revealed to her. She always seemed so above it all. So all knowing and perfect that it was going to be fun to watch her fall, to watch her endure sweet misery. At one point he used to have faith in her. He used to love the girl but now she was just as weak, needy and self absorbed as the rest of them and it sickened him. It was also apparent to him that she enjoyed playing games with the minds, hearts and souls of others so it was only fitting that she get caught up in a little game of her own.

He rubbed his hands together and leaned in close to listen in on what was being said by the groups self appointed leader.

"Brooke" said Karen pointing to the white door in front of her. "You're next"

There were no words spoken after that. There were none left to be said that hadn't already been said before so with a quick hug shared between the girl and her friends she turned to face her challenge.

The dark haired girl walked over to the mother of her boyfriend, locking eyes with the woman for a split second then proceeded to stare ahead just past the wooden frame. Painted on the door were small drawing of mirrors, clothes, charge cards, a big house and a fancy sports car. Above it was the title: Skin Deep. Under the pictures there was a caption that read…

Beauty is a curse on the world. It keeps us from seeing who the true monsters really are.

After reading this her heart speed up and began beating a hundred miles per minute, he could see it written all over her face. The anxiousness, the fear, the pain, all those sweet emotions came pouring out in that one look, in that one instant.

He loved pain. It was his unofficial bride, a marriage made in a mad man's sadistic heaven that he couldn't wait to drag her into.

"Dear sweet Brooke" he giggled to himself.

"Go on my charming little angel, open the door and see what marvelous lesson your master has planned for you"

His eyes sparkled with a dark glint just as the young girl opened the door and stepped back almost instantly blinded by the bright glare. The others quickly followed suite as light struck their eyes.

"What the hell?" she questioned, blinking several times and trying to regain a portion of her sight.

Once she did she gasped in horror at the vision before her. It wasn't as gruesome as the rest but that didn't make it any less frightening. The room had mirrors surrounding it with no glass inside. This was because the glass had been shattered into several jagged pieces which filled inside of what looked like a built in swimming pool in the middle of the floor.

"I don't understand" she said turning to face the group. "What is this?"

"Hello B. Davis. So nice to see you my pretty, pretty girl, you seem a bit bothered by the shattered mirrors. Maybe this is because you are just as shattered, hollow and broken as they are, but don't worry we're about to change all of that darling and when everything's over you'll have me to thank for your absolution"

Her lips trembled and her eyes glazed over as the man continued…